The Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR) offers two PhD positions for four years on a NWO-funded ZonMW TOP project entitled ‘Neuronal regeneration: from gene networks to gene therapy’. The CNCR is part of the Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam (NCA). Research at NCA focuses on mechanisms of brain function and disease. NCA aims at the integration of fundamental and clinical research, covering a wide array of research disciplines from molecular and genetic to cognitive and clinical neuroscience.
Tasks
Neurons in the central nervous system do not regenerate after axonal damage. A major challenge in the field of neuroregeneration is to find efficient methods to promote the regenerative capacity of central neurons after, for instance, spinal cord injury or stroke.
The Genes and Plasticity team of Dr. Ronald van Kesteren focuses on transcription factors that are able to switch on the neuron-intrinsic gene program required for neuroregeneration. In this project, you will characterize novel potential regeneration, promoting transcription factors as well as their target genes, identify which transcription factors act together and form regulatory modules in the regeneration associated gene network and test whether combined manipulation of core transcription factors can enhance regeneration in vivo.
The project is a collaborative research project. Part of the research will be conducted in the lab of Prof. Joost Verhaagen at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN) in Amsterdam.
Requirements
You have a MSc degree (or equivalent) in biology or biomedical science.
You have research experience in molecular and cellular biology.
You are fluent in English (spoken and written).
You have good social and communicative skills.
You are a team worker.
Appointment
Appointments will initially be for 1 year. After satisfactory evaluation, the appointment will be extended with 3 additional years. Further information regarding our excellent fringe benefits of employment can be found at www.workingatvu.nl
Salary
Salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel, €2.042
(gross per month) in the first year up to €2.612 (gross per month) in the fourth year, based on full-time employment.
Information
For additional information please contact
Dr. R.E. van Kesteren
Phone: +31 (0)20 5987111
E-mail: ronald.van.kesteren@cncr.vu.nl
Application
Written applicantions, accompanied by a curriculum vitae and one or two references, should be sent per mail or e-mail before the 15th of April 2012 to:
Dr. R.E. van Kesteren
Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research
Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences
VU University
De Boelelaan 1085
1081 HV Amsterdam
The Netherlands
