Job ID: 97308
Molecular basis of social withdrawal in schizophrenia
Position: Post-doctoral Position
Deadline: 30 December 2022
Employment Start Date: 2 January 2023
Contract Length: 2 years
City: Klecany
Country: Czech Republic
Institution: National Institute of Mental Health
Department: Preclinical Research Program
Description:
Post-doctoral position in Klecany/Czech Republic
The laboratory of Schizophrenia Models for Advancing Research and Treatment at the Czech National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH; www.nudz.cz) is seeking an enthusiastic, highly motivated postdoctoral fellow in the neuroscience field.
The postdoctoral position, available immediately, is part of a translational project that aims at gaining insight into the role of the orbitofrontal cortex, and its modulation by endocannabinoids, in social withdrawal in schizophrenia. This collaborative project, supported by a Czech Science Association grant, combines in vivo electrophysiology and behavioral pharmacology (including local micro-infusion), together with ex-vivo neurochemical and molecular analyses, in a model for schizophrenia.
The candidate will be in charge of the ex-vivo molecular part, which aims at investigating whether social withdrawal is due to the inadequate recruitment of the endocannabinoid system. Specifically, she/he will be responsible for setting up and conducting Western Blotting experiments and for implementing an assay to monitor CB1 receptors’ distribution in sub-cellular compartments. She/he will also be encouraged to build on the lab’s ideas independently and provided resources to develop new directions for her/his research project.
The ideal candidate should have:
- methodological expertise in protein biochemistry with extensive hands-on experience in Western Blotting, in particular – an essential requirement,
- experience with subcellular fractionation using sucrose gradients – a desirable skill,
- experience with stereotaxic surgery and intracerebral micro-infusion in rodents – a plus,
- an interest in learning new techniques and skills and embracing the challenging opportunity to work in a recently established lab,
- a Ph.D. in Neuroscience or a related field, and have excellent organizational and communication skills.
The fully-funded 2-year position will enable the successful candidate to develop an independent and competitive research profile.
The place of employment is at the Preclinical Research Program, NIMH, Klecany, Czech Republic. The NIMH is a modern multidisciplinary research center recently built next to the city of Prague. This research and innovation-oriented center for the study of neuropsychiatric disorders is a center of excellence in the area of mental health.
The successful candidate will benefit from working with a very dynamic team, which overarching goal is to understand the neuropsychopharmacological underpinnings of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. The day-to-day language is English.
Interested applicants should submit their CV, a one-page personal statement, and contact information for at least two referees in a single pdf file.
Informal inquiries should be addressed directly to Dr. Alexandre Seillier (alexandre.seillier@nudz.cz).