Postdoctoral position: Brain metabolism in memory and aging (ESPCI Paris, France).

Group « Energy & Memory », (Group leaders: Pierre-Yves Plaçais, Thomas Preat)

Funding: 2 years, possible extension to 3 years.

Starting date: flexible (immediate start possible).

Salary: 31-47 k€/year gross salary (depending on experience)

Keywords: 2-photon imaging, neuron-glia interaction, energy metabolism, memory, aging.

Application link: https://bit.ly/3uAvuQ2

A postdoctoral position is available in our research group “Energy & Memory”, located in the Brain Plasticity Department at ESPCI, Paris, and part of PSL Research University, in the lively historic center of Paris.

Our group has developed over the past years a specific expertise in studying the relationships between energy metabolism and plasticity mechanisms underlying memory. We work on Drosophila, as fruitflies feature both sophisticated memory dynamics following associative conditioning, and a relative simplicity in brain circuits that, in combination with powerful genetic tools, allows the finest dissection of the underlying circuits and molecular mechanisms. One of our core expertise is the development of innovative approaches to monitor in vivo brain energy fluxes by 2-photon imaging, which allowed in the recent past revealing crucial metabolic regulations following conditioning in the mushroom bodies, the memory center in the insect brain. For instance, we showed that increased pyruvate consumption by mitochondria in mushroom body neurons gates the formation of long-term memory (Plaçais et al., 2017). We also investigate the neuron-glia metabolic coupling underlying memory (de Trédern et al., in preparation).

We aim at characterizing the age-induced metabolic alterations within the Drosophila brain memory center, and at linking regional specificities in energy metabolism with memory’s vulnerability to aging. To tackle this project, which involves dedicated collaborations with local and international groups in optics, image analysis and neurobiology, we are looking for a postdoctoral fellow with experience in energy metabolism and/or neurobiology. Previous experience in Drosophila research, although appreciated, is not a prerequisite. Candidates with a strong background in 2-photon or FLIM imaging willing to engage into neurobiology applications are also welcome to apply. Our lab, hosted in spacious new premises, accomodates five climate chambers for behavior experiments, and two multiphoton imaging stations on its own, including a cutting-edge 2-photon FLIM microscope.