Job ID: 118237

PhD Position on Innate Visual Behavior at Heimel laboratory in Amsterdam

Position: Ph.D. Student

Deadline: 15 April 2024

Employment Start Date: 1 August 2024

Contract Length: 4 years

City: Amsterdam

Country: Netherlands

Institution: Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience

Department: Circuits, Structure & Function

Description:

We have a vacancy for a PhD student in the Heimel laboratory at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience in Amsterdam to study the modulation of innate visually-induced behavior.

What you will be doing?

You will investigate the neural mechanisms underlying visual innate behavior and the modulation of this behavior by fear and curiosity. You will study this in awake behaving mice using a combination of techniques, such as electrophysiology and calcium imaging using two-photon microscopy or fiber photometry, and selectively perturb brain function by optogenetic, chemogenetic and pharmacological means. The project focuses on the superior colliculus and connecting areas. In collaboration, you will design experiments, develop experimental paradigms, perform surgeries and recordings, analyse multidimensional data and draft papers.

Who are we looking for?

We are a looking for an outstanding candidate with a strong quantitative background keen to record from the brain at the microscopic level. The ideal candidate has, or is about to receive, an MSc in neuroscience, biomedical engineering, biology, physics or a related field. Excellent coding skills will be required for developing the experimental paradigms and analysing the multidimensional data. Proficiency in English, and experience with animal experiments is a plus.

What do we offer?

We offer an exciting project on the modulation of innate behavior. You will join the Circuits, Structure & Function group at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, where state of the art experimental techniques are used in a very dynamic field of research. The position is for 1.0 fte (38 h/week). You will have ample opportunities for further development of knowledge and technical and personal skills through courses at the Academy and (inter)national conferences.

More information

Please contact Alexander Heimel (heimel@nin.knaw.nl). General information about the group can be found at https://nin.nl/research-groups/heimel. For recent relevant publications from the Heimel lab, see:

Ahmadlou et al. A cell type–specific cortico-subcortical brain circuit for investigatory and novelty-seeking behavior. Science, 2021.

Tafreshiha et al. Visual stimulus-specific habituation of innate defensive behaviour in mice. J Exp Biol, 2021.

Cazemier et al. Involvement of superior colliculus in complex figure detection of mice. eLife, 2024.

Montijn et al. A parameter-free statistical test for neuronal responsiveness. eLife, 2021

How to apply?

Go to link https://vacatures.knaw.nl/job-invite/2078/  Please submit your motivation letter, curriculum vitae and the names or letters of two or more references, before April 15th, 2024.