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PhD & Postdoc positions at Bocconi University, Milan (IT)
by Alessandro Sanzeni 18 Nov '22

18 Nov '22

Hi all, PhD and Postdoctoral positions are open in computational neurosciences at Bocconi University (Milan, Italy). Research topics include: how movement modulates neural responses to visual stimuli; integrating connectomes in mechanistic models of brain functions; building normative models of neural representations. Approaches from statistical physics, nonlinear dynamics and machine learning will be used, and models will be constrained by new electrophysiological and connectomic data. Prior experience with computational neuroscience is a plus, but it is not required. Positions will be part of the vibrant community at Bocconi University, which includes researchers working in neuroscience, machine learning, computer science and statistics (a complete list of researchers can be found in the websites of the Department of Computing Sciences <https://cs.unibocconi.eu/>, Decision Sciences <https://dec.unibocconi.eu/> and the BIDSA <https://bidsa.unibocconi.eu/>). Bocconi University is committed to building a diverse intellectual community (a detailed strategic plan can be found at this link <https://www.unibocconi.eu/wps/wcm/connect/bocconi/sitopubblico_en/navigatio…>) and we particularly encourage members of underrepresented groups to apply to these positions. Application deadline for PhD students is February 1st, 2023. Postdoctoral application reviews will start on Dec. 1st and will continue until positions are filled; the ideal starting date is before June 2023. Candidates should send their CV and a brief cover letter to: alessandro.sanzeni(a)unibocconi.it <mailto:alessandro.sanzeni@unibocconi.it> All the best, Alessandro Sanzeni

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Postdoc + PhD positions in Constantin Rothkopf's lab in ERC funded project ACTOR
by Constantin Rothkopf 17 Nov '22

17 Nov '22

One postdoc and one PhD position are available in the lab of Constantin Rothkopf at the Centre for Cognitive Science @ TU Darmstadt as part of the ERC project ACTOR. The goal of this project is to use both human behavioral experiments and computational modeling to understand human sequential behavior in tasks ranging from continuous psychophysics to navigation and food preparation in the framework of sequential decision making/planning/optimal control/RL. To get a better idea, here some work from our group related to this project: - F. Kessler, J. Frankenstein, C. A Rothkopf. A dynamic Bayesian actor model explains endpoint variability in homing tasks, bioRxiv, 2022. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.09.515854v1 - Straub, D., & Rothkopf, C. A. (2022). Putting perception into action with inverse optimal control for continuous psychophysics, eLife 11, e76635. https://elifesciences.org/articles/76635 - Schultheis, M., Straub, D., & Rothkopf, C. A. (2021). Inverse optimal control adapted to the noise characteristics of the human sensorimotor system. Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems, 34, 9429-9442. https://proceedings.neurips.cc/paper/2021/hash/4e55139e019a58e0084f194f758f… - Neupärtl, N., Tatai, F., & Rothkopf, C. A. (2020). Intuitive physical reasoning about objects’ masses transfers to a visuomotor decision task consistent with Newtonian physics. PLoS computational biology, 16(10), e1007730. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007730 - Hoppe, D., & Rothkopf, C. A. (2019). Multi-step planning of eye movements in visual search. Scientific reports, 9(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-37536-0 - Hoppe, D., & Rothkopf, C. A. (2016). Learning rational temporal eye movement strategies. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(29), 8332-8337. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1601305113 Our group is part of the Centre for Cognitive Science and the AI Center at TU Darmstadt, which are home to a an internationally outstanding group of PIs and junior researchers working in the areas of computational cognitive science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. We are part of several research consortia and engage in several fruitful research collaborations. The lab has state of the art equipment for eye and body tracking, VR, naturalistic task monitoring, psychophysics and access to one of the most generous computing infrastructures in Germany. The Frankfurt-Darmstadt metropolitan area is located in the heart of Europe and is one of the most international regions in Germany with a diverse community and rich culture repeatedly earning high rankings in worldwide surveys of quality of living. Frankfurt just recently reached 7th place worldwide in a ranking by the Economist and Darmstadt has repeatedly ranked among the top innovation driving cities in Germany. While some of the positions within this ERC are geared towards more behavioral work others are strongly focused on computational modeling. Applicants may therefore have a background in computer science, cognitive science, neuroscience, psychology, engineering, or related fields. Don’t hesitate to contact me for more details. Please send the official application to the dean of the of the department of human sciences dekanat(a)humanw.tu-darmstadt.de including a CV, a two page summary of your past research experience and current research interests, and contact information for 2-3 references in a single pdf file. The code for the PhD position is “721” and the code for the Postdoc position is “722”. Official advertisements are linked at the end of this post. The positions can be filled starting in December. Applications will be reviewed on a continuing basis. All the best, Constantin Rothkopf https://www.pip.tu-darmstadt.de/ http://www.cogsci.tu-darmstadt.de/ https://hessian.ai/ Official ads: https://www.tu-darmstadt.de/universitaet/karriere_an_der_tu/stellenangebote… https://www.tu-darmstadt.de/universitaet/karriere_an_der_tu/stellenangebote…

