Postdoctoral Position Tufts University

A postdoctoral position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Leon Reijmers in the Department of Neuroscience at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston. The Reijmers laboratory uses mouse models to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms of memory storage. We developed a transgenic mouse line for the genetic tagging of activated neurons, and used this mouse line to identify a role for inhibitory synapses in the suppression of fear memories [1, 2]. We discovered that a specific type of interneuron can suppress both neuronal activation patterns and brain oscillations that are associated with the expression of a fear memory [3], and demonstrated causal relationships between two types of oscillations and the promotion and suppression of fear memory expression [4].

We are looking for a postdoc who is interested in studying the role of specific brain activation patterns in fear memories by employing a combination of transgenic mice, behavioral testing, optogenetic manipulations, and in-vivo recordings of neuronal activity. The successful candidate has a Ph.D. degree in neuroscience or biology, and has first-hand experience with the optogenetic manipulation and/or electrophysiological recording of neuronal activity in awake mice. Interested applicants should send a cover letter and curriculum vitae with contact information for three references to Dr. Leon Reijmers (leon.reijmers@tufts.edu). Applications will be considered until the position is filled.

1. Reijmers, L.G., B.L. Perkins, N. Matsuo, and M. Mayford (2007). Localization of a stable neural correlate of associative memory. Science 317: 1230-3.
2. Trouche, S., J.M. Sasaki, T. Tu, and L.G. Reijmers (2013). Fear extinction causes target-specific remodeling of perisomatic inhibitory synapses. Neuron 80: 1054-65.
3. Davis, P., Y. Zaki, J. Maguire, and L.G. Reijmers (2017). Cellular and oscillatory substrates of fear extinction learning. Nature Neuroscience 20: 1624-1633.
4. Ozawa M., P. Davis, J. Ni, J. Maguire, T. Papouin, L.G. Reijmers (2020). Experience-dependent resonance in amygdalo-cortical circuits supports fear memory retrieval following extinction. Nature Communications 11: 4358.

Neuroscience at Tufts University

Tufts University is a private university with campuses in Boston, Medford and Grafton, Massachusetts. The Department of Neuroscience is part of the School of Medicine, which is located on the Boston Campus. The Department of Neuroscience is home to the Neuroscience PhD Program.

https://medicine.tufts.edu/departments/basic-science/neuroscience

https://gsbs.tufts.edu/academics/neuroscience