- Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

PhD Student Position for in-vivo Neurophysiology

by Alexander Maÿe

PhD Student Position for in-vivo Neurophysiology The Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology (head: Prof. Dr. Andreas K. Engel) at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) aims to fill a doctoral researcher (PhD student) position for in-vivo neurophysiology. The vacant position is part of the Marie-Curie training network “European School of Network Neuroscience (euSNN)” (http://www.eusnn.eu <http://www.eusnn.eu/>) and is for a project on modulation of cortical networks by optogenetic approaches. Contract duration will be 3 years, with a salary level according to the EU regulations for Marie-Curie Training Networks. The key research theme at the Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology is the large-scale dynamics of cortical and subcortical networks which is addressed by combining electrophysiological and neuroimaging methods. The specific focus lies on the study of functional and effective connectivity in brain networks. Research at the Department aims to demonstrate and understand the functional role of dynamic large-scale coupling for perception, cognition and action. To this end, ongoing projects also test hypotheses on causal mechanisms by modulation of networks and connectivity. Furthermore, the Department has a strong interest in the pathophysiological relevance of neural synchrony and changes of large-scale coupling in brain disorders. Further information can be found at https://www.uke.de/neurophysiologie <https://www.uke.de/neurophysiologie> and http://www.40hz.net <http://www.40hz.net/>. At the UKE, the Department is embedded in an excellent environment for state-of-the-art network neuroscience, including multiple neuroimaging and animal research facilities, and excellent cooperation partners in all fields of clinical, theoretical and basic neuroscience. The new lab member will join a team with extensive expertise in in-vivo multisite recordings, connectivity analysis and network modulation using electrical and optogenetic stimulation approaches. The focus of the project will be on optogenetic modulation of oscillations and functional connectivity in cortical networks in anesthetized and behaving ferrets. The selected candidate will become a member of the euSNN network (http://www.eusnn.eu <http://www.eusnn.eu/>), which involves leading neuroscience labs as well as industrial partners from seven European countries and offers rich possibilities for interdisciplinary training and cooperation in network neuroscience. Candidates should have or expect a master in neuroscience, biology or related disciplines. Training in neurophysiology, optogenetics and/or data analysis methods is a plus. The Dept. of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology is committed to diversity and seeks applications from qualified individuals regardless of their demographic status, gender, or cultural background. Applications from severely disabled persons with equivalent qualifications will be given preference. Applications should include a motivation letter, a CV, copies of university degrees and a transcript of course records. Please send your application materials as PDF (ideally in one file) to: ak.engel(a)uke.de <mailto:ak.engel@uke.de>. Prof. Dr. Andreas K. Engel Dept. of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf -- _____________________________________________________________________ Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf; Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts; Gerichtsstand: Hamburg | www.uke.de Vorstandsmitglieder: Prof. Dr. Burkhard Göke (Vorsitzender), Joachim Prölß, Prof. Dr. Blanche Schwappach-Pignataro, Marya Verdel _____________________________________________________________________ SAVE PAPER - THINK BEFORE PRINTING

Oct. 22, 2021

Postdoc in comp. neuroscience - learning dynamics - Ruhr University Bochum, Germany

