Supervised by Prof. David F. Clayton
This 3-year studentship is available from October 2013. The award will cover student fees and a tax-free stipend starting at 15,590 GBP per annum. Applications due by 31 January, 2013. A major research challenge in biomedicine and psychology is to work out the molecular and cellular processes that mediate long-term, experience-dependent changes in brain function. New techniques in genomics are revealing that natural experiences can trigger surprisingly complex and robust changes in gene expression in the brain. The general goal of Clayton’s research program is to understand the significance and function of these genomic changes, using a powerful animal model for high-order perception and cognition, the zebra finch. Zebra finches live in dense colonies and learn to recognize individuals through their vocalizations or songs” (reviewed in Clayton et al., 2009). Young zebra finches learn to produce vocalizations through a process of song tutoring by one or more older birds. Studies over the last 20 years have shown that song playbacks and other social interactions trigger complex gene expression changes in the auditory forebrain. This changing genomic response to song has been documented using microarray technology (Dong et al., 2009; Drnevich et al., 2012), extended to include analysis of microRNAs (Gunaratne et al, 2011) and further replicated using RNAseq techniques. These findings motivated sequencing of the zebra finch genome by Clayton and a large international group of collaborators (Warren et al., 2010).
The student will begin by helping to design a project that will build on published and unpublished data describing changes in brain gene expression associated with social interactions and song learning in the zebra finch. The research will incorporate a mix of techniques, potentially including: behavioural manipulation and observation; bioinformatic and statistical analyses of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) data; basic molecular biology (RNA purification, gene amplification and sub-cloning); neuroanatomical analysis of gene expression using in situ hybridisation and related techniques. The student will have opportunities to interact
with other investigators studying epigenetic mechanisms in neural and behavioural plasticity.
KEYWORDS: RNAseq, bioinformatics, learning and memory, songbird, zebra finch
Relevant references
Clayton DF (2013) Genomics of memory and learning in songbirds. Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics, in press.
Drnevich et al. (2012) The impact of experience-dependent and independent factors on gene expression in songbird brain. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) 109:17245–17252
Gunaratne et al. (2011). Song exposure alters the profile of microRNAs in the zebra finch auditory forebrain. BMC Genomics 12:277
Warren, Clayton and 80 other authors (2010). The genome of a songbird. Nature 464:757-762
Dong et al. (2009) Discrete molecular states in the brain accompany changing responses to a vocal signal. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) 106:11364-11369.
Clayton, D.F., Balakrishnan C. and London S.E. (2009) Integrating genomes, brain and behavior in the study of songbirds. Current Biology 19: R865–R873.
Robinson GE, Fernald RD, Clayton DF (2008) Genes and social behavior. Science 322(5903):896-900.
London, S.E. and Clayton, D.F. (2008) Functional identification of sensory mechanisms required for developmental song learning. Nature Neuroscience 11(5):579-86 doi:10.1038/nn.
Clayton, D.F. (2000). The Genomic Action Potential. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory 74:185-216.
Location
Clayton’s lab recently moved from the University of Illinois (USA) to the School of Biological
and Chemical Sciences at Queen Mary, University of London, as part of a major effort to build
a unique environment for research in genomics, behavioral neuroscience and comparative
psychology. Queen Mary is located in London’s vibrant East End (10 minutes bicycle ride to
Tower Bridge; 10 minutes walking to Victoria Park), with easy access to the rich cultural and
scientific opportunities that London offers.
For more information
• Clayton lab: http://www.sbcs.qmul.ac.uk/staff/davidclayton.html
• School of Biological and Chemical Sciences: http://www.sbcs.qmul.ac.uk/
• Google Maps Location: http://goo.gl/pBtZi
How to apply
Applications are invited from candidates with a strong degree in an area relevant to the project (e.g. Biology, Genetics, Neuroscience, Bioinformatics). Candidates with suitable Masters-level training are particularly welcome to apply. International students are required to provide evidence of their proficiency in English language skills. To apply, please complete an online application form via the following link:
Informal queries can be addressed to Dr. David Clayton (d.clayton@ qmul.ac.uk).
Formal applications will need to be made through the Queen Mary on-line application process by 31 January 2013. Follow this link to begin the application:
http://www.sbcs.qmul.ac.uk/prospectivestudents/research/studentships.
Include with your application a letter of motivation explaining your suitability for the studentship, CV, names and contact details of two referees, and PDFs of publications if any. During the short-listing process referees may be contacted; Google and LinkedIn searches may be used to help assess candidates’ experience.