PhD Position: Finding the Missing Link between Aβ Exposure and Inhibitory Synaptic Defects

One of the main reasons that there is no treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is that cellular mechanisms of the disease onset and progression are not well understood. AD is a slowly progressing disease. Long before cognitive and behavioural symptoms occur, the level of Aβ oligomers in the brain are slowly rising, causing synaptic defects and network hyperexcitability. Hyperexcitable networks have been widely observed in AD patients and can be reproduced in a wide range of AD mouse models with progressing Aβ levels. Preventing or delaying hyperexcitability can delay or prevent cognitive impairments, indicating that hyperexcitability in early AD stages is a crucial factor in the progression of the disease. An increasing number of studies (including from our lab: Ruiter et al, J Alz Dis 2020) are demonstrating that inhibitory circuits are specifically vulnerable to Aβ in the brain, which could underlie the enhanced excitability in neuronal networks observed at early AD stages. However, the molecular mechanism of the vulnerability of inhibitory synapses is not well understood.

Research in the Wierenga lab focuses on the formation and plasticity of inhibitory synapses. In this project, you will use a combination of single-cell electrophysiology, advanced microscopy techniques and novel biosensors to characterise synaptic defects at inhibitory synapses in cultured brain slices that have been exposed to amyloid β oligomers. You will use the novel iGABASnFR2 sensors in slices from transgenic mice to monitor Aβ-mediated alterations in GABA release at specific subtypes of inhibitory synapses. In parallel, you will monitor molecular and electrophysiological changes to assess the involvement of specific signalling pathways. Your teaching load may be up to 10% of your working time.

Would you like to learn more about what it’s like to pursue a PhD at Radboud University? Visit the page about working as a PhD candidate.

Projectmanager Gebiedsontwikkeling en Bedrijventerreinen

Als senior projectmanager bedrijventerreinen ben jij verantwoordelijk voor het realiseren van strategische projecten die de economische groei van Almere ondersteunen. Jij zorgt ervoor dat projecten van planvorming tot uitvoering succesvol worden afgerond, met het oog op zowel de inhoud als het proces. Je speelt een cruciale rol in de samenwerking tussen de gemeente, ondernemers en andere betrokkenen, waarbij jij het overzicht behoudt en ervoor zorgt dat de doelen binnen budget en tijdslijnen worden behaald.

Concreet houd jij je bezig met:

• Het opzetten van verkoopprocedures voor kavels, zoals voor de bedrijventerreinen Lage- en Hogekant.
• Het beoordelen van bouwplannen van kavelkopers samen met stedenbouwkundigen.
• Het monitoren van de voortgang van terreininrichting en afwerking.
• Het behalen van strategische doelen binnen het gestelde budget, samen met een team van adviseurs.

Strategy/M&A Manager

• Businessvraagstukken structureren en vertalen naar heldere inzichten
• Financiële en operationele analyses uitvoeren om trends, risico’s en opportuniteiten bloot te leggen
• Management ondersteunen met onderbouwde inzichten en aanbevelingen
• Strategische plannen mee vormgeven en vertalen naar concrete acties
• Projecten opvolgen en kritisch mee bewaken op impact en voortgang
• Denkmodellen ontwikkelen die besluitvorming eenvoudiger maken
• Executive presentaties uitwerken voor directie en governance, met focus op helderheid en verhaal
• M&A-trajecten ondersteunen (van screening tot integratievoorbereiding)
• Samenwerken met verschillende teams binnen finance en operations

Credit Controller

• Je staat in voor het opmaken en analyseren van financiële rapporteringen en administratieve opvolging.
• Je controleert facturen en betalingen nauwkeurig en signaleert afwijkingen waar nodig.
• Je ondersteunt klanten telefonisch en zorgt voor een professionele en vlotte communicatie.
• Je verwerkt gegevens en analyses in Excel en gebruikt slimme formules en draaitabellen om processen efficiënter te maken.
• Je schakelt vlot tussen Nederlands en Frans in contact met klanten en collega’s.
• Je werkt nauw samen met verschillende afdelingen en ondersteunt het finance team in brede zin.

