PhD Positions

PhD Positions

PhD positions available in the Department of Neurophysiology,
Medical faculty, Ruhr University Bochum

The Department of Neurophysiology at the Medical Faculty of the Ruhr University Bochum focusses on functional studies of hippocampal synaptic plasticity (see Kemp and Manahan-Vaughan, Trends Neurosci 2007, 30:118), and its role in learning and memory processing. A multidisciplinary approach that incorporates in vivo and in vitro hippocampal electrophysiology, EEG analysis, immunohistochemistry, biochemistry, histology and behavioural learning paradigms is used. Two PhD positions are currently available:

  1. “Studies of the role of the dopaminergic and adrenergic systems in learning- facilitated synaptic plasticity“. Our previous work has demonstrated a key role for dopamine D1 receptors (Lemon and Manahan-Vaughan, 2006, JNeurosci 26:7723) and beta-adrenoceptors (Kemp and Manahan-Vaughan, 2007, Cerebral Cortex) in forms of synaptic plasticity that occur in association with learning events. Using in vivo electrophysiology combined with behavioural leraning paradigms the precise mechanisms underlying these phenomena will be studied.
  1. “Examination of the role of metabotropic glutamate receptors in hippocampal network activity and information encoding“. In this project, the regulation of metabotropic glutamate receptors of theta-gamma encoding of information accross the hippocampal trisynaptic circuit will be exmained. Intrahippocampal EGG combined with synaptic plasticity and behavioural studies will comprise the methodological approach of this project (Bikbaev and Manahan-Vaughan PloS One 2008, 3:e2155).

The PhD projects are available immediately and will run for ca. 36 months. Projects will be integrated into the education curriculum of the International Graduate School of Neuroscience (www.rub.de/igsn). The doctoral degree of either PhD in Neuroscience or Dr.rer.nat will be conferred upon successful completion of the doctoral project.

Candidates should have some prior experience in at least one of the methods described above. Fluent english and a Masters degree or equivalent is required. Please submit:

1. An application letter that describes your research interests and motivation for applying, as well as a statement as to which project is of interest
2. The names of three referees
3. A complete CV that describes your academic as well as research qualifications

to Prof Denise Manahan-Vaughan.

Head of the Department of Neurophysiology,
Medical Faculty
Ruhr University Bochum
FNO 01/116
44780 Bochum
Germany

Tel: +49-234 32-22 042
Fax: +49-234 3214490

Mail: dmv-igsn@rub.de
Websites: www.rub.de/lmr    www.rub.de/igsn