Job ID: 117507

PhD Position in electrophysiology of tick neurons

Position: Ph.D. Student

Deadline: 15 March 2024

Employment Start Date: 1 October 2024

Contract Length: 3 years

City: Orleans

Country: France

Institution: University of Orleans (France)/P2E laboratory/ Team : Neurobiology and Neuropharmacology of Ion Channels (NNIC)

Department: Biology and Biochemistry

Description:

Project title : Pharmacology and intracellular regulation of tick Ixodes ricinus neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Summary

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are of particular interest because they are the main target of pesticides, which are important in agriculture for controlling insect pests, and veterinary medicine for preventing transmission of arthropod borne diseases. In the team, we are currently studying arthropod neuronal nAChRs from pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum, honeybee Apis mellifera, cockroach Periplaneta americana and tick Ixodes ricinus.

Recently, we carried out the sequencing of transcriptomes of the tick Ixodes ricinus synganglion. As the first step of a functional study, a phylogenetic study was performed for the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Moreover, we used electrophysiological recordings and calcium imaging to investigate the functional properties of tick I. ricinus neurons expressing muscarinic and nicotinic receptors.

In the present study, we aim to study the complex pharmacological properties of the tick Ixodes ricinus muscarinic and nicotinic receptors, using patch clamp and two-electrode voltage clamp.

Methods and technical skills

We are looking for a motivated student (Teamwork and communication are important). The hired student will have to perform patch clamp and two-electrode voltage clamp, calcium imaging, and molecular biology (PCR, isolation and purification of plasmid).

Pre-selection process

A pre-selection will be made based on documents provided by applicants (Complete CV, letter of recommendation, the results obtained in the master program).

Language : French and English. The hired student will work in a young team with students of different countries.

The university of Orléans and P2E laboratory

The university of Orléans is located in the south of Paris (1h15 from Paris) and 20 min from the downtown of Orléans. It comprises 26 research laboratories and around 20 000 students. Life in Orléans is wonderful and not expensive.

Application to :

Prof. Steeve H. Thany (steeve.thany@univ-orleans.fr)

Phone : +33 (0) 238 41 70 58

Dr. Emiliane Taillebois (emiliane.taillebois@univ-orleans.fr)