Open Positions

Over the past few years, we have developed tools to record the activity of genetically identified neurons in tethered Drosophila melanogaster during behavior in a virtual reality setup. We use a combination of walking and flying behavior, two-photon calcium imaging, whole-cell and loose patch clamp recording, multi-single-unit extracellular electrophysiology, genetic tools and computational analyses to understand circuit computations in a region of the insect brain called the central complex. Evidence from physiology and behavioral genetics studies suggests that this distinctively structured region of approximately one thousand stereotyped neurons is involved in visually mediated orienting, adaptive sensorimotor mapping, multisensory integration, and working memory, among other things. This motivates our choice of behaviors to investigate mechanistically on the rig.

I am now expanding my lab and have openings for a few creative, independent, motivated and technically skilled experimentalists. Those with demonstrated proficiency in techniques that are most relevant for each project (listed below) would be preferred, but I am fairly flexible when it comes to specific technical background. Applications will be reviewed until positions are filled.

For the right person, Janelia Farm presents exciting and enabling collaborative opportunities unlike those in most academic institutions. We work closely with many other labs here, as well as Janelia’s Applied Physics & Instrumentation, Scientific Computing, and Instrumentation Design & Fabrication groups. You should expect to contribute to projects in/with other labs during your stay here, and, you will, in turn, benefit from the participation of those in other labs in your projects.

If you think you would enjoy working in such an atmosphere, or want to know more, send me an email. Please include your curriculum vitae and research interests, and arrange for three letters of reference to be sent to:

Vivek Jayaraman

Janelia Farm Research Campus
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
19700 Helix Drive,
Ashburn, VA 20147
email: Vivek email

Post-doctoral/Research Specialist positions

1. 
Identifying functionally relevant network motifs in the central complex

The central complex is composed of different sub-regions that are interconnected by a few hundred neurons. Morphologically stereotyped arbors from these neurons give each sub-region its distinctive layered, columnar, segmented, and/or ringed structure. Labs around the world and here at Janelia (the Rubin lab in particular) have developed genetic tools to reliably and selectively target individual sub-classes of neurons in this region. You would use the latest tools in optogenetics, intracellular electrophysiology and two-photon imaging to reveal the fine-scale functional connectivity of this intriguing network of identified neurons. The goal is to systematically characterize the functional structure of the central complex and the physiology of its neurons, and to relate the two. You would then mine this data yourself or in collaboration with theorists to identify general network motifs and organizing principles of this sensorimotor circuit. You would work with others within the lab to establish links between network structure and response properties of neurons during behavior, and potentially work with other labs on different biological and technical aspects (e.g., Gerry Rubin, Josh Dudman, Jeff Magee, Loren Looger, and Mitya Chklovskii's labs).

This project is ideal for someone with an interest in the functional consequences of network structure, and a passion for doing careful cellular and synaptic physiology in a circuit underlying complex adaptive behavior.

Requirements:
(i) PhD in neuroscience, biophysics or a related area
(ii) Demonstrated expertise and experience in whole-cell patch clamp recording (a synaptic physiology background would be ideal)
(iii) Strong quantitative background
(iv) Solid skills in experimental design

Big pluses would be:
(i) Significant experience in neuroanatomy
(ii) Expertise in two-photon calcium imaging
(iii) Proficiency in scientific programming (e.g., experience with MATLAB)

2. Studying sensorimotor integration/probabilistic decision-making using physiology in a behaving fly

We are interested in the neural mechanisms and circuit principles involved in sensory-evoked orienting behavior, both innate and adaptive—flies can be trained to avoid or orient towards stimuli across sensory modalities. We are interested in the neural algorithms and circuit computations underlying such behavior. Thanks to their relative simplicity, and the vast array of  genetic tools constantly developed for them, flies offer an opportunity unlike any other when it comes to answering such questions at a mechanistic level. Projects in this area involve developing a rigorous quantitative behavioral paradigm in a tethered walking or flying fly, and then studying circuits (we have a particular interest in the central complex) underlying the behavior in a virtual environment on the rig in a walking and/or flying fly. You would use some combination of intracellular recordings (whole-cell patch clamp), two-photon imaging with genetically encoded calcium indicators (e.g., GCaMP3.0 and newer sensors currently under development at Janelia), and custom microprobes (designed and developed in collaboration with the Applied Physics & Instrumentation group at Janelia) that allow multi-single-unit extracellular recordings from identified neural populations in the fly brain. Your research would be both experimental and computational, and your track record should ideally reflect your ability and creativity in both areas. You would collaborate closely with others within the lab and outside (e.g., Michael Reiser’s lab).

Requirements:
(i) PhD in neuroscience, biophysics or a related area (if you have a PhD in a different field, but have excellent experimental and quantitative skills, you should still apply)
(ii) Experience in electrophysiology and/or two-photon imaging
(iii) Good hands (really)
(iv) Strong quantitative background
(v) High comfort level with instrumentation

Big pluses would be:
(i) A passion for designing and/or tinkering with mechanical and electrical devices
(ii) Proficiency in scientific programming (e.g., experience with MATLAB)
(iii) Experience with quantitative behavior
(iv) Experience working with Drosophila
(v) Experience in theory and modeling


Other Positions

If you're interested in the Janelia Graduate Program, or if you're at Johns Hopkins and would like to do a summer rotation in my lab, you'll find helpful information here.

And if you're an undergraduate student interested in working here for a few months, try the Janelia Summer program.

There may also be openings in technical groups we work closely with, for example the excellent Scientific Computing and Instrumentation Design groups. They often have interesting positions open for neuro/bio-focused engineers (/technically-focused neuroscientists/biologists):
Search for instrumentation design or scientific computing jobs at Janelia


Upcoming Conferences

Oct 3rd-6th 2010: Bottom-up and top-down approaches to understanding circuit processing: meeting in the middle.
Organizers: Andrea Hasenstaub (Salk Institute), Gabe Murphy (Janelia Farm), Nick Priebe (U. Texas, Austin) and Vivek Jayaraman (Janelia Farm).
To apply to attend, please submit an abstract through the Janelia conference page.