A postdoctoral position is available immediately in the Van Der Linden Lab at the University of Nevada, Reno, to study the neural and molecular basis of the temperature-controlled circadian clock(s) of C. elegans.
Most organisms show circadian rhythms (cycles of behavior and gene expression) that repeat roughly every 24 hours. These rhythms are outputs of an internal clock that can be entrained by daily changes in environmental cues, most notably light and temperature. Mechanisms of light-entrained clock(s) are well known, but how temperature information controls the clock(s) is not fully understood. C. elegans is a new and attractive model system for understanding how temperature signals entrain this clock. It has a well-mapped neural circuitry that senses small changes in temperature, and exhibits circadian behavior and circadian gene expression induced by temperature cycles. We are interested in dissecting the inner workings of this temperature clock, and describing the behavioral consequences. A more detailed description of our research is available at http://wolfweb.unr.edu/homepage/avanderlinden/VanderlindenLab.htm
Our research spans the fields of chronobiology, neurogenetics, molecular biology, and genomics. We encourage applications from candidates interested in any, or all of these areas. Candidates must have completed or be near to completing a PhD in neuroscience, molecular biology, or a related field. To apply, please send your CV and a brief statement of your research interests to Alexander van der Linden at avanderlinden@unr.edu
Reno is located in northern Nevada, in the Sierra Nevada mountains with outstanding four seasons living 30 minutes from beautiful Lake Tahoe. Reno has the amenities of a university town with excellent schools, arts and entertainment, and outdoor recreation in a mountain environment. We are located only three and halve hours from the San Francisco Bay area and the beautiful Northern California wine country. The State of Nevada has no state income tax.