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

Applications Open for Analytical Connectionism Summer School 2024

by Matthew Turner

Analytical Connectionism Summer School 2024 Analytical Connectionism is a 2-week summer course on analytical tools, including methods from statistical physics and probability theory, for probing neural networks and higher-level cognition. The course brings together neuroscience, psychology and machine-learning communities, and introduces attendees to analytical methods for neural-network analysis and connectionist theories of higher-level cognition and psychology. Connectionism, a key theoretical approach in psychology, uses neural-network models to simulate a wide range of phenomena, including perception, memory, decision-making, language, and cognitive control. However, most connectionist models remain, to a certain extent, black boxes, and we lack a mathematical understanding of their behaviors. Recent progress in theoretical neuroscience and machine learning has provided novel analytical tools that have advanced our mathematical understanding of deep neural networks, and can help us unravel these ‘black boxes’. This course will introduce (1) mathematical methods for neural-network analysis, providing a solid theoretical and analytical overview of the tools available to understand neural-network models, and (2) key connectionist models with links to experimental observations, and which provide important targets for analytical results. To provide context for the applications of these methods, we will discuss phenomena in psychology that still lack an explanation. During the 2-week course you will: - Attend lectures on theoretical methods and applications, key connectionist models, and experimental observations - Participate in tutorials, Q&A sessions, and panel discussions - Take part in activities such as poster and networking sessions The course will run from Aug. 12 to Aug. 23, 2024, Mondays-Fridays and will end with a 2-day hackathon, during which students will apply what they have learned in group projects. There are no course fees, but attendees are expected to cover their own travel, visa expenses, and any meals not offered by the summer school (morning and afternoon coffee breaks and lunch will be provided Monday-Friday). Accommodation in NYC (for students not living in NYC and surrounding) will be provided by the school. Travel grants inclusive of the above named expenses will be offered to individuals whose participation furthers the goal to promote diversity in systems and computational neuroscience, in particular among populations underrepresented in the scientific workforce as defined by NIH <https://diversity.nih.gov/about-us/population-underrepresented>, including but not limited to racially underrepresented individuals, women, individuals with disabilities and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. Organizers: - Chi-Ning Chou (CCN) - SueYeon Chung (CCN/NYU) - Francesca Mignacco (Princeton/CCN) - Stefano Sarao Mannelli (UCL) - Andrew Saxe (UCL) For more information and to apply, please visit: https://events.simonsfoundation.org/event/e070287e-741e-4809-adea-726914273… Administrative Contact: Alicja Jankowska, CCN Administrative Coordinator, ajankowska(a)flatironinstitute.org Cordially, MATTHEW B. TURNER any pronouns Senior Manager for Center Administration | Center for Computational Neuroscience Flatiron Institute 917.363.1095 mobile mturner(a)flatironinstitute.org 162 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010 simonsfoundation.org/flatiron <https://www.simonsfoundation.org/flatiron/>

