PhDs and Postdocs Positions in Neuroelectronics and Neuroengineering: newly launched NAMASEN European Training Network
9 Marie-Curie PhD and Postdoc positions across Europe: 1st round openings
Within the framework of the Marie Curie Initial Training Network “NAMASEN”, European top research centers seek to recruit 7 Early Stage Researcher (ESR) and 2 Experienced Researcher (ER) positions, as of January 1st, 2012.
We offer research training in Neuroelectronics and Nanotechnology: towards a Multidisciplinary Approach for the Science and Engineering of Biological Neuronal Networks.
A second round, for 2 more ESRs and 1 more ER, will be launched during 2012.
First-round application deadline: October 31st, 2011.
Appointments for Early Stage Researcher (Marie Curie Fellow) are full-time, fixed terms for three years, tenable from January 1st, 2012. Appointments for Experienced Researcher are full-time, fixed terms for two years, tenable from January 1st, 2012.
The Early Stage Researchers will receive supervision for the preparation of a PhD thesis and benefit from the combined resources of the NAMASEN Network.
Description of NAMASEN
NAMASEN is the acronym for an Initial Training Network (http://www.namasen.net), funded by the European Commission under the FP7 Marie-Curie PEOPLE programme. Its ultimate mission is to lay the foundation of a virtual scientific institute for the multi-disciplinary study of Neuroengineering and Network-Neurosciences that will train a new generation of scientists and professionals and that will contribute to Europe’s leading role in scientific innovation.
NAMASEN targets both technological and scientific priorities, such as the development of novel multi-electrode arrays and advanced interfaces that functionally interact with neurons and networks. NAMASEN investigates neuro-electronic hybrids as devices able to undergo a functional and anatomical reconfiguration, on the basis of the activity-dependent plasticity and rewiring properties of neurons, under some control by the experimenter.
The NAMASEN ITN Network consists of the 10 academic and 3 industrial partners: the University of Antwerp (Belgium), The University of Sheffield (UK), the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB) at the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH, Greece), the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel), the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology of Lausanne EPFL (Switzerland), the Italian Institute of Technology (Italy), the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology (Poland), the Interuniversity Center for Microelectronics IMEC (Belgium), the University of Freiburg (Germany), the Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tuebingen (Germany), Janssen Pharmaceutica (Belgium), 2-Sight Europe (Switzerland), and Gersteltec Engineering Solutions (Switzerland).
Altogether 10 Early Stage Researchers (PhD researchers) and 3 Experienced Researchers (Postdocs) will be recruited during 2011-2012. As a part of their training experience, each researcher will be based in one country but will spend some of their time abroad during secondment periods within the network. Scientific and technological disciplines targeted by each position are diverse and heterogeneous, ranging from microfabrication and nanotechnologies, to experimental neurobiology and computational neuroscience. Individual openings, advertised on the electronic job application page of NAMASEN (http://www.namasen.net), contain relevant information and links to the hosting institutions.
The NAMASEN ITN Network offers a unique research environment where leading academics will integrate accepted applicants into their research teams, providing a top-notch structured training programme in Neuroelectronics, Neuroengineering, and Nanotechnologies. Academic partners within the NAMASEN ITN Network will support the Early Stage Researchers to work successfully towards a PhD defense.
More information on the NAMASEN ITN Network and its job openings can be found at: http://www.namasen.net
Salary and Benefits for the Positions
The Researchers will be appointed on a full-time temporary contacts, for a period of three years (ESRs) or two years (ERs), including a two-to-six-month secondments at different NAMASEN partner.
The Researcher will be a Marie Curie fellow and will profit from all Marie Curie benefits, including living, mobility, travel, and career exploratory allowances according to the Marie Curie Framework 7 requirements (http://ec.europa.eu/mariecurieactions).
Eligibility
Candidates for ESR positions must be, at the time of recruitment, in the first four years (full-time equivalent) of their research careers and not yet have been awarded a doctoral degree. This is measured from the date when they obtained the degree, which would formally entitle them to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the research training is provided. In practice, this means they should not have obtained any degree before 31st December 2007 that would entitle them to enroll for a doctorate. In general, this is usually a suitably qualifying Masters degree.
Candidates for ER positions must not have worked in a research position / received research training for more than 5 years of their undergraduate degree. The undergraduate degree is the first degree, which allowed them to embark on a PhD program, typically a BA or BSc. Years since the undergraduate degree working outside research do not count.
Candidates are normally required to undertake trans-national mobility (i.e. move from one country to another) when taking up their appointment. At the time of recruitment by the host organization, candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their host organization (i.e. depending on the NAMASEN network partner to apply for) for more than 12 months between 1 November 2008 and 31 December 2011.
Applicants for the position at NAMASEN may be a national of any Member State of the European Union, of any Associated Country or of any other third country, but they may not be a national of the hosting country.
Availability to travel (including internationally), for the purpose of the research and training activities, is a requirement for the positions.
Applications and Enquiries
Candidates are invited to apply to the vacancies. Candidates are also requested to submit their CV in English (max. 5 pages), max. 10 academic publications (in English), including an electronic copy of university diploma (translated to English). A cover letter is also required, where motivations to apply to the NAMASEN consortium in general and to an individual partner, in particular, must be stated clearly. Spam applications will be trashed.
Formal applications should be made through the NAMASEN consortium and should be sent by means of the website http://www.namasen.net.
Final decisions will be taken upon joint consultations within the NAMASEN Supervisory Board.
Informal inquiries concerning the individual positions may be addressed to contact people indicated on online job electronic application forms at www.namasen.net.
