Author: Julie

CAN Trainee Research Feature: Tasnia Rahman, McGill University

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We are excited to launch a new opportunity for Canadian neuroscience trainees to showcase their research through short video features.  We aim to make this a weekly feature and to share on our website and social media accounts, so please consider submitting a proposal to us.  We would love to feature your research!

This week’s feature is: Tasnia Rahman, McGill University – Stentian structural plasticity in the developing visual system


Tasnia Rahman is a researcher in the laboratory of Dr. Edward Ruthazer at McGill University.

Read the paper here: https://www.pnas.org/content/117/20/10636

Videos will be also available here, with submission instructions

https://can-acn.org/can-trainee-research-features/

Congratulations to the Royal Society of Canada Class of 2020

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Royal Society of Canada class of 2020

Congratulations to the Canadian neuroscientists newly elected fellows of the Royal Society of Canada, and to the incoming class of the college of new scientists.

“The Royal Society of Canada is delighted to recognise this year’s exceptional cohort of inductees, as the contributions of these outstanding artists, scholars and scientists have significantly impacted their respective disciplines at both national and international levels.” says RSC President Jeremy McNeil.
Congratulations to the following Canadian neuroscientists elected to this prestigious Society!

Continue reading →

Vascular development may be at risk in autism

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Early deficits in the formation of brain blood vessels translate into later autistic traits in miceBaptiste LAcoste OHRI

A Canadian collaboration led by Dr. Baptiste Lacoste has undertaken the first ever in-depth study of vasculature in the autistic brain. The product of four years of work, a paper published in the September issue of Nature Neuroscience lays out several lines of novel evidence that strongly implicate defects in endothelial cells—the lining of blood vessels—in autism.

Dr. Lacoste, a scientist at The Ottawa Hospital and an assistant professor in the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine and Brain and Mind Research institute, heads a lab that specializes in neurovascular interactions in health and disease. In collaboration with researchers at McGill University, Laval University, and the National Research Council of Canada, Dr. Lacoste’s team used a mouse model with one of the most common genetic mutations found in autism spectrum disorder—16p11.2 deletion, or “16p” for short. Continue reading →

Unlocking the mysteries of the brain

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Roberto Araya
Roberto Araya

A research team at CHU Sainte-Justine highlights the mechanisms underlying memory and learning capacity – specifically, how our brains process, store and integrate information.

How does our brain store information?

Seeking an answer, researchers at CHU Sainte-Justine and Université de Montréal have made a major discovery in understanding the mechanisms underlying learning and memory formation.

The results of their study are presented in Nature Communications.

Led by Professor Roberto Araya, the team studied the function and morphological transformation of dendritic spines, tiny protrusions located on the branches of neurons, during synaptic plasticity, thought to be the underlying mechanism for learning and memory. Continue reading →

Postdoctoral position in Montreal on immune mechanisms in Parkinson’s disease – Trudeau laboratory

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Dr. Louis-Eric Trudeau’s laboratory at the Université de Montréal (University of Montreal) (www.labotrudeau.org) is looking for a post-doctoral fellow to join a team of scientists working on the connectivity and vulnerability of dopamine neurons. The ideal candidate will have previous training in cellular and molecular neuroscience, including physiological approaches, in neuroimmunology and interest in the immune mechanisms implicated in Parkinson’s disease. Preference will be given to candidates that have a track record including publications as first author and that are already in Canada or who can easily travel to Canada.

Interested individuals should email the lab principal investigator at: louis-eric.trudeau@umontreal.ca
Posting end date:  2020/12/31

Post-doctoral fellow position on the behavioural neuroscience of reward- Samaha laboratory – Universite de Montreal

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Dr Anne-Noel Samaha’s laboratory at the Université de Montréal is looking for a post-doctoral fellow. I will hire someone whose primary expertise is in the behavioural neuroscience of reward.

Training in complementary techniques such as in vivo optogenetics, DREADDs, and in molecular biology assays is also important. The research work involves characterizing the neurobehavioural effects of different intravenous cocaine self-administration procedures in the rat.

If you have this expertise and are interested, please email anna.samaha@umontreal.ca

See also
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=samaha+AN+montreal&sort=date

Candidates in Canada or who can easily travel to Canada will be given preference.

Contact information:

anna.samaha@umontreal.ca

Nanotubes in the eye that help us see

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Luis Alarcon-Martinez, Adriana Di Polo, Deborah Villafranca-Baughman - Photo credit: CHUM
Luis Alarcon-Martinez, Adriana Di Polo, Deborah Villafranca-Baughman – Photo credit: CHUM

Researchers at the CRCHUM find a new structure by which cells in the retina communicate with each other, regulating blood supply to keep vision intact

Montreal, August 12, 2020 — A new mechanism of blood redistribution that is essential for the proper functioning of the adult retina has just been discovered in vivo by researchers at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM).

Their study was published in Nature.

