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Research assistant post: neural computations of foraging decisions. University of Nottingham (UK)
by Mark Humphries April 8, 2025

April 8, 2025

The Humphries’ lab<https://www.humphries-lab.org> at the University of Nottingham is seeking a research assistant to join a project on the neural computations of foraging decisions, in collaboration with the groups of Matthew Apps (Birmingham) and Nathan Lepora (Bristol). Whether choosing to leave one shop for another, switching TV programs, or seeking berries to eat, humans and other animals make endless stay-or-leave decisions, but how we make them is not well understood. The goal of this project is to find out if there is a common decision algorithm for leaving across species and what that algorithm is. You will create predictions for how foragers should vary in their stay-of-leave decisions for different types of decision algorithm, and test them using data from humans and rodents tackling foraging tasks. You will have some experience in computational modelling of behaviour, such as decision-making models or reinforcement learning, and good programming skills. The post is for 12 months, and would suit predoctoral candidates seeking research experience. Unsure if you're a good fit for the post? Got any questions? Then contact Mark for a chat: mark.humphries(a)nottingham.ac.uk<mailto:.humphries@nottingham.ac.uk>. For full details of the role and how to apply https://jobs.nottingham.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx?ref=SCI128025 Closing date: May 5th 2025 This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender and delete the email and attachment. Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham. Email communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored where permitted by law.

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Brains and Machines Podcast
by Bains, Sunny April 7, 2025

April 7, 2025

Brains and Machines is a monthly podcast about neuromorphic engineering and bio-inspired technology, published in conjunction with EE Times Current. Each episode is featured around an interview, with the latest one being Terry Sejnowski from the Salk Institute. Previous guests (we’re on episode 26) include Mitra Hartmann from Northwestern, Carver Mead of Caltech, and roboticist Rodney Brooks. You can listen to the podcast at EE Times Current<https://www.eetimes.com/category/podcasts/eetimes-current/> (interspersed with other podcasts), through Brains and Machines<https://brainsandmachines.net>, and you can also subscribe (with a one episode delay) by clicking the links at the top right of that site (we’re available through most of the usual channels). We hope you get the chance to listen in!

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Grenoble Neurotech School 2025 (Aussois, May 11-16, 2025) – Deadline April 14
by Blaise Yvert April 7, 2025

April 7, 2025

Dear colleagues, We would like to remind you that this is the last week to register for the second edition of the Neurotech School 2025, taking place from May 11 to 16 at the Centre Paul Langevin in Aussois, France (https://www.caes.cnrs.fr/sejours/centre-paul-langevin-3-2/) You can register via the following link : https://neurotech2025.sciencesconf.org/ The deadline to register is April 14, and as last year, the number of available seats is limited. We look forward to your participation and to welcoming you in Aussois! Best regards, Blaise Yvert for the organizing committee.

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This week: Global Summit on Open Problems for AI. Central Tokyo, Japan, 9-11th April 2025
by Battleday, Ruairidh April 7, 2025

