One postdoctoral research position is available in the laboratory of Sensory Systems and Behavior led by Dr. Matthieu Louis at the Center for Genomic Regulation (Barcelona, Spain). The successful candidate will integrate our Interdisciplinary team to study the neural mechanisms underlying learned orientation
behaviors in the Drosophila larva as part of the European FET-Open project MINIMAL (Miniature Insect Model of Active Learning). You will take a leading role in developing an optogenetics-ba
Further details:
MINIMAL is a research project funded by the EC Seventh fr
consortium consists of the University of Edinburgh (UK), the Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology (Germany), the Centre for Genomic Regulation (Spain) and Brainwave Discovery (UK). The project takes biological
inspiration to engineer small low-power devices that are able to learn rapidly and autonomously about environmental contingencies, enabling prediction and adaptive anticipatory actions. With fewer than 10,000 neurons, the Drosophila larva still expresses a variety of orientation and learning behaviors,
including non-trivial anticipatory actions requiring context-dependent value evaluation. Current
computational learning theory cannot account for these capacities. MINIMAL aims to develop a new foundation for understanding natural learning by developing a complete multilevel model of learning in larvae.The goals of the project are: (1) to analyze at a fine scale how larval behavior is controlled and altered by associative conditioning and to li
capabilities in sensorimotor control; (2) to build Ｏne-to-one computational neural models that can be validated by exploiting the recent expansion of the Drosophila neurogenetic toolkit to gain unprecedented ability to characterize and manipulate neural circuits during unconstrained behavior; (3) to derive from these models generalizable algorithms and circuit architectures that can be used to enhance the learning
and anticipatory capabilities of machines.
Candidate requirements
Degree: The candidate must either hold a PhD related to Neurobiology or Systems Neuroscience, or be near the completion of his/her PhD
Experience: A strong background in Programming and computational methods for the analysis of behavior will be essential for this project. A good level of comfort with instrumentation is desired. Expertise in Drosophila and/or the functional analysis of neural circuits is preferred.
Personality:
Highly motivated candidate with interactive personality who shows independent work
performance.
Analytical skills and critical thinking.
Conditions
Duration: 3 years
Estimated annual gross salary: A competitive salary will be provided, which will be well
matched relative to the cost of living in Barcelona, and adjusted according to experience.
Starting date: The position will be available as soon as the 1st of January 2014
