Job ID: 123426

PhD position in Cellular Neuroscience

Position: Ph.D. Student

Deadline: 31 July 2025

Employment Start Date: 2 September 2025

Contract Length: 4 years

City: Linz

Country: Austria

Institution: Johannes Kepler University Linz

Department: Institute of ANatomy and Cell Biology

Description:

We are currently seeking highly motivated candidates for a project on “Synaptopodin-associated gap junctions in ion dynamics at the AIS”. The project investigates synaptopodin clusters associated with connexin-positive puncta at the axon initial segment (AIS) and their putative role in calcium dynamics and AIS plasticity. The AIS spans the proximal axon and is the site of action potential generation. It plays a fundamental role in shaping neuronal output and constitutes our lab’s research focus (https://www.jku.at/en/institute-of-anatomy-and-cell-biology/).

The successful candidate will employ state-of-the-art techniques (superresolution microscopy, electrophysiology, advanced image analysis tools) to gain fundamental insight into these structures and their molecular partners at neuronal membranes. The project will involve working with both mouse and human brain tissue.

The joint doctoral school “Molecular Transport and Recognition” at Johannes Kepler University Linz (JKU) was recently funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF). The 10 PhD projects focus on high-end microscopy, spectroscopy, and single-molecule techniques. Through the DocFund, the successful candidate will gain access to specialized lectures, lab courses, and lab rotations beyond standard doctoral programs. With a multidisciplinary faculty, the successful candidate receives comprehensive training, will participate at regular international meetings and has the chance to study abroad for a semester.

The position is full-time and funded for 4 years.

Required qualifications:

  • Completed (or very close to completing) MSc degree in neuroscience, biology, biochemistry, biophysics or related fields with a neuroscience focus

We are looking for candidates with exceptional academic performance, communication and presentation skills and a clear commitment to teamwork.

Range of responsibilities:

  • Planning, implementation and analysis of morphometric experiments using high-end confocal microscopy and superresolution techniques as well as data analysis via post-hoc 3D-reconstruction
  • Active involvement in national and international research collaborations of the Institute
  • Active role (including travel in Europe) in established and project-specific international collaborations

Subject-specific skills and expertise:

  • Expertise in immunofluorescence (cell culture as well as brain slices) and confocal microscopy
  • Expertise in cell culture (isolated neurons, organotypic cultures) from mouse and human tissue
  • Experience in software-based image analysis (e.g. ImageJ/FIJI, Imaris, Amira or similar)
  • Experience in electrophysiological techniques (e.g. patch-clamp, MEA, Ca2+-imaging) is a plus
  • Experience in programming (e.g. Python, Matlab, Igor, R) is a plus
  • Documented competence in written and spoken English (C2)

Required documents:

Motivation letter, CV, two reference letters, copies of Bachelor and Master Certificates, and publications (if any). If your transcripts are not in English, please provide a verified translation.