Missions

The postdoctoral researcher will conduct cutting-edge surgical, neurophysiological, and behavioral experiments to explore the role of dopaminergic circuits involved in touch perception, with a particular focus on how the hedonic value of affective touch is integrated and modulated. The researcher will also contribute to the supervision of young researchers, the coordination of scientific collaborations, and the dissemination and promotion of results through publications and presentations at international conferences.

Activités

Development and optimization of experimental protocols: stereotactic injections, optogenetics, chemogenetics, in vivo imaging (fiber photometry, calcium imaging). • Development and implementation of new surgical approaches, particularly for the application of optogenetics to the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia. • Training and technical support for students and young researchers in cutting-edge techniques, including stereotactic surgery and fiber photometry. • Development and implementation of new behavioral paradigms (social touch, dyadic interactions, pathological conditions). • Advanced quantitative analyses (machine learning, computer vision, multilevel statistics). • Creation and use of Python code for advanced analyses. • Management and monitoring of complex transgenic lines. • Coordination and active participation in the team's collaborative projects. • Supervision and training of interns, doctoral students, and young researchers. • Presentation of results at seminars, international conferences, and consortium meetings. • Writing and co-writing scientific articles. • Participation in the drafting of funding proposals and scientific reports.

Compétences

• Expertise in studying the nucleus accumbens and its interactions with dopaminergic circuits in encoding motivation and hedonic value. • In-depth knowledge of the peripheral and sensory system. • Extensive expertise in behavioral neuroscience as well as in vivo and ex vivo neurophysiology. • Proficiency in behavioral and physiological data analysis. • Autonomy in the use of coding software (Python and/or Matlab). • Holder of the SURGERY level in animal experimentation. • Mastery and ability to teach advanced surgical techniques (stereotaxy, fiber photometry, optogenetics). • Ability to develop and validate new innovative experimental methodologies. • Ability to train and supervise students, doctoral candidates, and engineers. • Strong scientific autonomy and ability to initiate new projects. • Collaborative spirit and organizational skills. • Strong written and oral communication skills (international presentations).

Contexte de travail

The Affective Touch team is working on the neural processes that enable tactile stimulation to be perceived as pleasant and to trigger prosocial behaviors, under both normal and pathological conditions. Current research focuses on circuits in cortical and subcortical regions, such as the insular cortex and the PAG. Research techniques used in the laboratory include in vivo and ex vivo electrophysiological recording combined with fibrophotometry to record neuronal activity, optogenetics, chemogenetics, and viral engineering for in vitro circuit mapping and in vivo behavioral manipulation, as well as machine learning and computer vision for behavioral analysis. The project is funded by several organizations, including the Bettencourt-Schueller Foundation and the ANR. The team works closely with the “Cell Dynamics of Calcium Channels and Nociception” team, with whom we share not only certain research topics, but also premises, equipment, and researchers. The team is part of the Montpellier Functional Genomics Institute, an internationally recognized institute for the study of GPCRs and ion channels. The institute is located in the beautiful city of Montpellier, in the south of France, near the Mediterranean Sea.