Job ID: 119865

In vivo studies of mouse models of neurodevelopmental disorders and epilepsies related to mutations of sodium channel genes

Position: Post-doctoral Position

Deadline: 2 September 2024

Employment Start Date: 1 October 2024

Contract Length: 1 Year renewable up to 3 years

City: Valbonne

Country: France

Institution: CNRS

Department: Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (IPMC)

Description:

The link for applying to the position (compulsory) is :

https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/UMR7275-MASMAN-014/Default.aspx?lang=EN

The postdoc will be in charge of developing and conducting experimental protocols, as part of research projects on models of neurodevelopmental disorders and epilepsy linked to sodium channel gene mutations. Sodium channel mutations are implicated in various types of neurodevelopmental disorders, including epileptic and developmental encephalopathies (DEEs) characterized by drug-resistant epileptic seizures, cognitive/behavioral deficits, movement disorders and mortality, often due to “sudden unexpected death in epilepsy” (SUDEP). The team is expert in studying mouse models of these pathologies (Mantegazza et al, 2021, Physiological Reviews, 101(4):1633 https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00025.2020 ; Guerrini et al 2023 Physiological Reviews 103(1):433) https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00063.2021; Rusina et al. 2023 J.Neurochemistry https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jnc.15947; Capitano et al. 2024 PNAS https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2316364121).

The general objectives of the research project are: 1) to better understand pathological mechanisms in animal models; 2) to develop treatments by directly targeting initial genetic dysfunction as well as homeostatic and pathological remodeling; 3) to identify biomarkers of SUDEP.

Activities: -Intracerebral injections of AAV viral vectors. -Placement of electrodes/thermistors to record electrophysiological signals from the brain, ECG and respiration. – Optogenetics in vivo to control neuronal activity. – In vivo Ca2+ imaging with fiber photometry to quantify the activity of neuronal populations. – DREADD and pharmacological treatments in mice. -Behavioral tests on mice to quantify cognitive functions, motor skills and social interactions. – Perform interventions in mice such as: stereotactic brain surgery, injections, sampling, labeling. – Chronic recordings (video-ECoG/LFP) in mice and signal analysis. – Formatting of results and statistical analysis. – Literature monitoring and improvement/adaptation of techniques and analyses.

Skills: – Brain surgery, including stereotaxic, virus injection and electrode placement in mice. – Knowledge and ability to perform in vivo experiments in mice. -Data analysis skills: statistical analysis, signal analysis (EEG, LFP). -Training in animal experimentation and surgery. – Organizational skills, rigor and method, motivation, autonomy. -Knowledge of written and spoken English.

The position is at the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology in Valbonne – Sophia Antipolis (Alpes-Maritimes). The IPMC is a joint research unit of CNRS, Université Côte d’Azur and Inserm (250 people, 8000 m2 of buildings). Its 20 research teams benefit from a high-level technological environment in integrative biology, electrophysiology, molecular and cellular biology, imaging, cytometry, biomolecule analysis and functional genomics. In particular, shared technical platforms for animal experimentation enable detailed phenotyping of mice. The postdoc will work in the “Physiopathology of Na+ channels and neuronal excitability” team, under the supervision of Massimo Mantegazza. Website of the team: www.ipmc.cnrs.fr/?page=mantegazza&lang=uk