Biomedical Engineering of Brain Dynamics via Temporally Structured Brain Stimulation

About the Project

The Faculty of Science and Engineering at Maynooth University is pleased to announce that a Maynooth University Doctoral Scholarship will be available in the department of Electronic Engineering for a suitably qualified and successful applicant intending to commence their PhD studies in September.

Title: Biomedical Engineering of Brain Dynamics via Temporally Structured Brain Stimulation

Supervisor: The PhD candidate will work under the supervision of Dr. Vinícius R. Cota, with additional guidance from collaborators within Maynooth University and international partners.

Value of Maynooth University Doctoral Scholarship Award:

The award is fully funded for up to four years, commencing October 2026. The following funding is available for the successful applicant:

• Student stipend: €25,000 per annum;
• Annual Tuition Fees.

The scholarship is awarded for up to four years of full-time study, subject to satisfactory annual academic progression. Awardees must be resident in Ireland and available to pursue their programme of research on a full-time basis at Maynooth University for four years.

Project Description

This PhD project sits at the intersection of electronic engineering and neurosciences, and is driven by a straightforward but underexplored question: how does the precise temporal structure of stimuli shape the way the brain processes information? While most experimental and engineering approaches to brain stimulation focus on amplitude and frequency, growing evidence, including previous work on temporally complex and non-periodic stimulation, suggests that when stimuli occur, in terms of regularity, synchrony, and temporal structure, may be just as important. Yet, this dimension remains largely unexplored, both experimentally and technologically. The goal of this project is thus to investigate and exploit this temporal dimension using a combination of experimental neuroscience and engineering-driven development of experimental systems. The successful candidate will design and implement temporally precise and synchronized stimulation and acquisition pipelines across auditory, visual, and tactile modalities, working with clinical-grade EEG systems, brain-computer interface platforms, and custom-built electronic instrumentation. Additionally, a central aspect of the work will be the development of robust signal processing workflows capable of capturing subtle, temporally structured neural responses.

A full project description, as well as details of eligibility criteria, can be found on the Maynooth University website.

Application and Selection Process

Please include the following in your application:

• Personal statement;
• Curriculum Vitae;
• A proposal for an experiment involving sensory stimuli, electrophysiological recording, and signal analysis to test the main hypothesis described above (max. 1000 words);
• Relevant final academic transcripts;
• Names and contact details of two referees.

Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must provide written evidence of competency in the English language that satisfy the programme-specific requirements set out by the Maynooth University International Office.

All Maynooth University Doctoral Scholarship Awards are conditional on approval for registration by the University, following a formal application on the University’s application portal, MUApply. All eligible candidates will be considered for open positions. Applicants may be shortlisted for interview and, if so, will be contacted directly by the Department. Late applications will not be considered.

Informal enquiries about the project and supervisory arrangements may be directed to Dr Vinicius Cota at Vinicius.Cota@mu.ie.

Closing date: 5pm on 1st July 2026

Please submit applications by email directly to Dr Vinicius Cota at Vinicius.Cota@mu.ie.

Please title the subject of your email application as ‘Doctoral Scholarship - Department of Electronic Engineering and FSE 2026’.