[alife] NAMASEN Marie Curie Initial Training Network: PhD Position as a Marie Curie Fellowship

[Janina Kirsch]

NAMASEN Marie Curie Initial Training Network: PhD Position as a Marie Curie Fellowship
The analysis of the electrical activity of neuronal networks is one of the core topics of neuroscience. To record such activity in the intact brain as well as in isolated networks in vitro extracellular recording is one of the most widespread tools, yielding signals across a wide frequency spectrum with a range of different properties and information contents. Considerable effort has gone into theoretical modeling of the relation of intracellular and extracellular dynamics, neuron and tissue structure and the relative contributions of input and output the local field potentials. Yet, it is not fully clear how to interpret the shape of spikes or LFPs recorded extracellularly and deduce information about network processes. The EU-funded training network NAMASEN exploits new tools for electrophysiology to improve the retrieval of information about intracellular and network dynamics from extracellular recordings. At the Laboratory for Biomicrotechnology, we use high-density microelectrode arrays to identify the functional connectivity of neuronal networks in vitro and map the spatio-temporal fingerprints of individual neurons in the network. Towards this, we analyze simultaneous intra- and extracellular recordings with novel large scale microelectrode arrays in vitro and compare them to the morphological structure of the networks. 
To support this we are offering a 
PhD Position as a Marie Curie Fellowship
for a candidate with a background in neurophysiology, biology, medicine, or relevant fields in physics and electrical engineering. You should have a degree qualifying for PhD entry in one of these fields and significant knowledge in neuroscience. Besides the NAMASEN network you would be embedded in research at the Bernstein Center Freiburg and the Excellence Cluster “BrainLinks – BrainTools” at the University of Freiburg.
PhD candidates will be appointed on a full-time temporary contract for a period of three years, including a two-to-six-month secondments at different NAMASEN partner. They will be a Marie Curie fellow and will profit from all Marie Curie benefits, including living, mobility, travel, and career exploratory allowances according to the Marie Curie Framework 7 requirements (http:// ec.europa.eu/mariecurieactions). 
Candidates must be, at the time of recruitment, in the first four years (full-time equivalent) of their research careers and not yet have been awarded a doctoral degree. This is measured from the date when they obtained the first degree that would formally entitle them to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the research training is provided. In practice, this means they should not have obtained any degree before 31st August 2008 that would entitle them to enroll for a doctorate. In general, this is usually a suitably qualifying Masters degree.
Candidates are normally required to undertake trans-national mobility (i.e. move from one country to another) when taking up their appointment. At the time of recruitment by the host organization, candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their host organization (i.e. depending on the NAMASEN network partner to apply for) for more than 12 months between 1 September 2008 and 31 August 2012.
Applicants for the position at NAMASEN may be nationals of any Member State of the European Union, of any Associated Country or of any other third country, but they may not be a national of the hosting country. Availability to travel (including internationally), for the purpose of the research and training activities, is a requirement for the positions.
More information on the NAMASEN ITN Network and its job openings can be found at:  <http://www.namasen.net> http://www.namasen.net. Please see in particular further details on eligibility for Early Stage Researchers (ESR).
Candidates are requested to submit their CV in English (max. 5 pages), max. 10 academic publications (in English), including an electronic copy of university diploma (translated to English). A cover letter is also required, where motivations to apply to the NAMASEN consortium in general and to an individual partner, in particular, must be stated clearly. Spam applications, i.e. applications that obviously do not qualify according to the criteria for background and eligibility, will be trashed.
Formal applications should be made through the NAMASEN consortium and should be sent by means of the website  <http://www.namasen.net> http://www.namasen.net.