Postdoc in Neuroscience at UCPH – Develop innovative Open Science Tools

Department of Neuroscience
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
University of Copenhagen

Are you passionate about advancing neuroscience through innovative open science tools? Join our team at the University of Copenhagen as a Postdoctoral Fellow, where you'll contribute to the development of BrainSTEM.org, a pioneering platform for neurophysiological research.

Position overview
We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow for a project focused on developing BrainSTEM, a web application that functions as a structured electronic lab notebook for describing neurophysiological experiments, as well as a collaboration and data-sharing platform for the community. The research will take place at the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Copenhagen in the lab of Dr. Peter C. Petersen (PetersenLab.org). You will be part of a diverse, interdisciplinary team of neuroscientists, and work with software developers and data scientists to push the boundaries of neuroscience research.

Position responsibilities
The Postdoc position aims to support open science through the development of BrainSTEM. Responsibilities include:

• Designing a relational standard language database model for describing experimental neuroscience.
• Developing semantic search functionality.
• Coding and implementation in Python/Django.
• Collaborating on integration with other Open Science tools.
• Stimulating and supporting community uptake.

This project is primarily funded by the NIH, through the BRAIN Initiative U19 Oxytocin grant. The role includes occasional travel to scientific meetings and pilot user labs.

Our research
Founded in 2022, our lab studies memory and cognition in rodent models and supports open science. We focus on spatial memory and theta oscillations in behaving rats, using state-of-the-art methods for measuring and manipulating neuronal activity at large scale and high specificity, along with advanced data analysis. Our tools include Neuropixels and other high-density silicon probes, optogenetics, thermal and other perturbation techniques, and population-analysis methods. The candidate will collaborate closely with experimentalists to ensure BrainSTEM’s development aligns with user needs.

We have developed several popular open science tools and solutions for the neuroscience community (both software and hardware) and are now developing BrainSTEM (BrainSTEM.org). The ultimate goal of BrainSTEM is to make neuroscience more open and FAIR, promote collaborations, break down barriers between labs, and establish BrainSTEM as the preferred platform for sharing experimental work within and across labs.

Candidate profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience:

Essential experience and skills

• PhD in Neuroscience, Software Engineering, Data Science, or related sciences.
• Proficiency in programming, data analysis, and visualization using Python.
• Highly self-motivated with the ability to work independently.
• Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams.
• Excellent English skills, both written and spoken.
• Experience with or an active interest in learning more about Neurophysiology.
• Willingness to travel and flexibility with scheduling of working hours

Desirable experience and skills

• Experience with the Django web framework or relational databases.
• Experience with open science tools.
• Experience in machine learning, large language models, and semantic search.
• Aptitude for learning new programming languages or methods.
• Knowledge of in-vivo electrophysiological experiments or imaging methods.
• Knowledge of task development and behavioral data collection.

Place of employment
You will be employed at the Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen in the centre of Copenhagen. The successful applicant will join a thriving international neuroscience environment.  We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment.

The applicant will be the major participant in all aspects of the project, from designing, developing, and implementing technical solutions, to performing community outreach, working with pilot groups across the neuroscience community, and presenting results at conferences. Please contact petersen.peter@sund.ku.dk  for questions and comments or go to PetersenLab.org for more information.

Living in Copenhagen
Copenhagen is a fantastic city and a wonderful living experience, and it has consistently been ranked among the world’s best cities to live in. Our lab is located centrally in the neighborhood Nørrebro, which recently was ranked as the world’s coolest neighborhood by Time Out Magazine. The University of Copenhagen has an International staff mobility program to help accommodate international researchers with practical matters, before arrival such as with residence permit, housing, and childcare/school as well as during the stay with salary, tax, pension, insurance, banking as well as getting accustomed with language and culture. Life for families is made easier via a publicly supported daycare and healthcare system, dual-career opportunities, maternity/parental leave, and six weeks of annual vacation.

Terms of employment
The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

The position is limited to a period of 2 years. The desired starting date is December 1, 2024.

Salary, pension, and other conditions of employment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant organisation. Currently, the monthly salary starts at 38,575 DKK/approx. 5,167 EUR (April 2024 level).

Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund.

International and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions if they hold a PhD degree and have not been tax liable to Denmark for the last 10 years.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020.

Application procedure
Your online application must be submitted in English by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. Furthermore, your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page).
2. CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills, and other skills relevant to the position.
3. A certified/signed copy of a) PhD certificate and b) Master of Science certificate. If the PhD is not completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do.
4. List of publications.

Deadline for applications: September 15, 2024, 23.59pm CET.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor. Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.

You may read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

Interviews are expected to be held in week 40 (week of September 30).

The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.