A position is available to study the role of the Neuregulin (NRG) signaling pathway in synapse development and plasticity, and its possible role in psychiatric disorders. At present, NRG-1 is the gene showing the highest association as a risk factor for schizophrenia. We have recently shown that NRG acutely regulates plasticity at hippocampal CA3 --> CA1 glutamatergic synapses by selectively reducing AMPA, but not NMDA, receptor EPSCs. Using AMPA receptors tagged with a pH-sensitive variant of GFP, we demonstrated in live neurons that NRG causes the rapid internalization of surface AMPARs. Our lab uses a variety of experimental techniques, which include transgenic and knock-out mice, live-imaging, electrophysiology and classical molecular biology techniques. Candidates with electrophysiology experience are encouraged to apply.
Application
Instructions:
Please
send your curriculum vitae, Letter of Interest and three reference
letters to:
Andrés Buonanno, Ph.D.
Section on Molecular Neurobiology, NICHD, NIH
Building 35, Room 2C-1000
35 Lincoln Drive
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892-3714
