美国俄克拉荷马大学招聘行为神经生理学博士后

A postdoctoral position is available immediately for up to four years in Ari Berkowitz’s lab at the University of Oklahoma. We study how a combination of multifunctional and behaviorally specialized spinal interneurons acts to select and generate leg movements. The adult turtle spinal cord, even without input from the brain and movement-related sensory feedback, can appropriately generate motor patterns for swimming, three forms of scratching, and leg withdrawal (flexion reflex) for each hind limb. Many spinal interneurons are multifunctional, being activated during several or all of these motor patterns; the multifunctional interneurons include a morphological-physiological type called transverse interneurons. Two other groups of spinal interneurons are behaviorally specialized for scratching and for flexion reflex. Turtles are unusually resistant to hypoxia, which makes them ideal for electrophysiology experiments. The research will use in vivo intracellular recording and dye injection of turtle spinal interneurons, followed by immunocytochemistry in collaboration with David Maxwell’s lab at the University of Glasgow, to investigate the neurotransmitters and synaptic targets of multifunctional and behavioral specialized interneurons.

Electrophysiology experience is required. Intracellular recording experience is preferred.  The position is available immediately and will remain open until filled.Salary Range: $39k-$42k.