[Comp-neuro] Postdoctoral Position - Morphologic Models of Neurons in Aging (Patrick Hof and Christina Weaver)

Postdoctoral Position:  Morphologic Models of Neurons in Aging

 

***  Second announcement – submit by December 15, 2012 for full consideration ***

 

The laboratories of Dr. Patrick Hof  (Department of Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY) and Dr. Christina Weaver (Department of Mathematics, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA) seek a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to develop computational models of cortical pyramidal neurons, and new methods to analyze these models.  The NIH funded research explores interactions between morphological and physiological changes in the aging primate cortex.  The postdoctoral fellow will be based at Mount Sinai's Department of Neuroscience and Computational Neurobiology and Imaging Center (CNIC) with Dr. Hof, but will collaborate closely with Dr. Weaver and with Dr. Jennifer Luebke (Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA).  The candidate will also have the opportunity to learn experimental techniques including confocal imaging and in vitro electrophysiology.  Further information on the Computational Neurobiology and Imaging Center can be found at http://www.mssm.edu/cnic .

 

Relevant publications include

 

Amatrudo JM, Weaver CM, Crimins JL, Hof PR, Rosene DL, Luebke JI.  Influence of highly distinctive structural properties on the excitability of pyramidal neurons in monkey visual and prefrontal cortices. J Neurosci. 32(40):13644-60, (2012).

 

Yadav A, Gao YZ, Rodriguez A, Dickstein DL, Wearne SL, Luebke JI, Hof PR, Weaver CM.  Morphologic evidence for spatially clustered spines in apical dendrites of monkey neocortical pyramidal cells.  J Comp Neurol. 520(13):2888-902, (2012).

 

Luebke JI, Weaver CM, Rocher AB, Rodriguez A, Crimins JL, Dickstein DL, Wearne SL, Hof PR.  Dendritic vulnerability in neurodegenerative disease: insights from analyses of cortical pyramidal neurons in transgenic mouse models.  Brain Struct Funct. 214(2-3):181-99, (2012).

 

Weaver CM, Wearne SL.  Neuronal firing sensitivity to morphologic and active membrane parameters.  PLoS Comput Biol. 4(1):e11, (2008).

 

 

Candidates should have, or be near finishing, a Ph.D. in math, physics or computer science with a strong demonstrated interest in neuroscience, or a Ph.D. in neuroscience with a strong computational background.  Experience with computer programming is essential.  Experience with NEURON compartmental modeling software and automated parameter optimization is preferred.  Strong communication skills in English are required.  The position is available immediately, for an initial two-year appointment (renewable). Salary will be commensurate with experience, according to the NIH NRSA pay scale.

 

Application review will begin on December 15, 2012, and will continue until the position is filled.  Interested applicants should send their CV, a brief statement of current and future research interests, and the contact information of three references to christina.weaver@fandm.edu.