Position for Early Stage Researcher (36 months)
SwitchBoard is an In Innovative Training Network (ITN) funded by the European
Commission's Horizon 2020 programme under the Marie Curie Actions, comprising 11
European Universities, research institutions and companies, coordinated by Eberhard Karls
Universität Tübingen, Germany. The project is entitled “In the eye of the observer: Visual
processing at the heart of the retina”. The network will progressively open a total of 15 (3
year) full-time positions for PhD training and one of these is in the laboratory of Professor
Leon Lagnado at the University of Sussex.
Project: How do amacrine cells control the processing of visual signals in the
retina?
Background: Sensory systems continuously adjust the way they process their input,
depending on the recent history of stimulation. For instance, ganglion cells providing the
results of visual processing in the retina can increase or decrease their sensitivity to
particular features of the visual input, depending on the statistical properties of the stimulus
over the previous seconds or minutes. The gain changes can reflect two opposing forms of
synaptic plasticity in bipolar cells (BCs) providing the excitatory drive to ganglion cells:
synaptic depression in BC terminals and depression in amacrine cells (ACs) providing
feedback inhibition. This suggests that plasticity of both excitatory and inhibitory synapses
control dynamic gain in the retina. Objectives: We will explore how specific types of ACs
adjust the synaptic output from BCs, beginning with ACs releasing neuromodulatory
pepetides such as VIP or Substance P. We expect that we will improve our understanding of
of the role of feedback control of BC activity, and the effects of depression in inhibitory
synapses providing this feedback.
Nikolaev A, Odermatt B, Leung, K-M and Lagnado L (2013). Synaptic mechanisms of
adaptation and sensitization in the retina. Nature Neuroscience, 16:934-941.
Methods: 2-photon imaging; image analysis; electrophysiology; molecular biology; zebrafish
genetics; modelling
Team: You will join a very active and well-equipped laboratory of about 10 people studying
visual processing in the retina and higher centres of both zebrafish and mice. The members
of the laboratory that will be most directly involved in your supervision are:
Prof. Leon Lagnado, Team Leader
Dr. Jamie Johnston, Research Fellow
Sofie-Helene Seibel, Senior Technician
Candidate profile The candidate should have a degree in Neuroscience or a related
discipline that provides sufficient background to start research in neuroscience. Enthusiasm
and commitment will need to be coupled to attention to detail and strong analytical skills.
The candidate must be willing to work with animals and previous laboratory experience will
be preferred, although not necessarily using the techniques described above. Good
knowledge of written and spoken English is essential.
Eligibility Criteria
The EU has strict eligibility criteria for Early Stage Researchers: Candidates
-
must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the country of the host
institution for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their
recruitment
-
should not possess a PhD
-
should have less than 4 years of research experience. This is measured from the
date when they obtained the degree which formally entitles them to embark on a
doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in
which the research training is provided.
Envisaged starting date: April 01, 2016
Application deadline: February 29th, 2016.
How to apply & Contact:
Please send your application including a CV and the names of two referees to Prof. Leon
Lagnado at l.lagnado@sussex.ac.uk.