ISN Newsletter - July 1997

Newsletter - July 1997

Section 3

EN-GIN
Courses, Meetings, Workshops
Faculty Positions
Graduate and Postgraduate Opportunities

EN-GIN

We invite you to join an initially informal, worldwide network of behavioral and neural scientists interested in determining the contributions to ethology (behavior) of neuronal-glial interactions (EN-GIN). The aims of the network will be: 1) To discuss research hypotheses with others with a broad range of available disciplines; 2) To inform each other of new tools for enhancing, inhibiting or knocking out specific glial functions; 3) To describe specific behavioral circumstances in which glial-neuronal interactions have been implicated; 4) To design and explore funding for collaborative projects; and 5) To organize meetings, both independently and in conjunction with Behavioral neuroscience societies.

What to do: Please send your name, position, address, telephone and fax numbers and E-mail address, with a brief statement of your interest to: Dr. Pete Laming, School of Biology and Biochemistry, The Queen’s Univ. of Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland. Tel. (44) 1232 245133 ext. 2269 Fax. (44) 1232 236505 E-mail. P.Laming@QUB.AC.UK. Please indicate which elements of your personal data you wish to be communicated to others in the network e.g. just name and address, all except E-mail or all the above.

Please also send or transmit a copy of this letter to any colleagues who may be interested. Hoping that the EN-GIN will prove successful in enhancing all our research.

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COURSES, MEETINGS, WORKSHOPS

The Center for Insect Science presents the Third International Symposium on Molecular Insect Science, June 5-10, 1998, Snowbird, Utah. Abstract Deadline: February 16, 1998. Advanced Registration Deadline: April 20, 1998. For further information contact: Center for Insect Science, 225 Life Sciences South, The Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA, E-mail: insects@ccit.arizona.edu, Fax: (520) 621-2590, http://www.arl.arizona.edu/cis/symposium

How important are glia to Behavior?- A round table discussion to be held at the XXVth International Ethological Conference in Vienna from 20th-27th August 1997. This round table will consider three aspects of glial-neuronal interactions of especial interest to behavioral scientists.

A) Sustained (> 10s) potential shifts (SPSs) of up to 5 mV occur in the brains of fish, amphibians, birds and mammals performing a variety of behaviors. These range from orientation reactions in all species studied to cognitive task performances in primates. Sensory evoked potentials are affected by the polarity and amplitude of the ongoing SPS. The SPS amplitude to food-related stimuli in amphibians and mammals is correlated with motivational state. The discovery of glial depolarization to elevated [K+]e, and the parallel time and amplitude relationships between [K+]e and the SPS will provide discussion of a causal role for glia in SPS generation and neuromodulation.

B) Ependymal glia and pericapillary astrocytic end-feet form the interface for the blood supply of metabolic substrates to neurons. These cells also contain most of the brain’s glycogen. Astrocytic glycogenolysis is involved in consolidation of memory during passive avoidance learning in chicks. Astrocytes also uniquely possess a key enzyme for regulation of glutamate; glutamine synthetase (GS). Up and down regulation of glial GS has been shown to profoundly affect neuronal activity. Aspects of metabolism for which glia hold the regulatory ‘key’ will be discussed.

C) Perisynaptic astrocytic ensheathment in the supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus is reduced during conditions where oxytocin is released and increased synaptic contact between neurons occurs. This morphological ‘gating’ of synapses by astrocytic processes seems to be reversible and offers a mechanism by which plasticity in connectivity between neurons may be mediated. Morphological flexibility will be discussed in relation to mechanisms of plasticity during changing motivational states and learning. If you wish to participate, please contact Peter R. Laming, School of Biology & Biochemistry, Queen’s Univ., Belfast BT7 1NN, N. Ireland, U.K. Tel. 0044 1232 272269. Fax. 0044 1232 236505. E-mail: P.Laming@QUB.AC.UK

A social occasion for all neuroscientists interested in neuroethology and invertebrate neurobiology will be held on October 28, 1997, 5:30-7:30 at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in New Orleans (place to be announced). A short presentation by luminaries in the field will be followed by exhibitions of social behavior by the participants. For more information, contact Gwen Jacobs, e-mail: gwen@wintermute.nervana.montana.edu or Andy Bass, e-mail: ahb3@cornell.edu.

