Investigating neuronal activity through advanced electrophysiological interfacing with nanoprobe array technology for high-resolution analysis.m
Despite significant progress in neuroscience, our knowledge of brains still remains scarce to date. Our complex brains can perform difficult tasks, but they are too complex to understand for us currently. This hampers our capacity to treat neurological disorders.
Recently, remarkable advances were made in the interfacing of neuronal networks, thanks to the development of miniaturized sensing elements (nano-electrodes), to record and stimulate the neuronal activity in-vitro. This technology allows to follow the electrical activity of a neuron network with an unprecedented resolution but also, due to its small size, to have access to individual cells and their sub-cellular compartments. This high spatial resolution also allows very targeted electrical stimulations, which can induce neuronal plasticity mechanisms.
This internship is part of the european NEUREKA Project (http://neureka.gr), which aim to develop a visionary drug-screening hybrid platform for a better comprehension of Alzheimer’s disease. This will give the student a very stimulating context of international research collaboration.
The internship will investigate the evolution of the electrical activity of neuronal networks (2D networks , 3D organoids) using this state-of-the-art technology, both in standard configuration (60 nano-electrodes) and with the high density HD-CMOS system, co-developed with MaxWell Biosystems. The aim will be to study the evolution of the electrophysiological activity under different stimuli: (i) chemical (ii) electrical (iii) light (optogenetic)
He will be in charge of (i) the integration of the brain-on-chip technology (primary neuronal cell culture) and brain human organoid (ii) the relevant neuronal activity recording and (iii) the manipulation of activity/connectivity through localized stimulation (iv) data treatment.
Work environment: The intern will be in the Nano&Neuro Electronics activities (within the MPN team) that has international recognition in the development of functional nano-devices for bio-electronics applications.
The internship can be followed by a Ph.D. (already approved).
Skills to be learned:
- Multidisciplinary knowledge (chemistry, biology, electronics, neuroscience)
- Electrophysiology skills
- Cell culture
- International collaboration
Ideal candidate:
Applications have to be sent by mail at: the supervisor Dr. Guilhem Larrieu (glarrieu@laas.fr). The application will include a complete CV, a motivation letter, transcripts of Master 1 and 2.