- Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

Barcelona summer school for Advanced Modelling of Behavior (BAMB!), July 19-27, 2023

by Klaus Wimmer

Applications for the Barcelona summer school for Advanced Modelling of Behavior (BAMB!<http://www.bambschool.org/>) are still open until March 15. Thanks to additional funding, we have reduced the course fee to 750 Eur. A limited number of course fee waivers and travel grants will also be available. Scientists from underrepresented groups and countries are especially encouraged to apply. BAMB! teaches advanced techniques in model-based analysis of behavior (humans and other species) to cognitive and computational neuroscientists at PhD and early career levels. This will be achieved through structured lectures, talks, hands-on tutorials and group projects aimed at making knowledge obtained directly applicable to the participants' own research. We want the trainees to acquire both the conceptual basis and the technical skills that will enable them to pursue a full modelling approach on their own when they come back to their lab. The course is intended for PhD students and postdocs in cognitive, systems and computational neuroscience with a solid background in computational/quantitative analysis to benefit maximally from the advanced training offered by the course. Proficiency in either Python or Matlab is also required. We seek a nice blend of experimentalists (cognitive psychology / neuroscience) and theoreticians (with or without experience in cognitive modeling). The school is organized by the Centre de Recerca Matemática<http://www.crm.cat/>. Organizers: Chris Summerfield (Oxford / Deepmind) Marion Rouault (Paris Brain Institute) Klaus Wimmer (CRM, Barcelona) Heike Stein (ENS, Paris) Alex Hyafil (CRM, Barcelona) Confirmed Faculty: Anne Collins (UC Berkeley) Elaine Corbett (UC Dublin) Maria Eckstein (Deepmind) Alex Hyafil (CRM, Barcelona) John Krakauer (John Hopkins) Marion Rouault (Paris Brain Institute) Chris Summerfield (Oxford / Deepmind) Valentin Wyart (ENS Paris) Klaus Wimmer (CRM, Barcelona) Dates and location: July 19-27, downtown Barcelona, Spain Applications are open until March 15. CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY NOTICE: This message and the documents that might be attached, are addressed exclusively to their(s) recipient(s) and may contain privileged or confidential information. The access to this information by people other than those designated is not authorized. If you are not the indicated recipient, you are notified that the use, disclosure and / or copying without authorization is prohibited under current legislation. If you have received this message in error, please kindly inform the sender immediately and proceed to its destruction. We inform you that the personal data contained in this document, and in particular your contact information and professional position, are protected in accordance with current legislation on the protection of personal data. Centre de Recerca Matemàtica (CRM) will process the data only for the purpose of managing the relationship you have with us. The data will be kept while the purpose for which it was collected remains. You can exercise at any time your rights to access, rectification and erasure of your personal data, as well as the right to object and restriction of processing. For this, you must contact CRM by email to dpo(a)crm.cat.

March 11, 2023

Postdoctoral position in computational analyses of calcium imaging data, IIT (Italy)

by Stefano Panzeri

Profs Tommaso Fellin (IIT, Genoa, Italy) and Stefano Panzeri (UKE, Hamburg, Germany) are seeking candidates for a fully funded postdoctoral position in computational neuroscience at the Italian Institute of technology. The successful candidate will conduct research in the experimental Optical Approaches to Brain Functions Group led by Fellin at ITT ( https://www.iit.it/it/web/optical-approaches-to-brain-function) in close collaboration with the computational laboratory of Panzeri at UKE (Department of Excellence for Neural Information Processing https://www.uke.de/english/departments-institutes/institutes/department-of-…) We will investigate, by developing and using advanced data analysis methods and biophysically plausible network models, how populations of neurons and of astrocytes in the brain interact to encode information and use it to produce appropriate behaviors. Our laboratories have established a close and fruitful experimental-theoretical collaboration for a decade, and offer a wide range of interdisciplinary expertise in computational neuroscience, including both advanced neural analysis techniques and neural network modeling. We also offer thriving research environments, including many international collaborations several funded by the NIH Brain Initiative, the Simons Foundation, the European Union. This gives successful candidates strong opportunities for interdisciplinary training and scientific growth. We seek candidates holding a PhD in a numerate or neuroscientific discipline, with a solid computational background and a keen interest in neuroscience. They must be highly motivated and creative individuals who want to work in a dynamic, multi-disciplinary research environment and be willing to interact with both experimental and theoretical neuroscientists. The job is available from May 2023 and applications will be considered as soon as they are received. Candidates are encouraged to email us ( tommaso.fellin(a)iit.it and stefano.panzeri(a)gmail.com) as soon as possible, to inform us of the interest for the position and initiate a discussion about research projects. For recent publications from our labs relevant to this project, see: Panzeri S, et al (2022) The structures and functions of correlations in neural population codes. *Nature Reviews Neuroscience* 23: 551-567 Curreli S, et al (2022) Complementary encoding of spatial information in hippocampal astrocites. PLoS Biology 20: e3001530. Valente, M. et al (2021), Correlations enhance the behavioral readout of neural population activity in association cortex. *Nature Neuroscience*, 24, 975–986 Sità, et al A deep-learning approach for online cell identification and trace extraction in functional two-photon calcium imaging. Nat Commun 13, 1529 (2022) Antonini A, et al (2020) Extended field-of-view ultrathin microendoscopes for high-resolution two-photon imaging with minimal invasiveness *eLife* 9:e58882. Panzeri S, et al (2017) Cracking the neural code for sensory perception by combining statistics, intervention and behaviour. *Neuron* 93: 491-507 Pica G. et al (2017) Quantifying how much sensory information in a neural code is relevant for behavior, *Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS 2017)* Thanks Stefano Panzeri and Tommaso Fellin

