Neurosciences

PhD Thesis Topic:

Foundations of large-scale neuronal dynamics: creating links between computational and clinical neuroscience

Supervisor: Dr. Erik Fagerholm

Doctoral study program: Neurosciences
Form: doctoral (present)
Department: The 1st Department of Neurology, St. Anne´s Univ. Hospital and Faculty of Medicine

Annotation: Models in computational neuroscience remain highly scale-specific, with little or no
cohesion between sub-disciplines dealing with different types of neuroimaging datasets. First-principles
approaches based on tools in information theory, statistical mechanics, and dynamical systems theory
show promise in their ability to create links between the broad range of scales investigated in
neuroscience. This Ph.D. project aims to develop such approaches based upon mathematical foundations
and proof of principle simulations in synthetic datasets, for the subsequent application to real-world
applications found in clinical neuroscience — e.g., in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Funding of the research: stipend to be provided by the Faculty of Medicine and the 1st Department of Neurology
Information on funding PGS positions: stipend to be provided by the Faculty of Medicine and the 1st Department of Neurology
Requirements for the student according to the Board for the PhD studies in Neurosciences at MU

Eligibility criteria for the student:
- Master's or equivalent degree in neuroscience related to the topic
- Passing the introductory interview in English about the dissertation topic
- English language at least at B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference
- Willingness to participate in international cooperation

As part of the PhD studies:
- Fulfilling the requirements of an individual study plan
- Completion of courses required in the Neuroscience program, specialization in Neuroscience
- Publication activity - at least 3 impacted publications, of which 1 original and at least 2 first authorships
- Completion of a foreign internship of at least 1 month
- Cooperation on international projects

PhD Thesis Topic:

Non-invasive Temporal Interference Stimulation to Modulate and Predict Therapeutic Outcomes in Epilepsy

Supervisor: Ing. Adam Williamson, PhD.

Doctoral study program: Neurosciences

Form: doctoral (present)

Department: International Clinical Research Center of St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno (FNUSA-ICRC)

Cooperating Department: : First Department of Neurology and CEITEC MUNI

Annotation:

The primary objective of this project is to validate Temporal Interference Stimulation (TI) as a non-invasive method for effectively modulating the vagus nerve, with a focus on its impact on physiological markers such as Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and resting-state EEG. In patients with epilepsy who are candidates for Vagus Nerve (VN) implants, the goal is to demonstrate a significant reduction in epileptic biomarkers, such as interictal epileptiform discharges, and to extract key features like seizure onset patterns, changes in frequency bands, and functional connectivity metrics. The study will evaluate how TI-VNS modulates these biomarkers, as well as other physiological states such as sleep, by assessing the effects of TI-VNS and non-invasive deep brain stimulation on sleep fragmentation and overall sleep quality. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has proven effective in reducing seizures in drug-resistant epilepsy, but its invasive nature and variable response rates necessitate exploring alternatives like TI, which uses kilohertz electrical fields to non-invasively target deep brain structures. This research aims to further investigate the potential of TI-VNS and TI deep brain stimulation as a non-invasive treatment for epilepsy, enhancing understanding of how these techniques influence epileptic and sleep-related biomarkers.

The application areas of the developed technology will be as follows:

Brain stimulation and Imaging in neurological disorders and Sleep.
Vagus nerve stimulation effects on brain functional connectivity in Epilepsy and Sleep.

The proposed topic is connected to the work of the research group of Dr. Adam Williamson, and during the study, funding in the form of a full-time basis is planned for the PhD student in addition to the scholarship from MU in the coming years.

Funding of the research

ERC Consolidator grant 2023 (Adam Williamson) – EMUNITI- Epilepsy Treatment Using Neuromodulation by NonInvasive Temporal Interference Stimulation.
ERC Proof of concept- FitSleep - Fabricating Non-Invasive Temporal Interference Devices for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Information on funding PGS positions

Doctoral study program stipend and employed at FNUSA, ICRC.

Requirements for the student according to the Board for the PhD studies in Neurosciences at MU

Completed master's/engineering education or equivalent diploma relevant to the topic- passing the entrance exam including part of the interview in English.
Good working knowledge of EEG data analysis, imaging or signal processing methods.
Good working knowledge of brain stimulation methods.
Practical experience within a research environment and/or publication in relevant and refereed journals.
Knowledge of English at least B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages – Readiness to participate in international cooperation.

