- Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

ONLINE SUMMER SCHOOL IN COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE, August 2021

by Rava A. da Silveira

*CN**EURO**2021* *Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience Summer School* *14 to 21 August 2021 — Online, hosted by Tsinghua University, Beijing and IOB, Basel* *www.cneuro.net <http://www.cneuro.net>* *About CNeuro* How intelligence and behavior emerge from complex and intricate interactions within the brain remains a deep and unsolved mystery, central to an exciting area of interdisciplinary research. The past decade has seen rapid progress in experimental tools that now make it possible to monitor and manipulate brain circuits in unprecedented detail. This evolution presents challenges and opportunities for both experimentalists and theorists, as the complex algorithmics of brain function and the intricate interactions among neurons cannot be approached with experiments alone. Mathematical theory is instrumental in the emergence of theoretical insights and frameworks that can help guide experimental work and identify unifying principles of brain function. The aim of the one-week summer school will be to introduce students with a strong quantitative background (in mathematics, physics, computer science, and engineering) to the emerging field of theoretical and computational neuroscience. The course will bring together leading scientists in the field, who will deliver lectures, take part in small-group discussions, and share their personal experience and views on a range of research topics. The distinguishing feature of CNeuro is the emphasis it places on the role of systematic mathematical theory for understanding the brain, in part by stressing the connections between neuroscience, statistics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. *Faculty* Vijay Balasubramanian (University of Pennsylvania) Dmitrii Chklovskii (Flatiron Institute) Julijana Gjorgjieva (MPI for Brain Research) Christian Machens (Champalimaud Center) Kanaka Rajan (Mount Sinai) Eric Shea-Brown (University of Washington) *Organizers* Rava Azeredo da Silveira (ENS) Stella Christie (Tsinghua University) Sen Song (Tsinghua University) Louis Tao (Peking University) Xiaoqin Wang (Johns Hopkins University) Quan Wen (USTC) *Application and deadline* Please apply by 31 May 2021; details at www.cneuro.net/cneuro2021.

May 5, 2021

Phd and Postdoc Positions in Neuromorphic Computing and Software at Forschungzentrum Juelich

by Emre Neftci

The newly created Peter Gruenberg Institute-15 led by Emre Neftci at Forschungzentrum Juelich is excited to offer PhD and Postdoc positions in the area of neuromorphic engineering. We are looking for creative researchers with interest in brain-inspired machine learning and neuromorphic hardware. To see full descriptions and apply, please follow these links: https://www.fz-juelich.de/SharedDocs/Stellenangebote/_common/dna/2021D-049-… https://www.fz-juelich.de/SharedDocs/Stellenangebote/_common/dna/2021-175-E… Applications are due May 10 and 21 respectively, but we'll continue reading applications until the positions are filled. Please contact me directly for any questions. Emre Neftci -- Emre Neftci, PhD, Assistant Professor, Neuromorphic Machine Intelligence Lab (http://nmi-lab.org/) Department of Cognitive Sciences, 2308 Social & Behavioral Sciences Gateway Building, UC Irvine 92697-5100

May 5, 2021

Excellent academic resource for junior and senior scholars

by Barbora Wichterlova

Dear All, I would like to share with the community the mentor-mentee platform called Figbox: https://figbox.co/ <https://figbox.co/>. Who is behind figbox? The platform was developed by two postdocs at Yale and Harvard to help Early Career Researchers and PhD students in the field of computational neuroscience, physics, neurobiology, biochemistry, linguistics, physiology and more. Currently there are over 20k mentors and mentees on figbox. What do it actually do? Figbox allows junior scholars to find mentors willing to provide general advice on the following: thesis topics, experimental designs, publication, and more. It also allows junior scholars the ability to receive double-blind reviews of their working papers, sections of their thesis and grants before they officially submit. What do you gain as a mentor? For those who are curious about the benefits of mentoring junior scholars, see: https://figbox.co/benefit/ <https://figbox.co/benefit/> is it free? yes, mentors and mentee can sign up safely and securely using their ORCID account With best regards, BW

