Postdoc in Neuroscience at UCPH – Develop innovative Open Science Tools

Department of Neuroscience
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences 
University of Copenhagen

Are you passionate about advancing neuroscience through innovative open science tools? Join our team at the University of Copenhagen as a Postdoctoral Fellow, where you'll contribute to the development of BrainSTEM.org, an innovative platform for neurophysiological research.

Position overview
We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow for a project focused on developing BrainSTEM. BrainSTEM is a structured electronic lab notebook for describing neurophysiological experiments, as well as a collaboration and data-sharing platform for the community. The research will take place at the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Copenhagen in the lab of Dr. Peter C. Petersen (PetersenLab.org), in collaboration with NYULH Neuroscience Institute. You will be part of a diverse, interdisciplinary team of neuroscientists and work with software developers and data scientists to push the boundaries of open science and neuroscience research.

Position responsibilities
The postdoc position focuses on the development of BrainSTEM. Responsibilities include:

• Continuing the development of the relational standard language database model for describing experimental neuroscience.
• Developing semantic search functionality.
• Coding and implementation in Python/Django.
• Collaborate on integration with other Open Science tools, such as the Neurodata without Borders standard and the DANDI repository.
• Stimulate and support community uptake.

This project is primarily funded by the NIH, through the BRAIN Initiative U19 Oxytocin grant. The role includes occasional travel to scientific meetings and pilot user labs.

Our research
Founded in 2022, our lab studies memory and cognition in rodent models and supports open science. We focus on spatial memory and theta oscillations in behaving rats, using state-of-the-art methods for measuring and manipulating neuronal activity at large scale and high specificity, along with advanced data analysis. Our tools include Neuropixels and other high-density silicon probes, optogenetics, thermal and other perturbation techniques, and population-analysis methods. The candidate will collaborate closely with experimentalists to ensure BrainSTEM’s development meets user needs.

We have developed several popular open science tools and solutions for the neuroscience community, including CellExplorer, which has been cited more than 100 times, and are now developing BrainSTEM (BrainSTEM.org). The ultimate goal of BrainSTEM is to make neuroscience open and FAIR, promote collaborations, break down barriers between labs, and establish BrainSTEM as the preferred platform for describing and sharing experimental work within and across labs.

Candidate profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience:

Essential experience and skills

• PhD in Neuroscience, Software Engineering, Data Science, or related sciences.
• Proficiency in programming, data analysis, and visualization using Python.
• Highly self-motivated with the ability to work independently.
• Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams.
• Excellent English skills, both written and spoken.
• Experience with or an active interest in learning more about Neurophysiology.
• Willingness to travel and flexibility with scheduling of working hours

Desirable experience and skills

• Experience with the Django web framework or relational databases.
• Experience with open science tools.
• Experience in machine learning, large language models, and semantic search.
• Aptitude for learning new programming languages or methods.
• Knowledge of in-vivo electrophysiological experiments or imaging methods.
• Knowledge of task development and behavioral data collection.

Place of employment
You will be employed at the Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen in the center of Copenhagen. The successful applicant will join a thriving international neuroscience environment. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. 

The applicant will be the major participant in all aspects of the project, from designing, developing, and implementing the technical solutions, to performing community outreach, working with pilot groups across the neuroscience community, and presenting results at conferences. Please contact petersen.peter@sund.ku.dk with questions and comments, or go to PetersenLab.org for more information.

Living in Copenhagen
Copenhagen is a fantastic city and a wonderful living experience, and it has consistently been ranked among the world’s best cities to live in. Our lab is located centrally in the neighborhood Nørrebro, which recently was ranked as the world’s coolest neighborhood by Time Out Magazine. The University of Copenhagen has an International staff mobility program to help accommodate international researchers with practical matters, before arrival such as with residence permit, housing, and childcare/school as well as during the stay with salary, tax, pension, insurance, banking as well as getting accustomed with language and culture. Life for families is made easier via a publicly supported daycare and healthcare system, dual-career opportunities, maternity/parental leave, and six weeks of annual vacation.

Terms of employment 
The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

The position is for 2 years. The preferred start date is April 1, 2025.

Salary, pension, and other conditions of employment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant organisation. Currently, the monthly salary starts at 38,575 DKK / approx. 5,160 EUR (April 2024 level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund.

Foreign and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions if they hold a PhD degree and have not been tax liable to Denmark for the last 10 years.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020. 

Application procedure
Your online application must be submitted in English by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. Furthermore, your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page).
2. CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills, and other skills relevant to the position.
3. A certified/signed copy of a) PhD certificate and b) Master of Science certificate. If the PhD is not completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do.
4. List of publications.

Deadline for applications: February 20, 2025, 23.59pm CET.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process 
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorised recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor. 

The assessor makes a non-prioritized assessment of the academic qualifications and experience with respect to the above-mentioned area of research, techniques, skills and other requirements listed in the advertisement.

You may read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

For more information on working and living in Denmark visit http://ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility) and https://www.workindenmark.dk.

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities. 

Interviews are expected to be held in week 37 (week of September 9).

The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.