November 2025 - Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

Graduate student positions in Systems Neuroscience (Masset Lab)

by Paul Masset

Graduate student positions in systems neuroscience at McGill University: The Masset lab, located at McGill University in Montréal, is recruiting 1-2 graduate students in experimental systems neuroscience for a start in Fall 2026. The research group integrates ideas and methods from systems neuroscience, experimental psychology and machine learning to understand how the heterogeneity of neuron types endows brain circuits with efficient distributed computations underlying behavior and cognition. We develop and experimentally validate new models of distributed computation in brain circuits including a new understanding of how dopamine-based distributed reinforcement learning could be implemented in the brain. To answer these questions, we perform large scale electrophysiological recordings in rodents performing complex behavioral tasks, build new data analysis tools and develop new classes of biologically plausible neural networks. Projects would investigate how brain circuits implement distributed computations underlying cognition and behavior within and across brain areas, including dopamine-based RL. Experimental approaches would involve refining and developing complex cognitive tasks in rats, chronic multi-site Neuropixel recordings, and advanced computational methods. The students would work on the experimental side of the lab but would closely collaborate with the computational and theoretical side of the research group to test models of distributed computation and develop and validate new data analysis methods. Students would also join a strong community at the intersection of neuroscience and AI at McGill and Mila. Coding experience (Python/Matlab) is essential and experience in animal research strongly preferred. Students are encouraged to apply via both the Psychology program: https://www.mcgill.ca/psychology/graduate and the Integrated Program in Neuroscience: https://www.mcgill.ca/ipn/prospective IPN application are reviewed on a rolling basis but applying by the Dec 1st deadline to both programs is strongly preferred. -------- Paul Masset Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, McGill University Associate Academic Member, Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute paul.masset(a)mcgill.ca<mailto:paul.masset@mcgill.ca> || https://massetlab.org/

Nov. 16, 2025

Visit Open Brain Institute at SfN 2025 for Live Virtual Lab Demos

by Darshan Mandge

Experience our latest Virtual Labs for simulation neuroscience — live at SfN 2025! Our team will be at Booth #3631, and we’d love to meet you there. Stop by to explore our new Virtual Labs, watch live demos, and see how our open, AI-powered platform is helping researchers accelerate neuroscience discovery. ️🗓️ From Sunday 16 to Wednesday 19 Nov – 30 minute sessions 📍 Booth #3631<https://s19.a2zinc.net/clients/sfn/sfn25/Public/EventMap.aspx?EventId=4&Map…> 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮 🌐 https://www.openbraininstitute.org/sfn-2025 Morning (4) & Afternoon (4) Sessions: • Explore & AI: 09:30 – 10:00 / 13:00 – 13:30 Explore Datasets Interactively and Reveal Hidden Patterns Through AI-Driven Insights • Simulate: 10:00 – 10:30 / 13:30 – 14:00 Simulate, Test and Analyze Microcircuits to Study Emergent Network-Level Behaviors • Modeling: 10:30 – 11:00 / 14:00 – 14:30 Model Single Neurons and Synaptomes to Visualize Function and Structure • EM Skeletonization: 11:00 – 11:30 / 14:30 – 15:00 Generate EM Skeletonized Morphologies & Run Notebooks Best regards, The Open Brain Institute Team https://www.openbraininstitute.org/

