PhD Position: Multisynaptic Plasticity in Dendrites

1. Introduction

Are you an enthusiastic young scientist with a Master's degree in a neuroscience-related field? And would you like to figure out how plasticity at multiple synapses is coordinated within dendrites? 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.

2. Job description

Synaptic plasticity is considered to be the foundation of brain adaptation and learning. Multiple signalling pathways have been identified that are underlying synaptic plasticity of single synapses, depending on induction protocol and cell type. However, linking these molecular pathways to behavioural adaptation and learning turned out to be difficult. Under physiological conditions in vivo, multiple synapses will be activated simultaneously and plasticity pathways will inherently interfere.

In this PhD project, we will use a combination of single cell electrophysiology, advanced microscopy techniques and novel biosensors to examine molecular pathways underlying multisynaptic plasticity in dendrites of hippocampal CA1 neurons in brain slices.

Research in the Wierenga lab focuses on the formation and plasticity of inhibitory synapses and the interactions between inhibitory and excitatory synapses within dendrites. In this project, you will use two-photon glutamate uncaging in hippocampal slices to induce synaptic plasticity at multiple spines and you will exploit novel biosensors to study interactions between molecular pathways within the dendrite. Furthermore, you will explore how these interactions are affected by neuromodulators. Pilot experiments with four spine stimulation have shown that large calcium signals emerge within the dendritic shaft that continue even after the stimulation has ended, and that there are at least two modes of spine growth that seem to be regulated independently.

The research has the following objectives

• To determine how calcium release from internal stores contributes to dendritic calcium signals.
• To investigate how PKA and PKC activity interacts with calcium signals.
• To assess if these interactions can explain the two modes of spine growth.
• To examine when and where molecular signalling molecules (aka retrograde messengers) are produced.

Your teaching load may be up to 10% of your working time.

Would you like to learn more about what it’s like to pursue a PhD at Radboud University? Visit the page about working as a PhD candidate .

3. Profile

• 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.
• You have experience in advanced microscopy and/or single cell (patch clamp) electrophysiology in living brain tissue.
• Ideally, you can program (in Matlab, Python or a similar environment), but if not, you will 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.

4.

We are

Our research team is a diverse team of international scientists broadly 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 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 embedded within the Donders Centre for Neuroscience (DCN) at the Faculty of Science of Radboud University (Nijmegen, Netherlands). DCN is part of the world-renowned Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, a world-class 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 has been assessed by an international evaluation committee as 'excellent' and recognised as a 'very stimulating environment for top researchers, as well as for young talent'. The Donders Institute fosters a collaborative, multidisciplinary and supportive research environment with a diverse international staff. English is the lingua franca at the Institute.

5.

We offer

• We will give you a temporary employment contract (0.8 FTE 5- year contract - 1.0 FTE 4- year contract) 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) or 3.5 years (5-year contract).
• You will receive a starting salary of €3,204 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €4,051 from the fourth year onwards ( salary scale P ).
• 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.

6. Practical information and applying

You can apply only via the button below. Address your letter of application to Corette Wieringa. In the application form, you will find which documents you need to include with your application. We look forward to receiving your application.

The first interviews will take place in the last week of November. Any second interview will take place in the first week of December. You will preferably start your employment on 1 January 2027.

We can imagine you're curious about our  application procedure . It describes what you can expect during the application procedure and how we handle your personal data and internal and external candidates.