[Comp-neuro] post-doc position available at the University of Genova

We are seeking highly motivated candidates for a post-doctoral position (2 years) at the Neuroengineering and Bio-Nano Technology Group (NBT), University of Genova, Genova, ITALY.

 

The candidate will be involved in the recently funded European Project BRAIN-BOW. It is a great chance to join this project since it is the first ever funded project in the call “FET Young Explorers”. A tight interaction with young and dynamic high-level partners of the consortium (University of Bordeaux, France; Italian Institute of Technology, Italy; University of Tel Aviv, Israel) is foreseen.

 

The project has the ambitious goal to study and develop a new class of neuroprosthetic devices  aimed at treating those diseases where a portion of brain tissue is damaged. The main aim is to develop a proof-of-concept in which at in vitro level a neuronal assembly is connected  to an artificial system (a neuromorphic chip) mimicking a lost neuronal functionality and substituting a biological counterpart (i.e., an in-vitro neuronal  assembly).

In particular, the candidate will be devoted to develop large-scale computational models of neuronal networks to be dynamically and bidirectionally interfaced to biological assemblies. Such artificial network models will allow to substitute a real assembly with a simulated one.

 

Requirements:

Candidates must have 1) a PhD in computational neuroscience, physics, engineering, mathematics or a related field; 2) Excellent programming skills in C++/C#, Python or Neuron; 3) a published record of research in the field of computational neuroscience; 4) Experience in electrophysiology is a plus.

 

Deadline for submitting the application is December 16^th 2011. The selected candidates will be contacted for a further interview at the beginning of 2012. The earliest possible starting date is March 1^st 2012 and the position will last for 2 years (possible extension to 3 years).

 

Our research group has a long tradition in studying network dynamics and plasticity in neuronal assemblies by using planar micro-electrode arrays (MEAs). See for example the following papers: Massobrio and Martinoia, J. Neural Eng., 2008, Pasquale, et al., Neuroscience, 2008; Chiappalone, et al., Eur. J. Neurosci., 2008; Massobrio, et al., Neurosci. Lett., 2009; Garofalo, et al., PLoS ONE, 2009.

 

Our labs are located in Genova, a small beautiful town in northern Italy, both from historical (its historical center is the largest of Europe) and naturalistic point of view (sea and mountains coexist creating a unique landscape). Genova is only 1.30h away from Milan by train and connected by plane to Rome (1.00h), London (2h) and Paris (1.30h).

 

Applications must include an extended CV, a motivation letter, the most relevant papers and names and addresses of two references. If you are interested, please send your application to:

 

Dr. Paolo Massobrio

e-mail: paolo.massobrio@unige.it

Tel: +39-010-3532761

 

Prof. Sergio Martinoia

e-mail: sergio.martinoia@unige.it

Tel: +39-010-3532251

 

_________________________________________________
Paolo Massobrio, PhD
Neuroengineering and Bio-Nano Technology - NBT - Group
Department of Biophysical and Electronic Engineering - DIBE
University of Genova
Via Opera Pia 11A, 16145, GENOVA, ITALY
Phone: +39-010-3532761
Fax: +39-010-3532764
URL: http://sites.google.com/site/paolomassobrio/
E-mail: paolo.massobrio@unige.it