Job description

Applications are invited for a 2-year Researcher in Systems Neuroscience to study neural activity in vivo. The selected candidate will be part of “BrainChip”, an interdisciplinary project between the University of Oslo and engineers at Sintef, aiming to develop wireless devices for long-term recording and manipulation of multiunit activity.

More about the position

BrainChip is a consortium established in 2022 by through funding from the Research Council of Norway. Its primary objective is to engineer a wireless system for recording and optogenetic manipulation of brain activity. The consortium is comprised of an interdisciplinary team consisting of engineers from Sintef, and neuroscientists at the University of Oslo. Our goal is to take advantage of the latest innovations in micro-opto-electronics, compression algorithms, chip and wireless technologies to integrate wireless transmission and power charging in fully implantable brain probes that can decode and manipulate electrophysiological multiunit activity in real time in rodents.

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We seek a highly motivated researcher with experience in in vivo electrophysiology that will test newly engineered devices from Sintef while joining ongoing projects in the laboratories of Prof. Torkel Hafting (Institute for Basic medical sciences) and Dr Charlotte Boccara (Norwegian Centre for Molecular Medicine, (ERC 2023 – Nature Comm 2022, Science 2019). Relevant projects include neural coding of spatial and social memories, sleep and oscillations.

Qualification requirements

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in neurosciences or a related discipline. If a doctoral degree is not yet awarded, the doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing application date.
• Strong neuroscience background with accomplishments demonstrated by publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Strong experience with in vivo electrophysiology in rodents including device buildings, surgical procedures, freely-behaving recording procedures, signal processing and data analyses.
• FELASA certificate (or equivalent personal license to conduct animal experiments)
• Experience in the following will also count in the assessment of the applicants: optogenetics computational and statistical methods for analyses and signal processing; rodent behaviour, histology methods, neurodevelopment as well as rodent genetic editing, viral and neurodevelopment tools, engineering, electronics.

Personal skills

• Strong motivation.
• Ability to integrate and collaborate within a cross-disciplinary environment.
• Organization skills.
• Ability to work independently and take initiatives.
• Clarity in communication.

We offer

• Salary 575 400 – 657 300 NOK per annum depending on qualification (position code 1109)
• Generous pension arrangements
• Attractive welfare benefits
• A friendly and supportive environment ideal for learning new methods
• Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include

• cover letter describing research experience, interests and statement of motivation
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work including list of publications)
• copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
• list of 2-3 professional references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the documented, academic qualifications, the project description (whenever this is required in the call for applicants), and the quality of the project as well as the candidates motivation and personal suitability. Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment.

Formal regulations

According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

Contact information

• Dr. Boccara charlotte.boccara@ncmm.uio.no
• Prof Hafting torkel.hafting@medisin.uio.no

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