January 2022 - Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

Call for Visiting Scholars in Theoretical Sciences at OIST (Application by August 15)
by Kenji Doya Oct. 21, 2023

Oct. 21, 2023

We are pleased to announce Visiting Scholars in Theoretical Sciences at OIST for a flexible term of 1 to 12 months as below. ***** As part of an initiative to develop a vibrant program in theoretical sciences, OIST invites applications for Visiting Scholars in the Theoretical Sciences. The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) is a research institution with a Ph.D. program. Outstanding graduate students and faculty are being attracted internationally. OIST is beautifully situated on the tropical island of Okinawa, Japan. Applicants should have a Ph.D. in a relevant field and be independent researchers, i.e., should have an academic standing equivalent to senior postdoc, junior group leader, or faculty member at a research-intensive institution. The position has a flexible term of 1 to 12 months taken continuously starting between October 2021 and March 2022 with a preference for longer-term visitors. The appointment may be taken while on leave or sabbatical from another university and comes with housing, research funds, and moving allowance. Successful candidates will be eligible to apply for support with salary, where this is necessary to facilitate the visit. No teaching duties come with the position. OIST is an institution with no departments, aiming to eliminate barriers between people working in different fields. It provides a family-friendly working environment including the multilingual Child Development Center and has proactive policies designed to promote a culture of diversity. OIST is an equal opportunity, affirmative action educator, and employer. Further details can be found at https://www.oist.jp/. Applicants should submit a CV including a list of publications, a brief description of their research to date and proposed research while visiting OIST, and the desired period of visit. All visits are subject to the availability of funding. Applications received by August 15, 2021, are guaranteed full consideration. If you have any questions, please send inquiries to: tsvp(a)oist.jp To apply, please go to our Interfolio page, http://apply.interfolio.com/88541 ---- Kenji Doya <doya(a)oist.jp> Neural Computation Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan Phone: +81-98-966-8594; Fax: +81-98-966-2891 https://groups.oist.jp/ncu

1 3

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

Oct. 12, 2022

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

1 2

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

June 26, 2022

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

1 1

Neuro2022 in Okinawa: Abstract submission by January 20th
by Kenji Doya April 26, 2022

April 26, 2022

NEURO2022 June 30 - July 3, 2022, Okinawa, Japan https://neuro2022.jnss.org/en/ Plenary Lectures: Anne Churchland, University of California, Los Angeles Martin Schwab, University of Zurich Erin M. Schuman, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research Brain Prize Lecture: Adrian Peter Bird, University of Edinburgh Neuro2022 is a joint conference of Japanese Neuroscience, Neurochemistry and Neural Networks Societies, held at Okinawa Convention Center and adjacent seaside facilities: https://www.oki-conven.jp The conference aims to be a forum for neuroscientists, clinical researchers, machine learning and AI engineers from around the world. All scientific programs will be in English and the conference will be in a hybrid format to allow online participation. Abstract submissions are open till January 20th, 8am UTC. Please visit the web site for details: https://neuro2022.jnss.org/en/abstract.html Neuro2022 is preceded by OIST Computational Neuroscience Course https://groups.oist.jp/ocnc and followed by the second edition of International Symposium on AI and Brain Science http://www.brain-ai.jp/symposium2020/ both held at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology https://www.oist.jp https://groups.oist.jp/conference-venues We hope to see many of you on this beautiful semitropical island in this coming summer. Best wishes, Kenji Doya, Japan Neuroscience Society Kohtaro Takei, Japanese Society for Neurochemistry Kazushi Ikeda, Japanese Neural Network Society ---- Kenji Doya <doya(a)oist.jp> Neural Computation Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan Phone: +81-98-966-8594; Fax: +81-98-966-2891 https://groups.oist.jp/ncu

1 1

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

April 9, 2022

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

1 4

Announcing Okinawa/OIST Computational Neuroscience Course 2022
by Erik De Schutter Feb. 25, 2022

Feb. 25, 2022

OKINAWA/OIST COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE COURSE 2022 Methods, Neurons, Networks and Behaviors June 13 to June 29, 2022 Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Japan https://groups.oist.jp/ocnc After two consecutive cancelations due to COVID-19, OCNC 2022 will take place on June 13-29, preceding Neuro2022 (https://neuro2022.jnss.org) in Okinawa. Depending on the immigration situation in June the course will be either pure on-site or hybrid: a mixture of on-site and remote. The aim of the Okinawa/OIST Computational Neuroscience Course is to provide opportunities for young researchers with theoretical backgrounds to learn the latest advances in neuroscience, and for those with experimental backgrounds to have hands-on experience in computational modeling. We invite graduate students and postgraduate researchers to participate in the course, held from June June 13 through June 29, 2022 at an oceanfront seminar house of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University. Applications are through the course web page (https://groups.oist.jp/ocnc) only: January 26 - February 28, 2022. Applicants will receive confirmation of acceptance in April. The 17th OCNC will be a shorter course than in the past: a two-week course covering single neurons, networks, and behaviors with time for student projects. Teaching will focus on methods with hands-on tutorials during the afternoons, and lectures by international experts. The course has a strong hands-on component based on student proposed modeling or data analysis projects, which are further refined with the help of a dedicated tutor. Applicants are required to propose their project at the time of application. However in the case of a hybrid format course, only on-site students will receive support for student projects. There is no tuition fee. The sponsor will provide lodging and meals during the course and may provide partial travel support. We hope that this course will be a good opportunity for theoretical and experimental neuroscientists to meet each other and to explore the attractive nature and culture of Okinawa, the southernmost island prefecture of Japan. Invited faculty: • Michael Berry II (Princeton University, USA) • Anne Churchland, Cold Spring Harbor Labs, USA • Erik De Schutter (OIST) • Kenji Doya (OIST) • Gaute Einevoll, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (online) • Tomoki Fukai (OIST) • Boris Gutkin (Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France) • Yukiyasu Kamitani, Kyoto University, Japan • Bernd Kuhn (OIST) • Sang Wan Lee, KAIST, South Korea • Devika Narain, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands • Viola Priesemann, MPG Göttingen, Germany (online) • Ivan Soltesz, Stanford University, USA • Greg Stuart, Australian National University, Australia • Greg Stephens (OIST) • Saori Tanaka, (ATR, Japan) • Marylka Yoe Uusisaari (OIST)

1 1

Positions in neuro-AI at the Centre for Neural Dynamics
by Richard Naud Jan. 31, 2022

Jan. 31, 2022

Frontiers of neuro-AI Primary Supervisor: Dr Richard Naud<http://www.neurodynamic.uottawa.ca/neuralcoding/index.html><https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/mibtp/pgstudy/phd_opportunities/supervi…>, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Science Secondary supervisor: Prof Jean-Claude Béïque<https://www.uottawa.ca/brain/people/beique-jean-claude>, Katalin Toth<https://med.uottawa.ca/cellular-molecular/people/toth-katalin> University of Registration: University of Ottawa, Faculty of Medicine<https://med.uottawa.ca/graduate-postdoctoral/> Project outline: Multiple Ph.D. and postdoctoral positions are available in the Neural Coding lab. The main goal of our research group is to understand how properties of neurons and synapses allows the brain to learn to complete difficult tasks. We are particularly interested in how cognitive-level functions - as formalized by artificial intelligence - can be implemented by neurons in particular systems [1-2]. In particular, our work explores the relationship between properties of cortical neurons and the diverse methods of credit assignment that have been used to train artificial neural networks. We are also interested in the relationship between mood-related networks (serotonergic centers, dopaminergic centers) and types of reinforcement learning. To study this, we perform computational modeling closely related to experimental data. Our work typically involves the development of both data analysis methods and the study of simulated neuronal networks. For an example of previous work see Ref [1-4]. The PhD project will be well suited to candidates ideally having experience in scientific programming, mathematical modeling, phsyics, mathematics, computer science or similar disciplines. The research projects require a meaningful navigation of electrophysiological, opto-physiological, behavioral and anatomical data. Programming skills (preferably Python) skills are highly desirable and knowledge of Machine Learning/Deep Learning or numerical simulation of physical systems is a plus. We are committed to working in an inclusive environment that encourages diversity while ensuring that everyone is treated equally. Our team is down-to-earth, diverse, inclusive and very dynamic. Please write to Dr. Richard Naud if you have questions. References: 1. Payeur, Alexandre, et al. "Burst-dependent synaptic plasticity can coordinate learning in hierarchical circuits." Nature Neuroscience 24.12 (2021): 1780-1780. 2. Harkin, Emerson F., et al. "Temporal derivative computation in the dorsal raphe network revealed by an experimentally-driven augmented integrate-and-fire modeling framework." bioRxiv (2021). 3. Harkin, E. F., et al. "Parallel and recurrent cascade models as a unifying force for understanding sub-cellular computation." Neuroscience (2021). 4. Lynn, Michael B., et al. "A Synthetic Likelihood Solution to the Silent Synapse Estimation Problem." Cell reports 32.3 (2020): 107916. Contact: Dr Richard Naud<http://www.neurodynamic.uottawa.ca/neuralcoding/index.html><https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/mibtp/pgstudy/phd_opportunities/supervi…>, University of Ottawa with up-to-date CV and research statement.

