PhD Positions: Pain, Interoception & interpersonal dysfunction in addiction

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PhD Positions: Pain, Interoception & interpersonal dysfunction in addiction

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Offer DescriptionPhD candidates wanted !The Addiction Research Team (Principal Investigator: Prof. Pierre Maurage) from the Louvain Experimental Psychopathology Research Group (LEP) at UCLouvain (Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium) is looking for motivated PhD candidates to work on innovative research projects aimed at clarifying the neuropsychological (cognitive, behavioural, affective) factors involved in alcohol and tobacco use disorder (AUD, TUD). We propose three projects investigating 1) pain and interoceptive sensitivity in AUD, 2) interpersonal/social cognition disfunction in AUD, and 3) respiratory interoception in TUD. We are also open for new proposals that align with the overarching topics of the laboratory. We have secured initial funding for project 1), which can start in January 2025. For all other projects we will help strong candidates apply for grants across different funding bodies, with a planned start of the PhD in September 2025.Project 1: “Nociception and interoception in AUD” co-supervised by Dr. Leganes-Fonteneau, Uv Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and UCLouvain: Chronic alcohol use impacts multiple bodily systems, and individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) frequently report heightened sensitivity to pain. However, it remains unclear whether this increased pain sensitivity influences drinking behaviour or affects clinical outcomes. Additionally, interoceptive processes-our awareness of internal bodily states-are thought to play a key role in the development and maintenance of addiction, though evidence from clinical populations is still incomplete.This multidisciplinary project bridges clinical research, neuropsychology, nociception, and interoception. Using techniques such as EEG, pain stimulation, cardiac physiology measures, and interoceptive assessments, we aim to explore these mechanisms in both clinical and sub-clinical populations, including individuals diagnosed with AUD.We particularly encourage students with experience or interest in computational processing and EEG to apply. Initial funding is secured for 2 years, with a clear pathway for extending this into a fully-funded 4-year PhD position.Project 2: “Unravelling the mechanisms of interpersonal dysfunction in AUD” co-supervised by Dr. Arthur Pabst, Linköping University (Sweden) and UCLouvain: Beyond reduced control over drinking behaviour, AUD is characterized by widespread interpersonal problems (e.g., conflicts, lack of support, reduced assertiveness) that cause distress, interfere with treatment delivery, and constitute major relapse triggers. There is thus an urgent need to understand the factors at their origin.This multidisciplinary project intersecting neuropsychology, psychiatry, social psychology and affective science will combine computerized tasks, analysis of video-recorded behaviour, eye-tracking, and self-report measures to 1) clarify the cognitive mechanisms underlying interpersonal problems, and 2) investigate difficulties in production of social information (e.g., conveying one’s emotional state). at feed into risk for AUD. The studies will be conducted in hospitalized patients with severe AUD and healthy individuals.Project 3: “Respiratory interoception in TUD” co-supervised by Dr. Leganes-Fonteneau, Uv Amsterdam and UCLouvain: Interoceptive processes, which involve the perception of bodily sensations, are thought to play a key role in both adaptive and maladaptive behaviours, cognition, and motivation. Interoception has been hypothesized to contribute to various components of addiction, but further research is needed to clarify how these bodily processes link to substance-related behaviours.Smoking, in particular, has a strong interoceptive component, with the act of smoking triggering distinctive bodily sensations. This project seeks to apply cutting-edge measures of respiratoryinteroception to tobacco research, aiming to uncover how interoceptive mechanisms contribute to key aspects of Tobacco Use Disorder (TUD), such as craving, stress responses, tobacco-seeking behaviours, and the likelihood of relapse. This research will be conducted in both clinical and sub-clinical populations of smokers.Perks– Opportunity to conduct “hands on” clinically meaningful fundamental research in vulnerable populations and contribute to improvements in knowledge and, ultimately, treatment– Opportunity to develop a rich set of marketable research skills– Stimulating and friendly international research environment– Opportunities for collaboration with and mobility to the institutions of our partners (e.g., Queen Mary University of London; McGill University, Canada, UvAmsterdam, Aarhus University, Denmark)– Competitive salary & research resourcesYour profile– Master’s degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, or another relevant discipline– Experience in conducting experimental research– Strong relational skills to work with vulnerable individuals– Good command of the English language (oral & written)– Strong organizational skills– Ambition to pursue a research career– Good command of the French language, coding and statistical skills, and experience with eye-tracking or EEG, are assets but are not compulsory.How and When to Apply:Please send a CV and a brief cover letter via the link.We welcome applications until November 30 2024, but prefer that candidates contact us as soon as possible. Interviews with pre-selected candidates will be conducted on a rolling basis.We look forward to your application!Where to apply WebsiteRequirementsAdditional InformationWork Location(s)Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute UC Louvain, IPSY Country Belgium GeofieldSTATUS: EXPIREDShare this page

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België

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Wed, 16 Oct 2024 22:28:10 GMT

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