Call closed Postdoctoral position to investigate the brain extra-cellular space by super-resolution STED microscopy (Deadline to apply: 6 December)

The project is part of the ASAP Initiative consortium grant (11 mio US dollars) in which we are collaborator, and will address how the structure and dynamics of the brain extracellular space (ECS) impact neuronal signalling and metabolite clearance in settings of Parkinson's disease. Little is known about the putative functional roles of the ECS, largely because its complex structure has remained inaccessible for analysis through live-tissue microscopy techniques. We hypothesize that the structure and dynamics of the ECS will shape diffusion to effectively modulate signalling and metabolite clearance, and we want to test this experimentally.

The successful candidate will use super-resolution STED/SUSHI microscopy (Tonnesen et al, Cell 2018) in combination with electrophysiological techniques in live mouse brain slices, to effectively map out ECS structure and dynamics, and compare this to electrophysiological readouts of function. Computational modelling of diffusion will also be applied to develop and test further hypotheses.

We are looking for a highly motivated and ambitious candidate with a PhD degree, or equivalent, and potentially postdoctoral experience in neuroscience, advanced optical microscopy, biophysics, biomedicine, or related field.

The work relies heavily on daily usage of an advanced custom-built STED microscope assembled from components across brands that are interfaced using BNC cables controlled by a NI data-acquisition board. Knowledge (or interest) in such customized microscopes and a basic understanding of instrument interfacing is therefore a plus, as is knowledge on optics and/or electrophysiology.

The candidate should have scientific curiosity, patience and stamina, be capable of independent thinking, and have the motivation to take charge and advance the project. Further, the candidate should be able to contribute in collaborative projects, and contribute to an enthusiastic, productive and fun work environment, including training and mentoring of junior lab members. Within our group we openly share all data, ideas and technical knowledge, and the chosen postdoc must commit to doing so (obviously in return for tangible recognition where applicable). The language of the lab is English, and we expect the candidate to be relatively fluent. We encourage anyone who, more or less, meet these criteria to apply.

We offer 3 years postdoctoral salary through a full postdoctoral contract also covering social insurance. Our recently established research group resides in new facilities at the Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience in Bilbao (Spain). The project is part of our recently awarded ASAP Inititative consortium grant on Parkinson's disease and involves plenty of possibilities for being involved in additional projects, and the hired postdoc is expected to play a key role in our still small group that currently hosts 3 PhD students + regular pre-graduate students.

Practical info: The project will be carried out in the Tønnesen Group (AKA Neuronal Excitability Lab) at the Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience located at the Leioa Campus of the University of the Basque Country in Bilbao, Spain, with a tentative starting date 1/1 2022.

To apply, please send as PDFs [1] letter of motivation (max 1 page), [2] updated CV (max 3 pages), [3] contact info for two references. Please email this to jan.tonnesen@ehu.eus indicating in subject: POSTDOC 2021.

For general information about our group please visit https://sites.google.com/site/tonnesenlab/. Information about the host center https://www.achucarro.org/home.

Please email us on the above email address for further information.