Team

A PhD position is available in the Neurogenesis & Neurodegeneration group at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience in Amsterdam. The Neurogenesis & Neurodegeneration laboratory led by Dr. Evgenia Salta employs transcriptomics and other molecular and imaging approaches to map the cellular and molecular complexity of the adult hippocampal neurogenic niche and to dissect the biological pathways that are deregulated in Alzheimer's disease. The team employs animal models, iPSC reprogramming and human postmortem brain tissue.

Project

The project is funded by the EU Joint Programme - Neurodegenerative Disease Research and Alzheimer Nederland. We will combine the effort of five international (Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Turkey), multidisciplinary groups across neurology, immunology, microbiology and cognitive memory and will use cutting-edge omics technologies and translational approaches. The aim of the project is to define the cellular and molecular effects of early-life dietary and microbial components, physical exercise and cognitive training on the CNS pathological imprinting and AD development later in life. The recruited PhD student will focus on effects related to neurogenesis and neuroinflammation using mouse models, human iPSC cultures and postmortem human brain. These results will pave the way for the generation of improved approaches to prevent and/or treat AD in later adulthood. The research will be performed at the Salta lab in Amsterdam with possible visits/trainings in the groups of the other consortium partners.

What we expect from you

• Experience with mouse experimentation (Article 9 license or equivalent).
• Experience with histological analysis, confocal microscopy, RNA processing and analysis.
• Experience with (iPSC) cell culture is a plus.
• Excellent communication skills, as well as proficiency in spoken and written English, are expected.
• Keen interest in collaborative research.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

Salary & Terms of Employment

The gross monthly salary based on full-time employment (1 FTE, 38 hours a week) varies between € 2541,- in the first year and € 3247,- gross per month (salary scale P) in the last year, in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU), excluding 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. We offer travel expenses, paid parental leave, flexible working hours, 30 days paid leave per year and help at finding a house.

The KNAW offers its staff an excellent package of secondary benefits. A package that meets the different needs of employees depending on their stage of life, lifestyle or career ambitions. For example, by working an extra two hours a week, it is possible to increase the number of days off from 29 to 41 days a year (with full-time employment).

For a complete overview of the terms of employment, please refer to the web page: werken bij de KNAW.

Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience

The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience is the country's leading fundamental neuroscience research institute, in the international and progressive city of Amsterdam. It provides a critical mass of scientists (spanning more than 27 nationalities) and neuroscience facilities, in a highly interactive, dynamic, multi-cultural environment, with English as the working language.

Neurogenesis & Neurodegeneration

The Neurogenesis & Neurodegeneration laboratory led by Dr. Evgenia Salta employs transcriptomics and other molecular and imaging approaches to map the cellular and molecular complexity of the adult hippocampal neurogenic niche and to dissect the biological pathways that are deregulated in Alzheimer's disease. The team employs animal models, iPSC reprogramming and human postmortem brain tissue.