- Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

Post-doctoral position in the area of Neuroscience and AI, Kyoto University, Japan

by Hideaki Shimazaki

A postdoc opportunity in the area of Neuroscience and AI is available at Kyoto University in Japan The lab of ‘cooperative intelligence’ was launched in the Dept. of Intelligence Science and Technology at Kyoto University in Japan since April 2017. This is a part of collaborative research activities between the department and Honda Research Institute Japan Co. Ltd. toward realizing a better society with humans and machines living together. In order to achieve this goal, our group strives to understand theoretical principles of organisms’ perception and behavior in adapting to environment, and apply these principles to machines. We aim at strengthening computational and statistical approaches to neuroscience (See references below) and extend the knowledge to create intelligent machines. A postdoc position is available for this research area. Our lab is located in a historic building at the main campus of Kyoto University. Kyoto is one of the oldest cities in Japan with a full of historic monuments. The academic and culturally rich environment of Kyoto is suitable for conducting creative research activities. Place: Dept. of Intelligence Science and Technology, Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University Period: Present - 2020/3/31 Deadline of application: 2017/11/30 Please check the following URL for further information: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0HpHsDtiVezSFYxMVNYekFXWGc/view?usp=shari… To apply, please send a CV, a statement of research interest (maximum 2 pages), and contact information of two references to h.shimazaki(a)i.kyoto-u.ac.jp. Feel free to send any informal questions regarding this post. Sincerely, Hideaki Shimazaki, PhD Program-specific Associate Professor at Kyoto University Senior Scientist at Honda Research Institute Japan Email: h.shimazaki(a)i.kyoto-u.ac.jp Lab webpage: http://ci.ist.i.kyoto-u.ac.jp/index.php?id=10 Personal webpage: http://www.neuralengine.org --------------------- Refs: Donner C, Obermeyer K, Shimazaki H. Approximate inference for time-varying interactions and macroscopic dynamics of neural populations. PLoS Computational Biology (2017) 13(1): e1005309 Shimazaki H. Neurons as an Information-theoretic Engine. arXiv:1512.07855 (2015) (to appear as 'Neural Engine Hypothesis' in Ed. Chen and Sarma 'Dynamic Brain', Springer.) Shimazaki H, Amari S, Brown EN, and Gruen S, State-space analysis of time-varying higher-order spike correlation for multiple neural spike train data. PLOS Computational Biology (2012) 8(3): e1002385

