October 2020 - Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

Up to 6 PhD fellowships in Cognitive Neuroscience at SISSA, Trieste, Italy, to start Oct, 2020
by Alessandro Treves Oct. 12, 2022

Oct. 12, 2022

SISSA is an elite postgraduate research institution located in Trieste, Italy, and focused on Maths, Physics and Neuroscience. It operates in English: many among its students and faculty are not Italian. The Cognitive Neuroscience Department hosts 6 research labs that study the neuronal bases of time and magnitude processing, visual perception, motivation and intelligence, language and reading, tactile perception and learning, and neural computation. The Department is very inter–disciplinary; our approaches include behavioural, psychophysics, and neurophysiological experiments with humans and animals, as well as computational and mathematical models. Students with diverse backgrounds (physics, math, medicine, psychology, biology) are most welcome to apply. The Department has an exceptional track record with highly competitive funds (recent funding includes 4 ERC and 3 Human Frontiers grants) and publication in top journals (Nature, Science, PNAS, Current Biology). Recent placements after PhD include Harvard, MIT, Columbia and Princeton in the US; the NTNU, Manchester and Radboud in Europe; and Sydney University, Australia. Our alumni have been awarded 4 ERC grants, the 2015 Kandel Young Neuroscientist Prize and the 2017 ICTP Prize. More information about the Department is available at our website https://phdcns.sissa.it. The selection procedure is now open; to learn how to apply, please visit https://phdcns.sissa.it/admission-procedure. Please contact the PhD Coordinator (davide.crepaldi(a)sissa.it) and/or your prospective supervisor for more information and informal enquiries. -- Alessandro Treves SISSA, Cognitive Neuroscience, http://people.sissa.it/~ale/limbo.html if in, rm 241, via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy: +39-040-3787623

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Postdoc in neural data analysis
by Mark Humphries June 26, 2022

June 26, 2022

A 3 year postdoc post is available in the lab of Prof Mark Humphries, at the University of Nottingham (UK) In this project, our aim is to test the overarching hypothesis that movement transitions are encoded by the same neural population reconfiguring its joint activity, for both rhythmic and discrete movements. We will tackle this question using newly-available population recordings during rhythmic movement transitions in Aplysia and discrete arm movement transitions in monkeys, The Humphries’ group researches fundamental insights into how the joint activity of neurons encodes information about and actions in the world. For more see: https://www.humphries-lab.org Queries: mark.humphries(a)nottingham.ac.uk Deadline: 5th September Full details, and to apply: https://jobs.nottingham.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?id=27005&forced=2 [http://jobs.nottingham.ac.uk/org/images/socialmedia.png]<https://jobs.nottingham.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?id=27005&forced=2> Job Vacancy at the University of Nottingham: Research Associate/Fellow (Fixed term)<https://jobs.nottingham.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?id=27005&forced=2> Applications are invited for a postdoctoral research fellow to join the Humphries’ group on the MRC-funded project “Uncovering the neural basis of movement transitions”. The Humphries’ group researches fundamental... jobs.nottingham.ac.uk Professor Mark Humphries | MRC Senior non-Clinical Fellow | Chair in Computational Neuroscience Lab: humphries-lab.org<https://www.humphries-lab.org/> Twitter: @markdhumphries Public blog: https://medium.com/the-spike 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 contact the sender and delete the email and attachment. Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham. Email communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored where permitted by law.

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Explainable AI: Overcoming problems of Deep Learning problems with Adaptive Resonance
by Grossberg, Stephen April 9, 2022

April 9, 2022

Dear Colleagues, There's currently a lot of interest in AI, notably Deep Learning, and in achieving autonomous adaptive intelligence. The following new article summarizes foundational problems of reliability and trustworthiness of Deep Learning, explains how Adaptive Resonance overcomes them, and outlines a blueprint for achieving autonomous adaptive intelligence: Grossberg, S. (2020). A path towards Explainable AI and autonomous adaptive intelligence: Deep Learning, Adaptive Resonance, and models of perception, emotion, and action. Frontiers in Neurobotics, June 25, 2020. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbot.2020.00036 Best, Steve Grossberg

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Postdoc at the University of Leicester to work on human single cell recordings
by Quian Quiroga, Rodrigo (Prof.) Nov. 23, 2021

Nov. 23, 2021

The Centre for Systems Neuroscience at the University of Leicester, UK, offers a 3-years postdoc position to study single cell recordings in humans – performed in epileptic patients for curative surgery. The project will investigate concept cells (a.k.a. Jennifer Aniston neurons) – that means, neurons in the hippocampus and surrounding areas that selectively fire to specific concepts, like different pictures and the written or spoken name of a particular person (e.g. Quian Quiroga et al, Nature 2005; Quian Quiroga Nature Reviews Neuroscience 2012), which are involved in declarative memory functions. For more details see: www.le.ac.uk/csn The successful candidate will contribute to performing recordings with patients in collaborating hospitals and the analysis of the data to investigate the role of these neurons in memory. He/She should have very good quantitative skills (data processing, and programing e.g. in Matlab) and a strong background or interest in neuroscience. He/She should be able to work both independently and as part of a research team within the Centre for System Neuroscience at Leicester and with our external collaborators. Informal enquiries are welcome and should be made to Paula Warrington, Research Centre Manager, csn(a)le.ac.uk or 0116 252 3249. To apply, please use this link: https://jobs.le.ac.uk/vacancies/1393/research-associate.html The applications should include a curriculum vitae and a brief description of their scientific interests The closing date for the applications is 21st October 2019. Cheers, Rodrigo Rodrigo Quian Quiroga Centre for Systems Neuroscience University of Leicester www.le.ac.uk/csn

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CFP Frontiers Research Topic: Affective Shared Perception
by Pablo Vinicius Alves De Barros April 20, 2021

April 20, 2021

Call For Papers - Frontiers Research Topic: Affective Shared Perception I. Aim and Scope Our perception of the world depends on both sensory inputs and prior knowledge. This applies in general to sensing and has particular implications for affective understanding. Humans adapt their social and affective perception as a function of the current stimulation, of the context, of the history of the interaction, and as of the status of the partner. This influences their behavior, which in turn modifies the social and affective perception of both partners and the evolution of the interaction. Understanding shared perception as part of affective processing will allow us to tackle this problem and to provide the next step towards a real-world affective computing system. The goal of this research topic is to present and discuss new findings, theories, systems, and trends in affective shared perception and computational models. We are interested in collecting interesting and exciting research from researchers on the areas of social cognition, affective computing, and human-robot interaction, including also, but not restricted to specialists in computer and cognitive science, psychologists, neuroscientists, and specialists in bio-inspired solutions. We envision that it will allow us to tackle the existing problems in this area and it will provide the next step towards a real-world affective computing system. II. Potential Topics Topics include, but are not limited to: - Affective perception and learning - Affective modulation and decision making - Developmental perspectives of shared perception - Machine learning for shared perception - Bio-inspired approaches for affective shared perception - Affective processing for embodied and cognitive robots - Multisensory modeling for conflict resolution in shared perception - New psychological findings on shared perception - Assistive aspects and applications of shared affective perception III. Submission - Abstract - 24 October 2020 - Paper Submission - 21 February 2021 IV. Guest Editors Pablo Vinicius Alves De Barros, Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Genova, Italy Alessandra Sciutti, Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Genova, Italy Ginevra Castellano, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden Yukie Nagai, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyō, Japan ---------------------------------------- Dr. Pablo Barros Postdoctoral Researcher - CONTACT Unit Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia – Center for Human Technologies Via Enrico Melen 83, Building B 16152 Genova, Italy email: pablo.alvesdebarros(a)iit.it website: https://www.pablobarros.net<http://www.pablobarros.net><https://www.p> twitter: @PBarros_br

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Postdoc (3 yrs) in dynamical reconfigurations of neural populations during movement
by Mark Humphries March 9, 2021

March 9, 2021

A 3 year postdoc post is available in the lab of Prof Mark Humphries, at the University of Nottingham (UK) In this project, our aim is to test the overarching hypothesis that movement transitions are encoded by the same neural population reconfiguring its joint activity, for both rhythmic and discrete movements. We will tackle this question by developing new computational algorithms for dynamic systems, and applying them to newly-available population recordings during rhythmic movement transitions in Aplysia and discrete arm movement transitions in monkeys, The Humphries’ group researches fundamental insights into how the joint activity of neurons encodes information about and actions in the world. For more see: https://www.humphries-lab.org Queries: mark.humphries(a)nottingham.ac.uk Deadline: 10th January 2020 Full details, and to apply: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/jobs/currentvacancies/ref/SCI182819X1 Professor Mark Humphries | MRC Senior non-Clinical Fellow | Chair in Computational Neuroscience Lab: humphries-lab.org<https://www.humphries-lab.org/> Twitter: @markdhumphries Public blog: https://medium.com/the-spike 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 contact the sender and delete the email and attachment. Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham. Email communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored where permitted by law.

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PhD in ML and AI - two VC Scholarships
by Konstantin Nikolic March 2, 2021

March 2, 2021

Two Vice-Chancellor Scholarship PhD positions in Machine Leaning are available in the “Learning and Intelligence” group of Prof Konstantin Nikolic at University of West London, UK. The group’s interests are mostly in modelling biological systems and AI/ML related to bio-inspired themes. Potential project topics include (but are not limited to, since these scholarships are not project linked): Learning in Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs), Neuromorphic robots controlled by SNNs (available are SpiNNaker boards, Dynamic Vision Sensors, etc, for example see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=135fH21QXtg) Data-driven ML algorithms based on information theory and their applications (such as medical diagnostics, video/image analysis, financial/economic or some other large dataset analysis), Neural microcircuits of learning and cognitive modelling, etc. We are also interested in developing ML algorithms for controlling neuromodulatory implants. Research related to Theoretical and Computational neuroscience could be also interesting, especially if exploring some new ideas related to learning in relatively simple biological systems. The researchers will be based in the School of Computing and Engineering at University of West London, with possible close collaboration with the Centre for Bio-Inspired Technology at Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London. Informal enquires can be directed to konstantin.nikolic(a)uwl.ac.uk<mailto:konstantin.nikolic@uwl.ac.uk>. The School enjoys state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure and continues to invest heavily in its improvement. The UWL, sourcing its origins from the Lady Byron School in 1860, is a leading modern university in the UK, consistently progressing in the league tables for the past several years. The life on campus is enriched with frequent high-quality live performances and plays given by the students from our London College of Music and London School of Film, Media and Design, the two hubs of talent and creativity. The positions are advertised here: https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/CCB695/phd-in-machine-learning-and-artificial-in…<https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jobs.…> Konstantin Nikolic, PhD Professor in Computer Science (AI, ML, Data) at University of West London Viiting Professor at Imperial College London (Institute of Biomedical Engineering) School of Computing and Engineering University of West London Ealing campus St Mary’s Road London W5 5RF UK email: konstantin.nikolic(a)uwl.ac.uk<mailto:konstantin.nikolic@uwl.ac.uk>, k.nikolic(a)imperial.ac.uk<mailto:k.nikolic@imperial.ac.uk> web: https://www.uwl.ac.uk/users/konstantin-nikolic, https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/k.nikolic

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Announcing the 1st Brain-Computer Interface Un-Conference (BCI-UC)
by Moritz Grosse-Wentrup Feb. 5, 2021

Feb. 5, 2021

Dear Colleagues: We cordially invite you to the 1st Brain-Computer Interface Un-Conference (BCI-UC)! https://bciunconference.univie.ac.at/ The 1st BCI-UC is an entirely virtual event that takes place on July 23rd 2020 from 3 pm to 9:30 pm (CEST). It differs in various ways from traditional conferences in our field: * All presentations are publicly streamed via Crowdcast. * Anybody can apply for a presentation slot by submitting an abstract. All registered attendees can up-vote their favorite abstracts. In this way, the whole community decides which presentations they would like to see presented at the conference. * Voting commences on Monday, June 29th at 8 am (CEST) and ends on Thursday, July 16th at 12 midnight (CEST). The authors of the top-rated abstracts are invited to present their work at the conference. * Registration (free of charge) is required for submitting an abstract and to up-vote submissions. In addition to the contributed talks, the 1st BCI Un-Conference features two keynotes presentations: 1. Mariska J Vansteensel (UMC Utrecht Brain Center): Towards the Daily Life Implementation of ECoG-BCIs 2. Christian Herff (Maastricht University): Decoding Speech from Invasive EEG Please join us in exploring this new way of disseminating research in our community! The BCI-UC Organizing Committee: Moritz Grosse-Wentrup Anja Meunier Philipp Raggam Anita Resch Jiachen Xu -- Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Moritz Grosse-Wentrup Research Group Neuroinformatics Faculty of Computer Science University of Vienna Hörlgasse 6, A-1090 Wien, Austria moritz.grosse-wentrup(a)univie.ac.at +43-1-4277-79610 http://neural.engineering/

