Postdoctoral Position in Cortical Inhibition and Memory

Several postdoctoral positions are available in the lab of Dr. Lisa Topolnik to explore the role of specific types of GABAergic neurons in memory encoding and to determine the underlying cellular, synaptic and microcircuit mechanisms. Two-photon calcium and voltage imaging combined with patch-clamp recordings and optogenetic manipulations in brain slices in vitro will be used to investigate the dendritic and synaptic mechanisms that determine the activity-dependent recruitment of parvalbumin-, somatostatin- and VIP-expressing hippocampal and neocortical interneurons. The mechanisms identified in vitro will be further investigated in vivo using simultaneous two-photon/miniscope imaging and opto-/chemogenetic manipulations in behaving animals to identify the functional role of the specific interneuron types in spatial learning and memory.

Candidates should have a PhD in Neurobiology or a related discipline (with a graduation date within the last 4 years), and at least two first-author papers (published or accepted). Prior experience with either in vitro (patch-clamp electrophysiology), in vivo (two-photon imaging) or computational circuit neuroscience is required. Full competitive funding provided by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada is available for up to 4 years. Salary will be commensurate with experience and will include additional benefits as per Laval University regulations.

Applicants are not required speaking French, but a basic knowledge of French language would facilitate local community integration.

To apply, submit a single PDF file containing the following:

• Letter of motivation
• Curriculum vitae and publication list
• Name and email address of two referees.

If you need more information on these positions, please contact Dr. Lisa Topolnik: lisa.topolnik@bcm.ulaval.ca