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[Meetings] CRNS Talk Series - Live Talk by Prof. Yukie Nagai - University of Tokyo - Japan
by Amir Aly 08 Jan '25

08 Jan '25

Dear All * *Apologies for cross-posting** The* Center for Robotics and Neural Systems* (CRNS) is pleased to announce the talk of *Prof. Yukie Nagai* from the University of Tokyo - Japan on Wednesday, *January 22nd *from *11:00 AM* to *12:30 PM* (*London time*) over *Zoom*. *Thank you for forwarding the invitation to any of your colleagues who might be interested*. >> *Events*: The CRNS talk series will cover a wide range of topics including Social and Cognitive Robotics, Computational Neuroscience, Developmental Psychology, Computational Linguistics, Cognitive Vision, AI and Machine Learning, and healthcare. More details are available here: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/robotics-neural-systems/whats-on <https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.plymo…> >> *Link for the next event (**No Registration is Required**)*: Join Zoom Meeting *https://plymouth.zoom.us/j/98403580358?pwd=LtPTIjfFa4aSfAQ1XxpHs6ZjqRPYTv.1&from=addon <https://plymouth.zoom.us/j/98403580358?pwd=LtPTIjfFa4aSfAQ1XxpHs6ZjqRPYTv.1…>* >> *Title of the talk: **Embodied Predictive Processing: New Horizons in Cognitive Developmental Robotics* *Abstract*: Cognitive developmental robotics seeks to uncover the mechanisms of human cognitive development by replicating these processes in robots. Since 2020, the field has made significant progress, demonstrating human-like cognitive behaviors in robots. One compelling advancement is the growing focus on predictive processing, a neuroscience theory posited as a unified principle of the brain. This theory offers a clear framework for understanding perception and action through minimizing prediction errors. Our research extends this concept to embodied predictive processing, explaining both continuity and diversity in cognitive development. We propose that the brain minimizes prediction errors through multimodal sensorimotor experiences in a social environment, with a robot's physical embodiment playing a crucial role. In this talk, I will highlight our latest findings, showcasing predictive processing as a unified theory of cognitive development and its implications for the future of cognitive developmental robotics. >> If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me, Regards -------------------------------------------- *Dr. Amir Aly*, PhD, FHEA, SIEEE Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Programme Manager of Artificial Intelligence UK and Ireland IEEE RAS Chapter Vice Chair Centre for Robotics and Neural Systems (CRNS) School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics Room A307 Portland Square, Drake Circus, PL4 8AA University of Plymouth, UK

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PhD scholarship in Neuromusculoskeletal Modelling for Parkinson’s Disease at Technical University of Denmark
by stolu＠dtu.dk 08 Jan '25

08 Jan '25

JOB DESCRIPTION https://efzu.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1… Do you have a passion for computational neuroscience, neurorobotics, or bioengineering? If you are looking to establish your career as a scientist and want to work on cutting-edge biomedical research, this PhD scholarship might be the perfect opportunity for you. We offer a position where you will explore the frontiers of neuromusculoskeletal system modelling in collaboration with KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Your research will focus on the interaction between brain and body in Parkinson’s Disease (PD), with the goal of developing innovative tools for diagnosis and neurorehabilitation. Responsibilities and qualifications In this PhD project, you will study the brain-body interaction in PD by combining neural models with a musculoskeletal digital twin of rodent locomotion. You will work with cutting-edge technologies at DTU and KTH, developing computational models of the central nervous system and exploring how neural dynamics translate to motor control in PD. Your primary tasks will include: Developing a musculoskeletal digital twin for rodents and integrating it with brain models. Simulating healthy and PD motor control to investigate neural dynamics and dysfunctions. Collaborating with both DTU and KTH for joint supervision and coordinated research tasks. Conducting a research stay at KTH to test and evaluate techniques in collaboration with KTH’s Computational Brain Science group. Publishing research results in high-impact international journals. Your overall focus will be to strengthen the department’s competencies within machine learning, musculoskeletal modeling and simulation, and computational neuroscience. You will work with a team of researchers and with both academic and industrial partners in Denmark as well as abroad. Qualifications required: You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree. You must hold a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Bioengineering, or a similar field. Strong background in computational neuroscience, machine learning, musculoskeletal modeling, and robotics. Proven experience with data science, machine learning, or computational techniques in a cross-disciplinary environment. Excellent written and spoken English skills. A strong interest in working in a cross-disciplinary environment and excellent collaboration skills, Experience in the fields of robot programming, computer vision, mathematical modeling, machine learning, data science, and/or computational neuroscience is beneficial. The candidate should be prepared for a stay at KTH for several months. Approval and Enrolment The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education. Assessment The assessment of applicants will be made by Associate Professor Silvia Tolu (DTU Electro) and Associate Professor Arvind Kumar (KTH). We offer DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility. Salary and appointment terms The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years. You can read more about career paths at DTU here. Further information For more information, you can contact Associate Professor Silvia Tolu (stolu(a)dtu.dk) Further details about the department can be found at DTU Electro. If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU. Application procedure Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 20 January 2025 (23:59 Danish time). Interviews will be held on an ongoing basis. Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include: A letter motivating the application (cover letter) Curriculum vitae Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale A project proposal for the position (max 2 pages). Proposals can include a research statement, a short plan related to the position, a plan for publications and research risk management. Optional: A list of scientific and technical publications, awards, and certifications that are relevant to the vacancy. Up to 3 relevant publications in related scientific fields. Up to 3 reference letters. You may apply prior to obtaining your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As the position involves research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, among other things, open-source background checks will be conducted on qualified candidates for the position. Technology for people DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark

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Submit Your Workshop Proposal for FRCCS 2025 by January 12, 2024
by Hocine Cherifi 08 Jan '25

08 Jan '25

*Dear Colleagues,* Don’t miss the chance to shape the discussions at *FRCCS 2025* by proposing a workshop! The deadline for submissions is quickly approaching: *January 12, 2024* Workshops are a cornerstone of FRCCS, providing opportunities to: - ✅ Explore cutting-edge topics in complexity science. - ✅ Engage participants through discussions, panels, and demos. - ✅ Foster collaboration and shape the future of the field. *Submit Your Proposal Today for a **full- or half-day workshop* and join us in Bordeaux, France! 🔗 Submission Portal <https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/FRCCS2025/> 🌐 More Info <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/workshops-proposals/> We look forward to your innovative ideas and contributions! Warm regards, *The FRCCS 2025 Organizing Team* 🌐 Conference Website <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/>

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GEM 2025 - Registration is open
by Vinita Samarasinghe 08 Jan '25

08 Jan '25

Registration for GEM 2025 <https://for2812.rub.de/gem2025> has opened. The deadline for registration is 30.04.25. There is limited availability for our early career researcher events and places will be assigned on a first come first served basis. The DFG-funded research consortium “FOR 2812 – Constructing scenarios of the past” is proud to announce a *call for abstracts* for its biennial conference “/Generative Episodic Memory: Interdisciplinary persepectives from neuroscience, psychology and philosophy/” *GEM 202**5.* It will be held *in person* at the Ruhr University Bochum, Germany from 2^nd to 4^th June, 2025. For more information please visit https://for2812.rub.de/gem2025. 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. *Keynote speakers: * Ali Boyle (LSE); Neil Burgess (UCL); Iris Engelhard (U. Utrecht); Johannes Mahr (York U.); Jeremy Manning (Dartmouth) *Funding for early career researchers is available *(visit our ECR page <https://for2812.rub.de/gem2025/early_career_researcher_programs> for more details). *Abstract* submission deadline: 15.03.2025 Submission guidelines: Abstracts must be submitted in English and be no longer than 500 words. Submitted work must be original and unpublished and submitted electronically at https://www.conftool.net/gem202 <https://www.conftool.net/gem2023/>5/ <https://www.conftool.net/gem2023/>. Types of submissions: * Talk * Symposium: Must comprise 3 talks and be interdisciplinary in nature, i.e., talks must cover at least two of the following disciplines: computational neuroscience, philosophy, psychology, neuroscience. * Poster /*For more information please visit https://for2812.rub.de or contact Vinita Samarasinghe at for2812(a)rub.de */ Follow us on bluesky @for2812.bsky.social/* */ <https://bsky.app/for2812.bsky.social> Kind regards, Vinita -- 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@ini.rub.de

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NEURON Spring course: March 9 - 14
by McDougal, Robert 07 Jan '25

07 Jan '25

The 2025 NEURON Spring Course will be held at the Tempe campus of Arizona State University from Sunday, March 9, through Friday, March 14, 2025. This is basically the NEURON Summer Course but happening at a different time of the year. It will provide a thorough introduction to computational modeling of neurons and networks with NEURON, and is suitable for individuals at all levels of expertise. The registration deadline is Friday, February 28, 2025. No applications will be accepted after that date, and there will be no on-site registration. Space is limited, and applications will be considered in the order received. For more information and the on-line application form, see: The 2025 NEURON Spring Course<https://www.neuron.yale.edu/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=20497>

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4-year funded PhD position at the Action Prediction Lab (Patric Bach, School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen, Scotland)
by Moritz Wurm 07 Jan '25

