Postdoc in neuroscience of auditory circuits (M/F)

Job Description

Missions

The goal of this project is to study the anatomical characteristics of the neural network that allow different sound dimensions to propagate along the auditory pathway. Frequency representation, or tonotopy, is present as early as the peripheral level, and the relationship between neuron localization and preferred frequency has been well characterized at various levels of the auditory circuit.
Representations of sound intensity or amplitude modulation are less clear but could be depicted orthogonally to tonotopy. In collaboration with the Institut de la Vision, we will use new “Brainbow”-type fluorescent labeling tools to trace the neuronal connections between the various relays in the auditory circuit. We will begin by characterizing the connections between the cochlea and the cochlear nucleus, the first relay in the auditory circuit, and by elucidating the specific connectivity that enables the encoding and propagation of sound intensity information.
The postdoctoral fellow will perform viral vector injections into the cochlea and the brain, image the labeled neurons, and generate a three-dimensional reconstruction of various levels of the auditory circuit at the cellular scale. The project's results will thus provide insights into how different aspects of sound are transmitted to the brain with unprecedented precision.

Activity

- Procedures on rodents, such as: stereotactic brain surgery, cochlear injections, tissue sampling, tagging, etc.
- Immunohistochemistry
- Confocal imaging
- Image analysis and 3D reconstruction
- Formatting of results and statistical analyses
- Follow-up of literature and improvement/adaptation of techniques and analyses according to research projects
- Participation in team and institute activities, supervision of students, writing of scientific articles.

Your Profil

Skills

• Education:
- PhD in neuroscience, cellular biology, or related field
• Experience in the following areas is desired:
- Animal experimentation (brain surgery, stereotaxy, tissue sampling)
- Confocal microscopy and image analysis
- Histology and immunohistochemistry
• Personal qualities:
- Motivation and curiosity
- Ability to work in a team and communicate in an international environment
- Rigor, organizational skills and autonomy
- Good level of English (oral, written).

Your Work Environment

The project “Shedding light on the auditory circuit: from the cochlea to the brain” (funded by Impulscience of the Bettecourt-Schueller Foundation) combines functional, anatomical and computational approaches to describe the transformation of sound information by the peripheral and central auditory systems.
This project will take place at the Institut de l'Audition, as part of Dr. Jérémie Barral's team and under his supervision. The Institut de l'Audition, a research center of the Institut Pasteur (Paris), aims to understand hearing from a fundamental and clinical point of view. It combines diverse approaches ranging from genetics and cell biology to biophysics and from human cognition and psychoacoustics to computational neuroscience to create a truly interdisciplinary research environment. More broadly, this position is part of the Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU) reConnect, a new federative structure whose aim is to bring together all the players involved in hearing health to provide the best possible response to the medical, societal and educational needs raised by hearing disorders.

Constraints and risks

Standard risks associated with biological research and the use of chemical and biological products.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

Between €3131,32 and €4806,76 gross per month depending on experience

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

The research professions