The world is changing at an ever-faster pace. At the Johannes Kepler University Linz, we work on technologies and the ideas of tomorrow on a daily basis. At the same time, we educate over 27,000 young people to meet the demands of today’s job market. In short, we are Upper Austria’s largest institution for education and research. Are you interested in being a part of shaping the future of Austria’s most attractive campus university? We currently have a job opening for a:
Graduate Teaching Assistant (must hold a Diploma/Master's degree, Ph.D. candidate) for a full-time, four-year position
Organizational unit::
Institut für Anatomie und Zellbiologie
Entry date::
as soon as possible
Job Reference Number::
62010-2026-001911
:
We are seeking a highly motivated university research assistant with a master’s degree or equivalent (Ph.D. candidate) for an interdisciplinary neuroscience project.
Project Description:
The adult human brain has only a very limited ability to replace lost neurons. Current clinical approaches to restoring neurological functions therefore rely predominantly on electronic implants.Current clinical approaches to restoring neurological functions therefore rely primarily on electronic implants. While these can partially compensate for lost input and output signals, they are limited by material instability, restricted spatial precision, and the lack of true synaptic integration into existing neural networks. In contrast, cell-based approaches open up a fundamentally new perspective: the replacement of lost neurons with living cells that can functionally integrate into existing networks. The aim of this project is therefore to investigate whether genetically modified human neurons can be specifically induced to form synaptic connections with specific neuronal populations in adult human cortical tissue and to functionally integrate into existing network activity.
The project builds on established expertise in the fields of electrophysiology, protein engineering, imaging, and human slice cultures in our laboratory and is embedded in a strong clinical and international research network.
Linz Location
The institute is part of a growing neuroscience community with close ties to neurosurgery, neurology, and pathology, as well as new collaborations in the fields of data science and artificial intelligence, a strategic focus of the university. The institute is located in the center of Linz, just a few minutes’ walk from the historic old town and the Danube. The city offers a vibrant cultural scene featuring contemporary art, music, and theater, as well as excellent opportunities for outdoor recreation. Linz has good transportation links, its own airport, and direct train connections to major European cities.
Project Description:
The adult human brain has only a very limited ability to replace lost neurons. Current clinical approaches to restoring neurological functions therefore rely predominantly on electronic implants.Current clinical approaches to restoring neurological functions therefore rely primarily on electronic implants. While these can partially compensate for lost input and output signals, they are limited by material instability, restricted spatial precision, and the lack of true synaptic integration into existing neural networks. In contrast, cell-based approaches open up a fundamentally new perspective: the replacement of lost neurons with living cells that can functionally integrate into existing networks. The aim of this project is therefore to investigate whether genetically modified human neurons can be specifically induced to form synaptic connections with specific neuronal populations in adult human cortical tissue and to functionally integrate into existing network activity.
The project builds on established expertise in the fields of electrophysiology, protein engineering, imaging, and human slice cultures in our laboratory and is embedded in a strong clinical and international research network.
Linz Location
The institute is part of a growing neuroscience community with close ties to neurosurgery, neurology, and pathology, as well as new collaborations in the fields of data science and artificial intelligence, a strategic focus of the university. The institute is located in the center of Linz, just a few minutes’ walk from the historic old town and the Danube. The city offers a vibrant cultural scene featuring contemporary art, music, and theater, as well as excellent opportunities for outdoor recreation. Linz has good transportation links, its own airport, and direct train connections to major European cities.
Job Duties::
- Molecular engineering: design and cloning of artificial synaptic cell-adhesion molecules
- Cellular engineering: genetic modification of human induced stem cells and differentiation into neuronal cell types
- Human tissue model: preparation and maintenance of organotypic cortical slice cultures from neurosurgical specimens
- Structural analysis: quantitative microscopy (confocal and super-resolution) to assess neuronal morphology, polarity, and synaptic organization
- Functional analysis: electrophysiological and imaging-based assays (patch-clamp, multi-electrode arrays, calcium imaging) to probe intrinsic properties and network activity
- Circuit integration: transplantation of engineered neurons into human slice cultures to evaluate survival, targeting, and functional coupling
- planning and performing experiments across cellular, imaging, and electrophysiological approaches
- contributing to the development and optimization of experimental methods
- developing automated analysis pipelines for electrophysiological and morphological data (Python)
- preparing high-quality scientific figures and contributing to manuscripts and publications
- presenting results at lab meetings, international conferences, and to collaborators
- working closely with clinical partners and international collaborators in a multidisciplinary setting
- Developing an independent research profile
- Writing a dissertation
Your Qualifications::
- A bachelor’s or master’s degree in neuroscience, biomedicine, medicine, or a related field
- a strong interest in neuronal circuits and cellular neurobiology
- practical experience in at least one relevant area (electrophysiology, microscopy, neuronal cell culture, molecular biology)
- strong interest in acquiring expertise in the complementary techniques
- a proactive, problem-solving mindset and ability to work independently
- Experience with acute brain slices, stem cells, or programming is advantageous but not required.
- willingness to work flexibly according to experimental demands and to engage in a dynamic, research project; this includes time-sensitive experimental workflows (e.g. long-term cell culture protocols) and adapting to the variable availability of human tissue
- ability to work respectfully and collaboratively in an international and diverse team environment
- Excellent English and German language skills ( proficiency level B2)
What We Offer::
- On the basis of full-time employment (40 hours/week) the minimum salary in accordance with the collective agreement is € 3,776.10 gross per month (14 x per year, CA Job Grade: B1)
- Stable employer
- Attractive campus environment with good public transportation connections
- Attractive continual educational opportunities
- State-of-the-art research infrastructure
- Dynamic research environment
- Exercise and sports classes (USI)
- …and much more
Application due date:
05/27/2026
:
The Johannes Kepler University wishes to increase the proportion of academic female faculty and, for this reason, especially welcomes applications by qualified women. If applicants are equally qualified, a woman will be given preference for this position. The university welcomes applications from qualified applicants with disabilities. These applications will be given special consideration.
Space for your future? We look forward to receiving your application via our job portal. For further information, please contact: Dr. Christian Thome, Head of the TT Unit – Translational Neurobiology, E-mail: christian.thome@jku.at.
Space for your future? We look forward to receiving your application via our job portal. For further information, please contact: Dr. Christian Thome, Head of the TT Unit – Translational Neurobiology, E-mail: christian.thome@jku.at.
Exertion place address:
Krankenhausstraße
5,
4020
Linz