January 2024 - Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

Postdoc position in Montreal (McGill)
by Becket Ebitz 16 Jan '24

16 Jan '24

Do you want to know what mice think about when they are on mushrooms? Are you interested in using computational models to compare how mice and humans think? The Behavioural Neurogenomics Lab (https://www.bagotlab.org) at McGill University is looking for a highly motivated computational neuroscience postdoc to lead a newly funded collaboration examining the neural bases of effects of stress and psychedelics on reward processing in mice and humans. This is a fully funded position intersecting computational modeling, neural circuit interrogation and robust behavioural paradigms. Based in Montreal, the candidate will work closely with the Noise Lab at Universite de Montreal (https://ebitzlab.com/) and the Mayo Lab ( https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/leah-mayo) at University of Calgary to develop new approaches for the comparative study of the neural processing of reward. The candidate must have a PhD in computational neuroscience, psychology, cognitive science or a quantitative discipline as well as fluency in Matlab or Python and experience in statistical data analysis and an interest in translational or comparative research. Ideally, the candidate would have some background in cognitive and/or reinforcement learning models, generalized linear models, hidden Markov models or probabilistic graphical models. Anticipated start date April 1, 2024 for an initial term of 1 year with the possibility of renewal. Come join an exciting, diverse team in a unique city with a supportive, and highly collaborative environment! To apply, please send a PDF of your CV to rosemary.bagot(a)mcgill.ca with a list of three potential references to contact. In your email, please describe 1) why you are interested in the position and 2) how your prior experience relates to this research opportunity.

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Overlapping versus non-overlapping community models
by Greg Rosenbaum 16 Jan '24

16 Jan '24

I’ve been reading a lot about network community structure, in the context of large-scale brain networks. One of my favorite papers on the subject was Betzel and Bassett (2016) <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811916306152>. However, most papers I’ve read, including Betzel and Bassett (2016), partition a network into disjoint communities. I’ve also encountered some publications that use overlapping communities instead, such as Najafi et al. (2016) <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1053811916300957.>. This seems like an important choice. I think I agree with Najafi et al. (2016) that overlapping communities can reveal more about brain structure. For example, consider a case of two overlapping communities. They will share a common core – their intersection. Due to how communities are generated, the intersection would necessarily be highly coherent and form a community in its own right at a different resolution. In other words, we’d have two systems that share the same structure, reusing it for different purposes. This kind of reuse is a core principle in system architecture. It makes sense to see it in the brain. However, the two papers I’ve cited are pretty old at this point. Has there developed a consensus about what kind of community model is best suited for studying the brain?

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[Meetings] Deadline reminder: 2024 Nengo Summer School Call For Applications
by Michael Furlong 15 Jan '24

15 Jan '24

Dear colleagues, Please note that the deadline for application submission to the Nengo Summer School, February 1st, 2024, is approaching. [All details about this school can be found online at https://www.nengo.ai/summer-school] The Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience at the University of Waterloo is excited to announce our 9th annual Nengo summer school on large-scale brain modelling and neuromorphic computing. This two-week school will teach participants to use the Nengo simulation package to build state-of-the-art cognitive and neural models to run both in simulation and on neuromorphic hardware. Summer school participants will be given on-site access to neuromorphic hardware and will learn to run high-level applications using Nengo! More generally, Nengo provides users with a versatile and powerful environment for designing cognitive and neural systems and has been used to build what is currently the world's largest functional brain model, Spaun, which includes spiking deep learning, reinforcement learning, adaptive motor control, and cognitive control networks. For a look at the last in-person summer school, check out this short video: https://youtu.be/vRcN5-0wdQE We welcome applications from all interested graduate students, postdocs, professors, and industry professionals with a relevant background. ***Application Deadline: February 1, 2024*** Format: A combination of tutorials and project-based work. Participants are encouraged to bring their own ideas for projects, which may focus on testing hypotheses, modelling neural or cognitive data, implementing specific behavioural functions with neurons, expanding past models, or providing a proof-of-concept of various neural mechanisms. Hands-on tutorials, work on individual or group projects, and talks from invited faculty members will make up the bulk of day-to-day activities. A project demonstration event will be held on the last day of the school, with prizes for strong projects! Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to: * interface Nengo with various kinds of neuromorphic hardware (e.g. BrainDrop, SpiNNaker) * build perceptual, motor, and sophisticated cognitive models using spiking neurons * model anatomical, electrophysiological, cognitive, and behavioural data * use a variety of single cell models within a large-scale model  * integrate machine learning methods into biologically oriented models * interface Nengo with cameras and robotic systems * implement modern nonlinear control methods in neural models * and much more… Date and Location: June 2nd to June 14th, 2024 at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Applications: Please visit http://www.nengo.ai/summer-school, where you can find more information regarding costs, travel, lodging, along with an application form listing required materials. If you have any questions about the school or the application process, please contact Michael Furlong (michael.furlong(a)uwaterloo.ca) The school is partly supported by ABR, Inc. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Postdoc in neural data analysis at the University of Edinburgh
by Angus Chadwick 15 Jan '24