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Funded PhD and Data scientist positions
by Abhishek Banerjee Jan. 14, 2021

Jan. 14, 2021

Dear colleagues, Two funded *Ph.D. positions* are available in the newly established Adaptive Decision-making lab as a part of Neuroscience, Neurodisability and Neurological Disorders research theme, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, UK. The research carried out as part of th Ph.D fellowship will investigate the role of behaviourally relevant neural circuits in decision-making and its dysfunctions in neurological disorders using experimental and theoretical approaches (PNAS 2016; BRAIN 2019; bioRxiv 2020). Exciting local and international collaborations will ensure a high standard of training and mentorship. The position is funded (UK/EU rate) for up to 3.5 years and the application deadline is *6th January 2020*. Application details can be found here or by email provided below: https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/mrc-dimen-doctoral-training-partnersh… . Additionally, the Banerjee Lab is also hiring a *Data Scientist* to be involved in projects that focus on understanding cortical computation during behaviour by combining large-scale recordings and imaging of neuronal populations. This person will be involved in analysing experimental data, developing software tools, and helping with data infrastructure. The application deadline is *31st January 2020*. Qualifications for the Data scientist position: - M.Sc. degree (or exceptional B.Sc.) in Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, or related technical field. - Programming experience in MATLAB is required, and additional experience in Python and LABView is preferred. - Background in computational neuroscience, image analysis, or machine learning is a plus. For informal inquiry, or if interested in applying for the Data scientist position, please submit a CV along with names of 3 referees to: Dr. Abhi Banerjee <abhi.banerjee(a)newcastle.ac.uk>. More details here: https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/11499/overview and http://neuronic.mit.edu/ Best wishes, Abhi -- Abhishek Banerjee Senior Lecturer Head, Adaptive Decision-making Lab Biosciences Institute Newcastle University United Kingdom I neuronic.mit.edu Skype: amiappu I @abhii_mit

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International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence and Brain Science 2020 Online
by Kenji Doya Jan. 9, 2021

Jan. 9, 2021

We are going to hold an online symposium that brings together researchers in the forefront of AI and neuroscience. All talks will be made accessible as pre-recorded movies and we will have two-hour live discussion sessions on October 10-12, 2020. Registration is free and open till September 30. Please register from the web site below. ******** International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence and Brain Science http://www.brain-ai.jp/symposium2020/ Time below is in UTC (i.e., 10pm-0am Japan, 2pm-4pm UK, 9am-11am EDT, 6am-8am PDT) <Saturday, October 10th> 13:00 Get connected 13:15 Greetings: Kenji Doya (OIST) 13:30 Discussion on Keynote: Josh Tenenbaum (MIT) 14:00 Discussion on Session 1: Deep Learning and Reinforcement Learning Chair: Jun Morimoto (ATR) Discussant: Shunichi Amari (RIKEN) Speakers: Yann LeCun (NYU, Facebook), Yutaka Matsuo (U Tokyo), Doina Precup (McGill U) David Silver (DeepMind), Masashi Sugiyama (RIKEN AIP/U Tokyo IRCN) <Sunday, October 11th> 13:00 Discussion on Session 2: World Model Learning and Inference Chair: Hiroaki Gomi (NTT) Discussant: Mitsuo Kawato (ATR) Speakers: Ila Fiete (MIT), Karl Friston (UCL), Yukie Nagai (U Tokyo IRCN) Maneesh Sahani (Gatsby Unit), Tadahiro Taniguchi (Ritsumeikan U) 14:00 Discussion on Session 3: Metacognition and Metalearning Chair: Masayuki Matsumoto (Tsukuba U) Discussant: Keiji Tanaka (RIKEN) Speakers: Matthew Botvinick (DeepMind), Ryota Kanai (ARAYA), Angela Langdon (Princeton U) Hiroyuki Nakahara (RIKEN CBS), Xiao-Jing Wang (NYU) <Monday, October 12th> 13:00 Discussion on Session 4: AI for Neuroscience and Neuromorphic Technologies Chair: Takatoshi Hikida (Osaka U) Discussant: Kunihiko Fukushima (FLSI) Speakers: Jim DiCarlo (MIT), Yukiyaku Kamitani (Kyoto U), Rosalyn Moran (King’s College London) Terry Sejnowski (Salk Institute), Hidehiko Takahashi (Tokyo MDU) 14:00 Discussion on Session 5: Social Impact and Neuro-AI Ethics Chair: Masamichi Sakagami (Tamagawa U) Speakers: Anne Churchland (UCLA), Kenji Doya (OIST), Arisa Ema (U Tokyo IFI) Hiroaki Kitano (SONY CSL), Stuart Russell (UC Berkeley) Sponsor: KAKENHI Project on Artificial Intelligence and Brain Science (http://www.brain-ai.jp) Co-sponsors: RIKEN AIP (https://aip.riken.jp/?lang=en) U Tokyo IFI (https://ifi.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/) U Tokyo IRCN (https://ircn.jp/en/) Contact: ncus(a)oist.jp ---- Kenji Doya <doya(a)oist.jp> Neural Computation Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan Phone: +81-98-966-8594; Fax: +81-98-966-2891 https://groups.oist.jp/ncu

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Creating a list of important computational predictions
by Yiota Poirazi Jan. 4, 2021

Jan. 4, 2021

Dear all, I believe you would agree that, the greatest recognition of our computational work comes with the experimental verification of our computational predictions. To highlight the most important outcomes of our theoretical work and facilitate a closer interaction with experimental labs so as to increase the chances of our predictions being experimentally tested, I would like to encourage you to nominate your favorite prediction at the following google form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJZ2RrXJ0nZonIuyNzN0Cl gXDKDb7xTzoJOiqZTGxm9Kh7ow/viewform?c=0&w=1&usp=mail_form_link This effort started during the CNS 2017 meeting in Antwerp with the support of the OCNS Board. The resulting list will be posted on the CNS 2017 web site and disseminated in social media, as a reference for experimentalists. Thank you very much for supporting this important effort! Best wishes, Yiota Poirazi -- Panayiota Poirazi, Ph.D. Research Director Computational Biology Laboratory Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB) Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH) Vassilika Vouton, P.O.Box 1385, GR 70013, Heraklion, Crete GREECE Tel: +30 2810 391139 Fax: +30 2810 391101 Εmail: poirazi(a)imbb.forth.gr Lab site: www.dendrites.gr FENS-Kavli Network of Excellence <http://www.fens.org/Outreach/FENS-Kavli-Network-of-Excellence/> -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by *E.F.A. Project* <http://www.efa-project.org>, and is believed to be clean. Click here to report this message as spam. <http://mailgate1.imbb.forth.gr/cgi-bin/learn-msg.cgi?id=4BCD7A00A1.A57D7&to…> -- Panayiota Poirazi, Ph.D. Research Director Computational Biology Laboratory Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB) Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH) Vassilika Vouton, P.O.Box 1385, GR 70013, Heraklion, Crete GREECE Tel: +30 2810 391139 Fax: +30 2810 391101 Εmail: poirazi(a)imbb.forth.gr Lab site: www.dendrites.gr FENS-Kavli Network of Excellence <http://www.fens.org/Outreach/FENS-Kavli-Network-of-Excellence/>

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ANDA 2020 - G-Node Advanced Neural Data Analysis Course, April 14-30, 2020, Jülich, Germany
by Thomas Wachtler Dec. 23, 2020

Dec. 23, 2020

ANDA 2020 - G-NODE ADVANCED NEURAL DATA ANALYSIS COURSE April 14 - 30, 2020 Haus Overbach, Jülich-Barmen, Germany Techniques to record neuronal data from populations of neurons are rapidly improving. Simultaneous recordings from hundreds of channels are possible while animals perform complex behavioral tasks. The analysis of such massive and complex data becomes increasingly challenging. This advanced course aims at providing deeper training in state-of-the-art analysis approaches in systems neuroscience. The course is addressed to excellent master and PhD students and young researchers who are interested in learning advanced techniques in data analytics and in getting hands-on experience in the analysis of electrophysiological data. Internationally renowned researchers will give lectures on statistical data analysis and data mining methods with accompanying exercises. Students will define and perform their own analyses on provided data to solve a challenge. Participants are required to have a strong interest in data analysis, a background in a mathematical or related field, knowledge of algebra, matrix operations, and statistics, and need to have solid programming experience (preferably in Python). FACULTY · Moshe Abeles, Hebrew Univ. Jerusalem, Israel · Michael Denker, Jülich Research Center, Germany · Udo Ernst, Univ. Bremen, Germany · Sonja Grün, Jülich Research Center, Germany · Adam Kohn, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA · Jakob Macke, TU Munich, Germany · Luca Mazzucato, Univ. of Oregon, Eugene, USA · Martin Nawrot, Univ. of Cologne, Germany · Yifat Prut, Hebrew Univ. Jerusalem, Israel · Hansjörg Scherberger, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany · Thomas Wachtler, LMU Munich, Germany TOPICS COVERED Single neuron properties and statistics · Stochastic processes · Surrogate methods · Detection of spatio-temporal patterns · Unitary Events · Statistical analysis of massively parallel spike data · Higher-order correlation analyses · Elephant toolbox · Spike-LFP relationship · Population coding · State space analysis · Machine learning · Data mining · Research data management and reproducibility REQUIREMENTS Applicants should be familiar with linear algebra, probability, differential and integral calculus and experienced using Python or Matlab. Preparatory reading material will be provided. Students should bring their own laptops and should be able to install software on their system. Students that do not have a suitable laptop should indicate this immediately after acceptance to the course. We will be able to provide a small number of laptops for the time of the course. COURSE FEE A course fee of 1000 Euros will be charged to cover costs for accommodation and meals. Limited financial support may be available for students that otherwise would not be able to attend, which is to be indicated in the application. HOUSING Accommodation in 2-bed rooms for students will be provided at the course site. HOW TO APPLY The application should include · a letter of motivation (max 1 page) · curriculum vitae (please indicate the relevant courses you have taken) · description of programming experience · a letter of recommendation. Please send all documents as a single PDF file to <advanced-course(a)g-node.org>. APPLICATION DEADLINE Applications must be received by NOVEMBER 15, 2019. Early application is encouraged. For further information see http://www.g-node.org/anda

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GEM 2021 - Call for papers - deadline extended
by Vinita Samarasinghe Nov. 30, 2020

Nov. 30, 2020

The deadline to submit abstracts for the GEM 2021 workshop has been extended until 30.11.2020. Please visit https://easychair.org/cfp/gem2021 to submit your abstracts for both the main workshop and the PhD symposium. ** *GEM 2021 - Generative Episodic Memory: Interdisciplinary perspectives from psychology, neuroscience and philosophy* https://for2812.rub.de/gem2021 16-18 February 2021 The workshop will take place in virtual space and is free of charge. Abstracts for both the workshop and the PhD symposium, which will precede the workshop, are now being accepted via EasyChair https://easychair.org/cfp/gem2021 Keynote Speakers: Karl-Heinz Bäuml - University Regensburg, Germany Dorthe Berntsen - Aarhus University, Denmark Amy Criss - Syracuse University, USA Dorothea Debus - University of Konstanz, Germany David Huber - University of Massachusetts, USA Sarah Robins - University of Kansas, USA Call for papers The DFG-funded research consortium “FOR 2812 – Constructing scenarios of the past” https://for2812.rub.de is proud to announce a call for papers for its first workshop on generative episodic memory. We invite submissions for talks and posters https://easychair.org/cfp/gem2021. Episodic memories are widely regarded as memories of personally experienced events. Early concepts about episodic memory were based on the storage model, according to which experiential content is preserved in memory and later retrieved. However, overwhelming empirical evidence suggests that the content of episodic memory is – at least to a certain degree – constructed in the act of remembering. Even though very few contemporary researchers would oppose this view of episodic memory as a generative process, it has not become the standard paradigm of empirical memory research. This is particularly true for studies of the neural correlates of episodic memory. Further hindering progress are large conceptual differences regarding episodic memory across different fields, such as neuroscience, philosophy, and psychology. This interdisciplinary workshop therefore aims to bring together researchers from all relevant fields to advance the state of the art in the research on generative episodic memory. FOR 2812 “Constructing scenarios of the past: A new framework in episodic memory” consists of 9 researchers. Seven from the Ruhr University Bochum and two from the University of Münster. The consortium adopts an interdisciplinary approach and investigates generative episodic memory from a conceptual, modeling, and experimental perspective using a common conceptual framework: scenario construction. Paper submission deadlines [GMT +1 (CET)]: Abstract submission - 30.11.2020 Notification of acceptance - 31.12.2020 Submission guidelines: Abstracts must be submitted in English and be no longer than 1 page. Submitted work must be original and unpublished. Abstracts must be submitted electronically through the GEM 2021 paper submission site on EasyChair https://easychair.org/cfp/gem2021. Authors will receive confirmation of receipt of their abstracts including an ID number after submission. You can edit your submission at any time before the deadline. We will consider only the final version. Program committee: Nikolai Axmacher - Faculty of Psychology - Ruhr University Bochum Sen Cheng - Institute for Neural Computation - Ruhr University Bochum Gerald Echterhoff - Faculty of Psychology - University of Münster Albert Newen - Faculty of Philosophy - Ruhr University Bochum Ricarda Schubotz - Faculty of Psychology - University of Münster Markus Werning - Faculty of Philosophy - Ruhr University Bochum Laurenz Wiskott - Institute for Neural Computation - Ruhr University Bochum Oliver Wolf - Faculty of Psychology - Ruhr University Bochum All questions regarding the workshop should be emailed to for2812(a)rub.de <mailto:for2812@rub.de> Coordinator - Vinita Samarasinghe Secretary - Christiane Dahl Vinita Samarasinghe M.Sc., M.A. Science Manager Arbeitsgruppe Computational Neuroscience Institut für Neuroinformatik Ruhr-Universität Bochum, NB 3/26 Postfachnummer 110 Universitätstr. 150 D-44801 Bochum Tel: +49 (0)234 32 27996 Email: samarasinghe(a)ini.rub.de

