Are you fascinated by understanding fundamental neurobiological processes in the context of stress and cognition? Are you intrigued to learn more about how stress can either disturb or amplify memories? Do you enjoy working in a lab and applying state-of-the-art techniques on in vivo animal models? Then this position might be perfect for you! We are looking for a highly qualified and motivated PhD candidate to conduct research activities aimed at unravelling the impact of stress on memory and memory generalization. This project has been funded by NWO.

Join us!
Stress has a major impact on memory. For example, stressful and fearful events are generally remembered well. Memory formation and recall of such events is important since it prepares individuals to cope with similar situations later in life. However, strong memories of fearful events can become problematic when they lose their specificity, and when they are recalled in situations that are not threatening. This is called fear memory generalization, which is characteristic of stress-related disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and generalized anxiety disorders. The mechanisms that underlie stress-induced memory generalization are not well-understood. In this project, you will investigate how stress and stress-hormones alter memory processing and enhance memory generalization by studying the properties of specific cells in the brain (engram cells) that store memories, and test whether and how these effects and memory generalization can be mitigated by studying specific time-windows (memory retrieval) when memories are malleable.

This collaborative project with dr. Michel van den Oever (CNCR, VU Amsterdam) involves two PhD students. This position is embedded within The Brain Plasticity Group in the team of dr. Harm Krugers at the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam (UvA). The other project is embedded with the Memory Circuits team of dr. Michel van den Oever, at the VU Amsterdam. The PhD candidates work in their respective institutes where complementary and excellent expertise is available (e.g. but not exclusively, electrophysiological recordings combined with optogenetics at UVA-SILS-CNS, and behavioral interventions, dual-eGRASP, and proteomics at VU-CNCR).

What are you going to do?
You will use behavioral paradigms to assess learning and memory combined with viral technologies to identify and measure the properties of engram cells and their role in memory strength and memory generalization using various tools. These can include electrophysiology, proteomics, Crispr-Cas, dual-eGRASP, dendrite and spine reconstructions, optogenetics, and memory engram-specific interventions.

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;
• analyse and interpret results of the experiments;
• take a leading role in writing manuscripts;
• be an active member of the research teams at both the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (UvA) and VU Amsterdam (VU, CNCR) and present results at (inter)national scientific meetings;
• participate in the Faculty of Science PhD training programme;
• assist in teaching and supervise Bachelor and Master’s students.

What do you have to offer?
You are excited about science and have a particular interest in and preferably have knowledge about learning and memory processes. You like a challenge and you are not afraid of combining work on preclinical rodent models with various techniques such as electrophysiology, behavior, molecular biology, structural analysis. You have good statistical skills and experience with molecular tools and data-analysis. You are a team player and a nice colleague who enjoys being part of an interdisciplinary team 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 Neuroscience or related fields;
• affinity and experience with performing animal experiments;
• affinity and experience with behavioural and neurobiological techniques;
• good project and time management skills enabling you to meet the projects’ deadlines for finishing analyses, reports and other deliverables;
• 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);
• it is a plus if you have experience with learning and memory research.

This is what we offer you
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 €2,901in the first year to €3,707 (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.

This is where you will work
The Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences is located at the vibrant Amsterdam Science Park. SILS is one of eight institutes of the University of Amsterdam's Faculty of Science (FNWI). With around 240 employees, the Swammerdam Institute carries out internationally high-quality life science research and provides education within various university programs. Research is also carried out in close cooperation with the medical, biotech, chemical, flavor, food & agricultural, and high-tech industries, and revolves around 4 main themes, Cell & Systems biology, Neurosciences, Microbiology and Green Life Sciences.

Do you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact:

• Dr. Harm J Krugers, h.krugers@uva.nl
• Dr. Michel van den Oever, michel.vanden.oever@vu.nl

Job application
If you feel the profile fits you, and you are interested in the job, we look forward to receiving your application. We accept applications until and including 22 August 2025.

Applications should include the following information (all files besides your cv should be submitted in one single pdf file):

• a detailed CV including the months (not just years) when referring to your education and work experience;
• a letter of motivation;
• the names and email addresses of two references who can provide letters of recommendation.

A knowledge security check can be part of the selection procedure (for details: national knowledge security guidelines).

Only complete applications received within the response period via the apply link will be considered.

The interviews will be held in September 2025.