Join us!
If you are excited by tackling fundamental questions about how the brain works within a supportive, international research environment, we would love to hear from you.
We are hiring!
We’re excited to hear from enthusiastic candidates who are passionate about our research! When contacting us, kindly attach your CV, a summary of your scientific background, research interests and why you are specifically interested in joining our lab.
Open Postdoc, Research Associate/PhD positions.
We are recruiting three postdoctoral fellows and one research assistant/PhD student to join a Wellcome Trust-funded programme, ‘Decoding competition in the brain’.
Duration: 3 years (extension possible).
Postdoc positions: apply here (deadline 26th April 2026).
Research associate/PhD position apply here (deadline 27th April 2026).
Projects are flexible and will be shaped by your interests and expertise.
THE QUESTION
Animals constantly face situations in which crucial behaviours cannot be executed simultaneously, such as feeding versus escaping danger. We investigate how conflicting motivations are evaluated, prioritised, and transformed into action. Using Drosophila, we will uncover mechanisms linking molecules, synapses, circuits, and behaviour, revealing general principles of decision-making. We will test how the presence of rivals (competitive pressure) biases these processes, how prior social experience reshapes neural circuits, and whether shared principles govern behavioural choice across sexes.
Successful candidates will contribute to a multidisciplinary programme combining in vivo two photon calcium imaging, connectomics, quantitative behavioural tracking, optogenetics, neural circuit dissection, single cell transcriptomics, and computational analysis to identify mechanisms that link molecules, synapses, cells, and neural circuits to behaviour, and to uncover fundamental principles underlying decision-making.
Projects are flexible and can be shaped by the candidate’s interests, with scope for independent directions. Positions are available for three years, with potential extension, and offer strong opportunities for international collaboration and career development.
APPROACH
Approaches include innovative behavioural assays, advanced genetics, neural circuit dissection, optogenetics, in vivo two-photon imaging, connectomics, behavioural tracking, computational analysis, molecular approaches (e.g., single-cell transcriptomics).
WHY JOIN US You will join a collaborative and international research environment within a vibrant neuroscience community. The lab maintains active collaborations across the UK and Europe, offering excellent opportunities for training, intellectual exchange, and career development. APPLY
Find out more and apply: https://www.rezavallab.org/
Deadlines:
Postdocs: 26 April, 2026
Research Assistant / PhD: 27 April, 2026
For informal enquiries contact Carolina Rezaval
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Post-Doctoral Research Opportunities:
We welcome enquiries from prospective postdoctoral researchers at any stage. We encourage you to contact Carolina Rezaval early (even if no positions are currently advertised) to explore potential funding opportunities. We are keen to support both independent research ideas and contributions to ongoing projects in the lab.
Applicants should send a CV, a statement of research interests/ideas, and an outline of potential funding routes. A list of possible funding opportunities can be found here and here.
Options include:
Early Career Researcher Opportunities:
Apply for funding to conduct independent research and develop leadership skills in our lab. Get in touch with Carolina to discuss opportunities. Find some funding options here.
PhD Opportunities:
UK PhDs typically last 3–4 years and usually begin in September (with some flexibility). Funding options vary by country, so please get in touch to discuss.
Applicants usually hold a strong degree in a relevant field, but curiosity, enthusiasm for research, and a desire to understand how the brain works are most important. The University of Birmingham supports both home and international students through competitive programmes.
Our lab offers annual opportunities within these schemes, with application deadlines typically in early January for entry the following September. We encourage you to contact Carolina in November–December to discuss potential projects.
If interested, please contact Carolina before applying and include your CV, a brief summary of your research interests, and your proposed funding route.
PhD opportunities:
Visiting Studentships/ Scientific exchange:
We offer student internships for 3 to 12 months to fulfil the requirements of degree programs or as part of exchange programs. Interested individuals should email Carolina with their CV and a cover letter. Explore funding options here.
Master Projects:
We offer projects to MRes, MSc, MSci students. If you're interested in carrying out your research project in our lab, get in touch. Include your CV and a research interests. You are wellcome to join the lab in the summer to gain experience before you start your masters.
