Dear all,
The nCoDe Lab (Neural information processing in Cognition and Disease) at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) invites applications for a Senior Postdoctoral Researcher position (full-time, 2-year contract) to lead data analysis and biomarker discovery within the EPICHILD project.
The work will be carried out in Barcelona in direct collaboration with the Epilepsy Unit at the top paediatric hospital in Spain, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu.
Note on the application process: While we are seeking to identify the ideal candidate immediately, the formal hiring will be processed through an upcoming open call at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), following national regulations. We encourage interested candidates to contact us now to discuss the project and receive notification as soon as the formal call is published.
About the Project
This position is a core part of the EPICHILD project: "Development and validation of multimodal focus identification algorithms for drug-resistant epilepsy in children." Our goal is to enhance the diagnostic toolkit for pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy by providing objective, quantitative measures that complement the clinical expertise of visual intracranial EEG (iEEG) inspection.
We are developing a computerized framework to assist in identifying the Epileptogenic Zone (EZ): the brain regions responsible for generating seizures. The project's core hypothesis is that a data-driven integration of iEEG recordings (ictal, pre-ictal, and interictal), neuroimaging data (MRI/DTI), and electrical stimulation sessions provides a synergistic perspective that can refine surgical planning. As the lead for data analysis and algorithm design, the successful applicant will sit at the central intersection of signal processing, machine learning, multimodal data fusion, and clinical neurology.
The role emphasizes the development of robust data analysis pipelines and the identification of quantitative biomarkers rather than hands-on data collection. Key responsibilities include:
Pipeline Development: Designing and implementing multimodal algorithms and pipelines for the identification of the Seizure Onset Zone (SOZ) and Epileptogenic Zone (EZ).
Biomarker Discovery: Validating and optimizing multimodal biomarkers using real-world clinical datasets from our national and international collaborators and open-access datasets.
Scientific Leadership: Co-leading and mentoring a team of PhD, Master’s, and Bachelor’s students working within the project.
Technology Transfer: Collaborating on the integration of these pipelines into a clinical prototype in connection with the lab’s spin-off, BrainFocus Labs.
We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with strong quantitative skills and demonstrated research experience in neural data analysis.
Required Skills and Experience:
PhD in Computational Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics or a related field.
Signal Processing: Strong expertise in intracranial EEG (iEEG/LFP) or EEG analysis and statistics.
Machine Learning: Proven capacity in machine/deep learning applied to complex biological datasets.
Programming: High proficiency in Python.
Communication: Excellent written and spoken English; ability to bridge the gap between engineering and clinical teams.
Preferred but not required:
Experience with multimodal data fusion (integrating electrophysiology with neuroimaging).
Experience with technology transfer or working within a clinical workflow.
A Leading Neuroscience Hub: The nCoDe Lab is an active member of Barccsyn (Barcelona Computational and Systems Neuroscience), a premier community of over 40 research groups, offering a unique environment for scientific exchange and collaboration (https://barccsyn.org/).
Vibrant Research Environment: Join the nCoDe Lab (https://ncodelab.org/), a multidisciplinary group dedicated to understanding neural information processing in health and disease.
Career Development: Significant opportunities for leadership, student supervision, presentations at conferences and workshops and exposure to the medical-tech entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Location: Barcelona is a leading global hub for biomedical engineering and offers an exceptional quality of life.
Please send your CV, a brief statement of research interests/past work, and the contact information for two references to adria.tauste@upc.edu with the subject “Postdoctoral Position in Multimodal Epileptogenic Zone Identification Research”.
Adrià Tauste