Sensory Regulation of Energy Homeostasis

French National Institute for Health Research (INSERM); Paris; On-site; EUR 38,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

1000scholars invites applications for a neuroscience research position focused on how sensory cues regulate feeding and metabolism. The candidate will participate in a collaborative, interdisciplinary laboratory using state-of-the-art genetic and systems neuroscience approaches in mice, including fiber photometry, optogenetics, and transcriptomics.

Applicants should hold a PhD in neurobiology or related field and possess strong experience in mouse handling, stereotaxic surgery, and in vivo

Qualifications

• PhD in neurobiology, neuroscience, neurophysiology or closely related discipline.
• Demonstrated research experience in one or more relevant areas in neuroscience.
• Experience with mouse handling and in vivo experiments.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the Steculorum Group research programme.
• Develop and execute projects within an interdisciplinary team.
• Apply advanced genetic and systems neuroscience techniques in mice.

Skills

Mouse handling

Stereotaxic surgery

In vivo procedures

Systems neuroscience

Education

PhD in neurobiology, neuroscience, neurophysiology or closely related discipline

Tools

Fiber photometry

Optogenetics

Chemogenetics

Calcium imaging

Transcriptomics (RNA-seq)

Job description

Research Topic

Food sensory perception is a powerful regulator of feeding behaviour and integrative physiology, capable of engaging neural circuits controlling hunger, motivation, and metabolic homeostasis before a single bite is consumed. Remarkably, the sight and smell of food can rapidly alter the activity of key neuronal populations controlling feeding and whole-body metabolism in anticipation of nutrient intake. These findings have reshaped our understanding of appetite regulation by revealing that feeding circuits are strongly influenced by food-predictive sensory cues, rather than exclusively by post-ingestive or homeostatic signals.

Yet, how sensory cues are translated into metabolic and behavioural responses remains poorly understood. The Steculorum Group aims to uncover the regulatory principles linking food sensory perception to physiological and behavioural outcomes, from the earliest stages of sensory processing to whole-body physiology, across development and in health and diseases.

To address these questions, we use an integrated technology framework combining advanced genetic and systems neuroscience approaches in mice, including in vivo fiber photometry, optogenetics, activity-dependent neuronal labelling, neurocircuit mapping, and molecular approaches such as ribosome profiling and single-cell and bulk transcriptomics. These approaches are complemented by detailed physiological and behavioural analyses.

Successful candidates will contribute to this research programme while developing their projects within a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary environment.

Job Description

Applicants should hold a PhD in neurobiology, neuroscience, neurophysiology or a closely related discipline, with demonstrated research experience in one or more relevant areas.

Required experience

• Mouse handling and experimentation
• Stereotaxic surgery and/or other relevant in vivo procedures
• Research experience in systems neuroscience and/or energy homeostasis (i.e., feeding)

Desirable experience

• Neurocircuit mapping
• Chemogenetics and/or optogenetics
• Fiber photometry/in vivo calcium imaging
• Behavioural analysis
• Metabolic phenotyping
• Molecular and transcriptomic approaches

Previous experience in developmental neurobiology and/or developmental programming would be an advantage, but is not required.

Beyond technical expertise, we are looking for a candidate who is:

• Highly motivated and scientifically curious
• Able to work independently while contributing effectively to a team
• Enthusiastic about interdisciplinary and collaborative research
• Comfortable working in a dynamic and interactive research environment
• Committed to rigorous and reproducible science

The working language of the laboratory is English. Knowledge of French is not required.