[vslist] Postdoctoral Opportunity at Smith-Kettlewell, 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 at ski.org).

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. For more
information about Dr. Hamerís lab see http://www.ski.org/RHamer_lab/.

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.

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. Dr. Hamerís lab also has an ongoing
collaboration with Juan I. Korenbrot at the University of California,
San Francisco (http://www.ucsf.edu/pibs/faculty/korenbrot.html).


--
Russell D. Hamer, Ph.D.
Scientist
Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute
2318 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA 94115

russ at ski.org
415 345-2056 (office)
415 345-2159 (lab)
415 987-8228 (cellular)
415 345-8455 (fax)
925 287-8228(home)

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