PhD position Behavioural Neuroscience
Apply nowPhD position Behavioural Neuroscience
Insufficient and poor-quality sleep are major and growing societal concerns, strongly linked to adverse mental health outcomes such as anxiety, depression, and neurodegenerative disease. Beyond general health effects, sleep plays a critical role in memory processing by consolidating experiences while reducing their emotional intensity. When sleep is disrupted especially after fearful events, this process fails and leads to heightened distress during memory recall and potentially contributing to the development of maladaptive or traumatic memories. In this project, we aim to elucidate the neurobiological processes to contribute to the development of maladaptive/traumatic memories.
PhD position Behavioural Neuroscience
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What are you going to do?
We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate that enjoys working in a highly collaborative environment for the duration of 4 years during which a thesis needs to be completed. The candidate is expected to work at the interface of behaviour, neural circuits, and molecular mechanisms to investigate how sleep disruption and sleep loss influences fear memory formation, adaptation). The project combines cutting-edge techniques such as chemogenetics (DREADDs), optogenetics, and activity-dependent engram tagging in mice. These approaches are complemented with molecular and structural readouts such as cFos expression and dendritic spine density, and will link circuit-level activity to behavioural outcomes.
Who are you?
You have:
- A Master’s degree in biology or biomedical sciences with relevant experience in the field of behavioral neurosciences, and strong interest in learning & memory research.
- Experience with animal (preferably rodent) research is essential.
- Preference will be given to candidates with experience in (surgical techniques, optogenetics, memory engram technologies, etc).
- A good command of English (oral and written).
- Excellent communication skills (indicated by the ability to write scientific papers and deliver presentations).
What can you expect from us?
- In accordance with the collective labor agreement for Dutch universities, we offer a salary of at least € 3.059 up to a maximum of € 3.881 (Promovendus) gross per month for a full-time employment contract.
- 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.
- Een tijdelijk dienstverband van 1,0 fte voor een periode van vier jaar. Je krijgt eerst een tijdelijk dienstverband voor de periode van een jaar. Na een positief resultaat- en ontwikkelgesprek wordt het contract verlengd voor de resterende periode van drie jaar.
Where will you be working?
At the University of Groningen (RUG), researchers across all branches of science and technology work on scientific challenges and societal issues. Lecturers train their students for meaningful careers in science or beyond. Interdisciplinary research and education, knowledge sharing, and collaboration with companies, government institutions, and societal organizations are highly valued at this top 100 university. RUG aims to be an open academic community with an inclusive and safe working environment that invites you to contribute your value.
The Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) provides teaching and research across a wide range of disciplines, from physics and biology to artificial intelligence, mechanical engineering, and pharmacy. In close collaboration with partners from industry, healthcare, and society, we contribute to the urgent challenges of our time, such as energy, sustainability, digitization, and medical technology. Our community is open and informal, with more than 7,000 students, 1,000 PhD students, and 1,400 staff members from all over the world. If you would like to learn more about the Faculty of Science and Engineering, visit rug.nl/fse.
Research will be mainly performed in the Neurobiology group at the Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, The Netherlands in the group of Prof. Robbert Havekes. The GELIFES institute which comprises several other strong, internationally recognized research groups in the field of behavioral neuroscience and evolutionary biology. This project is part of a larger multi-PI programme funded by ZONMW and unites expertise in clinical insomnia, sleep and memory, synaptic plasticity, and stress-memory interactions. For this reason, some aspects of this project will be conducted in close collaboration with project partners at the University of Amsterdam and Netherlands institute for Neuroscience.
Application procedure
After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation by email.
The selection committee assesses your application and you will receive a response at the latest two weeks after the closing date.
We would like to get to know each other better in a first interview, which can take place either online or on location.
We may schedule a second interview with you. Depending on the position, this interview can be complemented with an assessment or guest lecture.
After a positive interview, we will discuss the terms of employment together. When everything is completed, we are happy to welcome you at the University of Groningen!
Interested?
Does this vacancy appeal to you? If so, click on the button below and apply straightaway.
Please add the following documents to your application:
- CV.
- Cover letter.
- Letter of Motivation.
- List of examination marks.
- 3 academic references.
Do you have any questions or need more information?
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Questions about the content of the job?
Robbert Havekes
Full Professor
R.Havekes@rug.nl -
Questions about your application process?
Merel Barkman
Human Resources Adviser
m.barkman@rug.nl
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.
Acquisition is not appreciated.
Onze selectieprocedure volgt de richtlijnen van de NVP Sollicitatiecode
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