PhD position in biology or biophysics, Germany (2015)

PhD student at CvO University Oldenburg, Germany. The Neurosensorics Group at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg invites applications for an Early Stage Researcher position (PhD student). This full-time position is available from February 1, 2016 for 3 years.
It is part of the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action Innovative Training Network switchBoard: In the eye of the observer: Visual processing at the heart of the retina and will be under the supervision of apl. Prof. Dr. Karin Dedek.

The switchBoard project aims at training 15 young scientists at the interface of neurobiology, information processing and neurotechnology, with focus on synaptic physiology, transgenic technology, models of retinal degeneration, method development and the application of retinal circuit principles for signal processing in artificial vision chips.

The Early Stage Researcher will be involved in studying retinal bipolar cells and their role in visual processing. Specifically, the Early Stage Researcher will study the electrical synapses involved in

1) bipolar-to-bipolar cell coupling and

2) bipolar-to-amacrine cell coupling.

The following techniques will be employed: Intracellular dye injections, combined with pharmacological interventions, quantitative immunohistochemistry and (super-)resolution microscopy, 2-photon calcium imaging.

The project will be carried out at the Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciencies, University of Oldenburg, Germany and will include at least two secondments in the labs of other international members of the switchBoard consortium.

The Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg is dedicated to increasing the percentage of women in science. Therefore, female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply. In accordance with Lower Saxony legal regulations, equally qualified female candidates will be given preference. Applicants with disabilities will be employed preferentially if equally qualified.

How to Apply: Please send your application including CV, including a record of your university courses and degrees, a cover letter with a statement of interests and a potential date for starting the position, and a list of at least two references to apl. Prof. Dr. Karin Dedek, at the University of Oldenburg, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany or electronically tokarin.dedek@uni-oldenburg.de. Application by email is preferred. The application deadline is December 31, 2015.

Requirements: The candidate should

1) be highly motivated and willing to learn and employ many different techniques spanning from intracellular dye injections to Ca2+ imaging;

2) have a sound background in neuroscience;

3) have profound knowledge in written and spoken English;

4) have a good team spirit to work in an international environment.

Other essentials – Experience in electrode-based techniques (dye injection, patch-clamp) and modern light microscopy techniques (confocal, STED, two-photon) would be of advantage. Please note that a diploma or master’s (M.Sc.) degree in biology, biophysics or a related discipline is mandatory.