Postdoctoral Researcher in Cellular Neuroscience

Employment 0.9 - 1.0 FTE

Gross monthly salary € 2,960 - € 4,670

Required background PhD

Organizational unit Faculty of Science

Application deadline 17 February 2023

We are fascinated by how synapses are formed, function and can be maintained. The lab's main interests are to understand the molecular events that underlie these processes, and how impairments in these processes can lead to disease.

Synapses in the brain live for months or even years. Their protein components, however, become dysfunctional after much shorter periods and therefore have to be removed continuously. Pathways for removing these damaged proteins include the ubiquitin-proteasome system, autophagy and the endo-lysosomal system. We are recruiting a postdoctoral researcher to investigate degradative mechanisms at presynapses, the role of the endo-lysosomal pathway in particular. We are also recruiting a postdoctoral researcher to map early dysfunction of neurons in Parkinson's disease. The postdoctoral researcher will investigate how alpha-synuclein aggregation in axons and synapses can disturb neurotransmission.

Our main model systems are primary rodent neuron cultures and human iPSC-derived neurons.
As a postdoctoral researcher you will work independently on one or two projects. You will collaborate with and supervise PhD and Master's students. You will get some exposure to teaching, but only to a minor extent. In the long run, the development of an independent research project that can be transferred to a future position is possible and encouraged.

Profile

• You have a PhD in neuroscience or a related discipline and a strong track record of accomplishment.
• Experience in molecular biology (cloning etc.) and cell culture is expected.
• Experience in iPSC-derived neuronal culturing is a plus.
• We are a dynamic international lab, so a good command of English is essential.
• You are a good team player.

We are

The Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration Lab aims to understand how membrane trafficking events and organelles contribute to synapse function. Marijn Kuijpers is a junior group leader known for her work on neuronal membrane trafficking and autophagy (recent publications: Kuijpers et al (2021) Neuron 109,299-313; doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2020.10.005, Kuijpers (2022) Neuronal Signal 6; doi.org/10.1042/NS20210063). The research group is part of the Donders Institute, a world-class neuroscience institute with a lively and interactive culture.

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 0.9 - 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 2-3 years.
• 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 Marijn Kuijpers, Assistant Professor at marijn.kuijpers@donders.ru.nl.

Practical information and applying

You can apply until 17 February 2023, exclusively using the button below. Kindly address your application to Marijn Kuijpers. Please fill in the application form and attach the following documents:

• A motivation letter.
• Your CV, including the contact details of at least two references.

Written applications will be evaluated, and selected applicants will be invited to a Zoom interview. Ultimately, a further selection of applicants will be invited to visit us. The visit will include an introduction to other DCN groups with whom you will be collaborating, one-to-one meetings, a tour of the laboratory facilities, and an interview.

The first round of interviews will take place on Tuesday 21 February. You would preferably begin employment between March and May.

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.