Jobs

Name of the research group: Avenir Team "Plasticity in cortical networks and epilepsy"

Group leader(s): Jean Christophe PONCER, Sabine LEVI

Research project proposed:
Metabotropic receptors are key actors in the control of GABAergic and glutamatergic synaptic transmission during development. Metabotropic adenosine 2A receptors are largely expressed at early developmental stages, but their role during development remains to be explored. Preliminary data show that blockade of A2A receptors decreases GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission. The goal of the project is to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms, focusing on receptor dynamics in the membrane.
Lateral diffusion plays a key role in controlling receptor content at synapses. Receptors that move freely in the extrasynaptic membrane are trapped to the postsynaptic cytoskeleton through transient interaction with scaffolding molecules. We will check whether depletion in postsynaptic receptor content correlates with i) alteration in membrane dynamics properties of both inhibitory and excitatory receptors and ii) changes in the number of postsynaptic scaffolding molecules at synapses. The impacts of A2A receptor blockade on receptor lateral diffusion and on scaffold composition will be studied with quantum dot based single particle tracking experiments and live videomicroscopy, respectively.
Experimental approaches: live cell imaging, single molecule imaging with quantum dots, immunocytochemistry, confocal microscopy

Time period of rotation: anytime from September 1st, 2011

Name of the research group: Sensory Processing, Neuromodulation and Plasticity

Group leader(s): Daniel E. Shulz

Research project proposed: Propagation of "believes" in a cortical network induced by complex tactile stimuli.

Experimental approaches: In vivo electrophysiology with multiple single-unit recordings and complex spatio-temporal tactile stimuli.

Time period of rotation: any

The Wyart team ("Optogenetic dissection of spinal circuits") is recruiting one postdoc to ICM.

Prerequisite
looking for candidates with background in OPTICS / ENGINEERING / NEUROPHYSIOLOGY.

Team Overview
Neurobiologists have been describing the anatomy of different types of cells in the spinal cord for decades. They have proposed that spinal neurons constitute a central pattern generator underlying the rhythmic bursting activity needed for locomotion. How specific cell types are recruited to generate specific locomotor pattern (with different speed, direction and gating), is still unknown. By developing light gated channels to remotely control (activate or inhibit) neurons in genetically identified neurons in an awake behaving animals (also called “optogenetics”), we can probe the role of specific neurons in underlying locomotor behaviors. Our team has developed optogenetic tools in vivo and has applied these tools to tackle a long-standing question: the function of cerebrospinal fluid contacting neurons (CSFns) in the spinal cord of Vertebrates. We demonstrated that CSFns were able to trigger specifically slow locomotion at early stage of development. Now our team aims at reconstructing the circuit of slow swimming involved in the CSFns mediated response, and more generally dissect the underlying circuits dynamically forming the central pattern generator within the spinal circuitry, recruited to form complex patterns of locomotion.


Contact
Please write to claire.wyart[at]icm-institute.org with :
- your resumé (sum up),
- PDF of your major PhD publication,
- name and contact of 3 references
- a motivation letter
- one publication you find inspiring.

Name of the research group: Genetic and pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental diseases

Group leader: Jamel Chelly

Research project proposed:
We are interested in genetic causes involved in unresolved forms of neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as in molecular, biological and cellular processes underlying pathogeny of these disorders.

Projects developed by our team are in continuity with our previous work and rely on scientific strategies that combine complementary genetic and functional approaches. They include: 

1. Genetics and pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders (J.Chelly)

Searching and identification of molecular causes and genes involved in neurodevelopemental diseases is focused in particular on :

          • Intellectual disability (i.e, non syndromic X-linked and autosomal recessive forms of mental retardation).

          • Malformations of cortical development and gyral abnormalities: lissencephaly, pachygyria, polymicrogyria, neuronal heterotopia

2. Pathophysiology of intellectual disability (P.Billuart)

Projects aiming to define biological and cellular processes underlying intellectual disability include:

          • Understanding of the role of RhoGTPases pathways on neuronal and synaptic activity with a focus on oligophrenin 1 (OPHN1) function.

          • Investigation of the interleukin1 signaling pathway in neuronal and glial cells with a focus on IL1RAPL1 function in the regulation of PSD95 phosphorylation by JNK.

3. Pathophysiology of Rett and Rett-like syndromes (T.Bienvenu)

Contribution into the understanding the function of MeCP2, CDKL5 and FOXG1, three proteins involved in Rett and Rett-like syndromes is achieved through identification of targets of MeCP2, CDKL5 and FOXG1 using non-neuronal and neuronal cellular, as well as molecular and functional approaches.

Experimental approaches: Human genetics ; cellular and molecular approaches ; mouse models of intellectual disabilities

Time period of rotation: 03/2011-09/2011 and 01/2012-05/2012

Post-doctoral fellow to join Dr. Kabashi’s group in the newly opened, Brain and Spinal Cord Institute in the heart of Paris.
Starting February-March 2012
Duration: 1-2 years (possibility to renew)

Mission
To study the role that mutant TDP-43 and FUS play in the molecular mechanisms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Description of the study: These studies will involve in vitro (cell lines and primary motor neuron cultures) as well as in vivo (embryo and adult zebrafish) models. Both overexpression of these mutant genes and/or knockdown/knockout of these genes will be performed in these models. In order to study degeneration and development of motor neurons an array of techniques will be used.

Contact :
Send your cover letter and your references to edor.kabashi[at]icm-institute.org

TITLE : Analysis of synchrony in neuronal populations of the basal ganglia

SUPERVISORS : Antoine Chaillet, Elena Panteley and William Pasillas-Lépine

BRIEF DESCRIPTION: This post-doctoral study aims at adapting methodologies issued from control theory and dynamical systems to the field of neurosciences. The development of formal analytical results allows both a better understanding of some neurological phenomena and can lead to progresses in therapeutic treatments (such as deep brain stimulation). In particular, this work will focus on neuronal synchrony, which is involved in many healthy brain functions but can also lead to pathological phenomena (such as Parkinson disease or epilepsy). The objective of this work is to develop new analytical methods, able to cope with the fundamentally complex behavior of neuronal populations (interconnection, heterogeneity, uncertainties, delays…). These methods will be inspired from related domains involving stability analysis of interconnected nonlinear systems, analysis of hybrid dynamics and robust control.

ENVIRONMENT: The post-doc will take place at Laboratoire des Signaux et Systèmes (L2S) – Supélec, South of Paris (France), in a team composed of applied mathematicians and control theoreticians. It will be conducted in contact with neurosurgeons and neuroscientists. This work will be carried out in the framework of the FP7 Network of Excellence HYCON2.

PREREQUISITE: Although aiming at practical fallouts, the developments expected from this post-doc are mostly of a theoretical nature. The candidate must have obtained a Ph.D. in applied mathematics (dynamical systems), nonlinear/hybrid control theory, or computational neurosciences. Skills in simulation software would be appreciated. Knowledge of French language is not required, but an appropriate level of English is necessary.

CONTACT: Applicants are invited to submit a CV and a letter of motivation to the address lss.sync@gmail.com, by recalling the post-doc title “Analysis of synchrony in neuronal populations of the basal ganglia” in the subject of their e-mail.