1 0

DENDRITES 2022 call for abstracts
by Yiota Poirazi Jan. 31, 2022

Jan. 31, 2022

DENDRITES 2022 EMBO Workshop on Dendritic Anatomy, Molecules and Function Heraklion, Crete, Greece 23-26 May 2022 http://meetings.embo.org/event/20-dendrites Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce the solicitation of abstracts for short oral or poster presentations at the EMBO Workshop on DENDRITES 2022, which will take place in Heraklion, Crete on 23-26 May 2022. This is the 4th of a very successful series of meetings on the island of Crete that is dedicated to dendrites. The meeting will bring together scientific leaders from around the globe to present their theoretical and experimental work on dendrites. The meeting program is designed to facilitate discussions of new ideas and discoveries, in a relaxed atmosphere that emphasizes interaction. Please register (no payment required) and submit your abstract online at: http://meetings.embo.org/event/20-dendrites Submissions of abstracts are due by *February 1st, **2022* Notifications will be provided by February 28th, 2022 Registration payment due by April 15th, 2022 Potential attendees are strongly encouraged to submit an abstract as presenters will have registration priority. For more information about the conference, please refer to our web site or send email to info(a)mitos.com.gr We look forward to seeing you in person at DENDRITES 2022! The organizers, Yiota Poirazi, Kristen Harris, Matthew Larkum, Michael Häusser -- 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 /-391238 Fax: +30 2810-391101 Εmail: poirazi(a)imbb.forth.gr Lab site: www.dendrites.gr

1 3

Three Postdoc Openings at the Krembil Computational Neuroscience hub in Toronto (Canada)
by De Pitta, Maurizio Jan. 30, 2022

Jan. 30, 2022

Three postdoctoral positions are available in the Computational Neuroscience hub of the Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network in Toronto (see https://kcnhub.com/) **Postdoc position at the Neuron-Glia Interactions Lab (PI: Dr. Maurizio DE PITTA, maurizio.depitta(a)uhnresearch.ca) The postdoc project aims to reconstruction, modeling and simulation of astrocytes by new techniques that leverage cross-fertilization of biophysical modeling, topology, connectomics, and statistical classification. The ideal candidate should be strongly committed to multidisciplinary research, and have a strong background in computational biology with excellent programming skills. Strong analytical skills and essential knowledge of astrocyte biology are preferred. The position is for 1 year with the possibility to extend it for at least two more years depending on performance. For more info: https://kcnhub.com/jobs/computational-characterization-of-spatiotemporal-ca… . ** Two Postdoc positions at the Neural Systems & Brain Signal Processing Lab (NSBSPL, PI: Dr. Milad LANKARANY, milad.lankarany(a)uhnresearch.ca) Two postdoc positions are available at NSBSPL to develop a translational computing framework that allows to identify the relationship between electrical stimulation (e.g., deep brain stimulation) and neuronal responses at the cellular level, decipher their mechanistic pathways at the circuit level, and link neural activities to behavior and cognition. Both positions are for 1 year with the possibility to extend for at least one more year depending on performance. Requirements and details for each position are provided at https://kcnhub.com/jobs/computational-neuroscience-postdoc-position & https://kcnhub.com/jobs/neural-data-science-postdoc-position . Applications should include a short (<2 pages) letter of interest including a research statement, an updated CV, and the contact details of three academic advisors. The application should be provided as ONE SINGLE PDF and submitted to the PI of interest with the subject line “[Postdoc Application] <Full Name>” Contact details: Maurizio DE PITTA, maurizio.depitta(a)uhnresearch.ca Milad, LANKARANY, milad.lankarany(a)uhnresearch.ca Screening of applications will start by February 2022 and will continue until the position is filled. For more details on the individual positions, visit https://kcnhub.com/jobs/category/postdoc. The Krembil Research Institute (Krembil) is the research arm of the Toronto Western Hospital (TWH) and one of the seven research institutes at the University Health Network (UHN). Krembil’s research programs focus on the brain, the eye and arthritis. Its laboratories are located at the Krembil Discovery Tower and at TWH’s Main, McLaughlin and Fell Pavilions. Prior to November 13, 2015, Krembil was known as the Toronto Western Research Institute. For more information: https://www.uhn.ca/Research/Research_Institutes/Krembil. The Krembil Brain Institute (KBI) at Toronto Western Hospital is home to one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive teams of physicians and scientists uniquely working hand-in-hand to prevent and confront problems of the brain and spine. One in three Canadians will experience a brain-related condition such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s or stroke in their lifetime. Through state-of-the-art patient care and advanced research, the Krembil Brain Institute works relentlessly to find new treatments and cures. The Krembil Computational Neuroscience ‘hub’ (KCNhub) is hosted on the fourth floor of the Krembil Discovery Tower. It constitutes a grouping of Krembil scientists doing computational neuroscience research on various topics that include fundamental and translational neuroscience, bioengineering and biophysics.The KCNhub interfaces with the strong, local neuroscience research environment at the KBI and the University Health Network, and originated from the need to build theoretical and mathematical neuroscience expertise directly interacting with stakeholders of the adjacent Toronto Western Hospital. ----- Maurizio DE PITTA Principal Investigator Neuron-Glia Interactions Lab (NGILab) Krembil Research Institute, 4KD-509 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, CA +1.416.603.5800 ext. 3290 This e-mail may contain confidential and/or privileged information for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any review or distribution by anyone other than the person for whom it was originally intended is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please contact the sender and delete all copies. Opinions, conclusions or other information contained in this e-mail may not be that of the organization. If you feel you have received an email from UHN of a commercial nature and would like to be removed from the sender's mailing list please do one of the following: (1) Follow any unsubscribe process the sender has included in their email (2) Where no unsubscribe process has been included, reply to the sender and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line. If you require additional information please go to our UHN Newsletters and Mailing Lists page. Please note that we are unable to automatically unsubscribe individuals from all UHN mailing lists. Patient Consent for Email: UHN patients may provide their consent to communicate with UHN about their care using email. All electronic communication carries some risk. Please visit our website here<https://www.uhn.ca/PatientsFamilies/Patient_Safety_Advocacy/Privacy/Documen…> to learn about the risks of electronic communication and how to protect your privacy. You may withdraw your consent to receive emails from UHN at any time. Please contact your care provider, if you do not wish to receive emails from UHN.

