July 2014 - Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience - recent articles
by Stephen Coombes July 18, 2014

July 18, 2014

Dear all, The Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience publishes research articles on the mathematical modeling and analysis of all areas of neuroscience. The current list of journal articles is available at http://www.mathematical-neuroscience.com/ : Frequency Preference Response to Oscillatory Inputs in Two-dimensional Neural Models: A Geometric Approach to Subthreshold Amplitude and Phase Resonance Rotstein HG http://www.mathematical-neuroscience.com/content/4/1/11 Network Symmetry and Binocular Rivalry Experiments Diekman CO and Golubitsky M http://www.mathematical-neuroscience.com/content/4/1/12 Effects of Synaptic Plasticity on Phase and Period Locking in a Network of Two Oscillatory Neurons Akcay Z, Bose A and Nadim F http://www.mathematical-neuroscience.com/content/4/1/8 Approximate, not Perfect Synchrony Maximizes the Downstream Effectiveness of Excitatory Neuronal Ensembles Börgers C, Li J and Kopell N http://www.mathematical-neuroscience.com/content/4/1/10 Identification of Criticality in Neuronal Avalanches: II. A Theoretical and Empirical Investigation of the Driven Case Hartley C, Taylor TJ, Kiss IZ, Farmer SF and Berthouze L http://www.mathematical-neuroscience.com/content/4/1/9 All articles are Open Access. Best regards, Steve ------------------------------------------------------- Stephen Coombes Professor of Applied Mathematics School of Mathematical Sciences Nottingham, UK Tel: 0115 846 7836 http://www.maths.nott.ac.uk/~sc/ ------------------------------------------------------- This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please send it back to me, and immediately delete it. Please do not use, copy or disclose the information contained in this message or in any attachment. Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham. This message has been checked for viruses but the contents of an attachment may still contain software viruses which could damage your computer system, you are advised to perform your own checks. Email communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored as permitted by UK legislation.

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Post-doc openings for theoretical neuroscience at UCSF and UCB
by Friedrich Sommer July 18, 2014

July 18, 2014

Post-doctoral fellow in computational/theoretical neuroscience The Chang Lab at UCSF and the Sommer Lab at UCB are jointly seeking two (2) post-doctoral fellows in computational/theoretical neuroscience. Our groups are developing and applying novel computational methods to understand population neural data. The positions have the specific focus on understanding the dynamics of neural population data collected directly from the cortical surface of humans during the perception and production of speech at multiple temporal resolutions. These positions are fully funded as part a collaborative effort between University of California San Francisco, University of California Berkeley, and Lawrence-Berkeley National Laboratory. This Bay Area collaboration combines UCSF's strong clinical and experimental neuroscience experience with in vivo cortical electrophysiology, UCB's expertise in theoretical neuroscience, statistical learning and data analysis, and LBNL's supercomputing and applied mathematics together with electronics and microfabrication. Successful applicants will have access to the full range of facilities and expertise uniquely allowed by this collaboration. Applicants should have a Ph.D. (or equivalent degree) in a quantitative field such as computer science, electrical engineering, physics, or applied mathematics/statistics with a strong publication record. Expertise in theoretical/computational neuroscience or the analysis/modeling of complex dynamical systems is recommended; experience in analyzing the dynamics of population neural recordings is preferred. Applicants must be able to work in a collaborative, multi-disciplinary environment and exhibit good communication skills. Experience with scientific programing languages (e.g. C/C++, python, Matlab) is required. Expertise in speech/language and/or high-performance computing is not required, but is beneficial. To apply, please submit a CV and three letters of reference to: changed(a)neurosurgery.ucsf.edu fsommer(a)berkeley.edu ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friedrich T. Sommer, Ph.D, Adjunct Professor Redwood Center for Theoretical Neuroscience & Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute UC Berkeley 575A Evans Hall, MC #3198 Berkeley, CA 94720-3198 http://redwood.berkeley.edu/wiki/Fritz_Sommer -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Neurocomputing special issue CFP
by Zhijun Yang July 17, 2014

July 17, 2014

Dear Colleagues, May we draw your attention to a Neurocomputing special issue CFP: Advances on Biological Rhythmic Pattern Generation: Experiments, Algorithms and Application. The full announcement can be found as an internet link below. http://www.journals.elsevier.com/neurocomputing/call-for-papers/special-iss… Instructions for submission: • The submission website for Neurocomputing is located at: http://ees.elsevier.com/neucom/default.asp • To ensure that all relevant manuscripts are correctly identified for inclusion into this special issue, it is important that authors select SI: Creating Biology Rhythm when reaching the “Article Type” step in the submission process. We look forward to receiving your contributions to what promises to be an exciting special issue. Best regards, Zhijun Yang -- Zhijun Yang, BEng, MSc, PhD, Lecturer in Design Engineering Department of Design Engineering and Mathematics School of Science and Technology Middlesex University, London NW4 4BT, UK Voice: +44 (0)7882681333 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note that Middlesex University's preferred way of receiving all correspondence is via email in line with our Environmental Policy. All incoming post to Middlesex University is opened and scanned by our digital document handler, CDS, and then emailed to the recipient. If you do not want your correspondence to Middlesex University processed in this way please email the recipient directly. Parcels, couriered items and recorded delivery items will not be opened or scanned by CDS. There are items which are "exceptions" which will be opened by CDS but will not be scanned a full list of these can be obtained by contacting the University.

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Postdoc position in neural inspired computation
by Aimone, James Bradley July 17, 2014

July 17, 2014

A postdoctoral research position is available for research on neural algorithm development for a neural-inspired computing hardware project within the cognitive modeling group at Sandia National Laboratories. The successful applicant will join a broad interdisciplinary team that includes computational neuroscientists, computer scientists, and electrical engineers focused on developing methods for hardware acceleration of neural algorithms. He or she will be expected to leverage research from the broader neuroscience research community to develop computational approaches for addressing real-world problems. Previous experience both in neuroscience research and in data analytics / machine learning domains is ideal. For more information, please contact Dr. Brad Aimone (technical contact, jbaimon(a)sandia.gov<mailto:jbaimon@sandia.gov> ) or Dr. John Wagner (department manager, jswagne(a)sandia.gov<mailto:jswagne@sandia.gov>). For the full posting, necessary qualifications and application information, go to careers.sandia.gov and search for posting ID 646640 -------------------------- James Bradley Aimone, Ph.D. Senior Member of Technical Staff Cognitive Modeling Department Sandia National Laboratories Phone: (505) 284-3147 Fax: (505) 844-4728

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Research Specialist position at Princeton University
by Francisco Pereira July 16, 2014

July 16, 2014

A Research Specialist position is available in Matthew Botvinick's lab in the Princeton Neuroscience Institute, in collaboration with Francisco Pereira at Siemens Corporate Technology. This is a position within a team participating in the IARPA Knowledge Representation in Neural Systems program. The goal of the program is to develop models of how the brain represents conceptual knowledge, and how that knowledge is used when carrying out tasks like reading a sentence. These models will be tested using brain imaging data. The main role in this position is as a programmer writing the code needed to build such models, while also being involved in experiment design and data analysis. Examples of tasks you might be asked to do: - prepare text corpora for use in developing models - implement evaluation tasks that the models developed will be benchmarked with - collect material from online resources and behavioral experiments - prepare stimuli for brain imaging experiments or model building - help in designing and carrying out brain imaging and behavioral experiments - analyze behavioral and brain imaging experimental data It is an unusual position in that you will be gaining experience in both machine learning and cognitive neuroscience. In addition to the core research goals, we will also be delivering a concrete system to the funding agency, and hence this will be a fast-paced project. You will be working directly with the PIs and also graduate students and research scientists in the team. Essential qualifications are experience developing software in MATLAB or Python (Perl is also useful), as well as an undergraduate degree in computer science, biomedical engineering, cognitive neuroscience or a related field. Preferred qualifications are knowledge in natural language processing, machine learning, and collection, preprocessing and analysis of brain imaging data (e.g. SPM, FSL or AFNI). The final candidate will be required to pass a background check successfully. This is a 1 year position, starting as soon as possible, with an additional year possible contingent on funding availability and performance. To apply, please go to https://jobs.princeton.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/Welcome_css.jsp and use “Search Open Positions” with requisition number 1400452. Please email francisco.pereira(a)gmail.com with any pre-application inquiries.

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1st Call for Abstracts for the 7th Int'l Workshop on Guided Self-Organisation (Freiburg, Dec 16-18, 2014)
by Joschka Boedecker July 16, 2014

July 16, 2014

<apologies for possible cross-posting> Dear colleagues, This is an announcement and Call for Abstracts for the Seventh International Workshop on Guided Self-Organisation (GSO-2014) to be held from December 16-18, 2014 in Freiburg, Germany. http://ml.informatik.uni-freiburg.de/events/gso14/index The workshop will bring together researchers from a richly diverse background who share interest in understanding and designing self-organising systems. Of particular interest are well-founded, but general methods for characterizing such systems in a principled way with the view of ultimately allowing them to be guided toward prespecified goals. Information theory, nonlinear dynamics and graph theory are core to many of these methods, and quantifying complexity and its sources is a common theme. This year, the workshop is organised in collaboration with the BrainLinks-BrainTools cluster of excellence at University of Freiburg ( https://www.brainlinks-braintools.uni-freiburg.de/ ), and one focus theme will be guided self-organisation in neural systems. Submissions to the workshop are extended abstracts (one-two pages). If interested in participating, send an extended abstract (by September 7th, 2014) by email to: jboedeck at informatik dot uni-freiburg dot de The notifications are expected by September 21st, 2014. Authors of accepted submissions will present the content to the workshop (scheduled 30 minutes presentation). It is expected that post-workshop publication of selected papers will follow in a special journal issue (as has been the case for previous GSO workshops). Please consult the website above and also http://guided-self.org/ for more information. Best wishes, Joschka Boedecker Mikhail Prokopenko Martin Riedmiller

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Two Postdoctoral Positions in Computational Modeling of Primate Motor Control
by Yaroslav Molkov July 15, 2014

July 15, 2014

Two postdoctoral/research associate positions in computational neuroscience for the duration of up to three years are available in the externally funded project focusing on multiscale computational modeling of motor control mechanisms, involving interactions between basal ganglia, thalamus, cerebellum, cortex, and spinal cord in connection with realistic simulation of pathological changes in motor control during Huntington’s disease. This collaborative project is performed jointly by the groups of Drs. Ilya Rybak (Dept. of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA) and Yaroslav Molkov (Dept. of Mathematical Science, Indiana University – Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN, USA). Applicants must have a PhD degree in Neuroscience, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or a related discipline and have excellent C++ programming skills. Previous experience in computational neuronal modeling is a plus. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Dr. Rybak (rybak(a)drexel.edu) or Dr. Molkov (ymolkov(a)iupui.edu) by email. To apply, please send an email along with (1) curriculum vitae; (2) a cover letter describing previous research experience and interests; (3) the names and contact information of three references. Drs. Rybak and Molkov will be available to answer questions and discuss this job opportunity with potential candidates at the CNS’2014 meeting in Quebec City, Canada (July 26-31). ================================= Ilya A. Rybak, Ph.D. Professor Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy Drexel University College of Medicine 2900 Queen Lane Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA Tel.: (215) 991-8596 FAX: (215) 843-9082 E-mail: rybak(a)drexel.edu Yaroslav Molkov, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis Department of Mathematical Sciences 402 N. Blackford St, LD 270, Indianapolis, IN 46202 Office: LD 224U Phone: (317) 274-6934 Fax: (317) 274-3460 Email: ymolkov(a)iupui.edu

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Linking Brain Models and Data: An Invitation from James Bonaiuto and Michael A. Arbib
by James Bonaiuto July 15, 2014

July 15, 2014

The USC Brain Project has just released a new version of their neuroinformatics tool, the Brain Operation DataBase (BODB) v4.0. BODB is a tool for modelers and experimentalists to document computational models of the brain and their linkages to summaries of experimental data. Models can be compared in terms of these relations, and experimental data summaries can be visualized in a variety of ways. Groups of users can build collaboratory workspaces which allow them to share groups of models and data and work together to develop new models. This latest version of BODB includes many new features: - Improved search functionality: users can now search federated databases such as CoCoMac (macaque neural connectivity) and Brede (human brain imaging) directly as well as use boolean combinations of search terms - Users can now maintain a list of their favorite entries outside any workspace - Model and BOP diagrams: users can generate clickable and zoomable graphs showing the relationships between brain operating principles (BOPs) and between models and summaries of empirical data (SEDs) - ERP SED visualization: users can view the locations of ERP components on a standard electrode placement system - Improved workspaces: workspaces now include an activity stream, discussion board, and bookmarks. Workspaces administrators can send invitations to other users to join the workspace. - ModelDB import: users can search ModelDB for models and import them to BODB for documentation of their linkage to SEDs - New Documentation System: the new system is far more extensive, is linked from pages on BODB, and users can now search the documentation - Web API: it is now possible to return BODB entries in JSON aand XML format through a simple URL protocol An overview of our general methodology for the neuroinformatics of brain modeling can be found at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24234915. It is just one paper from a special issue of Neuroinformatics (Volume 12, Number 1, January 2014) on “Action, Language and Neuroinformatics” (Michael Arbib, Guest Editor). The Manual for BODB can be found at http://bodb.usc.edu/media/BODB_Manual.pdf. We invite you to register for a free account on BODB and add your own models and experimental data: http://bodb.usc.edu ------------------------------------------------------ James Bonaiuto, PhD Research Associate Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders UCL Institute of Neurology 33 Queen Square, London WC1N3BG, United Kingdom

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2014 SFN Meeting Workshop: NSG Portal for parallel simulations
by Ted Carnevale July 14, 2014

July 14, 2014

What: Using the Neuroscience Gateway Portal for Parallel Simulations A Satellite Symposium at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience Meeting Where: Lodation to be announced in downtown Washington, DC When: 9 AM - Noon on Saturday, November 15, 2014 Speakers to include: A. Majumdar, S. Sivagnanam, and T. Carnevale Registration deadline: Friday, October 31, 2014 This workshop is intended for neuroscientists who are already using, or would like to use, the Neuroscience Gateway Portal (NSG http://www.nsgportal.org/) for parallel simulations. The NSG portal eliminates most administrative and technical barriers that face neuroscientists who need to use high performance computing resources for large modeling projects. Its web-based interface simplifies the tasks of uploading models, specifying job parameters, monitoring job status, and storing and retrieving output data. Simulators currently installed include Brian, MOOSE, GENESIS3, NEST, NEURON, and PyNN. The workshop will combine didactic presentations by NSG's developers, discussions with experienced users, and hands on instruction in how to use the portal. For more information and the online registration form see http://www.neuron.yale.edu/neuron/static/courses/nsg2014/nsg2014.html --Ted

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NEURON course at 2014 SFN Meeting
by Ted Carnevale July 14, 2014

July 14, 2014

Using NEURON to Model Cells and Networks Satellite Symposium, Society for Neuroscience Meeting 9 AM - 5 PM on Friday, November 14, 2014 Speakers include Ted Carnevale, Bill Lytton, and Gordon Shepherd This course emphasizes practical issues that are key to the most productive use of NEURON, an advanced simulation environment for realistic modeling of biological neurons and neural circuits. Through lectures and live computer demonstrations, we will address topics that include the following: Partial list of topics that will be covered: * Efficient design and implementation of models of neurons and networks. * Constructing and managing models with NEURON's GUI, hoc, and Python. * Using the built-in variable-order variable-timestep integrator for improved speed and accuracy. * Parallelizing models of cells and networks to take advantage of multicore PCs and Macs, workstation clusters, and parallel supercomputers. * Expanding NEURON's repertoire of biophysical mechanisms, including an introduction to using the new RxD feature to implement models that involve reactive diffusion. * Databases for empirically-based modeling. Each registrant will receive a comprehensive set of notes. Registration is limited to 25 individuals on a first-come, first-serve basis. The registration deadline is Friday, October 31, 2014. NO on-site registration will be accepted. For more information and the online registration form, see http://www.neuron.yale.edu/neuron/static/courses/dc2014/dc2014.html --Ted

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PhD open positions on event-driven robotics
by Chiara Bartolozzi July 14, 2014

July 14, 2014

There are few PhD positions with scholarship for developing event-driven sensors and computation for the humanoid robot iCub at the Italian Institute of Technology. The call, application form and tips on the documentation to send are at the following link: http://www.iit.it/en/openings/phd-calls/2030-phd-course-topic-information.h… 1. Event-driven vision sensors for humanoid robots Tutors: Chiara Bartolozzi Department: iCub Facility (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia) http://www.iit.it/en/research/departments/icub-facility.html Description: Carrying out real-world tasks robustly and efficiently is one of the major challenges of robotics. Biology clearly outperforms artificial computing and robotic systems in terms of appropriateness of the behavioural response, robustness to interference and noise, adaptation to ever changing environmental conditions, or energy efficiency. All these properties arise from the characteristics of the radically different style of sensing and computation used by the biological brain. In conventional robots, sensory information is available in a sequence of static frames and high dynamics can be sensed only by increasing the sampling rate. Unfortunately the available bandwidth limits the amount of information that can be transmitted forcing a compromise between resolution and speed. The goal of the proposed theme is the development of bio-inspired event-driven artificial vision sensors that will be mounted and validated on the humanoid robot iCub. The goal is to convey to the robot the most informative signal that it can use to robustly interact with the world. The research will focus on the design of mixed-mode analog/digital circuits for photo-transduction and focal-plane processing. Different architectures and circuits will be considered for the pixel design, evaluating the trade-off between complexity (and fill-in factor) and sensor pre-processing capabilities. Additionally, ad hoc digital asynchronous logic circuits and interfaces based on the "Address Event Representation" protocol will be developed for optimally interfacing the sensor with the robot. Requirements: degree in Electronic Engineering, Physics (or equivalent) and background in Analog and/or Digital Circuit Design, possibly on FPGA programming (VHDL, Verilog). High motivation to work on a robotic platform. Reference: C. Posch, D. Matolin, and R. Wohlgenannt, "A QVGA 143 dB Dynamic Range Frame-Free PWM Image Sensor With Lossless Pixel-Level Video Compression and Time-Domain CDS," IEEE J Solid-State Circuits, vol. 46, no. 1, pp. 259-275, Jan. 2011 Contacts: chiara.bartolozzi(a)iit.it<mailto:chiara.bartolozzi@iit.it> 2. Building the neuromorphic iCub Tutors: Chiara Bartolozzi Department: iCub Facility (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia) http://www.iit.it/en/research/departments/icub-facility.html Description: Carrying out real-world tasks robustly and efficiently is one of the major challenges of robotics. Biology clearly outperforms artificial computing and robotic systems in terms of appropriateness of the behavioural response, robustness to interference and noise, adaptation to ever changing environmental conditions, or energy efficiency. All these properties arise from the characteristics of the radically different style of sensing and computation used by the biological brain. In conventional robots, sensory information is available in a sequence of static snapshots and high dynamics can be sensed only by increasing the sampling rate. Unfortunately the available bandwidth limits the amount of information that can be transmitted forcing a compromise between resolution and speed. The goal of the proposed theme is the integration of event-driven sensors and computing platforms on the humanoid robot iCub. The goal is to convey to the robot the most informative signal that it can use to robustly interact with the world and provide adequate computing platforms such as the SpiNNaker system. The research will focus on the development of the infrastructure for optimally interfacing event-driven hardware modules based on the Address Event Representation protocol on the iCub. Requirements: degree in Electronic Engineering, Physics (or equivalent) and background on FPGA programming (VHDL, Verilog). High motivation to work on a robotic platform. Reference: C. Bartolozzi, F. Rea, C. Clercq, M. Hofstätter, D. B. Fasnacht, G. Indiveri, and G. Metta, "Embedded neuromorphic vision for humanoid robots," in IEEE Computer Society Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition Workshops (CVPRW), 2011, pp. 129-135 Contacts: chiara.bartolozzi(a)iit.it<mailto:chiara.bartolozzi@iit.it> 3. Event-driven vision for the iCub Tutors: Chiara Bartolozzi, Lorenzo Natale Department: iCub Facility (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia) http://www.iit.it/en/research/departments/icub-facility.html Description: Interacting with a dynamical environment is one of the major challenges of robotics. Biology clearly outperforms robotic systems when acting in real scenarios in terms of appropriateness of the behavioural response, robustness to interference and noise, adaptation to ever changing environmental conditions, and energy efficiency. All these properties arise from the characteristics of the radically different style of sensing and computation used by the biological brain. In conventional robots, sensory information is available in a sequence of static snapshots and high dynamics can be sensed only by increasing the sampling rate. However the available bandwidth limits the amount of information that can be transmitted forcing a compromise between resolution and speed. Event-driven vision sensors transmit information as soon as a change occurs in their visual field, achieving incredibly high temporal resolution, coupled with extremely low data rate and automatic segmentation of significant events. The proposed theme aims at the exploitation of highly dynamical information from event-driven sensors for robust interaction of the humanoid robot iCub with moving objects. The goal is to develop new techniques for the recognition and prediction of trajectories of moving targets including humans and objects and plan for precise reaching movements, by exploiting the high temporal resolution and compressive signal encoding of event-driven vision sensors mounted on the iCub. The research will focus on the development of the infrastructure for handling event-driven sensory data and of event-driven vision algorithms for motion estimation as well as algorithms for trajectory prediction. Real time behaviour will be achieved by using compressive event driven computation and on-board processing on FPGA. Requirements: degree in Computer Science or Engineering (or equivalent) and background in Computer Vision and/or Machine Learning. High motivation to work on a robotic platform and good computer and FPGA programming skills Reference: Benosman, R.; Clercq, C.; Lagorce, X.; Sio-Hoi Ieng; Bartolozzi, C., "Event-Based Visual Flow," Neural Networks and Learning Systems, IEEE Transactions on , vol.25, no.2, pp.407,417, Feb. 2014, doi: 10.1109/TNNLS.2013.2273537 Contacts: chiara.bartolozzi(a)iit.it<mailto:chiara.bartolozzi@iit.it> , lorenzo.natale(a)iit.it<mailto:lorenzo.natale@iit.it> 4. New techniques for vision-assisted speech processing for the iCub Tutors: Chiara Bartolozzi, Leonardo Badino Department: iCub Facility (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia) http://www.iit.it/en/research/departments/icub-facility.html Description: Robust speech detection in realistic environments for human robot interaction is still a challenging task. Vision is currently used for improving speech recognition in noisy acoustic environments, however, the temporal content of the visual information is severely limited by the temporal discretization of the frame-based acquisition. Event-driven vision sensors transmit information as soon as a change occurs in their visual field, achieving incredibly high temporal resolution, coupled with extremely low data rate and automatic segmentation of significant events. The goal of the proposed theme is the exploitation of highly dynamical information from event-driven vision sensors for robust speech processing for the humanoid robot iCub. The goal is to extract visual features and cues from the stream of visual events that are related to speech production landmarks and exploit them for further improving speech recognition. The research will focus on the development of the infrastructure for handling event-driven sensory data and of novel algorithms for extraction of visual features from event-driven cameras. Requirements: degree in Computer Science or Engineering (or equivalent) and background in Auditory Processing and/or Machine Learning. High motivation to work on a robotic platform and good computer and FPGA programming skills. Reference: G. Potamianos, C. Neti, G. Gravier, A. Garg, and A.W.Senior in Proceedings of the IEEE Vol. 91 No. 9 September 2003 pp. 1306-1326 Benosman, R.; Clercq, C.; Lagorce, X.; Sio-Hoi Ieng; Bartolozzi, C., "Event-Based Visual Flow," Neural Networks and Learning Systems, IEEE Transactions on , vol.25, no.2, pp.407,417, Feb. 2014, doi: 10.1109/TNNLS.2013.2273537 Contacts: chiara.bartolozzi(a)iit.it<mailto:chiara.bartolozzi@iit.it> , leonardo.badino(a)iit.it<mailto:leonardo.badino@iit.it> Chiara Bartolozzi Researcher Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Via Morego, 30 16163 Genoa, Italy Ph: +39 010 7178-1474

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Job offer in Juelich, Germany - IT-Solutions Architect (f/m)
by Martina Reske July 11, 2014

July 11, 2014

The Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM) investigates the structure and function of the brain. The department INM-6 is conducting research in the field of Computational and Systems Neuroscience with currently four work groups and one Helmholtz Young Investigator Group (www.csn.fz-juelich.de<http://www.csn.fz-juelich.de>). The Ju?lich Supercomputing Centre (JSC) as part of the Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS) offers high performance computing resources for scientific and technical applications which are among the most powerful in Europe and worldwide. The Simulation Lab Neuroscience at JSC is dedicated to enabling and supporting the Computational Neuroscience community in leveraging these resources for their research. These institutes are jointly looking for an IT-Solutions Architect (f/m) Your Job: * Design and development of web solutions * Implementation of web sites on the basis of open source solutions (e.g., WordPress/MediaWiki) * Integration of own and third-party components into the web sites * Writing of scripts/programs (e.g. in Python) in a neuroscience environment * Interaction with scientists to find the optimal solution for different situations * Proactive updates and creation of content for web sites in the field of neuroscientific simulation software * Creation of documentation of simulation of software in collaboration with scientists * The successful candidate will work half-time for INM-6 and the Simulation Lab Neuroscience at JSC, respectively. Your Profile: * Completed training in mathematical-technical software development or Bachelor in the area of Computer Science or comparable qualification * Very good knowledge of the relevant web technologies: PHP, MySQL, (X)HTML, JavaScript, CSS * Experience with the administration of web servers under Linux (LAMP) Experience with a common content management system (e.g., WordPress, MediaWiki, Typo3) * Good knowledge of shell and scripting languages like bash and Python * Fluently spoken and written English * Background in neuroscience or another natural science would be a plus * Interest in working with an interdisciplinary team of researchers with highest scientific standards Our Offer: * A diverse range of activities in a creative, interdisciplinary, international team * Forschungszentrum Jülich offers an excellent scientific research infrastructure on a green campus close to Cologne, Düsseldorf and Aachen * Salary and social benefits in conformity with the provisions of the Collective Agreement for the Civil Service (TVöD). Forschungszentrum Jülich aims to employ more women in this area and therefore particulary welcomes applications from women. We also welcome applications from disabled persons. We look forward to receiving your application, preferably online via our online recruitment system (see here: http://www.fz-juelich.de/SharedDocs/Stellenangebote/_common/dna/2014-115-EN…) quoting the reference number 2014-115. Martina Reske -- Dr. Martina Reske Scientific Coordinator Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-6) Computational and Systems Neuroscience & Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS-6) Theoretical Neuroscience Jülich Research Centre and JARA Jülich, Germany Work +49.2461.611916 Work Cell +49.151.26156918 Fax +49.2461.619460 www.csn.fz-juelich.de<http://www.csn.fz-juelich.de> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH 52425 Juelich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Juelich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Dueren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Dr. Karl Eugen Huthmacher Geschaeftsfuehrung: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Marquardt (Vorsitzender), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Harald Bolt, Prof. Dr. Sebastian M. Schmidt ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Job announcement
by Quel July 10, 2014

July 10, 2014

[sorry for cross-posting] On the behalf of Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, *Open position for Professor of Neurosciences in Sao Paulo, Brazil.* A full time endowed position for “Professor of Neurosciences” is available at the Brain Institute at the Albert Einstein Institute for Research and Education (InCe – IIEPAE), São Paulo, Brazil. We seek an outstanding senior researcher as a professor of the Institute. Job description The main goals include the development of research in neuroscience involving ageing processes in the brain and methods to promote healthy ageing. Additional focus includes study of neurodegenerative diseases. The position requires a record of scientific excellence and management experience, as well as vision and motivation to lead and shape a team of researchers. The candidate is expected to lead a strong, internationally competitive research programme, attract external funding and promote an interactive and synergistic research environment in order to develop clinical neuroscience into a center of excellence in biological aspects of ageing. Good communication skills are required to interact with a multidisciplinary team of experienced neurologists, neurosurgeons, scientists, engineers, physicists and psychologists. *Required skills/Qualifications* • Senior researcher with PhD • Experience working as a leading researcher • A strong track record of publications, ideally h-index > 20 Desired skills/Qualifications • MD title • Portuguese speaking *Salary* Salary is provided by a donation (equivalent to a top salary for a physician in Brazil USD120,000.00 – 180,000.00 per year). The position is renewable. The appointment is for 24 months at first. *About Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein* Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein ranks number one in Latin America, was the first hospital outside of USA accredited by the Joint Commission International and possesses a number of ISO certifications. The Brain Institute-IIEPAE has a state-of-the art whole body 3T MR system equipped with 32 channel head coil with protected time for research, integrated with a 64 channel EEG-fMRI system. The facilities also include an fMRI eye-tracking system, TMS and in house stimulus delivery systems for advanced applications. Radiopharmacy laboratories for basic research and clinical application, an experimental core facility with a cell culture laboratory and genome sequencing and an AAALAC certified experimental facility are also available. The institution also holds a postgraduate programme in health sciences, recognized by the Brazilian Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education (CAPES), giving the opportunity to supervise postdoc, PhD and master students. *Apply for position:* The position is open until 31st of July. The top 20 CV will be selected and evaluated by a committee. Please e-mail CV, NIH Biosketch, statement of research interests and contact information of references to: ince(a)einstein.br with “Professor of Neurosciences” in the subject line Brain Institute - Albert Einstein Jewish Institute for Education and Research Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein – www.einstein.br Phone: +55 11 2151-3727 Best regards, Anna *Anna Ringheim Cadete* Coordinator - Brain Institute - IIEP SBIB Hospital Albert Einstein

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Job opening: 7 PhD positions in Dutch research consortium "Language in Interaction"
by Lorenz, C.M. July 10, 2014

July 10, 2014

Seven PhD Positions in the Dutch Research Consortium 'Language in Interaction' Closing date: 30 September 2014 For more information: http://www.languageininteraction.nl/jobs/id-2nd-phd-call-general.html We are looking for highly motivated PhD candidates to enrich a unique consortium of researchers that aims to unravel the neurocognitive mechanisms of language at multiple levels. The goal is to understand both the universality and the variability of the human language faculty from genes to behaviour. The Netherlands has an outstanding track record in the language sciences. This research consortium sponsored by a large grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific research (NWO) brings together many of the excellent research groups in the Netherlands with a research programme on the foundations of language. The research team consists of 43 Principal Investigators. In addition to the excellence in the domain of language and related relevant fields of cognition, our consortium provides state-of-the-art research facilities and a research team with ample experience in the complex research methods that will be invoked to address the scientific questions at the highest level of methodological sophistication. These include methods from genetics, neuroimaging, computational modelling, and patient-related research. This consortium realizes both quality and critical mass for studying human language at a scale not easily found anywhere else. Currently, the consortium advertises seven PhD positions for a period of 4 years. Depending on the PhD position applied for, candidates will be appointed at one of the home institutions of the consortium. These positions provide the opportunity for conducting world-class research as a member of an interdisciplinary team. Click for more information on the PhD positions and how to apply: http://www.languageininteraction.nl/jobs/id-2nd-phd-call-general.html

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Multiscale analysis of neural spike trains
by Reza Ramezan July 10, 2014

July 10, 2014

Dear Colleagues, I would like to highlight the following paper from our group published in Statistics in Medicine (not a mainstream neuroscience journal). Interested people can receive a free (electronic) copy upon request. Kindest Regards, Reza Ramezan ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Multiscale analysis of neural spike trains* <http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/sim.5923/abstract> Ramezan R, Marriott P, Chenouri S (2014) *Summary:* This paper studies the multiscale analysis of neural spike trains, through both graphical and Poisson process approaches. We introduce the interspike interval plot, which simultaneously visualizes characteristics of neural spiking activity at different time scales. Using an inhomogeneous Poisson process framework, we discuss multiscale estimates of the intensity functions of spike trains. We also introduce the windowing effect for two multiscale methods. Using quasi-likelihood, we develop bootstrap confidence intervals for the multiscale intensity function. We provide a cross-validation scheme, to choose the tuning parameters, and study its unbiasedness. Studying the relationship between the spike rate and the stimulus signal, we observe that adjusting for the first spike latency is important in cross-validation. We show, through examples, that the correlation between spike trains and spike count variability can be multiscale phenomena. Furthermore, we address the modeling of the periodicity of the spike trains caused by a stimulus signal or by brain rhythms. Within the multiscale framework, we introduce intensity functions for spike trains with multiplicative and additive periodic components. Analyzing a dataset from the retinogeniculate synapse, we compare the fit of these models with the Bayesian adaptive regression splines method and discuss the limitations of the methodology. Computational efficiency, which is usually a challenge in the analysis of spike trains, is one of the highlights of these new models. In an example, we show that the reconstruction quality of a complex intensity function demonstrates the ability of the multiscale methodology to crack the neural code. *Keywords: *inhomogeneous Poisson process; multiscale analysis; periodogram; almost periodic intensity function; retinogeniculate synapse; spike train -- Reza Ramezan Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science University of Waterloo Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1 Canada Office: M3 3018 Phone: (519) 888-4567, ext. 39358 E-mail: rramezan(a)uwaterloo.ca Web: http://www.neuroinformatics.ca

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2 PhD positions in Computational Neuroscience in Juelich, Germany
by Martina Reske July 9, 2014

July 9, 2014

Dear community, we are seeking two PhD candidates to support our team! Project 1: In the framework of the Klinische Forschergruppe (KFO) 219 "Basal ganglia-cortex loops: Mechanisms of pathologic interactions and their therapeutic modulation" we have an open PhD student position in work package 9: "Mathematical modeling of development and suppression of pathological activation in basal ganglia – cortex loops“. This project focuses on the generation of pathological beta band oscillations in basal ganglia and their susceptibility to suppression by means of pharmacological challenges or deep brain stimulation. Specifically, this projects aims to model dynamics in basal ganglia – thalamus – cortex loops drawing on computational neuroscience approaches and data deriving from other work packages within the research consortium. We are seeking for a candidate with a master’s degree in physics, mathematics or computer science. The candidate will develop microscopic network models and will be supervised by the projects leaders, particularly by a postdoctoral fellow supervising the entire work package as well as Prof. Morrison. Programming expertise is appreciated. The candidate will be primarily based at the Jülich Research Center to foster interactions with theoretical neuroscientists. In addition, the candidate is expected to work jointly with project partners at the University Clinic of Cologne. We offer a position in a creative and international team, themes ranging from computational neuroscience to simulation technology. The Jülich Research Center is one of the largest research centers in Germany, with excellent scientific equipment, located on a green campus, and near the cultural centers Köln, Düsseldorf, and Aachen. The PhD position is available for 3 years, starting as soon as possible. Applications, including a motivation letter, CV, publication list, copies of university certificates, and one reference letter should be sent as a single PDF email attachment (max. 10MB) mentioning the internal reference code KFO219-TP9 to should be sent to: Dr. Martina Reske (m.reske(a)fz-juelich.de) – Scientific Coordinator The call is open until the position has been filled. Project 2: Project title: Neural circuit mechanisms of reinforcement learning Project description: Reinforcement learning is considered to play a major role in decision-making, and impairments in RL have been associated with various neuropsychiatric disorders including addiction and depression. Since it was found that the activity of midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons appears to represent the reward prediction error, various brain regions in the cerebral cortex and the basal ganglia have been shown to represent several variables appeared in mathematical formulations of RL algorithms. However, underlying mechanisms at the cellular and circuit levels within and between each of those regions remain largely unknown. In this project, we address this issue by developing and study neuronal network models of learning from reward and punishment in the brain's basal ganglia network. The project will be carried out by the group Functional Neural Circuits at the Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-6) and Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS-6) led by Prof. Abigail Morrison, together with our Japanese collegues (Kenji Morita, University of Tokyo). The project is supported by German Ministry of Science (BMBF) in the framework of the German-Japan cooperation in Computational Neuroscience. The project incorporates tools and methods from different fields, ranging from neuroscience to physics and mathematical modeling to build large scale simulations of neural networks. Supervision is provided by Prof. Abigail Morrison and Dr. Jenia Jitsev, both having considerable experience in neural network modeling, with focus on plasticity and learning. We seek a highly motivated candidate with curiosity and persistence. A preferable candidate will have background and strong Master degree in either in neuroscience, physics, mathematics, biology, computer science or a related field of natural science. The candidate should have experience in basic software engineering techniques (minimal requirement is ability to write clear well-structured code in either C++ or Python). Furthermore, a solid basis in mathematical modelling (handling differential equations, basics of stability analysis) is essential. The most important requirement is the ability to learn new things and to find ways to solve novel problems. The PhD position is available for 3 years, starting as soon as possible. During the PhD, you will also have opportunity to visit conferences, workshops, summer schools and labs of our partners in Tokyo and benefit from their experience, too. You will be a part of a creative and young team, rich with inspiration for the different state-of-the art topics in experimental and theoretical neuroscience, and have the opportunity to take part at the forefront of current neuroscientific research. Research Center Jülich, Germany, is located on a green campus and hosts excellent facilities, including the Jülich Supercomputing Center, and is part of newly starting EU Human Brain Project, the largest neuroscientific initiative to study the brain funded in Europe. Jülich is close to large urban centers like Cologne, Aachen and Düsseldorf and offers thus a rich cultural environment to spend time in. Applications, including a motivation letter, a CV, copies of university certificates, and one letter of reference should be sent as a single PDF email attachment (max. 10MB) mentioning the internal reference code BRDJ-PhD to: Dr. Martina Reske (m.reske(a)fz-juelich.de) – Scientific Coordinator The call is open until the position has been filled. -- Dr. Martina Reske Scientific Coordinator Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-6) Computational and Systems Neuroscience & Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS-6) Theoretical Neuroscience Jülich Research Centre and JARA Jülich, Germany Work +49.2461.611916 Work Cell +49.151.26156918 Fax +49.2461.619460 www.csn.fz-juelich.de ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH 52425 Juelich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Juelich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Dueren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Dr. Karl Eugen Huthmacher Geschaeftsfuehrung: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Marquardt (Vorsitzender), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Harald Bolt, Prof. Dr. Sebastian M. Schmidt ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Call for Nominations: TANG Prize for Achievements in Psychology
by Christopher Honey July 8, 2014

July 8, 2014

APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR INAUGURAL TANG PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENTS IN PSYCHOLOGY – CALL FOR NOMINATIONS The Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto is pleased to announce the call for nominations for the 2014 inaugural TANG Prize for Achievements in Psychology. As a Department at a public university, we believe in furthering the science of Psychology in service of enhancing human wellbeing. Applications are encouraged from internationally-recognized scholars in Psychology or a closely-related field who have shown creativity, and rigour in their approach and whose record of achievement has left an indelible mark on the field. This award has been made possible through generous support from the TANG Foundation. The TANG Foundation is a charitable institution with the mandate to raise awareness of the importance of psychological wellbeing in the world. The recipient of the TANG Prize for Achievements in Psychology will be awarded a cash prize of $100,000 CAD at a ceremony held on the University of Toronto campus on November 12, 2014. During the campus visit, the recipient will be asked to meet with University of Toronto students and to hold a public lecture. Applicants should outline in no more than two pages the ways in which they have a major impact on the progress of psychology, anywhere in the world, particularly in its application to the psychological wellbeing of humanity. This application letter should highlight how the applicant has contributed to the science, practice, or application of Psychology as it pertains to the understanding, promotion, restoration, or application of psychological methods, research, and techniques in addressing challenges related to wellbeing at the individual or community level. In addition to this application letter, applications should also include a current CV. Nomination packages (application letter and CV) should be submitted electronically in one email by August 15, 2014 to tangprize(a)psych.utoronto.ca. Applicants should also ask three referees, who must be internationally acknowledged experts in the field, to send reference letters directly to the Department via email to tangprize(a)psych.utoronto.ca by August 30, 2014. Up to three additional supporting letters of endorsement from individuals who have been directly impacted by the applicant’s scholarly work and/or who have knowledge of the direct impact of the applicant’s scholarly work can be sent to the same email address by August 30, 2014. For more information on this award, about the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto, and the TANG Foundation, please visit www.psych.utoronto.ca/tangprize.

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Mini-Conference “The Many Faces of Computation” @ UCSD July 14 & 15
by Santamaria, Cookie July 7, 2014

July 7, 2014

The BioCircuits Institute, Physical Chemistry and The Lindenberg Lab Group Present: Mini-Conference: “The Many Faces of Computation” http://www.kawai.phy.uab.edu/workshops/UCSD2014/ Organizers: Christian Van den Broeck and Katja Lindenberg Contacts: Cookie Santamaria cookie(a)ucsd.edu<mailto:cookie@ucsd.edu> or Katja Lindenberg klindenberg(a)ucsd.edu<mailto:klindenberg@ucsd.edu> July 14-15, 2014 University of California, San Diego Urey Room 2102 Urey Hall<http://maps.ucsd.edu/mapping/viewer/default.htm?mkey=1&lc=open&km=open&rc=c…> Monday July 14 9-10 a.m. Welcome and light snacks 10-11 a.m. Christian Van den Broeck “A short introduction to large deviations” 11 a.m.-12 noon Raul Toral “Efficient sampling of phase space” 12 noon-2 p.m. Lunch break and discussion time 2-3 p.m. Alberto Imparato “Efficiency at maximum power in molecular motors” 3-4 p.m. Ilkay Altintas “Workflow-driven science” 4-5 p.m. Discussion time Tuesday July 15 9-10 a.m. Welcome and light snacks 10-11 a.m. Emre Neftci “From VLSI spiking neurons to practical applications and cognition” 11 a.m.-12 noon Michael Gilson ”Plumbing the depths of entropy and enthalphy in molecular recognition” 12 noon-2 p.m. Lunch break and discussion time 2-3 p.m. Daniel Escaff “Down from systems of infinite to finite numbers of elements: Computational aspects of the analysis of resultant fluctuations” 3-4 p.m. Tristan Webb “Utilizing purely functional parallel strategies for spiking neural network simulations” 4-5 p.m. Discussion time

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CNS 2014 workshop on using the NSG for parallel simulations
by Ted Carnevale July 7, 2014

