General lab overview
The Sabatini Laboratory at Harvard University examines the structure and function of synapses, the relationship between synapse function and animal behavior, and how neural activity can describe animal decision making. This includes integrative studies of how networks of neurons (i.e. circuits) develop and function. We are particularly interested in how the action of neuromodulatory molecules and the topography of neural networks interact to determine the function, and dysfunction, of a circuit.

Specific project
One of the ongoing set of experiments aims to target the function of the basal ganglia in relation to behavior. Although the basal ganglia are an old and evolutionary conserved set of brain nuclei, their precise function remains unclear. We use mice to study how they select future actions and integrate previous action-outcome contingencies. We employ state-of-the-art large field-of-view mesoscopic two-photon calcium imaging combined with novel viral strategies (anterograde and retrograde transport) to deliver calcium indicators in upstream and downstream regions of the basal ganglia (e.g., cell bodies and axons), optogenetics to probe causal effects, and novel high-dimensional analyses and neural networks.

Student responsibilities
We are interested in independent and self-driven students to assist in various experiments to investigate the function of the basal ganglia. Successful students should be independent, self-motivated, and flexible. Students should be thoughtful, patient, have great attention to detail, communicate well, Matlab experience, and willing to work with mice. You will be working directly with a postdoc and will learn many fundamental laboratory techniques and engineering principles, as well as develop your understanding of the theory and practice scientific investigation. Duties will include:

– Designing, building, and testing of technical setups
– Handling, training, and studying the behavior of mice
– Processing of mouse brain tissue for biochemical and histochemical analysis
– Acquiring high dimensional data (e.g., 2-photon mesoscopic imaging)
– Performing data analyses on high-dimensional data of neuronal activity and behavior