Neuromodulation of internal states

We are happy to host master's students for their internship and thesis projects in our team Neuronal Circuits & Brain Dynamics at the Paris Brain Institute (ICM) to study the principles of neuronal circuit organization and brain dynamics. This project aims to investigate the role of neuromodulators (dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine) in modifying the cortical and hippocampal neuronal dynamics during behavior and sleep in freely-behaving mice. To achieve that, we use a range of cutting-edge techniques, including GRAB sensors and fiber photometry to monitor the dynamics of neuromodulator release in vivo, simultaneous in vivo electrophysiology (Neuropixels recordings) to record from thousands of neurons simultaneously across brain regions, miniscope imaging for the longitudinal imaging of large neuronal ensembles, and optogenetic manipulations, in which we employ light-sensitive proteins to selectively activate or inhibit specific neural circuits. This internship offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience with state-of-the-art techniques, work in a team setting, and contribute to exciting discoveries at the forefront of systems and circuits neuroscience research. In addition, you will gain invaluable experience in the design and execution of behavioral, electrophysiological, and imaging experiments with behaving mice, performing stereotaxic brain surgeries and virus injections as well as the analysis of large-scale, high-dimensional, and multi-modal neuronal data. Collaboration and mentorship are at the heart of our lab's culture. We believe that working together leads to better science and enriching experience. As a master's student in our lab, you will have the invaluable opportunity to work closely with postdoctoral researchers who will help your research and foster your intellectual growth. By working together with your peers, you will have the chance to share ideas, problem-solve together, and gain fresh perspectives. Together, we will create an environment where you can thrive and achieve your full potential.