Job ID: 119082
PhD Scholarship
Position: Ph.D. Student
Deadline: 24 June 2024
Employment Start Date: 1 November 2024
Contract Length: 4 years
City: Rovereto
Country: Italy
Institution: Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
Department: Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems
Description:
The Rossi Lab at the Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rovereto, invites applications for a PhD scholarship to investigate the functional relevance of transcriptomic cell types in cortical circuits.
Our research aims to understand how the specialised activity of individual neurons, and brain areas, emerges from the architecture of their synaptic connections, how gene expression predisposes their blueprint, and how their plasticity allows animals to learn. To address these challenges, we investigate the neural architectures that enable adaptive visually guided behaviours in the mouse, leveraging methods from system neuroscience, physiology, anatomy, and molecular biology to link function, connectivity, and gene expression in vivo at multiple scales. For more info, see:
(https://rossilab.iit.it/)
Role summary
The PhD position aims at understanding the functional diversity of the transcriptomic neural types that compose the cerebral cortex. Are there genetically defined neuronal ensembles devoted to specific sensory, motor or cognitive functions? Is the function of each neural type conserved or flexibly repurposed across different brain areas? To what extent the properties of a neuron are plastic, shaped by development and learning, or statically defined by gene expression? To address these questions, this project will leverage large-scale two-photon calcium imaging to characterize the function large populations of cortical neurons in vivo, and pioneer spatial transcriptomic methods to measure gene expression in the recorded neurons.
Who we are looking for:
We are committed to building a diverse, multi-disciplinary and collegial laboratory. We are looking for MSc students across STEM and engineering backgrounds, who wonder at the marvels of experimental observation, enjoy crafting new tools to investigate neurophysiology and animal behaviour, and are eager to challenge their expertise.
Besides their track record and interest for the lab research programme, candidates will be assessed on the following criteria: critical thinking; hands-on training in experimental physiology or molecular biology; familiarity with data analysis and programming skills in Python or Matlab; science communication skills in English; expertise in designing and controlling experimental and behavioural setups.
Research environment and training:
Successful candidates will join a growing diverse, multidisciplinary and collegial group, will help build our new lab, and will be offered direct training, supervision and mentorship from the principal investigator. Additional training in spatial transcriptomics will be offered by our collaborators at University College London (UK) and INMED (Marseille).
The position is a four-years scholarship, offered in partnership with the international doctoral school in Cognitive and Brain Sciences (CIMEC) at the University of Trento. Candidates will join a diverse cohort of PhD students and receive multi-disciplinary training at the interface of computational, experimental and cognitive neuroscience across humans and animal models.
The IIT-CNCS in Rovereto is actively expanding its infrastructure for systems level neuroscience research; our centre is located in Trentino, a region of Northern Italy nested in the Dolomite mountains, offering easy access to spectacular natural beauty and mountaineering, vibrant culture and exceptional quality of life. (https://www.iit.it/it-IT/cncs-unitn/)
How to apply
To apply, please follow the guidelines on the CIMeC doctoral school website ; apply for the relevant topic specific grant. The official call was opened on the 24th of May, and will close on the 24th of June. Final admission to entails a competitive selection process, as per the doctoral school regulations, with interviews held in mid-July.
Candidates can informally contact Dr Federico Rossi (federico.rossi@iit.it) to gather more information about the position, the project, the application procedure and the selection process.