PhD Position: Finding the Missing Link between Aβ Exposure and Inhibitory Synaptic Defects

Are you an enthusiastic young scientist with a Master’s degree in a neuroscience-related field? And would you like to figure out how synaptic defects occur in early Alzheimer’s disease? If so, then you have a part to play as a PhD candidate in our research team. Put your ideas to the test at our green campus and push your boundaries in an internationally friendly environment.

One of the main reasons that there is no treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is that cellular mechanisms of the disease onset and progression are not well understood. AD is a slowly progressing disease. Long before cognitive and behavioural symptoms occur, the level of Aβ oligomers in the brain are slowly rising, causing synaptic defects and network hyperexcitability. Hyperexcitable networks have been widely observed in AD patients and can be reproduced in a wide range of AD mouse models with progressing Aβ levels. Preventing or delaying hyperexcitability can delay or prevent cognitive impairments, indicating that hyperexcitability in early AD stages is a crucial factor in the progression of the disease. An increasing number of studies (including from our lab: Ruiter et al, J Alz Dis 2020) are demonstrating that inhibitory circuits are specifically vulnerable to Aβ in the brain, which could underlie the enhanced excitability in neuronal networks observed at early AD stages. However, the molecular mechanism of the vulnerability of inhibitory synapses is not well understood.

Research in the Wierenga lab focuses on the formation and plasticity of inhibitory synapses. In this project, you will use a combination of single-cell electrophysiology, advanced microscopy techniques and novel biosensors to characterise synaptic defects at inhibitory synapses in cultured brain slices that have been exposed to amyloid β oligomers. You will use the novel iGABASnFR2 sensors in slices from transgenic mice to monitor Aβ-mediated alterations in GABA release at specific subtypes of inhibitory synapses. In parallel, you will monitor molecular and electrophysiological changes to assess the involvement of specific signalling pathways. Your teaching load may be up to 10% of your working time.

“After completing my Master’s degree in Norway, I looked at several European universities for a PhD position, including the university where I studied. Then I saw a job opportunity at Radboud University, which aligned perfectly with my interests. After a great first impression of my supervisors during the job interview and positive feedback about Radboud University from my network, I decided to take the leap and move to Nijmegen. It was a risk to leave my Norwegian comfort zone, but I am extremely satisfied with my choice.

From the start, I immediately felt welcomed by the whole department. I have many social interactions with other PhD candidates, and the senior researchers are very approachable and interested in my research. The working conditions for PhD candidates here are also excellent: a good salary, plenty of days off, and flexible working hours. The latter is an added bonus because I already had two children when I started my PhD. Thanks to these factors, I can fully focus on expanding my expertise while learning from my peers and mentors.”

Noemí Segura-Solé, PhD candidate in Microbial Ecology

Does this sound like you?

• You are a highly motivated, enthusiastic, critical, creative and team-oriented young scientist with a particular interest in neuroscience.
• You have a Master's degree in life sciences, biology, biomedical sciences or a related discipline, and an interest in intracellular signalling and optical recording methods.
• Ideally, you have some experience in advanced microscopy and/or electrophysiology in living brain tissue and in programming (in Matlab or a similar environment), or are willing to learn.
• You take initiative and are eager to learn.
• You can work independently, but you also enjoy interacting within a group.
• You are fluent in English (written and spoken) and have good communication skills.
• You demonstrate integrity and positivity and motivate others to do the same.

What we offer you

• We will give you a temporary employment contract (1.0 FTE) of 1.5 years, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, your contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4-year contract).
• You will receive a starting salary of €3,059 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €3,881 in the fourth year.
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20.

Additional employment conditions

Work and science require good employment practices. Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions reflect this. 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 membership. In addition, you receive a 34% discount on the sports and cultural activities at Radboud University as an employee. And, of course, we offer a good pension plan. We also give you plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

Where you will be working

Our research team is a diverse team of international scientists interested in the role of inhibitory synapses in the brain at the molecular, cellular and systems levels. We use a combination of two-photon microscopy, electrophysiology and molecular techniques to study the formation and plasticity of inhibitory synapses in organotypic and acute brain slices from mice. We are particularly interested in the interactions between excitatory and inhibitory synapses within dendrites during synaptic plasticity, in brain development and in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.

The Wierenga lab is located in the Donders Centre for Neuroscience (DCN) at the Faculty of Science of Radboud University (Nijmegen, Netherlands). DCN is part of the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, an interfaculty neuroscience institute with a lively and interactive culture housing more than 800 researchers devoted to understanding the mechanistic underpinnings of the brain.

Excellent, state-of-the-art research facilities are available for the broad range of neuroscience research that is being conducted at the Donders Institute. The Donders Institute fosters a collaborative, multidisciplinary and supportive research environment with a diverse international staff. English is the lingua franca at the Institute.

Faculty of Science

The Faculty of Science (FNWI), part of Radboud University, engages in groundbreaking research and excellent education. Currently, more than 1,300 colleagues contribute to research and education, some as researchers and lecturers, others as technical and administrative support officers. The faculty has a strong international character with staff from more than 70 countries. Together, we work in an informal, accessible and welcoming environment, with attention and space for personal and professional development for all.

Radboud University

At Radboud University, we aim to make an impact through our work. We achieve this by conducting groundbreaking research, providing high-quality education, offering excellent support, and fostering collaborations within and outside the university. To accomplish this, we need colleagues who, based on their expertise, are willing to search for answers.