Potential PhD Projects
An overview with a few of the advertised potential projects that PhD candidates could start in the upcoming winter semester. Please note that this list is not comprehensive and that many projects are arranged individually during the Interview Phase with our 160+ GSN Faculty Members.
PhD-scholarships in Neurophilosophy
The Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN) at LMU Munich invites applications for several PhD scholarships in Neurophilosophy. The GSN is the teaching entity for the Munich Center of Neurosciences - Brain & Mind (MCN). Through creating an interdisciplinary network of research the GSN provides a stimulating environment for students and faculty to produce novel formulations of current concepts and theories. Successful applicants will be affiliated with the Research Center for Neurophilosophy and Ethics of Neurosciences (http://www.neuro.philosophie.lmu.de) at the GSN.
Projects in the research center fall in the following areas:
• philosophy of cognitive neuroscience (explanation, reduction)
• philosophy and cognitive science of agency (mental causation, free will, moral psychology, abilities)
• philosophy and cognitive science of reasoning (e.g. deductive and non-deductive reasoning, logic and neural networks, decision-making)
• ethics of neuroscience (research ethics, enhancement)
• philosophy of perception
• philosophy and social cognition
In the new application round, we encourage applications in smaller focus areas in order to build research groups.
In the 2023/24 round, the focus areas are:
• reasoning and decision making (esp. deductive and non-deductive reasoning in science and ordinary life, individual and collective decision making)
• human agency (esp. mental causation, complex action, multitasking, attention, reductive and non-reductive explanation of agency)
• metacognition (esp. Metacognition in perception, self-evaluation, and sense of self)
• group cognition (group epistemology, collective decisions, and group responsibility)
However, single exceptional and independent projects in one of the other areas are also encouraged.
Applicants should have advanced training in philosophy (typically a Master’s degree in philosophy) and a genuine interest in the neurosciences. This includes the willingness to acquire substantial knowledge of empirical work relevant to their philosophical project. Cooperative projects with empirical scientists in the network of the MCN are strongly encouraged. The reasoning and decision-making projects are closely linked to research conducted at the MCMP (http://www.lmu.de/mcmp) and at least one supervisor will be a member of the MCMP.
The application period will open on December 1st, 2023 and will close on February 15th, 2024, 12:00 noon CET. Please check our website (www.neuro.philosophie.lmu.de) and the GSN website (https://www.gsn.uni-muenchen.de/apply/how_to_apply/index.html) for details concerning the application procedure. The application includes an outline of your proposed research project, a CV, an official transcript of your academic work (list of attended courses; grades), diplomas, and two separate academic reference letters. Please also name two potential supervisors (possibly including one non-philosopher) from the core or affiliated neurophilosophy faculty of the GSN.
PhD position in Inês M.A. Ribeiro's lab
Background: The brain receives and processes sensory cues from multiple parallel channels. Persistent behavioral states are elicited in certain sensory contexts, that not only extend the effect of such contexts for minutes but also modulate how sensory information is processed. Vision in particular starts as a rather abstract initial percept from which features such as motion, color or discrete objects are extracted. Remarkably, detection of discrete objects underlies seemingly disparate behaviors such as courtship, aggression, or avoidance in Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies).
Project: Fruit flies inhabit fermenting fruits that are crowded with other fruit flies, which forces social interactions. Fly chemosensory cues influence the internal state and determine whether an encounter between two flies results in courtship, aggression, or a simple avoidance. Visual cues, specifically the detection and location of the other fly as a discrete, visual object, are used for tracking and orienting maneuvers. We identified LC10a visual projection neurons as essential for female tracking. LC10a neurons project to the largest retinorecipient area of the fly brain, the anterior optic tubercle, together with several other neuron types from the LC10-group neurons. Our recent work shows that, unexpectedly, LC10d neurons mediate avoidance of discrete objects. Current projects use LC10a and LC10d neurons as entry points to study how neural circuits in the central brain transform visual object information from a stimulus-correlated signal to a signal correlated with motor output in different social behaviors.
