Job ID: 120267

Post-doctoral or Post-graduate fellow to study the role of astrocytes in synaptic plasticity

Position: Post-doctoral Position

Deadline: 27 September 2024

Employment Start Date: 15 October 2024

Contract Length: 12 months

City: Pisa

Country: Italy

Institution: Neuroscience Institute CNR

Department:

Description:

We are seeking for a highly motivated, skilled Post-doctoral candidate for a project focused on the role of astrocytes in synaptic plasticity.

A 1-year fellowship funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research is available at the Neuroscience Institute, c/o CNR in Pisa. The Neuroscience Institute in Pisa is one of the partners of a great collaboration among different institutes (University of Pisa and University of Trento), which have expertise in distinct neurobiology field, from molecular neurobiology to behaviour.

The overall project is focused on the study of astrocytes as pivotal, new cellular players for the establishment (development) and maintenance (adulthood) of cortical circuits, moving away from the neurocentric perspective of visual cortex plasticity. We will focus on the visual cortex, a well-established model of neural cortical plasticity.

Combining in vivo longitudinal electrophysiological recording and imaging techniques, we will investigate the role of astrocytic BDNF recycling (DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.09.031) in adulthood, in stabilizing the visual cortex network, specifically in regulating the opening and closing of the critical period in healthy and pathological conditions such as peripheral and central nervous system injuries. These findings could pave the way for a whole new approach to enhance synaptic plasticity, suggesting astrocytes as a potential therapeutic target for increasing plasticity and improving circuit rewiring and functional recovery following lesions to the nervous system.

In particular, the candidate will perform 2-photon in vivo imaging in visual cortex, to analyse calcium signalling in astrocytes in mice with or without deletion of p75 receptor.

Thus, the ideal candidate is an enthusiastic and committed young researcher with experience with animal experimentation and, preferentially, experience in 2-photon imaging.

The candidate will benefit of team working and will have the chance to work in a Lab (the Laboratory of Neuroscience Institute) that has a long experience in in-vivo electrophysiology, anatomical and behavioural analyses in physiological and pathological conditions.

For information on the job advertisement please contact Claudia Alia (alia@in.cnr.it). Please apply via the CNR job application website (https://bandi.mur.gov.it/bandi.php/public/fellowship/id_fellow/275376). Deadline for application is the 27.09.2024.