1 0

special issue: What AI and Neuroscience Can Learn from Each Other: Open Problems in Models and Theories
by Claudius Gros Jan. 29, 2022

Jan. 29, 2022

Dear all It is a pleasure to invite viewpoints and short reviews (10 pages max) on What AI and Neuroscience Can Learn from Each Other: Open Problems in Models and Theories Cognitive Computation, special issue https://www.springer.com/journal/12559/updates/20028534 submissions deadline: 15 April 2022 edited by Asim Roy, Claudius Gros, Juyang Weng, Jean-Philippe Thivierge, Tsvi Achler, Ali A. Minai. Aim and Motivation: Arguments about the brain and how it works are endless. Despite some conflicting conjectures and theories that have existed for decades without resolution, we have made significant progress in creating brain-like computational systems to solve some important engineering problems. It would be a good idea to step back and examine where we are in terms of our understanding of the brain and potential problems with the brain-like AI systems that have been successful so far. For this special issue of Cognitive Computation, we invite thoughtful articles on some of the issues that we have failed to address and comprehend in our journey so far in understanding the brain. We aim for rapid peer-reviews by experts (about two weeks) for all selected submissions and plan to publish the special issue papers on a rolling basis from early 2022. We plan to publish a collection of short articles on a variety of topics that could be asking new questions, proposing new theories, resolving conflicts between existing theories, and proposing new types of computational models that are brain-like. We are looking forward to your submission! Clauidus 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 ###

1 0

In-person event: TEX2022 - Bringing together Predictive Processes and Statistical Learning
by Yamil Vidal Jan. 28, 2022

Jan. 28, 2022

TEX2022: Bringing together Predictive Processes and Statistical Learning After our online meeting last year, this summer we want to welcome you for an in-person meeting in Trieste, Italy. The event will consist of morning lectures by the invited speakers and afternoon talks for which there will be an open call for abstracts. There will also be plenty of time for social activities and informal discussions. While all presentations will be delivered in person, it will also be possible to attend online. Confirmed Invited Speakers so far: Caspar Schwiedrzik, Floris de Lange, Lucia Melloni, Maria Chait, Nicola Molinaro and Ram Frost Where: International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy. When: During the week of the 18th of July Please spread the word, save the dates and stay tuned for further details. We look forward to welcoming you to Trieste this summer! With best regards, Yamil Vidal and Davide Crepaldi Dr. Yamil Vidal Predictive Brain Lab Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging - Donders Institute Nijmegen the Netherlands

1 0

DEADLINE Feb 15 for the Computational Neuroscience Imbizo in Cape Town, South Africa
by Tim Vogels Jan. 26, 2022

Jan. 26, 2022

Dear all, The DEADLINE for the next IMBIZO is approaching very quickly. Don’t let it swoosh by to join a diverse neuroscience summer school at the most beautiful beach in the world! If you know anyone who would benefit from a diverse and extraordinary computational neuroscience summer school, please forward this information: IBRO-SIMONS COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE IMBIZO #isiCNI2022 12 August - 4 September 2022, Noordhoek Beach, Cape Town, South Africa http://imbizo.africa/ <http://imbizo.africa/> Application deadline: 15th February 2022 The #isiCNI2022 is a southern hemisphere summer school aiming to promote computational neuroscience in Africa. It will bring together international and local students under the tutelage of the world's leading experts in the field. Like its international sister courses, this four-week summer school aims to teach central ideas, methods, and practices of modern computational neuroscience through a combination of lectures and hands-on project work. Mornings will be devoted to lectures on topics across the breadth of computational neuroscience, including experimental underpinnings and machine learning analogues. The rest of the day will be spent working on research projects under the close supervision of expert tutors and faculty. Individual research projects will focus on the modelling of neurons, neural systems, behaviour, the analysis of state-of-the-art neural data, and the development of theories to explain experimental observations. New this year is a week focused on neuroscience-inspired machine learning! Who should apply? This course is aimed at Masters and early-PhD level students though Honours or advanced undergraduates may also apply. Postdoctoral students who can motivate why the course would benefit them are also encouraged to apply, Students should have sufficient quantitative skills, (e.g. a background in mathematics, physics, computer science, statistics, engineering or related field). Some knowledge of neural biology will be useful but not essential. Experimental neuroscience students are encouraged to apply, but should ensure that they have a reasonable level of quantitative proficiency (i.e. at least second-year level mathematics or statistics and have done at least one course in computer programming). Please distribute this information as widely as you can. Essential details * Fee (which covers tuition, lodging, and meals): 1100 EUR Thanks to our generous sponsors, significant financial assistance is available to reduce and waiver fees for students, particularly for African applicants. We also hope to provide some travel bursaries for international students. If you are in need of financial assistance to attend the Imbizo, please state so clearly in the relevant section of your application. The Imbizo is planned to be hosted in person, with everyone following our COVID policy <https://imbizo.africa/covid-policy/>. If it is unsafe to hold the summer school, we will follow up with further information at the appropriate time. * Application deadline: 15th February 2022 * Notification of results: late April 2022 Information and application https://imbizo.africa/ <https://imbizo.africa/> Questions? isicn.imbizo(a)gmail.com <mailto:isicn.imbizo@gmail.com> What is an Imbizo? \ɪmˈbiːzɒ\ | Xhosa - Zulu A gathering of the people to share knowledge. FACULTY Demba Ba - Harvard University Adrienne Fairhall - Washington University Peter Latham - University College London Daphne Bavelier - University of Geneva Timothy Lillicrap - DeepMind Jonathan Pillow - Princeton University Joseph Raimondo - University of Cape Town Mackenzie Mathis - EPFL Lausanne Athanassia Papoutsi - IMBB-FORTH Evan Schaffer - Columbia University Henning Sprekeler - Technical University of Berlin Thomas Tagoe - University of Ghana Misha Tsodyks - Weiszmann Institute of Science Tim Vogels - Institute of Science and Technology Austria Blake Richards - McGill University Alex Pouget - University of Geneva TUTORS Mohamed Abdelhack - Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics Annik Carson - McGill University Spiros Chavlis - IMBB-FORTH Christopher Currin - Institute of Science and Technology Austria Sanjukta Krishnaopal - University College London Marjorie Xie - Columbia University ORGANISERS Demba Ba (Harvard University) Christopher Currin (Institute of Science and Technology Austria) Peter Latham (Gatsby Unit for Computational Neuroscience) Joseph Raimondo (University of Cape Town) Emma Vaughan (Imbizo Logistics) Tim Vogels (Institute of Science and Technology Austria) Sponsors The isiCNI is made possible by the generous support from the Simons Foundation <https://www.simonsfoundation.org/> and the International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO) <https://ibro.org/>, as well as the Wellcome Trust <https://wellcome.org/>, Deep Mind <https://deepmind.com/> and Wits University <https://www.wits.ac.za/> Organizational Affiliates University of Cape Town, University College London, Institute of Science and Technology Austria, TReND in Africa <http://trendinafrica.org/>, Neuroscience Institute <http://www.neuroscience.uct.ac.za/>, Gatsby Foundation <http://www.gatsby.org.uk/>, IBRO African Center for Advanced Training in Neurosciences at UCT

1 0

Director of Scientific Research: Stanford Cognitive & Systems Neuroscience Laboratory
by Stacie Warren Jan. 26, 2022

Jan. 26, 2022

Hi, Posting for a colleague. Please direct any questions to Mai-Phuong Bo, lab manager, at maipbo(a)stanford.edu. Director of Scientific Research: Stanford Cognitive & Systems Neuroscience Laboratory Stanford University The Stanford Cognitive & Systems Neuroscience Laboratory ( http://scsnl.stanford.edu) in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is seeking a Director of Scientific Research. This is an exciting opportunity to manage the lab’s ongoing research on human brain function and dysfunction across the lifespan. The Director of Scientific Research will play a key role in day-to-day research operations of the lab and manage staff activities on funded research projects, including study and protocol design, data collection, data management & analysis, manuscript writing, and dissemination of scientific findings. The successful candidate will also take a lead in the development, writing, and submission of grant proposals across a range of funding mechanisms, including NIH, NSF, and private philanthropic foundations. The Director of Scientific Research will report to the Lab Director and Principal Investigator. This is an excellent role for an advanced postdoc with research experience in cognitive neuroscience, strong writing and analytical skills, excellent organizational and leadership skills, the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, and a passion for academic research. Interested applicants should submit ( https://careersearch.stanford.edu/jobs/director-of-scientific-research-13316) a CV and a cover letter describing qualifications for the position. Duties include: • Develop and implement standard operating procedures for effectively collecting, managing, and disseminating scientific research. • Oversee preparation and managing submission of IRB and regulatory protocols and reports to funding agencies. • Write and edit content for grant proposals, peer-reviewed publications, and other program activities under the general direction of PI. · Assist with the development of research grants, suggest new funding opportunities, write portions of grants, and/or summarize data for grant support. • Facilitate publication of research papers and reports. • Oversee and administer research activities by evaluating academic programs, making recommendations that impact policies and programs, and coordinating and implementing changes. • Collect and analyze data, create reports, review and explain trends to determine program effectiveness; formulate and evaluate alternative solutions and/or recommendations to achieve the goals of the program. • Develop, implement, administer, and evaluate large-scale research programs in clinical neuroscience, psychiatry, and pediatric neuroimaging. • Represent the lab as the key contact and subject matter expert within the department, unit or school and develop communications for internal and external constituencies. • Organize and/or participate in outreach activities such as events, partnerships, fundraising, training, and conferences. Lead workshops and facilitate meetings. • Monitor expenses, budgets, and finances of the program. Make recommendations on funding based on program spend. Develop strategic plans, budgets, and set timelines with the research team. • Oversee training of research staff and students. • - Other duties may also be assigned DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: • Ph.D. with focus on cognitive, developmental, clinical, or experimental psychology or neuroscience, with 2 years of relevant postdoctoral research experience. • Track record in successful grant writing. • Strong publication record. • Ability to plan, organize, and manage the daily activities and operations of complex research projects in a University setting. • Ability to provide necessary leadership, including helping to maintain a high morale among co-workers and keep projects on track over an extended period. • Excellence in both written and verbal communication. • Strong interpersonal skills for communicating with schools, parents, children, and community officials who will be involved or contacted over the course of the project. • Ability to lead project teams and maintain good working relationships with supervisors, coworkers, and research subjects. • Ability to work efficiently, meet deadlines, and complete tasks with a high degree of accuracy with little oversight. -- Stacie L. Warren, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Psychology Palo Alto University 1791 Arastradero Road Palo Alto, CA 94304 email: swarren(a)paloaltou.edu <staciewarren3(a)gmail.com>

