Job ID: 117758

Postdoctoral position on functional neuron-astrocyte interactions

Position: Post-doctoral Position

Deadline: 31 May 2024

Employment Start Date: 1 July 2024

Contract Length: 2 years

City: Saclay

Country: France

Institution: Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience

Department:

Description:

A 2-year postdoctoral scholar position, funded by the French Medical Research Foundation, is available for highly motivated candidates with a Ph.D. in Neuroscience. You would be joining the research group of Lucile Ben Haim in the “Astrocyte signaling in health and neurodegenerative diseases” (Dir. Carole Escartin, Ph.D.) at the Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience (Saclay, 25km South of Paris, France), a state-of-the-art multidisciplinary research institute, from brain development to integrative network neuroscience.

Project
Neuron-astrocyte interactions are classically assessed through analysis of astrocyte calcium signals, overlooking transcription-factor based signaling, despite their emerging roles in health and disease. In this project, you will study how these alternative signaling cascades shape the cooperation between astrocytes and neurons and contribute to the regulation of complex behaviors, focusing on social interactions. To do so, you will use viral vectors to selectively manipulate transcription-factor based signaling in astrocytes and determine the effect on mouse social behavior and subsequent neuronal activity using in vivo fiber photometry.

Skills
-Live imaging on awake mice
-Surgery (stereotaxic injections, optic fiber implantation)
-Mouse behavioral testing
-Data analysis/programming

Job duties
– Independently design, perform and analyze experiments
-Take leadership on the project
-Present progress reports
-Participate in meetings with team, collaborators and attend conferences
-Teach/mentor junior researchers

Personal skills
– Excellent fluency in both spoken and written English
-Open to learn/develop new methods
-Ready to write applications for fellowships to advance their career
-Willing to work in a productive and creative group
-Be open to criticism, discuss challenges and team goals

Terms
24-month post-doctoral position starting in May-September 2024, salary depending upon experience. Extension will be possible by applying to additional post-doctoral fellowships. The successful candidate will receive all necessary training, regular supervision and constructive discussion on his/her results and future career.

Applicants should send a CV, a letter of motivation and two reference letters in a single pdf document.