March 10, 2023

Postdoc position in Computational / Statistical Neuroscience @NYU

by Chen, Zhe

Postdoctral Fellow in Computational and Statistical Neuroscience New York University School of Medicine New York, NY Applications are now being accepted for two postdoctoral fellow positions to develop innovative methods to study the rodent hippocampal-neocortical recordings in rodents and human patients. The applicant will work closely with Dr. Zhe Sage Chen and Professor Gyuri Buzsaki at the New York University School of Medicine, with cross-disciplinary training in computational and systems (experimental) neuroscience. The applicant will have great opportunities to interact with a large and growing neuroscience community at the NYU campus, including the Neuroscience Institute<http://neuroscience.med.nyu.edu/>, Center for Neural Science<http://www.cns.nyu.edu/>, Department of Neuroscience & Physiology<http://neuro-physio.med.nyu.edu/>, and Department of Psychiatry<http://psych.med.nyu.edu/>. This position is available from immediately, and will be funded by the NIH for 3 years. Applications must have a PhD degree in Neuroscience, Engineering (Biomedical or Electrical), Statistics, Physics, or a related discipline. The desired applicant is expected to be highly motivated and work independently as well as cooperatively with other colleagues in the research projects. Ability to learn new techniques and resolve new research challenges is essential. Previous training in some areas, such as neural data analysis, machine learning, computer programming (MATLAB/Python) is preferred. To apply, please send an email along with (i) CV; (ii) a cover letter describing research accomplishments and interests; (iii) the names and contact information of two references to: Dr. Zhe Sage Chen (zhe.chen(a)nyulangone.org<mailto:zhe.chen@nyulangone.org?subject=Application>).

March 10, 2023

Call for workshops for INCF Neuroinformatics Assembly 2023

by INCF

*Call for workshops for INCF Neuroinformatics Assembly 2023* Do you have a great workshop idea? Let us know! <http://bit.ly/INCFAssembly23WSideas> We are inviting all members of the INCF community to submit proposals for workshop themes to be included in the virtual INCF Neuroinformatics Assembly 2023 this autumn. Please note that submission of workshop themes does not require submitters to commit to being the workshop chair. This year’s theme is Transparency in FAIR Neuroinformatics. Here are some topics we would like to see represented at Assembly: - "Opening the black box”: How to make AI/ML interpretable for Neuroinformatics - “A FAIR share”: The feasibility and scalability of data sharing from the infrastructure POV - A FAIR roadmap for knowledge graphs and ontologies - “Is this FAIR?”: Transparency in EDI & career development & management - From repositories to workflows: A FAIR roadmap for building and endorsing tools We encourage several forms of workshops: - Classical workshops that focus on a particular research area within neuroinformatics, including proposals for continuations of workshops that were held at previous general INCF Assemblies or discipline-specific conferences (e.g., OHBM, OCNS, FENS, etc…) - Workshops that focus on emerging neuroinformatics topics and applications or on open research questions and challenges - Cross-discipline workshops that foster the exchange of ideas between groups that are unaware of each other’s research - Birds-of-a-feather sessions - Other topics of interest to the neuroinformatics community Submit your ideas no later than March 24 using this form <https://forms.gle/d9z6BicgWNdWvN2b7>. /The INCF Secretariat

