Job ID: 116908

PhD Position in Neuroscience at the University of Freiburg, Germany

Position: Ph.D. Student

Deadline: 31 January 2024

Employment Start Date: 1 March 2024

Contract Length: 3 years

City: Freiburg

Country: Germany

Institution: University of Freiburg

Department: IMBIT//Optophysiology

Description:

PhD Position in Neuroscience at the University of Freiburg, Germany

We have an opening for a highly motivated PhD student to help us investigate the mechanisms of inhibitory control of the motor system by the thalamic reticular nucleus. You will help further our understanding of movement disorders, epilepsy, motor planning, reward expectation, attention, and action selection.

This position is one of two positions funded for three years by the German Research Foundation (DFG). Here, we seek a candidate interested in in vitro electrophysiology and two-photon calcium imaging in acute brain slices. You will run side-by-side with the PhD student of the in vivo electrophysiology and behavioural project (see separate job ad). The aim is to join forces in the third year.

If you are:

  • curious, enthusiastic, enjoy working collaboratively, and are motivated to tackle a challenging experimental project;
  • interested in learning whole-cell patch clamp techniques in combination with two-photon calcium imaging and two-photon optogenetic manipulation or even have experience in one of these techniques;
  • interested in TRN neurons, interneurons, cortical neurons, neurons of the basal ganglia, and their functional connectivity;
  • interested in cellular mechanisms determining systemic behaviour;
  • interested in behavioural experiments

then consider joining us at the Cellular Neurophysiology Group at the IMBIT (Intelligent Machine Brain Interfacing Technologies) of the University of Freiburg. It is an exciting opportunity to learn a large variety of skills and to collaborate with researchers from many different disciplines.

Your Profile:

  • Ideally you already have some experience with in vitro electrophysiology, two-photon calcium imaging, optogenetic techniques or any combination of these techniques.
  • Good data analysis skills with custom scripting (e.g. Python/Matlab).
  • You are enthusiastic about physiological and pathophysiological neuronal mechanisms underlying states of activity and motor control.
  • You are eager to acquire new skills and techniques and master them.
  • You have a MSc or equivalent degree in a relevant subject area.
  • You are self-motivated, have good communication skills (both oral and written), and the ability to work independently as well as in a team.

Interested applicants should send a brief description of research interests, technical skill set, and curriculum vitae, including contact information for three references to coulon@bio.uni-freiburg.de.

Who we are:

You will be a part of the Cellular Neurophysiology Group headed by Philippe Coulon, a small workgroup of the Optophysiology Lab headed by Ilka Diester at the University of Freiburg. We are a dynamic, international research lab located at the brand new IMBIT research facility, uniting researchers from different disciplines to foster collaborations. The lab’s core research area is cognitive motor control and Philippe’s group has specialized on cellular mechanisms of motor control. We apply modern techniques including optogenetics, multielectrode recordings, as well as 1- and 2-photon imaging.

The University of Freiburg has a tradition reaching back to the year 1457 and is among Germany’s strongest research universities. Freiburg is supposedly Germany’s sunniest city and located in the Black Forrest as well as the upper rhine valley, near France (Alsace) and Switzerland (Basel). It is well connected by public transport, is a multicultural city with a high percentage of students, and offers many cultural and recreational activities like hiking, climbing, and skiing.