The Faculty of Biology, Department of Biological Cybernetics, has the following job opening: 
The research tasks (95 %) take place in innovative and challenging scientific projects, they include in particular:
Other tasks (5 %):
Employment is conductive to scientific qualification.
Research Position (PhD candidate)
ID: Wiss22725
- Start: as soon as possible
- Teilzeit 65 %
- salary according to remuneration level 13 TV-L
- befristet
The PhD position is part of the tandem project between the Biocentre of the University of Würzburg and the Department of Biological Cybernetics at Bielefeld University, embedded within the newly established Research Unit 5424 `Modulation of olfaction: How recurrent circuits govern state-dependent behaviour' and funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) (https://bernstein-network.de/en/newsroom/news/202207042/).
In this tandem project, the investigation of context- and experience-related modulation along the insect olfactory pathway is planned. Multi-unit recordings at two processing levels, antennal lobe (AL) and mushroom body (MB), will be carried out in order to characterise mushroom body output neuron (MBON) responses to olfactory and visual stimulation and identify specific MBON candidates that modulate odour processing via centrifugal feedback using anatomical and live imaging approaches. This will also include learning experiments to characterise plasticity effects on odour computation. In addition, high-level data analysis and modelling approaches will be included.
In this tandem project, the investigation of context- and experience-related modulation along the insect olfactory pathway is planned. Multi-unit recordings at two processing levels, antennal lobe (AL) and mushroom body (MB), will be carried out in order to characterise mushroom body output neuron (MBON) responses to olfactory and visual stimulation and identify specific MBON candidates that modulate odour processing via centrifugal feedback using anatomical and live imaging approaches. This will also include learning experiments to characterise plasticity effects on odour computation. In addition, high-level data analysis and modelling approaches will be included.
Your Tasks
The tasks are carried out within the framework of good collaboration within the research unit of the DFG research grant and within the department.The research tasks (95 %) take place in innovative and challenging scientific projects, they include in particular:
- involvement in innovative and demanding scientific projects
- extracellular multi-unit recordings at different processing levels in the honeybee brain
- spike sorting of extracellular recorded data and further data analysis in MATLAB, R or any other comparable programming language
- classical conditioning experiments of honeybees
- documentation, publication and presentation of research results
Other tasks (5 %):
- participation in and organisation of the academic self-administration of the department
Employment is conductive to scientific qualification.
We offer
- salary according to remuneration level 13 TV-L
- befristet (4 years) (§ 2 (1) sentence 1 of the WissZeitVG; in accordance with the provisions of the WissZeitVG and the Agreement on Satisfactory Conditions of Employment, the length of contract may differ in individual cases)
- Teilzeit 65 %
- internal and external training opportunities
- variety of health, consulting and prevention services
- reconcilability of family and work
- job ticket for regional public transport network
- supplementary company pension
- collegial working environment
- open and pleasant working atmosphere
- exciting, varied tasks
Your Profile
We expect
- completed scientific university degree (Master or equivalent) in biology or physics or any related subject with a grade of at least 2.5
- knowledge of neurobiology and olfactory coding
- skills in data analysis using MATLAB, R or any other comparable programming language
- interdisciplinary experience
- interest in method development/refinement
- skills in analytical thinking
- very good oral and written English language skills
- independent, diligent and dedicated style of work
- strong organisational and coordination skills
- cooperative and team-oriented working style
Preferred experience and skills
- experience with classical and operant conditioning in insects
- electrophysiological knowledge
Application Procedure
We are looking forward to receiving your application. For full consideration, your application should be received via either email (a single PDF document is required) sent to martin.strube-bloss@uni-bielefeld.de or post (see postal address). Please mark your application with the identification code: Wiss22725. Please note that the possibility of privacy breaches and unauthorized access by third parties cannot be excluded when communicating via unencrypted e-mail. For Information on the processing of personal data click here.
application deadline: 09.02.2023
Contact
Dr. Martin Fritz Strube-Bloss
0521 106-5532
martin.strube-bloss@uni-bielefeld.de
Postal Address
Universität Bielefeld
Faculty of Biology
Dr. Martin Fritz Strube-Bloss
Postfach 10 01 31
33501 Bielefeld
Dr. Martin Fritz Strube-Bloss
0521 106-5532
martin.strube-bloss@uni-bielefeld.de
Postal Address
Universität Bielefeld
Faculty of Biology
Dr. Martin Fritz Strube-Bloss
Postfach 10 01 31
33501 Bielefeld
Bielefeld University has received a number of awards for its achievements as an equal-opportunity employer and has been
recognized as a family-friendly university. The university welcomes applications from women. This is particularly true with regard
both to academic and technical posts as well as positions in information technology as well as the skilled crafts and trades.
Applications are handled according to the provisions of the state statutes on equal opportunity. Applications from suitably qualified
handicapped and severely handicapped persons are explicitly encouraged.
At Bielefeld University on request positions can be carried out with reduced working hours as long as this does not conflict with official needs.
