Postdoc researcher in molecular neuroscience

The perception of our environment relies on well-organized networks in our brain. But as our environment is constantly changing, these networks need to adapt to effectively process this information, without getting over- or under-active. To counteract this, homeostatic mechanisms are needed to maintain activity levels within physiological range. The overarching goal of this project is to provide a molecular understanding of the homeostatic mechanisms allowing neurons to maintain networks in balance while efficiently transmitting sensory information.

Homeostatic plasticity of synaptic transmission is a well-studied mechanism aiming at maintaining the firing rate of neurons around a set point, which is crucial for sensory processing. Importantly however, the initiation of action potential firing is ultimately controlled at the axon initial segment. My lab and others have shown that neuronal activity actively regulates AIS composition and function. AIS plasticity thus represents a powerful mechanism to adjust neuronal output. However, its role in sensory processing remains largely unclear.

In this project, you will use transcriptomics and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated endogenous protein tagging, combined with electrophysiology and super-resolution imaging in vitro and in vivo to determine how sensory experience shapes the axon initial segment, and how this regulates neuronal excitability and participates in network activity homeostasis.

We are looking for a highly motivated scientists with the following qualifications:

• A PhD degree in neuroscience or cell biology/biophysics with neuroscience specialization;
• Hands-on experience with electrophysiology in brain slices, molecular and cellular neuroscience, especially the methods and/or models listed above;
• Hands-on experience with bioinformatics is an advantage;
• You are fluent in English (written and spoken) and have good communication skills;
• You are a team player and want to join a collaborative and dynamic group of science enthusiasts.