Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen
We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic postdoc for a 2.5-year position to investigate the effect of early-life stress on neural circuits. The selected candidate will start on 1 July 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.
Information on the department can be found at: https://in.ku.dk/

Our research

We are a systems neuroscience laboratory focusing on understanding the mechanisms by which neural circuits and behaviors are affected by stress, to better understand the etiology of mental disorders (https://in.ku.dk/research/kermen-lab/). Our expertise includes behavioral assays, neuronal tracing, in vivo calcium imaging of large populations of neurons (2 photon & light sheet microscope), opto/chemogenetics. We use transparent, transgenic larval zebrafish as a vertebrate model amenable to whole brain imaging at cellular resolution in vivo.
You will work directly with Associate Prof. Florence Kermen and in collaboration with other team members. Frequent scientific and social events at the institute contribute to a collaborative and enjoyable work atmosphere. We are located in beautiful and well-connected Copenhagen.

Your job

In this project, your main task will be to determine the stress-induced changes in neural circuits of the zebrafish brain using immunohistochemistry, quantitative behavioural assays, pharmacology and calcium imaging. You will play a key role in establishing the behavioral assays, as well as data and statistical analysis and will have a large degree of freedom in shaping the project, based on your experience.
You will have the opportunity to grow your professional network by participating in relevant conferences. You will actively contribute to the team’s scientific goals by training/supervising junior scientists.

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 and a good track record (first-author publications) in Neuroscience or in a related biological field
• You have documented experience with neuropharmacology, immunohistochemistry, behavioural assays and biostatistics/ bioinformatics
• You have documented experience with pre-clinical models of stress, anxiety or depression
• You hold a valid certificate in Laboratory Animal science (FELASA)
• You have good scientific communication skills and ability to work in teams
• You are proficient in English, written and spoken

Desirable experience and skills:

• Experience working with zebrafish as animal model
• Experience with writing and publishing scientific articles

Place of employment

The place of employment is at the Department of Neuroscience, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories, zebrafish research facility, and microscopy facility (https://cfim.ku.dk/).

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 2.5 years. The starting date is 1 july 2024.
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 Associate Professor Florence Kermen ([email protected]; )
Foreign applicants may find this link useful: (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:

1. Motivated letter of application
2. CV incl. education, work/research experience, grant/awards, language skills and contact details of 2 academic references.
3. 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.
4. Complete list of publications, indicating your specific contributions.

Deadline for applications: 7 May 2024, 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
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 in week 21.
The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.