Description
We are seeking one PhD Student fellow with background in neuroscience. Our group is a multidisciplinary team and studies the role of G protein coupled receptors, including opioid and orphan receptors, in brain function and disease with an emphasis on reward/aversion processing, addiction and mood disorders. The laboratory develops customized genetic mouse mutants with targeted gene mutations to model psychiatric disorders and manipulate neuronal circuitries, and for drug discovery programs (see Otsu et al. Science, 2019; Bailly et al. 2023 Biological Psychiatry and Welsch et al.2023; Biological Psychiatry). Mice are characterized using sophisticated behavioral methods, calcium imaging, opto/chemo-genetics and neuroimaging approaches translatable to human research. The PhD student will work on hedonic balance and habenula. The goal is to map and identify the contribution of habenular neurons expressing opioid receptors in hedonic balance using genetically modified animals combined with calcium imaging and opto/chemo-genetics. This project is financed by ANR, France.
The successful candidate must have:
- Master in Neuroscience /Pharmacology or equivalent and/or MD/PhD or PharmD/PhD cursus
- Strong interest in mouse behavior and brain circuit analysis
- High motivation to conceptualize and develop a research project
- Excellent writing and communication skills
- Ability to work in a team
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience or interest in pre-clinical neuroscience research in the field of mental health
Applicants are invited to submit their cover letter, CV and reference letters via email to Emmanuel Darcq: edarcq[at]unistra.fr
Please apply before 31/12/2023.
