Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour
Tinsley Building
Mansfield Road
Oxford
An opportunity has arisen for a Postdoctoral Research Scientist to join the lab of Professor Scott Waddell at the University of Oxford.
Recent years have seen the development of new tools and methods that allow researchers to record the activity of specific neurons and circuits in Drosophila melanogaster. The aim of the project is to adapt these methods to further investigate how motivation is encoded in neural circuits to coordinate meaningful behavioural responses.
The successful applicant will use a combination of fly genetics and genetically encoded tools, two-photon imaging and computational analysis combined with behavioural learning paradigms in tethered Drosophila, to study how neural circuits function to encode and retrieve learned state-dependent behaviour.
The successful applicant will develop methods to record neural activity, record from identified neurons using physiology techniques including two-photon imaging, acquire and analyse imaging and behavioural data, develop new research questions, manage their own day-to-day academic duties, collaborate with other group members to produce publishable date, reports and journal articles, maintain Drosophila stocks and supervise graduate and undergraduate student projects.
The successful applicant will have a PhD or be close to completing a PhD in neuroscience, have experience with designing and operating new behavioural assays, have experience with Drosophila and knowledge of the Drosophila brain anatomy as well as experience with molecular biology techniques in Drosophila. You will be able to use your initiative and provide evidence that you have developed independent research questions as well as experience in writing successful grants and publishing papers.
The postholder will be based at the Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, Tinsley Building, Mansfield Road, Oxford.
The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on Wednesday 6 March 2019.
For more information and to apply, click here