Within the PhD study:

Fulfillment of the requirements of the individual study plan.
Completion of courses prescribed in the Neuroscience program, specialization Neurosciences.
publication activity in the prescribed scope, i.e. at least 3 impacted publications, of which 2 original and at least 2 first-authors.
Completion of a foreign internship lasting at least 1 month - cooperation on international projects.

The scientific profile of the supervisor:

29 publications in WOS;
1593 SCI citations without self-citations;
h-index = 16;
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-5632-0084
Current projects: head of the research team in the projects:
- ERC Consolidator grant 2023:EMUNITI -Epilepsy Treatment Using Neuromodulation by NonInvasive Temporal Interference Stimulation. Registration number: 101088623
- Meu ERC Proof of concept grant 2024: FitSleep - Fabricating Non-Invasive Temporal Interference Devices for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Registration number: 101157945

PhD Thesis Topic:

Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation with Temporally Interfering Electric Fields and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Early Diagnosis of Stimulation Output in Neurological Disorders.

Supervisor: Ing. Adam Williamson, PhD.

Doctoral study program: Neurosciences

Form: doctoral (present)

Department: International Clinical Research Center of St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno (FNUSA-ICRC)

Cooperating department: First Department of Neurology and CEITEC BUT.

Supervisor: Ing. Adam Williamson, Ph.D.

Annotation

In the dissertation thesis "Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation with Temporally Interfering Electric Fields and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Early Diagnosis of Stimulation Output in Neurological Disorders." the doctoral student will focus on integrating advanced neuromodulation techniques, particularly the Temporal Interference (TI) stimulation method, with neuroimaging through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In the theoretical part, the doctoral student will examine the interplay between TI and functional MRI and investigate brain dynamics and how modulations in deep brain structures impact both task-based brain activation and resting-state connectivity. On the empirical level, the doctoral student will be actively involved in optimizing the integration of TI technology with MRI to ensure compatibility and minimize noise and artifacts. The main goal of the doctoral student's research will be to seamlessly integrate Temporal Interference (TI) technology with functional neuroimaging, particularly MRI, and potentially other neuroscience intervention techniques, to advance the understanding and application of neuromodulation in neurological disorders.

The application areas of the developed technology will be as follows:

1) Brain stimulation and mapping in neurological disorders.

2) Vagus nerve stimulation and brain functional connectivity.

Funding of the research
1) ERC Consolidator grant 2023 (Adam Williamson) – EMUNITI – Epilepsy Treatment Using Neuromodulation by NonInvasive Temporal Interference Stimulation. Registration number: 101088623.

2) ERC Proof of Concept grant 2024 (Adam Williamson) - FitSleep - Fabricating Non-Invasive Temporal Interference Devices for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Registration number: 101157945.

Information on funding PGS positions

From doctoral study program and employment from FNUSA.

Requirements for the student according to the Board for the PhD studies in Neurosciences at MU

Completed master's/engineering education or equivalent diploma relevant to the topic- passing the entrance exam including part of the interview in English.
Good working knowledge of MRI data analysis, imaging or signal processing methods.
Good working knowledge of brain stimulation methods.
Practical experience within a research environment and/or publication in relevant and refereed journals.
Knowledge of English at least B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages – Readiness to participate in international cooperation.

Within the PhD study:

Fulfilment of the requirements of the individual study plan.
Completion of courses prescribed in the Neuroscience program, specialization Neurosciences.
Publication activity in the prescribed scope, i.e. at least 3 impacted publications, of which 2 original and at least 2 first-authors.
Completion of a foreign internship lasting at least 1 month - cooperation on international projects.

The scientific profile of the supervisor

Web of Science – 29 publications;
Citation count: 1593 SCI citations (excluding self-citations)
H-index = 16;
Current projects: head of the research team in the projects:
- ERC Consolidator grant 2023: Epilepsy Treatment Using Neuromodulation by NonInvasive Temporal Interference Stimulation;
- ERC Proof of Concept grant 2024: FitSleep - Fabricating Non-Invasive Temporal Interference Devices for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-5632-0084.