Investigating Move-to-Hold Integration in Dystonia: A Behavioural and Neuroimaging Study

About the Project

Project Summary

Dystonia causes disabling muscle contractions and abnormal postures. This PhD will use robotics (vBOT) and advanced brain imaging (EEG, OPM MEG) at Aston University to study how the brain plans and holds movement, in partnership with clinicians at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

Project Details

Dystonia is a movement disorder characterised by involuntary muscle contractions, twisting movements, and abnormal postures. The underlying brain mechanisms remain poorly understood. A recent breakthrough showed that the brain’s “hold” commands (which keep a limb still) are generated by integrating preceding movement commands (Albert et al., 2020, eLife). This project will test whether this “move‑to‑hold” integration is disrupted in dystonia.

The main experimental work will be conducted at Aston University, where you will use a vBOT robotic interface to precisely quantify movement and postural control, alongside EEG and OPM‑MEG (a wearable brain‑imaging technology) to measure neural activity during movement and holding tasks.

Participants with dystonia will be recruited through the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham movement disorders clinic, in collaboration with Dr Benjamin Wright and Dr Venkat Srinivasan.

What you will do:

• Year 1: Establish the vBOT platform at Aston University; run experiments in healthy volunteers (EEG + vBOT); receive training in OPM‑MEG.
• Year 2: Recruit patients with dystonia via QE Hospital; collect behavioural and neuroimaging data primarily at Aston University.
• Year 3: Analyse data, test whether brain oscillations predict movement and holding behaviour, and prepare publications.

Why this matters:

• First direct test of the integrator hypothesis in dystonia.
• Potential identification of a new brain‑based biomarker (beta oscillations).
• A 4‑month clinical placement at QE Hospital provides hands‑on experience in a world‑class neurology centre.

Training and placement: You will receive expert supervision from a multidisciplinary team spanning neuroscience, neuroimaging, and clinical neurology.

The project includes a 4‑month PhD+ clinical placement at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, where you will work directly with movement‑disorders patients and clinicians, complementing your Aston‑based experimental research.

International applicants: International applicants are welcome and will not need to pay any difference between Home and Overseas tuition fees.

Person Specification

Candidates should have been awarded, or expect to achieve, EITHER:

a] a First or Upper Second Class award in their undergraduate degree, in a relevant subject.

OR

b] a First or Upper Second Class award in their undergraduate degree, and a Merit or Distinction in a Masters degree, both in a relevant subject.

Qualifications from overseas institutions will be considered, but performance must be equivalent to that described above, and the University reserves the right to ascertain this equivalence according to its own criteria.

Desirable / Essential Skills or Experience

Essential:

• Interest in movement disorders and brain imaging.
• Good communication and team working skills.

Desirable:

• Experience with EEG/MEG or other neuroimaging.
• Programming skills (Python, MATLAB, or similar).
• Experience working with clinical populations.

Submitting an application

We can only consider applications that are complete and have all supporting documents. Applications that do not provide all the relevant documents will be automatically rejected.Your application must include:

1. English language copies of the transcripts and certificates for all your higher education degrees, including any Bachelor degrees.
2. A Research Statement detailing your understanding of the research area, how you would approach the project, and a brief review of relevant literature. Be sure to use the title of the research project you are applying for. There is no set format or word count.
3. A personal statement which outlines any further information which you think is relevant to your application, such as your personal suitability for research, career aspirations, possible future research interests, and further description of relevant employment experience.
4. A Curriculum Vitae (Resume) which details your education and work history.
5. Two academic refereeswho can discuss your suitability for independent research. References must be on headed paper, signed and dated no more than 2 years old. At least one reference should be from your most recent University. You can submit your references at a later date if necessary.
6. Evidence that you meet the English Language requirements. If you do not currently meet the language requirements, you can submit this at a later stage.
7. A copy of your passport. Where relevant, include evidence of settled or pre-settled status.

Contact Information

For enquiries about this project, contact Dr Boubker Zaaimi at b.zaaimi@aston.ac.uk.

Location

This position will be based on the Aston Campus in Birmingham, UK. The successful candidate will need to be located within a reasonable distance of the campus, and will be expected to visit in person regularly.

Interviews

Interviews will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. If you are shortlisted, you will be contacted directly with details of the interview.

Key words

dystonia, movement disorders, motor control, EEG, MEG, OPM-MEG, robotics, vBOT, beta oscillations, neuroimaging

Funding Notes

This project covers all tuition fees and includes an annual stipend.

Please note that the successful candidate will be responsible for any costs relating to moving to Birmingham and/or visiting the Aston campus. International students must meet the financial requirements for the visa, flights, and NHS Surcharge. Applicants should be confident that they can meet these costs before applying.