Postdoc position: the development of electrosensory organs in weakly electric fishes

Clare Baker’s lab (https://www.pdn.cam.ac.uk/directory/clare-baker) at the University of Cambridge is looking for a second postdoc to join the lab for a Leverhulme Trust-funded project on the development and evolution of electroreceptors in weakly electric fishes. The lab studies the development of vertebrate electrosensory lateral line organs as a model for understanding how novel cell types and organs evolve. We are a small group, committed to mentoring and supporting the career development of all members. We are based in the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience and share open-plan lab space with two zebrafish groups.

Electroreception was lost in the ancestors of teleost fishes, but evolved independently at least twice within different teleost groups, most likely via the modification of mechanosensory lateral line neuromasts. The project overall involves knifefishes (gymnotiforms) and freshwater elephantfishes (mormyrids): these lineages independently evolved ‘ampullary’ organs that detect low-frequency electric fields in water (for example, from other animals), as well as electric organs (modified muscle/nerve) and ‘tuberous’ organs that respond to high-frequency electric organ discharges (used for communication, electrolocation, etc).

You will focus primarily on lateral line organ development in knifefish. The project involves experimental embryology (fate-mapping lateral line placodes with DiI; small-molecule manipulation of different signalling pathways; CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene targeting in 1-cell embryos), bioinformatic analysis of single-cell transcriptomic datasets and gene-expression studies using in situ hybridisation/HCR. You will undertake all work with live knifefish embryos via extended research visits (each lasting several weeks) to our collaborator Michael Markham’s lab at the University of Oklahoma (Norman, OK, USA). Fixed specimens will be shipped to Cambridge for analysis there.

Candidates should hold a PhD in developmental biology and have experience in vertebrate experimental embryology, preferably in teleost fishes. Experience with CRISPR/Cas9 gene targeting in embryos is desirable. Bioinformatics experience with single-cell transcriptomic datasets is desirable. The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The funds for this full-time post are available for 30 months. The position is available immediately but the start date is flexible and would be by negotiation.

Informal enquiries about the position can be made to Clare Baker (cvhb1@cam.ac.uk).

For further particulars and to apply, please see the external job link.