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

Postdoctoral Position at MassachusettsGeneral Hospital
by Xin Yu Dec. 21, 2020

Dec. 21, 2020

*Postdoctoral Research Fellow Position at Massachusetts General Hospital* The Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital is offering a postdoctoral position based on an NIH-funded Brain Initiative project developing novel multi-modal neuroimaging methodology in animal models. This position is open from Jan 1st. 2021 until filled. Potential candidates will be considered based on the following two research directions: *Research Direction #1 Multi-modal neuroimaging in animal brains, (Biologists/biomedical engineers/electrophysiologists) * a) Implement the MRI/EEG/calcium recording methods to specify brain state fluctuation correlated to pupil dynamics in awake rodents b) Target specific nuclei with deep brain optogenetic stimulation methods to study circuit-specific brain state neuromodulation. c) Develop an advanced fiber-optic imaging device for MRI compatible concurrent brain dynamic signal recordings, e.g., Ca2+, Glutamate, dopamine, and other neuromodulators. Experience with viral transfection, 2-PM or optical fiber recordings, or *in vivo. / in vitro. *electrophysiology in animal models (rodents) is highly desirable. The candidates should bear experience or strong interests in brain functional imaging, e.g. task-based BOLD fMRI. *Research Direction #2 Advanced fMRI and computational method development (Bio-engineering and computational neuroscientists)* a) Develop and optimize the high spatiotemporal fMRI method with high field MRI (>11.7T). b) Advanced resting-state fMRI analysis method development based on the neural network-based learning schemes. (being familiar with recurrent neural network design and implementation, e.g. ESN, GRU, et al.) c) Machine learning-based multi-modal brain signal dynamic signal analysis, e.g. LFP, Calcium, fMRI, pupil dynamics, et al. Candidates with strong computational skills and fMRI data processing experience are highly encouraged to apply for this position. The candidate should have strong teamwork skills to fit in a multi-disciplinary group. Please send your CV, contact information of three references, and a cover letter describing your background, interests, and research goals to Dr. Yu by e-mail: xyu9(a)mgh.harvard.edu. Please include “Postdoc Application for Multi-modal fMRI” in the subject line of your email. We welcome trainees with high motivation, curiosity, and scientific maturity. Also, Dr. Yu’s lab has extensive experience to support trainees to apply for international scholarships and help junior researchers to build their academic careers. Here is the selected publication in 2019-20 from Yu lab: 1. Chen Y, Sobczak F, Pais-Roldán P, Schwarz C, Koretsky AP, Yu X. Mapping the Brain-Wide Network Effects by Optogenetic Activation of the Corpus Callosum. Cereb Cortex. 2020 Oct 01; 30(11):5885-5898. PMID: *32556241 <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32556241>*. 2. Sobczak F, He Y, Sejnowski TJ, Yu X. Predicting the fMRI Signal Fluctuation with Recurrent Neural Networks Trained on Vascular Network Dynamics. Cereb Cortex. 2020 Sep 17. PMID: *32940658 <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32940658>*. 3. Drew PJ, Mateo C, Turner KL, Yu X, Kleinfeld D. Ultra-slow Oscillations in fMRI and Resting-State Connectivity: Neuronal and Vascular Contributions and Technical Confounds. Neuron. 2020 09 09; 107(5):782-804. PMID: *32791040 <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32791040>*. 4. Pais-Roldán P, Takahashi K, Sobczak F, Chen Y, Zhao X, Zeng H, Jiang Y, Yu X. Indexing brain state-dependent pupil dynamics with simultaneous fMRI and optical fiber calcium recording. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 03 24; 117(12):6875-6882. PMID: *32139609 <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32139609>*. 5. Ovsepian SV, Jiang Y, Sardella TCP, Malekzadeh-Najafabadi J, Burton NC, Yu X, Ntziachristos V. Visualizing cortical response to optogenetic stimulation and sensory inputs using multispectral handheld optoacoustic imaging. Photoacoustics. 2020 Mar; 17:100153. 6. Handwerker J, Pérez-Rodas M, Beyerlein M, Vincent F, Beck A, Freytag N, Yu X, Pohmann R, Anders J, Scheffler K. A CMOS NMR needle for probing brain physiology with high spatial and temporal resolution. Nat Methods. 2020 01; 17(1):64-67. PMID: *31768059 <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31768059>*. 7. Chen X, Sobczak F, Chen Y, Jiang Y, Qian C, Lu Z, Ayata C, Logothetis NK, Yu X. Mapping optogenetically-driven single-vessel fMRI with concurrent neuronal calcium recordings in the rat hippocampus. Nat Commun. 2019 11 20; 10(1):5239. PMID: *31748553 <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31748553>*. 8. He Y, Wang M, Yu X. High spatiotemporal vessel-specific hemodynamic mapping with multi-echo single-vessel fMRI. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2020 Oct; 40(10):2098-2114. PMID: *31696765 <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31696765>*. 9. Chen Y, Pais-Roldan P, Chen X, Frosz MH, Yu X. MRI-guided robotic arm drives optogenetic fMRI with concurrent Ca2+ recording. Nat Commun. 2019 06 10; 10(1):2536. PMID: *31182714 <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31182714>*. 10. Pais-Roldán P, Edlow BL, Jiang Y, Stelzer J, Zou M, Yu X. Multimodal assessment of recovery from coma in a rat model of diffuse brainstem tegmentum injury. Neuroimage. 2019 04 01; 189:615-630. PMID: *30708105 <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30708105>*.

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PhD Position in Human Clinical Neurophysiology in Bonn, Germany
by Thomas Reber Dec. 21, 2020

Dec. 21, 2020

PhD Position in Human Clinical Neurophysiology We are offering a PhD position (pay grade 65% E13), starting immediately, for 4 years. Will consider Neuroscientists, Psychologists, Biologists, Physicists, Clinicians, Mathematicians, Engineers, Computer Scientists. Our work in the field of Clinical Neurophysiology focuses on investigating the mechanisms during the generation, propagation, and termination of epileptic seizures at the level of single neurons, small neuronal ensembles, and local field potentials, with special focus on the piriform cortex as a major hub between the temporal and frontal lobe. Our group at the Department of Epileptology at the University of Bonn's Medical School uses the novel technology of single unit recordings via micro-electrodes in epilepsy patients, who have been implanted with temporal lobe electrodes for diagnostic purposes. This method allows us to record action potentials from single neurons as well as local field potentials. After neurosurgical removal of the seizure-generating tissue, human slices of the very same structures that were previously recorded from in vivo can be used for in vitro analysis techniques such as patch clamp or Calcium imaging. The neuroscientific focus of the University of Bonn with numerous labs in the field of animal electrophysiology and human research furthermore offers close interaction with the research institutes Life & Brain, LIMES, caesar, and the newly founded DZNE. The PhD position is embedded in the Bonn International Graduate School of Neuroscience (BIGS) and the collaborative research grant "Synaptic Micronetworks in Health and Disease" (SFB 1089). The student's work comprises acquisition and analysis of single unit activity and local field potentials during epileptic seizure in order to monitor emergence, spread and cessation of these events. Advanced programming skills (e.g., experience with Matlab or Python) are absolutely mandatory. Experience with patch clamp or Ca imaging is welcome. A background in neuroscience, medicine, or biology is not obligatory, the necessary knowledge can be acquired during the thesis work. Please email applications and cv to: Florian Mormann, MD, PhD Lichtenberg Professor of Cognitive and Clinical Neurophysiology University of Bonn, Department of Epileptology Venusberg-Campus 1 53127 Bonn, Germany Phone +49 228 287 15738 Email: florian.mormann(a)ukbonn.de http://epileptologie-bonn.de/cms/front_content.php?idcat=324

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Interdisciplinary Neuroscience PhD programme, Tübingen
by Peter Dayan Dec. 19, 2020

Dec. 19, 2020

The Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and the University of Tübingen invite students from all over the world to apply for their interdisciplinary 5-year PhD program leading to a PhD in Neuroscience. Full funding will be available for top-ranked applicants. We are seeking talented, curious and open-minded young scientists with strong backgrounds in neuroscience, biomedical sciences, computational science, applied mathematics, statistics, artificial intelligence, or engineering. Successful candidates will possess a burning aspiration to shape the future of neuroscience and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, interdisciplinary, environment. The application deadline is 30th November 2020. Please visit: https://www.kyb.tuebingen.mpg.de/imprs-mmfd for more details and information about applying. The PhD program is a collaboration between the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and the University of Tübingen. It is closely affiliated with the renowned Graduate Training Centre of Neuroscience, the centerpiece of neuroscience training in Tübingen. Students (who should have been awarded a Bachelor's degree by September 2021) will receive a broad interdisciplinary training in neuroscience, including expert teaching by international renowned scientists and individual and intensive mentoring. Potential research topics cover a variety of fields in systems neuroscience, cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, computational neuroscience, translational and clinical neuroscience as well as cellular and molecular neuroscience. Teaching and research are conducted in English.

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Open position for a PhD-student in Computational Neuroscience with Prof. Laurenz Wiskott at the Institute for Neural Computation, Bochum, Germany
by Laurenz Wiskott Dec. 19, 2020

Dec. 19, 2020

____________________________________________________________________________ Open position for a PhD-student with Prof. Laurenz Wiskott at the Institute for Neural Computation, Bochum, Germany ____________________________________________________________________________ Ruhr-Universität Bochum is one of the leading research universities. The university draws its strengths from both the diversity and the proximity of scientific and engineering disciplines on a single, coherent campus. This highly dynamic setting enables students and researchers to work across traditional boundaries of academic subjects and faculties. The Institute for Neural Computation is a central research institute at the Ruhr-University Bochum, see https://www.ini.rub.de/. It focuses on the dynamics and learning of perception and behavior on a functional level but is otherwise very diverse, ranging from neurophysiology and psychophysics over computational neuroscience to machine learning and technical applications. We are looking for an excellent PhD student (m/f/d) for the following research topic: The project has the goal to understand the neural basis of navigation in rodents. Building on existing models the PhD student (m/f/d) shall develop a model of the hippocampus for storing episodic sequences and apply it to navigational experience. The load of teaching will be calculated according to §3 of Lehrverpflichtungsverordnung (state of North Rhine-Westphalia). The appointment will be for three years with an option for extension. Anticipated starting date is April 1, 2021. Salary is 29,87 h/w of salary scale TV-L E12/13. Informal inquiries can be addressed to Prof. Dr. Laurenz Wiskott <laurenz.wiskott(a)rub.de>. Applications (CV, transcript of records for MSc and BSc, statement of purpose) should be sent as a single pdf file to Prof. Dr. Laurenz Wiskott <laurenz.wiskott(a)rub.de>. Travel expenses for interviews cannot be refunded. https://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/en/information-collection-personal-data-appl… At Ruhr-Universität Bochum, we wish to promote careers of women in areas in which they are underrepresented, and we would therefore like to encourage female candidates to send us their applications. Applications by suitable candidates with severe disabilities and other applicants with equal legal status are likewise most welcome.

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Postdoctoral position in computational neuroscience at Hay Lab (KCNI, UofT)
by Etay Hay Dec. 19, 2020

Dec. 19, 2020

Postdoctoral position in computational neuroscience at Hay Lab (KCNI, UofT): We will study cortical processing in health and depression in pre-clinical animal models using large-scale simulations of rat cortical microcircuits (in collaboration with the Blue Brain Project). The position is for 2 years, with anticipated start time in June 2021. Interested applicants with publications and experience in computational neuroscience, who have completed their PhD in the last 5 years, are invited to send their CV to Dr. Etay Hay (etay.hay(a)camh.ca) In support of diversity, women are particularly encouraged to apply. Hay lab for brain microcircuit modelling is located at Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, within the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (camh). We are fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and situated at the main campus, downtown Toronto. Etay Hay, PhD Independent Scientist, Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Department of Physiology, University of Toronto CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. AVIS DE CONFIDENTIALITÉ : Ce message électronique, ainsi que tout fichier qui y est joint, est reserve à l'usage exclusif du destinataire visé et peut contenir des renseignements confidentiels et privilégiés. Toute lecture, utilisation, divulgation ou distribution non autorisée est interdite. Si vous n'êtes pas le destinataire visé, veuillez en aviser l'expéditeur par retour de courriel et détruire toutes les copies du message original.

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PhD Positions at the University of Vermont
by Dave Jangraw Dec. 18, 2020

Dec. 18, 2020

Dr. David Jangraw is seeking PhD students for his new research group, the Glass Brain Lab. The lab's focus is "naturalistic neuroengineering": the use of new technology to study the human brain in realistic situations. By understanding the brain as it operates in real life, we can pave the way for devices that detect problematic brain states in real-time and provide help or support, a sort of pacemaker for the brain. EEG, fMRI, eye tracking, and machine learning will be central to this effort. Sample projects will study mindless reading, attentional reorienting in virtual environments, and automated labeling of psychotherapy techniques. If you are/know a bright undergrad interested in emerging tech and human brain imaging, please get in touch! Our home department gives degrees in Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, but students seeking degrees in Neuroscience, Computer Science, or related fields will also be considered. Applications are due 1/15/21. For more information: - Hiring page: https://github.com/djangraw/hiring/tree/master/UVM-GradStudent - Lab site: https://uvm.edu/~brainlab

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PhD Studentships in be.AI - University of Sussex’s Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarship Programme in Biomimetic Embodied AI
by Thomas Nowotny Dec. 17, 2020

Dec. 17, 2020

Dear all, The University of Sussex invites applications for PhD studentships within the be.AI Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarship Programme (www.sussex.ac.uk/ccnr/be_ai) which will bring together researchers from the humanities, life sciences and computing to pursue artificial intelligence (AI) in its original definition of understanding natural intelligence by emulating it in artificial systems. In our unique interdisciplinary centre, we will advance understanding of how the interaction between brain, body and environment gives rise to intelligence and how this insight can be used to build novel artificial intelligence. As a be.AI Scholar you will: * Be funded for 3.5 years with a a tax free living allowance at the standard Research Council rate – currently £15,009 per year– and UK fees * Be eligible for generous financial support of up to £4,000 per year for training and research expenses, such as conference trips and experimental costs * Be eligible to apply for one of three 12 month postdoctoral research fellowships, available only to completing Leverhulme be.AI scholars * Benefit from supervision by world-leading researchers in many different aspects of AI * Benefit from taught courses in topics, such as ethics and data science. The Programme will fund three intakes of 6 students per year, starting in September 2021 (application deadline 31st January 2021). You will be registered within one of the participating schools (Life Sciences, Engineering and Informatics, Psychology, Philosophy, Media Film & Music) but will be encouraged to perform cross-disciplinary research with academics across Schools. In be.AI, you will work in a community of like-minded students and researchers supported by your own research seminars, invited lectures by world leading speakers, as well as student-led conferences and cohort building events. We are passionate about creating an interdisciplinary cohort of researchers, so we expect successful applicants to see beyond their disciplinary boundaries and embrace the opportunity to work at the intersection of multiple fields. For further details, including how to apply, see http://www.sussex.ac.uk/ccnr/be_ai Kind regards, Thomas Nowotny, Andrew Philippides, Paul Graham Directors of be.AI -- Prof. Thomas Nowotny CCNR, Sussex Neuroscience Phone: +44-1273-678593 Engineering and Informatics, Fax: +44-1273-877873 University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QJ sussex.ac.uk/informatics/tnowotny<http://sussex.ac.uk/informatics/tnowotny> <../../owa/redir.aspx?C=9e11bb0e527242938402b42d9b5498ea&URL=http%3a%2f%2fsussex.ac.uk%2finformatics%2ftnowotny> I support the University of Sussex Community Pledge, as I continue to help those around me during the pandemic. Small acts of collaboration, kindness and integrity can make a big difference. www.sussex.ac.uk/community-pledge<http://www.sussex.ac.uk/community-pledge>

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PhD position at the University of Helsinki: Sample-Efficient Probabilistic Machine Learning
by Luigi Acerbi Dec. 17, 2020

Dec. 17, 2020

*Doctoral position in Sample-Efficient Probabilistic Machine Learning (4 years, fully funded)* The Machine and Human Intelligence research group <https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/machine-and-human-intelligence> led by Assistant Professor Luigi Acerbi is looking for a PhD candidate eager to work on new machine learning methods for smart, robust, sample-efficient probabilistic inference, with applications to computational and cognitive neuroscience. The candidate will join a newly established research group at the Department of Computer Science of the University of Helsinki (Finland) with strong links to the Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence (FCAI) <http://fcai.fi/>. Our group is developing novel machine learning approaches for approximate Bayesian inference that use only a small number of likelihood evaluations, which can be a game-changer for complex computational models or when resources are limited. A state-of-the-art framework being developed in our group is Variational Bayesian Monte Carlo (VBMC) <https://github.com/lacerbi/vbmc>, which combines Gaussian process surrogates, active learning, variational inference and Bayesian quadrature (Acerbi, *NeurIPS*; 2018, 2020). Promising thesis projects include extending the representational power of VBMC (e.g., discrete variables, more complex posteriors, higher dimension); exploiting recent advances in Gaussian process inference for superior scalability; combining VBMC with Bayesian deep learning; strengthening the connections with simulator-based inference; and exploring the theoretical properties of the framework. The position is full-time, funded for four years and will be filled as soon as possible, with a negotiable starting date in early 2021. The starting salary is 2350-2700 euros/month, depending on previous qualifications and experience. Application deadline: *January 10, 2021*. For more details and how to apply, see: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/machine-and-human-intelligence/ph… -- Luigi Acerbi, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Machine and Human Intelligence Department of Computer Science, University of Helsinki Lab: http://www.helsinki.fi/machine-and-human-intelligence

