Hearing the light: Postdoctoral fellowship in auditory neuroscience

Inserm; Montpellier; Sur place; EUR 32 000 - 40 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading research institution in Montpellier is offering a postdoctoral fellowship in auditory neuroscience. The successful candidate will investigate optical cochlear implants and their efficacy compared to electrical methods. Ideal for those with a background in neuroscience, this role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research in auditory mechanisms. Applications should include a CV and motivation letter, sent via email.

Qualifications

• Curiosity about neuronal coding and neural prosthesis.
• Team player who enjoys solving problems.
• Strong interest in optogenetics or computational neuroscience.
• Good communication skills in English.

Responsabilités

• Validate robustness of optical hearing methods in animal models.
• Study mechanisms behind neural gain from cochlear implants.
• Compare efficacy of optical approaches with electrical ones.

Connaissances

Knowledge of neuronal coding

Problem-solving skills

Experience in system neuroscience

Strong communication skills in English

Formation

PhD in Neuroscience or related field

Description du poste

Hearing the light: Postdoctoral fellowship in auditory neuroscience

Position: Post-doctoral Position

Deadline: 10 September 2025

Employment Start Date: 1 January 2026

Country: France

Institution: Inserm

Department: Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier

Description:

Project summary:The electric cochlear implant is currently the only rehabilitation approach for severe hearing impairment. While this device can restore speech perception in quiet environments, hearing remains impaired in most everyday situations. This is due to the wide spread of excitation around each electrode contact. Optogenetics paves the way for future optical cochlear implants (oCI), which would potentially have up to ten times more stimulation channels.
One of the main challenges in developing oCIs is identifying a channelrhodopsin capable of stimulating cochlear neurons at a high frequency. Recent work from our group shows that partial optogenetic activation of the cochlea can lead to complete activation of the central nervous system. This result is essential for the development of oCIs, as it means that many of the channelrhodopsins that have already been screened could be suitable for encoding sound optically. However, the mechanism responsible for this neural gain is unknown, as is its robustness to brain plasticity following hearing loss. In this project, we aim to validate the robustness of the central compensation in optical hearing on animal models that reproduce human hearing impairment. We will also study the underlying mechanism and validate the efficacy of the optical approach compared to state-of-the-art electrical approach.

This offer might be for you if:
– You are curious about the logic of neuronal coding and/or neural prosthesis
– You are a team player, enjoy solving problems and finding original solutions.
– You have a strong interest and ideally former experiences in system neuroscience, optogenetics, computational neuroscience or signal processing.
– You have good communication skills in English (speaking French is not a requirement).

Research environment:Research will be conducted at the Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier (INM). This joint research unit comprises 200 people divided into eight research teams studying sensorimotor deficits and neurodegeneration. The INM aims to bring together fundamental and translational research to study development, plasticity, synaptic integration, and neurodegenerative processes leading to disorders of the central and sensorimotor systems. The INM hosts eleven facilities that provide services and cutting-edge technologies (www.inmfrance.com).
Research will take place in the Auditory team whose mission is to unravel the mechanisms of deafness and tinnitus to envision novel therapies. Research is organized around the analysis of animal mutant, that recapitulate human auditory deficits, to decipher the sound encoding process and to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic tools.

Applications should include a motivation letter, CV and the contact details of at least two referees.
Please send your application only via e-mail as a PDF-file to Antoine Huet
[e-mail]

Hearing the light: Postdoctoral fellowship in auditory neuroscience
80 Avenue Augustin Fliche, Montpellier, France