1 0

Postdoc: lucid dreaming via brain stimulation, VR, EEG, ML
by Martin Dresler Jan. 26, 2022

Jan. 26, 2022

Hi, for a collaboration between the Donders Institute and Bern University on the induction of lucid dreaming, we are looking for a postdoc with experience in (ideally: several) the following fields: brain stimulation, VR, HD-EEG, machine learning, sleep. Deadline soon, further information: https://dreslerlab.org/postdoc-position Cheers, Martin -- Donders Sleep & Memory Lab, Radboud University Medical Center Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, Netherlands https://dreslerlab.org

1 0

Special Issue on Computational Neuroscience in the Journal of Physiology
by Michael Okun Jan. 24, 2022

Jan. 24, 2022

Dear Colleagues, We would like to announce a special issue of the Journal of Physiology focused on computational neuroscience, to be published in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the publication of the Hodgkin-Huxley model and to celebrate the 600th volume of the journal. The special issue will include a number of invited reviews covering synaptic and network models, with further information available in the issue's advert flyer: https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/pb-assets/assets/14697793/Affiche_Co… To complement the above reviews, the journal seeks submissions of original research articles in all areas of theoretical and computational neuroscience. The submission deadline is 15th of April 2022. Additional details on the special issue can be found in the official announcement on the journal's webpage: https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/journal/14697793/resources/call-… Thank you, Katalin Toth and Michael Okun

1 0

[3rd BCI-UC] Final program online
by Philipp Raggam Jan. 24, 2022

Jan. 24, 2022

Dear colleagues, We are very excited to announce that the final program of the 3rd Brain-Computer Interface Un-Conference (BCI-UC) is now online: https://bciunconference.univie.ac.at/3rd-bci-uc/ All presentations are streamed live and free-of-charge on January 27th (Thursday), 2022, from 03:00 pm to 09:00 pm (CET) via: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/3rd-brain-computer-interface-unconference/1 The 3rd BCI-UC features keynotes by *Cynthia A. Chestek* on "Neural Interfaces for Controlling Finger Movements" and by *Thorsten O. Zander* on "The Age of Neuroadaptivity". In addition, we have seven contributed presentations and one panel discussion on a broad range of topics for BCI technologies. We are looking forward to seeing you all at the 3rd BCI-UC! Best regards, The BCI-UC committee: Moritz Grosse-Wentrup Anja Meunier Philipp Raggam Jiachen Xu -- DI Philipp Raggam, BSc Research Group Neuroinformatics Faculty of Computer Science University of Vienna Hörlgasse 6, A-1090 Wien, Austria

1 0

Update IMRF 2022 in Ulm
by Marc Ernst Jan. 24, 2022

Jan. 24, 2022

Dear colleagues and friends of IMRF, This is just a quick update on the International Multisensory Research Forum (IMRF), scheduled for July 4-7 2022 in Ulm, Germany. ( https://cops.ifp.uni-ulm.de/imrf2022/ <https://cops.ifp.uni-ulm.de/imrf2022/> ) We are monitoring the current pandemic situation very closely and as you are aware, predictions into the longer future have been proven to be very difficult. This uncertainty is why we did not update you earlier. Anyway, here is the current status of our planning and thinking: We are still very determined to host IMRF in the summer of 2022 as an in presence meeting. Whether or not there will be a hybrid addition to IMRF which would allow for also online participation, is not yet determined, as any hybrid format is a huge organisational challenge. To make it easier for you to decide whether or not you can travel to Germany in summer 2022, we have tried to post the deadlines for abstract submission and registration as late as possible. Currently, the abstract submission deadline is set to April 01, the date by which you can also change and adapt your already submitted abstract (and symposium contributions). The review process will start after this date. We strife to keep the already accepted symposia and ask the symposium organisers / attendees to update their information accordingly if individual talks need to be adapted. Please get in contact with us by the submission deadline in case of necessary substitutions, The early registration deadline is set to May 20 giving us a bit more than a month to plan with the number of participants. Given the current pandemic regulations in Germany to not pack rooms as densely as we used to, we may have to limit the number of participants to something around 180 to 200 people. However, as you are aware, the situation and thus rules keep changing. In any case it cannot hurt to register early to secure your space, as limits, if they apply, will be done on a first come first serve basis. Here is a link to the current regulations in the state of Baden Württemberg, which is permanently adapted as the situation changes: https://www.baden-wuerttemberg.de/en/service/aktuelle-infos-zu-corona/coron… <https://www.baden-wuerttemberg.de/en/service/aktuelle-infos-zu-corona/coron…> We will keep you posted as soon as we have more information. Stay safe and healthy - best, Marc --------------------------------------------------------- Prof. Dr. Marc Ernst Applied Cognitive Psychology Faculty for Computer Science, Engineering & Psychology Ulm University Albert-Einstein-Allee 43 89081 Ulm room nr.: 43.3.103 mail: marc.ernst(a)uni-ulm.de <mailto:marc.ernst@uni-ulm.de> phone int.: +49-(0)731-50 320 50 phone ext.: +49-(0)731-50 356 27 sekr: +49-(0)731-50 320 51 mobile: +49-(0)152-22 543 156

1 0

CRNS Talk Series - Live Talk by Dr. Alessandra Sciutti - Italian Institute of Technology (IIT)
by Amir Aly Jan. 23, 2022

Jan. 23, 2022

**Apologies for cross-posting ** Dear All, The Center for Robotics and Neural Systems (CRNS <https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/robotics-neural-systems>) at Plymouth University is pleased to announce the talk of *Dr. Alessandra Sciutti* from the *Italian Institute of Technology* (IIT) on Wednesday February 2nd at *11:00 am - 12:30 pm (GMT) *over *Zoom*. Registration is* required* and free: Registration Form <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPms0aWvXSD3xOg3eBEUMt-6vKq-yETd9…> . *Title of the talk*: Cognitive robots for more humane interactions *Abstract*: A cognitive robot is a robot capable to adapt, predict, and pro-actively interact with the environment and communicate with the human partners. Our research leverages on the use of the humanoid robot iCub to test how to build such a cognitive interactive agent. We model the minimal skills necessary for cognitive development, such as the visual features that enable to recognize the presence of other agents in the scene, their internal state and their responses to robot behavior. In a dual approach, we are trying to understand how to modulate robot movement to make it more transparent and understandable to non-expert users. As a next step, we are focusing on the development of simple cognitive architectures that could integrate the sensory and motor capabilities developed in isolation together with memory, internal motivation and learning mechanisms, to achieve personalization and adaptation skills. We believe that only a structured effort toward cognition will in the future allow for more humane machines, able to see the world and people as we do and engage with them in a meaningful manner. --- If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me, Regards ---------------- *Dr. Amir Aly* Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Center for Robotics and Neural Systems (CRNS) School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics Room B332, Portland Square, Drake Circus, PL4 8AA University of Plymouth, UK