Research papers related to current projects:
Ribeiro, et al, 2018 PMID: 30033367
https://www.cell.com/cell/pdf/S0092-8674(18)30788-8.pdf
Ribeiro, et al, 2022 PMID: 35876796
https://academic.oup.com/g3journal/article/12/10/jkac178/6649684
Candidate: We are looking for a highly motivated PhD student with a strong interest in neuroscience and genetics, to study processing of visual cues used in social behavior in Drosophila melanogaster. Interested students should have a background and/or interest in social behavior, visual coding, functional imaging, data analysis, genetics, and neuromodulation.
We offer a position in an outstanding working environment at LMU-Munich and collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence. Munich is simultaneously a tranquil and buzzing city with a large, vibrant neuroscience community. Please email me for more information.
We look forward to receiving your application. Please apply via the GSN-LMU and contact Dr. MA Ribeiro i.ribeiro@lmu.de
PhD Position (m/f/x) Cognitive Psychology “Attention and Visuomotor Learning”
About the Position:
We are looking for a highly motivated PhD researcher to work on the DFG project “Attention as a proxy for motor intention: exploiting the attention-action coupling to study strategic processes in visuomotor learning”. The research project aims to understand cognitive aspects of motor control by investigating the attentional underpinnings of strategic processes in visuomotor learning. This will involve a series of experiments using psychophysical methods and video-based motion-tracking techniques to assess attention shifts occurring prior to the execution of manual reaching movements. The research project will be carried out under supervision of Dr. Luca Wollenberg and Prof. Dr. Thomas Schenk at the chair for Clinical Neuropsychology at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich.
Your Responsibilities:
• conduct experimental research using psychophysical methods and motion-tracking techniques (eye-tracking and video-based tracking of manual movements)
• prepare and participate in project-based publications
• participate in and present research at national and international conferences and workshops
Your Profile:
• master’s degree in psychology, cognitive neuroscience or related fields
• fluent in written and spoken English (German language skills are welcome but not required)
• enthusiasm for basic research
• interest in research on attention and motor control
• basic programming skills (e.g., Matlab, Python, R) or eagerness to learn and apply these skills
Workplace:
The Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich is one of the most renowned and largest universities in Germany. Your workplace is centrally located in Munich (Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Department Psychology) and is very easy to reach by public transport. We offer you an interesting and responsible job with good opportunities for further training and development. For further information, visit: https://www.psy.lmu.de/knp/
Contact:
Clinical Neuropsychology, LMU Munich
Prof. Dr. Thomas Schenk and Dr. Luca Wollenberg wollenberg.luca@psy.lmu.de
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Seeking Passionate PhD Student for Cutting-Edge Neuro-Cancer Research
Are you intrigued by the intersection of the nervous system and cancer progression? Eager to pioneer discoveries leading to innovative therapies for millions? Join our groundbreaking neuro-cancer project as a PhD student at the Ertürk lab located at the Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research and the Helmholtz Center Munich (https://www.erturk-lab.com).
What You Will Do:
• Employ DeepMACT (Pan…Ertürk, Cell, 2019), wildDISCO whole-body immunolabeling (Mai…Ertürk, Nature Biotechnology 2023), and AI algorithms for in-depth visualization and quantification of nerve-cancer interactions.
• Investigate the molecular mechanisms by which cancer metastasis can influence and be influenced by neuronal connectivity and activity by DISCO-MS (Bhatia, …, Ertürk, Cell, 2022).
• Screen potential drugs to inhibit metastasis-promoting pathways and entry routes (Bhatia…Ertürk, Cell, 2022, and Kobalas…Ertürk, Cell, 2023).
• Publish high-impact research papers and present your findings at international conferences.
What We Offer:
• State-of-the-art facilities for advanced whole-body imaging and computational analysis.
• Collaborative opportunities with leading experts in neuroscience, AI, and oncology.
• A robust international research network, connecting with prominent groups worldwide.
