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

Open faculty position in computational neuroscience at the University of Washington

by Adrienne L Fairhall

*Assistant Professorship in computational or theoretical neuroscience at UW* The Department of Physiology & Biophysics at the University of Washington has announced a search for a full-time faculty member at the assistant professor (tenure track) level with a 12-month service period. This position will be in the UW Center for Computational Neuroscience. We seek an individual to specialize in computational or theoretical neuroscience (note that this position is not suitable for an experimentalist due to limitations of space and startup). The successful applicant will take part in the growth of the Center, which serves as the theoretical and computational core of campus programs in neurobiology and neural engineering. We are open to a wide range of computational and theoretical approaches. The University of Washington is an excellent environment for computational neuroscience, with an active group of researchers working in this area distributed across multiple campuses, a Neuroscience program with highly quantitative experimental partners working in a wide array of systems, and excellent programs in bioengineering, mathematical biology, AI and machine learning. We have close relationships with UCSF and Berkeley through the Weill Neurohub, and with the Allen Institute for Brain Science. The UW CNC serves as the focus of a network of computational neuroscience centers in the Pacific Northwest, Canada and France. For more information, please see http://compneuro.washington.edu and https://depts.washington.edu/pbiopage/. We are committed to creating a departmental climate that embraces and benefits from the diversity of all individuals. Candidates should include a statement about how they will contribute to this environment (detailed instructions on our website). Review of applications will begin on January 4, 2021 and continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2021. Qualifications Candidates must have a Ph.D. or foreign equivalent in mathematics, physics, computer science, neuroscience or a related field. Application Instructions Application packages, including a curriculum vitae, a description of research accomplishments and plans, three letters of reference, diversity statement, and up to two papers or manuscripts as PDFs must be submitted electronically through Interfolio.

Dec. 15, 2020

PhD studentship on the modulation of visual processing by behaviour (Schröder Lab, University of Sussex, UK)

by Sylvia Schröder

The Schröder Lab <https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/labs/schroeder-lab/> at the University of Sussex, UK, offers a *PhD studentship for 42 months* starting in September 2021. We study how behaviour and internal states like arousal influence visual processing in the early visual system, in particular the retina and the superior colliculus. Based on recent discoveries that even the earliest visual signals in the brain are not purely visual (Schröder et al. 2020, Neuron <https://www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(20)30318-4>), we want to understand how the integration of visual and behavioural signals could benefit the processing of visual input and ultimately help the animal to reach its behavioural goals. Our lab works with mice as model system and uses two-photon imaging of neurons and their presynaptic inputs (axon terminals), high-density electrophysiology (Neuropixels probes), and opto-/chemogenetic manipulations to address these questions. Available projects include: (1) To discover how visual responses of different cell types in the retina and superior colliculus (receiving direct retinal input) are modulated by behaviours like running and by different states of arousal; (2) To discover the mechanisms underlying this behavioural modulation, focusing on the effects of neuromodulators like noradrenaline and serotonin. Details of the projects will be shaped by the skills and interests of the candidate. We strongly encourage collaborations with other groups at Sussex Neuroscience such as Leon Lagnado <https://lagnadolab.com/>, Tom Baden <https://badenlab.org/> and Miguel Maravall <http://www.sussex.ac.uk/lifesci/maravalllab/index>. Please submit a formal application *by 15th January, 2021*, using our online application system at http://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/phd/apply, including a CV (2-3 pages), degree transcripts and certificates, statement of interest (1 page) and names of two academic referees. On the application system use Programme of Study – PhD Neuroscience. Please make sure you include the project title and Supervisor’s name with your statement of interest on the application form. This School funded position, which covers fees and a stipend at standard RCUK rates, is open to Home / EU applicants. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in neuroscience with additional experience of quantitative data analysis. Alternatively, the candidate has a background in a physics, engineering or computer science and has a keen interest in neuroscience and performing experiments. Eligible applicants will have recently received an MSc and/or a First or high 2:1 BSc in a relevant subject. Candidates for whom English is not their first language will require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with not less than 6.0 in any section. Contact Emma Chorley for application enquiries (lifesciphd(a)sussex.ac.uk) Contact Sylvia Schröder <S.Schroeder(a)sussex.ac.uk> for enquiries about the project. -- Sylvia Schröder, PhD Cortical Processing Laboratory <http://www.ucl.ac.uk/cortexlab/> | University College London Cruciform Building, Gower Str, London WC1E 6AE Schröder Lab <https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/labs/schroeder-lab/index> | University of Sussex

Dec. 15, 2020

Postdoctoral fellow in Computational Neuroscience investigating mechanisms of sensorimotor integration.

by Ausborn,Jessica

Dr. Jessica Ausborn’s group at Drexel University College of Medicine, in the Department of Neurobiology & Anatomy is seeking a postdoctoral fellow for an exciting new research project to understand the underlying mechanisms of sensorimotor integration. The project involves computational modeling integrated with anatomical, electrophysiological, and behavioral data within highly accessible sensorimotor circuits of Drosophila melanogaster. The interdisciplinary collaboration with the experimental group of Dr. Katie von Reyn (School of Biomedical Engineering) will involve a variety of computational techniques utilizing cutting-edge datasets. It includes the development of biophysically detailed and more abstract mathematical models at the single neuron and network level, together with machine learning and data science techniques, to identify and describe the algorithms computed in neuronal pathways that perform sensorimotor transformations. The Ausborn laboratory is part of an interdisciplinary group of Drexel’s Neuroengineering program that includes computational and experimental investigators. This collaborative, interdisciplinary environment enables us to probe biological systems in a way that would not be possible with either an exclusively experimental or computational approach. https://drexel.edu/medicine/about/departments/neurobiology-anatomy/research… Applicants should forward a cover letter, curriculum vitae, statement of research interests, and contact information of three references to Jessica Ausborn (ja696(a)drexel.edu<mailto:ja696@drexel.edu>). Salary will be commensurate with experience based on NIH guidelines. -------------------------------------- Jessica Ausborn Assistant Professor Department of Neurobiology & Anatomy Drexel University College of Medicine 2900 W. Queen Lane Philadelphia, PA 19129 Phone: (215) 991-8310

Dec. 15, 2020

2 open Postdoc positions in Embodied Cognitive Science at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology

by Sébastien Lerique

Dear all, Two positions for Postdoctoral scholars are now open at the Embodied Cognitive Science Unit at OIST (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology). Applications are welcome until the positions are filled. Note that applications for these roles as Unit technician or Staff scientist are also welcome. Please see the full announcements for details: - https://www.oist.jp/careers/data-scientist-embodied-cognitive-science-unit-… - https://www.oist.jp/careers/neuroscientist-embodied-cognitive-science-unit-… Please spread the word! Best wishes, Sébastien Lerique

Dec. 14, 2020

Worldwideneuro Seminars, jobs, and worldwideneuro mail list subscription.

