Postdoctoral researcher - in vivo microoptics : Leuven 3001 Belgium Employer: K.U.Leuven Website: http://www.kuleuven.be/ Location: Leuven 3001 Belgium Type: Postdoctoral Posted: October 21, 2011 Expires: December 16, 2011
job description
Combinations of microoptics and microelectrodes can provide the level of functionality and miniaturization required for in vivo behavioral neuroscience. In the context of a new FP7 EC project, your role will be to develop an implantable array of light sources entangled with microrecording electrodes. The purpose is to deliver light stimuli into the neural tissue with high spatial and temporal resolution. This should be achieved by integrating thin optical fibers with microwire electrodes in a tetrode-like configuration (assembled into an implantable microdrive with tenths of channels). Light absorption and activation area can be precisely determined by the microrecordings of stimulated activity. Concretely, you will construct the implantable microscale light-sources integrated with tetrode electrode arrays, implement the optical set-up and investigate the neuronal light-induced stimulation (i.e. light propagation in the tissue, spatial extent of the stimulated cells, design of stimulation protocols for efficient activation patterns). This work is carried out at K.U. Leuven in partnership with NERF (NeuroElectronics Research Flanders – www.nerf.be) , University of Amsterdam (Prof. Francesco Battaglia), University of Antwerp (Prof. Michele Giugliano) and University of Lethbridge (Prof. Bruce McNaughton)
Supervisor: Prof. Carmen Bartic (K.U. Leuven) Contract starts: between 1 January and 1 March 2012 Contract duration: 1 year with the possibility to extend up to 3 years.