February 2021 - Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

Special issue: Information Processing in Neuronal Circuits-Journal Biology
by alireza valizadeh 08 Feb '21

08 Feb '21

CFP: Special issue on “*Information Processing in Neuronal Circuits and Systems*” Dear colleagues, Together with Claudio Mirasso we are organizing a special issue in the journal “Biology” on the topic “*Information Processing in Neuronal Circuits and Systems*”. We would like to invite you to contribute your research to this special issue. For more information please visit the website https://www.mdpi.com/journal/biology/special_issues/neuronalcircuits Submission deadline: *7 May, 2021*. *Special Issue Information* The question of how the brain integrates the multiplicity of local processes dispersed throughout its entire anatomy is a fundamental question in neuroscience. Such integration is mediated by information exchange between brain areas, and other parts of the nervous system, through routes that can change rapidly to provide a flexible effective connectivity despite the rigidity of the anatomical connections. The flexibility of the information routing and effective connectivity are consequences of the multi-stability of the collective dynamics of the neuronal networks. In other words, a single structural connection can support plenty of degenerate dynamic states for each of which a special pattern of information transfer between the nodes can take place. Collective neuronal oscillations are hypothesized to provide such a basis for the dynamic communication between brain regions. In this Special Issue, the notion of information transfer and routing in neuronal circuits and systems will be addressed with a focus on shedding light on the mechanisms that regulate information transmission in the brain and in the nervous system in general. Please contact us in case you need more information about this special issue. Best, Alireza Valizadeh Topic editors: Claudio R. Mirasso, Universitat Illes Balears, Instituto de Física Interdisciplinar y Sistemas Complejos, Spain (claudio(a)ifisc.uib-csic.es) Alireza Valizadeh, Institute for advanced Studies in Basic Sciences, Iran ( valizade(a)iasbs.ac.ir) -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Alireza Valizadeh Associate professor Neurophysics lab, Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS) School of cognitive sciences, Institute for research in fundamental sciences (IPM) Zanjan, Iran Tel:(+98) 24 3315 2120 Fax:(+98) 24 3315 2104 valizade(a)iasbs.ac.ir Web: http://www.iasbs.ac.ir/~valizade/index.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------

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PhD studentship on “Computational modelling of spiking neural network self-organization” at the University of Surrey (UK)
by roman bauer 07 Feb '21

07 Feb '21

*Computational modelling of spiking neural network self-organization* A PhD studentship is available in the lab of Dr Roman Bauer at the Department of Computer Science at the University of Surrey (Guildford, UK). The successful candidate will use computer simulations to study how spiking neural networks can give rise to function, such as classification/prediction of spatio-temporal (visual or auditory) signals. This will contribute to novel technologies for neurally inspired computing, and help shine light shine on how neuronal circuits in the brain operate. This particular PhD studentship will be conducted in co-operation with the BioDynaMo collaboration, where open-source code for the neuroinformatics/computational neuroscience research community is developed. Successful applicants will become part of a vibrant PhD community and will benefit from the strong research environment and high international visibility of the Department. Its researchers publish regularly in top conferences and journals and are renowned experts in their fields, developing innovative, practical solutions to real world problems. The Department has strong links with industry and active collaborations with academic institutions worldwide. *Background:* The ideal candidate will have experience in computer science / physics / mathematics or similar. Proficiency in an object-oriented programming language is required. Previous experience in the modelling and simulation of spiking neural networks would be desired. *Funding:* Each PhD studentship comes with a stipend of £16,000 per annum plus tuition fees covered for the duration of 3 years for UK/EU candidates. International candidates are welcome to apply but will need to cover the difference between the UK/EU and overseas fees. More details including instructions for the application can be found at: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/fees-and-funding/studentships/phd-studentships-com…. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact the lead supervisor Dr Roman Bauer (r.bauer(a)surrey.ac.uk) Application deadline is 21st of February, 2021.

