PhD position - Effects of stem cells on dopamine system in Parkinson's Disease (rodent model)

We offer a PhD position for 4 years in stem cell treatment in mouse models for Parkinson's Disease. Combining molecular, behavioral and in vivo neurophysiological approaches.

Dit ga je doen

The project focuses on the analysis of the extent to which stem cell treatment, in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) mouse models, cause functional recovery of the dopamine system and of both motor and cognitive symptoms. 

You will work on your own project, supported by technicians and surrounded by a team of PhD students and postdocs that work with similar and other technologies. Though you would be primarily based in Utrecht, the work will be done in the framework of a collaboration between the Meye group (UMC Utrecht) and the Donega group (Vumc, Amsterdam). 

It is a full-time position of 4 years, which will lead to a PhD thesis.

Hier ga je werken

The Department of Translational Neuroscience (TN) is the preclinical department of the Division Neuroscience of the University Medical Center Utrecht. The research mission of TN is to discover and delineate mechanisms and processes which are fundamental to the development of neural systems and to the control of behavior, and to translate these to pathogenesis and disease models. The unique advantage of this department of Neuroscience is its embedding in the clinical environment of UMC Utrecht and its multidisciplinary character. The Department’s toolkit includes light sheet microscopy, optogenetics, electrophysiology, an own animal facility, viral vector generation and more.

For this particular project you will take part in the collaboration between the Meye group at TN and the Donega group at Amsterdam UMC. 

Dit neem je mee

• You should either already have your MSc diploma in a relevant field, or you should expect to obtain it relatively soon (e.g. before May 2025). The most optimal field would be neuroscience, but it can be a related field, as long as the candidate has some prior experience with at least some of the mentioned techniques.
• You have practical experience with rodents.
• Furthermore, prior experience with PD, cell culture, stem cell biology, behavioral assays, stereotactic (brain) surgery, in vivo neurophysiology measures (e.g. fiber photometry) and/or transcriptomics would be strengths. No candidate likely has all those, but you are encouraged to explain in your motivation letter to which extent you do and do not tick the above points already. 
• You can work in a multidisciplinary team with researchers from two institutes and research groups involved in this project. 
• You have good writing and presenting skills in English.

Dit bieden we jou

• A salary between € 3017 and € 3824 gross per month (salary scale OIO), based on full-time employment (36 hours). 
• A contract for 4 years.
• Year-end bonus of 8.3% and holiday allowance of 8%. 
• Pension insurance with ABP. We take care of approximately 70% of the monthly contribution. 
• 100% public transport reimbursement. Are you coming on foot, by bike or by car? You will then receive a reimbursement of € 0.18 per km (by car up to a max. of 40 km one way). 
• Possibilities to develop yourself personally and professionally. 
• The option to select additional employment benefits in exchange for gross salary, such as purchasing a bicycle and memberships.