As the successful candidate for this position, you will be working on your own project, supported by technicians and surrounded by a team of PhD students and postdocs who are working with similar and other technologies. The aim of this work is to dissect the role of specific populations of neurons in guiding behaviors that are relevant to mental disorders, including eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, binge eating and obesity. You will be participating in a Zwaartekracht-sponsored project (Brainscapes) aimed at identifying the cells underlying reward processing in brain disease. The objectives of this project are to identify and target neurons that are enriched in genetic signals associated with eating disorders. To this end you will utilize a combination of experimental techniques, ranging from identifying the cells by immunohistochemistry and scRNAseq using mTRAP2 mice, to targeting these neurons for chemogenetic control.

You will be required to work in a team in a collaborative manner and help guide other members in the team.

As a candidate suitable for this position, you are a neurobiologist with an MSc degree and expertise in mouse behavioral analysis and molecular biology. You must be able to demonstrate an affinity for the study of neural circuits and/or neurobioinformatics and be interested in working with mice. Preferably you already hold a license to work with animals (or are willing to obtain one). Valued qualities include an interest in translational research and the ambition to further develop yourself as a neuroscientist. Proficiency in English is required.

Fixed-term contract: temporary appointment for 4 years.

For this 100% post, the maximum salary will be € 3103,-. This will be a temporary appointment for 4 years.

University Medical Centre Utrecht

With over 1,100 beds and more than 11,000 employees, the University Medical Center Utrecht is one of the largest academic health care centers in the Netherlands. Our aim is to improve. Our patients’ health, but also our students and employees. Whether you are a doctor or a business economist, a researcher or a SAP-specialist: working with us means having a job that matters, access to the best facilities and the opportunity to grow as a professional and contribute towards innovative health care.

Scientific research at the UMC Utrecht is rooted in the world around us. We listen to people; the wishes and needs of patients come first. Together with our national and international partners, we invest in innovation and research in order to ensure that our care remains of the highest quality. Focus is pivotal in this, which is why we have concentrated our research in six programs:

·       Brain

·       Infection & Immunity

·       Circulatory Health

·       Personalized Cancer Care

·       RM & Stem Cells

·       Child Health