April 7, 2025

今週：AI の未解決問題に関するグローバルサミット。Sakura Deeptech、渋谷サクラステージ、東京、日本、2025 年 4 月 9 〜 11 日。This week: Global Summit on Open Problems for AI. Sakura Deeptech, Shibuya Sakura Stage, Tokyo, Japan, 9-11th April 2025. What are the next set of challenges for AI algorithms? What are the big possibilities in entrepreneurship and business application? AI アルゴリズムの次の課題は何でしょうか?起業家精神とビジネス応用における大きな可能性は何ですか? The Algorithmic Innovation and Entrepreneurship Global Summit on Open Problems for AI <http://www.algopreneurship.ai/>. is this week in Sakura Deeptech, Shibuya Sakura Stage, Tokyo, Japan, 9-11th April 2025. Join world-leading AI researchers, policy makers, and entrepreneurs in this global Summit over three days of keynote talks, panels, and breakout sessions. 基調講演、パネル、分科会セッションで構成される 3 日間にわたるグローバルサミットに、世界をリードする AI 研究者、政策立案者、起業家が参加します。日本語でライブ文字起こし Day 1 - Algorithms アルゴリズム We ask what the fundamental challenges for developing AI algorithms are, as well as promising avenues for overcoming them. AI アルゴリズムの開発における根本的な課題は何か、またそれを克服するための有望な道筋は何かを尋ねます。 We’ll be hearing from: Dr Shane Gu (Google DeepMind), Prof. Taro Toyoizumi (Riken CBS), Prof. Masanori Koyama (University of Tokyo), Dr Kai Arulkumaran (Araya Inc.), Dr Emityaz Khan (Riken AIP), Professor Masanori Koyama (University of Tokyo), Prof. Yunzhe Liu (Beijing Normal University), Dr Jad Tarifi (Integral AI), Kiran Mysore (University of Tokyo UTEC), Dr Jiaxian Guo (Google DeepMind), Dr James Whittington (Stanford & Oxford University & Zyphra), Dr Lucy Lai (Harvard University), Dr Yusuke Iwasawa (University of Tokyo), Dr Sam Passaglia (Cohere) Panel on “Is Scale all we need?” 「スケールだけが必要なのでしょうか？」 Panel on “What is the next big breakthrough in AI?” 「AI における次の大きな進歩は何でしょうか?」 Day 2 - Ethics 倫理と社会 We ask what the fundamental ethical challenges and opportunities are for AI. AIにとって根本的な倫理的課題と機会は何かと問う。 Keynotes: Prof. Yuko Harayam (Tohoku University; GPAI), Prof. Arisa Ema (University of Tokyo & RIKEN CAIP), Prof. Toshie Takahashi (Waseda University), Dr Colin Rowat (Rakuten, Cambridge), Dr Joe Ledsam (Google Health), Kenny Song (Citadel AI), Kevin Loi-Heng (Avalon AI), Chris Lengerich (Context Fund), Evan Burkosky (Kimaru AI), Tiffany Kayo (Coral Capital) Panel: Micro Ethics - What Can Individual Researchers Do for Ethical AI? 倫理的な AI のために個々の研究者は何ができるでしょうか? Chair: Nicolay Hagen (NTNU) Panel: Meso Ethics - What Can Organizations Do for Ethical AI? 組織は倫理的な AI のために何ができるでしょうか? Chair: Prof. Skyler Wang (McGill) Panel: Macro Ethics - If AI is the answer, what is the question? AIと社会 Chair: Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday (Harvard & MIT) Day 3 - Applications and entrepreneurship 社会実装 We ask what the fundamental challenges and opportunities are in applications for social good and entrepreneurship. 私たちは、社会貢献と起業家精神への応用における根本的な課題と機会は何かを問います。 Keynotes: Prof. Yukie Nagai (University of Tokyo), Dr Hiroaki Kitano (Adjunct Professor, OIST), Sho Ito (Deputy Director of Innovation, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan), Ilya Kulyatin (Tokyo AI; TAI), Robert Lange (Sakana AI), Dr Daisuke Okanohara (Preferred Networks), Dr Conglong Li (Google Deepmind), Takahiro Matsumoto (Cisco / Robust Intelligence), Dr Jungo Kasai (Kotoba Tech), Dr Nick McGreivy (Princeton University), Dr Andrew Fyfe (Neutone), Elizabeth Oda (Braid AI), Dr Tiago Ramalho (Recursive), Francis Hamilton (Tektome Inc), Dr Qi Chen (Paragraph), Kosuke Arima (Stockmark), Dr Yoshitaka Ushiku (NexaScience) Dr Joshua Tan (Metagov) Run in partnership with the Matsuo-Iwasawa Lab, the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI at NICT), and Tokyo AI (TAI). 松尾・岩澤研究室、人工知能に関するグローバルパートナーシップ、東京 AI と提携して運営されます。 This should be an exciting and productive event, and we expect an audience of 200 of Japan’s best AI researchers and entrepreneurs at student, early-stage, and full career levels. これは刺激的で生産的なイベントになるはずであり、学生、初期段階、フルキャリアレベルの日本最高の AI 研究者や起業家 200 名が参加すると予想しています。 Student tickets: $20 for all three days ¥3000 学生3日間入場 General tickets: $20 per day ¥3000 1日一般入場 Reserve your place now! <http://www.algopreneurship.ai/> 席を予約してください <http://www.algopreneurship.ai/> Ruairidh <https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruairidh-battleday-648a2b65/>, <https://www.jcrwhittington.com/>Lucy <https://lucylai.com/>, and James <https://www.jcrwhittington.com/> Thinking About Thinking <https://www.thinkingaboutthinking.org/> -- Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday BMBCh (Oxon) PhD President Thinking About Thinking (www.thinkingaboutthinking.org) Postdoctoral Research Fellow Center for Brain Science, Harvard University Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines, MIT

