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

PhD/PostDoc position in Computational Psychiatry, University of Marburg

by Hamidreza Jamalabadi

We are excited to announce an opportunity for a PhD or Postdoctoral researcher to join our lab at the University of Marburg, starting as soon as possible. This position is funded by the prestigious DFG CRC/TRR 393 consortium, a long-term, multicenter project dedicated to understanding the trajectories of affective disorders. The position is initially for two years, with the possibility of extension up to an additional three years (maximum of five years). How to Determine if You Are a Good Fit: - Familiarize yourself with our work: Review the research papers listed below, visit our lab’s website (https://www.psycontrol-lab.de/) and explore the Physics of Cognition workshop we recently organized (https://bernstein-network.de/bernstein-conference/program/satellite-worksho…) Ask yourself if these topics align with your research experience or excite your intellectual curiosity- . - Conference Engagement: Do you regularly attend, or aspire to attend, conferences such as CCN, NeurIPS, ICLR, COSYNE, BCCN, BrainModes, OHBM, SfN, ECNP, or Computational Psychiatry? If these events resonate with you, you may find our environment a great fit. What You Will Bring: - A strong motivation to advance the understanding of mental health disorders. - A solid background in Dynamical Systems Theory, Machine Learning, Generative Visual AI, and Neuroimaging. - Proficiency in coding - Excellent command of the English language in writing and speaking. What You Can Expect From Us: - Access to one of the most unique infrastructures in this field including full access to multiple multimodal unique large datasets (N > 3000) in the field, including fMRI, DTI, EEG, and EMA. - Ample computational resources (dedicated CPU, GPU, and RAM) tailored to your needs. - - Collaboration with a highly motivated interdisciplinary team with backgrounds in Engineering, Physics, Psychology, and Medicine. - Strong national and international collaborations through projects like The Adaptive Mind (TAM, https://www.theadaptivemind.de/) and the Center for Mind, Brain, and Behavior (CMBB, https://www.cmbb-fcmh.de/de) and partnerships with labs in the UK, Netherlands, Germany, and the USA. - Dedicated travel funding and the ability to run your own studies. For postdoctoral candidates, there is potential to establish your own research group. If you resonate with our research and approach, please send your CV and a brief statement explaining why you are a good fit and why this opportunity excites you to hamidreza.jamalabadi(a)uni-marburg.de. There is no formal deadline for applications—reviews will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Key Publications Gaziv, G., Lee, M., & DiCarlo, J. J. (2024). Strong and precise modulation of human percepts via robustified ANNs. Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems, 36. Durstewitz, D., Koppe, G., & Thurm, M. I. (2023). Reconstructing computational system dynamics from neural data with recurrent neural networks. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 24(11), 693-710. Jamalabadi, H., Koppe, G., Nozari, E., & Hahn, T. (2023). Engineering the Mind: Actionable Technical Requirements for Innovation in Clinical Neuroscience. Stocker, J. E., Koppe, G., Reich, H., Heshmati, S., Kittel-Schneider, S., Hofmann, S. G., ... & Jamalabadi, H. (2023). Formalizing psychological interventions through network control theory. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 13830. Winter, N. R., Blanke, J., Leenings, R., Ernsting, J., Fisch, L., Sarink, K., ... & Hahn, T. (2024). A Systematic Evaluation of Machine Learning–Based Biomarkers for Major Depressive Disorder. JAMA Psychiatry, 81(4), 386-395. Goetschalckx, L., Andonian, A., Oliva, A., & Isola, P. (2019). Ganalyze: Toward visual definitions of cognitive image properties. Proceedings of the IEEE/CVF International Conference on Computer Vision, 5744-5753. Hope to hear from you soon! Best regards, Hamidreza Jamalabadi -- Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Hamidreza Jamalabadi Professor for Computational Psychiatry Psychiatric Control Systems Lab Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Philipps-Universität Marburg Rudolf-Bultmann-Straße 8 35039 Marburg Germany Tel.: +49 6421 5863827 Email: hamidreza.jamalabadi(a)uni-marburg.de hamidreza.jamalabadi(a)psycontrol-lab.de Web: https://www.psycontrol-lab.de/

Oct. 7, 2024

Post-doc position available-Rennes, France - Computational modeling of genetic mutations at cellular level

by fabrice.wendling＠inserm.fr

Dear colleagues Please find below an offer for a Post-Doc/Engineer position in our laboratory, starting in Autumn 2024. The successful candidate will work on a national multidisciplinary project called Innov4epik. This is a hospital-university research project (RHU) involving 10 centers in France. It focuses on pediatric epilepsies caused by genetic mutations inducing alterations in transmembrane ion channels. Please feel free to forward this offer to anyone who might be interested in a topic on electrophysiological signal modeling and processing (LFPs, EEG) in the context of epilepsy. Many thanks in advance. fw --- Post-doc or Research Engineer position offer (ref: RHU2024-MICRO) Computational modeling of genetic mutations at cellular level Context. Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) are a group of severe rare diseases where the combined effect of seizures, most often drug resistant, and the non-seizures consequences of the disease etiology, often genetic, entail a debilitating encephalopathy with drastic effects on the neurodevelopmental, psychiatric, and motor abilities of the patients. DEEs due to potassium channel mutations (K-DEEs) are emblematic of this disease presentation. Rationale. The mechanisms underlying the relationship between i) the molecular effect of a gene mutation (KCNB1/KCNT1/KCNA2) on specific voltage gated potassium channel function, and ii) the patient-specific phenotypes observed in scalp-recorded EEG signals remain elusive. Computational models inspired from neuronal physiology is now recognized as a most efficient way to bridge the gap between i) changes occurring at the level of neurons and neuronal circuits and ii) electroencephalographic (EEG) signals recorded in patients containing markers of the underlying pathology. Objective. The objective of the proposed research position is to design novel neuro-inspired models taking into account the molecular effect of a gene mutation on the specific voltage-gated potassium (K) channel function and the specific phenotypes observed in patients (scalp-recorded EEG signals) and in genetically-modified mice (local field potentials) in which downregulation or upregulation of K channels is induced. Methods. Detailed multicompartment models (i.e. including dendrites, soma and axon) will be developed. They will be based on Hodgkin and Huxley's (HH) formalism. They will describe both passive (membrane capacitance, axial resistivity, leakage conductance, and membrane time constant) and active (voltage-gated and ligand-gated ion channels) membrane properties. The channel pathogenic variants of KCNB1/KCNT1/KCNA2 mutations identified in 2 other work packages (1 & 2) will be inserted in the membrane in order to study the impact of the channel mutation on the firing rate curves of considered neuron subtypes, typically pyramidal neurons (PYR), somatostatin (SST-), parvalbumin (PV-), and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP-) positive interneurons. Optimization methods will be developed for identifying optimal parameters minimizing the distance between real and simulated electrophysiological signals (LFPs). Models will use the Hodgkin & Huxley formalism. They will be developed in Python. They will extend already-existing models at cellular level. Strong background is available ( <https://perso.univ-rennes1.fr/fabrice.wendling/> https://perso.univ-rennes1.fr/fabrice.wendling/) Scientific domains. Engineering (computational, biomedical); Neurophysiology; Neuroscience; Neurology; Computer Science (implementation of Python routines into an existing software application named COALIA). Scientific environment. This research will benefit from an outstanding clinical research environment, centered around the largest curated K-DEE cohorts, coordinated by the Necker reference center for rare epilepsies (Prof. Rima Nabbout), and assembling an extensive group of experts from various specializations, including clinical, electrophysiological, psychological, computational, translational research, biotechnology and pharma industry. Candidate profile. The research project is at the interface between biomathematics (neuro-inspired models) and neuroscience/neurology (epilepsy). The Post-doc/Engineer fellow (PhD level) will preferably have a strong background in computational neuroscience/systems biology or in electrical engineering with experience in bio-signal processing. Knowledge in electrophysiology and/or EEG analysis would be an asset. Contract The position will be opened November. 1st, 2024 (flexible). The contract is for 3 years (flexible). The employer is the University of Rennes. The competitive salary will be according to experience (2350 Euros net, minimum). The candidate will also have access to the French system benefits. Location in the city of Rennes, France. LTSI-Inserm laboratory, University of Rennes. In addition, the hired person will have the opportunity to actively collaborate with other groups involved in the innov4epik RHU project (2024-2029), funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR). Contact (please provide resume, cover letter and email of 2 references) Pascal Benquet (Prof Univ Rennes, LTSI, France) Email: <mailto:pascal.benquet@univ-rennes.fr> pascal.benquet(a)univ-rennes.fr Fabrice Wendling (DR Inserm, LTSI, France) Email: <mailto:fabrice.wendling@inserm.fr> fabrice.wendling(a)inserm.fr --- Fabrice WENDLING DR Inserm LTSI, Inserm UMR1099 - Université de Rennes Co-directeur équipe Cinetyks Campus de Beaulieu - Bât. 22 35042 Rennes Cedex - France - Tel: +33 2 23 23 56 05 / 62 20 - +33 6 58 25 75 30 Email: <mailto:fabrice.wendling@inserm.fr> fabrice.wendling(a)inserm.fr <https://ltsi.univ-rennes.fr/> https://ltsi.univ-rennes.fr/ <https://perso.univ-rennes1.fr/fabrice.wendling> https://perso.univ-rennes1.fr/fabrice.wendling <https://www.galvani-lab.eu/> https://www.galvani-lab.eu/

