The Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) is one of the most dynamic university campuses in Europe and ranks among the top 20 universities worldwide. The EPFL employs 6,000 people supporting the three main missions of the institutions: education, research and innovation. The EPFL campus offers an exceptional working environment at the heart of a community of 16,000 people, including over 10,000 students and 3,500 researchers from 120 different countries.

Post-doctoral Researcher in Computational modelling of brain cortical synapses and circuits (W/M)

Your mission :

The aim of the EPFL Blue Brain Project, a Swiss brain research initiative founded and directed by Professor Henry Markram, is to establish simulation neuroscience as a complementary approach alongside experimental, theoretical and clinical neuroscience to understanding the brain, by building the world’s first biologically detailed digital reconstructions and simulations of the mouse brain. Main duties and responsibilities include :

The goal of this project is to leverage the Blue Brain simulation know-how to digitally reconstruct and simulate brain cortical microcircuitry at the cellular and synaptic levels of detail. Modeling the cortex is a crucial step to understand the brain as very few invasive techniques can be applied compared against all mammalian brains.

The successful candidate would be responsible for:

• Gathering data about brain temporal cortex from literature, open-access datasets and international laboratories with which the BBP collaborates.


• Interact with experimentalists to validate model predictions.


• Provide scientific guidance and expertise to engineering teams, and contribute to the on-going refinement of workflows and tools to build data-driven unifying brain tissue models.


• Work in collaboration with engineering teams on visualization, high performance computing, data integration and with project managers to define objectives and timelines to achieve overarching objectives and meet aggressive deadlines.


• Collaboration to the general research activities and logistic activities (safety, equipment maintenance, etc.) of the unit

Your profile :

• PhD in neuroscience, computational neuroscience, physics or related field


• Experience in scientific computing progamming (python, scipy, numpy, hdf5, Linux,…)


• Experience in whole cell electrophysiology


• Experience in synapse electrophysiology analysis and research


• Experience in model validation


• Interest in participating in a collaborative big science project


• Fluent English speaking and writing

Would be nice to have:

• Experience in neuroscience data analysis and statistics


• Experience in version control software, shell scripting and using high-performance computing resources


• Experience in existing neuroscience tools for neuronal and circuit modelling


• Experience in brain cortical research

We offer :

• An internationally visible project in simulation-based research in neuroscience


• A young, dynamic, inter-disciplinary, and international working environment in a modern working environment (Campus Biotech, Geneva)


• Possibility to participate in outreach events in Switzerland and abroad


• Very competitive salary

Start date :

A soon as possible Term of employment :

Fixed-term (CDD)Work rate :

100%Duration :

1 year, renewable Remark :

Only candidates who applied through EPFL website or our partner Jobup’s website will be considered.apply online