[AUDITORY] PhD position in Kaiserslautern, Germany

[Jan Hirtz <hirtz@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

We are offering a PhD student position, initially for 3 years (TV-L13, 65%) in the Department of Biology at the RPTU University of Kaiserslautern. The employment planned start date is January 2024, yet is flexible to a certain extent.

 

The project will involve two-photon imaging and optogenetics in vivo combined with behavioral experiments in a learning-related context. It has the goal to observe and influence neuronal activity patterns of corticofugal projection neurons in infragranular layers of the mouse auditory cortex and relate their plasticity to decision making in a tone detection task.

 

The project is integrated into the DFG Priority Program SPP 2411 “Sensing LOOPS: cortico-subcortical interactions for adaptive sensing” (https://www.brainloops.de/), offering excellent networking and collaboration opportunities.

 

Applicants should be experienced in either Ca²⁺ imaging or electrophysiology in vivo/in vitro, and/or behavioral experiments. Alternatively, a background in computer-based analysis of neuroscientific data is accepted as well. A M.Sc. or equivalent academic degree in biology, neurobiology, life science, or physics is required.

 

Deadline: November 30, 2023

Please send your application (single PDF, max size 5MB) by to:

Jun. Prof. Jan Hirtz

Email: hirtz@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

RPTU Kaiserslautern, Germany

Physiology of Neuronal Networks

 

Further information can be found at:

https://bio.rptu.de/fgs/neuronetzwerke/

 

The Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU) is the only technical university in Rhineland-Palatinate with over 20,000 students, more than 300 professorships and around 160 degree programs. As a place for top international research, it offers excellent working conditions and career opportunities.

 

The Physiology of Neuronal Networks lab is interested in functional principles of neuronal circuits. We employ modern optical methods, including two-photon microscopy, allowing for activity imaging with high penetration depth and single cell resolution in living tissue. The main focus of our work is studying neuronal ensembles in the mouse auditory neocortex.

Of particular interest to our group are activity patterns of auditory corticofugal projection neurons located in the infragranular layers of the neocortex. Descending projections terminate in many auditory brainstem regions, modulating pathways upstream to the auditory cortex. Despite the importance of the corticofugal system in hearing, our knowledge of its physiology is very limited. Two-photon in vivo microscopy now offers the opportunity to identify specific corticofugal projection neurons and image their activity continuously over days to week. This enables us to observe learning-related changes in their activity patterns in behavioral contexts.

 

 

Best regards

Jan Hirtz

 

 

Jun. Prof. Dr. Jan Hirtz

Physiologie Neuronaler Netzwerke

Fachbereich Biologie

RPTU Kaiserslautern

Geb 13 R13-574

Erwin-Schrödinger-Straße 13

67663 Kaiserslautern

+49-(0)631 205-4669