Nov. 7, 2017

COSYNE 2018: Abstract submission closes soon, Registration, Travel grants

by Tomas Hromadka

==================================================== Computational and Systems Neuroscience 2018 (Cosyne) MAIN MEETING 01 - 04 March 2018 Denver, Colorado WORKSHOPS 05 - 06 March 2018 Breckenridge, Colorado www.cosyne.org ==================================================== IMPORTANT DATES Abstract submission is now open. *Abstract submission deadline: 20 November 2017* Online registration opens: 10 November 2017 Travel grant submission opens: 10 November 2017 ---------------------------------------------------- COSYNE ---------------------------------------------------- The annual Cosyne meeting provides an inclusive forum for the exchange of empirical and theoretical approaches to problems in systems neuroscience, in order to understand how neural systems function. The MAIN MEETING is single-track. A set of invited talks is selected by the Executive Committee, and additional talks and posters are selected by the Program Committee, based on submitted abstracts. The WORKSHOPS feature in-depth discussion of current topics of interest, in a small group setting. For details on workshop proposals please see below or visit Cosyne.org -> Workshops. Cosyne topics include but are not limited to: neural coding, natural scene statistics, dendritic computation, neural basis of persistent activity, nonlinear receptive field mapping, representations of time and sequence, reward systems, decision-making, synaptic plasticity, map formation and plasticity, population coding, attention, and computation with spiking networks. This year we would like to foster increased participation from experimental groups as well as computational ones. Please circulate widely and encourage your students and postdocs to apply. When preparing an abstract, authors should be aware that not all abstracts can be accepted for the meeting, due to space constraints. Abstracts will be selected based on the clarity with which they convey the substance, significance, and originality of the work to be presented. For more information and details on submitting abstracts please visit Cosyne.org -> Abstracts. ----------------------------------------------- TRAVEL GRANTS ----------------------------------------------- Applications are now open for travel grants to attend the conference. Each awardee will receive at least $500 to help offset the costs of travel, registration, and accommodations. Larger grants may be available to those traveling from outside North America. Special consideration is given to scientists who have not previously attended the meeting, under-represented minorities, students who are attending the meeting together with a mentor, undergraduate students, and authors of submitted Cosyne abstracts. We currently offer four travel grant programs for New Attendees, Presenters, Mentors, and Undergraduates. For details on applying, see Cosyne.org -> Travel grants. COSYNE SPEAKERS Tim Behrens (Oxford) Josh Berke (UCSF) Tiago Branco (UCL) Jessica Cardin (Yale) Claudia Clopath (Imperial) Marlene Cohen (Pittsburgh) Iain Couzin (Max-Planck) Carina Curto (Penn State) Ann Graybiel (MIT) Vivek Jayaraman (Janelia) Mate Lengyel (Cambridge) Joni Wallis (Berkeley) Byron Yu (CMU) ORGANIZING COMMITTEE General Chairs: Ilana Witten (Princeton) and Eric Shea-Brown (U Washington) Program Chairs: Linda Wilbrecht (Berkeley) and Brent Doiron (U Pittsburgh) Workshop Chairs: Laura Busse (LMU) and Ralf Haefner (U Rochester) Undergraduate Travel Chairs: Angela Langdon (Princeton) and Robert Wilson (U Arizona) Publicity Chair: Il Memming Park (Stony Brook) Development Chair: Michael Long (NYU) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Stephanie Palmer (U Chicago) Zachary Mainen (Champalimaud) Alexandre Pouget (U Geneva) Anthony Zador (CSHL) CONTACT meeting [at] cosyne.org COSYNE MAILING LISTS Please consider adding yourself to Cosyne mailing lists (groups) to receive email updates with various Cosyne-related information and join in helpful discussions. See Cosyne.org -> Mailing lists for details.

Nov. 7, 2017

Position in computational neuroanatomy at the Allen Institute

by Nuno da Costa

Dear comp-neuro list members, We are seeking a scientist to work on the analysis of large scale electron microscopy datasets and to investigate the relationship between structure and function of cortical networks. The scientist will be an essential member of the Neural Coding team studying the relationship between neural circuits and neural dynamics by combining in vivo functional imaging with ex vivo state of the art Electron Microscopy in the visual cortex of mice. If you are interested on know of someone that is interested, the application link is: https://alleninstitute.hrmdirect.com/employment/job-opening.php?req=639564&… Many thanks and kind regards Nuno Nuno Macarico da Costa Assistant Investigator T: 206.548.8437 [cid:image001.png@01D356E8.F5D70FF0] www.alleninstitute.org<http://www.alleninstitute.org/>

Nov. 6, 2017

postdoc in statistical neuroscience of human language

by xaq pitkow

Postdoctoral research position in neuroscience of Human Language POSITION: We seek a highly motivated postdoctoral research fellow for a collaborative team project interpreting intracranial recordings from human patients during language tasks. The fellow will apply statistical models to this neural data, and will help develop a dynamic network model of language. TEAM: The fellow will collaborate primarily with Houston-based neurotheorist Xaq Pitkow (xaqlab.com) and neurosurgeon Nitin Tandon (tandonlab.org) and our labs, and will also interact with other team members including Nathan Crone, Stan Dehaene, and Greg Hickok. The fellow will be a member of the new Center for Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence housed at the Baylor College of Medicine. The Center brings together interdisciplinary researchers from across Houston, including members from Baylor College of Medicine, Rice University, University of Houston, and University of Texas Health Sciences. Researchers at the Center contribute diverse expertise in fields including neuroscience, machine learning, statistics, physics, computer science, electrical engineering, and applied mathematics. QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must have outstanding mathematical skills, a PhD in a relevant quantitative discipline, expertise in statistical machine learning, and interest in language processing. APPLYING: Applicants should email a letter of research interests and CV to Xaq Pitkow (xaq(a)rice.edu) along with contact information for three references. We look forward to hearing from you!

