PhD Position in \"Modifying Synapses to Mitigate Alzheimer's Disease\"

University of Amsterdam (UvA) via AcademicTransfer; Netherlands; On-site; EUR 36,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing assistance for relocation

Educational program for PhD students

ABP pension plan support

Dutch language courses available

Job summary

University of Amsterdam (UvA) invites applications for a First Stage Researcher (R1) in Neurosciences. You will study glutamatergic synapses and memory resilience in aging and Alzheimer’s disease, using molecular tools and behavioral interventions.

The project is embedded in the Memory and Plasticity team within SILS at the Amsterdam Science Park. You will apply viral technologies, electrophysiology, proteomics and memory engram approaches while collaborating with international groups.

Qualifications

• Experience with learning and memory research.
• Affinity and experience with animal experiments.
• Experience with behavioural and/or neurobiological techniques.
• Ability to plan and interpret experiments, and to write clearly.
• Willingness to learn Dutch if not a native speaker.

Responsibilities

• Complete and defend a PhD thesis within four years.
• Design experiments, perform lab work and analyze results.
• Lead manuscript writing and present results at meetings.
• Collaborate across the Brain Plasticity and Cellular & Circuit Neuroscience groups.
• Assist in teaching and supervise Bachelor and Master students.
• Engage in attendance of courses and international meetings.

Skills

English fluency

Statistical skills

Analytical & writing skills

Presentation skills

Team player

Education

MSc in Neuroscience or related field

Job description

Organisation/Company University of Amsterdam (UvA) Research Field Neurosciences » Neurobiology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 30 Oct 2026 - 22:59 (UTC) Country Netherlands Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Not Applicable Hours Per Week 38.0 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Are you interested in the neurobiological processes of learning and memory, and how we can use this knowledge to make the brain more resilient to the cognitive decline seen in Alzheimer’s disease (AD)? Then this position might be perfect for you. Join us!
Join us!
Glutamatergic synapses are critical for synaptic plasticity and memory formation. The composition of their receptors can modulate resilience and sensitivity to memory deficits, in particular those induced by amyloid beta (Aβ), a major hallmark of Alzheimer’s Disease. In this project you will investigate whether and how modifying the composition of glutamatergic receptors at synapses, using both molecular tools and behavioral interventions, can reduce age-related cognitive decline in and thereby enhance resilience to AD pathology. In addition, you will study the role of engram cell ensembles in this process.
The position is embedded within the Memory and Plasticity team of dr. Harm Krugers at the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam (UvA). This is a collaborative project with Prof. dr. Helmut Kessels (Cellular and Circuit Neuroscience group, UvAmsterdam) and Prof. dr. Paul J Lucassen (Brain Plasticity group, UvAmsterdam). The PhD candidate works in the respective groups where complementary and excellent expertise is available (e.g. electrophysiology will be combined with chemogenetics and behavioral interventions).
This is what you will do
You will use behavioral paradigms to assess learning and memory in a rodent model of AD. You will apply viral technologies to identify and measure the properties of synapses and engram cells and establish their role in memory. These techniques can include electrophysiology, proteomics, dendrite and spine reconstructions, chemogenetics, and memory engram-specific interventions.
Tasks and responsibilities:

• complete and defend a PhD thesis within the official appointment duration of four years;
• gain knowledge of the field through literature, discussions with team members and internal lab meetings;
• contribute to the design of experiments, perform experiments in the lab and analyse and interpret results of these experiments;
• take a leading role in writing manuscripts;
• be an active member of the research teams at both the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (UvA) and present results at (inter)national scientific meetings;
• participate in the Faculty of Science PhD training programme;
• assist in teaching and supervise Bachelor and Master’s students

What we ask of you You are excited about science and have a particular interest in, and preferably have experience with neurobiological approaches towards learning and memory. You like a challenge and can combine work on preclinical rodent models with techniques like behaviour, electrophysiology, molecular biology and structural analysis. You have good statistical skills and experience with molecular tools and data-analysis. You are a team player and a pleasant colleague who enjoys being part of an interdisciplinary team of scientists. Finally, you have good time management skills enabling you to meet the projects’ deadlines for finishing analyses, reports and other deliverables.

Your experience and profile:

• experience with learning and memory research.
• a MSc degree in Neuroscience or related fields;
• affinity and experience with performing animal experiments;
• affinity and experience with common behavioural and/or neurobiological techniques;
• good analytical, writing and presenting skills;
• fluent in English, both written and spoken and the willingness to learn Dutch (in case not Dutch native speaker)

This is what we offer you A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years). The preferred starting date of the project, which should lead to a PhD thesis, is 4 January 2027. We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students.

Based on a full-time appointment (38 hours per week) the gross monthly salary will range from €3.204 in the first year to €4.051 (scale P) in the last year. This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. The UFO profile PhD candidate applicable. The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.

• 232 holiday hours per year (based on fulltime);
• multiple courses to follow from our Teaching and Learning Centre;
• a complete educational program for PhD students;
• a pension at ABP for which UvA pays two third part of the contribution;
• the possibility to follow courses to learn Dutch;
• help with housing for a studio or small apartment when you’re moving from abroad.

You will work in this team The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 8,000, as well as 1,800 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.
Krugers and Kessels are respectively part of the Brain Plasticity group and the Cellular and Circuit Neuroscience group (at the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS). SILS is located at the vibrant Amsterdam Science Park. SILS is one of eight institutes of the University of Amsterdam's Faculty of Science (FNWI). With around 240 employees, the Swammerdam Institute carries out internationally high-quality life science research and provides education within various university programs. Research is also carried out in close cooperation with the medical, biotech, chemical, flavor, food & agricultural, and high-tech industries, and revolves around 4 main themes, Cell & Systems biology, Neurosciences, Microbiology and Green Life Sciences.
Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.

The interviews will be held in November 2026.