by Tim Vogels

Dear colleagues, Please forgive the announcement. for the seminars on worldwideneuro.com <http://worldwideneuro.com/>. I wanted to quickly let you know that you can easily receive the full weekly programme by subscribing to our mailing list. We send one email per week, on Monday mornings, so, very low spam levels. To join, send a blank email to worldwideneuro+subscribe(a)googlegroups.com <mailto:worldwideneuro+subscribe@googlegroups.com> Please let us know if you are interested in hosting a seminar series on worldwideneuo, It’s easy and a matter of minutes to add your series. Also: If your are looking for a job, or you are looking to fill one, consider posting it on world-wide.org/jobs <http://world-wide.org/jobs> Finally, while you are reading this, please note that World Wide Neuro is hosting 26 (great) seminars this week + next Monday, across 23 series. Please find the details below and mark the dates. All the best, Tim Vogels ------------ Tim Vogels Professor vogelslab.org <http://vogelslab.org/> @tpvogels +43 2243 9000 2170 Talks this week: 🗓 Monday, December 14, 2020 — 10:00 GMT Prof Fabrice Crivello > Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives - CNRS UMR 5293 - Université de bordeaux ○ Defining new multimodal neuroimaging marker for grey matter characterization <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1796/> hosted by ICM Paris Brain Institute 🗓 Monday, December 14, 2020 — 12:00 GMT Dr Johanna Jackson > UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial College London ○ Targeting the synapse in Alzheimer’s Disease <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1731/> hosted by Imperial Centre for Neurotechnology 🗓 Monday, December 14, 2020 — 12:00 GMT Professor Gloria Patricia Cardona-Gómez > School of Medicine at University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia ○ Phospholipid regulation in cognitive impairment and vascular dementia <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1660/> hosted by IIBCE on Brain Science 🗓 Monday, December 14, 2020 — 13:00 GMT Professor Elaine Del-Bel > Professor of Physiology,Department of Morphology, Physiology and Basic Pathology, School of Dentistry, Ribeirão Preto (FORP), University of São Paulo. ○ What about antibiotics for the treatment of the dyskinesia induced by L-DOPA? <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1659/> hosted by IIBCE on Brain Science 🗓 Monday, December 14, 2020 — 15:00 GMT Israel Nelken > Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel ○ Contextual effects in the representation of complex sounds: from the inferior colliculus to higher-order cortical fields <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1390/> hosted by LOOPS de Hoz - Hechavarria 🗓 Monday, December 14, 2020 — 15:30 GMT Ziad Hafed > Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Tübingen, Germany ○ https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1391 <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1391/> hosted by LOOPS de Hoz - Hechavarria 🗓 Monday, December 14, 2020 — 16:00 GMT Dr. Gérard Karsenty > Columbia University ○ Blurring the boundaries between neuroscience and organismal physiology <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1837/> hosted by Brain-Body Interactions 🗓 Tuesday, December 15, 2020 — 10:00 GMT Prof Wu Li > Beijing Normal University ○ Learning-induced changes in visual cortical processing <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/738/> hosted by BIU Vision Science 🗓 Tuesday, December 15, 2020 — 13:30 GMT Prof Elizabeth Heller-Mesznik > University of Pennsylvania ○ https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1821 <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1821/> hosted by IST Neuroscience 🗓 Tuesday, December 15, 2020 — 16:00 GMT Prof Giuseppe Testa > ○ Rethinking neuroconstructivism through brain organoids at single cell resolution <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/838/> hosted by NeuroDev Disorders 🗓 Wednesday, December 16, 2020 — 08:00 GMT Virtual Opening > European University for Brain and Technology (NeurotechEU) ○ European University for Brain and Technology Virtual Opening <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1865/> hosted by Ad hoc 🗓 Wednesday, December 16, 2020 — 14:20 GMT PhD Charley Wu > Max Planck ○ Generalization guided exploration <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1718/> hosted by CompCogSci Darmstadt 🗓 Wednesday, December 16, 2020 — 16:00 GMT Moritz Helias > Juelich Research Center ○ Correlations, chaos, and criticality in neural networks <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1670/> hosted by WWTNS 🗓 Wednesday, December 16, 2020 — 16:00 GMT Prof Xinyu Zhao > University of Wisconsin–Madison ○ Targeting stem cells for neurodevelopmental disorders <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1347/> hosted by Seaver Autism Center 🗓 Wednesday, December 16, 2020 — 17:00 GMT Dr Melissa Coleman > Claremont McKenna ○ Neural Mechanisms of Coordination in Duetting Wrens <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1325/> hosted by Systems Neuroecology 🗓 Wednesday, December 16, 2020 — 17:00 GMT Prof Dirk Isbrandt > Deutsches Zentrum fur Neurodegenerative Erkrankunngen ○ Vulnerable periods of brain development in ion channelopathies <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/299/> hosted by Experimental Epilepsy 🗓 Wednesday, December 16, 2020 — 17:15 GMT Prof Gina Poe > University of California, Los Angeles, Integrative Biology & Physiology ○ Sleep features for memory consolidation and network building across the lifespan <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1764/> hosted by Boston Sys Neuro 🗓 Wednesday, December 16, 2020 — 19:00 GMT Amanda McQuade > UC Irvine ○ Human TREM2 knockout microglia fail to activate towards Alzheimer’s disease pathology <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1472/> hosted by NeuroLaunchpad 🗓 Wednesday, December 16, 2020 — 19:30 GMT Dr. Erez Geron > NYU ○ Retrieval spikes: a dendritic mechanism for retrieval-dependent memory consolidation <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1473/> hosted by NeuroLaunchpad 🗓 Thursday, December 17, 2020 — 12:00 GMT Prof Gyorgy Buzsaki > NYU Neuroscience Institute, Langone Medical Center ○ Ways to think about the brain <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1745/> hosted by Champalimaud Colloquia 🗓 Thursday, December 17, 2020 — 16:00 GMT Udai Pandey > University of Pittsburgh ○ https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1528 <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1528/> hosted by Neurodegeneration in Flies 🗓 Thursday, December 17, 2020 — 16:00 GMT Matthew Cobb > ○ https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1308 <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1308/> hosted by WWNDev 🗓 Thursday, December 17, 2020 — 16:00 GMT Dr Mohamed Abdelhack > Washington University in St. Louis ○ Top-down Modulation in Human Visual Cortex <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1592/> hosted by SONA 🗓 Thursday, December 17, 2020 — 18:00 GMT Dr Sydney Trask > University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee ○ https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1838 <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1838/> hosted by Next Gen Neuro 🗓 Thursday, December 17, 2020 — 18:00 GMT Prof Daphna Shohamy > Columbia University ○ How Memory Guides Value-Based Decisions <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1820/> hosted by Caltech SocDecNeuro 🗓 Thursday, December 17, 2020 — 20:00 GMT Prof Antonio Verdejo-García > Monash University, Australia ○ In-Love with Addiction Neuroscience <https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/1851/> hosted by ISAM-NIG In-love with Addiction Neuroscience World Wide Neuro is kindly supported by <https://elifesciences.org/> <https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/> <https://fenskavlinetwork.org/> <https://www.phenosys.com/>

