PhD in 3D Cochlear Histopathology in Ageing and Systemic Disease

Technical University of Denmark; Kongens Lyngby; On-site; DKK 320,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

Technical University of Denmark (DTU) Health Tech seeks a motivated researcher for a 3-year PhD project on cochlear pathology in ageing and systemic disease. You will work in the Centre for Auditory Neuroscience within the Hearing Systems section, applying advanced preclinical immunolabelling and light-sheet microscopy in rodent models and collaborating with diverse experts.

You will design experiments, develop imaging workflows, analyze data, and contribute to publications, conferences, and

Qualifications

• Two-year master’s degree (120 ECTS) or equivalent in neuroscience, medicine or related field.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory rodents in a research setting.
• Experience with immunofluorescent tissue labelling and tissue processing.
• Experience acquiring and evaluating fluorescence microscopy data.
• Aptitude for quantitative analysis through scripting, image analysis or statistics.
• Strong interest in inner-ear pathology and independent research initiative.
• Excellent written and spoken English; ability to collaborate in an interdisciplinary team.
• Cover letter, CV, transcripts and degree diplomas.

Responsibilities

• Design and perform studies in rodent models of hearing loss and systemic disease.
• Develop and validate tissue clearing and whole-organ immunolabelling for the cochlea.
• Acquire light-sheet microscopy datasets from intact cochleae.
• Develop quantitative measures of cochlear pathology and image-analysis pipelines.
• Interpret findings in relation to auditory function and disease markers.
• Publish papers, present at conferences, and contribute to teaching and supervision.
• Complete 30 ECTS of PhD coursework and a 3–6 month research stay at a partner lab.

Skills

Rodent handling

Fluorescence imaging

Image analysis scripting

Data interpretation

Collaborative work

Education

Master's degree in neuroscience or related field

Tools

Immunolabelling protocols

Light-sheet microscopy

Tissue processing

Job description

Are you interested in advancing our understanding of cochlear pathology in ageing and systemic disease using cutting‑edge 3D microscopy and image analysis? We invite applicants for a 3-year PhD position investigating the spatial and temporal relationships between vascular and sensorineural pathology in the cochlea. The project will examine these relationships in healthy ageing as well as in age‑related conditions such as dementia and metabolic syndrome. The methodological focus of the project is the development of preclinical immunolabelling and light‑sheet microscopy imaging pipelines to study the cochlea in rodent models of the above‑mentioned diseases, with the eventual implementation of advanced image analysis approaches. The developed methodologies are intended not only to deepen our understanding of the pathogenesis of hearing loss and its connections to ageing and age‑related diseases, but also to provide new tools for the detailed assessment of therapeutic responses and thereby inform future treatment strategies. You will join the interdisciplinary team at the Centre for Auditory Neuroscience within the Hearing Systems section at DTU Health Tech recently established with support from the William Demant Foundation. You will work alongside neurobiologists, cognitive neuroscientists, acousticians, computer scientists, and medical doctors. You will have opportunities to collaborate with preclinical and clinical scientists within and outside Denmark.

Responsibilities and tasks

• Design and carry out experimental studies in rodent models of hearing loss and systemic disease
• Develop and validate tissue clearing and whole‑organ immunolabelling protocols for the cochlea
• Acquire light‑sheet fluorescence microscopy datasets from intact cochleae
• Develop quantitative measures of cochlear pathology and contribute to the development of image‑analysis pipelines for the acquired data
• Interpret findings in relation to auditory function and markers of metabolic and neurodegenerative disease
• Publish scientific papers, present your work at international conferences, and contribute to teaching and supervision at DTU
• You will complete 30 ECTS of PhD coursework and undertake a research stay of three to six months at a partner laboratory

Qualifications

• Must have a two‑year master’s degree (120 ECTS points) or a degree of equivalent academic level in neuroscience, medicine, biomedicine, veterinary medicine, biomedical engineering, molecular biology, or a related field
• Hands‑on experience with laboratory rodents, in a research setting
• Practical experience with immunofluorescent tissue labelling and optimization of tissue‑processing protocols
• Experience acquiring and evaluating fluorescence microscopy data
• Demonstrated aptitude for quantitative analysis, for example through scripting, image analysis, or statistics, whether acquired through formal training or self‑study
• A strong interest in inner‑ear pathology and the ability to formulate research questions and pursue them independently
• The ability to handle delicate preparations meticulously and to document experimental protocols rigorously
• Strong written and spoken English, and the ability to work effectively in a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment
• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
• Recommendation letters (up to two) are welcome but not necessary

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 DTU works with research in critical 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.

DTU Health Tech (Department of Health Technology) works to improve health and quality of life through technology. The department brings together engineering, natural sciences and clinical expertise in research, education and innovation, developing technologies that improve the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care of disease. It is a strongly interdisciplinary and international environment, with colleagues from more than 40 countries.

DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829DTU is one of Europe's leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe's global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture.

DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.