Postdoc at The Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS

The Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS is seeking a candidate for the position of: Postdoc

Number of available positions: 1

Place of work: Laboratory of Cell Biophysics

Researcher career profiles: R2

Field of science: exact and natural sciences

Type of recruitment: National Science Centre Sonata BIS project

Requirements:

Education: PhD in chemistry, biology, biotechnology, neurobiology or similar received < 7 years ago

professional experience: experience in experimental work in the laboratory, strong publication record

skills: creativity and analytical thinking, experience in the application of methods of cell biology, biochemistry, proteomics, mass spectrometry analysis or related. Skills in genetic manipulations or experience in animal handling and behavioral studies are additional attributes.

competences: ability to work both independently and as a part of a team, independence in planning, performing experiments and data analysis, excellent verbal communication skills

Scope of tasks:

Description of the role and the time-course of S-PALM in learning and memory and high-resolution analysis of brain palmitoylome

Project description:

The hallmark of the mammalian brain is the ability of processing and storing information in synapses and highly organized neuronal networks. The brain can adapt and change in response to various events under physiological conditions (i.e. learning) and pathophysiological conditions (i.e. epilepsy, stroke). Understanding the fundamental mechanisms of the plasticity of synaptic connections and neuronal network code lies in the center of contemporary neurobiology, neuropharmacology, and medicine. Targeting proteins to membranes is aided by covalent and reversible addition of fatty acids such as palmitic acid (S-palmitoylation). This modification may affect the membrane localization of the protein, protein activity and protein-protein interactions. We hypothesize this process plays a key role in learning and memory, because pharmacological modification of S-palmitoylation in rat nervous tissue abolished long-term synaptic potentiation, a substrate of memory formation. We have also discovered, that spatial learning in rats is associated with S-palmitoylation of specific neuronal proteins.

The project aims at describing the interaction of neurotransmitter dopamine and S-palmitoylation of synaptic proteins in the hippocampus- part of the brain playing crucial role in learning. In the team consisting of experts of various fields, we combine multiple experimental techniques: detection of modified proteins with mass spectrometry, genetic and pharmacological manipulation of activity of enzymes related to palmitoylation, behavioral  analysis of learning in animals. We perform live recordings of electric signals from synapses, single neurons and neuronal networks and currents conducted by synaptic proteins to better understand the functional aspects of palmitoylated vs non-palmitoylated states.

Taking advantage of various experimental models and advanced quantitative methods we plan to address the following questions:

    What is the role and time-course of S-palmitoylation in synaptic plasticity?

    How dopamine affects S-palmitoylation of synaptic proteins?

    What is the effect of S-palmitoylation of the function of proteins involved in learning and memory?

The results of this project will shed new light on the general mechanisms governing brain plasticity and may be also important for the understanding of dopamine role in brain physiology as well as planning new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of some neurological diseases.

Employment conditions:

We offer:

    Type of contract: permanent position

    Duration of contract: 3 years

    Commencement of employment:

        Work in an young team in an excellent scientific environment

    Access to the state-of-the-art equipment and facilities dedicated to neuroscience research

        Participation in courses and conferences

        Comprehensive training in electrophysiological recordings

        Training and visits in collaborating laboratories in Poland and abroad

    Additional benefits: medical insurance, possibility to use sport card, social fund. The Institute is located at Ochota academic campus close to the center of the city with free bicycle and car parking lot.

Required documents: CV, phd diploma, description of professional experience with emphasis on research techniques used by the applicant, list of publications, letter-of-intent, references

You can use the Polish equivalent of a foreign academic degree if it meets at least one of the following criteria:

    is covered by the provisions of an international agreement on the equivalence of education,

    was issued by an authorized institution operating in an EU, OECD or EFTA Member State,

    was issued in another country and recognized on the basis of the regulations on the recognition of academic degrees obtained abroad (learn more about the procedure for the recognition of academic degrees: https://nawa.gov.pl/en/recognition/recognition-for-professional-purposes/recognition-of-scientific-degrees-and-titles

The documents should be sent  to [email protected] with note “postdoc TW”, the deadline is Dec 19th, 2021

Link to website:

https://www.nencki.edu.pl/laboratories/laboratory-of-cell-biophysics/