Mental health disorders, in particular major depressive disorder or anxiety disorder, are among the most important health problems worldwide, causing severe individual suffering and a massive socio-economic burden for society. Since the onset and progression of both disorders are highly affected by contextual factors, the proposed PhD project will investigate neuroplasticity as an underlying mechanism in both resilience and vulnerability, depending on the environmental context. The aim of the project will be to elucidate the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the environment-behaviour interaction with particular focus on brain immune cells microglia and their interaction with neuronal cells. As microglia are emerging cellular target for the treatment of psychiatric disorders, due to their critical role in regulating neuroplasticity, the project will evaluate microglial synaptic pruning in the models of mental health resilience and vulnerability.
PhD student will join an established international consortium that includes scientific groups from Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland and Finland. This network has a dedicated exchange program for PhD students, ensuring internships in the lab of another consortium member to foster advanced training on research approaches. PhD student will be included in a designated consortium mentorship program that will provide guidance, support, and advice throughout the research project.