The Kitazawa group currently has projects available for Postdocs and PhD students that are supported by the ERC and Lundbeck Foundation. Please contact Group Leader Taro Kitazawa directly, if interested.

Example of a current/available student project(s) (Bachelor/Master/PhD) with a headline + 2 sentences describing the project:

Epigenetic and transcriptional basis of memory engram plasticity

To investigate how neuronal activity-dependent gene regulation underlies memory engram cell plasticity, we will carry out epigenetic and transcriptional profiling of memory engram cells using state-of-the-art high throughput genomics technologies.

Development of novel genomics technologies

We focus on developing a novel genomics technology which enables whole genome history tracing, and overcome critical limitations of existing snapshot-type sequencing technologies.

Lab background:

Neuroplasticity underlies learning and memory formation, which allows for accumulation of knowledge. Abnormalities can be associated with various disorders including dementia and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There is an emerging view that a sparse ensemble of neurons, termed as memory engram cells, store specific memories. Memory engram cells are practically labelled as neurons that are transiently activated and express immediate early genes (IEGs) during a learning experience and have undergone physical changes. Revealing the molecular basis of neuroplasticity in engram cell formation is considered one of the central issues of memory research.

In a recent study, we revealed a novel epigenetic and transcriptional mechanism regulating neuronal activity-dependent IEGs activation during sensory neuron maturation (Kitazawa et al., Nature Genetics, 2021). In the DANDRITE, we will take an advantage of our research expertise and further investigate how neuronal activity-dependent gene regulation underlies memory engram cell plasticity.

Methods:

To reveal the molecular basis of neuroplasticity, we exploit multidisciplinary approaches including genomics (e.g., epigenetic and transcriptional profiling, single-cell sequencing), mouse genetics, circuit analysis (e.g., optogenetics, chemogenetics, fiber photometry) and bioinformatics.

The successful applicant is:

Hard working, team working, ambitious, analytical, good at programming

Other student (master/PhD) projects available:

Roles of different environmental stimuli in gene regulation.

Roles of different stimulus frequencies in gene regulation.