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Gatsby Unit PhD Programme
by Maneesh Sahani Oct. 31, 2020

Oct. 31, 2020

We're currently accepting applications for 2021 entry to the 4-year Gatsby Unit PhD programme at University College London. The Unit studies the fundamental principles of learning, perception and action in brains and machines. Ours is one of the original programmes to bring together neuroscience and machine learning, creating a critical mass for interaction amongst theoreticians in related fields. First-year courses provide training in both fields, after which thesis research may specialise in one or the other or encompass both. Students are able to work closely with colleagues in the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour (SWC, with which we share a purpose-designed building), or the cross-faculty Centre for Computational Statistics and Machine Learning (CSML); and we have links to many world-class research groups in related departments at UCL and beyond. Applicants should have a very strong analytical and mathematical background, a keen interest in neuroscience and/or machine learning and a relevant first degree, for example in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Neuroscience, Physics, Psychology or Statistics. Full funding is available regardless of nationality. For more details and how to apply, see: http://www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/teaching/phd Information about the Unit and our research interests can be found at http://www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/about.html, http://www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/research.html, and the individual faculty webpages at http://www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/Members.html. Applications must be received by 15th November 2020. Please direct enquiries to admissions(a)gatsby.ucl.ac.uk. -- Maneesh Sahani, Ph.D. Professor of Theoretical Neuroscience and Machine Learning, Director, Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit UCL, 25 Howland Street, London W1T 4JG

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postdoc and PhD positions in Budapest
by Balazs Ujfalussy Oct. 31, 2020

Oct. 31, 2020

The newly established Laboratory of Biological Computation (https://biocomplab.wordpress.com/) is looking for highly motivated postdoctoral fellows and PhD students to investigate the role of hippocampus in model based planning and predictions. The focus of our laboratory is to understand how various biological phenomena (e.g., ion channels, dendritic spikes, synaptic clustering or theta sequences) contribute to the behaviorally relevant computations performed by the hippocampus. To achieve this we develop novel theories connecting hippocampal circuit dynamics to network function, combine biophysical modelling with in vivo-like input patterns and develop new tools for statistical analysis of hippocampal single neuron and populations activity patterns. The positions with a competitive salary are available from January 1st, 2021, initially for 1 year with the possibility of extension up to 5 years. We offer a stimulating environment in the Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest and active collaboration with experimental groups in the institute with the potential to get involved in the design of novel 2P imaging and virtual reality experiments in mice and/or in analysing the data. The ideal candidate has a strong background in quantitative disciplines (physics, math, computer science) and is competent in programming (e.g. python, matlab, R, C). It is an advantage to have an experience in biophysical modelling or analysis of in vivo population activity data (imaging or electrophysiology). Please send your CV, publication list, letter of motivation and contact information for at least two references to Balazs Ujfalussy (ujfalussy.balazs(a)koki.hu) The first evaluation round will begin on November 18th, 2020. The positions will remain open until filled. With best regards, Balazs Ujfalussy

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Postdoctoral Fellow, Boston University School of Medicine, Luebke & Killiany labs
by Klaus Wimmer Oct. 30, 2020

Oct. 30, 2020

We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented postdoctoral fellow with a track record in research applying magnetic resonance imaging and image processing. The central goal of the binational (Boston and Barcelona) CRCNS project is to advance our understanding of the computational and neural mechanisms underlying working memory as well as age-related changes to executive function. The successful candidate will lead analyses of structural MRI (T1 TFE scans), resting-state fMRI, and diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) brain scans with an overall focus on brain morphometry and connectivity. Data generated from the MRI scans will be correlated with behavioral, physiological, and other anatomical data across the adult life span. This work will be part of a highly interdisciplinary project (psychophysics, imaging, anatomy, electrophysiological experiments, innovative data analysis and computational modeling) and includes the possibility for extended research stays at the Center for Mathematical Research in Barcelona, Spain (Wimmer lab <https://sites.google.com/view/wimmerlab>). The appointment as a Boston University School of Medicine postdoctoral fellow (supervised by Jennifer Luebke <http://www.bumc.bu.edu/anatneuro/our-people/faculty/luebke/> and Ronald J. Killiany <http://www.bumc.bu.edu/anatneuro/our-people/faculty/killiany/>) will be for at least 1 year with the possibility for extension based on performance. REQUIRED SKILLS: *Assist in the acquisition of MR data *Set up a pipeline for the analysis of the MRI scans *Manage image sets/data and perform quality assurance on both *Coordinate data sharing between collaborating laboratories in Boston and Barcelona *Preparation of manuscripts and scientific presentations *For questions or informal inquiries contact: Dr. Jennifer Luebke at * *jluebke(a)bu.edu* <jluebke(a)bu.edu> *Application materials must be submitted through **BU's HR website <https://bu.silkroad.com/epostings/index.cfm?fuseaction=app.jobinfo&id=23&jo…>* *.* -- Klaus Wimmer Ramón y Cajal researcher at Centre de Recerca Matemàtica Campus de Bellaterra, Edifici C 08193 Bellaterra (Barcelona) Spain Tel. +34 935 86 85 15 https://sites.google.com/view/wimmerlab

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[jobs] Postdoctoral position in “Cognition for safety and ergonomics for human-robot interaction in unstructured workspaces” at Italian Institute of Technology (IIT)
by Francesco Rea Oct. 29, 2020

Oct. 29, 2020

COgNiTive Architecture for Collaborative Technologies Research Line at Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia in Erzelli, Genoa, is seeking to appoint one postdoctoral position focusing on the assessment of engagement with safety and ergonomic work, the design of proactive measures and counter measures for safety preservation, the optimization of ergonomics, design of software infrastructure for social interaction with the mobile and dexterous co-robot. The first goal of the research is redesigning cognition for safety and ergonomics for human-robot collaboration in manufacturing and construction unstructured workspaces. The second goal is to support the design of new multipurpose robotics for collaboration (co-robots) in manufacturing processes. The selected candidate will work with a multidisciplinary consortium of participants to the recently awarded project VOJEXT, Value Of Joint EXperimentation in digital Technologies for manufacturing and construction (H2020 DT-ICT-03-2020, n. 952197). The candidate will work with different robotic platforms for human-robot interaction in manufacturing and construction sites selected together with the consortium and with different sensorial setups specifically designed to assess ergonomics and safety associated with the workers in unstructured manufacturing and constructions settings. Apply online at https://iit.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=20000042 The research for this postdoctoral position will involve: * Sensing of human working conditions for social, safe and ergonomic based on human-robot collaboration in unstructured manufacturing and construction settings * Design of control systems for mobile robots for Safety in human-robot collaboration * Development of a system improving human-robot social collaboration in unstructured manufacturing and construction sites * Development of a system improving ergonomics and mitigating health and safety risks in open and unstructured environments

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NEURONUS 2020 IBRO Neuroscience Forum - registration open 3 more days!
by Michał Zaręba Oct. 28, 2020

Oct. 28, 2020

*REGISTRATION for NEURONUS 2020 IBRO Neuroscience Forum (8-11 December 2020, ONLINE) is open only for THREE MORE DAYS! The fee has been reduced to 12€. **More information and registration forms can be found on our website: **http://neuronusforum.pl/* <http://neuronusforum.pl/>*.* The program of the conference consists of numerous sessions on biological, cognitive, computational and medical aspects of neuroscience, creating a dynamic environment for sharing knowledge. The schedule of the meeting is further complemented with lectures by invited guests. This year’s keynote speakers include: - *Karl Friston *(University College London, the UK) - *Pico Caroni *(University of Basel, Switzerland) - *Karin Roelofs *(Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands) - *Alejandro Schinder *(Leloir Institute, Buenos Aires, Argentina) - *Adam Hampshire *(Imperial College London, the UK) - *Dayu Lin *(New York University School of Medicine, the USA) Furthermore, a special panel concerning the Future of Neuroscience will be held. We have confirmed participation of three pioneering researchers: - *Viktor Jirsa *(Aix-Marseille University, France) - *Panayiota Poirazi* (Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Heraklion, Greece) - *Dominik Paquet *(Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany) During the upcoming 11th edition of the conference, we will traditionally continue to put *emphasis on development of early-career researchers*. The main purpose of this event is to provide means for both young and experienced neuroscientists to share the latest discoveries, knowledge and experience in neuroscience, as well as make valuable contacts with scientists representing various fields of neurobiology. We actively promote young scientists through preferentially allocating oral presentations of their experimental results. We strongly encourage you to join this special initiative, and hope to see you soon! On behalf of the Organising Committee, Michał Zaręba

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Launch of World Wide Theoretical Neuroscience Seminar on November, 4, 2020 at 11am EST
by David Hansel Oct. 28, 2020

Oct. 28, 2020

Dear Colleagues, We are happy to announce the launch of the World Wide Theoretical Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS). WWTNS is a weekly digital seminar on Zoom targeting the theoretical neuroscience community. Its aim is to be a platform of exchange among theoreticians. Speakers have the occasion to talk about theoretical aspects of their work which cannot be discussed in a setting where the majority of the audience consists of experimentalists. The seminars are 45 min long followed by a discussion and are held on Wednesdays at 5 pm in Western Europe, /i.e./, 11 am EST. The talks are recorded with authorization of the speaker and will be available to everybody on our YouTube channel. The first seminar will be on *November, 4, 2020 at 11am EST.* The speaker will be Larry Abbott (Columbia University). The title of his talk is: /Vector Addition in the Navigational Circuits of the Fly/// The abstract of the talk is available on the WWTNS website: http://www.wwtns.online/ *To participate in the seminar you need to fill out a registration form https://www.wwtns.online/register-page after which you will**receive an email telling you how to connect.* We would be grateful if you could forward this email to all those who may be interested. Looking forward to seeing you soon, David Hansel & Carl van Vreeswijk

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PhD position, University of Exeter, UK
by Roman Borisyuk Oct. 28, 2020

Oct. 28, 2020

The University of Exeter is recruiting a PhD student to work on an exciting project to investigate theoretically how neural networks can dynamically transition between multiple behaviours. This BBSRC-funded project is open to students from Mathematics, Physics, Natural Sciences, and Computer Science. The successful candidate will develop new neural network models of rhythmic activity in the tadpole spinal cord. They will use these models to analyse how network behaviour adapts to different sensory inputs. Data for model development will be provided by world-class electrophysiologists, who will also test predictions made by the model. This project will uncover cellular-level and network-level mechanisms that enable dynamic circuit reconfiguration in response to a changing environment. For more information on the project and instructions for applying, please visit http://www.exeter.ac.uk/studying/funding/award/?id=3975. Please contact the project investigators with any question: Joël Tabak j.tabak(a)exeter.ac.uk<mailto:j.tabak@exeter.ac.uk> Roman Borisyuk r.m.borisyuk(a)exeter.ac.uk<mailto:r.m.borisyuk@exeter.ac.uk> ________________________________ [http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/images/email_footer.gif]<http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/worldclass> This email and any files with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the recipient to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient then copying, distribution or other use of the information contained is strictly prohibited and you should not rely on it. If you have received this email in error please let the sender know immediately and delete it from your system(s). Internet emails are not necessarily secure. While we take every care, University of Plymouth accepts no responsibility for viruses and it is your responsibility to scan emails and their attachments. University of Plymouth does not accept responsibility for any changes made after it was sent. Nothing in this email or its attachments constitutes an order for goods or services unless accompanied by an official order form.

