Vervaeke Lab

Inquiries about joining the lab are always welcome, not only specific to the positions described below but also by enthusiastic students who have great ideas and are driven by a strong curiosity!

The lab is highly multidisciplinary, and home to students and postdocs from diverse fields, ranging from molecular biology and neuroscience to computer and engineering sciences, as well as those with strong mathematical backgrounds.

For all inquiries, please email Koen Vervaeke: koenv (at) medisin.uio.no.

For PhD students interested in applying for a Marie Sklodowska Curie, EMBO, or HFSP fellowship, please contact us well before the deadline. Several current and former students obtained these prestigious fellowships and can help you with the application.

For medical students at the University of Oslo (Forskerlinjen). We strongly encourage you to take a year of research experience. Take contact for available projects. See: http://www.med.uio.no/forskning/forskerlinjen/

PhD fellowship in Systems Neuroscience.

Job description:

A 4-year PhD position is available in the lab of Prof. Koen Vervaeke at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo.

Link to the official application.

More about the position:

We are looking for highly motivated candidates with a strong interest in systems neuroscience and microscopy.

The lab focuses on determining the mechanisms of neural circuits and the contribution of specific cell types to behavior. In this particular project, you will investigate how the hippocampus forms spatial memories and how this is influenced by addictive substances.

You will use state-of-the-art in vivo two-photon imaging and electrophysiology to record neuronal activity in rodents performing behavioral tasks, and use optogenetics to manipulate neuronal activity.

Do you enjoy working in an international environment, tackling the mysteries of the brain with the support of an international team of experts? Then this job may be for you.

Qualification requirements. We are looking for applicants with a Master’s degree (120 ECTs) in neuroscience, biology, medicine, computer science, physics or engineering, or closely related fields. Minimum grade B (ECTS grading scale). The Master’s degree must include a thesis of at least 30 ECTS.

• Ideally, the applicants have basic experience with some of the following disciplines: Electrophysiology, microscopy, optogenetics or computational neuroscience.
• You must be comfortable working with rodents because you will perform delicate surgical procedures (Previous experience with animal surgery is an advantage).
• You have a broad interest in scientific disciplines and a tinkerer’s mindset. You are comfortable with basic electricity/electronics, chemistry, and optics, as you will be working with advanced custom instrumentation.
• Experience with programming (for example Python/Matlab) and image analysis is highly recommended. Please share your GitHub code repository if you have one.

• Scientific Curiosity: For you, research is a calling, not just a job. You possess a lifelong, burning curiosity for science.
• An excellent command of written and spoken English is required.

• In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the relevance of the candidate’s background.

PhD fellowship at the Interface of Systems Neuroscience and Mechanistic Cancer Research.

Job description:

A 4-year PhD position is available at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo. This is a unique collaboration between the labs of Professor Koen Vervaeke (systems neuroscience) and Associate Professor Coen Campsteijn  (mechanistic cancer biology).

You will join GLIOFORCE, a recently established and interdisciplinary consortium merging biology, physics and engineering to describe, model and target cellular biomechanics during invasion of aggressive brain cancer, Glioblastoma. By targeting cancer cell mechano-adaptation, GLIOFORCE aims to open up innovative avenues for treating aggressive cancers like Glioblastoma.

Link to the official application will be posted soon!

More about the position:

We are looking for highly motivated candidates with a strong interest in neuroscience, cancer research and advanced microscopy. You will:

• Track cancer invasion in real-time using state-of-the-art in vivo two-photon microscopy in mice, and live-cell confocal microscopy using ex vivo 3D models.
• Genetically manipulate cancer cells using CRISPR/Cas9 to identify and target molecular mechanisms enabling invasion.
• Study how neuronal activity and brain anatomy influence cancer spread.
• Collaborate closely with three other PhD students in a supportive, cross-disciplinary team.

Qualification requirements. We are looking for applicants with a Master’s degree (120 ECTs) in neuroscience, molecular or cell biology, or closely related fields. Minimum grade B (ECTS grading scale). The Master’s degree must include a thesis of at least 30 ECTS. A background in topics directly relevant to the position will be viewed favourably.

• Technical skills: You must be comfortable working with rodents and performing delicate surgical procedures. (Previous experience with animal surgery is a major advantage). Experience with advanced live-cell light microscopy will also be considered a major advantage.
• Data Analysis: Experience with programming (for example Python/Matlab) and image analysis is highly emphasized. Such experience should be documented.

• Scientific Curiosity: You are eager to bridge the gap between neuroscience and cancer biology. For you, research is a calling, not just a job. You possess a lifelong, burning curiosity and a genuine need to understand how biological processes work.
• An excellent command of written and spoken English is required.