Postdoctoral Positions to study the Cerebellum and Nonmotor Behavior; Princeton University

The Princeton Neuroscience Institute has multiple postdoctoral or more senior research positions, funded by two NIH grants, available to work in the laboratory of Professor Samuel S.-H. Wang. The lab’s mission is to understand how the cerebellum contributes to the development of cognition and sociality. This project is important for understanding both normal function and autism.

To address these questions, we use advanced tools for imaging, perturbing, and tracing neural circuits, as well as monitoring behavior in a variety of ways. These projects comprise an exciting research program with spinoff potential for future investigators. The following projects and related ones are available for qualified candidates.

1) Evidence accumulation and decision-making. In a head-fixed mouse model, we seek to understand the neural code for evidence-accumulation and decision-making. This project will use in vivo multiphoton imaging, whole-brain activity imaging, and Neuropixels recording in cerebellum and forebrain, and is part of a collaboration with David Tank, Carlos Brody, Ilana Witten, Sebastian Seung, Jonathan Pillow, and Mark Goldman.

2) Developmental guidance of flexible behavior. Cerebellar perturbation in early life leads to distinctive patterns of disruption in evidence accumulation and reversal learning. To understand their developmental basis, we disrupt specific cerebellar pathways and cell types during development, and use multiphoton imaging to observe changes in cellular activity and dendritic plasticity in the neocortex to test the idea that the cerebellum guides forebrain maturation.

3) Natural behavior. In a collaboration with Joshua Shaevitz, we use machine-vision-based methods (see SLEAP.ai) for unbiased classification of spontaneous behavior in freely-moving mice on subsecond time scales. Using optogenetics and miniscope fluorescence recording, we seek to understand the exact influences of cerebellum on movement and flexible behavior. Candidates should have solid coding experience in Python and/or experience with small-mammal surgery.

Essential qualifications for this position include: a Ph.D. in Neuroscience or related field and/or research experience using neuroscience methods. Questions can be addressed to Professor Sam Wang, sswang@princeton.edu.  Review of applications will continue until the positions are filled. This is a one year term position with the possibility of renewal pending satisfactory performance and continued funding.

Applications from members of groups historically under-represented in Neuroscience are encouraged.

Interested applicants must apply online at https://www.princeton.edu/acad-positions/position/23441 and include a cover letter, a curriculum vitae including a publication list, and contact information for at least two references.

Princeton University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. These positions are subject to the University’s background check policy.