Oct. 7, 2024

PhD and PostDoc positions at the Hertie Institute for AI in Brain Health at University Tübingen

by Kerstin Ritter

The “Hertie Institute for AI in Brain Health” (Hertie AI) at the Faculty of Medicine of the Eberhard Karls University Tübingen is funded by the Gemeinnützige Hertie Stiftung to develop AI algorithms, which detect diseases of the nervous system earlier and treat them better. The Department of Machine Learning for Clinical Neuroscience is currently recruiting PHD CANDIDATES and POSTDOCS. We develop advanced machine and deep learning models to analyze diverse clinical data, including neuroimaging, psychometric, clinical, smartphone, and omics datasets. While focusing on methodological challenges (explainability, robustness, multimodal data integration, causality etc.), the main goal is to enhance early diagnosis, predict disease progression, and personalize treatment for neurological and psychiatric diseases in diverse clinical settings. We seek motivated candidates with strong machine learning skills who are eager to work on real-world medical challenges. Experience with complex medical data—whether imaging, time-series, or tabular—and current machine learning methods like CNNs and transformers is highly valued.  - If you want to join the  Hertie AI  as a PhD student, apply via the International Max Planck Research School for Intelligent Systems (IMPRS, https://imprs.is.mpg.de/application) until November 15th. - If you want to join as a Postdoc, please submit your CV (max. 2 pages), a list of publications (max. 2 pages), and a motivation letter via this link: https://jobs.medizin.uni-tuebingen.de/Login/5200 For more information, please visit our career page: https://hertie.ai/earlycareer We offer an exciting and supportive environment with access to state-of-the-art compute facilities, mentoring and career advice through experienced faculty. Hertie AI closely collaborates with the world-class AI ecosystem in Tübingen (e.g. Cyber Valley, Cluster of Excellence “Machine Learning in Science”, Tübingen AI Center). The remuneration is in accordance with TV-L (collective wage agreement for the Public Service of the German Federal States), severely handicapped persons with equal qualifications are given preferential consideration. Since the University of Tübingen aims to increase the proportion of women among its academic staff, women are strongly encouraged to apply. Interview expenses are not covered. Please note the applicable vaccination regulations. Questions can be addressed to hertieai(a)medizin.uni-tuebingen.de Please get in touch! Best wishes Kerstin Ritter _____________________________________________________________ Prof. Dr. Kerstin Ritter Professor of Machine Learning for Clinical Neuroscience Hertie Institute for AI in Brain Health Medical Faculty of the University of Tübingen www.hertie.ai

Oct. 6, 2024

Announcement of BrainCriticality 2024 3-day conference Nov 6 - 8, 2024, NIH, USA

by Plenz, Dietmar (NIH/NIMH) [E]

Brain Criticality Hybrid Meeting November 6 - 8 2024 (in person/virtual) For registration and details see: https://braincriticality.org/<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbraincrit…> This hybrid meeting will take place at the National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA with ~25 speakers over the course of 3 days. Contributions will cover recent developments in the fields of systems neuroscience and collective phenomena in complex systems with focus on the role of criticality and its implications for normal and abnormal brain dynamics. Dietmar Plenz, Ph.D. Senior Investigator Section on Critical Brain Dynamics National Institute of Mental Health USA "Complexity from simple rules"

