Author: Julie

Research Scientist at Western University

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Join the team conducting groundbreaking cognitive neuroscience and imaging research at Western University!

Western ranks as one of Canada’s top research-intensive universities. From fundamental to applied discovery, its researchers advance knowledge that provide tangible benefits for the economic, social, health and cultural development of citizens in London, in Canada and around the world. While the University has achieved acclaim for research in a full complement of disciplines, it has identified signature areas in which global-scale clusters of research excellence have been established.

The Brain and Mind Institute’s (BMI) mission is to provide a centralized and visible presence for cognitive neuroscience at Western University. The Institute’s primary functions are to promote research, to facilitate the training of highly qualified personnel, and to foster national and international collaborations in cognitive neuroscience. The Brain and Mind Institute is home to the Canada Excellence Research Chair, several Canada Research Chairs and two Western Research Chairs, which is a priority in Western’s strategic plan. The BMI is part of the Faculty of Social Science, in the Department of Psychology.

The BMI is the leading Canadian centre for advanced imaging technology and houses neuroimaging, neurophysiology and behavioural testing resources that provide advanced capabilities for scanning and interpreting the brain. This multi-faculty and multi-disciplinary institute includes research and academic staff from Psychology, Physiology/Pharmacology, Computer Science, Psychiatry, Clinical Neurological Sciences, Biophysics, Medical Imaging, Physics and Astronomy, Ivey School of Business.

As the Research Scientist, you will develop and oversee novel research initiatives in the field of human memory research. You will provide guidance and consultation related to a variety of research functions, and generally contribute to the development of the Memory Group within the Brain and Mind Institute. You will support the smooth and effective operation of the Memory Group, and ensure the efficient management of resources. You will lead and conduct research, publish and communicate findings to the scientific community and the wider public, and provide guidance and foster relationships with collaborators, staff, graduate students, undergraduate students and post-doctoral fellows to achieve desired research outcomes. As the ideal candidate, you will have a Ph.D. Neuroscience. You will have four (4) years’ experience post-Ph.D. in human memory research with demonstrated experience in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and sleep studies; four (4) years’ postdoctoral experience including developing independent scientific programs and preparing scientific documents; three (3) years’ student supervisory and mentoring experience; and an international publication record, including first and last author publications in the area of human memory research. This position is a regular full-time, permanent position within the Professional & Managerial Association at Western University. Western offers a comprehensive benefit package, including but not limited to extended health, dental, vision and pension, for more information please visit: https://www.uwo.ca/hr/benefits/index.html. The salary range for this position is $86,660-$123,490, depending on the level of experience.

Contact information

For more information and to apply please visit: http://www.uwo.ca/hr/working/staff/index.html
Interested applicants are asked to apply online to job reference 14124 by midnight on August 24th, 2018. The anticipated start date is November 1, 2018.

Applicants must have fluent written and oral communication skills in English.

The university campus is in London, a thriving city of 400,000 people located midway between Toronto and Detroit. With parks, river valleys, tree-lined streets, and bicycle paths, London is known as the “Forest City” and boasts galleries, theatre, music and sporting events, and many opportunities for outdoor activities.

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwo.ca or phone 519-661-2194.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those chosen for an interview will be acknowledged.

Posting end date: 2018/08/24

Research Associate/ Scientist Position in Neuroscience, University Of British Columbia

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Prof. Shernaz Bamji’s laboratory in the Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences at the University of British Columbia is now accepting applications for a Research Associate beginning fall 2018.

Prof. Bamji’s research program focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal connectivity. Specifically, the lab aims to address: the molecular and cellular mechanisms of how we learn and remember; how disrupting proper synaptic communication in the brain can lead to brain disorders; and whether improving synaptic function later in life might be a therapeutic target for restoring cognitive and functional abilities. This is done using a multi-disciplinary approach, including confocal microscopy, electron microscopy, proteomics, and behavioral analysis, together with standard molecular biology and biochemical approaches in both primary neuron cultures and transgenic mouse models. Prof. Bamji’s research program is supported by the Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR).

 

Qualifications (Education/Experience)

  • M.Sc. or Ph.D. with a specialization in a related area (Ph.D. preferred).
  • Experience in molecular biology, biochemistry, imaging and rodent handling essential.
  • Experience in bioinformatics, neuron cultures, stereotactic surgery, and rodent behavior preferred.
  • The ideal candidate will be hard working, independent, organized and passionate about research, with motivation to help build and sustain a high-impact research program.
  • Ability to prioritize multiple tasks, effectively manage overlapping duties and meet deadlines.
  • Must have excellent oral and written communication skills, problem solving skills as well as the ability to work in a team environment.

