Missions

The successful applicant will join a research team dedicated to understand the physiology and physiopathology of the mechanisms involved in the control of intracellular calcium concentration in skeletal muscle cells. The team has specific expertise in functional characterization of these mechanisms in fully differentiated muscle fibers, with particular interest for the regulation of ion channels activity in the plasma membrane and in the membrane of intracellular compartments, within the framework of the excitation-contraction coupling process.

Activités

The successful applicant will be involved in a project supported by the MyoNeurALP4 funding package from AFM-Téléthon aiming at determining whether and how alterations of intracellular calcium homeostasis contribute to muscle wasting in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy by using a zebrafish model of the disease. The first part of the project intends to explore in a comparative manner in control and diseased zebrafish muscle fibers the activity of sarcolemmal ion channels involved in calcium influx at rest. The second part of the project aims at characterizing the voltage-evoked calcium changes in these two animal models. The recruited applicant will use single-cell physiology techniques including electrophysiology and fluorescence imaging on isolated zebrafish muscle fibers.

Compétences

Applicants should have received a PhD in either physiology or cell biology. Experience/expertise in single cell -electrophysiology and/or -fluorescence imaging is preferred, as well as specific interest for skeletal muscle function. We are looking for someone with strong commitment, enthusiasm and creativity with respect to the proposed research, also able to interact in a constructive and supportive manner with other members of the team.

Contexte de travail

The team is part of the « Pathophysiology and Genetics of Neuron and Muscle » laboratory at NeuroMyoGene Institute (University Claude Bernard Lyon 1), established since 2018 within the renovated 3rd floor of the Rockefeller Faculty of Medicine in Lyon. The local scientific environment is very rich. It strongly promotes the development of collaborative and innovative projects, thanks to a team community gathering a rich diversity of expertise that has specific dedication for the neuromuscular system. The team also benefits from immediate proximity of technological facilities including imaging, genomics, histology, cell culture, furnished with state-of-the art equipment and animal facilities. This environment allows highest-level combination of genetics, cell biology and physiology, promoting the potential for cutting-edge discoveries with respect to the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in neuromuscular diseases.

Contraintes et risques

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