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Postdoctoral Swartz Fellowship Positions in Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience at Yale
by Murray, John Oct. 28, 2020

Oct. 28, 2020

Postdoctoral Swartz Fellowship Positions in Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience at Yale University The Swartz Center for Theoretical Neurobiology at Yale University invites applications for up to two postdoctoral positions in Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience, with flexible start date in 2021. Competitive candidates include those with a strong quantitative background who wish to gain neuroscience research experience. We especially encourage candidates with an interest in collaborating directly with experimental neuroscientists. The candidates will be expected to perform theoretical/computational studies relevant to one or more laboratories of the Swartz Center at Yale (for a list of affiliated faculty, see: https://medicine.yale.edu/neuroscience/swartz/corelabs.aspx) and will be encouraged to participate in an expanding quantitative biology environment at Yale. Candidates must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent degree by the time of beginning the fellowship. Please send a CV, selected (p)reprints, contact information for two or three references, and a statement of research interests including which laboratories at Yale are of interest. All application materials should be sent electronically to the following e-mail address: john.murray(a)yale.edu<mailto:john.murray@yale.edu>. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, but priority will be given to those received on or before January 15, 2021. For any questions, please contact John Murray. Yale University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Yale values diversity in its faculty, students, and staff and especially welcomes applications from women and underrepresented minorities. https://neurojobs.sfn.org/job/27534/postdoctoral-swartz-fellowship-position… John D. Murray ----------------------------------------------- Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Physics, and Neuroscience Yale University murraylab.yale.edu<http://murraylab.yale.edu/> -----------------------------------------------

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SMILES virtual workshop @ICDL 2020
by Xavier Hinaut Oct. 28, 2020

Oct. 28, 2020

The SMILES (Sensorimotor Interaction, Language and Embodiment of Symbols) Workshop will take place virtually at the ICDL 2020 (International Conference on Developmental Learning). * Call for abstracts and papers: - Deadline: 25th of September 2020 - papers abstracts: 2 pages - long papers: 4-6 pages - Submissions: smiles.conf(a)gmail.com <mailto:smiles.conf@gmail.com> - Papers format: same as ICDL conference https://cis.ieee.org/publications/t-cognitive-and-developmental-systems/tcd… <https://cis.ieee.org/publications/t-cognitive-and-developmental-systems/tcd…> - Workshop dates (coming soon): the days before or after the ICDL conference (26-30 October 2020) * Workshop Short Description On the one hand, models of sensorimotor interaction are embodied in the environment and in the interaction with other agents. On the other hand, recent Deep Learning development of Natural Language Processing (NLP) models allow to capture increasing language complexity (e.g. compositional representations, word embedding, long term dependencies). However, those NLP models are disembodied in the sense that they are learned from static datasets of text or speech. How can we bridge the gap from low-level sensorimotor interaction to high-level compositional symbolic communication? The SMILES workshop will address this issue through -an interdisciplinary approach involving researchers from (but not limited to): - Sensori-motor learning, - Emergent communication in multi-agent systems, - Chunking of perceptuo-motor gestures (gestures in a general sense: motor, vocal, ...), - Sensori-motor learning, - Symbol grounding and symbol emergence, - Compositional representations for communication and action sequence, - Hierarchical representations of temporal information, - Language processing and acquisition in brains and machines, - Models of animal communication, - Understanding composition and temporal processing in neural network models, and - Enaction, active perception, perception-action loop. * More info - contact: smiles.conf(a)gmail.com <mailto:smiles.conf@gmail.com> - organizers: Xavier Hinaut, Clement Moulin-Frier, Silvia Pagliarini, Joni Zhong, Loo CHU KIONG, Michael Spranger, Tadahiro Taniguchi - invited speakers (coming soon) - workshop website (comming soon): https://sites.google.com/view/smiles-workshop/ <https://sites.google.com/view/smiles-workshop/> - ICDL conference website: https://cdstc.gitlab.io/icdl-2020/ <https://cdstc.gitlab.io/icdl-2020/> * Workshop Long Description Recently Deep Learning networks have broken many benchmarks in Natural Language Processing (NLP), e.g. [1]. Such breakthroughs are realized by a few mechanisms (e.g. continuous representations like word embedding, attention mechanism, ...). However, no equivalent finding happened towards the understanding of which mechanisms enable the brain to perform similar functions. Deep Learning does not reproduce learning mechanisms nor the dynamics of the brain. The brain needs to parse incoming stimuli and learn from them incrementally, it cannot unfold time like deep learning algorithms such as Back-propagation through time (BPTT). Thus, we still lack the key neuronal mechanisms needed to properly model the (hierarchies of) functions in language perception and production. Other models of language processing reproducing the behavior of brain dynamics (Event-Related-Potentials (ERPs) [2] or functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) [3]) have been developed. However, such model softens lack explanatory power demonstrating the causes of such observed dynamics: i.e. what is computed and why is it computed – for which purpose? We need more biologically plausible learning mechanisms while producing causal explanations of the experimental data modelled. There is converging evidence that language production and comprehension are not separated processes in a modular mind, they are rather interwoven, and this interweaving is what enables people to predict themselves and each other [4].Interweaving of action and perception is important because it allows a learning agent (or a baby) to learn from its own actions: for instance, by learning the perceptual consequences(e.g. the heard sounds) of its own actions (e.g. vocal productions) during babbling [5]. Thus, the agent learns in a self-supervised way instead of relying only on supervised learning, which in contrast, imply non-biological teacher signals cleverly designed by the modeler. Explicit neuronal models explaining which are the mechanisms shaping these perceptuo-motor units through development are missing. The existence of sensorimotor (i.e. mirror) neurons at abstract representation levels (often called action-perception circuits [6]), jointly with the perceptuo-motor shaping of sensorimotor gestures [5], suggest the existence of similar action-perception mechanisms implemented at different levels of hierarchy. How could we go towards such hierarchical architectures based on action-perception mechanisms? Importantly, a language processing model needs a way to acquire the semantics of the (symbolic) perceptuo-motor gestures and of the more abstract representations, otherwise it would consider only morphosyntactic and prosodic featuresof language. These symbolic gestures, i.e. signs, need to be grounded to the mental concept, i.e. signified, they are representing. Several theories and robotic experiments give examples of how symbols could be grounded or how symbols could emerge [7]. However, current neurocomputational models aiming to explain brain processes are not grounded. Robotics have an important role here for the grounding of semantics by experiencing the world through interactions with the physical world and with humans. We need mechanisms that start from raw sensory perception and raw motor commands in order to let emerge plausible representations through development, instead of arbitrary representations. Finally, computational models of emergent communication in agent populations are currently gaining interest in the machine learning community [8], [9]. These contributions show how a communication system can emerge to solve cooperative tasks in sequential environments. However, they are still relatively disconnected from the earlier theoretical and computational literature aiming at understanding how language might have emerged from a prelinguistic substance [10], [11]. We need to conceive communication as the emergent result of a collective behavior optimization process and to ground the resulting computational models into the theoretical literature from language evolution research. The SMILES workshop will aim at discussing each of the questions mentioned above, together with original approaches on how to integrate them. [1] J. Devlin et al., 2018. [2] H. Brouwer and J. C. J. Hoeks, 2013. [3] M. Garagnani et al. 2008. [4] M. J. Pickering and S. Garrod, 2013. [5] J.-L. Schwartz et al., 2012. [6] F. Pulvermüller and L. Fadiga, 2010. [7] T. Taniguchi et al., 2016. [8] S. Sukhbaatar et al.,2016. [9] I. Mordatch and P. Abbeel, 2017. [10] M. Tomasello et al., 2005. [11] P.-Y. Oudeyer and L. Smith, 2015. Xavier Hinaut Inria Researcher (CR) Mnemosyne team, Inria LaBRI, Université de Bordeaux Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives +33 5 33 51 48 01 www.xavierhinaut.com

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Scientist I position at the Allen Institute - Bio-realistic Modeling of Reconstructed Cortical Tissue
by Anton Arkhipov Oct. 27, 2020

Oct. 27, 2020

Scientist I - Bio-realistic Modeling of Reconstructed Cortical Tissue https://alleninstitute.hrmdirect.com/employment/job-opening.php?req=1415274 Our mission at the Allen Institute is to advance our understanding of how the brain works in health and disease. Using a team science approach, we strive to discover how the brain implements fundamental computations through the integration of technological innovation, cutting-edge experiments, modeling, and theory. The Allen Institute is seeking exceptional candidates for a BRAIN Initiative-funded position of Scientist in our Seattle-based multidisciplinary organization. The Scientist will join the computational team of Anton Arkhipov and will focus on data analysis and modeling of structure, activity, and computations in mouse cortical circuits. This project will take advantage of unprecedented experimental datasets from the Allen Institute that contain a systematic characterization of synaptic connections between the cell types (https://portal.brain-map.org/explore/connectivity/synaptic-physiology) and a connectome of individual neurons coupled with dense recordings of activity in the mouse visual cortex (https://microns-explorer.org<https://microns-explorer.org/>). The Scientist will work collaboratively with colleagues to integrate these data into new, highly realistic network models of cortical circuits, use the models to explore theoretical predictions, and provide them as a resource to fuel future theoretical, modeling, and experimental work in the community. Our computational team collaborates closely with experimentalists to build systematic classifications of structure and function of the mouse visual cortex based on high-throughput recordings in vitro (e.g., Gouwens et al., Nature Neurosci., 2019; Gouwens et al., Cell, in press, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.03.932244) and in vivo (e.g., Siegle et al., Nature, in press, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1101/805010) Using systematically constructed models of neurons from diverse types, we are building and simulating data-driven, highly realistic models of the mouse visual cortex (Arkhipov et al., PLOS Comp. Bio., 2018; Billeh et al., Neuron, 2020; https://portal.brain-map.org/explore/models) The team also develops and disseminates modeling software (https://alleninstitute.github.io/bmtk/; https://github.com/AllenInstitute/sonata) Join us to analyze world-class experimental data and build the next generation of brain models! Essential Functions * Collaborate with in-house experimentalists to analyze data from the synaptic physiology and 2-photon calcium imaging/electron microscopy connectomics datasets. * Use these data to build and simulate models of cortical circuits, in order to study mechanisms connecting circuit structure and function. * Publish/present findings in peer-reviewed journals/scientific conferences. Required Education and Experience * PhD degree in Neuroscience, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or related fields. * 0-2 years of post-doctoral experience. * Strong publication record. * Track record of scientific excellence and independent thinking. Preferred Education and Experience * Experience in computational neuroscience and/or systems neuroscience is preferred, but other strong applicants will be considered (with background in computational physics, biophysics, and related disciplines). * Candidates with strong background in experimental systems neuroscience, willing to switch to computational work, are encouraged to apply. * Experience with scientific programming (e.g., in Python) and sharing/collaborative development of software (e.g., GitHub) is a plus. Physical Demands * Fine motor movements in fingers/hands to operate computers and other office equipment; lab equipment Position Type/Expected Hours of Work * This role is currently able to work remotely due to COVID-19 and our focus on employee safety; this may change, and you may be required to work onsite at our South Lake Union office as safety restrictions are lifted in relation to COVID-19. It is the policy of the Allen Institute to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Allen Institute will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. Apply here: https://alleninstitute.hrmdirect.com/employment/job-opening.php?req=1415274

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New release of the Comp-Neuro Fedora Linux operating system for computational neuroscience is now available for download
by Ankur Sinha Oct. 27, 2020

Oct. 27, 2020

Hello everyone, (Apologies for the cross posts) I am happy to announce that the latest release of the Comp-Neuro Fedora Linux based operating system for computational neuroscience research is now available for download from: https://labs.fedoraproject.org/comp-neuro/ For those that prefer torrents to direct server downloads, it can also be downloaded here: https://torrent.fedoraproject.org/ Detailed documentation can be accessed at: https://neuro.fedoraproject.org Based on the Fedora Workstation OS[1], the Comp-Neuro installer image includes a plethora of computational neuroscience software[2]. This includes: - commonly used simulators: NEST, NEURON, Brian2, Arbor, Auryn, CalC, COPASI, GENESIS, MOOSE; - the complete Python 3.9 science stack: Matplotlib, Jupyter notebooks, Numpy, Pandas, Pillow, Scikit-image, Scikit-learn, Scipy, Statsmodels, Sympy, *and* other utilities such as GNU Octave. Comp-Neuro Fedora also uses the popular and modern GNOME desktop environment[3], and so includes all the productivity tools that are part of the latest GNOME 3.38 release. Further, more software that is not included in the installation media can also be installed from the Fedora software repositories[4] and from FlatHub[5]. The ISO installer image is a "live" image, which means one can also run the operating system directly off the image without installing it to disk Fedora, and so Comp-Neuro Fedora is completely Free and Open Source Software, which is free for everyone to use, share, study, and modify. It is developed by the volunteer community driven NeuroFedora Special Interest Group (SIG). Any feedback and comments are most welcome[6]. If you develop software for neuroscience research, please consider getting in touch with the NeuroFedora community to help us include it in NeuroFedora. Everyone is welcome to join the community and work on whatever tasks they find interesting[7]. No prior knowledge or skills are expected. [1] https://getfedora.org/en/workstation/ [2] https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/neurofedora/compneuro-tools/ [3] https://www.gnome.org/ [4] https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/neurofedora/software/ [5] https://flathub.org/home [6] https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/neurofedora/communicating/ [7] https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/neurofedora/contributing/ On behalf of the NeuroFedora community, -- Thanks, Regards, Ankur Sinha (He / Him / His) | https://ankursinha.in Research Fellow at the Silver Lab, University College London | http://silverlab.org/ Free/Open source community volunteer at the NeuroFedora project | https://neuro.fedoraproject.org Time zone: Europe/London

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Job opportunity - Postdoctoral Sleep Researcher at Bitbrain (Zaragoza, Spain)
by Eduardo López-Larraz Oct. 27, 2020

Oct. 27, 2020

We are looking for a postdoctoral sleep researcher to join Bitbrain <https://www.bitbrain.com/> and work on an EU-funded neurotechnology research project. The main objective will be to exploit some of the most recent advances in sleep research to develop interventions based on cutting-edge wearable neurotechnology for sleep (and sleep-mediated cognitive processes) improvement. The candidate will join Bitbrain <https://www.bitbrain.com/>’s interdisciplinary R&D department of applied neuroscience and neurotechnology and will lead all the R&D activities related to sleep. The candidate will have to: 1) design the R&D strategy of this new area in the company, which will require attending and participating in international events and networks, and 2) design and carry out a feasibility study in sleep improvement using innovative and practical technologies that can be used outside the lab. The position is initially offered for 12 months and includes a relocation and training package. *Requirements*: Sleep expert with a PhD degree in Neuroscience, Psychology, Biomedical Engineering or similar. Strong background in sleep research, understanding of EEG (required) and brain stimulation (desirable). Project management skills. Problem solving and potential of growth. English is required, Spanish is a plus. *We offer*: - Competitive salary. Benefits associated with mobility and family. - Possibility of doing part of the work remotely (to be discussed). - Work-life balance. * Starting date: *01.03.2021 *Application Deadline*: 15.12.2020 More information and application procedure: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/545040

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postdoc position with Christopher Rozell at Georgia Tech
by Christopher Rozell Oct. 27, 2020

Oct. 27, 2020

A postdoctoral position in computational neuroscience is available in the lab of Christopher Rozell at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA). This BRAIN Initiative research project seeks to advance the field of closed-loop computational neuroscience by pioneering the use of real-time feedback stimulation during experiments to decouple recurrently connected circuit elements and make stronger causal inferences about circuit interactions. This position will have a broad opportunity to develop models and algorithms that are implemented in novel experiments using closed-loop optogenetic stimulation. We aim to provide both new scientific insight about computation in neural circuits (especially sensory coding in the thalamo-cortical circuit) as well as new approaches and algorithmic tools for the community to use in novel electrophysiology experiments. This position will work as part of a team and in close collaboration with the experimental lab of Garrett Stanley (also at Georgia Tech), and it is expected that the computational and algorithmic approaches will be implemented experimentally through close partnership with experimentalists in the Stanley Laboratory. Applicants should hold a PhD in a related discipline with a strong record of research impact, quantitative thinking and collaborative work. Experience in computational neuroscience, machine learning, feedback control, and causal inference is all advantageous. The lab is committed to providing a diverse and inclusive environment for all scholars, and applications are especially encouraged from all underrepresented groups. Additionally, the lab is committed to the professional development of the members, making it valuable preparation for people who are interested in academic, industrial or entrepreneurial careers. The position has no mandatory teaching or administrative duties. Excellent (written and oral) communication skills in English are required. This particular project is part of the Collaborative Research in Computational Neuroscience program (CRCNS), providing access to a community of researchers across the country who are focused on similar types of collaborations between computational and experimental labs. Georgia Tech's campus in the heart of midtown Atlanta, which has a thriving and collaborative neuroscience community that has a particular emphasis on computational and systems neuroscience. Atlanta is also one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States, boasting a wide range of opportunities for recreation and culture. Georgia Tech has competitive benefits (including comprehensive medical insurance) and is an equal opportunity employer. The position would ideally start as soon as possible (spring 2021). The appointment is initially for 12 months with the expectation of renewal. Compensation will be commensurate with relevant experience. Candidates should send a CV, a statement of research experience and interests, expected date of availability, and the contact information for three references to crozell(a)gatech.edu with the subject line "CRCNS postdoc". Application review will proceed until the position is filled and should be received by December 1 for full consideration.

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[virtual event] - neuromorphic colloquium
by Chiara Bartolozzi Oct. 26, 2020

Oct. 26, 2020

The NEUROTECH Educational Team is organizing a webinar series on neuromorphic computing technologies. The objective is to offer educational material about the field but also hold discussions with the experts about how the field started, how it evolved, where it’s going and how it’s going to shape the future industrial landscape. The first webinar will be on the 3rd of November at 16 CET and the question of the day is: “What is Neuromorphic Engineering?”. The first speakers are: Prof. Giacomo Indiveri, Prof. Steven Furber, Prof. Bernabé Linares-Barranco and Prof. Kwabena Boahen. You can register for free here: https://neurotech.iniforum.ch/educational/ Join us and spread the word! This initiative is supported as part of the NEUROTECH EU-H2020 coordination and support action. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Neurotech: Our mission is to catalyse research and collaboration in NCT. Today's neuromorphic community in Europe is leading the state of the art in this domain. The community counts an increasing number of labs that work on theory, modelling, and implementation of neuromorphic computing systems. The NEUROTECH Project will create a Cartography of NCT in Europe, explore Roadmaps for its development, collect educational and information resources on NCT, and inform about upcoming and previous events. https://neurotech.iniforum.ch Follow us on LinkedIN: NEUROTECHAI

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Postdoc position in Bologna
by Andrea Santamaria Oct. 26, 2020

Oct. 26, 2020

Dear Sirs, We are the ERC Project INSCRIBE Invention of Scripts and their Beginnings. Sorry for having forget the title, which I've now included in the object as "Postdoc position in Bologna". We would therefore be delighted to share our announcement on your list. You can find the dame text here below in bold. The ERC Project INSCRIBE Invention of Scripts and their Beginnings, based at the University of Bologna, Italy, seeks candidates for a postdoctoral position in interdisciplinary research with expertise in computational neuroscience. The selected candidate will straddle the borders of neuroscience, cognition and the evolution of graphic codes, to apply quantitative methods to large databases with the goal of establishing commonalities worldwide in the evolution of symbols from a broadly cognitive, and more specifically, motor-driven and visual perspective. The ideal candidate will have earned a PhD in either neuroscience or neural computational sciences, with skills in statistical methods. The position is renewable on a yearly basis, up to three consecutive years and can be held remotely. Deadline: 28 October 2020. For more information on how to apply: https://site.unibo.it/inscribe/en/jobs or contact: s.ferrara(a)unibo.it. Thank you in advance and Kind Regards, Andrea Santamaria Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/ghei36>

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Neuromatch conference Oct 26-30
by Goodman, Daniel F M Oct. 25, 2020

Oct. 25, 2020

This is just a reminder that the Neuromatch conference starts tomorrow (at the time of writing) Oct 26-30. We have around 900 talks on all aspects of neuroscience, debates, panels, as well as special series in partnership with the BRAIN initiative, Black in Neuro, and Queer in Neuro. Check our our website here: https://www.neuromatch.io/ Registration is $25, but can be waived with the press of a button, no questions asked, if you're not able to pay. You can see the full agenda with recommendation engine once you've registered, or you can use our old fashioned schedule here before registering (but no automatic recommendations on this one): https://neural-reckoning.github.io/nmc3_provisional_schedule/ Please pass this message on to anyone or any list you think would be interested. Many thanks, The Neuromatch organisers

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Postdoc position on Biological Deep Learning
by Walter Senn Oct. 23, 2020

Oct. 23, 2020

Dear all A second postdoc position devoted to learning in deep cortical networks is available in our Computational Neuroscience labs at the University of Bern, Switzerland. This position is focussed on formulating error-based learning in deep cortical networks in terms of a principle of least action. We will extend this theory to natural gradient learning and to learning with spiking neurons. The research of our labs is more broadly devoted to biologically realistic models of spatio-temporal processing in cortical networks and their relation to reinforcement learning, Bayesian computing, and neuromorphic implementations. The position is part of the European Human Brain Project and is available by January 1st, 2021, for 2 years (extendable). We offer a stimulating environment with three research groups in theoretical and computational neuroscience, along with experimental neuroscience at the same Department of Physiology (physio.unibe.ch/gruppen.aspx <http://physio.unibe.ch/gruppen.aspx>), as well as close collaborations with other labs in neuroscience, artificial intelligence and neuromorphic engineering. Ideal candidates should have a strong background in computational neuroscience, machine learning, applied mathematics and/or physics. Please send your CV, publication list, letter of motivation and contact information for at least two references to Walter Senn (walter.senn(a)unibe.ch <mailto:walter.senn@unibe.ch>) and Mihai Petrovici (mihai.petrovici(a)unibe.ch <mailto:mihai.petrovici@unibe.ch>), with cc to Virginie Sabado (virginie.sabado(a)unibe.ch <mailto:virginie.sabado@unibe.ch>). The first evaluation round will begin on November 8, 2020. The positions will remain open until filled. With best regards, Mihai Petrovici and Walter

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Postdoctoral position on the integration of vision and behaviour (Schröder Lab, University of Sussex, UK)
by Sylvia Schröder Oct. 23, 2020

Oct. 23, 2020

The Schröder Lab <https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/labs/schroeder-lab/>(Vision and Behaviour) at the University of Sussex, UK, offers a position for a *Postdoctoral researcher*** to study information processing in the early visual system of mice using two-photon imaging, electrophysiology (Neuropixels probes), and opto- and chemogenetic manipulations. The lab’s goal is to determine how behavioural and internal states like arousal are integrated with visual responses in the retina and superior colliculus. We want to discover the underlying mechanisms and the purpose of this integration in terms of visual processing and the animal’s behavioural demands. This paper describes our previous findings. *Your profile* ·Phd degree in neuroscience or in physics, computer science or engineering with a keen interest in neuroscience ·You will take ownership of the project and drive it forward ·Experience in experimental biology and quantitative data analysis including programming in Python, Matlab or a similar language ·Experience with two-photon imaging and/or extracellular electrophysiology desirable *Our offer to you* The Schröder lab opens its doors in January 2021. The candidate will have the opportunity: ·to make use of the lab’s own two-photon microscopy and Neuropixels recording setups ·to benefit from the PI’s active support in research and her mentoring in career development ·to learn essential skills in organising and setting up a lab ·to shape the research culture of the lab based on the values of scientific excellence, team work, and diversity ·to collaborate with other labs within Sussex Neuroscience <https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/centres/sussex-neuroscience/>with expertise visual and other sensory systems, mouse behaviour, techniques of two-photon imaging and electrophysiology, and computational neuroscience *Start date*: January 2021 or later *Contract*: for 2 years initially, funding available for 5 years (through Sir Henry Dale Fellowship, Wellcome Trust) *Location*: campus is just outside Brighton at the coast of South East England, surrounded by South Downs National Park, 1 h from London See**the ***job advertisement <https://www.sussex.ac.uk/about/jobs/research-fellow-in-neuroscience-4726>* for details on how to apply. Informal enquiries are highly encouraged and should be made to Sylvia Schröder (sylvia.schroeder(a)ucl.ac.uk) **

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Postdoc position in biological intelligence of exploration at CMU & Pitt
by Timothy Verstynen Oct. 23, 2020

Oct. 23, 2020

Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh are seeking applications for a joint, NIH-funded postdoc position on the computational neuroscience of exploration, linking computational models to both human behavioral and rodent optogenetic/electrophysiology data. The successful candidate will work with Professors Jonathan Rubin (Pitt) and Timothy Verstynen (CMU), in collaboration with Professors Eric Yttri (Department of Biological Sciences, CMU) and Cati Vich (Department of Applied Mathematics, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Mallorca, Spain). The project specifically focuses on how dynamics of cortico-basal ganglia-thalamic pathways map to cognitive models of adaptive decision-making. The position is funded for several years, with an initial one-year appointment and an expectation of extension to three years, given that performance is satisfactory. Applicants with a PhD in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Computational Neuroscience, Cognitive Neuroscience or a related discipline, and ideally with experience in computing, in dynamical systems, and in computational neuroscience, should apply at: https://cmu.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?job=2015566 Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh are both Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employers and value equality of opportunity, human dignity and diversity. Members of all groups under-represented in academia are especially encouraged to apply. Best, Tim Verstynen -- Timothy Verstynen Ph.D. (he/him) Associate Professor Psychology, Carnegie Mellon Neuroscience Institute, & Biomedical Engineering (by courtesy) Co-Director of the CMU-Pitt BRIDGE Center Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Phone: 412-533-AXN1 (412-533-2961) Lab URL: www.cognitiveaxon.com Center URL: www.bridge-center.org CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail (including any attachments) contains information that is confidential, proprietary, and/or legally privileged for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). No confidentiality or privilege is waived. Any review or distribution by an unintended recipient is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please contact the sender immediately and delete all copies, whether electronic or hard copy. Thank you.

