The PhD Course in Neurosciences has an integrated and cross-disciplinary curriculum, from the molecular and cellular levels up to the level of higher cognitive functions. Great attention is placed on new experimental strategies, at the molecular and cellular levels, at the interface between Biology, Chemistry and Physics. 

Research activities on which the Neurosciences PhD course is grounded are focussed on these general areas:

Development of new technologies to visualize, image and functionally interfere with RNA and proteins of interest in living nerve cells, with high spatio-temporal precision.
Application of “omic” technologies to the study of the Nervous System
Structural and biophysical studies of proteins of neurobiological interest and their engineering as recombinant proteins.
Biological functions of non-coding RNAs in the fine control of gene expression in neurons.
Stem cells and embryonic and adult neurogenesis
The biological mechanisms underlying ageing, longevity and the onset of age-related pathologies
Mechanisms of synaptic plasticity during development, in the adult nervous system and in response to brain injuries. The control of critical periods for synaptic plasticity.
The development of new cell and animal models for preclinical studies aimed at characterizing mechanisms and molecular targets for the development of new therapeutic approaches for neurological, psychiatric and neurological pathologies.
Complete applications should include a CV, the Degree thesis, a complete list of publications, a research project proposal, name and e-mail of two referees, and should be submitted online (https://serse.sns.it/en/) by August 31, 2015.
Documents sent will be screened by an evaluating committee and, based on the record of the scientific career, the shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview. The interview will take place end of September in Pisa. When necessary, a teleconference will be organized for the interview.

Students receive a 4-years fellowship, a contribution for lodging, funding for overseas travelling and have free access to the canteen. Research activities are carried out in fully equipped, state-of-the art laboratories.
A minimum of one position will be awarded to students who obtained their degree outside of Italy.
Fellowship will start on November 1st 2015
For further information on our lab and on the PhD Program, please visit http://laboratoriobiologia.sns.it/phd-neuroscience-program/ or write to [email protected]