Centrosome and Cilia Biology in Normal and Pathological Neurodevelopment

The Saade team is welcoming application for a Postdoc position to unravel how the centrosome/cilia axis controls Neural Precursor Cells (NPCs) maintenance and differentiation during neurogenesis.

Research Background: Neurogenesis is a temporally and quantitatively highly balanced process which has to be tightly regulated, as even small alterations can have severe consequences for development and lead to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). For example, microcephaly, one the most devastating type of brain size abnormality, starts with mutations and subsequent molecular dysregulations mostly at the two subcellular levels, the centrosome and the primary cilia which in consequence affect NPCs mode of division.

Research Objectives; Towards this goal, we take the following approaches:

1. Dissect for genes related to the evolutionary composition of the centrosome-cilia axis in NPCs. We study the impact of these genes on the behavior of NPCs and their role in centrosome and cilia biology, in order to decipher their role as cell fate determinants for a correct evolutionary growth of the central nervous system (CNS).
2. Dissect for pathogenic structural variants (pSVs) in association to particular NDDs such as microcephaly. We study the consequences of abnormal centrosome and ciliary function in human disease, with particular emphasis on the development of ciliopathies affecting the proper growth of the CNS.

Research Environment: The host team has a long-range experience in the field of centrosome/cilia signaling in neural development; provide the unique scientific background and leadership capacities, to successfully address these questions of neural-specific centrosome proteins in human brain evolution and the acquisition of cognitive abilities. We are recognized for our expertise in studying neurodevelopment in vivo in the chick embryo neural tube and we are implementing human 3D tissue engineering in the lab. The postdoc will benefit from state-of-the-art tools and platforms available within the institute and on campus. The candidate will be supported by team members at the scientific and technical level.

Your Profile: The candidate must have a good knowledge in tissue engineering, imaging, genetics and cellular biology. Basic Knowledge in bioinformatics will be helpful.

Please send your CV, a letter of motivation and contacts for references to: msabmc@ibmb.csic.es