Job ID: 117643

PhD student (m/f/d)

Position: Ph.D. Student

Deadline: 27 February 2024

Employment Start Date: 1 May 2024

Contract Length: 3 years

City: Bonn

Country: Germany

Institution: Institute of Cellular Neurosciences

Department: laboratory of Prof. Christian Henneberger at the Institute of Cellular Neurosciences (University of Bonn, Germany)

Description:

The University Hospital Bonn (UKB) is a maximum care hospital with more than 1,300 beds. Our more than 9,000 employees take on tasks in research, teaching and patient care as well as in public health at the highest level. In the science ranking (LOMV) and in the economic result, the UKB is number 1 of the university hospitals in NRW and in 2021 had the third highest case mix index of the university hospitals in Germany.
The Institute of Cellular Neurosciences at the University of Bonn/University Hospital Bonn (Bonn, Germany) invites applications for a part-time (65%) PhD student position.
PhD student (m/f/d)
A neuroscience PhD studentship in the field of synaptic physiology is available in the laboratory of Prof. Christian Henneberger at the Institute of Cellular Neurosciences (University of Bonn, Germany). The three-year position is part of a larger effort to understand how the plasticity of excitatory synapses is controlled by co-agonists of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDARs). We explore how neurons and non-neuronal cells shape synaptic plasticity, and in turn learning, by supplying the NMDAR co-agonists D-serine and glycine using newly designed optical indicators for D-serine and glycine. Specifically, we plan to optimize the current generation of optical indicators to study D-serine and glycine signaling in the rodent hippocampus. This will be achieved by using state-of-the-art optical and electrophysiological methods such as intensity and lifetime based multiphoton fluorescence microscopy of genetically encoded and organic indicators.
The position is available from the 1st of May 2024 to three years due the project. The contract initially runs for three years. The salary will be according to the German salary scale (65% TV-L E13). The University of Bonn is an equal opportunities employer.

Tasks:

The specific aim of the project is to first improve the current generation of D-serine and/or glycine indicators by optimizing their structure, fluorophores, membrane targeting and expression in the brain using established techniques. It is then planned to visualize the extracellular dynamics of D-serine and/or glycine in the hippocampus in acute slice preparations and in the awake mouse in vivo in scenarios involving synaptic plasticity, i.e. the cellular mechanisms underlying learning. The project relies on an extensive experimental toolset for optical sensor design, monitoring and manipulating neurotransmitter and intracellular signalling. In addition, a broad spectrum of imaging approaches and electrophysiological methods is available to dissect the topic further. Additional information about our research, research methods and recent publications can be found at https://henneberger-lab.com/.

Requirements:

Applicants should have a Master of Science (M.Sc.) or equivalent academic degree in a relevant field of science. In addition, applicants should ideally have experience in some of the mentioned techniques.

We offer:

• Exciting neurobiological research projects using a variety of modern and continuously evolving methods
• A thriving international and collaborative research environment within and beyond the institute and the University of Bonn

• Excellent supervision and support by the PI and colleagues as well as regular group meetings and scientific events
• Enrollment in the structured graduate program of the Bonn International Graduate School for Neuroscience (https://bigs-neuroscience.de/)
• Additional possibilities for further education in university and non-university courses
• Attendance of national and international scientific meetings
• A professional career development program
• A salary according to the German salary scale TV-L (EG 13, 65 %)
• Supplementary benefits in the public sector (pension plan according to VBL)
• Corporate customer ticket (subsidized public transport)
• Possibility to use the day care center

The University of Bonn is committed to diversity and equal opportunity. It is certified as a family-friendly university. It aims to increase the proportion of women in areas where women are under-represented and to promote their careers in particular. It therefore encourages women with relevant qualifications to apply. Applications will be handled in accordance with the Landesgleichstellungsgesetz (State Equality Act). Applications from suitable individuals with a certified serious disability and those of equal status are particularly welcome.

How to apply:

Applicants should send their application in a single pdf file (max. 5 MB), including motivation letter, CV, scanned academic degrees, transcript of relevant degrees (e.g., M.Sc.) and the contact details of two references. The application deadline is the 27th of February 2024. Please send your application by email under indication of the reference number 13_2024 to:

Prof. Dr. Christian Henneberger
Institute of Cellular Neurosciences
University of Bonn / Universitätsklinikum Bonn
Venusberg-Campus 1
53127 Bonn
E-Mail: christian.henneberger@uni-bonn.de
www.henneberger-lab.com