July 7, 2014

The Neuroscience Gateway Portal (NSG) eliminates most administrative and technical barriers to High Performance Computing (HPC) resources, so that computational neuroscientists can readily use simulators such as Brian, GENESIS 3, NEST, NEURON, and PyNN to carry out parallel simulations. To find out how the NSG can accelerate your own modeling project, come to the workshop "Running parallel simulations on HPC resources via the Neuroscience Gateway Portal" which starts at 9 AM on Wednesday, July 30, at the CNS 2014 meeting. The workshop will include a presentation on the NSG itself, plus * presentations by modelers who are using NSG in their research projects --Timothy Rumbell, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, USA: "Modeling of cortical neurons in aging monkeys", --Marianne Bezaire, University of California Irvine, Irvine, USA: "Using the NSG for a large-scale parallel computer model of the CA1 network," * a presentation by a member of the development team of one of the simulators that is available through the NSG --Marcel Stimberg, École Normale Supérieure and Institut de la Vision, Paris, France: "The Brian 2 spiking neuronal network simulation tool" Relevant webpages: http://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2014-workshops-program http://www.nsgportal.org/workshop.html

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ACCV 2014 Workshop: Intelligent Mobile & Egocentric Vision (IMEV 2014)
by Cheston Tan July 6, 2014

July 6, 2014

Call for Papers ACCV 2014 Workshop: Intelligent Mobile & Egocentric Vision (IMEV 2014) November 1 or 2, 2014, Singapore http://mml.citi.sinica.edu.tw/IMEV2014/home.htm The goal of IMEV 2014 is to identify and promote novel computer vision algorithms, systems and frameworks, which are particularly suitable for intelligent and interactive information processing on mobile and wearable computing platforms. This is the 3rd workshop in the series: this year, we expand the scope to include egocentric vision, an exciting emerging topic in computer vision.IMEV 2014 aims to bring together researchers to present latest developments and technical solutions in the domain of intelligent mobile and egocentric vision, including novel algorithms, applications, and systems. Research topics relevant to, but not limited to, the following areas are welcome: Mobile Vision - Feature extraction on mobile devices - Motion analysis and recovery for mobile cameras - Gesture/object/location recognition with mobile cameras - 3D mobile vision - Augmented reality on mobile devices - Human computer interaction with mobile devices - Computer vision applications on hand-held devices - Indexing and retrieval of images and videos for mobile devices - Multi-sensor integration for mobile vision - Hardware and embedded systems for mobile vision - Mobile vision incorporated with robot vision - Related MPEG standards- CDVS (Compact Descriptors for Visual Search) and CDVA (Compact Descriptors for Video Analysis) - Other topics related to mobile vision. Egocentric Vision - Visual feature learning from FPV videos - Egocentric video summarization, life-logging - Social activity analysis from FPV videos - Activity recognition in first-person vision - Eye-gaze tracking & attention modeling - Object recognition & tracking in FPV videos - Scene understanding in first-person video - Human Computer Interaction issues in first-person vision - Privacy issues in first-person video - Other topics related to egocentric vision. Submission should be in the ACCV 2014 format. Please consult the ACCV submission website for the exact formatting and template. IMEV 2014 workshop paper submission website is via the CMT system: https://cmt.research.microsoft.com/IMEV2014. The proceedings will be published by Springer in the Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS) series. Preliminary Important Dates: Paper Submissions Sep 1, 2014 - 23:59 PDT (GMT+8) Author Notification Sep 15, 2014 - 23:59 PDT (GMT+8) Camera Ready Sep 20, 2014 - 23:59 PDT (GMT+8)

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post-doctoral fellowships in neural correlates of hearing at U. Penn
by Yale Cohen July 5, 2014

July 5, 2014

We are seeking highly motivated post-doctoral fellows to participate in a research program that tests the neural bases of sound perception. This research will be conducted at the University of Philadelphia. The goals of these projects are to test the contribution of various regions of the auditory cortex and prefrontal cortex to sound perception in non-human primates. Candidates should have a PhD. Those with an MD will be considered but only if the candidates have a strong scientific background. A strong candidate will have experience in systems and computational neuroscience; recording and analysis of single- and multi-unit activity and local-field potentials from awake, behaving animals (in particular non-human primates); experience in training animals on operant tasks; analysis of behavioral data and electrophysiological data; computational-analysis skills; and programming skills. We are interested in individuals who have a good personality and can interact well with other members of the laboratory. The positions are funded through two new R01s and are available immediately. One of the grants is funded to Yale Cohen. The second is funded to both Yale Cohen and Yonatan Fishman. Salary will be based on experience and the NIH post-doctoral scale. The University of Pennsylvania has an outstanding environment for neuroscience; in particular, systems and computational neuroscience. The environment is further enriched by the PIs’ ongoing collaborations with other members of the Penn Neuroscience community. For more information or to apply, contact Yale Cohen (YaleECohen(a)gmail.com) or Yon Fishman (yonatan.fishman(a)einstein.yu.edu) Interested applicants should send a CV; a brief statement of research interests; and names of 2-3 referees.

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Reminder CfP BCBT2014 Summer School, Barcelona, Spain
by BCBT, Bústia Compartida July 4, 2014

July 4, 2014

Dear all, applications and scholarships to attend the BCBT2014 summer school are now open. Do not miss it! Kind regards BCBT2014 *Barcelona Cognition, Brain and Technology Summer School (BCBT2014)* University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain. September 1-12, 2014 http://bcbt.upf.edu/bcbt14/ We would like you to join us for the annual *"Barcelona Cognition, Brain and Technology summer school - BCBT2014 *" to be held from September 1-12, 2014 in Barcelona Spain. The summer school is at its seventh edition and is part of a series of events organized by the European coordination action Convergent Science Network of Biomimetics and Neurotechnology (http://csnetwork.eu/) BCBT is positioned at the interface between biology and future and emerging technologies with an emphasis on the principles underlying brains and their translation to avant-garde technologies. BCBT promotes a shared systems-level understanding of the functional architecture of the brain and its possible emulation in artificial systems. This is the 7th year of BCBT, which ran with great success in previous years thanks to an excellent line-up of outstanding speakers (see bcbt.upf.edu for previous editions of the school). BCBT lectures are available online (see http://csnetwork.eu/) as well as the CSN *Podcast interviews *with many of the BCBT speakers.. BCBT caters to the students and researchers involved in projects that are in the ambit of “Bio-ict convergence”, "Brain Inspired ICT", “Cognitive systems-robotics”. BCBT will offer up to 30 student slots for the practical workshops while as many researchers can register to attend the presentations and discussion sessions as are interested. For the lectures the limit will be placed at 60-70 given the capacity of the available lecture theatre. The atmosphere of the BCBT summer school is informal with the goal to stimulate in-depth discussion. There are presentations in the morning, usually 2, with the afternoons reserved for tutorials and projects for student participants and road-mapping workshops or further discussion for senior scientists. For the 2014 edition we plan a *1st week* of the school addressing *Evolutionary and Developmental aspects of nervous systems and behavior *(*Session 1*, 1-5 Sept*)*, while the *2nd week* will include presentations aimed at the investigation of *Core Brain Systems* with emphasis on the basal ganglia (*Session 2*, 8-9 Sept) followed by roadmapping sessions (*Session 3*, 10-11 Sept). Friday 12 is reserved for the presentation of the student projects to which everybody is invited. *Application deadline: August 2nd, 2014* For more information and to apply, please go to http://bcbt.upf.edu/bcbt14 *BCBT offers a number of scholarships.* These are CSN scholarships <http://csnetwork.eu/scholarships> and may cover travel expenses, accommodation and registration fee.http://bcbt.upf.edu/bcbt14 BCBT2014 is supported by the Convergent Science Network of Biomimetics and Neurotechnology (http://csnetwork.eu/) and is co-organized by Paul Verschure (BCBT Chair) SPECS, University Pompeu Fabra Barcelona, ES Tony Prescott (BCBT Co-Chair) University of Sheffield, UK Leah Krubizer (BCBT Co-Chair) UC Davis, CA, USA Anna Mura (BCBT Co-Chair) SPECS, University Pompeu Fabra Barcelona, ES

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[job offer] Open-Source 3D printed humanoid robotics: Experienced engineer in electronics
by Pierre-Yves Oudeyer July 4, 2014

July 4, 2014

Job offer at Inria Flowers, France within Poppy Project: Open-Source 3D printed humanoid robotics, http://www.poppy-project.org === Title: Experienced electronics engineer (2 years) === Apply at: pierre-yves.oudeyer(a)inria.fr and matthieu.lapeyre(a)inria.fr === Context The Flowers lab is a mixed team (Inria/Ensta ParisTech) composed of about 20 researchers and engineers. Flowers is a research team internationally renowned in developmental and humanoid robotics. It collaborates with several European, American and Asian laboratories, and coordinates several European projects. The team is also very active in the dissemination of science among the general public, and regularly participates in exhibitions and collaborations with artists as acting to make younger discover robotics. Web: https://flowers.inria.fr === Mission The research work conducted in the Flowers team led to the conception of Poppy (http://www.poppy-project.org/) one of the first humanoid robot in the world to be both open-source and 3D printed. It aims to become a community and multi-disciplinary platform for exploration and experimentation in robotics for Research, Art and Educational purposes. In its current version, Poppy is about 80cm tall for 3.5 kg. It has 25 joints motorized by Robotis smart-actuators (http://www.robotis.com/xe/dynamixel_en) These servo-motors, although effective, cost about 5.000€ on the 7.500€ of Poppy. Poppy is a low-cost robot in the world of research, however for its educational, training and scientific mediation missions, the cost limit its diffusion. Several improvements should be made in order to take down it cost and make Poppy even more accessible. In a team with a mechanical engineer and relying on existing work as Open Servo (http://openservo.com/) and Supermodified (http://letsmakerobots.com/node/18615) your role will be to work on control and automation of Poppy 2. You will also take involved in the execution of projects related to Poppy, and in a international working environment. === Description Conception of the general electronics architecture of the next versions of Poppy and working on low-cost actuator integration. Development of the library and low level control and integration with pypot (https://github.com/poppy-project/pypot) Profile • Practical experience in the design of electronics boards (electronic design automation (Eagle or KiCad), routing design rules, protection (ESD, short-cut), noise filtering) • Theoretical and practical experience with embedded systems (programming microcontroller, low-level communication, sensors, real time) • Control and design of medium power electronics (control loop, H bridge, design of heat sink) • Familiarity with the Arduino environment • Familiarity with the Python programming language • English proficiency • Team work Requirements • Minimum 2 years of experience • Master degree Benefits • Partial support of transportation costs. • Food restauration available on site. • Dynamic and pleasant working ambiance Additional Information • Duration of contract: 24 months • Estimated date of employment: 1 October 2014 • Monthly gross salary: 2600 euros to 3500 euros (depending on experience). For more information about the position, contact pierre-yves.oudeyer(a)inria.fr and matthieu.lapeyre(a)inria.fr

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New journal: Neuropsychiatric Electrophysiology
by Martijn Arns July 4, 2014

July 4, 2014

Dear colleagues, I wanted to point your attention to this new open access journal that was just started with Nash Boutros as Editor in Chief: Neuropsychiatric Electrophysiology: http://www.npepjournal.com<http://www.npepjournal.com/> (NPEP) is an open access journal for researchers and clinicians interested in the applications of electrophysiological techniques for probing basic electrophysiological aberrations in neuropsychiatric disorders. The journal will span basic neuroscience theory, technology and methodology, as well as clinical research and practice, with a focus on moving electrophysiology laboratory findings from the bench to bedside. NPEP welcomes research utilizing various diagnostic and therapeutic techniques as they apply to neuropsychiatric conditions, as well as studies bridging the gap between electrophysiology and neuroimaging, genetics and pharmacology. Kind regards, Martijn Arns, PhD Director / Researcher Twitter: @Brainclinics Research Institute Brainclinics Brainclinics Treatment Bijleveldsingel 34 6524 AD Nijmegen The Netherlands Tel: +31(0)24-7503505 GSM: +31 (0)6-48177919 Fax: +31(0)24-8901447 E-mail: martijn(a)brainclinics.com<mailto:martijn@brainclinics.com> URL: www.brainclinics.com<http://www.brainclinics.com>

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[publication and call for dialog] IEEE CIS Newsletter on Autonomous Mental Development 10th anniversary !
by Pierre-Yves Oudeyer July 3, 2014

July 3, 2014

Dear colleagues, It is my pleasure to announce the release of the latest issue of the IEEE CIS Newsletter on Autonomous Mental Development, which is now celebrating its 10th anniversary ! This is the biannual newsletter of the computational developmental sciences and developmental robotics community, studying mechanisms of lifelong learning and development in machines and humans. It has progressively become a place of lively and inspiring scientific dialogues spanning an incredible network of topics over the years, with the contributions of many key actors of computational developmental sciences. It is available at: http://www.cse.msu.edu/amdtc/amdnl/AMDNL-V11-N1.pdf Highlights of this issue: === Dialog initiated by Katarina Pastra, with responses from Rick Dale, Katharina Rohlfing et al., Gary Lupyan, Catriona Silvey, Kerstin Fischer and Emmanuel Dupoux. === "How are Grammatical Constructions Linked to Embodied Meaning Representations?" This dialog explores various facets of the interaction between the formation of linguistic and conceptual/sensorimotor structures, and in particular the hypothesis that language as a communication system may have evolved as a byproduct of language as a tool for organising conceptual structures. === New dialog initiated by Katharina Rohlfing, Britta Wrede and Gerhard Sagerer === “Trained on everything" In the years to come, one very important challenge in developmental sciences is education. Taking an integrated and interdisciplinary approach requires to handle with dexterity concepts and methods from diverse scientific fields ranging from psychology, neuroscience, biology, robotics, computer science or mathematics. How can we grow a community of young researchers mastering the latest advances? How can we teach them to establish cross-disciplinary collaboration and impact? These are the questions raised in the new dialogue initiation. Those of you interested in reacting to this dialog initiation are welcome to submit a response (contact pierre-yves.oudeyer(a)inria.fr) by Septembet 15th, 2014. The length of each response must be between 600 and 800 words (including references). Let me remind you that previous issues of the newsletter are all open-access and available at: http://www.cse.msu.edu/amdtc/amdnl/ I wish you a stimulating reading! Best regards, Pierre-Yves Oudeyer, Editor of the IEEE CIS Newsletter on Autonomous Mental Development Research director, Inria Head of Flower project-team Inria and Ensta ParisTech, France http://www.pyoudeyer.com https://flowers.inria.fr http://www.poppy-project.org

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