Nov. 15, 2025

Assistant Professor Position at Bocconi University

by Nicolas Brunel

The Department of Computing Sciences at Bocconi University invites applications for a Tenure Track Assistant Professor position. The new department of Computing Sciences, created four years ago and in a phase of rapid expansion, is an interdisciplinary department with leading international researchers in various fields including Theoretical Computer Science, Machine Learning Theory, Statistical Physics Modeling, Natural Language Processing, Computational Neuroscience, Computer Vision, as well as biomedical applications. In terms of teaching, the department has recently opened a bachelor in AI, a master in AI, and is strongly involved in the PhD program in Statistics and Computer Science. It has a strong core in theory and applied CS, and aims at broadening its portfolio, in particular towards applications of machine learning not yet currently represented. We are looking for outstanding candidates, curious and open to collaborations with colleagues from other fields. In principle the position is to be filled by 1st September 2026, but if necessary, the starting date could be delayed to 1st February 2027. Bocconi University is an amazingly vibrant academic community with leading academics in various fields. It is located in central Milan, Italy, offering undergraduate, graduate, PhD, MBA and Executive programs. *Qualifications* Applicants should have a Ph.D. in Computer Science or closely related areas, and should demonstrate the capacity for exceptional research achievement and the ability to teach effectively in undergraduate, masters, MBA and PhD programs. Experienced candidates should have an established track record of successful research and teaching. * Job information* The successful candidates will be expected to develop a strong publication record, broadly contribute to the academic life of the department and be effective teachers both at the undergraduate and graduate level. Compensation and teaching load will be competitive with other top European Schools. The contract will last for 6 years, with the possibility of becoming permanent after a successful tenure process. For additional information concerning the Department of Computing Sciences visit https://cs.unibocconi.eu/. Further details on the position may be requested from faculty(a)unibocconi.it. *How to apply* Applications including a CV, Research Statement and copies of recent publications (up to 5), plus 3 references must be submitted online at https://jobmarket.unibocconi.eu/?id=870. *Closing date* Applications must be received by 16th December 2025 and candidates will be interviewed online. Bocconi University is committed to increasing the diversity of its faculty. Applications are particularly welcome from women and members of groups who are under-represented in academic posts.

Nov. 15, 2025

Free Python Course for Neuroscientits

by Fabrizio Damicelli

Dear Community, I'd like to share this short, hands-on Python Course oriented to early stage PhD students in Neurosciences: ✅ Core concepts explained in simple words ✅ Software engineering best-practices (uv, error handling, testing, etc.) ✅ References to deepen your knowledge (talks, books, cheatsheets, etc.) ✅ Exercises for each chapter to ramp up your skills with deliberate practice ✅ Integrative “Labs” with real-world brain datasets (OpenNeuro) Check it out, it's free! https://fabridamicelli.com/python-course/ Best Regards, Fabrizio Damicelli

Nov. 14, 2025

CRCNS 2025 PI's meeting streaming

by Garrison Cottrell

The 2025 CRCNS meeting will be streamed starting this morning at 9:00AM Pacific time.The schedule is here. <https://inc.ucsd.edu/events/crcns/2025/program.php> The zoom link is here <https://ucsd.zoom.us/j/94307323129>. Most of it will be recorded, so no FOMO. cheers, Gary Cottrell --- Gary Cottrell 858-534-6640 FAX: 858-534-7029 Computer Science and Engineering 0404 IF USING FEDEX INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING LINE: CSE Building, Room 4130 University of California San Diego - 9500 Gilman Drive # 0404 La Jolla, Ca. 92093-0404 Email: gary(a)ucsd.edu Home page: http://www-cse.ucsd.edu/~gary/ Schedule: http://tinyurl.com/b7gxpwo "It is not clear there has ever been, in the history of science, an implemented computational system that achieves such accuracy, but which is dismissed by a field which has failed to develop even remotely comparable alternatives." -Steven T. Piantadosi, on Chomsky and LLMs. Power to the people! —Patti Smith Except when they’re delusional —Gary Cottrell This song makes me nostalgic for a memory I don't have -- Tess Cottrell *All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace* I like to think (and the sooner the better!) of a cybernetic meadow where mammals and computers live together in mutually programming harmony like pure water touching clear sky. -Richard Brautigan

