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The Centre for Brain Research is honoured to offer postdoctoral fellowships through the kind support of the Aotearoa Foundation.

These prestigious research fellowships are funded by the Aoteoroa Foundation to enable an outstanding emerging scientist to undertake research within the Centre for Brain Research at The University of Auckland. The Aotearoa Foundation is committed to furthering New Zealand research, and offers this generous support to the CBR in pursuit of our goals.

Applications must be made online to the University of Auckland opportunities page. For any queries please email Jada Macfie.

Aotearoa Foundation Neuroscience Postdoctoral Fellowship

• The Aoteoroa Foundation has committed to funding three Research Fellows, each for three years of duration, with the first two appointments in 2011 and the third in 2012. Two candidates have already been appointed, and more information about their work can be found here.
• We are now looking for the 2012 candidate - a researcher who has already shown the potential to be an independent research leader of the highest international calibre. These fellowships are in support of the continued development of the Centre for Brain Research to help meet its goals as a major neuroscience centre in New Zealand, committed to identifying and developing new treatments for neurological conditions.
  Read the CBR Vision statement.
  
• The Centre for Brain Research supports basic and clinical scientists who work in a unique partnership with the community to undertake a spectrum of neuroscience research. Each Fellowship is available in any area of neuroscience that aligns with the centre’s central research themes of molecular and cellular neuroscience, clinical neuroscience, cognitive and computational neuroscience, and sensory and motor neuroscience.
  Find out more about the CBR research themes.
• We are especially seeking applicants whose work will facilitate the centre’s strategic goals to develop interdisciplinary research and core research technologies, such as the Integrative Neuroscience Facilities, which will help establish models of human neurological diseases, a Biobank for the direct study of diseased human tissue for drug development and biomarker identification, and the translation of research into the clinic through the Brain Recovery Clinic.
  Read about our Strategic Plan.
  
• The multidisciplinary nature of the Centre for Brain Research provides an excellent environment for the Fellow to engage with scientists and clinicians in a broad range of disciplines. Active participation in the centre’s scientific and community programmes will be encouraged. Find out more about the CBR events programme.

Project examples

• Biomarkers of neural plasticity and recovery after stroke
• The response of the human visual cortex to gradual vs. acute loss of vision
• Reducing motor impairment after stroke
• Immune markers of brain injury
• Histone deacetylase inhibitors for human neurodegenerative disorders
• Development Coordination Disorder
• Calcitonin gene-related peptide and migraine; how does it cause pain?
• The localisation and function of the inhibitory system in neural plasticity and diseases of the human brain
• Developing a full length human cell model of Huntington’s disease

 

Applications for 2012 position

• Applicants should have completed a PhD or equivalent postgraduate research degree (such as MD) within 6 years of applying.
• Applications should be made online through the University of Auckland opportunities website listed at the bottom of this page. It is essential that applicants have contacted potential preceptors in the centre and that the application is endorsed by a principal investigator within the centre. View the research projects and staff within the centre.
• Details of the research group or environment, supervision and where within the Centre the applicant intends to undertake the Fellowship must be provided. Research that aligns with the strategic goals of the centre will have precedence and, in keeping with the interdisciplinary nature of the centre, applications supported by more than one supervisor are preferred. A letter of support from the proposed supervisors is essential.
• For further information, please email j.macfie@auckland.ac.nz

The application must include all the information detailed in the criteria document including:

• Details of the programme of research to be undertaken and how the research will fit with the applicant’s future career plans
• Details of the research group or environment, supervision and where in the Centre the applicant intends to undertake the Fellowship along with a letter of support from a supervisor(s) within the Centre for Brain Research
• Names and contact details of three referees
• Explicit budget with justification, including salary and working expenses. Please include other sources of funding you may have.

The application criteria details can be downloaded here(100.0KB DOC)

For any queries please email Jada Macfie.

• Closing date: 1st July 2012
  

 

Selection Process

Selection will be based on the following criteria:

• Evidence of an appropriate postgraduate research qualification
• Academic background and track record of the applicant and suitability to the proposed project
• Scientific merit and feasibility of the proposal
• Quality and vision of the career plan
• Quality, suitability and track record of the research supervisor(s) and team
• Support from referees and supervisor(s)
• Evidence of potential research leadership