Postdoc position: effects of risky play on neural circuits of control in rats

We offer a postdoctoral position for 3 years. This research project assesses how risky play in young rats shapes neural circuits and behaviors linked to control and resilience.

Dit ga je doen

During this research project of (at least) 3 years you will perform research in rodents on the effect of risky and social play during early life on neurophysiology and behavior in later life. More specifically, you will evaluate how differential early life play options affect neural circuits of executive control, and how this impacts on behavioral stress resilience.

For this, you will utilize a combination of experimental techniques, ranging from the recording of calcium dynamics in freely moving rodents (with fiber photometry), to stereotactic surgery of viral constructs, to chemogenetic circuit manipulation, and to brain slice electrophysiology. Candidates are encouraged to explain in their motivation letter to which extent they have prior experience with these points. 

You will work on a project that is a team effort. Embedded in a collaboration between primarily the Meye group (UMC Utrecht) and the Lesscher group (Utrecht University). You will be further supported by technicians and will be surrounded by a team of PhD students and postdocs that work with similar and other technologies. 

Hier ga je werken

The Department of Translational Neuroscience (TN) is the preclinical department of the Division Neuroscience of the University Medical Center Utrecht. The research mission of TN is to discover and delineate mechanisms and processes which are fundamental to the development of neural systems and to the control of behavior, and to translate these to pathogenesis and disease models.

The unique advantage of this department of Neuroscience is its embedding in the clinical environment of UMC Utrecht and its multidisciplinary character. The Department’s toolkit includes light sheet microscopy, optogenetics, electrophysiology, an own animal facility, viral vector generation and more.

For this particular project you will take part in the collaboration between the Meye group (University Medical Center Utrecht) and the Lesscher group (Utrecht University). 

Dit neem je mee

• You are a highly motivated postdoctoral candidate with a PhD in neurophysiological and/or behavioral neuroscience. 
• Experience with neurophysiology (e.g. fiber photometry or slice physiology) are strengths. 
• You should either already have your PhD in a relevant field, or you should expect to obtain it relatively soon (e.g. before March 2025). The most optimal field would be neuroscience, but it can be a related field, as long as the candidate has some prior experience with at least some of the abovementioned techniques. 
• You have rodent work experience.
• You have good writing and presenting skills in English.
• You can work in a multidisciplinary team. 

Dit bieden we jou

• A salary between € 3493 and € 5504 gross per month (salary scale 10), based on full-time employment (36 hours). 
• An employment contract for a period of 3 years.
• Year-end bonus of 8.3% and holiday allowance of 8%. 
• Pension insurance with ABP. We take care of approximately 70% of the monthly contribution. 
• 100% public transport reimbursement. Are you coming on foot, by bike or by car? You will then receive a reimbursement of € 0.18 per km (by car up to a max. of 40 km one way). 
• Possibilities to develop yourself personally and professionally. 
• The option to select additional employment benefits in exchange for gross salary, such as purchasing a bicycle and memberships.