Doctoral Candidate in the MSCN Network BRAINET - Preclinical validation of interference stimulation

Uniklinik Freiburg; Deutschland; Vor Ort; EUR 40.000 - 60.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A leading university clinic in Freiburg seeks a doctoral candidate for a full-time, 36-month position. The role involves investigating non-invasive stimulation techniques for Parkinson’s Disease models. Candidates should have a Master's degree in relevant fields and skills in animal handling, signal processing, and statistics. A competitive salary is provided, along with additional allowances. Applications are due by February 28, 2026.

Leistungen

Living allowance of €4,010/month

Mobility allowance of €710/month

Potential family allowance

Qualifikationen

• Experience in working with animals and certification is a plus.
• Must be eligible to enroll on a PhD programme at Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg.
• Language requirements: English is a must, German is beneficial.

Aufgaben

• Investigate non-invasive interference stimulation in Parkinson’s Disease models.
• Characterize and describe behavioral consequences and histological changes.

Kenntnisse

Animal handling

Signal processing

Statistics

Ausbildung

Master's degree in neuro-biology, neuron-engineering, or biomedical engineering

Tools

Research methodologies

Jobbeschreibung

Offer Description

The Medical Center of the University of Freiburg is one of Germany’s leading and most dynamic university clinics and biomedical research institutions. For our clinic, diversity is an essential feature and a quality criterion of an excellent research institution. Accordingly, we welcome all applicants who would like to commit themselves, their achievements and productivity to the success of the whole institution.

At the Section for Neuroelectronic Systems, part of the Neurosurgical Department, we offer a full‑time position for 36 months in the MSCNetwork BRAINET. The advertised position will be one of 14 throughout Europe (doi:10.3030/101225775), salary according to MSCA regulation.

The BRAINET consortium tries to augment DBS with spatio‑temporal Interference Stimulation (stIS). We will beneficially influence therapeutic regions deep in the brain without requiring deep seated electrodes. BRAINET sets out to develop skull implantable stimulation hubs forming a communication network for 3D targeting by self‑organisation, providing semantic information transfer and synchronization, and thus enabling self‑adjusting therapeutic stIS. These stimulation hubs will be powered by novel magneto‑electrical transducer stacks, driven by slowly alternating magnetic fields from the outside and will perform adjustable frequency stimulation by novel nano‑modified, compliant electrodes only touching the brain. Network formation will be enabled by multiphysics approaches and ionic in‑body communication instantiated by dedicated microelectronic hardware. Preclinical in‑vitro and in‑vivo testing of devices and methods will allow real‑world validation of this unusual Brain‑Computer Interface (BCI).

The doctoral candidate will investigate non‑invasive interference stimulation with a rat model of Parkinson’s Disease (doi:10.3389/fnins.2020.561008). Handling animals in a professional way will be required. It will be in the DC’s hands to rigorously characterise and describe behavioural consequences, dose‑effect curves and histological changes following interference stimulation as compared to Deep Brain Stimulation (doi:10.3389/fnins.2021.700672).

Specific Requirements

• This position is suitable for technically gifted biologists, biologically oriented engineers or any scientist not afraid of interacting with living animals, power sources, signal processing and statistics.
• Candidates must have a two‑year master’s degree or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two‑year master’s degree in (neuro‑)biology, neuron‑engineering or biomedical engineering or applied physics or similar. Experience in working with animals and certification proving it is a plus.
• Applicants must be eligible to enroll on a PhD programme at Albert‑Ludwigs University Freiburg.
• The primary workplace will be in Freiburg, Germany. Therefore, candidates from outside the EU must be eligible to obtain a visa. The position is expected to start in the second half of 2026.
• Languages: ENGLISH is a must, German is beneficial.

Eligibility criteria

• Candidates can be of any nationality and must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies etc.) in Germany for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their date of recruitment.
• The candidate must not already be in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of the recruitment. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible. The eligibility of the researcher will be determined at the date of their first recruitment in the action.

Additional Information

The prestigious project is fully funded by the Marie Skłodowska Curie Action Doctoral Network BRAINET (doi://10.3030/101225775) and comes with a competitive salary (see here), comprising of

• The Living allowance, amounting to €4 010/month. This amount is adjusted according to the country in which the candidate is recruited.
• Mobility allowance, amounting to €710/month.
• Family allowance (if applicable, depending on family situation), which amounts to €660 per month.
  The family allowance will be implemented if the doctoral candidate has or acquires family obligations during the action duration.

Please note: German taxes, and social contributions apply to the DC fellowship and will be deducted from the allowances. The provided amount is not conclusive and will be defined prior to recruitment starting.

The candidate will be employed by the Medical Center University of Freiburg with a single, three‑year employment contract offering social security, holiday rights, parental leave rights, pension provision, healthcare insurance and accident coverage at work. Researchers must become enrolled in Albert‑Ludwigs University Freiburg’s doctoral programme.

In the frame of MSCA Doctoral Networks, BRAINET aims at training candidates wishing to have a look outside academia and develop their skills also in industrial environments. For this purpose, the successful candidates must spend several months of the contract time in a seconding environment allowing the development of valuable transversal competences that will positively impact the long‑term employability of the candidate. Mobility will be required.

Applications

Applications received after the deadline cannot be considered.

Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 28th of February 2026 (23:59 German time).

The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter).
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale. You may apply prior to obtaining your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As the Medical Center works with research in critical health technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open‑source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

Selection will start after the deadline by BRAINET’s Supervisory Board after end of deadline.