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

call for papers: Formal Models and Empirically Informed Simulations of Interpersonal Dynamics

by Peter Dayan

Dear colleagues, We would like to draw your attention to the Call for Papers for the Special Issue "Formal Models and Empirically Informed Simulations of Interpersonal Dynamics" in the journal Zeitschrift für Psychologie (a journal published in English with a German title). The submission deadline for proposals is July 15, 2026, and the submission deadline for full manuscripts is November 15, 2026. Further information can be found at: https://econtent.hogrefe.com/doi/10.1027/2151-2604/a000619 Kind regards, Stefan Westermann and Peter Dayan --- Topic of the Special Issue: Within a dyad of two interacting individuals, each serves as the environment for the other and, in turn, experiences the other as their environment. Capturing the complex interpersonal dynamics that emerge from this interdependence is a major psychological and computational challenge. Interactions become even richer given polyadic relationships and larger groups. Mathematical and computational methods offer powerful tools for uncovering the mechanisms that shape such interact ions. The topical issue "Formal models and empirically informed simulations of interpersonal dynamics" will highlight recent advances in applying such methods to the study of interpersonal processes. We invite contributions from across psychological disciplines - including social, clinical, and personality psychology - that employ frameworks such as agent-based modeling, evolutionary game theory, Bayesian modeling, active inference, and related approaches to provide formal ways of representing, simulating, and analyzing interpersonal phenomena. Both purely theory-driven, formal models and empirically informed simulations are welcome, offering insights into the emergence, maintenance, and change of interpersonal patterns.

March 19, 2026

Computational Neuroscience Introductory School (Stream I): Training Instructors Application

by Tolulope Gbayisomore

The African Computational Neuroscience Education Initiative (ACNEI) invites applications for Training Instructors (TIs) for our *Computational Neuroscience Introductory School (Stream I) for young African scholars.* *About the Training Program* Virtual Training: 11th-22nd May 2026 (TIs participate alongside students) Training at specific regional hubs (optional for participants): 23th -27th May 2026 (Hands-on projects with open-access datasets and networking) *Training Instructor Responsibilities* Each Training Instructor will manage 5-10 undergraduate students during the virtual training, guiding them through: - Provided course resources and materials - Practical computational neuroscience exercises - Mentorship and Q&A support *Timeline * *Application Window*: *16th March - 1st April 2026* *How to Apply:* Complete your application at: https://forms.gle/FA6EPPhKsxnfx3m28 before 1st April 2026, 11:59 PM UTC. NB: If you need more information about the program modality, you can register for any of the Q&A sessions (*24th March - 28th March 2026) *before submitting the application. Register here: https://forms.gle/vrqUQD1rg3UeU79a8 For inquiries, contact contact(a)acnei.org or our Science Communications Lead at c.martina(a)acnei.org Regards, Program Development Lead, African Computational Neuroscience Education Initiative (ACNEI <www.acnei.org>)

March 19, 2026

2026 NEURON Summer Course

by McDougal, Robert

The 2026 NEURON Summer Course will be held at Duke University in Durham, NC from Wednesday, June 10, through Monday, June 15, 2026. The course will present a thorough introduction to computational modeling of neurons and networks with the NEURON simulator (https://www.neuronsimulator.org) and is suitable for individuals at all levels of expertise. The registration deadline is Monday, June 1, 2026. No applications will be accepted after that date, and there will be no on-site registration. Space is limited, and applications will be considered in the order received. For more information and the on-line registration form, see https://github.com/neuronsimulator/nrn/discussions/3729

March 19, 2026

PhD Position on Digital Twins for Brain Health, University of the Balearic Islands (UIB)

by ruben.herzog＠postgrado.uv.cl

PhD Position — Digital Twins for Brain Health Neuroscience PhD Program (Health Sciences), University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), Palma de Mallorca, Spain. https://edoctorat.uib.es/es/doctorat/TNEU/ We offer a fully funded PhD position focused on developing biophysical digital twins using M/EEG and fMRI data for large-scale in silico treatment evaluation in aging, neurodegenerative, and other brain conditions. This is a fully computational PhD involving intensive modelling and data analysis, combining computational neuroscience and precision medicine for in silico treatment discovery. The project uses large international clinical datasets (>6000 participants) and aims to develop model-based markers of treatment susceptibility with a focus in heterogeneous populations. Research will take place at IFISC (UIB–CSIC), a María de Maeztu Unit of Excellence internationally recognized for research in complex systems, dynamical systems, statistical physics, and network science, with applications ranging from neuroscience and biology to social and technological systems. The project will be developed in collaboration with research groups from the Department of Psychology at the University of the Balearic Islands, with access to HPC resources and an international collaboration network including INRIA Sophia-Antipolis, Trinity College Dublin, Imperial College London, BrainLat, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paris Brain Institute, among others. Profile: quantitative background (physics, math, computer science, data science, neuroscience, quantitative psychology, engineering, biomedicine or related), Python programming, statistics, data analysis, and autonomous working style. Experience in modelling or neuroimaging analysis is valued. Candidates must be admitted to, or eligible for admission to, the Neuroscience PhD Program at UIB. See https://edoctorat.uib.es/es/doctorat/TNEU/desc.html#CriterisAdmissio for more information. Conditions: - Predoctoral contract (UIB) - ~€20,000 gross/year (annual adjustment) - 3 years guaranteed - €1000/year for conferences + €1000/year for research stays - Additional funding opportunities available - Support in grant applications and career development Based in Palma, Mallorca, a Mediterranean island combining a high quality of life, year-round mild climate, and an international environment —an ideal setting to pursue a PhD while enjoying one of Europe’s most livable regions. Mainly onsite work with flexibility. Working languages: English and Spanish. Deadline: mid of April Start: July Applications from all regions are welcome. Apply: send CV and motivation letter by email to ruben.herzog(a)uib.es

March 18, 2026

Entropy-Aware Graph Neural,Networks: Theory, Methods,,and Applications - SI in MDPI Entropy

by Friedhelm Schwenker

*Entropy-Aware Graph Neural,Networks: Theory, Methods,,and Applications* - Special Issue in MDPI Entropy For submission information, please visit the SI webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/entropy/special_issues/1028YT5CB9 Submission deadline: June 30, 2026 Guest Editors: Junran Wu, Nan Wang, Friedhelm Schwenker Graph neural networks (GNNs) have emerged as a fundamental framework for learning from graph-structured data, demonstrating remarkable success across domains such as social network analysis, recommender systems, bioinformatics, and financial modeling. Entropy and information-theoretic principles provide a natural lens for analyzing the expressivity, generalization, and robustness of GNNs. From the viewpoint of Fisher information, mutual information, and information bottlenecks, entropy-aware frameworks can help explain and improve the propagation, compression, and preservation of structural information in networks. This Special Issue aims to advance the understanding of entropy-aware graph neural networks by bridging information theory and graph representation learning. We invite original research and review articles that - provide information-theoretic analysis of GNN mechanisms and architectures, - propose new entropy- or information-driven GNN methods, or - explore applications of entropy-aware graph learning in scientific, industrial, and social domains. -- Prof. Dr. Friedhelm Schwenker University of Ulm Institute of Neural Information Processing D-89069 Ulm, Germany phone: +49-731-50-24159 fax: +49-731-50-24156 email:friedhelm.schwenker@uni-ulm.de www:https://www.uni-ulm.de/in/neuroinformatik/institut/hidden/f-schwenker/

March 17, 2026

Open Brain Institute Webinar | From Ion Channel Mutations to Neuronal Dysfunction

by Mathieu Chambon

From Ion Channel Mutations to Neuronal Dysfunction<https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/cb12ab0e-3614-4783-b31e-c2a375c77c…> | Webinar Modeling of Disease Mechanisms in the Open Brain Institute Virtual Labs Register ➡️ https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/cb12ab0e-3614-4783-b31e-c2a375c77c… How do single-gene ion channel mutations lead to neuronal dysfunction and neurological disease? In the first webinar of our new series, we explore how pathogenic variants—such as the R581Q mutation in KCNQ2—can be transformed into predictive, multiscale brain models. 💡 Join us for a live demonstration of our Virtual Labs, where experimental data, biophysical modeling, simulation workflows, and AI-assisted discovery come together to bridge genes, neurons, and networks. 🔍 Stay to the end for a quick Frontiers spotlight on Frontiers in Neuroinformatics and Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience: learn more about journal scope, Chief Editors, and opportunities for open collections and community collaborations. 🌐 About the Open Brain Institute https://www.openbraininstitute.org/ Best regards, ________________ Mathieu Chambon Communications Designer @ Open Brain Institute<https://www.openbraininstitute.org/> +41 21 324 30 30 Avenue du Tribunal-Fédéral 34, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland

March 17, 2026

PhD positions, Excellence Cluster 'The Adaptive Mind' @ Cognitive Science, TU Darmstadt

by Constantin Rothkopf

As part of the DFG Cluster of Excellence "The Adaptive Mind" (TAM), a four-year PhD-student position is available in the lab of Constantin Rothkopf at TU Darmstadt. In TAM (https://theadaptivemind-excellencecluster.de/) the universities of Giessen, Marburg, and Darmstadt, in collaboration with the University of Frankfurt and the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS), conduct interdisciplinary research in mind, brain, and behavior. We combine state-of-the-art behavioral and neurophysiological research with approaches from psychiatry and clinical psychology, as well as quantitative analyses and computational modeling using artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics. We measure and model the continuous adaptation of natural human behavior in a constantly changing and unpredictable world. Possible research directions include human navigation under uncertainty, active learning and active sensing, sensorimotor control and intuitive physics, and causal reasoning in natural behavior. Our research environment includes large-scale VR and naturalistic experimental setups, infrastructure for tracking eye and body movements, strong collaborations in cognitive science, neuroscience, and AI, and access to excellent computing infrastructure. Our group (https://www.pip.tu-darmstadt.de) is part of the Centre for Cognitive Science and the AI Center at TU Darmstadt, which are home to an internationally outstanding group of PIs and junior researchers working in the areas of computational cognitive science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. We are part of the two Excellence Clusters, “The Adaptive Mind” and “Reasonable AI”, the Simons Collaboration on Ecological Neuroscience (SCENE), and engage in multiple fruitful research collaborations. Our lab fosters an inclusive, supportive, and collaborative environment driven by scientific curiosity and mutual respect. We maintain close interactions with other research groups, including joint lab meetings. We are looking for candidates with an M.Sc. in cognitive science, machine learning, AI, computer science, neuroscience, psychology, engineering, or related fields, with an interest in combining theory, experiments, and computational models, and strong programming and quantitative skills. For informal inquiries, please reach out to constantin.rothkopf(a)tu-darmstadt.de. Please apply through the central application portal at https://www.career.tu-darmstadt.de/tu-darmstadt/job/54045 The Frankfurt-Darmstadt metropolitan area is located in the heart of Europe and is one of the most international regions in Germany, with a diverse community and rich culture, and has repeatedly earned high rankings in worldwide surveys of quality of life. Frankfurt has recently achieved a top worldwide ranking of attractiveness according to The Economist, and Darmstadt has consistently ranked among the top innovation-driving cities in Germany.

March 16, 2026

final call for contributions for the International Conference on Biological Physics (ICBP), Genova June/July 2026

by Daniele Marinazzo

Message posted on behalf of the organizers To the Biological Physics community: a reminder about the International Congress in Biological Physics, to be held in Genova, Italy, 28th June to 3rd July 2026. The abstract submission deadline is close: 25th March. The conference is the triennial global meeting point for the community. Check out the programme with plenary and invited speakers, and the range of session topics here: https://www.icbp2026.org/ The IUPAP medal for the Physics of Life will also be awarded at the meeting. Please spread the word - and act quickly to submit your work. Hoping to see many of you in Genova! Daniele Marinazzo Department of Data Analysis 1 Henri Dunantlaan, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium How to reach my office<https://soleway.ugent.be/routes/1250> https://users.ugent.be/~dmarinaz http://helpdesk.ugent.be/e-maildisclaimer.php My working days and hours may not be yours. Please do not feel obliged to reply outside of your normal working hours.

March 14, 2026

BCCN CNS MSc - Application Deadline Extended to 15 April

by Graduate Programs

Dear Computational Neuroscientists, as a result of the updated application procedure, the TU Berlin and BCCN Berlin have decided to extend the application deadline for the Computational Neuroscience master program from March 15th to *April 15th, 2026*. Please refer to the application page <https://www.bccn-berlin.de/master-program-application.html> on our website for further information. Best regards and I hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend, Lisa Velenosi -- Dr. Lisa Velenosi Teaching Coordinator of the SFB1315 & BCCN Berlin Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Philippstraße 13, Haus 6; 10115 Berlin; Germany Tel: +49 (0)30 2093-98503 Tuesdays - Fridays; 9 - 14:00

March 13, 2026

2 days to submit: 7th International Conference on Mathematics of Neuroscience and AI (Rome, 9-12th June 2026)

by Ruairidh Battleday

2 days to submit: 7th International Conference on Mathematics of Neuroscience and AI (Rome, 9-12th June 2026) -------------------- Two days remaining to submit abstracts for the 7th International Conference on the Mathematics of Neuroscience and AI, to be held in the Villa Wolkonsky, Rome, Italy, 9-12th June 2026: www.neuromonster.org In this high-profile conference we bring together researchers and theorists working on the biological, mathematical, and computational foundations of intelligence across neuroscience, cognitive science, machine learning & artificial intelligence, and related fields. We hear from leading researchers over four days, spanning neural data, neural theory, cognitive science, and machine learning & artificial intelligence (AI). Each day will have keynotes, invited speakers, a poster session, and 5 spotlight talks invited from abstract submissions. *Speakers* Prof. Tatiana Engel (Princeton) Prof. Xiao Jing Wang (NYU) Prof. Marcella Noorman (Chicago) Prof. Marius Pachitariu (Janelia) Prof. Gyorgy Buzsaki (NYU) Prof. Eric Schulz (Helmholtz Munich) Prof. Noah Goodman (Stanford) Dr Sophia Sanborn (Stanford) Dr Joel Lehman (Lila) Dr Blaise Agūera y Arcas (Google) Prof. Irina Rish (Mila & Montreal) Dr Asma Ghandeharioun (DeepMind) Dr Zeb Kurth-Nelson (Independent) Dr Clare Lyle (DeepMind) Dr Felix Sosa (Prior) Dr Christian Shewmake (New Theory AI) Dr Andy Keller (Harvard) Will Dorrell (UCL) Dr Kiah Hardcastle (Harvard; TBC) Jin Hwa Lee (UCL) *Session Chairs* Dr Hannah Haberkern (Wuerzburg; TBC) Dr Kris Jensen (UCL) Jesseba Fernando (Northeastern) Dr Sebastian Musslick (Osnabrück) Prof. Lucy Lai (UCSD) Prof. William Thompson (Berkeley) Dr Chen Sun (DeepMind) Dr Ivana Kajic (DeepMind) *Location* The convention will be held at the Villa Wolkonsky, in San Giovanni, Rome (10 minutes walk from the Colosseum). *Submissions* The submission format is an abstract of 250 words, and we invite submissions for each session via the following Google form: https://forms.gle/dnpQL8HaxiP9snu79 These will be accepted for poster presentation, with the best 5 papers in each session category given an additional spotlight talk. Submission deadline is 14th March AOE. *Early bird tickets* A limited number of early-bird registrations have been posted on our website! Regular registration will follow. Come and join the fun! Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday (Thinking About Thinking) Dr James Whittington (Thinking About Thinking & Oxford) Dr Giovanni Pezzulo (National Research Council of Italy) *The Organizing Committee.* -- Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday BMBCh (Oxon) PhD President Thinking About Thinking

March 12, 2026