Nov. 6, 2017

Call for Participation: IEEE Brain Data Bank Competition – Boston

by Sam Michalka

*Call for Participation: IEEE Brain Data Bank Competition – Boston* The IEEE Brain Initiative is sponsoring several challenges and competitions in 2017 to explore various brain/neuro datasets. You are cordially invited to explore the data and register for this competition in Boston on December 9th 9:45 AM – 4 PM. For more information about the event and how to register, please visit https://brain.ieee.org/news/call-participation-ieee-brain- data-bank-challenge-boston/ *Location* Charles River Analytics 625 Mt. Auburn St. <https://maps.google.com/?q=625+Mt.+Auburn+St.+%0D+Cambridge,+MA,+USA&entry=…> Cambridge, MA, USA Organizers * Seth Elkin-Frankston, Charles River Analytics * Sam Michalka, Olin College of Engineering * Wasim Q. Malik, Harvard/MIT If you have questions, please contact bdb-boston(a)ieee.org *Purpose* The aim of the competition is to bring a diverse group of individuals of varying backgrounds and experience together to analyze, visualize, and evaluate complex datasets. Competitors will have access to a multi-modal dataset that will challenge individuals with varying backgrounds in data science, computer science, biology, or neuroscience. Results will be evaluated on analytic approach, visualization, and final presentation and interpretation. *Background* Datasets are provided by the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and were collected as part of a broader intervention-based study designed to test the effects of efficacy of interventions designed to enhance fluid intelligence. This study was one of several funded as part of the Strengthening Human Adaptive Reasoning and Problem-solving (SHARP< https://www.iarpa.gov/index.php/research-programs/sharp>) program at the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA< https://www.iarpa.gov/>). This specific intervention involved 48 training sessions of an adaptive visuo-spatial and change detection task. We provide both behavioral measures and neuroimaging data at pre- and post-intervention time points. We also provide summary and session-level descriptions of the training data collected during the intervention. *Challenge Questions* The goal of this challenge is to encourage thoughtful investigation and discussion around enhancement of human intelligence and strategies for rigorous investigation of these topics. Entries will be judged in three categories: data analysis, data visualization, and presentation and interpretation of findings. Participants can investigate any question(s) about the data that they wish. The following guiding questions are provided as a jumping off point: * Can intervention training predict changes in pre- and post-intervention performance? * How do measures of brain connectivity and structure relate to performance in intervention training? * How do measures of brain connectivity and structure relate to pre- and post-intervention performance? * How well can we predict post-intervention performance? Beyond pre-intervention performance, what factors serve as the best predictors? * Do performance changes on the two training intervention tasks differ? How do they each relate to changes in pre- and post-intervention performance and/or imaging data? *Data* Data is hosted by the IEEE Dataport<https://ieee-dataport.org/competitions/ ieee-brain-data-bank-competition-boston-ma>. To access IEEE Dataport, you need to have an IEEE account. You do not need to be an IEEE member to create an IEEE account, and you can use your own email address to create an account and password. Click here to sign up for an IEEE account.< https://www.ieee.org/profile/public/createwebaccount/showRegister.html> The full dataset is 11.29GB. The dataset can be downloaded in full, or in more manageable chunks separated as: * Behavioral and analyzed fMRI/DTI data * Structural T1 images * Raw resting-state fMRI data (divided in 5 file groups) * Raw DTI data Please note that access from IEEE DataPort will be granted after you have completed an access request. *Judging* Judges will include experts from Industry, Government, and Academia. Entries will be judged in three categories: * Data analysis including well-justified, innovative, and rigorous methodologies * Data visualization including novel, highly informative, and aesthetically appealing visualization techniques * Presentation and interpretation of findings including clear, informative delivery and compelling investigation and interpretation *Awards* IEEE Brain will sponsor cash awards. More details will follow.

Nov. 5, 2017

from normal learning and recognition to Alzheimer's disease

by Stephen Grossberg

Dear Colleagues, I am writing to call your attention to the following article because the neural model that it describes links normal category learning and recognition to clinical disorders such as autism and Alzheimer’s disease, topics that are currently of great interest and concern. The clinical links emerged after the neural dynamics of vigilance control during normal category learning was sufficiently understood. Grossberg, S. (2017). Acetylcholine neuromodulation in normal and abnormal learning and memory: Vigilance control in waking, sleep, autism, amnesia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Frontiers in Neural Circuits, November 2, 2017, https://doi.org/10.3389/fncir.2017.00082 <https://doi.org/10.3389/fncir.2017.00082> Best, Steve Stephen Grossberg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Grossberg <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Grossberg> http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=3BIV70wAAAAJ&hl=en <http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=3BIV70wAAAAJ&hl=en>https://youtu.be/9n5AnvFur7I <https://youtu.be/9n5AnvFur7I> Wang Professor of Cognitive and Neural Systems Professor of Mathematics & Statistics, Psychological & Brain Sciences, and Biomedical Engineering Director, Center for Adaptive Systems http://cns.bu.edu/~steve <http://cns.bu.edu/~steve> steve(a)bu.edu <mailto:steve@bu.edu>

Nov. 4, 2017

Fw: two postdoctoral positions in the Canavier Lab

by Canavier, Carmen C.

