Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Neuroscience

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Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Neuroscience

In the Hartveit-Veruki group (Neural Networks / Retinal Microcircuits) at the Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, a full-time (100 %) position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow is available for a period of two (2) years and six (6) months. The position is linked to the consortium project ”Understanding plasticity and neural circuit dynamics in the brain” (TMS Brain Research Initiative), financed by the "Trond Mohn Stiftelse" (TMS) and the University of Bergen. The main research interest of the lab is the study of neural circuits in the mammalian retina and the project will address mechanisms of circuit plasticity related to sensory adaptation. Expected starting date is September 2024.

About the project/work tasks:

• The main objective of the TMS Brain Research Initiative is to identify core principles of plasticity and neural circuit dynamics in the brain.
• The project is hosted by the University of Bergen (UiB) at the Mohn Research Centre for the Brain and organized as a consortium collaboration between the Department of Biomedicine at UiB and the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).
• The consortium project is organized into five interactive work packages, based on multidisciplinary collaborations between the UiB and NTNU partners. Through the centre's activities, the Postdoc will interact with a multidisciplinary team covering broad areas of neuroscience and gain experience in scientific presentation and discussion.
• The Postdoc will work on a project studying the neuromodulation of retinal microcircuits for vision in starlight, twilight, and daylight.
• The Postdoc will join an active neuroscience research group with two principal investigators, prof. Espen Hartveit and prof. Meg Veruki. The project focuses on investigating plasticity of neuronal microcircuits involving amacrine cells in the mammalian retina, including functions of ion channels and chemical and electrical synapses. Primary methods include patch-clamp electrophysiology, two-photon microscopy, two-photon uncaging, and two-photon FLIM-FRET of intracellular signaling. The experimental work will be performed with the mammalian retina as the model system.
• The laboratory has modern setups for in vitro electrophysiology combined with two-photon microscopy, including uncaging and FLIM-FRET.

Qualifications and personal qualities:

• The applicant must hold a Norwegian PhD or an equivalent degree within neuroscience, cell physiology, biophysics, molecular biology, biochemistry, or a related quantitative bioscience discipline, or have the doctoral thesis submitted prior to the application deadline. It is a condition of employment that the PhD has been awarded at the latest within two months after the closing date for applications.
• You must have a keen interest in cellular and molecular neurophysiology and imaging and a strong motivation to work on challenging problems related to mechanisms of neuronal synaptic plasticity and the correlation of structure and function of intact neural circuits

You must have extensive and practical experience with at least one of the following:

• Patch-clamp electrophysiology, synaptic physiology, and cellular imaging
• Molecular biology / imaging techniques, including the use of biosensors to investigate intracellular transduction mechanisms
• Two-photon imaging and two-photon photostimulation / uncaging in brain slices

It is an advantage to have experience with the following:

• Live-cell FLIM-FRET
• Design and expression of proteins for imaging
• Using recombinant viral vectors for gene transduction in tissue and experimental animals (including experience with rodents and animal surgery)

In addition:

• Proficiency in programming environments like Igor Pro, Matlab, and Python is an advantage
• You must provide documention of your prior productivity in the form of scientific publications, abstracts, and conference proceedings
• You will be expected to work independently and in a structured manner, be self-motivated, have good collaborative skills and have a great work capacity and enthusiasm for research.
• You must be fluent in written and spoken English.

About the position of postdoctoral research fellow:

The position of postdoctoral research fellow is a fixed-term appointment with the primary objective of qualifying the appointee for work in top academic positions. You can not be employed as a postdoctoral fellow for more than one fixed term period at the same institution (in Norway).

When relevant, the employee will have the opportunity to take part in teaching and committees for student evaluations.

See regulations for appointments to Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Research Fellow etc.

We can offer:

• Exciting work tasks and development opportunities as part of your role in a strong and international professional environment.
• An inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues.
• Salary NOK 624 500 (code 1352, pay grade 64) in the state salary scale. For applicants with a degree in Medicine or Dentistry, salary NOK 624 500 (code 1352/pay grade 64). For applicants with a medical specialization, salary NOK 646 000 (code 1352, pay grade 66). Salary is under adjustment.
• Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Good welfare benefits

Your application must include:

• A brief account of the applicant's research interests.
• A research statement explaining your experience and motivation for the research topic and a description of your relevant background for the research project (maximum two pages).
• Updated CV.
• Transcripts and diplomas (BSc, MSc, and PhD degrees). If you have not yet completed your PhD degree, please provide documentation that the thesis has been submitted and a statement from your institution confirming the expected date of award of your degree. Applicants with education from countries outside Scandinavia with diplomas issued in a language other than English, must enclose witnessed diplomas in both the original language and authorized English translations.
• Complete list of publications, including complete versions (PDF files) of each of the scholarly works on which the evaluation committee shall place special emphasis.
• Name and contact information for two references. It is desirable that one of these should be the main advisor from the PhD program.

General information:

Detailed information about the position can be obtained by contacting: Professor Espen Hartveit (espen.hartveit@uib.no , phne: +47-55586350).

UiB must follow Norway’s export control regulations when processing applications for this position.

The state labour force shall reflect the diversity of Norwegian society to the greatest extent possible. People with immigrant backgrounds and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the position.

The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.

Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.

Further information about our employment process can be found here.