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PhD & Postdoc at University of Lyon1, FR
by DI VOLO MATTEO 17 Nov '22

17 Nov '22

PhD and Postdoctoral positions are open in computational neurosciences at the University of Lyon1, in the Stem and Brain Research Institute (https://sbri.fr/) The project aims at understanding the cellular and circuit mechanisms responsible for cognitive functions, combining computational and theoretical aspects of neural modeling as well as analyses of electrophysiological data. Further details at https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/865006. The positions are available starting immediately. Candidates should send their CV and a brief cover letter to Matteo di Volo: matteo.divolo(a)univ.lyon1.fr

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Assistant Professor position in Cognitive Sciences at UC Irvine
by Jeffrey L Krichmar 17 Nov '22

17 Nov '22

Dear Comp-Neuro colleagues, The Department of Cognitive Sciences at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) invites applications for an assistant professor (tenure-track) position with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2023. We are seeking scientists who study human vision, with a particular interest in those who combine an empirical research program with innovative approaches in neuroscience and/or cutting-edge computational tools such as machine learning and AI. The successful candidate will establish a vital research program, and contribute to teaching, mentoring, and to inclusive excellence. They will interact with a dynamic and growing community in cognitive, computational, and neural sciences within the department (http://www.cogsci.uci.edu/) and the broader campus. Applicants should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, research and teaching statements, a statement describing past or potential contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion, three recent or relevant publications, and the names and contact information of three references. The application requirements along with the online application can be found at: https://recruit.ap.uci.edu/JPF07912. To ensure full consideration, applications must be completed by December 15, 2022. The University of California, Irvine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer advancing inclusive excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy. Jeff Krichmar Department of Cognitive Sciences 2328 Social & Behavioral Sciences Gateway University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA 92697-5100 jkrichma(a)uci.edu http://www.socsci.uci.edu/~jkrichma

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PhD Positions in Visual Cognition & Computational Neuroscience
by Marius Catalin Iordan 16 Nov '22

