[Comp-neuro] Postdoctoral Position in Computational Neuroscience In Paris

[Juergen Reingruber]

Job Offer: A postdoctoral position in computational neuroscience is 
available to analyze and
model the spiking response of olfactory receptor neurons to odorant 
stimuli. The project is in
collaboration with the experimental research group of Philippe Lucas at 
INRA Versailles
(http://ieesparis.ufr918.upmc.fr/spip.php?article244&lang=en) and Jürgen 
Reingruber at Ecole
Normale Supérieure in Paris 
(http://www.biologie.ens.fr/~reingrub/index.html).

Duration: 2 years. After this period, successful candidates are given a 
promising opportunity to
apply for a permanent INRA position.

Location: Shared between INRA Center in Versailles and Ecole Normale 
Supérieure in Paris.

Project description: Binding of odorants to their cognate receptors on 
olfactory receptor neurons
(ORNs) initiates a signal transduction cascade that leads to the opening 
of both cationic and
anionic ion channels in the dendritic membrane. The subsequent 
transduction current entails a
sequence of action potentials in the soma. The overall goal of the 
project is to analyze
electrophysiological recordings of action potentials obtained in the lab 
of Philippe Lucas (from
moths and Drosophila), and, using a molecular model for the transduction 
current developed by
Jürgen Reingruber, to derive a Hodgkin-Huxley type of model that 
explains how the stimulus
dependent transduction current is transformed into a sequence of action 
potential firings.
Ultimately, this will unravel how an ORN encodes the intensitive and 
temporal properties of
odorant stimuli into sequences of action potentials transmitted to 
subsequent neuronal layers.

Application and starting date: INRA provides basic funding for the 
project. However, to ensure
a high quality, INRA additionally requires that candidates successfully 
apply for an AgreenSkills+
incoming fellowship (https://www.agreenskills.eu), an international 
postdoctoral fellowship
program co-funded by the European Union and coordinated by INRA. During 
the past years the
application success rate was around 36%. With the fellowship the postdoc 
will be endowed with
exceptional financial conditions including monthly gross salaries 
ranging from 3,500 to 4,800 €. In
addition, successful candidates are given a promising chance to apply 
for a permanent INRA
position after the postdoc. The next call for AgreenSkills+ submissions 
is 28 April 2017.
Subsequent starting date is flexible.

Candidate Profile: We are looking for a highly motivated post-doc with 
interest in sensory
transduction and computational neuroscience. Applicants should have 
solid foundations in
physics, applied mathematics and computer simulations. A background in 
neuroscience would be
welcome. Furthermore, the candidate should be interested in working in 
an interdisciplinary
environment, analyzing electrophysiological data and interacting with 
experimentalists. Excellent
written, verbal, and interpersonal skills are desired. Speaking French 
is not mandatory.

Interested candidates should send a cover letter summarizing their 
expertise and research
interests, a CV with publications and 2 recommendation letters to 
Philippe Lucas
(philippe.lucas at inra.fr) and Jürgen Reingruber (reingrub at ens.fr).


-- 
Jürgen Reingruber, PhD
Institute of Biology (IBENS)
École Normale Supérieure
46 rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris, France
Tel: +33 (0)1 4432 3662
Fax: +33 (0)1 4432 8887