I am hiring a highly motivated, creative, and enthusiastic postdoctoral researcher to join my neurobiology lab at the University of Chicago.
We investigate how early life experience is encoded in neural circuits that control behavior. We combine molecular, genomic, epigenomic, anatomical, and behavioral measures and manipulations to test how age- and experience-dependent mechanisms intersect to influence brain function. We focus on the sensitive period for tutor song memorization (sensory song learning) in the juvenile zebra finch songbird because a) there are strong social, genomic, and neural parallels between developmental song learning and speech acquisition, b) the neuroanatomical circuitry required for song learning is mapped and a major locus for tutor song memorization is known, c) song structure is a quantifiable behavioral output of the function of the neural circuit, d) the close of the sensitive period depends specifically on experience (hearing the tutor’s song), not age or general auditory stimulation, permitting direct examination of mechanisms by which experience alters neural function.
The successful applicant will lead a key behavioral epigenomics project to pursue findings that tutor experience induces epigenetic modifications within the brain area required for sensory song learning. Experiments will utilize a suite of molecular, epigenomic, genomic, in vivo, and behavioral methods. In addition, the postdoc will be encouraged to develop their own research ideas along the lines of the research interests of the lab. Ideal candidates would be interested in rigorously testing the connections between epigenomic regulation of molecular processes, learning, and behavioral outcomes of neural circuit function and have significant experience in the application of molecular biology, genomics and/or epigenomics, and next-generation sequencing methods to answer neuroscientific questions. Added expertise in behavioral analysis, microscopy, genomics, anatomical methods, or physiology is a plus. I will especially consider applicants who are independent, have a drive to succeed, are genuinely excited about the research, and can work positively as part of the lab team. Candidates must have a PhD in neuroscience, molecular biology, or related disciplines, and no more than 2 years of postdoctoral experience.
The position is available starting July 1, 2015 and is funded for two years; additional time contingent upon funding. For more information or to discuss potential projects, please email Dr Sarah London at [email protected] with "Postdoc Inquiry" in the subject. To apply, send a letter of interest and CV to [email protected] ; to ensure that your application is received and processed, all application emails must have "Postdoc application" as the subject.
We investigate how early life experience is encoded in neural circuits that control behavior. We combine molecular, genomic, epigenomic, anatomical, and behavioral measures and manipulations to test how age- and experience-dependent mechanisms intersect to influence brain function. We focus on the sensitive period for tutor song memorization (sensory song learning) in the juvenile zebra finch songbird because a) there are strong social, genomic, and neural parallels between developmental song learning and speech acquisition, b) the neuroanatomical circuitry required for song learning is mapped and a major locus for tutor song memorization is known, c) song structure is a quantifiable behavioral output of the function of the neural circuit, d) the close of the sensitive period depends specifically on experience (hearing the tutor’s song), not age or general auditory stimulation, permitting direct examination of mechanisms by which experience alters neural function.
The successful applicant will lead a key behavioral epigenomics project to pursue findings that tutor experience induces epigenetic modifications within the brain area required for sensory song learning. Experiments will utilize a suite of molecular, epigenomic, genomic, in vivo, and behavioral methods. In addition, the postdoc will be encouraged to develop their own research ideas along the lines of the research interests of the lab. Ideal candidates would be interested in rigorously testing the connections between epigenomic regulation of molecular processes, learning, and behavioral outcomes of neural circuit function and have significant experience in the application of molecular biology, genomics and/or epigenomics, and next-generation sequencing methods to answer neuroscientific questions. Added expertise in behavioral analysis, microscopy, genomics, anatomical methods, or physiology is a plus. I will especially consider applicants who are independent, have a drive to succeed, are genuinely excited about the research, and can work positively as part of the lab team. Candidates must have a PhD in neuroscience, molecular biology, or related disciplines, and no more than 2 years of postdoctoral experience.
The position is available starting July 1, 2015 and is funded for two years; additional time contingent upon funding. For more information or to discuss potential projects, please email Dr Sarah London at [email protected] with "Postdoc Inquiry" in the subject. To apply, send a letter of interest and CV to [email protected] ; to ensure that your application is received and processed, all application emails must have "Postdoc application" as the subject.