PhD and Postdoctoral Positions in Rodent Social Neuroscience at University of Bern University of Bern in Switzerland

The Department of Neurology at the University of Bern, in collaboration with the Inselspital University Hospital Bern Experimental Neurology Center (ZEN), Switzerland, is offering fully funded PhD and postdoctoral positions in rodent social neuroscience. The research group, led by Prof. Pegah Kassraian, focuses on the behavioral, neural, molecular, and circuit-level mechanisms of social cognition in rodents, with strong links to clinical research. Experimental approaches include in vivo calcium and neurotransmitter imaging, optogenetic and chemogenetic techniques, and computational analysis of behavioral and neural data in controlled and semi-naturalistic environments.

These positions are funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the Faculty of Medicine. The group is highly interdisciplinary and collaborative, with strong national and international partnerships, providing ample opportunities for career development. Candidates are expected to start in August 2026 or by mutual agreement.

The postdoctoral researcher will lead the design, execution, and analysis of experiments in social neuroscience, including social behavioral assays, rodent stereotaxic surgeries, and imaging recordings, as well as supervise junior researchers. The PhD student(s) will conduct independent research as part of the SNSF project and enroll in the doctoral program at the University of Bern, receiving comprehensive training in behavioral assays, surgeries, and data analysis. The laboratory technician will support both lab management and experimental research.

Applicants for the PhD position must have a Master's degree in Neuroscience, Biomedical Sciences, Computer Science, Biology, Medicine, or a related discipline, with experience in rodent surgery, behavioral assays, and programming/data analysis skills considered a plus. Postdoctoral applicants require a PhD in a relevant field and strong experimental and computational skills. The environment at ZEN is international and supportive, ideal for candidates interested in interdisciplinary and translational research in neuroscience.