BEMÆRK: Ansøgningsfristen er overskredet
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
University of Copenhagen
We are offering a PhD fellowship in exploring Neuromodulator Dynamics commencing 1 October 2023 or as soon as possible hereafter.
Our group and research
Center for Translational Neuromedicine (CTN) currently has 50 employees and students. CTN is characterized by a highly ambitious research environment. The academic employee will be part of the Nedergaard lab. Being part of the Nedergaard lab offers an opportunity to work in a multi-disciplinary lab engaged in neuroscience with a focus on the basic biology of glial cells in the CNS and the role of astrocytes in several neurological diseases, including stroke, spinal cord injury, epilepsy, tremor, and ALS. Research is aimed at defining new strategies for the treatment of neurological diseases that target astrocytic dysfunction.
CTN is part of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, and is located at Panum. The Center comprises modern laboratories and excellent facilities within neuroscience.
Project description
Despite decades of research on neuromodulators, many questions remain. Notably, tonic, and phasic firing of neuromodulator-releasing neurons result in distinct changes in synaptic properties and behavior, but we know very little about when tonic versus phasic changes of neuromodulators occur during animal behavior. In addition, neuromodulators are released widely into many brain regions, but it is unclear whether their release is differentially regulated in different regions. Finally, most drugs for psychiatric disorders target neuromodulators or their receptors but we cannot easily compare neuromodulator levels between control and disease models, between pre-drug and post-drug periods, and we understand even less whether these drugs alter transient or sustained levels of neuromodulators.
The proposed PhD project will focus on establishing Fiberphotometry with FLIM (FLiP) to simultaneously measure lifetime and intensity of neuromodulators, in different brain states, including aging and dementia. This method will allow us to distinguish whether transient or sustained change is the primary driver in disease models and therapeutic effects of drugs. It will also open doors to study differences of neuromodulator release across brain regions and to compare neuromodulator levels between different animal models, ages, and physiological manipulations. Additionally, the glymphatic system, blood flow and the role of astrocytes in regulating neuromodulator release will also be explored in the project.
Principal supervisor is Professor Maiken Nedergaard. The successful candidate will refer to Dr. Nedergaard.
Start: 1 October 2023
Duration: 3 years as a PhD student
Job description
Your key tasks as a PhD student at SUND are:
- Carrying through an independent research project under supervision.
- Completing PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points.
- Participating in active research environments including a stay at another research team.
- Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
- Teaching and disseminating your knowledge.
- Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project
Applicants must have qualifications corresponding to a master’s degree related to the subject area of the project, e.g., neuroscience, biology, physiology or similar. Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years (120 ECTS)).
Other important criteria are:
Your tasks will include the design and implementation of experimental workflows, which allow the visualization, quantification and manipulation of neurotransmitters. Also, you are expected to train and mentor students at Master level.
Experience within the following will be an advantage:
- Fiber photometry
- 2 photon microscopy
- EEG/EMG sleep measurements
- In vivo optogenetics
- Behavioral assessment
- Coding (MATLAB)
The place of employment is at the Center for Translational Neuromedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our research center comprises modern laboratories and excellent facilities within neuroscience.
Terms of employment
The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.
The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 3 years and the start date is 1 October 2023 or after agreement.
The employment is conditioned upon the applicant’s successful enrolment as a PhD student at the Graduate School at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.
The PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD programme (2013) and the Faculty’s rules on achieving the degree.
Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary starts at approximately 28,890 DKK/Roughly 3,870 EUR (April 2023 level) plus pension.
Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor Maiken Nedergaard, email: nedergaard@sund.ku.dk.
General information about PhD studies at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available at the Graduate School’s website: https://healthsciences.ku.dk/phd/guidelines/
Application procedure
Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. The application must include the following documents in PDF format:
- Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
- CV incl. education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
- Certified copy of original Master of Science diploma and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in other language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted. As a prerequisite for a PhD fellowship employment, your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree. We encourage you to read more in the assessment database: https://ufm.dk/en/education/recognition-and-transparency/find-assessments/assessment-database. Please note that we might ask you to obtain an assessment of your education performed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science
- Publication list (if possible)
We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.
The further process
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor.
The assessor makes a non-prioritized assessment of the academic qualifications and experience with respect to the above-mentioned area of research, techniques, skills and other requirements listed in the advertisement.
Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.
You find information about the recruitment process at: http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.
The applicants will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.
INFORMATIONER OM STILLINGEN:
- Arbejdspladsen ligger i:
Gentofte Kommune
-Virksomheden tilbyder:
-Arbejdsgiver:
KU - SUND - PANUM KBH N, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 København N
-Ansøgning:
Ansøgningsfrist: 19-07-2023; - ansøgningsfristen er overskredet
Ved skriftlig henvendelse: https://candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationInit.aspx?cid=1307&ProjectId=159662&DepartmentId=19050&MediaId=4632&SkipAdvertisement=true
Se mere her: https://job.jobnet.dk/CV/FindWork/Details/5873307
