德国海德堡大学博士后职位招聘–神经生物学、行为科学、生物物理学、发育和细胞生物学或相关学科

Neuronal and biophysical mechanisms of light-responsive behaviours mediated by simple eyes in aquatic larvae

Complex animal eyes evolved many times independently from simpler forms. As already suggested by Darwin, the path to vision may have led from non-directional to directional light sensing and then to low-resolution spatial vision. Simple eyes in extant animals show a remarkable diversity of form and function and may hold the key to the origin of eyes and vision. We do not know why this diversity evolved when the organisms all respond to the same physical cue.

In our ERC-funded project PROTOEYE we study the diversity of simple non-visual and visual eyes and map the phase space of light-guided behaviours across animals. This will inform general principles of sensory system evolution and our understanding of the origin and evolution of eyes and visual circuits. The project builds on our long-term expertise in neural circuits and mechanistic photo-biology. We study a range of aquatic invertebrates with distinct behavioural strategies, unified by the presence of simple eyes and non-visual photoreceptors. Instead of looking at eyes in isolation, we investigate light responses from a whole-organism perspective focusing on circuits, behaviour and the biophysics of motion. In order to obtain entire neuronal circuits driving photic behaviours, we use whole-body serial electron microscopy and connectomics. With laser ablation, we explore strategies of light-seeking or light-avoidance behaviours. In high-throughput behavioural assays we test navigation strategies and sensitivities to different wavelengths. With high-speed imaging and flow tracing, we investigate how animal movement is shaped by light.

We are looking for highly motivated postdoctoral fellows with an interest in curiosity-driven science and integrative organismal biology to join this project. We are especially interested in candidates with a background in one or more of these areas: volume EM and connectomics, biophysics of microswimmers or motile cilia, behavioural analysis, high-speed imaging, expansion microscopy, photobiology or related fields.

For more information about our research please visit www.cos.uni-heidelberg.de/en/research-groups/gaspar-jekely. Please also read our approach to publication:

www.cos.uni-heidelberg.de/en/research-groups/gaspar-jekely.

Your tasks:

• Development of high-speed imaging assays for ciliary dynamics and photic behaviours in small aquatic ciliated larvae
• Volume EM analysis of marine larvae, including sample preparation, sectioning, imaging and image analysis
• Development of expansion microscopy protocols for ciliated larvae followed by fluorescent volume imaging
• Data analysis, data plotting, figure composition and writing of manuscripts in a version-controlled workflow (e.g. as an R project with GitLab integration
• In-depth analysis and following of the relevant literature

Your profile:

• PhD in Neurobiology, Behavioural Science, Biophysics, Developmental and Cell Biology or related disciplines
• Interest in imaging techniques, non-conventional animal models, curiosity-driven research
• Experience in organismal biology, systems thinking and handling of animal model organisms
• Experience in data analysis or programming in R/Python
• Good English language skills
• Commitment to open science

The position is generally divisible. Remuneration is based on TV-L (E 13). The position is limited to

December 31, 2026.

We look forward to receiving your application, which should send to [Please click the Apply button for the link or address] with the usual documents (curriculum vitae, list of publications, a maximum two-page statement of research interests) in one collated PDF file by December 24, 2023.

Heidelberg University stands for equal opportunities and diversity. Qualified female candidates are especially invited to apply. Persons with severe disabilities will be given preference if they are equally qualified. Information on job advertisements and the collection of personal data is available at www.uni-heidelberg.de/en/job-market.