The Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS is seekinga candidate for the position of:  Postdoctoral Researcher in social/systems neuroscience

Number of available positions: 1

Place of work: Laboratory of Emotions’ Neurobiology

Researcher career profiles: R2
Field of science: systems/social neuroscience

Type of recruitment: NCN grant, Sonata 16

We are seeking a passionate and highly motivated postdoc to work in the social/systems neuroscience project: "Coming together - neural dynamics of transition from out-group reserve to in-group fellowship".

Requirements:

• independent work ethic
• willingness to roll up your sleeves and get dirty
• no-task-is-too-small attitude
• strong research track record
• good command of both oral and written English
• being a good team player
• preferably, candidates should have received their Ph.D. in STEM discipline within the last 5 years

Scope of tasks:

What will you learn:

You will apply a combination of cutting-edge techniques of systems neuroscience, including:

• semi-naturalistic, automated behavioral assessment in transgenic mouse strains,
• two-photon microscopy in behaving animals,
• chemogenetics and wireless optogenetics
• computational approaches to analyzing neuronal activity and behavior

Moreover, you will get an opportunity to:

• mentor Ph.D. students
• help develop future research areas
• hone your scientific communication skills

What else do we offer:

We are an ambitious new team where challenges are there for the taking. As a postdoc, you will be given significant autonomy. We will support you by providing:

• mentorship supportive of professional development
• funding for attending scientific schools/workshops and international conferences
• research conducted in a highly interdisciplinary, international environment
• support in grant writing
• offer includes research visit in the partner laboratory at Yale University

Employment conditions:

• an employment contract max for 24 months
• competitive gross salary 120,000 PLN/year
• health insurance in a private company
• start date subject to negotiation.

Application procedure and deadline:

Closing date for applications 31.08.2023

The documents should be sent to postdoc@nencki.edu.pl with note “postdoc Sonata 16 social neuroscience” in the email title.

The selected candidates may be invited for a scientific interview, to demonstrate their scientific achievements.

 Required documents:

• CV
• research statement
• 2 letters of reference and contacts (emails and/or telephone no.) to people providing references
• Copy of the PhD diploma (or equivalent) or information on the expected defense date

You can use the foreign equivalent of a Polish academic degree if it meets at least one of the following criteria:

• is covered by the provisions of an international agreement on the equivalence
  of education,
• was issued by an authorized institution operating in an EU, OECD or EFTA Member State,
• was issued in another country and recognized on the basis of the regulations on the recognition of academic degrees obtained abroad (learn more about the procedure for the recognition of academic degrees: https://nawa.gov.pl/en/recognition/recognition-for-professional-purposes/recognition-of-scientific-degrees-and-titles

Contact information: a.puscian@nencki.edu.pl

Link to website:

https://www.nencki.edu.pl/laboratories/laboratory-of-emotions-neurobiology/

We are eager to hear from women and candidates from underrepresented minorities!

About the project:

Classifying individuals as members of an in-group, that is social circles with whom we identify, is a rapid and unconscious process. Consequently, very little is required to discriminate against the ones we identify as out-group, which happens on a similarly prompt and arbitrary basis, and oftentimes results in an unconscious bias. Arguably, it is because classifying individuals as either “us” or “them” is a hard-wired neuronal mechanism. We will investigate the role of the brain structure known to be key for encoding social familiarity in all tested mammalian species – the prefrontal cortex. We will conduct research focused on the neural underpinnings of overcoming reserve towards unknown conspecifics, to compose an amicable social group. We will apply a combination of cutting-edge techniques of systems neuroscience, including semi-naturalistic, automated behavioral assessment in transgenic mouse strains, two-photon microscopy in behaving animals, and chemo- and wireless optogenetics to discover how changes in the activity of the main cell types composing the circuits of the PFC involved in encoding social familiarity reflect the transition from out-group reserve to in-group fellowship.

Additional information:

Please include the following clause in your CV:

“I give consent for my personal data included in the recruitment form to be processed by Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS with its registered seat in Warsaw at Pasteur Street No. 3 (data controller) for the purposes of recruitment for postdoctoral researcher position pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC in compliance with a legal obligation to which the data controller is subject to (Art. 6 section 1 letter a) and the Act on personal data protection of 10 May 2018 (Journal of Laws of 2018, item 1000).”

Information Clause

The Controller of data is Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS with its registered seat in Warsaw at Pasteur Street No. 3.

Contact Details of the Personal Data Protection Officer: iod@nencki.edu.pl

Personal data in the recruitment form is collected and will be processed only for the purposes of recruitment for post-doc position conducted by Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS.

Giving consent for processing of your personal data is voluntary; however, it is necessary in order to take part in recruitment. I hereby state that I was informed about the right to withdraw my consent at any time. The withdrawal of the consent does not influence the lawfulness of any processing performed before the consent withdrawal.

Personal data collected in order to perform the recruitment process shall be processed throughout the period of time necessary for the organization and completion of the recruitment process, as well as for considering a possible complaint; however, not longer than up to 30.11.2023.

Personal data will not be transferred to a third party.

You have the right to request the data controller for access to your personal data, to edit or limit its processing, as well as to raise an objection or transfer your data. You are also entitled to file a complaint to the supervisory body (President of the Office for Personal Data Protection).