PhD targeting microglia to treat obesity

A major challenge in obesity treatment is weight rebound after successful interventions, whether through pharmacological treatments (e.g., GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Wegovy or Ozempic) or lifestyle approaches like diet and exercise. This “yo-yo effect” is poorly understood at the cellular and molecular level.

The Chun-Xia Yi Lab received a ZonMw Vici grant to study how microglia–neuron interactions in the hypothalamus contribute to obesity and post-weight-loss weight regain. The project has two complementary branches:

• Human translational research: analyzing postmortem brain tissue from individuals with acquired or genetic obesity to identify molecular signatures linked to obesity and weight loss.
• Mechanistic studies in animal models: using obese mouse models to dissect cellular mechanisms identified in human tissue and to test compounds targeting microglial and neuronal pathways, aiming to develop anti-obesity interventions that prevent weight rebound.

Would you like to know more about the different phases within the PhD trajectory? You can read more about this on this page.

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD student to contribute to cutting-edge research in neuroimmunology and obesity. Your work will include:

• working with obese mouse models using diet-induced and genetic strategies;
• performing metabolic phenotyping and behavioral assessments;
• conducting multi-omics analyses of microglia and neurons at single-cell resolution, including isolated microglia or spatial transcriptomics;
• applying advanced imaging techniques to study microglia-neuron interactions;
• participating in collaborative translational studies on human brain tissue with other PhD students and postdocs.

This position provides hands-on experience in translational neuroscience, obesity research, and neuroimmunology within a collaborative and dynamic environment.

We are seeking a candidate who is curious, proactive, and highly motivated to advance obesity research. You bring:

• a Master’s degree in neuroscience or a related field;
• experience with mouse models;
• experience in neuroscience morphology (brain tissue sectioning, immunohistochemistry, bright-field or fluorescent microscopy) is a plus;
• experience in bioinformatics or multi-omics data analysis is advantageous;
• creativity, curiosity, and a problem-solving mindset;
• ability to work independently and as a strong team player;
• excellent proficiency in spoken and written English.