Doctoral Student SNSF Positions in Comparative Neuroscience of Thermosensory Circuits in Nematodes

Introduction

UNIL is a leading international teaching and research institution, with over 5,000 employees and 17,000 students split between its Dorigny campus, CHUV and Epalinges. As an employer, UNIL encourages excellence, individual recognition and responsibility.

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Presentation

Animals have evolved a remarkable diversity of behaviours. How is it that nervous systems can generate diverse behaviour? We will use the small stereotypic nervous systems of Caenorhabditis elegans and C. tropicalis to investigate what differences in their nervous systems allow differences in behaviour. Both species have 300 neurons, with highly conserved anatomical and molecular identities. Yet, we find that C. elegans and C. tropicalis behave differently to heat stimuli. The Swiss National Science Foundation has funded my lab to determine which circuit, genetic and nervous system-wide functional differences underlie these differences in behaviour. My lab will be starting at the Center for Integrative Genomics in October 2026 in Lausanne, Switzerland. If you are fascinated about understanding the neuronal basis of behaviour, apply to my lab!

Job information

Expected start date in position : 1st October 2026 or to be agreed

Contract length :  1 year, renewable, maximum 4 years 

Activity rate : 100%

Workplace : University of Lausanne, Dorigny 

Your responsibilities

In your activities, you will have to :

• Design and conduct experiments.


• Handle experimental documentation, data management and analysis.


• Contribute to lab culture by participating in discussions, journal clubs etc.


• Communicate results through presentations at lab meetings, conferences, and publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Your qualifications

• Ideally the candidate should have completed a MSc in neuroscience, molecular biology, ecology and evolution, bioinformatics, data science or a related field. 


• Previous experience in any of: C. elegans, calcium imaging, genetics, molecular biology, programming (Python), data analysis/visualization and behaviour, are a plus. Candidates with an interest in developing these skills are also encouraged to apply.


• Excellent written and spoken English, strong communication skills, and the ability to work effectively in a team and contribute to collaborative projects. 

What the position offers you

We offer a nice working place in a multicultural, diverse and dynamic academic environment. Opportunities for professional training, a lot of activities and other benefits to discover.

Contact for further information

Prof. Annika Nichols

Email: E-Mail schreiben  

Informal enquiries in case of questions are encouraged (email).

For more information see my website: https://www.nichols-lab.org/

Your application

Deadline : ongoing

To apply, please submit:

• a cover letter with a brief statement of why you would be interested in joining my lab and where you heard about the position


• a CV


• names and contacts of 2-3 references

Only applications through this website will be taken into account. We thank you for your understanding.

Candidates will be evaluated starting at the end of March 2026 and until the positions are filled. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. The PhD students are ideally expected to start sometime between October 2026 until February 2027. 

Additional information

UNIL is committed to:
•    equality, diversity and inclusion within its community;
•    ensuring an open and respectful environment that is conducive to personal development;
•    offering working conditions that facilitate work-life balance;
•    supporting early career researchers.

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