Job Description

The Neural Data Science Group (PI: Prof. Dr. Robert Schmidt, https://www.ini.rub.de/the_institute/people/robert-schmidt/), located in the Faculty of Computer Science at Ruhr University Bochum (RUB), invites applications for a 3-year PhD position (75%, TV-L E13) in computational neuroscience, starting as soon as possible.

The position is part of a DFG-funded project and embedded in the new research building THINK (Center for Theoretical and Integrative Neuroscience and Cognitive Science). The project develops a biophysical computational model of striatal dopamine signaling, simulating release, diffusion, uptake, and receptor binding to uncover the structure of dopamine “landscapes” in health and disease (e.g. Parkinson’s disease). The aim is to bridge this mechanistic modeling with dopamine’s cognitive functions in action selection, behavioral flexibility, and reinforcement learning.

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Your profile:
    •    Master’s degree in computational neuroscience, computer science, (bio-)physics, or a related field
    •    Strong programming skills (Python, C/C++)
    •    Interest in biophysical models of neural systems and data-driven neuroscience
    •    Team-minded, self-motivated, and fluent in English

We offer:
    •    A 3-year position (75%, TV-L E13) with the opportunity to pursue a PhD in Computer Science
    •    An interdisciplinary and collaborative environment within the RUB’s thriving Faculty of Computer Science (https://informatik.rub.de/en/)
    •    Research integration in the Institute for Neural Computation (https://www.ini.rub.de) and the research building THINK (https://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/think/)
    •    Access to high-performance computing resources, mentoring, and career development support

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Application:
Send a single PDF including your CV, transcript(s), short statement of interest, and contact info for 1–2 referees to:
robert.schmidt@rub.de

The application deadline is the 15th July, 2025.