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Focus on Criticality and Complexity in Brain Dynamics
by Claudius Gros 05 Feb '21

05 Feb '21

Dear colleagues A short reminder: Together with Dante Chialvo, we are editing a Focus on Criticality and Complexity in Brain Dynamics Journal of Physics: Complexity Deadline 30 April 2021 https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/2632-072X/page/Focus_on_Criticality_and_… exity_in_Brain_Dynamics Among others, we are especially interested in compact perspectives, e.g. on -- experimental and theoretical methodology -- 'critical' assessments of underlying concepts -- controversial viewpoints We hope that the focus on brain criticality and complexity will be a place to assess where the field stands and where the fields needs to go. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any further information. We are looking forward to your contribution! Claudius Gros ### ### Prof. Dr. Claudius Gros ### http://itp.uni-frankfurt.de/~gros ### ### Complex and Adaptive Dynamical Systems, A Primer ### A graduate-level textbook, Springer (2008/10/13/15) ### ### Life for barren exoplanets: The Genesis project ### https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10509-016-2911-0 ###

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Open Position: Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Reproducible Neuroimaging Analysis
by Sean Hill 05 Feb '21

05 Feb '21

The Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics has an open position for a postdoc with experience in neuroimaging and software engineering: "Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Reproducible Neuroimaging Analysis” The Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics (PI Dr. Sean Hill, http://krembilneuroinformatics.ca/)Toronto, is looking to hire a Post-Doctoral Fellow with a strong background in Neuroimaging and Software Engineering. The successful candidate shall spearhead the group's efforts in developing a comprehensive open science platform that captures a range of experimental data, produces a semantic representation that links related scientific content, and provides users with data discovery tools. Working jointly between the Krembil Centre and Radiologics, the successful candidate will be involved cutting-edge development an electronic laboratory notebook platform that enables reproducible human neuroscience workflows. This work will support a global collaborative effort for Accelerating research on Consciousness: An adversarial collaboration to test contradictory predictions of Global Neuronal Workspace and Integrated Information Theory. Led by Dr. Lucia Melloni research on consciousness by providing decisive, field-transformative evidence in favor of one this project will accelerate theory and against the other. It will also establish a groundbreaking model for scientific practices in cognitive neuroscience at large, by demonstrating the impact of team-based adversary research and open data. This will address major riddles in the field, much like established practices in other fields such as physics and genomics have done. Thus, this project may dramatically change the landscape of research—that is, the social practices and norms—in the field of cognitive neuroscience. https://www.templetonworldcharity.org/projects -database/accelerating-research-consciousness- adversarial -collaboration-test-contradictory The platform will enable researchers to define their experiment protocols, capture and manage experiment metadata associated with these protocols, and publish the resulting data sets to a semantically enabled search engine. The platform will provide the basis for creating interactive publications from which each analysis result and figure is linked through structured provenance record to its original source data and analysis pipelines. • To develop an open source electronic laboratory notebook to support reproducible analysis of data that encompasses the most commonly used techniques in human neuroscience: fMRI, MEG, EEG and ECoG. • To develop standards for data annotation and exchange of data and metadata. • To publish those metadata via a semantically-enabled search engine. • The platform will build on several key components. The e -notebook will advance the pilot software currently in development and will include a user-friendly app-based interface to define the structure and content of experiments including the most common cognitive neuroscience experimental methods (fMRI, EEG, MEG, and ECOG). • The system will integrate XNAT, developed in Dr. Marcus’ laboratory at Washington University andatRadiologics(Marcusetal,2007) and BlueBrainNexus(bluebrainnexus.io)platform developed by a team led by Dr. Hill (Kaufmann et al., 2018). XNAT and Nexus are widely-used, open source applications that have been instrumental in advancing reproducible science. The successful candidate will have a PhD in neuroscience, engineering, physics, psychology, or related area, a track record for independent research, and a strong publication record. Strong programming skills and familiarity with neuroimaging data (s/d/fMRI and/or M/EEG) are required; experience with software development, semantic databases and data models are advantageous. For inquiries, please email David Rotenberg (David.Rotenberg(a)camh.ca) with the title “Post-Doctoral Fellowship Reproducible Neuroimaging Platform” in the subject line." https://www.camh.ca/en/science-and-research/institutes-and-centres/krembil-… — Sean Hill, Ph.D. Scientific Director, Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics Senior Scientist, Campbell Family Research Institute Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Professor, University of Toronto Faculty Affiliate, Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Co-lead, University of Toronto Temerty Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research and Education in Medicine (T-CAIREM) Titular Professor, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland KrembilNeuroinformatics.ca 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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Open postdoc position in plasticity in action execution (Washington DC)
by Ella Striem-Amit 05 Feb '21

