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. The project aims to study in mice how sleep deprivation affects the formation of memory engrams (neuronal traces encoding individual experiences) in the brain and how these traces can be made accessible again (see also the related pre-print paper; https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.05.11.443364v1). The work will entail behavioural (sleep deprivation studies), optogenetic manipulations, intracranial surgeries, and biochemical/molecular analyses.

This PhD position is part of a 3-year grant funded by the American Airforce and the work will be done in collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. Steve Ramirez (Boston University).

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 behavioral and molecular neuroscience.

The successful candidate has:
• a MSc degree in biology or biomedical science, with relevant experience in the area of (behavioral) neuroscience
• behavioral experience with mice/rats
• surgical procedures and working with animals is appreciated and the candidate preferably has obtained an article 9 certificate
• a good command of English (oral and written), is a team player, and possess excellent communication skills (indicated by the ability to write scientific papers and deliver presentations).

Fixed-term contract: 36 months.

We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

• a salary of € 2,395 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 2,920 gross per month in the final third year, based on a full-time position.

The position must result in a PhD thesis within the three-year contract period. A PhD training program is part of the agreement and the successful candidate will be enrolled in the Groningen Graduate School of Science. 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 two years is expected.

Faculty of Science and Engineering

The University of Groningen has an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative center of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Balanced study and career paths in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the 36,000 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.