• A dynamic, interactive environment fostering critical thinking and innovative research.
Your Profile:
• A strong background in neuroscience, cancer biology, or related fields.
• A driven curiosity to explore the uncharted interplay between the nervous system and cancer.
• A commitment to contribute to groundbreaking discoveries that improve patient outcomes.
• Excellent communication skills and a collaborative spirit.
Join Us! Be part of our team to explore this exciting new frontier in nerve-cancer research.
Contact: Prof. Ali Ertürk ali.erturk@helmholtz-munich.de or Stefanie Reitinger for general information stefanie.reitinger@helmholtz-munich.de
Apply here until Feb 15th (noon): https://www.portal.graduatecenter.uni-muenchen.de/gsn/
Open 3-year (+1) PhD position available - At the intersection of clinical video-oculography and machine learning, available at the LMU Munich
PhD position in deep learning for video-oculography at the LMU Klinikum in Munich
We are delighted to announce a PhD position in the group of Prof. Peter zu Eulenburg and Dr. Virginia Flanagin at the German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders & the Institute for Neuroradiology at the University Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich. The research focuses on the advancement, adaptation, development and validation of existing deep-learning-based analytical tools, developed without our research group, for the three-dimensional analysis of eye movements and pupillometry (DeepVOG-3D) in both scientific and clinical settings. The candidate should combine and compare classical with AI solutions for torsional eye movements with a focus on speed constraints for real-time solutions. Our long-term goal is a flexible, step-wise modular software solution that can inform differential diagnoses and be used for personalized and home-based patient care. The applicant will work in a clinical neurology and neuroscience environment with available high-resolution videooculography data, including data preparation and labeling.
What we offer
• A fully funded 3-year PhD position (E13 TV-L 65% during the probation period, i.e., 4 months, then 100%) in an interdisciplinary and international research environment. Starting data as soon as possible The extension of the contract by one additional year is an option if necessary.
• Supervision and mentoring for scientific and career development
• Academic and industrial collaborations
• Training opportunities within the Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences at the LMU
What we are looking for
• Master´s degree or equivalent in computer science, medical informatics or comparable. Early track record in data science and machine/deep learning (theses, publications, open-source repositories, tutorials, blog posts)
• Experience in python, incl. frameworks for data science (e.g. numpy, pandas), deep learning (Tensorflow, PyTorch), computer vision (e.g. OpenCV, Torchvision) and medical imaging (e.g. MONAI). Prior experience with libraries for (real-time) processing of video data is a plus (e.g. ffmpeg, DeepStream)
• Signs of early writing, science communication and organizational skills
Contact: Prof. Peter zu Eulenburg (Peter.zu.Eulenburg@med.unimuenchen.de). Please mention “DeepVOG-3D” in the subject line of your email.
PhD (f/m/d) in Retina Research
We are seeking an enthusiastic, highly motivated and creative PhD student to join our team at the Department of Pharmacy, LMU, Germany. Our research focuses on studying mechanisms underlying retinal degenerative diseases and development of gene therapy approaches. We study retinal remodeling in healthy and diseased retinas, using a combination of immunohistochemical, electrophysiological and behavioral approaches.
Activities and responsibilities:
The PhD candidate will analyze how metabolic changes contribute to diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and identify new pathways involved in degeneration progression that could be exploited therapeutically. The project involves the use of multi-electrode array (MEA) and the analysis of metabolic and proteomic changes in retinal degeneration. Furthermore, the ultimate goal is to design new vision rescue strategies.
Your qualifications:
- MSc degree in Pharmaceutical sciences, Biology or equivalent
- Interest in the analysis of mouse models
- Highly self-motivated and enthusiastic for science
- Proficient in written and spoken English
- Experience in basic molecular biology and biochemistry lab methods is desirable
We offer:
- Exciting and challenging tasks in an open, friendly and young team
- Excellent scientific infrastructure with state-of-the art research facilities.
- Extensive scientific training
Start date is flexible.
People with disabilities who are equally as qualified as other applicants will receive preferential treatment.
