[visionlist] POSTDOC POSITION IN NEW YORK ON VISUAL CONTROL OF EYE GROWTH

[Josh Wallman]

POSTDOC POSITION IN NEW YORK ON VISUAL CONTROL OF EYE GROWTH
A postdoctoral position is available immediately on an NIH-funded project concerning the role of vision in the control of eye growth, an area relevant to the etiology of myopia.

Evidence that eye growth is homeostatically regulated by vision resulting in the physical length of the eye matching its focal length is shown in the laboratory by the finding that when myopia or hyperopia is artificially imposed by having an animal (in our case a chicken) wear a spectacle lens, the eye rapidly compensates by changing its rate of elongation and the thickness of its choroid (the vascular layer behind the retina), causing the image to be focused on the retina again. This visual modulation of eye growth causes neonates to correct the refractive errors present at birth. For more information on this area see review in Neuron, 43, 447-468 (2004).

Research in our laboratory is focused on two questions: First, how does the eye distinguish blur resulting from the image being focused behind the photoreceptors (hyperopia), which requires the eye to accelerate its rate of elongation to compensate, from the blur of the image being focused in front of the photoreceptors (myopia), which requires the eye to slow its elongation. Second, when the eye experiences myopic or hyperopic defocus, how does the retina relay the appropriate growth commands to the choroid and sclera.

We seek a postdoc with interest and skills appropriate for either question and with a curiosity about both. Therefore, candidates either should have a strong background in visual science to work on how the eye detects the sign of defocus or should have a background in cell or molecular biology to work on the molecular signal cascade involved (involving Real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry, LC-MSMS, tissue culture).

This position provides an opportunity to develop an independent line of research on a biologically interesting, clinically relevant problem.

If interested, please write describing your interests, CV and contact details of three referees to Josh Wallman at wallman at sci.ccny.cuny.edu. 



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Josh Wallman
Dept. of Biology
City College, CUNY
160 Convent Ave.
New York, NY 10031

http://www.wallmanlab.ccny.cuny.edu

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