PhD Student in Structural Neuroscience

Project Description

Chemical synapses are the fundamental units of communication in the nervous system. They release neurotransmitters from synaptic vesicles organized in functionally distinct pools with different activation thresholds: the readily releasable pool (RRP) fuses immediately upon stimulation, the recycling pool sustains ongoing activity, and the reserve pool is mobilized only under prolonged stimulation. The molecular and structural determinants that define these pools, and that regulate the transition of vesicles between them, remain incompletely understood. The PhD project in the group of Prof. Benoît Zuber aims to dissect the molecular composition and three-dimensional architecture of synaptic vesicle pools using cryo-electron tomography of neuronal preparations, combined with affinity labelling approaches (e.g. ferritag) to localize key proteins in situ.

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD student who is willing to work interdisciplinary in the field of neuroscience, cryo-electron microscopy / cryo-electron tomography, and image analysis.

Your tasks will be:

• Grow neuronal cell culture, prepare sample for cryo-EM/cryo-ET, acquire data on state-of-the-art electron microscopes, perform 3D image processing and analysis
• Perform cell biology and electrophysiology experiments on neuronal samples
• Present your results at national and international conferences
• Guide a master student after a phase of familiarization
• Assist in teaching to first- and second-year medical students

Requirements

• Master Degree in life science, biomedical engineering, physics, or similar disciplines
• Fluency in English
• Background in image analysis and/or programming are highly appreciated
• Prior experience with electron microscopy, neuroscience, cell culture, or structural biology is an asset

We offer

• A PhD position, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (project DIMSYNAP), starting 1 August 2026 or upon agreement
• PhD program of the Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences (GCB)
• Access to cutting-edge cryo-EM and cryo-ET infrastructure
• A stimulating, cooperative, and supportive environment and close collaboration with international research teams
• The University of Bern is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all individuals who will contribute to the diversity and excellence of the institution