**Employer**: Department of Psychiatry, Jena University Hospital **Contract**: 2 years initially; renewable for up to 3 additional years subject to performance **Project**: “The glue that holds the pieces together”: Unlocking Cognitive Health in Psychotic Disorders (Wellcome Trust) **Application deadline**: 30 September 2025 **Preferred start**: from November 2025 *Short description* This project will (i) quantify global and regional deviations from typical ageing using brain-age models, (ii) disentangle prenatal vs. postnatal structural deviations by leveraging lifespan normative models for cortical gyrification and grey-matter volume, and (iii) characterise and predict longitudinal brain change in psychosis by estimating individual rates of ageing. *Role* You will extend BrainAGE from global estimates to regional normative models using Bayesian regression and GAMLSS to derive age- and region-specific reference distributions (centiles) and individual deviation scores. The work spans multi-site morphometry, scanner harmonisation, model comparison, and external validation. You will work closely with the project lead at the University of Bath and collaborate with partners in Cambridge, Oxford, London, and Cardiff on all aims, including joint analyses and dissemination. *What we offer* * Join the small, highly engaged team behind the CAT12 toolbox and BrainAGE. * A collaborative, supportive atmosphere with genuine day-to-day interaction and room to do your best work. * Close collaboration with the Bath lead and active links to Cambridge, Oxford, London, and Cardiff (regular cross-site meetings and joint outputs). *Requirements* * PhD in Psychology, Mathematics, Computer Science, Neuroscience, Physics, or a related field. * Strong skills in machine learning and statistics; experience with Gaussian process regression and/or probabilistic regression. * Experience with normative modelling is an advantage. * Proficiency in Python (and ideally C/C++); experience with MRI morphometry. * Ability to work independently and as part of a team; excellent written and spoken English. *Application* Please send one PDF containing: motivation letter; CV (including publications); degree certificates with grades; list of relevant courses; and the names and email addresses of two referees to Christian.Gaser@uni-jena.de till 30 September 2025. *Contact* For further information about the project, contact: Prof. Dr. Christian Gaser — Tel: +49-3641-9325778 — Email: Christian.Gaser@uni-jena.de