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

Postdoc in computational neuroscience at NYU

by Cristina Savin

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral scholar position in the Savin and Angelaki group in the Centre for Neural Science at NYU. The position is funded by a new NIH grant, and focuses on elucidating the mechanisms of spatial navigation using multi-area recordings in freely moving monkeys in the context of foraging tasks. Aspects of this problem include determining the mechanisms representing and updating beliefs about location of self and targets, through the lens of interaction between multiple cortical areas. A significant component of the work focuses on developing new statistical data analysis tools for understanding inter-area communication in the context of naturalistic behavior. This is a joint endeavor across the two lab, with weekly joint meetings and regular group interactions. More broadly, the postdoc will be part of a large and intellectually vibrant community of researchers from the Center for Neuroscience and the Centre for Data Science at NYU. The initial appointment is one year with the expectation of extension contingent on satisfactory progress. The successful applicant will have a degree in computational neuroscience or machine learning, excellent coding skills (python) and a track record of successful research. Prior experience in neural data analysis, probabilistic machine learning, or open software development are particularly appreciated. Prior experience in neuroscience is welcome, but not strictly required. Finally, since this is a highly interdisciplinary and collaborative project, good communication skills are important. Please submit your application to csavin(a)nyu.edu <mailto:csavin@nyu.edu>, including - CV - a statement of research interests - contact details of three people that are familiar with your work We will be evaluating the applications on a rolling basis, starting from Dec 15, 2022, until the position is filled. Cristina Savin Assist.Prof. Neural Science and Data Science New York University

Dec. 2, 2022

Fwd: Postdoctoral position in neural coding, UKE, Hamburg (Germany)

by Stefano Panzeri

I am seeking candidates for a fully funded postdoctoral position in computational neuroscience at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). The successful candidate will conduct research in my computational laboratory (Department of Excellence for Neural Information Processing) at UKE ( https://www.uke.de/english/departments-institutes/institutes/department-of-…) in collaboration with my lab’s experimental collaborators, including prominently Prof. Christopher Harvey at Harvard Medical School, Prof. Tommaso Fellin at IIT Italy, and Prof. Mriganka Sur at MIT. We will investigate, by developing and using advanced data analysis methods and biophysically plausible neural network models, how populations of neurons (and of glia) in the brain encode information and use it to produce appropriate behaviors. We are particularly interested in discovering how correlations between neurons shape the encoding and transmission of information across areas of the cerebral cortex, and in understanding the theoretical principles of how to combine measures and perturbations of neural activity to probe causally the contributions of interactions between neurons to brain function. Our laboratory offers a wide range of interdisciplinary expertise in computational neuroscience, including both advanced neural analysis techniques and neural network modeling. The laboratory also offers a thriving, ambitious and well-funded research environment (including receiving funding from the NIH Brain Initiative, Simons Foundation, the European Union). This gives successful candidates ample opportunities for advanced training and personal scientific growth. We seek candidates holding a PhD in a numerate or neuroscientific discipline, with a solid computational background and a keen interest in neuroscience. They must be highly motivated and creative individuals who want to work in a dynamic, multi-disciplinary research environment and be willing to interact with both experimental and theoretical neuroscientists. The job is available starting immediately and applications will be considered as soon as they are received and until the position is filled. Funding is available for several years and a minimum commitment of two years is expected by interested candidates. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to email me (s.panzeri(a)uke.de or stefano.panzeri(a)gmail.com) as soon as possible, to inform me of the interest for the position and initiate a discussion about research projects. I suggest interested candidates to attach a CV when inquiring by email. For recent publications from my lab relevant to this project, see: Panzeri S, et al (2022) The structures and functions of correlations in neural population codes. *Nature Reviews Neuroscience* 23: 551-567 Koren V., Panzeri S (2022) Biologically plausible solutions for spiking networks with efficient coding. *NeurIPS 2022,* in press, arXiv:2210.07069 Curreli S, et al (2022) Complementary encoding of spatial information in hippocampal astrocites. *PLoS Biology* 20(3): e3001530. Valente, M. et al (2021), Correlations enhance the behavioral readout of neural population activity in association cortex. *Nature Neuroscience*, 24, 975–986 Chong, E. et al (2020) Manipulating synthetic optogenetic odors reveals the coding logic of olfactory perception. *Science* 368, 1329. Runyan C. A., et al (2017) Distinct timescales of population coding across cortex, *Nature*: 548: 92-96. Panzeri S., et al (2017) Cracking the neural code for sensory perception by combining statistics, intervention and behaviour. *Neuron* 93: 491-507 Pica, G. et al (2017) Quantifying how much sensory information in a neural code is relevant for behavior, *Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS 2017)* Thanks Stefano Panzeri

