Neural mechanisms of skill learning and plasticity investigated with 7T MRI

The Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, investigates the attentional, cognitive, and affective mechanisms of aesthetic perception and evaluation.

Your tasks:

Short description of the group/project/topic of research

Headed by Prof. Dr. Fredrik Ullén, the Department of Cognitive Neuropsychology at the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics (MPIEA) analyzes the brain mechanisms underpinning neural plasticity, skill learning, and creativity, primarily using music as a model domain. We provide a dynamic and enthusiastic research environment in which a broad range of techniques are employed, from structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging to behavior genetic analyses of gene–environment interplay. For more information about the department, please visit our .

State-of-the-art facilities for neuroimaging, including a new core facility for ultra-high field MRI using a Siemens Terra.X 7T scanner, headed by Dr. Dimo Ivanov, are provided at our new imaging center, the CoBIC (). The CoBIC was inaugurated in 2025 and is a major collaborative effort between the MPIEA, Goethe University, and the Ernst Strüngmann Institute.

Becoming an expert in a field such as music is a process of specialization that requires many years of goal-directed practice. This long-term training adapts the brain for optimal processing of domain-specific information, and it allows for the acquisition of the complex skills that underlie expert performance. Music has proved to be an excellent model domain for studies of skill learning and expertise, and much progress in this field has been made in recent years. Still, there are many unresolved questions at the research frontier. The present post-doctoral project will be part of a newly launched research programme at the Department of Cognitive Neuropsychology, in which we leverage state-of-the-art techniques of functional and structural 7T MRI to unravel the neural mechanisms of skilled performance, using musicians as a model group. The successful candidate is invited to formulate specific research questions relating to this overarching goal in interaction with other researchers in the department.

Our requirements:

Requirements for this position are a PhD in cognitive neuroscience or related field (neuroscience, physics, biomedical engineering, computer science), as well as a high proficiency in spoken and written English. Prior hands-on experience with 7T fMRI data acquisition and analysis, as well as a track record of peer-reviewed publications involving 7T neuroimaging, and the ability to independently design and optimize fMRI experiments are required. A solid methods background in neuroimaging analysis and statistics is essential, with demonstrated proficiency in preprocessing pipelines tailored for high-field high-resolution data. Familiarity with ultra-high-field-specific challenges (e.g. B0/B1 inhomogeneity correction, susceptibility artifacts mitigation, and distortion correction techniques) is strongly desired.

Experience with using machine learning-based analysis techniques (MVPA, RSA, etc.) as well as with programming in Python and MATLAB are highly desirable, particularly in the context of high-resolution 7T applications, such as representational similarity analysis, sub-millimeter functional mapping, and laminar and columnar fMRI.

Research will be conducted primarily at the CoBIC and the MPI for Empirical Aesthetics in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The MPI facilities are supported by experienced IT and physics staff. Analyses will be undertaken on the Institute’s high-performance cluster.

Our offer:

Additional information

The position will begin at the earliest on September 1 2026 and is initially limited to three years. The selection process will continue until the position is filled. The remuneration is based on the German collective wage agreement for the public sector (TVöD), and depends on qualification and experience.

The Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics provides a highly interdisciplinary and international scientific environment, with English and German being the languages spoken in the laboratories. It is located in an attractive location with excellent infrastructure in Frankfurt’s Westend neighborhood. You can expect a modern workplace with a pleasant and inspiring working atmosphere.

The Max Planck Society strives for gender equality and diversity. We are also committed to increasing the number of individuals with disabilities in our workforce. Therefore, applicants of all backgrounds are welcome.

Your application:

Link to PI’s webpage

https://www.aesthetics.mpg.de/en/the-institute/people/fredrik-ullen.html

Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics Grüneburgweg 14, 60322 Frankfurt am Main