Post-doctoral researcher with expertise in-vivo electrophysiology (MTL, Memory function)

The Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology (LIN) Magdeburg (Germany) is an internationally recognized neuroscientific institute dedicated to the research on learning and memory. Our research comprises all organizational levels of the brain – from molecular and cellular processes to complex neuronal networks and behavior. The Institute is committed to a comprehensive policy of Equal Opportunities in employment and research.

The Functional Architecture of Memory (FAM) department (PI Magdalena Sauvage; https://www.lin-magdeburg.org/research/research-units/department-functional-architecture-of-memory) is seeking a highly motivated

Post-doctoral researcher with expertise in-vivo electrophysiology

for a 3-year fixed-term period (with possible extension; in accordance with the availability of funds and individual requirements) in full time with a salary of TV-L E13. The candidate will investigate  the underlying mechanisms of episodic memory and its content. The research methods include in-vivo electrophysiology (single-cell and LFP)  and optogenetic manipulations. The project is tightly linked to independent subprojects involving high resolution Immediate-early gene imaging, 9.4T fMRI in awake rats and 7TfMRI in humans. The call is open to highly qualified applicants who have received their Ph.D. or equivalent degree. Optimal starting date between 1st March and 1st December but flexible for the right candidate. 

Background of the lab: The department focuses on dissociating the contribution of different medial temporal lobe areas such as CA1, CA3, DG, MEC, LEC, PrC and POR to memory in health, aging and in animal models of amnesia. Memory for time, space and episodes as well as its consolidation/reconsolidation is studied. In a nutshell, the FAM has recently identified new spatial and non-spatial subnetworks segregated along the proximodistal axis of the hippocampus (Nakamura et al, J. Neuroscience, 2013; Beer and Vavra et al, Plos biology, 2018; Ku et al, 2021-S-7497-SfN ), hypothesized a network shift between the Trisynaptic loop and the Temporoamonic pathway for the retrieval of memories as they age (Lux et al, Elife, 2016; Atucha et al, bioRxiv, 2021) and depicted memory networks supporting memory reconsolidation (Lux et al, Cerebral cortex, 2017). Techniques include high-order standard or translational human to rat memory tasks (Sauvage et al, Nature Neuroscience, 2008) combined with lesions, optogenetics, high-resolution molecular imaging based on the detection of IEG and in-vivo electrophysiology. fMRI studies in awake rodents (9.4T) and human behavioral studies are also conducted  to a lesser extent.

Qualification: The successful candidate will have expertise in in-vivo electrophysiology (single units and LFP), behavioral techniques and be highly motivated by interspecies/interdisciplinary studies. The communication language of the lab is English. The group interacts tightly with the Neural Dynamics laboratory (PI M. Yoshida; in-vitro/vivo electrophysiology & computational neurosciences) as well as with national and international partners including S. Tonegawa (Boston, USA), S. Josselyn (Sickkids, Toronto, CN), J. Csicsvari (IST, Austria), M. Witter (NTNU, Trondheim, NO), E. Düzel (DZNE Magdeburg, Germany) and M. Höhn (MPI Cologne, Germany).

The employment, salary and employee benefits comply with the collective pay agreement (German TV-L). Equal opportunities as well as compatibility of family and work are part of our HR policy. Severely disabled applicants with equivalent occupational aptitude will be considered preferentially.

We are looking forward to your application. Please send a single PDF file comprising a cover letter, a CV, a publication list, names and contact of 3 references and a brief statement of motivation and research interests to jessica.levin@lin-magdeburg.de. Review of the applications will start March 1^st 2022 and end when the position is filled. Candidates of all nationalities are encouraged to apply.

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