PhD or Postdoctoral Position – Circuit Neuroscience – Inhibitory control of cortical circuits

Université Laval - CERVO Brain Research Center; Quebec; On-site; CAD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The CERVO Brain Research Center is seeking a postdoctoral fellow to join a research program focused on the inhibitory control of cortical circuits. This position involves innovative research methodologies in circuit neuroscience, contributing to cutting-edge findings in behavioral analysis and circuitry function. The lab provides a collaborative environment dedicated to scientific development in a culturally rich city.

Benefits

Access to state-of-the-art facilities

Opportunities for career advancement and networking

Supportive, bilingual research environment

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in behavioral analysis, optical imaging, and/or electrophysiology.
• Strong interest in behavioral neuroscience and circuit function.
• High degree of scientific curiosity, motivation, and independence.

Responsibilities

• Lead a research project investigating inhibitory control of cortical circuits.
• Utilize advanced techniques in circuit neuroscience including optogenetics and in vivo imaging.
• Integrate various data sources for functional interrogation of neural circuits.

Skills

Behavioral neuroscience

Optical imaging

Electrophysiology

Education

PhD

Job description

PhD or Postdoctoral Position – Circuit Neuroscience – Inhibitory control of cortical circuits

Position: Post-doctoral Position

Deadline: 15 October 2025

Country: Canada

Department: Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences

Description:

The Labonté Lab , within the Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at Université Laval , is seeking a highly motivated PhD student or postdoctoral fellow to join an exciting research program focused on the functional investigation of the inhibitory control of cortical-subcortical circuits underlying emotionally driven and motivated behaviors and their dysfunction by chronic stress.

The selected candidate will lead a project that leverages cutting-edge circuit neuroscience approaches to target, record, and manipulate genetically defined neuronal populations in vivo and in vitro. The research will explore how distinct GABAergic subpopulations in the mPFC modulate emotional and cognitive behaviors by regulating the activity of pyramidal subpopulations defined by their connectivity patterns with subcortical structures such as the nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area, and lateral habenula.

The project integrates a multidisciplinary toolkit, including:

• Viral-mediated gene transfer and intersectional viral strategies to label and manipulate neuron subpopulations
• In vivo Ca²⁺ imaging (using mini-endoscopes or fiber photometry) in freely behaving mice during emotional and cognitive tasks
• Optogenetic and chemogenetic manipulations to probe circuit function
• Patch-clamp electrophysiology to study synaptic plasticity
• Integration of existing single-cell RNA-seq, synaptic tracing, and electrophysiological data to guide functional interrogation of identified circuits

This position is part of an ongoing and well-supported research program with strong foundations in molecular, cellular, and systems neuroscience.

The Labonté Laboratory, located at the CERVO Brain Research Center , offers a vibrant, collaborative, and multidisciplinary research environment with access to state-of-the-art facilities and expertise. The center also features a rich program of events, including weekly seminars and summer schools. We are strongly committed to the scientific and professional development of our trainees, offering ample opportunities for career advancement, networking, and training in both academic and translational neuroscience. We actively promote the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion, and strive to create a supportive environment that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and identities. The Labonté Laboratory is a fully bilingual environment and, while several options to learn French are available, the English language is prioritized in the lab.

The lab is located in Québec City, a historic and culturally rich city designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The region offers a high quality of life and is surrounded by exceptional opportunities for outdoor activities year-round.

We are looking for candidates with:

• A strong interest in behavioral neuroscience and circuit function
• Demonstrated experience in behavioral analysis, optical imaging, and/or electrophysiology
• A high degree of scientific curiosity, motivation, and independence

We encourage interested candidates to apply by sending an email to [e-mail] including a motivation letter, CV, 2 reference letters and transcripts.