Position: Postdoc
Location: Neurophysiology lab of the Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Pavia, Italy
Start date: 01/02/2024
About the Lab
The main research focus of the lab is understanding the physiology of the cerebellum and, more recently, the prefrontal cortex, with particular attention to their roles in neuropathologies such as autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, epilepsy, and migraine. The main techniques used in the lab are electrophysiology in acute slices and in vivo (patch-clamp and multielectrode array recordings), voltage and calcium imaging in acute slices and in vivo (two-photon microscopy and microendoscopic calcium imaging with miniscopes), behavioural tests.
Job Description
2 postdoc positions are available for 2 years (1+1 year) in the Neurophysiology lab of the Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Pavia, Italy.
The specific projects related to this job offer are:
1) Investigating network alterations in cerebellum, somatosensory cortex, and prefrontal cortex in FHM mouse models of migraine. In particular, we will use high-density multielectrode array recordings and calcium imaging with miniscopes to characterize cortical spreading depression (CSD) effects on networks activity in acute slices and in freely behaving mice.
2) Investigating network alterations in the cerebellum and prefrontal cortex in PCDH19-related developmental and epileptic encephalopathy-9 (DEE9). PCDH19 encodes protocadherin 19, an adhesion molecule which interacts with the GABA-A receptor and is widely expressed in the limbic system and cerebellum. We will use a mouse model with selective deletion in parvalbumin interneurons (PV-Pcdh19 KO mice) to investigate its role in determining the excitatory/inhibitory balance in neuronal networks. We will use high-density multielectrode array recordings in acute slices and microendoscopic calcium imaging in freely behaving mice. More details here
How to Apply
If you are interested, please send your CV and a motivation letter to Lisa Mapelli: [email protected]