 

Work performed

  • Actively participate in project design and protocol development
  • Oversee the daily operation of the lab
  • Train and supervise graduate and undergraduate trainees
  • Participate in the preparation of research grants
  • Present research at national and international conferences
  • Purchase and maintain equipment and supplies
  • Create and manage inventory records

 

Interested individuals should submit a CV and names and complete addresses of three referees by September 30, 2018 with the subject heading “Application for Research Associate” to: shernaz.bamji@ubc.ca

 

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

 

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Posting end date: September 30, 2018.

 

 

 

Huai-Ying Huang of London, Ontario, Canada wins third place in the 2018 International Brain Bee Championship

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Huai-Ying Huang
Huai-Ying Huang

Congratulations to 17 year-old Huai-Ying Huang of Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School in London, Ontario, Canada, on winning third place in the 2018 International Brain Bee Championship in Berlin, held July 7-11, 2018! .

Huai-Ying Huang loves playing the piano and oboe, and is starting at McGill University to pursue her dream of becoming a neurologist or a neurosurgeon, not only because she has passion for neuroscience, but because she wants to be able to help people affected by neurological disorders. Continue reading →

Slowing down glaucoma and other neurodegenerative diseases

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Jessica Agostinone and Adriana Di Polo
Jessica Agostinone and Adriana Di Polo

Major discovery at the CRCHUM: reestablishing communication between neurons to improve vision.

Neuroscience researcher Dr. Adriana Di Polo, Ph. D., and her team at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM) in Canada, have made a major breakthrough in the treatment of glaucoma. Their findings could also be applicable to other neurodegenerative conditions, notably Alzheimer’s disease. The results have just been published in the prestigious British scientific journal Brain, an Oxford University Press publication. Continue reading →

Our earliest memories may be forgotten but not lost

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Paul Frankland
Paul Frankland

TORONTO – When asked to think of their earliest memory, most would think of a time when they were four or five years old. The period from birth to kindergarten appears to be forgotten. Since the late 1800s, this phenomenon has been called “infantile amnesia” and debate on why we can’t remember our earliest years has persisted to this day: Are these memories gone or are they just difficult to access?

A new study from The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) shows these early memories in mice are not missing and can be brought back by directly stimulating different clusters of neurons that represent individual infantile memories in the brain. The results, published in Current Biology, provide deeper insight into the complexities of forgetting. Continue reading →

Mechanisms underlying efficient coding of natural stimuli revealed

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Maurice Chacron
Maurice Chacron

Researchers at McGill University have discovered that feedback pathways enable sensory neurons to respond to weak sensory input in order to lead to perception.
Published in PLoS Biology, their study shows that feedback pathways, which are seen ubiquitously across sensory systems and account for 90-95% of input onto sensory neurons, are necessary to generate neural responses and perception of weak sensory input that would otherwise not be detected by the organism. These results thus reveal an elegant mechanism by which the brain processes sensory information, which is critical for understanding brain function at large. Continue reading →

Clinical Neuropsychologist/Clinical Psychologist, University of Saskatchewan

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Applications are invited for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor or Associate Professor for a Clinical Neuropsychologist/Clinical Psychologist in the Department of Medicine (Royal University Hospital) at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada.

The successful candidate should be comfortable performing psychological assessments including neuropsychological assessments, psychological assessments, and non-motor assessments used for research on dementia and non-motor functions of persons with movement disorders; be willing and able to supervise student research projects at the undergraduate and graduate levels; initiate, lead and participate in research activities relevant to the Saskatchewan Movement Disorders program; successfully compete for external funding to support the research endeavor. The applicant will be expected to work closely with members of the Saskatchewan Movement Disorders Program.

