Project Title: Spatio-temporal dynamics of the neuromodulator during physiological and epileptic brain states.
Host laboratory: Lyon’s Neurosciences Research Centre and Institute of Epilepsies
Host team: Translational Group in Epilepsy Research (TIGER)
Website: https://www.crnl.fr/fr/equipe/tiger/
Supervisors:
Dr Vincent Magloire, CRCN Inserm / Wellcome research fellow, CRNL, Institute of Epilepsies. Vincent.magloire@inserm.fr website: https://www.ibexlaboratory.com/
Pr Sylvain RHEIMS, co-leader of the TIGER team and Professor of Neurology at Lyon1 University and Hospices Civils de Lyon. Sylvain.rheims@univ-lyon.1.fr
Project summary:
This postdoc position is integrated within the framework of the Wellcome research programme Neurolight and the ERC funded project EPIAROUSAL.
Despite decades of effort, we still cannot predict seizures with good accuracy. Patients’propensity to experiencing seizures changes throughout the day and is influenced by brain states. Therefore, seizure susceptibility not only depends on predictable circadian rhythms, but also on stochastic brain states. Key regulators of neuronal excitability, namely neurotransmitters (NTs) and neuromodulators (NMs), are also strongly modulated by circadian rhythms and brain states and so by tracking their fluctuations we should be able to better understand and predict seizure occurrences. In this context, we are particularly interested in the adenosinergic system, which is strongly involved in brain state regulation, in particular, in the regulation of sleep-wake cycle and the modulation of seizure activity. Adenosine signalling dysfunction in the brainstem could also be at the origin of asphyxia-induced arousal in Sudden and Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP).
The project will be conducted in rodent models of temporal lobe epilepsy using advanced imaging methods (e.g. multi-site photometry, miniaturised wide-field microscope) in combination with polysomnography (EEG, EMG) and video monitoring. We will take advantage of newly developed genetically-encoded neurotransmitter indicators for adenosine (e.g. GRAB-Ado) and genetically encoded calcium sensors (GCaMP) to monitor both the extracellular fluctuations of adenosine and neuronal activity in different brain structures throughout the day in control and epileptic animals.
The project will also involve the manipulation of large data sets and potentially the development of mechanistic neural models in collaboration with computational neuroscientists. The candidate will also have the possibility to go to international meetings as well as do short stays abroad in particular at UCL, London where we have ongoing collaborations with the department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy (https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ion/research/research-departments/department-clinical-and-experimental-epilepsy).
The Lab:
Our research group is located at the Institute of Epilepsies and the Neuroscience research center in Lyon, France (Research group: https://www.ibexlaboratory.com/; https://www.crnl.fr/fr/equipe/tiger/ ). We are embedded in a very dynamic and collaborative environment with more 450 members with a breath of expertise in imaging, electrophysiology, molecular biology and behaviour spanning from the subcellular level to cognition and the clinic (CRNL: https://www.crnl.fr). We have regular journal clubs and lab meetings as well as seminars on a broad range of neuroscience topics.
More generally, Lyon is vibrant and dynamic international city with 3 universities located only few hours away from major cities like Paris (2h), Geneva (~1.5h) and Marseille (~1h) as well as the Alps and Mediterranean sea.
Administrative organization:
Funders: The position is funded by the European Research Council and the Wellcome trust
Duration: Initially for 2 years (with possibility of extension)
Employer: INSERM and Lyon 1 University
Gross salary: from 2300 to 2900 euros/month, depending on experience
Starting date: beginning of 2025 (preferentially)
Applicant’s profile:
Essential criteria:
- PhD in Neuroscience, computational biology (willing to learn and conduct experiment on animals), engineering, pharmacy, biochemistry or related. Engineering is of particular interest.
- Experience in in vivo electrophysiology and imaging methods in animals
- Programming skills (Python, Matlab)
- Animal license or experience
- Good analytic skills
- Good communication and writing skills
- Proficiency in English
Desirable criteria:
- Ex vivo and in vivo animal models of epilepsy
- Sleep and / or stress neurophysiology
- Immunostaining
- Experience in behavioral tests
- Modelling of neural network dynamics
In addition, to conducting research, analysing data and writing articles, the candidate will be asked to participate to the divers scientific meetings (JC, labmeetings, seminars) and to the supervision of Master and PhD students.
For more information, please contact Vincent Magloire (Vincent.magloire@inserm.fr) or Sylvain Rheims (Sylvain.rheims@univ-lyon.1.fr).
To apply, you will need to provide a CV, the details of 2 references and a letter (1 page maximum) explaining your interest to the position and why you think that you are suited to our research group.
