PhD Student (f/m/x) Translational Neuroscience 1541/2026/5

Offer Description

Organisation/Company: Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen
Research Field: Neurosciences
Position: PhD Researcher (R1)
Application Deadline: 1 Jun 2026 - 12:47 UTC
Country: Germany

Area of Research

PHD Thesis

The Department of Translational Neuroscience at DZNE in Munich is offering 1 PhD position. Starting date is January 1st 2027.

• Active participation in experimental work, experimental design, data generation, data analyses, and interpretation of results
• Prepare and write manuscripts for publication in international scientific journals
• Oral presentation of results on local, national, and international conferences
• Experimental work includes immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, molecular biology and especially in vivo research methods (imaging, behaviour, etc.)

Successful candidates may have the opportunity to obtain their doctoral degree by applying to the Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences.

Qualifications

• A keen interest in neuroscience and neurodegenerative diseases
• Experience in the work with live animals (mice), surgical procedures
• Experience with in vivo two-photon imaging microscopes is a must
• Experience with in vivo miniscope imaging, fiber photometry, or opto- and chemogenetics is a plus
• A master’s degree in biology or neuroscience (or a master’s degree in a related field)
• Fluency in English

Your Role in Cutting Edge Research

We are seeking for a 1 PhD to elucidate early pathogenetic mechanisms in neurodegenerative disease, with the aim to better identify patients at risk and improve therapeutic and preventive strategies. To this end we perform preclinical neuroscience research in mice using transgenic disease models in combination with custom-built models of cell-type specific pathology upon which we seek to translate our findings into human patients1–5. We offer projects ranging from the interaction of cortical cell-types and glia to subcortical modulatory systems, such as the Locus Coeruleus, over to hypothalamic control of CNS and peripheral metabolism and behaviour. The group is embedded in DZNE at the Center for Stroke and Dementia on the LMU research campus in Großhadern in close proximity to LMU clinics. We offer cutting-edge systems neuroscience techniques including ultra-fast in vivo two photon imaging in awake mice over the time course of several month, miniature-endomicroscopy in freely behaving animals, fiber photometry, opto- and chemogenetics, patch-clamp electrophysiology, near super resolution microscopy and 3D reconstruction of high- resolution optical images. We maintain a friendly and respectful environment of PhD-students and Postdocs envision themselves as a bigger team.

Publications

• Meyer, C., et al. (2025). Early Locus Coeruleus noradrenergic axon loss drives olfactory dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease. Nature Communications, 16, 7338.
• Marinković, P., et al. (2019). In vivo imaging reveals reduced activity of neuronal circuits in a mouse tauopathy model. Brain, 142, 1051–1062.
• Shi, Y., et al. (2022). Long-term diazepam treatment enhances microglial spine engulfment and impairs cognitive performance via the mitochondrial 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO). Nature Neuroscience, 1–13. doi.org/ /s -9

If you have questions please contact Dr. Lars Paeger.