March 2017 - Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

Computational & Cognitive Neuroscience Summer School, in Shanghai (deadline March 15)

by Murray, John

We are pleased to announce the 7th Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience (CCN) Summer School which will take place July 6-29, 2017, on the campus of NYU-Shanghai in Shanghai, China. Designed to emphasize higher cognitive functions and their underlying neural circuit mechanisms, the course aims at training talented and highly motivated students and postdoctoral fellows from Asia and other countries in the world. Applicants with quantitative (including Physics, Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Science) or experimental background are welcomed. The lectures will introduce the basic concepts and methods, as well as cutting-edge research on higher brain functions such as decision-making, attention, learning and memory. Modeling will be taught at multiple levels, ranging from single neuron computation, microcircuits and large-scale systems, to normative theoretical approach. Python-based programming labs coordinated with the lectures will provide practical training in important computational methods. Course information is available on the CCN official website: http://www.ccnss.org Applications are being accepted now through the NYU-Shanghai website: https://research.shanghai.nyu.edu/centers-and-institutes/brain/ccnss-2017-a… The application deadline is March 15, 2017. Organizers: - Xiao-Jing Wang (New York University) - Zach Mainen (Champalimaud Neuroscience Program) - Si Wu (Beijing Normal University) - John D. Murray (Yale University) - Eric DeWitt (Champalimaud Neuroscience Program) 2017 Lecturers: - Daphne Bavelier (University of Geneva) - Timothy Behrens (University of Oxford) - Matthew Botvinick (Google DeepMind) - Michael Breakspear (University of Queensland) - Robert Desimone (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) - Jeff Erlich (NYU Shanghai) - Stefano Fusi (Columbia University) - Surya Ganguli (Stanford University) - Michael Hausser (University College London) - Nikolaus Kriegeskorte (MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit) - Yann LeCun (New York University & Facebook AI Research) - Sukbin Lim (NYU Shanghai) - Alex Pouget (University of Geneva) - Matthew Rushworth (University of Oxford) Feel free to direct any questions to: john.murray(a)yale.edu John D. Murray ----------------------------------------------- Assistant Professor Department of Psychiatry Yale University School of Medicine murraylab.yale.edu -----------------------------------------------

March 3, 2017

RESEARCH FELLOW IN DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION FOR EPILEPSY AND SEIZURE PREDICTION (2 POSITIONS)

by Levin Kuhlmann

Exciting med-tech opportunity at the interface between academia and industry. We are seeking talented research scientists to join a team conducting a clinical trial of a fully implantable system for seizure forecasting and control with epilepsy patients. Requires experience in electrophysiology and neural signal analysis. There are two Research Fellow positions available in our epilepsy research group for a new NHMRC research project titled Critical Slowing in Epilepsy. The research will quantify how the brain changes around times where it is susceptible to seizures. Seizure susceptibility will be studied using a new deep brain stimulation and recording system in a first in man clinical trial in partnership with the medical device company, Medtronic. There are also opportunities to study seizure susceptibility using the one-of-a-kind long-term continuous intracranial electroencephalography database obtained from the clinical trial of the Neurovista Seizure Advisory System. At least one of the Research Fellows will be involved in all aspects of the Medtronic trial, from testing with patients to data analysis and reporting. Testing will involve measuring the interaction between the brain's response to very small electrical stimuli and epilepsy-related changes. Close date: 12 Mar 2017 Contact both Dr Levin Kuhlmann (levink(a)unimelb.edu.au) and Dr Dean Freestone (deanrf(a)unimelb.edu.au) for details. For a position description, selection criteria and to apply visit: http://jobs.unimelb.edu.au/caw/en/job/890173/research-fellow-in-deep-brain-…

March 2, 2017

Global Scholar Awards for New Investigators

by Zylberberg, Joel L

Hi All, I want to draw your attention to a new investigator award that is open to faculty working anywhere in the world (and of any nationality). The CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar Awards<http://www.cifar.ca/global-scholars/> provide $100K (CAD) in unrestricted funds over a 2 year period. In addition to the research funding, the global scholars are appointed as members of the CIFAR research programs that most closely match their work. For the comp-neuro community, I'm guessing that would be either Learning in Machines and Brains<https://www.cifar.ca/research/learning-in-machine-and-brains/>, or Brain, Mind, and Consciousness<https://www.cifar.ca/research/brain-mind-consciousness/>. The programs have small workshop-style meetings for their ~30-40 members a few times per year. Because of the strength of the CIFAR program members (for example, the LMB group is listed here<https://www.cifar.ca/research/learning-in-machine-and-brains/>), these meetings are an extremely valuable opportunity. If you have any colleagues who might be interested in this opportunity, please forward this information on to them. Cheers, __ Joel Zylberberg, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Department of Physiology and Biophysics University of Colorado School of Medicine www.jzlab.org<http://www.jzlab.org> CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar, Learning in Machines and Brains program ~the neuroscience is theoretical, but the fun is real

March 1, 2017

Call for Workshops - Bernstein Conference 2017, extended deadline: 15.03.2017

by Zrinka Gattin

The Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience and the Bernstein Center Göttingen invite proposals for Satellite Workshops. Satellite Workshops will directly precede the Bernstein Conference 2017 in Göttingen. ************************************************************** *Important Dates:* _Workshops:_ September 12 - 13, 2017 _Main Bernstein Conference:_ September 13 - 15, 2017 _Deadline for proposal submission:_ *March 15, 2017* _Notification of workshop acceptance:_ April 10, 2017 ************************************************************** Since 2013, the Bernstein Conference hosts pre-conference workshops. They provide a stage to discuss topical research questions, novel scientific approaches and challenges in Computational Neuroscience and related fields. Workshops addressing controversial issues, open problems, and comparisons of competing approaches are encouraged. Workshop formats should be designed to foster debate beyond a mere series of talks. The Bernstein Conference started out as the annual meeting of the Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience and has become the largest annual single-track Computational Neuroscience conference in Europe in recent years. _Workshop time frame:_ September 12, 2017, 13:00 - 18:00 September 13, 2017, 9:00 - 12:30 Workshop proposals are welcome for either half-day or full-day workshops. Workshop costs: NEW THIS YEAR – FINANCIAL SUPPORT: For all accepted workshops the registration is free of charge for organizers and speakers. Organizers will also receive a waiver for the main conference fee. New this year: From the accepted workshops a maximum of ten workshops will be selected to each receive financial support of up to 1.500,00 €. For further information about the conference, please visit the conference website http://www.bernstein-conference.de. INSTRUCTIONS FOR WORKSHOP PROPOSALS PREPARATION Workshop proposals must contain: 1) Workshop Title 2) Concise description of workshop topic 3) List of potential speakers indicating speaker commitment Please use the Workshop Proposal Form that can be downloaded here: http://www.nncn.de/de/bernstein-conference/2017/satellite-workshops *Deadline for submission of Workshop proposals:**March 15, 2017* Accommodation and Hotel Reservation: We strongly recommend early room booking. The number of available accommodation is limited due to several concurrent events. We arranged for room contingents in a variety of hotels that you may book by yourself by email or phone. Please follow the instructions at our Accommodations Web-site (http://www.nncn.de/de/bernstein-conference/2017/venue/accommodation) We would like to emphasize that these room contingents will be held open up to different expiration dates depending on the hotel (or until they are filled). The earliest expiration date is already end of May 2017 whereas the majority of offers expire at the 12th of July 2017. We strongly encourage participants to share rooms and to book rooms as a group. Groups of three or four are possible if you book a suite. The room contingent contains a set of suits and apartments. We emphasize that it will be very difficult to book accommodation beyond the expiration dates. Please find a list of the hotels at our Accommodations Web-site. CONTACT: contact(a)bccn-goettingen.de We are looking forward to seeing you in Göttingen! WORKSHOP SELECTION COMMITTEE: Florentin Wörgötter (Chair) Marion Silies (co-Chair) Christian Tetzlaff (co-Chair) Matthias Bethge Laura Busse Claudia Clopath Julia Fischer Alexander Gail Richard Hahnloser Claus Hilgetag Peter Jonas Siegrid Löwel Michael Platt Viola Priesemann Nicole Rust Fred Wolf (Conference Chair) -- Dr Zrinka Gattin Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience (BCCN) Goettingen Bernstein Focus Neurotechnology (BFNT) Goettingen PhD Program in Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience Am Fassberg 17 D-37077 Goettingen Phone: +49 (0)551 5176 418 Fax: +49 (0)551 5176 14418 E-Mail:zrinka@nld.ds.mpg.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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

March 1, 2017

Open position - High resolution fMRI of bistable perception

by Tomas Knapen

Open position - High resolution fMRI of bistable perception Our lab at the *Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam* <http://vu.nl/> has an opening to be filled by either a PhD student (4 years) or junior PostDoc (2-3 years), financed by an NWO-CAS grant <http://www.nwo.nl/en/news-and-events/news/2016/nihc/1-5-million-for-sino-du…> . *Outline of research project* In this project, we will study the interplay between top-down and bottom-up processing in perceptual bistability using functional imaging of cortical laminae at 7T. This project will answer cognitive neuroscience questions from a systems neuroscience perspective. The project involves mathematical modelling of behaviour, detailed psychophysics and eye tracking, as well as the development of state-of-the-art analysis techniques for submillimeter resolution functional imaging. Therefore, the successful applicant will have a background in computation, be a fluent programmer and preferably have experience with high-resolution functional imaging. The project is a collaboration with the Zhang lab at the Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing and the He lab at the University of Minnesota, and will involve regular travel between these labs. *Information & Application* Feel free to contact Tomas Knapen <tknapen(a)gmail.com> for informal inquiries. More information on bistable perception can be found in our soon-to-appear review of the topic on the Annual Reviews of Psychology website <http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-psych-010417-085944>. The lab website can be found at tknapen.github.io, and we are part of the cognitive psychology group <http://vupsy.nl/> in the department of Behavioural and Movement Sciences at the VU. A formal application should contain a CV, two-page statement of interest and two names of persons that can provide letters of recommendation, and be sent to Barbara Goudriaan <http://127.0.0.1:4000/2017/03/01/barbara.goudriaan@vu.nl>, with reference number 00034515 in the subject line of the application email. We will entertain applications continuously from now. *Further particulars * The salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel. As an indication, this is a minimum of €2191 gross per month for a PhD position, and €2717 for a PostDoc position, depending on experience. The appointment will be initially for 1 year. After satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, it will be extended. You can find information about benefits of employment at www.workingatvu.nl <http://127.0.0.1:4000/2017/03/01/www.workingatvu.nl> Thanks, Tomas TK Signature *Tomas Knapen* Assistant Professor *@* Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - Cognitive Psychology <http://www.vupsy.nl/> *Contact* tknapen(a)gmail.com || +31 6 34091812 *Web* Lab website <http://tknapen.net/tknapen/> || GitHub profile <https://github.com/tknapen>

March 1, 2017

2x PostDocs in Gazeinformatics @ Imperial College London

by Faisal, Aldo A

Dear All, we are looking to hire 2 PostDocs in Gazeinformatics at the interface of eye movement research, machine learning and computational neuroscience. Below is the ad, feel free to give me a shout for details, best wishes Aldo --- --- Dr Aldo Faisal Director Behaviour Analytics Lab Data Science Institute & Associate Prof in Neurotechnology Department of Bioengineering & Department of Computing Imperial College London London, SW7 2AZ www.FaisalLab.org http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/people/a.faisal The Brain & Behaviour Lab of Dr Aldo Faisal is seeking to hire two 2-year Postdoctoral Fellows in Gazeinformatics to work at the interface of eye movement research, machine learning/computational neuroscience and robotics. Fostering interdisciplinary research is core to the lab’s vision and profile sought. The focus area of the project is: 1. To study hierarchical representations for perception-action in a data-driven manner to develop methods for eye movement analysis and prediction of motor actions in complex real-world tasks. 2. To automatically decode action intentions from eye movements and act them out using dextrous robotic interfaces. The technology is meant to restore the ability of paralysed people to interact with the world again. You should have or expect shortly to hold a PhD (or equivalent) in Robot Vision, Robotics, Computer Vision, Neural Engineering, Computational Neuroscience, Computational Eye Movement research or very strong quantitative and programming (e.g. Physics). Research work will involve translational evaluation of the developed technologies with paralysed end-users and industrial partners. You will need to have a thorough understanding of quantitative methods and experience supervising projects, as well as strong analytical and programming skills (e.g. MATLAB, Python, ROS, and/or C/C++). You will have experience in the field/s of; 1. Human robotics or human robotic interaction; 2. Computer vision or robot vision; 3. Neural/ behavioral/ eye-tracking data analysis and modelling; 4. Experimental eye movement research, 5. Computational neuroscience modelling, 6. Data science analysis of human neural or behavioural data, 7. Biomedical engineering or neural engineering development. You must have excellent communication skills and be able to organise your own work and prioritise work to meet deadlines. All applicants must be fluent in spoken and written English. Research Associates will work in the Brain & Behaviour Lab Research group and the Data Science Institute’s Behaviour Analytics Lab (both directed by Dr Aldo Faisal) at the South Kensington Campus.

March 1, 2017