Job ID: 117515

Data scientist for epilepsy research Prague

Position: Post-doctoral Position

Deadline: 15 February 2024

Contract Length: 3 years

City: Prague

Country: Czech Republic

Institution: Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University

Department: Department of Physiology

Description:

Epilepsy is a serious neurological disorder affecting 0.5 – 1 % of the population. Our central goal is to gain insight into the fundamental pathogenetic and pathophysiological mechanisms of the most severe drug-resistant epilepsies. To address the most challenging and unresolved aspects of epilepsy, we have created an agile and multidisciplinary team of young and talented researchers. The multidisciplinary nature of the team allows us to approach epilepsy from different perspectives and adopt a complex approach to epilepsy research from the initial identification of genetic defects to functional studies identifying the most suitable therapeutic targets or discovering innovative treatments.

The department is equipped with state-of-the-art research methods ranging from experimental neurophysiological and imaging techniques (wide range of electrophysiological techniques from patch-clamp to multichannel in vivo recording, calcium imaging in vivo and in vitro; 1-, 2- and 3-photon live microscopy for calcium, voltage and neurotransmitter imaging in vivo) to and optogenetic and chemogenetic tools of neural control. Using these techniques, we aim to elucidate the cellular and network mechanisms of epilepsy due to focal cortical dysplasia – the most common and highly epileptogenic malformation of cortical development.

We seek a talented, collaborative, and motivated scientist with a passion for neuroscience who has expertise in signal and/or image processing. If you’re passionate about neuroscience and thrive on challenges, this is the opportunity for you. Your task will be to propose and perform analyses of the electrographic or imaging (GEVI, GECI, structural imaging) data to determine the properties of various cellular subpopulations (healthy principal neurons, gene-carrying neurons, various interneuronal subtypes) and their role in the generation of seizures and other forms of epileptic activity. You will also contribute to the improvements of the experimental protocols that will increase the information yield of the experiments. Your results will be the key to developing novel therapies for people with intractable epilepsy. Be part of a team making a tangible impact on lives – seize this opportunity to push the boundaries of epilepsy research!

Qualifications:

  • D. in neuroscience, computer science, bioengineering, or similar research field
  • Good programming skills in Matlab, Python, or R
  • Knowledge of signal and/or image analysis
  • Interest in neuroscience

Publications:

  • Chvojka J et al. Mouse model of focal cortical dysplasia type II generates a wide spectrum of high-frequency activities. Neurobiol Dis. 2023. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106383
  • Abdelfattah AS et al. Sensitivity optimization of a rhodopsin-based fluorescent voltage indicator. Neuron. 2023 May 17;111(10):1547-1563.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.03.009.
  • Kudlacek J et al. Long-term seizure dynamics are determined by the nature of seizures and the mutual interactions between them. Neurobiol Dis. 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105347
  • Maturana MI et al. Critical slowing down as a biomarker for seizure susceptibility. Nat Commun. 2020. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-15908-3
  • Kazemipour A et al. Kilohertz frame-rate two-photon tomography. Nat Methods. 2019 Aug;16(8):778-786. doi: 10.1038/s41592-019-0493-9. Epub 2019 Jul 29. Erratum in: Nat Methods. 2019 Sep;16(9):932. PMID: 31363222; PMCID: PMC6754705.
  • Chang WC et al. Loss of neuronal network resilience precedes seizures and determines the ictogenic nature of interictal synaptic perturbations. Nat Neurosci. 2018. doi: 10.1038/s41593-018-0278-y

 

Ready to make a difference? Apply now and join our team. Please include a letter of motivation, CV and the name of at least one referee in your application materials.

 

Prof. Premysl Jiruska, M.D., Ph.D.

premysl.jiruska@lfmotol.cuni.cz