PhD Position in When Vascular Clearance Fails

Working at the UvA

Join Us!

We are looking for an enthusiastic PhD candidate to work on a research project funded by the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, which aims to investigate how neurovascular deficits and aging affect brain circuits involving the thalamus.

All about this vacancy

This is what you will do

Cerebrovascular dysfunction, such as loss of the endothelial transporter lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1), which clears a variety of compounds from the brain, including amyloid beta, is increasingly recognized as a major driver of cognitive decline, increased excitability, epilepsy, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology. However, how microvascular pathology impacts brain wide networks, including thalamus, cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum, remains largely unknown.

In this PhD project, you will test the overarching hypothesis that endothelial LRP1 loss in mice disrupts brain wide networks, leading to impaired coherence, increased excitability, disturbed sleep patterns, and exacerbated amyloid pathology. Furthermore, you will test whether enhancing cAMP/cGMP signaling with a selective phosphodiesterase-1 (PDE1) inhibitor and applying deep brain stimulation can ameliorate vascular and circuit dysfunction.

Tasks and responsibilities

• complete and defend a PhD thesis within the official appointment duration of four years;
• use multidisciplinary approaches (patch-clamp, optogenetics, mouse behaviour, stereotaxic surgery) to measure/manipulate thalamic circuits and behaviour;
• perform your experiments in a systematic and well controlled manner;
• keep accurate records by thoroughly documenting and organising your work;
• stay on top of the relevant scientific literature;
• discuss your work in our lab meetings, incorporate feedback and give input to others;
• assist in teaching and supervise BSc/MSc students during their research internship;
• participate in the Faculty of Science PhD and Graduate School Neurosciences training programmes.

You will get the opportunity to

• learn a wide variety of experimental and data analysis techniques;
• build a network as part of our (inter)national collaborations;
• present your work at (inter)national meetings;
• continuously hone your academic, professional and personal skills;
• contribute to the science communication and outreach activities of the lab.

What we ask of you

You work well independently but are also willing to contribute to team efforts. You are a nice colleague with good communication skills. You use your organizational skills to ensure efficient planning and project management, enabling you to meet deadlines. Your work shows that you pay attention to detail, but you also have eye for the bigger conceptual picture. You draw on your critical thinking and problem-solving skills when needed.

Your experience and profile:

• a recent MSc degree in the neurosciences (or a related area);
• a strong interest in aging biology and Alzheimer’s disease;
• a strong intrinsic motivation and aptitude for fundamental research (reflected by your training record);
• an Art. 9 qualification (or the willingness to become Art. 9 qualified);
• willingness to work with mice;
• willingness to supervise BSc and/or MSc students during their internship;
• fluent in English, both written and spoken.

If you are genuinely excited about this project and are willing and able to learn, then we offer you the environment to do so. However, it will work to your advantage if you already have some (hands-on) experience with one or more of the following: mouse handling, histology analyses, whole-cell patch-clamp or in vivo electrophysiology.

This is what we offer you

A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years). The preferred starting date is 1 January 2027. This should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students.

Your salary will range between €3,204 in the first year to €4,051 gross per month in the last year of employment, based on a fulltime employment (38 hours per week). This sum does not include the 8% holiday pay and the 8.3% end-of-year bonus. A favorable tax agreement, the 30% ruling, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU) is applicable. Curious about our extensive secondary benefits package? You can read more about it here.

Your place at the UvA

You will work in this team

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 8,000, as well as 1,800 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.

The Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS) is located at the vibrant Amsterdam Science Park. SILS is one of eight institutes of the University of Amsterdam's Faculty of Science (FNWI). With around 240 employees, SILS carries out internationally high-quality life science research and provides education within various university programs. Research is also carried out in close cooperation with the medical, biotech, chemical, flavor, food & agricultural, and high-tech industries, and revolves around 4 main themes, Cell & Systems biology, Neurosciences, Microbiology and Green Life Sciences.

You will be embedded in the Cellular and Circuit Neuroscience group, led by prof. dr. Helmut Kessels, in the Healthy Longevity and Epilepsy lab under the daily supervision of dr. Gil Vantomme and dr. Erwin van Vliet. We investigate how mechanisms of epileptogenesis intersect with those driving Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related neurodegenerative disorders. We aim to understand shared pathways, such as network hyperexcitability, neuroinflammation and blood–brain barrier dysfunction, and to identify biomarkers that are informative for both epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease. This integrated approach is intended to support earlier diagnosis and more targeted interventions that preserve cognitive function and promote healthy longevity. We study this at multiple different levels, from molecules to single cell excitability, from brain network activity to behavioural outcomes.

Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.

More about the UvA

The University of Amsterdam is ambitious, creative and committed. An inspiration to students since 1632, a vanguard player in international science and a partner in innovation.

The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest range of courses on offer. An intellectual hub with 42,000 students, 6,000 staff and 3,000 PhD students. Connected by a culture of curiosity.

Important to know

Your application & contact

If you feel the profile fits you, and you are interested in the job, we look forward to receiving your application. We will accept applications until and including 15 October 2026.

If you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact:

Dr. Gil Vantomme, Assistant Professor
Dr. Erwin van Vliet, Associate Professor

Applications should include the following information (all files besides your cv should be submitted in one single pdf file):

• a detailed CV including the months (not just years) when referring to your education and work experience;
• a letter of motivation;
• the names and email addresses of two references who can be contacted.

Interviews and selection are tentatively scheduled to take place between 1 November and 15 November 2026, but we may start processing applications before that time.

A knowledge security check can be part of the selection procedure. (For details: National knowledge security guidelines)

Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

As an employer, the UvA maintains an equal opportunities policy. We value diversity and are fully committed to being a place where everyone feels at home. We nurture inquisitive minds and perseverance and allow room for persistent questioning. With us, curiosity and creativity are the prevailing culture.