One (1) Research Assistant Position [Ref # PAR-0597]

19 Mar 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas

Department

Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Research Field

Biological sciences

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Greece

Application Deadline

29 Mar 2024 - 13:00 (Europe/Athens)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

40

Offer Starting Date

1 May 2024

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

The research group of Kyriaki Sidiropoulou under the international program NIH--R01NS131467, entitled “Dravet Syndrome Anti-Epileptic Control by Targeting GIRK Channels” (Program Coordinator Prof. Diomedes Logothetis, Northeastern University) invites applications for one (1) motivated Research Assistant to assist with the investigation of novel pharmaceutical agents on neuronal activity.

 

About the lab

The Neurophysiology and Behavior Laboratory at IMBB uses a multidisciplinary approach to understand the cellular mechanisms of learning and memory in health and disease.

 

About the project:

Dravet Syndrome (DS) is a devastating form of epilepsy caused by loss of function of NaV1.1 (80-90% of cases), the predominant voltage-gated Na+ channel expressed in inhibitory (GABAergic) interneurons in the

hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. This causes a decrease in the release of inhibitory neurotransmitter (GABA), resulting in hyperexcitability. Two small molecule monotherapies have been approved recently by the FDA: Epidiolex (Cannabidiol or CBD) in 2018 and Fintepla (fenfluramine or FA) in 2020 for patients two years of age and older. Even though they reduce the frequency of seizures, these drugs at their effective dosages cause multiple side effects. Their mechanism(s) of action to reduce epileptiform activity remain(s) unknown. G protein-gated inwardly rectifying K+ (GIRK) channels have been strongly implicated in epilepsy. They are activated by the Gβγ dimer of G proteins and by [Na+]i in a synergistic manner. The basis of synergism lies in that they each work allosterically to control predominantly the two channel gates: Gβγ, the membrane gate and Na+, the cytosolic gate. In the case of the GABAergic interneurons, we hypothesize that NaV1.1 and GIRK1/2 are coupled, such that the Na+ entering through NaV1.1 promotes GIRK1/2 activity to hyperpolarize the cell and ensure removal of NaV1.1 inactivation for fast spiking. In DS this mechanism becomes compromised causing cell depolarization and inactivation of voltage-gated channels at large present in GABAergic neurons failing to compensate for the loss of NaV1.1. We use GAT1508, a specific activator of GIRK1/2 to compensate for the compromised Na+ entry. Since GAT1508 opens the cytosolic gate, we ask whether it synergizes with CBD (via CB1R) and FA (via 5-HT1DR) to open more fully the membrane gates. Experiments to test the above hypothesis will be performed in native pyramidal neurons and interneurons in acute brain slices.

 

Job Description:

The candidate will need to communicate with the IMBB animal house to secure the number of animals required for experiments, to acquire mouse brain slices, to perform patch-clamp recordings based on specific protocols agreed with the PI, to analyze, present and interpret the data.

Requirements

Research Field

Biological sciences

Education Level

Bachelor Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Biological sciences

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Required qualifications:

• BSc in Biology
• MSc in biology/biomedicine
• Excellent oral and written skills in English language
• More than 3 years’ experience with animal handling, acute mouse brain slice preparation, extracellular and/or patch-clamp recordings and data analysis software (python, matlab)

Desired qualifications:

• Certification for work with animals used for biomedical purposes.

	Evaluation criteria	Maximum score
1.	B.Sc. degree grade (Score points = grade x 1)	10
2.	M.S. degree grade (Score points = grade x 2)	20
3.	Experience with animals used for biomedical purposes (6-12 months = 5 points, 12-24 months = 10 points, 24-36 months = 15 points, >36 months = 20 points) Experience with electrophysiological techniques and data analysis (6-12 months = 5 points, 12-24 months = 10 points, 24-36 months = 15 points, >36 months = 20 points)	40
4.	Oral and written skills in the English language (Β1 = 5 points, Β2 = 10 points, C1 = 15 points, C2 = 20 points)	20
5.	Certification for work with animals used for biomedical purposes	10
Total score	100

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Internal Application form(s) needed
Application form-en.pdf
English
(498.8 KB - PDF)
Download
Additional Information
Benefits

Contract Duration: 3 months with the possibility of extension according to the project needs

Total budget: Depending on experience and qualifications, in accordance with the provisions of the Greek legislation (Law 4354/2015)

Envisaged starting date: 1/5/2024

Application submission: Interested applicants should submit their application electronically by March 29, 2024 @ 13:00 (Greece time)

Eligibility criteria

The application should consist of:

1. Application Form (see below)

2. CV

3. Brief statement of purpose

4. The names and contact details of two referees

5. Scanned copies of academic titles

6. Scanned copies proving all the qualifications

 

Submission of applications:  [email protected]

Selection process

Evaluation procedure

Applications will be evaluated by a three-member evaluation committee. In case of interview procedure, applicants will be invited to participate in person or teleconference.

In case of titles and qualifications awarded by foreign Higher Education Institutions, the provisions of the Law 55/2023 (article 36) and 4957/2022 (article 304) are implemented.

The results of the selection will be announced on the website of IMBB-FORTH. Applicants have the right to appeal the selection decision, by addressing their written objection to the IMBB secretariat within five days since the results announcement on the web. Objections are submitted in one of the following ways: in person, by an authorized person, by post, by courier. They also have the right to access (a) the files of the applicants as well as (b) the table of applicants’ scores (ranking of applicants results). All the above information related to the selection procedure will be available at the secretariat of IMBB-FORTH in line with the Hellenic Data Protection Authority. Access to personal data of co- applicants shall be limited to personal data (and relevant data) and supporting documents which have been the basis of the evaluation of the applicants for the specific post(s). Prior to the announcement of the personal data and/or documents of the co- applicants to the applicant, FORTH will inform the data subjects in an appropriate way.

The selected applicants will be notified personally regarding the success of his/her application and will be requested to submit certified copies of his/her degrees. If the submitted documents do not agree with the original application, the applicant will be dismissed.

Additional comments

GDPR Disclaimer

FORTH is compliant with all legal procedures for the processing of personal data as defined by the Regulation EU/2016/679 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data. FORTH processes the personal data and relevant supporting documents that applicants have submitted. Processing of that data is carried out exclusively for the needs and purposes of this specific call. Such data shall not be transmitted to or communicated to any third party unless required by law.

FORTH retains the above data up to the announcement of the final results of the call, unless further process and reservation is required by law or for purposes of exercise, enforcement, prosecution of certain one’s legitimate legal rights’ as defined in the Regulation EU/2016/679 and/or in national law. Under the Regulation EU/2016/679, applicants have the rights to be informed about their personal data, access to, rectification and erasure, restrictions of process and objection to as provided by applicable regulation and national laws. Applicants have the right to file a complaint to the national Data Protection Authority. For any further information regarding exercise of personal data protection rights, applicants may contact the Data Protection Officer at FORTH at [email protected] .

Applicants have the right to withdraw their application and consent for the processing of personal data at any time. In this case, FORTH shall destroy such documents and/or supporting documents submitted and shall delete the related personal data.

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

IMBB

Country

Greece

Geofield

Where to apply

E-mail

[email protected]

Contact

City

Heraklion

Website

http://www.imbb.forth.gr

Street

Vassilika Vouton

Postal Code

70013

STATUS: EXPIRED