The contact information for these positions has been updated. Please contact Carmen Canavier ccanav(a)lsuhsc.edu with any questions. Two Postdoctoral Researcher positions are available in the computational neuroscience lab of Carmen Canavier in the School of Medicine, Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy at LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. The primary duties will involve linear and non-linear analyses, writing code, calibrating single neuron models, and generating predictions that lead to additional experiments. Candidates must have a Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science or a related field of study. The ideal candidate would have experience with the simulation package NEURON and some knowledge of the basal ganglia for the first position and of the hippocampus for the second position. Familiarity with nonlinear dynamics, signal processing, and coding in C and or python in a Linux environment is also desirable. The first position is to study the dynamic diversity of midbrain dopamine neurons in close collaboration with electrophysiologist Jochen Roeper at Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany. The successful candidate will construct morphologically and biophysically realistic models of distinct subpopulations of dopamine neurons to account for experimentally observed differences in their bursting and pacemaking dynamics. These simulations will require in some cases incorporation of stochastic channel models and second messenger cascades. Qualified candidates may submit resume along with cover letter and contact information for three references electronically to: https://www.lsuhsc.edu/Administration/hrm/CareerOpportunities/Home/Detail/1…. The second position is to study cholinergic contributions to hippocampal information processing in close collaboration with electrophysiologist Sonia Gasparini. The successful candidate will construct a morphologically and biophysically realistic model of a hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neuron to explain the observed frequency selectivity of different dendritic regions for slow versus fast gamma band inputs. Some network modeling will also be required for the project. Qualified candidates may submit resume along with cover letter and contact information for three references electronically to: https://www.lsuhsc.edu/Administration/hrm/CareerOpportunities/Home/Detail/1… LSUHSC is an Equal Opportunity Employer for females, minorities, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.

Nov. 3, 2017

Late Bird call for the AoN Brainhack Warsaw [17-19th November 2017]

by Daniel Borek

*AoN Brainhack Warsaw 2017* *November 17-19, 2017* *University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland* *— The blitz Late Bird registration open until 7th November 2017 —* On the weekend of *17-19th November 2017*, the first edition of AoN Brainhack Warsaw will take place. During this three-day event dedicated to students and PhD students, we will work in teams on* neuroscience-related projects*. The aim of the event is to meet new, enthusiastic researchers, make new friendships in academia, learn, share the knowledge on data mining and brain research, but also promote open science in the spirit of the whole Brainhack community ( <https://gigascience.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13742-016-0121-x> Craddock et al., 2016) <https://gigascience.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13742-016-0121-x>. Attendees of various backgrounds are welcome to join! At the moment we are opening the Late Bird registration for project participants, which closes on 7th November 2017. Some of the projects got fully booked already and since they have limitations in terms of the number of participants, these projects have been closed for this round of registration. Please look at the list of the currently available projects : - Functional connectivity research: can we find a common ground? <https://brainhackwarsaw.github.io/#connectivity> - Development of video game for studying joint action dynamics <https://brainhackwarsaw.github.io/#game> - Hypothesis-driven white matter tractography from T1-weighted MRI images <https://brainhackwarsaw.github.io/#whitematter> - One channel EEG sleep staging with open source and open hardware NeuroOn sleep mask <https://brainhackwarsaw.github.io/#neuroon> - Building and using the “FlyPi”: the 3D-printed Neurobiology Lab <https://brainhackwarsaw.github.io/#flypi> - Unfolding the Subcortex <https://brainhackwarsaw.github.io/#subcortex> *All the applications which we received after the end of Early Bird phase, will be automatically considered as the Late Bird applications.* The applications will be reviewed and the notification of acceptance will be sent to the applicants until 10th October2017. A registration fee of *30EUR* (or 120PLN) will be requested upon acceptance. The registration fee will be spent on the catering during the event. In order to register, please visit our website and learn more about AoN Brainhack Warsaw! https://brainhackwarsaw.github.io/ <https://brainhackwarsaw.github.io/> We are looking forward to see you in Warsaw! *The AoN Brainhack Warsaw 2017 team*

