- Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

open PhD position - Memory/Navigation - Max Planck Institute CBS, Leipzig

by Andrej Bicanski

Dear colleagues, I am advertising a PhD position in computational neuroscience in my group (Neural Computation) - fully funded (3 years) - at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig. The position is part of an international collaborative effort (4 labs) to test and develop further computational models of episodic and spatial memory by combining human intracranial electrophysiology and computational models. Specifically, the project will explore computational/neural mechanisms underlying cognitive maps, spatial (and episodic) memory, and navigation. The candidate will have two main tasks: 1. develop new and improve existing models, 2. co-develop an analysis pipeline for human single units. Prerequisites are outstanding records in an area relevant to neuroscience. A strong quantitative background in the natural sciences, mathematics, computer science or engineering is also suitable (e.g., physics, mathematics, etc.). Excellent programming skills (Python, Matlab) are required. This project is part of an international collaboration with the Universities of Bonn (Prof. Lukas Kunz), Berlin (Prof. Richard Kempter), and Columbia (Prof. Josh Jacobs). Please direct potential candidates to the ad at: https://tinyurl.com/yc84ctap This position is being re-advertised. The starting date is flexible, but ideally candidates are available in the near future. Applications will be considered as long as the above advert is accessible. You can read more on the neural computation group here: https://www.cbs.mpg.de/psychology/neural-computation Best wishes, Andrej Bicanski Dr. Andrej Bicanski Neural Computation Group Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Stephanstrasse 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany Email: bicanski(a)cbs.mpg.de Tel.: +49 (0)341 9940197

Sept. 8, 2025

Uri Hasson speaking on September 25 in Developing Minds global online lecture series

by Jochen Triesch

Dear colleagues, On September 25, the Developing Minds global online lecture series is proud to host Uri Hasson from Princeton University, USA, speaking on: "Developing cognitively feasible learning agents that can acquire language like children through real-life experiences“. Thursday, September 25, 2025: 9:00 am EST (Eastern Standard Time, US) 14:00 UTC (Universal Coordinated Time) 15:00 CET (Central European Time) 22:00 JST (Japan Standard Time) The zoom link/credentials are: https://uni-frankfurt.zoom-x.de/j/65594262654?pwd=2BdrxR1IvUy2rjn3dDmfEVGXy… Meeting-ID: 655 9426 2654 Access code: 141793 Abstract: Understanding how humans learn to think, speak, and interact in natural environments is one of the most significant scientific challenges. Traditional computational models perform well in artificial tasks but struggle to generalize to real-life ecological situations. In contrast, new deep learning models excel at processing real-world information and demonstrate cognitive abilities close to those of humans. However, these models are trained on impractically large datasets and use training protocols that are not cognitively feasible, which limits their ability to explain or predict human learning and cognitive development. This project aims to develop the first cognitively feasible learning agents—AI systems that learn language and cognition within constraints that mimic human development. Leveraging a unique dataset (the 1kD corpus)— continuous daily audio-visual recordings from 18 children’s first 1,000 days of life—we will train models directly on the ecologically valid, socially embedded experiences that shape children’s growth. Unlike large-scale industrial models, which depend on vast impersonal datasets, our approach emphasizes individual-centered, real-world input that captures the long-tail variability of human development. By replicating learning trajectories across multiple households, we will establish the first mechanistic framework for how natural input shapes children’s cognition. The project represents a bold shift from analyzing existing models to building new brain-inspired learning agents, directly addressing ecological validity and laying the foundation for a new generation of cognitive science. Short Bio: Uri Hasson grew up in Jerusalem. He studied philosophy and cognitive sciences at the Hebrew University as an undergrad. He completed his Ph.D. in Neurobiology at the Weizmann Institute in Israel and was a postdoctoral fellow at NYU before moving to Princeton. He is currently a Professor in the Psychology Department and the Neuroscience Institute at Princeton University. His research program aims to understand the neural basis of face-to-face, brain-to-brain, communication in real-world contexts, using big ECoG data and deep language models. The talk will be recorded and made available for later viewing. For more information on the talk series and recordings of previous events, please visit: https://sites.google.com/view/developing-minds-series/home Best regards, Jochen Triesch -- Prof. Dr. Jochen Triesch Johanna Quandt Chair for Theoretical Life Sciences Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies and Goethe University Frankfurt http://fias.uni-frankfurt.de/~triesch/ Tel: +49 (0)69 798-47531 Fax: +49 (0)69 798-47611

Sept. 8, 2025

Call for Presentations and Workshops: 5th Applied Active Inference Symposium (November 12-14, 2025)

by Zohreh Rahmannejad

Dear Colleagues, (Apologies for any cross-posting.) We are excited to invite researchers and practitioners to submit presentations for the upcoming 5th Applied Active Inference Symposium 2025, to be held on 12-14 November, 2025. This online Symposium will focus on exploring the frontiers of Active Inference with a special focus on its applications in industry. As with last year’s Symposium, the keynote address and panel will feature Karl Friston. All information: symposium.activeinference.institute/ Complete this form <https://coda.io/form/5th-Applied-Active-Inference-Symposium-Presenter-Form_…> to submit your presentation proposal, and/or read on for more details. Please feel free to share this invite with anyone else who you think would be a great addition to the Symposium. Symposium Themes and Topic We are welcoming presentations and workshop submissions that align with the Symposium themes and tracks: - Overall Theme - - Applying Active Inference in Industry: In 2025 we are seeing increased application of Active Inference across industry domains. What are the success stories? What was learned along the way? What challenges remain? What kind of applied research would accelerate applications? - Topics - - Open Science & Tool Development: Increasing the function and accessibility of Active Inference software across languages. Focused tracks and workshops on practical aspects of Active Inference. - Learning & Education: Share initiatives and experiences in teaching and spreading knowledge about Active Inference. Connecting the global Active Inference community with each other, resources, and research/education opportunities. Interactive Aspects & Specific Affordances Submissions of the following types are welcomed: - Presentations: Pre-recorded video presentations of 15-60 minutes, or livestream slots of 30-90 minutes for panels or group discussions. - Workshops, Tutorials, and Hackathons: Hands-on sessions of 60-180 minutes, that engage participants with Active Inference methods and provide open source materials/outputs. Accessibility & Participation We are committed to making this online symposium accessible to all. - Participant registration: The Symposium will be online, with no financial barrier to participation. We will provide pathways for participants to foster deeper involvement with ongoing research and projects <https://activities.activeinference.institute/> in the ecosystem. - Collaboration with Active Inference Journal: We will publish the Abstracts of presentations (similar to last year <https://zenodo.org/records/14106553>) to give visibility to proceedings and enhance availability of the materials - Translation: We will translate materials into different languages where possible, to provide content that reaches a broader audience (the organizing team will support presenters on this). - Multimodal Content: audio, visual, interactive/real-time simulations or other media that help communicate complex ideas. The content will remain posted on our YouTube channel for asynchronous viewing following the symposium. Important Dates - Presenter Submission Deadline: October 12, 2025 - Symposium Dates: November 12-14, 2025 How to Submit Please submit your abstracts and proposals via this form <https://coda.io/form/5th-Applied-Active-Inference-Symposium-Presenter-Form_…>. Symposium co-organizers: Alexander Ororbia, Alexandra Mikhailova, Andrew Pashea, Bradly Alicea, Christian Martens, Cory Slater, Daniel Friedman, Marc Broberg, Maria Garcia, Maria Luiza Iennaco, PabloFM, Rorik Smith, Sylvia Zhang, Bleu Knight, Zohreh Rahmannejad, Alex Vyatkin Contact Information: For any inquiries, please reach out to blanket(a)activeinference.institute . We are also seeking sponsors <https://coda.io/d/AII_do5M5iYau8H/Sponsorship-at-the-Symposium_sue6mCUY> at this time. Information on participant registration will be available here <https://symposium.activeinference.institute/> closer to the date.

Sept. 6, 2025

Postdoc Opportunity in Neonatal Brain Imaging in London – Apply by 25 September

by Fabrizi, Lorenzo

🔬🧠👶 We’re recruiting a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join a new collaborative project between UCL’s Medawar Pain and Somatosensory Labs, UCLH, and Birkbeck BabyLab/ToddlerLab<https://cbcd.bbk.ac.uk/toddlerlab>, led by Prof. Lorenzo Fabrizi<https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/1290>, Dr. Judith Meek<https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/our-services/find-consultant/dr-judith-meek> and Prof. Emily Jones<https://cbcd.bbk.ac.uk/people/scientificstaff/emily-jones>. This interdisciplinary research explores how early sensory experiences influence long-term sensory processing in preterm-born neonates and children. 🧪 Your Role: • Use EEG and novel sensory testing methods • Identify individuals at risk of sensory challenges • Collaborate with leading experts in brain imaging and neurodevelopment 🎓 We’re Looking For: • Background in Medical Physics, Bioengineering, Computational Neuroscience, or related fields • Proficiency in brain imaging and programming • Strong communication and teamwork skills 🌍 Where: UCL, UCLH, and Birkbeck, London, UK 📅 Deadline: 25 September 2025 📋 Apply here<https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/search-ucl-jobs/details?nPostingId=15369&…> Lorenzo Fabrizi, PhD Professor of Developmental Systems Neuroscience Medical Research Foundation Fellow Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology Department Room G17A, Medawar Building Bloomsbury Campus University College London Gower St, London WC1E 6BT office tel. 02031081888 (int. 51888)

Sept. 5, 2025

Five Faculty Positions in Neuroscience at U Notre Dame

by Robert Rosenbaum

Dear colleagues, The University of Notre Dame is hiring 5 tenure or tenure-track professors in Neuroscience, including Computational Neuroscience, across 4 departments. Feel free to reach out with any questions. And please share with any colleagues who might be interested. apply.interfolio.com/173031 Best, Robert Rosenbaum

Sept. 5, 2025

Postdoctoral Position in Computational Cognitive Neuroscience (Marseille, France)

by Andrea Brovelli

** *We are pleased to announce a postdoctoral opening in computational cognitive neuroscience in the group of Dr. Andrea Brovelli <https://brovelli.github.io/>at the Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone(INT <https://www.int.univ-amu.fr/>), Marseille, France.* * The successful candidate will join the Brain Networksteam (BraiNets <https://www.int.univ-amu.fr/recherche-int/equipes/brainets>), a research group at INT in computational neuroscience at the interface of systems neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, network neuroscience, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. The recruited postdoc will work in close collaboration with Dr. Alain Barrat at the Centre de Physique Théorique (CPT <https://www.cpt.univ-mrs.fr/>). This highly interdisciplinary project combines information-theoretic and network-science approaches to investigate the role of brain interactions in goal-directed causal learning, using multi-scale human neurophysiological data (magnetoencephalography, MEG, and intracranial stereo-electroencephalography, SEEG). What We’re Looking For * PhD in Cognitive and/or Computational Neuroscience, or in Physics, Computer Science, or Mathematics with a strong motivation to transition into neuroscience * Research experience with neural data (e.g., EEG, MEG, ECoG, LFPs) is highly valued * Knowledge of neural mechanisms and computational models of learning and decision-making is welcome * Expertise in information theory, signal processing, or network neuroscience is valued * Proficiency in Python is required * Excellent scientific communication and collaboration skills; publications in top-tier scientific journals are welcome Position Details * Start date:Flexible (ideally before April 2026) * Duration:24 months * Application deadline:November 15, 2025 Application InstructionsPlease send your application (CV and motivation letter) to Dr. Andrea Brovelli. In addition, arrange for two letters of recommendation to be sent by your supervisors. ContactDr. Andrea Brovelliandrea.brovelli(a)univ-amu.fr*

Sept. 5, 2025

Cross-domain saliency maps: interpretable attributions for EEG/MEG/LFP models (PyTorch & TensorFlow library)

by Christodoulos Kechris

We are introducing a saliency map method that produces meaningful attributions for time-series ML models. Instead of restricting explanations to the time domain, our approach generates saliency maps in relevant domains such as frequency or ICA components - improving interpretability when applying deep models to EEG/MEG/LFP. *Cross-Domain Saliency Maps* is an open-source toolkit that: - Provides frequency and ICA domain attributions out-of-the box - Extends to any invertible transform with a differentiable inverse - Works plug-and-play with PyTorch and TensorFlow, no retraining required - Demonstrates utility on EEG seizure detection and other datasets *Get started:* *What does your deep model see in your EEG? (Colab demo) * https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1mJmLGzgJaGFJ50Q3BmNVeUECtZQzFLQP#s… *Get the code & run it on your data (GitHub repo)* https://github.com/esl-epfl/cross-domain-saliency-maps <https://github.com/esl-epfl/cross-domain-saliency-maps> *Read the full story (arXiv preprint)* https://arxiv.org/pdf/2505.13100 We would be happy to hear your thoughts and experiences applying this to neural data.

Sept. 3, 2025

conference announcement

by Tom Verguts

Announcing NEUROCOG 2025 Artificial Intelligence and the Human Brain NEUROCOG is a biannual international conference in cognitive neurosciences, held in Belgium. It serves as a dynamic platform for sharing recent advances across all domains of cognitive neuroscience. 🎓 Keynote Speakers * Chris Summerfield * Evelina Fedorenko * Jeff Bowers * Iris Groen * Mariya Toneva * Nicolas Schuck Each keynote talk is followed by extended discussion time. With the same goal of fostering the interactions and discussions among the attendants, there will be no parallel talk sessions and the number of individual talks, as the number of attendants, will be limited. Two guided poster sessions will also be organised. 📅 November 17–18, 2025 📍 Academy Palace, Hertogstraat 1, Brussels (BE) (Walking distance from Brussels Central Station) 📝 Submission Deadline: September 30 🧾 Registration Deadline: October 15 ________________________________ 🔗 More Information * 🌍 Website: neurocog.be<http://neurocog.be/> * 📧 Contact: neurocog2025(a)gmail.com<mailto:neurocog2025@gmail.com>

Sept. 3, 2025

What can you do with 1000 neurons? Task 2

by Nicolas P. Rougier (inria)

Dear all, The first task (simple decision) has been solved by a number of participants. Most of the models were able to survive in the proposed environment for quite a long time, and one entry used the optimal decision strategy, with only 22 neurons (out of 1000 available). The challenge is still running with a new task (cued decision, which might be simpler) and a new agenda (you have two months). You'll find instructions at https://github.com/rougier/braincraft the rules for the new task. Reminder: you have have 1000 neurons (leaky rate models), 100 seconds of training time and 10 runs for evaluation. The difficulty comes from the imposed constraints. You have to 2 months to propose your model. Best, Nicolas Rougier. -- Nicolas P. Rougier —— www.labri.fr/perso/nrougier Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bordeaux

Sept. 3, 2025

COSYNE 2026: Meeting announcement; Call for Abstracts

by Tomas Hromadka

==================================================== Computational and Systems Neuroscience 2026 (Cosyne) MAIN MEETING 12 - 15 March 2026 Lisbon, Portugal WORKSHOPS 16 - 17 March 2026 Cascais, Portugal www.cosyne.org ==================================================== ---------------------------------------------------- MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT ---------------------------------------------------- The annual Cosyne meeting provides an inclusive forum for the exchange of empirical and theoretical approaches to problems in systems neuroscience, in order to understand how neural systems function. The MAIN MEETING is single-track. A set of invited talks is selected by the Executive Committee, and additional talks and posters are selected by the Program Committee, based on submitted abstracts. The WORKSHOPS feature in-depth discussion of current topics of interest, in a small group setting. All abstract submissions will be reviewed double blind. The deadline for Abstract submission will be 16 October 2025. Cosyne topics include but are not limited to: neural basis of behavior, sensory and motor systems, circuitry, learning, neural coding, natural scene statistics, dendritic computation, neural basis of persistent activity, nonlinear receptive field mapping, representations of time and sequence, reward systems, decision-making, synaptic plasticity, map formation and plasticity, population coding, attention, neuromodulation, and computation with spiking networks. We would like to foster increased participation from experimental groups as well as computational ones. Please circulate widely and encourage your students and postdocs to apply. IMPORTANT DATES Abstract submission opens: 05 September 2025 Abstract submission deadline: 16 October 2025 When preparing an abstract, authors should be aware that not all abstracts can be accepted for the meeting. Abstracts will be selected based on the clarity with which they convey the substance, significance, and originality of the work to be presented. ORGANIZING COMMITTEE General Chairs: Tatiana Engel (Princeton) and Kevin Franks (Duke) Program Chairs: Kimberly Stachenfeld (DeepMind) and Mark Histed (NIH) Workshop Chairs: N Alex Cayco Gajic (ENS) and Guillaume Lajoie (MILA/U Montreal) Tutorial Chairs: Eva Dyer (Georgia Tech) and Talmo Pereira (Salk) Mentorship and Networking Chairs: Denise Cai (Mount Sinai) and Luke Sjulson (Albert Einstein) Undergraduate Travel Chairs: Lea Duncker (Columbia) and Kevin Miller (DeepMind) Development Chair: Michael Long (NYU) Social Media Chair: Sabera Talukder (Caltech) Audio-Video Media Chair: Carlos Stein Brito (Chamaplimaud) Poster Design: Maja Bialon PROGRAM COMMITTEE Mark Histed (NIH) Co-chair Kimberly Stachenfeld (DeepMind) Co-chair Mikio Aoi (UCSD) Arkarup Banerjee (CSHL) Helen Barron (Oxford) Marcus Benna (UCSD) Adrian Bondy (Princeton) N Alex Cayco Gajic (ENS) Hannah Choi (Georgia Tech) Ben Cowley (CSHL) Brian DePasquale (BU) Sridhar Devarajan (IISc) Laura Driscoll (Allen Institute) Eva Dyer (U Penn) Becket Ebitz (U Montreal) Noemi Elteto (DeepMind) Arseny Finkelstein (Tel Aviv U) Juan Alvaro Gallego (Imperial) Matt Golub (U Washington) Laura Grima (Janelia) Bilal Haider (Georgia Tech) Kiah Hardcastle (Harvard) Y Kate Hong (CMU) Michele Insanally (U Pittsburgh) Jonathan Kao (UCLA) Ann Kennedy (Northwestern) Kishore Kuchibhotla (JHU) Anna Levina (U Tubingen) Camilo Libedinsky (National Institute of Singapore) Laureline Logiaco (CU Anschutz) Emily Mace (Med Cntr Gottingen) Emily Mackevicius (Basis) Francesca Mastrogiuseppe (Champalimaud) Alexander Mathis (EPFL) Luca Mazzucatto (U Oregon) Dan McNamee (Champalimaud) Jorge Mejias (UVA) James Murray (U Oregon) Hendrikje Nienborg (NIH) Ramon Nogueira Manas (U Chicago) Gouki Okazawa (Inst of Neurosci, China) Marino Pagan (U Edinburgh) Agostina Palmigiano (UCL) Hannah Payne (NYU) Rui Ponte Costa (Oxford) Carolina Rezaval (U Birmingham) Erin Rich (NYU) Alex Roxin (Centre de Recerca Matematica) Shreya Saxena (Yale) Benjamin Scott (BU) Alireza Soltani (Dartmouth) Nicholas Steinmetz (UW) Carsen Stringer (Janelia) Jennifer Sun (Cornell, DeepMind) Marie Suver (Vanderbilt) Tatjana Tschumatchenko (U Bonn) John Tuthill (U Washington) Ali Weber (Bryn Mawr) Brandon (Brady) Weissbourd (MIT) Alex Williams (NYU) Klaus Wimmer (Centre de Recerca Matematica) Anqi Wu (Georgia Tech) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Stephanie Palmer (U Chicago) Anne-Marie Oswald (U Pittsburgh) Alexandre Pouget (U Geneva) Anthony Zador (CSHL) CONTACT meeting [at] cosyne.org ----------------------------------------------------- COSYNE MAILING LISTS ----------------------------------------------------- Please consider adding yourself to Cosyne mailing lists (groups) to receive email updates with various Cosyne-related information and join in helpful discussions. See Cosyne.org -> About-> Mailing lists for details.

Sept. 2, 2025