Open Positions
Prospective students should apply to the two graduate programs where Julijana is faculty: the International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Biological Intelligence and the Graduate School for Systemic Neuroscience (GSN) which have fixed deadlines. Direct relevance to the work done in the lab (see below) is required, including strong mathematical and coding experience, and either experience or a strong interest in computational neuroscience.
For research internships and theses for master and bachelor students, you can find additional information and the application form here.
We typically have openings for postdoctoral positions. Please inquire for specific topics. We encourage postdoc candidates to apply for external sources of funding.
General topics of interest in the lab and guidelines for applying:
Using mathematical and computational approaches, we study how neurons and the synaptic connections between them tune their properties during early development and young life to ensure appropriate network dynamics and behavior. Another interest relates to how adult function and behavior emerge from a diversity of mechanisms, including synaptic plasticity, sensory noise, and biophysical constraints. We address these questions at different spatial scales, from the organization of individual synaptic inputs on dendrites to large-scale networks of higher order cortex. We are especially interested in these processes during development before and shortly after birth when the brain is highly plastic, but general aspects of learning and memory, especially under naturalistic stimuli and behaviors are also of interest.
We collaborate with different experimental research groups in the US, UK, Netherlands, Spain and Germany and benefit from interactions with the strong neuroscience community in Munich, including the SyNergy Cluster of Excellence. Our applications range across animals from rodent to Drosophila to reptiles and humans.
Successful applicants can choose from a range of projects including theoretical model development and analytical calculations, numerical simulations, and applications to rich datasets from collaborating labs. Open topics include:
- formation and stability of neuronal assemblies through excitatory and inhibitory plasticity in zebrafish tectum and mammalian hippocampus;
- how spontaneous activity and cortico-thalamic feedback shape developing visual circuits;
- synaptic learning rules, including STDP and behavioral-timescale plasticity, in the development and adaptation of auditory representations;
- connectome analysis and mechanistic modeling of cortical circuits constrained by anatomical connectivity;
- dendritic organization and plasticity of synaptic inputs in the context of multisensory integration.
Please check our recent publications.
Applicants should have a strong quantitative background (in mathematics, physics, engineering, computer science, or related fields) and good programming skills (Julia, Python, Matlab or C/C++).
To apply for a position, please submit the following at the link below:
1. A curriculum vitae
2. A description of research interests, including a motivation for why you chose to apply to our group
3. A writing sample, either a paper or a thesis
4. Contact details for 2-3 referees
5. Transcripts (if applying for a PhD position)
Apply here