Internships
Working in a laboratory is the best way to find out if a career in research is for you!
NeuroPSI offers internships on a wide range of topics to satisfy your curiosity and your desire to progress in your professional goals.
NeuroPSI INTERNSHIP COMMITTEE
An internship committee, composed of one member from each department, Alexis Faure (Cognitive and Network Neurosciences), Marc Pananceau (Integrative and Computational Neurosciences) and Patrick Pla (Development, Evolution and Cell Signaling) is:
- at the researchers’ disposal for publicizing available internship opportunities
- at the students’ disposal for dissemination of their applications
- at the trainees’ disposal to help them with their administrative procedures
NeuroPSI INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Bachelor internships
The student will develop behavioral paradigms and new analyses based on the existing set ups in the lab (automated video-tracking, automated behavioral detection, quantitative behavioral analysis), by using both his/her ideas and existing protocols in the literature. This internship is also an opportunity to discover the Drosophila model, learn its advantages and other techniques used in the lab from Drosophula genetics to connectomics and functional imaging. The candidate will work in the team Neural Circuits and Behavior headed by Tihana Jovanic in Saclay (20 km south of Paris). NeuroPSI has state-of the art core facilities and the Saclay campus provides a highly interdisciplinary and collaborative environment mixing university and engineering schools, with excellent laboratories in fundamental and applied science. There will also be opprotunities for collaboration with the Janelia Research Campus (USA) and Institut Pasteur (Paris, France).
How do closely related neuron types establish and then maintain their functional differences? And, how do genetic programs differ between individuals to create unique brains? Our team investigates these questions by studying how colour photoreceptor neurons in the retina acquire (during development) and maintain (throughout their adult life) their different colour sensitivities, and how natural genetic variation affects these processes in the wild populations. The internship projects will address specific questions within this broad scientific program and will be designed in consultation with the student to reflect his or her interests and goals. The student will use Drosophila genetics, immunohistochemistry, RNAscope-based in situ hybridization, confocal microscopy, and molecular biology. More detailed descriptions of two potential projects are in the following pdf.
Internship duration: 2 months or longer
Level: Master (1 or 2)
Neural Circuits & Behavior team, headed by Tihan Jovanic.
Genomic variations, accumulated through mutation, reproduction, and evolution, can contribute to robust differences in the behavior of an animal compared to its peers. Associating specific genomic variations with behavioral changes is difficult due to multi-dimensionality and complexity of behavioral measurement as well as the vast number of genomic variations present. To elucidate the connection between genes and behavior, we use tens of thousands of Drosophila melanogaster larvae with sequenced genomes to assess how certain single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can influence variation in decision making upon an inducted stimulus. Currently we have raw behavioral data from more than 100 genotypes of D. melanogaster, including wild type lines as well as Alzheimer’s disease-related genotypes. We are looking for an organized, detail-oriented, and motivated student with a background in computational biology, mathematics, statistics, or bioinformatics to analyze the data. The student will use existing scripts and programs to process the raw data, extract behavioral features, compare features between genotypes, associate certain features to SNPs using genome wide association studies (GWAS), and present the results in publication-ready visualizations. The student will ensure that all data are processed and analyzed in a clear, streamlined, and reproducible manner. This internship is a great opportunity for those interested in a career in Data Science.
Essential skills:
- Understanding of linear algebra and multi-dimensional datasets
- Python (mainly numpy, pandas, matplotlib packages) or MATLAB programming language
- Effective communication in English
Desirable:
- Basic understanding of machine learning principles and utilization of ML-related Python packages such as sklearn, pytorch, or tensorflow
- Experience with cluster-based computing on Linux systems (bash)
- Experience working with GitHub repositories
Master internship
The student will develop behavioral paradigms and new analyses based on the existing set ups in the lab (automated video-tracking, automated behavioral detection, quantitative behavioral analysis), by using both his/her ideas and existing protocols in the literature. This internship is also an opportunity to discover the Drosophila model, learn its advantages and other techniques used in the lab from Drosophula genetics to connectomics and functional imaging. The candidate will work in the team Neural Circuits and Behavior headed by Tihana Jovanic in Saclay (20 km south of Paris). NeuroPSI has state-of the art core facilities and the Saclay campus provides a highly interdisciplinary and collaborative environment mixing university and engineering schools, with excellent laboratories in fundamental and applied science. There will also be opprotunities for collaboration with the Janelia Research Campus (USA) and Institut Pasteur (Paris, France).
M1 and M2 internships are available in the Neurogenetics of Drosophila team, headed by Daniel Vasiliauskas.
How do closely related neuron types establish and then maintain their functional differences? And, how do genetic programs differ between individuals to create unique brains? Our team investigates these questions by studying how colour photoreceptor neurons in the retina acquire (during development) and maintain (throughout their adult life) their different colour sensitivities, and how natural genetic variation affects these processes in the wild populations. The internship projects will address specific questions within this broad scientific program and will be designed in consultation with the student to reflect his or her interests and goals. The student will use Drosophila genetics, immunohistochemistry, RNAscope-based in situ hybridization, confocal microscopy, and molecular biology. More detailed descriptions of two potential projects are in the following pdf.
Internship duration: 2 months or longer
Level: Master (1 or 2)
Neural Circuits & Behavior team, headed by Tihan Jovanic.
Genomic variations, accumulated through mutation, reproduction, and evolution, can contribute to robust differences in the behavior of an animal compared to its peers. Associating specific genomic variations with behavioral changes is difficult due to multi-dimensionality and complexity of behavioral measurement as well as the vast number of genomic variations present. To elucidate the connection between genes and behavior, we use tens of thousands of Drosophila melanogaster larvae with sequenced genomes to assess how certain single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can influence variation in decision making upon an inducted stimulus. Currently we have raw behavioral data from more than 100 genotypes of D. melanogaster, including wild type lines as well as Alzheimer’s disease-related genotypes. We are looking for an organized, detail-oriented, and motivated student with a background in computational biology, mathematics, statistics, or bioinformatics to analyze the data. The student will use existing scripts and programs to process the raw data, extract behavioral features, compare features between genotypes, associate certain features to SNPs using genome wide association studies (GWAS), and present the results in publication-ready visualizations. The student will ensure that all data are processed and analyzed in a clear, streamlined, and reproducible manner. This internship is a great opportunity for those interested in a career in Data Science.
Essential skills:
- Understanding of linear algebra and multi-dimensional datasets
- Python (mainly numpy, pandas, matplotlib packages) or MATLAB programming language
- Effective communication in English
Desirable:
- Basic understanding of machine learning principles and utilization of ML-related Python packages such as sklearn, pytorch, or tensorflow
- Experience with cluster-based computing on Linux systems (bash)
- Experience working with GitHub repositories
SPONTANEOUS APPLICATION
If you wish to send an unsolicited application for an internship at NeuroPSI, please contact the Human Resources service: rh-stages[at]neuro-psi.fr.
