Job ID: 119968

PhD Position in Neuroscience at IMBIT (Intelligent Machine-Brain Interfacing Technology)

Position: Ph.D. Student

Deadline: 30 September 2024

Employment Start Date: 1 November 2024

Contract Length: 3 years

City: Freiburg

Country: Germany

Institution: University Freiburg//IMBIT

Department: Optophysiology

Description:

About the Position:

The Optophysiology Group at the IMBIT, University of Freiburg, is seeking a motivated PhD student to join our research team. Our project, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), aims to advance the understanding of movement disorders, epilepsy, motor planning, reward expectation, attention, and action selection. Specifically, we investigate inhibitory control of the motor system by the thalamic reticular nucleus.

This PhD position (TVL E13, 65%) focuses on in vivo imaging techniques (miniscope) in freely behaving mice. You will collaborate closely with another PhD student working on in vitro electrophysiology and two-photon calcium imaging.

Who We’re Looking For:

If you are:

  • Curious, enthusiastic, and enjoy collaborative work,
  • Motivated to tackle challenging experimental projects,
  • Interested in learning in vivo imaging techniques, especially in combination with optogenetic manipulation, or have experience in these areas,
  • Fascinated by neuronal communication and functional connections within the brain,
  • Keen on conducting behavioral experiments,
  • Eager to explore cellular mechanisms determining systemic behavior,

then we invite you to join our team!

Your Profile:

  • Experience with in vivo techniques (miniscope calcium imaging, optogenetics, studying rodent behavior) is ideal,
  • Enthusiastic about physiological and pathophysiological neuronal mechanisms,
  • Eager to learn and master new skills and techniques,
  • Proficient in data analysis and comfortable with (or willing to learn) custom scripting (e.g., Python/Matlab).

Who We Are:

You will be part of the Optophysiology Lab, led by Ilka Diester. Our dynamic, international research lab is located in the brand new IMBIT research building, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations. Our core research area is cognitive motor control, employing cutting-edge techniques such as optogenetics, multielectrode recordings, and 1- and 2-photon imaging in trained rodents.

About the University and Location:

The University of Freiburg is one of Germany’s top research universities, hosting two current and two former excellence clusters. Freiburg, reputedly Germany’s sunniest city, is nestled in the Black Forest and upper Rhine valley, near France (Alsace) and Switzerland (Basel). It is well-connected by public transport, is a multicultural hub with a high student population, and offers numerous cultural and recreational activities such as hiking, climbing, and skiing.

Join us at the IMBIT to advance your research career in a stimulating and supportive environment!