Job ID: 123466

2 PhD Positions – Cortical Circuit Development Using In Vivo Imaging & Electrophysiology

Position: Ph.D. Student

Deadline: 31 July 2025

Employment Start Date: 1 September 2025

Contract Length: 3 years

City: Würzburg

Country: Germany

Institution: University of Würzburg

Department: Department of Neurophysiology

Description:

The Kirmse lab at the University of Würzburg is seeking two highly motivated PhD candidates to join our research on the functional maturation of neuronal networks in vivo. The positions are available immediately and funded for three years (salary according to TV-L E13 65%). The projects employ in vivo two-photon Ca²⁺ imaging, patch-clamp electrophysiology and chemogenetics to address fundamental questions in developmental neuroscience.

PhD Position #1 will focus on the activity-dependent refinements of sensory circuits in the developing visual cortex. PhD Position #2 will focus on the early maturation of hippocampal memory circuits.

 

We offer

  • A challenging and highly engaging research project
  • Access to state-of-the-art techniques, including two-photon microscopy, patch-clamp and LFP electrophysiology, opto- and chemogenetics
  • Structured doctoral research training within the international Graduate School of Life Sciences (GSLS) Würzburg (https://www.graduateschools.uni-wuerzburg.de/life-sciences/)
  • An inclusive, open, and friendly work environment
  • Strong commitment to career development
  • Opportunities to partcipate in national and international conferences

 

Your tasks include

  • In vivo two-photon Ca²⁺ imaging and electrophysiological recordings in mice
  • In vitro patch-clamp electrophysiology in mouse brain slices
  • Optogenetic and/or chemogenetic approaches
  • Data analysis

 

Your profile

Essential:

  • Strong background in cellular neuroscience and willingness to conduct in vivo experiments in mice
  • Highly motivated, self-organized, and capable of working independently as well as in a team
  • Ambition to pursue a scientific career
  • Proficiency in English, both written and spoken

 

Desirable (but not mandotory):

  • Experience with Ca²⁺ imaging or patch-clamp electrophysiology
  • FELASA certfication for animal experimentation
  • Knowledge in computational data analysis/programming (e.g., Matlab)

 

If you are passionate about neuroscience and excited to work with advanced imaging and electrophysiological techniques, we encourage you to apply! Please submit your application—including your CV, certificates, and a description of your qualifications and research interests—preferably as a single PDF, to Prof. Knut Kirmse (http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9206-214X) at knut.kirmse@uni-wuerzburg.de.