Campbell Laboratory (campbellweb.chem.ualberta.ca)
A postdoctoral researcher position focussed on the development of a new generation of genetically encoded neural activity indicators is available in the lab of Dr. Robert E. Campbell at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. This position is funded by an NIH grant awarded as part of the United States Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative. 

One of the major challenges facing the BRAIN initiative is the development of technologies that will enable the recording of neural activity throughout the entire volume of a rodent brain. Optical imaging approaches for recording of neural activity in model organisms have already proven to be highly effective, but are generally limited to imaging of activity near the brain surface. To record from deeper within the brain, we require neural activity indicators based on proteins that absorb and emit near-infrared light (or acoustic signals), which pass further through tissue. The successful applicant will build upon promising preliminary efforts and undertake the development, characterization, and application of genetically encoded activity indicators optimized for both fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging. 

An ideal candidate will be highly motivated, creative, and able to work effectively as a member of a collaborative team. Extensive expertise and proficiency in molecular biology is essential. Preference will be given to applicants with past experience in neuroscience and fluorescence microscopy who have received their Ph.D. within the past 2 years. The initial appointment will be for one year, with the possibility of being extended for 1-2 additional years, depending on funding. Salary will be commensurate with experience. Position will be open until filled.

Interested applicants should forward a cover letter, CV, and contact information for three references to:
Robert E. Campbell, Ph.D.
Department of Chemistry,
11227 Saskatchewan Drive,
University of Alberta,
Edmonton, Alberta
T6G 2G2 Canada
Email: rc4@ualberta.ca
Phone: (780) 492-1849

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.
The University of Alberta offers appointments on the basis of merit. We are committed to the principle of equity in employment. We welcome diversity and encourage applications from all qualified women and men, including persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities and Aboriginal persons.

Dr Katalin Tóth and her team recently published a paper in Nature Communications in which they explain, in part, how seemingly identical synaptic vesicles can be used to transmit different messages from one neuron to the next.

These researchers showed that vesicles derived from the AP-3-dependent endocytotic pathway were preferentially used in asynchronous release of neurotransmitter, a process involved in transmission of information   between specific brain regions important for processing spatial information. They also showed that animals lacking the AP-3-dependent recycling pathway had altered synaptic transmission in naturally occuring processes.
Read more in the original research article:

Evstratova A, Chamberland S, Faundez V, Tóth K. Vesicles derived via AP-3 dependent recycling contribute to asynchronous release and influence information transfer. Nature Communications, 2014 November 20 5:5530. doi: 10.1038/ncomms6530.

Two outstanding researchers from Université Laval, Frédéric Bretzner for 2013 and Yves DeKoninck for 2014, have won Barbara Turnbull awards for spinal cord research.  This prize is supported through a partnership between the Barbara Turnbull Foundation for Spinal Cord Research, Brain Canada, and the CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction.  It is the top prize in spinal cord injury research awarded in Canada each year. (more…)

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The Canadian Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CCUWiP) is a conference for physics students held at Laval University JANUARY 9-11, 2015.

The main objective of this event is to highlight the success of women in a domain where men outnumber them, to encourage exchange with other students who have similar academic paths and to favor the construction of a network of contacts across the country.

Learn more on the CCWiP website

Neurophotonics expert Karl Deisseroth visited McGill University last week and his lecture, titled “Optical Deconstruction of Fully-assembled Biological Systems” is currently available for viewing on the McGill Neuro website. The Hughlings Jackson Lecture is the Neuro’s premier scientific lecture and took place on October 17, 2014 at 4:00 pm at the Neuro. Dr. Karl Deisseroth, M.D., Ph.D., D.H. Chen Professor of Bioengineering and of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences of Stanford University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, California, USA gave this year’s lecture.

(more…)

Interested in understanding the microscopy advances that lead to the 2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry? Beyond the diffraction barrier is a new video overview of super-resolution microscopy strategies, by Andrew Q Tran, student in Biomedical Communication at University of Toronto. It explains techniques such as stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy, developed by 2014 Nobel prize winner Stefan Hell in 2000. Yves and Paul De Koninck and their teams at the Neurophotonics Centre collaborated to the making of this video. View it now: Beyond the diffraction barrier, an overview of super-resolution microscopy strategies

(more…)

The Photonics games, organized to interest high school students to physics and photonics received important recognition recently.

The organizers of the games were honored with a prize at the Gala universitaire Forces AVENIR. Forces AVENIR is a non-profit organisation who aims to highlight student involvement. Read more about this in Le Fil.

The Photonics games were also rewarded by SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics , who awarded the games SPIE Education Outreach Grant for their program. The list of 2014 winners can be found on the spie.org website.

To learn more about the Photonics Games, which will take place October 30th, visit their website: http://www.repol.copl.ulaval.ca/jeux/

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See Leang Chin seated at right of image (photo Marc Robitaille)

Recently retired professor See Leang Chin has been named Emeritus professor by the Faculty of Science and Engineering of Université Laval on September 25 2014. The Emeritus professor status is the highest honour the University can give to its professors.

Dr. See Leang Chin is a world-renowned expert in the science and technology of ultrarapid and intense laser. His contribution to making Québec city an worldwide pole of attraction in the areas of optics and photonics was highlighted, notably by the creation of the Institut National d’Optique (INO). He also initiated many project to promote entrepreneurship in students, leading to the development a hotspot of optics industries in the Québec city area.

Read more about this in Le Fil, the Université Laval Newspaper

The Quebec Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience is proud to announce that Simon Chamberland has won a travel award for the upcoming SfN meeting, November 15-19 in Washington, DC. The prize includes free registration to the meeting.

Simon Chamberland is a neurobiology graduate student in the laboratory of Katalin Toth.
Congratulations!

The research center of the Quebec Mental Health Institute (Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Québec – IUSMQ), in partnership with other Canadian institutions, will receive 3,3M$ from the Canadian Brain Research Fund to develop and manage the Canadian Neurophotonics Platform, over the next 3 years. The platform will be managed by the Research Centre of the IUSMQ, who will lead the initiative. The project aims to develop, test and promote new neurophotonics tools putting the power of optics and photonics to the service of neuroscience and brain research.

Three main facilities will be at the heart of the collaboration: The Neurophotonics Centre (IUSMQ/Université Laval), a protein optogenetic engineering facility (University of Alberta) and a Viral Vectors facility (IUSMQ/Université Laval). The Universities of British Columbia, of Calgary, of Alberta, of Ottawa, McGill University, Dalhousie University and Université Laval will participate to tests of the various technologies developed by the national platform on in vivo models.

Read the official Press release: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/nr-cp/_2014/2014-09-12fs-eng.php