Group Leader - Biological mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric disorders

Are you interested in developing an innovative research group through a combination of core and extramural funding to study the biological mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric disorders? Would you enjoy working in close collaboration with other research groups in an exceptionally collegial and synergistic institute? Do you look forward to focusing your time on research without teaching obligations? Then this job may be for you.

What you will be doing?
We are looking for a candidate who will apply cutting-edge molecular or computational neuroscience tools to unravel biological mechanisms responsible for dysfunctions encountered in psychiatric disorders. You will work together with fellow research groups and clinical researchers on understanding psychiatric symptoms from molecules to brain circuitry. A background in molecular or computational psychiatry is preferred, but researchers with different expertise may apply as well if they have a strong case for collaborative utilization of the unique facilities and expertise present at the NIN to understand mechanisms of psychiatric disorders.

You would have the following responsibilities:

• Coordinate and conduct fundamental research relevant to psychiatric disorders.
• Acquire external research funding.
• Mentor PhD students and postdocs and manage other personnel related processes of your group.
• Make an inspiring and complementary contribution to the NIN mission.

Who are we looking for?
You preferably have obtained your PhD degree no longer than 10 years ago. We will deduct a 1.5 year period for each child when comparing productivity across candidates to account for the family investment involved in maternity/paternity. You have an excellent and demonstrable track record in scientific research, and publications in relevant journals. Experience in acquiring external funding for research. Excellent communication skills. Ability to work and troubleshoot independently and collaboratively.

Terms of employment
Depending on education and experience the minimum salary is € 5.247 and the maximum salary is € 8.025 gross per month for a full-time appointment (scale 12 - 14 of the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities/ KNAW). This is exclusive of 8% vacation allowance, 8.3% year-end bonus, travel allowance, internet allowance, home working allowance and pension accrual with ABP.

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.

Applying for a Certificate of Good Conduct is part of the employment procedure.

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.

Research at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN) is aimed at understanding the neural circuits and molecular mechanisms that generate our mental functions and how they change in brain disorders. Our institute is in a unique position to achieve this aim by synergizing diverse research groups harnessing state-of-the-art neurotechnologies across the human, primate and rodent brain. The NIN is also home to the Netherlands Brain Bank, providing access to unique post-mortem human brain tissue, including an extensive and well-documented psychiatric cohort. The NIN aims to strengthen the synergy between the institute's expertise on neural circuits and the Netherlands Brain Bank and to understand the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. It has opened a new group leader position to help achieve these goals.