Oct. 5, 2024

Call for Abstracts/Papers - ICICIP2025, Muscat, Oman, February 6-11, 2025

by Pub Conference

*Call for Abstracts/Papers* Conference website: https://conference.cs.cityu.edu.hk/icicip/ The 13th International Conference on Intelligent Control and Information Processing (ICICIP2025) will be held in Muscat, Oman, February 6-11, 2025, following the successes of previous events. As the capital of Oman, Muscat is Oman's largest city with a population of over four million people and numerous tourist attractions. ICICIP2025 aims to provide a high-level international forum for scientists, engineers, and educators to present the state of the art of research and applications in related fields. The conference will feature plenary speeches given by world-renowned scholars, regular sessions with broad coverage, special sessions focusing on popular topics, and post-conference workshops/tutorials in the region. Prospective authors are invited to contribute high-quality papers to ICICIP2025. In addition, proposals for special sessions within the technical scopes of the symposium are solicited. Special sessions, to be organized by internationally recognized experts, aim to bring together researchers in special focused topics. Papers submitted for special sessions are to be peer-reviewed with the same criteria used for the contributed papers. Researchers interested in organizing special sessions are invited to submit formal proposals to ICICIP2025. A special session proposal should include the session title, a brief description of the scope and motivation, names, contact information, and brief biographical information on the organizers. Authors are invited to submit abstract only or full-length papers (8 pages maximum) by the submission deadline through the online submission system. Potential organizers are also invited to enlist five or more papers with cohesive topics to form special sessions. The submission of a paper implies that the paper is original and has not been submitted under review or is not copyright-protected elsewhere and will be presented by an author if accepted. All submitted papers will be refereed by experts in the field based on the criteria of originality, significance, quality, and clarity. The authors of accepted papers will have an opportunity to revise their papers and take consideration of the referees' comments and suggestions. All accepted papers will be submitted for inclusion into IEEE Xplore subject to meeting IEEE Xplore's scope and quality requirements. Selected high-quality papers will be included in several journal special issues. The abstract and paper submission system is now open. Abstract and Paper Submission link: https://openreview.net/group?id=IEEE.org/ICICIP /2025/Conference&referrer=%5BHomepage%5D(%2F)#tab-your-consoles *Abstract Only or Paper Submission Deadline: November 1, 2024*

Oct. 5, 2024

Open Faculty Positions at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology: Apply by Oct. 15, 2024

by Kenji Doya

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) is calling for applications to the tenure-track and tenured faculty positions in Mathematical Sciences, including applied math, statistics, and data sciences. OIST provides innovative, international and interdisciplinary research environment with strong internal funding for research units. Please check the web page for details: https://www.oist.jp/careers/faculty-positions The application deadline is October 15th, 2024. Best wishes, Kenji ---- 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

Oct. 5, 2024

Open neuroimaging position E13 100%

by Jochem Rieger

Dear all, we have an open position as project coordinator and developer for open neuroimaging enthusiasts! The E13 salary level position is in our DFG-funded device center "Tools and practices for open neuroimaging". We are looking for a person with neuroimaging experience at the doctoral or pos-doctoral level who will coordinate the project with our international network and develop software tools along the neuroimaging data (pre-)processing pipeline. The announcement is here: https://uol.de/en/job/scientific-software-engineer-or-data-scientist-mfd-fo… The application deadline is October 15th If you have further questions on how you could build your career in the open neuroimaging ecosystem from here please contact jochem.rieger(a)uni-oldenburg.de Looking forward to your application, Jochem -- Jochem Rieger Prof. Dr. rer. nat. habil. Applied Neurocognitive Psychology DFG Center for Open and Reproducible Neuroscience Tools NFDI sections ELSA and metadata DFG Cluster of Excellence Hearing4All Carl-von-Ossietzky University Oldenburg Phone: +49 (0)441 798 4533 Web:https://uol.de/en/applied-neurocognitive-psychology github:https://github.com/ANCPLabOldenburg

