Motor system neuromodulation and repair

Postdoctoral positions are available to study corticospinal system plasticity and repair after spinal cord injury at the City University of New York School of Medicine in rats. Our-state-of-the-art laboratory is located at the Center for Discovery and Innovation on the City College of New York campus in northern Manhattan. A major focus of the lab’s research program is the study of activity-dependent corticospinal axon growth and strengthening of corticospinal system connections (for a list of publications, see Martin Lab website:http://martinlab.ccny.cuny.edu). We leverage the knowledge gained to develop neuromodulation strategies for neural repair after injury. The current projects focus on a novel combined biomaterial-neuromodulation strategy to repair the spinal injury site and to promote functional connectivity. Other projects in the lab include promoting motor learning using different neuromodulation strategies, in collaboration with the Lucas Parra laboratory in Biomedical Engineering at The City College of NY. The present position is funded through grants from the NIH and the NYS Spinal Cord Injury Research Board. We use different neuromodulation approaches (several electrical stimulation protocols, optogenetics, DREADDs) to promote axon outgrowth and strengthen corticospinal system connections in healthy animals and after cervical contusion SCI. Outcomes are assessed using CNS and muscle electrophysiology; anatomical changes, including use of tissue clearing methods; and behavioral techniques (reaching, locomotion, reflex testing). It is particularly important that applicants have adequate experience conducting animal surgeries and in vivoprocedures. Applicants with training in Matlab (or equivalent) programming and animal behavioral approachesare encouraged to apply. Email CV and the names and contact information of three references to John H. Martin, Ph.D. (jmartin@med.cuny.edu). Martin lab website: http://martinlab.ccny.cuny.edu

The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/American with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer