- Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

Neuroinformatics 2017 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on August 20-21!

by INCF Congress

Neuroinformatics 2017 will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on August 20-21! We have an exiting program lined up, you can see the full program and speakers here: http://neuroinformatics2017.org/program/ The annual INCF Congress provides a meeting place for researchers in all fields related to neuroinformatics. Join us for keynotes from top neuroscientists, community sessions and poster- and demo sessions. This meeting is especially useful for anyone who is developing neuroscience tools and methods, working on better ways to handle neuroscience data, and looking for cross-disciplinary collaborations. More information: http://neuroinformatics2017.org/ Please spread this information to anyone you feel might be interested in attending. We look forward to seeing you in Kuala Lumpur! Best wishes, the INCF Secretariat *The International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF) is an international non-profit organization devoted to advancing the field of neuroinformatics and global collaborative brain research. Learn more about INCF at www.incf.org <http://www.incf.org>*

July 27, 2017

Human Brain Project: calls are open to join the project in the next project phase

by "Lührs, Anna"

Dear colleagues, As most of you know, the Human Brain Project (HBP) is a Horizon2020 FET Flagship project with a duration of 10 years. One of the main objectives is to build and operate a European Scientific Research Infrastructure for brain research, cognitive neuroscience and other brain-inspired sciences. The HBP recently opened four Calls for Expression of Interest (CEoI), through which new partners can join the HBP Consortium in the next project phase, April 2018 - March 2020. One of the Calls is about "Co-designing the HBP digital infrastructure for advancing the understanding of multilevel brain organisation”. The available budget of EUR 1,839,424.00 will be split between two selected proposals. The submission deadline for this and the others calls is 30 September 2017, 17:00 CEST. More information about the call mentioned above: http://opencalls.humanbrainproject.eu/forms/16/overview <http://opencalls.humanbrainproject.eu/forms/16/overview> The overview of all open calls is published here: https://www.humanbrainproject.eu/en/collaborate/open-calls/ <https://www.humanbrainproject.eu/en/collaborate/open-calls/> Questions regarding the CEoI about co-designing the HBP infrastructure can be sent to: codesigning-hbp(a)opencalls.humanbrainproject.eu <mailto:codesigning-hbp@opencalls.humanbrainproject.eu> Best regards, Anna Lührs Simulation Lab Neuroscience Division HPC in Neuroscience Phone: +49 2461 61 8931 Jülich Supercomputing Centre E-mail: a.luehrs(a)fz-juelich.de Institute for Advanced Simulation http://www.fz-juelich.de/ias/jsc Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH 52425 Juelich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Juelich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Dueren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Dr. Karl Eugen Huthmacher Geschaeftsfuehrung: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Marquardt (Vorsitzender), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Harald Bolt, Prof. Dr. Sebastian M. Schmidt ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

July 27, 2017

One PhD and one PostDoc Position in Theoretical Neuroscience at the Georg-August University of Göttingen available

by Tetzlaff, Christian

The research groups of Prof. Florentin Wörgötter and Dr. Christian Tetzlaff offer one fully-funded PhD and one fully-funded PostDoc position for 4 years. Both groups are based in the Faculty of Physics of the University of Göttingen and work interdisciplinary on the field of self-organizing neural networks with focus on learning, plasticity, and memory. The research goals of both positions are to develop and analyze new theoretical models of learning-related molecular dynamics in dendritic spines. These projects will be in direct cooperation with experimental groups from the Göttingen Campus (e.g., together with the labs of Prof. Silvio Rizzoli and Prof. Stefan Hell) and they are part of a new established collaborative research center (SFB 1286 - "Quantitative Synaptology") at the University of Göttingen, Medical Center Göttingen, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, and Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry. The PhD student will have the opportunity to become member of the Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences, Biophysics, and Molecular Biosciences. Ideal candidates have experience and interest for mathematical and computational methods as well as for fundamental cell biology. The closing date is 30th of September 2017. Start date is as soon as possible. Applications should be send electronically (preferably one pdf-document) to: tetzlaff(a)phys.uni-goettingen.de<mailto:tetzlaff@phys.uni-goettingen.de> and worgott(a)gwdg.de<mailto:worgott@gwdg.de>

July 26, 2017

PhD and Postdoc positions in cognitive neuroscience in Bordeaux

by Alexandre Zenon

PhD and Postdoc positions in Cognitive Neuroscience in Bordeaux, France Applications are invited for a PhD and a post-doctoral position in cognitive neuroscience at the INCIA, Bordeaux, France. The 3-year positions are funded by the Junior Chair from IDEX Bordeaux. The successful candidates will work on the theoretical development and experimental validation of a neurobiological model of cognitive effort and cognitive fatigue, based on information theory. This work will involve behavioural experiments, neuroimaging and computational modelling. Requirements: Postdoctoral applicants must hold a PhD in neuroscience with strong experience in computational modelling and/or neuroimaging. PhD applicants must hold a Master's degree in a neuroscience-related field (e.g. medicine, biology, psychology, ...). Previous experience in research and data analysis will be valued. Expected start date: Autumn 2017 Send applications with CV, 2 letters of recommendation and motivation letter to alexandre.zenon(a)u-bordeaux.fr<mailto:alexandre.zenon@u-bordeaux.fr>

July 25, 2017

Please post: postdoctoral fellowship available

by Andy Edwards

Postdoctoral fellowship in computational neuroscience: Simula, Oslo Simula Research Laboratory is pleased to offer a 4-year postdoctoral fellowship in computational modelling of multiscale processes in neuroplasticity. Please see the full position description and requirements at our applications page: https://www.simula.no/about/job/postdoctoral-fellowship-neur al-systems-modeling Andy Edwards Senior Scientist Simula Research Laboratory

July 25, 2017

MBCC 2017: ICCV Workshop on Mutual Benefits of Cognitive and Computer Vision - Call For Papers

by Christopher Kanan

## CALL FOR PAPERS (CfP) ## ICCV International Workshop on ‘Mutual Benefits of Cognitive and Computer Vision (MBCC)’ 29 October 2017 Venice, Italy (https://sites.google.com/site/mbcc2017w/home) _____________ Aim and Scope As researchers working at the intersection of biological and machine vision, we have noticed an increasing interest in both communities to understand and improve on each other’s insights. Recent advances in machine learning (especially deep learning) have led to unprecedented improvements in computer vision. These deep learning algorithms have revolutionized computer vision, and now rival humans at some narrowly defined tasks such as object recognition (e.g., the ImageNet Large Scale Visual Recognition Challenge). In spite of these advances, the existence of adversarial images (some of which have perturbations imperceptible to humans) and rather poor generalizability across datasets point out the flaws present in these networks. On the other hand, the human visual system remains highly efficient at solving real-world tasks and capable of solving many visual tasks. We believe that the time is ripe to have extended discussions and interactions between researchers from both fields in order to steer future research in more fruitful directions. This workshop will compare human vision to state-of-the-art machine perception methods, with specific emphasis on deep learning models and architectures. Our workshop will address many important questions. They include: 1) What are the representational differences between human and machine perception? 2) What makes human vision so effective? and 3) What can we learn from human vision research? Addressing these questions is not as difficult as previously thought due to technological advancements in both computational science and neuroscience. We can now measure human behavior precisely and collect huge amounts of neurophysiological data using EEG and fMRI. This places us in a unique position to compare state-of-the-art computer vision models and human behavioral/neural data, which was impossible to do a few years ago. However, this advantage also comes with its own set of problems: Which task/metric to use for comparison? What are the representational similarities? How different are the computations in a biological visual system when compared to an artificial vision system? How does human vision achieve invariance? This workshop is a great opportunity for researchers working on human and/or machine perception to come together and discuss plausible solutions to some of the aforementioned problems. ______ Topics for submission include but are not limited to: - architectures for processing visual information in the human brain and computer vision (e.g. feedforward vs feedback, shallow vs deep networks, residual, recurrent, etc) - limitations of existing computer vision/deep learning systems compared to human vision - learning rules employed in computer vision and by the brain (e.g. unsupervised/semi-supervised learning, Hebb rule, Spike timing dependent plasticity) - representations/features in humans and computer vision - tasks/metrics to compare human and computer vision (e.g. eye fixation, reaction time, rapid categorization, visual search) - new benchmarks (e.g. datasets) - generalizability of machine representation to other tasks - new techniques to measure and analyze human psychophysics and neural signals - the problem on invariant learning - conducting large-scale behavioral and physiological experiments (e.g., fMRI, cell recording) ______________ Invited Speakers We have invited leading researchers from both Cognitive Science and Computer Vision to inspire discussions and collaborations. 1. Michael Tarr, Carnegie Mellon University 2. Davide Zoccolan, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy ___________________ Submission Guidelines We are inviting both full paper (5-8 pages) and extended abstract (2-4 pages) submissions to the workshop. Submitted papers must follow the ICCV paper format and guidelines (available on the ICCV 2017 webpage). All submissions will be handled via the CMT website: https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/MBCC2017/ Full papers: The submitted papers should have a maximum length of 8 pages, including figures and tables; additional pages must contain only cited references. The review will be double-blind. Please make sure all authors or references to authors are anonymized. Full paper submissions must not have been published before. Extended abstracts: We invite submissions of extended abstracts of ongoing or already published work as well as demos or prototype systems (ICCV format). Authors are given the opportunity to present their work to the right audience. The review will be single-blind. ______________ Important Dates Full Paper submission: August 1st, 2017 Extended Abstract submission: August 5th, 2017 Notification of acceptance: August 15th, 2017 Camera-ready paper due: September 30th, 2017 Workshop: October 29th, 2017 (Morning Session) _____________________________ Workshop Organizing Committee Ali Borji, University of Central Florida Pramod RT, Indian Institute of Science Elissa Aminoff, Fordham University Christopher Kanan, Rochester Institute of Technology _______ Contact mbccw.iccv2017(a)gmail.com

July 23, 2017

BCBT2017 Summer School. Registration deadline August 1st!

by BCBT, Bústia Compartida

*Registration deadline postponed: 1 August 2017* For more information on how to apply, please go to BCBT2017-Eventum UPF <https://eventum.upf.edu/9240/detail/bcbt-2017.html> ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------ *Barcelona Cognition, Brain and Technology Summer School -BCBT2017* University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain. 28 August - 8 September 2017 BCBT2017-Eventum UPF <https://eventum.upf.edu/9240/detail/bcbt-2017.html> Join us for the 10th edition of *"Barcelona Cognition, Brain and Technology summer school - BCBT2017 *" be held 28 August-8 September 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. The BCBT summer school is positioned at the interface between biology and future and emerging technologies with an emphasis on the principles underlying brains and their translation to avant-garde technologies. BCBT promotes a shared systems-level understanding of the functional architecture of the brain and its possible emulation in artificial systems. The summer school has been part of a series of events organized by the European coordination action Convergent Science Network of Biomimetics and Neurotechnology (*http://csnetwork.eu/ <http://csnetwork.eu/>*). This year the school is supported by the ERC project CDAC <http://specs.upf.edu/projects/2810> that investigates the role of consciousness in adaptive behavior combining empirical, computational and robot-based approach. BCBT is also supported by EPISENSE <https://www.humanbrainproject.eu/sp3>, a subproject of the Human Brain Project <https://www.humanbrainproject.eu/>(HBP) that investigates brain mechanisms of perception and memory. This is the 10th year of BCBT, which has run with great success in previous years thanks to an excellent line-up of outstanding speakers (see bcbt.upf.edu for previous editions of the school). BCBT lectures <https://www.youtube.com/user/ConvergentScienceNw/playlists> are available online with the BCBT *Podcast interviews *with many of the BCBT speakers. BCBT caters to students and researchers involved in projects that are in the ambit of “BIO-ICT convergence”, "Brain Inspired ICT", “Cognitive systems-robotics”, “Cognitive and neural systems”, “Foundations of social cognition”. BCBT will offer up to 30 student slots for the practical workshops, while as many researchers can register to attend the presentations and discussion sessions as they are interested. The atmosphere of the BCBT summer school is informal with the goal to stimulate in-depth discussion. There are 1 or 2 presentations in the morning, with the afternoons reserved for tutorials and projects for student participants and road-mapping workshops or further discussion for senior scientists. For the 2017 edition, we plan a *1st week* of the school addressing *Neural basis of Consciousness *while the *2nd week* will include presentations aimed at the investigation of *Evolutionary and Developmental aspects of nervous systems and behavior.* Friday 8 is reserved for the presentation of the student projects to which everybody is invited. *BCBT is organized by* Paul Verschure, ICREA and University Pompeu Fabra Barcelona, ES, Tony Prescott, Sheffield University, UK Anna Mura, University Pompeu Fabra Barcelona, ES

July 23, 2017

NeuroMorpho.Org v7.2 released July 19th, 2017

by NeuroMorpho Administrator

Dear colleagues, We’re pleased to announce the July 19, 2017 release of Version 7.2 of NeuroMorpho.Org<http://neuromorpho.org/>, adding 7721 reconstructions from 83 new datasets. The repository now provides access to 70,025 cells and passed 7 million downloads in 163 countries. Please visit the What’s new page<http://neuromorpho.org/WIN.jsp> for details on the added data and other updates. The literature coverage was also updated to include publications through June 2017. We are continuously grateful to all the data contributors<http://neuromorpho.org/acknowl.jsp#DC> who freely share their hard-won tracings with the community. We appreciate any and all feedback and comments. Our apologies if you receive multiple versions of this message through cross-listing. Sincerely, The NeuroMorpho.Org team<http://neuromorpho.org/acknowl.jsp#NMO> ---------------- Giorgio Ascoli<http://krasnow1.gmu.edu/cn3/ascoli>, PhD University Professor Bioengineering Department<http://bioengineering.gmu.edu/>, Volgenau School of Engineering<http://volgenau.gmu.edu/> Neuroscience Program<http://neuroscience.gmu.edu/>, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study<http://krasnow1.gmu.edu/> Director, Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity<http://krasnow1.gmu.edu/cn3> MS2A1 - George Mason University<http://gmu.edu/>, Fairfax, VA 22030-4444 Ph. +1(703)993-4383/+1(703)673-8894 Author of “Trees of the Brain, Roots of the Mind<http://www.amazon.com/Trees-Brain-Roots-Giorgio-Ascoli/dp/0262028980/>” (MIT Press, 2015<http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/trees-brain-roots-mind>) Founding Editor-in-Chief, Neuroinformatics<http://link.springer.com/journal/12021>

July 21, 2017

8th NeuralEnsemble CodeJam workshop

by Andrew Davison

Dear colleagues, You are invited to participate in the 8th NeuralEnsemble CodeJam workshop, which will take place 13th-15th September 2017 in Lausanne, Switzerland. http://neuralensemble.org/meetings/CodeJam8/ The goal of the CodeJam is to catalyze open-source, collaborative software development in computational and systems neuroscience and neuroinformatics, by bringing together researchers, students and engineers to share ideas, present their work, and write code together. Mornings are dedicated to invited and contributed talks, leaving the afternoons free for discussions, tutorials and code sprints. CodeJam #8 is sponsored by the Human Brain Project Best regards, Andrew -- Andrew Davison, PhD Unité de Neurosciences, Information et Complexité (UNIC) Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 1, avenue de la Terrasse 91198 Gif sur Yvette France Tel: +33 1 69 82 34 51 http://www.andrewdavison.info/

July 21, 2017

PhD studentship in Computational Neuroscience/Machine Learning

by Vassilis Cutsuridis

PhD Position in Computational Neuroscience/Machine learning MLearn Research Group School of Computer Science University of Lincoln UK Applications are invited for a PhD position in the MLearn Research Group at the University of Lincoln. Projects involve the development and simulation of models of neurons and neuronal networks hippocampal memory functions (Cutsuridis V, et al. (2010). Encoding and retrieval in the hippocampal CA1 microcircuit model. *Hippocampus*, 20(3): 423-446) <http://vassiliscutsuridis.com/docs/Journal_papers/CutCobGraHippo2010.pdf> and/or applications of machine learning (deep learning) techniques for the analysis of data. A description of our research interests and a list of publications can be found on our webpage (http://mlearn.lincoln.ac.uk/) Applicants should have excellent computational and numerical skills and a very good first degree in computer science, biology, maths, physics, neuroscience, or a related discipline. Successful candidates are eligible for a research studentship award from the University (GBP 14,553 per annum bursary plus payment of the student fees). This studentship is only open to UK and EU students. The ideal candidate should be highly motivated, technically skilled, a team player and driven to push forward the development of the next generation of deep associative memory neural-networks. Your written and spoken English skills should be excellent. As a PhD student, you may also have the opportunity to teach as a demonstrator in the School of Computer Science. Research in Computer Science at the University of Lincoln has been recognised as internationally excellent and world leading. The School of Computer Science provides a very stimulating environment, offering a large number of specialised and interdisciplinary seminars as well as general training and researcher development opportunities. The University is situated in Lincoln, two hours north of London. Please contact Dr Vassilis Cutsuridis (vcutsuridis(a)lincoln.ac.uk) or Prof. Stefanos Kollias (skollias(a)lincoln.ac.uk) for informal enquiries. If you’re interested in this position and you would like to apply, please send your CV, statement of research interests, three reference letters and a photo to Dr. Vassilis Cutsuridis: vcutsuridis(a)lincoln.ac.uk Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis, so please apply as soon as possible. Kind regards, Vassilis --- Dr Vassilis Cutsuridis School of Computer Science University of Lincoln Lincoln LN6 7TS U.K. Tel: +44 (0) 1522 83 5107 Email: vcutsuridis(a)lincoln.ac.uk Web: http://staff.lincoln.ac.uk/vcutsuridis Personal Web: http://www.vassiliscutsuridis.com/

July 20, 2017