University Assistant postdoctoral in Microbiome-Brain Interactions

Your personal sphere of play:As a postdoctoral researcher, you will work on the project “MemoryLane – A road to remember: Neural plasticity through the lens of gut-brain interactions”, which is a Starting Grant funded by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation program (Grant Agreement No. ). The project is led by Assist.-Prof. Dr. Isabella Anderson-Wagner.The Wagner Lab is an interdisciplinary research group based at the Faculty of Psychology and at the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science (CeMESS, Division of Microbial Ecology). We study microbiome-brain interactions in relation to neural plasticity, learning, and memory by integrating neuroimaging, gut microbial profiling, and cognitive-behavioural assessments. Our work focuses on individuals with and without conditions associated with reduced neural plasticity (e.g., through stress, genetic risk for dementia, perturbed neurodevelopment or ageing), and we also conduct animal experiments (not the focus of this position).Gut microbes have been shown to influence hippocampal circuits, learning and memory in mice, but whether this translates to humans is unclear. The goal of this ERC project is to investigate the effects of gut microbes on hippocampal plasticity in the human brain. This includes topics such as microbial neurotransmitter production; microbial effects on hippocampal network connectivity, morphology and function; associations between gut microbial features and hippocampus-dependent behaviour; alterations in this crosstalk in individuals genetically at risk for Alzheimer’s disease; probiotic interventions. This is a 2-year position with the possibility for extension.Your future tasks:As a potential postdoctoral candidate, you should support our research focus on microbiome-brain interactions and their role in neural plasticity in the human brain. The position centres on gut microbial networks and metabolite production, and their association with hippocampus-related neurocognition. This will involve the analysis of existing human gut microbial data (mostly based on 16S, but metagenomic approaches are desired too), other biosamples, fMRI data of the human brain (using network-based approaches), and behavioural outputs from cognitive-behavioural testing (connected to hippocampus-dependent cognitive domains such as learning, memory, and spatial navigation). An essential point will be integrating multifaceted data to enable meaningful interpretation. Another experimental arm should include novel data collection on probiotic intervention in individuals with reduced neural plasticity due to a genetic predisposition for Alzheimer’s disease. The position offers opportunities for creativity and innovation within a diverse, interdisciplinary team. As a lab, we are part of a vibrant research community at the Faculty of Psychology and the CeMESS (Division of Microbial Ecology), working closely with relevant core facilities, including the Joint Microbiome Facility of the University of Vienna and the Medical University of Vienna.
This is part of your profile:PhD degree in microbiology/biological sciencesBackground in microbial ecology and/or microbiome-brain interactions, involving experimental workComprehensive understanding of gut microbial- and/or neurophysiology, with a strong preference for experience with bothExcellent bioinformatics skills, including working knowledge of R and other programming languages, and excellent knowledge of statistical data analysisExcellent verbal and written communication skillsAbility to work independently and in a collaborative, diverse research environmentIn an ideal world, the candidate would have a background in microbiome-brain interactions and experience with human-based research (experimental design, cognitive testing, fMRI) – but we are fully aware that such a professional profile is rare at best. We therefore seek a candidate with a strong background in microbiology and bioinformatics**. Knowledge of microbial network analyses, metagenomics, metabolomics, and multifaceted data integration is highly desired. Experience with pre-/probiotic/dietary intervention studies and excellent knowledge of experimental design are clear advantages. The candidate should be highly interested in cognitive neuroscience and have a comprehensive understanding of neurophysiology. Experience with fMRI data analysis and cognitive-behavioural testing is an immense plus, but is not required, as expertise in these techniques is available within the group and can be provided in collaborative projects. More generally, strong project management skills, independence, and excellent English are required; German skills are advantageous for work with human participants, but the team can support this. Supervision of 1-2 PhD candidates is expected (no teaching obligations). Over the years, candidates are expected to strengthen their research profile and are encouraged to secure grants under the mentorship of PI Isabella Anderson-Wagner. Both junior and senior postdocs are invited to apply. **Because of the interdisciplinary nature of this position, we are open to considering applicants from adjacent fields as well, such as (cognitive) neuroscientists with experience in microbiome-brain research.
What we offer:The postdoctoral candidate will work on cutting-edge research questions at the intersection of two fields. They will join a culturally diverse team of cognitive neuroscientists, neuroimaging experts, neuro- and microbiologists. The vibrant mix of human and animal researchers creates a stimulating environment in which we value collaboration and personal growth in a respectful atmosphere. All necessary infrastructure is shared with colleagues at Psychology & CeMESS, including a research-dedicated 3T fMRI, behavioural labs for cognitive testing, computational resources for advanced neuro-/bioinformatics, and an in-house core facility for microbiome analysis (Joint Microbiome Facility). Analysis of other biosamples (metabolomics, exposomics) is possible via collaborations within the University. Your official affiliation will be with the Faculty of Psychology, but you will also be part of CeMESS (Division of Microbial Ecology). With this dual setup, candidates benefit from a broad interdisciplinary network within and beyond the University of Vienna. 
It is that easy to apply:Your application should include a motivation letter (1-2 pages), your CV, along with a publication list, your University certificate(s), and contact information for two references. The motivation letter should state the qualifications for the position, relevant experiences, and research interests.Explore and teach at the University of Vienna, where over 7,500 brilliant minds have found a unique balance of freedom and support. Join us if you’re passionate about groundbreaking international research and academic excellence. Ready to be part of our team? Let’s shape the future together!If you have any questions, please contact:Isabella  We look forward to new personalities in our team! The University of Vienna has an anti-discriminatory employment policy and attaches great importance to equal opportunities, the advancement of women and diversity. We place particular emphasis on enhancing women’s representation among the academic and general university staff, particularly in leadership roles, and therefore expressly encourage qualified women to apply. Given equal qualifications, preference will be given to female of Vienna. Space for personalities. Since 1365.Data protection​Application deadline:   Apply now