15 Jan '24

Dear all, We invite applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work on an exciting project developing novel methodologies for analysis of large-scale neural recordings over learning. This project is part of an international collaboration between the labs of Dr Angus Chadwick (University of Edinburgh), Prof Alex Cayco-Gajic (École Normalé Supérieure) and Prof Matthew Perich (Université de Montréal). The successful candidate will build upon a method recently developed by the host lab (Dr Chadwick) together with collaborator Prof Cayco-Gajic (Pellegrino, Cayco-Gajic* and Chadwick*, NeurIPS 2023). The project involves development of novel data-analytic methodologies and application to cutting-edge neural datasets collected during motor and perceptual learning tasks. In particular, the candidate will build upon the recent line of work by the supervisory team: https://arxiv.org/abs/2308.11567 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0896627322009059 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959438823000843 The role is based primarily at the Institute for Adaptive and Neural Computation at the University of Edinburgh. Funding is available to undertake extended research visits to the labs of international collaborators at École Normale Supérieure and Université de Montréal. This is a full-time position, with an initial appointment of 18 months, and available to start immediately. There full job ad can be viewed here: https://elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1… To apply, please email Dr Angus Chadwick at angus dot chadwick at ed.ac.uk with a CV and contact details for two references. Informal inquiries are also encouraged. Applications will be considered until the position is filled, with priority for those submitted before 9th February 2024. Best wishes, Angus Chadwick The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336. Is e buidheann carthannais a th' ann an Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann, clàraichte an Alba, àireamh clàraidh SC005336.

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Call for Cosyne workshop contributed short talks
by Cristina Savin 15 Jan '24

15 Jan '24

Hello all We invite the community to submit short abstracts on relevant recent results documenting limitations of current tools, unexpected negative results and/or potential new ideas to overcome them. We will select a small number of contributed talks from these submissions as part of our Cosyne “I can't believe it's not better!” workshop. Submissions from junior researchers are particularly welcome. Deadline: January 31st Details about the workshop and the abstract submission process can be found on our workshop webpage: https://cosyne2024-icbinb.github.io/ We look forward to seeing many of you in Cascais! Cristina Savin and Alex Williams

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Professorship in Tübingen: ML for Science
by Philipp Berens 15 Jan '24

15 Jan '24

Dear all, we have a faculty position for machine learning for science to fill: https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/university/careers/newsfullview-job-advertiseme… The professorship is part of the Cluster of Excellence “Machine Learning: New Perspectives for Science“. A successful candidate is expected to carry out internationally competitive research in the field of machine learning in science. Possible research directions could be (but are not limited to) the following ones: Theory of machine learning for science Large language models for science Causal inference in machine learning for science Lifelong and continual learning The deadline is 23 of February. Looking forward to your applications. Philipp Berens -- Professor of Data Science, Director Hertie Institute for AI in Brain Health Medical Faculty of the University of Tübingen www.hertie.ai

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PhD positions in brain-like computing and computational neuroscience at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm
by Pawel Herman 14 Jan '24

14 Jan '24

Dear Colleagues I am writing to draw your attention to two PhD positions in Computational Cognitive Brain Science lab in the Division of Computational Science and Technology at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm: 1) PhD position in brain-like computing (https://www.kth.se/lediga-jobb/681902?l=en) It is linked to the EU-project EXTRA-BRAIN Explainable Trustworthy AI for Data Intensive Applications, which just started in the beginning of the year. One of the key goals of the project is to develop and study brain-like neural network architectures and biologically inspired learning for semi-supervised and unsupervised learning problems. 2) PhD position in cognitive computational neuroscience (https://www.kth.se/lediga-jobb/682809?l=en) The goal of the project is to develop large-scale network-of-networks models to study neural interactions between different cortical and sub-cortical systems orchestrating control of goal-directed behaviour. The project will be conducted in the vibrant interdisciplinary environment including the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet and the Department of Psychology at Stockholm University. Application deadline: Feb 5, 2024. Please contact me if you have any questions! Best Pawel Herman ------------------------------------ [cid:image001.jpg@01DA46AE.54130F40] Paweł Herman Associate Professor, PhD, Docent KTH Royal Institute of Technology School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) Division of Computational Science and Technology (CST) Lindstedtsvägen 5 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden room 4442 (4th floor, D-building) tel. +46 8 790 6513