Dec. 14, 2020

PhD positions in dendritic computations (Poirazi lab)

by Yiota Poirazi

The Poirazi lab <http://www.dendrites.gr> at IMBB-FORTH, in Crete, Greece is recruiting *two PhD students *as part of the Marie Skłodowska Curie Innovative Training Network “SmartNets <https://www.smartnets-etn.eu>” The objective of SmartNets is to provide high-level training into the functioning of biological networks to a new generation of early stage researchers, to provide them with the skills necessary for thriving careers in a burgeoning area that underpins innovative technological development across a range of diverse disciplines. This goal will be achieved by a unique combination of “hands-on” research training, non-academic placements (industrial and non-profit organisations) and courses and workshops on both scientific and complementary -so-called “soft”- skills facilitated by the academic-non-academic composition of the consortium. SmartNets brings together neuroscientists, behavioural and cognitive scientists, physicists, computer scientists, and non-profit stakeholders in order to train the next generation of data scientists that will: 1) develop a fundamental understanding of the relationship between structure and function in biological networks and 2) translate this knowledge into novel technological solutions. ESRs will develop a unique interdisciplinary set of skills that will make them capable of analyzing networks at many levels and for many systems. *Mobility Rule*: PhD students must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention, are not taken into account. For more information about the positions and how to apply click below: Project 1: Role of dendritic nonlinearities in V1 network properties after visual learning <https://www.smartnets-etn.eu/role-of-dendritic-nonlinearities-in-v1-network…> Project 2: Role of dendritic nonlinearities in hippocampal network properties after contextual and spatial learning <https://www.smartnets-etn.eu/role-of-dendritic-nonlinearities-in-hippocampa…> - Vacancy terms: Full Time, Fixed Term starting from 1st of April 2021 for 1 year (renewable for 2 more years). - Living allowance: 34,800 € per annum (approximately 22,800 € Net). Depending on family status, successful candidates will also have mobility (600 € per month) and/or family (250 € per month) allowance, as provided by MSCA grants. - Deadline: midnight, 28th of February 2021. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an (online) interview. For questions please contact Panayiota Poirazi, poirazi(a)imbb.forth.gr -- Panayiota Poirazi, Ph.D. Research Director 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 -- Panayiota Poirazi, Ph.D. Research Director 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

Dec. 14, 2020

Starting a New Society for Contemplative Research

by Vago, David R (University)

