Postdoctoral Opportunity: Two-Photon Calcium Imaging at WashU

The Kim Lab in the Departments of Otolaryngology and Neuroscience at Washington University in St. Louis (https://oto.wustl.edu/research/laboratories/kim-lab/) is actively seeking a passionate and talented postdoctoral fellow to contribute to groundbreaking research in the auditory field.

Perception is initiated at the peripheral organs which transform sensory input into electrical activity in the nervous system. Direct in vivo monitoring and perturbation of the peripheral cellular dynamics have advanced our understanding of visual, olfactory, gustatory, and tactile sensation, however, such high-resolution intravital interrogation of the auditory system has proven extremely challenging due to the deep location, mechanosensitivity, and fluid-filled, bone-encased structure of the cochlea. We have overcome this limitation by developing a method that enables real-time monitoring of cellular activity in the cochlea of hearing animals. We are now applying this novel method to investigate the receptive properties of sound coding and processing within the cochlea and along the auditory pathway. The lab is equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation, including in vivo two-photon imaging synchronized with hearing physiology recordings, optogenetics, and an inner ear delivery system.

Applicants should have a PhD or an equivalent degree in neuroscience or related fields, ideally with research experience in in vivo two-photon calcium imaging. Experience in auditory research is desirable but not required. If interested, please submit a brief cover letter describing your professional background and long-term goals, a CV, and contact information for three references to jinkyung@wustl.edu.

If you'll be at the upcoming SfN meeting, please get in touch. I’d welcome the opportunity to discuss our research and explore potential synergies.