Nov. 2, 2017

Faculty position in Math Biology at NJIT

by Victor Matveev

Dear comp-neuro list members, The Department of Mathematical Sciences (DMS) at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) invites applications for a tenure-track position at the assistant professor level in mathematical biology. A second DMS tenure-track assistant professor position in the broader area of applied mathematics is advertised separately (links provided below). The appointment is to start in Fall 2018. Candidates should have a Ph.D. in mathematics, applied mathematics or a related discipline, with an established record of independent research, strong potential for seeking external research support, and a commitment to teaching at graduate and undergraduate levels. Candidates working in any subfield of mathematical biology will be given consideration. Currently, members of the DMS mathematical biology group are engaged in research in computational neuroscience, biological rhythms, biofluids and mechanosensing. To apply, please visit https://njit.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?site=1&id=35 The second position in applied mathematics is advertised separately at https://njit.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?site=1&id=30 Submissions must include (a) cover letter, (b) resume/CV, (c) research statement, (d) teaching statement, and (e) names and contact information for at least four references. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Please direct any questions to the search committee chair, Victor Matveev, at matveev(a)njit.edu. DMS is recognized for its strong program in applied mathematics, which offers B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees, with Ph.D. program tracks in applied mathematics as well as in applied probability and statistics. NJIT is in the University Heights neighborhood next to vibrant downtown Newark, about 12 miles west of New York City. The NJIT campus is adjacent to the campus of Rutgers-Newark, with which it shares several academic programs. DMS has close collaborative ties to the Department of Biological Sciences at NJIT. Excellent potential for outside collaboration is also afforded by the close geographic proximity of NJIT to other prominent centers for biological research such as the Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience at Rutgers-Newark, New Jersey Medical School, NYU, Columbia University, and Rockefeller University. Apart from mathematical biology, DMS faculty work in diverse fields of applied mathematics including fluid dynamics, granular matter, nonlinear waves, applied analysis, scientific computing, dynamical systems, and probability and statistics. NJIT is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer and strongly encourages women, minorities, and persons with disabilities to apply. -- ___________________________________ Victor Matveev, Professor Applied Math, Biophysics & Neuroscience Department of Mathematical Sciences Graduate Faculty, Dept of Biological Sciences New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJ 07102-1982 Office: Cullimore Hall 616 E-mail: matveev(a)njit.edu http://web.njit.edu/~matveev/

Nov. 2, 2017

Post-doctoral Position in Computational Neuroscience

by sujith vijayan

*Post-doctoral Position in Computational* *Neuroscience* The Neural Dynamics and Neural Engineering Lab at Virginia Tech has an opening for a post-doctoral position in computational neuroscience. This position is for three years and is being funded by the Army Research Office (ARO). The research project will involve employing biophysically based computational models to examine the role of rhythmic activity in the expression of emotional memories during behavior and their consolidation during sleep. An additional aim is to employ the newly developed models to gain insight into the pathophysiology of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Our lab investigates neural dynamics during active behavior and during off-line states, such as sleep, using a combination of computational modeling, signal processing techniques, and both invasive and non-invasive techniques for recording neural activity. The basic science knowledge gathered from these investigations is leveraged to understand how memories are instantiated in the brain, to gain insight into how learning occurs during brain machine interface (BMI) tasks, to improve BMI algorithms, and to develop the framework for stimulation and pharmacological therapies for diseases, especially those marked by abnormal neural dynamics during sleep (e.g., post-traumatic sleep disorder (PTSD) and Parkinson’s disease). Please see the lab website (www.vijayan.neuroscience.vt.edu) for more details. Candidates should have a Ph.D. in applied mathematics, computer science, engineering, neuroscience, psychology, or a related field. Strong programming skills and/or prior experience in modeling would be an asset. Interested candidates should send a CV, a statement of research interests, and the contact information for three references to svijayan9(a)gmail.com. Arrangements can be made to meet with candidates at the Society for Neuroscience conference in Washington, D.C. Sujith

Nov. 2, 2017