Within the Neurobiology group of the Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES) at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, a PhD research position is currently available. This research position is embedded in a national project with partners from the Radboud UMC and Erasmus MC. The project was recently funded by a ZonMW Memorable subsidy. The selected candidate will work in collaboration with the Memorable project partners. The project aims at understanding the role of social environment on the development of brain health and cognitive decline related to dementia. The selected candidate will perform state of the art research to study the relationship between social environment, behavioural and cognitive performance, and brain markers related to neuro-inflammation and neuronal plasticity in wildtype and novel transgenic mice.

Research environment
Research will be performed in the Neurobiology group at the Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), which comprises several other strong, internationally recognized research groups in the field of evolutionary biology and behavioural and molecular neuroscience. In addition, complimentary human studies on this topic will be performed as part of this national funded project, allowing active collaborations with excellent and diverse academic project partners in Nijmegen and Rotterdam.

The successful candidate has a MSc degree in biology or biomedical science, with relevant experience in the areas of behavioral neuroscience and of immunohistochemical or related brain analyses. In addition, the candidate has experience with complex data analyses methods and preferably has obtained an article 9 certificate.

The successful candidate has good command of English (oral and written), is a team player, and possesses excellent communication skills (indicated by the ability to write scientific papers and deliver presentations).

Fixed-term contract: 48 months.

The University of Groningen offers a salary of € 2,222 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 2,840 gross per month in the final year, based on a full-time position. The position must result in a PhD thesis within the four-year contract period. A PhD training programme is part of the agreement and the successful candidate will be enrolled in the Groningen Graduate School of Science and Engineering. The successful candidate will first be offered a temporary position of one year with the option of a three-year extension, conditional on sufficient progress in the first year to indicate that successful completion of the PhD thesis within the next three years is expected.

How to apply
You may apply for this position until 14 December / before 15 December 2017 Dutch local time by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website).

Applications must indicate the relevant vacancy number as indicated above and include a letter of motivation, curriculum vitae, and contact information of two academic referees. Applicants are also requested to submit a list of examination marks.

The position will remain open until filled.

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Faculty of Science and Engineering

The University of Groningen has an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative centre of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Balanced study and career paths in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the 30,000 students and researchers to develop their own individual talents. Belonging to the best research universities in Europe and joining forces with prestigious partner universities and networks, the University of Groningen is truly an international place of knowledge.

Department
The research group Neurobiology is part of the Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES) in the Faculty of Science and Engineering of the University of Groningen (www.rug.nl/research/gelifes/).