- Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

An Electrodynamic Theory of the Brain

by Patirniche, Dinu

Dear Colleagues, What is a meter? If you say a unit length, you are correct. However, the meter is not just any unit of length, but one that is relevant for you as a human. Mature humans are around 1.70m high, and walk comfortably at 1m/s. But why do we use the meter at all, when it comes to expressing events and distances encountered in the brain? A commonly held biophysical dogma says that magnetic interactions occurring among neighboring compartments of biological tissues, such as for example the different neurons in a brain, can be ignored. The typical argument used to give credit to all biophysical theories rooted in electrostatic is related to the observation that the vast majority of all electrical events within living tissues propagate are incredibly low speeds. Thus, since action potentials (APs), that is, sharp fluctuations of the electric field, are seen to propagate at speeds between 1 and 100 m/s, any dynamic induction phenomena arising due to the presence of such an event is apriorily excluded. And indeed, with meter-long sensors there is hardly any significant electrodynamics signals to be recorded. However, acknowledging that the AP is playing a decisive role in the chemical transmission cycle, we could express the AP's speed in units that are relevant to this process. Since the dendritic spine is an integral part of the chemical transmission machinery, we could introduce a new unit of length and call it the "dendritic-spine-head" to mean 1 micro-meter, or 10^-6 m. Thus, referring to the spine as an observer of the AP, this event propagates at 1,000,000 "dendritic-spine-heads"/s. From the perspective of a spine, the production of such an event is anything but a stationary phenomenon, appearing necessary to consider what an electrodynamic theory might say about the interactions between an incoming electrical pulse and a fixed spine. In following this route, I came to the conclusion that all biological organisms can be easily decomposed into a finite set of disjoint, and electrically insulated volumes, that appear to function as a set of nested highly-exotic electromagnetic antennae. If this view can be maintained, understanding brains as room-temperature quantum computers, and life as a globally coherent state within some finite reach, is inevitable. I present this theory in a preprint entitled Dynamic Aspects of Finite Architectures (http://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.20815.79527) and invite you to read, comment and share this manuscript. Best regards, Dinu Patirniche.

June 11, 2018

Ph.D. Computational Neuroscience @University of Padova

by suweis infn

Dear all, call are open for Ph.D. position in Computational Neuroscience @ the Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova (http://pnc.unipd.it/phd-neuroscience/) In particular we propose three different projects: - The Critical Brain in Action (http://pnc.unipd.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/P19_Suweis.pdf) - Controllability and Observability of Rat Brain Activity (http://pnc.unipd.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/P17_Vassanelli.pdf) - Intrinsic brain activity and sensory coding in the rodent whisker somatosensory system (http://pnc.unipd.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/P18_Vassanelli.pdf) The deadline for the application is 26 June 2018. Interested candidate can contact me suweis(a)pd.infn.it Please forward this message to collaborators and students. Thanks Samir Suweis - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Samir Suweis, Ph.D. https://impactstory.org/u/SamirSuweis <https://impactstory.org/u/SamirSuweis> @SamirSuweis Research Scientist (RTDa) LIPh Lab, Physics Department, University of Padova Tel: +39 049 827 72 51 www.pd.infn.it/~maritan/people/Samir/samir.html

June 10, 2018

Post-doctoral research scientist position for psychophysics in audio-visual virtual reality

by Seeber, Bernhard

Dear List, we are inviting applications for a post-doctoral research scientist to join our team for research on psychoacoustics in complex audio-visual virtual environments. Main responsibilities are: - Development of novel techniques for and auditory experiments in interactive audio-visual virtual reality - Development of analysis methods for behavioral responses and statistical analysis of the results - Research on binaural hearing and auditory scene analysis with normal hearing listeners - Publication in English-language scientific journals and presentations at conferences - Supervision of student projects, assistance with teaching and with raising external funding. The position is full time and will start at the earliest convenient date. Qualifications: - Successfully completed doctoral degree (PhD) in one of the following areas: psychoacoustics, audio technology, virtual reality, acoustics, multimodal interaction, signal processing, or a related area - Knowledge and experience desirable in designing and analyzing psychophysical experiments, models of the auditory system, virtual acoustics, audio signal processing, machine learning, auditory scene analysis, binaural hearing, speech perception and speech tests - Very good programming skills in Matlab, Python, or C/C++ - Excellent written and oral communication skills as well as experience with scientific publications - Interest in basic research and the development of technical systems in virtual reality - Flexibility and good interpersonal skills - Interest in supervising students, helping with teaching, and raising external funds. We offer... you the opportunity to join a dynamic, interdisciplinary team, to work with up-to-date technical equipment including an anechoic chamber hosting an audio-visual virtual reality system, and to learn about the latest methods in hearing research. As part of the DFG collaborative research center "Hearing acoustics: Perceptual principles, Algorithms and Applications" you will work closely with our project partners at the University of Oldenburg. Our close interaction with the Bernstein Centre for Computational Neuroscience Munich (www.bccn-munich.de) the Munich School of BioEngineering (www.bioengineering.tum.de) the Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (www.gsn.uni-muenchen.de) the Hearing Research Network Munich, our extensive cooperation with industry and with scientific partners, and the numerous courses offered at TUM create an attractive environment with excellent perspectives for personal development. Please see www.aip.ei.tum.de for further information. Employment is according to the state employees salary scheme (TV-L/E13) and is initially for 1 year with the option for extension to 4 years. Women are explicitly encouraged to apply. Severely handicapped persons will be favored if they are equally qualified. In principle, the position could also be filled part-time. Munich - the city famous for the Oktoberfest, high-end cars and its unique location to the Alps - is a bustling, international and interesting place to live which offers a wide range of opportunities to engage in cultural and leisurely activities - from opera to skiing. Interested? I look forward to answering your questions on the phone (+49 89 289 28282) or by email. Please send your expressive application preferably by email no later than 30 June 2018 to: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernhard Seeber Professorship for Audio Information Processing Technical University of Munich Arcisstrasse 21 80333 Munich Germany Email: aip(a)ei.tum.de. The job advertisement can also be found at: https://portal.mytum.de/jobs/wissenschaftler/NewsArticle_20180608_072800 Kind regards, Bernhard

June 8, 2018

Postdoc position in Geometric Methods for Deep and Reinforcement Learning at RIST

by Luigi Malagò

=========================================================== *Subject*: Postdoc position in Machine Learning (1 year, renewable up to 2.5 years) *Institution*: RIST - Romanian Institute of Science and Technology, Cluj-Napoca *Keywords*: Deep Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Stochastic Optimization, Optimization over Manifolds, Information Geometry, Riemannian Geometry *Application deadline*: 30 June 2018 (applicants are encouraged to apply earlier) *Salary*: around 2190 euro net *Official announcement*: http://rist.ro/en/details/news/postdoc-positio ns-in-deep-learning-and-machine-learning.html =========================================================== Dear colleagues, the Romanian Institute of Science and Technology (RIST) has an opening for a postdoc position, in the context of the DeepRiemann project “Riemannian Optimization Methods for Deep Learning”, funded by European structural funds through the Competitiveness Operational Program (POC 2014-2020). The appointments will be for 1 year, with possible extensions up to 2.5 years. The DeepRiemann project aims at the design and analysis of novel training algorithms for Neural Networks in Deep Learning, by applying notions of Riemannian optimization and differential geometry. The task of the training a Neural Network is studied by employing tools from Optimization over Manifolds and Information Geometry, by casting the learning process to an optimization problem defined over a statistical manifold, i.e., a set of probability distributions. The project is highly interdisciplinary, with competences spanning from Machine Learning to Optimization, Deep Learning, Statistics, and Differential Geometry. The objectives of the project are multiple and include both theoretical and applied research, together with industrial activities oriented to transfer knowledge, from the institute to a startup or spin-off of the research group. The positions will be part of the new Machine Learning and Optimization group http://luigimalago.it/group.html, which performs research at the intersection of Machine Learning, Stochastic Optimization, Deep Learning, and Optimization over Manifolds, from the unifying perspective of Information Geometry. The group is one of two newly-formed groups in Machine Learning at RIST, where about 20 new postdoctoral research associates and research software developers will be hired by 2018. The official job announcement can be seen here: http://rist.ro/en/details/news/postdoc-positions-in-deep-lea rning-and-machine-learning.html Informal inquiries can be sent to Dr. Luigi Malagò <malago(a)rist.ro>, principal investigator of the DeepRiemann project. Application deadline: 30 June 2018 (applicants are encouraged to apply earlier) best regards, Luigi Malagò

June 8, 2018

Postdoc position in computational neuroscience- University of Calgary

by Roberto C Sotero

The Computational Neurophysics Lab at the University of Calgary ( www.soterolab.com) headed by Dr. Roberto C. Sotero, is looking for a talented postdoctoral fellow, interested in working in the field of computational neuroscience, specifically modeling and identifying brain networks from EEG and fMRI data, and developing model-based control methods to steer these networks from their pathological dynamics towards healthy dynamics. As an example, see our recent paper: http://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.10061… The perfect candidate has a strong mathematical, physical, or engineering background (or equivalent), programming skills, and a keen interest in biological and neural systems. A PhD in the field of computational neuroscience is a plus. Applications including a CV, the statement of research interests, and the names and contact information of two references should be sent to roberto.soterodiaz(a)ucalgary.ca. Applications will be assessed as they arrive, and the position will remain open until filled. Salary will be based on University of Calgary post-doctoral rates and commensurate with experience. Best regards, Roberto C. Sotero, PhD Assistant Professor Department of Radiology Hotchkiss Brain Institute University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada www.soterolab.com roberto.soterodiaz(a)ucalgary.ca

June 7, 2018

PhD position, University of Innsbruck (Austria)

by Antonio Rodriguez-Sanchez

Ph.D. Student Position in Robot Learning or Computer Vision at U. Innsbruck The research group in Intelligent and Interactive Systems <https://iis.uibk.ac.at/>, led by Profs. Justus Piater and Antonio Rodríguez-Sánchez, has an opening for a Ph.D. student, on a university assistant position that includes minor teaching requirements. The research will be loosely aligned with ongoing research projects <https://iis.uibk.ac.at/research/projects> in the lab: deep learning in computer vision or robotics computational models of biological vision biologically-inspired computer vision robot vision and closed-loop sensorimotor interaction open-ended and intrinsically-motivated robot learning concept discovery by learning robots goal-oriented exploratory learning prediction of action effects robot skill optimization human-robot interaction and collaboration How to Apply Interested applicants should send a letter of motivation, a curriculum vitae including URLs of English-language theses and dissertations, scanned transcripts and diplomas, and contact information of at least two references in PDF to Justus.Piater(a)uibk.ac.at <mailto:Justus.Piater@uibk.ac.at>. Applications will be considered as they are received, until all positions are filled. Starting date is October 2018 or earlier. More details on https://iis.uibk.ac.at/jobs <https://iis.uibk.ac.at/jobs> Priv. Doz. Antonio Rodríguez-Sánchez, PhD Intelligent and Interactive Systems Dept. of Computer Science - Institut für Informatik University of Innsbruck - Universität Innsbruck Austria – Österreich https://iis.uibk.ac.at/public/antonio/ <https://iis.uibk.ac.at/public/antonio/>

June 7, 2018

Combined Postdoc and science manager to be integrated into the Human Brain Project – Data-driven modeling of plasticity combined with project coordination

by Jeanette Hällgren Kotaleski

Dear Colleagues, dear all, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, is currently recruiting a joint postdoc / science manager to be working within the Human Brain Project. Specifically for the above position data-driven modeling of receptor induced cascades such as GPCR dependent cascades involved in neuromodulation and synaptic plasticity will be done. The first year also research coordination and management is an important challenge of the job. Position can be prolonged (up to maximally 2 or 4 years, the latter if one has received a PhD within the last 3 years). More info and how to apply at: https://www.kth.se/en/om/work-at-kth/lediga-jobb/what:job/jobID:208384/wher… All the best, Jeanette Hellgren Kotaleski Prof, Dept Computational Science and Technolgy, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm

June 5, 2018

Master programme in Neuroinformatics and Computational Neuroscience

by Marcus Kaiser

Dear all, Please forward the following to interested final year UG students. our one-year master degree program in Neuroinformatics and Computational Neuroscience at Newcastle University is now accepting student applications. The course focuses on handling brain connectivity datasets, analyzing electrophysiological recordings, and simulating neural activity and development. Applications range from theoretical neuroscience and machine learning to experimental and clinical research. There are more than a dozen faculty members in the areas of Neuroinformatics, Health Informatics, and Neurotechnology within Newcastle University (see overview at http://neuroinformatics.ncl.ac.uk/ ). Close interactions with experimental and clinical researchers are a key component of the course and the dissertation research project. Ongoing research areas in Newcastle include neuroimaging, psychophysics, systems neuroscience (visual, auditory, and motor system), ageing, neurorehabilitation, brain rhythms, brain-machine interfaces, neurochips, and connectomics (http://www.ncl.ac.uk/ion ). Newcastle University hosts around 100 principal investigators in the neurosciences. You can find out more about the program and how to apply at http://www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/degrees/computational-neuroscienc… COURSE OUTLINE The MSc in Neuroinformatics is a full-time, one-year advanced masters course designed for students who have a good degree in the biological sciences or the physical sciences (computer science, mathematics, physics, engineering). It provides the specialist skills in core Neuroinformatics courses (such as computing and biology) with a significant focus on the development of research skills. Prior experience with computers or computer programming is not required. The program is ideal for students aiming for careers in industry or academia. The course is based in the School of Computing but there are strong links with biomedicine, engineering, and the Institute of Neuroscience. WHY STUDY AT NEWCASTLE? The MSc in Neuroinformatics is a truly interdisciplinary degree and provides the dual skills necessary to establish a rewarding career in this research area. The Newcastle program has a research focus on data management, network analysis (e.g. Kaiser, Neuroimage, 2011), and simulation. Newcastle is among the pioneers of the field in the UK and hosted the £4m EPSRC-funded CARMEN project for managing and processing electrophysiology data. We are currently involved in the £10m EPSRC/Wellcome Trust-funded CANDO project for developing an implantable optogenetic device for epilepsy patients (http://www.cando.ac.uk/ ). Newcastle has strong links with the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF). Currently, members of the faculty lead Neuroinformatics UK (http://www.neuroinformatics.org.uk/ ) and co-chair the Neuroinformatics Special Interest Group of the British Neuroscience Association (BNA). COURSE CONTENT Semester 1 contains modules to build the basic grounding in, and understanding of, Neuroinformatics theory and applications, mathematics and statistics, and programming. Semester 2 introduces modules that focus heavily on introducing subject-specific research skills and includes options for choosing modules. A major part of the programme is a research project that will occupy approximately six months. This project may be associated with staff in any of the Schools mentioned above, thus providing a wide range of exciting areas in which the newly learnt Neuroinformatics skills can be deployed. HOW TO APPLY Applications for this program are now being accepted. Please see http://www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/degrees/computational-neuroscienc… for more information. Best, Marcus -- Marcus Kaiser, Ph.D. FRSB @ConnectomeLab<https://twitter.com/ConnectomeLab> Professor of Neuroinformatics Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex Biosystems (ICOS) Research Group School of Computing Urban Sciences Building Newcastle University 1 Science Square Science Central Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5TG UK Lab website: http://www.dynamic-connectome.org<http://www.dynamic-connectome.org/>/ Neuroinformatics@Newcastle: http://neuroinformatics.ncl.ac.uk/ Neuroinformatics UK: http://www.neuroinformatics.org.uk/ Neuroinformatics one-year master programme: http://research.ncl.ac.uk/neuroinformatics/study

June 5, 2018

Postdoc in Brain Network Analysis and Modeling at Vanderbilt University

by Mikail Rubinov

Dear Colleagues, The Rubinov lab at Vanderbilt University Biomedical Engineering (http://www.rubinovlab.net) analyzes and models brain networks across modalities, species and scales. Our research interests broadly include: 1) Integrative statistical models of big neuroscience networks. 2) Evolutionary principles of brain network organization. 3) Information transfer in neural systems. 4) Neuropsychiatric connectivity phenotypes. We are recruiting a motivated postdoctoral researcher to join our lab. The position will be based at the Department of Biomedical Engineering and will be supervised by Dr. Mika Rubinov. There will be opportunities to develop exciting research ideas at the intersection of systems neuroscience, evolutionary neuroscience, network science and data science, and to collaborate with leading investigators at Vanderbilt University and Janelia Research Campus (Howard Hughes Medical Institute). The successful applicant should be passionate about neuroscience and understanding the brain, have good programming skills, and a strong background in a quantitative discipline, including but not limited to network science, computational neuroscience, computational biology, mathematics, physics, computer science, or electrical engineering. Preference will be given to applicants with a good publication record and with experience in analysis of complex datasets. The applicant must have completed their PhD by the start of this position. The position will be initially for one year, with possibilities for yearly extensions subject to satisfactory annual reviews. The salary will be commensurate with the applicant’s experience and qualifications. Vanderbilt is an elite research university (https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/vanderbilt-3535) located in Nashville, one of the hottest cities in the US today (http://www.visitmusiccity.com/media/rankings) Applicants are welcome to email Mika Rubinov for more details and information. Please submit the following application materials directly to mika.rubinov(a)vanderbilt.edu 1) A cover statement of the applicant’s fit for this position. 2) Curriculum Vitae. 3) A list of 2-3 key publications. 4) Contact details for 2-3 referees. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. https://www.nature.com/naturejobs/science/jobs/645613-postdoctoral-research… Best regards, Mika

June 4, 2018

Postdoctoral Position @UPenn in Vision Science & Computational Neuroscience

by Burge, Johannes

I am looking for a postdoctoral researcher to fill an NIH-funded position on the research team in the Natural Vision Lab at the University of Pennsylvania (http://burgelab.psych.upenn.edu<http://burgelab.psych.upenn.edu/>). My lab works to understand how vision works with natural stimuli. We use databases of natural images, statistical learning tools, ideal observer analysis, and behavioral experiments to gain a precise understanding of the processes that support perception. We have ongoing projects across a range of topics in vision and computational neuroscience, but we tend to focus on tasks and coding problems that are directly or indirectly related to motion and depth perception. My lab is also affiliated with the Computational Neuroscience Initiative at Penn, a community of top researchers working on an array of problems in sensation, perception, and cognition. Strong computational and programming skills are necessary, as well as experience designing and running psychophysical experiments. Familiarity with Matlab and Psychtoolbox is required. A solid background in computer graphics and knowledge of C/C++ and object oriented programming is desirable. The lab has a high refresh-rate VPixx ProPixx projector, a haploscope driven by two high-resolution VPixx ViewPixx monitors, and a large suite of custom code for statistical learning and for the analysis of psychometric data. Applicants must have finished their Ph.D. in neuroscience, vision science, engineering, computer science, or related fields and have a demonstrated record of research productivity. The position is available before the end of Summer 2018. The precise start date is flexible. Applicants should send a brief statement of interest, CV, and the names of three references to Johannes Burge (jburge(a)sas.upenn.edu<mailto:jburge@sas.upenn.edu>). Letters will be requested if your candidacy is being seriously considered. Applications will be assessed as they arrive and the position will remain open until filled. Salary will be based on NIH post-doctoral rates and commensurate with experience. ======================== Johannes Burge, PhD Assistant Professor Department of Psychology Neuroscience Graduate Group University of Pennsylvania http://burgelab.psych.upenn.edu jburge(a)sas.upenn.edu (215) 573 6528

June 4, 2018