Post-doctoral position, Dijon, 2011

An open position as post-doctoral associate in neuromuscular plasticity is available in the INSERM 0887 Motricité Plasticité laboratory at Dijon University (France). The candidate must have a Ph.D in human movement sciences, biomedical engineering or closely related field.
Project: It is well known that strength training is an effective stimulus to induce neural adaptations, ie increased neural activation. In our laboratory, we have shown that this could occur following eccentric (active lengthening) or myoelectrical stimulation (electrically induced contraction) strength training (Duclay et al., 2008, Gondin et al., 2005). However, the exact mechanisms of the induced neural adaptations still need to be defined. Indeed, neural activation measured at muscle level depends on (i) cortical command initiated at cortex level and (ii) modulations induced by the afferent feedback at the spinal level (arriving from afferent feedback acting at spinal level). This last level ensures an integrative function which finally defines the motoneuronal output. So, it will be of interest to define the origin, cortical or spinal adaptations, responsible for the neural adaptations following strength training.
The aim of the study is to analyse relative contributions of cortico-spinal and spinal mechanisms involved in the neural adaptations induced by different types of strength training (Eccentric, Concentric, Electromyostimulation).
Practically: Several groups (n=4) of subject were designated to performed experiment, 3 groups for training and one control. All subjects are subjected to testing including maximal and sub maximal contraction associated with neural or magnetic stimulation.
Required competences: EMG, TMS, Torque measurement, Imagery by ultrasonography, neuro-stimulation.
Duration position: 1 year starting in September 2011
Interested candidates should prepare a curriculum vitae and contact:

Prof A. Martin (PhD)
INSERM U 887: Motricité-Plasticité,
Université de Bourgogne, UFR STAPS,
Campus Universitaire, BP 27877, F-21078, Dijon France,
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