16 Nov '22

The lab of Dr. Marius Cătălin Iordan at the University of Rochester (Depts. of Brain & Cognitive Sciences and Neuroscience) is recruiting 1-2 PhD students interested in visual cognition + neuroscience and/or quantitative + computational methods applied to human neuroimaging. Apply by December 4 for a Fall 2023 start date. Our lab studies how the human brain organizes conceptual information into categories, events, and stories to understand and interact with our complex, noisy world. More details about our research can be found here: www.MariusCatalinIordan.com . Details re: position, application, compensation, benefits, & friendly lab culture below. PhD Program in Brain and Cognitive Sciences: Application Deadline: December 4, 2022. Start Date: September 2023. Application Details & Link: http://www.sas.rochester.edu/bcs/graduate/admission.html Program Info: http://www.sas.rochester.edu/bcs/graduate/curriculum.html. We especially encourage applications from minority and/or underrepresented students. Students with strong computational background & interests may be eligible for a joint PhD degree in Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Computer Science. Ideal candidates have psychology, neuroscience, and/or computer science research experience, as well as programming skills; computational methods and/or neuroimaging experience is a plus. However, strong evidence of passion & dedication for research may partly substitute for the above. In your personal statement, please describe your research contributions during current and past projects, as well as your computational / programming prowess. Also, please make sure to include 1-2 specific cognitive (neuro)science question(s) you would like to pursue in grad school. We look for students who can think clearly about which scientific questions are most important, which methods are best for answering those questions, and why they're passionate! Come work in a welcoming, inclusive, equitable, and friendly environment where you'll be supported and valued. We will train you to become an independent scientist and we'll provide support for achieving your own best path forward, whether in academia or industry. You'll join a growing community of interdisciplinary scientists and you'll have opportunities to collaborate with several communities and departments: Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Psychology, Neuroscience, Data Science, & Computer Science. You'll receive training in psychology & neuroscience, esp. cognition, as well as computational approaches, including machine learning and neural networks. Our lab also provides training opportunities in a cornucopia of techniques and methods, including fMRI, psychophysics, real-time neuroimaging, and neurofeedback. Collaboration opportunities are also available within the department for students interested in EEG and AR/VR. We'll also help you build and hone other valuable and marketable skills, such as teaching, leadership, mentoring, project management, & scientific communication. Your salary will afford you a good standard of living in an inexpensive city: ~$31.5k/yr (currently equiv. to ~120% NIH rate) or external/fellowship funding rate, whichever is higher. We also provide a single plan UR health insurance, full tuition scholarship, paid family leave, and enduring NY state social protections. We believe that being a successful scientist requires not just dedication and supportive mentorship, but also a good work/life balance and the ability to explore one's passions both within and outside the lab. There are lots of ways to enjoy your time here: world-class symphony, great culture and food, exceptionally LGBTQIA+ friendly University and city, 20 min to a sandy beach, 1h to Finger Lakes / wine country / skiing, 2h to great hiking in the Adirondacks. We also have a balanced 4 season climate with weather for every occasion: Lilac Festival in the spring, beautiful sunny summers (<10 days above 90 degrees), gorgeous fall foliage, and snowy holidays in the winter. More info here: https://www.visitrochester.com . If you have any questions or would like to request a waiver of the application fee ($30), please reach out to mci (at) rochester (dot) edu.

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Call for papers, Scientific Reports special issue: Biological modularity
by alireza valizadeh 16 Nov '22

16 Nov '22

Dear all, Sientific reports accepts papers for the collection "Biological Modularity". Please see below. https://www.nature.com/collections/bedecebdgf/how-to-submit Collection Biological modularity Submission statusOpen Submission deadline08 March 2023 Modularity has become a central concept in biological sciences, stemming from the notion that biological systems can be conceptualised as intricate networks, which in turn are often divided into sets of strongly interacting parts that are relatively autonomous with respect to each other. Modularity has strong evolutionary implications, and has been applied at various scales, from gene regulation and cell metabolism, to organism development, morphogenesis and functional anatomy, to neural circuits and behaviour, and species’ or whole community interactions. This Collection will bring together original research advancing our understanding of modularity, as well as its application in various biological fields, including multidisciplinary studies. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Alireza Valizadeh Professor Neurophysics lab, Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS), Zanjan, Iran Tel:(+98) 24 3315 2120 Fax:(+98) 24 3315 2104 valizade(a)iasbs.ac.ir Web: http://www.iasbs.ac.ir/~valizade/index.html --------------------------------------------------------------------

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Tenure-track Assistant Professor in Computational Brain Science at Brown
by Michael J Frank 16 Nov '22

