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

Up to 6 PhD fellowships in Cognitive Neuroscience at SISSA, Trieste, Italy, to start Oct, 2020
by Alessandro Treves 12 Oct '22

12 Oct '22

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 26 Jun '22

26 Jun '22

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 09 Apr '22

09 Apr '22

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.) 23 Nov '21

23 Nov '21

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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Post doc in Cognitive-Computational Neuroscience at University College London (discrete and continuous human action control under threat)
by Dominik R. Bach 21 Oct '21

21 Oct '21

*Post doc in Cognitive-Computational Neuroscience at University College London: discrete and continuous human action control under threat* We are looking for a research fellow in an ERC-funded research project "Action selection under threat - the complex control of human defence" led by Dr Dominik Bach (http://bachlab.org <http://bachlab.org>) and based at University College London, Max-Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry (https://www.mps-ucl-centre.mpg.de/en <https://www.mps-ucl-centre.mpg.de/en>) and Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging (http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/ <http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/>). The overarching goal of the project is to understand the cognitive-computational control of human motor behaviour under acute, immediate threat. We investigate this in an immersive virtual reality (VR) environment, in which people can move to avoid a large number of different threats. As part of this project, the candidate will build and test explicit computational models of discrete and continuous action control and action updating under constraints of time pressure and unaffordable costs. We seek applicants with established cognitive-computational modelling skills and a PhD in computational neuroscience, robotics with focus on action planning, computer science/mathematics/physics with a focus on decision science, or in a related area. We are looking for an individual who is strongly motivated to pursue an academic career and is excited by the opportunities for personal and career development this position can provide. The post is available from October 2021 and funded for up to 3 years with initial appointment for 1 year. Starting salary is on UCL grade 7, ranging from £36,028 to £43,533 per annum, inclusive of London Allowance, superannuable. More information and access to the UCL online application portal: https://is.gd/VwTJCA <https://is.gd/VwTJCA> Please contact d.bach(a)ucl.ac.uk <mailto:d.bach@ucl.ac.uk> for any queries about the project or role. *Closing date: 16 July 2021* Interviews will be held remotely in July. Apologies for cross-posting. -- ----------------------- Dominik R Bach MBBS PhD Principal Research Fellow Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London http://bachlab.org | @bachlab_cog

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Tutorials on Allen Institute data and tools for computational neuroscience at CNS*2021
by Anton Arkhipov 30 Jun '21

30 Jun '21

Dear all, Please join us for pre-CNS*2021 tutorials on June 30 and July 1: “From synapses to behavior – using open data, tools, and models from the Allen Institute in computational neuroscience”. https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2021-tutorials#SA5 The Allen Institute recently released multiple free resources focusing on the structure and function of brain circuits, including data, associated analysis software, and models integrating the data to enable bio-realistic simulations. We will introduce several of these resources in a series of 1-hour sessions. The resources covered will include characterization of cell types and synapse types, 2-photon calcium imaging and Neuropixels electrophysiology in vivo, a visual behavior dataset, and bio-realistic models and modeling software. Wednesday, June 30, 2021 11:30 am – 11:45 am EST (8:30 am – 8:45 am PST) - Introduction 11:45 am – 12:45 pm EST (8:45 am – 9:45 am PST) - Synaptic Physiology (Luke Campagnola) 12:45 pm – 1:00 pm EST (9:45 am – 10:00 am PST) - Break 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EST (10:00 am – 11:00 am PST) - Visual Coding 2-photon (Saskia de Vries) 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EST (11:00 am – 12:00 pm PST) - Visual Coding Neuropixels (Josh Siegle) Thursday, July 1, 2021 11:30 am – 11:45 am EST (8:30 am – 8:45 am PST) - Introduction 11:45 am – 12:45 pm EST (8:45 am – 9:45 am PST) - PatchSeq (Nathan Gouwens) 12:45 pm – 1:00 pm EST (9:45 am – 10:00 am PST) - Break 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EST (10:00 am – 11:00 am PST) - Visual Behavior (Alex Piet) 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EST (11:00 am – 12:00 pm PST) - Bio-realistic model of the mouse primary visual cortex (Anton Arkhipov and Kael Dai) Please register for CNS*2021 and join us for the tutorials! https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2021-quick Best wishes, Anton. Anton Arkhipov Associate Investigator T: 206.548.8414 E: antona(a)alleninstitute.org<mailto:antona@alleninstitute.org> [Text Description automatically generated] alleninstitute.org<https://alleninstitute.org> brain-map.org

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Last chance to register: TEX2021 - Bringing together Predictive Processes and Statistical Learning
by Yamil Vidal 29 Jun '21

29 Jun '21

Last chance to register!! TEX2021 - Bringing together Predictive Processes and Statistical Learning A free online symposium organized by Yamil Vidal and Davide Crepaldi. We have few available spots left so do not wait until the last minute to register. Description: While the research communities studying Predictive Processes and Statistical Learning sprout from different traditions, they share a core interest in how our brains pick up on patterns in the environment. In this two-days symposium we will bring these communities closer by sharing talks by some of the leading researchers of these fields. When: 1st and 2nd of July (15:00 to 18:30, CET) Speakers: - Tristan Bekinschtein (Consciousness and Cognition Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge) - Lucia Melloni (Department of Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics. Department of neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine) - Padraic Monaghan (Department of Psychology, Lancaster University) - Maria Chait (Ear Institute, University College London) - Floris de Lange (Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen) - Caspar Schwiedrzik (Neural Circuits and Cognition Lab, European Neuroscience Institute Goettingen. Perception and Plasticity Group, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research) - Lori Holt (Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University) - Nicola Molinaro (BCBL, Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language) Schedule and more info at the registration form: https://sissa-it.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nBOv5NWZQ36HSH7nyffazg We would be very happy to count you among the attendees. Please spread the word. Best regards, Yamil and Davide Dr. Yamil Vidal Cognitive Neuroscience Sector Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati - SISSA via Bonomea, 265 34136 Trieste, ITALY

