About the project
As part of a large multidisciplinary research project, we are seeking three highly motivated and talented PhD students to develop and benchmark cutting-edge super-resolution imaging technologies. The project aims to establish a comprehensive approach for ultra-high-content, multimodal imaging of the neurodegenerative mouse brain. Specifically, we will enhance the spatial resolution of three complementary imaging modalities—diffusion-weighted MRI, arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI, and light sheet microscopy—and integrate these technologies to provide unprecedented insights into incurable brain diseases, such as Huntington’s Disease.
This research builds on strong collaborations and complementary expertise between the imec-Vision Lab (image reconstruction, processing, and analysis), the Bio-Imaging Lab (preclinical neuro-MRI), and theLaboratory of Cell Biology and Histology (cell biology and advanced microscopy). These teams are founding partners of the µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence and bring extensive experience from their pioneering work in these fields
- Detrez et al., Regional vulnerability and spreading of hyperphosphorylated tau in seeded mouse brain. Neurobiology of Disease, 2019. DOI:10.1016/j.nbd.2019.03.010.
- Gruel at al., S100A8-enriched microglia populate the brain of tau-seeded and accelerated aging mice. Aging Cell, 2024. DOI: 10.1111/acel.14120.
- Vasilkovska et al., Longitudinal alterations in brain perfusion and vascular reactivity in the zQ175DN mouse model of Huntington’s disease. Journal of Biomedical Science, 2024. DOI: 10.1186/s12929-024-01028-3.
- Bertoglio et al., Development of a ligand for in vivo imaging of mutant huntingtin in Huntington’s disease. Science Translational Medicine, 2022. DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abm3682.
- Giraldo et al., Investigating Tissue-Specific Abnormalities in Alzheimer’s Disease with Multi-Shell Diffusion MRI. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 2022. DOI: 10.3233/JAD-220551.
- Beirinckx et al., Model-based super-resolution reconstruction with joint motion estimation for improved quantitative MRI parameter mapping. Computerized Medical Imaging and Graphics, 2022. DOI: j.compmedimag.2022.102071.
PhD 1: Super-resolution diffusion MRI for predicting biological brain content.
You will develop a super-resolution reconstruction framework specifically tailored to biophysical modelling to better resolve the microstructure of the brain. Once validated, you will assess the framework in a mouse model of Huntington’s Disease.
You will be embedded in two research teams (imec-Vision Lab and Bio-Imaging Lab), and work in collaboration with the Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology.
More information and applications
PhD2: Super-resolution estimation of cerebral blood flow from high-field ASL MRI.
You will develop a super-resolution reconstruction framework for reproducible estimation of the cerebral blood flow in the mouse brain. Once established, the framework will be applied in animal models of Huntington’s Disease.
You will be embedded in two research teams (imec-Vision Lab and Bio-Imaging Lab), and work in collaboration with the Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology.
More information and applications
PhD3: Super-resolution light sheet microscopy for scalable, in toto brain research.
You will develop a method to improve the spatial resolution and image quality of light sheet microscopy images obtained from cleared, intact mouse brain. For this you can rely on cutting edge microscopy technologies, available through our internationally recognized core facility (https://www.acam-uantwerpen.be). Once established, you will apply this approach to visualize brain pathology progression in a mouse model for Huntington’s Disease and correlate the readouts with those obtained with other imaging modalities.
You will be embedded in two research teams (imec-Vision Lab and Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology), and work in close collaboration with the Bio-Imaging Lab.