16 Nov '22

The Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science <https://www.brown.edu/carney/> at Brown University invites applications from rising and established leaders in computational brain science for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level. A transformative $100M gift to the Institute is catalyzing the growth and expansion of Carney faculty and research over the next decade, including to further research goals of the Center for Computational Brain Science <https://ccbs.carney.brown.edu/>. As part of this expansion, this search will consider applicants with expertise in computational neuroscience broadly construed and will result in an appointment with a tenure-track home in a Carney Institute-affiliated department (including physics, applied mathematics, computer science, neuroscience, and cognitive, linguistic and psychological sciences). The successful applicant will have an outstanding record of research and teaching that contributes to the mission of the candidate’s appropriate home department and the Carney Institute Center for Computational Brain Science. We are particularly interested in scholars who demonstrate commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the brain sciences. The Carney Institute promotes discovery and innovation in brain science by supporting a diverse community of experimentalists, theorists, engineers, and clinicians. With more than 180 affiliated faculty members in more than 20 academic and clinical units, the Carney Institute catalyzes research across the brain sciences, including in the neurobiology of cells and circuits, computational brain science, cognition and behavior, and neuroengineering and neurotechnology. We are a highly interactive community that values collaborative approaches to tackle major questions in brain science to benefit society. Quality of research and scholarship is central to reaching our goals and this depends on engaging talented scientists from across academia and embracing their contributions in a fully inclusive community. The Carney Institute’s strategic vision is aligned with Brown’s commitment to creating a more fully diverse and inclusive community, outlined in “Pathways to Diversity and Inclusion: An Action Plan for Brown University <https://www.brown.edu/about/administration/institutional-diversity/pathways> .” *Qualifications* Applicants must have a Ph.D. at the time of starting work. The start date can be anytime between July 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024. *Application Instructions* All candidates should submit: (1) a teaching statement; (2) a research statement; (3) a diversity and inclusion statement; (4) a curriculum vitae; (5) up to 5 publications; and (6) a cover letter describing their interest in the position (including the general field of research and potential departments of interest); (7) at least three letters of reference submitted before the application deadline. Letters of support should speak to the candidate’s potential as a scholar, colleague, mentor, and teacher. Inquiries about the position should be directed to carney-institute(a)brown.edu. Full consideration will be given to applications received by December 15, 2022; we will continue to accept applications until the position is filled. Brown is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, and members of underrepresented groups in brain science are strongly encouraged to apply. Apply at http://apply.interfolio.com/115307. *Equal Employment Opportunity Statement* *Brown University is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic global community; as an EEO/AA employer, Brown considers applicants for employment without regard to and does not discriminate on the basis of, gender, race, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.* Michael J Frank, PhD | Edgar L. Marston Professor Director, Carney Center for Computational Brain Science <https://www.brown.edu/carney/ccbs> Laboratory of Neural Computation and Cognition <https://www.lnccbrown.com/> Brown University website <http://ski.clps.brown.edu>

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GEM 2023 - Call for Abstracts
by Vinita Samarasinghe 15 Nov '22

15 Nov '22

The DFG-funded research consortium “FOR 2812 – Constructing scenarios of the past” https://for2812.rub.de is proud to announce a call for abstracts for its biennial conference *GEM 2023* (Generative Episodic Memory: Interdisciplinary perspectives from neuroscience, psychology and philosophy), which will be held *in person*at the Ruhr University Bochum, Germany from 12^th to 14^th June 2023. For more information on the conference please visit https://for2812.rub.de/gem2023. We invite submissions for symposia, talks and posters. *Please note that all presentations are in person.* Episodic memories are widely regarded as memories of personally experienced events. Early concepts about episodic memory were based on the storage model, according to which experiential content is preserved in memory and later retrieved. However, overwhelming empirical evidence suggests that the content of episodic memory is – at least to a certain degree – constructed in the act of remembering. Even though very few contemporary researchers would oppose this view of episodic memory as a generative process, it has not become the standard paradigm of empirical memory research. This is particularly true for studies of the neural correlates of episodic memory. Further hindering progress are large conceptual differences regarding episodic memory across different fields, such as neuroscience, philosophy, and psychology. This interdisciplinary conference therefore aims to bring together researchers from all relevant fields to advance the state of the art in the research on generative episodic memory. *Abstract* submission deadlines [GMT +1 (CET)]: Abstract submission – 15.03.2023 Notification of acceptance – 15.04.2023 Submission guidelines: Abstracts mustbe submitted in English and be no longer than 500 words.Submitted work must be original and unpublished andsubmitted electronically athttps://www.conftool.net/gem2023/. Types of submissions: * Talks * Symposia: In addition to submitting individual talks there is also the option to submit a set of talks (henceforth called symposium). Symposiamust be interdisciplinary in nature, i.e., they must contain talks from at least two of the following disciplines: computational neuroscience, philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, and must comprise 3 talks. Please note that if one or more of the talks that make up the symposium are rejected the remainingtalks are not automatically rejected. They will be scheduled into the general program by the program committee. * Posters Please ensure that your files are in PDF format and are no larger than 10 MB. We look forward to welcoming you in Bochum. Vinita Samarasinghe Coordinator -- Coordination Office For 2812 "Constructing scenarios of the past: A new framework in episodic memory" https://for2812.rub.de 25.11.2022 - Colloquium - Olaf Blanke <https://for2812.rub.de/events/#event_60> 09.12.2022 - Colloquium - Kristina Liefke <https://for2812.rub.de/events/#event_61> 13.01.2023 - Colloquium - Caswell Barry <https://for2812.rub.de/events/#event_62> Institut für Neuroinformatik Ruhr-Universität Bochum, NB 3/73 Postfachnummer 110 Universitätstr. 150 44801 Bochum Tel: +49 (0)234 32 27996 Email: for2812(a)rub.de

