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PhD candidate Digital Biomarkers for Atypical Parkinsonism based on Continuous, Real-world Monitoring

Door Lucas van Doorne / 11-11-2025

• Voltijd
• Radboud UMC
• 22 uur geleden geplaatst
• Eindigt: 09-12-2025
Center of Expertise for Parkinson & Movement Disorders

Do you have what it takes to combine AI and clinical research? Are you motivated to contribute to the development of new therapies for people living with atypical parkinsonism? We are looking for a talented and versatile PhD student to develop digital biomarkers from continuous, real-world sensor data.

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a form of atypical parkinsonism characterized by its highly progressive and thereby extremely debilitating nature for affected patients and their families. Novel therapies are being developed to halt the underlying neurodegeneration. However, testing their efficacy is hampered by the lack of objective and sensitive outcome measures.

At the Center of Expertise for Parkinson and Movement Disorders, we have conducted a unique PSP cohort study with long-term, continuous collection of wearable sensor data in daily life. Working together with AI experts, you will develop models to extract insights into the progression of key PSP symptoms, based on high-frequency movement and heart-rate signals. Through collaboration with clinical experts, you will integrate clinical knowledge and combine the developed digital biomarkers with clinical and biomarker data. In addition, you will work towards concrete applications by providing sensitive outcomes for clinical trials aiming to halt the underlying neurodegeneration. Together, by enabling reliable, real-life monitoring of PSP, this PhD project has the potential to significantly advance our understanding of PSP progression, and to transform the way we assess patients in clinical trials and care.

Your everyday interactions will be with fellow PhD students from the AI for Parkinson Lab (icai.ai/lab/ai-for-parkinson-lab/), a multidisciplinary research group focused on AI-based, real-life monitoring of parkinson signs. The lab is part of the internationally recognized Radboudumc Center of Expertise for Parkinson & Movement Disorders. Your PhD project will be supervised by Dr. and Prof. Bas Bloem. In addition, you will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience with our industry partners, for example pharmaceutical companies interested in integrating new digital outcomes into clinical trials.

Tasks and responsibilities

You will:

• design and conduct scientific research in a stimulating, interdisciplinary environment
• develop and validate machine learning models to extract digital biomarkers for atypical parkinsonism from real-world wearable sensor data
• interpret findings in close collaboration with clinical and AI experts
• work towards concrete applications in clinical trials aiming to halt the underlying neurodegeneration
• present results at scientific conferences and in peer-reviewed publications
• make the developed tools available for the community in line with open science principles
• contribute to knowledge transfer by supervising student internships
• follow relevant courses at the Radboudumc, Radboud University and Donders Graduate School
• finalize the project with a PhD thesis

Profile

• You have a Master's degree in technical medicine, biomedical sciences, artificial intelligence, data science, biomedical engineering or a related field of study.
• You have a strong affinity with performing data analyses, and experience with deep learning, machine learning and/or time series analysis.
• You have good programming skills in Python or similar languages.
• You are enthusiastic to collaborate with researchers from different disciplines, and to expand your knowledge about technical and clinical aspects.
• Experience with using machine learning in the context of neuroscience, or working with similar data types (time series data, sensor signals) is a plus.
• You have a high proficiency in spoken and written English.
• You have strong team working skills.
• You have a curious and proactive

Place of work

You will work closely together with fellow PhD students at the AI for Parkinson lab at the Radboudumc Center of Expertise for Parkinson & Movement Disorders.

Supervision will be provided by Dr. , Senior Researcher Remote Monitoring & AI, and by Prof. Bas Bloem, head of the Center of Expertise for Parkinson & Movement Disorders.

Radboudumc Center of Expertise for Parkinson & Movement Disorders

The Center of Expertise for Parkinson & Movement Disorders houses all Parkinson activities from the Departments of Neurology and Rehabilitation. These include an extensive portfolio of research & innovation projects, all outpatient care activities, and the activities of ParkinsonNet Netherlands and ParkinsonNet International. Nationally and internationally there is much recognition for what we do in the field of Parkinson. We conduct innovative translational scientific research, provide person-oriented and high quality care, and we share our knowledge with colleagues in the Netherlands and abroad. For this reason we have been awarded again this year with the designation 'Center of Excellence' by the National Parkinson Foundation.

AI for Parkinson Lab

The AI for Parkinson Lab ( https://icai.ai/icai-labs/ai-for-parkinson ) is an innovative, multidisciplinary research group focused on developing AI-based remote monitoring tools for people with Parkinson's disease. Within the lab, researchers from both technical and clinical backgrounds work closely together to create and validate digital biomarkers using real-life wearable sensor and video data. The AI for Parkinson Lab is embedded in the Center of Expertise for Parkinson & Movement Disorders.

Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour

The Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour is a world-class interfaculty research center, that houses more than 700 researchers devoted to understanding the mechanistic underpinnings of the human mind. Excellent, state-of-the-art research facilities are available for the broad range of neuroscience research conducted at the Donders Institute. The Donders Institute has been assessed by an international evaluation committee as 'excellent' and recognised as a 'very stimulating environment for top researchers, as well as for young talent'. The Donders Institute fosters a collaborative, multi-disciplinary, supportive research environment with a diverse international staff.

Contact and application procedure

Dr. , Senior Researcher Remote Monitoring & AI, e-mail: luc.evers@radboudumc.nl

Please include the following materials in your application:

1. A concise yet compelling motivation letter
2. A comprehensive CV that highlights your research skills and experiences. Please mention at least one example of a scientific text where you were the first author (e.g., thesis), and at least one example of a previous data analysis or software project that required substantial coding.
3. Transcripts detailing the course lists and grades of both your MSc and BSc programs.