The successful candidate will be expected to establish a competitive research program that would align closely with the mandate and vision of the Saskatchewan Movement Disorders Program. There will be protected time for research, but the position would also provide opportunities for teaching of undergraduates, graduate students and resident physicians. The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to collaborate with others with overlapping research interests in the Division of Neurology. The successful candidate will be invited to join the Neuroscience Research Cluster, comprised of more than 20 basic science and clinical faculty with broad research interests in neuroscience (see www.neuroscience.usask.ca). The cluster is housed within state-of-the-art research space in the new Academic Health Sciences building on campus. Full access to a rodent vivarium with space for behavioral testing will be made available, as well as tissue culture, molecular biology, histology, and imaging equipment. Finally, there is a potential for collaboration and mentorship from a clinical neuropsychologist in the Graduate Program in Clinical Psychology in Arts and Science.

Movement Disorders Clinic Saskatchewan, established in 1968, is the longest continuous running movement disorders program in Canada. Longitudinal clinical observations have been followed by autopsy studies of the brains from those cases for many years. Brain material, including frozen brain tissue on more than 250 movement disorder cases, are available for research studies. Seminal work on Parkinson’s disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, dystonia and essential tremor has been done using this unique resource (Rajput AH, Rajput A. Saskatchewan Movement Disorders Program. Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences 2015 Mar;42(2):74-87. doi: 10.1017/cjn.2015.13. PMID: 25804247 Free PMC Article). While the program has many outside collaborators, the well-documented clinical course of these patients makes this resource uniquely valuable. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to this initiative.

The University of Saskatchewan’s main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis. The University of Saskatchewan is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, a city with a diverse and thriving economic base, a vibrant arts community and a full range of leisure opportunities. The University has a reputation for excellence in teaching, research and scholarly activities and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs to a student population of over 24,000.

Requirements for the position include:

  1. Completed Ph.D. or Psy.D. with specialization in clinical psychology, which includes completion of an accredited (or equivalent) predoctoral residency. Preference will be given to applicants with training in clinical neuropsychology.
  2. Eligibility to readily obtain doctoral level registration with the Saskatchewan College of Psychologists (R.D. Psych) which includes the Authorized Practice Endorsement (APE) to provide mental health diagnoses
  3. Evidence of effectiveness in clinical practice and applied research

We are seeking candidates who have an interest and ability to engage in scholarly activities. The candidate must have demonstrated ability or strong potential to compete for external funding and establish an independent program of research. The successful candidate must be proficient in performing and interpreting clinically relevant psychometric testing, including neuropsychological tests of cognitive function and assessment of mood. The candidate should also be familiar with other tests to assess non-motor functions (e.g. sleep). A proven track record of research relevant to neurology and of movement disorders (e.g. Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, etc.) is desired. Evidence of independent funding and supervision of students are also assets but not an absolute requirement.

Current salary bands for this post are as follows: Assistant Professor – $93,293 – $112,109; Associate Professor – $112,109 – $130,925 and Professor – $130,925 – $152,877). This position comes with a comprehensive benefits package which includes pension plan, life insurance (compulsory and voluntary), academic long term disability, sick leave, travel insurance, death benefit, dental plan, extended health and vision care plan, employee assistance program and flexible health and wellness spending program.

Interested candidates must submit, via email: a cover letter; detailed curriculum vitae; three letters of reference; and any supporting documents to:
Dr. Alex Rajput
Head, Division of Neurology
Director, Movement Disorders Program
Department of Medicine
Royal University Hospital
103 Hospital Drive
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK S7N 0W8
Tel: (306) 844-1411
Email: alex.rajput@usask.ca

Understanding the origin of Alzheimer’s, looking for a cure

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Gilbert BernierResearchers at Université de Montréal look at the promising role played by the BMI1 gene, which could someday help mitigate or even reverse the disease.

After a decade of work, a team led by Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont researcher and Université de Montréal associate professor Dr. Gilbert Bernier has shed promising light on the origin of the most common and prevalent form of Alzheimer’s disease, hoping to someday help mitigate or even reverse the progress of the disease. The team’s results are published in the prestigious scientific journal Cell Reports. Continue reading →

As harmful as dehydration?

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Charles Bourque
Charles Bourque

Researchers uncover mechanisms of overhydration leading to hyponatremia – a common condition in patients after a traumatic brain injury

We are all familiar with the drawbacks of dehydration, but we rarely hear about the harmful effects of overhydration. It is known that excess fluid accumulation can lead to dangerously low sodium levels in the blood or hyponatremia – a life-threatening condition that can result in brain swelling. Similarly, more is known about the mechanisms in the body that detect and drive thirst while little is known about how the brain detects a state of overhydration.

Continue reading →