PhD Position: Multisynaptic Plasticity in Dendrites

Radboud University Nijmegen via AcademicTransfer; Netherlands; Presencial; EUR 36 000 - 45 000; Tempo integral

Vantagens oferecidas por esta oferta de emprego

Flexible working hours

Pension plan

Additional leave days

Resumo da oferta

Radboud University seeks an enthusiastic PhD candidate to investigate multisynaptic plasticity in hippocampal CA1 neurons using single cell electrophysiology, advanced microscopy, and novel biosensors. You will explore calcium signaling, neuromodulator effects, and molecular pathways underlying plasticity in brain slices.

Applicants should hold a Master's degree in a life sciences field, have experience with imaging or patch-clamp work, and be fluent in English.

Qualificações

• Master's degree in life sciences, biology, biomedical sciences or related discipline.
• Experience with advanced microscopy and/or single cell electrophysiology in living tissue.
• Ideally programming in Matlab or Python; willingness to learn if not.
• Fluent in English, strong communication and teamwork skills.

Responsabilidades

• Use two-photon glutamate uncaging in hippocampal slices to induce synaptic plasticity at multiple spines.
• Investigate molecular pathways and interactions underlying multisynaptic plasticity in dendrites.
• Examine how neuromodulators affect pathway interactions and spine growth modes.
• Contribute to projects on calcium signaling and retrograde messengers in CA1 neurons.

Conhecimentos

Neuroscience

English fluency

Independent work

Team collaboration

Formação académica

Master's degree in life sciences/biology/biomedical sciences

Ferramentas

Advanced microscopy

Patch clamp electrophysiology

Two-photon uncaging

Descrição da oferta de emprego

Organisation/Company Radboud University Research Field Neurosciences » Neurobiology Neurosciences » Neurophysiology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 8 Nov 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 an enthusiastic young scientist with a Master's degree in a neuroscience-related field? And would you like to figure out how plasticity at multiple synapses is coordinated within dendrites? Then you have a part to play as a PhD candidate in our research team. Put your ideas to the test at our green campus and push your boundaries in an internationally friendly environment.
Synaptic plasticity is considered to be the foundation of brain adaptation and learning. Multiple signalling pathways have been identified that are underlying synaptic plasticity of single synapses, depending on induction protocol and cell type. However, linking these molecular pathways to behavioural adaptation and learning turned out to be difficult. Under physiological conditions in vivo, multiple synapses will be activated simultaneously and plasticity pathways will inherently interfere.
In this PhD project, we will use a combination of single cell electrophysiology, advanced microscopy techniques and novel biosensors to examine molecular pathways underlying multisynaptic plasticity in dendrites of hippocampal CA1 neurons in brain slices.
Research in the Wierenga lab focuses on the formation and plasticity of inhibitory synapses and the interactions between inhibitory and excitatory synapses within dendrites. In this project, you will use two-photon glutamate uncaging in hippocampal slices to induce synaptic plasticity at multiple spines and you will exploit novel biosensors to study interactions between molecular pathways within the dendrite. Furthermore, you will explore how these interactions are affected by neuromodulators. Pilot experiments with four spine stimulation have shown that large calcium signals emerge within the dendritic shaft that continue even after the stimulation has ended, and that there are at least two modes of spine growth that seem to be regulated independently.
The research has the following objectives:

• To determine how calcium release from internal stores contributes to dendritic calcium signals.
• To investigate how PKA and PKC activity interacts with calcium signals.
• To assess if these interactions can explain the two modes of spine growth.
• To examine when and where molecular signalling molecules (aka retrograde messengers) are produced.

Your teaching load may be up to 10% of your working time.
Would you like to learn more about what it’s like to pursue a PhD at Radboud University? Visit the page about working as a PhD candidate.

• You are a highly motivated, enthusiastic, critical, creative and team-oriented young scientist with a particular interest in neuroscience.
• You have a Master's degree in life sciences, biology, biomedical sciences or a related discipline, and an interest in intracellular signalling and optical recording methods.
• You have experience in advanced microscopy and/or single cell (patch clamp) electrophysiology in living brain tissue.
• Ideally, you can program (in Matlab, Python or a similar environment), but if not, you will learn.
• You take initiative and are eager to learn.
• You can work independently, but you also enjoy interacting within a group.
• You are fluent in English (written and spoken) and have good communication skills.
• You demonstrate integrity and positivity and motivate others to do the same.

Additional Information

• We will give you a temporary employment contract (0.8 FTE 5- year contract - 1.0 FTE 4- year contract) of 1.5 years, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, your contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4-year contract) or 3.5 years (5-year contract).
• You will receive a starting salary of €3,204 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €4,051 from the fourth year onwards ( salary scale P ).
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20.

Additional employment conditions
Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions . You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

Additional comments