Neural circuit plasticity mediating chronic pain and affective disorders after early-life trauma

Anbieter der Doktorarbeit

Beschreibung der Arbeit

We apply a systems neuroscience approach to study the development of chronic psychiatric diseases after early-life stress - a key risk factor for mental health. + Mouse models of early-life stress and chronic pain; + naturalistic behavioral assays, pain tests, classic/operant conditioning, fear tests + In-vivo calcium recordings (Dual-color fiber photometry, miniscopic recordings) +Optogenetic manipulations (multicolor optogenetics) +Multiplexed chemogenetic manipulations +Patch-clamp electrophysiology +Stereotaxic surgeries with viral injections and implantation of optical probes We are the second lab in the world to establish an animal psychotherapy-like approach mimicking a guideline traumatherapy in humans and study the respective neuroplasticity effects.

Our work aims to 1. understand sex-specific neuroplasticity driving a chronic disease state especially after early-life stress 2. design, investigate and optimize non-invasive stimulation methods to desensitize neural circuit plasticity (bottom-up psychotherapy approach) We have several projects that offer suitable opportunities for your MD thesis; The projects are targeting neural circuits responsible for either depressive comorbidity, social dysfunction, sleep disturbances, psychotherapy-like treatments against pain and fear

Rahmenbedingungen

You’ll receive structured training, join weekly seminars, and be part of SFB1158’s research and young scientist community including summer schools.

Programming skills and animal handling (Tierkurs) can be learned on-site.

We support our MD students with a research assistant contract (HIWI)

First authorship in top journals envisioned.

More information: www.sfb1158.de We are looking forward to your application!