05 Feb '21

*Postdoctoral researcher position in plasticity in action execution* The SAMP Lab (Sensory and motor plasticity, Ella Striem-Amit’s lab) at Georgetown University (Washington DC, USA) is looking for a passionate and dedicated Postdoctoral researcher to work on a project on plasticity and abstractness in action execution. The SAMP lab explores the balance between innate brain organization and experience-dependent plasticity by studying models of sensory and motor deprivation using behavioral and fMRI state of the art analytical techniques. Specifically, in this project we will explore neural action representations which are independent from the body part used to execute them, studying people born without hands. For detail of the lab see *samp-lab.facultysite.georgetown.edu <http://samp-lab.facultysite.georgetown.edu/>*, and a relevant recent publication: *www.pnas.org/content/117/45/28433 <http://www.pnas.org/content/117/45/28433>*. Excellent understanding of and experience with fMRI and data analysis are required. Strong programming skills (Matlab/R/python, etc.) are also a requirement. Experience with behavioral methods used in motor control and mapping is desirable but not a requirement. The position is not limited to US citizens. The start date is flexible, but preferably May-July 2021.This position is available for two years, and can be extended further based on performance. To apply, please send your CV, a brief statement of research interests and a copy of your recent, representative publication by email to Dr. Ella Striem-Amit (*Ella.StriemAmit(a)georgetown.edu <Ella.StriemAmit(a)georgetown.edu>*) with the subject line: “post-doc application”. Georgetown University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer fully dedicated to achieving a diverse faculty and staff. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. -- *Ella Striem-Amit (she/her)* Sensory and Motor Plasticity (SAMP) Lab Edwin H. Richard and Elisabeth Richard Assistant Professor Department of Neuroscience Georgetown University Medical Center 3970 Reservoir Rd., NW Washington, DC 20007 http://samp-lab.facultysite.georgetown.edu/

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Announcing the 1st Brain-Computer Interface Un-Conference (BCI-UC)
by Moritz Grosse-Wentrup 05 Feb '21

05 Feb '21

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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Postdoctoral Position in Computational Neuroscience at the Institute for Neural Computation
by Vinita Samarasinghe 05 Feb '21

05 Feb '21

*Pending funding approval*, Prof. Sen Cheng, Institute for Neural Computation at the Ruhr University Bochum, invites applications for a full time (currently 39.83 hours/week) *Postdoctoral position (TV-L E13) in Computational Neuroscience <https://www.ini.rub.de/the_institute/jobs/postdoctoral_position_in_computat…>. * The position starts 01.07.2021 and is funded for three years. *Job description* The position is part of the Collaborative Research Center “Extinction Learning” (SFB 1280) and expected to study the principles underlying spatial learning and its extinction with reinforcement learning models. A particular focus is the role of episodic-like memory in learning and extinction processes. The research group is highly dynamic and uses diverse computationalmodeling approachesincludingbiological neural networks, cognitive modeling, and machine learning to investigatelearning and memory in humans and animals. For further information see www.rub.de/cns <http://www.rub.de/cns>. *Your Profile: * Candidates must have * a doctorate degreein neuroscience, physics, mathematics, electrical/biomedical engineering or a closely related field, * relevant experience in mathematical modeling, * excellent programming skills (e.g., Python, C/C++, Matlab), * excellent communication skills in English * the ability to work well in a team. Research experience in neuroscience would be a further asset. The Ruhr University Bochum is home to a vibrant research community in neuroscienceand cognitive science. The Institute for Neural Computation is an independent research unit and combines different areas of expertise ranging from experimental and theoretical neuroscienceto machine learning androbotics. Please send your application, including CV, transcripts and research statement electronically, as a single PDF file, to samarasinghe(a)ini.rub.de <mailto:samarasinghe@ini.rub.de>. In addition, at least two academic references mustbe sent independently to the above email address. The deadline for applications is April11^th , 2021. Travel costs for interviews will not be reimbursed. The Ruhr University Bochum is committed to equal opportunity. We strongly encourage applications from qualified women and persons with disabilities. We are committed to providing a supportive work environment for female researchers, in particular those with young children. Our university provides mentoring and coaching opportunities specifically aimed at women in research. We have a strong research network with female role models and will provide opportunities to networkwith them. Wherever possible, events will be scheduled during regular childcare hours. Special childcare will be arranged if events have to be scheduled outside of regular hours, in case of sickness and during school or daycare closures. Where childcare is not an option parents will be offered a home office solution. -- 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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FENS job advertisement for Executive Director position
by Helena Ledmyr 04 Feb '21