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Postdoctoral position in the Pachitariu Lab at Janelia
by Marius Pachitariu Oct. 22, 2020

Oct. 22, 2020

The Pachitariu Lab at HHMI Janelia is looking for postdoctoral researchers to lead projects that investigate the neural basis of cognition in rodents. The lab uses large-scale neural recordings combined with modern computational and theoretical approaches. Learn more about our work here <https://www.janelia.org/lab/pachitariu-lab>. *Essential Duties and Responsibilities* - Design novel behavioral paradigms in mice - Combine behavior and large-scale neural recordings - Explore and analyze large datasets with machine learning and data science - Participate in collaborative projects with computational researchers. *Required qualifications * - PhD in neuroscience / related discipline - or PhD in a computational field, but interested to start experimental work - Proficiency with Python or Matlab for data analysis *Skills and Abilities (optional)* - Experience with rodent training - Experience with neural recordings (ephys or imaging) - Skills to manage and support interdisciplinary collaborations The Janelia campus, including our lab, is committed to building an inclusive environment for under-represented minorities and women. We strongly encourage applications from all under-represented groups. For more information, reach out directly to pachitarium(a)hhmi.org or apply here <https://hhmi.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/External/job/Janelia-Research-Campus/Pos…> .

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PhD and postdoc position in quadruped robotics and machine learning at EPFL, Lausanne Switzerland
by Auke Ijspeert Oct. 21, 2020

Oct. 21, 2020

The Biorobotics laboratory (Biorob, https://www.epfl.ch/labs/biorob/ <https://www.epfl.ch/labs/biorob>) at EPFL (Lausanne, Switzerland) has one open *PhD student* and one *postdoc position* in *quadruped robotics and machine learning*. The project is at the intersection between robotics, machine learning, and computational neuroscience. Its goal is is to develop a computational architecture that (i) merges spinal-cord-like dynamics with higher-level planning and learning, (ii) allows testing hypotheses about animal motor control at a conceptual level, and (iii) can serve as basis for controlling, planning, and learning rich motor skills in robots. The architecture will be evaluated with a scenario that involves control and learning in a quadruped robot crossing a (simple) parkour. The positions are fully funded for 4 years through a grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation. EPFL is one of the leading Institutes of Technology in Europe and offers extremely competitive salaries and research infrastructure. *Instructions to apply* can be found here: https://www.epfl.ch/labs/biorob/openings/ *The ideal starting date is early 2021* (with some flexibility). Applications will be considered starting *from November 15 2020*, and then continuously until the positions are filled. Best regards, Auke Ijspeert -- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Prof Auke Jan Ijspeert Biorobotics Laboratory EPFL-STI-IBI-BIOROB, ME D1 1226, Station 9 EPFL, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne CH 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland Office: ME D1 1226 Tel: +41 21 693 2658 Fax: +41 21 693 3705 www:http://biorob.epfl.ch Email:Auke.Ijspeert@epfl.ch -----------------------------------------------------------------

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Post-doc position in EEG Analysis in Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna
by Alberto Mazzoni Oct. 21, 2020

Oct. 21, 2020

A postdoc position is available in the Computational Neuroengineering Laboratory / Translational Neural Engineering Area of The Biorobotics Institute of Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa (Italy). The work will focus on the analysis and decoding of neural signals, with particular emphasis on electroencephalographic signals, by means of machine learning algorithms. The aim is to develop prognostic tools to assess the possible evolution of neurodegenerative diseases (as Alzheimer Disease) from early screenings and to identify optimal motor rehabilitation procedures after events such as stroke. The ideal candidate has previous experience in EEG analysis. Previous experience in machine learning is an asset. The ideal candidate has also experience in conducting R&D projects both individually and as a part of a group, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and most important an imaginative and creative mind. The Computational Neuroengineering Laboratory ( www.santannapisa.it/en/computational-neuroengineering-laboratory ) lead by Dr. Alberto Mazzoni (me) focuses on the modeling and analysis of information processing in neural systems for neural disorders diagnosis and the development of novel neurostimulation therapies (from glioma to movement disorders). The laboratory is part of the Transational Neuroengineering Area lead by Prof. Silvestro Micera ( www.santannapisa.it/en/institute/biorobotics/translational-neural-engineeri… ) which is one of the leading neuroengineering groups in Europe, in particular on the development of neurotechnologies able to restore sensorimotor functions in disabled people. The projects involve a network of clinical and research centers between Pisa and Florence. Both cities are Unesco World Heritage sites and are characterized by a high quality of life, but are also hubs of high level research. In particular, the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna was ranked 4th best young university in the world in 2020 (TIME rankings). <#_msocom_1> Start date is flexible, but winter 2021 is preferred. Please send - cover letter, - Curriculum Vitae - 1-3 selected publications To a.mazzoni(a)santannapisa.it . Deadline for application is November 27th. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed December 11th. ------------------------------ -- */////////////////////////////////////////////////////* perché quello del populo è più onesto fine che quello de' grandi, volendo questi opprimere, e quello non essere oppresso N.M.

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INTERNATIONAL NEURAL NETWORK SOCIETY (INNS) - FREE Inaugural Virtual Workshop on Explainable AI on November 6, 2020, Friday, 9 am to 1 pm EST - REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW
by Asim Roy Oct. 21, 2020

Oct. 21, 2020

Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce that INNS (the International Neural Network Society) is launching a Virtual Technical Event series that will feature workshops, seminars, tutorials, discussions and so on. These technical events will occur throughout the year for a worldwide audience. We welcome proposals on challenging and controversial research topics and ones that provide new insights on biological learning. Through this series of virtual technical events, we would like to serve the growing need for advanced education in a variety of fields that are linked together such as AI, machine learning, neural networks, cognitive science, robotics and so on. Further details on proposal submission are available at https://www.inns.org/virtual-technical-events. We also welcome proposals from the industry and industry sponsorship of these events. FREE Inaugural Virtual Workshop on Explainable AI on November 6, 2020, Friday, 9 am to 1 pm EST This inaugural workshop focuses on Explainable AI (XAI), a topic that is highly important for us to widely deploy our AI/ML systems. We invited five prominent scholars to present their thoughts in this virtual workshop. Further details are provided below including where to register for the event. WORKSHOP SPEAKERS 1. Stephen Grossberg, Wang Professor of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University, http://sites.bu.edu/steveg/ 2. Juergen Schmidhuber, Scientific Director of IDSIA<http://www.idsia.ch/>, http://people.idsia.ch/~juergen/ 3. Jeff Krichmar, Professor of Cognitive Sciences, University of California, Irvine, http://www.socsci.uci.edu/~jkrichma 4. Vladimir Cherkassky, Professor of ECE, Univ. of Minnesota, https://ece.umn.edu/directory/cherkassky-vladimir/ 5. Lee Giles, Professor of Information Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, https://clgiles.ist.psu.edu/ MODERATORS: Asim Roy, Professor, Arizona State University (https://lifeboat.com/ex/bios.asim.roy) Daniel Levine, Professor, University of Texas at Arlington (https://www.uta.edu/psychology/people/daniel-levine.php) FORMAT: Each speaker - 35 minute presentation + 10 mins Q&A REGISTRATION - https://www.eventbrite.hk/e/explainable-ai-xai-virtual-workshop-registratio… With regards, Irwin King INNS President, FIEEE, FHKIE, DMACM, BoG APNNS & INNS Chair, Dept. of Computer Science & Engineering o +(852) 3943-8398 The Chinese University of Hong Kong f +(852) 2603-5024 Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong http://www.cse.cuhk.edu.hk/irwin.king<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.cse.cuhk.edu.hk_irw…> Asim Roy VP, Industry Relations, INNS Chair, Committee for Virtual Technical Events, INNS Professor, Arizona State University https://lifeboat.com/ex/bios.asim.roy

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Online workshop series - Neural Control: From data to machines
by DPI, plan4act Oct. 20, 2020

Oct. 20, 2020

We are pleased to announce the online workshop series Neural Control: From data to machines with weekly Zoom-sessions starting on November 5th, 2020. Topic: Movement disorders leave individuals unable to control parts of their bodies, creating a disconnect between their brain and the world around them. This workshop series looks at how neural activity can be mapped to control smart systems, producing desired movements on demand. To discuss the implied problems and solutions, we have brought together experts from the different involved scientific fields. Details and registration at: https://alexandria.physik3.uni-goettingen.de/cns-group/projects/webinars/ Confirmed Speakers: * Dario Farina * Silvestro Micera * Tonio Ball * Nick Ramsay * Juan Álvaro Gallego * Florentin Wörgötter * Alexander Gail * Christian Tetzlaff * Michael Fauth * Tomoki Fukai * Petra Ritter * Valerio Mante * Hans Scherberger * Gordon Cheng * Poramate Manoonpong * Jan-Matthias Braun * Eugenio Gaeta * Daniel Durstewitz * Yukie Nagai Please forward to anyone who may be interested. Best, Florentin Wörgötter and Christian Tetzlaff

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Call for papers : Special Issue on Deep Learning Approaches for Brain-Computer Interfaces (Signals - MDPI)
by Panagiotis Petrantonakis Oct. 20, 2020

Oct. 20, 2020

Call For Papers for a Special issue on: *Deep Learning Approaches for Brain-Computer Interfaces* https://www.mdpi.com/journal/signals/special_issues/Brain_Computer_Interfac… *Special Issue Information* Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) decipher and translate brain signals into commands for the surrounding environment. Different types of brain signals, e.g., EEG and fMRI, have been used as a means to decode intended user commands, and various machine learning approaches have been tested in such a task. With the advent of the deep learning (DL) era, new studies have emerged that exploit the advantages of the deep network architectures for BCI systems and depict more efficient and reliable brain signal decoding systems. The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a collection of forefront works investigating the deployment of various deep network types in different BCI applications using a variety of brain signals either of unimodal or multimodal signal processing framework. Topics of interest include but are not limited to the following: - Deep network architectures for BCIs; - Transfer learning in BCIs; - Big data for DL-based BCIs; - Fusion of multiple brain signals for BCIs using DL methods. *Guest Editor* Panagiotis Petrantonakis (ppetrant(a)iti.gr) Please do not hesitate to contact me for additional questions. Kind regards, Panagiotis

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PhD position in Insect-Inspired AI at Edinburgh
by Barbara Webb Oct. 19, 2020

Oct. 19, 2020

The Insect Robotics lab at the University of Edinburgh, led by Professor Barbara Webb, has a fully-funded PhD studentship (3 years fees and stipend) available to study 'Insect-Inspired AI'. The position could commence any time from now. The project will develop an alternative architecture for intelligent autonomous systems based on the insect brain. Insects are hugely successful at a number of tasks that are still major challenges for artificial intelligence, including rapid learning from minimal data and sophisticated navigation and robust coordination of behaviour in dynamic environments. The focus of the work will be to obtain a functional understanding of the computations occurring in the insect ‘mushroom body’ (MB) neuropil. Specifically, the PhD topic is to understand how the input and output organisation of the MB support adaptive and context dependent associative learning of complex sensory patterns for the control of behaviour. This will be applied to robot navigation tasks. A suitable candidate would have a strong first degree in computing, maths or engineering; ideally with some background in computational neuroscience, neuromorphic computing, robotics or similar topics; and a strong interest in obtaining biological understanding of brain mechanisms for control of behaviour. Interested candidates should in the first instance contact Professor Barbara Webb <B.Webb(a)ed.ac.uk>. More details about graduate study at the School of Informatics and the formal application process can be found here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/informatics/postgraduate/research-degrees -- The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336.