Nov. 13, 2025

ICPRAI 2026: Special Session on Frontiers of Artificial Intelligence for Medical Applications: Models, Reasoning, Perception, and Interaction

by Ghazaleh Khodabandelou

Special Session on Frontiers of Artificial Intelligence for Medical Applications: Models, Reasoning, Perception, and Interaction ICPRAI 2026, Montréal, Québec, Canada, June, 2026 https://icprai2026.com/ Scope Artificial intelligence has seen remarkable progress in digital healthcare across areas such as learning algorithms, knowledge representation, perception, and interaction. From deep learning advances in vision and language, to reinforcement learning for control, to symbolic and neuro-symbolic hybrids for robust reasoning, modern AI systems are increasingly capable of understanding complex data, adapting to new tasks, and interacting with humans and environments. This Special Session invites original contributions that explore foundational models, architectures, and applications spanning the AI spectrum, including but not limited to learning and representation; planning and decision-making; perception and multimodal understanding; human-AI collaboration; and trustworthy, explainable, and ethical AI. We welcome theoretical analyses, novel algorithms, system implementations, and domain-specific studies that illustrate state-of-the-art techniques and future directions in AI, with special encouragement for work in large language models, multimodal vision-language modeling, and impactful applications in healthcare and medical domains such as medical imaging, autism detection, neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s), and diabetes management. Topics of Interest Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: • Large Language Models (LLMs) and foundation models • Embeddings, representation learning, and transfer learning • Generative modeling: GANs, VAEs, diffusion and beyond • Multimodal integration: vision-language, audio-visual, sensor fusion • Symbolic, neuro-symbolic, and hybrid reasoning systems • Automated planning, scheduling, and decision-theoretic frameworks • Reinforcement learning, multi-agent systems, and control • Human-AI collaboration, mixed-initiative interfaces, and personalization • Explainability, interpretability, causal analysis, and fairness • Robustness, safety, trustworthiness, and privacy-preserving AI • Healthcare and medical AI applications: imaging, diagnostics, chronic care 1 Important Dates • Full paper submission deadline: January 15, 2026 • Notification of acceptance: March 7, 2026 • Camera-ready deadline: March 13, 2026 • Early Registration deadline: until April 30, 2026 • Special Session at ICPRAI: June 15-18, 2026 Submission Guidelines Please follow the standard ICPRAI submission instructions at the conference website. When up loading your paper, select “Frontiers of Artificial Intelligence for Medical Applications: Models, Reasoning, Perception, and Interaction ” as the target session. Organizers • Prof. Ghazaleh Khodabandelou, University Paris-Est, France ghazaleh.khodabandelou(a)u-pec.fr<mailto:ghazaleh.khodabandelou@u-pec.fr> • Prof. Mounîm A. El Yacoubi, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, France mounim.el_yacoubi(a)telecom-sudparis.eu<mailto:mounim.el_yacoubi@telecom-sudparis.eu>