Oct. 4, 2024

PhD candidate or Post-doctoral research scientist (m/w/d) in cochlear implant research

by Bernhard Seeber

Dear List, For research on Cochlear Implant Modelling and Algorithms we are looking for a PhD candidate or Post-doctoral research scientist (m/w/d) as a full-time position to start at the earliest convenient date (open call). Your responsibilities: - Modeling auditory nerve responses to electrical stimulation and development of neural-model based stimulation strategies for users of auditory neuronal prostheses (cochlear implants) - Developing listening tests to measure performance with novel stimulation strategies in complex listening situations - Statistical analysis of the results - Publication in English-language scientific journals and presentations at conferences - Supervision of student projects, assistance with teaching and with raising external funding. Your qualifications: - (Interest in completing a) Doctoral degree (PhD) in one of the following areas: auditory neuroscience, psychoacoustics, medical physics/audiology, audio technology, signal processing, or a related area - Knowledge and experience desirable in neural modeling and models of the auditory system, designing and analyzing psychoacoustic experiments, direct stimulation of cochlear implants, algorithms for hearing devices, auditory perception, audio signal processing - Very good programming skills in Matlab, Python, or C/C++ - Excellent written and oral communication skills as well as experience with scientific publications - Knowledge and command of the German language desirable for working with cochlear implant users - Flexibility and good interpersonal skills and interest in basic research and medical applications - Interest in supervising students, helping with teaching and raising external funds. Our offer: We offer you the opportunity to join a dynamic, interdisciplinary team, to work with up-to-date technical equipment including sound booths equipped with direct stimulation hardware for cochlear implants, an anechoic chamber hosting an audio-visual virtual reality system, and to learn about the latest methods in hearing research. Our close interaction with the Bernstein Centre for Computational Neuroscience Munich, the Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, the Hearing Research Network Munich, our extensive cooperation with industry and with scientific partners, and the numerous talks and courses offered at TUM create an attractive environment with excellent perspectives for personal development. Please see www.aip.cit.tum.de, http://y2u.be/yN7vD1khTOI and www.tum.de for information. We offer a full-time position as academic staff with the opportunity to pursue a doctoral degree. Salary is according to the Collective Agreement for the Civil Service of the Länder (TV-L/E13, 100%). The position is initially for 1 year and intended to be extended. TUM strives to raise the proportion of women in its workforce and explicitly encourages applications from qualified women. The position is suitable for disabled persons. Disabled applicants will be given preference in case of generally equivalent suitability, aptitude and professional performance. Your application: I look forward to answering your questions on the phone (+49 89 289 28282) or by email. Please send your expressive application by email no later than 03 November 2024 to Prof. Bernhard Seeber, aip(a)ei.tum.de. As part of your application, you provide personal data to the Technical University of Munich (TUM). Please view our privacy policy on collecting and processing personal data in the course of the application process pursuant to Art. 13 of the General Data Protection Regulation of the European Union (GDPR) at https://portal.mytum.de/kompass/datenschutz/Bewerbung. By submitting your application you confirm to have read and understood the data protection information provided by TUM. Best, Bernhard -- Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernhard U. Seeber Audio Information Processing Department of Computer Engineering School of Computation, Information and Technology Technische Universität München Arcisstrasse 21 D-80333 Munich, Germany Office: +49 89 289-28282 Fax: +49 89 289-28211 Mobile: +49 (0)174 928 6338 Visitors: Theresienstrasse 90, building N5, room N6504 Web: www.aip.cit.tum.de https://www.youtube.com/@audioinformationprocessing Key affiliations: Department of Computer Engineering, CIT Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Munich Munich Institute of Biomedical Engineering (MIBE) Munich Institute of Robotics and Machine Intelligence (MIRMI)

Oct. 4, 2024

AE Autumn Summit on Open Problems in AI (Oct 23-24th, Euston, London)

