Ph. D. Student Position in “mechanisms of sleep control” The Max Planck Research Group “Sleep and Waking” (Dr. Henrik Bringmann) at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry is looking for a Ph. D. Student in “mechanisms of sleep control”. Sleep is essential for the life of all animals and we feel bad if we don’t get enough sleep. Because of its importance, sleep is tightly controlled. The group is trying to understand the molecular, cellular, and circuit mechanisms underlying sleep using the model system C. elegans.
The nematode is a great model system for molecular neurobiology due to its fast generation time, amenability to genetics, small and invariant nervous system, and transparency allowing functional imaging and optogenetics. Despite its simplicity, molecular, cellular, and circuit mechanisms of sleep control are conserved in this system. Both mammals and C. elegans use conserved sleep-active sleep-promoting neurons to control sleep. The lab has just been awarded an ERC grant to study the mechanisms of sleep control by sleep neurons. The group is looking for a Ph.D. student to work on the function of sleep neurons, such as the effects on fitness, longevity, and ageing.
Qualifications – Candidates should hold a Master’s (or equivalent) degree in life science and a strong interest and motivation to solve sleep. The successful applicant will receive a salary according to the funding guidelines for young re-searchers of the Max Planck Society. Alternatively, if greater flexibility is required, a Max Planck PhD scholarship can also be granted.
The Max Planck Society is committed to increasing the number of individuals with disabilities in its workforce and therefore encourages applications from such qualified individuals.
The Max Planck Society seeks to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply.
How to apply – Applications should include a CV, a list of publications (if applicable) and contact names and addresses of one to three references familiar with the work of the candidate. Please submit all materials preferably in electronic form (as one single PDF file) via e-mail with reference to the code number to
ausschreibung11-15@mpibpc.mpg.de
Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry,
Research Group “Sleep and Waking”,
Dr. Henrik Bringmann,
Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen
Germany
Website:
http://www.mpibpc.mpg.de/bringmann