Dear computational neuroscience colleagues, we have a request for you today and an opportunity to have input into a new initiative. A group of researchers in contemplative science and humanities are planning a think tank to discuss building a new association tentatively called "The Society for Contemplative Research." This would bring together humanists, contemplative scholars and scientists from many disciplines who are working on the experience and nature of contemplative practices and their applications across a wide range of human endeavors. This includes the neuroscientific and clinical study of mindfulness, meditation, compassion, empathy, prosocial behavior, contemplation and other mind-body practices, as well as their philosophical and cultural contexts. Towards this end, we have developed a survey that will help determine the level of interest in such an association and potential forms it could take. This information will be used to inform the Think Tank process happening in 2021. Therefore we are asking you to please fill out the attached survey, which will take around 10-12 minutes of your valuable time. Many thanks for this important contribution to advancing research and scholarship in the study of contemplation. Survey link: https://redcap.link/SCR<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fredcap.li…> If you have questions, please feel free to contact us at: contemplative.info(a)gmail.com<mailto:contemplative.info@gmail.com> Many thanks, MLI Think Tank Organizing Group (https://www.mindandlife.org/grant/international-society-for-contemplative-r…<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.minda…>) ============================== David R. Vago, Ph.D. | Director | Contemplative Neuroscience & Mind-Body Research Laboratory<https://www.contemplativeneurosciences.com/> Research Associate Professor | Department of Psychology | Vanderbilt Brain Institute | Vanderbilt University Director | AWARE Labs<https://www.contemplativeneurosciences.com/aware-labs/> | Contract Research and Consulting David.vago(a)vanderbilt.edu<mailto:David.vago@vanderbilt.edu> | P: 801-647-5906 [signature_1938336465]<https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu/brain-institute/person/david-r-vago-ph-d/>[mage result for vi4 vanderbilt]<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vumc.…> ------- Research Associate, Department of Psychiatry | Brigham & Women’s Hospital | Teaching Affliate of Harvard Medical School Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory<http://neuroimaging.bwh.harvard.edu/> | dvago(a)bwh.harvard.edu<mailto:dvago@bwh.harvard.edu>

Dec. 12, 2020

Second fully-funded PhD position at the Vision Institute, Sorbonne University, Paris, France

by angelo.arleo＠inserm.fr

Second fully-funded PhD position at the Vision Institute, Sorbonne University, Paris, France Job description Applications are invited for a 3-year PhD position to develop data-analytic and computational modeling tools aiming at the early automated detection of biomarkers and risk assessment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other eye diseases. AMD was ranked by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a priority eye disease, and it is the main cause of blindness in western countries. Despite the prevalence, rate of growth, and impact of AMD, its diagnosis is made too late: 69% AMD patients ignore their condition and 78% have irreversible loss when first diagnosed. The main objective of this doctoral project is to cross-link cellular changes in the deep retina with visual symptoms of AMD patients. The project will combine state-of-the-art live high-resolution retinal imaging using adaptive optics, electroretinogram recordings, and fine metrics of AMD-related functional visual losses in order to discover potential biomarkers of AMD onset and/or stage evolution. This project relies on a tight collaboration between visual neuroscientists and clinical ophthalmologists and it builds on the existing integration of basic vision science expertise at the Vision Institute and clinical research expertise in the Clinical Investigation Center of the Quinze-Vingt National Hospital. Requirements and eligibility criteria Applicants should have a quantitative background (engineering, computer science, physics, applied mathematics), a keen interest in vision and be open to the possibility of conducting experiments with human patients. The ideal candidate is expected to have a strong expertise in computational models of vision, image analysis and programming (Matlab, C or Python). Previous experience in experimental data analysis and/or machine learning is a plus. Knowledge of French is desired (but not mandatory). Proficiency in oral and written English is required. Successful candidates are expected to work in an interdisciplinary environment with engineers, neuroscientists, and clinicians. Benefits The position corresponds to a full PhD appointment (36 months) with competitive salary and working conditions. It is funded by IHU FOReSight and AVIESAN-UNADEV. Working environment The Vision Institute is one of the top international centers for integrated research on vision and eye diseases. It is located at the heart of Paris, on the campus of the National Hospital Center for Ophthalmology of the Quinze-Vingts. It includes multidisciplinary research laboratories, which share state-of-the-art platforms for human and animal experimentation. It also harbors a Clinical Investigation Center, which fosters translational research. How to apply Applications should be sent to Angelo Arleo (angelo.arleo(a)inserm.fr <mailto:angelo.arleo@inserm.fr>) and Denis Sheynikhovich (denis.sheynikhovich(a)sorbonne-universite.fr <mailto:denis.sheynikhovich@sorbonne-universite.fr>). Angelo ARLEO FONTAINE, PhD Director of Research CNRS Head of the Aging in Vision and Action Lab, Director of the Chair Silversight, Institute of Vision, CNRS - INSERM - Sorbonne University, 17, rue Moreau F-75012 Paris, France Phone: +33 (0)1 53 46 26 52 Mobile: +33 (0)6 46 84 09 56 Email: angelo.arleo(a)inserm.fr Website: www.aging-vision-action.fr

