PhD student (m/f/d) Institute of Cellular Neurosciences

The Institute of Cellular Neurosciences at the University of Bonn/University Hospital Bonn (Bonn, Germany) invites applications for a part-time PhD student position.

PhD student (m/f/d)

A neuroscience PhD studentship in the field of synaptic physiology is available in the laboratory of Prof. Christian Henneberger at the Institute of Cellular Neurosciences (University of Bonn, Germany). The three-year position is part of a larger effort to understand how neuronal and synaptic function are dynamically controlled by astrocytes. We have previously discovered that the structure of perisynaptic astrocytes is highly dynamic and rapidly changes during neuronal plasticity and in epilepsy. We will now explore how such rapid remodeling of astrocytes affects the function of nearby excitatory synapses and their plasticity in the rodent hippocampus. We will use novel optical tools to deliberately induce astrocyte remodeling and then establish the effect on excitatory synaptic transmission and its long-term plasticity. Because the latter is a cellular mechanism of learning, we will also test how such manipulations affect the performance of animals in behavioral tests. This will establish a causal relationship between astrocyte remodeling, synapse function and learning.

The position is available from the 1^st of January 2025. The contract initially runs for three years due the promotion. The salary will be according to the German salary scale (65% TV-L E13). The University of Bonn is an equal opportunities employer.

The specific aim of the project is to first establish the optical induction of deliberate astrocyte morphology changes. The approach has been tested in cultured cells and will be applied to astrocytes in acute brain slices of the rodent hippocampus. Astrocyte morphology and its changes will be visualized using multiphoton fluorescence microscopy. It will then be tested how such rapid astrocyte morphology changes affect synapse function using electrophysiology and optical methods. Finally, it is planned to use such optical manipulation of astrocyte morphology during established behavioural tests for hippocampus-dependent memory formation. The project relies on an extensive experimental infrastructure for monitoring astrocyte morphology, probing synapse function and behavioural analyses. A broad spectrum of imaging approaches and electrophysiological methods is available to dissect the topic further. Additional information about our research, research methods and recent publications can be found at https://henneberger-lab.com/.

Applicants should have a Master of Science (M.Sc.) or equivalent academic degree in a relevant field of science. In addition, applicants should ideally have experience in some of the mentioned techniques.

We offer:

• Exciting neurobiological research projects using a variety of modern and continuously evolving methods
• A thriving international and collaborative research environment within and beyond the institute and the University of Bonn
• Excellent supervision and support by the principal investigator and colleagues as well as regular group meetings and scientific events
• Enrollment in the structured graduate program of the Bonn International Graduate School for Neuroscience (https://bigs-neuroscience.de/)
• Additional possibilities for further education in university and non-university courses
• Attendance of national and international scientific meetings
• A professional career development program
• A salary according to the German salary scale TV-L (EG 13, 65 %)
• Supplementary benefits in the public sector (pension plan according to VBL)
• Possibility to use the day care center