IF in the field of cell movements in development and disease

Brief description of the institution:

The Institute for Neuroscience (IN) is a joint venture of both the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the University “Miguel Hernández” (UMH). Our mission is to investigate the development, structure and function of the nervous system in normal and pathological conditions. Our main objective is to improve our understanding of the brain, in the conviction that this is the best way to shed light on dysfunctions leading to disease. This goal is recognized as the main challenge faced by modern biology. Furthermore, given the extraordinary emotional and economic burdens that neurological and mental disorders cause, it must become more of a priority to society. In this context, the IN seeks to provide researchers with a nurturing environment to allow pursuing the most important questions in neuroscience. One strategy we follow is to encourage IN’s members to become genuinely interested in what others do, how our colleagues can help us and how we can help them. As a result of this positive and generous strategy, the Institute as a whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Consequently the IN has been distinguished as a Centre of Excellence in the frame of the “Severo Ochoa” National Program. This recognizes the IN as the most relevant brain research institute in Spain, and places it on the list of the most prominent research centres in Europe.

Brief description of the Centre/Research Group (including URL if applicable):

The IN is organized into functional research units that are flexible and serve as a framework that facilitates research activities and stimulates interaction and scientific collaboration among its members. At the same time, we maintain active interchange programs and collaborations with universities, research centres and neurobiology laboratories around the world.

The IN’s researchers employ different techniques that cover a wide variety the scientific fields from molecular and cellular biology, to genetics, physiology and systems neurobiology, and the IN is fully equipped with cell and tissue culture and experimental embryology rooms; SPF animal house with unit for genetically modified mice; state-of-the-art cell imaging; and specific areas for behavioural analysis including different types of arenas and mazes.

We are running an ambitious Postdoctoral Programme for the 2018-21 period that includes two year-contracts for newly recruited postdoctoral fellows. Special attention will be paid to women starting a career in neuroscience and support will be provided if their stage coincides with child care. We extend our mentoring to offer early-stage researchers the possibility of attending laboratory management courses. Similarly, although postdoctoral work does not include teaching duties, opportunities to teach on our Master’s courses will be encouraged. Importantly, we will consider the possibility of selecting a few IN postdoctoral fellows of the highest calibre for promotion to independent researchers, allowing them to develop projects with minimal supervision.

Project description:

Cell Movements in Development and Disease

(PI: Prof. M. Ángela Nieto)

We study cell plasticity and movements during embryonic development and the mechanisms behind those processes, both in health and disease. In particular, we are interested in epithelial to mesenchymal transitions (EMT). The EMT is crucial for the formation of multiple tissues and organs during embryonic development and it is reactivated in the adult during wound healing, tumour progression to the metastatic state and organ degeneration. In the lab we use zebrafish, chick and mouse embryos as model systems together with a high interest in Cell Biology, Evo-Devo, cancer research and gene regulatory networks. We also analyze samples from patients with the associated pathologies. The results of this work impacts on a variety of human pathologies including congenital malformations, cancer and fibrosis [see examples of our previous findings in Acloque et al., Dev Cell (2011); Ocana et al., Cancer Cell (2012); Nieto, Science (2013), Grande et al., Nature Medicine (2015); Ocana et al., Nature (2017)].

Applications

• Brief CV (1 page)
• Letter of Motivation (max. 2500 characters)
• 2 Reference Letters