We are offering a PhD fellowship in neuroscience commencing 16 June 2024 or as soon as possible hereafter.
Our group and research
The PhD will be done in collaboration between the Perrier lab https://in.ku.dk/research/perrier-lab/ investigating how mutations detected in the brain of human patients affect the behavior of neuronal networks, and the Berg lab https://in.ku.dk/research/berg-lab/ combining quantitative approaches of mathematics and physics with experiments using electrophysiology to better understand the nervous system.
The Perrier and Berg groups are characterized by teamwork and strong support among team members. The teams are highly interdisciplinary and international, and we welcome team members of any nationality, gender, and age. The Perrier group (8-9 members) is using electrophysiology, calcium imaging, behaviour-assessment for understanding how mutations affect brain function especially at microcircuit levels (see Dos Santos et al., Cell Rep Med. 2023 Dec 19;4(12):101308. doi: 10.1016).
The two groups are in the vibrant research environment of Department of Neuroscience at University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Information on the department can be found at: https://in.ku.dk/
Project description
During the PhD study, the student will be Investigating the relationship between excitation and inhibition in the neocortex of wild type mice and mice carrying specific mutations responsible for neurodevelopmental encephalopathy. Data suggest that the mutation affects the behaviour of feedforward and feedback inhibition cortical microcircuits. In this research project, the student will test this hypothesis using high-density multielectrode arrays (Neuropixels 2.0 probes) combined with optotagging of virally expressed opsins in cortical interneurons and pyramidal neurons. The animal behaviour will be closely monitored using videography combined with the electrophysiology recordings. Computational analysis of data will take place using available software (Kilosort and Phy) in MATLAB, python along with custom-developed code for the experiments. The behaviour will be analysed using the video-recorded material and deep neural network via available software such as Deeplabcut and Cebra.
Principal supervisors are:
Jean-François Perrier, Associate Professor (Professor promotion program), Department of Neuroscience, perrier@sund.ku.dk, tel. +45 23 81 29 46.
Rune Berg, Associate Professor (Professor promotion program), Department of Neuroscience, runeb@sund.ku.dk, tel. +45 26 97 73 94
Start: 16 June 2024
Duration: 3 years as a PhD student + 3 months as research assistant for enrolment
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
Key criteria for the assessment of applicants
Applicants must have qualifications corresponding to a master’s degree related to the subject area of the project, e.g. Master in Neuroscience or Signal Processing. Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years).
Other important criteria are:
- You have experience in electrophysiology (in vitro or in vivo)
- You have experience in programming (e.g., Python, Matlab)
- You have a curious mind-set with a strong interest in problem solving.
- You are enthusiastic, highly motivated and a self-starter
- You have experience in lab work with good laboratory practices.
- You are fluent in English (written and spoken)
Place of employment
The place of employment is at the Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories in the new ‘Mærsk Tower’, https://maersktower.ku.dk/
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. The start date is 16 June 2024 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 during an initial three-month employment as a research assistant.
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 27,800 DKK/Roughly 3,700 EUR (October 2021 level) plus pension.
Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.
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:
1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
2. CV incl. education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
3. 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
4. Publication list (if possible)
Application deadline: 28 February 2024, 23.59pm CET
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: https://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.
Deadline: 2024-02-28 at 23:59
Unit: Health/Life sciences
Read the job description at the university homepage or apply.