April 2018 - Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

Berkeley course in mining and modeling neuroscience data (Application deadline April 20)

by Friedrich Sommer

A reminder: the application deadline is in about 8 days (April 20). Information about the course is below. ------------------ We invite applicants to the 2018 summer course in "Mining and modeling neuroscience data" to be held July 9-20 at UC Berkeley. A description of the course is below and also at: http://crcns.org/course Application deadline is April 20. ----- Berkeley summer course in mining and modeling neuroscience data July 9-20, 2018 Redwood Center for Theoretical Neuroscience, UC Berkeley Organizers: Fritz Sommer, Bruno Olshausen & Jeff Teeters (HWNI, UC Berkeley) Scope This course is for students and researchers with backgrounds in mathematics and computational sciences who are interested in applying their skills toward problems in neuroscience. It will introduce the major open questions of neuroscience and teach state-of–the-art techniques for analyzing and modeling neuroscience data sets. The course is designed for students at the graduate level and researchers with background in a quantitative field such as engineering, mathematics, physics or computer science who may or may not have a specific neuroscience background. The goal of this summer course is to help researchers find new exciting research areas and at the same time to strengthen quantitative expertise in the field of neuroscience. The course is sponsored by the National Institute of Health, the National Science Foundation from a grant supporting activities at the data sharing repository CRCNS.org, and the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute at UC Berkeley. Format The course is “hands on” in that it will include exercises in how to use and modify existing software tools and apply them to data sets, such as those available in the CRCNS.org repository. Course Instructors Robert Kass, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh Sonja Grün, Juelich Research Center, Germany Frederic Theunissen, University of California Berkeley Odelia Schwartz, University of Miami Stephanie Palmer, University of Chicago Maneesh Sahani, Gatsby Unit, University College London Course Moderators Fritz Sommer and Jeff Teeters, Redwood Center for Theoretical Neuroscience. Speakers To complement the main course instruction there will be lectures in the evenings by local Berkeley and UCSF neuroscientists presenting their research using quantitative approaches. Requirements Applicants should be familiar with linear algebra, probability, differential and integral calculus and have some experience using MatLab and Python. Each student must bring a laptop with both MatLab and Python installed. Cost There is no cost to attend. Non-local attendees will be reimbursed for economy travel expenses (up to a maximum of $500 domestic and $600 foreign) and will have most meals provided. Housing Rooms in the University dorms will be provided for those non-local attendees who need accommodations. Most dorm rooms are double occupancy (shared). Food Almost all meals will be provided to non-local attendees and some meals will be provided to local attendees. How to apply To apply, submit the online form linked from: http://crcns.org/course. A curriculum vitae and a letter of recommendation are required. The course is limited to 25 students. Deadlines Applications must be received by April 20. Notifications of acceptance will be given by May 15. Questions Questions about the course can be sent to course [at] crcns.org. Topics covered (subject to change): Basic approaches: - The problem of neural coding - Population coding - Spike trains, firing rate, point processes, and generalized linear models - Statistical thinking in neuroscience - Overview of stimulus-response function models - Theory of model fitting / regularization / hypothesis testing - Bayesian methods - Spike sorting - Estimation of stimulus-response functionals: regression methods, spike-triggered covariance - Variance analysis of neural response - Estimation of SNR. Coherence Information theoretic approaches: - Information transmission rates - Scene statistics approaches and neural modeling Techniques for analyzing multiple-channel recordings: - Unitary event analysis - Proper surrogates for spike synchrony analysis - Sparse coding/ICA methods, vanilla and methods including statistical models of nonlinear dependencies - Deep learning and supervised learning - Methods for assessing functional connectivity - Generalized Linear Models - Multivariate phase coupling - Statistical issues in network identification - Low-dimensional latent dynamical structure in network activity – Gaussian process factor analysis and newer approaches - Extracting population responses to experimental inputs - LDA, DPCA and other low-rank regression

April 13, 2018

Call for Summer School: Big Data and Analytics, University of Essex, UK (23 July –3 August 2018)

