Scientist

Starting Salary £30,914 – £33,755 per annum

3 Years Fixed Term

MRCLaboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK

An opportunity is available for a Postdoctoral or A visiting scholar Scientist to join the group of Dr Marta Zlatic at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology to investigate the circuit basis of learning and decision-making. 

The Zlatic Group’s research programme is to discover the basic principles by which neural circuits implement fundamental computations with the specific focus on the circuit implementation of learning and decision-making.

We use the tractable genetic model system, the Drosophila melanogaster larva which has the same ground-plan as the adult Drosophila and other insects, but contains fewer (ca. 12,000) and smaller neurons.

In this system we can i) image the entire nervous system at synaptic resolution with electron microscopy (EM), and map complete circuits with synaptic resolution, ii) record individual neurons with patch-clamp, iii) constrain models of circuit function with comprehensive structural and functional connectivity maps, and iv) use powerful genetic tools to selectively manipulate individual neurons to test models’ predictions and elucidate the functional roles of specific circuit motifs.

We have already mapped the connectivity of the entire larval brain with synaptic resolution using EM reconstruction.

The goal of the project is to determine the features represented by all the neurons in the higher-order learning and decision-making circuits in the brain and the roles of specific neurons and circuit motifs in implementing learning and decision-making.

To this end the project will involve some of the following techniques:

1) whole-brain imaging of neural activity in intact animals during learning and decision-making;

2) two-photon imaging of activity in specific neurons in freely behaving animals,

3) modelling;

4) testing models’ predictions by optogenetic manipulation of specific neurons during specific learning and decision-making tasks.

We are looking for two motivated and skilled individuals who will thrive in a highly collaborative and supportive research group. Prior experience in at least one of the following is required: two-photon imaging of neural activity, whole-brain imaging of neural activity using light-sheet microscopy, electrophysiology, performing learning and decision-making assays in Drosophila or other animals, big data analysis, or theoretical neuroscience.

The successful candidates will be awarded a three-year MRC Career Development Fellowship/MRC Postdoctoral Training Scheme, which is a training and development position for a postdoctoral scientist who has recently completed doctoral studies or is moving into a new research discipline.

Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Marta Zlatic at mzlatic@mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk. Additional information about the Neurobiology Division and the Laboratory as a whole can be found at http://www.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk.

The MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology is a research institute within UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). UKRI is a new entity that brings together nine partners to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, more information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Working for UKRI MRC provides a whole host of benefits including a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement (40 ½ days including bank holidays & privilege days) and Benenden Healthcare membership. You will also have access to employee shopping/travel discounts, on-site sport and social facilities, as well as salary sacrifice cycle to work schemes and childcare vouchers.

To apply and access full details of the vacancy please visit our job board at https://mrc.tal.net/vx/lang-en-GB/appcentre-1/candidate/postings/1416.

If you are unable to apply online please contact us at recruit@mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk.

Closing date: 14th June 2020

Final appointments will be subject to a pre-employment screening.

The Medical Research Council is an Equal Opportunities Employer who participates in the Disability Confident scheme.

院校简介：

英国剑桥大学（简称剑桥，University of Cambridge），于1209年始建，坐落于英x国剑桥，是一所世界顶尖的公立研究型大学，是英语世界里第二古老的大学，也是世界现存第四古老的大学。

剑桥大学是一个由成员学院(College)、学术学院(School)、专业学院(Faculty)、与学系(Department)组成的学院联邦制学校。由31所成员学院、超过150个学系、及其它附属机构组成。成员学院享有高度自治权，属于半独立机构。它们有自己的管理框架、自行招收学生以及学生活动安排。由于剑桥大学和牛津大学是英国两所最优秀的大学，故这两所大学在办学模式等很多方面都很相似，故常被合称为“Oxbridge”（“牛剑”）。

最早是由一批为躲避殴斗而从牛津大学（University of Oxford）逃离出来的老师建立的，亨利三世国王在1231年授予剑桥教学垄断权。89位诺贝尔奖得主出自此校（实际来此校工作或执教过的人数可能更多，有指超过100位。因为剑桥大学官方的数据是根据学生或教师是否为学院的成员（Membership/Fellowship）而定。另外，其实每个大学对计算这个数字的原则都有不同的定义，如：有些大学并不计算那些在得奖以后才到有关院校的人而有些大学则仍把其计算在内；有些亦不计算在校任教不足1年的教职员但其他的却仍视其为与该校有联系的得奖主。因此，不同网站（包括校方官网）所给的资讯都会有差别）。

剑桥大学位于伦敦北面50里以外的剑桥镇。剑桥镇本身是一个拥有大约10万居民的英格兰小镇。这个小镇有一条河流穿过，称为“剑河”（River Cam，也译作“康河”）。剑桥大学本身没有一个指定的校园，没有围墙，也没有校牌。绝大多数的学院、研究所、图书馆和实验室都建在剑桥镇的剑河两岸，以及镇内的不同地点。

剑桥大学有35个学院，三个女子学院，两个专门的研究生院。剑桥大学最大的特色是学院制，剑桥大学中央不过担当一个像联邦政府的角色，掌管一些宏观的事情。35所风格各异的学院史背景不同，每个学院在经济上自负盈亏，因此各个学院在行政财务，招生教学，都有很大的自主权。各学院内部录取步骤各异，每个学院在某种程度上就像一座微型大学，有自己的校规校纪。在毕业典礼上，每个学生都要由学院院长牵手引到校长面前跪下，接受祝福，象征由学院教导成材。历年来有73位教职员曾获诺贝尔奖（包括28个物理奖，18个医学奖，17个化学奖）。

剑桥大学在众多排名里，一直位列世界前十，并经常和牛津大学争夺全英最佳学府的声誉。

《世界大学学术排名》（2012）把其列作世界第五。

2014年，TIMES英国大学综合排名：第1名

2015年QS世界大学排名：剑桥大学与斯坦福大学并列第三。

泰晤士高等教育发布了2016-17年世界大学排名，英国剑桥大学排名第4。

英国高等教育资讯和分析数据提供商QS发布了2018年世界大学排名，英国剑桥大学排名第5。

英国《泰晤士高等教育》公布了2018世界大学声誉排行榜，英国剑桥大学名列第4。

2018软科世界大学学术排名正式发布，英国剑桥大学排第3名。

泰晤士高等教育(THE)2019世界大学排名发布，英国剑桥大学排第2名。