Postdoctoral Researcher (f/m/x) — Remote and unsupervised smartphone-based assessments in early...

Scientific / postdoctoral posts

Join the Clinical Cognitive Neuroscience group, led by Dr David Berron. Our research spans the functional architecture of human memory and the medial temporal lobe, how Alzheimer's pathology disrupts these systems from the earliest disease stages onward, and the development of disease-stage-specific imaging and smartphone-based digital cognitive markers.

Your tasks will include:

• Preparing, cleaning, and harmonizing clinical, cognitive, imaging, blood-based biomarker, and smartphone-based datasets across cohorts
• Developing and applying regression and linear mixed-effects models to detect, monitor, and predict subtle cognitive impairment and future change
• Supporting ongoing data collection in local and national research cohorts, including monitoring participant adherence and communication
• Collaborating with our international partners and consortia
• Preparing manuscripts and presenting results at international conferences

• PhD in psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, biostatistics, or a related field
• Passion for cognitive research and neuropsychology, and a genuine interest in cognitive impairment in early-stage neurodegenerative diseases, particularly through smartphone-based, remote cognitive assessment and translational research approaches
• Experience with longitudinal modelling of cognitive data (e.g. linear mixed-effects models, multilevel models) and intensive longitudinal designs
• Experience with ecological momentary assessments, experience sampling methods, or remote/ambulatory cognitive testing
• Experience in programming (R and/or Python) and data visualization
• Familiarity with fluid and imaging biomarkers (blood-based/CSF; MRI) is a plus, not a requirement
• Track record of peer-reviewed publications
• Good communication skills and ability to work in a small and open international team
• Fluent in written and spoken English; German is a plus, not a requirement

Candidates who meet most, but not all, of these points are still encouraged to apply. 

Applications for the PhD student track are equally welcome; requirements will be considered relative to career stage

Disease-targeting treatments for Alzheimer's disease work best when started early, ideally before clinical symptoms appear. But there is currently no scalable way to screen for early risk or monitor subtle change outside of costly, infrequent in-clinic visits. Smartphone-based cognitive assessments, completed remotely and repeatedly at home, can detect decline that a single annual assessment would miss.

Our group develops and validates such tests and combines them with other biomarkers such as blood-based or imaging biomarkers for research and clinical use cases in early stages of Alzheimer's disease. This project focuses on the detection, monitoring and prediction of memory decline in early Alzheimer's disease using data from national and international research cohorts as well as a real-world cohort, and builds on our earlier work using smartphone-based assessments to detect memory decline.

We offer an excellent research environment with access to datasets from richly phenotyped, biomarker-characterized cohorts on remote and unsupervised cognitive assessment, complemented by a network of close national and international collaborators and initiatives from the EU and US as well as industry. Close 1:1 supervision, regular lab meetings and journal club are provided within an international, open-minded, experienced, ambitious and supportive team that gets along well beyond just working together.

Please submit your application including CV, a short motivation letter, and two references.

For futher information on the advertised position, please contact Dr David Berron (david.berron@dzne.de).

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.