Ph.D. POSITION to study the MECHANISMS of NEURON-GLIA COMMUNICATION at the UNIVERSITY OF SAARLAND (Homburg/Saar) Germany.
A Ph.D. position is available to study the molecular mechanisms that mediate neuron-glia communication. The challenge is to delineate molecular events that couple Ca2+ signaling to fusion of secretory vesicles with the plasma membrane. Our research addresses these tasks using state-of-the-art electro-physiological methods (carbon fiber amperometry and membrane capacitance measurements), imaging techniques (Fura II measurements, photolytic ‘uncaging’ of Ca2+, confocal microscopy, structured illumination and STED microscopy) and mice strains that are genetically deficient for synaptic proteins in order to discover, characterize, and disrupt protein-protein interactions that operate in excitation-secretion coupling.
The work is directly supported by technical personnel and applicants are given the opportunity to extend their research interest internationally through project–oriented collaborations. Applicants with experience in electrophysiology, molecular biology, fluorescence spectroscopy are especially encouraged to apply.
Please send your application including curriculum vitae, list of publications and a brief statement of research interest as one pdf file to Prof. Dr. Dieter Bruns.
Selected readings:
Kollewe A, Schwarz Y, Oleinikov K, Raza A, Haupt A, Wartenberg P, Wyatt A, Boehm U, Ectors F, Bildl W, Zolles G, Schulte U, Bruns D, Flockerzi V, Fakler B.
Subunit composition, molecular environment, and activation of native TRPC channels encoded by their interactomes. Neuron. 2022
Dhara M, Mantero Martinez M, Makke M, Schwarz Y, Mohrmann R, Bruns D. Synergistic actions of v-SNARE transmembrane domains and membrane-curvature modifying lipids in neurotransmitter release. Elife. 2020
Schwarz Y, Oleinikov K, Schindeldecker B, Wyatt A, Weißgerber P, Flockerzi V, Boehm U, Freichel M, Bruns D. TRPC channels regulate Ca2+-signaling and short-term plasticity of fast glutamatergic synapses. PLoS Biol. 2019,17.
Schwarz Y, Zhao N, Kirchhoff F, Bruns D. Astrocytes control synaptic strength by two distinct v-SNARE-dependent release pathways. Nat Neurosci. 2017,20, see Faculty of 1000.