PhD studentship available for September 2013

Supervisor: Prof. Aldo Badiani (Sussex Neuroscience and School of Psychology, University of Sussex) 

Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that the environment can exert a substance-specific influence on drug taking (Caprioli et al., Biol Psychiatry 2009; Badiani et al., Nat Rev Neurosci 2011). Both human addicts and rats prefer in fact taking heroin and cocaine in distinct settings. The neurobiological underpinning of this phenomenon is unknown. However, in situ hybridization for the immediate early gene c-fos mRNA have shown that the pattern of neuronal activity induced by acute, non contingent administrations of amphetamine, cocaine, and heroin differ dramatically as a function of the context (Badiani et al., J Neurosci 1998; Day et al., J Neurosci 2001; Celentano et al., Psychopharmacology 2009). The goal of this Ph.D. project is to investigate, using whole-cell electrophysiology, whether the context of drug self-administration can produce differential drug-induced synaptic plasticity in the nucleus accumbens and striatum. The project will be conducted in collaboration with Dr. Eisuke Koya, who will serve as co-supervisor. The findings of this research will likely lead to publications in high-ranking journals.

Aldo Badiani’s laboratory is part of the newly created Sussex Neuroscience hub, which will provide an exciting and interdisciplinary research environment to ambitious but collaborative students. The successful candidate will receive training in behavioural pharmacology (intravenous self-administration in the rat) and in whole-cell electrophysiology. Thus, applicants must have a strong interest in behavioural neuroscience and be highly motivated to learn new techniques.

Applications should be made by 5.00pm, on 6^th May 2013. The award of the studentship will be based on a competitive process and is subject to the availability of funding. If awarded, it would be a full-time studentship (funded for a duration of three years) covering tuition fee, and a maintenance allowance. The maintenance allowance is currently £13,590 per annum.

Eligibility requirements for potential candidates:

• UK and EU candidates are eligible to apply. Candidates may not be eligible for the full award if they do not meet UK residency requirements.
• Candidates must have, or expect to obtain, a First or a high Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree, or equivalent qualification, and/or a Master’s degree in Psychology, Neuroscience or a related discipline.
• Previous experience with rodent behavioural models of associative learning and/or whole-cell electrophysiology will be advantageous.

Guidance for applicants:

• Please send your initial enquires by email for the attention of ‘Postgraduate Coordinator’ to: psychology@sussex.ac.uk
• If you wish to discuss the details of this PhD project further, please contact Prof. Aldo Badiani: aldo.badiani@sussex.ac.uk
• Application procedures can be found at the Apply button below.

Candidates should provide:

• A research statement that briefly outlines our current state of knowledge, hypotheses that could be addressed, and an outline of potential methods. Your answer should not exceed 2 pages including references, be set at minimum 10 font type with margins a minimum of 1cm.
• A current transcript with full details of performance on all completed courses.

To apply, please click the Apply button below.