You will

1. Characterize the impact of early-life stress on the molecular and (possibly) epigenetic profiling of key genes/proteins of the endocannabinoid system in neuronal and microglial populations in key brain regions.
2. Apply state of the art activity-based probes for endocannabinoid signalling to visualize and study how ES impacts on the dynamics of endocannabinoid signalling in specific cell types and brain regions and how these relate to behavior.
3. Test if targeting the enzymes that produce and inactivate endocannabinoids in a cell-type specific manner, using advanced chemical tools, is able to counteract the ELS-induced impact on behavior.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• complete and defend a PhD thesis within the official appointment duration of four years;
• gain knowledge of the field through literature survey, discussion with team members, and internal lab meetings;
• ​contribute to the design of experiments and perform experiments in the lab;
• perform preclinical mouse experiments in vivo and ​analyse and interpret results of the experiments;
• take a leading role in writing of manuscripts;
• be an active member of the research teams at both the Swammerdam Institute and Leiden University and present your results at (inter)national scientific meetings;
• participate in the Faculty of Science PhD training program;
• assist in teaching Bachelor and Master’s students;
• co-supervise and interact with junior scientists (technicians, MSc/BSc students).

You are excited about science and have a particular interest in, and preferably proven knowledge of depression, stress or endocannabinoid system. You like a challenge and are not afraid of combining neurobiology and chemistry. You have good statistical skills and experience with analyzing big data (e.g. RNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics). You like to work in a diverse setting and communicate closely with a diverse and multidisciplinary team (i.e. neuroscientists, chemistry). You are a team player and a pleasant colleague who enjoys being part of an interdisciplinary group of scientists. Finally, you have good time management skills enabling you to meet the projects’ deadlines for finishing analyses, reports and other deliverables.

Your experience and profile  

You have/are;

• a MSc degree in Biology, Neuroscience/(neuro-)immunology, or related fields; 
• preferably experience with big data and omics analyses and coding (e.g. python, R);
• affinity and experience with performing animal experiments;
• experience with classical biological methods (e.g. dissections, immunohistochemistry, western blot, PCR, in vitro assays, cell type sorting);
• It is a plus if you have experience with endocannabinoid research
• good project and time management skills enabling you to meet project deadlines  
• good analytical, writing and presenting skills; 
• fluent in English, both written and spoken and the willingness to learn Dutch (in case not Dutch native speaker).

A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years). The preferred starting date is 1 November 2025. This should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students.

Based on a full-time appointment (38 hours per week) the gross monthly salary will range from €3.059 in the first year to €3.881 (scale P) in the last year. This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. The UFO profile PhD candidate applicable. The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.

Besides the salary and a vibrant and challenging environment at Science Park we offer you multiple fringe benefits:

• 232 holiday hours per year (based on fulltime);
• multiple courses to follow from our Teaching and Learning Centre;
• a complete educational program for PhD students;
• a pension at ABP for which UvA pays two third part of the contribution;
• the possibility to follow courses to learn Dutch;
• help with housing for a studio or small apartment when you’re moving from abroad.

Are you curious to read more about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits, take a look here.