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FACULTY POSITIONS

FACULTY POSITION IN NEUROETHOLOGY Cornell Univ. The Section of Neurobiology and Behavior invites applications for a tenure-track position at the ASSISTANT/ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR level. Applicants must have a Ph.D., an excellent record of scientific productivity, and a commitment to undergraduate and graduate teaching. Candidates should have research interests in behavioral neurobiology with expertise in one or more of the following areas: sensory and motor systems physiology, evolutionary neurobiology, computational neuroscience. Send application, curriculum vitae, and three letters of reference to: Chair, Neuroethology Search Committee, Section of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY 14853-2702. Review of applications begins November 15, 1997. Women and minority candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Cornell Univ. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

FACULTY POSITIONS IN INSECT NEUROBIOLOGY The Univ. of Arizona's ARL Division of Neurobiology, an interdisciplinary research and teaching unit (see Website at http://www.neurobio.arizona.edu/arldn/) devoted to behavioral, cellular, developmental, molecular, and systems neurobiology using insects as experimental models, invites applications for TWO tenure-track faculty positions for neurobiologists studying insects: (1) NEUROETHOLOGY (emphasizing cellular and systems neurophysiology and neural substrates of behavior) and (2) MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY (emphasizing molecular-genetic and biochemical approaches to neural function and/or development). We expect to fill these state-funded positions in 1998 at the level of assistant professor, but one appointment at the level of associate professor may be possible. Successful candidates will be expected to conduct productive, externally funded independent research, teach undergraduate and graduate classes, supervise research trainees, collaborate on joint projects, and give service in the unit and the University. Candidates must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree, at least 3 years of postdoctoral research experience, a demonstrated commitment to collaborative and independent research, and previous teaching experience.

Review of applications will begin with those received by 15 October 1997, but will continue thereafter until successful candidates are found. Send C.V., list of publications, reprints of key papers, at least 3 letters of recommendation, and a statement of research and teaching accomplishments and future plans to: Dr. John G. Hildebrand, ARL Division of Neurobiology, Univ. of Arizona, PO Box 210077, Tucson AZ 85721-0077. The Univ. of Arizona is an EEO/AA employer. M/W/D/V

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GRADUATE AND POSTGRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES

Postdoctoral Position in Systems Neurobiology. An NSF-funded position will be available in the late summer to study cellular mechanisms in the turtle spinal cord that control rhythmic and coordinated hindlimb movements. See J. Neurophysiol. (1996) 76: 81-92 and J. Neurosci. (1997) 17: 3322-3333 for representative recent publications. Experience in electrophysiology required. Knowledge of whole-cell intracellular recording and histological techniques helpful. Send CV, statement of research interests and addresses of at least three references to: Scott Currie, Ph.D., Dept. Neuroscience, Univ. California, Riverside, CA 92521.
E-mail: currie@mail.ucr.edu or http://cnas.ucr.edu/~neuro/currie.htm

New Graduate Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science (NACS). The Univ. of Maryland, College Park (UM), has begun anew doctoral program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science. It is part of a broader inter-campus program including the Medical School in Baltimore (UMAB), and the Catonsville campus of Baltimore County (UMBC). The present director for both the State-wide and UM campus NACS program is Avis Cohen, a member of the Zoology department. There are two concentrations possible: 1) neuroscience, and 2) cognitive and computational neuroscience.

