PhD position Neuroscience

EURAXESS Ireland; Groningen; Hybrid; EUR 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation hours per year

End-of-year bonus 8.3%

Holiday allowance 8%

Job summary

University of Groningen seeks a Researcher to investigate how neural population activity relates to behavior across environments using miniaturized calcium imaging in freely moving mice. You will integrate RFID tracking, multi-camera data, and deep-learning based analysis to identify neural-behavioral states across individuals and contexts.

The role involves pharmacological validation of states and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, emphasizing computational and experimental

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in neuroscience, biology, biomedical sciences or related discipline.
• Experience with behavioral, computational and/or systems neuroscience.
• Interest in combining neuroscience with quantitative approaches and datasets.

Responsibilities

• Study how neural population activity relates to behavior across environments.
• Use miniaturized calcium imaging to record neuron activity in freely behaving mice.
• Combine RFID tracking, multi-camera recordings, and deep-learning behavioral analyses.
• Validate behavioral states with pharmacological manipulations and neural data.

Skills

Neuroscience

Behavioral neuroscience

Computational analysis

Python

MATLAB

Education

Master’s in neuroscience

Tools

DeepLabCut

SLEAP

RFID tracking

Job description

Organisation/Company University of Groningen Research Field Neurosciences » Neurobiology Neurosciences » Neurophysiology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 17 Sep 2026 - 22:00 (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

Understanding how patterns of neural activity give rise to behavior is a central challenge in neuroscience. Most of what we know about this relationship comes from rodent experiments performed under tightly controlled laboratory conditions. While these approaches are essential for identifying neural mechanisms, they capture only a fraction of the behavioral repertoire animals display in more complex environments.

What are you going to do?

In this project, you will investigate how neural population activity relates to behavior across environments ranging from standardized laboratory assays to large outdoor enclosures. Using miniaturized calcium imaging, you will record the activity of large populations of neurons in freely behaving mice and determine how neural activity relates to moment-to-moment behavioral changes.

A major component of the project will make use of large outdoor mouse enclosures at the University of Groningen. These environments allow mice to express a rich repertoire of species-typical behaviors, including exploration, shelter use, social interactions and responses to changing environmental conditions. You will combine RFID tracking, multi-camera recordings and deep-learning-based behavioral analysis to identify reproducible behavioral states and understand how they vary across individuals, sexes and environmental contexts.

Pharmacological manipulations will be used to experimentally validate specific behavioral states and investigate how they are modulated by neural systems involved in anxiety and behavioral adaptation. You will subsequently combine wireless miniature calcium imaging with automated behavioral monitoring to uncover the neural dynamics associated with these behaviors.

Methods: miniature calcium imaging, deep-learning-based behavioral tracking, RFID tracking, computational analysis of neural population activity, stereotaxic surgery, pharmacological manipulations and histology.

Candidates who do not meet all formal criteria but demonstrate strong affinity and motivation for the topic are strongly encouraged to apply

Ideally, you have:

• A Master’s degree in neuroscience, biology, biomedical sciences or a related discipline, with relevant experience in behavioral, computational and/or systems neuroscience. If you have completed all the requirements of your degree but are awaiting the official award, a statement from your university that all requirements are met is sufficient.
• A strong interest in neural circuits and rodent behavior.
• Experience with animal experimentation. Preference will be given to candidates with an Article 9 license (FELASA accreditation), or previous hands-on experience with animal experimentation.
• An interest in combining behavioral neuroscience with quantitative and computational approaches. Preference will be given to candidates that have previous experience analyzing neural or behavioral datasets, or used deep-learning based behavioral tracking (for example DeepLabCut or SLEAP).
• Experience with, or a strong motivation to learn Python or Matlab.
• An excellent command of English (oral and written). Candidates are exempted from proving proficiency in English if they (i) completed a secondary education (HAVO or VWO certificate) in the Netherlands, (ii) are a native English speaker, or (iii) completed a Bachelor or Master degree programme which was fully taught in English. If you are not exempt please provide sufficient evidence with your application, see the guidelines here: https://www.rug.nl/education/phd-programmes/prospective/phd-positions/english-language-requirements

Additional Information

What can you expect from us?

• 232 vacation hours per year, based on a 38-hour workweek (1.0 FTE). You can also work more or fewer hours in exchange for more or fewer free hours. For example, with a 40-hour workweek, you save 96 extra free hours, and with a 36-hour workweek, you lose 96 hours.
• End-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 8% holiday allowance.
• Extensive opportunities for personal and professional development.

Information about applying

When scheduling meetings, we will take your schedule into account as much as possible. The University of Groningen considers social safety important. We strive to be a university where staff and students feel respected and at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identity. For more information, see also our page about our diversity policy .

Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the NVP application code

Acquisition is not appreciated.

Additional comments

Do you have any questions or need more information?

Questions about your application process?
Diane ten Have (Education/Research Assistant): [e-mail]