Call for applications for a fully financed PhD fellowship

Project description

Chronic pain affects one in five adults and is a major cause of disability worldwide, yet current clinical tools still struggle to measure how well a person’s nervous system can naturally regulate pain. Conditioned Pain Modulation (CPM), the most widely used method for assessing this inhibitory function, often produces inconsistent results because it relies on a single trial that cannot capture how pain inhibition changes over time. This project introduces a novel method for assessing pain regulation by repeatedly “stress-testing” the system across multiple CPM trials. Instead of a single value, this approach reveals individual patterns of inhibitory resilience profile, whether responses are stable, diminish, or increase over successive trials. These patterns may better reflect the underlying dynamics of the inhibitory pain system.

Through complementary studies over 3 years, we will evaluate this repeated-trial CPM method in both temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and fibromyalgia. We will also investigate the underlying spinal and brain activity associated with these patterns using non-invasive neurophysiological recordings.

By comparing healthy individuals and patients across two chronic pain conditions, we aim to determine whether this new approach provides more reliable and clinically meaningful information than current single-trial CPM. Ultimately, this project aims to lay the groundwork for more precise, mechanistic-based assessment and personalized pain management.

Qualifications

• An MSc degree in a health related area. Dentistry, Medicine and Neuroscience is advantageous but not a requirement.
• Interest in mechanistic and hypothesis-driven research
• Experience with electroencephalography is advantageous but not required
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in an international research environment
• Strong written and spoken communication skills in English     

How to apply

Please submit your application via this link. Application deadline is 5 March 2026 23:59 CET. Preferred starting date is 1 August 2026.

For information about application requirements and mandatory attachments, please see our application guide.  

Further information

Please contact Associate Professor Fernando Exposto, fernando.exposto@dent.au.dk for more information.

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background. Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with applicable collective agreement.