Neuroscience Researcher (PhD Candidate) | Biologe (m/w/d)
Leibniz-Institut für Neurobiologie
Job Summary
This PhD position at the internationally recognized Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology (LIN) offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research on learning and memory, specifically focusing on the mechanisms behind sleep deprivation. The successful candidate will join the Behavioral Neuroscience group to investigate how lack of adequate sleep disrupts neural circuits and cognitive function. The primary day-to-day responsibility involves conducting in vivo two-photon imaging experiments using transparent zebrafish larvae—a powerful vertebrate model—to observe brain activity at single-cell resolution in behaving fish and analyze its impact on decision-making circuits. Key qualifications include an MSc in a relevant life science field (Neuroscience, Biology, Physics) and proficiency in statistics and Python programming. This role is highly attractive due to its multidisciplinary, international environment, strong support for doctoral development through the CBBS graduate program, and the possibility of an exchange internship with a partner lab at Harvard.
Required Skills
Education
Master of Science (MSc) in Neuroscience, Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Physics, Life Science, or a related field; Enrollment in a Doctoral (PhD) program.
Experience
- Professional experience with statistics and data analysis
- Programming experience with Python
- Interest in neuroimaging techniques
- Willingness to work directly with vertebrate animal models (zebrafish)
- Prior lab experience (preferred)
Languages
Additional
- Fixed-term appointment (initially 3 years, extendable to 4 years); Part-time commitment (65% / 26 hours per week); Required start date earliest January 1st, 2026; Must be willing to relocate to Magdeburg, Germany.