Principal Investigator at University Hospital of Zurich Brain microdialysis coupled to real-time closed-loop auditory stimulation (CLAS) of sleep slow waves: Establishing causal links between enhanced sleep quality and reduced protein accumulation in murine Parkinson's Disease.
In the proposed PhD project, the student will have the opportunity to implement state-of-the-art electrophysiological, biochemical and analytical methods to explore the underlying mechanisms behind the specific physiological and molecular alterations promoted by phase-targeted closed-loop auditory stimulation (CLAS) of slow oscillations during slow-wave sleep in the rodent diseased brain. Our results indicate that targeting the up-phase of slow oscillations induces an overall increase in slow-wave activity (SWA), as measured by surface EEG. SWA enhancement is associated with improved neuropathological status and is suspected to play a major role in murine Parkinson's Disease. However, the exact pathways involved in altered protein deposition upon modulation of SWA are partially unknown. Moreover, the temporal and causal links between cortical and subcortical cellular firing patterns with the dynamics of protein release and deposition remain to be explored.
Thus, using brain microdialysis to explore the dynamic changes in the rate of protein release/clearance in the brain of Parkinson's disease mice undergoing CLAS and multiunit activity intracerebral recordings, this project will address a crucial gap in our understanding of the effects elicited by slow oscillations’ interventions onto healthy and diseased brain proteostasis. Our results will not only majorly add to basic neuroscience knowledge but also crucially help pave the way to create novel treatment alternatives based on personalized noninvasive sleep-based therapeutic techniques for neurodegeneration patients.
Our offer:
We offer an attractive international environment within a young group of researchers eager to both have an impact on acquisition of basic knowledge but also in future patient care. We are a small and active team with a strong translational drive, searching for novel sleep-based alternatives to prevent or treat proteinopathies. We are highly collaborative, open and interactive and have a long-standing close collaboration with clinical researchers and practitioners that promotes our efforts towards clinical applicability.
The lab is located in Zurich (Schlieren campus), which is an international city with great outdoors and cultural opportunities, as well as close to the mountains and other attractive European cities.
The salary for PhD student offered follows the guidelines of the SNSF and the university of ZH grants 25 days vacations/year (plus cantonal and religious holidays).
The lab is fully equipped, financed and allows for fast implementation of the project ideas.
The candidate:
We are searching for a highly motivated, proactive and independent person, who enjoys the responsibility of leading a project and manages most aspects of its advancement. A strong background in neuroscience is a must. Hands-on experience with rodent microsurgery, biochemical and molecular techniques are necessary for the project. FELASA accreditation for animal experimentation is a plus. Advanced written and oral English skills are necessary. German is a plus.
Seniority level Internship
Employment type Full-time
Job function Education and Training
#J-18808-Ljbffr