Job ID: 124831

PhD student (f/m/d) "neural basis of memory” (neurosciences)

Position:

Description:

The Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology (LIN) is an internationally recognized neuroscientific research institute and dedicated to the research on learning and memory. Our research comprises all organizational levels of the brain – from molecular and cellular processes to complex neuronal networks and behavior.

In association with the SFB 1436, Neural Resources of Cognition (supported by the German Research Foundation), the Research Group Functional Architecture of Memory (FAM) at the Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology in Magdeburg (Germany; PI Magdalena Sauvage) is seeking a highly motivated

PhD student (f/m/d) "neural basis of memory” (neurosciences)

The PhD position is available for a fixed term appointment for 3 years, with a salary of TV-L E13 in part time 65% (26 hours/week) starting from January 1st, 2026 (in accordance with the availability of funds and individual requirements) or earlier, flexible for the right candidate.

The department focuses on dissociating the contribution of different medial temporal lobe areas such as CA1, CA3, DG, MEC, LEC, PrC, POR to memory in health, aging and in animal models of amnesia. Memory for time, space and episodes as well as the consolidation and reconsolidation of memory are studied. Within this frame, the FAM has recently identified new spatial and non-spatial subnetworks segregated along the proximodistal axis of the hippocampus (Nakamura et al, J. Neuroscience, 2013; Beer and Vavra et al, Plos biology, 2018; Ku et al, Cell Reports, 2024), hypothesized a network shift between the Trisynaptic loop and the Temporoamonic pathways for the retrieval of memories as they age (Lux et al, Elife, 2016; Atucha et al, Cell Reports, 2023) and depicted memory networks supporting memory reconsolidation (Lux et al, Cerebral cortex, 2017). Techniques include high-order standard or translational humans to rats memory tasks (Sauvage et al, Nature Neuroscience, 2008) combined with lesions, optogenetics, high-resolution molecular imaging based on the detection of IEG and in-vivo electrophysiology. fMRI studies in awake rodents (9.4T) and human behavioral studies are also conducted to a lesser extent.

About the project: The SFB 1436 subproject B07 investigates circuit-specific improvements of spatial and non-spatial memory involving entorhino-hippocampal subnetworks. The project includes optogenetic manipulations, immediate-early gene (IEG) imaging based on in-situ hybridization, in–vivo electrophysiology data analysis with mice and is tightly linked to independent subprojects involving in-vivo electrophysiology in humans and high-resolution fMRI in awake rats.

The communication language of the lab is English. The group interacts tightly with the Research Group Cognitive Neurophysiology (PI M. Yoshida; in-vitro/in vivo electrophysiology & computational neurosciences) as well as with national and international partners including S. Tonegawa (Boston, USA),
J. Csicsvari (IST, Austria), E. Düzel (DZNE Magdeburg, Germany) and M. Höhn (MPI Cologne, Germany).

You will work at the Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology (LIN, Prof. Sauvage) in close cooperation with the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases. The LIN is international, interspecies and multidisciplinary and offers a wide range of opportunities for personal and professional skill development. Magdeburg offers excellent opportunities for cognitive and systems neuroscientific research, including ahigh resolution imaging facility (incl. two-photon microscopy, 3 to 9.4 Tesla fMRI) for human and animal research purposes, as well as an excellent, multidisciplinary scientific environment. The candidate will be given extensive support through the graduate school (IRTG:(https://sfb1436.de/de/graduate-school/).

Your profile:

• MSc in Neurosciences, Life sciences or related fields
• Experience in behavioural and molecular techniques
• Programing experience (Matlab and/or Python)
• willingness to work with animal models
• general interest in interspecies / interdisciplinary studies

Please send your completed application documents including a motivation letter, CV, copies of relevant certificates, a publication list and contact information of three references to jessica.levin@lin-magdeburg.de . Review of the application starts immediately and will end when the position is filled.

For any specific questions about the position, please contact Prof. Dr. Magdalena Sauvage ( magdalena.sauvage@lin-magdeburg.de ).

Your appointment and welfare benefits will be in line with the Collective Agreement for Public Service in the Federal States (TV-L). The LIN is a foundation under public law and committed to a comprehensive policy of Equal Opportunities in employment and research. We welcome all applications – regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, disability, age, and sexual orientation and identity.

By submitting your application, you consent to the processing of your personal data for the purpose of the application process. Our detailed privacy policy for applicants (m/w/d) acc. Art. 13 DSGVO on data processing in the application process will be sent on request. Your attention is drawn to the fact that no application or interview expenses can be paid. Documents will be deleted after 6 months.

Leibniz-Institut für Neurobiologie (LIN) Brenneckestr. 6 39118 Magdeburg Deutschland

Email: jessica.levin@lin-magdeburg.de