“For the first time, we have identified a communication structure between cells that is required to coordinate blood supply in the living retina,” said Dr. Adriana Di Polo, a neuroscience professor at Université de Montréal and holder of a Canada Research Chair in glaucoma and age-related neurodegeneration, who supervised the study. Continue reading →

Post-doc position – Neurodegenerative Disease Research – Clark lab at the University at Buffalo

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The Clark Lab at the State University of New York at Buffalo is looking to build a team to investigate a second-generation preclinical model of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). PSP is a devastating neurodegenerative disease, which shares attributes with Alzheimer’s Disease; tau protein aggregates, cognitive and motor deficits. Our goal is to identify neurons that are perturbed early in the disease process and that contribute to key aspects of the behavioral deficits and underlying pathology. This knowledge will allow for improved diagnosis and the initiation of pharmacotherapeutic discovery programs. We are seeking a Post-Doctoral Fellow to work with a team of graduate students and technical staff. The research duties will include surgical manipulation in rats followed by behavioral, biochemical, histological and MRI analysis.

If interested, please contact Dr. Stewart Clark directly (stewartc@buffalo.edu)

Research Technician – The Hospital for Sick Children – Jia Laboratory

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Under the supervision of the Project Investigator, the Technologist II – RI will assist with neurobehavioural research. Specifically, our lab focuses on understanding the molecular and synaptic mechanisms underlying social memory using mouse and zebrafish models.

Your responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

  • Performing electrophysiology, molecular biology, imaging and behavioural experiments
  • Maintaining animal colonies
  • Collecting experimental data, verifying results, preforming analysis and passing on findings
  • Working in collaboration with team of researchers and trainees

Qualifications:

  • Masters or Bachelor’s Degree in Physiology, Neuroscience, Molecular Genetics, Cell Biology or equivalent degree
  • Minimum 2 years relevant experience preferably in a basic neuroscience research laboratory setting
  • Minimum one (1) year of experience with molecular biology techniques (e.g. cloning, PCR, western blotting, preparation of buffers and standard solutions), genetic methods (e.g. the design and execution of genetic crosses), and microscopy techniques, including preparation of specimens for immunofluorescence microscopy
  • Experience with online molecular biology analysis tools (e.g. BLAST and primer design tools)
  • Experience working with mice and/or zebrafish is preferred
  • Electrophysiology experience is considered an asset
  • Demonstrated experience interpreting experimental results, troubleshooting experiments, and managing priorities and deadlines
  • Experience with computer software tools (e.g. Microsoft Office, R/SPSS, and Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator)
  • Coding experience (preferably Python) will be considered an asset
  • Strong oral and written communication skills, ability to exercise initiative and deal effectively with other lab members

To be successful in this role you will be:

  • Approachable
  • Diligent
  • Efficient
  • Organized
  • Problem solver
  • Team player

Employment Type:

1 year contract (full time) with a possibility of extension

A complete application should include a statement of interest, a CV, and the names of 2 references. Once the suitable candidate is identified, the position will commence immediately upon completion of the necessary paperwork. The position will remain open until filled.
Contact information

Please apply on the SickKids career portal: https://bit.ly/2PQK8jA

Posting end date 2020/08/26

Post-doctoral Position Available in the Translational Cognitive Neuroscience Lab (Dr. Tim Bussey & Dr. Lisa Saksida) studying molecular and cellular mechanisms of information storage and neurogenesis in the hippocampus using cutting-edge neurotechnology (e.g., miniscopes, fiber photometry and touchscreen technology).

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A postdoctoral position is available immediately under the supervision of Dr. Lisa Saksida and Dr. Tim Bussey at the Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario (www.tcnlab.uwo.ca), in collaboration with the Dr. Mark Brandon and colleagues at McGill University (www.m3platform.org), to work on questions relating to molecular and cellular mechanisms of information storage and neurogenesis in the hippocampus. The work will involve recording and analyzing neuronal activity using miniscopes and fibre photometry, in combination with advanced cognitive testing using touchscreens (www.touchscreencognition.org).

Qualified applicants should have a PhD degree in Neuroscience or related disciplines with significant expertise in studying mouse models and advanced mathematical and analytical skills. Prior experience in miniscope data analysis, mouse surgery, fibre photometry, in vivo electrophysiology, or data analysis using MatLab, Python and R, documented in peer-reviewed publications will be an asset. Salary will be paid commensurate with experience.

Robarts is one of the premier research institutes in Canada with a vibrant research community and many opportunities for collaborations. The University of Western Ontario (www.uwo.ca) is a major educational and research centre in Ontario with over 25,000 undergraduate and 5,000 graduate students. Cognitive neuroscience in health and disease is a major research focus at Western, currently funded by a $66M Canada First Research Excellence Fund program called BrainsCAN. London, also known as the Forest City, is an affordable and lively community close to the Great Lakes and two hours from Toronto. The city offers many options for outdoor and cultural activities.

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.

Please send a statement of interest, Curriculum Vitae, and the names of at least two references to:

Dr. Lisa Saksida, Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario Email: lsaksida@robarts.ca

Posting end date: 2020/12/31