Postdoctoral in Biological or Medical Sciences

The laboratory of **Synaptic Plasticity** (**_Spine Lab_**) lead by Dr. Miquel Bosch at the **International University of Catalonia** (**UIC-Barcelona**, Spain) is looking for a **POSTDOC** to join our research group, also associated to the** Institute of Neurosciences** of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (**UAB**), Spain. **Position** The postdoc will be hired through a 2-year contract based on a project from “**La Marató TV3**” Foundation on **Mental Health**, jointly awarded to Andrés Ozaita Lab at Pompeu Fabra University (UPF, Barcelona) and Bosch Lab at UIC-Barcelona. We offer >27,000 EUR/year gross **salary**, for 2 years. The postdoc will join a stimulating scientific and university environment, with young scientists, and new and well equipped facilities (Basic Sciences Dept., UIC; Sant Cugat del Vallès; and technology facilities at Inc-UAB, Bellaterra, Barcelona, and at PRBB-UPF, Barcelona). No teaching responsabilities are associated to this position. **Skills/Qualifications** Research project. The project will focus on the validation of extracelular vesicles (EV) as novel biomarkers for neuropsychiatric diseases, such as the Fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited form of the autism spectrum disorders. We will study the transcriptome signatures carried by neuron-derived EVs (exosomes) from animal models of these diseases. We will test pharmaceutical therapies to revert the cellular symptoms and will study if we can use EVs to monitor this reversion. We will use organotypic brain tissue cultures, gene manipulation techniques, fluorescent confocal microscopy, calcium imaging, and transgenic animal models of psychiatric diseases. **Research project** The project will focus on the validation of **extracelular vesicles** (EV) as novel **biomarkers** for **neuropsychiatric diseases**, such as the **Fragile X syndrome**, the most common inherited form of the **autism** spectrum disorders. We will study the **transcriptome** signatures carried by neuron-derived EVs (exosomes) from animal models of these diseases. We will test **pharmaceutical therapies** to revert the cellular symptoms and will study if we can use EVs to monitor this reversion. We will use organotypic **brain tissue cultures**, **gene manipulation** techniques, fluorescent **confocal microscopy**, calcium **imaging**, and **transgenic** animal models of psychiatric diseases. **Duties** The postdoc will be the main responsible to carry out the **experiments**, supervised by the two Principal Investigators of the project, in close collabaoration of 2-3 other PhD students. The experiments include the use of **animals** for experimentation (rodents). The experiments will be performed between Bosch Lab at UIC (Sant Cugat del Valles, Barcelona) and Ozaita Lab at UPF-PRBB (Barcelona); so, some communting will be necessary. The postdoc will be responsible to **communicate** and disseminate the results at lab and Dept meetings and congresses, as well as to **write** the article for peer-review publication as first or co-first author. **Specific Requirements** We are looking for a neuroscientist holding a **PhD** in biological or medical sciences with **experience** in **celular** and **molecular**neurobiology**. Experience in **confocal** or two-photon **microscopy**, _in vitro_**calcium imaging**, **image**analysis** and extracellular vesicles will be highly appreciated. Experience in electrophysiology and programing/analysis will be a plus. Proficiency in **English** will be necessary. Good level of spanish or catalan is not necessary but convinient. **Specific Requirements** We are looking for a neuroscientist holding a PhD in biological or medical sciences with experience in celular and molecularneurobiology. Experience in confocal or two-photon microscopy, _in vitro_calcium imaging, imageanalysis and extracellular vesicles will be highly appreciated. Experience in electrophysiology and programing/analysis will be a plus. Proficiency in English will be necessary. Good level of spanish or catalan is not necessary but convinient. **Eligibility criteria** **How to apply** **Selection process** **Additional comments** Information about the host laboratories: Take a look to these **papers** to learn about previous research **projects** of the host labs: _Thomazeau A., et al. (2020) Dissociation of functional and structural plasticity of dendritic spines during NMDAR and mGluR-dependent long-term synaptic depression in wild-type and Fragile X model mice. Molecular Psychiatry._ - Busquet-García A., et al. (2014) New insights into the molecular pathophysiology of fragile X syndrome and therapeutic perspectives from the animal model. The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology 53, 121-126_ - Bosch M., et al. (2014) Structural and molecular remodeling of dendritic spine substructures during long-term potentiation. Neuron 16;82(2):444-59._