Postgraduate Opportunities
Newcastle University
Supervisor(s): Professor Stuart Baker and Dr Andrew Jackson
Sponsor(s): EPSRC (50%) and Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences (50%)
Start Date: 1 October 2008
Duration: 3 years
Project description
Refinement and characterisation of a novel design for an intracortical recording electrode, intended to provide high quality, stable single unit recordings. The electrode may have eventual applications in neural prosthetics (brain machine interfaces). The project would involve microfabrication of the electrode, and iterative improvement of the design and fabrication process. The student would also test the electrode in an in vivo system. The project thus provides an interdisciplinary training in a wide range of skills.
Person specification
UK, European and international students may apply for this studentship. Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, an upper-second-class Honours degree or higher (or international equivalent), preferably in physical sciences (eg physics, engineering, computing, mathematics) or in neuroscience or biology. This research project involves working with experimental animals and the successful candidate will be expected to contribute to and, where appropriate, lead these experiments.
Value of the award
The award covers tuition fees at the UK/EU rate and an annual stipend of £12,940 for UK/EU students. International students must self-fund the difference between the UK/EU and international tuition fees and will not be eligible for the stipend.
How to apply
You must apply through the University’s postgraduate application form (www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply), inserting the reference number ION50 and selecting PhD Faculty of Medical Sciences as the programme of study. Only mandatory fields need to be completed (no personal statement required) and a covering letter, CV, all public examination certificates and (if English is not your first language) a copy of your English language qualifications must be attached. The covering letter must state the title of the studentship, quote the reference number ION50 and state how your interests and experience relate to the project.
You should also send your covering letter and CV to Nigel Lamond, Postgraduate Secretary, Institute of Neuroscience, Henry Wellcome Building, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, or by email to nigel.lamond@ncl.ac.uk.
Closing date: 16 June 2008
Further information
Please contact Professor Stuart Baker (stuart.baker@ncl.ac.uk) for further information.
Funding information
- Funding applies to:
- EU applicants (including UK)
