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The MRI Graduate Programme, organised by the Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, is a set of courses designed to teach new researchers the theory and practice of MRI neuroimaging, from introductory courses on neuroscience and statistics, to MRI physics and analysis.

Introduction

This is an internal course available to students/postdocs/staff at the University Oxford and a limited number of nearby external registrants. The programme is strongly recommended for new students at the WIN. To date, over 300 participants have completed the Graduate Programme. Places are limited and, if necessary, are assigned according to need, with a signup process occurring in late summer.

It combines lectures with computer-based practicals, tutorials and demonstrations on the scanners. The core components are MR Physics and MRI Analysis, with additional modules on mathematics, neuroscience, IT and communications. 

The course takes place in various locations on the John Radcliffe Hospital site and runs in all three University terms: Michaelmas, Hilary and Trinity. The larger courses in the programme are assessed by regular weekly short assignments and written exams.

Overview

The courses on the MRI Graduate Programme combine lectures/podcasts with computer-based practicals, tutorials and demonstrations on MRI scanners. The programme is suitable for students from a wide variety of backgrounds such as psychology, physiology, medicine, engineering, physics or mathematics.

The course comprises of three main components:

  • Introductory Course (Michaelmas term; 1st week - mornings, plus one optional afternoon)
  • Core Courses (Michaelmas, Hilary and Trinity terms)
  • Additional Modules (Michaelmas, Hilary and Trinity terms)

The core course is designed to give first-year DPhil students, or anyone new to the field of MRI research, a comprehensive introduction to the methods involved. Further education is provided through the Additional Modules and we recommend that attendees select an appropriate subset of modules, as suits their needs.

BACKGROUND

The Oxford Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain (now the WIN) has been involved in training graduate students since it opened in 1997. In 2003 the training was formalized to form the first Graduate Programme. Over the years the course has changed to meet the needs of the broad range of students involved in MR imaging. In 2007 the course was significantly restructured to increase the level of tutor and practical work in the course, and introduced the very popular ‘Introduction to fMRI’ training week in the first week of the Autumn Term. In 2009 an Advanced Methods Programme was introduced specifically for students with a background in physical sciences, in order to cover some basic material on biological and medical science as well as more in-depth coverage of some physics and analysis topics. In 2014 podcasts of lectures were introduced and extra tutorial and practical material introduced into the core courses.

Contact

If you have any questions about the programme then please feel free to contact any of the course organisers or the course administrator at graduate_admin@fmrib.ox.ac.uk

Notes & Resources

For students registered on the programme, lecture notes and other resources can be found on the Canvas site (note that Oxford students will require an OUCS account for access).