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

Human Neocortical Neurosolver (HNN) Online Workshop

by Gao, Joyce

Dear all, We invite you to join us for our 2025 Spring Online Human Neocortical Neurosolver (HNN) Workshop! HNN is a user-friendly software tool for interpreting the cell and circuit level origin of human MEG and EEG signals (Neymotin et al 2020, https://hnn.brown.edu) This workshop will be hosted virtually on Wednesday, April 9th from 9 AM - 3 PM (ET). You can find out more about the workshop and sign up here: tinyurl.com/hnn-workshop-registration. Seats are limited, so if you are interested, we recommend signing up today! Our best, Jones Computational Neuroscience Lab Brown University, Carney Institute for Brain Science

March 4, 2025

InterfaceNeuro meeting May 7-8 in Atlanta

by Rozell, Christopher J

***A reminder that submissions for InterfaceNeuro are due in just a few days on March 14. *** I’m writing to invite you to attend a conference hosted May 7-8 at Georgia Tech called InterfaceNeuro (https://interfaceneuro.org) which targets the intersection of neuroscience, neuroengineering, clinical/translational research, neurotech industry, and individuals with lived experiences. While each of these areas obviously has their own meetings, this conference is unique in interfacing these areas all together to find points of collaboration. The theme this year is "Integrating Brain, Body, and Machine for Next-Gen Intelligent Interfaces". The program features curated invited talks, a keynote from Dr. Mike Okun, contributed poster sessions, and a featured event focused on patient's lived experiences with neurotechnology. You can see from the program that the curated talks have been chosen to span disciplines and generate discussion. We've minimized registration fees to try and make the meeting as accessible as possible (note that there is no virtual component). Poster submissions are due by March 14 (as part of registration), and there will be a slate of best poster prizes for trainees. This will be the first meeting hosted by Georgia Tech building off of previous offerings by Rice University’s Neuroengineering Initiative, and we are excited to welcome you all to Atlanta. Please reach out if you have questions. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you in May!

March 4, 2025

Predoctoral position in the NeuroNanotech MSCA Doctoral Network

by Miguel Valencia Ustárroz

We are seeking a talented predoctoral candidate for the project: "In-vivo assessment of nanotecnologies for smart neuromodulation <https://neuronanotech.eu/phd-projects/in-vivo-assessment-of-nanotecnologies…>" within the NeuroNanotech MSCA Doctoral Network <https://neuronanotech.eu/phd-projects/> HOST INSTITUTION Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA, Spain) & Cajal Insitute (CSIC, Spain) PhD PROJECT DESCRIPTION The proposed project falls within a multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary research line at the intersection of engineering, nanotechnology, and neuroscience, aiming to develop intelligent neuromodulation systems for neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. With a primary focus on Parkinson’s disease (PD), this doctoral thesis project seeks to integrate the expertise of the “Neurophysiological Monitoring and Control Laboratory” at CIMA in Pamplona and the “Neurophysiology and Synaptic Plasticity Laboratory” at the Cajal Insitute in Madrid to assess the suitability of nanotechnology-based neural interfaces in the challenge of restoring neural dynamics of motor control. During the project, we will explore the use of nanostructured electrodes and ultra-sensitive spintronic magnetic sensors together with real-time signal processing to develop a proof of concept of a smart-stimulation framework to manipulate motor behaviour in animal models of Parkinson’s disease. The system will pursue high levels of tissue integration and stable performance in recording/stimulation and avoiding electrode degradation. During the project, the candidate will work on key aspects of the development of the neuromodulatory solution such as: 1. In-vivo assessment of long-term biocompatibility of the sensing and stimulation interfaces. 2. Adaptation of the neuromodulation system for the use of in-vivo/freely moving animal models of Parkinson’s disease as a proxy for future human use. 3. Increase our knowledge of the relationship between magnetic and electrophysiological readings. 4. Development of signal processing techniques to de-noise and enhance sensitivity of detection of proposed technologies. 5. Assessment of the functional performance of the smart sensing and stimulation interfaces on the animal models of Parkinson’s disease As a result, the candidate will have the opportunity to learn: 1. Methods and technologies for in-vivo/freely moving electrophysiological recordings, surgery training (including stereotactic methods, multi-site multimodal recordings, and stimulation), animal handling, methods for motor impairment assessment, and viral injections. 2. Histological processing, confocal microscopy 3. Hardware development and control, real-time signal processing, integration of multimodal sources such as video, ephys and sound, data analysis and statistics including AI/ML RESEARCH SUPERVISORs Miguel Valencia Ustárroz (mvustarroz(a)unav.es) Physiological Monitoring and Control Lab <https://cima.cun.es/en/research/research-programs/immunology-immunotherapy-…> @ CIMA Eduardo Martín Montiel (eduardo.martin(a)cajal.csic.es) Neurophysiology and Synaptic Plasticity Lab <https://cajal.csic.es/en/neurophysiology-and-synaptic-plasticity/> @ CSIC RESEARCH GROUP DESCRIPTION The Physiological Monitoring and Control group at CIMA integrates bioengineering and physiology to solve challenges associated with the lack of translational biomarkers in the development of new therapies, limited access to new monitoring technologies in in-hospital and out-of-hospital settings, and precision medicine through the development of personalized diagnostic and treatment methods. To this end, they implement and deploy (i) miniaturized recording systems for electrophysiological recordings (ii) intelligent stimulation systems and (iii) systems for monitoring physiological variables in humans. The goal: to develop and validate new biomarkers and therapeutic approaches that are preferentially applied in neurological and neurodegenerative diseases (although they also find application in metabolic diseases, surgical monitoring, anesthesia, and cancer). The Neurophysiology and Synaptic Plasticity group at Cajal Insitute is focused on the study of the cellular processes and molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of synaptic transmission, and particularly in the ability of neurons to regulate the synaptic strength over time and the properties, mechanisms and consequences of astrocyte signalling on neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission in the control of motor activity, both in physiological and pathological conditions. APPLICANT’S REQUIREMENTS - A degree/master in engineering, physics, or similar with a deep interest in neurosciences, physiology, and medical engineering - Knowledge of Python/Matlab and interest in hardware integration/control - Previous experience in any of these areas will be highly valued: hardware development, medical electronics, biomedical signal processing, electrophysiology, optogenetics, histological processing, in vitro and in vivo experimentation. ADDITIONAL PHD APPLICATION AND RECRUITMENT STEPS No additional requirements apart from those derived from the secondments are considered ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS: - Mobility requirements: candidates have not resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date. - Research experience: must be doctoral candidates, i.e., not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment. - Candidates must enroll in a doctoral programme in the relevant EU Member State/Associated Country. APPLY NOW!!! @ https://neuronanotech.eu/apply-now/ ---------------------------------------------------- Miguel Valencia Ustárroz, PhD Physiological Monitoring and Control Lab <https://cima.cun.es/en/research/research-programs/immunology-immunotherapy-…> Biomedical Engineering Program CIMA/University of Navarra e-mail: mvustarroz(a)unav.es Tel: + 34 948 194700, ext 2007 http://www.researcherid.com/rid/C-3055-2009 http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5617-5270 https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=7101646864 *CONFIDENCIALIDAD: La información contenida en esta comunicación puede ser confidencial y está destinada para el uso exclusivo del destinatario arriba designado. Si usted no es el destinatario, cualquier divulgación, reproducción, distribución o uso de esta comunicación está estrictamente prohibida. Si usted ha recibido esta transmisión por error le rogamos nos informe de este error. 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March 4, 2025

Registration is now open for BrainNet 2025 workshop!

by Pascal Helson

Dear all, We are thrilled to announce the fourth BrainNet workshop. If you're interested in exploring how analysis of brain data, network science and different imaging methods can explain more about the brain and its functioning, we cordially invite you to attend the BrainNet 2025 in Stockholm, Sweden, from May 5th to 8th. Our interdisciplinary set of speakers will showcase state-of-the-art methods for analyzing and explaining brain data, offering insights from both theoretical and experimental perspectives. The event is hybrid, you can participate either in person or virtually. For on-site participants, you can submit an abstract for giving a contributed talk! Registration closes on 6th of April 2025. The confirmed speakers are: Adrián Ponce-Alvarez, Polytechnic University of Catalonia Roxana Zeraati, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics Michael Winding, Francis Crick Institute Barbara Hollunder, Charité - University Medicine Berlin Jacob Vogel, Lund University Alex Bhogal, UMC Utrecht Andrew Lehr, University Medical Center Göttingen Sacha van Albada, Research center Jülich Lida Kanari, Open Brain Institute Grégoria Kalpouzos, Karolinska Institutet Katharina Heining, Karolinska Institutet Annegret Habich, Karolinska Institutet Rodrigo Moreno, KTH Dhrubaditya Mitra, Nordita, Stockholm University Josefine Waldthaler, Karolinska Institutet This is a unique opportunity to connect with the experts and the participants, the event is structured with ample time for discussions. You can find all the details – including the preliminary schedule, speaker list, and registration link – on the BrainNet 2025 webpage at https://brainnet2025.carrd.co/. We look forward to seeing you there! Please distribute the link in your networks for anyone who might be interested in attending. Best regards, The BrainNet 2025 Organizing Committee: Pascal Helson, KTH Arvind Kumar, KTH Henri Riihimäki, Nordita, Stockholm University Jason Smith, Nottingham Trent University Gonzalo Uribarri, KTH Sarah Vandenbulcke, KTH

