PhD student cerebellar morphology

KNAW (Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen); Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 36,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ABP pension

Travel allowance

Home working allowance

Courses & conferences

Job summary

The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience in Amsterdam invites applications for a PhD student position focused on cerebellar morphology in postmortem tissue. The project spans 38 hours per week, for 48 months, and uses advanced imaging and analysis techniques including postmortem MRI and tissue staining.

Ideal candidates hold an MSc in a related field, have strong Python/MATLAB skills, and English proficiency. Experience with microscopy or neuroimaging is a plus.

Qualifications

• MSc in biomedical engineering, physics, biology or related field.
• Strong interest in neuroscience and brain research.
• Programming experience (Python, MATLAB) and proficiency in English.

Responsibilities

• Measure human cerebellar morphology in postmortem brain tissue.
• Perform data analysis, tissue staining and postmortem MRI.
• Collaborate within Ultra-High Field Neuroimaging group.

Skills

Data analysis

English proficiency

Education

MSc in Biomedical Engineering / Physics / Biology

Tools

Python

MATLAB

Job description

The PhD student cerebellar morphology project will measure the human mesoscale cerebellar morphology in postmortem brain tissue to provide a ground truth for the independent in-vivo experiments. This project will give you the chance to work with a wide range of neuroscience techniques, including data analysis, tissue staining, and postmortem MRI.

• Scientific/Non-scientific: Academic staff
• Location: Amsterdam
• Minimum hours per week: 36
• Contract duration: 48 maanden

About the project

The human cerebellum is an intricately shaped brain region, implicated in a wide range of functions. The cerebellar cortex, a thin layer of grey matter, is very tightly folded, resulting in a highly convoluted architecture. Its visualisation requires detailed imaging, beyond what is currently possible in humans in vivo. In an NWO-funded Vici project, we leverage Ultra-High Field MRI to bring the cerebellar mesoscale into view.

We are looking for a researcher that a vivid interest in neuroscience with strong technical skills. The ideal candidate will have, or will be about to receive, an MSc in biomedical engineering, physics, biology or a related field and a demonstrable interest in the human brain. Programming experience (Python, MATLAB) and proficiency in spoken and written English is required. Experience with or an interest in microscopy, quantitative image analysis, neuroanatomy or MRI would be a plus.

What do we offer?

You will be joining a highly collaborative research environment in the Ultra-High Field Neuroimaging group of the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience and the Spinoza Centre for Neuroimaging. This research environment combines state-of-of the art neuroscience expertise and facilities, including 7T MRI and the Netherlands Brain Bank. You will work in a diverse, interdisciplinary community of cognitive and clinical neuroscientists and neuroimaging experts.

It concerns a position for 1.0 fte (38 h/week). You will have ample opportunities for further development of knowledge and technical and personal skills through courses at the Academy and (inter)national conferences.

About the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience

The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience is the country’s leading fundamental neuroscience research institute, in the international and progressive city of Amsterdam. It provides a critical mass of scientists (spanning more than 27 nationalities) and neuroscience facilities, in a highly interactive, dynamic, multi-cultural environment, with English as the working language.

Terms of employment

Depending on education and experience the minimum salary is € 3204,- and the maximum salary is € 4051,- gross per month for a full-time appointment (promovendi scale, cao Nederlandse Universiteiten/KNAW). This is exclusive of 8% vacation allowance, 8.3% year-end bonus, travel allowance, internet allowance, home working allowance and pension accrual with ABP.

The KNAW offers its staff an excellent package of secondary benefits. For example, by working an extra two hours a week, it is possible to increase the number of days off from 29 to 41 days a year (with full-time employment).

Applying for a Certificate of Good Conduct can be part of the employment procedure.