1-2 Group Leader(s) in Molecular and Translational Neuroscience

1-2 group leader positions in Molecular and Translational Neuroscience are available at the Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience - DANDRITE">http://dandrite.au.dk">DANDRITE of the Nordic">https://projects.au.dk/nordic-embl-partnership/">Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine.

Nordic EMBL Partnership and DANDRITE

The Nordic EMBL Partnership is a joint venture between the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and the Universities of Helsinki/Finland, Oslo/Norway, Umea/Sweden and Aarhus/Denmark. The four nodes of the partnership (FIMM/Helsinki, NCMM/Oslo, MIMS/Umea, and DANDRITE/Aarhus) adhere to the EMBL model for research organization, training and evaluation, and are primarily organized by group leader programs. The partnership provides joint access to research infrastructures, including databases, facilities and instrumentation, as well as to clinical materials, networks and training activities.

DANDRITE is established with financial support from the Lundbeck Foundation and is hosted by Aarhus University, an international, top-ranking university. The research scope is on integrative/systems neuroscience and molecular mechanisms of inter- and intracellular networks and molecular trafficking that defines neurobiology, and how these mechanisms are linked and operate in the healthy brain, and how they are altered and can be targeted in brain disorders. Translational studies have a particular focus on neurodegenerative, psychiatric and neurological disorders.

DANDRITE is embedded in a vibrant NeuroCampus">http://neurocampus.au.dk">NeuroCampus Aarhus research community at Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital and encompasses internationally leading research centers and infrastructures in genetics, molecular and clinical medicine, bioimaging, cognitive neuroscience, transgenic animal models, biochemistry, biophysics, structural biology, nanoscience, and engineering. There are long-standing traditions in studies of for example membrane proteins, molecular neuroscience, brain function and imaging, and more recently also oriented towards circuitry and behavioral models

DANDRITE encompasses a thriving, international research community with many PhD students and postdocs. Well-established research infrastructure and support including for example cryo-EM, two-photon imaging, and electrophysiology at the cutting edge. Current groups cover a broad range of neuroscience, including circuitry and systems neuroscience of the visual system (Yonehara">https://dandrite.au.dk/people/group-leaders/yonehara-group/">Yonehar... group), reproductive behavior (von">https://dandrite.au.dk/people/group-leaders/philipsborn-group/">von Philipsborn group), decision-making (Kvitsiani">https://dandrite.au.dk/people/group-leaders/kvitsiani-group/">Kvitsi... group), memory (Nabavi">https://dandrite.au.dk/people/group-leaders/nabavi-group/">Nabavi group), neuronal development studied in iPSC and organoid models on Parkinson’s disease (Denham">https://dandrite.au.dk/people/group-leaders/denham-group/">Denham group ), molecular and epigenetic basis of neuroplasticity (Kitazawa group), structural neurobiology of ion transporters, receptors and biomembrane ultrastructures (Nissen">https://dandrite.au.dk/people/group-leaders/nissen-group/">Nissen group ), molecular cell biology of intracellular signaling networks involved in Parkinson disease and dementia (Jensen">https://dandrite.au.dk/people/group-leaders/jensen-group/">Jensen group ), and receptor networks and signaling in psychiatric disorders and memory (Nykj">https://dandrite.au.dk/people/group-leaders/nykjaer-group/">Nykj ær group). Furthermore, affiliated DANDRITE team leaders (Poulsen">https://dandrite.au.dk/people/team-leaders/">Poulsen , Kjærgaard and Takeuchi groups ), and associated investigators (e.g.,Capogna">https://dandrite.au.dk/people/affiliated-researchers/">Capogna , Willnow, Kjems, Radulovic groups) and clinical collaborations with Aarhus University Hospital provide strong synergies and a broad approach in neuroscience at all levels.
The group leader position
We seek a group leader in neuroscience to establish an independent research program that can both exploit and complement the expertise and research programs of current groups. For this particular call, we encourage candidates with strong programs in mechanism-based investigations and translational perspectives. Research programs can for example investigate protein-protein interaction networks in cell biology underlying intra- or intercellular signaling and function in the normal and diseased brain and its cells using advanced tools of e.g., imaging, chemical biology, single cell technologies, genetics, proteomics and bioinformatics. Group leaders are expected to introduce novel topics and tools, strengthen synergies of on-going DANDRITE research, and build a program at international level that can support also collaborations of interdisciplinary and translational neuroscience at NeuroCampus Aarhus and within Danish neuroscience.

As a group leader you will be offered state-of-the-art laboratory facilities embedded in existing research infrastructures for neuroscience at all levels ranging from structure and function of molecules to advanced imaging, electrophysiology and functional/behavioral studies in transgenic models including for example induced pluripotent stem cells, brain organoids, fruit fly, zebrafish, mouse, and rat. Research at Aarhus University is in close proximity to clinical research at the top-ranked Aarhus University Hospital, and biotech support facilities are available. There will be ample opportunities for training and experience with academic teaching, public outreach, and start-up/translation.

To qualify for a group leader position, the candidate should have a PhD degree or equivalent and an appropriate level of postdoctoral training. Applicants should present a strong track record of relevance to (but not necessarily limited to) neuroscience, and an independent research proposal that demonstrates the potential to identify compelling new questions and ideas in neuroscience to be pursued at DANDRITE and with the leverage of existing or developing activities at NeuroCampus Aarhus. Particular weight will be given to scientific proficiency and visionary proposals. We will consider candidates at a level that corresponds to ERC starting grants and the group leaders will be employed as associate professors.

The group leader program follows the EMBL model with a 5-year appointment and the possibility for a 4-year extension for a total of 9 years depending on a review concluding in the fourth year. Candidates are offered a competitive start package of EUR 1.6M for the first five years and further funding can be expected from national and international funding bodies including a strong presence of private foundations in Danish research. Specific support programs are available for collaborations with other neuroscience communities in Denmark and for capital investments on equipment.

For further information, please contact

Professor Poul Nissen, Director, phone: +45 2899 2295,

pn">mailto:[email protected]">pn

@mbg.au.dk

Professor Poul Henning Jensen, phone +45 2899 2056,

phj">mailto:[email protected]">phj

@biomed.au.dk

Professor Anders Nykjær phone +45 2899 2384,

an">mailto:[email protected]">an

@biomed.au.dk

Application deadline

January 31st 2022 at 23.59 CET

Place of work

The position will either be located at Department of Biomedicine at Høegh-Guldbergsgade 10, 8000 Aarhus C or Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at Universitetsbyen 81, 8000 Aarhus C.

Formalities

We follow the EMBL model for international recruitment and the EMBL procedures for scientific reviews. We expect to invite selected candidates in April to a virtual symposium followed by individual, personal interviews.

Application procedure

Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the assessment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. The selection is made on the basis of an assessment of who of the candidates are most relevant considering the requirements of the advertisement. All applicants will be notified within 6 weeks whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed