Student research project
Mapping the sleeping and circadian brain
A systematic review of human neuroimaging studies.
The question
What does human neuroimaging reveal about the brain across sleep and circadian time? Findings are spread across imaging methods, participant groups and study designs that are not always directly comparable.
The project
Conduct a systematic review that distinguishes sleep-related effects from circadian timing and associated experimental influences. The review will map the evidence, assess methodological limitations and identify questions that existing studies leave unresolved.
What you will do
- Develop a review protocol and reproducible search strategy, then screen studies against explicit eligibility criteria.
- Extract study characteristics and findings, and assess the quality and comparability of evidence.
- Produce a structured synthesis; consider quantitative synthesis only where the evidence supports it.
Possible scope
A thesis could take a focused review through protocol development, searching, screening, extraction and synthesis. A shorter placement could address one stage or a narrower question. Familiarity with neuroimaging concepts is helpful; careful evidence appraisal is central.
How to apply
Send a short motivation, CV, relevant skills, preferred project, dates, format and location. Mention external funding. Contact Prof. Manuel Spitschan using the address below.
Location, timing and scope are agreed with the supervisor; availability depends on capacity and the work involved.