Dec. 12, 2020

Stanford - Postdoctoral Fellowship in Computational Modeling of Cognition and Human Brain Function

by Mai-Phuong K Bo

Please post where appropriate. Thank you. The Stanford Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience Laboratory (scsnl.stanford.edu) invites applications for a postdoctoral fellowship in computational modeling of human cognitive, behavioral, and brain imaging data. The candidate will be involved in multidisciplinary projects to develop and implement novel neuro-cognitive computational frameworks, using multiple cutting-edge methods that may include computational cognitive modeling, Bayesian inference, dynamic brain circuit analysis, and deep neural networks. These projects will span areas including robust identification of cognitive and neurobiological signatures of psychiatric and neurological disorders, and neurodevelopmental trajectories. Clinical disorders under investigation include autism, ADHD, anxiety and mood disorders, learning disabilities, and schizophrenia. We seek talented and highly-motivated individuals with a strong background in at least one of these areas: computational, cognitive, and statistical modeling; deep learning algorithms and optimization (theory and practical implementations); statistical modeling and inference/machine learning as applied to cognitive and brain imaging data. The candidate will have access to multiple large datasets and state-of-the-art computational resources, including HPCs and GPUs. Please include a CV and a statement of research interests and have three letters of reference emailed to Prof. Vinod Menon at scsnl.stanford+postdoc(a)gmail.com<mailto:scsnl.stanford+postdoc@gmail.com>. Mai-Phuong Bo Lab & Recruitment Manager Stanford Cognitive & Systems Neuroscience Lab Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences Email: maipbo(a)stanford.edu [cid:9a00c2c5-3f75-4d48-8d19-ec6a85fe9a8a]

Dec. 12, 2020

PhD positions in the lab of Rava Azeredo da Silveira in Basel

by Rava A. da Silveira

*Openings for PhD positions in the lab of Rava Azeredo da Silveira * *(Basel)* The lab of Rava Azeredo da Silveira invites applications for *PhD* *positions* at the Institute for Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB), an associated institute of the University of Basel. Research questions will be chosen from a broad range of topics in theoretical/computational neuroscience and cognitive science (see the description of the lab’s activity, below). Candidates with backgrounds in mathematics, statistics, artificial intelligence, physics, computer science, engineering, biology, and psychology are welcome. Experience with data analysis and proficiency with numerical methods, in addition to familiarity with neuroscience topics and mathematical and statistical methods, are desirable. Equally desirable are a spirit of intellectual adventure, eagerness, and drive. The positions will come with highly competitive work conditions and salaries. *Application deadline:* We will start reviewing applications on 20 December 2020. *How to apply:* Please send the following information *in one single PDF, to * *silveira(a)iob.ch* <silveira(a)iob.ch>*:* 1. letter on motivation and interests; 2. curriculum vitæ; 3. transcripts of undergraduate and Master grades. In addition, please arrange for three letters of recommendations to be sent to the same email address. In all email correspondence, please include the mention “APPLICATION-PHD” in the subject header, otherwise the application will *not* be considered. *** *The Silveira** Lab* focuses on a range of topics, which, however, are tied together through a central question: How does the brain represent and manipulate information? Among the more concrete approaches to this question, the lab analyses and models neural activity in circuits that can be identified, recorded from, and perturbed experimentally, such as visual neural circuits in the retina and the cortex. Establishing links between physiological specificity and the structure of neural activity yields an understanding of circuits as building blocks of cerebral information processing. On a more abstract level, the lab investigates the representation of information in populations of neurons, from a statistical and algorithmic—rather than mechanistic—point of view, through theories of coding and data analyses. These studies aim at understanding the statistical nature of high-dimensional neural activity in different conditions, and how this serves to encode and process information from the sensory world. In the context of cognitive studies, the lab investigates mental processes such as inference, learning, and decision-making, through both theoretical developments and behavioral experiments. A particular focus is the study of neural constraints and limitations and, further, their impact on mental processes. Neural limitations impinge on the structure and variability of mental representations, which in turn inform the cognitive algorithms that produce behavior. The lab explores the nature of neural limitations, mental representations, and cognitive algorithms, and their interrelations.

Dec. 11, 2020