Job ID: 120109

PhD student – reducing the power of a dominant memory

Position: Ph.D. Student

Deadline: 31 December 2024

Employment Start Date: 1 November 2024

Contract Length: 4 years

City: Haifa

Country: Israel

Institution: University of Haifa

Department: Neurobiology

Description:

What causes the aversive memory to dominate the behavior? As part of a pioneering project in our lab that explores a novel synaptic mediated mechanism for memory amplification, we are looking for a PhD student. The memory amplification mechanism is a novel learning mechanism, which transfers a normal memory into a dominant memory. It is selectively induced on cells that participated in the aversive memory through a distinctive modification of the synaptic strength. In this research project, the aim is to study the biophysical and molecular modification that underlie the induction of this mechanism. Identification of these processes can lead to a development of a drug that blocks the amplification mechanism, and thus reduces the pathology of the traumatic memory. More specifically, the project involves electrophysiological and behavioural study, using electrophysiological recordings in brain slices. We are looking for an enthusiastic PhD student that is motivated to explore, study and understand the mechanisms that underlie this novel – learning induced mechanism. Critical thinking and curiosity are welcomed. This project is suitable to neuroscientists and biologists that holds a MSc. Degree. Advantage is given for holding an experience in an in-vitro patch clamp recordings.