PhD Fellows at Department of Neuroscience

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen

We are offering two three-years PhD fellowships commencing February 15th, 2024 and March 1st 2024 or as soon as possible hereafter.

Our group and research

Our research team, consisting of about 17 dedicated members, is focused on studying dopamine biology and its role in neurological disorders with a dysfunctional dopamine homeostasis like parkinsonism, ADHD, and addiction. We use various advanced techniques including pharmacology, rodent behavior, chemo genetics, fiber photometry, and super-resolution microscopy, among other techniques, to understand the complexities of the dopamine system. More information can be found on our website: https://in.ku.dk/research/gether-lab/

Project description
For the PhD Fellow who will begin their position February 15th, 2024 or after:

The project will investigate the differential characteristics of dopaminergic signalling in subcortical regions of the brain, with specific focus on striatal dopaminergic signatures recorded both during unconstrained exploratory activity and learned attentional tasks. The project will also probe the relationship between subregional dopamine release dynamics and the corresponding intracellular signalling that results from this differential dopamine release. Primary methods used for this project will include stereotactic surgery to facilitate the use of fiber photometry and opto- and chemogenetics, advanced behavioral analysis including body-part tracking and machine learning, and detailed analysis of extensive datasets. Other relevant techniques will include classical IHC, tissue/brain clearing (iDISCO), qPCR, genotyping, and various imaging techniques.

For the PhD Fellow who will begin their position March 1st 2024 or after:

The project is primarily focused on investigating the influence of stress on the monoamine system, with a specific emphasis on understanding the behavioral, cellular, and neurochemical adaptations induced by early life stress within the dopamine system. Furthermore, this research will explore the dynamic interplay between dopamine and other neurotransmitter systems, such as the noradrenergic or serotoninergic systems. The project will involve a diverse array of research methodologies including rodent behavioral paradigms and advanced behavior analysis using body-part tracking and machine learning. Techniques for the study and modulation of neurotransmitter dynamics will include fiber photometry, chemo and optogenetics, involving the application of stereotactic surgery. Additional techniques include classical IHC on brain slices, tissue/brain clearing (iDISCO), a variety of imaging techniques, genotyping, qPCR and immunoblotting.

Principal supervisor isProfessor Ulrik Gether, Department of Neuroscience, e-mail: [email protected], tel. 2875 7548.

Start: February 15th, 2024 and March 1st, 2024

Duration: 3 years as a PhD student

Job description
Your key tasks as a PhD student at SUND are:

• Conduct an independent research project with supervision
• Complete PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS points
• Participate in active research environments including a stay at another research team
• Obtain experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
• Teach and disseminate your knowledge
• Write a PhD thesis based on your project

Key criteria for the assessment of applicants
For the PhD Fellow who will begin their position February 15th, 2024 or after:

In connection with the appointment to the post, special importance will be attached to the applicant having the following professional and personal qualifications:

• A master’s degree in molecular biomedicine, biology, biomedicine, medicine, human biology, neuroscience or equivalent
• FELASA certification and extensive experience in handling of mice
• Experience with conducting and planning long-term behavioral experiments
• Experience in rodent behavioral analysis and fiber photometry data analysis
• Experience with stereotactic surgery
• Experience with immunocytochemistry and/or immunohistochemistry
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
• Relevant work experience

For the PhD Fellow who will begin their position March 1st 2024 or after:

In the selection process, we will prioritize candidates with the following professional and personal qualifications:

• A master’s degree in neuroscience, human biology, molecular biomedicine, biomedicine, medicine, biology, or equivalent.
• FELASA certificate and demonstrated experience in handling mice and conducting behavioral experiments.
• Experience in stereotactic surgery.
• Expertise in rodent behavioral analysis and fiber photometry data analysis.
• Experience with brain slicing and immunohistochemistry.
• Knowledge of tissue/brain clearing (iDISCO).
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
• Relevant prior work experience.

Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years).

All highly motivated and ambitious candidates, regardless of their personal background and status, are encouraged to apply.

Place of employment

The place of employment is at Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories situated in the Maersk Tower.

Terms of employment
The employment as PhD fellow is full time and for 3 years.

It is conditioned upon the applicant’s success­ful enrolment as a PhD student at the Graduate School at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

The PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD programme (2013) and the Faculty’s rules on achieving the degree. Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agree­ment between the Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary starts at approximately 28,900 DKK/Roughly 3,800 EUR (October 2023 level) plus pension.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available at the Graduate School’s website: https://healthsciences.ku.dk/phd/guidelines/

Application procedure
Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. The application must include the following documents in PDF format:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page)

2. CV incl. education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position

3. Master of Science diploma and transcript of records. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor will do

4. Publication list (if possible)

Application deadline: 22 November 2023, 23.59pm CET

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor.

The assessor makes a non-prioritized assessment of the academic qualifications and experience with respect to the above-mentioned area of research, techniques, skills and other requirements listed in the advertisement.

Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.

You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.

Kilde: Jobnet.dk