PhD project in Strasbourg : Virtual Reality under neurostimulation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gamma Multimodal Entrainment in Virtual Reality for Cognitive Enhancement in mental disorders --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This PhD project develops a VirtualReality platform combining high-frequency neural entrainment with cognitive-emotional training to treat mental disorders. Synchronous observation of encephalographic data permits to identify neural biomarkers. The approach targets both primary symptoms and underlying neurocognitive deficits (attention, working memory) that impede traditional therapy. The project bridges immersive technology, computational neuroscience, and clinical psychology to pioneer a newclass of digital therapeutics for trauma. This project inherently combines expertise spanning computational neuroscience, clinical psychology, and immersive technology—domains that are essential but individually insufficient to address mental disorder treatment innovation. Two partner teams bring complementary and synergistic competencies: (i) the INRIA-team Nectarine (PI: Axel Hutt) provides foundational expertise in non-invasive neuromodulation and computational neuroscience. The team specializes in EEG signal processing, neural modeling, and biofeedback systems— technical competencies essential for designing the multimodal entrainment protocols, integrating real-time EEG recording with VR stimulation, extracting robust neurophysiological biomarkers, and developing closed-loop neuromodulation frameworks. (ii) the IGG team (PI: Antonio Capobianco) contributes human-centered Virtual Reality design, experimental protocol robustness, and user experience optimization. IGG expertise ensures that the VR platform deliversan engaging, safe, and immersive experience—critical for both participant tolerability and thevalidity of behavioral measurements. The project will be funded by ITI HealthTech ( [ https://healthtech.unistra.fr/ | https://healthtech.unistra.fr/ ] ) in Strasbourg, France [ https://healthtech.unistra.fr/ | . ] Principal Investigators: * Axel Hutt, Inria-team Nectarine ( [ https://team.inria.fr/nectarine/ | https://team.inria.fr/nectarine/ ] ) * Antonio Capobianco, iCube-team IGG ( [ https://igg.icube.unistra.fr/index.php?title=Accueil | https://igg.icube.unistra.fr/index.php?title=Accueil ] ) Please submit your usual application documents or request for more information to Axel Hutt (axel.hutt@inria.fr) or Antonio Capobianco (a.capobianco@unistra.fr). Deadline for application is March 13, 2026 -- Dr. rer. nat. Axel Hutt Directeur de Recherche Equipe NECTARINE - INRIA Nancy Center at University of Lorraine Equipe MLMS - iCube Strasbourg Bâtiment NextMed , 2, rue Marie Hamm 67000 Strasbourg, France
participants (1)
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Axel Hutt