Summer Placements:
Prospective Master's or PhD students are encouraged to apply for summer placements in our lab. Email Carolina with evidence of your skills and specific interest in our lab, highlighting relevant experiences. Applicants should be able to commit to at least 8 weeks in the lab. Funding available here.
Post-Doctoral Research Opportunities:
We welcome enquiries from prospective postdoctoral researchers at any stage. We encourage you to contact Carolina Rezaval early (even if no positions are currently advertised) to explore potential funding opportunities. We are keen to support both independent research ideas and contributions to ongoing projects in the lab.
Applicants should send a CV, a statement of research interests/ideas, and an outline of potential funding routes. A list of possible funding opportunities can be found here and here.
Options include:
- Applying for a research grant from a UK funding body (BBSRC) or a charity (e.g. Wellcome Trust, Leverhulme Trust) with you as a named postdoc.
- Applying for your own postdoctoral fellowship. Examples include:
- Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowships (up to 4 years’ funding; open to final-year PhD students and early postdocs)
- Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (1–2 years’ funding; requires a PhD at the time of application; particularly suitable for researchers moving to the UK from elsewhere in Europe or beyond).
- Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) Postdoctoral Fellowships (3 years’ funding; supports bold, high-risk projects at the frontiers of the life sciences, often involving a shift in discipline and/or country. Two schemes are available: Long-Term Fellowships for life scientists and Cross-Disciplinary Fellowships for those moving into biology from fields such as physics, engineering, or computation).
Early Career Researcher Opportunities:
Apply for funding to conduct independent research and develop leadership skills in our lab. Get in touch with Carolina to discuss opportunities. Find some funding options here.
PhD Opportunities:
UK PhDs typically last 3–4 years and usually begin in September (with some flexibility). Funding options vary by country, so please get in touch to discuss.
Applicants usually hold a strong degree in a relevant field, but curiosity, enthusiasm for research, and a desire to understand how the brain works are most important. The University of Birmingham supports both home and international students through competitive programmes.
Our lab offers annual opportunities within these schemes, with application deadlines typically in early January for entry the following September. We encourage you to contact Carolina in November–December to discuss potential projects.
If interested, please contact Carolina before applying and include your CV, a brief summary of your research interests, and your proposed funding route.
PhD opportunities:
- BBSRC MIBTP Fully Funded 4-Year PhD Position: Application details can be found here. Select our project when applying here. Closing Date: 16 January. Open to home and international students. More details below.
- The Boehringer Ingelheim PhD Fellowship: For candidates with strong academic records, lab experience, and publications. Closing Date: Early February. More information here.
- Self-Funded Student Applications: We welcome applications from home and international students with their own funding. If interested, please email Carolina with your CV, research interests, and funding proposal.
- Midlands Mental Health and Neurosciences PhD Programme for Healthcare Professionals: Specifically for Home students. Closing Date: Early April. Details here. Choose our project when applying.
- PhD Positions for Chinese Students via the China Scholarship Council (CSC): We offer positions to exceptional Chinese PhD students in partnership with the CSC. Closing Date: Early February. Additional details here.
- PhD Fellowships and Scholarships: Explore additional funding options like Commonwealth Scholarships, British Council scholarships for women in STEM, and more here.
- PhD Opportunity for Home and International Students
- We will be recruiting a research assistant interested in doing a PhD. Wellcome-funded positions will be officially advertised soon.
- BBSRC MIBTP Fully Funded 4-Year PhD Position: Application details are available here. The deadline is early January.
- We also recommend the Darwin Trust of Edinburgh as an alternative funding option for microbiology-neuroscience projects, specifically supporting overseas students. The application deadline is early January.
Visiting Studentships/ Scientific exchange:
We offer student internships for 3 to 12 months to fulfil the requirements of degree programs or as part of exchange programs. Interested individuals should email Carolina with their CV and a cover letter. Explore funding options here.
Master Projects:
We offer projects to MRes, MSc, MSci students. If you're interested in carrying out your research project in our lab, get in touch. Include your CV and a research interests. You are wellcome to join the lab in the summer to gain experience before you start your masters.
Summer Placements:
Prospective Master's or PhD students are encouraged to apply for summer placements in our lab. Email Carolina with evidence of your skills and specific interest in our lab, highlighting relevant experiences. Applicants should be able to commit to at least 8 weeks in the lab. Funding available here.