07 Jan '25

We are seeking for a highly motivated PhD candidate to join the Action Prediction Lab <https://www.actionprediction.org/> at the School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen, Scotland. The position is for 4 years and includes a collaboration with the Action Recognition and Concepts Lab <https://sites.google.com/site/moritzfwurm> at CIMeC, University of Trento, Italy. The deadline is January 17, 2025 (please note that two references need to be added to the application by the deadline). Please apply here <https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/eastbio-neurocognitive-mechanisms-of-…>. Project description: Humans are able to perspective-take and visualise how a scene looks from other locations in space and from the perspective of people in these locations. However, the cognitive and brain mechanisms that underpin this fundamental ability are unclear. Here, we will use model-based univariate and multivariate EEG and fMRI decoding techniques to reveal how people take perspectives different from their own.

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[jobs] Postdoc/PhD positions in Toulouse (France): Deep learning models of the Global Workspace
by Rufin VanRullen 07 Jan '25

07 Jan '25

Multiple postdoctoral and PhD positions are available in an ERC-funded project exploring deep-learning implementations of the Global Workspace theory. We are seeking highly motivated and dedicated students and post-docs to join our group in Toulouse, France in the Fall of 2025. Successful candidates will have formal training in AI, Computer Science or related fields (e.g. computational neuroscience), and a keen interest in cognitive neuroscience. Our ERC Advanced Grant "GLoW" (2023-2028) aims to take inspiration from neuroscience and cognitive theories to build deep neural network models of cognition, capable of integrating or "grounding" information across sensory and linguistic modalities, and of displaying flexible cognitive behavior. We will also use advanced AI models to improve the decoding and understanding of brain activity. Details on the ideas that will be developed in the project can be found in this Opinion paper <https://www.cell.com/trends/neurosciences/fulltext/S0166-2236(21)00077-1>. The project is headed by Rufin VanRullen (CNRS, Toulouse, France), with external advisors Ryota Kanai (Araya, Tokyo, Japan) and Murray Shanahan (ICL/Deepmind, London, UK). Our lab <https://rufinv.github.io/> is part of the CerCo Institute <https://cerco.cnrs.fr/en> as well as the Artificial and Natural Intelligence Toulouse Institute (ANITI) <https://aniti.univ-toulouse.fr/en/>. Our team has many opportunities to collaborate with neuroscientists, computer scientists, linguists, roboticists etc. We have direct access to fMRI recording facilities and to in-house (GPU) computing clusters as well as research-dedicated supercomputers. Typical appointments for post-docs are for 2 years (renewable for a 3rd or 4th year), and 3-years for PhD. The beginning post-doc salary is 2,700 Euros/month (net), and can reach 3,300 Euros/month (net) for more experienced post-docs. The PhD stipend is 2,000 Euros/month (net). We expect to hire several candidates by the Fall of 2025, but will continue to recruit exceptional applicants in the foreseeable future. To apply, please send a CV and a letter <mailto:rufin.vanrullen@cnrs.fr> explaining your research interests and motivations to: rufin.vanrullen [at] cnrs.fr Any questions should also be directed to the same address. Applications received before April 1st, 2025 will be given full consideration, but we will continue to accept outstanding applications after this date. --

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The Algonauts Project 2025 challenge is now live: How the Human Brain Makes Sense of Multimodal Movies
by The Algonauts Project 07 Jan '25

07 Jan '25

Dear Colleagues, We announce the 2025 challenge sponsored by The Algonauts Project <https://algonautsproject.com/>: How the Human Brain Makes Sense of Multimodal Movies. We invite you to join us in this competition to develop the best brain encoding models that are multimodal and that well generalize beyond their training distribution. The challenge is based on data from CNeuroMod <https://www.cneuromod.ca/>, the largest dataset of human brain fMRI responses to multimodal movies. Participants whose models most closely match recorded brain data (top 3) will receive monetary prizes for a total of 17,000 € (1st 9,000 €; 2nd 5,000 €; 3rd 3,000 €), and will be invited to present their winning models at this year’s Cognitive Computational Neuroscience (CCN) <https://2025.ccneuro.org/> conference, in Amsterdam, in August 2025. The challenge is open to all, and provides transparent, directly comparable results through a public leaderboard that is updated automatically after each submission to facilitate rapid model assessment and guide development. Submission deadline: July 13, 2025 Website: https://algonautsproject.com/ Email: algonauts.mit(a)gmail.com Bluesky: @algonautsproject.bsky.social <https://bsky.app/profile/algonautsproject.bsky.social> X: @AlgonautsProj <https://x.com/AlgonautsProj> We look forward to your participation in the challenge! The Algonauts Project Team Algonauts Project 2025 Challenge Team: Alessandro Gifford, Freie Universität Berlin Domenic Bersch, Goethe University Frankfurt Marie St-Laurent, CRIUGM Basile Pinsard, CRIUGM Julie Boyle, Université de Montréal Lune Bellec, Université de Montréal Aude Oliva, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Gemma Roig, Goethe University Frankfurt Radoslaw Cichy, Freie Universität Berlin

