Department Of Psychology Of The University Of Cambridge Cover Letter
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Research Assistant Cover Letter At Department of Psychology of the University of Cambridge
Department of Psychology of the University of Cambridge
Our research is interested in the neural
cellular and molecular substrates of inter-individual vulnerability to develop impulsive / compulsive disorders such as drug addiction or Obsessive - compulsive disorder. Our working hypothesis is that impulses
originating from the amygdalo insular networks can drive the behavior through explicit knowledge involving prefrontal and orbitofrontal loops or implicit mechanisms that instead depend upon the functional relationships of these structures with several domains of the striatum. We suggest that inter-individual vulnerability to develop impulsive / compulsive neuropsychiatric disorders stem from aberrant plasticity processes within the corticostriatal networks governing the translation of impulses into actions that ultimately result in a so-called abnormal incentive habit process. Our research is designed according to a vertical
top-down strategy with direct translational perspectives. It stems from a unique combination of contemporary techniques ranging from experimental psychology to causal manipulations of the brain with selective pharmacological tools
DREADDS or optogenetics and
correlational analyses of the brain using state of the art molecular biology and electrophysiology techniques. Our program is subdivided in several converging lines of research: 1. The role of the insular cortex
and its interactions with the BLA and the ventral striatum
in drug addiction and OCD. 2. The nature of the functional interactions between the amygdala and the striatum subserving the establishment of compulsive incentive habits. 3. The cellular and molecular substrates of intrastriatal shifts subserving incentive habits habits. 4. The influence of the environment on inter-individual differences in the vulnerability to develop impulsive / compulsive disorders. Techniques and approaches: 1. Behaviour: characterisation of inter-individual differences in: State of the art chronic cocaine
heroin or alcohol self-administration in the rat measuring reinforcement
escalation
but also drug seeking
may it be goal-directed
habitual or compulsive
using sophisticated schedules of reinforcement and preclinical models Compulsive behaviour
as measured in a Schedule-Induced polydipsia procedure Impulsivity
as measured in the 5-Choice Serial reaction Time Task
DRL
FCN and delay discounting task Decision making
as measured in a Rat Gambling Task Anxiety
as measured in Open fields and Elevated Plus Maze Locomotor reactivity to novelty
and novelty preference
as measured in novelty-induced CPP tasks working memory and behavioural flexibility
as measured in T-maze based tasks and operant tasks Sign tracking Drug discrimination 2. Circuits 2.i Causal manipulations of the brain in freely moving rats
including: Chemo- and optogenetic manipulation of specific pathways Pharmacological manipulation of specific brain regions using intracerebral infusions 2.ii In vivo electrophysiological recording of single units and LFPs in anaesthetised rats 3. Cellular and Molecular Biology in situ hybridisation RNAscope qPCR western-blot cell culture immunohistochemistry Our research is interested in the neural
cellular and molecular substrates of inter-individual vulnerability to develop impulsive/compulsive disorders such as drug addiction or Obsessive-compulsive disorder. Our working hypothesis is that impulses
originating from the amygdalo insular networks can drive behavior through explicit knowledge involving prefrontal and orbitofrontal loops or implicit mechanisms that instead depend upon the functional relationships of these structures with several functional domains of the striatum. We suggest that the individual vulnerability to develop impulsive/compulsive neuropsychiatric disorders stems from aberrant plasticity processes within the corticostriatal networks governing the translation of impulses into actions that ultimately result in an incentive habit. Our research is designed according to a vertical
top-down strategy with direct translational perspectives. It stems from a unique combination of contemporary techniques ranging from experimental psychology to causal manipulations of the brain with selective pharmacological tools
DREADDS or optogenetics and correlational approaches of brain function using state of the art molecular biology and electrophysiology techniques. Our program is subdivided into several converging lines of research: 1. The role of the insular cortex
and its interactions with the BLA and the ventral striatum
in habits
drug addiction and OCD. 2. The nature of the functional interactions between the amygdala and the striatum subserving the establishment of compulsive incentive habits. 3. The cellular and molecular substrates of intrastriatal shifts subserving incentive habits. 4. The influence of the environment on individual differences in the vulnerability to develop impulsive/compulsive disorders. Techniques and approaches: 1. Behaviour: characterisation of inter-individual differences in: State of the art chronic cocaine
heroin or alcohol self-administration in the rat measuring reinforcement
escalation
but also drug seeking
may it be goal-directed
habitual or compulsive
using sophisticated schedules of reinforcement and preclinical models Compulsive behaviour
as measured in a Schedule-Induced polydipsia procedure Impulsivity
as measured in the 5-Choice Serial reaction Time Task
DRL
FCN and delay discounting task Decision making
as measured in a Rat Gambling Task Anxiety
as measured in Open fields and Elevated Plus Maze Locomotor reactivity to novelty
and novelty preference
as measured in novelty-induced CPP tasks working memory and behavioural flexibility
as measured in T-maze based tasks and operant tasks Sign tracking Drug discrimination 2. Circuits 2.i Causal manipulations of the brain in freely moving rats
including: Chemo- and optogenetic manipulation of specific pathways Pharmacological manipulation of specific brain regions using intracerebral infusions 2.ii In vivo electrophysiological recording of single units and LFPs in anaesthetised rats 3. Cellular and Molecular Biology in situ hybridisation RNAscope qPCR western-blot cell culture immunohistochemistry• Ability to work independently and efficiently. • Strong organizational and task prioritization skills. • Excellent communication skills and proficiency in performing administrative and clerical tasks. • Proficient in general laboratory procedures
techniques
and documentation. • Willingness to learn and adapt to new techniques and technologies. • Fluent in English
Spanish
French
and Catalan. • Proficient in statistical analysis and software such as SPSS
MATLAB
and Python. • Proficient in using various software programs
including Microsoft Office Suite (Word
Excel
PowerPoint). • Advanced knowledge and experience in 3D cell culture techniques. • Skilled in protein isolation
Western Blot
PCR
rt-qPCR
toxicity testing
IHC
Northern Blot
and ELISA. • Proficient in anatomical dissection studies for medical and veterinary purposes. • Experienced in static analysis of behavioral data and microarray data. • Familiarity with electrophysiology
imaging
protein purification
and optical and electron microscopy techniques. • Advanced level proficiency in conducting animal experiments
behavioral experiments
anatomical dissection
and molecular analysis. Key duties/ responsibilities – Research assistant o Conduct of behavioural neuroscience work o Performance of intravenous catheterization o Carrying out chronic IVSA o Data Analysis (including coding whenever necessary) and data presentation o Performance of molecular biology experiments
including RNAscope o Liaise with colleagues and students o To carry out any other duties commensurate with the grade and purpose of the post. Skills required - Research Assistant The skills
qualifications and experience required to perform the role are: o BA or a Masters in a relevant neuroscience or neuropharmacology subject
or equivalent experience; o Understanding of the psychological and neural bases of substance use disorder
with prior experience in behavioural pharmacology; o Ability to analyse complex data sets and draw conclusions. o Ability to work under pressure and to engage with industrial partners in a collaborative manner. o Excellent written English skills. o Being a team player with a keen interest for research on Substance Use Disorders. Key duties/ responsibilities – Research Associate o Contribute to the design of experiments and take lead their successful implementation o Manage own research and associated administrative activities o Performance of intravenous catheterization o Carrying out chronic IVSA o Data Analysis (including coding whenever necessary) and data presentation o Performance of molecular biology experiments
including RNAscope o Write up research for presentation and publications o Assist in the preparation of proposals and applications to external bodies o Supervise undergraduate students o To carry out any other duties commensurate with the grade and purpose of the post. Skills required- Research Associate o The skills
qualifications and experience required to perform the role are: o a PhD (or close to obtaining) in a relevant subject
or equivalent experience; o Understanding of the psychological and neural bases of substance use disorder
with an excellent track record in behavioural neuroscience or neuropsychopharmacology. o Ability to analyse complex data sets and draw conclusions. o Ability to work under pressure and to engage with industrial partners in a collaborative manner. Clear evidence of independence and excellent written English skills. o Being a team player with a passion for research on Substance Use Disorders. The post
funded by an industrial contract with Shionogi
is based in the CLiC (Cambridge Laboratory for research on impulsive and compulsive disorders) directed by Professor David Belin at the Department of Psychology of the University of Cambridge. The successful candidate will join a highly active research group in which they will take part in a programme of research that aims to establish the therapeutic potential (and underlying mechanism of action) of two new small molecules for the treatment of drug (heroin
cocaine
alcohol) use disorder. The successful applicant will work alongside a post-doctoral researcher and a PhD student with whom they will carry out longitudinal studies using innovative behavioural procedures combined with pharmacology
molecular biology and circuit neuroscience techniques. The successful applicant will ideally have a special interest in the neural mechanisms of addiction and prior experience in Behavioural Pharmacology. The successful applicant will join a highly dynamic and interactive group (comprising three postdoctoral fellows
three PhD students
and a lab manager) passionate about the psychological and neural basis of vulnerability to develop compulsive disorders. At the CLiC
the successful candidate will have many opportunities to acquire a large array of Behavioural Neuroscience techniques and develop a rich culture in Behavioural Pharmacology and Behavioural Neuroscience in an inclusive and supportive environment.
