Brain diseases are a societal, economic, and health challenge, with ~1 in 3 European citizens' lives being affected each year, and cost Europe an estimated €798 billion. There is a paucity of disease-modifying therapies for brain diseases and so preventive measures are a health priority. Brain diseases such as epilepsy, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease are clinically heterogeneous, however (i) epidemiology shows high rates of co-occurrence; (ii) there are similar genetic risk factors such as copy number variants; and (iii) cognitive and mood comorbidities are common disorders [34-36]. Commonly cognitive symptoms precede the core disease symptoms.

Our research aims to study early cognitive deficits across related brain diseases with the goal to prevent disease onset, focusing on temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) during this research project. In this project, part of a research grant awarded to the Principal Investigator Laetitia Chauvière, we aim to investigate a link between abnormal brain dynamics underlying early cognitive deficits and TLE onset using a rat model of TLE.

Specifically, we aim 1) to identify abnormal theta dynamics associated with early cognitive deficits in TLE adult rats, and 2) to investigate a link between abnormal theta dynamics, cognitive performance, and TLE onset. This project is based on preliminary results we have obtained in adult rats. To achieve this project, electrophysiological recordings will be combined with cognitive testing and closed-loop real-time experiments.

You will perform electrode implantation (Neuropixels probes), electrophysiological recordings coupled with a cognitive paradigm and with closed-loop real-time experiments, as well as signal processing analyses, analysing data recorded in vivo in adult behaving rats. You will become familiar with OpenEphys and with Bonsai, programming the communication between the two softwares to allow closed-loop real-time experiments to be performed while recording the animal. You will participate in international conferences and prepare manuscripts for publication at the end of the project.

The start date for this position is flexible (target: April-September 2023).

The ideal candidate will have:

• A PhD degree and excellent track record in (medical/molecular) biology, molecular life sciences, biomedical sciences, medicine, neuroscience, or in a related field.
• Experience (and high affinity) with coding (R, Matlab or Python).
• Interpersonal and communication skills to effectively collaborate and communicate in academia.
• A proactive and goal-directed attitude, good organizational skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• The capacity to participate in an interdisciplinary, international, and translational research environment.
• FELASA Certificate to conduct animal experiments (preferred).
• Experience in rodent research; electrophysiology in vivo; behavioural testing, stereotaxic surgery; data acquisition and analyses.
• Postdoctoral experience (preferred but not mandatory).

Candidates who only partially meet this profile are nonetheless strongly encouraged to apply.

Fixed-term contract: 1 year with a possible extension.

The start date for this position is flexible (target: April-September 2023)

• Working at Radboud university medical center means that you are ahead of the curve and working together on the healthcare of the future. And there is more. Our secondary terms of employment are impressive. These are fully tailored to you thanks to our Employment Conditions Selection Model. At Radboud university medical center, you will be given trust, and you will take the responsibility to handle everything together.
• A gross monthly salary between € 3.652 and € 4.800 (scale 10) based on full-time employment.
• An annual vacation allowance of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
• If you work irregular hours, you will receive an allowance.
• As a full-time employee (36 hours per week), you are entitled to approximately 168 vacation hours (over 23 days) per year.
• Radboud university medical center pays 70% of the pension premium. You pay the rest of the premium with your gross salary.
• You get a discount on health insurance as well: you can take advantage of two group health insurance plans. UMC Zorgverzekering and CZ collectief.
• We provide annual courses, both professional and personal.

In addition to our terms of employment, we also offer employees various other attractive facilities, such as childcare and sports facilities. Want to learn more? Take a look at the CAO UMC.

Radboudumc

The project is part of the research conducted by the small group of Dr. Laetitia Chauvière, senior researcher at the department of Cognitive Neuroscience (CNS) of the Radboudumc, focusing on the prevention of related brain diseases. The project is embedded in the unique and excellent infrastructure of the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, a world-class research centre devoted to understanding the mechanistic underpinnings of cognition and behaviour in health and disease. It is a highly dynamic institute with a collaborative atmosphere and particular interest into translational research. For further information, please, visit the following websites: Radboud University Nijmegen; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience.

Research into neurodevelopmental diseases and brain disorders is an important focus area at Radboud university medical center.

Radboudumc
Radboud university medical center is a university medical center for patient care, scientific research, and education in Nijmegen. Radboud university medical center strives to be at the forefront of shaping the healthcare of the future. We do this in a person-centered and innovative way, and in close collaboration with our network. We want to have a significant impact on healthcare. We want to improve with each passing day, continuously working towards better healthcare, research, and education. And gaining a better understanding of how diseases arise and how we can prevent, treat, and cure them, day in and day out. This way, every patient always receives the best healthcare, now and in the future. Because that is why we do what we do.

Read more about our strategy and what working at Radboud university medical center means. Our colleagues would be happy to tell you about it. #weareradboudumc