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NEURONUS 2020 IBRO Neuroscience Forum (8-11 December 2020, ONLINE)
by Michał Zaręba Oct. 19, 2020

Oct. 19, 2020

*REGISTRATION for NEURONUS 2020 IBRO Neuroscience Forum is open only UNTIL OCTOBER 31! The fee has been lowered to 12€. The number of the participants is limited only to 1000 – hurry up! More information and registration forms can be found on our website: **http://neuronusforum.pl/* <http://neuronusforum.pl/>*.* With prominent speakers and an unique atmosphere of Krakow, one of the oldest and most beautiful Polish cities, NEURONUS IBRO Neuroscience Forums have established themselves in the European calendar of scientific events as a platform for communication between scientists from different fields of neuroscience. Unfortunately, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to move our event to the virtual plane. The program of the conference consists of numerous sessions on biological, cognitive, computational and medical aspects of neuroscience, creating a dynamic environment for sharing knowledge. The schedule of the meeting is further complemented with lectures by invited guests, and we invest a lot of effort to attract as influential neuroscientists as possible. This year’s keynote speakers include: - *Karl Friston *(University College London, the UK) - *Pico Caroni *(University of Basel, Switzerland) - *Karin Roelofs *(Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands) - *Alejandro Schinder *(Leloir Institute, Buenos Aires, Argentina) - *Adam Hampshire *(Imperial College London, the UK) - *Dayu Lin *(New York University School of Medicine, the USA) Furthermore, a special panel concerning the Future of Neuroscience will be held. We have confirmed participation of three pioneering researchers: - *Viktor Jirsa *(Aix-Marseille University, France) - *Panayiota Poirazi* (Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Heraklion, Greece) - *Dominik Paquet *(Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany) During the upcoming 11th edition of the conference, we will traditionally continue to put *emphasis on development of early-career researchers*. The main purpose of this event is to provide means for both young and experienced neuroscientists to share the latest discoveries, knowledge and experience in neuroscience, as well as make valuable contacts with scientists representing various fields of neurobiology. We actively promote young scientists through preferentially allocating oral presentations of their experimental results. We strongly encourage you to join this special initiative, and hope to see you soon! On behalf of the Organising Committee, Michał Zaręba

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PhD-positions in computational neuroscience at the University of Oslo as part of CompSci grant in EU Horizon 2020
by Gaute Einevoll Oct. 18, 2020

Oct. 18, 2020

CompSci is a Doctoral Programme launched and managed by the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University of Oslo (UiO). It is partly funded by the EU Horizon 2020 under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) - Co-funding of Regional, National and International Programmes (COFUND). The CompSci Doctoral Program will recruit 32 PhDs in two calls. In this Call, we open for applications to the 1st cohort of 16 PhD fellowship positions, that will join our PhD programme starting autumn 2021 at UiO. The possible PhD-projects span over a wide range of topics where methods from computational science are applied to different fields in the natural sciences: https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/ Four of the possible projects in Call 1 are within computational neuroscience: * Bio-inspired neural networks for navigation<https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/bioscience/bio-inspired-neur…> Supervisors: Anders Malthe-Sørenssen<https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/supervisors/malthe-sorenssen…>, Gaute T. Einevoll<https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/supervisors/einevoll.html> * Large-scale recordings of neurons to reveal mechanisms of learning and memory<https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/bioscience/learning-and-memo…> Supervisors: Marianne Fyhn<https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/supervisors/fyhn.html>, Anders Malthe-Sørenssen<https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/supervisors/malthe-sorenssen…> * Large-scale network simulations of mouse visual cortex<https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/bioscience/neural-networks.h…> Supervisors: Gaute T. Einevoll<https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/supervisors/einevoll.html>, Marianne Fyhn<https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/supervisors/fyhn.html> * Modelling systems levels changes in brain aging induced by genome instability<https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/bioscience/brain-aging.html> Supervisors: Hilde Nilsen<https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/supervisors/nilsen.html>, Gaute T. Einevoll<https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/supervisors/einevoll.html> For information about how to apply, see https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/193610/compsci-call-1-marie-… . The application deadline for Call 1 is: January 3rd 2021 Questions about the individual projects should be sent to the supervisors listed above.

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Lecture video about brain mechanisms that cause mental disorders
by Grossberg, Stephen Oct. 17, 2020

Oct. 17, 2020

Dear Colleagues, I gave a pre-recorded keynote lecture on Zoom to the World Congress on Computational Intelligence on July 22 about how particular brain dysfunctions can cause symptoms of mental disorders like Alzheimer's disease, autism, amnesia, and neglect: http://sites.bu.edu/steveg/files/2020/07/Grossberg-WCCI-keynote-Glasgow-vid… The lecture can also be found on my web page sites.bu.edu/steveg along with a pdf of its powerpoint slides. Best, Steve Grossberg Stephen Grossberg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Grossberg http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=3BIV70wAAAAJ&hl=en https://youtu.be/9n5AnvFur7I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hBye6JQCh4 Wang Professor of Cognitive and Neural Systems Director, Center for Adaptive Systems Professor Emeritus of Mathematics & Statistics, Psychological & Brain Sciences, and Biomedical Engineering Boston University sites.bu.edu/steveg steve(a)bu.edu

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How to find your scientific neighbours, future colleagues
by Tim Vogels Oct. 17, 2020

Oct. 17, 2020

Dear Colleagues, For those of you who are looking for a position as a postdoc (or faculty), consider posting your info to world-wide.org/neighbors <http://world-wide.org/neighbors>. It's a place to find your closest scientific neighbours, and maybe your next position. Fill in & submit your info, and a few minutes later we will post it, if you want to with the best matching labs. /neighbors <http://world-wide.org/neighbors> is an extension of the popular worldwideneuro.com <http://worldwideneuro.com/>, and currently works best for neuroscience matches. For those of you who are looking for postdocs and advertising positions for postdocs to HIRE, it may be interesting to also post your ads on world-wide.org/neighbors <http://world-wide.org/neighbors>. Posting your ad to the website will make it visible for a much longer time than a single fleeting email. And while you are here, come brows through the info on people looking for jobs. Finally, you can also just browse if you're just “curious”, and check out who your closest neighbours are. Or find some amazing talks on worldwideneuro.com <http://worldwideneuro.com/> or https://www.world-wide.org/Physics-of-Life/ <https://www.world-wide.org/Physics-of-Life/> If you want to, let us know if you like it, and what improvements you’d like to see. All the best, (Panos Bozelos and ) Tim Vogels ------------- Vogelslab.org <http://vogelslab.org/> IST, Austria

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Call for papers : Special Issue on Brain Simulation and Spiking Neural Networks ( Cognitive Computation - Springer)
by Vassilis Cutsuridis Oct. 16, 2020

Oct. 16, 2020

*Call For Papers:Journal : Cognitive ComputationSpecial Issue : Brain Simulation and Spiking Neural Networks* https://www.springer.com/journal/12559/updates/18336610 *Scope and Motivation* During the past 10 years, many experiments have been implemented with the aim of improving our understanding on the brain’s structure and function. Alongside, simulation neuroscience has become an important strategy to investigate how the brain works. The Human Connectome Project in the US started in 2009 and aimed to provide a big human brain mapping dataset on which many brain models have already been tested. In the Human Brain Project in the EU, a large-scale virtual rodent brain simulation is being built with the purpose of revealing various brain activities. In Japan, whole human-scale brain simulations on the Fugaku supercomputer are being established to investigate how neural networks develop their learning process. On the other hand, the foundation of cognitive computing and control mechanism can be revealed from the simulations of brain circuits and the neural dynamics. Moreover, these are also critical to improve current artificial intelligent systems and for building brain intelligence level algorithms. In this special issue, we invite researchers to present their state-of-the-art approaches, introduce recent advances and therefore show the potential of brain-simulation-related technologies. *Guest Editors* Jordi Solé-Casals (jordi.sole(a)uvic.cat) Cesar F. Caiafa (ccaiafa(a)fi.uba.ar) Zhe Sun (zhe.sun.vk(a)riken.jp) Vassilis Cutsuridis (vcutsuridis(a)lincoln.ac.uk) *Topics* Topics include but are not limited to: • Brain Connectivity mapping and functional mapping • Data analysis methods for connectome data • Multi-scale neural system simulation • Neuromorphic hardware • High-performance computing system for large scale simulations • Neural system inspired spiking neural network • Neuro-robotics systems • Sensorimotor learning model *Deadlines* *Submissions Deadline*: *April 1, 2021* First notification of acceptance: June 1, 2021 Submission of revised papers: August 1, 2021 Final notification to the authors: Oct 1, 2021 Submission of final/camera-ready papers: Nov 1, 2021 Publication of special issue: Nov 22, 2021 *Submission Instruction:* Prepare your paper in accordance with the Journal guidelines: www.springer.com/12559. Submit manuscripts at: http://www.editorialmanager.com/cogn/. Select “SI: Brain Simulation and Spiking Neural Networks” for the special issue under “Additional Information.” Your paper must contain significant and original work that has not been published nor submitted to any journals. All papers will be reviewed following standard reviewing procedures of the Journal. *Author Resources* Authors are encouraged to submit high-quality, original work that has neither appeared in, nor is under consideration by other journals. All papers will be reviewed following standard reviewing procedures for the Journal. Papers must be prepared in accordance with the Journal guidelines: www.springer.com/12559 Springer provides a host of information about publishing in a Springer Journal on our Journal Author Resources <https://www.springer.com/gp/authors-editors/journal-author> page, including FAQs <http://www.springer.com/gp/authors-editors/journal-author/frequently-asked-…> , Tutorials <https://www.springer.com/gp/authors-editors/journal-author/journal-author-a…>along with Help and Support. <https://support.springer.com/en/support/home> Other links include: - editorial policies <https://www.springer.com/gp/authors-editors/journal-author/journal-author-h…> - publication policies <https://www.springer.com/gp/open-access/publication-policies> - copyright transfer <https://www.springer.com/gp/open-access/publication-policies/copyright-tran…> - self-archiving <https://www.springer.com/gp/open-access/publication-policies/self-archiving…> - OA funding <https://www.springernature.com/gp/open-research/funding> - open choice <https://www.springer.com/gp/open-access/springer-open-choice> - funder compliance <https://www.springer.com/gp/open-access/publication-policies/funder-complia…> - read and publish agreements <https://www.springer.com/gp/open-access/springer-open-choice/springer-compa…> - preprint sharing <https://www.springer.com/gp/open-access/preprint-sharing/16718886> - my publication process <https://www.springer.com/gp/authors-editors/journal-author/journal-author-h…> - production <https://www.springer.com/gp/authors-editors/journal-author/journal-author-h…> - publication <https://www.springer.com/gp/authors-editors/journal-author/journal-author-h…> - post-publication <https://www.springer.com/gp/authors-editors/journal-author/journal-author-h…> - ORCID <https://www.springernature.com/de/researchers/orcid?utm_source=springer&utm…> - Publons <https://www.springernature.com/gp/reviewers/publons> - article sharing <https://www.springernature.com/gp/researchers/sharedit> - citation alerts <https://www.springer.com/gp/authors-editors/journal-author/journal-author-h…> If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Best regards, Vassilis --- Dr Vassilis Cutsuridis Senior Lecturer School of Computer Science & Lincoln Sleep Research Center University of Lincoln Lincoln UK Tel: +44 (0) 1522 83 5701 Email: vcutsuridis(a)lincoln.ac.uk Web: http://staff.lincoln.ac.uk/vcutsuridis Personal website: http://www.vassiliscutsuridis.org/

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Free Online Seminar: How to build your own Connectome?
by Markus Butz-Ostendorf Oct. 16, 2020