PhD Scenario-based compositional system-level performance engineering

Introduction
Do you like applying formal models and mathematical theories in practice to solve real-world challenges? Do you like working with a top-notch, internationally recognized industrial partner? Would you like to push the boundaries of system-level modelling, analysis, design, exploration and synthesis beyond the current state-of-the-art? We offer a PhD position in the department of Electrical Engineering that focuses on solving cutting-edge design automation questions for complex cyber-physical manufacturing equipment.

Job Description
The semiconductor industry is vital to global economic growth and technological progress, powering everything from energy solutions to healthcare innovations. The production of advanced chips needed to realize these solutions requires complex manufacturing equipment, lithography machines produced by ASML being a prime example. The development of these machines is itself a highly complex process. Current design automation solutions for manufacturing equipment are limited to specific domains or subsystems. Holistic system-level design is a necessary next step to realize these systems with the expected productivity, reliability, and product quality, within cost and form-factor constraints. This implies going beyond current domain-specific solutions in software engineering, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering.

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate for a PhD position on scenario-based compositional system-level performance engineering. The candidate will explore how to achieve correct behavior of the manufacturing system (e.g., collision-free material handling) at the required performance (in terms of throughput, latency), while considering concerns and constraints from various engineering domains (form factor, costs, thermal conditioning) by leveraging scenario-based design. The envisioned methodology considers systems from a behavioral perspective, clustering behaviors with similar characteristics into scenarios. The model-based performance engineering starts from use cases (typical and exceptional) and different operating modes of the system (normal modes and failures). This will require the development of suitable domain-specific languages (DSLs) to specify use cases from the perspective of the relevant domains as well as model transformation, analysis, and synthesis algorithms that provide functionally correct system configurations with a guaranteed performance. The research focuses on suitable domain models and the required model transformation, analysis, and synthesis approaches.

The position is hosted by the Model-Based Design Lab in the Electronic Systems group of Eindhoven University of Technology. It is part of a larger program on Design Automation with six PhD positions divided across the departments of Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Science. The program is executed in collaboration with industrial partner ASML.

Job Requirements

• A master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in computer engineering, computer science, systems engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or applied mathematics.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a passion for tackling complex, multi-disciplinary challenges.
• Strong software engineering and algorithm development skills, experience with modeling cyber-physical systems, and preferably experience with DSL development.
• Eager to work within an interdisciplinary team of industry and academic researchers.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work effectively within a large project team.
• Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level).

Conditions of Employment
A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 3,059 - max. € 3,881).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• Unlimited access to the modern on‑campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.

On our website you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e!

About us
We are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community.

Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven — a world‑leading tech region with more than 7,000 high‑tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here.

The mission of the Department of Electrical Engineering is to acquire, share and transfer knowledge and understanding in the whole field of Electrical Engineering through education, research and valorization. We work towards a ‘Smart Sustainable Society’, a ‘Connected World’, and a healthy humanity (‘Care & Cure’). Activities share an application-oriented character, a high degree of complexity and a large synergy between multiple facets of the field.

Research is carried out into the applications of electromagnetic phenomena in all forms of energy conversion, telecommunication and electrical signal processing. Existing and new electrical components and systems are analyzed, designed and built. The Electrical Engineering department takes its inspiration from contacts with high-tech industry in the direct surrounding region and beyond.

The department is innovative and has international ambitions and partnerships. The result is a challenging and inspiring setting in which socially relevant issues are addressed.

Information
Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact
dr.ir. Marc (M.C.W.) Geilen, m.c.w.geilen@tue.nl, or Prof.dr.ir. Twan (A.A.) Basten, a.a.basten@tue.nl.

Visit our website for more information about the application process. You can also contact HR Services via HRServices.EE@tue.nl.

Curious to hear more about what it’s like as a PhD candidate at TU/e? Please view the video.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application
We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references. Kindly note that we may reach out to references at any stage of the recruitment process. We recommend notifying your references upon submitting your application.

Ensure that you submit all the requested application documents. We give priority to complete applications.

We look forward to receiving your application. The vacancy closes on May 29, 2026.

Please note

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check, please consult the National Knowledge Security Guidelines.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.