by Battleday, Ruairidh

AE Autumn Summit on Open Problems for AI. Friends House, Euston, London, Oct 23-24. What are the next set of challenges for AI algorithms? What are the open problems in application? Join the UK’s leading AI researchers, policy makers, and entrepreneurs in this global summit. We are pleased to announce our final line-up and reduced ticket prices! www.algopreneurship.org Day 1 (Oct 23rd) - Algorithms We’ll be hearing from Professor Karl Friston <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_J._Friston> (UCL & Verses.ai <http://verses.ai/>), Professor Claudia Clopath <https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/c.clopath> (Imperial), Dr Katja Hofmann <https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/people/kahofman/> (Microsoft), Dr Martin Riedmiller <https://sites.google.com/view/riedmiller/home> (Google DeepMind), Professor Tim Rocktäschel <https://rockt.github.io/> (Google DeepMind & UCL) Panels on Fundamental AI research challenges (University of Oxford, DeepMind, Meta <https://ai.meta.com/research/fair-paris/>, XTX Markets <https://xtxmarkets.com/>); New Kinds of AI Research Institution (Kings AI Institute <https://www.kcl.ac.uk/ai>, <https://www.aria.org.uk/>Alan Turing Institute <https://www.turing.ac.uk/>, Advanced Research and Invention Agency <https://www.aria.org.uk/>, Ellison Institute <https://eit.org/>, <https://www.airstreet.com/>Cambridge Consultants <https://www.cambridgeconsultants.com/>) Day 2 (Oct 24th) - Applications Professor Sana Khareghani <https://rai.ac.uk/team/professor-sana-khareghani-2/> (RAI <https://rai.ac.uk/> & KCL), James Donovan <https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-donovan-111a7a122/> (OpenAI), Professor Mounia Lalmas <https://research.atspotify.com/2020/09/mounia-lalmas-roelleke/> (Spotify), Professor Eiman Kanjo <https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/e.kanjo> (tinyML/Imperial/Nottingham Trent), Danny Gray <https://jaaq.org/creator/35911> (Just Ask A Question <https://jaaq.org/home>), Tarig Hilal <https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarighilal/> (Akord AI <https://cdi.akord.org/>), Ashley Ramrachia <https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-ramrachia-0988675/> ( Academy <https://academy.tech/>), Dr Chanuki Illushka Seresinhe <https://www.linkedin.com/in/chanukiseresinhe/> (Boon/beautifulplaces.ai) Future Leaders Breakout Rooms (UKRI, Future Leaders Development Network <https://www.flfdevnet.com/>, No, 10 Downing Street Data Team, Tony Blair Institute <https://www.institute.global/>, Zeki <https://www.thezeki.com/>, Octopus ventures <https://octopusventures.com/>, Entrepreneur First <https://www.joinef.com/>), Panels on AI and Education Panel (Raspberry Pi <https://www.raspberrypi.org/>, Inversity <https://inversity.co/welcome>, micro:bit <https://microbit.org/>, memrise <https://www.memrise.com/en-us/>, Five Arrows <https://www.rothschildandco.com/en/five-arrows/>); Challenges for AI in Biomedicine Panel (KCL, QMU, Alan Turing Institute, Sonus AI <https://decorte.co.uk/>, RedAlpine <https://www.redalpine.com/>) Student tickets: £10 General: £30 This should be an exciting and productive event, and we expect an audience of 1000 of the UK best AI researchers, policy makers, and entrepreneurs, at student, early stage, and full career levels. There will be breakouts, and a final reception. We hope to see you there! -- Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday BMBCh (Oxon) PhD President Thinking About Thinking, Inc <https://thinkingaboutthinking.org> Postdoctoral Research Fellow Center for Brain Science, Harvard University Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines, MIT

Oct. 4, 2024

Tenure Track Faculty Position in Neuromorphic Computing at the University of Calgary

