Aarhus Universitet
Job title:
Postdoc in Neurophysiology and Circuit Mechanisms of Plasticity
Company:
Aarhus Universitet
Job description
We are seeking applicants for a 2-year postdoc in Neurophysiology and Circuit Mechanisms of Plasticity to join us at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (MBG).Expected start date and duration of employment This is a 2–year position from 1 July 2024 or as soon possible thereafter.Job description Brain plasticity is essential for survival under various neurodevelopmental and neurophysiological conditions. Highly coordinated genomic and proteomic dynamics form the neural basis for structural plasticity, allowing the brain to adapt and respond to changes. Post-translational modifications of proteins play a crucial role in regulating the signaling pathways necessary for neuronal transmission and development.Among these modifications, O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) is an enzyme that modifies protein interactions by attaching β–N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) to serine and threonine residues of intracellular proteins (O-GlcNAc). This modification is vital for neural survival and function, ensuring proper communication and structural integrity of neurons. Rare mutations in the OGT gene lead to a range of neurodevelopmental and neurophysiological disorders, highlighting the enzyme’s critical role in brain health. Despite this, the synaptic mechanisms that govern the maturation of connectomics remain poorly understood at both the circuit and genomic levels.The primary aim of our project is to achieve a systematic understanding of the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying plasticity in learning and memory, specifically focusing on the genomic and circuit levels. This involves dissecting the intricate processes that enable the brain to encode, store, and retrieve information. Additionally, on the neuropathophysiological level, we seek to understand how mutations in OGT disrupt neuronal function across various domains, including electrophysiological, behavioral, and neuropharmacological aspects. This understanding is crucial for developing therapeutic strategies to mitigate the effects of such mutations.Our interdisciplinary and translational project will employ state-of-the-art methodologies, including advanced imaging techniques, genomic analysis, and electrophysiological recordings, to gain a comprehensive understanding of plasticity mechanisms. By integrating data from neurophysiological and neuropathophysiological studies, we aim to provide a holistic view of how plasticity is regulated in both health and disease. This research has the potential to uncover novel targets for therapeutic intervention and enhance our overall understanding of brain function and plasticity.Your job responsibilities
- As a Postdoc in the department of molecular biology, your position is primarily research-based. You will contribute to the development of the department through research of high international quality. In your daily work, you will work closely with colleagues on related projects.
- The project is hosted at Prof. Daan Van Aalten and Assoc.Taro Kitazawa’s lab. At the MBG department and DANDRITE.
Your profile Applicants should hold a PhD in neurobiology or similar.
- Basic training in neurophysiology and neuropharmacology.
- Expertise in translational medicine research.
- In-vivo electrophysiology.
- Optical methods of neural circuit investigation.
- Viral vector design and implementation.
- Advanced behavioural testing and phenotyping.
- Neural circuit functional manipulation with chemogenetics and structural plasticity manipulations.
Who we are The Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (MBG) is part of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Aarhus University and comprises research within the areas of Plant Molecular Biology, Neurobiology, RNA Biology and Innovation, Protein Science, Cellular Health, Intervention and Nutrition and Bioinformatics.The main tasks of the Department of Molecular Biology are to provide research-based teaching at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral level, to do research at an international level, to transfer knowledge to companies, and to disseminate research activities and results of our research in molecular biology to our stakeholders.The Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics strives to ensure that new knowledge generated by researchers is communicated to a wider group in society, and as far as possible leads to the development of new products and technologies. Among other things, this is reflected in collaboration with companies, patents, entrepreneurship, industrial PhD’s, collaboration with secondary school pupils as well as dissemination of knowledge to the general public.Also see: https://mbg.au.dk/en/about-the-departmentWhat we offer The department offers:
- a well-developed research infrastructure, laboratories and access to shared equipment
- an exciting interdisciplinary environment with many national, international and industrial collaborators
- a research climate encouraging lively, open and critical discussion within and across different fields of research
- a work environment with close working relationships, networking and social activities
- a workplace characterised by professionalism, equality and a healthy work-life balance.
Place of work and area of employment The place of work is Universitetsbyen 81, 8000 Aarhus, and the area of employment is Aarhus University with related departments.Contact information For further information, please contact: Prof, Daan van Aalten, . Assoc Prof, Taro Kitazawa, [email protected].Deadline All applications must be received no later than 17 June 2024.Application procedure Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the appointment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. All applicants will be notified whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee, and each applicant is given the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that concerns him/her self. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.Letter of reference If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline. Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.Formalities and salary range Natural Sciences refers to the .The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be foundAppointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the .Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more . Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark .Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it .At the Faculty of Natural Science at Aarhus University, we strive to support our scientific staff in their career development. We focus on competency development and career clarification and want to make your opportunities transparent. On , you can find information on all types of scientific positions, as well as the entry criteria we use when assessing candidates. You can also read more about how we can assist you in your career planning and development.The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University’s website.Aarhus UniversityAarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at
Expected salary
Location
Aarhus, Midtjylland
Job date
Wed, 05 Jun 2024 01:31:37 GMT
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