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CFP - 2025 IEEE International Conference on Advanced Robotics and Its Social Impacts (ARSO 2025)
by nagai.yukie＠mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp 06 Jan '25

06 Jan '25

Dear colleagues, The deadline for submitting organized session proposals for ARSO2025 is approaching on January 15th. We look forward to receiving your submissions. --- 2025 IEEE International Conference on Advanced Robotics and Its Social Impacts (ARSO 2025) July 17th-19th, 2025, Osaka, Japan https://ieee-arso.org Advanced robots are expected to enter in promising applications in our future society and bring substantial impacts. The increasing implementation of AI-based components even broaden their fields of application. To ensure that these impacts are positively reflected, today, we need to extend views not only on technical aspects but also on social challenges that we might face, including safety, regulation, ethics, human factors, and philosophy. The topics of ARSO 2025 include, but are not limited to the following: • Human-robot interaction in physical & psychological aspects • Safety standards for advanced robots & autonomous systems • Legal and ethical issues for advanced robots • Impact of robotics on society, e.g. robot business, marketing & economic impact • Robotics for sustainability, climate change or civil aid • Advanced industrial robots for future manufacturing • Healthcare & medical applications • Rehabilitation and transfer robotics • Service & assistance applications • Entertainment & education robotics • Robotics & autonomous driving • Bio-inspired robotics • Soft and wearable robotics Important Dates: Submission of Organized Session Proposal: Jan. 15, 2025 Initial Paper Submission: Feb. 28, 2025 Workshop Proposal Submission: Feb. 28, 2025 Notification of Paper Acceptance: Apr. 28, 2025 Final Paper Submission: May 30, 2025 General Chairs: Minoru Asada, Japan Silvia Rossi, Italy Program Chairs: Kensuke Harada, Japan Emel Demircan, USA Astrid Weiss, Austria Best regards, Yuji Kawai and Yukie Nagai, Publicity Chairs of ARSO2025 — Yukie Nagai, Ph.D. Project Professor, The University of Tokyo nagai.yukie(a)mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp | https://developmental-robotics.jp CREST Cognitive Feelings: https://cognitive-feeling.jp CREST Cognitive Mirroring: https://cognitive-mirroring.org

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World wide VVTNS series: Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 11:00 am EST| Dmitry Krotov, IBM Research, Cambridge, USA
by David Hansel 05 Jan '25

05 Jan '25

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online <https://streaklinks.com/A9c7PbbpKY7PxB6PaAJWGD3-/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide VVTNS 2025 Opening Lecture & 2024 Nobel prize in Physics celebration You are cordially invited to the lecture given by Dmitry Krotov IBM Research, Cambridge USA on the topic of Dense associative memory and its potential role in brain computation The lecture will be held on zoom on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at *11:00 am EST * To receive the zoom link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: * Dense Associative Memories (Dense AMs) are energy-based neural networks that share many desirable features of celebrated Hopfield Networks but have superior information storage capabilities. In contrast to conventional Hopfield Networks, which were popular in the 1980s, DenseAMs have a very large memory storage capacity - possibly exponential in the size of the network. This aspect makes them appealing tools for many problems in AI and neurobiology. In this talk I will describe two theories of how DenseAMs might be built in biological “hardware”. According to the first theory, DenseAMs arise as effective theories after integrating out a large number of neuronal degrees of freedom. According to the second theory, astrocytes, a particular type of glia cells, serve as core computational units enabling large memory storage capabilities. This second theory challenges a common point of view in the neuroscience community that astrocytes play the role of only passive house-keeping support structures in the brain. In contrast, it suggests that astrocytes might be actively involved in brain computation and memory storage and retrieval. This story is an illustration of how computational principles originating in physics may provide insights into novel AI architectures and brain computation. *About VVTNS : Launched as the World Wide Theoretical Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), Speakers have the occasion to talk about theoretical aspects of their work which cannot be discussed in a setting where the majority of the audience consists of experimentalists. The seminars, **held on Wednesdays at 11 am ET,** are 45-50 min long followed by a discussion. The talks are recorded with authorization of the speaker and are available to everybody on our YouTube channel.* ᐧ

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