Post-doctoral position in Sherbrooke/Canada

Description

TITLE: Neural control of locomotion before and after spinal cord regeneration in salamanders (ERC Synergy grant).

PROJECT: In salamanders, the spinal cord regenerates after a full transection and the animal recovers voluntary locomotion after a few weeks. How this occurs is largely unknown. Genetic dissection of salamander neural circuits is now feasible with methods for manipulation, elimination, and visualisation of cells. Such approaches can be combined with calcium imaging (confocal and two-photon imaging), patch-clamp electrophysiology, optogenetics, tracing and movement analysis (for review Ryczko et al. 2020 Trends in Neurosciences, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2020.08.006). The candidate will use these powerful approaches to study salamander locomotor circuits in the intact and regenerated spinal cord. This project is funded by a synergy grant of the ERC. The work will be carried out in collaboration with modelers and roboticists (Pr. Ijspeert, EPFL, Switzerland) and experts in genomics (Pr. Simon, Karolinska Institute, Sweden).

HOST LABORATORY: Dr. Ryczko has expertise in the neural control of locomotion and published research in excellent journals (PNAS, Science, Journal of Neuroscience…). The lab receives grant support by the CIHR, NSERC, FRQS, CFI and ERC. We are equipped for optogenetics, viral injections, patch-clamp recordings, confocal and two photon calcium imaging, high-resolution movement analysis, and microscopy (confocal, light-sheet, two-photon, STED).

REQUIREMENTS: The candidate should have obtained a PhD in neuroscience. An asset for the candidate would be to have expertise in electrophysiology (patch-clamp) or calcium imaging (confocal or two photon), optogenetics, and a strong interest in locomotor control.

APPLY: Candidates should send a letter of interest explaining how they fit for the role, a CV, a record of their academic results and three references. Only candidates selected for the interview will be contacted.

Job Information

Closing date:  2021-04-30
Employment start date:  2021-09-01
Contract length:  2 years, with possibility for an extension
Institution:  Université de Sherbrooke
Department:  Pharmacology-Physiology

Contact Information

Ryczko, Dimitri
Département de Pharmacologie-Physiologie
Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé
Université de Sherbrooke
3001, 12e Avenue Nord
Sherbrooke (Québec) Canada
J1H 5N4

Phone:  +1 819 821 8000 (ext. 75347)
Email:  dimitri.ryczko@usherbrooke.ca
Website:  https://ryczkolab.wordpress.com/

Please click here to apply.