Funded PhD in Circadian Neuroscience in Manchester
Project Title: Applying animal opsins as optogenetic tools to understand the circadian clock
Deadline for Application: 30/05/2025
Application details: https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/erc-funded-applying-animal-opsins-as-optogenetic-tools-to-understand-the-circadian-clock/?p184165
About the Project
The technique of optogenetics has revolutionised neuroscience by allowing the firing rate of targeted neurons to be remotely controlled by light. We are now working on providing a similar revolution to the most widespread targets of approved pharmaceuticals – G-protein signalling cascades. The opsin proteins that animals use to see are naturally light-activated G-protein coupled receptors and we are working with colleagues in Berlin and Switzerland on a major collaborative effort funded by the European Research Council to develop animal opsins as optogenetic tools to allow photic control of cells in the brain and throughout the body for experimental and therapeutic purposes. The successful candidate will join our group in Manchester applying the techniques of genetic engineering, cell and tissue culture, viral gene delivery and electrophysiological recordings to develop optimised variants of animal opsins, validate them in cell culture before applying them in vivo in laboratory mice. They will be expected to work productively not only with the local team in Manchester but with our collaborators in Germany and Switzerland.