A fully funded PhD position (3 years) in systems neuroscience is available at the Center for Neuroscience Research of Lyon (CRNL) as part of the project “Cross-species Regulation of Action by Controllability: A Keystone of 5-HT Signaling?” (CRACK-5HT), funded by the ERC Starting Grant program (EU).
The overarching goal of this project is to identify the computational function(s) of serotonin signaling in the rodent brain and to examine the impact of endogenous and induced serotonin dynamics on prediction, learning, and decision-making processes.
The selected applicant will conduct animal experiments to measure and manipulate the activity of serotonergic neurons and key functional partners (in particular, dopaminergic neurons and descending cortical afferents) during innovative foraging tasks, using a range of biosensors and opsins. The applicant is expected to possess a broad skill set, including colony management, animal habituation, behavioral shaping, pharmacology, stereotaxic surgeries, perfusion, and histology. They will also contribute to the analysis, visualization, modeling, interpretation, and publication of the resulting data. Appropriate in-house training and technical support will be provided throughout the project. Participation in relevant university courses and/or summer schools will also be encouraged.
The ideal candidate for this PhD position should have an excellent background in neuroscience or (bio-)engineering, as well as prior experience with rodent research. However, talented students from any scientific domain are welcome to apply, provided they can clearly articulate their interest in this research project.
A high level of proficiency in English, both written and spoken, is essential. The ability to speak or understand French is neither required nor expected. Applications will be evaluated based on merit, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or nationality.
Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Academic excellence
Ability to articulate interests and motivations related to the project
Previous experience/training in animal research (including microsurgery, histology, pharmacology, electrophysiology, optogenetics, imaging)
Past publications (including articles, reviews, theses, and/or Git repositories)
Programming skills (especially Python, C++, and/or C#)
In addition to these points, candidates are encouraged to highlight any other experience, skills, or competencies relevant to the project in their application.
The successful applicant will be supervised by Romain Ligneul (Principal Investigator, Chargé de Recherche at INSERM) and will also benefit from daily guidance provided by a senior postdoctoral researcher.
Fixed-term contract of 36 months, with a possible extension for a 4th year depending on funding availability.
Start date: Between January and April 2026.
Gross monthly salary: €2,200 (standard INSERM grid).
Interested candidates should send a motivation letter, a CV and up to two references to romain.ligneul@inserm.fr with the subject line “ERC-PHD-SYSNEURO Application”.
Candidates are welcome to request clarification or additional information about the position/project before applying formally. In this case, write with the subject line “ERC-PHD-SYSNEURO Question”. Thus, applications providing a generic motivation letter will not be processed.