Oct. 16, 2020

Dear List, My apologies for cross-postings first of all! I would like to draw your attention to the first free online webinar on connectomics in clinical application with our novel neuroimaging software NICARA, particularly dedicated to human connectomics. Abstract at the end of this message. The seminar takes place online on Tue, 20 Oct 2020 at 3pm (CET). Participation is free of charge but registration is kindly requested via this link https://www.biomax.com/webinar With NICARA every neuroscientists can explore the beauty of connectomes and focus on connectome-related research questions without being a neuroimaging or neuroinformatics expert him- or herself. Register one of the limited NICARA demo accounts today via https://ssl.biomax.de/nicara/ Looking forward to meeting you online at the seminar! kind regards, Markus == Free Online Seminar Series: How to build your own Connectome? With our neuroimaging solution NICARA we help clinicians working in the field of mental disorders to classify their patients faster and even better than ever before. Pharmacologists can significantly speed up the evaluation of the clinical efficacy of new drugs and scientists can access data and publications quickly and easily, thus greatly accelerating the success of research, while saving costs. All of these experts face more or less the same problem: Extracting structural and functional brain connectivity form raw images is time consuming and requires extensive expert knowledge. With NICARA you have thousands of publicly available connectomes at your fingertips and the possibility to analyze your own data by creating individual connectomes on the fly. Explore the world of connectomics with NICARA and learn how you can easily build your own Connectome. Register today for free for one of our upcoming Online Seminars and Live Demos. for Clinicians: 20/10/2020, 3:00 pm for Scientists 10/11/2020, 3:00 pm for Pharmacologists 1/12/2020, 3:00 pm To register, please go to https://www.biomax.com/webinar and request your access data via the webinar page. We are looking forward to meeting you. -- Dr. rer. nat. Markus Butz-Ostendorf Innovation Manager Brain Science Senior Product Manager Biomax Informatics AG Robert-Koch-Str. 2, 82152 Planegg, Germany Registergericht: Amtsgericht München, HRB 134442 Vorstand: Dr. Klaus Heumann Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrates: Prof. Dr. Hans-Werner Mewes Tel: +49 89 895574-862 Fax: +49 89 895574-825 Email:markus.butz-ostendorf@biomax.com Website:http://www.biomax.com PGP:https://ssl.biomax.de/pgp/

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PhD and PostDoc positions on physical models of biological computation
by elisabetta chicca Oct. 16, 2020

Oct. 16, 2020

The Bio-Inspired Circuits and Systems (BICS) group at the University of Groningen, Netherlands headed by Prof. Elisabetta Chicca is inviting applications for PhD and PostDoc positions on physical models of biological computation. The positions will be embedded in a highly interdisciplinary, international research group lead by Prof. Elisabetta Chicca, who recently started a new group in the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) at the University of Groningen. The BICS group aims to identify the principles of neural computation and implement them in fully parallel and low-power neuromorphic systems that offer the opportunity to overcome the limitations of traditional digital architectures. The successful candidate should have a background in physics, computer sciences, electrical engineering, neurosciences or some related field. Some modelling, programming or analog CMOS design experience is advantageous. Applications will be considered until the positions are filled. The application should include a cover letter stating the candidate’s research interests and how these fit to the research conducted in the BICS group; a CV outlining prior education, research experience, skills and publications; reprints (if available); academic transcripts; and names of two referees. Electronic submission is preferred (to be addressed to Prof. Elisabetta Chicca, e.chicca <e.chicca(a)rug.nl>ATrug.nl <e.chicca(a)rug.nl>). ------------------------------------------------------------ Prof. Dr. Elisabetta Chicca Full Professor Chair of Bio-Inspired Circuits and Systems (BICS) Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials CogniGron - Groningen Cognitive Systems and Materials Center University of Groningen Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen The Netherlands Phone: +31 50 363 8731 Office: 5113.0039 Secretary: Jeannette de Boer Phone: +31 50 363 4843

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Postdoctoral position in computational and statistical neuroscience
by John Pearson Oct. 16, 2020

Oct. 16, 2020

Posting below. Interested candidates are also encouraged to reach out directly. The laboratories of Dr. Richard Mooney (https://www.neuro.duke.edu/mooney-lab) and Dr. John Pearson (http://pearsonlab.github.io<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://pearsonlab.github.io/__;!!OToaGQ!5lp4UHC…>) at Duke University are seeking two (2) postdoctoral scholars in conjunction with an NIH BRAIN Initiative-funded project investigating the contributions of basal ganglia to vocal motor exploration and reinforcement learning. Candidates will combine state of the art viral, electrophysiological, imaging, and computational methods and work as part of a multi-institution team that also includes Dr. Carlos Lois, in the Division of Biology and Biological Engineering at CalTech, and Dr. Tim Gardner, in the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact at the University of Oregon. The first postdoc, appointed in the Department of Neurobiology, will use behavioral, optogenetic, electrophysiological and optical imaging methods to explore how cortico-basal ganglia circuits contribute to vocal exploration and learning. Previous experience with imaging and electrophysiological methods is desirable, and experience using viral gene transfer methods to monitor and manipulate neural activity will be especially helpful. Candidates with strong quantitative skills and an interest in developing or improving computational skills are especially desired. This postdoc will work closely with a related postdoc hire in the Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, as well as team members across all institutions. The second postdoc, appointed in the Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, will perform computational modeling of reinforcement learning in the birdsong system, including development of new statistical machine learning methods for the analysis of song, electrophysiology, and calcium imaging data. The postdoc will work closely with experimentalists to design studies, analyze data, and refine hypotheses. Candidates should hold a PhD in a quantitative discipline such as computational neuroscience, physics, statistics, or computer science. Previous experience in neurobiology is a plus but not required. This postdoc will work closely with a related postdoc hire in the Department of Neurobiology, as well as team members across the other institutions. John ------------------------------- John Pearson, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Center for Cognitive Neuroscience Electrical and Computer Engineering Neurobiology; Psychology and Neuroscience Duke University B255 LSRC Box 91003 Durham, NC 27708 919.613.8338 http://pearsonlab.github.io/

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Postdoc position on Biological Deep Learning
by Walter Senn Oct. 15, 2020

Oct. 15, 2020

Dear all One postdoc position devoted to learning in deep cortical networks is available in the Computational Neuroscience labs at the University of Bern, Switzerland. Our research is focussed on biologically realistic models of spatio-temporal processing in recurrent cortical networks and their relation to reinforcement learning, Bayesian computing, and neuromorphic implementations. The position is focussed on formalizing the dendritic processing of cortical pyramidal neurons, in particular on combining top-down and bottom-up information streams within pyramidal neurons, and in integrating these neurons in deep networks. The position is part of a collaboration with Profs Fritjof Helmchen and Giacomo Indiveri (UniZH / ETHZ) supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation and is available from January 1st, 2021, for 2 years (extendable). We offer a stimulating environment with three research groups in theoretical and computational neuroscience, along with experimental neuroscience at the same Department of Physiology (physio.unibe.ch/gruppen.aspx <file:///Users/walter/Documents/Walter_Physio/admin/ownPositionAnnouncments/HBP_PosAnnouncments2020/physio.unibe.ch/gruppen.aspx>), as well as close collaborations with other labs in neuroscience, artificial intelligence and neuromorphic engineering. Ideal candidates should have a strong background in computational neuroscience, machine learning, applied mathematics and/or physics. Please send your CV, publication list, letter of motivation and contact information for at least two references to Walter Senn (walter.senn(a)unibe.ch <mailto:walter.senn@unibe.ch>) and Mihai Petrovici (mihai.petrovici(a)unibe.ch <mailto:mihai.petrovici@unibe.ch>), with cc to Virginie Sabado (virginie.sabado(a)unibe.ch <mailto:virginie.sabado@unibe.ch>). The first evaluation round will begin on November 8, 2020. The positions will remain open until filled. With best regards, Mihai Petrovici and Walter Senn

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postdoc on computational modelling of perceptual inference and psychophysics (Hyafil lab, CRM, Barcelona)
by Alexandre Hyafil Oct. 15, 2020

Oct. 15, 2020

A postdoc position is available under the supervision of Alexandre Hyafil in the group of Computational Neuroscience at the *Center for Research in Mathematics (CRM),* Barcelona, Spain ( http://www.crm.cat/en/Research/ResearchGroups/Neuroscience/Pages/default.as…) The project will combine modelling and psychophysics (possibly neuroimaging) to study the mechanisms of propagation of belief in human perception. The candidate will benefit from the stimulating environment of Barcelona area in Theoretical and Systems Neuroscience and will have the opportunity of enjoying a lively city (should the pandemics permit). Our lab forms part of a larger interacting network of neuroscience labs in Barcelona ( http://www.barccsyn.org) Candidates should have a PhD in computational cognitive neuroscience or a related field. Prior experience with psychophysics, neuroimaging, machine learning and/or computational modelling will be valued. Financial support is provided by the Spanish Ministry of Science. Initial appointment: two years. *APPLICATION:* Send a curriculum and motivation letter with a list of two contacts for recommendation letter to alexandre.hyafil(a)gmail.com. Informal enquiries are welcome. *DEADLINE:* until the position is filled *STARTING DATE:* anytime before summer 2021

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PhD/Postdoc position in Tübingen, Deep nets + human neurophysiology data
by Jakob Macke Oct. 15, 2020

Oct. 15, 2020

Dear colleagues, We have a position for a Ph.D. Student or Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/d, E13 TV-L) in `Deep learning for studying population codes in the human brain’, starting as soon as possible. The initial fixed-term contract will be for 3 years with possible extension. Details at https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/196976. How do neural circuits in the human brain recognize objects, persons and actions from complex visual stimuli? To address these questions, we will develop deep convolutional neural networks for modelling how neurons in high-level human brain areas respond to complex visual information. We will make use of a unique dataset of neurophysiological recordings of single-unit activity and field potentials recorded from the medial temporal lobe of epilepsy patients. Our tools will open up avenues for a range of new investigations in cognitive and clinical neuroscience, and may inspire new artificial vision systems. The position is part of the BMBF-funded project DeepHumanVision in collaboration with the `Dynamic Vision and Learning’ Group at TU Munich (Prof. Dr. Laura Leal-Taixé) and the Cognitive and Clinical Neurophysiology Group at University Hospital Bonn (Prof. Dr. Dr. Mormann). Our group develop computational methods that help scientists interpret empirical data, with a focus on basic and clinical neuroscience research. We want to understand how neuronal networks in the brain process sensory information and control intelligent behaviour, and use this knowledge to develop methods for the diagnosis and therapy of neuronal dysfunction. We aim to work in an interdisciplinary, collaborative and supportive work environment which emphasizes diversity and inclusion. Tübingen has an internationally renowned research community in artificial intelligence, machine learning and computational neuroscience, including the Cyber Valley Initiative, the Tübingen AI Center, the Excellence Cluster Machine Learning, and the new MSc Program Machine Learning. We are situated in the AI Research Building, in close proximity to the Max Planck Institutes for Intelligent Systems and Biological Cybernetics, and participate in the two International Max Planck Research Schools (IMPRS) `Intelligent Systems’ and `Mechanisms of Mental Function and Dysfunction’. The position is open to candidates who have a PhD or Master’s in in a quantitative discipline (e.g. computer science, maths, statistics, physics, electrical engineering, computational neuroscience), a genuine interest in interdisciplinary work at the interface of machine learning and neuroscience, and strong programming skills (ideally Python/PyTorch). Prior experience in deep learning, and/or in analysing neurophysiological data with statistical methods is advantageous. The University seeks to raise the number of women in research and teaching and therefore urges qualified women academics to apply for these positions. Equally qualified applicants with disabilities will be given preference. The employment will be carried out by the central administration of the University of Tübingen. PhD applicants are also expected to apply to the IMPRS `Intelligent Systems’ https://imprs.is.mpg.de, Deadline also November 2. Please submit your application materials to mls-sekretariat(a)inf.uni-tuebingen.de, with subject `Application: Postdoc/PhD DeepHumanVision‘. Please include a CV, a brief statement of research interests, contact details of two referees and a work sample - anything that is genuinely your own work, e.g. a thesis, computer code, a research manuscript, an essay, or a publication. For postdoc applicants, we expect relevant prior publications. Application deadline: November 02, 2020. Best, Jakob Macke Prof. Dr. Jakob Macke Chair of Machine Learning in Science Excellence Cluster `Machine Learning: New Perspectives for Science’ Department of Computer Science University of Tübingen Adjunct Senior Research Scientist, Department of Empirical Inference Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems Tübingen Jakob.Macke(a)uni-tuebingen.de Office: Franziska Weiler, mls-sekretariat(a)inf.uni-tuebingen.de www.mackelab.org/tuebingen

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