by Raza, Haider

Dear All, On behalf of the Institute of Analytics and Data Science, University of Essex, we are pleased to invite you to attend its fourth annual “Big Data and Analytics Summer School 2018”. The Summer School will be held at the University of Essex, Colchester Campus, England, UK from 23 July - 3 August 2018. Link: https://www.iadssummerschool.com/. The list of speakers is available at https://www.dropbox.com/s/ufpw7z0xhgf42lm/Summer%20School%20Poster%202018.p… * ** Scholarships are available for students and postdocs. It will be awarded on an application basis, and only applicants from developing countries are eligible to apply. ** Deadline 15 April 2018 The fourth annual IADS Big Data and Analytics Summer School provides graduates, postgraduates, researchers, academics, business professionals, and practitioners, with the opportunity to join leading academics, data scientists, and engineers from around the world to explore the latest advancements in computer science. Immerse yourself and network with influential data science leaders from organizations such as Microsoft, BT, Fraunhofer, Micro Focus, Celtra, and more, providing training topics that include: * Methodologies and techniques for Big Data and analytics * Practical applications such as in business, health, and other sectors * Data curation and management. The legal, ethical, and human rights implications of data. With our one or two weeks customizable programs, courses are delivered over parallel sessions. Our great value ticket prices include access to introductory, intermediate, and advanced courses, suggested pathways, keynote talks, exclusive access to our social and networking evenings, and certification. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact: “Miss Shaaba Lotun”, IADS Executive Officer Telephone: +44(0)1206 973496 Email:iadssum@essex.ac.uk<mailto:iadssum@essex.ac.uk> -- Best Regards! -- Dr Haider Raza Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute for Analytics and Data Science, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park Colchester, CO4 3SQ E h.raza(a)essex.ac.uk<mailto:h.raza@essex.ac.uk> T +44 (0)1206 87 3211 W www.essex.ac.uk/iads<http://www.essex.ac.uk/iads> OW https://www.essex.ac.uk/people/razah72409 PW https://sites.google.com/site/whoishraza/home Social: || LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/in/sagihaider/> || ResearchGate<https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Haider_Raza3> || GoogleScholar<https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=oM66s7wAAAAJ&hl=en> ||

April 12, 2018

Workshop: Dynamics of learning and computations in neuronal circuits, June 27-29, 2018, Göttingen

by farzad

April 12, 2018

Book Announcement: Mathematical and Theoretical Neuroscience

by thierry nieus

Apologies for multiple postings. Dear Colleagues, The following book is now available: "Mathematical and Theoretical Neuroscience" (Springer). This volume gathers contributions from theoretical, experimental and computational researchers who are working on various topics in theoretical/computational/mathematical neuroscience. The focus is on mathematical modeling, analytical and numerical topics, and statistical analysis in neuroscience with applications. The following subjects are considered: mathematical modelling in Neuroscience, analytical and numerical topics; statistical analysis in Neuroscience; Neural Networks; Theoretical Neuroscience. The book is addressed to researchers involved in mathematical models applied to neuroscience. All chapters of the book are relative to the talks given at the NeuroMath Indam meeting: http://www.mat.unimi.it/users/naldi/NeuroMath/ More information (in particular the Table of contents) can be found on the following web page: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-68297-6 Best regards Thierry Nieus Giovanni Naldi -- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "Luigi Sacco" University of Milan via G. B. Grassi 74 - 20157 Milano <https://maps.google.com/?q=via+G.+B.+Grassi+74+-+20157+Milano&entry=gmail&s…>

April 12, 2018

Postdoc in computational neuroscience / behavioral modelling & fMRI, Dresden, Germany

by Lorenz Gönner

We invite applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow in Computational Neuroscience. The successful candidate will be an independent researcher with proven record in computational modeling of behavioral data and strong team-work abilities. Previous experience in brain imaging is not required, but highly useful. The candidate will be in charge of modelling behavioral data from decision-making and executive control tasks, improving existing and developing new methods in the field of computational neuroscience. Furthermore, the successful candidate is expected to instruct and supervise PhD students. In addition, the position offers the possibility for further scientific qualification (i.e., Habilitation). The position is associated to the Collaborative Research Center (CRC 940) “Volition and Cognitive Control: Mechanisms, Modulators, and Dysfunctions”, comprising of 14 projects with a budget of over 10 Mill. € in its second funding period. The center combines expertise from experimental and biological psychology, cognitive-affective neuroscience, lifespan developmental neuroscience, clinical psychology and psychiatry to investigate cognitive and neural mechanisms and modulators of volitional control, the development and aging of these mechanisms, and volitional dysfunctions in selected mental disorders. The CRC and the TU Dresden (which is one of the 11 Universities of Excellence selected by the German Research Foundation and the German Council of Science and Humanities) provide an outstanding scientific infrastructure and ideal environment for interdisciplinary cooperation. The salary is according to the E13 TV-L dispositions. Contract is initially limited till July 2020. For details concerning the position and the application process, see https://www.uniklinikum-dresden.de/de/jobs-und-karriere/stellenangebote/wis…

