The Rezaval Lab at the University of Birmingham is recruiting three postdoctoral researchers to join a Wellcome Trust funded programme, "Decoding Competition in the Brain", aimed at uncovering how the brain resolves behavioural conflicts.
Animals constantly face situations in which crucial behaviours cannot be executed simultaneously, such as feeding versus escaping danger. We investigate how conflicting motivations are evaluated, prioritised, and transformed into action. Using Drosophila, we will uncover mechanisms linking molecules, synapses, circuits, and behaviour, revealing general principles of decision-making. We will test how the presence of rivals (competitive pressure) biases these processes, how prior social experience reshapes neural circuits, and whether shared principles govern behavioural choice across sexes.
Successful candidates will contribute to a multidisciplinary programme combining in vivo two photon calcium imaging, connectomics, quantitative behavioural tracking, optogenetics, neural circuit dissection, single cell transcriptomics, and computational analysis to identify mechanisms that link molecules, synapses, cells, and neural circuits to behaviour, and to uncover fundamental principles underlying decision-making.
Projects are flexible and can be shaped by the candidate's interests, with scope for independent directions. Positions are available for three years, with potential extension, and offer strong opportunities for international collaboration and career development.
Main Duties