[vslist] Retinal Physiology/Modeling Post Doctoral Position Available, SF, CA

[Russ Hamer]

POSTDOCTORAL OPPORTUNITY IN COMPUTATIONAL & EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF
RETINAL PROCESSING

The Retinal Computational Modeling Laboratory at Smith-Kettlewell Eye
Research Institute (San Francisco, CA), headed by Russell D. Hamer,
Ph.D., is seeking a postdoctoral fellow to participate and receive
training in a research program aimed at elucidation of mechanisms
underlying normal and abnormal vertebrate rod and cone function.
Candidates with a background in single-cell electrophysiology and an
interest in quantitative modeling are encouraged to apply. The
start-date is flexible, but immediate applications are encouraged.

Please email a Curriculum Vita and a letter describing your interests
and experience to Russell D. Hamer (russ@ski.org) and/or call 415
345-2056(office).

Research Program:
The approach of the lab is multidisciplinary, combining computational
modeling with electrophysiological recordings from photoreceptors. An
important strength of the program is the commitment to development of a
full-scale model of vertebrate phototransduction in both rods and cones.
By incorporating the best current biochemical results, we are developing
physiologically realistic models of phototransduction to account for the
critical features of vertebrate rod and cone responses under both
dark-adapted (DA) and light-adapted (LA) conditions. Development of
these models will advance our understanding of the role photoreceptors
play in shaping the overall temporal properties and sensitivity at
higher centers in the visual system. In addition, the models can provide
powerful tools for evaluating new candidate mechanisms of
phototransduction. They can be used to simulate point mutations of
genetic knockout manipulations and allow one to test, noninvasively,
putative mechanisms of retinal diseases affecting photoreceptor
function. Finally, models can be used to identify specific receptoral
immaturities in developing visual systems. For more information about
Dr. Hamer's lab see http://www.ski.org/RHamer_lab/.

Training at Smith-Kettlewell:
The research environment at Smith-Kettlewell is robust and promotes
productive interactions between labs. There is a high level of
scientific cooperation at Smith-Kettlewell, resulting in many joint
publications. Therefore, during the course of the training period, the
trainee has the ongoing opportunity for significant interaction with
many researchers other than the primary sponsor. For the trainee, these
interactions provide easy and comfortable access to the expertise
afforded by a variety of researchers and disciplines. For information
about the training program at Smith-Kettlewell and the application
process, please see the relevant webpages at
http://www.ski.org/Welcome/Fellowships/fellowships.html.

Collaborations:
Dr. Hamer's lab has ongoing collaborations with Juan I. Korenbrot (UCSF,
SF, CA; www.ucsf.edu/pibs/faculty/korenbrot.html), Daniel Tranchina
(Courant Inst. Mathematical Sci, NY, NY) and Paul A. Liebman (Univ.
Penn.,Phila.,PA; www.uphs.upenn.edu/biocbiop/faculty/pages/liebman.html).