The Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology (LIN) in Magdeburg, Germany, is a leading center for research on learning and memory, spanning molecular, cellular, and behavioral neuroscience. The Behavioral Neuroscience group is recruiting a highly motivated PhD student to join a collaborative project investigating the neural mechanisms underlying the negative consequences of sleep deprivation. The project leverages transparent zebrafish larvae as a vertebrate model to study how sleep loss disrupts neural circuits and physiology, with zebrafish offering conserved sleep and stress regulation pathways similar to humans. The transparency of the model allows for simultaneous behavioral and brain activity monitoring at single-cell resolution in vivo. The successful candidate will use in vivo two-photon imaging in behaving fish to explore how sleep deprivation impacts decision-making circuits. The position is based in the Zwaka lab at LIN, within a multidisciplinary and international team, and offers extensive opportunities for personal and professional development. Magdeburg provides a vibrant environment for cognitive and systems neuroscience, including a strong in vivo imaging community. The project also features a partnership with a Harvard lab, enabling the possibility of an exchange internship. The PhD student will be supported in developing a doctoral thesis through the CBBS graduate program. The position is funded for three years, with a possible one-year extension, and includes a salary at TV-L E13 (65% part time, 26 hours/week) and welfare benefits according to the Collective Agreement for Public Service in the Federal States. Applicants should have an MSc in Neuroscience, Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Physics, Life Science, or a related field, with skills in statistics and Python programming. Interest in sleep research using zebrafish and neuroimaging is essential; prior lab and neuroimaging experience is advantageous. Candidates must be willing to work with animal models. International degree holders must provide a certificate evaluation from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). The institute is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes diverse applicants. Applications are accepted until the position is filled. For more information, visit the provided links or contact Dr. Hanna Zwaka.