March 3, 2025

Student/TA applications are open for Neuromatch summer courses

by Bonnen, Kathryn

Dear colleagues, Student and TA applications are open for Summer 2025 ! This is a great opportunity to learn computational concepts and modeling with students from around the globe. Courses are available in Computational Neuroscience, NeuroAI, Deep Learning and Computational Climate Science. You can apply as a student or a TA (TA positions offer financial compensation). Please share with students/postdocs and your departments. More information below. Thanks, Kate Bonnen Kathryn Bonnen Assistant Professor, School of Optometry Indiana University kbonnen(a)iu.edu<mailto:kbonnen@iu.edu> https://bonnenlab.github.io<https://bonnenlab.github.io/> -- We're thrilled to announce our lineup of immersive courses at Neuromatch Academy! Whether you're a student eager to dive into cutting-edge topics or a seasoned researcher looking to contribute as a Teaching Assistant, we have opportunities tailored for you. 3-week Courses (July 7-25): * Computational Neuroscience<https://neuromatch.io/computational-neuroscience-course/>: Explore the intricacies of the brain's computational processes and join an engaging community of learners. * Deep Learning<https://neuromatch.io/deep-learning-course/>: Delve into the world of artificial intelligence to uncover the principles and applications of deep learning. 2-week Courses (July 14-25): * Computational Tools for Climate Science<https://neuromatch.io/computational-tools-for-climate-science-course/>: Uncover the tools and techniques driving climate science research in this dynamic two-week course. * NeuroAI<https://neuromatch.io/neuroai-course/>: Explore the intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence through the lens of generalization. Application Info: * Close: Sunday, March 23rd, at midnight in your local time zone * Decisions: Mid-April * Requirements: * Students are expected to be familiar with Python and have foundational science skills in math/science. * Teaching Assistants should have strong Python skills and a background in the relevant topic. See the course pages for more information. * Link: Apply Here<https://portal.neuromatchacademy.org/> Additional Information: * All courses are synchronous but will be conducted exclusively online, providing flexibility and accessibility. * Participation fees are lower than those of other courses to make education affordable to everybody, no matter their financial background. They are also adjusted for national economic factors. Detailed information about course fees can be found here<https://neuromatchacademy.github.io/widgets/cola.html>. * Teaching Assistants will lead small groups of students, fostering collaborative learning. TA positions offer financial compensation; detailed rates can be found here<https://neuromatchacademy.github.io/widgets/ta_cola.html>. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to expand your knowledge, connect with experts in the field, and contribute to the success of our courses. Apply today and join us on a journey of discovery! Should you have any questions or need further information, feel free to reach out to us at nma(a)neuromatch.io<mailto:nma@neuromatch.io>. We look forward to welcoming you to the Neuromatch Academy family!

March 3, 2025

[Call for Abstracts] 5th Inter. Conf. Phil. Mind (15-21 May 2025)

by steven gouveia

Dear All, We are happy to announce the Call for Abstracts for the 5th International Conference Philosophy of Mind: Natural and Artificial Intelligence, which will happen between the 15-21 May 2025 at the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Porto. The conference will be divided into two formats: 15-16 May fully online, and 19, 20 and 21 May 2025 fully in-person in Porto. Keynotes speakers are: * Michael Spezio (Scripps College, USA) * Anna Strasser (LMU-Munich) * Gabriel Mograbi (Federal Uni. Rio Janeiro) * Sara Lumbreras (Uni. Pontificia Comillas, Madrid) * Sofia Miguens (University of Porto). The best submitted talk will receive the Philosophy of Mind Award 2025 (waived fee). More information can be found here: https://ifilosofia.up.pt/activities/5-international-conference-philosophy-m… [deadline: 15 March 2025]. Organizers

March 2, 2025

Two fully funded PhD opportunities @University of Plymouth starting October 1, 2025

by Vassilis Cutsuridis

We are excited to offer **** two **** *fully-funded PhD positions* at the University of Plymouth in the fields of Neuromorphic AI, Brain-Computer Interaction, Optimization, and Biosignal Analysis. Details of both opportunities are below. *Generative AI for image and video reconstructions from brain signals* Can we access our inner thoughts and memories from brain signals and reconstruct their visual contents? The project aims to develop an explainable and trustworthy Generative AI pipeline system capable of decoding in real-time electroencephalography (EEG) brain signals of human participants while they are passively viewing or imagining visual content (faces, animals, etc) and of reconstructing their visual content with high fidelity. *Link*: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/study/research-degrees/postgraduate-research-stu… <https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.plymo…> *Supervisors*: Vassilis Cutsuridis, Giorgio Ganis, Vivek Singh *Contact*: vassilis.cutsuridis(a)plymouth.ac.uk *Enhancing AI Performance with AMD's Neural Processing Units* The project aims to maximize the potential of AMD’s cutting-edge Neural Processing Units (NPUs) in the area of computer vision. This project is partially funded by AMD and the successful candidate will collaborate with AMD researchers. *Link:* https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/study/research-degrees/postgraduate-research-stu… <https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.plymo…> *Supervisors*: Vasilios Kelefouras, Vassilis Cutsuridis, Krithika Anil *Contact:* vasilios.kelefouras(a)plymouth.ac.uk *Submission deadline* for application materials for both PhD opportunities is *12 noon on March 28, 2025* Feel free to share with anyone who might be interested! --- *Dr Vassilis Cutsuridis* Associate Professor in Computer Science School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, UK, PL4 8AA Email: vassilis.cutsuridis(a)plymouth.ac.uk Web: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/vassilis-cutsuridis *** I work strange hours. You may receive emails from me outside of office hours, but please do not feel you need to reply outside of office hours.

March 2, 2025

World wide VVTNS series (fifth season): Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 11:00 am EST| Yonatan Loewenstein, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online <https://streaklinks.com/A9c7PbbpKY7PxB6PaAJWGD3-/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the lecture given by Yonatan Loewenstein ELSC The Hebrew University of Jerusalem On Idiosyncratic Biases in Decision-Making The lecture will be held on zoom on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at *11:00 am EST * To receive the link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: *Why do individuals, both humans and animals, exhibit personal biases in two-alternative decision-making tasks, even when no clear reason exists to favor one alternative over another? In this talk, I will explore two competing hypotheses to explain these idiosyncratic biases. The first suggests that such tendencies arise from unique personal experiences, where past associations between actions and feedback influence future choices. The second hypothesis proposes that the bias reflects irreducible microscopic heterogeneities in the dynamics of decision-making networks. I will present experimental data and theoretical findings that support the latter hypothesis, shedding new light on the neural mechanisms behind seemingly irrational preferences. *About VVTNS : Launched as the World Wide Theoretical Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), 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.*

March 2, 2025

Available PhD Position: Multimodal AI-based Diagnosis of ADHD

by Amir Aly

Dear All *Apologies for cross-posting* We are pleased to announce an opportunity for a tax-free fully funded PhD studentship - *Multimodal AI-based Diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) -* at Plymouth University, UK. The closing date for applications is *12 noon on 28th March 2025** (**UK time) **(**The difference in tuition fees between national and international students will be waived for international candidates**)*. This exciting project aims to transform ADHD diagnosis by developing a multimodal Artificial Intelligence (AI) framework that addresses the significant limitations of current, subjective diagnostic practices. Although AI is emerging in ADHD research, its integration into standard clinical practices remains minimal. This project seeks to enhance diagnostic accuracy through a sophisticated integration of AI-driven insights that complement existing approaches. Some basic questions (among others) that this project will try to explore are: 1. How can machine learning and deep learning models be tailored to various data types like neuroimaging to uncover distinct ADHD diagnostic patterns? 2. What methods can be used to analyse fMRI data to delineate active brain regions and their connections, and how can these findings be linked to ADHD behaviours and cognitive functions? 3. How can we refine AI models to handle high data dimensionality and heterogeneity and enhance decision-making transparency in clinical settings using Explainable AI (XAI) methods? 4. What are the best practices to assess the robustness of AI models against the variability in ADHD diagnostic data? This ambitious project will allow the student to engage in a groundbreaking study at the intersection of AI, neuropsychiatry, and healthcare and gain experience in a highly collaborative environment supported by a strong supervisory team and international experts. The research leverages our team's extensive background in neuro-developmental disorders like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), where we recently discussed important brain regions related to ASD diagnosis (link) <https://arxiv.org/pdf/2409.15374>. This PhD opportunity offers a deep dive not only into the diagnosis of ADHD using explainable AI but also into other related *co-occurring* disorders like ASD, providing a holistic perspective on patient care and intervention strategies across the spectrum of these interrelated conditions. This project is suitable for students from a broad range of disciplines, including computer science and artificial intelligence. More details about the topic and *how to apply* are available at: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/study/research-degrees/postgraduate-research-stu… If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me Regards -------------------------------------------- *Dr. Amir Aly*, PhD, FHEA, SIEEE Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Programme Manager of Artificial Intelligence UK and Ireland IEEE RAS Chapter Vice Chair Director of the Centre for Robotics and Neural Systems (CRNS) School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics Room A307 Portland Square, Drake Circus, PL4 8AA University of Plymouth, UK

March 1, 2025