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Research Associate position at Bernstein Centre Freiburg, Germany

by Carsten Mehring

Invitation for applications: Research Associate in Computational Neuroscience and Neurotechnology Bernstein Centre, University of Freiburg A research associate position (‘akademischer Rat’, A13Z) is available in the group of Carsten Mehring at the Bernstein Centre and the Institute of Biology 3 at the University of Freiburg, Germany. This is a new lab, established to study sensorimotor behavior and brain-machine interfaces. Research topics include: motor adaptation and skill learning; brain-machine and machine-brain interfaces; neuronal dynamics; decision making. The primary research tools are behavioural experiments, electrophysiology and neuroimaging (EEG, ECoG, fNIRS), transcranial electrical stimulation (tDCS&tACS), advanced neural signal analysis and computational modeling. We are looking for an enthusiastic scientist who has expertise in Computational Neuroscience and Neurotechnology. This is a full-time position, with an initial 3 years fixed-term contract that can be extended by another 3 years. The salary will be according to A13. The position includes teaching duties in neuroscience, which can be carried out in English. Starting date is flexible, if possible May/June 2014. The ideal candidate has a strong background in quantitative analysis, experience running behavioural and/or neurophysiological experiments and proficiency in programming. A PhD in a relevant field is required. The lab is located in Freiburg (Germany), which is in the southwest of Germany close to the French and Swiss borders. Freiburg has a vibrant academic community and our group is part of the Bernstein Centre Freiburg (http://www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de) and the cluster of excellence BrainLinks-BrainTools (http://www.brainlinks-braintools.uni-freiburg.de) which provide first-class environments for research on Computational Neuroscience and Neurotechnology. Applicants should email a CV, a letter of motivation, a short research statement (max. 1 page) and contact details for two academic references to carsten.mehring(a)biologie.uni-freiburg.de. Reviewing of applications starts on April, 15th. Further information: Carsten Mehring carsten.mehring(a)biologie.uni-freiburg.de http://www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de/people/details/mehring

March 24, 2014

First neural connectomics challenge: from imaging to connectivity

by Demian Battaglia

The brain contains nearly 100 billion neurons with an average 7000 synaptic connections. Recovering the exact wiring of the brain (connectome) at this neural level is therefore a daunting task. Traditional neuroanatomical methods of axonal tracing or electrophysiological direct assays cannot scale up to very large networks. Could there be alternative methods, such as inference algorithms, to recovering neural network structures from patterns of neural activity? This challenge (inaugurating a series of future "Connectomics" challenges) will stimulate research on network structure inference from calcium fluorescence data, including causal discovery methods. WHAT YOU GET: Time series of the activity of 1000 neurons in a culture (simulated calcium fluorescence data) WHAT YOU PREDICT: The directed connections between neurons. 45 days to go, 3000 $ allocated for the top three ranked competitors (if they accept to make an open release of their code ;-) Challenge submission website: https://www.kaggle.com/c/connectomics Over 70 teams are already attending! There will be $3000 in prizes awarded. We are an official challenge at IEEE WCCI 2014 meeting in Beijing, where challenge results will be spotlighted: http://www.ieee-wcci2014.org (see "accepted competitions") Participants may present their results at a dedicated workshop at ECML 2014 (Nancy, France): http://www.ecmlpkdd2014.org (see "discovery challenges") http://connectomics.chalearn.org/workshop (workshop webpage) The top-ranked challenge participants and authors of the best workshop papers will be invited to participate to full length submissions (individual or collective, including detailed post-challenge analytics and algorithm comparisons and benchmarking) to peer-reviewed journals, such as Frontiers in Neuroinformatics or PLoS Computational Biology. Calendar: May 5, 2014: End of challenge. May 20, 2014: All teams must turn in fact sheets. The three top ranking teams must turn in their code to qualify for prizes. The post-challenge verifications start. June 1, 2014: End of the post challenge verifications. Release of the official ranking. June 20, 2014: ECML workshop proceeding paper submission deadline. July 6-11, 2014: Result presentation at WCCI 2014, Beijing, China. August 30, 2014: Revised papers due for ECML workshop proceedings. Beginning of post-challenge papers design. September 15 or 19, 2014: ECML workshop, Nancy, France. Discussion of the results and preparation of post-challenge synthesis. For any information or request, please contact: Demian Battaglia, demian.battaglia(a)univ-amu.fr --- Demian Battaglia, PhD Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, Aix-Marseille Université - Marseille, France Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience - Göttingen, Germany http://www.nld.ds.mpg.de/~demian

March 24, 2014

Deadline is Approaching:: CFP::4th DICTAP- IEEE-Thailand

by Natalie Walker

% Apologies for cross posting% ==================================================== ======== 4th DICTAP 2014 || Call for Papers =========== The Fourth International Conference on Digital Information and Communication Technology and its Applications (DICTAP 2014) University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Bangkok, Thailand May 6-8, 2014 http://sdiwc.net/conferences/2014/dictap2014/ DICTAP 2014 is technically Co-Sponsored by IEEE- Thailand ==================================================== Paper Submission Deadline: April 06, 2014 ===================================== **Scope and Motivation** The Fourth International Conference on Digital Information and CommunicationTechnology and its Applications (DICTAP 2014) cover theoretical and practical aspects related to Information Systems, Communication Networks and Computing Technologies. The multi-thematic program of DICTAP 2104 focuses then on the major future scientific issues in Computing and Communication Networks. The scientific topics developed in his edition are divided into but not limited to the following tracks: - Networking, Communications and Security - Information Technology, Services and Architecture - Digital Information Management - PHY-Layer Communications and Signal Processing ====================================================

March 23, 2014

The Scientific World Journal special issue titled 'Hybrid Systems to Investigate the Computational and Learning Properties of Neuronal Assemblies’

by Michela Chiappalone

Dear colleagues, I am pleased to announce the extension of the deadline for submitting your contribution to the special issue of The Scientific World Journal (http://www.hindawi.com/journals/tswj/ titled ‘Hybrid Systems to Investigate the Computational and Learning Properties of Neuronal Assemblies’. The Scientific World Journal is open access and with an impact factor of 1.730. You can find the call for paper here: http://www.hindawi.com/journals/tswj/si/438539/cfp/. Potential topics include, but are not limited to: · Encoding of inputs and retrieval of memories in cultured and simulated neuronal networks · Learning and adaptation in cultured networks · Electrophysiological experiments in closed-loop systems · Mathematical neuronal network models as tools to deduce computational properties of neural circuits · Hybrid systems: living networks coupled to artificial ones · Software and hardware strategies to manipulate and control neuronal dynamics Deadline for article submission: May 30th, 2014; Publication date: October 17th, 2014. On behalf of the other guest editors [Paolo Massobrio (University of Genova, Italy), Danny Eytan (The Hospital for Sick Children, Canada), Paolo Bonifazi (Tel Aviv University, Israel) and Paul Tiesinga (Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands)], I look forward to receiving your contribution! Best regards Michela Chiappalone Lead Guest Editor The Scientific World Journal ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr Michela Chiappalone, PhD NeuroTech Group Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies (NBT) Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) Via Morego 30 16163 Genova (Italy) e-mail : michela.chiappalone(a)iit.it<mailto:michela.chiappalone@iit.it> web-site : www.iit.it<http://www.iit.it/> direct phone : +39 010 71781743_

March 21, 2014

Ph.D. position in Systems and Control

by Kristiaan Pelckmans

re: A fully funded Ph.D. graduate study in Uppsala University, Sweden, Department of Information Technology, Division of Systems and Control (4yrs.+1yr. teaching). subject: This position aims at relating modern insights in (Online) Machine Learning (OML) to the esteemed tool of the Kalman Filter (KF). OML has led to renewed insights in such tasks as optimisation, multiple-armed bandits algorithms and sequential designs, and comes nowadays with a solid theoretical underpinning. The KF on the other hand, is the workhorse of the control-engineering, and is for example used as the observer of choice in many state-feedback schemes. It is analysed and found optimal in different settings. Integrating KFs in a modern OML setting would provide new insights and modifications to basic schemes.The particular focus would be how to extend the KF to the case of many variables. Modern techniques of OML have excelled in this topic, while traditional approaches as the KF have not been studied extensively in this regard. practical: This is a full-time funded position covering five years in total. The successful candidate is expected to spend 80% on this research challenge, as well as 20% on assisting in different (under-) graduate courses taught at our division. The deadline for application is April 22 (right after easter). The applicant can start directly after that (in spring 2014). Supervisor for this project is Kristiaan Pelckmans. Do send an email to kp(a)it.uu.se for further enquiries. Swedish citizens are encouraged to apply. A link to the official site of application will be sent out via the same channels in the near future.

March 21, 2014

Lab Manager position at Ohio State

by Dirk Bernhardt-Walther

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Sloutsky, Vladimir M. <sloutsky(a)psy.ohio-state.edu> Dirk, Can you please post the position below? Thanks! Vladimir -- Vladimir M. Sloutsky Professor Department of Psychology 239 Psychology Building 1835 Neil Ave. The Ohio State University Columbus, OH 43210 Office: (614)-247-4449 Lab: (614)-688-1235 Home Page: http://cogdev.osu.edu -------------------- Lab Manager/Coordinator Position Available Cognitive Development Laboratory Ohio State University Job Description: The Cognitive Development Laboratory at Ohio State University directed by Dr. Vladimir Sloutsky is looking for highly organized and well-spoken person to serve as a full-time lab manager. We seek a recent college graduate who has majored in psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, or a related field and who is looking for additional research experience before going on to graduate school. The lab conducts research on conceptual development, category learning, and interactions between language and cognition in infants and children. Duties include managing research projects in the lab, creating stimuli, programming experiments, recruiting participants, and testing infant, child, and adult subjects, using behavioral, eye tracking, and ERP methodologies. There is the possibility of becoming a co-author on manuscripts submitted for publication. Administrative duties include recruiting, hiring, and training undergraduate volunteers, managing subject recruitment, purchasing equipment, managing human subject protocols, coordinating lab events and meetings, and general faculty support. This job offers competitive salary (commensurate with experience), health benefits, and a dynamic and intellectually stimulating work environment. Review of applications will start immediately and the position to begin as early as May 2014. A verbal 1-2-year commitment is required. The Ohio State University is a vibrant, research-centered public university, located in Columbus, Ohio. To apply for this position, please submit a cover letter and resume electronically to Priya Patel (patel.1489(a)buckeyemail.osu.edu) Please also be prepared to arrange three letters of recommendation. Specific Responsibilities: · Maintaining participant database. · Managing participant recruitment and participant scheduling. · Overseeing lab organization, including the supervision and training of research assistants. · Conducting research activities, including the development of experimental protocols, submission of IRB forms, and data collection, coding and analysis. · Additional administrative duties include requisition of new equipment and materials, and hardware/software maintenance. Required Experience: · Bachelors degree or equivalent in psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, natural science, or a technical field. · Excellent skills interacting with infants and children as well as teachers and parents, and must be able to supervise undergraduate research assistants. · Experience working with infants or young children and strong interest in cognitive development. · Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and SPSS or equivalent statistical package and willing to learn E-Prime, Matlab, Adobe Director, and File Maker Pro. · Excellent verbal communication skills are essential as duties involve interacting with parents, teachers, and department administrators. · Excellent writing skills. Experience with eye-tracking and/or ERP data acquisition and data analysis is a plus but not required. -- ================================= Dirk Bernhardt-Walther, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology Associate Director, Center for Cognitive and Brain Sciences The Ohio State University 200C Lazenby Hall 1835 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH 43210, USA bernhardt-walther.1(a)osu.edu <berhardt-walther.1(a)osu.edu> http://bwlab.psy.ohio-state.edu/

March 20, 2014

Frontiers Research Topic: Memory Processes in Medial Temporal Lobe: Experimental, Theoretical and Computational Approaches

by Vassilis Cutsuridis

Dear colleagues, we would like to inform you that our Research Topic organized with Frontiers in Neuroscience (Host Specialty: Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience) is still open and it will be accepting abstracts till *May 1st, 2014*. Our Research Topic is entitled: "Memory Processes in Medial Temporal Lobe: Experimental, Theoretical and Computational Approaches" Topic Editors: Motoharu Yoshida (University of Bochum) and Vassilis Cutsuridis (Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH)) Important deadlines ---------------------------- Abstract Submission Deadline: *May 1st, 2014* Article Submission Deadline: August 1st, 2014 Research Topic Description ---------------------------------------- The medial temporal lobe (MTL) includes the hippocampus, amygdala and parahippocampal regions, and is crucial for episodic and spatial memory. MTL memory function consists of distinct processes such as encoding, consolidation and retrieval. Encoding is the process by which perceived information is transformed into a memory trace. After encoding, memory traces are stabilized by consolidation. Memory retrieval (recall) refers to the process by which memory traces are reactivated to access information previously encoded and stored in the brain. Although underlying neural mechanisms supporting these distinct functional stages remain largely unknown, recent studies have indicated that distinct oscillatory dynamics, specific neuron types, synaptic plasticity and neuromodulation, play a central role. The theta rhythm is believed to be crucial in the encoding and retrieval of memories. Experimental and computational studies indicate that precise timing of principal cell firing in the hippocampus, relative to the theta rhythm, underlies encoding and retrieval processes. On the other hand, sharp-wave ripples have been implicated in the consolidation through the "replay" of memories in compressed time scales. The neural circuits and cell types supporting memory processes in the MTL areas have only recently been delineated using experimental approaches such as optogenetics, juxtacellular recordings and optical imaging. Principal (excitatory) cells are crucial for encoding, storing and retrieving memories at the cellular level, whereas inhibitory interneurons provide the temporal structures for orchestrating the activities of neuronal populations of principal cells by regulating synaptic integration and timing of action potential generation of principal cells as well as the generation and maintenance of network oscillations (rhythms). In addition, neuromodulators such as acetylcholine alter dynamical properties of neurons and synapses, and modulate oscillatory state and rules of synaptic plasticity and their levels might tune MTL to specific memory processes. The goal of the research topic is to offer a snapshot of the current stateof-the-art on how memories are encoded, consolidated, stored and retrieved in MTL structures. Particularly welcome will be studies (experimental or computational) focusing on the structure and function of neural circuits, their cellular components (principal cell and inhibitory interneurons), synaptic plasticity rules involved in these memory processes, network oscillations such as theta and sharp-wave ripples, and role of neuromodulators. Questions to be addressed: (1) Which areas or pathways within the MTL support encoding/consolidation/retrieval? (2) What neural activity defines specific memory processes? (3) What are the roles of neuromodulators in defining/switching these memory processes? (4) Could the role of synaptic plasticity be different in different memory processes? (5) What functional roles do the various inhibitory interneurons support during the encoding/consolidation/retrieval processes? About Frontiers Research Topics ------------------------------------------------ Frontiers Research Topics are designed to be an organized, encyclopedic coverage of a particular research area, and a forum for discussion and debate. Contributions can be of different article types (Original Research, Methods, Hypothesis & Theory, and others). Our Research Topic has a dedicated homepage on the Frontiers website, where contributing articles are accumulated and discussions can be easily held. Once all articles are published, the topic will be compiled into an e-book, which can be sent to foundations that fund your research, to journalists and press agencies, and to any number of other organizations. As the ultimate reference source from leading scientists, Frontiers Research Topic articles become highly cited. Frontiers is a Swiss-based, open access publisher. As such an article accepted for publication incurs a publishing fee, which varies depending on the article type. The publishing fee for accepted articles is below average compared to most other open access journals - and lower than subscription-based journals that apply page and color figure charges. Moreover, for Research Topic articles, the publishing fee is discounted quite steeply thanks to the support of the Frontiers Research Foundation. Details on Frontiers' fees can be found at http://www.frontiersin.org/about/PublishingFees. When published, your article will be freely available to visitors to the Frontiers site, and will be indexed in PubMed and other academic archives. As an author in Frontiers, you will retain the copyright to your own paper and all figures. The details regarding this Research Topic for Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience can be found at the following URL: http://www.frontiersin.org/systems_neuroscience/researchtopics/memory_proce… Should you choose to participate, please confirm by sending a quick email and then your abstract using the following link: http://www.frontiersin.org/submissioninfo Thanks in advance for your interest! Vassilis Cutsuridis and Motoharu Yoshida --- Vassilis Cutsuridis, PhD IMBB - FORTH Heraklion, Crete Greece

March 20, 2014

NSG provides free access to supercomputers for parallel simulations

by Ted Carnevale

The NSF-supported Neuroscience Gateway (NSG) http://www.nsgportal.org allows computational neuroscientists to run parallel simulations, free of charge, on supercomputers using tools like GENESIS, NEURON, NEST, Brian, and PyNN. Other tools will be added based on users' requests. NSG provides a simple web-based interface that makes it quick and easy to create an account, upload model code, run simulations, and get back results. To get started, go to http://www.nsgportal.org , click on the "Go to the NSG Portal" button, and follow the instructions in the sentence: "New users who are interested in getting an account should fill out the form and email it to nsghelp(a)sdsc.edu" For any questions or suggestions related to the NSG portal, please contact us at nsghelp(a)sdsc.edu The NSG developers team

March 20, 2014

PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience

by Christoph T. Weidemann

Applications are sought for a 3 year, fully-funded PhD position (UK & EU nationals) in the lab of Dr Christoph Weidemann at Swansea University, UK investigating context effects in cognition. The successful student will investigate how environmental statistics affect behaviour in "perceptual" and "recognition memory" tasks using computational modelling and rigorous empirical tests utilising dependent variables from choice responses (such as accuracy and response times) as well as brain activity (measured with EEG). Candidates should have substantial computer programming experience and quantitative skills. Prior experience in collecting / working with EEG data is desirable, but not essential. For more details and to apply: http://www.swan.ac.uk/postgraduate/scholarships/research/psychology-phd-con… For all inquires, contact Dr. Christoph Weidemann: ctw(a)cogsci.info

March 20, 2014

RA position in Computational Tools for Optogenetics

by Nikolic, Konstantin

[Apologies if you get multiple copies of this message] Imperial College London Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Research Associate in Computational Neuroscience Salary Range: £32,750– £34,500 per annum Full Time, fixed-term appointment for 12 months Applications are invited for a BBSRC funded Research Associate post on the development of multiscale computational tools for optogenetics. You will be based in the Centre for Bio-Inspired Technology (CBIT) http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/bioinspiredtechnology, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial College London. You will work jointly with Dr Konstantin Nikolic (PI, CBIT & Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering) and Dr Simon Schultz (Department of Bioengineering) on the mathematical and computational modeling of optogenetic (light-activated) ion channels (e.g. channelrhodopsin, halorhodopsin, ArchT, etc) and neurons expressing them. For details about the post please see: http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/AIJ206/research-associate-in-computational-neuros…

March 19, 2014