MRC-Funded Ph.D. Studentship in Neuroscience (Dupret Group)
MRC BRAIN NETWORK DYNAMICS UNIT, NUFFIELD DEPARTMENT OF CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
MRC-FUNDED Ph.D. STUDENTSHIP in NEUROSCIENCE (DUPRET GROUP)
Applications are invited from UK or EU residents to join a multidisciplinary team of scientists studying brain network mechanisms supporting memory-guided behaviour. The studentship is available from the start of academic year 2020/21 for 3 years and will be supervised by Dr David Dupret at the MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit at the University of Oxford (MRC BNDU). The overall aim of the studentship project is to investigate the temporal coordination and dynamic interaction of neuronal activities distributed across multiple memory circuits. In this project, the student will first conduct neurophysiology experiments combining in vivo brain activity recordings with (closed-loop) optogenetic interventions in behaving mice, focusing on maladaptive memories caused by experience of drugs of abuse. The student will then conduct multivariate data analyses of the recorded spike trains and local field potentials to reveal the neuronal correlates underlying drug-seeking behaviour. For further details about the project, contact Dr Dupret (david.dupret@pharm.ox.ac.uk) or see the Dupret Group page.
Interested candidates should possess, or expect to receive, a 1st class or upper 2nd class degree (or equivalent) in a related scientific discipline, e.g. biology, physics, medicine, computer science, engineering, mathematics. Previous experience in neuroscience research (notably using rodent behaviour) as well as data analysis (notably using Python) is essential.
The MRC BNDU is uniquely multidisciplinary, integrating exceptional research programmes that span clinical, experimental and computational neuroscience and bioengineering. The collective aim of the MRC BNDU is to understand the moment-to-moment interactions between nerve cells that are critical for brain functions, and to exploit these to develop novel therapies for disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.
This Ph.D. (D.Phil.) studentship is funded by the Medical Research Council. To normally be eligible for a full award (stipend in addition to fees), a student must have no restrictions on how long they can stay in the UK and have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least 3 years prior to the start of the studentship. For further details about the MRC studentship funding and eligibility requirements for full and fees-only awards, please see: https://mrc.ukri.org/skills-careers/studentships/studentship-guidance/.
To be considered for this studentship, please submit an application for admission to the D.Phil. in the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (course code RD_CU1), following the guidance at https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/courses/dphil-clinical-neurosciences?wssl=1. On the application form, in the section headed ‘Departmental Studentship Applications’, please indicate that you are applying for a studentship and enter the reference code for a BNDU studentship "20CLINNEURO02WEB".
The closing date for applications is 12.00 midday UK time on Wednesday 22nd April 2020.