April 5, 2024

Available PhD Position at the intersection between AI and Marine Conservation

by Amir Aly

Dear All, We have an available PhD position (*Monitoring health and unlocking social behaviour in bottlenose dolphins with interdisciplinary next-generation technology*) at the intersection of Marine Conservation and AI. More details are available here: Link <https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/schools/school-of-biological-and-marine-sciences…> . The closing date for applications is *22/04/2024**.* Project description Monitoring health and social behaviour in cetacean populations is required for population management and quantification of human impacts. Measures of individual fitness, survival, reproductive success, and sociality can have far-reaching implications for wildlife management and conservation, as populations adapt, or not, to human disturbance. Quantifying individual interactions is the foundation of social behaviour and cetaceans arguably demonstrate some of the most complex social systems in the mammalian world. However, the nature of social relationships in cetaceans remains poorly studied. Cetaceans provide unique research challenges that can constrain data collection and prevent multimodal inference. Recent developments in marine robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and bioacoustics open opportunities for a technology-driven approach for conservation and behavioural research. AI-based techniques employing machine learning to analyse unoccupied aerial systems (UAS)-captured footage, and acoustic data need integration into tools to extract behavioural patterns and allow application to conservation research. The Scottish bottlenose dolphin project is one of the longest running individual-based studies of dolphins in the world, with multi decade sighting histories and life history data. This population has high societal importance, with core habitat impacted by coastal developments and in key areas for UK renewable energy. This project is an opportunity to integrate new generation technologies and contribute vital population and individual level information for conservation management and compliance monitoring for UK renewables. *Project aims and methods* This PhD project will integrate technology-driven data collection across bioacoustics, marine robotics and artificial intelligence to advance animal behaviour research. The project has four main research objectives: - Synchronise and integrate data collection of vocal signals and movement patterns of wild dolphin groups. - Determine social relationships, group behaviour and population demographics from boat-based and UAS still and video imagery. - Explore the boundaries of social behaviour using AI for tracking individuals. - Integrate and disseminate data across research and industrial sectors for policy and conservation management of this protected population. *Research Methodology* The student will collect acoustic, behavioural and UAS data during the annual summer field campaigns run by the Lighthouse Field Station based in Cromarty, Scotland. They will use a modified multi-rotor UAS, fitted with a laser altimeter to collect high-resolution still and video imagery of dolphin groups to verify individual identity information from known bottlenose dolphins within the population, and deploy hydrophones to record underwater acoustics. The student will explore dolphins’ fine-scale spatial interactions and individual movement trajectories and their link to acoustics, as well as morphometric and demographic data. The student will utilize and integrate a suite of AI methodologies to test hypotheses relating to the influence of social relationships and individual identity on group movement and acoustics in dolphins. Training This project will provide the student with multi-disciplinary skills development and training across bioacoustics, behavioural ecology and artificial intelligence. They will complete small boat work and field data collection at a world leading field station enhancing their data collection skills and providing benefits of interaction across two institutions. The student will also benefit from access to the Scottish bottlenose dolphin project longitudinal dataset to inform the individual level analysis that underpins this project, as well as a highly skilled field team to facilitate data collection and individual training. They will receive dedicated training in UAS operation and maintenance and depending on background may receive training in ecology, bioacoustics, artificial intelligence applications and R and Matlab programming. *Supervisory team* The project will be supervised by Dr. Nicola Quick <https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/nicola-quick>, Dr. Clare Embling <https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/clare-embling>, Dr. Barbara Cheney <https://www.abdn.ac.uk/sbs/people/profiles/b.cheney>, and Dr. Amir Aly <https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/amir-aly> If you have questions, pls don't hesitate to ask, Regards ---------------- *Dr. Amir Aly* Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Programme Manager of Artificial Intelligence Center for Robotics and Neural Systems (CRNS) School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics Room A307 Portland Square, Drake Circus, PL4 8AA University of Plymouth, UK

April 5, 2024

New on the VVTNS website and YouTube channel

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] > > <https://streaklinks.com/B6q193DODqR1jYtfTwOu_wvC/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> > https://www.wwtns.online > <https://streaklinks.com/A9c7PbbpKY7PxB6PaAJWGD3-/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> > - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide > New on the VVTNS website and YouTube channel Manuel Beiran Columbia University "Prediction of neural activity in connectome-constrained recurrent networks" talk given on April 3, 2024 https://www.wwtns.online/past-seminars-2023-2024 ------------------------------------ *VVTNS: VVTNS is a weekly digital seminar on Zoom targeting the theoretical neuroscience community. Created as the World Wide Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), its aim is to be a platform to exchange ideas among theoreticians. Speakers have the occasion to talk about theoretical aspects of their work which cannot be discussed in a setting where the majority of the audience consists of experimentalists. The seminars, **held on Wednesdays at 11 am ET,** are 45-50 min long followed by a discussion. The talks are recorded with authorization of the speaker and are available to everybody on our YouTube channel.* -- 'Life is good ..' (Carl van Vreeswijk, 1962-2022) --------------------------------------- David Hansel Directeur de Recherche au CNRS Co-Group leader Cerebral Dynamics Plasticity and Learning lab. 45 rue des Saints Pères 75270 Paris Cedex 06 Tel (Cell): +33 607508403 - Fax (33).1.49.27.90.62 ᐧ

April 5, 2024

[jobs] PhD position(s) in Toulouse (France): Deep learning models of the Global Workspace

