PhD position: Dopaminergic control of brainstem locomotor circuits

Updated: 3 months ago
Location: Sherbrooke East, QUEBEC
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: 14 Mar 2024

6 Feb 2024
Job Information
Organisation/Company

Université de Sherbrooke
Research Field

Psychological sciences » Psychology
Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)
Leading Researcher (R4)
First Stage Researcher (R1)
Established Researcher (R3)
Country

Canada
Application Deadline

14 Mar 2024 - 22:00 (UTC)
Type of Contract

Temporary
Job Status

Full-time
Offer Starting Date

2 Sep 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 locomotor role of dopaminergic cells is classically attributed to their ascending projections to the basal ganglia that project to the Mesencephalic Locomotor Region (MLR), a brainstem region that controls locomotion. However, descending projections to the MLR were uncovered (Ryczko et al. PNAS 2013, PNAS 2016, J Neurosci 2017, J Neurosci 2020). In lamprey, this descending pathway increases locomotor activity. In mammals, the role of such innervation remains to be determined.
The student will address this issue using patch-clamp electrophysiology and optogenetics in brain slices, calcium imaging, viral tracing, in vivo optogenetics and movement analysis in mice. The new knowledge will provide a better understanding of the relation between dopaminergic and locomotor neurons and help identify new clinical strategies to improve locomotor function in Parkinson’s disease.

Funding category: Financement public/privé
Canadian Institute for Health Research
PHD title: Doctorat en Physiologie
PHD Country: Canada


Requirements
Specific Requirements

REQUIREMENTS: The candidate should have obtained a master's degree in neuroscience or a related field. An asset for the candidate would be to have experience in electrophysiology or calcium imaging, optogenetics, and a keen interest in motor control.


Additional Information
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available
1
Company/Institute
Université de Sherbrooke
Country
Canada
City
Sherbrooke
Geofield


Where to apply
Website

https://www.abg.asso.fr/fr/candidatOffres/show/id_offre/119973

Contact
Website

https://ryczkolab.wordpress.com/

STATUS: EXPIRED