Senior Research Engineer in Cancer Neuropsychiology Research Group M/K (NCN)
MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS:
- Holds or be near completion of PhD in Neuroscience or related discipline (i.e. Neurobiology, Biophysics, etc.),
- Advanced spoken and written English skills,
- Proven research track record,
- Ability to travel and present data internationally,
- Ability to plan your own work and/or the work of the person you line manage (i.e. PhD students),
- Documented work experience with mouse models >1 year (i.e. behavioural tests on mice),
- Good understanding of molecular genetics and viral vectors,
- Good analytical skills.
Nice to have
- Experience with pain models,
- Experience in animal surgery (stereotaxic injections),
- Experience in mouse behavioural assays (affective, locomotor and nociceptive thresholds assessment, preferably with computer vision tools),
- Experience in neurophysiological techniques, especially in vivo functional optical imaging (1-/2- photon)
- Coding skills, or ability to implement written scripts in R/Python/Matlab for data analysis.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
The role:
You will work on a generously funded project that delves into presynaptic control of primary sensory neurons by top-down brainstem noradrenergic neurons. You will use novel sensory neuron type specific alpha-2c-adrenoceptor knock-out mice in conjunction with selective optogenetic modulation of the top-down noradrenergic circuits to probe the noradrenergic mechanisms controlling nociception.
You will be specialising in in-depth histological and functional analysis of the knock-out mouse model. An ideal candidate will have a background in transgenic animals work and cutting-edge histological approaches (incl. RNAscope, tissue clearing and expansion microscopy apart from classic immunohistochemistry) with contemporary computational approaches in image analysis. A strong drive to learn and perform in vivo neurophysiological techniques (such as one and 2-photon in vivo calcium imaging) as well as rodent nociceptive behavioural testing will be of advantage
Daily tasks
You will be specialising in in-depth histological and functional analysis of the knock-out mouse model. An ideal candidate will have a background in transgenic animals work and cutting-edge histological approaches (incl. RNAscope, tissue clearing and expansion microscopy apart from classic immunohistochemistry) with contemporary computational approaches in image analysis. A strong drive to learn and perform in vivo neurophysiological techniques (such as one and 2-photon in vivo calcium imaging) as well as rodent nociceptive behavioural testing will be of advantage.
Your main duties:
- you will be to perform in-depth tissue analysis post-mortem.
- You will supervise correct transgenic animal lines breeding (in continuous cooperation with the lab technician) and take responsibility for regulated animal procedures.
- You will ensure that data (and associated metadata) are of the highest quality and in a form that allows for further processing.
You will be asked to:
- independently undertake the research project, and execute experiments in consultation with the group leader,
- participate in lab activities, including group meetings, journal clubs, seminars and conferences,
- write up findings for publications and completing revisions, iv) collaborate with other lab members on daily lab work.
Benefits
· Co-financing of private medical care.
· Co-financing of a sports and wellness card.
· Option to enrol in group life insurance.
· Co-financing through the Social Benefits Fund (including holiday and Christmas benefits).
· Work in a modern, green science campus environment.
· Free on-site parking.