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AREADNE 2024 Abstract Submission Open
by John Pezaris 12 Jan '24

12 Jan '24

AREADNE 2024 Research in Encoding and Decoding of Neural Ensembles Eliopoulos Conference Center, Milos, Greece 25-29 June 2024 http://areadne.org info(a)areadne.org Dear Colleague, We are pleased to announce that abstract submission is now open for poster presentation at AREADNE 2024, 25-29 June 2024, our tenth meeting, to be held at the Eliopoulos Conference Centre in Milos, Greece. Note that this is a change in location from previous meetings. Continuing with the same highly successful format, AREADNE 2024 will bring scientific leaders from around the world to present their theoretical and experimental work on the functioning of neuronal ensembles. The meeting will provide an informal and beautiful setting in which attendees can discuss their recent ideas and discoveries, with a relaxed pace that emphasizes interaction. Please see the Call for Abstracts for additional details, including links for templates, at http://areadne.org/call-for-abstracts Submissions of abstracts for poster presentations are due by 26 Jan 2024; notifications will be provided by late February 2024. 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 http://areadne.org or send email to us at info(a)areadne.org . We hope to see you at AREADNE 2024! Best, - J. --- John S. Pezaris, Ph.D. AREADNE 2024 Co-Chair Harvard Medical School Massachusetts General Hospital 55 Fruit Street Boston, MA 02114, USA info(a)areadne.org

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ICMNS 2024 - abstract submission deadline reminder
by Áine Byrne 12 Jan '24

12 Jan '24

Dear all, A quick reminder that the call for contributed talks and posters at ICMNS 2024 closes on Tuesday (January 16) at 23:59 (GMT). ICMNS 2024 will take place at University College Dublin on the June 12-14 2024. This is the final deadline for submissions. Following a review process, successful submission will be offered a contributed talk or poster, with the top submission(s) being offered a slot in one of our plenary sessions. You can submit your contribution and read more about the conference at our website https://www.danieleavitabile.com/icmns24/ We look forward to welcoming you to Dublin in June. Best wishes, Daniele Avitabile, Áine Byrne, and Jonathan Rubin

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Call for participants -- WasON study
by Davide Coraci 12 Jan '24

12 Jan '24

*apologies for cross posting* Dear list members, I'm Davide Coraci from the IMT School Lucca (Italy) <https://www.imtlucca.it/en> (Italy) and I'd like to share with you the *WasON** survey*, a study developed by the SANe <https://momilab.imtlucca.it/research/sane> and the MInD <https://momilab.imtlucca.it/research/mind> units (MoMiLab <https://momilab.imtlucca.it/> research group). We are recruiting participants worldwide and it would be fantastic if you could take part in the study by completing the questionnaire you can find here: https://www.sane-elab.eu/NRIA/welcome.php. The aim of the study is to investigate how *neuroscientists* and researchers (psychologists, cognitive scientists, philosophers, etc.) with some familiarity with neuroimaging techniques draw associations between *cognitive processes* or psychological states and *functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data* observed experimentally. Also, with this brief test, you can assess your ability to predict the task that participants are performing in the scanner by looking at their brain activation. The questionnaire can be completed through PC or smartphone (however, the use of the PC is warmly suggested to visualize the fMRI maps better). Collected data will be completely *anonymous*. Once the questionnaire is finished, you can *check your accuracy* and decide to continue with another set of questions. In this case, please do not close or restart the session, otherwise the system will create another participant ID. We ask you to complete the questionnaire individually. However, after completing the survey you may want to compare your score with one of your lab mates and colleagues. Feel free to forward the link to anyone you think could be interested. If you have any questions or just want to be updated with the results of the study, please do not hesitate to contact me (davide.coraci(a)imtlucca.it) Thank you very much for your availability and your time. All the best, Davide Coraci -- Davide Coraci Phd Student IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca MoMiLab <https://momilab.imtlucca.it> - *Molecular Mind Laboratory* MInD <https://momilab.imtlucca.it/research/mind> - *Models, Inference, and Decisions * https://www.davidecoraci.com/welcome.php

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