PhD student Auditory Systems Physiology (f/m/d)

The University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG) unites the Medical Faculty of the Georg-August University and the University Hospital in an integration model. With around 9,700 employees, the UMG and its subsidiaries are one of the largest employers in the region. Our clinics and institutes stand for high-quality patient care, excellent research, modern teaching and transfer of innovative technology.

Göttingen as a city of science is located in the center of Germany and the University Medical Center Göttingen is integrated into an attractive network of university and non-university scientific institutions.

Our goal as University Medical Center Göttingen is professional equality for all genders. We strive to equalize the gender ratio in areas where there is underrepresentation. The University Medical Center Göttingen is particularly committed to the professional participation of severely disabled people and therefore welcomes applications from severely disabled people. In the case of equal suitability, applications from severely disabled persons will be given preferential consideration in accordance with the relevant regulations. We kindly ask you to indicate a disability/equal status in your letter of application in order to safeguard your interests.

The Institut für Auditorische Neurowissenschaften of the University Medical Center

Göttingen is looking for a new position for the earliest start date

PhDstudentposition(f/m/d)in Auditory

SystemsPhysiology

part time, with 25,025 hours per week, limited until 31.12.2028

Remunerationaccording toTV-L

The position is embedded in the newly founded Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1690

“Disease Mechanisms and Functional Restoration of Sensory and Motor Systems”. In our project, we study the disease mechanisms of human hearing loss. Based on our cooperative clinical work in otolaryngology and human genetics, we have identified three novel deafness gene candidates, and we continue to seek for more. We will characterize the expression and function of these genes in the murine cochlea.

We try to understand how different forms of hearing impairment affect sound encoding. Our special interest is on auditory synaptopathy/neuropathy, where the sensory inner hair cells and their ribbon synapses do not function normally. We use genetically modified mice to better understand the role of deafness genes in hearing function. With a direct connection between the lab work in mice and state of the art clinical testing in audiology, our aim is to better understand normal and impaired hearing function and to improve diagnostic techniques and hearing rehabilitation strategies. We are also interested in the interaction between genetic alterations causing hearing impairment and the susceptibility to noise trauma.

Göttingen is world renowned for its research in neuroscience. It is a stimulating and highly collaborative scientific environment hosting numerous prestigious and internationally renowned neuroscience research institutions. This includes the University and its Medical Center, lifescience Max Planck Institutes, the European Neuroscience Institute and the German Primate Center. The InnerEarLab (https://www.innerearlab.uni-goettingen.de), which includes several research groups of the Institute for Auditory Neuroscience (https://www.auditory- neuroscience.uni-goettingen.de/) and Dept. of Otolaryngology and outside University, is tightly integrated in the Campus, where it runs numerous stimulating collaborations such as within CRC 1690 and the Multiscale Bioimaging Cluster of Excellence (https://mbexc.de/). Most PhD students are enrolled in the competitive „Sensory and Motor Neuroscience“ program of the Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences, Biophysics, and Molecular Biosciences (GGNB, http://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/sh/56640.html), which offers attractive interdisciplinary training platform and networking for PhD students.

Yourtasks

Analyze the expression of putative novel deafness genes and interacting proteins by immunohistochemistry (confocal and STED microscopy), RNAscope, qPCR, and Western Blots Assess hearing function in genetically modified mice using in vivo recordings from the rodent auditory system (auditory brainstem responses, otoacoustic emissions, potentially also electrocochleography, endocochlear potential measurements, single unit recordings from the auditory nerve, behavioral assessments of hearing function)

• Perform other in vitro electrophysiology or cell culture work
• Present your progress in regular thesis advisory committee meetings, lab meetings, scientific meetings, and research conferences
• Contribute to joint scientific publications
• Participate in a doctoral qualification program well suited to the research focus of the CRC Yourqualifications Master’s degree or equivalent in neuroscience, audiology, physiology, animal biology or molecular medicine, ideally with a focus on sensory physiology. Previous experience in relevant research methodology and technology and basic knowledge regarding sensory neuroscience is appreciated, especially regarding electrophysiological experiments, microsurgery, immunohistochemical staining procedures and / or confocal or STED imaging. Knowledge of image analysis as well as technical and programming skills (ideally in Matlab) are appreciated. A completed course on animal experimentation (FELASA B) will be useful.
• The ability to work in an interdisciplinary, English-speaking team of researchers is required.

We offer

Attractive employee compensation and benefit package according to the standards of the German public sector (position available till end of 2028, with possible extension)

• A research- and qualification program in line with the CRC´s scientific mission
• Clinically relevant research with strong links to patient care Working with a highly engaged and interdisciplinary team of scientists at the Institute for Auditory Neuroscience, one of the world leading institutions in inner ear research
• Highly collaborative research environment with excellent scientific networking possibilities
• State-of-the-art research infrastructure Structured and multi-layered supervision by a thesis advisory committee A comprehensive career development support program  

  Welookforwardtoreceivingyour application!

  Apply now

  Universitätsmedizin Göttingen Institut für Auditorische Neurowissenschaften

  Professor Doctor Nicola Strenzke

  Robert-Koch-Straße 40

  37075 Göttingen

  http://www.auditory-neuroscience.uni- goettingen.de/