by Rufin VanRullen

PhD position(s) in an ERC-funded project exploring deep-learning implementations of the Global Workspace theory. We are seeking highly motivated and dedicated students to join our group in Toulouse, France. Successful candidates will have formal training in AI, Computer Science or related fields (e.g. computational neuroscience), and a keen interest in cognitive neuroscience. Our ERC Advanced Grant "GLoW" aims to take inspiration from neuroscience and cognitive theories to build deep neural network models of cognition, capable of integrating or "grounding" information across sensory and linguistic modalities, and of displaying flexible cognitive behavior. We will also use advanced AI models to improve the decoding and understanding of brain activity. Details on the ideas that are developed in the project can be found in this Opinion paper <https://www.cell.com/trends/neurosciences/fulltext/S0166-2236(21)00077-1>. The project is headed by Rufin VanRullen (CNRS, Toulouse, France), with external advisors Ryota Kanai (Araya, Tokyo, Japan) and Murray Shanahan (ICL/Deepmind, London, UK). Our lab <https://rufinv.github.io/> is part of the CerCo Institute <https://cerco.cnrs.fr/en> as well as the Artificial and Natural Intelligence Toulouse Institute (ANITI) <https://aniti.univ-toulouse.fr/en/>. Our team has many opportunities to collaborate with neuroscientists, computer scientists, linguists, roboticists etc. We have direct access to fMRI recording facilities and to in-house (GPU) computing clusters as well as research-dedicated supercomputers. Typical appointments for PhD students are 3 years. The PhD stipend is 2,000 Euros/month (net). We expect to hire at least one candidate in the Fall of 2024, but will continue to recruit exceptional applicants in the foreseeable future. There is no firm deadline, but applications received before May 15, 2024 will receive full consideration. To apply, please send a CV and a letter <mailto:rufin.vanrullen@cnrs.fr> explaining your research interests and motivations to: rufin.vanrullen [at] cnrs.fr Any questions should also be directed to the same address. --

April 4, 2024

Flatiron Neuro Data Analysis Workshop at Federation of European Neuroscience Societies Forum 2024

by Jessica Hauser

Applications are open for the Flatiron Institute's Center for Computational Neuroscience's first pynapple-fastplotlib-nemos workshop, a satellite event of FENS Forum 2024 in Vienna. Learn neural data analysis, visualization and modeling using state-of-the-art open source python packages developed by the NeuroRSE Group <https://neurorse.flatironinstitute.org/> at CCN. *Accommodation and meals are provided.* Learn more and apply here <https://events.simonsfoundation.org/event/62ec461f-1f9d-4e7b-8827-67e1c47c1…> . *Flatiron CCN Neuro data analysis workshop at Federation of European Neuroscience Societies Forum 2024* *Date: *June 23-24, 2024 *Application deadline: *April 19pynapple <https://pynapple-org.github.io/pynapple/> is a light-weight python library for neurophysiological data analysis. The goal is to offer a versatile set of tools to study typical data in the field, i.e. time series (spike times, behavioral events, etc.) and time intervals (trials, brain states, etc.). It also provides users with generic functions for neuroscience such as tuning curves and cross-correlograms.fastplotlib <https://github.com/fastplotlib/fastplotlib> is a next-gen plotting library built using the pygfx rendering engine that can utilize modern GPUs so it is very fast! It is an expressive plotting library that enables rapid prototyping for large scale explorative scientific visualization.nemos <https://github.com/flatironinstitute/nemos> is a statistical modeling framework for systems neuroscience, with a current focus on electrophysiology, fully compatible with pynapple. As of today, its core functionality includes the implementation of the Generalized Linear Model (GLM) for spike train analysis.If you have any questions, please contact jhauser(a)flatironinstitute.org. -- Jessica Hauser Coordinator, Center Administration Center for Computational Neuroscience *FLATIRON INSTITUTE* 160 Fifth Avenue, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10010 +1 (929) 969-7812 mobile +1 (929) 562-4586 desk

April 4, 2024

Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience Summer School application deadline extension (April 10)

by Chengcheng Huang

Application deadline is extended for the 12th Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience Summer School (CCNSS), which will be held from *June 23 to July 14, 2024*, at *Suzhou, China*. Online application: https://www.csh-asia.org/?content/2382 Application deadline: **April 10, 2024** About CCNSS: Designed to emphasize computational principles and neural circuit mechanisms of higher cognitive functions, the course aims at training talented and highly motivated students and postdoctoral fellows from Asia and around the world. We welcome both applicants with quantitative backgrounds (including Physics, Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Science) and those with experimental backgrounds. The lectures will introduce the basic concepts and methods, as well as cutting-edge research on higher brain functions such as decision-making, attention, learning and memory. Modeling will be taught at multiple levels, ranging from single neuron computation and microcircuits up to large-scale brain systems and artificial intelligence and psychiatric disorders. Python-based programming labs coordinated with the lectures will provide practical training in important computational methods. 2024 Faculty: Hannah Choi, Georgia Institute of Technology Robert Desimone, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Alain Destexhe, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Tomoki Fukai, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Leyla Isik, Johns Hopkins University Máté Lengyel, University of Cambridge Sukbin Lim, New York University, Shanghai Yunzhe Liu, Beijing Normal University Luca Mazzucato, University of Oregon Jorge Mejias, University of Amsterdam Yuanyuan Mi, Tsinghua University Ida Momennajad, Microsoft Research Memming Park, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown Anqi Wu, Georgia Institute of Technology Organizers: Dora Angelaki, New York University Christopher Honey, Johns Hopkins University Chengcheng Huang, University of Pittsburgh Songting Li, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Xiao-Jing Wang, New York University Guangyu Robert Yang, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Supports: Cold Spring Harbor Asia Simons Foundation -- Dr. Chengcheng Huang Assistant Professor Department of Neuroscience Department of Mathematics University of Pittsburgh

