海外

Postdoctoral Fellow : Tokyo/Wako, Japan
Employer: RIKEN Brain Science Institute: Johansen Laboratory
Website: http://http//www.brain.riken.jp/en/careers/20120123_j_johansen_r.html
Location: Tokyo/Wako, Japan
Type: Postdoctoral
Posted: February 12, 2012
Expires: March 15, 2012

job description

We seek highly motivated postdoctoral fellows with an interest in learning and memory and/or motivated behavior. Applicants should have a PhD in neuroscience or a related field. Training in physics or molecular biology is also desirable if the candidate has a significant interest in experimental neuroscience research. Strong training in electrophysiology, behavior and/or molecular biology is desirable.

Our laboratory studies how aversive experiences trigger changes in neural circuits resulting in memory formation and adaptive alterations in behavior. The neural processes which transduce aversive experiences into signals that engage brain plasticity resulting in behavioral memories are commonly called teaching signals. We study teaching signals using fear conditioning, a powerful model for studying behavioral memory formation. We take advantage of a multi-disciplinary approach, employing state of the art optogenetic techniques to causally manipulate teaching signal circuits and in-vivo electrophysiological methods to examine the computations performed by neurons in these circuits during behavioral learning. Our goals are to define the circuits that trigger aversive memory formation and elucidate the mechanisms by which aversive experiences trigger neural plasticity in memory storage areas. In addition, we aim to determine the computations performed by neurons in different parts of these circuits and establish how circuit processes give rise to these neural computations during behavioral learning and memory. Using this strategy we ultimately seek to discover general principles of neural circuit function, neural coding and plasticity as they relate to adaptive behavior.

The laboratory is located in the greater Tokyo area at the RIKEN Brain Science Institute. The research environment at RIKEN is collaborative, vibrant and international with over 40 high quality labs working on a variety of fundamental questions in neuroscience. English is the primary language at the institute making it a welcoming place for international or local Japanese postdoctoral fellows. In addition, RIKEN has many programs and financial incentives to aid foreigners in their transition to life in Japan.

For details including working conditions and welfare, please visit the RIKEN Job advert link/website:

http://http://www.brain.riken.jp/en/careers/20120123_j_johansen_r.html

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