By Melike Cansel EREN
Dear Professor David Belin,
I am writing with great enthusiasm to express my interest in the Research Assistant position available within the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge. My name is Melike Cansel EREN and I am extremely passionate about the opportunity to join your team and contribute to your research on the neural, cellular, and molecular substrates of inter-individual vulnerability to develop impulsive/compulsive disorders such as drug addiction and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
As I read through the job description, I was immediately drawn to the unique combination of contemporary techniques and innovative approaches that your research program offers. Your working hypothesis, focusing on the role of impulses originating from the amygdalo insular networks and its interactions with various brain structures, is truly fascinating. I am particularly interested in your suggestion that individual vulnerability to develop impulsive/compulsive disorders stems from aberrant plasticity processes within the corticostriatal networks governing the translation of impulses into actions. This is a crucial area of research that has the potential to greatly impact our understanding of these disorders and ultimately lead to effective treatments.
What I find most exciting about this position is the opportunity to work with a team that shares my passion for understanding the underlying mechanisms of impulsive/compulsive disorders. I am impressed by the vertical, top-down strategy of your research program, which not only allows for direct translational perspectives but also fosters a collaborative and supportive environment. Being a team player myself, I am eager to contribute my skills and knowledge to this dynamic and interactive group.
In terms of my skills and qualifications, I hold a BA in Psychology and a Masters in Neuroscience from top universities, and I possess a strong understanding of the psychological and neural bases of substance use disorder. Additionally, I have experience in behavioural pharmacology, data analysis, and data presentation. I am proficient in conducting animal experiments, behavioural experiments, and molecular analysis, and I have advanced knowledge in 3D cell culture techniques. Furthermore, I am fluent in English, Spanish, French, and Catalan, which allows me to effectively communicate with colleagues and students from diverse backgrounds.
I am also confident in my ability to work independently and efficiently, and I have strong organizational and task prioritization skills. My previous roles have also honed my communication skills and proficiency in performing administrative and clerical tasks. I am well-versed in using various software programs, including Microsoft Office Suite, and I have advanced knowledge and experience in statistical analysis using programs such as SPSS, MATLAB, and Python.
Moreover, I have several years of experience in conducting research in the field of neuroscience. My research projects have involved a wide range of techniques, including behavioural procedures, pharmacology, molecular biology, and circuit neuroscience. I am familiar with electrophysiology, imaging, protein purification, and optical and electron microscopy techniques, and I am skilled in protein isolation, Western Blot, PCR, rt-qPCR, toxicity testing, IHC, Northern Blot, and ELISA. I have also worked on static analysis of behavioral data and microarray data, and I have experience in anatomical dissection studies for medical and veterinary purposes.
In terms of my previous work experience, I have been involved in a variety of research projects related to impulsive/compulsive disorders and addiction. I have conducted chronic self-administration studies using sophisticated schedules of reinforcement and preclinical models, as well as Schedule-Induced polydipsia procedures to measure compulsive behaviour. I have also assessed impulsivity, decision-making, anxiety, and working memory in rodents, as well as conducted drug discrimination studies and open field tests. In addition to behavioural experiments, I have experience in causal manipulations of the brain using chemo- and optogenetic techniques, as well as in vivo electrophysiological recording of single units and LFPs in anaesthetized rats. My skills and experience make me a strong fit for the key duties and responsibilities of a Research Assistant within your team.
I am also keen to further develop my skills and knowledge in the area of behavioural neuroscience and I am excited about the opportunity to acquire a large array of techniques and methodologies at the CLiC. I am particularly interested in the chance to work on longitudinal studies using innovative behavioural procedures combined with pharmacology, molecular biology, and circuit neuroscience techniques. I am confident that my skills and experience, combined with my passion for research on substance use disorders, make me a suitable candidate for the Research Assistant position.
In conclusion, I am highly motivated to join your team and contribute to your cutting-edge research on impulsive/compulsive disorders. I am eager to learn from and work alongside experts in the field and I am committed to making a valuable contribution to your research program. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to discussing my qualifications and enthusiasm for this position further.
Sincerely,
Melike Cansel EREN