Retinal Research Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Assistant Positions

CellSight, the Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Program at the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, is seeking candidates for several Postdoctoral and Professional Research Assistant (laboratory technician) positions to carry out research in the areas of retinal biology, stem cell technologies, and regenerative medicine.

CellSight is expanding and we are recruiting a team of Postdoctoral Fellows and Professional Research Assistants with an array of qualifications to complement our programmatic growth. CellSight is a cross-disciplinary team of investigators working in a highly collaborative environment with the common goal of developing novel stem cell-based therapeutics to treat ocular diseases. For more information about research performed by CellSight teams please visit: https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/ophthalmology/research/cellsight-program

The successful candidates will participate in research projects aimed at: (1) developing innovative models of retinal degenerative diseases, (2) understanding the molecular mechanisms associated with disease, and (3) evaluating novel potential therapeutic strategies. They will report to CellSight principal investigators Joseph Brzezinski, Ph.D., Natalia Vergara, Ph.D., or Valeria Canto-Soler, Ph.D., based on the lab/project each candidate joins. This is an exciting, new line of work using cutting-edge technologies in the stem cell field and we are looking for motivated and independent scientists willing to contribute their expertise and knowledge.

Candidates interested in the available Postdoctoral Fellow positions please find additional information here: https://cu.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?job=20625&lang=en

Candidates interested in the available Professional Research Assistant positions please find additional information here: https://cu.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?job=20638&lang=en

Robert Francis Miller, 1939-2021

(From: StarTribune)

Robert Francis “Bob” Robert Francis Miller (Bob), Professor Emeritus of Neuroscience and Physiology at the University of Minnesota, passed away March 1, 2021. Preceded in death by his parents, Irvine Miller and Ettie Paxman (nee Miller) and stepfather Rulon Paxman, he is survived by Rosemary, his loving wife of 52 years; his sons Derek and Drew (Stefanie); sisters Cynthia, Cathy and their families; brother-in-law Rit (Brenda), their son Eric (Tiffany); sister-in-law Stephanie and her daughter Nicki (Randall), and their sons Sam and Jack; along with countless other friends and colleagues. Born in Eugene, Oregon, in 1939, Bob grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, from an early age demonstrating the same curiosity and enthusiasm that would define his personal and professional life. As a child he trained carrier pigeons (released by his father from as far away as Idaho), started a business selling aquarium fish and (secretly) stabled his own horse, all before he was old enough to shave. After becoming the youngest Eagle Scout in Utah history, Bob worked his way up to become head chef at Finn’s, then one of Utah’s best restaurants. He developed into an expert skier of Utah’s famed deep powder mountains as well as an accomplished golfer, both passions he would continue to pursue joyfully for the rest of his life. But it was in medical school at the University of Utah that Bob discovered his lifelong passion – scientific research. He spent the next half century dedicated to science, focusing his efforts on the vertebrate eye, his work resulting in significant contributions to our understanding of the retina. After receiving his MD Bob did postdoctoral work at Johns Hopkins University before joining the Navy as an officer, where he continued his research in Pensacola, FL. He was hired as a professor at SUNY-Buffalo two years later, beginning an illustrious career in academic medicine. At SUNY he played a pivotal role in establishing a vibrant basic science research program in the visual neurosciences, one that continues to this day. From there Bob moved to Washington University in St. Louis, MO, where he continued to conduct groundbreaking research. In 1988 he was recruited as 3M Bert Cross Chair and Department Head of Physiology at the University of MN, later becoming a professor in the newly established Neuroscience Department. He would remain in that position until his retirement in 2018. Early on Bob developed into an avid teacher and mentor, and he remained proud that his laboratory helped launch numerous successful scientific careers. After a career spent lecturing on his research everywhere from local classrooms to international symposia, Bob’s teaching and research efforts were both recognized with high honors: in 2008 he received the Association for Research In Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO’s) Proctor Medal, which recognizes significant lifelong contributions to vision research. Throughout his life Bob remained a dedicated father and husband. His bond with his sons remained strong, and they continued to spend time together playing golf (alongside lifelong friend Steve Hall), snowshoeing and vacationing together. He and Rosemary traveled the world and saw friends even as Bob found intensive new pursuits later in life, becoming a prizewinning orchid grower and starting his own politically oriented blog. After caring for him through a difficult illness, progressive supranuclear palsy, his immediate family was happy to be by his side when he passed. Bob’s spirit, his intense engagement with his interests, his infectious sense of humor and much more are already missed. He will be remembered by friends, family and colleagues alike. An in-person memorial service will be held at a later date. Donations in Bob’s honor may be sent to the ARVO Foundation or to the Dowling Society within ARVO. Donations may also be made to the UMN Foundation.

Ciliary Zonules

Ciliary zonules are a ring of fibrous structures anchoring the ciliary body with the lens of the eye.  These are the structures that help to maintain the position of the lens in the optical path, and anchor muscles that change the shape of the lens to alter focus.  When the ciliary muscles contract, the diameter of the ciliary muscle constricts, causing relaxation of the ciliary zonules and allowing the lens to become “thicker” which increases its refractive power allowing people to focus closer.

