PhD student position available in Evolutionary Computational Neuroscience - fundamental principles underlying the
evolution of neurons, neural circuits and brains.
School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, UK
A fully funded PhD studentship is available at the Department of Biology and Environmental Science, School of Life
Sciences, University of Sussex in the newly-established laboratory of Dr Jeremy Niven.
We are interested in the principles governing the evolution of neural circuits in relation to behaviour. Almost nothing is
known about how neural circuits evolve and how this relates to the behaviours they generate. Potentially, almost any aspect
of a neural circuit can change influencing behaviour. For example, the number of neurons within a neural circuit, their
morphology and physiology and the numbers of connections between neurons could all change. Circuits of identified
neurons in insects provide a unique opportunity to assess these changes and relate them to behaviour. Several aspects of this
problem are under investigation in our laboratory:
- the tuning of membrane properties in sensory neurons to match environmental stimuli
- the evolution of synaptic connections between identified neurons
- the effects of changes in neural circuits on the behaviours they generate
- the evolution of motor control and decision making
Our laboratory combines electrophysiological methods, including intracellular recording and anatomical reconstruction of
identified neurons, with transmission electron microscopy, behaviour, computational modelling and phylogenetic analysis to
approach this problem in insect nervous systems. Specific PhD projects are available upon request.
Applicants should have a strong academic background at undergraduate (1st/2.1) in biological or physical sciences, or a
related subject (e.g. psychology, engineering, mathematics) and a willingness to learn computer programming skills. A keen
interest in neuroscience, behaviour and evolution is essential.
For project specific enquiries contact Jeremy Niven (jen23@sussex.ac.uk).
For application enquiries contact Deeptima Massey (d.massey@sussex.ac.uk) or alternatively apply online at
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/pg/applying/
To apply, please send:
- An academic CV
- Contact details (including e-mail, telephone number, postal address) for two academic referees
- A personal statement why you want to do a PhD, and why evolutionary and/or computational neuroscience interests you.
- Undergraduate/Postgraduate Transcripts
The studentship provides full support that includes tuition fees, all associated research costs, and an annual tax-free stipend
at Research Council Rates (was £13,590 in 2011) for 3.5 years.
The successful candidate will be required to teach up to a maximum of 50 hours per year.
Funding Notes:
In order to be eligible for a full award (fees and stipend) you must be a UK national or have 'settled' status in the UK and
have been ordinarily resident in the UK the three years immediately prior to the start of your funding. If you are an EU
national you are also eligible for a full award if you have been living in the UK for the three years immediately prior to the
start of your funding. If you have been living elsewhere in the EU you would be eligible for an award covering the cost of
fees only.
References:
Perge JA, Niven JE, Mugnaini E, Balasubramanian V, Sterling P. Why do axons differ in diameter? J. Neurosci. (In press,
available upon request).
Quesada R, Triana E, Vargas G, Douglass J, Seid M, Niven JE, Eberhard WG, Wcislo WT (2011). The allometry of CNS
size and consequences of miniaturization in orb-weaving spiders. Arth. Struct. Devel. (In press, available upon request).
Simões PMV, Ott SR, Niven JE (2011). Associative learning in the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria. J. Exp. Biol., 214:
2495-2503.
Sengupta B, Stemmler M, Laughlin SB, Niven JE. (2010). Action potential energy efficiency varies among neuron types in
vertebrates and invertebrates. PLoS Comput. Biol. 6:e1000840.
Sengupta B, Laughlin SB, Niven JE. (2010). Comparison of Langevin and Markov channel noise models for neuronal signal
generation. Phys. Rev. E 81:011918.
Niven JE, Buckingham CJ, Lumley S, Cuttle MF, Laughlin SB. (2010). Visual targeting of forelimbs in ladder-walking
locusts. Curr. Biol. 20:86-91.
Chittka L, Niven J. (2009). Are bigger brains better? Curr. Biol. 19:R995-1008.