by Vinita Samarasinghe

Prof. Sen Cheng, Institute for Neural Computation at the Ruhr University Bochum, invites applications for a full time *Postdoctoral position* (TV-L E13) in Computational Neuroscience. The position starts on July 1, 2022 and is funded for three years. The position is part of the Collaborative Research Center “Extinction Learning” (SFB 1280 <https://sfb1280.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/en/home/>) and entails the following duties: * analyze learning dynamics in behavioral, neural, and psychophysiological data, which will be collected by other projects within the SFB 1280, * compare the learning dynamics between individuals, species, learning phases and learning paradigms, * develop algorithms to analyze the learning dynamics, * develop and study computational models of learning dynamics, * coordinate research with other participating projects. Candidates must have: * a doctorate degree in neuroscience, physics, mathematics, electrical/biomedical engineering or a closely related field, * relevant experience in mathematical modeling, * excellent programming skills (e.g., Python, C/C++, Matlab), * excellent communication skills in English, * the ability to work well in a team. Research experience in neuroscience would be a further asset. The position is third party funded and does not have any formal teaching duties attached. The research group is highly dynamic and uses diverse computational modeling approaches including biological neural networks, cognitive modeling, and machine learning to investigate learning and memory in humans and animals. For further information see www.rub.de/cns. The Ruhr University Bochum is home to a vibrant research community in neuroscience and cognitive science. The Institute for Neural Computation is an independent research unit and combines different areas of expertise ranging from experimental and theoretical neuroscience to machine learning and robotics. The Institute for Neural Computation focuses on the dynamics and learning of perception and behavior on a functional level but is otherwise very diverse, ranging from neurophysiology and psychophysics over computational neuroscience to machine learning and technical applications. Please send your application, including CV, transcripts and research statement electronically, as a *single PDF file*, to *samarasinghe(a)ini.rub.de*. In addition, at least two academic references must be sent independently to the above email address. The deadline for applications is *January 2, 2022*. Travel costs for interviews will not be reimbursed. The Ruhr University Bochum is committed to equal opportunity. We strongly encourage applications from qualified women and persons with disabilities. We are committed to providing a supportive work environment for female researchers, in particular those with young children. Our university provides mentoring and coaching opportunities specifically aimed at women in research. We have a strong research network with female role models and will provide opportunities to network with them. Wherever possible, events will be scheduled during regular childcare hours. Special childcare will be arranged if events have to be scheduled outside of regular hours, in case of sickness and during school or daycare closures. Where childcare is not an option parents will be offered a home office solution. If you have any questions please feel free to get in touch with Vinita Samarasinghe (contact below) -- Vinita Samarasinghe M.Sc., M.A. Science Manager Arbeitsgruppe Computational Neuroscience Institut für Neuroinformatik Ruhr-Universität Bochum, NB 3/73 Postfachnummer 110 Universitätstr. 150 D-44801 Bochum Tel: +49 (0)234 32 27996 Email: samarasinghe(a)ini.rub.de

Oct. 22, 2021

Western-Fields Seminar Series | Frances Skinner

by Lyle Muller

The eighth talk in the 2021 Western-Fields Seminar Series in Networks, Random Graphs, and Neuroscience<http://www.fields.utoronto.ca/activities/21-22/western-fields> is next Thursday (28 October) at noon ET. Frances Skinner<https://www.skinnerlab.org/> (Krembil Research Institute) will give a talk titled “Tackling the cellular diversity in our brains” (abstract below). Dr. Skinner is a leader in computational neuroscience and has made fundamental contributions to the understanding of neural dynamics from single cells to whole networks. This seminar series features monthly virtual talks from a diverse group of researchers across computational neuroscience, physics, and graph theory. We are looking forward to talks from Alexander Lubotzky (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) in November and Jeannette Janssen (Dalhousie University) in December. Registration link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYuf-GppzkjHt0W5HMDpME2UpUiE7ntO5JS — How do we address the challenge of bringing about a cellular-based understanding of our brain workings? From a neurological disease perspective, this needs to be addressed as pathologies involve cellular specifics. The ‘brain hub’ hippocampus, an essential brain structure for learning and memory, generates robust rhythmic activities. However, figuring out how the multitude of cell types in the hippocampus contribute to these states is an immense challenge. In this talk, I will describe the modeling approaches we are taking to obtain a cellular-based understanding of theta (3-12 Hz) rhythms in the hippocampus, an essential element of the ‘phase-coding functional unit’ in the hippocampus. -- Lyle Muller http://mullerlab.ca

Oct. 21, 2021

Post doc in Cognitive-Computational/Theoretical Neuroscience at University College London UK (PI Dominik Bach, ERC-funded)

by Dominik R. Bach

*Post doc in Cognitive-Computational Modelling/Theoretical Neuroscience at University College London: discrete and continuous human action control under threat* We are looking for a research fellow in an ERC-funded research project "Action selection under threat - the complex control of human defence" led by Dominik Bach (http://bachlab.org <http://bachlab.org>) at University College London in collaboration with Peter Dayan, Max-Planck-Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen (https://www.kyb.tuebingen.mpg.de/de/computational-neuroscience <https://www.kyb.tuebingen.mpg.de/de/computational-neuroscience>). The position will be based at Max-Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry (https://www.mps-ucl-centre.mpg.de/en <https://www.mps-ucl-centre.mpg.de/en>) and Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging (http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/ <http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/>). The overarching goal of the project is to understand the cognitive-computational control of human action selection under acute, immediate threat. We investigate this in an immersive virtual reality (VR) environment, in which people can move to avoid a large number of different threats. As part of this project, the candidate will build explicit theoretical and computational models of discrete and continuous action control and action updating under constraints of time pressure and unaffordable costs. These will be tested by the experimentalists in our interdisciplinary team, composed of VR experts, psychologists, and movement scientists. If desired there is a possibility to get involved in the experimental work, including behavioural experiments, motion capture and OPM-MEG. Within the topical focus, the project offers unique freedom to explore and develop novel directions and formalisms at the interface of classical discrete-space decision models and continous action control. We seek applicants with a track record of cognitive-computational modelling and a PhD in computational neuroscience, robotics with focus on action planning, computer science/mathematics/physics with a focus on decision science, or in a related area. We are looking for an individual who is strongly motivated to pursue an academic career and is excited by the opportunities for personal and career development this position can provide. The post is available from now with negotiable starting date. Funding is available for up to 3 years. Starting salary is on UCL grade 7, ranging from £36,770 to £44,388 per annum, inclusive of London Allowance, superannuable. More information, a full job description, and access to the UCL online application portal: https://bit.ly/3G6uQAg <https://bit.ly/3G6uQAg> Please contact d.bach(a)ucl.ac.uk for any queries about the project or role. Closing date: 16 November 2021 Interviews will be held remotely in December. Apologies for cross-posting. -- ----------------------- Dominik R Bach MBBS PhD Professor for Cognitive-Computational and Clinical Neuroscience Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London bachlab.org | @bachlab_cog

Oct. 21, 2021

Two PostDoc positions, computational and experimental, on focused ultrasound neuromodulation

by Marcus Kaiser

Dear all, Two PostDoc positions for the development and experimental validation of computational models of the effects of human focused ultrasound neuromodulation are available in my lab. *About the project* This programme of work, using the NeuroFUS PRO equipment for focused ultrasound neuromodulation, will focus on developing a software framework for modelling the effects of brain stimulation. Our objectives are to establish models of the biological effect of focused ultrasound and to predict effects of stimulation in humans, based on experiments performed as part of this study at Nottingham, and non-human primates, based on data from collaborators. Validated models of stimulation effects will then be a starting point for personalized stimulation approaches. *Available RA positions* As part of this project, the lab of Prof. Marcus Kaiser ( http://www.dynamic-connectome.org/ ) is seeking talented and enthusiastic research assistants with a PhD awarded, or a PhD thesis about to be submitted, in computational biology or related subjects; prior experience in the neurosciences is desirable. Computational RA position: The research fellow will implement simulations of biological effects on non-invasive interventions on targeted brain regions and on indirect effects in the rest of the brain network. In addition, tools for comparing effects of stimulations within a computer model and effects observed in experimental studies will be developed. Experimental RA position: The research fellow will work on focused ultrasound experiments, will run simulations of the physical effects (pressure and thermal changes) of stimulation, and will perform the processing of neuroimaging data. *Research Environment* Nottingham “the home of MRI” offers an excellent environment for imaging ( https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/beacons-of-excellence/precision-imagi… and https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/groups/spmic/index.aspx ), is pioneering the use of neurotechnology for brain disorders ( http://mindtech.org.uk/ ), hosts the Institute of Mental Health ( https://www.institutemh.org.uk ), and has a large group of faculty members including four full professors (Stephen Coombes, Mark van Rossum, Mark Humphries, Marcus Kaiser) in the area of computational/mathematical neuroscience. *How to Apply*Apply before 2 November 2021 at https://jobs.nottingham.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?id=35657&forced=2 (experimental RA) https://jobs.nottingham.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?id=35654&forced=2 (computational RA) For informal queries, please contact Dr Marcus Kaiser, marcus.kaiser(a)nottingham.ac.uk Best, Marcus -- *Marcus Kaiser, Ph.D. FRSB* @ConnectomeLab <https://twitter.com/ConnectomeLab> *Professor of Neuroinformatics* *Precision Imaging Beacon, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham* Guanci Visiting Professor Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China Book: Changing Connectomes https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/changing-connectomes Lab website: http://www.dynamic-connectome.org/ Neuroinformatics UK: http://www.neuroinformatics.org.uk/

Oct. 20, 2021

FLAIRS-35 CFP, May 15-18, 2022, Jensen Beach, Florida

by David B

FLAIRS-35 Special Track on Neural Networks and Data Mining The Florida Artificial Intelligence Research Symposium (FLAIRS) is an interdisciplinary conference which features double-blind reviewing, free tutorials, and a warm and sunny venue. Abstract Due Date: January 17, 2022 Submission Due Date: January 24, 2022 Conference: May 15-18, 2022 Jensen Beach, Florida Website: https://sites.google.com/view/flairs-35-nn-dm-track/home URL: https://www.flairs-35.info/call-for-papers Papers are being solicited for a special track on Neural Networks and Data Mining at the 35th International FLAIRS Conference (https://www.flairs-35.info/home) This special track will be devoted to neural networks and data mining with the aim of presenting new and important contributions in these areas. Papers and contributions are encouraged for any work related to neural networks, data mining, or the intersection thereof. Topics of interest may include (but are in no way limited to): applications such as Pattern Recognition, Control and Process Monitoring, Biomedical Applications, Robotics, Text Mining, Diagnostic Problems, Telecommunications, Power Systems, Signal Processing; Intelligence analysis, medical and health applications, text, video, and multi-media mining, E-commerce and web data, financial data analysis, cyber security, remote sensing, earth sciences, bioinformatics, and astronomy; algorithms such as new developments in Back Propagation, RBF, SVM, Deep Learning, Ensemble Methods, Kernel Approaches; hybrid approaches such as Neural Networks/Genetic Algorithms, Neural Network/Expert Systems, Causal Nets trained with Backpropagation, and Neural Network/Fuzzy Logic applications such as Intelligence analysis, medical and health applications, text, video, and multi-media mining, E-commerce and web data, financial data analysis, cyber security, remote sensing, earth sciences, bioinformatics, and astronomy; modeling algorithms such as hidden Markov models, decision trees, neural networks, statistical methods, or probabilistic methods; case studies in areas of application, or over different algorithms and approaches; graph modeling, pattern discovery, and anomaly detection; feature extraction and selection; post-processing techniques such as visualization, summarization, or trending; preprocessing and data reduction; and knowledge engineering or warehousing. Questions regarding the track should be addressed to: David Bisant at bisant(a)umbc.edu, Steven Gutstein at s.m.gutstein(a)gmail.com, or Bill Eberle at weberle(a)tntech.edu.

Oct. 20, 2021

Fellow applications for Georgia Tech/Emory Computational Neural Engineering Training Program

by Rozell, Christopher J

Georgia Tech/Emory invite you to apply to become a Fellow in our NIH/NIBIB Computational Neural Engineering Training Program (CNTP)! Fellows receive full stipend and tuition for two years to support rotations and foster cross-disciplinary collaborative training. The CNTP aims to train the next generation of researchers at the intersection of computational neuroscience, neural engineering, data science, and clinical neurophysiology. Central to our mission is our core belief that just as the diversity among cells, circuits, and networks is critical for navigating a complex and ever-changing world, diversity in the background, experiences, and expertise among our team members is key to understanding and interacting with the brain. The CNTP seeks diversity in the recruiting of our fellows, scholars, and training faculty, equity among the members of our diverse team, and to create an inclusive community where everyone feels welcome and heard. Training components include new coursework (“Clinical Experience for Engineers”), seminars, innovation forums, professional development meetings, and community retreats. Overall, the CNTP creates novel opportunities to gain experience in science, engineering and clinical domains, resulting in an exceptional and unique training experience. More information on the CNTP is here: https://sites.gatech.edu/cntp/. Fellow applications are solicited from admitted applicants to one of the four participating PhD programs linked below (PhD in BME, ECE, Bioe or ML). Fellows must be US Citizens or Permanent Residents. If you are interested in joining the CNTP, you must first apply to one of those programs. Deadlines vary, beginning December 1, 2021. Detailed application instructions: https://sites.gatech.edu/cntp/how-to-apply/. Please contact Dr. Rozell at crozell(a)gatech.edu<mailto:crozell@gatech.edu> with any questions. Graduate program application assistance Current CNTP trainees are offering graduate application assistance to provide feedback on essays and give guidance on potentially relevant faculty. You can request assistance by filling out the form below before November 8, 2021: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSefcaCnxG_CLQnUvw6Mvgo2Q2zzrnhDx_d… Participating PhD programs PhD in Biomedical Engineering at GT/Emory (due 12/1/2021) https://bme.gatech.edu/bme/georgia-tech-emory-bme-phd-program PhD in Electrical & Computer Engineering at GT (due 12/16/2021) https://www.ece.gatech.edu/graduate-admissions PhD in Bioengineering at GT with BME or ECE home school (deadline is from home school) https://bioengineering.gatech.edu/ PhD in Machine Learning at GT with BME or ECE home school (deadline is from home school) http://ml.gatech.edu/phd

Oct. 20, 2021

Announcing "Bernstein SmartSteps - Featuring Early Career Scientists"

by Anja Dorrn

The Bernstein SmartSteps<https://bernstein-network.de/en/network/awards-and-initiatives/bernstein-sm…> series provides a unique platform for selected Early Career Scientists of the Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience<https://bernstein-network.de/en/> to present their research projects to the scientific community. Each session one PhD candidate and one Postdoc who are ready to take their next (smart) step for their scientific career will discuss their research in an online seminar. Join the Bernstein SmartSteps Series as an audience if you are interested in cutting-edge computational neuroscience and want to watch out for new talents in the field. The live talks will be held in Zoom. A recording will be published in a separate collection on the Bernstein Vimeo Channel. Please register here<https://indico-jsc.fz-juelich.de/event/201/registration/register#/register>, if you would like to join for the live talks. A link to the event in Zoom will be sent shortly before via email. Fall series 2021<https://bernstein-network.de/en/network/awards-and-initiatives/bernstein-sm…> Thursday, November 4, 4 pm CET * Miriam Henning (Silies lab) | University of Mainz, Germany An optimal population code for global motion estimation in local direction-selective cells * Barna Zajzon (Morrison lab) | Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany Representation transfer and signal denoising through topographic modularity Thursday, November 25, 4 pm CET * Han Lu (Vlachos lab) | University of Freiburg, Germany Homeostatic structural plasticity of neuronal connectivity triggered by optogenetic stimulation * Golan Karvat (Diester lab) | University of Freiburg, Germany Spontaneous activity competes with externally evoked responses in sensory cortex Thursday, December 9, 4 pm CET * Bin Wang (Aljadeff lab) | University of California San Diego, USA A nonlinear shot noise model for calcium-based synaptic plasticity * Helene Schreyer (Gollisch lab) | University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany Nonlinear spatial integration in retinal bipolar cells shapes the encoding of artificial and natural stimuli -- Dr. Anja Dorrn Scientific Coordinator Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience | Bernstein Coordination Site (BCOS) Branch Office of the Forschungszentrum Jülich at the University of Freiburg Hansastr. 9A | 79104 Freiburg, Germany phone: (+49) 0761 203 9589 web: www.bernstein-network.de<http://www.bernstein-network.de> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH 52425 Juelich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Juelich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Dueren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Volker Rieke Geschaeftsfuehrung: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Marquardt (Vorsitzender), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Dr. Astrid Lambrecht, Prof. Dr. Frauke Melchior ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oct. 20, 2021

Open position: Master's student in computational neuroscience at the University of Toronto

by Scott Rich

The Neuron to Brain lab is searching for a Master's student to work on a project in Computational Neuroscience studying the role of neural heterogeneity in generating seizure resilience in neural circuits. The work will be supervised by Dr. Taufik Valiante and directly mentored by Dr. Scott Rich. Details can be found at here <http://www.neurontobrainlaboratory.ca/sites/default/files/N2BLab_Computatio…>. -- Sincerely, Scott Rich, Ph.D Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Krembil Research Institute (affiliated with the University of Toronto) scottrich.strikingly.com

Oct. 19, 2021

[Jobs] PhD position in Multimodal Grounding for Robotic Assistants (ANITI, Toulouse, France)

by Rufin VanRullen

PhD position in Multimodal Grounding for Robotic Assistants (ANITI, Toulouse, France) The Artificial and Natural Intelligence Toulouse Institute (ANITI: https://aniti.univ-toulouse.fr/en/) in Toulouse (France) is looking to recruit a PhD student in Machine Learning to work on multimodal grounding (e.g., joint vision-language models). The selected candidate will develop deep learning models capable of achieving state-of-the-art performance on cognitively challenging problems such as: Visual Question Answering, Incremental Learning, Meta-Learning, Multi-Task Learning, Task-Switching, Robust Representation Learning, etc. The candidate will join an active group of like-minded students (the ANITI Graduate School) and a vibrant research community (made up of nearly 30 ANITI Research Chairs). Work will be carried out in the Chair of Rufin VanRullen (https://rufinv.github.io) at CerCo (https://cerco.cnrs.fr) but in close collaboration with local and international research groups (IRIT, LAAS, Linagora, University of Potsdam, Airbus AI research). Rufin VanRullen’s ANITI Chair is entitled “Deep Learning with Semantic, Cognitive and Biological Constraints”, and aims at fostering next-generation AI architectures by drawing inspiration from Cognitive Sciences and Neuroscience. The PhD project is part of a large-scale France-Germany collaborative grant entitled “Natural Language Programming for Conversational Cobots”. The multi-modal grounding research will need to assist the overall grant objectives (ultimately, helping robotic assistants interact with humans in natural language), but there will also be freedom to pursue independent research questions related to multimodal grounding in AI and/or in the brain. The ideal candidate will have a Masters in Computer Science, Machine Learning or related fields, and substantial experience with at least one deep learning framework (PyTorch, Tensorflow, Keras…). Research experience in Computer Vision, NLP and/or Reinforcement Learning is highly desirable. The salary scale is according to ANITI standards. The position is open to start immediately, but applications will be considered until the position is filled. To apply, send a CV and a short (less than 1-page) statement about research interests to rufin.vanrullen(a)cnrs.fr. Informal inquiries can also be made to the same address. -- ---------------------------------------------------- Rufin VanRullen, PhD. < ANITI - AI Research Chair > Artificial & Natural Intelligence Toulouse Institute CNRS-Centre de Recherche Cerveau & Cognition (CerCo) Faculte de Medecine Purpan - 31052 Toulouse (France) email: rufin.vanrullen(a)cnrs.fr Web: https://rufinv.github.io/ Tel: +33 669 547 468 ----------------------------------------------------

Oct. 19, 2021