苏黎世联邦理工大学、哥本哈根大学最新岗位制博士项目分享

本期 “老师博士” 为大家推荐苏黎世联邦理工大学、哥本哈根大学最新2025岗位制博士项目信息。

苏黎世联邦理工大学

PhD position in machine learning for photocatalysis

ETH Zurich | Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 31 May 2025

Project background

Cycloaddition reactions are among the most valuable synthetic tools for building molecular complexity, as they can form ring systems with high atom economy, contributing to innovations in, e.g., materials science and pharmaceuticals. Recently, energy transfer photocatalysis (EnT) has emerged as a ground-breaking method for facilitating cycloadditions. However, the reactivity and selectivity of substrates in EnT-catalyzed reactions remain challenging to predict, given the limited mechanistic understanding and scarcity of experimental data.

This project aims to systematically address these challenges by building chemistry-informed machine learning models for selectivity and reactivity prediction. These models will also provide valuable mechanistic insights that enable the generalization of selectivity trends across diverse reaction conditions and substrates. We will also turn the models into user-friendly tools that will equip synthetic chemists with a robust predictive framework that enables precise prediction of reaction outcomes.

The project is part of an international collaboration with the German Priority Program on the “Utilization and Development of Machine Learning for Molecular Applications – Molecular Machine Learning” (SPP 2363) and will involve tight collaboration with the group of Prof. Dr. Frank Glorius from the University of Münster, world-leading experts in photocatalysis and molecular machine learning. This collaboration will involve using the models in synthetic method development carried out in the Glorius group, including the selection of further reactions to run, and their application to targets of medicinal interest.

Job description

As a PhD student in our growing team, you will develop machine learning methods to predict the reactivity and selectivity of energy-transfer-catalyzed photocycloaddition reactions. You will furthermore identify descriptors for photochemical reactions that can be used by the models to generalize better to new substrates and reaction types. You will be expected to collaborate closely with our experimental partners in the group of Prof. Dr. Glorius. Further responsibilities include contributing to the teaching activities of our department.

Profile

We are looking for a committed and motivated candidate that is excited to push the boundaries of research in digital chemistry.

Essential experience, skills, and characteristics:

• A master’s degree in either chemistry, chemical engineering, computational science, materials science, physics, or related fields, or expectation of obtaining such a degree before the expected starting date of September 1
• English proficiency
• Self-motivation, ability to work independently and solution-oriented mentality
• Interdisciplinary and collaborative mindset and desire to work with people from different disciplines and backgrounds
• Programming experience using languages such as Julia, Python, R, etc.

At least one of the following:

• Experience in applying machine learning from research projects or thesis
• Experience in quantum-chemical simulations from research projects or thesis

Desirable but not necessary criteria:

• Experience in organic synthesis from research projects or thesis

Curious? So are we.

We look forward to receiving your online application until May 31, including:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Copies of BSc and MSc educational records

Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.

哥本哈根大学

PhD Fellow for studying gain-of-function GABAA receptor variants in developmental and epileptic encephalopathies

University of Copenhagen | Department of Neuroscience

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 15 June 2025

Job Description

The Perrier Lab at the Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, is seeking a motivated and talented PhD fellow to study the impact of gain-of-function (GOF) mutations in GABAA receptors implicated in developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs).

DEEs are severe early-onset conditions characterized by intractable epilepsy, intellectual disability, developmental delay or regression, movement disorders, and autism spectrum disorders. Although missense variants in GABAA receptor subunits are often assumed to cause loss of receptor function (LOF), recent work by our collaborators at the University of Sydney (Australia) and Filadelfia Hospital (Denmark) shows that GOF variants are just as prevalent, and their functional outcomes closely correlate with patient phenotypes.

Project Overview

The main goal of this project is to understand how mutations that increase inhibitory signaling in the brain can nevertheless lead to DEE. To address this, you will investigate animal models carrying GOF GABAA receptor mutations found in patients, examining their effects at multiple levels:

1. In Vivo

• Monitor animal behavior and record electrocorticographic (ECoG) activity to detect abnormalities linked to patient symptoms.

2. In Vitro

• Use brain slice preparations to measure neuronal activity at the microcircuit level, comparing GOF mutants to wild-type littermates. This approach will clarify why the cortex in GOF DEE models is hyperexcitable despite an overall increase in inhibitory signaling.

Based on these findings, you will contribute to the design and testing of targeted treatments aimed at correcting the underlying defects, first in vitro and subsequently in vivo. This project will be conducted in close collaboration with Filadelfia Hospital, which maintains a cohort of patients affected by these rare and severe conditions.

Principal supervisor:Professor, Jean-François Perrier, Department of Neuroscience, E-mail: perrier@sund.ku.dk. Direct Phone: +45-23812746.

Start:September/October 2025

Duration:3 years as a PhD student

Qualification Requirements

• A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in neuroscience, pharmacology, physiology, or a related field.
• Experience with electrophysiology, animal behavior studies is required.
• Strong motivation, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Good communication skills in English, both oral and written.
• Willingness to engage in teamwork

The preferred applicant should have an excellent academic track record, solid research experience and be highly motivated to deploy diverse strategies to extract novel findings of importance to pathophysiology. Previous research experience in an ambitious research environment is required.

Duties

The PhD fellow will investigate how the mutation affects the electrical properties of cortical microcircuits. To do this, they will prepare brain slices from mice and use the patch-clamp technique to record single-neuron activity. The project will also incorporate calcium imaging and pharmacological approaches. The fellow will be responsible for designing, conducting, and analyzing these experiments, with ongoing support from the principal investigator and other group members.

Application procedure

Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. The application must include the following documents in PDF format:

• Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
• CV incl. education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
• Certified copy of original Master of Science diploma and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in other language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted. As a prerequisite for a PhD fellowship employment, your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree. We encourage you to read more in the assessment database: https://ufm.dk/en/education/recognitionand-transparency/find-assessments/assessment-database. Please note that we might ask you to obtain an assessment of your education performed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science
• Publication list (if possible)

Application deadline:15 June 2025, 23.59pm CET

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.