Post-Doctorate in NHP Neuroimaging/Neurophysiology (M/F)

Job Description

Missions

How do the brains of social beings make sense of their societies? As part of the European ERC project NEURO-SOCIETY, the Neurophysiology of Social Cognition Lab is seeking an outstanding postdoctoral researcher. The postdoctoral researcher (renewable term) will develop new approaches to study how different sensory modalities (vision, audition, olfaction) give rise to the same social concepts, combining neuroimaging and neurophysiology. These approaches will constitute a first step toward understanding the neuronal mechanisms underlying the creation of social concepts in primates.

At the Paris Brain Institute, the Neurophysiology of Social Cognition Lab investigates the brain mechanisms that transform social perceptions into social knowledge, using a combination of ethological tests in primates, neuroimaging (fMRI), neurophysiology, and large-scale data analyses: www.sliwalab.org

Activity

Experimental work:
- Design and implementation of methods to study perception and social cognition in non-human primates (NHPs)
- Acquisition of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and/or neurophysiological data
- Development and programming of behavioral and cognitive tasks; animal training and testing
- Planning, preparation, and participation in surgeries, anesthesia, euthanasia, care, and treatments
- Compliance with ethical protocols and national guidelines
- Collaborative work with team members and core facilities

Data analysis:
- Development of tools and programs for statistical data analysis
- Analysis of imaging, behavioral, and/or neurophysiological data
- Documentation, traceability, and archiving of analyses and experiments (GitLab, Git, Wiki)

Presentation and dissemination:
- Literature review and bibliographic monitoring
- Presentation of results in team meetings and conferences
- Writing of scientific articles

Mentoring, team engagement, and collective tasks:
- Participation in and facilitation of journal clubs and team meetings
- Support for students and interns within the team
- Contribution to project and protocol writing
- Responsibility for a collective team task (e.g., safety officer, journal club organizer, IT referent)

Your Profil

Skills

Required degree:
- PhD in Neuroscience or a related field

Skills and expertise:
- At least one first-author publication or preprint in neurophysiology or neuroimaging in non-human primates
- More than 3 years of experience working in an NHP laboratory
- Strong experimental expertise in neurophysiology or neuroimaging in NHPs (3+ years)
- Solid analytical skills
- Programming skills (Matlab or Python)
- Good command of English (French is not required)
- Proven ability to write scientific articles and projects, and to give oral presentations

Knowledge:
- Cognitive neuroscience and neurophysiology
- Statistics and data analysis methods
- Legal and ethical framework of animal experimentation

Personal qualities:
- Motivation and passion for neuroscience
- Scientific curiosity
- Teamwork and communication skills
- Strong observational skills with animals
- Organizational skills
- Autonomy and versatility
- Respect for ethical rules and regulatory obligations under the protocol

Your Work Environment

The French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) is the largest scientific research organization in France and home to the largest number of scientists in Europe (more than 25,000 researchers, engineers, technicians, and administrative staff in over a thousand research units). The CNRS is a major player in the development of European research and contributes to its development, thus playing an important role in the advancement of scientific knowledge at European and global levels. It enjoys a prestigious track record, having signed more than 1,250 contracts with the European Commission and maintaining an established relationship of trust in the administration of Commission grants.

The Paris Brain Institute (ICM) is a research unit affiliated with INSERM, the CNRS, Sorbonne University, and a private foundation recognized as being of public utility, whose purpose is fundamental and clinical research on the nervous system. On a single site, 850 researchers, engineers and doctors cover all disciplines of neuroscience, with the aim of accelerating discoveries on the functioning of the brain and the development of treatments for neurological diseases such as: Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, epilepsy, depression, paraplegia, quadriplegia, etc.

Constraints and risks

- Some duties (animal care, veterinary treatments, imaging or behavioral protocols) may require weekend work.
- Travel within France (e.g., Station de Primatologie in Rousset, Centre de Primatologie in Strasbourg) may be required for sample collection or behavioral testing.
- The position is available starting November 2025, with an initial appointment of 1 year. Extension beyond this period is possible.
- The start date is flexible, and applications will be considered until the position is filled.
- The position is funded by a European ERC grant (NEURO-SOCIETY). However, candidates are encouraged to apply for competitive personal fellowships (HFSP, FRM, Marie Sklodowska-Curie, etc.) if they wish so.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

Above 3081 € depending on experience

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

The research professions