Job ID: 117543

Postdoctoral position on astrocyte-neuron interactions

Position: Post-doctoral Position

Deadline: 31 May 2024

Employment Start Date: 1 July 2024

Contract Length: 2 years

City: Saclay

Country: France

Institution: NeuroPSI (Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience)

Department:

Description:

A post-doctoral position is available in the team of Carole Escartin at NeuroPSI (Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, in Saclay, 25km south of Paris, France). The successful candidate will join a team of 7 people studying astrocyte signaling in health and neurodegenerative diseases.

Astrocytes are emerging as key players in many diseases [1-3], through complex and yet-to-characterize communication with neurons [4]. The goal of this project funded by an Equipe FRM grant is to explore how astrocytes use transcription-factor based signaling cascades for their long-term interactions with neurons in health and disease. Specifically, the successful candidate will i) develop novel cell-specific molecular tools for the precise manipulation of key astrocyte intracellular signaling cascades in the mouse brain; ii) establish how specific signaling cascades govern diverse reactive astrocyte molecular and functional features in an in vivo model of Alzheimer’s disease and iii) evaluate the therapeutic benefit of specific signaling targeting in astrocytes in situ.

  1. Abjean, L., et al., Reactive astrocytes promote proteostasis in Huntington’s disease through the JAK2-STAT3 pathway. Brain, 2023. 146(1): p. 149-166.
  2. Ceyzeriat, K., et al., Modulation of astrocyte reactivity improves functional deficits in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. Acta Neuropathol Commun, 2018. 6(1): p. 104.
  3. Ben Haim, L., et al., The JAK/STAT3 pathway is a common inducer of astrocyte reactivity in Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases. J Neurosci, 2015. 35(6): p. 2817-29.
  4. Escartin, C., et al., Reactive astrocyte nomenclature, definitions, and future directions. Nat Neurosci, 2021. 24(3): p. 312-325.

Technical description:

This multidisciplinary project involves viral gene transfer in the mouse brain, immunostainings, fluorescence activated cell sorting of astrocytes, functional cellular imaging (on slices and 2-photon), transcriptomics and mouse behavioral analysis.
NeuroPSI offers a unique environment to perform this project, by gathering multidisciplinary research teams, skilled technical staff, biosafety level 2 laboratories to manipulate viral vectors and state-of-the-art facilities to study neuron-astrocyte interactions at the molecular, cellular, functional and behavioral level.

 

Qualifications:

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with research experience in several of these techniques and a strong background in glial cell biology.
Applicants must hold (or be about to obtain) a Ph.D. in Neurosciences or Cellular Biology and be fluent in English. They should be willing to work autonomously in a collaborative environment and be dedicated to the progress of a demanding and original project.
Applicants should send a CV, a letter of motivation and two reference letters in a single pdf document.

 

Terms:

24-month post-doctoral position starting in May-September 2024, salary depending upon experience. Extension will be possible by applying to additional post-doctoral fellowships. The successful candidate will receive all necessary training, regular supervision and constructive discussion on his/her results and future career. He/she will have access to dedicated equipment and reagents and have the opportunity to present at internal and international meetings.