République Française Inserm
Institut thématique Neurosciences, sciences cognitives, neurologie, psychiatrie

PhD position available, Idiopathic environmental intolerance

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  • Type d'offre : CDD
  • Ville : Paris (France)
  • Statut : Recrutement en cours
Date d'arrivée à l'ITMO : Vendredi 25 Mars 2022

PhD position available, Idiopathic environmental intolerance, september 2022

 

3 mots clé -

psychiatry, cognitive science, environment

Ville

Paris

Pays

France

Texte de l'offre

Positions available in Paris for the cognitive study of Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance

 


The Research Project
Symptoms that patients attribute to the environment while medical examination shows no bodily malfunction are labeled as "idiopathic environmental intolerance" (IEI). People suffering from IEI single out several agents from the environment, including chemical substances and electromagnetic fields, which they blame for a wide range of chronic and unspecific symptoms such as diffuse pain, fatigue, dizziness, dyspnea, or palpitations. IEI is an emerging health issue and specific diagnostic tools as well as evidence-based treatment programs are still lacking.
In the last years, several works suggested that cognitive biases contribute to IEI. In this research project funded by the French Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale and the Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire, we will test the relevance of a cognitive model based on the assumption that symptoms of IEI result from impairments in interoceptive awareness. The project will combine behavioral experiments, computational modeling of behavior and beliefs, and the development and testing of a dedicated treatment program with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

 

Open positions
Two PhD students and one post-doc fellow will be recruited in September 2022 for 3 years. Ideal candidates are highly motivated to work on this project, good team players open to an interdisciplinary approach between medicine, cognitive science, and computational approaches, and speak and write English fluently.
One of the three open positions is still available for a PhD candidate. The applicant is expected to show a good knowledge of scientific methods and statistics for behavioral experiments in cognitive science, psychology, or a related field. Experience with psychometric testing of patients, data analysis, and programming in Matlab or similar software is advantageous. The candidate's main missions will be to program, run and analyze behavioral tests with patients suffering from IEI and healthy controls, involving interoceptive tasks and tests of cognitive biases.
A high level of proactive involvement will be expected from all members of the team, which will be expected to be physically present for the term of the project.

 

The supervising team
An international medical and scientific supervision is organized with complementary skills for this interdisciplinary project that targets an emerging field of medicine. The main medical and scientific supervisor is Pr Cédric Lemogne, assisted by Dr Victor Pitron (both psychiatrists, MD, PhD, Hôtel-Dieu, Paris). Pr Lemogne will be the PhD director. Dr Liane Schmidt and Dr Leonie Koban (both PI researchers at the Control-Interoception-Attention team at the Paris Brain Institute, Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital, Paris) will provide additional scientific supervision, especially for the work on computational modelling. Pr Damien Léger, and Dr Lynda Bensefa-Colas (both Occupational and Environmental physicians, MD, PhD, Hôtel-Dieu, Paris) will provide additional medical supervision about IEI. Three senior European researchers will offer monthly supervision: Pr Omer Van den Bergh (Leuven) and Pr Michael Witthöft (Mainz) for the work on the behavioral testing and the treatment program, Pr Giovanni Pezzulo (Rome) for the work on computational modelling.


The work environment
The research team will be based at the VIFASOM lab of the Hôtel-Dieu, a beautiful hospital in the heart of ancient neighborhoods of Paris, where patients will come for testing and treatment. The lab currently houses 3 PI and > 10 PhD students and engineers working on various fields of cognitive science. This will offer the opportunity for fruitful discussions and collaborations and a stimulating workplace. Nearby, the Paris Brain Institute (Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital, Paris) and the Ecole Normale Supérieure also offer many opportunities for exciting scientific training and conferences in cognitive science. The PhD students will have courses and scientific supervision at the Doctorate School Bio SPC of Paris.
All supervisors endorse values of equity and diversity, and are committed to ensuring a safe, welcoming, and inclusive workplace. Everyone is therefore strongly encouraged to apply.

 

Application : CV, motivational and recommandation letters should be sent to Dr Victor Pitron : victor.pitron@aphp.fr. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and all candidates will receive full consideration.

Date de fin de publication :

01/07/2022

Type d'emploi

Thèse / PhD

Information contact

victor.pitron@aphp.fr

 

Contact