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Gary Marcus speaking on November 17 in Developing Minds global online lecture series
by Jochen Triesch 13 Nov '22

13 Nov '22

Dear colleagues, On November 17, the Developing Minds global online lecture series will feature Gary Marcus: „Towards a Foundation for AGI“ https://sites.google.com/view/developing-minds-series/home The live event will take place via zoom at: 09:00 am PST (Pacific Standard Time) 17:00 UTC (Universal Coordinated Time) 18:00 CET (Central European Time) 02:00 am, Friday Nov. 18, JST (Japan Standard Time) To participate please register here: https://sites.google.com/view/developing-minds-series/home Abstract Large pretrained language models like GPT-3 and PaLM have generated enormous enthusiasm, and are capable of producing remarkably fluent language. But they have also been criticized on many grounds, and described as "stochastic parrots." Are they adequate as a basis for artificial general intelligence [AGI], and if not, what would a better foundation for general intelligence look like? Bio GARY MARCUS is a leading voice in artificial intelligence. He is a scientist, best-selling author, and serial entrepreneur (Founder of Robust.AI and Geometric.AI, acquired by Uber). He is well-known for his challenges to contemporary AI, anticipating many of the current limitations decades in advance, and for his research in human language development and cognitive neuroscience. An Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Neural Science at NYU, he is the author of five books, including, The Algebraic Mind, Kluge, The Birth of the Mind, and the New York Times Bestseller Guitar Zero. He has often contributed to The New Yorker, Wired, and The New York Times. His most recent book, Rebooting AI, with Ernest Davis, is one of Forbes’s 7 Must Read Books in AI. You can follow him at garymarcus.substack.com and on Twitter, @garymarcus. The talk will also be recored and the recording made available via the web page: https://sites.google.com/view/developing-minds-series/home Stay healthy, 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

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Postdoc and PhD position in Computational Cognitive Neuroscience
by Christopher Laurie Buckley 11 Nov '22

11 Nov '22

Hi all, Hi all, A postdoc and a PhD position are available at the University of Sussex in my own group and the group of Prof. Anil K Seth (Department of Informatics and Centre for Consciousness Science) on the EU-funded project entitled “A metapredictive model of synthetic awareness for enabling tool invention (METATOOL)”. The METATOOL project is a ground-breaking international and multidisciplinary project that aims at developing a novel computational model of cognition based on the predictive processing of metacognition and validating its utility in real robots in the context of conditional sequential tasks, operationalised by tool use, as well as by the novel challenge of tool creation. This will suit those interested in predictive processing and generally work at the intersection of cognitive science and ML. To apply for the postdoc please see, https://www.sussex.ac.uk/about/jobs/research-fel-in-computational-cognitiv-… The closing date is 9th December 2022. For the PhD position, and all informal inquiries. please contact c.l.buckley(a)sussex.ac.uk. Professor Christopher L. Buckley Sussex AI Group Department of Informatics University of Sussex Falmer Brighton, UK

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