Doctorat (PhD)- Understanding role of CHD7 in brain development and disease

A PhD Studentship is available in the Patten Lab at the Institut National de Recherche Scientifique (INRS) – Centre Armand-Frappier in the Greater Montreal Area in  Canada.

The Patten lab uses zebrafish as a translational tool to study the function of genes that are strongly associated with neurological disorders including autism spectrum disorders (Jamadagni et al. 2021 EMBO reports). We are seeking for a candidate to study the role of chromatin remodelling factors in brain development and disease. Specifically, the candidate will use zebrafish mutants to study how disruption of chromatin remodellers, that are linked to autism, affects brain development and the neural circuitry underlying behaviours. The overall goal is to utilize the zebrafish model to identify the mechanisms underlying autism and discover potential new therapeutic targets. The project will include application of confocal microscopy, cellular neurophysiology, genome editing and exciting molecular biology approaches. 

The candidate will work at Institut National de Recherche Scientifique (INRS) – Centre Armand-Frappier in the Greater Montreal Area in  Canada. It is a bilingual (French and English) working environment.The post holder will benefit from brand-new and state-of-the-art imaging and fish facilities of the Institute. The candidate will also benefit from an intellectual environment, friendly and interactive culture of the neuroscience community in Montreal.

The candidate must have a MSc degree in Genetics, Neuroscience, Developmental Biology or related fields. The ideal candidate should preferably have experience in zebrafish model, imaging techniques, molecular biology, single-cell transcriptomics and genome editing methods. Independence, motivation, strong work ethic and a willingness to work as part of a team are required. The candidate will have the opportunity and be supported into developing new projects.