Postdoc myelin imaging

EURAXESS Ireland; Amsterdam; Hybrid; EUR 40,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) invites a postdoctoral researcher to study oligodendrocyte myelin sheaths in brain tissue in health and disease. The project combines electrophysiology and advanced imaging to uncover remodeling mechanisms, with collaboration across labs and access to state-of-the-art infrastructure.

You will work with mouse models, published findings, and translational aims, while mentoring students and contributing to high-impact publications.

Qualifications

• PhD in neuroscience or related field, obtained within the past four years.
• Experience with single-cell electrophysiology and/or live functional imaging from neurons/glia.
• Brain-tissue preparation experience, preferably with mouse models.
• Evidence of publishing research in peer-reviewed journals.
• High proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Experience supervising master/PhD students.
• Animal use certification under Dutch Act or EU equivalent is an advantage.
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, and R is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Study oligodendrocyte myelin sheaths in brain tissue under health and disease.
• Utilize advanced microscopy to investigate myelin remodeling.
• Collaborate with the Amsterdam Leukodystrophy Center and use mouse models for translational insights.

Skills

Single-cell electrophysiology

Live functional imaging

Brain-tissue preparation

Peer-reviewed publications

English proficiency

supervising students

teamwork and communication

animal experience certification

Programming: Python MATLAB R

Education

PhD in neuroscience or related field

Tools

Python

MATLAB

R

Job description

Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW)

Organisation/Company Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) Research Field Medical sciences Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Application Deadline 30 Sep 2026 - 21:59 (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

What you will be doing

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher with strong technical expertise to study the oligodendrocyte myelin sheaths in brain tissue in health and disease. Many brain disorders, including rare genetic white matter disorders (leukodystrophies), but also more common diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, are characterized by white matter pathology including myelin swelling (vacuolization), damage, loss or remodeling. Recently, we found that myelin swelling is not always the start of myelin loss, but that it can be followed by repair (Arafa et al. Science 391, eadr4661, 2026). Neuronal activity contributes to myelin swelling, but the mechanisms and dynamics underlying myelin swelling and repair are poorly understood.

Leveraging advanced microscopy approaches you will investigate myelin in living tissue (Higgins, Al-Naqib et al. 10.64898/2026.05.15.725074) to determine the biophysical and molecular mechanisms associated with myelin remodeling. This project is a collaboration with Dr. Rogier Min of the Amsterdam Leukodystrophy Center (ALC), Amsterdam UMC. Well-validated mouse models for various leukodystrophies offer opportunities to study myelin swelling and remodeling in disease contexts, taking an important step towards a better understanding of this understudied, but common phenomenon and building bridges to the clinic.

• A PhD obtained within the past four years in neuroscience or a related research field.
• Demonstrated experience with single-cell electrophysiology and/or live functional imaging from neurons and/or glia (e.g. 2P/SCoRe).
• Experience (> 2 yrs) with brain-tissue preparation methods preferably involving mouse models.
• Demonstrated capacity to publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals.
• Highly proficient in spoken and written English.
• Experience supervising master/PhD students in research projects.
• Excellent teamwork and communication skills.
• Certification under Article 9 of the Dutch Experiments on Animals Act, or a comparable EU certification for experimental animal use, is an advantage.
• Proficiency with programming languages (Python, MATLAB, R) is a plus.

Additional Information

What do we offer?

You will be joining a highly collaborative neuroscience research environment and benefit from state-of-the-art infrastructure. The Kole group is renowned for their fundamental cellular neuron-glia studies of myelinated and axons. We have new high-end in vitro and in vivo electrophysiological infrastructure, optogenetic and high-speed one and two-photon imaging setups. Through close collaboration with Dr Min at the Amsterdam Leukodystrophy Center, you will have the opportunity to investigate myelin remodeling in clinically relevant disease models, adding a strong translational dimension to the project.

This is a full-time position for 1.0 fte (38 h/week), initially for one year. Subject to satisfactory performance, the contract will be extended for an additional two years. You will have ample opportunities to further develop your scientific knowledge and technical skills through courses offered by the Academy, participation in (inter)national conferences, and additional opportunities for personal development.

Terms of employment

Depending on education and experience the minimum salary is € 3.546 and the maximum salary is € 5.538 gross per month for a full-time appointment (scale 10 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. A package that meets the different needs of employees depending on their stage of life, lifestyle or career ambitions. 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).

For a complete overview of the terms of employment, please refer to the web page: werken bij de KNAW .

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

Diversity & Inclusion

The KNAW considers a working environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated of great importance. A working environment in which attention is paid to individual quality and where development opportunities are paramount. Together we strive for an inclusive culture in which we embrace differences. We would therefore like to invite candidates who want to contribute to this through their background and experience. In the event of equal suitability, preference will be given to the candidate who thus enhances diversity within the Academy.

We will not respond to any supplier enquiries based on this job advertisement.

Selection process

Application procedure

This vacancy is open until September 30, 2026. However, we may close the vacancy earlier if a suitable candidate is found.

More information

General information about the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience can be found on the institute's website (nin.nl). For more information about the vacancy, please contact Prof. Dr. Maarten H.P. Kole ([e-mail] ).