Details
- Close date
- Friday, 31 July 2026
- Academic background
- Health Sciences
- Host campus
- Christchurch
- Qualification
- PhD
- Department
- Medicine (Christchurch)
- Supervisor
- Dr Toni Pitcher, Professor Tim Anderson, Dr Campbell Le Heron
Overview
The Neurodegeneration Research Group (NRG) have substantial research programmes underway in Parkinson's disease and dementia.
Our research is conducted at a human behavioural and clinical level. Our methods include brain imaging (functional, structural, diffusion and perfusion MRI; metabolic and protein deposition PET), EEG, behavioural tasks, and neuropsychological assessment.
There are also opportunities available in epidemiology and genetics/bioinformatics relating to Parkinson’s disease.
Projects can be catered to students from diverse backgrounds, including psychology, neuroscience, physics, mathematics, statistics, and medicine.
Please note this research opportunity is also open to BMedSc students.
Potential topics
- Progression in Parkinson's disease using evidence from, MRI, genetic, or cognitive assessment data
- Freezing and falling in Parkinson's disease – who, why and what to do
- Cerebral haemodynamic function in ageing and dementia
- Neurological correlates of apathy and motivation in neurodegeneration
- Mathematical modelling of neurological disease onset, incidence, and progression
Contact
- Contact name
- Dr Toni Pitcher
- toni.pitcher@otago.ac.nz