Postdoctoral studies in Systems Neuroscience and Behavior (scholarship)

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

The Stagkourakis lab, located in state-of-the-art facilities at the interface of Karolinska Institute and the Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab) in Stockholm, is opening its doors in September of 2024. Recruitment for multiple postdoctoral positions is ongoing. The lab is well funded and will be integrated in a leading, highly interdisciplinary, world-class environment for neuroscience research – the Department of Neuroscience at Karolinska Institute, and will also be part of the SciLifeLab, with access and services on cutting-edge infrastructure, high-throughput technologies, and data analytics. The aim of the lab is to contribute to a better understanding of the neural basis of prototypical behaviors, including instinctual and homeostatic behaviors, such as aggression, fear, food, and water intake. Primary experimental techniques utilized in our lab include but are not limited to: brain slice imaging and electrophysiology, silicon probe electrophysiology, miniscope and 2P microscopy, application of the diverse AAV and rabies virus systems neuroscience toolkit, and animal behavior.

Duties

Research in our lab integrates a variety of approaches, making us open to individuals from diverse backgrounds. A foundation in quantitative fields (e.g., mathematics, engineering, computer science, physics) and experience in theoretical neuroscience or experimental techniques (e.g., high-channel density silicon probe electrophysiology in vivo or in vitro, advanced animal behavior designs and analysis, miniscope or two-photon imaging) is advantageous. Candidates are expected to demonstrate previous productivity, often by publications, but not exclusively.

Essential skills include:

• - a high degree of independence, and
• - ability to construct/maintain and use complex experimental setups, or
• - proficiency in “big” data analysis (using MATLAB or Python), or
• - expertise in theoretical neuroscience (with original publications or preprints showcasing the development of mathematical and computational models to understand neural systems by the candidate).

Candidates with demonstrated expertise in at least one, but ideally more, of the following domains are invited to apply:

• - Design of novel, custom behavioral paradigms in mice.
• - Use of hardware and (custom) software to interface and synchronize behavioral and neural recording setups.
• - Familiarity with Arduino, Bonsai, DataJoint, and/or neural data recording platforms.
• - Assembly, maintenance and use of complex electrophysiology or imaging systems.
• - Combination of behavior with large-scale neural recordings using silicon probes, miniscope, or 2P imaging.
• - Ability to explore and analyze large datasets using modern machine learning methods and a data-centered approach.
• - Experience in data-driven circuit models, biologically realistic deep learning models, abstract neural network models, and machine learning methods.
• - Previous participation in collaborative projects with computational or experimental researchers.
• - scRNA sequencing.
• - Expertise in non-traditional animal models.

Entry requirements

Scholarships for postdoctoral qualification can be established for foreign researchers who place their qualifications in Sweden. The purpose of scholarships for postdoctoral qualification is to promote internationalization and contribute to research qualification after a doctorate or equivalent.
A scholarship for carrying out postdoctoral research can be granted for a maximum of two years within a four year period following the receipt of a doctoral degree or equivalent.
To be eligible for a postdoctoral scholarship, the person must have obtained a doctorate or a foreign degree deemed to be equivalent to a doctorate. Applicants who have not completed a doctorate at the end of the application period may also apply, provided that all requirements for a completed degree are met before the (intended) start date of the post doctoral education.

The head of the department determines whether their previous training and scholarly qualifications correspond to a Swedish doctorate or higher.

What we provide

A creative and inspiring environment with wide-ranging expertise and interests. Karolinska Institute is one of the world's leading medical universities. At Karolinska Institute, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. At KI, you get to meet researchers working in a wide range of methods, giving you ample opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience with the various scientific fields within medicine and health. It is the crossover collaborations, which have pushed KI to where it is today, at the forefront of global research. A close relationship with the health care providers is important for creating groundbreaking top-quality education and research.

In the Stagkourakis lab, alongside comprehensive on-the-job training in scientific and technical skills, we mentor postdocs in various professional aspects, including writing research proposals and papers, analyzing and presenting data, giving talks, supervising students, and more. The greatest strength of the laboratory is its people, and we are committed to fostering a strong collaborative culture. Postdocs will also benefit from exposure to the vibrant Neuroscience community at Karolinska and will receive support of outstanding technical teams at Karolinska Institute and SciLifeLab on approaches including microscopy, RNA sequencing, bioinformatics, data science, animal husbandry, and animal behavior. They will also be supported administratively and experimentally by a lab manager.

Location: Solna

The Stagkourakis Lab is located at Biomedicum and SciLifeLab

• Biomedicum, Dept. of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9
• SciLifeLab, Tomtebodavägen 23

For more information please visit our website: scilifelab.se/researchers/stefanos-stagkourakis/

Type of scholarship

The amount is tax free and it is set for twelve months at a time, paid out on a six months basis. In exceptional cases, shorter periods may be acceptable.

Application process

An application must contain the following documents in English or Swedish:

• A complete curriculum vitae, including date of the thesis defence, title of the thesis, previous academic positions, academic title, current position, academic distinctions, and committee work
• A complete list of publications
• A summary of current work (no more than one page)
• A cover letter explaining your interest in working at our group
• Two or more letters of reference

The application is to be submitted on the Varbi recruitment system.

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