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Call for applications: School on Analytical Connectionism (25 Aug- 5 Sep 2025)
by Lin, I-Chun April 7, 2025

April 7, 2025

Topical focus: Bias in learning 25 August - 5 September 2025, London www.analytical-connectionism.net/school/2025<https://www.analytical-connectionism.net/school/2025/> Apply by 18 April 2025 We are delighted to announce the 3rd edition of the School on Analytical Connectionism. This 2-week course will focus on analytical tools, including methods from statistical physics and probability theory, for probing neural networks and higher-level cognition. This course is appropriate for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty in fields from psychology and neuroscience, to physics, computer science, and mathematics. The course will bring together neuroscience, psychology, and machine-learning communities, introducing participants to connectionist theories of higher-level cognition and psychology as well as analytical methods for neural-network analysis. Participants will work in teams, mentored by course lecturers and organisers, to develop novel research projects on topics related to analytical connectionism. Participants will present the research proposals in Week 1 and interim results at the end of the course. Confirmed Faculty: Rémi Monasson (CNRS/ENS) Tim Rogers (University of Wisconsin-Madison) Tali Sharot (UCL/MIT) Merav Ahissar (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) Xuechunzi Bai (University of Chicago) Marco Baity-Jesi (Eawag) Mathew Diamond (SISSA) Lasana Harris (UCL) Tiago Maia (University of Lisbon) Angela Radulescu (Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai) Levent Sagun (FAIR) Fanny Yang (ETHZ) Best, I-Chun on behalf of the School Organisers -- I-Chun Lin Scientific Programme Manager Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, UCL

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Worldwide VVTNS series: Carl van Vreeswijk Memorial Lecture | Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at 11:00 am EDT| James DiCarlo, MIT
by David Hansel April 6, 2025

April 6, 2025

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online <https://streaklinks.com/A9c7PbbpKY7PxB6PaAJWGD3-/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the first *'Carl van Vreeswijk Memorial Lecture ' * James DiCarlo MIT on the topic of Do contemporary, machine-executable models of primate sensory systems unlock the ability to non-invasively, beneficially modulate high-level brain states? The lecture will be held on Zoom on April 9, 2025, at *11:00 am EDT * To receive the link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: *Over the past decade, neuroscience, cognitive science and computer science (“AI”) converged to create specific, image-computable, deep neural network models intended to appropriately abstract, emulate and explain the mechanisms of primate ventral visual processing, up to its deepest neural level, the inferior temporal cortex (IT). Because these leading neuroscientific emulation models — aka “digital twins” — are fully observable and machine-executable, they offer predictive and potential application power that our field’s prior conceptual models did not. Our team’s ongoing work is aimed at asking if current digital twin models might support non-invasive, beneficial brain modulation. In this talk, I will describe a key result: we demonstrate that we can use a digital twin to design spatial patterns of light energy that, when “added” to the organism’s retinal input in the context of ongoing natural visual processing, results in precise modulation (i.e. rate bias) of the pattern of a population of IT neurons (where any intended modulation pattern is chosen ahead of time by the scientist). Because the IT visual neural populations are known to directly connect to and modulate downstream neural circuits (e.g. amygdala) that may underlie psychological affective states (e.g. mood and anxiety), this novel basic science may unlock a new, non-invasive application avenue of potential future human clinical benefit. This progress and new impact possibilities resulted from convergent brain science and AI engineering efforts in the domain of visual object intelligence. I will motivate this as just one example of what I believe will unlock in other domains of human intelligence as brain scientists and AI engineers collaborate to develop machine-executable models of the underlying mechanisms of those still-mysterious domains. *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 -- *Il n'y a ni obligation ni pression à traiter ou répondre à ce mail en dehors des heures de travail* "В каждой шутке есть доля шутки" 'Life is good ..' (Carl van Vreeswijk, 1962-2022) --------------------------------------- David Hansel Directeur de Recherche au CNRS Co-Group leader Cerebral Dynamics Plasticity and Learning lab., CNRS 45 rue des Saints Peres 75270 Paris Cedex 06 Tel (Cell): +33 607508403 - Fax (33).1.49.27.90.62 *CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY NOTICE:* *This message and the documents that might be attached, are addressed exclusively to their(s) recipient(s) and may contain privileged or confidential information. The access to this information by people other than those designated is not authorized. If you are not the indicated recipient, you are notified that the use, disclosure and / or copying without authorization is prohibited under current legislation. If you have received this message in error, please kindly inform the sender immediately and proceed to its destruction.* ᐧ