May 4, 2021

Workshop on Spatial brain dynamics

by Henrik Anders Lindén

Dear colleagues, We are organizing an online workshop on Spatial brain dynamics on May 11-13 that may be of interest to some of you. For details and registration see https://in.ku.dk/seminars-and-events/upcoming-events/workshop-spatial-brain… The meeting is free but registration is required. Confirmed speakers: - György Buzsáki NYU .N.Y. USA - Sonja Grün, Forschungscentrum Jülich, Germany - Kenneth Harris, UCL, London, UK - Jennifer Li & Drew Robson, Max Planck, Tübingen, Germany - David McCormick, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA - Bruce McNaughton, University of California Irvine, CA, USA - Thomas Mrsic-Flogel , Sainsbury Wellcome Center, UK - Carl Petersen, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland - Terry Sejnowski, Salk Institute, La Jolla , CA, USA All the best, Per Roland and Henrik Lindén Contact: Per E. Roland Professor of Neurodynamics, M.D., PhD Department of Neuroscience Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Copenhagen per.ebbe.roland(a)sund.ku.dk<mailto:per.ebbe.roland@sund.ku.dk> Henrik Lindén Assistant professor, PhD Department of Neuroscience Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Copenhagen hlinden(a)sund.ku.dk<mailto:hlinden@sund.ku.dk>

May 4, 2021

NMA application deadline approaching!

by Gunnar Blohm

Applications for the Neuromatch Academy Computational Neuroscience (NMA-CN) and Deep Learning (NMA-DL) courses are approaching fast. Deadline: *May 7, 2021*! Apply as a student (flexible / waivable fee), or paid teaching assistant ($1,500 USD salary). Fore more details, please see here: https://academy.neuromatch.io/ -- Dr. Gunnar BLOHM Neuroscience Graduate Coordinator Professor in Computational Neuroscience Queen's U, Kingston, ON, 18 Stuart Str, Botterell Hall Rm 229 http://www.compneurosci.com/

May 3, 2021

New Book: Models of the Mind: How physics, mathematics, and engineering have shaped our understanding of the brain

by Grace Lindsay

*Models of the Mind: How physics, mathematics, and engineering have shaped our understanding of the brain* by Grace Lindsay Models of the Mind is a popular science book that covers the history and present of computational neuroscience. Each chapter focuses on an individual topic ranging from single neuron models (e.g., leaky integrate-and-fire and Hodgkin-Huxley) through to population models such as the Hopfield Network and onto models of behavior. The book is geared toward a general audience and may be a useful resource for undergraduate courses. More information on the book and how to get it here: https://gracewlindsay.com/2021/02/10/models-of-the-mind-how-physics-enginee… What reviewers have said: "This book is an anthology of the scientific poetry that has illuminated our studies and conceptions of the brain" - Larry Abbott "An engrossing history of science and enlightening guide to neuroscience's current frontiers." - Liam Drew "Grace Lindsay provides a masterful tour of this important frontier, tackling intimidating topics with verve and wit." - Sean Carroll

May 3, 2021

Research Fellow / Postdoc positions in Complex Networks and Brain Dynamics

by pokornam

We are looking for new team members to join the COMPLEX NETWORKS AND BRAIN DYNAMICS GROUP to work on its interdisciplinary projects. The group is part of the Department of Complex Systems, Institute of Computer Science of the Czech Academy of Sciences - based in Prague, Czech Republic. We focus on the development and application of methods of analysis and modelling of real-world complex networked systems, with particular interest in the structure and dynamics of human brain function. Our main research areas are neuroimaging data analysis (fMRI & EEG, iEEG, anatomical and diffusion MRI), brain dynamics modelling, causality and information flow inference, nonlinearity and nonstationarity, graph theory, machine learning and multivariate statistics; with applications in neuroscience, climate research, economics and general communication networks. More information about the group at http://cobra.cs.cas.cz/ [1]. For more information on the positions please see https://www.cs.cas.cz/job-offer/COBRA-postdoc-positions-Hlinka3/cs Institute of Computer Science Czech Academy of Sciences Pod Vodarenskou vezi 2 Prague 8, 182 07, Czech Republic [1] Links: ------ [1] http://cobra.cs.cas.cz/

May 3, 2021

Bernstein Conference 2021 - Submission of Satellite Workshop Proposals - Deadline approaching on May 10

by Anja Dorrn

The Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience invites proposals for Satellite Workshops at the online Bernstein Conference 2021 ____ BERNSTEIN CONFERENCE Each year the Bernstein Network invites the international computational neuroscience community to the annual Bernstein Conference for intensive scientific exchange. It has established itself as one of the most renown conferences worldwide in this field, attracting students, postdocs and PIs from around the world to meet and discuss new scientific discoveries. Due to the ongoing pandemic the Bernstein Conference will be held online, from Sep 21-23, 2021. www.bernstein-conference.de<http://www.bernstein-conference.de> ____ IMPORTANT DATES - Satellite Workshops: September 21, 2021, 2 pm – 10 pm CEST - Main Conference: September 22-23, 2021 - Deadline for Satellite Workshop proposal submission: May 10, 2021 - Notification of workshop acceptance: planned in June 2021 ____ WORKSHOP PROPOSALS Satellite Workshops of the Bernstein Conference provide a stage to discuss topical research questions, novel scientific approaches and challenges in Computational Neuroscience and related fields. Workshops addressing controversial issues, open problems, and comparisons of competing approaches are encouraged. The format should be designed to foster debate, rather than a series of talks. The Workshop Selection Committee will take scientific excellence, topical relevance gender diversity and variety of career levels into account as their selection criteria. Workshop proposals are welcome as flexible formats of 4-8 hours (all workshops will start at 2 pm CEST, but will end based on individual schedules) Workshop Proposal Forms can be downloaded here: https://bit.ly/BC21_workshops Please submit the completed form to bernstein.conference(a)fz-juelich.de<mailto:bernstein.conference@fz-juelich.de> Deadline: May 10, 2021 – not to be extended Workshop organizers and all speakers will receive a waiver for the online conference. ____ WORKSHOP SELECTION COMMITTEE Marion Silies (Workshop Chair) Moritz Helias (Workshop Vice Chair) Matthew Botvinick Megan Carey Peter Dayan Brent Doiron Rainer Friedrich Julijana Gjiorgjieva (Program Chair) Ann Hermundstad Christian Machens (Program Vice Chair) Srdjan Ostojic Nathalie Rochefort Nicole Rust Gasper Tkacik ____ For any further questions, please contact: bernstein.conference(a)fz-juelich.de<mailto:bernstein.conference@fz-juelich.de> -- 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), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Harald Bolt, Prof. Dr. Frauke Melchior ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

May 3, 2021

Research placement positions at Secondmind Labs

by Hrvoje Stojic

Dear all We have just opened five research placement positions at [Secondmind Labs](https://www.secondmind.ai/labs/), based in Cambridge, United Kingdom. The overall area for the placements is Gaussian process models and Bayesian optimisation. The placements are three months long and are typically targeted at PD candidates. More details, including some placement proposals, can be found [here](https://boards.greenhouse.io/secondmind/jobs/5205946002). Note that it is also possible for applicants to propose their own topics for the placement. Kind regards, Hrvoje ----------------------------- Hrvoje Stojic, PhD Web: [https://hstojic.re/](http://hstojic.re/)

May 1, 2021

The Algonauts Project 2021 Challenge- How the Human Brain Makes Sense of a World in Motion

by Gemma Roig

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce a new challenge sponsored by The Algonauts Project <http://algonauts.csail.mit.edu/>: How the Human Brain Makes Sense of a World in Motion. We invite you to join us in a competition to develop the best computer model of how the human brain perceives videos of everyday events. Participants who come up with a model that most closely matches recorded brain data will be invited to present their work at a virtual workshop on Sept. 7, 2021 at this year’s Conference on Cognitive Computational Neuroscience (CCN <https://ccneuro.org/2021/>). Submission deadline: Aug. 15, 2021. The Algonauts Project: http://algonauts.csail.mit.edu/ <http://algonauts.csail.mit.edu/> CCN Workshop: How the Human Brain Makes Sense of a World in Motion Sept. 7, 2021 Organizers will summarize the outcome and provide hands-on tutorials. Challenge winners will present the results of their work. We look forward to seeing you at the workshop in September, and we hope you will consider joining the challenge! Best wishes, The Algonauts Project Team Algonauts 2021 Project Team: Radoslaw Cichy, Freie Universität Berlin Aude Oliva, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Gemma Roig, Goethe University Frankfurt Alex Andonian, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Kshitij Dwivedi, Goethe University Frankfurt Monika Graumann, Freie Universität Berlin Polina Iamshchinina, Freie Universität Berlin Kendrick Kay, University of Minnesota Benjamin Lahner, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Alex Lascelles, Massachusetts Institute of Technology N Ratan Murty, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

April 30, 2021