Nov. 12, 2025

[ICANN 2026] 1st CALL FOR PAPERS, SPECIAL SESSIONS, WORKHOPS AND TUTORIALS

by davide.rigoni.1＠unipd.it

====================================================================== ICANN 2026 - CALL FOR PAPERS, SPECIAL SESSIONS, WORKHOPS AND TUTORIALS ====================================================================== On behalf of the ICANN 2026 Organizing Committee, it is our great pleasure to invite you to the 35th International Conference on Artificial Neural Networks ICANN 2026, one of the premier conferences in the field of artificial intelligence, neural networks, neuroscience and brain-inspired computing in Europe, organized in collaboration with the European Neural Network Society (ENNS). ICANN 2026 will be held in Padua, Italy, one of the most charming and dynamic towns in Italy. It is located in the Veneto region, in Northern Italy. The historical center boasts a wealth of medieval, renaissance and modern architecture. Here a fascinating mix of historic and new, of centuries-old traditions and metropolitan rhythms creates a unique atmosphere. The medieval palaces, churches and cobbled streets emanate a sense of history. Padua features rich historical and cultural attractions, such as “Prato della Valle”, the largest square in Europe; the famous Scrovegni Chapel painted by Giotto; the Botanical Garden that is a UNESCO World Heritage; the University of Padua, that is the second oldest university in Italy (1222) with more than 800 years of history. Conference Dates: September 14 to September 17, 2026 Conference Venue: Conference center of the School of Psychology, University of Padua, Italy Conference Webpage: https://e-nns.org/icann2026/ General Chairs: Alessio Micheli (University of Pisa, Italy) Nicolò Navarin (University of Padua, Italy) Alessandro Villa (University of Lausanne, Switzerland) ICANN 2026 aims to be a transformative event with the dual track of Artificial Intelligence & Deep Learning and Neuroscience, encouraging cross-disciplinary collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and industry experts. The event will feature cutting-edge research presentations and keynote talks by leading experts, continuing its tradition as a global dynamic and interactive forum bridging academia and industry. ====================================================================== Prospective authors are invited to submit original contributions of up to 12 pages (including references) to be published in Springer-Verlag Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS) series with individual DOI. The technical program, including special sessions, workshops and keynote talks covers almost all facets of Artificial Intelligence, Deep Learning and Neuroscience. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: - AI and Machine Learning: - Theory and Foundations of Neural Networks - Novel Neural Network Architectures - Topics in Neural Networks - Large Language Models - Explainable AI - Machine Learning for Graphs - Graph Neural Networks - Clustering and Reinforcement Learning - New Topics in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning - Neurorobotics - Neuroscience: - Theoretical/Computational Neuroscience - Cognitive Neuroscience - Brain-Inspired Computing - Spike Trains Neural Decoding - Functional Neuroimaging - Neuromorphic Systems - Digital Twins and Virtual Brain Models - Applications - AI in Drug Discovery - Human-Computer Interaction - Biosignal Processing - Medicine and Physiology - Speech and Language Processing - Computer Vision - Robotics - Climate and Environment - General Applications of Machine Learning CONFERENCE COMMITTEE General Chairs: - Alessio Micheli (University of Pisa, Italy) - Nicolò Navarin (University of Padua, Italy) - Alessandro Villa (University of Lausanne, Switzerland) Program Chairs: - Luca Pasa (University of Padua, Italy) - Alessandra Lintas (University of Lausanne, Switzerland) - Igor Tetko (Helmholtz Munich, Germany) Submission Chair - Linas Petkevičius (Vilnius University, Lithuania) Publication Chair - Domenico Tortorella (University of Pisa, Italy) Workshop and Special Session Chairs - Luca Oneto (University of Genoa, Italy) - Valerie Vaquet (Bielefeld University, Germany) Social Media Chairs - Giovanna Maria Dimitri (University of Milan, Italy) - Alessandro Dipalma (University of Pisa, Italy) Diversity and Inclusion Chair - Roseli S. Wedemann (Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Brazil) Communication Chairs - Davide Rigoni (University of Padua, Italy) - Matteo Zavatteri (University of Padua, Italy) Local Arrangements Chairs - Merylin Monaro (University of Padua, Italy) - Andrea Zangrossi (University of Padua, Italy) Volunteers Coordinator - Giovanni Donghi (University of Padua, Italy) IMPORTANT DATES - Deadline for full paper and abstract submission: 16 March 2026 - Final notification of Acceptance or Rejection: 29 may, 2026 - Camera-ready paper upload and author registration: 29 June 2026 For questions, please contact: icann2026(a)e-nns.org

Nov. 12, 2025

Neurotech School 2026: Registrations are now open

by Blaise Yvert

Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce that the third edition of the Neurotech School will take place in Aussois from March 15 to March 20, 2026. The program and registration page can be found at the following link : https://neurotech2026.sciencesconf.org/ As in previous years, the number of available seats will be limited. For any question, feel free to contact Salma Mezzi in cc of this message. We look forward to your participation and to welcoming you in Aussois. Kind regards, Blaise for the local organizing committee.

