Saturday, July 21, 2012

[Comp-neuro] Postdoctoral Position in Theoretical/Experimental Neuroscience, (Poirazi lab)

Α postdoctoral (or senior researcher) position with very competitive salary (€2,400-2,600 net/month), is available immediately at IMBB-FORTH (www.imbb.forth.gr) in Crete, in the lab of Dr. Panayiota Poirazi.

 

The position is available for 2 years as part of the EC-FP7 Marie Curie Initial Training Network (ITN) NAMASEN offering research training in Neuroelectronics and Nanotechnology: towards a Multidisciplinary Approach for the Science and Engineering of Neuronal Networks (http://www.namasen.net). The position offers travel money and the possibility of extended visits to the participating groups.

 

IMBB-FORTH

FORTH is one of the top European Research Centers. It has ranked 1st in terms of high impact publications in Greece and 12th in the number of FP7 grants in Europe. IMBB is the top Biological Institute in Greece, in terms of high quality personnel, publications, infrastructure and competitive grants. IMBB-FORTH is located in Heraklion, one of the most ancient and historical Greek cities, on the picturesque island of Crete. Crete, the homeland of major artists, such as El Greco and Nikos Kazantzakis, impressively combines the outstanding geophysical variety (forests, mountains, gorges, and beaches) with its rich history of thousands of years, resulting in the well-known Cretan culture and cuisine.

 

The Poirazi lab

The Computational Biology Laboratory (http://www.imbb.forth.gr/people/poirazi/) at IMBB-FORTH performs research that is at the forefront of Computational Neuroscience and Bioinformatics. The work of Dr. Poirazi led to several high impact publications, some of which have shaped the field of dendritic computations. This work received prestigious awards, including the EMBO Young Investigator Award in 2005, 2 Marie Curie Fellowships and the European Research Council (ERC) starting grant in 2012.

 

The title of the individual research project at CBL is:

"Clustered plasticity and network emergent states"

The fellow will focus on the mathematical investigation and machine-learning classification of collective electrical properties, emerging in neuronal networks coupled to multielectrode arrays and neuroelectronic hybrids. Specifically, he/she will use electrophysiology techniques to study the passive and active electrophysiological properties of neurons in in vitro neuronal networks as well as the presence of synaptic currents following electrical stimulation. In addition, different stimulation protocols will be applied to study whether neuronal networks express specific types of plasticity. We are mostly interested in identifying stimuli that are predicted theoretically to give rise to highly interconnected neuronal sub-networks.
He/she will also/alternatively explore the consequences of clustered plasticity rules in conductance-based model neurons. Modeling studies will be performed using the NEURON simulation environment in order to build a network of detailed compartmental models of neurons, where synapses capable of exhibiting plasticity properties like the ones recorded in the physiological experiments will be incorporated. Models will be used to generate predictions about how specific stimuli delivered either to randomly selected neurons in a distributed manner throughout the model system or to nearby neurons in a specific location (clustered) of the model system could alter the electrical and/or structural properties of the network.

The methodologies to be used in this project include electrophysiological recordings and computational modelling, therefore the fellow should have previous training in both (ideally) or either of these techniques. Training in electrophysiology can also be offered as part of NAMASEN.

According to the eligibility criteria, the fellow MUST NOT

1.      be a Greek citizen,

2.      have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Greece for more than 12 months in the last 3 years.

3.      have worked in a research position / received research training for more than 5 years of his/her Master’s degree (this can be relaxed).

 

Start date: Immediately

Candidates that match the required profile will be continuously interviewed until the position is filled. Candidates should send a resume and two (2) reference letters to poirazi[at]imbb.forth.gr. If possible, recommendations should be send by the referees directly by email at poirazi[at]imbb.forth.gr.


--     Panayiota Poirazi, Ph.D.  Research Associate Professor  Computational Biology Laboratory  Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB)  Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH)  Vassilika Vouton  P.O.Box 1385  GR 711 10 Heraklion, Crete  GREECE    Tel: +30 2810 391139  Fax: +30 2810 391101  Εmail: poirazi@imbb.forth.gr  URL: http://www.imbb.forth.gr/personal_page/poirazi.html      

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