LMU München is an equal-opportunity employer. We explicitly encourage female researchers to apply for the offered position.
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Pharmakologie für Naturwissenschaften
Butenandtstr. 7, 81377 München
E-mail: susanne.koch@cup.uni-muenchen.de
PhD position in “Molecular Mechanisms of Alzheimer’s Disease” in the Lichtenthaler lab
Background and laboratory:
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common and a deadly neurodegenerative disorder and affects more than 60 million patients worldwide. Drugs targeting the causes of the diseases are largely lacking. The laboratory of Stefan Lichtenthaler studies the molecular mechanisms underlying Alzheimer’s disease. The lab uses biochemical and molecular/cell biological techniques, iPS cells, proteomics and animal models. More information is found on our webpage: www.dzne.de/lichtenthaler
We offer excellent projects and training in neurodegeneration and protease research. We are an international and interdisciplinary team, are part of several larger research consortia (e.g. DFG-funded excellence cluster SyNergy in Munich and a European projects on neurodegeneration) and are located in the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Munich-Großhadern.
Your project:
Recently, several Alzheimer risk genes (e.g. TREM2) have been discovered which are expressed in microglia, the brain-resident immune cells. As part of an international research consortium, you will elucidate the mechanism and function of a microglia-related Alzheimer risk gene variant. To achieve this goal, you will characterize a mouse line with a knock-out of the risk gene and how the gene affects Alzheimer’s disease pathology. You will perform immunohistochemistry, collect mouse CSF and you will work with acutely isolated microglia using magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS). Functional and mechanistic studies with microglia may be added as well and would include phagocytosis and cytokine assays as well as biochemical assays (e.g. ELISA, Western blots and potentially proteomics).
Qualifications and experience:
You have a Master in neurobiology, molecular biology or a related field and experience with mouse work. Experience with primary murine cell culture is an advantage. You do not need to have previous knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease or neurodegeneration. You are creative, highly motivated and you are able to work independently. Essential qualities include fluency in English and a strong team spirit.
We are looking forward to your application: Stefan.Lichtenthaler@dzne.de
Selected References:
Müller et al. (2023) Mol Neurodegen 18:13; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36810097/
Sebastian Monasor and Müller et al. (2020) Elife,9:e54083; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32510331/
Tüshaus et al. (2020) EMBO J 39, e105693; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32954517/
Parhizkar et al. (2019) Nature Neurosci., 22,191; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30617257/
PhD Project Michalakis (epigenetics, bioinformatics) - Role of TET3-mediated 5mC oxidation for neuronal differentiation and plasticity
Scientific background. Establishment of neuronal cell identity requires precisely orchestrated adjustments in gene expression that are mediated, at least in part, by the fine-tuned activity of -ketoglutarate (-KG)-dependent TET (Ten eleven translocation) enzymes. These TETs are dioxygenases that mediate the stepwise oxidation of the repressive DNA modification 5-methylcytosine (5mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC), and 5-carboxycytosine (5caC), thereby activating gene expression.
Among the three TET enzymes, TET3 is the most abundant isoenzyme in the adult brain. TET3 expression steadily increases during early neuronal differentiation and throughout development, which goes in hand with a steady increase in 5hmC. The overarching goal of this project is to investigate the role of TET3 and interacting proteins for differentiation of 2D neuronal cultures and human retinal organoids grown from wildtype and TET3-deficient induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) and complement ongoing studies with specific mouse models.
Specific aims and methodology. The functional significance of TET proteins and their enzymatic products in the CNS has not been characterized and will be addressed in the group with specific genetic mouse and cellular models. TET enzymes act in concert with chromatin remodeling proteins and transcription factors. We identified intriguing novel TET interaction partners in mouse retina, mouse brain and/or iPSC-derived neurons. The potential of selected candidate proteins to functionally engage with TET3 will be assessed in this proposal. We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate with genetic and epigenetic background and strong interest in neuroscience and bioinformatics. The candidate will learn and apply genetic, biochemical, cell biological and viral gene transfer methods in vitro and in vivo and bioinformatic methods on different omics datasets (scRNAseq, RNAseq, proteomics, methylation data).
