POSTDOCTORAL POSITION IN EXPERIMENTAL/ THEORETICAL NEUROSCIENCE

POSTDOCTORAL POSITION IN EXPERIMENTAL/
THEORETICAL NEUROSCIENCE

Α postdoctoral (or senior researcher) position with very competitive salary (€2,400-
2,600 net/month), is available immediately at IMBB-FORTH (www.imbb.forth.gr) in
Crete, in the lab of Dr. Panayiota Poirazi.

The position is available for 2 years as part of the EC-FP7 Marie Curie Initial
Training Network (ITN) NAMASEN offering research training in Neuroelectronics
and Nanotechnology: towards a Multidisciplinary Approach for the Science and
Engineering of Neuronal Networks (http://www.namasen.net). The position offers
travel money and the possibility of extended visits to the participating groups.

IMBB-FORTH

FORTH is one of the top
European Research Centers. It has
ranked 1st in terms of high impact
publications in Greece and 12th in
the number of FP7 grants in
Europe. IMBB is the top
Biological Institute in Greece,
in terms of high quality
personnel, publications, infrastructure and competitive grants. IMBB-FORTH is
located in Heraklion, one of the most ancient and historical Greek cities, on the picturesque

island of Crete. Crete, the homeland of major artists, such as El Greco and Nikos
Kazantzakis, impressively combines the outstanding geophysical variety (forests, mountains,
gorges, and beaches) with its rich history of thousands of years, resulting in the well-known
Cretan culture and cuisine.

The Poirazi lab
The Computational Biology Laboratory (http://www.imbb.forth.gr/people/poirazi/
) at IMBB-FORTH performs research that is at the forefront of Computational
Neuroscience and Bioinformatics. The work of Dr. Poirazi led to several high impact
publications, some of which have shaped the field of dendritic computations. This
work received prestigious awards, including the EMBO Young Investigator Award in
2005, 2 Marie Curie Fellowships and the European Research Council (ERC) starting
grant in 2012.

The title of the individual research project at CBL is:
"Clustered plasticity and network emergent states"

The fellow will focus on the mathematical investigation and machine-learning
classification of collective electrical properties, emerging in neuronal networks
coupled to multielectrode arrays and neuroelectronic hybrids. Specifically, he/she will
use electrophysiology techniques to study the passive and active electrophysiological
properties of neurons in in vitro neuronal networks as well as the presence of
synaptic currents following electrical stimulation. In addition, different stimulation
protocols will be applied to study whether neuronal networks express specific
types of plasticity. We are mostly interested in identifying stimuli that are predicted
theoretically to give rise to highly interconnected neuronal sub-networks.

He/she will also/alternatively explore the consequences of clustered plasticity
rules in conductance-based model neurons. Modeling studies will be performed
using the NEURON simulation environment in order to build a network of
detailed compartmental models of neurons, where synapses capable of exhibiting
plasticity properties like the ones recorded in the physiological experiments will be
incorporated. Models will be used to generate predictions about how specific stimuli
delivered either to randomly selected neurons in a distributed manner throughout the
model system or to nearby neurons in a specific location (clustered) of the model
system could alter the electrical and/or structural properties of the network.

The methodologies to be used in this project include electrophysiological recordings
and computational modelling, therefore the fellow should ideally have previous
training in both or either of these techniques. Training in electrophysiology can
also be offered as part of NAMASEN.

According to the eligibility criteria, the fellow MUST NOT
1. be a Greek citizen,
2. have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Greece
for more than 12 months in the last 3 years.
3. have worked in a research position / received research training for more than 5
years of his/her Master’s degree (this can be relaxed).

Start date: Immediately

Candidates that match the required profile will be continuously interviewed until the
position is filled. Candidates should send a resume and two (2) reference letters to
poirazi[at]imbb.forth.gr. If possible, recommendations should be send by the referees
directly by email at poirazi[at]imbb.forth.gr.