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NeuroAI fellow - exciting opportunity
by Rui Ponte Costa April 4, 2025

April 4, 2025

Dear all, As part of the ENCODE AI for Science program we are hiring a neuroAI fellow for a project that aims to bring together state-of-the-art deep RL systems with both systems and behavioural neuroscience. See more below: https://encode.pillar.vc/projects/behavioral-neuroscience Deadline: 30th April 2025 How to apply? Quick application here: https://encode.pillar.vc/apply we will then get in touch with you to discuss more. Note that the salary is substantially higher than usual for academia (> £100k). Best wishes, Rui Ponte Costa Group Leader, Neural and Machine Learning group<https://neuralml.github.io/> | Oxford Neurotheory Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics | Medical Sciences Division University of Oxford, UK

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Job posts at the Cognitive Science Center at Jagiellonian University
by Marcin April 4, 2025

April 4, 2025

*Postdoc and PhD student positions to study cognition in naturalistic settings* *Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland* *Job Description* The Brain and Cognition Lab at Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland, is excited to announce several upcoming job openings at different levels (postdoc and PhD) to work on the psychophysics and electrophysiology of cognition. These positions are funded by the National Science Center, Poland. We are seeking highly motivated candidates eager to investigate cognition using eye tracking, virtual reality (VR), electrophysiology, psychophysics, and advanced signal processing tools. Interested applicants should contact Marcin Leszczyński (marcin.leszczynski(a)uj.edu.pl) to discuss possibilities. *Lab Description* Successful candidates will join a dynamic research group at the Cognitive Science Center at Jagiellonian University, located in the heart of the beautiful city of Kraków. Our lab uses a variety of technologies, including scalp and intracranial electrophysiology, eye-tracking, VR, psychophysics, combined with advanced signal processing and machine learning, to study neural mechanisms of cognition in health and disease (see Google Scholar <https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=O-mtQkIAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao>). We are interested in questions including neural mechanisms of perception, memory, mind wandering. Specifically, we aim to understanding why our minds wander and how sensory systems interact in naturally uncertain environments. We explore limits of attention capacity, and many more. To do so, we combine experiments in natural settings (e.g., VR or movie watching) with controlled laboratory experiments including psychophysics and advanced analytical tools like machine learning, signal processing, large language models and more. We offer a vibrant international research environment, with English as the working language. Our lab is located in the heart of the beautiful city of Kraków (ul. Ingardena), right next to a beautiful park (Park Jordana) and within walking distance of the Old Town square and several other tourist attractions. We encourage interested candidates to get in touch to discuss the opportunities available. The department provides excellent infrastructure, including supporting staff and state-of-the-art equipment for conducting experiments (e.g., behavioral laboratories, EEG, eye-tracking, and VR setups, fMRI, TMS). Additionally, motivated candidates will have the chance to participate in numerous collaborative and international projects with partners at Columbia University in New York City, Nathan Kline Institute and University Hospital in Bonn. *Requirements* - *Postdoc applicants* must hold, or expect to hold, a doctorate in Psychology, Neuroscience, Computer Science, or related disciplines. An ideal candidate will have experience designing, performing, analyzing, and disseminating psychophysics studies or experimental studies using eye tracking, VR, EEG, MEG, or LFPs. Motivated candidates with other relevant experience are also encouraged to apply. Ability to work independently and proficiency in English are essential (no need to speak Polish). - *PhD applicants* should have previous programming experience and a research interest in neuroscience, perception, attention, mind wandering, memory, eye movements, sensory-motor, or multi-sensory interactions. Previous experience in analyzing psychophysiological signals is an asset. Ability to work independently and proficiency in English are essential (no need to speak Polish). For further inquiries about the positions, please contact Marcin Leszczyński at marcin.leszczynski(a)uj.edu.pl. *Application Process* Interested candidates should send a 1) cover letter describing research interests and motivation to join our lab (max. 2 pages), 2) curriculum vitae, 3) two reference contacts to Marcin Leszczyński. The application will remain open until the positions are filled.

