Postdoc in the neuroscience of pain at the Center for Translational Neuromedicine

We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic postdoc for a 2-year position, who will investigate sleep and CSF dynamics in pain pathology to commence 1 April 2025.

Center for Translational Neuromedicine focuses on developing new approaches for examining and treating neurological diseases, primarily using the tools of physiology and imaging coupled with cell and gene therapy. Our emphasis is on using these technologies to enable neural and glial cell replacement in the adult brain and spinal cord, as a means of both disease modeling and therapeutic repair. The labs in the Center are expanding the scope of glial biology, such that disorders long thought neuronal in nature are now being investigated as disorders principally of glial cells, including both astrocytes and oligodendrocytes as well as their progenitors.

The successful candidate will utilize cutting-edge imaging techniques to explore the role of the glymphatic system in pain-related sleep disturbances. This research aims to uncover novel therapeutic targets within glial cell dynamics to alleviate pain pathology.

Information on the department can be found at: https://ctn.ku.dk/.

Our center
Center for Translational Neuromedicine currently has 55 employees and students and is divided into five labs. CTN is characterized by a highly ambitious research environment. The Center is highly interdisciplinary and has many international collaborators. The postdoc will be part of the Nedergaard lab, Division of Glial Disease and Therapeutics. Being part of the Nedergaard lab offers an opportunity to work in an in vivo lab engaged in neuroscience, focusing on sleep and glymphatic system function in health and pain pathology.

CTN is part of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, and is located at Panum. The Center comprises modern laboratories and excellent facilities within neuroscience. The project that we are recruiting for focuses on the effects of various mouse models of pain on sleep and CSF dynamics using in vivo optical imaging approaches.

Your job
You will be investigating sleep and CSF dynamics in various mouse models of chronic pain. As a postdoc in the Neergaard lab, you will be working with in vivo fluorescent imaging and modulation, attempting to decipher the brain mechanisms involved in pain-associated sleep disturbances and their effects on glymphatic system function. For this project, you will work with several brain imaging techniques as well as optogenetic modulation to manipulate both pain circuitry and sleep. You will also perform behavioral assessments to determine cognitive effects. Your tasks will include the design and implementation of experimental workflows, which allow the visualization and manipulation of neuronal circuits during pain and sleep. Also, you are expected to train and mentor students at master level.

Profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience:

Essential experience and skills:

• You have a PhD in neuroscience
• You are highly experienced in fluorescent imaging, such as macroscopic imaging and fiber photometry as well as rodent models of pain and the procedures associated with these techniques.
• You have an active interest in pain and sleep pathology, general knowledge about pain pathology and sleep composition with experience in EEG/EMG recordings in rodents
• Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams
• Excellent English skills written and spoken

Desirable experience and skills:

• Behavioral assessment of rodents
• Coding (MATLAB)

Place of employment
The place of employment is at Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and state-of-the-art equipment.

Terms of employment
The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of two years. The starting date is 1 April 2025 or after agreement.
You will refer to Professor Maiken Nedergaard.

Salary, pension and other conditions of employment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant organisation. Currently, the monthly salary starts at 38,500 DKK/approx. 5,100 EUR (April 2024 level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund.

Foreign and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions, if they hold a PhD degree and have not lived in Denmark the last 10 years.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020.

Questions
For further information please contact Maiken Nedergaard, [email protected] or Center Administrator Ann Christensen, [email protected].

International applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).

Application procedure
Your online application must be submitted in English by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. Furthermore, your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:

• Motivated letter of application (max. one page).
• CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.
• A certified/signed copy of a) PhD certificate and b) Master of Science certificate. If the PhD is not completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do.
• List of publications.

Deadline for applications: 20 January 2025, 23.59pm CET
We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor. Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.

You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

Interviews are expected to be held mid-February 2025.

The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.

Københavns Universitet giver sine knap 10.000 medarbejdere muligheder for at udnytte deres talent fuldt ud i et ambitiøst, uformelt miljø. Vi sikrer traditionsrige og moderne rammer om uddannelser og fri forskning på højt internationalt niveau. Vi søger svar og løsninger på fælles problemer og gør ny viden tilgængelig og nyttig for andre.

Kontakt
Maiken Nedergaard
E-mail: [email protected]

Info
Ansøgningsfrist: 20-01-2025

Ansættelsesdato: 01-04-2025

Arbejdstid: Fuldtid

Afdeling/Sted: Center for Translational Neuromedicine