Internship: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a severe, debilitating condition with multiple neurological symptoms. Hallmark symptoms of ME/CFS extreme fatigue that is not improved by rest, sleep disturbances, and cognitive impairments. A recently established ME/CFS brain autopsy collection from the Netherlands Brain Bank enables a comprehensive investigation of the molecular and cellular landscape of the ME/CFS brain.

Our research aims to use histological analyses to investigate molecular changes in the human hypothalamus, which is essential for sleep regulation and endocrine homeostatic regulation, both of which are profoundly dysregulated in ME/CFS.

Project Description

The student will join an ongoing PhD project investigating cellular and molecular changes in the human ME/CFS brain.

This project is focused on histological analyses of the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The SCN functions as the central circadian pacemaker, and plays a key role in synchronizing physiological and behavioral rhythms. This includes sleep and wakefulness, temperature, neuroendocrine and autonomic functions, all of which are altered in ME/CFS. The student will examine the expression of neuropeptides and glial cells in the SCN of ME/CFS donors and a well-matched control cohort, where potential dysregulation might underlie core ME/CFS symptoms.

Activities

The student will:

• Perform immunohistochemical stainings on FFPE human brain tissue
• Quantify obtained data and perform statistical analyses
• Contribute to the interpretation of biological findings
• Read and discuss relevant scientific literature
• Attend and participate in lab meetings
• Present project progress and findings

Requirements

We are looking for a highly motivated student with a background in neuroscience or a related field.

Required:

• Wet lab experience, preferably with IHC or IF experience
• Understanding of applied statistics and data visualization
• The student should be available full-time for at least 6 months. Longer periods are appreciated.

Starting date: September 2026

Application deadline: 7 July 2026

Conditions

This internship is unpaid and does not include financial support from the institute.

The Huitinga group investigates the neurobiological basis of immune and glial contributions to brain disorders, with a strong emphasis on human postmortem brain tissue. Our research focuses on how microglia and other glial cells contribute to the onset and progression of neurological and psychiatric conditions. Using high-quality brain samples from the Netherlands Brain Bank and detailed clinical metadata, our group links immune alterations to symptom profiles, ultimately aiming to identify targets for diagnostics and therapy.