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Robustness, Adaptability and Critical Transitions in Living Systems satellite - Conference on Complex Systems 2021 Lyon, France
by Samir Suweis 29 Jun '21

29 Jun '21

We are glad to announce the 4th hybrid (on site + virtual) edition of ReACT satellite <https://liphlab.github.io/REACT2021/> during the CCS 2021 <https://ccs2021.univ-lyon1.fr/> in Lyon, France - 25-29/10/2021 Confirmed invited speakers: Anna Levina (University of Tubingen) and Sergi Valverde (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra) Organizing commettee: Samir Suweis (UNIPD), Giorgio Nicoletti (UNIPD), Sandro Azaele (UNIPD), Jacopo Grilli (ICTP) Abstract submission open through EasyChair <https://easychair.org/account/signin_timeout?l=JRR3vhQlzxctciXkPU1pGc#>. Deadline 31 July 2021 All info are available also on the satellite website: https://liphlab.github.io/REACT2021/ <https://liphlab.github.io/REACT2021/> ***** After the success of the Satellite at ECCS 2014, CCS 2016, and CCS 2018, the ReACT Satellite: Robustness, Adaptability and Critical Transitions in Living Systems is back for a fourth edition at CCS 2021 in Lyon, France. We are very pleased to announce that the Satellite will be host in an hybrid format, welcoming participants both online and in person! The Satellite will last half a day and will take place during the main conference (25th - 29th October, 2021). The exact date and times will be announced soon. Living systems are characterized by the recurrent emergence of patterns: power-laws distributions, long-range correlations and structured self-organization in living matter are the norm, rather than the exception. All these features are also typical of systems poised near a critical point. The great lesson from Physics is that criticality can emerge as a collective behaviour in a many-body system with simple interactions and its characteristics depend only on few details, like the dimensionality or the symmetries. One of the most striking feature of living systems is that they are structured as evolving systems were interactions can turn-on or off, as well as strengthening and weakening, reconfiguring the system connectivity. Thus, by rearranging both the structural and functional topology, living interacting systems may demonstrate unique evolvability, scalability and adaptability properties. Among these systems, the brain is probably one of the most impressively complex and has received a considerable amount of attention in recent years, aided by the vast amount of experimental data available. The idea that the collective behavior of neurons might emerge from a self-organized critical state has been widely studied, from its fundamental mechanisms to its functional advantages, and it poses a fascinating question that is far from being answered. It is of crucial importance to make further steps in the understanding of the main properties that simultaneously confer to these systems high level of adaptability, robustness and optimality. If we can “learn” from evolution and unravel the basic principles then we would be able to both better manage/supervise these systems and also design more optimal and sustainable new systems. ***************** Samir Suweis www.liphlab.com Tel: +39 049 827 71 74

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[CFP] 2nd call for abstracts (+deadline extended to July 16th): Computational Cognition workshop (COMCO 2021)
by Juliane Schwab 29 Jun '21

29 Jun '21

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[JOBS] PhD @ Italian Institute of Technology, Ferrara
by Alessandro D'Ausilio 29 Jun '21

29 Jun '21

PHD PROGRAM in TRANSLATIONAL NEUROSCIENCES AND NEUROTECHNOLOGIES The Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication (CTNSC) @ Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), is opening 3 PhD positions starting in November 1st, 2021. Research areas: - Improving performance and biocompatibility of electrode arrays for brain-computer interfaces - Organic neuroelectronics for multimodal recordings and stimulation of the brain in vivo - Hardware and software development for innovative exploration of brain signals - Machine learning applications to multimodal brain and speech signals - Investigation of sensorimotor functions in animal models - Cortical recordings in human patients during awake Neurosurgery - Human non-invasive neurophysiology of speech and sensorimotor communication Who: chemists, physicists, materials scientists, computer scientists, biomedical/electrical engineers, biologists, biotechnologist, medical doctors and experimental psychologists eager to work in an international and multidisciplinary team. Where: The CTNSC (https://www.iit.it/it/ctnsc-unife <https://www.iit.it/centers/ctnsc-unife>) is hosted by the University of Ferrara (UNIFE) in a prestigious historical building in the city center. Ferrara is a well connected renaissance city (30-min to Bologna, 40-min to Padua, 60-min to Venice; 2 nearby international airports), bustling with students (https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/733 <https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/733>). General INFO: http://www.unife.it/studenti/dottorato/it/corsi/riforma/neuroscience <http://www.unife.it/studenti/dottorato/it/corsi/riforma/neuroscience> Application INFO: http://www.unife.it/studenti/dottorato/concorsi/selection <http://www.unife.it/studenti/dottorato/concorsi/selection> DEADLINE: July 23rd, 2021

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