Dr Sepiedeh Keshavarzi

The broad goal of our research is to understand how neurons and the brain circuits in which they are embedded use incoming sensory information to generate cognitive processes and guide behaviour. 

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Our primary focus is on the neural underpinnings of the sense of self-motion and orientation in space. Knowing which way we are heading, how fast we are moving, and our orientation relative to a given location requires the processing and integration of various sensory signals from the body and the surrounding environment. We aim to determine how these different types of information are organised and integrated within thalamocortical and intracortical circuits involved in spatial navigation and how they contribute to orientation computations and behaviour. We investigate these questions both in the healthy adult brain and also during ageing. In doing so, we hope to gain deeper mechanistic understanding of spatial cognition and why it tends to decline with age.

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Our research employs cutting-edge approaches in cellular and systems neuroscience, using the mouse model. We examine behaviour in both freely moving and restrained animals while recording neuronal activity using electrophysiology and calcium imaging. Additionally, we manipulate neuronal activity in specific cell types and circuits with the use of genetic and viral tools to investigate their contribution to behaviour. We combine these approaches with anatomical tracing and in vitro intracellular recording to understand how the functional organisation of neural circuits shapes computations and behaviour.

To learn more about our research questions and approaches, please visit our lab website.

We have multiple open positions!

Are you interested in joining our lab as a PhD student or postdoc? We welcome your application! Please send your CV, along with a brief description of your research background, research interests, and future goals, as well as your reasons for wanting to join our lab and how you see your skills fitting with our research. Additionally, provide the contact details of two referees to Sepiedeh (sk2244@cam.ac.uk). If you are applying for PhD or research assistant positions, please also indicate your overall grade for each higher education degree in your CV and ideally provide your degree transcripts. Job ads will be announced on our lab website, but we also welcome informal applications on a rolling basis throughout the year.

• PhD students

We are seeking highly motivated prospective PhD students who are interested in our work and have a strong knowledge of the field of circuit/systems neuroscience. The ideal candidate will have outstanding academic performance, relevant research experience, and excellent communication and analytical skills. We encourage you to get in touch well in advance, ideally a year before your intended start date. 

Details of the offered PhD projects and the application requirements can be found here.

For exceptional candidates, there is a possibility of a lab-funded PhD by initially joining as a research assistant before commencing their PhD.

• Postdocs

We have funded postdoctoral positions available for exceptional candidates interested in contributing to our research on the neural mechanisms underlying the sense of self-motion and spatial orientation. We are seeking highly driven candidates who hold a PhD in neuroscience, or related disciplines, and have excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. The successful candidate will have previous experience in circuit/systems neuroscience methods, such as electrophysiology (brain slice or in vivo), in vivo calcium imaging and circuit manipulation techniques. They should also be highly competent in data analysis and analytical skills. Additionally, strong programming skills in Python and/or Matlab, experience in designing and building bespoke experimental setups, and experience in developing quantitative behavioural tasks for rodents are highly desirable. 

We would also support fellowship applications for independent postdoctoral funding (See an overview of funding opportunities here and on our lab website) and are open to discussing projects proposed by candidates that fit within the lab's research program. If you plan to apply for postdoctoral fellowships, we encourage you to familiarise yourself with the eligibility criteria and contact us a year in advance of your intended start date.