PhD fellowship in Stress Neurobiology

PhD fellowship in Stress Neurobiology at the Department of Neuroscience in Copenhagen

University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Our group and research

We are a systems neuroscience laboratory focusing on understanding the mechanisms by which neural circuits and behaviors are affected by stress, to better understand the etiology of mental disorders. Our expertise includes behavioral assays, neuronal tracing, in vivo calcium imaging of large populations of neurons (2 photon & light sheet microscope), opto/chemogenetics. We use transparent, transgenic larval zebrafish as a vertebrate model amenable to whole brain imaging at cellular resolution in vivo. 

You will use repeated stressor exposure or pharmacological manipulation of stress level, combined with quantitative behavioral assays and physiological measurements (e.g. ELISA) to characterize the immediate and long-term outcomes of early-life stress. Following this, you will use neurophysiological approaches (immunohistochemistry, in vivo calcium imaging) to investigate the adaptations taking place in neuromodulatory circuits. 

Applicants must have qualifications corresponding to a master’s degree related to the subject area of the project, e.g. human biology, neuroscience, molecular and cellular biology, animal physiology, or medicine. Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years).

Other important criteria are:

A high grade point average achieved

A certificate in Laboratory Animal science (FELASA)

Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project

Previous publications

Relevant work experience

Other professional activities

A curious mind-set with a strong interest in scientific research and stress neurobiology and prior experience with practical lab work relevant to the project

Proficiency in written and spoken English