The Podium Institute, an independent academic institute affiliated with the University of Oxford and focused on the safety and lifelong health of youth, grassroots, and professional athletes, is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Assistant or Senior Research Associate in Cerebrovascular Imaging. This position will support the research of Professor Thomas Okell, with a primary focus on developing new MRI acquisition, reconstruction, image-analysis, and modelling approaches to improve the assessment of mental health, cognition, and brain injury, particularly in athletes with sports-related injuries.

The successful candidate will contribute to projects involving the application of machine learning to large imaging datasets to identify novel markers of mental health and cognitive function, the development of sensitive MRI techniques to detect subtle cerebrovascular changes, and the assessment of imaging markers that could enhance diagnosis and treatment planning for chronic pain or mental health conditions. Additional research may include advancing methods to evaluate microvascular damage or blood–brain barrier disruption. The exact research focus will be determined by the group’s priorities and the candidate’s expertise at the start of the post.

Applicants should hold, or be close to completing, a PhD in a relevant field such as engineering, mathematics, or physics, and must have experience in MRI acquisition, reconstruction, signal modelling, or image analysis. The position offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of biomedical engineering, neuroscience, and sports science, contributing to impactful research on brain health and injury in athletes. The role is based at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, within the Department of Engineering Science.

The application deadline is March 23, 2026. For more information and to apply, candidates should visit the Podium Institute careers page. Informal queries can be directed to Professor Thomas Okell via email. This is a paid research position, but specific funding or salary details are not provided in the announcement.