Dec. 2, 2022

Post-doc and graduate positions in DeAngelis lab, with Moreno-Bote and Drugowitsch Labs

by Ruben Moreno Bote

Postdoctoral and PhD positions in systems neuroscience, DeAngelis Lab, University of Rochester, in collaboration with Moreno-Bote and Drugowitsch Labs. A postdoctoral position and a graduate student assistantship in Systems Neuroscience are available at the University of Rochester, in the laboratory of Dr. Greg DeAngelis. The positions are part of a recently funded NIH project on the neural mechanisms of visually-guided navigation in virtual reality. The project is a collaboration with the laboratories of Dr. Ruben Moreno-Bote (UPF, Barcelona) and Dr. Jan Drugowitsch (Harvard Medical School, Boston). A 1-month visit to Barcelona every year is expected to foster the collaborative aspects of the project. The project involves psychophysics and large-scale electrophysiology in non-human primates, combined with computational approaches. The goal is to elucidate neural mechanisms for the visual-motor control of steering. Successful candidates will join a highly dynamic and collaborative group at the Center for Visual Science (https://www.cvs.rochester.edu) with strong theoretical/computational collaborations with the laboratories of Moreno-Bote and Drugowitsch, and expected extended visits to their labs. Previous work from our group has made fundamental contributions to our understanding of the neural basis of motion perception, depth perception, multisensory integration, self-motion perception, and perceptual decision-making ( https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=deangelis_gc&sort=date&size=100) Candidates are expected to have a background in neuroscience, experimental psychology, biomedical engineering, or a related field. Previous research experience in systems neuroscience is desirable, although it is not necessary. Candidates should submit their CV, a brief statement of research interests, and the names and contact information for three references to gdeangelis(a)ur.rochester.edu. -- Rubén Moreno Bote Serra Húnter Professor Director of the Theoretical and Cognitive Neuroscience Group Center for Brain and Cognition & Dept. of Information and Communications Technologies University Pompeu Fabra Campus Ciutadella c\ Ramon Trias Fargas, 25-27 Mercè Rodoreda building, 3th floor (room 24.331) 08005 Barcelona, Spain https://www.upf.edu/web/tcn https://twitter.com/morenobote <https://twitter.com/morenobote?lang=ca>

Dec. 2, 2022

PhD modelling brain learning

by O'Donnell, Cian

Our group at Ulster University are looking for a computational neuroscience PhD student for a project on “Discovering the rules of neural learning by computer simulations of brain biophysics and deep neural networks.” You will use multiscale computer simulations of electro-chemical signalling in neurons, synapses, and astrocytes to understand how the physical arrangement of different cell types affects brain learning. You can then use more abstract deep neural network models to study the circuit functions of these mechanisms for learning and memory. More details including reading material here: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/doctoralcollege/find-a-phd/1455716. The project will involve collaboration with Tom Bartol at the Salk Institute, La Jolla, California. You will join our research group which uses computational tools to do research on synaptic plasticity, learning and memory, autism, and neural data analysis methods: https://odonnellgroup.github.io. You will also be a member of the CNET team in the Intelligent Systems Research Centre (http://isrc.ulster.ac.uk) a community of researchers working across computational and cognitive neuroscience, neurotechnology, neuromorphic engineering, machine learning, robotics and related fields. We are based in the Derry campus of Ulster University. Derry a lively city of ~100K people on the River Foyle in Northern Ireland, UK. It has a highly affordable cost of living, thriving cultural scene, and access to spectacular coastal scenery and the great outdoors in Donegal and the north coast of Northern Ireland. To be eligible for funding, UK-based applicants should have or expect to obtain an upper second or first-class undergraduate or masters degree. International applicants should have a masters degree. Application deadline is 27th February 2023, for a Sept 2023 start. Application info here: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/doctoralcollege/find-a-phd/1455716. Please contact Cian (c.odonnell2(a)ulster.ac.uk<mailto:c.odonnell2@ulster.ac.uk>) if you are interested or have questions. -- Cian O’Donnell Lecturer in Data Analytics School of Computing, Engineering and Intelligent Systems Ulster University https://odonnellgroup.github.io 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

Dec. 2, 2022

Kempner Institute Fellowships at Harvard University

by Cengiz Pehlevan

The Kempner Institute at Harvard University is soliciting applications for the Kempner Institute Fellowships. We seek candidates with demonstrated ability and creativity who study one or more of the following areas: Foundations of intelligence, including mathematical and computational models of intelligence, cognitive theories of intelligence, computational neurobiology, and the neurobiological basis of intelligence. Applications of artificial intelligence, including natural language processing, visual scene processing and analysis, and to the mechanistic analysis of high dimensional neural and behavioral data. The study of these applications can either be from an engineering standpoint (e.g. development of new methodologies or advancing the state of the art) as well as from a scientific one (e.g. achieving a better understanding of deep learning). The Fellowship is intended for early stage scientists and will provide them with opportunities for intellectual growth in a highly interdisciplinary and collaborative environment. The fellows will independently set their research agenda but are strongly encouraged to work between fields and collaborate with preeminent experts at the Kempner Institute and at Harvard, more generally. Fellows will be appointed for a term of up to 3 years, with an annual salary of $100,000 and up to $10,000 per year of research support. Fellows will have access to shared office space, world-class computational resources and engineering support. They will benefit from a wide and deeply-engaged community of scientists, as well as access to the breadth of resources and facilities available to members of Harvard University. See https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/11860 <https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/11860> for more information. For other postdoctoral opportunities at Harvard for researchers in ML/AI, please see this webpage https://mlfoundations.org/#opportunities <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__mlfoundations.org_-23o…>

Dec. 1, 2022