There is more discussion of ciliary zonules or zonnular fibers on Moran Core.  Be sure to check out some of the pathology images from damaged zonules here.

These images were found in an image storage archive here at the Moran Eye Center, and we do not have any information about their origin, or details of their capture.  They are however, excellent images and worthy of sharing.  My thanks to James Gilman for finding them.

 

 

Webvision Traveling To ARVO 2019

Webvision is off to ARVO 2019! We look forward to seeing the latest in retinal and vision research, talking with colleagues, and entertaining ideas for new chapters in Webvision from the community. Find us at the meeting via Twitter (@Webvision1) and propose an idea!

Looking forward to seeing you there.

New Postdoctoral Opportunity, University at Louisville

There are two postdoctoral opportunities in the laboratory of Maureen McCall at the University of Louisville.

 

    • Post Doctoral fellowships to work on animal-based research into inhibitory subunit receptor specific inhibition in the visual responses of retinal ganglion cells. We plan to use optical, molecular (including AAV manipulation of protein expression), and electrophysiological tools to understand the roles of different glycine receptor subunits in the visually evoked responses of retinal ganglion cells.
    • The McCall Laboratory is part of the University of Louisville Vision Science Center, which is a research group of 7 individuals who study visual function throughout the CNS. We are a multidisciplinary group whose research includes both basic and applied topics, involving visual processing in normal and diseased retina as well as other central visual targets. The VSC members have ongoing collaborations across labs.
    • The McCall has several on-going collaborations both within and outside University of Louisville and publications from the lab appear in a variety of neuroscience and vision related journals.
    • Two post docs are sought to join an going project, that has just received 5 years of funding from the NEI. In the project we will continue to examine the role of glycinergic inhibition in shaping the visual responses of retinal ganglion cells, a long term focus of the McCall lab. We will manipulate the expression of glycine subunit using molecular techniques and viral vectors. Experience in electrophysiological techniques, specifically whole cell patch clamp is required, although experience in retinal neuroscience is NOT. The opportunity to learn molecular biological, biochemical and imaging approaches is available.

 

Requirements:

ONLY PhDs with experience in electrophysiological and/or single cell functional imaging will be considered.

 

Other important requirements:

Highly motivated, team players.

Solid publication record.

Experience with whole cell patch clamp recordings.

All levels of experience are welcome and salary is commensurate with experience (NIH postdoctoral salary scale).

 

Application instructions:

 

Please send your CV which includes the name and contact information of at least two references , to:

 

Mo.mccall@louisville.edu

Webvision Updates: Now A Responsive Site

In Webvision news, we have gone through some changes here, mostly under the hood, though some will have changed the appearance of Webvision subtly.

Webvision has now migrated to a new server.  Most of the lifetime of Webvision has been running on Macintosh OSs of various flavors.  But with the deprecation of Apache in the latest OS X Server, the writing was on the wall and I moved Webvision to a new server, running Linux.  My thanks to the Moran Eye Center for helping with the costs of securing a new server.

Additionally, with consulting help from Anesti Creative, we have optimized Webvision, creating a responsive website for more platforms and increased the security, which these days unfortunately is necessary given the increased number of attacks literally every minute of the day from around the world.

We have endeavored to make this as easy as possible for end users, and hopefully these changes will result in an easier to use website, particularly from mobile devices and tablets.

Retinal Capillaries

Question: How small can the blood vessels in our retinas get?

Answer: Smaller than the diameter of a red blood cell (~6-8µm wide).

The red blood cells have to fold themselves to get through the tightest of spaces and line up, single file to get through the smallest retinal capillaries.

Image originally posted here.

David Carpenter, Maker Of Glass Eyes

Ocularists are specialists that mix art and science to create artificial eyes.  The profession has existed since the 5th century and is one we don’t often hear about, yet it is a service for people to create a cosmetic artificial replacement eye that is tremendously important. We’ve featured the work of David Carpenter before here on Webvision, and now there is a wonderful post over on Spitalfields Life about David Carpenter, the Chief Ocularist at the Moorfields Eye Hospital with wonderful photography by Patricia Niven (@PatriciaNiven).

Paul Witkovsky, Vision Scientist, Artist

PaulWitkovsky painting

Many vision scientists seem to have a penchant for creating art, and Dr. Paul Witkovsky is no exception.  Paul is a famous vision scientist that spent most of his career at NYU New York City in the department of Ophthalmology. His research spanned the fields of retinal physiology, retinal ultrastructure and pharmacology.

His major contribution has been in trying to understand the role of dopamine in the retina and its role in light adaptation and cone vision.  This work he has passed on to his academic progeny including David Krizaj here at the Moran Eye Center, Bill Brunken at SUNY and Jozsef Vigh at Colorado State University.

Paul has always been a “renaissance man” interested in travel, languages, music and art as well as science.  Above, you can see one of his recent abstract paintings (acrylic).