1 0

CRNS Talk Series - Live Talk by Dr. Alessandra Sciutti - Italian Institute of Technology (IIT)
by Amir Aly Jan. 23, 2022

Jan. 23, 2022

**Apologies for cross-posting ** Dear All, The Center for Robotics and Neural Systems (CRNS <https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/robotics-neural-systems>) at Plymouth University is pleased to announce the talk of *Dr. Alessandra Sciutti* from the *Italian Institute of Technology* (IIT) on Wednesday February 2nd at *11:00 am - 12:30 pm (BST) *over *Zoom*. Registration is* required* and free: Registration Form <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPms0aWvXSD3xOg3eBEUMt-6vKq-yETd9…> . *Title of the talk*: Cognitive robots for more humane interactions *Abstract*: A cognitive robot is a robot capable to adapt, predict, and pro-actively interact with the environment and communicate with the human partners. Our research leverages on the use of the humanoid robot iCub to test how to build such a cognitive interactive agent. We model the minimal skills necessary for cognitive development, such as the visual features that enable to recognize the presence of other agents in the scene, their internal state and their responses to robot behavior. In a dual approach, we are trying to understand how to modulate robot movement to make it more transparent and understandable to non-expert users. As a next step, we are focusing on the development of simple cognitive architectures that could integrate the sensory and motor capabilities developed in isolation together with memory, internal motivation and learning mechanisms, to achieve personalization and adaptation skills. We believe that only a structured effort toward cognition will in the future allow for more humane machines, able to see the world and people as we do and engage with them in a meaningful manner. --- If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me, Regards ---------------- *Dr. Amir Aly* Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Center for Robotics and Neural Systems (CRNS) School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics Room B332, Portland Square, Drake Circus, PL4 8AA University of Plymouth, UK

1 0

We are recruiting a post-doc to work on a project using real-time fMRI neurofeedback
by Steve Weisberg Jan. 21, 2022

Jan. 21, 2022

Hi all, Natalie Ebner and I are recruiting a postdoctoral researcher to work on real-time fMRI neurofeedback in the domain of spatial navigation in aging! If you (or someone you know) is interested, please get in touch! The Spatial Cognition and Navigational Neuroscience (SCANN <https://scannlab.psych.ufl.edu/>) and Social-Cognitive and Affective Development <https://ebnerlab.psych.ufl.edu/> Laboratories at the University of Florida are hiring a postdoctoral researcher who will lead real-time fMRI neurofeedback experiments related to the cognitive neuroscience of spatial navigation in aging and age-related pathology. The position will be co-supervised by Dr. Steven Weisberg and Dr. Natalie Ebner, in collaboration with Dr. Dawn Bowers. The initial position is a 2-year appointment, with subsequent renewals depending on funding availability. Preferred start date is *March 1, 2022,* but is negotiable. Salary will be paid at the NIH postdoctoral levels. *If interested, please contact Steven Weisberg *(stevenweisberg(a)ufl.edu) *and Natalie Ebner *(natalie.ebner(a)ufl.edu) *by email and include a CV and two letters of recommendation*. We will accept applications until the position is filled. Please note, if you do not meet the preferred qualifications or are not sure about position fit, *email us anyway*! *Required Qualification: *PhD in psychology, neuroscience, computer science, biomedical engineering, or a related field. *Preferred Qualifications: *(1) Experience with real-time fMRI neurofeedback; (2) Experience with fMRI design and analysis (including FSL, Matlab, or Python tools); (3) Experience with cognitive aging and/or Alzheimer’s disease is a plus. -- --------------------------------------------- *Steven M. Weisberg, PhD * Pronouns: he/him/his Assistant Professor of Psychology University of Florida Director: SCANN Lab <http://scannlab.psych.ufl.edu>

1 0

Neuroscience data analyst at the European Neuroscience Insitute in Göttingen
by googlemail Jan. 21, 2022

Jan. 21, 2022

The European Neuroscience Institute is looking to fill the position of a data analyst (full time). We are looking for a data analyst with interest and experience in systems neuroscience. Research at the European Neuroscience Institute ranges from molecular biology to human psychophysics and involves a range of model organisms (from drosophila to non-human primates), as well as techniques and approaches (electrophysiology, two-photon imaging, fMRI, EEG, behavior). The data analyst is expected to work closely with all of the research groups at the European Neuroscience Institute, supporting research efforts, e.g. through modelling and statistical analyses of high-dimensional data, image processing, and programming/development of experiments including the opportunity to develop and publish, e.g. analytical tools that arise from this work. • The applicant should possess a university degree (minimum M. Sc. or equivalent) in a relevant field, e.g., statistics, biostatistics, informatics, or similar. Prior experience in the field of systems neuroscience is highly desired. • The applicant should have experience in a research setting utilizing quantitative methods and statistics. The applicant should also demonstrate strong analytical skills. Knowledge of novel and emerging analysis techniques is highly desirable. Future/forward thinking in the area of big data analytics/informatics and applying them to contribute to the research groups’ scientific process is expected. • The applicant should be skilled in the analysis of multivariate datasets to reveal patterns and build models; conduct exploratory data analysis, and communicate with team lead/team members; identify improvements for existing data management and recommend requirements for new systems. • In addition, contribute to replicability by making suggestions for existing data management and recommend requirements for new systems and identify potential data integrity issues. We are committed to open data/open science and appreciate interest and expertise in this area. • Utilize programming languages such as Python, Matlab and/or C++. • A good command of English is mandatory. The University Medical Center Göttingen takes flexible account of the individual design of working hours at the workplace. It is interested in implementing the wishes of its employees as far as possible. If you are interested in this job and have specific questions about working hours, please contact us. Women are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants with disabilities and equal qualifications will be given preferential treatment. The position is financed until December 31st, 2024 with extension options. The envisioned start date is May 2022 but this is flexible. The deadline for applications is February 28th, 2022. Please send your application (CV, letter of motivation) via e-mail as a single PDF-file to j.clemens(a)eni-g.de. Jan Clemens European Neuroscience Institute Neural Computation and Behavior group Grisebachstr. 5 37077 Göttingen, Germany janclemenslab.org

1 0

Two postdoc positions in computational and systems neuroscience
by googlemail Jan. 21, 2022

Jan. 21, 2022

Two postdoc positions are available in the lab of Jan Clemens at the European Neuroscience Institute Göttingen, Germany. A major focus of the lab is discovering how sensory information is processed and integrated to drive behavior. We combine high-throughput behavioral assays, machine learning (pose tracking), computational modelling, and modern systems neuroscience tools (calcium imaging and optogenetics). The postdocs to be hired will focus on how different sensory modalities are integrated to organize social interactions in fruit flies, with the goal of identifying the neural substrates and computations driving social behavior. We are going to combine a variety of state-of-the-art techniques, including automated behavioral analyses, optogenetics, in-vivo two photon imaging, and computational modelling. The postdocs will have the opportunity to learn experimental and computational skills in the lab. Your profile: • PhD in neuroscience or biology, physics, engineering, computer science or equivalent. • Experience with at least one of these techniques: calcium imaging, electrophysiology, Drosophila genetics and behavior, computational modelling. • A track record of scientific publications or conference presentations. • Good command of the English language. The position is financed until January 31st, 2025. The envisioned start date is May 2022 but this is flexible. The deadline for applications is February 28th, 2022. Please send your application as a single pdf to Jan Clemens (j.clemens(a)eni-g.de) including a CV as well as names and contact details of two references. Please make sure to include a short statement of why this project interests you and how you think you could contribute, based on your scientific background. Jan Clemens European Neuroscience Institute Neural Computation and Behavior group Grisebachstr. 5 37077 Göttingen, Germany janclemenslab.org

