Affiliation
LMU Faculty of Biology - Division of Neurobiology
Contact
Department Biology II
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Großhaderner Straße 2
D-82152 Planegg-Martinsried
Phone:
+49 (0)89 / 2180-74802
Email:
keays@bio.lmu.de
Website:
https://www.neuro.bio.lmu.de/research_groups/res-keays_d/index.html
Website:
https://www.keayslab.org/
Research Focus
Project Title: Cellular architecture of a Magnetic circuit in pigeons
Project description:
Pigeons employ the Earth´s magnetic field to orient and navigate themselves, however, the neural correlates of this sensory ability are largely unknown. Employing whole brain imaging coupled with the analysis of immediate early genes we recently identified a minimal magnetosensory circuit within the pigeon brain comprised of the mesopallium, the dorsomedial thalamus and the medial vestibular nuclei. To characterize the molecular identity of cell types within this circuit, the student will carry out HCR based Flourescent Insitu Hybbridization on pigeon brain sections. The student will learn to design FISH probes, conduct HCR-FISH on sections, perform confocal microscopy and image analysis using python-based image analysis pipelines. the student will contribute towards the spatial validation of single cell RNA sequencing data that characterizes neuron types activated by magnetic stimuli in the pigeon brain.
Must have lab skills: Previous experience in neuroscience and/or molecular biology.