Postdoctoral Associate

Overview of Laboratory: The Laboratory of Systems Neural Development at The
George Washington University School of Medicine is uncovering the secret life of the
fetal and infant brain. We use advanced electrophysiological methods in animal models
of human development. Combined with genetic techniques to manipulate activity during
early circuit formation in mice, we ask two fundamental questions: (1) How are visual
circuits specialized during early development to generate and transmit spontaneous
retinal activity, which is critical for circuit formation? (2) What changes in circuit function
must occur to switch the brain from a fetal mode of function to the adult mode, which is
critical for normal sensory processing and cognition? One of the major goals of the lab
is to create an atlas linking underlying circuit dysfunction to changes in the EEG of
preterm and perinatal infants. Our current focus is on the role of the thalamocortical
loop, including the GABAergic reticular nucleus, in the amplification and synchronization
of spontaneous retinal activity and in the developmental origins of cortical state
regulation. To accomplish these goals the lab uses state-of-the-art extra-cellular
electrophysiological techniques-including high-density, high-channel count (NeuroPixel,
SiNAPS, NeuroNexus) probes-and viral-mediated, sub-type specific neural control in
neonatal mice. These techniques are combined with network modeling, imaging and
behavioral analysis to generate a complete understanding of circuit development.

Duties include:
1. Design and implementation of research protocols, including animal preparation,
recordings, and analysis.
2. Supervising and mentoring lab personnel, including undergraduates, research
technicians, and graduate students.
3. Contributing to the intellectual life of the lab, including participation at lab meetings,
journal clubs, and through informal training and consultation with lab members.
4. Preparation and submission of scientific manuscripts and meeting presentations.
5. Application for research funding.

Applicants must have fulfilled all requirements for the award of a PhD or equivalent qualification in a relevant field by the date of employment.

Brief Description of Position: The lab is recruiting post-doctoral scientists interested in
the functional development of thalamocortical circuits in vivo. Candidates must have a
PhD in neuroscience or an equivalent field (Physics and Engineering degree holders
are highly encouraged. The ideal candidate has some experience with the recording,
imaging and/or analysis of neural activity in vivo or in vitro and an interest in learning to
apply these techniques to the developing brain. Developmental neuroscientists
interested in learning to address early brain activity are also encouraged to apply.
Experience coding for neural data analysis using Matlab or Python is helpful. See
colonneselab.org for more information.

Employees in this subfamily are responsible for designing and conducting experiments in a controlled laboratory setting. Duties may include performing experiments, collecting, analyzing and reporting data.