by Wilten Nicola

*Please note that the Job ad below has been extended until the end of October. * Canada Research Chair (Tier II), *Neuromorphic Technologies,* Biomedical Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering Position Description The Schulich School of Engineering, in partnership with the Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), at the University of Calgary invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor with an anticipated start date of January 1, 2025. The selected candidate will be nominated for a Tier II Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Neuromorphic Technologies. Further information about the Canada Research Chairs Program can be found on the Government of Canada’s CRC website ( <https://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/home-accueil-eng.aspx> https://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/home-accueil-eng.aspx) <https://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/home-accueil-eng.aspx> including eligibility criteria. The successful candidate will be appointed to a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) and will be a full member of the HBI. In alignment with the University of Calgary's *Ahead of Tomorrow* strategic plan and in support of its strategic academic and research priorities, the successful candidate will actively contribute to research, student/postdoc supervision, undergraduate and graduate teaching as well as curriculum development. In time, the successful candidate is expected to grow into a leadership role within the department, school, institute, and university. The successful candidate will also provide service to the department, faculty, institute, university, and community and contribute to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces. The successful candidate is expected to establish a strong research program in the area of neuromorphic technologies within BME and the HBI computational neuroscience initiative, with the potential to achieve national and international recognition in the next five to ten years. They will be expected to attract competitive external funding to support their research activities and to attract excellent trainees and staff. They will also be expected to teach a range of undergraduate and graduate courses, related to their area of expertise. In alignment with the University of Calgary's strategic vision, and in support of its strategic priorities of leadership, teaching and research integration, the successful applicant will actively contribute to teaching and curriculum development. The successful candidate will be an emerging scholar with an original, creative, innovative, and forward looking research program, acknowledged by their peers as having the potential to become an international leader in the field. Applicants must have earned a PhD in engineering, life sciences, or equivalent. They must have demonstrated evidence of scholarly impact, research productivity, research funding, transdisciplinary collaboration, and the ability to lead a productive independent research group. The ability to attract, supervise and mentor graduate students is essential. Applicants should also show that they have experience in teaching at the graduate and undergraduate level and contributing to their department/school/community. The successful candidate’s research program will focus on advancing one or more areas in the field of Neuromorphic Technologies. Research areas and applications of interest to BME and the HBI include developing 1) new brain-inspired algorithms and neuromorphic hardware, and 2) sensory processing systems suitable for brain-computer applications. Candidates with other related activities in the computational neuroscience/brain computer interface/neuromorphic technologies space are also valued by the University of Calgary and these applicants are encouraged to apply. The research area exemplifies the University of Calgary’s vision of research that is built around areas of excellence, entrepreneurial thinking, innovation, advanced technology, and strong connections to industry and community. The successful candidate will have a mandate to establish a research program that advances critically required knowledge for neuromorphic technologies, that will attract competitive external funding, and to contribute to teaching and graduate student supervision at the University level. They are expected to be or become eligible for registration as a professional engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) ( <https://www.apega.ca/> https://www.apega.ca/) <https://www.apega.ca/>. If any candidates require further information about this criterion, they are encouraged to contact the BME Department Head. The University of Calgary is committed to fostering diversity through cultivating an environment where people with a variety of backgrounds, genders, interests and talents feel welcome and included. In 2016, the Schulich School of Engineering was recognized with the KNOVO Award of Distinction to honour the school’s commitment to diversity and equity. The new Biomedical Engineering Department, with new teaching labs and renovated research labs, is the home of undergraduate (BSc) and graduate (MEng, MSc, PhD) programs and is an anchor for cross-campus transdisciplinary activities in Biomedical Engineering. Biomedical Engineering activities occur across multiple faculties at the University of Calgary (ucalgary.ca/bme <http://www.ucalgary.ca/bme>) <http://www.ucalgary.ca/bme> and involve more than 300 faculty members with current annual research funding exceeding $75M. The university has made significant investments in Biomedical Engineering to date, including the allocation of six Tier 1 and nine Tier 2 Canada Research Chairs. A strong culture of collaboration and cross-disciplinary research excellence is enabled by significant research infrastructure located in multiple centers across campus. The University of Calgary’s transdisciplinary Biomedical Engineering research initiative drives innovations that are saving lives and revolutionizing health care. Biomedical Engineering is led by the Schulich School of Engineering, with the Cumming School of Medicine, and the faculties of Kinesiology, Nursing, Science, and Veterinary Medicine. With collaborative teams focused on human mobility, health monitoring and management including ehealth, advanced biomedical imaging, precision bio-diagnostics, regenerative medicine and novel medical technologies, our researchers are transforming health services and quality of life. The HBI is an institute based in the Cumming School of Medicine that leads the university’s Brain and Mental Health (BMH) research initiative which brings together over 300 full members working in this area from across the