Job ID: 123130

PhD position in Experimental Systems Neuroscience

Position: Ph.D. Student

Deadline: 1 September 2025

Employment Start Date: 15 June 2025

City: Solna

Country: Sweden

Institution: Karolinska Institutet

Department: Neuroscience

Description:

Are you passionate about understanding how neural circuits generate behavior?

The Stagkourakis Lab at Karolinska Institutet and SciLifeLab in Stockholm is recruiting up to two PhD students in experimental systems neuroscience. We are based at the Department of Neuroscience at Karolinska Institutet and are part of SciLifeLab, Sweden’s national center for large-scale biosciences and data-driven life science. Our mission is to uncover the neural and neurohormonal mechanisms underlying instinctual and homeostatic behaviors, including aggression, fear, food, and water intake.

We are looking for experimental researchers who want to contribute to pioneering work using advanced in vivo and in vitro technologies.

 

About the Lab. Our research combines in vivo large-scale electrophysiology (Neuropixels), AAV-based circuit targeting, behavior, and imaging approaches such as miniscope and two-photon microscopy. We maintain a strong commitment to technical innovation and behavioral rigor.

 

We offer

  • A creative, collaborative, and well-resourced environment.
  • Access to state-of-the-art infrastructure at Karolinska and SciLifeLab.
  • Training in experimental neuroscience and professional development (writing, presenting, mentoring).
  • Active involvement in cutting-edge projects with translational relevance to neuropsychiatric disorders.

 

Candidate Profile. We seek highly motivated individuals with a strong interest in neural circuits and behavior. You should have:

  • A degree in neuroscience, biology, engineering, physics, or a related field.
  • Prior lab experience and evidence of productivity (e.g., thesis work, publications, presentations).
  • Strong experimental aptitude and independence.

 

Essential skills (at least two of the following):

  • Experience with complex experimental setups.
  • Animal handling and behavior.
  • In vivo imaging or electrophysiology.
  • Programming for data analysis (Python or MATLAB).
  • FELASA B accreditation.

 

Desirable (at least one of the following):

  • Two-photon or Inscopix miniscope imaging.
  • Patch-clamp or imaging in acute brain slices.
  • Behavioral tracking with DeepLabCut, MoSeq, or similar.
  • Circuit manipulation using optogenetics or chemogenetics.
  • Familiarity with platforms like Arduino, Bonsai, or DataJoint.

 

Location

The lab is located at:

  • Biomedicum D8, Dept. of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, Solna.
  • SciLifeLab Gamma 5, Tomtebodavägen 23A, Solna.

 

Application Process

Applications must be submitted via Varbi and include:

  • A CV
  • A cover letter describing your background and motivation
  • Two or more references

Applications will be processed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified. It is recommended to apply as early as possible.

Start date: Flexible in 2025

Position duration: 4-5 years (standard PhD position at Karolinska Institutet)

For a brief overview of the lab and our research, see here.