Postdoctoral Associate - Dickson and Tuthill Labs : Ashburn, VA, United States

Job Description

Postdoctoral Positions: Tuthill and Dickson labs

CIRCUIT MECHANISMS OF SOMATOSENSORY PROCESSING INDROSOPHILA

A Postdoctoral position is available for a collaborative project between the labs of John Tuthill (University of Washington) and Barry Dickson (Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn VA). The goal of this project is to dissect the function of neural circuits that encode somatosensory signals in the central nervous system of the fruit fly, Drosophila. The initial objective will be to use genetic tools at Janelia to generate a comprehensive set of driver lines for specific labeling and manipulation of individual cell types. These driver lines will then be used to study circuit-level mechanisms of somatosensory processing with electrophysiology and 2-photon imaging. Similar approaches to genetic and anatomical circuit mapping have recently proven successful in other regions of the Drosophila brain: see Tuthill et al (Neuron, 2013) and Aso et al (Elife, 2014).

Candidates should have experience in neuroanatomy, systems neuroscience, electrophysiology, or functional imaging, and a strong interest in understanding how genetically-defined cell types contribute to sensory computation in complex neural circuits. At Janelia, the scientist will be part of a vibrant community of researchers focused on understanding the structure and function of the Drosophila nervous system, and will have access to leading edge tools for genetic targeting of neural circuits, optogenetic and pharmaco-genetic circuit manipulation, electron microscopy-based connectomics, and innovative imaging technologies.

The Dickson lab is a leader in the development and use of molecular genetic techniques for probing the function of neural circuits, particularly those that control fly courtship and mating. The Tuthill lab provides expertise in the functional analysis of central somatosensory circuits using electrophysiology and 2-photon calcium imaging in behaving animals. During the initial phase of the project, we expect that the successful candidate would spend the majority of his/her time at Janelia, with frequent visits between the two labs.