Nov. 12, 2025

Fully-funded PhD in computational neuroscience, Sheffield, UK

by Hazem Toutounji

Dear all, A fully-funded PhD position in computational neuroscience is available with Dr Hazem Toutounji (University of Sheffield, UK). *Project title: *Flexible or Flawed? A Computational Neuroscience Approach to Learning Strategies and Psychiatric Traits In our complex and ever-changing world, humans are constantly faced with a flood of sensory information. To make effective and timely decisions, the brain cannot possibly process every single detail. Instead, it is thought to rely on intelligent "cognitive shortcuts" or simple strategies (heuristics) to simplify complex problems. This allows for rapid and flexible learning, but the mechanisms behind this process are not well understood. When are these shortcuts deployed? How does the brain select the right strategy for the task at hand? How does it know when a shortcut is no longer working and a new strategy is needed? And how are the selection and efficiency of those shortcuts influenced by common psychiatric traits such as anxiety and impulsivity? This 3.5-year fully-funded PhD studentship provides an exciting opportunity to work at the intersection of computational modelling, cognitive neuroscience, and computational psychiatry. The successful candidate will receive comprehensive training in all required methods. Position available for UK students only Application deadline: February 4th 2026 PhD start date: October 1st 2026 Further information on the project, requirements, and how to apply can be found here: http://www.findaphd.com/?pj=190228 *Please note: *Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to contact me ( h.toutounji(a)sheffield.ac.uk) to discuss your interest in and suitability for the project prior to submitting your application. Best wishes, Hazem -- *Dr. rer. nat. Hazem Toutounji (they / them) *[pronounced ḤAH-zem TUTUN-ji <https://namedrop.io/hazemtoutounji>] *PI of the Neural Dynamics and Computation Lab* Lecturer in Computational Neuroscience MSc Exams Officer, ECR Champion, Sustainability Lead School of Psychology The Neuroscience Institute Insigneo Institute for in silico Medicine University of Sheffield ICOSS Building, 4th floor, desk 5 219 Portobello, Broomhall Sheffield S1 4DP, UK *Please don't feel obliged to respond to my emails outside your own working hours* If you are a student looking for support, please see this page <https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/study/support>. *Office hours during semester weeks:* Monday 14:00-15:00 -- Please book an appointment with a brief description of the topic using this link <https://calendar.app.google/1ayXM9DqBhAkLBCp6>. Face to face meetings are at *ICOSS E04a*. To meet outside of office hours, please email me 24 working hours in advance.

Nov. 12, 2025

Postdoctoral position in circuit/systems neuroscience at McGill University (Krishnaswamy/Cook/Masset)

by Paul Masset

Postdoctoral position in circuit/system neuroscience at McGill University. The Krishnaswamy and Cook laboratories are looking for a postdoctoral fellow to work on a project involving the neural circuits and computations underlying neuromodulation and behaviors such as attention and decision-making in mice. Position will involve cutting edge methods such as in vivo acousto-optic two-photon microscopy from cortical areas, fiber photometry from neuromodulator centers, widefield imaging using voltage/calcium-indicators, and genetic and optogenetic tools. Position will also involve using and developing advanced computational data analysis tools and building AI-inspired models of behavioral and neural activity. The project will involve close collaboration Dr. Paul Masset's lab to examine models of reinforcement learning in the context of neuromodulators. Prior experience in these methods is a plus but not a requirement. Background knowledge and/or graduate training in the neurosciences and computational methods is an advantage. We are located at the Life Sciences Complex (LSC) at McGill University, in the Bellini Building, which is a state-of-the-art research facility. Successful candidates will join a large community of neuroscientists which include researchers at the LSC, the Neuro (formerly the MNI), the Center For Research in Neuroscience, and Mila-Quebec AI institute. To apply, please send a CV and list of references to: arjun.krishnaswamy(a)mcgill.ca and erik.cook(a)mcgill.ca

Nov. 12, 2025