Doctoral/Master's studies - Investigation of the role of immunity/microglial cells in Alzheimer's disease

Description

We are seeking one highly motivated student to lead a project investigating microglial cell biology in neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease.

A robust inflammatory response accompanies neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. Microglia, the immune cell of the brain, is the key cell type coordinating such inflammatory response (neuroinflammation). However, exactly how microglia coordinate neuroinflammation in brain disorders remains not well understood. This impairs development of novel approaches designed to modulate microglial activity for therapeutic purposes.

The primary goals of my research program are to gain a better understanding of 1) the molecular mechanisms that regulate microglial inflammatory activity in neurodegenerative disorders, and 2) determine how neuroinflammation contributes to neural damage. To achieve this, we use mouse models of neurodegenerative disorders and conduct analyses how microglia function in these models using paradigms and technics in epigenomics, neuroscience, and cell biology.

The student will lead a project to determine the role of potential regulators of microglial inflammatory activity in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Pharmacological experiments aimed at stimulating microglial signalling pathways and measuring outcome on lesion progression are also planned.

Technically, the student will acquire expertise with multiple techniques of massively parallel sequencing, including RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq, etc (see Gosselin et al., Cell, 2014; Gosselin et al., Science, 2017). This expertise covers both sequencing library preparation and computational analyses of sequencing data. The student will also gain expertise with mouse protocols, flow cytometry, microscopy, and behavioral phenotyping. Finally, students will be directly involved in manuscript preparation and scientific communication through attendance to conferences (local, national and international).

My laboratory is located at Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec – Université Laval. This is a highly dynamic, friendly research environment equipped with cutting edge technology and a strong graduate student organization.

Funding for the project has been secured.

Research Field

- Alzheimer's disease,
- Innate immunity
- Microglia
- Gene expression
- Epigenomics
- Massively parallel DNA sequencing
- Mice

Research Supervisor

David Gosselin

Research Environment

Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - CHUL

Web Site

Financial Aid Available by Program of Study

Doctorate in Molecular Medicine

Program description

Financial Aid Available*

Financial Aid Related to Research Project

$18000 per year for 4 years.

Program-Specific Financial Aid

Graduate Studies Awards

Milestone	Amount
Program progress award (S-1 to S-8)	8 x $525
Program progress award (S-9 to S-11)	3 x $200
Successful completion of Ph.D exam	$800
Submission of dissertation deposit before the end of the 12th semester	$2,000
Language training	$250
Total	$7,850

Université Laval: Student Financial Aid

Funding source	Amount
Leadership and Comittment Scholarship (Canadians & permanent residents)	$30,000
Citizens of the World Scholarship (International students)	$30,000
Mobility Grant for Out-of-Province Internships or Research Visits (in French)	$1,500 to $3,000
Graduate Scholarships from Granting Agencies	$25,000 to $40,000$
Online Directory of Graduate Scholarships (in French)	$500 to $50,000

Supplemental Tuition Fee Exemption Scholarship Program: Entitles international students to pay Canadian student tuition fees, for overall savings of around $40,000.

_{* Amounts shown represent maximum financial aid available. Certain conditions apply. Subject to change without prior notice. For further information, contact sponsoring organizations directly.}

Doctorate in Neurosciences

Program description

Financial Aid Available*

Financial Aid Related to Research Project

$18000 per year for 4 years.

Program-Specific Financial Aid

Graduate Studies Awards

Milestone	Amount
Program progress award (S-1 to S-8)	8 x $525
Program progress award (S-9 to S-11)	3 x $200
Successful completion of Ph.D exam	$800
Submission of dissertation deposit before the end of the 12th semester	$2,000
Language training	$250
Total	$7,850

Université Laval: Student Financial Aid

Funding source	Amount
Leadership and Comittment Scholarship (Canadians & permanent residents)	$30,000
Citizens of the World Scholarship (International students)	$30,000
Mobility Grant for Out-of-Province Internships or Research Visits (in French)	$1,500 to $3,000
Graduate Scholarships from Granting Agencies	$25,000 to $40,000$
Online Directory of Graduate Scholarships (in French)	$500 to $50,000

Supplemental Tuition Fee Exemption Scholarship Program: Entitles international students to pay Canadian student tuition fees, for overall savings of around $40,000.

_{* Amounts shown represent maximum financial aid available. Certain conditions apply. Subject to change without prior notice. For further information, contact sponsoring organizations directly.}

Master's Degree in Molecular Medicine with thesis

Program description

Financial Aid Available*

Financial Aid Related to Research Project

$17000 per year for 2 years.

Program-Specific Financial Aid

Graduate Studies Awards

Milestone	Amount
First submission of thesis by the end of the 5th semester of full-time registration	$2,000
Language training	$250
Total	$2,250

Université Laval: Student Financial Aid

Sources de financement	Montant
Leadership and Comittment Scholarship (Canadians & permanent residents)	$10,000
Citizens of the World Scholarship (International students)	$20,000
Mobility Grant for Out-of-Province Internships or Research Visits (in French)	$1,500 to $3,000
Graduate Scholarships from Granting Agencies	$20,000 to $27,000
Online Directory of Graduate Scholarships (in French)	$500 to $50,000

_{* Amounts shown represent maximum financial aid available. Certain conditions apply. Subject to change without prior notice. For further information, contact sponsoring organizations directly.}

Master's Degree in Neurosciences with thesis

Program description

Financial Aid Available*

Financial Aid Related to Research Project

$17000 per year for 2 years.

Program-Specific Financial Aid

Graduate Studies Awards

Milestone	Amount
First submission of thesis by the end of the 5th semester of full-time registration	$2,000
Language training	$250
Total	$2,250

Université Laval: Student Financial Aid

Sources de financement	Montant
Leadership and Comittment Scholarship (Canadians & permanent residents)	$10,000
Citizens of the World Scholarship (International students)	$20,000
Mobility Grant for Out-of-Province Internships or Research Visits (in French)	$1,500 to $3,000
Graduate Scholarships from Granting Agencies	$20,000 to $27,000
Online Directory of Graduate Scholarships (in French)	$500 to $50,000

_{* Amounts shown represent maximum financial aid available. Certain conditions apply. Subject to change without prior notice. For further information, contact sponsoring organizations directly.}

Desired Profile

- Biomedical Science
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Endocrinology and Metabolism

Requirements and Conditions

- Baccalaureate diploma in science

Required Documentation

- Curriculum vitæ
- Student transcript

Please provides contact informations for 2 references.

Find Out More

David Gosselin
Professeur sous octroi adjoint
Département de médecine moléculaire
david.gosselin@crchudequebec.ulaval.ca