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Shai Sabbah Laboratory | Brain research | we are currently recruiting for M.Sc. and Ph.D. Studies

Visual Neuroscience, Behavior and Mood

Shai Sabbah Laboratory | Brain research | Header

Department of Medical Neurobiology
Institute for Medical Research, Israel-Canada (IMRIC)
Faculty of Medicine
Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

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Who we are

Shai Sabbah, Ph.D.

Principle Investigator ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4752-3832

Born in Dimona in southern Israel, I started my academic journey with an undergraduate degree in biology from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa. I went on to the Hebrew University for my master’s degree under the supervision of Prof. Nadav Shashar in the Department of Evolutions, Systematics and Ecology. For my doctorate, I travelled to Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada where, under the supervision of Prof. Craig Hawryshyn, I characterized the underwater light environment and explored how evolution has shaped the properties of cone photoreceptors in the vertebrate retina. I employed electrophysiological techniques to assess functional diversity in the visual systems of fish and probed how the visual system changes with development and across habitats. I then took on a postdoctoral research position in the Department of Neuroscience at Brown University, Providence, RI, under the mentorship of Prof. David Berson. My research there focused on (1) image stabilization and the tuning of direction selective cells in the retina, and (2) mechanisms of luminance coding in the retina. In 2018, I returned to the Hebrew University and established my laboratory for Visual Neuroscience, Mood, and Behavior at the Faculty of Medicine.

Email: shai.sabbah@mail.huji.ac.il

Shai Sabbah Laboratory | Brain research | Shai Sabbah
Lab Manager

Samira Mousa

Lab Manager
Ph.D. Student

Elyashiv Zangen

Ph.D. Student
Ph.D. Student

Christopher Lawrence

Ph.D. Student
Ph.D. Student

Eilam Goldenberg

Ph.D. Student
M.Sc. Student

Daniel Laniado

M.Sc. Student
M.Sc. Student

Hala Rasras

M.Sc. Student
M.Sc. Student

Ella Hanzin

M.Sc. Student
M.Sc. Student

Ala Shaloudy

M.Sc. Student
Undergraduate Senior Thesis

Mustafa Obeid

Undergraduate Senior Thesis
Undergraduate Senior Thesis

Shahar Ben Noun

Undergraduate Senior Thesis
Undergraduate Senior Thesis

Tomer Asheri

Undergraduate Senior Thesis
Part-time research assistant

Daniela Justus

Part-time research assistant
Part-time research assistant

Ori Aslan

Part-time research assistant
Part-time research assistant

Inbar Behrendt

Part-time research assistant
Part-time research assistant

Batya Ofen

Part-time research assistant
Part-time research assistant

Yona Samama

Part-time research assistant
Contact: shai.sabbah@mail.huji.ac.il

Could be you!

Contact: shai.sabbah@mail.huji.ac.il
Contact: shai.sabbah@mail.huji.ac.il

Could be you!

Contact: shai.sabbah@mail.huji.ac.il

What we think we do

We are interested in how animals and humans perceive the visual world and use this perceptual information to guide their behavior. Thus, by studying the structure and function of genetically distinct retinal and brain circuits, we seek to link the processing of brightness, contrast, color, and motion information to behavior.

We use mouse genetic models and combine:

  • Reconstruction of neural circuits using light and electron microscopy
  • in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology and functional imaging
  • Optogenetic and chemogenetic manipulations of neural activity
  • Behavioral analysis

For human research, we use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

These powerful and complementary approaches allow us to reveal the operation of specific neural circuits and their role in shaping the behavior of animals and humans in unprecedented detail.

 

 

What we really do

Where the magic happens

Open positions

We are currently recruiting highly motivated candidates for M.Sc. and Ph.D. studies

Successful candidates will show solid communication skills in English, ability to work both independently and as part of a research team, strong scientific motivation, and skill in data processing. Experience in one or more of the following would be an advantage: intracranial surgeries, optogenetics, animal behavioral analysis, two-photon imaging, whole-cell and in vivo electrophysiology, and Matlab or python programing.  

An application package, including a motivation letter, curriculum vitae, and names of 2-3 referees, should be sent to Dr. Shai Sabbah shai.sabbah@mail.huji.ac.il.

Shai Sabbah Laboratory | Brain research | Open position

Where to find us

The Sabbah Laboratory
Visual neuroscience, behavior and mood

Department of Medical Neurobiology
Faculty of Medicine
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ein Kerem
P.O. Box 12271, Jerusalem, 9112102 Israel

shai.sabbah@mail.huji.ac.il
Phone: +972-2-6758401





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