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Postdoctoral fellowship opportunity
by Samuel Reiter April 3, 2025

April 3, 2025

Dear colleagues, Interested in a postdoc in Japan, studying octopus, cuttlefish and squid brains, on a tropical island, well-funded by the Japanese government and CZI? Apply here, and please spread the word. Open to graduates of US institutions. https://chanzuckerberg.com/rfa/global-science-scholars/ All the best, Sam

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Reminder: Registration, Abstract Submission and Travel Award applications deadline in 2 weeks for the NSF-Simons NITMB MathBio Convergence Conference 11-14 August 2025 Chicago IL
by William L. Kath April 3, 2025

April 3, 2025

* In response to the recent financial uncertainty associated with federal awards, we have significantly reduced the conference registration fee. Please note that travel award funding for the conference is secure and a generous number of awards are available. * *The NSF-Simons NITMB MathBio Convergence Conference 11-14 August 2025 Chicago, IL Registration, Abstract Submission and Travel Award applications is open! * More details at https://www.nitmb.org/nitmb-mathbio-convergence-conference We are calling for talks and posters discussing challenging problems in biology that are inspiring new mathematics, statistics, theory and computation, and mathematics that is generating important new insights into biology. If you are a mathematician working on biology or a biologist using mathematics, or just someone who would like to learn more about research at the interface between mathematics and biology, we encourage you to attend. * *Registration:* The number of attendees at the conference is finite. We are asking participants to pay a small fee ($40, or $20 for undergraduates) to hold their place. * *Abstracts:* Register before 15 April if you would like to submit an abstract. * *Travel Awards:* We are offering travel awards for students, early career researchers, faculty at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs) and others who live more than 50 miles from Chicago who may need funding to attend. A brief application is required for consideration -- deadline April 15. * Travel awards fund up to $650 for domestic travel and $800 for intercontinental travel, plus reimbursement for local hotel costs and for meals not provided by the conference (gsa.gov rates apply). Award recipients must lodge at The Drake Hotel (140 East Walton Place Chicago, IL 60611) to receive reimbursement. *Registration/submission steps:* 1. Register at https://www.nitmb.org/nitmb-mathbio-convergence-conference 2. Upon entering your information, you will be directed to a payment site. 3. After confirmation of payment (please note your confirmation number), you will be sent links with which to submit an abstract and/or apply for a travel award. If you have questions, please email nitmb(a)nitmb.org I_mportant Dates:_ Abstract Submission April 15, 2025 Travel Award Application April 15, 2025 Early Registration (to be considered for a presentation) ($40, or $20 for undergraduates) February 15 - April 15, 2025 Notification of selection for an Oral Talk or a Poster Late May Regular Registration (no presentation) ($40, or $20 for undergraduates) February 15 - July 14, 2025 Late Registration ($80) July 15 - August 4, 2025 Hotel Registration (at the Drake) Mid-April - July 15, 2025 *Confirmed plenary speakers:* *Alexander Auhlela, The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)* Dr. Aulehla uses dynamical systems to study how a vertebrate embryo forms the unique number of body segments that make up the vertebrae. *Carina Curto, Brown University* Dr. Curto combines mathematical tools from algebra, geometry, topology and dynamical systems to elucidate complex patterns of activity in networks of neurons. *Lorin Crawford, Microsoft Research and Brown University* Dr. Crawford uses machine learning and statistical tools to study the genotype-to-phenotype map for complex traits and diseases. *Michael Hawrylycz, The Allen Institute* Dr. Hawrylycz studies the cellular constitution and organization of the brain using single-cell transcriptomics and cutting-edge computational and statistical tools. *Anna-Liisa Laine, University of Helsinki* Dr. Laine studies complex problems in ecology across a spectrum of length and time scales. *Reidun Twarock, University of York* Dr. Twarock uses mathematics to study the symmetries of animal viruses and how they self-assemble inside host cells.

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