Author: Julie

Research Assistant – Quandt lab – University of British Columbia

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We have a position in our laboratory for a research assistant with funding for up to three years. The UBC posting can be found at: www.staffcareers.ubc.ca/31013

Interested applicants are invited to review our website for more information.

www.quandtlab.com

Training & expectations: Major areas of focus will include inflammatory mediators, oxidative stress, environmental stressors, immune populations, neurodegeneration and repair. The successful candidate will have a solid understanding and demonstrated proficiency in several of the following and others will be provided on the job:

  • Cell culture and aseptic technique, preferably involving both isolation and maintenance of rodent primary cultures as well as cell lines.
  • Aseptic technique and experience with human blood handling for the isolation of PBMC and subsequent culture/assay
  • Ability to perform and troubleshoot a wide variety of molecular and cellular biology techniques, including many of the following:
    RNA/DNA isolation, quantitative PCR, transfection, siRNA knockdown and cDNA construct knockin, flow cytometry, immunohisto- and cytochemistry on cells as well as frozen and formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissues, fluorescence and light microscopy – conventional and/or confocal; ELISA, protein isolation and western blotting;
  • Willingness to work with small rodents is essential. Able to carry out and oversee procedures involving small rodents including immunization/injections, necropsy, blood sampling, and minor surgical procedures involved in animal surgery; applicants with experience in pre-clinical models of neurodegenerative diseases including MS are especially encouraged to apply.
  • Maintenance/monitoring of colonies of transgenic animals, including colony breeding, screening and management.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication
  • Understanding of experimental design and assay optimization is important along with ability to work well with others and to work independently.

The link between obesity, the brain, and genetics

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Alain Dagher
Dr. Alain Dagher

When it comes to weight gain, the problem may be mostly in our heads, and our genes

Clinicians should consider how the way we think can make us vulnerable to obesity, and how obesity is genetically intertwined with brain structure and mental performance, according to new research.

The study, led by researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Aug. 28, 2018, was an examination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cognitive test data from 1,200 individuals, supplied as part of the Human Connectome Project. Continue reading →

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

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The Royal Society of Canada has recently announced new Fellows in the Academies of Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, and Science.  They have been elected by their peers for their outstanding scholarly, scientific and artistic achievement. Recognition by the RSC is the highest honour an individual can achieve in the Arts, Social Sciences and Sciences.

The RSC also welcomed new Members of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists, that include top mid-career leaders in Canada. The College provides the RSC with a multigenerational capacity to help Canada and the world address major challenges and seize new opportunities including those identified in emerging fields. Continue reading →

Genetic model offers elegant tool for testing Parkinson’s disease therapies

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Matthew Farrer
Matthew Farrer

For the past decade, Parkinson’s disease researchers have relied on the experimental equivalent of using a sledgehammer to tune a guitar to test new therapies for the disease. This may be a reason clinical trials of promising neuroprotective drugs fail. But, in new research published today in Nature Parkinson’s Disease, researchers at the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health (DMCBH) may have found the ideal tool for the job.

“We believe we’ve found an approach that is most relevant to humans, in that our models of gene dysfunction mimic the etiology of Parkinson’s disease rather than its pathology— meaning its beginning rather than its end,” says Dr. Matthew Farrer, the study’s lead investigator and a researcher at the Centre for Applied Neurogenetics at DMCBH. “This means we’re looking at the disease before it becomes symptomatic, before it begins affecting an individual’s motor skills or cognition.” Continue reading →

Scientist denied visas to attend next SfN meeting

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Individual members of the Canadian Association for Neuroscience (CAN) have alerted us to the fact that a number of scientists across Canada are being denied visas to enter the United States to attend the next annual Society for Neuroscience meeting in San Diego. Many are students and postdoctoral fellows who have left their home countries to dedicate their energy and talents to research into devastating brain and mental health conditions that afflict millions worldwide. CAN takes the position that the exchange of ideas cannot be limited by political boundaries. To do so severely compromises the ability of the scientific enterprise to develop new ideas and advance humanity. Scientists must have the ability to travel freely to discuss their work and interact with colleagues across the globe. Continue reading →

Field Scientist: Neuroscience Specialist – Mightex Systems – Toronto

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Overview

Mightex Systems, is a market leader in developing and producing photonic systems for life science research. Our most recent innovation, the OASIS Implant, is an all-optical system for cellular resolution optogenetics and calcium imaging in freely-behaving animals, a ground-breaking tool that will enable neuroscientists to make new discoveries about how the brain works.

The successful candidate will be responsible for providing post-sales support to our customers using the OASIS Implant. The type of support provided will include biological and surgical guidance, overall experimental design, technical training and troubleshooting, as well as data analysis. The candidate will be required to provide support both remotely and in person by periodically travelling to customer sites. They will also be required to contribute their expertise during the pre-sales stages to help customers determine how to apply Mightex solutions to their research goals. If you are a self-motivated neuroscientist who is interested in cutting-edge technology and in contributing to the advancement of neuroscience and brain research, this is an exciting opportunity for you.

Responsibilities

  • Provide hands-on scientific and technical support for neuroscience labs with Mightex equipment from experimental preparation to implementation
  • Organize and conduct training sessions
  • Assist with drafting new scientific and technical support resources that are provided to customers
  • Track progress of assigned customer cases
  • Report customer challenges and new experimental requirements to the Product Development team
  • Support sales team members when scientific expertise is required for a customer case.
  • Flexibility to be able to handle some new incoming sales inquiries when required.
  • Participate in international trade shows, seminars, and roadshows.

Qualifications & Skills:

  • Ph.D. in Neuroscience
  • Previous experience with in vivo calcium imaging and optogenetics in rodents. Expertise with viral transfections (e.g., GCaMP) and GRIN lens implantation is a must
  • Previous experience with head-mounted miniature microscopes is an asset
  • Strong analytical and hands-on skills are essential to provide accurate and quality customer training and guidance
  • Excellent teamwork skills and able to collaborate effectively across multiple departments
  • Delivers a positive customer experience; listens to and understands the customer’s needs and recommends solutions
  • Demonstrates sound professional judgment in analysing, responding to, and resolving enquiries
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Ability to travel domestically or internationally to customer sites
  • Legally able and cleared to work in Canada

How to Apply

Please send your resume to hr1@mightex.com.

The power of multidisciplinary collaboration: A sculptor’s exploration of the brain

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Read about a multidisciplinary collaboration between neuroscientists and artists, developed through The Convergence Initiative.  Founded in 2016 by neuroscientist and graphic designer Dr. Cristian Zaelzer, the Convergence – Perceptions of Neuroscience initiative is a partnership with the Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program (BRaIN) of the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), the Faculty of Fine Arts of Concordia University (FoFA), and the Canadian Association for Neuroscience (CAN/ACN). This partnership has been continuously supported by the RI-MUHC, the Montreal General Hospital Foundation, McGill University Integrative Program in Neurosciences (IPN), and the Visual Voice Gallery.

Dr. Keith Murai, BRaIN program director, thinks the science vs. humanities dichotomy is a false one. Continue reading →

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.