April 12, 2018

NEST Conference 2018 --- Abstract submission and registration open

by Hans Ekkehard Plesser

Dear colleagues! It is a great pleasure to invite everyone interested in large-scale neural network simulation, particularly current and potential users of NEST, the Neural Simulation Tool (http://www.nest-simulator.org) to the NEST Conference 2018 to be held on 25/26 June 2018 (Monday/Tuesday, lunch to lunch) on the beautiful campus of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences at Ås, 30km south of Oslo. The NEST Conference provides an opportunity for the NEST Community to meet, exchange success stories, swap advice, learn about current developments in and around NEST spiking network simulation and its application. We would like you to share your experiences made and results obtained with NEST during the conference. You can do so either by a short oral presentation (10–15 minutes), on a poster, through a demo, or by organizing group work. Important dates • 30 April 2018 — Deadline for child-care requests • 13 May 2018 — Deadline for abstract submissions • 17 May 2018 — Notification of acceptance • 25 May 2018 — Deadline for registration For details, abstract submission and registration, please see http://www.nest-initiative.org/conference You are also welcome to contact us at conference(a)nest-initiative.org. We are looking forward to welcoming you to Ås in June! Hans Ekkehard Plesser President The Neural Technology Simulation Initiative http://www.nest-initiative.org -- Dr. Hans Ekkehard Plesser Associate Professor Faculty of Science and Technology Norwegian University of Life Sciences PO Box 5003, 1432 Aas, Norway Phone +47 6723 1560 Email hans.ekkehard.plesser(a)nmbu.no Home http://arken.nmbu.no/~plesser

April 12, 2018

Virtual Think Tank: Shaping AI and Augmented Cognition in the USAF of 2030

by Jeff Krichmar

Dear Colleagues, Help us catalyze and shape future major science investments of the DOD and beyond. We have been tasked to prepare a report for the USAF leadership on how AI and Augmented Cognition should factor into USAF investments with a time horizon of a decade plus (2030). Because advances in the various relevant disciplines and technologies are occurring in a non-linear fashion, preparing such a report is extremely challenging. Without question, how the USAF operates across space, air, land and cyber will all be profoundly affected. In addition, the question of strategic surprise must be considered because other nations are investing heavily in these domains currently and where the paradigm breaking advances will occur is not readily predictable. Our goal is to have a draft report ready by June 30 and to that effect, we are convening a number of events (both face-to-face and on-line) and activities to gain input from community members. Useful input will come from across the intellectual waterfront, not just the AI, Cognitive Science and Computer Science communities. We are particularly interested in the ethical, legal and social issues associated with how AI and Augmented Cognition will play out in the US Air Force milieu. The primary objective of the effort is to illuminate the 2030 technology horizon for AI in the USAF context. A secondary objective is to facilitate the building of a community of USAF aligned experts who can provide continuing advice to the USAF as an external advisory board (akin to the Jasons). The final objective is to facilitate the discussions necessary to build a pipeline of technological expertise in AI to avoid or respond to strategic surprise in this area. If you’d like to get involved, please use this link: https://goo.gl/CkntHq to complete a 1-minute application. Once part of the team, you’ll be able to get more information about: 1. The asynchronous online activities, between April 10-27. 2. The three online MicroLabs (interactive online events) on April 30, May 1 and May 2. 3. The face-to-face IdeasLab workshop on May 7 - May 11. 4. The virtual components of the IdeasLab (between May 7 - May 11) for those that can?t join us in person. 5. Theˇpost-workshop review activities of the draft report between May 11 and June 8. More information is at: https://hub.ki/groups/gmuai/overview Sincerely, James Olds - Former head of the Biological Sciences Directorate at NSF and University Professor of Neuroscience and Public Policy at the Schar School, George Mason University Stephen Fiore - Director, Cognitive Sciences Laboratory, and Professor with the University of Central Florida's Cognitive Sciences Program in the Department of Philosophy and Institute for Simulation & Training Jeff Krichmar - Professor in the Department of Cognitive Sciences and the Department of Computer Science at the University of California, Irvine Event facilitator: Stavros Michailidis, Knowinnovation, stavros.michailidis(a)knowinnovation.com Please send an email with any questions or if there are any issues with the above links and please include USAF 2030 AI in the subject line of all event inquiries. Jeff Krichmar Department of Cognitive Sciences 2328 Social & Behavioral Sciences Gateway University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA 92697-5100 jkrichma(a)uci.edu http://www.socsci.uci.edu/~jkrichma