1 0

Allen Institute Modeling Software Workshop
by Anton Arkhipov Jan. 20, 2022

Jan. 20, 2022

Join us for the inaugural Allen Institute Modeling Software Workshop in beautiful Seattle, on July 25-26, 2022! https://alleninstitute.org/what-we-do/brain-science/events-training/2022-mo… Sponsored by the NIH BRAIN program, this workshop is organized by the Allen Institute and our collaborators at the Theoretical and Computational Biophysics Group at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This 2-day in-person* workshop will consist of interactive seminars and hands-on computational work. It will focus on teaching the skills for building and simulating complex and heterogeneous network models grounded in real biological data. The tools covered by the workshop include: * The SONATA file format<https://github.com/AllenInstitute/sonata> for multiscale neuronal network models and simulation output, supporting standardized and computationally efficient storage and exchange of models. * The Brain Modeling ToolKit (BMTK)<https://alleninstitute.github.io/bmtk/> – a Python-based software package for building and simulating large-scale neural network models at multiple levels of resolution. * The Visual Neuronal Dynamics (VND)<http://www.ks.uiuc.edu/Research/vnd/> – a program for displaying, animating, and analyzing neural network models using 3D graphics and built-in scripting. Workshop Topics: * Building heterogenous neural networks at different levels of resolution * Simulating networks of biophysically detailed, compartmental neuronal models * Simulating networks of point-neuron models * Providing realistic spiking inputs to the neural networks * Simulating perturbations * Simulating extracellular electric field * Using and sharing models in the SONATA format * Visualizing network models’ structure and dynamics in 3D We are eager to host a diverse audience, and we encourage trainees, scientists, and PIs to apply. Prior experience in modeling is not required or expected. The Allen Institute strives to make training opportunities available on a fair and equitable basis. Some travel funding is available for participants with financial need. Please indicate on your application whether such support is needed. Applications will be evaluated on a need-blind basis. There is no fee to participate in the workshop. Applications are due on March 15. All applicants will be notified of the status of their application by May 20. *If conducting the workshop in person becomes impossible due to covid-related safety concerns, it will be replaced by an online workshop on the same dates. See more information and apply here: https://alleninstitute.org/what-we-do/brain-science/events-training/2022-mo… 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

1 0

Braincom online international workshop on Current advances on speech neural decoding and prostheses: Jan 26, 2022 (free)
by Blaise Yvert Jan. 18, 2022

Jan. 18, 2022

Dear Colleagues, It is a pleasure to announce the following online workshop organized within the EU Braincom project on Current advances on speech neural decoding and prostheses. This event will feature the current work of EU/UK and US groups in the field. It will be held on January 26, 2022 The program and connection details can be found at the following page : https://sites.google.com/view/braincomspeechprosthesesws/accueil It is free to attend, so don't hesitate to connect and spread the information With my best regards and wishes for 2022, Blaise Yvert. -- Blaise Yvert, PhD. Inserm Research Director Team Neurotechnology and Network Dynamics Grenoble Institute of Neuroscience U1216 Inserm and Univ Grenoble Alpes UFR Chimie Biologie Bâtiment Biologie B 3e étage 2280 rue de la piscine 38400 Saint Martin d'Hères France Tel (admin). +33 4 56 52 03 73 Tel (direct). +33 4 56 52 03 74 Tel (lab). +33 4 56 52 03 81 Tel (mobile). +33 6 32 88 75 90 https://www.neurotech-lab.fr/ https://sites.google.com/view/blaise-yvert/accueil https://neurosciences.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/ http://www.braincom-project.eu/

1 0

Josh Tenenbaum speaking in Developing Minds global online lecture series, January 27, 16:00 UTC
by Jochen Triesch Jan. 17, 2022

Jan. 17, 2022

Dear colleagues, you are cordially invited to the following talk in the Developing Minds global online lecture series (https://sites.google.com/view/developing-minds-series/home) Josh Tenenbaum, MIT "Reverse Engineering Human Cognitive Development: What do we start with, and how do we learn the rest?“ This live event will take place on: January 27, 2022 16:00 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) 17:00 CET (Central European Time) 11:00 EST (Eastern Standard Time) 01:00 JST, January 28 (Japan Standard Time) Abstract: What would it take to build a machine that grows into intelligence the way a person does — that starts like a baby, and learns like a child!? AI researchers have long debated the relative value of building systems with strongly pre-specified knowledge representations versus learning representations from scratch, driven by data. However, in cognitive science, it is now widely accepted that the analogous “nature versus nurture?” question is a false choice: explaining the origins of human intelligence will most likely require both powerful learning mechanisms and a powerful foundation of built-in representational structure and inductive biases. I will talk about our efforts to build models of the starting state of the infant mind, as well as the learning algorithms that grow knowledge through early childhood and beyond. These models are expressed as probabilistic programs, defined on top of simulation engines that capture the basic dynamics of objects and agents interacting in space and time. Learning algorithms draw on techniques from program synthesis and probabilistic program induction. I will show how these models are beginning to capture core aspects of human cognition and cognitive development, in terms that can be useful for building more human-like AI. I will also talk about some of the major outstanding challenges facing these and other models of human learning. Bio: Josh Tenenbaum is Professor of Computational Cognitive Science at MIT in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and the Center for Brains, Minds and Machines (CBMM). He received his PhD from MIT in 1999, and taught at Stanford from 1999 to 2002. His long-term goal is to reverse-engineer intelligence in the human mind and brain, and use these insights to engineer more human-like machine intelligence. His current research focuses on the development of common sense in children and machines, the neural basis of common sense, and models of learning as Bayesian program synthesis. His research group's papers have been recognized with awards at multiple conferences in Cognitive Science, Computer Vision, AI, Reinforcement Learning and Decision Making, and Robotics. He is the recipient of the Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contributions in Psychology from the American Psychological Association (2008), the Troland Research Award from the National Academy of Sciences (2011), the Howard Crosby Warren Medal from the Society of Experimental Psychologists (2016), the R&D Magazine Innovator of the Year award (2018), and a MacArthur Fellowship (2019). He is a fellow of the Cognitive Science Society, the Society for Experimental Psychologists, and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Web: https://web.mit.edu/cocosci/josh.html To attend the talk, please register at: https://sites.google.com/view/developing-minds-series/home Kind regards, Jochen Triesch -- Prof. Dr. Jochen Triesch Johanna Quandt Chair for Theoretical Life Sciences Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies and Goethe University Frankfurt http://fias.uni-frankfurt.de/~triesch/ Tel: +49 (0)69 798-47531 Fax: +49 (0)69 798-47611

1 0

fully funded PhD position, Univ. of Groningen, NL
by Michael Biehl Jan. 17, 2022

Jan. 17, 2022

A *fully funded PhD position* (4 years) in the *Statistical* *Physics of Neural Networks* is available at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands, see https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/work-with-us/job-opportunities/?details=00347-0… for details. Applications (before March 1) are only possible through this webpage. The title of the project is "The role of the activation function for feedforward learning systems (RAFFLES)". For further information contact M. Biehl. ---------------------------------------------------------- Prof. Dr. Michael Biehl Bernoulli Institute for Mathematics, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence P.O. Box 407, 9700 AK Groningen, The Netherlands Tel. +31 50 363 3997 https://www.cs.rug.nl/~biehl m.biehl(a)rug.nl

1 0

AREADNE 2022 2nd Call for Abstracts
by John Pezaris Jan. 14, 2022

Jan. 14, 2022

AREADNE 2022 Research in Encoding and Decoding of Neural Ensembles Nomikos Conference Centre, Santorini, Greece 28 June - 2 July 2022 http://areadne.org info(a)areadne.org * * * * SECOND CALL FOR ABSTRACTS * * * * Dear Colleague, We would like to remind you that abstracts for poster presentation at AREADNE 2022 are coming due shortly. AREADNE 2022 will once again bring scientific leaders from around the world to present their theoretical and experimental work on the functioning of neuronal ensembles in an informal yet spectacular setting, and with a relaxed pace that emphasizes interaction. Please see the Call for Abstracts for additional details, including links for templates, at https://areadne.org/call-for-abstracts Submissions of abstracts for poster presentations are due by 21 January 2022; notifications will be provided by 22 February 2022. We strongly encourage potential attendees to submit an abstract as presenters have registration priority. For information about the conference, please refer to the main web page https://areadne.org or send email to us at info(a)areadne.org. We hope to see you at AREADNE 2022, Nicholas Hatsopoulos and John Pezaris, Co-Chairs AREADNE 2022 --- John S. Pezaris, Ph.D. AREADNE 2022 Co-Chair Harvard Medical School Massachusetts General Hospital 55 Fruit Street Boston, MA 02114, USA john(a)areadne.org

1 0

INCF IC preprint: Recommendations for repositories and scientific gateways from a neuroscience perspective
by Heather Topple Jan. 14, 2022

