The Bio-Imaging Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences is looking for a full-time doctoral scholarship holder in the field of Biomedical Sciences/Neuroscience with a focus on using neuromodulation to alleviate deficits in Alzheimer’s disease

Position

• You will work actively on the preparation and defence of a PhD thesis in the field of Biomedical Sciences/Neuroscience. The PhD project will use state-of-the-art techniques including MRI, fiberoptic photometry, electrophysiology, behaviour, and neuromodulations tools (chemogenetics/DREADDs and/or optogenetics) specifically targeting neurons in the basal forebrain to alleviate behavioural and brain network deficits of rodent models of neurodegeneration (Alzheimer’s Disease).
• You will publish scientific articles related to the research project.
• You will carry out a limited number of teaching and research support tasks for the Bio-Imaging Lab.

Profile

• You hold a Master degree in neuroscience, biomedical sciences, cognitive science, engineering or related fields or you will have obtained it by the time you start work.
• You can demonstrate excellent study results.
• Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision.
• Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.
• You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.
• You have a FELASA C attest or you are willing to obtain one.
• You are fluent in English and have strong communication skills.
• Preferably you have experience with (small-animal) imaging or electrophysiology
• Experience in one or more of: imaging, mathematics, computational neuroscience, programming (e.g., Matlab/Python/C/…) will be considered as a bonus.

What we offer

• We offer a doctoral scholarship for a period of two years. Following a positive evaluation, the scholarship can be renewed once for another two-year period.
• The planned start date is 1 October 2021 or as soon as possible after that date.
• Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts for doctoral scholarship holders on the pay scales for Contract Research Staff (Dutch: Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP).
• You will do most of your work at Campus Drie Eiken (CDE) in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
• Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here.

Want to apply?

• You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including 16 August 2021 (by midnight Brussels time). Click on the 'Apply' button, complete the online application form and be sure to include the following attachments: a motivation letter, your academic CV, three names and contact information of people that can provide recommendation letters, any additional certificates that can indicate your competences.
• The selection committee will review all of the applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision has been made, we will inform you about the next steps in the selection procedure.
• If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to jobs@uantwerpen.be. If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact Prof. Georgios Keliris, georgios.keliris@uantwerpen.be and include the following in the title of your email: <QNEUROPOSKEL>.

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.