04 Feb '21

The Federation of European Neuroscience Societies, FENS, seeks an outstanding association executive or executive‐scientist to serve as its next Executive Director. The new Executive Director should have experience in leading a scientific organisation, knowledge of current trends and issues facing life sciences and particularly neuroscience, and understand the legislative process and public policy, as well as the financial tenets of a non‐profit organisation. This is a full-time position based in Brussels, Belgium. Reviewing of applications will begin on 15 February 2021 and applications will be accepted until the position has been filled. https://www.fens.org/News-Activities/News/2021/02/FENS-ED-position/ All the best Helena ----------------------------- Helena Ledmyr, PhD *Director* *Development and Communications* International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility Secretariat Karolinska Institutet. Nobels väg 15A, SE-171 77 Stockholm. Sweden Email: helena.ledmyr(a)incf.org Phone: +46 8 524 870 35 incf.org neuroinformatics.incf.org

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2 Yr RA in Mathematical Neuroscience
by Stephen Coombes 04 Feb '21

04 Feb '21

2 Yr RA in Mathematical Neuroscience, Nottingham, UK Deadline Mar 8 2021 We are looking for a researcher, whose expertise lies in Mathematical Neuroscience, to work with Professor Stephen Coombes on an EPSRC- funded project entitled “White matter networks”. The central aim of the project is to build a new mathematical framework for biologically motivated neural networks to help understand the important contribution that activity-dependent regulation of myelination can make to patterns of rhythmic activity known to subserve important aspects of large-scale brain dynamics and its dysfunction. https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/jobs/currentvacancies/ref/SCI012521 Informal enquiries to Professor Stephen Coombes: stephen.coombes(a)nottingham.ac.uk<mailto:stephen.coombes@nottingham.ac.uk> ------------------------------------------------------------------ Stephen Coombes Professor of Applied Mathematics School of Mathematical Sciences Nottingham, UK Tel: 0115 846 7836 https://www.maths.nottingham.ac.uk/plp/pmzsc/ ------------------------------------------------------------------ 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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Postdoctoral Researchers in Computational Neuroscience in Alberta, Canada
by Wilten Nicola 04 Feb '21

04 Feb '21

We are recruiting talented postdoctoral researchers to participate in a cutting-edge International Network for Brain-Inspired Computation that includes nodes in Montreal, Paris, and the Pacific Northwest of the US and Canada (e.g. University of Washington, Allen Brain Institute). We seek researchers investigating the intersection of mathematics, physics, and neuroscience with interest in the general area of complex network dynamics and emergent activity patterns or representations that drive biological computation. The ideal candidates will have a quantitative background (e.g. PhD in mathematics, physics, computer science) along with experience in applying this background to neuroscience. These postdoctoral positions are partially funded by the Pacific Institute for Mathematical Sciences and are aimed to strengthen the link between the Campus Alberta computational neuroscience community at the University of Calgary (Complexity Science Group, Hotchkiss Brain Institute) and the University of Lethbridge (Canadian Center for Behavioural Neuroscience) with the other network members including the Computational Neuroscience Center at the University of Washington. Specifically, we are looking for postdoctoral candidates for the following two research themes: Theme 1: Investigating how connectivity and dynamics drive network representations. What principles predict how the connectivity structure of neural networks – their connectomes – combine with the dynamics of nodes and edges to control the dynamics and statistics of the network? Theme 2: How learning drives network representations. What mathematical principles predict how learning rules, either in artificial or biological networks, select network representations that solve particular computations? For both themes, a variety of world-class data sets on the structure and function of the brain are available to guide theoretical advances in the understanding of brain computation, particularly in learning, perception, decision making, and the effects of drugs such as amphetamine and psychedelics. The positions are open immediately with primary locations in either Calgary or Lethbridge. The specific start date has to be within five years of being awarded a PhD degree. The positions are for up to two years and they include an annual stipend in the range of CAD$40,000 – $48,000 plus benefits. Opportunities for brief residences in partner nodes (Montreal, Seattle, or Paris) are also available. Interested candidates should submit their application package including a cover letter, their CV with a list of publications, brief statement of research interests and their possible start dates in PDF format to Dr. Jörn Davidsen (davidsen(a)phas.ucalgary.ca) Dr. Wilten Nicola ( wilten.nicola(a)ucalgary.ca) and Dr. Aaron Gruber (aaron.gruber(a)uleth.ca) Applicants should arrange for at least two letters of reference to be sent as well. Review of applications will begin February 28th, 2021, and continue until the position is filled. For additional information and informal inquiries, please contact Dr. Davidsen, Dr. Nicola or Dr. Gruber. We strive for a diverse and inclusive environment, and encourage applications from members of any identity.

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