Master Student (f/m/x) in Neuroscience 1453/2025/7

Other

We are offering research projects for MSc students in Neuroscience, Molecular and Cell Biology or similar. Our laboratory is situated in the Department of Translational Dementia Research at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Bonn.

We are investigating the effect of early-life stress in mice on the emergence of emotional and cognitive deficits in adulthood, specifically, how epigenetic mechanisms, including small and non-coding RNA contribute to this process and lead to alteration in synaptic composition and neuronal morphology in specific brain regions that are relevant to mental disorders. We combine behavioural characterization with high throughput molecular techniques (RNA seq, ATAC seq), microscopy and circuit analysis. Our ultimate goal is to provide preclinical evidence for the role of non-coding RNAs as novel therapeutic targets for mental disorders.

Depending on your interest and experience in working with mice, you will have the chance to contribute to the following projects/experiments:

• Immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy and image analysis to quantify synaptic markers and analyze dendritic morphology and/or to detect specific RNA targets (RNA scope) in brain slices
• Behavioral experiments in mice: implementation of the limited bedding and nesting material paradigm of early-life stress, cognitive tasks and assessment of anxiety-like behavior and anhedonia
• Stereotaxic surgeries in mouse brain to perform neural tracing and/or in-vivo RNA manipulations

You have the enthusiasm, curiosity and motivation for Neuroscience and for our research topic. You are committed to learn and contribute to our projects with your independent work and innovative ideas. Experience in working with animals is appreciated, but not a prerequisite for all projects available.

• Innovation and internationality – a forward-looking infrastructure, modern laboratory and office equipment, software tools and the opportunity for international exchange with your colleagues from 65 nations
• Family-conscious corporate culture – Because we know that family is important
• Health promotion – through our extensive range of company health programs, in cooperation with Sozialwerk.Bund
• Individual onboarding – To ensure a smooth start in your new professional challenge
• The position is limited to 6 month within the course of an internship

The DZNE is an equal opportunity employer. It is committed to employing disabled individuals and especially encourages them to apply.

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.

Company

The Helmholtz Association contributes to solving major challenges to assure the future of our society. With more than 47.500 people on staff in 18 national Research Centers and an annual budget of more than 6 billion euros, the Helmholtz Association is Germany’s largest scientific organization. The name Helmholtz stands for concerted research, in which networks form the key principle behind inquiring thought and action.

The profile of the Helmholtz Association

The Helmholtz Association performs cutting-edge research which contributes substantially to solving the grand challenges of science, society and industry. To succeed in meeting these responsibilities, Helmholtz concentrates its work in six research fields: Energy, Earth and Environment, Health, Information, Matter, as well as Aeronautics, Space and Transport. Within each of these fields, research programs are developed by our scientists and regularly evaluated by renowned international experts. Their evaluation forms the basis for the program-oriented funding that is allocated to Helmholtz research. Within the six research fields, Helmholtz scientists cooperate with each other and with external partners – working across disciplinary, organizational and national borders.

Moreover, Helmholtz specializes in large-scale research infrastructures – from accelerator facilities, earth observation satellites, research ships to supercomputers. They form the basis for scientific advances in tackling global societal challenges. Managing national research infrastructure is part of the Helmholtz Association's mission.

Promoting young academics

Helmholtz scientists, a high-performance infrastructure and modern and efficient research management are the ingredients to the Helmholtz Association‘s success and global impact.
Promoting young researchers is a major priority for the Helmholtz Association. Its qualification schemes for young researchers are geared mainly towards PhD students, postdocs and young managers. The Helmholtz Association has set high standards for its talent management. Its strategy begins with targeted recruitment of highly qualified staff at all levels, followed by comprehensive support aimed at further developing their potential. Ensuring equal opportunities is an essential element in all talent management activities undertaken by the Helmholtz Association.

The Helmholtz Graduate Schools and Research Schools at almost all Helmholtz Centers provide doctoral students with the general and specific skills and training they need, as well as ample opportunity to network. The period following a doctorate is decisive in determining the direction and success of a scientific career. For this reason, we established Career Development Centers for postdoctoral researchers in the Helmholtz Centers. This equips young researchers with the skills they need to go on to head a Helmholtz Investigator Group , for example. As an Investigator Group leader, junior scientists can independently set up their own group to conduct research in their specialist field and acquire management skills.

Within its talent management strategy, the Helmholtz Association pays special attention to the increased recruitment of talented female scientists both from Germany and abroad. To this end, there are currently two funding programs supporting this policy: and Helmholtz Distinguished Professorship – Funding for the recruitment of leading international female scientists (W3) .

The increasing complexity of the content, structures and framework conditions of scientific work today requires researchers to organize their projects, their employees and, of course, themselves in a highly professional and effective way. In response to these demands, we have set up the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to provide leaders in science with professional management training. Furthermore, the Helmholtz network provides a platform for the alumni of the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to come together and share their experiences of leadership, career development and lifelong learning.

All of this combined makes the 18 Research Centers of the Helmholtz Association a highly attractive environment for talented researchers from all over the world.

Company info

Telephone

0049-30-206329-0

Location

Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Str. 2
Berlin
Berlin
10178
Germany