April 4, 2024

Neuroinformatics Assembly 2024: Keynote announcement, IP sessions, abstract submissions, & early bird registration

by Heather Topple

*Neuroinformatics Assembly 2024: Keynote announcement,* *IP sessions, abstract submissions, & early bird registration* The INCF Assembly <https://neuroinformatics.incf.org/> is a unique venue where neuroscience standards developers, infrastructure providers, and software developers have the opportunity to interact with the research community to share the latest advancements in neuroinformatics. For the first time since 2019, we're hosting Assembly in-person! Assembly will run from Sep 23-25 in Austin, Texas, with training activities from Sep 26-27. This year's theme is Brain Meets AI: Pioneering the Future of Neuroinformatics. Abstract submission <https://neuroinformatics.incf.org/abstract-submission> and early bird registration <https://neuroinformatics.incf.org/register> are open for INCF Neuroinformatics Assembly 2024 <https://neuroinformatics.incf.org/> - make sure to register before Jun 28 to get the early bird price! Are you interested in presenting at Assembly 2024? We’re seeking 3 investigator presentations for each of the 4 main sessions at INCF Neuroinformatics Assembly 2024: - FAIR neuroscience - Technologies for large-scale computation and team science - Applications of AI to neuroscience research - Closing the discovery loop and digital twins Please submit your investigator presentation abstract via this link <https://neuroinformatics.incf.org/abstract-submission> no later than April 08, 2024. Selected presenters will have their registration fee waived as a thank-you for your contribution. Note: You need to be signed in to submit an abstract, but you don’t need to be an INCF member to create an account. Keynote announcement! Elisabeth Bik, PhD, Microbiome Digest Microbiome specialist Elisabeth Bik is a Microbiome and Science Integrity consultant. She can often be found discussing science papers on Twitter at @MicrobiomDigest <https://twitter.com/MicrobiomDigest>, writing for her blog ScienceIntegrityDigest <https://scienceintegritydigest.com/> or searching the biomedical literature for inappropriately duplicated or manipulated photographic images, plagiarized text, or poor study design and data analysis. Bik’s work has been featured in Nature, Science, the New York Times, Le Monde, Wall Street Journal, STAT News, and The Scientist. Viktor Jirsa, PhD, Institut de Neurosciences des Systemès Dr. Jirsa is one of the Lead Scientists in the Human Brain Project <https://www.humanbrainproject.eu/> and The Virtual Brain <https://www.thevirtualbrain.org/> and has published more than 150 scientific articles and book chapters, as well as co-edited several books including the Handbook of Brain Connectivity <https://www.amazon.ca/Handbook-Brain-Connectivity-Viktor-Jirsa/dp/3540714626>. Dr. Jirsa has made notable contributions to the understanding of how network structure constrains the emergence of functional dynamics using methods from nonlinear dynamic system theory and computational neuroscience. Danilo Bzdok, MD, PhD, Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute Dr Bzdok currently serves as Associate Professor at McGill's Faculty of Medicine and as Canada CIFAR AI Chair at Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, Montreal, Canada, including cross-appointments at the McConnell Brain Imaging Center, Montreal Neurological Institute, Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, and the School of Computer Science at McGill University. His interdisciplinary research activity centers on narrowing knowledge gaps in the brain basis of human-defining types of thinking, with a special focus on the higher association cortex in health and disease. Important dates Mar 15 - Early bird, abstract, & investigator presentation registration open! Apr 08 - IP registration closes Jun 29 - Regular registration Sep 23-25 - Assembly Sep 26-27 - Training See you at Assembly 2024! /The INCF Team

