A multifaceted approach to mapping positional sense in healthy persons and persons with cancer.

The project is a collaboration between the departments of Movement Sciences (Prof. Jean-Jacques Orban de Xivry, jjodx.github.io) and Rehabilitation Sciences at KU Leuven (Prof. An De Groef). The Movement Control and Neuroplasticity research group consists of a multidisciplinary team of international scientists from different scientific backgrounds. The research team follows an integrated behavioural and neuroscientific research strategy with a focus on experimental studies in motor control and training-induced neuroplasticity. In recent years, the group has increasingly focused on studying the neural basis of changes in motor performance across the life course or changes due to disease. The oncological rehabilitation research group focuses on prevention and treatment of mostly physical side effects of cancer treatment, in particular pain, sensory changes and shoulder pain.

Project

Position sense, the sense that provides information about a limb's position in space, allows us to interact with our environment. While cooking, a person can grab a box on his/her left side and move it to the other side without looking at the hands. Such an action seems very easy for healthy people but becomes problematic once the sense of position is affected. This is the case in people with neuropathies after chemotherapy treatment for cancer. The unconscious dropping of object, for example, is a sign that the sense of position is affected in those persons. Despite the awareness about the importance of positional sense in health and disease, a number of challenges remain to be answered before a proper theoretical framework on positional sense can be obtained. The absence of such a framework currently prevents proper evaluation and rehabilitation of positional sense, both in older adults and in persons with cancer. The aim of this project is to use a comprehensive task battery of sensory, motor and cognitive branches to lay the foundations for a new theoretical framework of positional sensation and apply it to age- and disease-related changes, such as after cancer.

Profile

• You hold or will obtain a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences and Kinesitherapy, a Master of Science in Medicine, a Master of Science in Exercise Science, Master in Experimental Psychology, or a Master in Science in the field of healthcare by October 2024.
• You are a highly motivated, enthusiastic, critical and creative person to join our team.
• You are interested in scientific research and motivated to start a PhD. You have already built up a good study and internship record.
• You enjoy working with patients in collaboration with a team of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and researchers.
• You have good Dutch and/or English communication skills (both oral and written).
• You have organisational skills, are accurate and eager to learn.
• You have a flexible attitude.

Useful skills (not required)

Offer

• A dynamic research team (Prof. Orban de Xivry and Prof. De Groef) with international expertise in kinematics, motor control, pain neuroscience, and clinical oncological (after)care that will guide you in this project.
• A creative and interdisciplinary environment for carrying out data collection and scientific tasks.
• You will also undertake teaching and research support tasks.
• A PhD track of 4 years. The initial appointment is for one year (starting in autumn 2024) and will be extended upon positive evaluation.

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Jean-Jacques Orban de Xivry, tel.: +32 16 37 66 03, mail: jj.orban@kuleuven.be or Prof. dr. An De Groef, tel.: +32 16 37 66 68, mail: an.degroef@kuleuven.be.

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.