This new program is highly interdisciplinary. It encompasses 14 departments on the UM campus alone. The faculty are drawn from a wide range of areas including zoology, psychology, linguistics, philosophy, electrical engineering, applied mathematics and computer science. A student may study with any of these faculty members, assemble a multidisciplinary committee and take courses across the disciplines and the campuses.

What makes our program unique is the truly interactive nature of the faculty and the program. This is exemplified by the faculty and their students in the Comparative and Evolutionary Biology of Hearing training program, and evidence for this is found in other training areas as well such as cortical research studied in the animal and in silicon, and locomotion studied from the standpoint of cellular, systems, behavioral, robotics and modeling perspectives. We welcome students interested in neuroethology! They will be well served with lots of colleagues and congenial faculty.

For further information contact Dr. Avis H. Cohen, Director, Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD., 301-405-0069, e-mail ac61@umail.umd.edu or http://www.inform.umd.edu:8080/PNACS

Postdoctoral Position in the Laboratory of Ronald L. Calabrese, Dept. of Biology, Emory Univ., Atlanta GA, 30322, USA. We are interested in the cellular mechanisms by which the central nervous system generates rhythmic movements. It has long be known that rhythmic movements that underlie behaviors such as breathing, chewing and locomotion are programmed in large part by rhythmically active central neuronal networks. The nervous systems of invertebrate offer a unique opportunity to delineate and analyze these motor pattern generating networks, because they are composed of a limited number of uniquely identifiable neurons that are accessible to intracellular recording, stimulating, and staining techniques. We use the neuronal network that programs heartbeat in the medicinal leech as our model for our studies. Pairs of reciprocally inhibitory heart interneurons pace the heartbeat. The intrinsic membrane and synaptic currents of these neurons have been intensively studied using single electrode voltage clamp, and been incorporated into a detailed conductance based computer model. Future studies will include expanding the model to encompass the other neurons in the network and continued detailed physiological analysis of the component neurons and their synaptic interactions. A full-time postdoctoral position is available immediately in the laboratory.

The ideal candidate would be either a skilled modeler, who wishes to gain through training in electrophysiological analysis of neurons and their synaptic interactions, or a skilled electrophysiologist wishing to gain strong modeling experience. Interested applicants should send a CV and the name of two references to Rcalabre@biology.emory.edu. WWW - http:/calabreselx.biology.emory.edu/

Recent Publications

Calabrese, R.L., Nadim, F., and Olsen, O.H. Heartbeat control in the medicinal leech: A model system for understanding the origin, coordination, and modulation of rhythmic motor patterns. J. Neurobiol. 27:390-402, 1995.

Nadim, F., Olsen, O.H., De Schutter, E. and Calabrese, R.L. Modeling the leech heartbeat elemental oscillator: I. Interactions of intrinsic and synaptic currents. J. Computational Neurosci. 2:215-235, 1995.

Schmidt, T., Gramoll, S., and Calabrese, R.L. Segment - Specific effects of FMRFamide on membrane properties of heart interneurons in the leech. J. Neurophysiol. 74:1485-1497, 1995.

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PRESIDENT John G. Hildebrand ARL Div. Neurobiology 611 Gould-simpson Bldg. University of Arizona Tucson AZ 85721-0077 USA Phone: 1-520-621-6626 FAX: 1-520-621-8282 jgh@neurobio.arizona.edu	TREASURER Albert S. Feng Dept. Physiol. & Biophysics Beckman Institute Univ. of Illinois Urbana IL 61801 USA Phone: 1-217-244-1951 FAX: 1-217-244-8371 Feng@uxl.cso.uiuc.edu
SECRETARY Catherine E. Carr Dept. of Zoology Univ. of Maryland College Park, MD 20742 USA Phone: 1-301-405-6915 FAX: 1-301-314-9358 Carr@zool.umd.edu	EDITOR Arthur N. Popper Dept. of Zoology Univ. of Maryland College Park, MD 20742 USA Phone: 1-301-405-1940 FAX: 1-301-314-9358 Popper@zool.umd.edu

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