Job ID: 120187

PhD position in cell and behavioral neurosciences investigating Alzheimer´s Disease

Position: Ph.D. Student

Deadline: 15 October 2024

Employment Start Date: 1 November 2024

Contract Length: 36 months

City: Hamburg

Country: Germany

Institution: University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf (UKE)

Department: Center for Molecular Neuroscience (ZMNH), Institute for Molecular Neurogenetics

Description:

About:

The Institute of Molecular Neurogenetics at the ZMNH of the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany (UKE), headed by Prof. Dr. Matthias Kneussel, is seeking a PhD student for a research project funded by the Alzheimer’s Association, which has been granted to Dr. Torben Hausrat. The Project will investigate the therapeutic value of tubulin polyglutamylation in normalizing neuronal pathology and cognitive performance in Alzheimer’s Disease. We are looking for highly motivated and passionate PhD students to advance this project.

 

Topic:

Hyperphosphorylated tau, which detaches from microtubules (MTs) and aggregates into tangles, is a hallmark of Alzheimer´s (AD). The tau-MT interface is subject to polyglutamylation (polyGlu), a posttranslational modification at tubulin C-terminal tails that project to the MT surface. We identified polyGlu of the tubulin isotype Tuba4a as a critical regulator of tau-MT interaction. Loss of Tuba4a polyGlu decreases tau binding to MTs, its hyperphosphorylation/oligomerization and normalizes microglia activation in vivo. We therefore hypothesize that the C-terminal tail of Tuba4a might be a potential drug target to prevent neuronal degeneration at early disease stages. The project will aim to interfere with tau-MT interactions, potentially precluding the initial phosphorylation of tau. We will further investigate the consequences on early-stage disease symptoms such as synaptic frailty, synaptic loss and cognitive impairment in established AD mouse models in vitro and in vivo.

 

Your tasks:

  • The position is laboratory based and involves performing experiments in support of the project
  • Independently performed laboratory and experimental tasks including, but not limited to, primary and immortalized mammalian cell cultures, immunohisto- and cyto-chemistry, confocal microscopy, live-cell imaging, molecular biology, cell biology, biochemical assays and behavior phenotyping of mice
  • Obtaining the FELASA certification is mandatory for this position during the PhD thesis
  • Accurate description and reporting of experiments in laboratory notebooks Presentation of data in a clear and concise manner during internal and external meetings and conferences

 

 

 

Your profile:

  • Master’s degree in Neurobiology, Biology, Biochemistry or Life-Sciences
  • Enthusiastic, proactive, hard-working and desire to learn new methodologies and technologies
  • teamwork and communication skills
  • Experience in one or more of the following techniques: cell culture, immunocyto-/histo-chemistry, microscopy and image analysis, biochemical techniques, handling of mice
  • Good English language skills

 

Our profile:

Hamburg is a vibrant city with a highly international academic research environment. As a University of Excellence, Universität Hamburg is one of Germany’s outstanding universities. The training opportunities at the Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg and the University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf are manifold. PhD students will be able to enroll at the Hamburg Brain School, focusing on neuroscience, and will be able to benefit from courses and lectures at DFG-funded neuroscience research networks around the campus. You will be joining an exceptional scientific environment with a positive working atmosphere, and benefit from interdisciplinary interactions with the group members of our center. Further information is available on the internet at:

 

https://www.uke.de/english/departments-institutes/institutes/molecular-neurogenetics/index.html

 

The salary is according to the German salary scale (TVöD E13/65%) for 3 years.

 

Application process:

Please submit your application in a single pdf document containing 1) a motivation letter, 2) your CV with contact details of 2-3 people as references and 3) your transcripts and leaving certificates.

 

Please send your application to: torben.hausrat@zmnh.uni-hamburg.de