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Cluster hire: Two Canada Research Chairs in Computational Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Canada
by Joern Davidsen Dec. 17, 2020

Dec. 17, 2020

Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Complex Neural System Modelling Applications are invited from emerging leaders in the area of Complex Neural System Modelling, for a Tier II Canada Research Chair position in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Calgary. The successful candidate will be appointed at the rank of Assistant Professor (tenure-track) and will be nominated for a CRC Tier II Chair, which would provide a research stipend and protected time for research for up to 10 years. In alignment with the University’s Eyes High strategic vision and in support of its strategic academic and research priorities of interdisciplinarity, leadership, internationalization and creation of a dynamic research environment, the incumbent will join a university-wide community of world-class scholars under the Brain and Mental Health research strategy and the newly established Computational Neuroscience Platform. Current faculty members in that area maintain research programs in complexity science and critical brain dynamics, network neuroscience and complex network theory, dynamical systems theory and computational neuroscience, biological learning and memory formation, neuromorphic systems and nanotechnology, large data and bioinformatics, medical image processing and machine learning, and quantum neuroscience. Link: https://careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/5915163-canada-research-chair-tier-ii-in-c… Deadline: To receive full consideration, applications should be received by February 15, 2021. Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Computational Behavioural Neuroscience The Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Calgary invites applications for a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Canada Research Chair (CRC) Tier II in Computational Behavioural Neuroscience. The successful candidate will be appointed at the rank of Assistant Professor (Tenure-track) in the Department of Psychology. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2021. The Chair will establish and maintain an active and externally funded research program. The Chair will be expected to undertake research that investigates the neural control of behavior in model systems, and use computational techniques as an integral component of their data collection and/or analysis. Candidates with research programs directed toward understanding the mechanisms of experience-dependent plasticity of neural circuits underlying behavior are of particular interest. The Chair’s research program will be aligned with both the University of Calgary’s and the Faculty of Arts’ strategic plans. Additionally, the Chair will play an important role in teaching and research supervision of students in Psychology undergraduate and graduate programs. Service to the department, faculty, and University, is also expected, particularly in helping to build a diverse and inclusive community. Link: https://careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/5915457-canada-research-chair-tier-ii-in-c… Deadline: Applications are accepted until January 27, 2021 --- Dr. Jörn Davidsen Professor of Physics & Humboldt Research Fellow University of Calgary www.ucalgary.ca/davidsen<http://www.ucalgary.ca/davidsen> www.ucalgary.ca/complexity<http://www.ucalgary.ca/complexity>

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Algorithms and SW Engineering positions at SynSense
by Dylan Muir Dec. 16, 2020

Dec. 16, 2020

SynSense is advertising several positions in our Algorithms and Applications team, to be based in Zürich, Switzerland or in Chengdu or Shanghai, China. Please see here for details: https://www.synsense-neuromorphic.com/join-us <https://www.synsense-neuromorphic.com/join-us> Our Algorithms team at SynSense is responsible for developing applications for our low-power ML inference hardware. We build, train, test and deploy ML models; collect and wrangle data sets. As part of this work we write and maintain several open-source Python packages, with accompanying automated unit testing, documentation and deployment to PyPI and Conda Forge. * Software Engineer — Package management and Python development We are looking for highly motivated candidates willing to take the lead on SW Engineering tasks and work as part of our Algorithms team. We hope that you will also contribute ML algorithms and ideas to our team, based on your experience. * Algorithms and Applications Engineer — Signal processing We are working on a variety of sound processing tasks, for implementation in smart home devices. We are looking for signal processing engineers to help us implement low-power algorithms for audio front-ends based on microphone arrays. * Algorithms and Applications Engineer — Vision applications SynSense has world-leading hardware for ultra-low-power vision processing, aimed at “edge” deployment such as in mobile phone handsets, IoT and smart home devices. We need ML Engineers to help us design, build and deploy the applications for the next generation of vision processing. You may be based in our Zürich office, or in our Shanghai or Chengdu offices. SynSense is a small but growing startup, with a healthy mix of academic and industry experts. We have a very open-minded approach to our work. Your opinions and experience won’t just be highly valued — they will be crucial for us to advance as a company. We are a highly diverse and international team, and strongly encourage applicants that will increase our diversity. We are an equal-opportunity employer. For more details of the positions and how to apply, see our website: https://www.synsense-neuromorphic.com/join-us <https://www.synsense-neuromorphic.com/join-us> Best regards Dylan Muir

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