Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Sleep Neurobiology

Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Sleep Neurobiology

Fixed term until 31 May 2022

Grade 7: £32,236-£39,609 per annum

This opportunity has arisen from The Medical Research Council project grant awarded to Professors Vladyslav Vyazovskiy, Kenneth Harris and Colin Akerman entitled “Local sleep homeostasis and single cell rest”.

This post will be based at Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3RE. This project will address the long-standing open question of how extended waking or insufficient and disrupted sleep impact basic cellular physiology, and in turn how and why global sleep allows efficient recovery and renormalisation of brain function. We hypothesize that enhanced synaptic and spiking activity of cortical neurons during waking is associated with cellular stress, and propose that the need to re-establish cellular homeostasis underlies sleep drive. We will address this hypothesis by applying a combination of cutting-edge methodologies in the mouse. This will include in vivo and in vitro models, single-cell electrophysiology, molecular genetics, pharmacology, and circadian manipulations.

The post holder will be a member of the group of Vladyslav Vyazovskiy, and will be responsible for carrying out research as outlined in the project focused on in vivo electrophysiology in a close collaboration with the second postdoctoral fellow who will be employed by The Department of Pharmacology. The post holder will also provide guidance to less experienced members of the research group, including postdocs, research assistants, technicians, and PhD and project students.

The successful applicant will manage their own academic research and administrative activities. This involves small-scale project management, to co-ordinate multiple aspects of work to meet deadlines. They must hold or be near completion of a PhD/DPhil or equivalent in Neuroscience or a relevant area of research. The successful applicant will adapt existing and develop new scientific techniques and experimental protocols and contribute ideas for new research projects. They will develop ideas for generating research income, and present detailed research proposals to senior researchers. The will also act as a source of information and advice to other members of the group on scientific protocols and experimental techniques. They should have considerable experience in techniques of in vivo neurophysiology, including procedures associated with in vivo electrophysiology (EEG/LFP/MUA electrode implantation etc.) and experience of recording and analysing sleep/wake in rodents.

The position is funded by a project grant from the MRC until 30 August 2022.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon Wednesday 15^th May 2019

Interviews are expected to be held between 27 May and 14 June 2019

For further information, please contact Professor Vladyslav Vyazovskiy - vladyslav.vyazovskiy@dpag.ox.ac.uk