Postdoctoral Researcher – In Vivo Imaging and Electrophysiology of Developing Cortical Networks

Smith Lab – University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

Before the cortex can process sensory information, its circuits must first organize themselves. The Smith Lab at the University of Minnesota studies how this happens. We have found that distributed, modular networks with millimeter-scale correlations exist throughout the developing neocortex, and using in vivo optogenetics and computational modeling, we have shown that these networks are self-organizing and depend on local intracortical circuitry. We are now asking how early network activity shapes the circuits that emerge: by imaging, recording, and perturbing activity in vivo during development, and comparing the results against models of network self-organization.

The postdoc will lead projects combining two-photon imaging, optogenetics, and electrophysiology in the developing cortex, with the opportunity to shape the direction of their own work.

Recent work: Mulholland, et al. bioRxiv, 2026 ·  Powell, et al. PNAS 2024 · Lab website: smithneurolab.org

For more details, including how to apply please see: