Postdoctoral Research Associate Position in Alban de Kerchove d’Exaerde’s Team.
My group in the Neurophy Lab of ULB has an opening position for an outstanding Postdoctoral
Researcher in the area of in vivo basal ganglia physiology. The project builds on our previous
work on the critical role of striatal projection neurons co-expressing Dopamine D1 and D2
receptors (D1/D2 SPNs) that we are able to target with our new transgenic models (Bonnavion et
al., 2022 BioRxiv doi:10.1101/2022.04.05.487163). The candidate will be engaged in deciphering
the circuitry of these D1/D2 SPNs, the role of D1/D2 SPN afferents and efferent neuronal
populations, their roles in behaviours more cognitive than locomotion using in-vivo methods such
as calcium imaging (Varin et al. 2022, BioRxiv doi:https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.06.20.496781 )
and optogenetics. The successful candidate will use state-of-the-art in vivo techniques in mice (in
vivo calcium imaging, DA sensor imaging, optogenetics, in vivo electrophysiology,...) coupled
with behavioural paradigms.
Profile :
- The postholder must have a PhD in life sciences or equivalent with a competitive publication
record, an international profile and excellent English communication skills.
- Experience with behavioural paradigms, stereotactic surgery, in vivo signal analysis is required
(at least three years of bench); experience with optogenetic is an asset.
- The candidate will conduct efficiently, and at the level appropriate for a postdoctoral fellow,
original research on the mandatory role of D1/D2 SPNs. They will have day-to-day responsibility
for running their own research project but the group leader will coordinate the long-term direction
of the project.
We offer :
The postdoctoral researcher will benefit from: all the scientific equipment already available and
validated in the Neurophy Lab (3 in vivo electrophysiological setups; 3 in vivo Ca2+ imaging
devices (nVista, nVoke, nVue, Inscopix); 20 skinner boxes; 2 Videotracking systems; 4 ex vivo
electrophysiological setups; our own animal facility for behavioural paradigms and maintenance
of multiple transgenic lines; all in vivo optogenetical tools and 4 stereotaxic set ups), an
international Neuroscience Institute (ULB Neuroscience Institute (https://uni.ulb.ac.be/) with
several mouse groups and supported by several Core Facilities (Light Imaging, Proteomics,
Genomics, Transgenesis, Cell sorting, Bioinformatics) supported by ULB and located in the
Capital of Europe, Brussels.
Brussels in addition to being a beautiful multilingual international city with reasonable rents, a
very good quality of life and prestigious university colleges, has 3 academic hospitals such as the
Erasmus hospital next to the neurophy laboratory.
The postdoctoral researcher will receive a competitive salary from existing grants for 3 years,
with the possibility of extension for two more years. This position is available from 1 January
2023.
If you are interested in applying for this position, please contact me: Alban de Kerchove
d’Exaerde (Research Director, WELBIO Investigator, President of Belgian Society of
Neuroscience) via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and include the following documents:
* Motivation letter (no more than 2 pages).
* Curriculum vitae (as detailed as possible; please present your journal publications separately
from conference publication).
* Names of at least three references, including contact details (one of which must be the Ph.D.
advisor of the candidate).
* PDFs of possible publications.
See also our website for additional informations : https://neurophylab.ulb. be