Jan. 14, 2022

The INCF Infrastructure Committee (IC) - which provides recommendations for the strategic direction of INCF's infrastructure strategy and development - has a preprint available in arXiv. The preprint, titled *Recommendations for repositories and scientific gateways from a neuroscience perspective*, is a set of recommendations that can apply to a wide and diverse range of digital services, both repositories and science gateways, for data as well as software. These recommendations have neurosciences as their primary use case but are often general. Congratulations to authors and members Malin Sandström, Mathew Abrams, Jan Bjaalie, Mona Hicks, David Kennedy, Arvind Kumar, JB Poline, Prasun Roy, Paul Tiesinga, Thomas Wachtler, and Wojtek Goscinski! Learn more about it here: http://bit.ly/INCFICpreprintblog Read the paper here: bit.ly/INCFICpreprintarXiv Please feel free to forward this email to anyone in your network you feel would be interested. All the best, /Heather ---------------------------- Heather Topple, BSc *Project Assistant* *Development and Communications* International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility Secretariat Karolinska Institutet. Nobels väg 15A, SE-171 77 Stockholm. Sweden <https://www.google.com/maps/search/Nobels+v%C3%A4g+15A,+SE-171+77+Stockholm…> Email: heather(a)incf.org Phone: +46 085 248 70 65 incf.org neuroinformatics.incf.org

1 0

Working group publication: Active Segmentation for ImageJ
by Heather Topple Jan. 13, 2022

Jan. 13, 2022

INCF's Active Segmentation for ImageJ working group - including GSOC students - has just published a paper in Brain Sciences as part of a special issue on neuroinformatics and signal processing. Congratulations to mentors Dimiter Prodanov & Sumit Vohra, and GSOC students Mukesh Gupta, Sanjeev Dubay, Joanna Stachera, Raghavendra Singh Chauhan, & Piyumal Demotte! Learn more about it here: bit.ly/INCFwgActiveSegblog Read the paper here: bit.ly/ActiveSegmentationpaper Please feel free to forward this email to anyone in your network you feel would be interested. All the best, ---------------------------- The INCF Secretariat International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility Secretariat Karolinska Institutet. Nobels väg 15A, SE-171 77 Stockholm. Sweden <https://www.google.com/maps/search/Nobels+v%C3%A4g+15A,+SE-171+77+Stockholm…> Phone: +46 085 248 70 65 incf.org neuroinformatics.incf.org

1 0

Shanahan Foundation Fellowship at the Interface of Data and Neuroscience - apply now!
by Eric Shea-Brown Jan. 12, 2022

Jan. 12, 2022

Overview The Shanahan Foundation Fellowship at the Interface of Data and Neuroscience is a three-year fellowship program that aims to: · Integrate data scientists in neuroscience research · Challenge traditional approaches to neuroscience · Provide multidisciplinary, multi-organizational co-mentorship · Provide a network and community · Support career development in data science The fellowship is co-hosted by the Allen Institute and the University of Washington (through the eScience Institute and the Computational Neuroscience Center) and is directed by Dr. Christof Koch at the Allen Institute. Neuroscience needs data scientists. The brain represents one of the most complex challenges facing science today. And now with advances in our methods to study the brain—Neuropixel probes that can record from 1000 neurons at once, growing consensus on data standards across laboratories—the field is flooded with data that needs interpretation. The skills of data scientists are essential to springboard the field to the next stage of discoveries. Towards that end, the Shanahan Foundation Fellowship was created to bring fresh perspectives into the field, encouraging data scientists from outside neuroscience to come and work with leading investigators at the Allen Institute and UW. The Allen Institute is unique in its infrastructure and pipeline that enables the production of standardized, reproducible data on the brain (as evidenced by our vast data banks <http://www.brain-map.org/>). Together with our collaborators at the UW computational Neuroscience Center and eScience Institute, we provide data scientists with the ideal opportunity and resources to mine for novel insights and discoveries. Details You do not need experience in neuroscience to apply. The goal of the fellowship is to provide opportunities to non-traditional applicants who would not typically be funded by the typical postdoctoral fellowships in neuroscience. The fellowship has been purposefully designed to give fellows the time and mentorship to get up to speed in a new field and new data collection techniques and methods. Fellows will be employed by the Allen Institute as either a Scientist I or a Scientist II (with a matching salary) and will receive an affiliate postdoctoral appointment at UW. During the three-year fellowship, fellows will identify a mentor at the Allen Institute, where the fellows will be based. Fellows will select a co-mentor at the University of Washington who will provide additional guidance on a project designed by the fellow, focused on quantitative analysis of neuroscience data available through the Allen Institute’s vast data banks <http://www.brain-map.org/> – ranging from molecular, genomic, transcriptional, physiological, morphological, anatomical and functional whole-brain level in the brains of mice, non-human primates and humans – or through ongoing laboratory work. Each fellow will have the opportunity to mentor a fully-funded UW undergraduate or postbaccalaureate research assistant who helps with their research for 3-12 months. Fellows will participate in the postdoctoral career development program at the University’s e-Science Institute and the UW Computational Neuroscience Center. The eSciences Institute offers regular workshops on key topics including cloud computing, python and reproducibility. New fellows will attend the annual Summer Workshop on the Dynamic Brain <https://alleninstitute.org/what-we-do/brain-science/events-training/summer-…> where they will learn how to apply data science skills to neuroscience data and questions. Throughout the three years, fellows will be supported in developing a network in the neuroscience field and sharing their progress with peers at conferences. Up to three fellows will be selected to begin in Fall 2022. Eligibility Requirements Applicants must be data scientists in a broad sense, with a Ph.D. in a quantitative field such as computer science, statistics, electrical engineering, physics, mathematics or biology with a background in statistical, computational and machine learning methods. Ph.D.’s should have been awarded in the last 3 years. One goal of the fellowship is to build a network of collaborators, as such, priority will be given to applicants who are not currently postdoctoral fellows or scientists at the University of Washington or the Allen Institute. We believe high-quality science can only be produced when it includes different perspectives. We are building an environment of diversity and inclusion and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for this fellowship. Application Instructions For full consideration, please submit your application by February 1, 2022. Applications may continue to be considered after this deadline on a rolling basis until positions are filled. Learn more and apply on the Shanahan Fellowship Website <https://alleninstitute.org/what-we-do/brain-science/careers/shanahan-founda…>. https://alleninstitute.org/what-we-do/brain-science/careers/shanahan-founda… <https://alleninstitute.org/what-we-do/brain-science/careers/shanahan-founda…> Applications must include: · A curriculum vitae from the applicant · Two letters of support from advisors and other mentors · A one-page personal statement from the applicant describing their history, activities, and interests as an individual (especially those outside of science) which may give the committee a greater sense of you as a person and your ability to simultaneously interact with and challenge traditional scientific fields. · A two- to three-page research statement from the applicant describing their prior research, interests in applying data science to the field of neuroscience, potential research interests (including tools they are familiar with) and how this fellowship aligns with their career goals. · The choice of the final advisor/co-advisor will be accomplished during the first year of this fellowship. Questions? Email: shanahan.fellow(a)alleninstitute.org <mailto:shanahan.fellow@alleninstitute.org>

1 0

Summer workshop on the dynamic brain -- apply now!
by Eric Shea-Brown Jan. 12, 2022

Jan. 12, 2022

Applications are now open for the 2022 Summer Workshop on the Dynamic Brain. Founded by Adrienne Fairhall and Christof Koch, this annual two-week course is co-hosted by the Allen Institute MindScope Program and the Computational Neuroscience Center at the University of Washington. The Summer Workshop on the Dynamic Brain is an intensive, project-based residential course with a focus on the neurobiology of sensory processing, coding, and neural population dynamics. This program is intended for researchers at the graduate and postdoctoral level with an interest in developing the intersection of their scientific knowledge and their computational skills. Learn more and apply at https://alleninstitute.org/what-we-do/brain-science/events-training/summer-… Applications are due Feburary 1, 2022. Please contact dynamicbrain(a)alleninstitute.org with any questions.

