January 2026 - Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

Call for Abstracts: 35th Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting (CNS*2026), Halifax, Canada, July 11-15, 2026

by Rubchinsky, Leonid L

We are inviting abstracts for the 35th Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting (CNS*2026), which will be in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, July 11-15, 2026. The main meeting begins on the evening of Saturday, July 11, and runs through Tuesday, July 14. It will be preceded by a day of tutorials (Saturday, July 11) and followed by workshops (Tuesday, July 14 mixed with the main meeting, and Wednesday, July 15 workshops only). Registration and abstract submission are open. Abstract submission deadline: March 11, 2026. Note that one of the authors must register as a sponsoring author for the main meeting before abstract submission. In case the abstract is not accepted for presentation, the registration fee will be refunded. Submitted abstracts are used for creating the program and for publication. Please follow the formatting guidelines on the submission site. Travel awards are available for student and postdoc members of OCNS. Please apply for support during the abstract submission, and note that an extended abstract is required when applying for a travel award or oral presentation format. Registration: https://ocns.memberclicks.net/cns-2026-registration Abstract submission for main meeting: https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2026-abstract-submission CNS*2025 meeting information: https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2026 Workshop proposals are being accepted at: https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2026-call-for-workshops. Priority Deadline for proposals: February 2, 2026. Tutorial proposals are being accepted at: https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2026-call-for-tutorials. Deadline for proposals: February 2, 2026. With kind regards, Leonid Rubchinsky OCNS Vice President, on behalf of the OCNS Board of Directors *********************** Leonid Rubchinsky, PhD Professor Department of Mathematical Sciences, Indiana University Indianapolis Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine 402 N. Blackford St Indianapolis, IN 46202-3216 lrubchin(a)iu.edu math.indianapolis.iu.edu/~lrubchin/ ***********************

Jan. 23, 2026

Bio-inspired deep learning workshop 2026

by Maximilian Eggl

Dear all, We are pleased to announce a workshop on bio-inspired deep learning led by Prof. Elisa Donati (link to her website can be seen here <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.edonati.com/__;!!D9dNQwwGXtA!XP8JYw…>) from the University of Zurich and ETHZ, Zurich and funded by the support of the Joachim Herz Foundation. The workshop will take place from the 9th to the 12th of June, 2026, near Mainz, Germany. This workshop will provide attendees with a unique opportunity to learn from one of the leading experts in the field and explore the intersection of mathematical modelling, machine learning, and data analysis to understand how the brain works. We believe this workshop will be of great interest to those wishing to learn how recent advances in bio-inspired small 'shadow networks' and feature engineering allow us interface with the nervous system. Furthermore, you will learn how these systems can be used to build closed-loop hybrid artificial and biological neural processing systems. More information on the workshop and a link to the application can be linked flyer (which can be found here <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/33cjfh72go0f78d2…>). You can also directly access the application <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_BDJ…>here <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdbLgX…>. The deadline for the application is the 2nd of March at 12:00 (CET). Accommodation, meals, and venue are all paid for by the Joachim Herz Foundation. If you have any questions or are interested in attending this workshop, please do not hesitate to contact either Max at meggl(a)umh.es <mailto:meggl@umh.es> or Pietro at verzep(a)uni-bonn.de <mailto:verzep@uni-bonn.de>. I would also be grateful if you could forward this to anyone you think would be interested and advertise it in your institutions. We look forward to seeing you there! Sincerely, Max & Pietro ******************************************** Maximilian Eggl, PhD La Caixa Junior Leader Fellow | CSIC - Spanish National Research Council Instituto de Neurociencias, CSIC/Universidad Miguel Hernandez, Alicante, Spain Web: mfeggl.github.io ********************************************

Jan. 21, 2026

PhD in cross-species Computational Cognitive Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin

by Konstantinos Tsetsos

TCD is inviting applications for a fully funded PhD position in cross-species Computational Cognitive Neuroscience, combining OPM-MEG experiments and anatomy-infused neural network modelling of cognition. Overview The purpose of this role is to undertake a PhD investigating “Cross-species mechanisms of evidence accumulation along prefrontal cortical gradients” in the Research Groups of Dr. Seán Froudist-Walsh (50%) and Prof. Konstantinos Tsetsos (50%). Mice and humans differ strikingly in evidence-accumulation behaviour: mice often integrate information optimally and with minimal leak, whereas humans show systematic recency biases. This project develops a mechanistic, cross-species account of these differences by examining how aspects of the stimulus presentation interact with prefrontal cortical architecture. The student will combine new human OPM-MEG experiments, anatomy-informed neuro-AI model development and comparative analyses across species. Training & Environment Based at the TCD Institute of Neuroscience, the PhD student will receive training in: • Experimental design, acquisition, and analysis of human OPM-MEG experiments • Neuroanatomy and physiology - Analysing prefrontal gradients across species • Computational modelling of behaviour and neural circuits • Neuro-AI model development integrating species-specific neuroanatomy The PhD student will also get the opportunity for research visits to the University of Oxford, where 50% of the Cognition, Anatomy & Neural Networks lab is based. Further Information & Application Full Job description and details of how to apply: https://www.tcd.ie/media/tcd/scss/pdfs/Job-Description---PhD-Studentship-in… If you're from a low socioeconomic background, and/or another underrepresented community, we'd love to hear from you. DEADLINE: 5/February/2026

Jan. 20, 2026

Open PhD position at Forschungszentrum Jülich

by Johanna Senk

PhD Position - Multi-Scale Data-Driven Model of Synaptic Function and Resilience The aim of this PhD project is to build a multi-scale model linking molecular renewal to functional properties of synapses to study the relationship between synaptic resilience and the reliability of synaptic responses. The work primarily involves mathematical modeling and numerical simulation, but also the analysis of experimental datasets for model validation. The position is offered in the team of Dr. Johanna Senk at the Institute for Advanced Simulation - Computational and Systems Neuroscience IAS-6, https://go.fzj.de/future-simulation-architectures in the context of the Collaborative Research Centre (Sonderforschungsbereich) 1286 https://www.sfb1286.de and in close collaboration with Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Germany, and the University of Sussex, UK. There is also an opportunity for a research stay at the University of Sussex. For further details and instructions on how to apply, please visit: https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/careers/jobs/2026D-007 Informal enquiries about this opportunity are highly encouraged and can be sent to Dr. Johanna Senk (j.senk(a)fz-juelich.de) -- Dr. Johanna Senk Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS-6) Computational and Systems Neuroscience Jülich Research Centre, Juelich, Germany --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52425 Jülich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Jülich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Düren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Stefan Müller Geschäftsführung: Prof. Dr. Astrid Lambrecht (Vorsitzende), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Dr. Ir. Pieter Jansens --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jan. 20, 2026

Special Issue on Information Storage, Compression and Prediction in Deep Neural Networks

by Nicola Catenacci

Dear colleagues, We invite you to submit to the special issue on "Mathematical Understanding of Information Storage, Compression and Prediction in Neural Networks" (more details can be found here: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/59300) *- The journal(s) -* The special issue is hosted by (alternatively): - Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience (Impact Factor - 2.3, CiteScore - 5.0), or - Frontiers in Neuroinformatics (Impact Factor - 2.5, CiteScore - 5.5). *- Research Topic -* Regardless of their success, today, deep neural networks (NNs) are still used as a "black box", meaning the inner workings or detailed explanations of how they arrive at their output are not revealed. Currently, we still do not have the mathematical tools to fully understand the formal properties of these networks and their limitations. Improving our theoretical understanding of NNs is particularly important today, as these tools are being deployed in an increasing number of safety-critical scenarios, necessitating constant scrutiny of their behavior. The goal of the special issue is to investigate the mathematical frameworks that enable a better understanding of how information is learned and represented within a neuralnetwork, including the study of existing approaches that go in this direction. *- Call for Papers -* We invite researchers to present manuscripts focusing on the mathematical analysis of deep neural networks, including their information-theoretic interpretation and their statistical limits. The areas relevant to this special issue include, but are not limited to: - Theory of Deep Feed-forward and Recurrent NNs - Information-theoretic principles and interpretation of NNs - The Information Bottleneck and deep learning - Compression in Deep Neural Networks - The analysis of pattern and memory storage in NNs - Deep NNs for brain-inspired machine learning and biological modeling - Statistical Physics of deep neural networks - Dynamical Systems Modeling of NNs - Neural Network Dynamics and Stability - Generalization and Regularization in NNs - Learning Theory and Neural Networks - Mathematical Models of Learning and Plasticity - Neural Network Interpretability and Explainability - Energy-Based Models in Deep Learning - Neural Network Compression, Pruning, Sparsity and Efficient Computing - Mathematics of Self-Supervised Deep Learning - Optimization Landscapes and Loss Surface Analysis - Neural Network Generalization and Overparameterization - Mathematical Theories of Transformers and Attention Mechanisms - Theoretical Foundations of Transfer Learning and Domain Adaptation Manuscript Submission Deadline: 15 March 2026. *- Topic Editors -* Giorgio Gosti, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Italy ( giorgio.gosti(a)cnr.it) Nicola Catenacci Volpi, University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom ( n.catenacci-volpi(a)herts.ac.uk) Nilesh Goel, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, United Arab Emirates *-----------------------------------* Dr. Nicola Catenacci Volpi, PhD Research Fellow in Information Theory for AI & Robotics Adaptive Systems Research Group The University of Hertfordshire Department of Computer Science College Lane Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL10 9AB United Kingdom E-mail: n.catenacci-volpi(a)herts.ac.uk

Jan. 20, 2026

PhD opportunities in computational & theoretical neuroscience at Bocconi (deadline 5 Feb 2026)

by Alessandro Sanzeni

Hi all, A quick reminder that applications are open for the PhD in Statistics and Computer Science at Bocconi University (Milan, Italy). The program is fully funded (4 years) and offers an interdisciplinary environment connecting statistics, computer science, and data-driven modeling. In our group/area, research in neuroscience combines theoretical modeling (physics- and ML-inspired) with the analysis of experimental data to study how the brain processes information, learns, and remembers. Ongoing projects include visual processing and learning mechanisms, in collaboration with experimental groups worldwide. Program details and application instructions: * Department of Computing Sciences<https://cs.unibocconi.eu/> * PhD program page<https://www.unibocconi.it/en/programs/phd/phd-statistics-and-computer-scien…> Application deadline: 5 February 2026. If you know strong candidates, I’d be grateful if you could forward this note. And please feel free to reach out for informal inquiries. Best, Alessandro Sanzeni Assistant Professor Department of Computing Sciences Bocconi University, Milan, Italy

Jan. 20, 2026

EMBO Workshop on Dendrites and beyond: properties, function and contributions to network processing

by marouso_velissariou＠imbb.forth.gr

DENDRITES 2026 EMBO Workshop on Dendrites and beyond: properties, function and contributions to network processing 19-22 May 2026, Heraklion, Crete, Greece https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-dendrites Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce the solicitation of abstracts for short oral or poster presentations at the EMBO Workshop on DENDRITES 2026, which will take place in Heraklion, Crete, on 19-22 May 2026. This is the 6th in a very successful series of meetings on the island of Crete dedicated to dendrites. The meeting will bring together scientific leaders from around the globe to present their theoretical and experimental work on dendrites. The meeting program is designed to facilitate discussions of new ideas and discoveries in a relaxed atmosphere that emphasizes interaction. Please register and submit your abstract online at: https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-dendrites No payment is required for abstract submission. Submissions of abstracts are due by February 1st, 2026 Notifications will be provided by February 28th, 2026 Registration payment due by March 15th, 2026 Potential attendees are strongly encouraged to submit an abstract as presenters will have registration priority. For more information about the conference, please refer to our web site or send email to embo2026(a)artion.com.gr We look forward to seeing you in person at DENDRITES 2026! The organizers, Panayiota Poirazi, Lucy Palmer, Mark Harnett -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

Jan. 20, 2026

[Newsletter RTAIM] 24th RTAIM Online Seminar | Call Abstract: 6th International Conference on Philosophy of Mind | 04-08 May 2025, Uni. Porto

by steven gouveia

Dear All, You are welcome to attend the 24th rTAIM Online Seminar, with the participation of MAIRA DE CINQUE (University of Canada West, Canada), 21 January 2026, 5:00pm - 6:30pm (Lisbon Time) via Microsoft Teams with the title “Linguistic Self-Correction in the Age of AI". Link available: https://ifilosofia.up.pt/activities/seminar-24-rtaim Or: * Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/3421342035921?p=KnbYrpwPDoDET8dCM6 * ID: 3421342035921 * Password: yS3BU9rq Moreover, the Call for Abstract for the 6th International Conference on Philosophy of Mind: Artificial Intelligence (6ICPH) 4-8 May 2026 (4-5 May, Online | 6-8 May, in-person), Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Porto (Portugal) is now open until the 29 March 2026. Keynotes are (confirmed): * Anil Seth (Uni. Sussex) * Diana I. Pérez (Uni Buenos Aires) * Paul Thagard (Uni. Waterloo) * Gloria Andrada (CSIC, Madrid) * Miguel Pais-Vieira (Uni. Aveiro) * Ângela Leite (Catholic Uni. Portugal) * Marina Trakas (CONICET | Uni. Lisbon) Full information here: https://ifilosofia.up.pt/activities/6-international-conference-philosophy-m… New book out: “Ethics in Artificial Intelligence: A Multidisciplinary Approach”, Ethics Press. Info: https://ethicspress.com/products/ethics-in-artificial-intelligence. Sincerely yours, RTAIM Team

Jan. 20, 2026

CAJAL Course on Quantitative Approaches to Behavior and Virtual Reality 2026

by Daniel McNamee

*CAJAL Advanced Neuroscience Training Course: Quantitative Approaches to Behavior and Virtual Reality 2026*. This intensive course is a unique opportunity for early-career researchers interested in this field. Hosted at the *Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown*, this three-week course focuses on acquiring, analyzing, and modeling *behavioral data* and integrating it with neurobiological information, using *translational methodologies* that can be applied across species—from simple model organisms to humans—to broaden experimental and research capabilities. *Location:* Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal *Dates:* 7 - 26 June 2026 *Application Deadline:* 13 February 2026 *Apply now:* https://cajal-training.org/on-site/quantitative-approaches-to-behavior-and-… <https://cajal-training.org/on-site/quantitative-approaches-to-behaviour-and…> *Course Directors* - *Ann Kennedy* – Scripps Research, USA - *Daniel McNamee* – Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Portugal - *Giorgio Gilestro* – Imperial College London, UK *Course Themes & Topics* This course will focus on the following key frontier areas: - Behavioral data acquisition and analysis; - Modeling behavioral dynamics; - Integration with neurobiological data; - Experimental design and independent projects; - Translational and cross-species approaches. *Keynote Speakers Include:* - Andre Brown (Imperial College London, UK) - Ahmed El Hady (Max Planck Institute, Germany) - Andrew Straw (University of Freiburg, Germany) - Barbara Webb (University of Edinburgh, UK) - Ben De Bivort (Harvard University, USA) - Carlos Ribeiro (Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Portugal) - Gordon Berman (Emory College, USA) - Greg J. Stephens (OIST Graduate University, Japan) - Ian Couzin (Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Germany) - Joshua Shaevitz (Princeton University, USA) - Kim Hoke (Colorado State University, USA) - Kristin Branson (HHMI Janelia Research Campus, USA) - Nachum Ulanovsky (Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel) - R. James Cotton (Northwestern University, USA) - Sama Ahmed, University of Washington, USA - Talmo Pereira (The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, USA)

Jan. 19, 2026

Registration Open: Braitenberg 100: Computational Neuroscience - Past, Present, and Future, June 29-July 1, 2026 in Tuebingen, Germany

by Pavlovic, Maria

Dear colleagues, We are delighted to announce that registration is open for a landmark symposium on the occasion of Valentino Braitenberg's 100th birthday in our campus's <https://www.mph.tuebingen.mpg.de/en> Max Planck House, Tübingen, Germany, June 29-July 1st, 2026: <http://www.braitenberg100-theoretical-neuroscience.de/> Braitenberg 100: Computational Neuroscience - Past, Present, and Future The symposium will gather many of the world’s leading experts to celebrate past achievements, showcase current breakthroughs, and brainstorm the future of computational neuroscience. There will be keynote speeches, poster sessions, and various program events to facilitate intellectual exchanges and interactions. -------------------------------- Keynote Speakers Include: Neil Burgess • Patrick Cavanagh • Kathleen Cullen • Peter Dayan • Kenji Doya • Ivan De Araujo • Wulfram Gerstner • Michael Hasselmo • Sabine Kastner • Read Montague • Reza Shadmehr • Naoshige Uchida • Li Zhaoping -------------------------------- To facilitate interactions and discussions, we have a limited capacity of 130 seats. >> Register now at https://app2.edoobox.com/en/MPI/Braitenberg100 <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/app2.edoobox.com/en/MPI/Braitenberg100__…> << We look forward to welcoming you to Tübingen for Braitenberg 100—an inspiring celebration of computational neuroscience’s past, present, and future. Warm regards, The Organizing Committee, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics -------------------------------- Please direct inquiries to <mailto:braitenberg100@tue.mpg.de%0b> braitenberg100(a)tue.mpg.de <http://www.braitenberg100-theoretical-neuroscience.de/> http://www.braitenberg100-theoretical-neuroscience.de/ --------------------------------

Jan. 19, 2026