Post-Doctoral Research Visit F/M Modeling a participant's task engagement during brain-computer interface (BCI) training using physiological sensors.

The Inria Centre at Rennes University is one of Inria's nine centres and has more than thirty research teams. The Inria Centre is a major and recognized player in the field of digital sciences. It is at the heart of a rich R&D and innovation ecosystem: highly innovative PMEs, large industrial groups, competitiveness clusters, research and higher education players, laboratories of excellence, technological research institute, etc.

Within the framework of the NIRVANA project, funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR), this post-doctoral position is part of a collaboration between the University of Chieti and Inria. The project focuses on enhancing task engagement during brain-computer interface (BCI) training using physiological sensors.

Collaboration :
The recruited person will work in close collaboration with Agustina Fragueiro from University G. d’Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara (Italy) and Claire Cury from the Centre Inria de Rennes, PI of the NIRVANA project. The recruited person will also occasionally work in collaboration with a PhD student, also part of the NIRVANA project.

Responsibilities :
The person recruited is responsible for designing and conducting experiments related to EEG and fMRI data acquisition, analyzing physiological signals (EEG, ET, and SC), and developing models for task engagement estimation and neurofeedback target adaptation. She/he will take initiatives to improve data collection protocols, analyzing results, and contributing to the scientific dissemination of findings through conference papers and journal articles.

The recruited person will also be responsible for publishing the data following the RGPD.

Main activities:

• Design and conduct experiments to acquire EEG, eye-tracking (ET), and skin conductance (SC) signals from participants.
• Develop and validate models for estimating task engagement levels using physiological signals.
• Adapt neurofeedback targets based on real-time engagement levels and performance metrics.
• Extract and analyze EEG features related to task engagement.
• Validate methodologies and models using collected datasets and statistical analyses.

Additional activities:

• Write documentation and reports on experimental procedures and results.
• Publish findings in conference papers and journal articles.
• Present research progress and results to project partners and at scientific conferences.
• Collaborate with team members to integrate findings into broader project objectives.

Technical skills and level required:

• PhD in Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Experience with EEG, eye-tracking, and physiological signal processing.
• Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, or similar tools for data analysis and modeling.
• Knowledge of machine learning techniques and statistical analysis.

Languages:

• Proficiency in English (written and spoken).
• Knowledge of French is a plus.

Relational skills:

• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong communication skills for presenting research findings and writing scientific publications.

Other valued appreciations:

• Experience with neurofeedback systems and real-time data processing.
• Familiarity with MRI data acquisition and analysis.

• Subsidized meals
• Partial reimbursement of public transport costs
• Leave: 7 weeks of annual leave + 10 extra days off due to RTT (statutory reduction in working hours) + possibility of exceptional leave (sick children, moving home, etc.)
• Possibility of teleworking (after 6 months of employment) and flexible organization of working hours
• Professional equipment available (videoconferencing, loan of computer equipment, etc.)
• Social, cultural and sports events and activities
• Access to vocational training
• Social security coverage

Monthly gross salary amounting to 2788 euros.