Postdoctoral Researcher in Computational Neuroscience: effects of neuromodulation on balanced networks

Employment

0.8 - 1.0 FTE

Gross monthly salary

€ 2,960 - € 4,670

Required background

PhD

Organizational unit

Faculty of Science

Application deadline

01 December 2022

Apply now

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to work on the Vidi project 'Top-down neuromodulation and bottom-up network computation, a computational study' and study the effects of neuromodulators in balanced networks. You will use cellular and behavioural data on the effects of dopamine, acetylcholine and serotonin in mouse barrel cortex gathered by our department over the past five years, to bridge the gap between single cell, network and behavioural effects.
You will use the balanced network framework to study network activity under neuromodulation. In order to do this, you will develop a balanced network description of the barrel cortex, with realistic barrel cortex properties (see https://doi.org/10.1007/s12021-022-09576-5 (link is external) ). Next, you will incorporate the cellular effects of dopamine, acetylcholine and serotonin that we have measured over the previous years (see  https://doi.org/10.1093/gigascience/giy147 (link is external)  and https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.01.12.476007 (link is external)  ) into the network, and investigate their effects on overall network activity and behaviour. More particularly, through simulations and analytical derivations, you will research the effects of neuromodulators on the stability of the balanced state, synchrony, regularity and chaos. You will build on the single cell data, models and analysis methods available in our group, and your results will be incorporated into our group's further research to develop and validate machine learning and efficient coding models of (somatosensory) perception. We are therefore looking for a team player who can work well with our other group members and is willing to both learn from them and share their knowledge.

Profile

• You hold a PhD in computational neuroscience, mathematics, physics, computer science, AI or a related discipline.
• Preferably, you have experience in working with balanced networks and can perform both network simulations and analytical derivations such as mean field approximations and chaos descriptions.
• You are a highly motivated, independent, critical, and creative researcher who wants to bridge the gap between real data and abstract theoretical models.
• You are a team player, ready to collaborate in a multidisciplinary research group.
• You have an excellent command of spoken and written English.
• You have experience in coding (Python and/or Matlab).

We are

You will be appointed at the Biophysics of Neural Computation  group, Donders Center for Neuroscience , Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour . This vibrant and multidisciplinary institute studies the organisation and function of neural circuits across scales and techniques, from genes and proteins to behaviour and from in vitro and in vivo experiments to computational modelling. It provides an open and international environment, where young scientists from different backgrounds share a fascination for the interaction between brain structure and function. For postdoctoral researchers, there is a lively community  and specialised support. 

Radboud University
We want to get the best out of science, others and ourselves. Why? Because this is what the world around us desperately needs. Leading research and education make an indispensable contribution to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. This is what unites the more than 24,000 students and 5,600 employees at Radboud University. And this requires even more talent, collaboration and lifelong learning. You have a part to play!
We offer

• It concerns an employment for 0.8 - 1.0 FTE.
• The gross monthly salary amounts to a minimum of €2,960 and a maximum of €4,670 based on a 38-hour working week, depending on previous education and number of years of relevant work experience (salary scale 10 ).
• You will receive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• It concerns a temporary employment for 26 months.
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Care Services . Our Dual Career and Family Care Officer can assist you with family-related support, help your partner or spouse prepare for the local labour market, provide customized support in their search for employment and help your family settle in Nijmegen.
• Working for us means getting extra days off. In case of full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the legally allotted 20.

Additional employment conditions
Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions . You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.
Would you like more information?
For questions about the position, please contact Fleur Zeldenrust, Assistant Professor at  [email protected] .
Practical information and applying
You can apply until 1 December 2022, exclusively using the button below. Kindly address your application to Fleur Zeldenrust. Please fill in the application form and attach the following documents:

• A letter of motivation (max. 2 pages).
• Your CV including a publication list.
• A copy of a first-authored publication.
• Contact details of two academic referees.

The first round of interviews will take place on Thursday 8 December. You would preferably begin employment on 1 January 2023.
We can imagine you're curious about our application procedure . It offers a rough outline of what you can expect during the application process, how we handle your personal data and how we deal with internal and external candidates.
Apply now Application deadline 01 December 2022

We would like to recruit our new colleague ourselves. Acquisition in response to this vacancy will not be appreciated.

Dr Zeldenrust, F. (Fleur)
Assistant Professor
[email protected]
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Last modified: 21 November 2022
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