university. Following from its vision “Healthy Brains for Better Lives”, the strategic goals of the HBI are to make key, internationally recognized discoveries and transform clinical research in the neurosciences and mental health. To achieve this goal the HBI has created a “NeuroDiscovery Framework”, which aligns research within three themes of Brain & Behaviour, Neural Injury & Repair and Healthy Brain Aging. Each theme is composed of BMH Teams organized in a translational continuum, which includes biomedical, clinical, population and public health researchers. The teams take advantage of several key technology platforms, core facilities (such as optogenetics, neurostimulation, and advanced microscopy) and programs that support them in the pursuit of their research goals, including a nationally recognized computational neuroscience initiative. This highly enriched environment is ideally suited to foster research excellence. The successful candidate will benefit from a rich academic ecosystem, which includes world-class scholars, a focus on entrepreneurship and innovation, and an equitable, diverse, and inclusive university community that supports transdisciplinary research, partnerships and collaborations, and education excellence. The Schulich School of Engineering Strategic Plan, Schulich Momentum, identifies four pillars: 1) Indigenous Engagement, Inclusivity and Reconciliation; 2) Fostering a Community through Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility; 3) Preparing Tomorrow’s Engineering Changemakers; and 4) Elevating Research and Innovation Impact. Similarly, research and educational activities in the Hotchkiss Brain Institute are supported by its “Creating Impact: The Hotchkiss Brain Institute Strategy 2023-2027". The Schulich School of Engineering and the Hotchkiss Brain Institute are both key contributors to the University of Calgary *Ahead of Tomorrow *strategic plan, which emphasizes transdisciplinary scholarship, deeper community integration, and future-focused program delivery. For more information, please visit the Schulich School of Engineering <https://schulich.ucalgary.ca/> <https://schulich.ucalgary.ca/>or Hotchkiss Brain Institute <https://hbi.ucalgary.ca/> <https://hbi.ucalgary.ca/>websites. How to Apply *Interested candidates are encouraged to submit an application online via the 'Apply Now' link*. Please be aware that the application process allows for only four attachments. Your four application attachments should be organized to contain the following (which may require you to merge documents, such as publications): • Cover letter and curriculum vitae, as well as the name and contact information of three referees • Statement of research interests, accomplishments and vision (maximum 2 pages) • Statement of teaching philosophy promoting student learning and success (maximum 2 pages). This can include information on teaching experience, training, and mentoring inside and outside the classroom at the undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral levels • Statement on equity, diversity and inclusion (maximum 2 pages) ( <https://www.ucalgary.ca/equity-diversity-inclusion> https://www.ucalgary.ca/equity-diversity-inclusion) <https://www.ucalgary.ca/equity-diversity-inclusion> *Applications are accepted until September 1, 2024.* *Questions may be addressed to: * Dr. Michael Kallos Head, Department of Biomedical Engineering Email: *mskallos(a)ucalgary.ca <mskallos(a)ucalgary.ca>* The University of Calgary adheres to the principles of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) and strives to evaluate research impact responsibly and inclusively by explicitly considering discipline-appropriate methods for demonstrating the quality, significance, and societal impact of a broad range of research contributions. The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy <https://www.ucalgary.ca/indigenous-strategy/> <https://www.ucalgary.ca/indigenous-strategy/>committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, and is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do. *The University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here; in particular, we encourage members of equity-deserving groups (women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the **Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion * <https://www.ucalgary.ca/equity-diversity-inclusion>*(* <https://www.ucalgary.ca/equity-diversity-inclusion>*equity(a)ucalgary.ca <equity(a)ucalgary.ca>**) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources (**hrhire(a)ucalgary.ca <hrhire(a)ucalgary.ca>**).* *All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. In this connection, at the time of your application, please answer the following question: Are you a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada? (Yes/No) * The University of Calgary recognizes that candidates have varying career paths and that career interruptions can be part of an excellent academic record. Candidates are encouraged but not required to provide any relevant information about their experience and/or career interruptions to allow for a fair assessment of their application. Selection committees have been instructed to give careful consideration to, and be sensitive to the impact of career interuptions, when assessing the candidate’s research productivity. Additional Information To learn more about academic opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Academic Careers website <http://careers.ucalgary.ca/pages/academic-careers>. <http://careers.ucalgary.ca/pages/academic-careers> For more information about the Schulich School of Engineering visit schulich.ucalgary.ca <https://schulich.ucalgary.ca/> About the University of Calgary UCalgary is Canada’s entrepreneurial university, located in Canada’s most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada’s leader in the creation of start-ups <https://ucalgary.ca/news/ucalgary-top-startup-creator-amongst-research-inst…> . <https://ucalgary.ca/news/ucalgary-top-startup-creator-amongst-research-inst…> <https://www.ucalgary.ca/startsomething>Start something <https://www.ucalgary.ca/startsomething> <https://www.ucalgary.ca/startsomething>today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca <https://www.ucalgary.ca/>. <https://www.ucalgary.ca/> About Calgary, Alberta Calgary is one of the world's cleanest cities and has been named one of the world's most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders - in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from a growing number of world-class dining and cultural events and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour's drive from the majestic Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America. Posting Date: May 2024 Closing Date: September 1, 2024

Oct. 3, 2024