Dear all,
A PhD position in
Computational Neuroscience is available at the Ulster University where the
closing date for applications is Friday 24th February 2017. The position is fully funded with a start date of October 2017.
Project title:
A Computational Model of Regulating Neuronal Excitability by GABA Neurons
The successful candidate will be based at Ulster working within the Intelligent Systems Research Centre (ISRC) and
the position will involve close collaboration with colleague at University College London and the University of Manchester.
The project will build on recent
findings where it was shown that the
GAT3 transporter facilitates the uptake of extracellular GABA and this is accompanied by
a large increase in intracellular Na+ concentration,
which can reverse
the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger causing an intercellular increase
in Ca2+. This may have an important role in regulating
blood flow
and also can result in the release of gliotransmitters, which is believed to modulate synaptic strength and transmission. Moreover, it is now believed
that GAT3
induces a rise in extracellular adenosine that acts at presynaptic adenosine receptors
and this is likely to cause a decrease in secondary messengers within cells. This is a completely novel mechanism of glia-neuron communication and
capturing this interaction will be the major focus of this PhD.
This exciting project will require the graduate to collaborate with experimental neuroscientists in the development of computational models of the above GABA mediated interactions and therefore
at the end of the PhD study period he/she will expect to have gained significant expertise in computational modelling and neuroscience. We would also like to encourage international applicants.
For more information on how to apply go to: