Postdoctoral fellow in Neurogenetics of Social Behavior in Zebrafish

Introduction

UNIL is a leading international teaching and research institution, with over 5,000 employees and 17,000 students split between its Dorigny campus, CHUV and Epalinges. As an employer, UNIL encourages excellence, individual recognition and responsibility.

Presentation

Are you interested in the neuronal control of animal behavior? What are the circuits, cell types, or even molecules determining how animals interact with the environment and each other? In the laboratory, we study circuit mechanisms and genetic factors controlling how zebrafish detect and integrate sensory cues to guide social behavior. We have previously identified visual circuits that are tuned to conspecific motion and required for social attraction. Our current work traces this signal deeper into the brain and investigates zebrafish with extreme social behavior that emerged from mutant screening and experimental evolution.

https://www.unil.ch/cig/en/home/menuinst/research/prof-larsch.html

Job information

Expected start date in position: 01.08.2026

Contract length: 1 year, renewable

Activity rate: 100% (minimum of 50% for research project, maximum of 50% for institutional tasks)

Workplace: University of Lausanne, Dorigny campus

Your responsibilities

In one potential project, you can work towards defining circuit mechanisms and/or genetic factors controlling shoaling in wild type zebrafish, and in lines with divergent social behavior. The lab offers access to cutting edge techniques and expertise for neuronal activity mapping (2-photon microscopy, whole-brain in-situ hybridization in cleared tissue, chemogenetics and optogenetics), behavioral analysis in virtual reality sPostdiystems, and quantitative genetics (WGS, QTL mapping).

The lab studies social circuits from complementary angles, including behavior, physiology and genetics. Hence, you will be expected and supported to formulate a unique research program matching your interests with the lab’s focus.

You can also gain teaching and mentoring experience through contributions to undergraduate and graduate teaching programs and the supervision of student projects.

Your qualifications

•          Completed PhD or about to graduate.

•          Expertise in optical neurophysiology and/or genetic mapping.

•          Record of creating customized, innovative approaches to study novel aspects of biology.

•          Demonstrated experience in advanced microscopy, programming, and quantitative skills to analyze large datasets (behavior, neural activity, genomic) are assets.

•          Excellent command of oral and written English.

What the position offers you

We offer a supportive, inclusive, and collaborative environment dedicated to scientific rigor and personal development. The Center for Integrative Genomics is a highly interdisciplinary institute and in direct vicinity to our colleagues, including from the department of Ecology and Evolution, Computational Biology, Fundamental Neuroscience, and the EPFL. The lab is located on the beautiful Dorigny campus of the University of Lausanne, within walking distance to Lake Geneva, lively cafeterias, and sports facilities. Our working language is English and UNIL offers French language courses on all levels free of charge to enable immersion into the multicultural life of Lausanne for newcomers. The position comes with a competitive premier assistant salary that includes research, and limited teaching and training responsibilities.

Contact for further information

Informal enquiries should be sent to Prof. Johannes Larsch ([email protected])

Your application

The complete application should contain:

•          Motivation letter explaining how your interests and skills would lead to an interesting research question in the lab. (This is the most important part).

•          Detailed CV, including contact information for at least two referees who can attest to your work.

•          Informal inquiries are strongly encouraged: [email protected]

Deadline : 26.06.2026

Additional information

UNIL is committed to:
•    equality, diversity and inclusion within its community;
•    ensuring an open and respectful environment that is conducive to personal development;
•    offering working conditions that facilitate work-life balance;
•    supporting early career researchers.

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