Several PhD stipends at the Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP)

Are you enthusiastic about basic human pain research? The Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP) at Aalborg University is recruiting several PhD fellows, to start 1st of September 2025 or soon hereafter. 

Who are we?
CNAP strive to identify and modulate key features of human pain neuroplasticity and its relevance for persistent pain in humans.

CNAP is a research Center of Excellence inauguratDaed by the Danish National Research Foundation at Aalborg University, Denmark (www.cnap.hst.aau.dk). CNAP applies a basic research approach where new advanced biomedical provocation and probing platforms are being discovered and applied to study novel aspects of the human pain neuroplasticity. The ambition of CNAP is to identify and modulate key features of human pain neuroplasticity through a systematic approach, including provoking, probing and modulation of the dynamic neuroplastic properties of the pain system. We believe that this approach over time will foster new fundamental discoveries and change the state of the art and offer novel ways for pain treatment. Our world class lab facilities enable advanced quantitative sensory/pain testing, application of advanced neurophysiological techniques (e.g. EEG, TMS, TMS-EEG, rTMS, HD-tDCS), bio-medical techniques (e.g. linked with epigenetics and general biomarkers), quantitative sensory testing (QST) as well as research based on animal models (e.g. rodents and pigs). 

CNAP is a dynamic and international research environment: approximately 60% of our staff is international, with an almost 50-50% gender balance. Our working language is English, and you will also be writing your thesis in English. We are highly interdisciplinary and include experts within e.g. biomedical engineering, neuropsychology, pharmacology, biophysics, and medicine with industrial specialisation, and medicine. You will thus be joining an inspiring, enriching, and productive cross-disciplinary research centre including staff with internationally recognized track records.

CNAP is affiliated to the Department of Health Science and Technology at the Faculty of Medicine, which does multidisciplinary research and teaching in the area of health science and technology (e.g. medicine and biomedical engineering). The strategic focus of the department is to be leading within digital health and being well-known for medical doctors and engineers collaboratively developing solutions together. The department has more than 250 employees and is responsible for more than 1700 students.

Working at CNAP 
CNAP offers several PhD scholarships for exploring neuroplasticity and pain. You will be involved in our frontline research to identify novel mechanisms involved in the dynamics of pain neuroplasticity, and our efforts to advance the understandings of this topic within the academic world and beyond. Specifically, you will be focusing on the topic of Brain Neuro-Adaptability to Pain, in particular brain oscillations in pain conditions and non-invasive brain stimulation. PhD projects are part of our Lundbeck Professorhip grant, which you can learn more about here: https://www.cnap.hst.aau.dk/lundbeck-professorship

As a PhD fellow your tasks include: 

• Conduct research under the supervision of senior CNAP staff members.
• Write up research results in the form of journal articles and book chapters.
• Participate in and sometimes co-arrange national and international research conferences and be exposed to external research environments as e.g. a visiting researcher.
• Disseminate the results of your research to the public.
• Follow Ph.D. training courses.
• Participate in the day-to-day life of the Center (e.g. research meetings, Round Table Meetings, seminars, social activities).
• Develop a solid background in pain neuroscience that will allow you to foster a curious and critical sense to analyse and interpret scientific information.

We support students who have an ambition to conduct frontline research
We are committed to offering our PhD fellows the best possible research training. As a PhD fellow you will join Aalborg University’s Doctoral School in in Medicine, Biomedical Science and Technology with more than 150 enrolled PhD students. In addition to getting first class supervision from your supervisors who will guide you in the process of conducting and completing your PhD project, you will have access to a range of different PhD courses. Some will be of specific scientific relevance to your own project, while others will be of a more general character offering you training in transferable skills such as communication, research, and project management. Your scientific education will be supplemented with participation in joint events like journal clubs, workshops, and symposia. You will be offered relevant collaborative research training and/or research visits to external research centres outside Denmark.

You will join a research team, which is a larger group of colleagues (PhD students, post-doc researchers, and professors) who share your primary research interest. This gives ample opportunity for sparring and deep discussions. We strive to foster a friendly and supportive working environment, believing that this is the best way to ensure world class scientific results. Please see CNAP webpage for a video of PhD life at CNAP: https://www.cnap.hst.aau.dk/

The PhD scholarships include:

• A competitive salary, enabling you to enjoy living and working in a growing, exiting and centrally located European city, Aalborg, Denmark.
• Covered university fees.
• Danish health insurance.
• Research costs for your projects.
• Travel funds for you to present your work at scientific conferences.
• Opportunity to travel and visit our research collaboration partners.
• A shared office for you to focus your research activities.
• Computer and other practical office necessities.
• Access to well-equipped laboratories.
• Guidance on re-location to Aalborg, Denmark.

Who are you?
CNAP recruits highly qualified and committed candidates worldwide who demonstrate great research potential. We expect that our PhD fellows will serve as first movers in a new generation of researchers capable of exploiting the synergies between different research disciplines and technologies. You will be part of an endeavour to optimize and boost innovation and advance the scientific area of biomedical and neural engineering together with basic and integrative neuroscience within the CNAP research groups. You hold a master’s degree in in biomedical engineering, neuroscience, pharmacology, medicine, neuroscience, medicine with industrial specialisation or equivalent with the prospect of pursuing studies on human pain neuroplasticity utilizing biomedical technologies (e.g. quantitative assessment of brain oscillations and non-invasive brain stimulation) and human pain biomarkers. Previous research experience on fundamental pain mechanisms and their clinical impact is an advantage, but not a requirement. As English is our working language, it is necessary that you have a high level of proficiency (orally and written) in English. Good dissemination skills are important.

Qualification requirements
PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Master's degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years. It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at  the Doctoral School in Medicine, Biomedical Science and Technology in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1039 of August 27, 2013 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. According to the Ministerial Order, the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed at regular points in time.

How to apply
Your application must include the following:

1. A CV (e.g. using the EU model). Clearly stating your educational background, experience, techniques, language skills and other skills or experiences relevant for this position.
2. A motivation letter (Enter your motivation for joining CNAP; Please present yourself in few words – this includes a description of how you intend to succeed in pain neuroscience and why you are a good match with CNAP; We ask you to briefly describe your work within neuroscience until now, focusing on methods you have used yourself).
3. English language proficiency level if English is not your first or second language.
4. Recommendation letter(s) from a previous mentor or supervisor (Alternatively, provide names and e-mail addresses of 1-2 academic referees).
5. A list of the main publications and presentations of research output.
6. List up to 2 scientific papers that you find especially noteworthy and interesting for the relevant project:  brain oscillations in pain conditions and non-invasive brain stimulation. Explain why you have chosen these papers and why you find them interesting (max. 1 page). To be uploaded under “project description”.
7. Diplomas (bachelor and master's degree diploma)

The application must be submitted via Aalborg University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website. 

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position.

Do you have any questions?     
If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact us. You will find contact persons at the bottom of the jobpost.

Further information  
We recommend that you save a copy of the job posting, as it will be removed once the application deadline has passed.  

The assessment of candidates for the position will be carried out by qualified experts.
Shortlisting will be applied. This means that after the application deadline, the head of the department, with the assistance of the hiring committee, will select the applicants to be assessed. All applicants will be informed whether they have been shortlisted for assessment or not.

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace.

Read more about The Doctoral School in Medicine, Biomedical Science and Technology

Salary and terms of employment
The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (in Danish). 

Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (in Danish).