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World wide VVTNS series (6th season): Reading Minds & Machines | Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 11:00 am ET - Michal Irani, The Weizmann Institute
by David Hansel Feb. 15, 2026

Feb. 15, 2026

[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 Michal Irani The Weizmann Institute on the topic of * Reading Minds & Machines* The lecture will be held on zoom on February 18, 2026, at *11:00 am ET * To receive the link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: * 1. Can we reconstruct images that a person saw, directly from their fMRI brain recordings? 2. Can we reconstruct the training data that a deep-network trained on, directly from the parameters of the network? The answer to both of these intriguing questions is “Yes!” In this talk I will present some of our work in both domains. I will then show how combining the power of Brains & Machines can lead to significant breakthroughs in both areas, and potentially bridge the gap between Minds and Machines. Finally, I will show how combining the power of Multiple Brains (with NO shared data) may lead to new breakthrough discoveries in Brain-Science, and allow mapping of information between different brains. *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.* ᐧ ᐧ

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DeepLearn 2026: early registration March 1st
by David Silva - IRDTA Feb. 14, 2026

Feb. 14, 2026

****************************************************** 13th INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ON DEEP LEARNING DeepLearn 2026 Orléans, France July 20-24, 2026 https://deeplearn.irdta.eu/2026/ ****************************************************** Co-organized by: University of Orléans Centre Val de Loire Doctoral College Institute for Research Development, Training and Advice – IRDTA Luxembourg/London ****************************************************** Early registration: March 1st, 2026 ****************************************************** SCOPE: DeepLearn 2026 will be a research training event with a global scope aiming at updating participants on the most recent advances in the critical and fast developing area of deep learning. Previous events were held in Bilbao, Genova, Warsaw, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Guimarães, Luleå, Bournemouth, Bari, and Porto. Deep learning is a branch of artificial intelligence covering a spectrum of current frontier research and industrial innovation that provides more efficient algorithms to deal with large-scale data in a huge variety of environments: computer vision, neurosciences, speech recognition, language processing, human-computer interaction, drug discovery, biomedicine and healthcare, medical image analysis, recommender systems, advertising, fraud detection, robotics, games, business and finance, biotechnology, physics and astrophysics, biometrics, communications, climate sciences, geographic information systems, signal processing, genomics, materials design, video technology, social systems, earth and sustainability, mathematical proofs, etc. etc. The field is also raising a number of relevant questions about efficiency and robustness of the algorithms, explainability, transparency, interpretability, risks and safety, as well as important ethical concerns at the frontier of current knowledge that deserve careful multidisciplinary discussion. Most deep learning subareas will be displayed and main challenges identified through 16 four-hour and a half courses, 2 keynote lectures, 1 round table, and a hackathon competition among participants. Renowned academics and industry pioneers will lecture and share their views with the audience. The organizers are convinced that outstanding speakers will attract the brightest and most motivated students. Face to face interaction and networking will be main ingredients of the event. It will be also possible to fully participate in vivo remotely. ADDRESSED TO: Graduates, postgraduates and industry practitioners will be typical profiles of participants. However, there are no formal pre-requisites for attendance in terms of academic degrees, hence people less or more advanced in their career will be welcome as well. Since there will be a variety of levels, specific knowledge background may be assumed for some of the courses. Overall, DeepLearn 2026 is addressed to students, researchers and practitioners who want to keep themselves updated about recent developments and future trends. All will surely find it fruitful to listen to and discuss with major researchers, industry leaders and innovators. VENUE: DeepLearn 2026 will take place in Orléans, located in the heart of the Loire Valley, which was declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site in 2000. The venue will be: University of Orléans Faculty of Law, Economics and Management 11 rue de Blois 45100 Orléans, France https://www.univ-orleans.fr/en STRUCTURE: 3 courses will run in parallel during the whole event. Participants will be able to freely choose the courses they wish to attend as well as to move from one to another. All lectures will be videorecorded. Participants will be able to watch them again for 45 days after the event. An open session will give participants the opportunity to present their own work in progress in 5 minutes. Also companies will be able to present their industrial developments for 10 minutes. The school will include a hackathon, where participants will be able to work in teams to tackle several machine learning challenges. Full live online participation will be possible. The organizers highlight, however, the importance of face to face interaction and networking in this kind of research training event. KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: Yingbin Liang (Ohio State University), Convergence Theory: How Fast Do Discrete Diffusion Models Generate? Le Song (Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence), Multiscale Foundation Models for Biology PROFESSORS AND COURSES: Nitesh Chawla (University of Notre Dame), [intermediate] Learning from Imbalanced Data Yuejie Chi (Yale University), [introductory/intermediate] Statistical and Algorithmic Foundations of Reinforcement Learning Bo Han (Hong Kong Baptist University), [introductory/intermediate] Trustworthy Machine Learning from Data to Models Jiawei Han (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), [intermediate] Structure-Guided, Theme-Based Knowledge Discovery with Large Language Models Mingyi Hong (University of Minnesota), [intermediate] Modern Optimization Algorithms for Large Language Models Cho-Jui Hsieh (University of California Los Angeles), [intermediate/advanced] Optimizers for Large Language Model Training Furong Huang (University of Maryland), [advanced] Generative AI Agents Tara Javidi (University of California San Diego), [intermediate] Active Physical Intelligence for Industrial Scale Monitoring Yan Liu (University of Southern California), [intermediate] Time Series Foundation Models: From Forecasting to Reasoning Zhijin Qin (Tsinghua University), [intermediate/advanced] Semantic Communications Aarti Singh (Carnegie Mellon University), [intermediate] Human Centered AI: Challenges and Opportunities Suvrit Sra (Technical University of Munich), [introductory/intermediate] Introduction to the Theory of Learning with Transformers Ivor Tsang (A*STAR Centre for Frontier AI Research), [introductory/intermediate] Long-Horizon Agentic Intelligence Ming-Hsuan Yang (University of California Merced), [advanced] Recent Advances in Multimodal Understanding and Generation Tong Zhang (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), [introductory/intermediate] Reinforcement Learning for Large Language Models Jun Zhu (Tsinghua University), [introductory/advanced] Generative Models: from Virtual to Physical World OPEN SESSION: An open session will collect 5-minute voluntary oral presentations of work in progress by participants. They should submit a half-page abstract containing the title, authors, and summary of the research to david(a)irdta.eu by July 12, 2026. INDUSTRIAL SESSION: A session will be devoted to 10-minute demonstrations of practical applications of deep learning in industry. Companies interested in contributing are welcome to submit a 1-page abstract containing the program of the demonstration and the logistics needed. People in charge of the demonstration must register for the event. Abstracts have to be submitted to david(a)irdta.eu by July 12, 2026. HACKATHON: A hackathon will take place, where participants can voluntarily work in teams to tackle several machine learning challenges. They will be coordinated by Professor Sergei V. Gleyzer (University of Alabama). The challenges will be released 2 weeks before the beginning of the school. A jury will judge the submissions and the winners of each challenge will be announced by the end of August 2026. The winning teams will receive a modest monetary prize and the runners-up will get a certificate. SPONSORS: Companies/institutions/organizations willing to be sponsors of the event can download the sponsorship leaflet from https://deeplearn.irdta.eu/2026/sponsors/ ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: Karim Abed-Meraim (Orléans, local co-chair) Sergei V. Gleyzer (Tuscaloosa, hackathon chair) Meryem Jabloun (Orléans, local co-chair) Carlos Martín-Vide (Tarragona, program chair) Santiago Montes (Tarragona, webpage) Sara Morales (Luxembourg, finances) Florian Nowicki (Orléans, social networks) Philippe Ravier (Orléans, local chair) David Silva (London, organization chair) REGISTRATION: It has to be done at https://deeplearn.irdta.eu/2026/registration/ The selection of 6 courses requested in the registration template is only tentative and non-binding. For logistical reasons, it will be helpful to have an estimation of the respective demand for each course. Since the capacity of the venue is limited, registration requests will be processed on a first come first served basis. The registration period will be closed and the on-line registration tool disabled when the capacity of the venue will have got exhausted. It is highly recommended to register prior to the event. FEES: Fees comprise access to all program activities and lunches. There are several early registration deadlines. Fees depend on the registration deadline. The fees for on site and for online participation are the same. ACCOMMODATION: Accommodation suggestions are available at https://deeplearn.irdta.eu/2026/accommodation/ CERTIFICATE: A certificate of successful participation will be delivered indicating the number of hours of academic activities (40). This should be sufficient for those participants who plan to request ECTS recognition from their home university. QUESTIONS AND FURTHER INFORMATION: david(a)irdta.eu ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Université d’Orléans Collège Doctoral Centre-Val de Loire Universitat Rovira i Virgili Institute for Research Development, Training and Advice – IRDTA, Luxembourg/London

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Visiting Assistant Professorship in Applied Mathematics at Northwestern University
by William L. Kath Feb. 12, 2026

Feb. 12, 2026

* * /In addition to the details below, please note that the department has ties to the National Institute for Theory and Mathematics in Biology (NITMB) <https://www.nitmb.org/>//in downtown Chicago. / * Visiting Assistant Professorship in Applied Mathematics* The Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics at Northwestern University (http://www.esam.northwestern.edu ) invites applications for the position of Visiting Assistant Professor in Applied Mathematics. This is a one-year, non-tenure-track position with the possibility of renewal for a second year. Duties involve teaching and research in applied mathematics with a focus on applications in engineering and/or the sciences. The Department seeks outstanding candidates who have received a Ph.D. degree in applied mathematics, engineering, physics or another applied math-related discipline, or who expect to do so by July 2026, and who aspire to engage in independent and interdisciplinary research and teaching. The starting date is September 1, 2026. The application package should include a cover letter, curriculum vita, statement of research accomplishments and interests, statement of teaching experience and philosophy, and if available representative manuscripts (published, submitted or in preparation). Please visit https://facultyrecruiting.northwestern.edu/apply/MjQ4Nw== to apply. In addition, the applicant should arrange for at least two, but no more than three letters of recommendation addressing both research and teaching qualifications. Recommendation letters will be automatically solicited from the letter writers by email after the names are entered in the online application system. *Compensation* The expected base pay range for this position is $78,000-$82,000 for a 12-month academic appointment and is subject to negotiation. Northwestern University has provided a pay range representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for the position. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate, including years since terminal degree, training, and field or discipline; departmental budget availability; internal competitors; and external market pay for comparable jobs. At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts, and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more. Questions may be directed to Noor Kaur at noor.kaur(a)northwestern.edu (subject line: Visiting Assistant Professor Search). To ensure full consideration, applications should be received by March 16th, 2026, but applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern’s non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process. * Requirements* This is a one-year, non-tenure-track position with the possibility of renewal for a second year. Duties involve teaching and research in applied mathematics with a focus on applications in engineering and/or the sciences.

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NeuroDataReHack 2026: Workshop on Secondary Analysis of Neurophysiology Data (Apply by Feb 20)
by Ben Dichter Feb. 11, 2026

Feb. 11, 2026

Dear colleagues, I'm writing to share an opportunity for computational neuroscientists interested in leveraging open neurophysiology datasets for novel research. The DANDI Archive now hosts over 450 neurophysiology datasets in the Neurodata Without Borders (NWB) format, spanning multiple species, brain regions, behavioral tasks, and recording modalities. These include datasets from the Allen Institute OpenScope, the MICrONS project, and the International Brain Laboratory Brain Wide Map. NeuroDataReHack is a hands-on workshop training researchers to effectively use the DANDI Archive and NWB standard for secondary analysis. Projects may include cross-validating findings across species and brain regions, testing analysis methods on independent datasets, or investigating new questions using existing high-quality data. *Workshop Details:* Dates: July 13-17, 2026 Location: Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, USA Cost: Free for accepted participants (meals and accommodation provided) Travel Support: Limited awards available Application Deadline: February 20, 2026 Decision Notification: March 31, 2026 Apply: https://nwb.org/events/hck26-2026-janelia-ndrh/ Questions: ben.dichter(a)catalystneuro.com Ben Dichter, PhD Founder and CEO, CatalystNeuro

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WiCS+E online event on Building Inclusive Computational Skills – 23 February 2026, 13h-14h30 CET
by Sidarus, Nura Feb. 11, 2026

Feb. 11, 2026

Dear all, We’re happy to invite you to our upcoming online panel “Building Inclusive Computational Skills”, taking place on Monday, 23 February, 2026 – 13:00 to 14:30 CET. More information & registration here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/building-inclusive-computational-skills-onli… This year, for our International Women’s Month event, we turn our attention to the growing importance of computational skills in cognitive science and to why every researcher should feel empowered to learn them. If you’ve ever wondered how coding and modelling influence the way we design experiments, analyse data, or build theories, or if you’re simply looking for accessible ways to get started, you may find this session particularly helpful. This event is free and open to everyone. Participants will receive the meeting link one day before the webinar. For any questions, please feel free to contact us at wics.europe(a)gmail.com. This event is organised in collaboration with Open Science Tools (PsychoPy, Pavlovia), who will be sponsoring a follow-up training series for webinar participants. We hope you’ll join us and help spread the word! Warm wishes, WiCS+Europe Leadership Team https://wicseurope.github.io/WiCSeurope/ This email, its contents and any attachments are intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. In certain circumstances, it may also be subject to legal privilege. Any unauthorised use, disclosure, or copying is not permitted. If you have received this email in error, please notify us and immediately and permanently delete it. Any views or opinions expressed in personal emails are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Royal Holloway, University of London. It is your responsibility to ensure that this email and any attachments are virus free.

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Postdoctoral Position in Multimodal Epileptogenic Zone Identification Research
by Adrià Tauste Feb. 11, 2026

Feb. 11, 2026

*Dear all,* * The nCoDe Lab (Neural information processing in Cognition and Disease) at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) invites applications for a Senior Postdoctoral Researcher position (full-time, 2-year contract) to lead data analysis and biomarker discovery within the EPICHILD project. The work will be carried out in Barcelona in direct collaboration with the Epilepsy Unit at the top paediatric hospital in Spain, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu. Note on the application process: While we are seeking to identify the ideal candidate immediately, the formal hiring will be processed through an upcoming open call at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), following national regulations. We encourage interested candidates to contact us now to discuss the project and receive notification as soon as the formal call is published. About the Project This position is a core part of the EPICHILD project: "Development and validation of multimodal focus identification algorithms for drug-resistant epilepsy in children." Our goal is to enhance the diagnostic toolkit for pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy by providing objective, quantitative measures that complement the clinical expertise of visual intracranial EEG (iEEG) inspection. We are developing a computerized framework to assist in identifying the Epileptogenic Zone (EZ): the brain regions responsible for generating seizures. The project's core hypothesis is that a data-driven integration of iEEG recordings (ictal, pre-ictal, and interictal), neuroimaging data (MRI/DTI), and electrical stimulation sessions provides a synergistic perspective that can refine surgical planning. As the lead for data analysis and algorithm design, the successful applicant will sit at the central intersection of signal processing, machine learning, multimodal data fusion, and clinical neurology. Key Responsibilities The role emphasizes the development of robust data analysis pipelines and the identification of quantitative biomarkers rather than hands-on data collection. Key responsibilities include: * Pipeline Development: Designing and implementing multimodal algorithms and pipelines for the identification of the Seizure Onset Zone (SOZ) and Epileptogenic Zone (EZ). * Biomarker Discovery: Validating and optimizing multimodal biomarkers using real-world clinical datasets from our national and international collaborators and open-access datasets. * Scientific Leadership: Co-leading and mentoring a team of PhD, Master’s, and Bachelor’s students working within the project. * Technology Transfer: Collaborating on the integration of these pipelines into a clinical prototype in connection with the lab’s spin-off, BrainFocus Labs. Candidate Profile We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with strong quantitative skills and demonstrated research experience in neural data analysis. Required Skills and Experience: * PhD in Computational Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics or a related field. * Signal Processing: Strong expertise in intracranial EEG (iEEG/LFP) or EEG analysis and statistics. * Machine Learning: Proven capacity in machine/deep learning applied to complex biological datasets. * Programming: High proficiency in Python. * Communication: Excellent written and spoken English; ability to bridge the gap between engineering and clinical teams. Preferred but not required: * Experience with multimodal data fusion (integrating electrophysiology with neuroimaging). * Experience with technology transfer or working within a clinical workflow. What We Offer * A Leading Neuroscience Hub: The nCoDe Lab is an active member of Barccsyn (Barcelona Computational and Systems Neuroscience), a premier community of over 40 research groups, offering a unique environment for scientific exchange and collaboration (https://barccsyn.org/ <https://barccsyn.org/>). * Vibrant Research Environment: Join the nCoDe Lab (https://ncodelab.org/ <https://ncodelab.org/>), a multidisciplinary group dedicated to understanding neural information processing in health and disease. * Career Development: Significant opportunities for leadership, student supervision, presentations at conferences and workshops and exposure to the medical-tech entrepreneurship ecosystem. * Location: Barcelona is a leading global hub for biomedical engineering and offers an exceptional quality of life. How to Apply Please send your CV, a brief statement of research interests/past work, and the contact information for two references to adria.tauste(a)upc.edu with the subject “Postdoctoral Position in Multimodal Epileptogenic Zone Identification Research”. *Adrià Tauste

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Announcement: 7th International Conference on Mathematics of Neuroscience and AI (Rome, 9-12th June 2026)
by Ruairidh Battleday Feb. 10, 2026

Feb. 10, 2026

7th International Conference on Mathematics of Neuroscience and AI (Rome, 9-12th June 2026) ----------------------------------------------------------- We are delighted to announce 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 exploratory 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. Abstract submissions and super-early-bird registration are open (see below). *Keynote Speakers*Professor Tatiana Engel (Princeton) Professor Gyorgy Buzsaki (NYU) Professor Noah Goodman (Stanford) Professor Irina Rish (Montreal & Mila) *Session Chairs* Dr Kris Jensen (UCL) Jesseba Fernando (Northeastern) Professor Bill Thompson (Berkeley) Dr Chen Sun (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 28th Feb AOE. *Super-early bird tickets* A limited number of half-price super-early-bird registrations have been posted on our website! Early bird 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 <https://that.build>

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World wide VVTNS series (6th season): Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 11:00 am ET - Alex Reyes, New York University
by David Hansel Feb. 9, 2026

Feb. 9, 2026

[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 Alex Reyes New York University on the topic of * Computing the effects of excitatory-inhibitory balance * *on neuronal input-output properties* The lecture will be held on zoom on February 11, 2026, at *11:00 am ET * To receive the link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: *In sensory systems, stimuli are represented through the diverse firing responses and receptive fields of neurons. These features emerge from the interaction between excitatory (E) and inhibitory (I) neuron populations within the network. Changes in sensory inputs alter this balance, leading to shifts in firing patterns and the input-output properties of individual neurons and the network. While these phenomena have been studied extensively with experiments and theory, the underlying principles for combining E and I inputs are still unclear. Here, the rules for probabilistically combining E and I inputs are derived that describe how neurons in a feedforward inhibitory circuit respond to stimuli. This simple model is broadly applicable, capturing a wide range of response features that would otherwise require multiple separate models and offers insights into the cellular and network mechanisms influencing the input-output properties of neurons, gain modulation, and the emergence of diverse temporal firing patterns. *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.* ᐧ ᐧ

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Call for applications - Junior group leaders in AI and data science at the Paris Brain Institute - France
by SITT Jacobo Diego Feb. 9, 2026

Feb. 9, 2026

The Paris Brain Institute (https://parisbraininstitute.org/) seeks to recruit Junior Group Leaders in the fields of AI, data science and computational sciences to address key challenges in brain health and neuroscience. The Junior Group Leader will be recruited for five years, as a principal investigator, with a competitive salary. They will be awarded an attractive start-up package for kick-starting their group. For more details, please refer to the call content and application platform: https://institut-du-cerveau.wiin.io/en/applications/call-for-juniorgrouplea… Application deadline: April 26th, 2026, 23h59 CET. Approximate schedule End of May 2026 – First shortlisting and notification of potential interview date Early July 2026 – On-site interviews at the Paris Brain Institute (Paris, France) July 2026 – Notification of result From October 2026 – Start of the position (starting date is negotiable)

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AIces 2026: early registration February 21st
by David Silva - IRDTA Feb. 7, 2026

Feb. 7, 2026

****************************************************** 1st INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ON THE COGNITIVE, ETHICAL AND SOCIETAL DIMENSIONS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AIces 2026 Porto – Maia, Portugal March 30 – April 2, 2026 https://aices.irdta.eu/2026/ ****************************************************** Co-organized by: University of Maia Institute for Research Development, Training and Advice – IRDTA Luxembourg/London ****************************************************** Early registration: February 21st, 2026 ****************************************************** SCOPE: AIces 2026 will be the first in a series of research training events aiming at updating participants on the most recent multidisciplinary discussions about the foundations, meaning, challenges and risks of AI. The event will have a global scope along 3 thematic lines: cognition, ethics, and society. It will cover current debates about: AI and philosophy of mind; cognitive architectures; machine learning and cognitive development; large language models and visual information; robotics and embodied cognition; neuroscience-inspired AI; algorithmic bias and fairness; transparency and explainability; accountability and responsibility; privacy and surveillance; autonomy and control; AI impact on human values and social inequalities; the future of work and automation; governance, regulation and public policies; AI, human rights and democracy; AI and global development; information and AI education. The event will consist of 10 courses, 2 keynote lectures, 3 symposia collecting short contributions from participants, and 2 individual presentations on debated topics. Renowned academics and industry pioneers will lecture and share their views with the audience. The organizers are convinced that outstanding speakers will attract the brightest and most motivated students. Face to face interaction and networking will be main ingredients of the event. It will be also possible to fully participate in vivo remotely. ADDRESSED TO: Graduate students, postgraduate students and industry practitioners will be typical profiles of participants. However, there are no formal pre-requisites for attendance in terms of academic degrees, so people less or more advanced in their career will be welcome as well. Since there will be a variety of levels, specific knowledge background may be assumed for some of the courses. Overall, AIces 2026 is addressed to students, researchers and practitioners who want to keep themselves updated about recent developments and future trends. All will surely find it fruitful to listen to and discuss with major researchers, industry leaders and innovators. VENUE: AIces 2026 will take place in Porto, the second largest city in Portugal, recognized by UNESCO in 1996 as a World Heritage Site. The venue will be: University of Maia Avenida Carlos de Oliveira Campos - Castêlo da Maia 4475-690 Maia Porto, Portugal https://www.umaia.pt/en STRUCTURE: 2 courses will run in parallel during the whole event. Participants will be able to freely choose the courses they wish to attend as well as to move from one to another. Full live online participation will be possible. The organizers highlight, however, the importance of face to face interaction and networking in this kind of research training event. All lectures will be videorecorded. Participants will be able to watch them again for 45 days after the event. KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: David Danks (University of Virginia), Trustworthy AI in an Untrustworthy World Ming Lin (University of Maryland), Socially Responsible and Trustworthy AI PROFESSORS AND COURSES: Ricardo Baeza-Yates (KTH Royal Institute of Technology & Pompeu Fabra University), [introductory] Introduction to Responsible AI Susan Brennan (Stony Brook University), [introductory/advanced] Where Are the Humans in Human-Centered AI? Thomas Breuel (Nvidia Research), [introductory] Facts and Rules in LLMs Carlos Castillo (Pompeu Fabra University), [introductory] Algorithmic Fairness in High-Risk AI Applications Alan Dix (Cardiff Metropolitan University), [introductory] AI for Social Justice Elia Formisano (Maastricht University), [introductory/intermediate] Auditory Cognition in Humans and Machines Marijn Janssen (Delft University of Technology), [introductory/advanced] Data and AI Governance - From Control to Trust Christian Lebiere (Carnegie Mellon University), [intermediate] Computational Cognitive Models of Human-AI Teaming Paul Smolensky (Johns Hopkins University), [intermediate/advanced] Symbol Processing in Transformers and Other Neural Networks Savannah Thais (City University of New York), [intermediate/advanced] Measurement for Safer AI SYMPOSIA: A symposium will collect 10-minute voluntary presentations on any of the 3 thematic areas of the event: cognition, ethics, and society. A 1-page abstract containing the title, authors, and summary of the presentation must be sent to david(a)irdta.eu by February 28, 2026. Only registered participants can contribute to symposia. INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATIONS ON DEBATED TOPICS: 50-minute individual presentations will be scheduled for any of the 3 thematic areas of the school: cognition, ethics, and society. A 2-page expression of interest including the topic to be debated must be sent to david(a)irdta.eu by December 30, 2025. Only registered participants are eligible for individual presentations. SPONSORS: Companies/institutions/organizations willing to be sponsors of the event can download the sponsorship leaflet from https://aices.irdta.eu/2026/sponsors/ ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: Samuel Anjos (Maia, social networks) Osheen Jain (London, communications) José Paulo Marques dos Santos (Maia, local chair) Carlos Martín-Vide (Tarragona, program chair) Santiago Montes (Tarragona, webpage) Sara Morales (Luxembourg) José Luís Reis (Maia) Luís Paulo Reis (Porto) David Silva (London, organization chair) REGISTRATION: It has to be done at https://aices.irdta.eu/2026/registration/ The selection of 6 courses requested in the registration template is only tentative and non-binding. For logistical reasons, it will be helpful to have an estimation of the respective demand for each course. Since the capacity of the venue is limited, registration requests will be processed on a first come first served basis. The registration period will be closed and the on-line registration tool disabled when the capacity of the venue will have got exhausted. It is highly recommended to register prior to the event. FEES: Fees comprise access to all program activities and lunches. There are several early registration deadlines. Fees depend on the registration deadline. The fees for on site and for online participation are the same. ACCOMMODATION: Accommodation suggestions will be available in due time at https://aices.irdta.eu/2026/accommodation/ CERTIFICATE: A certificate of successful participation in the event will be delivered indicating the number of hours of academic activities. This should be sufficient for those participants who plan to request ECTS recognition from their home university. QUESTIONS AND FURTHER INFORMATION: david(a)irdta.eu ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Universidade da Maia Universidade do Porto Universitat Rovira i Virgili Institute for Research Development, Training and Advice – IRDTA, Luxembourg/London

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