April 4, 2024

2-years post-doc position in neuro-computational AI ethics, ISIR, Sorbonne University, Paris

by Mehdi Khamassi

Context The CAVAA European project (https://cavaa.eu/) proposes to realize a theory of awareness instantiated as an integrated computational architecture and its components to explain awareness in biological systems and engineer it in technological ones. In a world governed by hidden states, awareness enables to deal with the “invisible”, from unexplored environments (counterfactual pasts and futures) to social interaction that depends on the internal states of agents and moral norms. In particular, we will study such cognitive architecture agents’ ability and propensity of reasoning, decision-making, or revisiting past experiences, but also reflecting upon what was right or wrong given some moral norms, and which possible future states could be right or wrong. CAVAA’s awareness engineering is accompanied by an ethics framework towards human users and aware artefacts in the broader spectrum of trustworthy AI, considering shared goals, counterfactuals and projections towards new future scenarios, and prediction of the impact of choices. CAVAA aims to deliver a better user experience because of its explainability, adaptability, and legibility. Location and environment The post-doc position will be located in the Institute of Intelligent Systems and Robotics (ISIR, http://www.isir.upmc.fr) Paris, France. ISIR belongs to Sorbonne Université, CNRS and INSERM, and is located in the center of Paris, thus at walking distance from the Seine river, from other academic institutions (La Sorbonne, Collège de France, Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Université Paris Cité, Hôpital la Pitié Salpétrière), and from famous monuments (Notre Dame, Conciergerie, Panthéon, Théâtre du Châtelet, Institut du Monde Arabe). Speaking or understanding French is not required. This work will be done in close collaborations with philosophers, engineers and computational neuroscientists of the CAVAA consortium. Profile We are looking for highly motivated candidates with a strong academic record. An excellent background is expected at the interface between computational neuroscience and machine learning. Significant experience in cognitive architectures and computational modeling for neuroscience, psychology, AI or cognitive robotics will be appreciated. Mastery of reinforcement learning and game theory, and advanced programming skills in modern C++ and python are required. A strong interest in philosophy of mind and moral philosophy is expected. Mission The post-doc work will focus on ethical reasoning through virtualization, deliberation and alignment with human values. The theoretical framework will be anchored on probabilistic model-based reinforcement learning, extended to include homeostatic, epistemic and social values, including social conventions and moral norms as starting point. Research will investigate learning through interaction with the environment and with other agents, social decision-making, mental simulation and counterfactual reasoning to inform humans about potential long-term consequences of actions. The model will be confronted to experimental data about human decision-making when confronted to various social and moral dilemmas. The model will be integrated into the CAVAA cognitive architecture and applied in artificial agents and robots in virtual and real-world scenarios involving spatial navigation and social interaction. To apply Applicants should send a CV, letter of motivation (max 2 pages), and a list of two references via e-mail to mehdi.khamassi(a)sorbonne-universite.fr and raja.chatila(a)sorbonne-universite.fr. Please put [CAVAA post-doc application] in the subject of the mail. Review of applications will begin immediately, and will continue until the position is filled. -- Mehdi Khamassi, PhD, HDR Research director (DR2), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Institute of Intelligent Systems and Robotics, Sorbonne Université ISIR - BC 173, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France phone: +33 6 50 76 44 92 email: mehdi.khamassi(a)sorbonne-universite.fr https://pages2.isir.upmc.fr/mkhamassi/ Visiting Researcher at the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems National Technical University of Athens, Greece https://www.iccs.gr/en/?noredirect=en_US

April 3, 2024

New positions for postdoc at unipv

by Shailesh Appukuttan

*(posting on behalf of Simona Tritto)* *New calls for postdoc positions are now open at the Neurophysiology/Neurocomputation Units of the University of Pavia coordinated by prof. Egidio D'Angelo *(dangelo lab <https://dangelo.unipv.it/>) · Spiking neural networks for digital brain twins of schizophrenia <https://dangelo.unipv.it/2024/03/20/7606/> · Generation and simulation of a cerebellar robotic controller <https://dangelo.unipv.it/2024/03/20/new-position-1-generation-and-simulatio…> · Workflow design and signal analysis <https://dangelo.unipv.it/2024/03/20/new-position-3-workflow-design-and-sign…> Many thanks, best wishes Simona [image: LOGO-UNIPV] Simona Tritto Dipartimento di Scienze del Sistema Nervoso e del Comportamento Scientific Technician T. 0382.987048 <0382987048>

April 3, 2024

Call for participants -- WasON study

by Davide Coraci

Dear list members, We are recruiting participants worldwide and it would be fantastic if you could take part in the WasON study. 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* and *fMRI data* observed experimentally. The study has been developed by the SANe and the MInD units (MoMiLab <https://momilab.imtlucca.it/> research group at IMT School Lucca, Italy) and can be found here: https://www.sane-elab.eu/NRIA/welcome.php. 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 us (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

April 3, 2024