Further information:
The project is funded by the DFG as part of a CRC (SFB1309).
https://www.gsn.uni-muenchen.de/people/faculty/associate/michalakis/index.html
https://www.lmu-klinikum.de/augenklinik/forschung/gentherapie/1305646bdc184d5c
Relevant group publications:
Traube F. R., Özdemir D., Sahin H., Scheel C., Glück A. F., Geserich A. S., Oganesian S., Kostidis S., Iwan K., Rahimoff R., Giorgio G., Müller M., Spada F., Biel M., Cox J., Giera M., Michalakis S.#, Carell T.# (2021) Redirected nuclear glutamate dehydrogenase supplies Tet3 with alpha-ketoglutarate in neurons. Nat Commun 12, 4100
Understanding intrinsic repair mechanisms of the brain
We are looking for motivated candidates for projects to understand neuronal rewiring and reorganization after CNS injury on a cellular network level.
What do we offer?
We are currently building a team at the Institute of Stroke and Dementia Research studying neuronal repair. As a PhD student, you will learn state-of-the-art methods in neuroscience such as multiphoton calcium imaging in vivo, optogenetics, chemogenetics, micro-surgeries, histology and application of deep learning methods.
Aim of the projects?
The projects aims at understanding neuronal rewiring and reorganization as intrinsic repair mechanisms of the brain on a neuronal network level. We would like to understand how neurons form new circuits, reconnect and compensate for lost ones to enable the recovery of impaired sensorimotor and cognitive functions after CNS injury such as stroke. As we would like to understand causal relationships between neuronal rewiring and the behavioral phenotype we also develop deep learning algorithms for further analysis.
What do you bring in?
A very good Master or Diploma degree in physics, biomedicine, biology or bioinformatics or related topics; experience in programming (ideally Matlab or Python), ideally some neuroscience background with experience in animal experiments and calcium imaging; scientific creativity and ability to work in a team.
We also require fluency in spoken and written English and ideally some knowledge in German.
For informal inquiries please contact
Prof. Dr. Dr. Anna-Sophia Wahl
Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, LMU Klinikum
Feodor-Lynen Str. 17
D-81377 Munich
Email: AnnaSophia.Wahl@med.uni-muenchen.de
Open positions in the Baier Lab, MPI-BI
PhD project in computational connectomics
Our lab has generated a unique dataset that allows the dense reconstruction of synaptic circuitry of the larval zebrafish brain (Svara et al., Nature Methods 2022). We are looking for a PhD student with computational background and interests in neural circuit modeling, circuit motif statistics, graph theory, and/or cell type classifications, in the context of zebrafish visual system function and behavior.
PhD project in developmental micro-connectomics
Our complete 3D EM dataset of the larval zebrafish brain (Svara et al., Nature Methods 2022) offers the unprecedented opportunity to reconstruct single-neuron developmental stages, from neurogenesis to differentiation and from synapse formation to circuit integration. We are looking for a PhD student to analyze these data and discover fundamental principles of cellular diversification and neuronal circuit assembly.
PhD project in zebrafish and cichlid phototaxis
When cichlid larvae are born they avoid the light and swim to the dark. Once they are ready to emerge from the nest, their behavior switches to seeking the light (Parker et al., 2024). We are looking for a PhD student interested in exploring the genetic and neural circuit underpinnings of this intrinsic neural-circuit switch. This project will take advantage of the genetic toolbox available in zebrafish and apply it to the novel cichlid system.
Do you have an idea for a different project? Come talk to Herwig (herwig.baier@bi.mpg.de).
