- Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

Doctoral Position in Theoretical Biophysics at Center for Advanced Study of Collective Behavior
by Ahmed El Hady Sept. 30, 2025

Sept. 30, 2025

Doctoral position in Theoretical Biophysics (Deadline : 1st November 2025) We are seeking a doctoral student with a quantitative background. Ideally, the candidate should have a master degree in physics but other quantitative backgrounds will be considered. The researcher will be based in the Integrative Biophysics group at the University of Konstanz and Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour, located in Konstanz, Germany. The Integrative Biophysics group <https://www.exc.uni-konstanz.de/collective-behaviour/about-us/people/integr…> is led by Dr. Ahmed El Hady. The group focuses on a diverse set of theoretical biophysics problems. The doctoral project is a collaboration between the integrative biophysics research group and the research group of Prof. Ilya Nemenman at Emory University, Altanta, US. The doctoral student will have the opportunity to have research stays at Emory University. The project summary is as follows: *Project Title*: /Inferring dynamical interactions in social groups/ *Project Abstract*: Social interactions are one of the most foundational building blocks of group behaviors, shaping decision making strategies across ecologies. Social groups consist of small number of individuals in contrast with collectives that consist of large number of agents. Despite the importance of social groups as a building block of living systems, there is little understanding of mechanistic details of the nature of those social interactions and how they shape emergent social functional properties. This stands in contrast with physics of collectives, which usually focus on the dynamics of very large group of individuals and have been thoroughly studied. In an experimental sys-tem or in field observations tackling social behaviors, we do not know a priori the social forces, nature of those interactions and their dynamics. Recent advances in software and hardware allow us to track the behavior of multiple individuals over extended spatio-temporal scales. Thus it is crucial to develop methodologies to infer dynamical social interactions and social forces from experimental observations. This relates closely to work done inferring "social forces" from dusty plasmas. Recent theoretical work has developed an information theoretic approach to estimate intrinsic motivation, based on maximizing an agent's empowerment (defined as the mutual information between its past actions and future states). This approach can be used to study social behaviours, where individuals choose actions without an explicit reward signal. In this project, we are planning to apply this framework to infer and understand social behaviour of small animal groups specifically locusts, mice and marmosets monkeys offering not only a mechanistic insights into mechanisms of social organization but also make quantitative evolutionary comparison of social behaviours. *Relevant publications:* 1. Yu, Wentao, Eslam Abdelaleem, Ilya Nemenman, and Justin C. Burton. "Physics-tailored machine learning reveals unexpected physics in dusty plasmas.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 122, no. 31 (2025): e2505725122. 2. Tiomkin, Stas, Ilya Nemenman, Daniel Polani, and Naftali Tishby. "Intrinsic motivation in dynamical control systems.” PRX Life 2, no. 3 (2024): 033009. The doctoral position will be embedded within the highly collaborative environment of the cluster for advanced study of collective behavior at the University of Konstanz. The expected starting date is 01/12/2025 and deadline for application is 01/11/2025. For more information and application , please visit the website: https://stellen.uni-konstanz.de/jobposting/09992aa34cc8da9cb6416ec16df7ece3… and the application portal is here: https://stellen.uni-konstanz.de/en/jobposting/09992aa34cc8da9cb6416ec16df7e… If you have any questions or need more information concerning the position, please contact Ahmed El Hady on : ahmed.el-hady(a)uni-konstanz.de

1 0

Postdoctoral Fellow – Computational Neuroscience of Working Memory in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease
by Klaus Wimmer Sept. 30, 2025

Sept. 30, 2025

We are recruiting a Postdoctoral Researcher for an NIH-funded project investigating the neural circuit mechanisms of working memory decline in aging and Alzheimer’s disease. The postdoc will be based at Boston University in the laboratory of Dr. J. Luebke<https://www.bumc.bu.edu/anatneuro/luebke-lab-2/> in Boston, MA and work primarily on computational modeling of large-scale prefrontal cortex networks, under the remote supervision of Dr. Klaus Wimmer<https://www.crm.cat/_neuroscience/> (Centre de Recerca Matematica, Barcelona, Spain). The project combines computational and empirical approaches, and the postdoc will develop large-scale spiking network models that incorporate biologically realistic perturbations such as myelin changes, synapse loss, and neuronal hyperexcitability. The position offers close interaction with experimental collaborators, opportunities to generate testable predictions, and strong support for publishing and presenting work internationally. Qualifications * PhD in computational neuroscience, physics, computer science, applied mathematics, or a related field. * Strong programming skills (Python; experience with simulation environments like Brian2, NEST, or NEURON a plus). * Background in neural network modeling, systems neuroscience, or dynamical systems. Position Details * Initial appointment: 1 year, renewable based on performance and funding. * Start date: Flexible, ideally Fall/Winter 2025. * Salary and benefits follow NIH/BU guidelines. How to Apply Please send a CV, a short cover letter describing your research interests, and contact details for 2–3 referees to kwimmer(a)crm.cat<mailto:kwimmer@crm.cat>. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. 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.

1 0

Full Professor Artificial Intelligence for Biology
by Jolivet, Renaud (MACSBIO) Sept. 29, 2025

Sept. 29, 2025

Our department has an opening for a Full Professor Artificial Intelligence for Biology affiliated with the Maastricht Centre for Systems Biology and Bioinformatics at Maastricht University in The Netherlands. Come be my colleague! All details available here https://vacancies.maastrichtuniversity.nl/job/Maastricht-Full-Professor-Art…. Cheers, Renaud — Prof. Dr. Renaud B. Jolivet, FISC André Mischke YAE Prize for Science and Policy 2023 and MCAA Career Award 2022 Chair of Neural Engineering and Computation, MaCSBio, Maastricht University User Team Leader, ISOLDE, CERN ERA Forum Stakeholder Representative, European Commission Chair of the Science and Technology Committee, EBRAINS Polymath Fellow, GCSP +41798302129 (mobile) ‭+31433881741 (office)‬ r.jolivet(a)maastrichtuniversity.nl <mailto:renaud.jolivet@unige.ch> twitter.com/RenaudJolivet <https://twitter.com/RenaudJolivet> linkedin.com/in/renaud-jolivet-63b5534 <http://linkedin.com/in/renaud-jolivet-63b5534> scholar.google.ch/citations?user=9Ozwv7EAAAAJ <http://scholar.google.ch/citations?user=9Ozwv7EAAAAJ>

2 1

Postdoc opening: Smith Lab - University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN
by Gordon Smith Sept. 26, 2025

Sept. 26, 2025

The Smith lab at the University of Minnesota is seeking a motivated and talented postdoctoral researcher to study the development of large-scale networks in the developing brain. Our lab employs optical approaches to study the mechanisms of cortical network formation in the developing brain. We have recently obtained funding to use wide-field and 2-photon optogenetics to investigate how perturbations of early network function impact development. Preferred candidates will have a Ph.D. or equivalent in neuroscience, biology, or related field, and experience in one or more of the following areas: multiphoton imaging, optogenetics, calcium imaging, *in vivo *electrophysiology, and / or analysis of large-scale datasets. Applicants without prior experience in these areas but with a strong interest in systems neuroscience and applying optical approaches to investigate circuit function are also encouraged to apply. Please apply by sending a cover letter stating your interest in the project, your CV, and a brief research statement (1-2 pages) as a *single pdf* to Gordon Smith (gbsmith(a)umn.edu) with the subject line “Smith Lab Postdoc 2025”. References will be requested after initial review. This is a fully funded multi-year position with excellent benefits. Salary will be commensurate with experience, and will meet or exceed NIH levels. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For additional information please see our website: https://www.smithneurolab.org/positions. -- Gordon Smith, Ph. D. Associate Professor Associate Director of Graduate Studies Graduate Program of Neuroscience Optical Imaging and Brain Science Medical Discovery Team Department of Neuroscience Center for Magnetic Resonance Research University of Minnesota smithneurolab.org CMRR 1-311C 2021 6th Street S.E. Minneapolis, MN 55455 612-625-8823

1 0

GCNU-SWC Joint PhD Programme: Applications now open!
by Lin, I-Chun Sept. 25, 2025

Sept. 25, 2025

Gatsby Unit and Sainsbury Wellcome Centre Joint PhD Programme Deadline: 17:00 GMT, Monday 3 November 2025 The Gatsby Unit (GCNU) and Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour (SWC) have launched a 4-year joint PhD programme that aims to bridge the gap between theory and experiments. This PhD programme is designed to immerse students in both experimental and theoretical thinking, providing a rigorous preparation for an interdisciplinary research career. Courses in the first year provide a comprehensive introduction to systems neuroscience, theoretical/computational neuroscience, and machine learning. Students will be part of the broader trainee cohort across both centres, interacting and engaging in scientific discussion with both SWC and GCNU researchers with equal emphasis. GCNU and SWC provide a unique opportunity for a critical mass of theoreticians and experimentalists to interact closely with one another and with researchers at the ELLIS Unit at UCL and related UCL departments/domains such as UCL Neuroscience Domain; Artificial Intelligence; Computer Science; Statistical Science; and the nearby Francis Crick and Alan Turing Institutes. Applicants should have a strong analytical and mathematical background, a keen interest in neuroscience, and a relevant first degree (e.g., in Computer Science, Cognitive Psychology, Engineering, Mathematics, Neuroscience, Physics, Statistics). Full funding is available regardless of nationality. We also welcome applicants who have secured or are seeking funding from other sources. For programme details (including the key differences between the Gatsby Unit PhD programme, the SWC PhD programme, and the joint programme) and how to apply, see https://www.ucl.ac.uk/life-sciences/gatsby/study-and-work/gcnu-swc-joint-ph…. -- I-Chun Lin, PhD Scientific Programme Manager Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, UCL

1 0

Open Postdoc Positions: Center for Computational Neuroscience at Flatiron Institute
by Allison Ong Sept. 23, 2025

Sept. 23, 2025

Applications are invited for postdoctoral Flatiron Research Fellowships (FRFs) at the Center for Computational Neuroscience (CCN) <www.simonsfoundation.org/flatiron/center-for-computational-neuroscience/> within the Flatiron Institute at the Simons Foundation. The mission of CCN is to develop theories, models, and computational methods that deepen our knowledge of brain function. CCN takes a vertically-integrated “systems" neuroscience approach, building models that are motivated by fundamental principles, that are constrained by properties of neural circuits and responses, and that provide insights into perception, cognition and behavior. This cross-disciplinary approach not only leads to the design of new model-driven scientific experiments, but also encapsulates current functional descriptions of the brain that can spur the development of new engineered computational systems, especially in the realm of machine learning. In addition to carrying out an independent research program, FRFs are expected to: disseminate their results through scientific presentations, publications, and software release, collaborate with other members of the CCN or Flatiron Institute, and participate in the scientific life of the CCN and Flatiron Institute by attending seminars, colloquia, and group meetings. FRFs also have the opportunity to organize workshops and to mentor graduate and undergraduate students. FRF positions are two-year appointments and are generally renewed for a third year, contingent on performance. FRFs receive a research budget and have access to the Flatiron Institute’s world-class scientific computing resources. FRFs may be eligible for subsidized housing within walking distance of the CCN. This is a full-time in-person position located at the Simons Foundation office in New York City. Applications will be evaluated based on the following selection criteria: Past research accomplishments Proposed research plans Synergy of applicant’s expertise and research proposal topic with existing CCN research groups and projects *Additional details and the application submission link can be found here: https://apply.interfolio.com/173400 <https://apply.interfolio.com/173400>*

1 0

Call for applications: Gatsby Unit PhD Programme 2026 entry
by Lin, I-Chun Sept. 23, 2025

Sept. 23, 2025

4-Year PhD Programme in Theoretical Neuroscience and Machine Learning Deadline: 17:00 GMT, Monday 3 November 2025 We welcome applications for 2026 entry to the Gatsby Unit PhD programme at University College London (UCL). Our research focuses on the mathematical principles of learning, perception and action in brains and machines. Ours is one of the original programmes to bring together neuroscience and machine learning, creating a critical mass for interaction amongst theoreticians in related fields. First-year courses provide training in machine learning as well as theoretical and systems neuroscience, after which PhD project may specialise in machine learning, theoretical neuroscience or encompass both. Students are encouraged to work closely with colleagues in the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour and/or the ELLIS Unit at UCL; and we have strong links to many world-class research groups at UCL and beyond. Applicants should have a very strong analytical and mathematical background, a keen interest in neuroscience, machine learning or both, and a relevant first degree, for example in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Neuroscience or Cognitive Psychology. Full funding is available regardless of nationality. The unit also welcomes applicants who have secured or are seeking funding from other sources. Applications should be submitted directly to us via the Gatsby Recruitment Portal. See http://www.ucl.ac.uk/life-sciences/gatsby/study-and-work/gatsby-unit-phd-pr… for details. Further information The Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit is a leading research centre focused on theoretical neuroscience and machine learning. We study (un)supervised and reinforcement learning in brains and machines; inference, coding and neural dynamics; Bayesian and kernel methods, and deep learning; with applications to the analysis of perceptual processing and cognition, neural data, signal and image processing, machine vision, network data and nonparametric hypothesis testing. We are a community of around 50 academic and research staff, students and support staff. We function as far as possible as a single large research group, interacting closely through regular unit-wide research activities. Many leading researchers in both machine learning and neuroscience have studied or worked in the Unit. Over 40% of our PhD and postdoctoral alumni hold a faculty position and about 30% work in research development in companies such as Google DeepMind (itself founded by two of our alumni), Meta and Anthropic. * Information on our research: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/life-sciences/gatsby/research * Read more about our faculty members: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/life-sciences/gatsby/people

1 0

Doctoral Position in Developmental Artificial Intelligence at the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies
by Jochen Triesch Sept. 22, 2025

Sept. 22, 2025

We are looking for a highly motivated Doctoral Researcher (f/m/d) to join the group of Jochen Triesch at the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS). The position is part of a new initiative within the German Excellence Cluster The Adaptive Mind (TAM) and is expected to start in early 2026. The application deadline is October 15, 2026. To submit your application, visit: https://jobapplication.hrworks.de/en?companyId=amb4af72&id=f39623 About the position The vacant position will be funded by the new German Excellence Cluster „The Adaptive Mind". Our goal is to reveal the computational and learning principles underlying the fascinating development of cognitive abilities in infants and toddlers through embodied computational modeling. To accomplish this goal, we will closely collaborate with Developmental Psychologists to develop embodied computational models of how infants and toddlers learn to perceive and understand the world, control their bodies and plan their behavior. These models will make use of our MIMo (Multimodal Infant Model) platform (see: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/10382408) Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the development of abstract multimodal sensory representations, body know-how, and models of the self. About FIAS The Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS) is a hub for theoretical and computational research located on the science campus of Goethe University Frankfurt (Campus Riedberg). Our fellows pursue interdisciplinary approaches to address fundamental questions in the natural sciences. The group of Jochen Triesch at FIAS is seeking a doctoral student in the area of Developmental AI and computational modeling of cognitive development. About TAM The Adaptive Mind (TAM) is an excellence cluster funded within Germany’s excellence strategy, which aims to strengthen Germany’s position as an outstanding research hub in the long term and further improve its international competitiveness. The Adaptive Mind is a research cluster that brings together scientists from Experimental Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Artificial Intelligence in order to understand how the human mind successfully adapts to changing conditions, and what happens when these adaptive processes fail. For more information please visit: https://www.theadaptivemind.de/ We are looking for a candidate with: • An excellent master’s degree in machine learning, cognitive science, robotics, physics, engineering or related field • A strong quantitative background • Prior knowledge in Cognitive Development is advantageous, but not required. We offer: • an inspiring work atmosphere • excellent research infrastructure and dedicated mentoring • outstanding opportunities for training and career development. You will be affiliated with the Excellence Cluster „The Adaptive Mind“, Goethe-University and a fellow of FIGSS, the graduate school of FIAS • rich possibilities to collaborate with experimental groups • the opportunity to live in Frankfurt am Main, a vibrant and exciting cosmopolitan city in the heart of Europe, which consistently earns high rankings in worldwide surveys of quality of life • a funded PhD position with a competitive salary (65%, based on the TV-H E13 pay scale). Required documents: • a motivation letter, highlighting why you want to do a PhD in the field and in our lab • a detailed curriculum vitae containing academic qualifications, research experiences, skills, possibly a publication list where you highlight your specific contributions • names and contact information of at least two scientists who can give references • detailed transcripts of records of your Master’s and Bachelor’s programs. The Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies is committed to fostering a workplace culture that promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from qualified individuals regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic or social origin, religion, disability, age, or sexual orientation. In accordance with the German General Equal Treatment Act (AGG), all qualified applicants will be given equal consideration. Where qualifications are equal, preference will be given to applicants with a disability. Please note that any costs incurred in connection with a personal interview will not be reimbursed. For questions, please contact: Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS) Ruth-Moufang-Str. 1, 60438 Frankfurt am Main triesch(a)fias.uni-frankfurt.de https://fias.uni-frankfurt.de 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

1 0

Shanahan Foundation Fellowship at the Interface of Data and Neuroscience
by Anton Arkhipov Sept. 18, 2025

Sept. 18, 2025

Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce this year’s application cycle for The Shanahan Foundation Fellowship at the Interface of Data and Neuroscience, a three-year fellowship program aiming to bring fresh perspectives from diverse technical backgrounds to the field of neuroscience. The program is co-hosted by the Allen Institute and the University of Washington, through the Computational Neuroscience Center. It is directed by Dr. Christof Koch at the Allen Institute and Dr. Adrienne Fairhall at UW. Fellows choose a co-mentor from each of the two institutions and will be employed by the Allen Institute as a Scientist (salary starting at $106,780 annually), with an affiliate postdoctoral appointment at UW. Accepted fellows propose their own research project(s), with access to the Allen Institute's wealth of structural, genomic, and functional data collected over the past 15 years (brain-map.org<https://brain-map.org>). This unique opportunity allows fellows to ground their theories in rich empirical resources, potentially inspiring novel analyses, visualizations, and predictions that could subsequently be empirically tested. Each fellow will have the opportunity to mentor a fully funded UW undergraduate or postbaccalaureate research assistant who helps with their research for 3-12 months. Fellows also have access to career development activities through the University of Washington’s Computational Neuroscience Center. Fellows will receive an intensive orientation through the two-week long Summer Workshop on the Dynamic Brain<https://alleninstitute.org/events/summer-workshop-on-the-dynamic-brain-2025/> at UW’s Friday Harbor Laboratory on San Juan Island. We are seeking candidates for this three-year program. Up to three fellows will be selected to begin in Fall 2026. Applicants must be Ph.D.s (or equivalent) in a quantitative field such as computer science, electrical engineering, physics, or mathematics with a background in statistical, computational and machine learning methods. Ph.D. should have been awarded in the last 3 years. No previous experience in neuroscience is required. Applications are due by December 1st, 2025. More information can be found at the Shanahan Foundation website.<https://alleninstitute.org/what-we-do/brain-science/careers/shanahan-founda…> If you have questions, please contact us at shanahan.fellow(a)alleninstitute.org<mailto:shanahan.fellow@alleninstitute.org> Best regards, Anton. Anton Arkhipov Investigator, Allen Institute antona(a)alleninstitute.org<mailto:antona@alleninstitute.org> alleninstitute.org<https://alleninstitute.org> brain-map.org<https://portal.brain-map.org/>

1 0

SNUFA 2025 - Abstract submission closing soon
by Friedemann Zenke Sept. 17, 2025

Sept. 17, 2025

This is a friendly reminder that the SNUFA 2025 abstract submission closes soon (deadline Sept 26, 2025). SNUFA 2025 will take place on November 5-6, 2025 (online). See https://snufa.net/2025 for details. This year's invited speakers are Elisabetta Chicca (University of Groningen), Jason Eshraghian (UC Santa Cruz), Tomoki Fukai (OIST), and Chengcheng Huang (University of Pittsburgh). Like every year, the workshop brings together researchers in computational neuroscience, machine learning, and neuromorphic engineering to present their work and discuss how to translate these findings into a better understanding of neural circuits. Topics include artificial and biologically plausible learning algorithms and the dissection of trained spiking circuits toward understanding neural processing. We aim to have a manageable number of talks with ample discussion time. Attendance is free, but registration is required. Abstract submission deadline: September 26, 2025 (anywhere on earth) SNUFA 2025 is brought to you by David Kappel, Julijana Gjorgjieva, Dan Goodman, and Friedemann Zenke --- https://snufa.net/2025 Powered by www.world-wide.org/Neuro/

1 0