The Neural Circuits of Drive team is looking for a capable PhD candidate for a 4-year project that will be carried out at the Integrative Neurophysiology (INF) division at the Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR) at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
https://inf.cncr.nl/research_teams/neural_circuits_of_drive

Instinctive drives like food seeking and social interactions are in large part generated by the hypothalamus. We study how action potential firing in hypothalamic neurons is orchestrated, and how these processes constrain behaviour. This is a crucial research question as the resulting knowledge would help understand health issues such as the ongoing obesity epidemic, eating disorders, to name a few.

As a PhD candidate, your research will aim to elucidate the neural circuit mechanisms underlying the emergence of behavioural sequences, such as explore to find food, then feed, then find mates and interact socially.

Your duties

• You will use a repertoire of state-of-the-art approaches in circuit neuroscience such as in vivo calcium imaging in behaving mice, optogenetics, patch clamp electrophysiology and immunohistochemistry 
• You will have the opportunity to supervise Bachelor’s and Master’s students

• We are looking for someone with interest and skills in circuit neuroscience 
• A university research degree is required
• Experience with the techniques mentioned is an advantage

Fixed-term contract: 1 year.

A challenging position in a socially involved organization. The salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel and amounts €2,395 (PhD) per month during the first year and increases to €3,061 (PhD) per month during the fourth year, based on a full-time employment. The job profile: is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for at least 1 FTE.

The appointment will initially be for 1 year. After a satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, the contract will be extended for a total duration of 4 years.
Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:

• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• contribution to commuting expenses
• ptional model for designing a personalized benefits package

The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. We strive to be a university where personal development and commitment to society play a leading role. A university where people from different disciplines and backgrounds collaborate to achieve innovations and to generate new knowledge. Our teaching and research encompass the entire spectrum of academic endeavor – from the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 26,000 students. We employ over 4,600 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible and located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity
We are an inclusive university community. Diversity is one of our most important values. We believe that engaging in international activities and welcoming students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds enhances the quality of our education and research. We are always looking for people who can enrich our world with their own unique perspectives and experiences.

The Faculty of Science
The Faculty of Science inspires researchers and students to find sustainable solutions for complex societal issues. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to medicines and from molecules to the moon: our teaching and research programmes cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. We share knowledge and experience with leading research institutes and industries, both here in the Netherlands and abroad.

Working at the Faculty of Science means working with students, PhD candidates and researchers, all with a clear focus on their field and a broad view of the world. We employ more than 1,250 staff members, and we are home to around 6,000 students.