PhD Position in Proteomics of Sleep, Maria Robles Group
A PhD position is currently available in the research group of Maria Robles, Systems Chronobiology, at the LMU Munich, Germany. The position is associated to a SNSF funded SINERGIA collaborative project together with Adamantidis laboratory. This multidisciplinary project aims to identify molecular markers of brain activity during sleep using a range of neurophysiological techniques (Adamantidis) and mass spectrometry (MS)- based quantitative proteomics (Robles) (see doi:10.1126/science.aav2642; doi:10.1126/science.aav3617).
The Robles group employs a range of MS-based proteomics approaches to study molecular mechanism at the bases of circadian and sleep driven processes (click here to learn more about the group).
We seek a motivated, enthusiastic, and talented PhD student with the following qualifications:
• Recent master’s degree (neuroscience, biochemistry, bioinformatics or similar).
• Basic understanding of quantitative proteomics approaches; single cell proteomics and DIA methods skills are a plus.
• Expertise operating nanoLC-HPLC and Thermo Orbitrap instruments is not necessary but will be an advantage.
• Ability to perform basic or advance large scale multi-omics data analysis and programming skills (such as R, Python).
• Excellent written and oral communications skills in English; proficiency in German is a plus.
• Able to work in a team, interact with team members as well as collaborators and aptitude to mentor undergraduate students.
We offer:
• PhD salary within the German public service scale (TV-L).
• Cutting edge instrumentations, excellent infrastructure, and core facilities.
• Close mentorship and opportunity to manage an international collaborative project.
• International and European networking with multidisciplinary academic and industry researchers.
PhD Position, Sirota Lab
The project aims to study the functional role and mechanisms of behavioral modulation of the hippocampal spatial representation.
Methodologically, it will use multichannel silicon probe recordings and 3D tracking in freely-moving rodents as well as freely-moving virtual reality system-based paradigm, followed by quantitative analysis of animal behavior, network dynamics and population coding.
Interested candidates are expected to have solid background in technical domains (math, physics, computer science) and be able to program.
PhD position to study stress resilience through autophagy modulation - PD Dr. Mathias Schmidt
We are offering a fully funded PhD position to study how targeting autophagy through nanobodies can affect stress-resilience phenotypes.
Background: Mental health disorders affect over 10% of the global population, causing significant personal, social, and economic burdens. Current treatments often fail due to a lack of understanding about how stress and other factors trigger these conditions, emphasizing the urgent need for deeper research into the underlying mechanisms. Autophagy is an evolutionary highly conserved cellular process by which proteins, cellular aggregates or damaged organelles are degraded and recycled through lysosomal degradation. It is a vital pathway that responds to stress conditions, assures cell survival and maintains cellular homeostasis. There is mounting evidence of a central role of autophagy in mental health disorders, as for example depression, from both animal and human studies. From the complex autophagy machinery, Atg9a is the only transmembranic regulator of autophagy, rendering it targetable through nanobody-based manipulations.
Capitalizing on the recent breakthrough findings on the role of autophagy activation in mediating pro-resilient and homeostatic effects, this project will:
• develop innovative and safe approaches for targeted activation of the autophagy signaling pathway to fight stress-mediated pathologies
• develop building blocks for a comprehensive set of tools to systematically investigate Atg9a-driven autophagy in vitro and in vivo
• critically challenge the suitability of commonly used in vivo and in vitro paradigms for the assessment of stress-mediated effects in mice and to establish data-driven refined signatures reflecting stress resilient phenotypes
• provide a proof of principle that Atg9a nanobodies are versatile and powerful tools to drive neuronal autophagy and promote stress resilience
PhD project: The successful candidate will work with mouse models to study the cell-type specific expression and regulation of Atg9a in mouse brain in stress resilient vs stress susceptible individuals. Following Atg9a manipulation using viral vectors as well as Atg9a-targeting nanobodies, the candidate will perform in-depth behavioral phenotyping using supervised and un-supervised machine-learning based strategies in semi-naturalistic environments. Follow-up studies will focus on structural, functional and molecular alterations in the brain.
PD Dr. Mathias Schmidt
Neurobiology of Stress Resilience
Tel. +49(0)89 30622-8136
mschmidt@psych.mpg.de