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The Institute for Auditory Neuroscience of the University Medical Centre Göttingen is offering a new position for the earliest start date

The position is embedded in the newly founded Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1690 “Disease Mechanisms and Functional Restoration of Sensory and Motor Systems”. In our project, we study the disease mechanisms of human hearing loss. Based on our cooperative clinical work in otolaryngology and human genetics, we have identified three novel deafness gene candidates, and we continue to seek for more. We will characterize the expression and function of these genes in the murine cochlea.

We try to understand how different forms of hearing impairment affect sound encoding. Our special interest is on auditory synaptopathy/neuropathy, where the sensory inner hair cells and their ribbon synapses do not function normally. We use genetically modified mice to better understand the role of deafness genes in hearing function. With a direct connection between the lab work in mice and state of the art clinical testing in audiology, our aim is to better understand normal and impaired hearing function and to improve diagnostic techniques and hearing rehabilitation strategies. We are also interested in the interaction between genetic alterations causing hearing impairment and the susceptibility to noise trauma.

Göttingen is world renowned for its research in neuroscience. It is a stimulating and highly collaborative scientific environment hosting numerous prestigious and internationally renowned neuroscience research institutions. This includes the University and its Medical Center, lifescience Max Planck Institutes, the European Neuroscience Institute and the German Primate Center. The InnerEarLab, which includes several research groups of the Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and Dept. of Otolaryngology and outside University, is tightly integrated in the Campus, where it runs numerous stimulating collaborations such as within CRC 1690 and the Multiscale Bioimaging Cluster of Excellence. Most PhD students are enrolled in the competitive „Sensory and Motor Neuroscience“ program of the Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences, Biophysics, and Molecular Biosciences (GGNB), which offers attractive interdisciplinary training platform and networking for PhD students.

Your tasks:

Analyze the expression of putative novel deafness genes and interacting proteins by immunohistochemistry (confocal and STED microscopy), RNAscope, qPCR, and Western Blots

Assess hearing function in genetically modified mice using in vivo recordings from the rodent auditory system (auditory brainstem responses, otoacoustic emissions, potentially also electrocochleography, endocochlear potential measurements, single unit recordings from the auditory nerve, behavioral assessments of hearing function)

Perform other in vitro electrophysiology or cell culture work

Present your progress in regular thesis advisory committee meetings, lab meetings, scientific meetings, and research conferences

Contribute to joint scientific publications

Participate in a doctoral qualification program well suited to the research focus of the CRC

Your qualifications:

Master’s degree or equivalent in neuroscience, audiology, physiology, animal biology or molecular medicine, ideally with a focus on sensory physiology

Previous experience in relevant research methodology and technology and basic knowledge regarding sensory neuroscience is appreciated, especially regarding electrophysiological experiments, microsurgery, immunohistochemical staining procedures and / or confocal or STED imaging. Knowledge of image analysis as well as technical and programming skills (ideally in Matlab) are appreciated. A completed course on animal experimentation (FELASA B) will be useful

Completed course on animal experimentation (FELASA B), and basic programming skills (e.g. in Matlab) would be helpful

The ability to work in an interdisciplinary, collaborative, English-speaking international team of researchers is required

We offer:

Attractive employee compensation and benefit package according to the standards of the German public sector (position available till end of 2028, with possible extension)

A research- and qualification program in line with the CRC´s scientific mission

Working with a highly engaged and interdisciplinary team of scientists at the Institute for Auditory Neuroscience, one of the world leading institutions in inner ear research

Highly collaborative research environment with excellent scientific networking possibilities

State-of-the-art research infrastructure

Structured and multi-layered supervision by a thesis advisory committee

A comprehensive career development support program

Click here to apply via UMG's recruitment system.

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The Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde of the University Medical Center Göttingen is looking for a new position for the earliest start date

CRC1690 is a newly founded DFG-funded collaborative research center investigating disease mechanisms of sensory and motor disorders and developing novel therapeutic approaches towards sensory and motor restoration.

Hearing impairment is the most common sensory disorder in humans, with more than 700 million people projected to be affected by 2050. Eighty percent of prelingual hearing loss is attributed to genetic causes, and can adversely impact speech, language development, and education. In adults, hearing impairment may lead to social isolation, depression and cognitive decline. The PhD project addressed hereditary hearing impairment linked to malfunction of the voltage-gated calcium channels that critically mediate hair cell synaptic transmission. The successful candidate will work on elucidating the regulation of these channels and developing and optimizing gene therapeutic approaches in mouse disease models to prepare for putative future causative treatment in the patients. Work will employ genetic tools, manual and automated patch-clamp measurements, immunohistochemistry, confocal/STED imaging, light-sheet fluorescence microscopy, and systems physiology tests.

Göttingen is world renowned for its research in neuroscience. It is a stimulating and highly collaborative scientific environment hosting numerous prestigious and internationally renowned neuroscience research institutions. This includes the University and its Medical Center, lifescience Max Planck Institutes, the European Neuroscience Institute and the German Primate Center. The InnerEarLab, which includes several research groups of the Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and Dept. of Otolaryngology and outside University, is tightly integrated in the Campus, where it runs numerous stimulating collaborations such as within the collaborative sensory research center SFB1690, and the Multiscale Bioimaging Cluster of Excellence. Most PhD students are enroled in the competitive „Sensory and Motor Neuroscience“ program of the Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences, Biophysics, and Molecular Biosciences (GGNB) which offers attractive interdisciplinary training platform and networking for PhD students.

Your tasks:

Study the disease mechanism of hearing loss caused by defects in voltage-gated calcium channel function/regulation in mouse models

Develop preclinical gene therapeutic approach to treat hearing impairment, related to calcium channels

Perform experiments spanning manual and automated patch-clamp measurements, immunohistochemistry with confocal/STED imaging, light-sheet fluorescence microscopy, and systems physiology hearing tests; report, summarize, share and analyze data

Present your progress in regular thesis advisory committee meetings, lab meetings, scientific meetings and research conferences

Contribute to joint scientific publications

Participate in a doctoral qualification program well suited to the research focus of the CRC

Your qualifications:

Master’s Degree in Biomedical Sciences, Animal Biology, Neuroscience, Audiology, Physiology, or Molecular medicine or equivalent from an accredited institution

Previous experience in relevant research methodology and technology and basic knowledge in hearing appreciated

Completed course on animal experimentation (FELASA B), and basic programming skills (e.g. in Matlab) would be helpful

The ability to work in an interdisciplinary, collaborative, English-speaking international team of researchers is required

We offer:

Attractive employee compensation and benefit package according to the standards of the German public sector (position available till end of 2028, with possible extension)

A research- and qualification program in line with the CRC´s scientific mission

Working with a highly engaged and interdisciplinary team of scientists in the field at the Department of Otolaryngology and Institute for Auditory Neuroscience

Highly collaborative research environment with excellent scientific networking possibilities

State-of-the-art research infrastructure

Structured and multi-layered supervision by a thesis advisory committee

A comprehensive career development support program

Click here to download the PDF version of this job advert.

Click here to apply via UMG's recruitment system.

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We welcome applications for PhD collaboration. We are looking for excellent and highly motivated applicants with a strong background (first degree) in biology, (biomedical) engineering, physics, or neuroscience.
Competence in electrophysiology, behavioral approaches, state of the art light microscopy, and/or computational data analysis will be useful. If interested, please send your application to one of the group leaders or to ianoff@gwdg.de.