Job description
About the project
The human cerebellum is an intricately shaped brain region, implicated in a wide range of functions. The cerebellar cortex, a thin layer of grey matter, is very tightly folded, resulting in a highly convoluted architecture. Its visualisation requires detailed imaging, beyond what is currently possible in humans in vivo. In an NWO-funded Vici project, we leverage Ultra-High Field MRI to bring the cerebellar mesoscale into view.
In this PhD project, we will measure the human mesoscale cerebellar morphology in postmortem brain tissue to provide a ground truth for the independent in-vivo experiments. This project will give you the chance to work with a wide range of neuroscience techniques, including data analysis, tissue staining, and postmortem MRI.
What do we offer?
You will be joining a highly collaborative research environment in the Ultra-High Field Neuroimaging group of the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience and the Spinoza Centre for Neuroimaging. This research environment combines state-of-of the art neuroscience expertise and facilities, including 7T MRI and the Netherlands Brain Bank. You will work in a diverse, interdisciplinary community of cognitive and clinical neuroscientists and neuroimaging experts.
It concerns a position for 1.0 fte (38 h/week). You will have ample opportunities for further development of knowledge and technical and personal skills through courses at the Academy and (inter)national conferences.
Requirements
What you will be contributing
We are looking for a researcher that a vivid interest in neuroscience with strong technical skills. The ideal candidate will have, or will be about to receive, an MSc in biomedical engineering, physics, biology or a related field and a demonstrable interest in the human brain. Programming experience (Python, MATLAB) and proficiency in spoken and written English is required. Experience with or an interest in microscopy, quantitative image analysis, neuroanatomy or MRI would be a plus.
Conditions of employment
Fixed-term contract: 1 Year with extension up to 4 years.
Terms of employment
Depending on education and experience the minimum salary is € 3204,- and the maximum salary is € 4051,- gross per month for a full-time appointment (promovendi scale, cao Nederlandse Universiteiten/KNAW). This is exclusive of 8% vacation allowance, 8.3% year-end bonus, travel allowance, internet allowance, home working allowance and pension accrual with ABP.
The KNAW offers its staff an excellent package of secondary benefits. A package that meets the different needs of employees depending on their stage of life, lifestyle or career ambitions. For example, by working an extra two hours a week, it is possible to increase the number of days off from 29 to 41 days a year (with full-time employment).
For a complete overview of the terms of employment, please refer to the web page: werken bij de KNAW.
Applying for a Certificate of Good Conduct can be part of the employment procedure.
Employer
Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience
The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience is the country's leading fundamental neuroscience research institute, in the international and progressive city of Amsterdam. It provides a critical mass of scientists (spanning more than 27 nationalities) and neuroscience facilities, in a highly interactive, dynamic, multi-cultural environment, with English as the working language.
Additional information
More information
General information about the group, the institute and the project can be found on our websites: https://spinozacentre.nl/zwaag/, www.nin.nl/ https://sites.google.com/view/cerebellum-mesoscale/
For more information about the vacancy, please contact Dr. Wietske van der Zwaag (w.vanderzwaag@spinozacentre.nl).
Working at KNAW
The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) is the guardian and interpreter of science in the Netherlands. More about the KNAW