Phd Position - Alcohol Dependence & Ketogenic Diet

Alcohol dependence is undertreated in Denmark and worldwide, and many patients relapse. There is a strong need for new treatments based on a better understanding of how alcohol, and abstinence after prolonged alcohol use, affect the brain.The aims of the proposed PhD project in Morgane Thomsen's lab in Copenhagen are to test (1) whether ketogenic diet or ketone supplements can reduced prolonged withdrawal symptoms that contribute to relapse, (2) whether they can reduce alcohol-induced brain damage, and (3) whether co-dependence on nicotine changes effectiveness ketogenic treatments. The project combines extensive behavioral testing with neuroimaging and neurotransmitter analysis. Applicants will have a Master's degree in biological sciences or similar, good command of the English language and are authorised to work with laboratory animals. They also should have an active interest in addiction disorders including alcohol use disorder. Previous experience with behavioral studies in small animals and publications is desirable. Successful applicants will carry through an independent research project, complete PhD coursework and participate in active research environments including a stay at another research team. Applicants should send through their CV and their lab animal course certificate.

Postdoctoral Fellow (In vivo pharmacology) Janssen Research & Development, Belgium

Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, has opened up an excellent post-doctoral research opportunity at its site in Beerse, Belgium. In drug development the top priority is to select safe and sustainable new drug candidates for further development. Over the last 6-8 years, drug-induced seizure liability has unfortunately become a major challenge for the pharmaceutical industry as they pursue relatively unexplored new potential drug targets for diseases of unmet need. In addition, species differences in drug-induced convulsion, creates a major challenge to correctly identify seizurogenic/convulsion risk in the non-clinical environment when looking toward clinical translation. This post-doctoral position will support the development of research capabilities/assays for the team, investigate potential species differences and to help deconvolute the potential mechanisms of action of in-vivo seizure/convulsion liabilities of new drug candidates. The candidate will have the opportunity to develop unique innovative in-vivo models (small and large animals e.g. rat and dog respectively) with combined cardiovascular (ECG and hemodynamics) and CNS measurements (EEG & behaviour analysis). Special consideration will be given to candidates with experience within the field of epilepsy research.

Postdoctoral research opportunity: Neural circuitry of addiction and emotional learning, University of Michigan, USA

This recently funded research project focuses on identifying common neurobiological substrates that confer vulnerability both to addiction and to frequently co-occurring disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Pavlovian conditioning procedures will be used to distinguish “sign-tracking” rats that tend to attribute high levels of motivational significance to discrete predictive cues while largely ignoring context, from “goal-tracking” rats that make more use of context to appropriately modify their emotional responses. Sign-tracking individuals are more prone to cue-triggered addiction- and PTSD-like behaviors than goal-trackers. The neurobiological basis of these behavioral traits will be explored by using optogenetic and chemogenetic techniques to manipulate functional connectivity within key limbic circuits known to mediate motivated behavior. Epigenetic changes and growth factor expression will also be manipulated using viral vectors to test for a causal influence on conditioned motivational responses to appetitive and aversive cues and contexts, as well as electrophysiological measures of connectivity and synaptic efficiency within the limbic pathway of interest. Results from these studies will help clarify neurobiological pathways to addiction and frequently co-occurring disorders, which is a significant public health priority. All interested candidates with relevant experience are encouraged to apply. Scholarship funding for this position may be available, but this is also a fully funded position through a recently awarded NIH grant.

Supervisor: Dr Jonathon D. Morrow

PhD Position - Early clinical phenotypes of substance use disorders, University of Melbourne, Australia

As is the case for other mental illnesses, substance use disorders (SUDs) commonly emerge in adolescence or early adulthood. Despite this, existing research about the clinical characteristics and course of SUDs has largely focused on adults, and has failed to differentiate early stage presentations from longer-standing, more chronic illnesses. The staging model of mental illness posits that discrete disorders emerge from periods of transient and poorly differentiated symptoms, which do not reach the level of diagnostic specificity. Once diagnostic thresholds have been met, presentations can include first episode, remitted, and chronic illnesses involving a relapsing/remitting course. SUDs have not yet been well conceptualised within this model, and little is known about early clinical phenotypes of SUDs and whether these differ from more entrenched illness presentations. The aim of this project is to characterise behavioural and clinical features of emerging SUDs, with data taken from the baseline time point of an randomised control trial beginning at headspace Werribee in early 2019. The project will include direct involvement in behavioural and clinical data collection as part of a broader project team. Results from this project will contribute to the development of an empirical basis for age and stage-appropriate interventions for young people with emerging and early-stage SUDs. The successful applicant would be expected to meet the entry requirements and enrol in a full-time PhD with the Centre for Youth Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences, University of Melbourne.

Supervisor: Dr Gillinder Bedi & Prof Eoin Killackey

Research Officer - Synapse Biology & Cognition Laboratory, University of Melbourne, Australia

An excellent opportunity is available for a highly motivated Postdoc to join our Synapse Biology and Cognition Team at the Melbourne Brain Centre, Parkville. Candidates with strong confocal microscopy expertise and developing track records are urged to apply! Project involves leading and developing programs of research imaging synapse changes during development and learning in mouse models. Send motivation letter addressing criteria and CV.

Supervisor: Dr Jess Nithianantharajah

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Neuroscience (Drug Addiction), Harvard Medical School, USA

The Yi Zhang Lab, at Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and HHMI, has 1-2 post-doctoral positions open for individuals holding a PhD in neuroscience or related fields with experience in systems neuroscience, preferably with a background in drug addiction and reward learning. A background in chronic pain is also welcome. The candidate should have solid experience in performing at least one of the following techniques/studies: (i) mouse addiction models (e.g., preferably self-administration, conditioned place preference, self-stimulation), (ii) viral-assisted tracing using AAV or rabies virus, (iii) in vivo neuronal activity monitoring using calcium imaging or manipulation using optogenetics or chemogenetic approaches. Good communication skills in oral and written English are required. The post-doctoral fellow will be part of a multidisciplinary team that includes a molecular neuroscientist, systems neuroscientist, behavioral neuroscientist and bioinformatician to understand the brain reward system at the molecular level. The post-doctoral fellow’s appointments will be at Harvard Medical School and Children’s Hospital Boston.

Supervisor: Dr Yi Zhang