April 11, 2018

REMINDER: Valentino Braitenberg Award for Computational Neuroscience - Call for Nominations

by Alexandra Stein

Dear Colleagues, The Bernstein Association for Computational Neuroscience invites nominations for the Valentino Braitenberg Award for Computational Neuroscience. The Bernstein Association for Computational Neuroscience presents the award biennially to a scientist in recognition of outstanding research that contributes to the understanding of the functioning of the brain. The major criterion for the award is the impact or potential impact of the recipient's research on the field of brain science. In the spirit of Valentino Braitenberg's own research, special emphasis is given to theoretical studies elucidating the functional implications of brain structures and their neuronal network dynamics. The awardee receives €5.000 prize money, donated by the Autonome Provinz Bozen Südtirol, as well as an invitation to the Bernstein Conference 2018 (including registration fee, travel- and accommodation expenses). The award will be presented together with a Golden Neuron pin in a special award ceremony at the Bernstein Conference, followed by a lecture of the Braitenberg Awardee. Nominations may be submitted by scientists working in the field of computational neuroscience and should include the following documents: - One-page laudation, in which the scientific work of the candidate is honored with regard to the award criteria - CV and list of publications Deadline for nominations is April 30, 2018 by email to a.stein(a)fz-juelich.de<mailto:a.stein@fz-juelich.de> Please note that self-nominations are not permitted. The call for nominations can be found under the following URL: www.nncn.de/en/bernstein-conference/2018/braitenberg_award<http://www.nncn.de/en/bernstein-conference/2018/braitenberg_award> For inquiries please contact a.stein(a)fz-juelich.de<mailto:a.stein@fz-juelich.de>. Best regards, Alexandra Stein -- Dr. Alexandra Stein Head of Bernstein Coordination Site Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience | Bernstein Coordination Site (BCOS) Branch Office of the Forschungszentrum Jülich at the University of Freiburg Hansastr. 9A | 79104 Freiburg, Germany phone: (+49) 0761 203 9583 mobile: (+49) 0151 67114645 mail: a.stein(a)fz-juelich.de<mailto:a.stein@fz-juelich.de> web: www.bernstein-network.de<http://www.bernstein-network.de> Twitter: NNCN_Germany YouTube: Bernstein TV Facebook: Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience, Germany LinkedIn: Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience, Germany ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 11, 2018

Three Postdoctoral or PhD positions in Stochastic Signal Processing/Computational Modelling fMRI/EEG

by Shankar Tumati

Three postdoctoral (or graduate) positions are available at the Mind, Brain Imaging & Neuroethics lab. The candidates should have strong background in brain imaging (fMRI, MRS, EEG/MEG, TMS) and preferably strong education in neuroscience/brain imaging, engineering, physics, and/or computational neuroscience for data analyses. The project focuses on resting state and its interaction with task-evoked activity in relation to mental features like self and consciousness in both healthy and psychiatric subjects where neuronal, electrophysiological and biochemical measures will be obtained. A specific focus will be on novel ways of dynamic and non-linear analyses of the brain imaging data in conjunction with computational modeling and signal processing analyses. Part of the project will be carried out in China at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou/China and, in part, in Ottawa/Canada as the PI has affiliations with both places. Hence, Chinese skills are of advantage but not a prerequisite for application. More information about our work can be found on the website: www.georgnorthoff.com For PhD candidates. Graduation at University of Ottawa (PhD) under the supervision of Dr. G. Northoff is possible. Salary for the postdoctoral candidates depends on qualifications and will be around 35.000 CAD to 70.000 CAD. Outstanding candidates may also qualify for faculty position in China. Candidates shall contact: Dr. G. Northoff: georg.northoff(a)theroyal.ca (website: www.georgnorthoff.com)

April 10, 2018

Recent paper on using Machine Learning to classify autism from schizophrenia

by Stephen Jose Hanson

Please find new Machine learning/Neuroimaging research. ?Neuroimage:Clinical Differences in atypical resting-state effective connectivity distinguish autism from schizophrenia Dana Mastrovito, Catherine Hanson, Stephen Jose Hanson Abstract Autism and schizophrenia share overlapping genetic etiology, common changes in brain structure and common cognitive deficits. A number of studies using resting state fMRI have shown that machine learning algorithms can distinguish between healthy controls and individuals diagnosed with either autism spectrum disorder or schizophrenia. However, it has not yet been determined whether machine learning algorithms can be used to distinguish between the two disorders. Using a linear support vector machine, we identify features that are most diagnostic for each disorder and successfully use them to classify an independent cohort of subjects. We find both common and divergent connectivity differences largely in the default mode network as well as in salience, and motor networks. Using divergent connectivity differences, we are able to distinguish autistic subjects from those with schizophrenia. Understanding the common and divergent connectivity changes associated with these disorders may provide a framework for understanding their shared cognitive deficits https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213158218300147?via%3Di… Stephen José Hanson Professor & Director Rutgers Brain Imaging Center (RUBIC) Cognitive Science Center (NB) Rutgers University

April 7, 2018