PhD Studentship: Development of Innovative fNIRS Techniques for Neuroimaging in Sport Sciences and Neuromarketing Applications

Duration of study: Full-time – 4 years

Starting date: Either 1 May 2025 or 1 October 2025 – please indicate your preference in your application

Application deadline: 31 March 2025

Primary Supervisor: Prof Ilias Tachtsidis (UCL Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering)

Secondary Supervisor: Professor Antonia Hamilton (UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience) and Dr Flaminia Ronca (UCL Sport and Exercise Medical Sciences)

Project Description:

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an optical neuroimaging technique that uses near-infrared light to measure cortical brain changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin concentrations (HbO2, HHb). This method identifies brain neuronal activation areas by observing changes in haemoglobin haemodynamic and oxygenation due to increased brain blood flow from neuronal activity, known as neurovascular coupling. fNIRS is well-established in infant and adult neuroscience research [see review Pinti P. et al., Ann N.Y. Acad. Sci. 2020]. However, significant technological (hardware) and computational (software/analytics) advancements are needed to improve brain cortical sensitivity, functional imaging reconstruction, and understanding of brain-body physiology interactions. Physiology augmented neuroimaging is a powerful methodology to understand the embodied human brain and allows new dimensions to explore the interplay between brain and body activity [see Scholkmann F. et al, Neurophotonics 2022].

This PhD project offers a unique opportunity to work with cutting-edge optical neuroimaging technology. It is co-sponsored by Shimadzu, a Japanese company specializing in optical neuroimaging instruments, and the Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering at UCL, known for its expertise in optical neuroimaging developments and applications. The PhD candidate will collaborate with both academic and industry experts, covering a wide range of topics from device design, algorithm developments, signal processing analytics and neuroimaging applications.

Understanding human cognitive function, especially motivation and decision-making, requires a paradigm shift in neuroimaging that requires recognizing the mind-body connection. Complex activities like social interactions and sports challenge both our emotional and physical states. We now require new technologies, methods and protocols that will allow us to integrate brain and body information to create new understanding of our cognitive function.

This PhD research aims to answer the above challenge. The PhD scope includes: (1) implementing solutions for fNIRS and physiological systems integration; (2) developing methods for multimodal data fusion; and (3) improving analytic methods for higher sensitivity inference of neuronal activation. The PhD extends beyond proof-of-principle testing, applying these technologies in human-centric studies for neuromarketing and sports sciences. 

Funding: The successful student will receive a stipend starting from at least the UCL minimum (£21,237 in 2024/25) as well as the cost of tuition fees for [e.g., “Home”] fee students (£6,035 in 2024/25).

Qualifications required:  Candidates should hold a UK (or international equivalent) first or upper-second Bachelor’s degree. Candidates with backgrounds in either Engineering or Physics or Computing or Neuroscience or Psychology are welcome to apply. 

How to apply: Please visit the UCL Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering webpage linked above for instructions on the application process.

In your formal application, please name Prof Ilias Tachtsidis as your proposed supervisor and include Project Code 23040.

Contact: For informal inquiries please contact Prof Ilias Tachtsidis who will be happy to answer any queries about the project: (i.tachtsidis@ucl.ac.uk)

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