We are recruiting for 6 open projects
To apply, email your resume and a couple paragraphs (no more than 250 words) on why you're interested, to Emmanuel Mignot. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
Proteomics in the CSF and blood in relation to sleep disorders and sleep physiology
TOPICS
proteomics
sleep disorders
REQUIRED SKILLS
Python
statistics
Preferred Degree
Computational biology or Post-doctoral fellow
The Mignot lab studies sleep and sleep disorders. For this project, we are analyzing large amounts of proteomic data in the blood or CSF of patients with various pathologies, or of controls at different circadian time or after sleep deprivation, together with genome wide association and exome sequencing data. Our goal is to link genetics to proteins to disease or physiology. Our most exciting finding has been to establish a protein signature predicting internal circadian time; we are now doing the same for sleep deprivation. Having the ability to determine sleep debt and circadian time will make a big difference in helping patients with sleep problems.
Immunogenetic and immunology of narcolepsy
TOPICS
narcolepsy
immunology
REQUIRED SKILLS
wet lab immunology or genetic/sequencing single cell analysis; Python
Preferred Degree
Post-doctoral fellow
Narcolepsy is an autoimmune disease targeting a small number of brain cells containing hypocretin/orexin, a wake promoting peptide. We conducted genome wide association (GWAS) in over 5000 cases and exome sequencing data in many familial cases. The disease appears to be a T cell mediated attack on hypocretin neuron elicited by a cross-reactivity with a flu antigen. Project involves data analysis of work with T cell, Fluorescence cell sorting (FACS), sequence analysis and 10X single cell analysis in tetramer sorted cells."
Genetics and pathophysiology of anti NMDAR encephalitis
TOPICS
NMDAR encephalitis
genetics
pathophysiology
REQUIRED SKILLS
wet lab immunology or genetic/sequencing single cell analysis; Python
Preferred Degree
Post-doctoral fellow
Anti NMDAR encephalitis is an autoimmune disease characterized by psychosis and seizures. It can occur in the context of ovarian teratomas, although more often it is not associated with any tumor. We conducted a large GWAS and found that the disease is not HLA associated; rather we found multiple genetic associations that involve novel neuroimmune mechanism including B and NK cells, cell subtypes we are characterizing using 10X single cell analysis .
Genetic and pathophysiology studies in brain-immune related disorders
TOPICS
NMDAR encephalitis
genetics
pathophysiology
REQUIRED SKILLS
wet lab immunology or genetic/sequencing single cell analysis; Python
Preferred Degree
Computational biology or Post-doctoral fellow.
Extending on the previous two projects, we are conducting genetic and pathophysiology studies in other brain-immune related disorders to fully understand the spectrum of brain autoimmune mechanisms (other autoimmune encephalitis, paraneoplastic syndromes, and neurodegenerative disorders that have HLA associations). For example, in collaboration with Montreal University, we have studied a large transethnic sample of Parkinson disease and discovered a novel protective HLA association in Parkinson's disease we are pursuing through tetramer studies. Similarly, in collaboration with Europe, we refined an HLA association and conducted GWAS in anti LGi1 encephalitis and anti iglon-5 disease (an intriguing late onset autoimmune disease with brain stem taupathy) and based on our results are initiating T cell studies in these diseases. In all these disorders, we conduct genetic analysis on large number of cases and have findings indicating specific immunological mechanism that need to be followed up through additional genetic analysis such as HLA imputation or immunological studies.
Pathophysiology, genetics, and clinical studies of Klein-Levin Syndrome (KLS)
TOPICS
Klein-Levin Syndrome
REQUIRED SKILLS
GWAS Analysis and Statistics
Python
Preferred Degree
Post-doctoral fellow
Kleine-Levin Syndrom (KLS) is a rare syndrome affecting children or adolescent, generally males, and characterized by periodic episodes of profound hypersomnia (sleep>20 hr/day) with cognitive abnormalities (derealization, sexual disinhibition, megaphagia). Nothing was known about this syndrome, but through a 15 year process we have created a database of over 800 subjects and are a Center of Excellence for this disorder. We conducted genetic analysis and found genes involved to be associated with bipolar disorder and circadian abnormalities. Biomarker studies using proteomics also suggest an inflammatory process. Much remains to be done, from clinical intervention studies, to behavioral observation studies to pathophysiological studies.
Automated scoring of PSG Studies using Deep Learning
TOPICS
polysomnography
machine learning
signal processing
REQUIRED SKILLS
Python
Pytorch or ML Experience
Preferred Degree
Computational Electrical Engineering or Computer Science
We have gathered thousands of polysomnography studies and are conducting machine learning studies to score recordings automatically (supervised machine learning). We plan to link this data with genetics (genome wide association) or phenotype (various disease and sleep disorder) data. We have a team of 3-5 electrical engineers working on this and numerous projects in this space.