PhD student – From brain circuits of threat to neurofeedback in humans

Four-year translational PhD project shared between Prof. Alexander Heimel's lab at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience in Amsterdam and Prof. David Linden's group at Maastricht UMC+. The first two years use mouse models of innate defensive behaviour to identify a brain region that regulates threat responses, with TRAP2 activity-dependent tagging, viral and monosynaptic rabies tracing, optogenetics, fibre photometry and quantitative analysis of neural and behavioural data.

Years three and four translate the circuit to humans with 7T fMRI and develop a real-time fMRI neurofeedback paradigm, aiming at neurofeedback targets with a demonstrated causal role in threat circuitry relevant to anxiety disorders, PTSD and depression. Salary: €3,204–€4,051 gross per month (scale P), plus an 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% year-end bonus. The institute sets no fixed application deadline; the KNAW vacancy posting ends on 23 November 2026.

A master's degree (held or soon obtained) in neuroscience, biomedical sciences, medicine, psychology, cognitive neuroscience or a related discipline; interest in how neural circuits generate behaviour and in working across animal and human neuroscience; willingness to develop data-analysis skills; comfort working with laboratory animals; good spoken and written English. Submit a motivation letter, a detailed CV with grade list and contact details for two academic referees.