Postdoc: Biomechanics of Vocal Behaviour in Rodents at Department of…

Job description
We seek postdoctoral fellows to study motor control and the biomechanics of sound production in songbirds and rodents. The positions will be part of an interdisciplinary, international consortium consisting of three nodes: the Vocal Neuromechanics Lab at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU, Odense, Denmark), the Sober Lab at Emory University (Atlanta, USA) and the Complex Flow Modeling and Simulation Lab at the Rochester Institute of Technology (USA).

The open positions are located in Odense, Denmark, but all applicants will receive mentorship from and (post-pandemic) travel between all three research nodes.

The positions are funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation (Denmark) as part of the Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme along with the National Institutes of Health (USA). They are available as of February 2023, or until filled, for a two-year period.

Background
Although the physics of voice production is described in humans, experimental difficulties prevent systematic investigation of voice control and associated diseases. Consequently, we lack physics-based causal models connecting neural activity to sounds produced. In contrast, in songbirds and rodents – the best animal models for speech acquisition and neuro-psychiatric communicative dysfunctions – we can probe the neural circuits controlling vocal behaviour, but lack insight in how their activity is transformed into sound by their vocal organs. In this interdisciplinary project, we will use state-of-the-art techniques from neuroscience, physiology, engineering and biomechanics and integrate physics-based, computational models with novel experimental paradigms to causally link neural activity to sound production in songbirds and rodents.

Preferred qualifications
We are looking for applicants with:

• a PhD in bio-imaging, biomechanics, engineering, neuroscience, or a related field
• excellent written and oral English language communication skills.

Other experiences, such as signal analysis, and/or programming (C++, Matlab, or equivalent) present a distinct advantage.

We seek scholars with one of the following distinct profiles, but possibly also other types or researchers.

Experience in biomechanics. We will use combined in vitro and ex vivo approaches studying effects of muscle recruitment on sound production. Experimental tec hniques: high-speed imaging, 3D motion capture, muscle mechanics, kinematic analysis, mechanical tissue properties and microscopy.

Experience in micro-surgical experimental procedures. Experience with EMG implantation or other muscle (or nerve) surgery is ideal, but any kind of micro-surgical experience is a strong asset.

Deadline
15 December 2022.

Please see the full call, including how to apply, on www.sdu.dk .