PhD Fellowship in Systems Neuroscience

3-year PhD Research fellow position now available at the Center for Integrative Neuroplasticity (CINPLA) at Department of Biosciences.

Application deadline: 31 January, 2017

We are searching for a highly motivated candidate with a strong interest in neural processing of cortical circuits. The planned research makes use in vivo large scale extracellular recordings of behaving animals to investigate neural processing with a specific focus on visual information processing.

The fellowship is for a period of three years.

Applicants who will finish their master study before end of February 2017 can apply given that a date is set for their final exam. Starting date no later than April 20th, 2017. 

No one can be appointed for more than one fixed-term period at the same institution.
 

Job/ project description:

Sensory information processing occurs as complex interplays between thousands of neurons connected in local and distributed neural networks. How subpopulations of neurons contribute to information processing and the interplay between neural networks in behaving animal remain unresolved.  Emerging recording technologies in combination with genetic tools and computational modelling now enables multi-level investigations that will bring insights into how the brain operates to promote healthy development, learning, and recovery from disease. In our laboratory we study neural processing and plasticity of cortical circuits at multiple levels from the morphological changes of dendritic spines to functional changes of network activity in behaving animals. The research group is part Center for Integrative Neuroplasticity (www.cinpla.org) which aims to unite computational and experimental neuroscience.
 

Requirements/qualifications:

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition of being a leading research faculty. Candidates for these fellowships will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.

Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in physiology/neurobiology or related disciplines. The preferred candidate has first-hand experience from electrophysiology recordings or imaging of behaving animals.

The candidate will use in vivo large-scale extracellular recordings to investigate neural processing in visual cortex. Genetic perturbations will be used to identify cell-specific contributions to these processes. The position is funded by the Norwegian Research Council as part of the CoBra project (FRINATEK) which will use an integrated approach of computational modelling and targeted experiments to understand visual information processing. The data acquired will be used to develop and test computational models in an iterative process (see, e.g., Hagen et al, Cerebral Cortex, 2016, doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhw237). Some insight into computational neuroscience and programming is advantageous.  We offer broad training possibilities in the required experimental methods within the stimulating multidisciplinary academic environment provided by the Center of Integrative Neuroplasticity (www.cinpla.org). The research fellow should be able to work independently and structured, while at the same time engage in close collaborations.

The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree.

The fellowship requires admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. The application to the PhD programme must be submitted to the department no later than two months after taking up the position. For more information see here and here.

A good command of English is required.
 

Salary:

Position code 1017, Salary NOK 432 700 – 489 300  per year.
 

The application must include:

  • Application letter

  • CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications)

  • Copies of educational certificates, transcript of records and letters of recommendation

  • Documentation of English proficiency

  • List of publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee

  • Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

  • Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please remember that all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language.

In accordance with the University of Oslo's equal opportunities policy, we invite applications from all interested individuals regardless of gender or ethnicity.

UiO has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results a.o.


Other information:

Region/Location: Oslo

Job type: Fixed Term Contract

Working hours: Full-time, days

Application deadline: 31 January, 2017

Reference number: 2016/15391

Home page: http://www.mn.uio.no/ibv/

Apply here: http://uio.easycruit.com/vacancy/1757057/96323?iso=no

Published Jan. 4, 2017 12:58 PM - Last modified Feb. 7, 2018 1:20 PM