Els Ortibus

PhD position at KU Leuven in multimodal markers of altered brain maturation and motor development in high-risk infants . This interdisciplinary doctoral project is hosted by the Department of Development and Regeneration within the PRONTO research lab , in close collaboration with UZ Leuven , the Neonatology Unit of University Hospitals Leuven , the Department of Electrical Engineering , and the Centre for Developmental Disabilities . The project brings together expertise in neonatology, pediatric neurology, ophthalmology, rehabilitation sciences, engineering, and medical data analysis. The research focuses on preterm infants at high risk for neurodevelopmental disorders , aiming to uncover how early brain maturation relates to later visuomotor and motor development. Using longitudinal data from the first two years of life, the project combines MRI , EEG , and wearable sensing to identify multimodal biomarkers of altered brain maturation and deficient bimanual coordination outcomes. The role involves supporting data acquisition, optimising processing pipelines, curating and integrating multimodal datasets, and developing advanced analyses including signal processing , machine learning , and AI-based modelling . The position offers a fully funded, full-time PhD appointment for 4 years (initial 1-year contract, renewable up to 4 years), with salary according to KU Leuven standards and access to advanced infrastructure, interdisciplinary supervision, and doctoral training. The start date is 15 October 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. Applicants should have a master’s degree in a relevant field such as Biomedical Engineering, Applied Engineering, Biomechanics, Physics, Data Science, Neuroscience, or Biomedical Sciences. Strong academic performance is expected. Programming skills in Python, MATLAB and/or R are required, while experience with MRI, EEG, and wearable-sensor analysis is an advantage. English proficiency is mandatory, and willingness to learn Dutch is required. Candidates must also be willing to apply for a PhD fellowship in 2027 with institutional support. Interested candidates should submit a motivation letter, CV, diploma copy if available, and contact information for two references. Informal enquiries can be directed to Prof. dr. Els Ortibus at [email protected] . Interviews are planned for the first two weeks of September 2026.