March 10, 2023

Advanced Medical Imaging Workshop in Python - Los Angeles - April 23-28 2023

by sreekar chigurupati

Dear Researcher, DIPY is an internationally-recognized software used for processing structural (3D) and diffusion (4D) imaging data. Funded by the NIH and used in surgical planning for over a decade. Join us for an exciting in person workshop hosted in Santa Monica, Los Angeles. April 23-28. https://dipy.org/workshops/latest This disruptive workshop provides 5 days of hands-on tutorial sessions in Python opening the box of the internal mechanisms of state-of-the-art ML algorithms. Our comprehensive program is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to master the latest techniques and tools in structural and diffusion imaging. Do not miss learning about our new set of ML-driven pre-processing tools! See figure above! Our team of expert instructors will guide you through the fundamentals of diffusion theory, data pre-processing, fiber tracking, and much more. You'll have the opportunity to learn from industry-leading professionals, ask questions, and network with like-minded peers. Register today to secure your spot in this highly anticipated event! Thank You, DIPY team

March 9, 2023

Women in Memory Research - Deadline approaching - 15.03.23

by Vinita Samarasinghe

A final reminder regarding our Women in Memory Research program. The deadline for applications is 15.03.23 (as is the deadline for submitting abstracts for GEM 2023). The event below is for women who are interested in pursuing a PhD in memory research in neuroscience or philosophy. Please be kind enough to pass on this message to interested students. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Women in Memory Research 2023 The research unit “Constructing scenarios of the past” seeks to promote women in memory research. The program WiMR 2023 is made possible through a grant from the German Research Foundation (DFG) and collaboration with the Ruhr University Bochum. Come and learn what an academic career looks likeand discover its advantages. During your week at the Ruhr University Bochum (RUB)you will participate in GEM 2023 <https://for2812.rub.de/gem2023/> where you will hear about the latest research in generative episodic memory, be given the opportunityto present your research and meet with female scientists from the field. Before and after GEM you'll be introduced to support structures, funding measures and the FOR 2812 labs <https://for2812.rub.de/projects/>. Our participating senior scientists include: Ali Boyle, London School of Economics; Pernille Hemmer, Rutgers University; Peggy St. Jacques, University of Alberta; Kristina Liefke, Ruhr University Bochum; Ricarda Schubotz, University of Munster; Maria Wimber, University of Glasgow. Sounds exciting? *Who can apply:* Womenmasters students in their final year of study and recently graduated masters students who are looking into an academic career in the area of memory research/neuroscience. Applicants must have excellent grades and be able to communicate in English. Selection of participants is competitive. We only have 12 spots! *How to apply:* Send your application including a one page letter of motivation, a current CV, masters transcripts and a letter of recommendation from one of your professors. Your application should be sent, as a single PDF document, to Vinita Samarasinghe @ for2812+gem(a)rub.de <mailto:for2812@rub.de> by March 15, 2023 with the subject line "WiMR - application". If you need child care or any other support please note this in your application. Applications will be evaluated and ranked after the deadline has passed and notifications will be sent out by 31.03.2023. If you accept, you must register for GEM 2023. *What to expect from us:* We will provide bed and breakfast (single occupancy), cover travel costs (restrictions apply) and provide some meals. The program is offered in English. *What we expect from you:* You are present for all of the program and that you present your current research in the form of a poster at GEM 2023. *Program:* 12.06.2023 AM Welcome to Bochum PM GEM 2023 13.06.2023 GEM 2023 14.06.2023 AM GEM 2023 PM Fireside chat with senior memory researchers 15.06.2023 AM Resilience Workshop PM Funding and support structures 16.06.2023 Lab visits *Questions? * Visit our website at https://for2812.rub.de/wimr2023 for more information. Please feel free to get in touch with Vinita Samarasinghe (for2812(a)rub.de <mailto:for2812@rub.de>) if you have any questions. -- Vinita Samarasinghe M.Sc., M.A. Science Manager Arbeitsgruppe Computational Neuroscience Institut für Neuroinformatik Ruhr-Universität Bochum, NB 3/73 Postfachnummer 110 Universitätstr. 150 44801 Bochum Tel: +49 (0) 234 32 27996 Email:samarasinghe@ini.rub.de

March 9, 2023

Special Session on Recent Advances in Spiking Neural Networks at ICANN 2023 - Call for Papers

by Sebastian Otte

Special Session on Recent Advances in Spiking Neural Networks at the 32nd International Conference on Artificial Neural Networks (ICANN) 2023 - Call for Papers Conference Dates: 26th to 29th of September 2023 ======================================================================= The special session invites contributions on recent advances in spiking neural networks. Spiking neural networks have gained substantial attention recently as a candidate for low latency and low power AI substrate, with implementations being explored in neuromorphic hardware. This special session aims to bring together practitioners interested in efficient learning algorithms, data representations and applications. Methodological as well as applied contributions are solicited, including topics like (non-exhaustive list): - Spiking Neural Network Models - Spike Response Models - Temporal Codes - Learning Algorithms for SNNs - Neuromorphic Computing Contributions (full papers or extended abstracts) have to be submitted through the regular ICANN submission system at: https://e-nns.org/icann2023/ Select track ASNN 2023 (Recent Advances in Spiking Neural Networks Special Session). Accepted papers to the special session will appear in the proceedings of the ICANN 2023 conference. IMPORTANT DATES: - Full paper and extended abstract submission: Apr. 9, 2023 - Notification of acceptance: 30th of June 2023 - Conference dates: 26 – 29 September 2023 PROGRAM COMMITTEE: t.b.a. ORGANIZERS: Prof. Dr. Sander Bohté Machine Learling Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) Amsterdam, The Netherlands Dr. Sebastian Otte Neuro-Cognitive Modeling University of Tübingen Tübingen, Germany Please find a PDF version of this call at: https://bit.ly/3mkXeJt

March 7, 2023

[Meetings] 2023 Nengo Summer School Call For Applications (deadline March 15)

by Michael Furlong

[All details about this school can be found online at https://www.nengo.ai/summer-school] The Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience at the University of Waterloo is excited to announce our 8th annual Nengo summer school on large-scale brain modelling and neuromorphic computing. This two-week school will teach participants to use the Nengo simulation package to build state-of-the-art cognitive and neural models to run both in simulation and on neuromorphic hardware. Summer school participants will be given on-site access to neuromorphic hardware and will learn to run high-level applications using Nengo! More generally, Nengo provides users with a versatile and powerful environment for designing cognitive and neural systems and has been used to build what is currently the world's largest functional brain model, Spaun, which includes spiking deep learning, reinforcement learning, adaptive motor control, and cognitive control networks. For a look at the last in-person summer school, check out this short video: https://youtu.be/5w0BzvNOypc We welcome applications from all interested graduate students, postdocs, professors, and industry professionals with a relevant background. ***Application Deadline: March 15, 2023*** Format: A combination of tutorials and project-based work. Participants are encouraged to bring their own ideas for projects, which may focus on testing hypotheses, modeling neural or cognitive data, implementing specific behavioural functions with neurons, expanding past models, or providing a proof-of-concept of various neural mechanisms. Hands-on tutorials, work on individual or group projects, and talks from invited faculty members will make up the bulk of day-to-day activities. A project demonstration event will be held on the last day of the school, with prizes for strong projects! Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to: * interface Nengo with various kinds of neuromorphic hardware (e.g. Loihi 1, SpiNNaker) * build perceptual, motor, and sophisticated cognitive models using spiking neurons * model anatomical, electrophysiological, cognitive, and behavioural data * use a variety of single cell models within a large-scale model  * integrate machine learning methods into biologically oriented models * interface Nengo with cameras and robotic systems * implement modern nonlinear control methods in neural models * and much more… Date and Location: June 4th to June 16th, 2023 at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Applications: Please visit http://www.nengo.ai/summer-school, where you can find more information regarding costs, travel, lodging, along with an application form listing required materials. If you have any questions about the school or the application process, please contact Michael Furlong (michael.furlong(a)uwaterloo.ca) The school is also partly supported by ONR and ABR, Inc. We look forward to hearing from you!

March 7, 2023

Konstanz School of Collective Behavior 2023 Deadline Approaching .

by Ahmed El Hady

*Konstanz School of Collective Behavior 2023* *Konstanz, Germany * *Deadline to apply: March 30th, 2023* The Konstanz School of Collective Behavior (KSCB) will take place between /31 July 2023 – 12 August 2023/ at the cluster of excellence Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour (CASCB) at the University of Konstanz <https://www.uni-konstanz.de/en/>. Uni Konstanz is an elite University of Excellence and ranked #1 young university in Germany with “Collective Behaviour" <https://www.exc.uni-konstanz.de/collective-behaviour/> as one of five research foci. Konstanz <https://www.konstanz.de/start> is a vibrant, small city located on the border between Germany and Switzerland, on the shores of the Bodensee (Lake Constance). Over two weeks, students will delve deeply into the topic of collective behaviour with lectures, hands-on tutorials, and projects, making it a unique and unforgettable experience. The school faculty will cover collective behaviors across a variety of species from worms ,drosophila, fish to non – human primates and human. A set of tutorials delving into state-of-the-art quantitative methods used to study collective behavior will complement the lectures. At the end of the school, students will work on independent projects guided by our resident faculty. Accommodation will be provided and paid by the organizers. A limited number of travel awards will be provided and a registration fee will be due (300 euros) once the student is admitted to the Konstanz School of Collective Behaviour. The registration fee will be waived to those coming from underrepresented minorities and those in need of financial support. For further information and application, visit our website: _https://www.exc.uni-konstanz.de/kscb/application-procedure/ <https://www.exc.uni-konstanz.de/kscb/application-procedure/> _ __ *KSCB 2023 faculty (still more to come ) : *Orit Peleg , Kevin Lala, Einat Couzin, Liang Li, Jake Graving, Armin Bahl, Katrin Vogt, Wataru Toyokawa, Serena Ding, Heiko Hamann *Contact us at: **ahmed.el-hady(a)uni-konstanz.de <mailto:ahmed.el-hady@uni-konstanz.de> * ** *All the best regards,* ** Ahmed El Hady On behalf of the KSCB organizational committee

March 7, 2023

Postdoc & PhD positions in TU Darmstadt, Germany

by Angela Yu

Postdoc & PhD positions in TU Darmstadt, Germany After 14 years as faculty at the University of California (San Diego), Prof. Angela Yu has recently joined TU Darmstadt as an Alexander von Humboldt AI Professor. Immediately available, and for the foreseeable future, are multiple positions for: Postdocs PhD students Master’s students Interns Research assistants Prof. Yu’s group conducts research at the intersection of natural and artificial intelligence. Her group uses mathematically rigorous and algorithmically diverse tools to understand the nature of representation and computations that give rise to intelligent behavior, with particular regard to the challenges posed by inferential uncertainty and the opportunities afforded by volitional movement. Using diverse machine learning and statistical tools, e.g. Bayesian statistical modeling, control theory, reinforcement learning, and information theory, theoretical frameworks and mathematical models are developed to explain various aspects of cognition important for intelligence: perception, attention, decision-making, learning, cognitive control, active sensing, economic behavior, and social interactions. Some example research questions currently pursued in the group include: - How does the ability to move and interact with the world facilitate perception, decision making, and representation learning? - Are human attention and working memory capacity limitation bugs or features? - How do humans represent and process faces? - How does the brain learn a general-purpose representation with so little labeled data and in the absence of concrete tasks? - How are humans so good at problem solving and logical reasoning, and yet also prone to certain fallacies and illusion in cognition & perception? - What do IQ tests actually measure and what light can they shed on AI research? - What roles do intrinsic motivations such as curiosity and emotions play in intelligence? With her expertise in computational neuroscience and cognitive science, as well as her previous experience in computational modeling and collaborations with psychologists, psychiatrists, neuroscientists, computer scientists, and mathematicians, Dr. Yu will strengthen and complement research at the Centre for Cognitive Science at TU Darmstadt and at hessian.AI, the Centre for Artificial Intelligence of Hesse based in Darmstadt. Her group members are encouraged and expected to collaborate extensively with preeminent researchers in cognitive science, AI, neuroscience, and related fields in Darmstadt and nearby research centers (Frankfurt, Mainz, Marburg, Gießen, Heidelberg, Tübingen, etc.). Positions are available immediately, and will remain open until filled. Salaries are commensurate with experience and expertise, and highly competitive with U.S. and European standards. Written and spoken fluency in English is required. Fluency in German is not. Interested candidates should send to Prof. Yu (angela(a)angelayu.org <mailto:angela@angelayu.org>) a CV, transcript(s), contact info for 2-4 references, as well as a statement of research detailing why the candidate and Prof. Yu’s group are a particularly good fit for each other.

March 6, 2023