1 0

Women in Memory Research - Workshop - March 7-9, 2022
by Vinita Samarasinghe Jan. 11, 2022

Jan. 11, 2022

In conjunction with International Women's Day the FOR 2812 is organising its first “*Women in Memory Research*” event from *March 7-9, 2022.* The percentage of senior female university researchers in our field (in Germany) lies between 21% and 29%. Our goal is to increase these numbers! So come and learn what an academic career looks like at the Ruhr University Bochum and discover its advantages. You'll be introduced to the university and it's support structures, be able to participate in university wide programs, meet with female faculty, listen to some amazing scientific talks, present your research, and see what collaborative research looks like in the RUB memory research community. Sounds exciting? *Who can apply:*Female master’s students in their final year of study and recently graduated master’s students who are looking into an academic career in the area of memory research/neuroscience. Applicants must have excellent grades and be able to communicate in English. Selection of participants is competitive. We only have space for 12 participants! *How to apply:*Send your application including a one page letter of motivation, a current CV, master’s transcripts and a letter of recommendation from one of your professors. Your application should be sent, as a single PDF document, to Vinita Samarasinghe @for2812@rub.deby January 23, 2022. If you need child care or any other support please note this in your application. *What to expect:*We will provide accommodation and cover travel costs of up to 500 Euro (some meals are included). The program will be offered in English; however, certain programs offered by the Ruhr University in conjunction with International Women's Day may be only available in German. You will be asked to present your current research in the form of a poster. *Contact:*Vinita Samarasinghe,for2812(a)rub.de, Tel: +49 234 32 27996, https://for2812.rub.de -- Vinita Samarasinghe M.Sc., M.A. Science Manager Arbeitsgruppe Computational Neuroscience Institut für Neuroinformatik Ruhr-Universität Bochum, NB 3/73 Postfachnummer 110 Universitätstr. 150 44801 Bochum Tel: +49 (0) 234 32 27996 Email:samarasinghe@ini.rub.de

2 1

postdoctoral position in the Canavier lab
by Canavier, Carmen C. Jan. 10, 2022

Jan. 10, 2022

A postdoctoral position will become available in the very near future in the Canavier computational neuroscience lab at LSU Health Science Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Our lab focuses on modeling single neurons and networks in a synergistic loop with experimental collaborators Jochen Roeper, John White and Sonia Gasparini. We are interested in how oscillations are generated and how networks synchronize, and in how the intrinsic properties of neurons contribute to how they integrate their inputs. A quantitative background in electrical engineering, physics, mathematics, computer science or a related field coupled with a passion for applying quantitative techniques and theory to neuroscience is required. We are primarily interested in 1) theta and gamma oscillations in the hippocampus and 2) in the dopamine neurons of the basal ganglia. Please contact Dr. Canavier at ccanav(a)lsuhsc.edu<mailto:ccanav@lsuhsc.edu> for more information.

1 0

EARLY CAREER SCIENTIST GRANT OPPORTUNITIES- Open January 2022
by Laura Long Jan. 10, 2022

Jan. 10, 2022

The Simons Foundation is invested in supporting the next generation of researchers. Our Independence Awards programs promote talented early-career scientists by facilitating their transition to research independence and providing grant funding at the start of their professorships. We are offering such awards through three of our programs: the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI), the Simons Collaboration on the Global Brain (SCGB) and the Simons Collaboration on Plasticity and the Aging Brain (SCPAB). These requests for applications (RFAs) are aimed at Ph.D. and M.D. – holding scientists who are currently in training positions and intend to seek tenure-track faculty positions over the next two years (i.e., 2022-2024). Successful applicants will receive a commitment of $495,000 over three years, activated upon assumption of a tenure-track professorship. Visit bit.ly/3yqWILX for more information on all three programs.

1 0

Summer Undergraduate Computational Neuroscience Apprenticeship
by Neymotin, Samuel (NKI) Jan. 5, 2022

Jan. 5, 2022

Several Army Research Office (ARO) undergraduate research apprenticeship program (URAP) positions are available for the summer of 2022 at the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research (https://www.nki.rfmh.org/) Research will be conducted to help achieve the goals of an ARO grant that aims to train neocortical circuit models to play video games using biologically-plausible learning rules, and to compare model performance against commonly used deep reinforcement learning algorithms. Students will have the opportunity to learn cutting edge methods in computational neuroscience, machine learning, and Python software development, and publish their results. Several manuscripts under review, that included previous URAP students are available on Biorxiv here: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.07.29.454361v1 https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.11.20.469405v1 Candidates will be considered based on their experience in computational neuroscience, machine learning, and Python programming. Candidates in the NYC metropolitan area will be preferred. Apply at https://www.usaeop.com/program/undergraduate-apprenticeships/ Make sure to use code U803 (Nathan Kline Institute) and apply by the deadline (February 28, 2022). Letters of recommendation are optional. For questions, email Samuel.Neymotin(a)nki.rfmh.org ________________________________ IMPORTANT NOTICE: This e-mail is meant only for the use of the intended recipient. It may contain confidential information which is legally privileged or otherwise protected by law. If you received this e-mail in error or from someone who was not authorized to send it to you, you are strictly prohibited from reviewing, using, disseminating, distributing or copying the e-mail. PLEASE NOTIFY US IMMEDIATELY OF THE ERROR BY RETURN E-MAIL AND DELETE THIS MESSAGE FROM YOUR SYSTEM. Thank you for your cooperation.

1 0

postdoc position involving psychophysics and fMRI to study visual consciousness
by Brascamp, Jan Jan. 4, 2022

Jan. 4, 2022

The Brascamp Lab for Visual Neuroscience at Michigan State University is seeking a Research Associate (postdoc). The Research Associate will be researching the neural basis of conscious vision, as part of a multi-site project funded by the Templeton World Charity Foundation and performed at Michigan State University in collaboration with researchers at NYU, UC Irvine, and Boston University (shorturl.at/ackpE<http://shorturl.at/ackpE>). The work involves visual psychophysics and functional neuroimaging. The Brascamp Lab is located within the Department of Psychology and is a part of the Department's Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience group, which provides an excellent research and training environment with faculty expertise covering a broad range of topics in perception and cognitive psychology. The Research Associate will be stationed at MSU, and the project may require a limited time spent in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, for data acquisition. This is initially a one-year position with the possibility of extension. Minimum Requirements include a Ph.D. in vision science, cognitive psychology, neuroscience, or a related field. Applicants should have a strong publication record, experience with psychophysics and/or human neuroimaging, strong programming skills (Python or related language(s)), and strong statistical training. Desired Qualifications: the ideal candidate will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to work independently. Please send inquiries or application materials (a letter of interest, CV, and contact information of three references) to brascamp(a)msu.edu<mailto:brascamp@msu.edu>. Review of applications will begin immediately.

1 0

Fully funded PhD studentship in computational modelling of decision uncertainty available
by Wong-Lin, Kongfatt Jan. 4, 2022

Jan. 4, 2022

Applications are invited for a fully funded 3-year Ph.D. studentship in: "Emergent Computation of Decision Uncertainty Monitoring, Awareness and Learning", at Ulster University, UK. This PhD project aims to model and understand decision uncertainty monitoring computation using recurrent neural networks with "self-awareness", and to develop novel neuro-inspired AI algorithms. For more information, please refer to: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/doctoralcollege/find-a-phd/1044166 The application process for the Ph.D. studentship is opened with a closing date for applications on the 7th February 2022. Anyone (UK or international applicant) who wishes to discuss about the Ph.D. studentship application or enquire more about this Ph.D. project should contact: Dr. KongFatt Wong-Lin (e-mail: k.wong-lin(a)ulster.ac.uk) Reader Intelligent Systems Research Centre, School of Computing, Engineering & Intelligent Systems, Ulster University, UK https://www.ulster.ac.uk/staff/k-wong-lin This email and any attachments are confidential and intended solely for the use of the addressee and may contain information which is covered by legal, professional or other privilege. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager at postmaster(a)ulster.ac.uk and delete this email immediately. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ulster University. The University's computer systems may be monitored and communications carried out on them may be recorded to secure the effective operation of the system and for other lawful purposes. Ulster University does not guarantee that this email or any attachments are free from viruses or 100% secure. Unless expressly stated in the body of a separate attachment, the text of email is not intended to form a binding contract. Correspondence to and from the University may be subject to requests for disclosure by 3rd parties under relevant legislation. The Ulster University was founded by Royal Charter in 1984 and is registered with company number RC000726 and VAT registered number GB672390524.The primary contact address for Ulster University in Northern Ireland is Cromore Road, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry BT52 1SA

1 0