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PhD and postdoc positions: PDEs + TDA + deep learning for 3D+time microglia morphology (Prague and Warsaw)
by Hahn, Jooyoung Oct. 21, 2026

Oct. 21, 2026

Dear Colleagues, The MIND-MAP project (2027-2029), a collaboration of CTU in Prague, the University of Warsaw and ISTA Austria, is hiring one PhD student and one postdoc in Prague and one PhD student and one postdoc in Warsaw (Pre-announcement). MIND-MAP studies how microglia, the immune cells of the brain, change their branching shape in 3D + time microscopy, and turns these images into a quantitative, geometric and topological readout of brain state. Both groups work closely with Sandra Siegert's lab at ISTA, with access to unique 3D and 3D + time microscopy data. The goal is to develop new mathematics, not merely to apply existing tools. In Prague (CTU in Prague, FNSPE, with Jooyoung Hahn), the work covers dimensionality reduction, hybrid PDE + deep-learning segmentation, scale-aware 3D shape representations, tracking in 3D + time, and geometry-informed TDA. In Warsaw (University of Warsaw, with Pawel Dlotko), it covers topological descriptors of shapes that change in time, shape trajectories, Ball Mapper and interpretable visualization. We are looking for candidates with a strong background in (applied) mathematics, computer science, physics or a related field, and a strong interest in biology. Postdoc candidates should have experience in one of the following areas: numerical PDEs, image segmentation, deep learning, TDA or geometry Prague salary: postdoc 70,000 CZK gross per month, full time, start 1 January 2027 (negotiable); PhD 38,745 CZK gross per month (0.8 FTE) plus a 12,000 CZK tax-free stipend (about 43,000 CZK net), start 1 March 2027. To apply, send a CV and a few lines about your research interests and what you can bring, and say whether you apply for the PhD or the postdoc: * Prague: jooyoung.hahn(a)fjfi.cvut.cz (PhD by 5 December 2026) https://jooyounghahn.github.io/jobs/MIND-MAP_PhD_CTU_Prague.html * Warsaw: p.dlotko(a)uw.edu.pl https://jooyounghahn.github.io/jobs/MIND-MAP_PhD_Postdoc_Warsaw.html This is a pre-announcement; the official calls with formal conditions will be published separately. Feel free to email us with questions. Best, Jooyoung Hahn Assistant Professor Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering Czech Technical University in Prague jooyoung.hahn(a)fjfi.cvut.cz

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[Job] Research Software Engineer at CatalystNeuro (remote)
by Ben Dichter Oct. 21, 2026

Oct. 21, 2026

Dear colleagues, CatalystNeuro <http://catalystneuro.com> is hiring a Research Software Engineer to help neuroscience labs convert their data to Neurodata Without Borders (NWB) and publish it on the DANDI Archive. Each project starts with a lab's own acquisition systems, file formats, and analysis outputs, and ends with a standardized, well-documented dataset that others can reuse. The work is roughly evenly split between building conversion pipelines for specific labs and improving the open-source tools those pipelines are built on, including NeuroConv, PyNWB, and the NWB Inspector. We rely heavily on agentic LLM-based development in this work. We use coding agents such as Claude Code to read unfamiliar formats, draft conversion code, and run tests, with engineers directing the agents and reviewing what they produce. We are looking for someone with strong Python skills, experience with neuroscience data or a related field, and hands-on experience developing software with coding agents. Prior experience with NWB, DANDI, or SpikeInterface is helpful but not required. The position is remote, and we ask for several hours a day of overlap with European working hours. It can be a contract paid hourly at $60 to $75 per hour depending on experience, at anything from 25 hours per week up to full time. For candidates based in the United States, we are also open to a full-time salaried position with benefits at $95,000 to $120,000 per year. To apply, please email info(a)catalystneuro.com with the subject line "Application: Research Software Engineer" and include your CV, a link to your GitHub profile or another code sample, and a short note answering two questions: describe a dataset you have worked with and what made it difficult to handle, and describe how you have used coding agents in your work, including a time an agent got something wrong and how you caught it. We will begin reviewing applications on November 10, 2026. The full listing is at https://catalystneuro.com/openings/research-software-engineer/. Best regards, Ben Dichter CatalystNeuro

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Tenure-track position in Computational Neuroscience at Yale
by daniel.levenstein＠yale.edu Oct. 21, 2026

Oct. 21, 2026

Dear colleagues, The Department of Neuroscience at Yale is hiring tenure-track faculty in computational or theoretical neuroscience. We’re especially interested in candidates who use computational methods to link models with experimental data, broadly construed: from analysis of neural activity and network modeling to imaging, bioinformatics, and molecular modeling. New faculty join a growing computational community spanning the Department of Neuroscience, the Wu Tsai Institute, the Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, and the Department of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science, with a generous start-up package and ongoing salary support. More information on the position and application can be found at Interfolio: https://apply.interfolio.com/190740. Review is rolling, with priority for applications received by November 30, 2026. Please feel free to reach out to me directly with questions about the department and community here at Yale! Best, Dan ________________________________ Daniel Levenstein, PhD Assistant Professor - Department of Neuroscience Wu Tsai Investigator - WTI Center for Neurocomputation and Machine Intelligence Quantitative Biology Institute (QBio) Yale University 100 College Street, Room 1130 New Haven, CT 06510 www.levensteinlab.org

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Research Assistantship (pre-doctoral route) position in NeuroAI in Coimbra, Portugal
by Jorge Almeida Oct. 21, 2026

Oct. 21, 2026

Dear colleagues, We are recruiting a Research Assistant with a Master’s degree (this is a requisite) to join the newly funded ALIGN project, supported by the CMU Portugal / FCT Initiative. The position will be based at the University of Coimbra, working with Jorge Almeida and in close collaboration with Michael Tarr at Carnegie Mellon University. The project sits at the intersection of NeuroAI, cognitive neuroscience, computer vision, and human-centered AI, and aims to understand how visual representations in AI models align with human behavioral and neural representations. The selected candidate will contribute to behavioral and neuroimaging research, AI model evaluation, and representational analyses involving vision and vision-language models such as CLIP, DINO, ResNet, and ViT. This is an excellent opportunity for someone interested in developing a research profile in NeuroAI and potentially continuing into a PhD in this area. The position is funded through a Master’s research fellowship, with a monthly stipend of €1,359.64, tax-free (as dictated by the Portuguese Government). The contract will be for the duration of the project – expected 1 year - although we expect the candidate to apply together with the team to a PhD fellowship to continue the project. We are looking for candidates with interests in one or more of the following areas: - Cognitive neuroscience or psychology - Artificial intelligence, machine learning, or computer vision - Neuroimaging, especially fMRI - Data analysis, Python programming, or computational modeling - Human perception, categorization, or visual cognition Interested candidates should send a CV, a brief statement of interest, and contact information for references to: jorgecbalmeida(a)gmail.com Please feel free to share this opportunity with anyone who may be interested. Best, Jorge Almeida University of Coimbra ALIGN Project | CMU Portugal / FCT Initiative

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on behalf of Greg Reynolds: position in Music, Science and Health at Knoxville
by Reinoud Maex Oct. 20, 2026

Oct. 20, 2026

Begin forwarded message: From: "Reynolds, Greg" <greynol3(a)utk.edu<mailto:greynol3@utk.edu>> Subject: Request to post job ad to listserv Date: 16 October 2026 at 16:54:30 BST To: "comp-neuro-owner(a)lists.cnsorg.org<mailto:comp-neuro-owner@lists.cnsorg.org>" <comp-neuro-owner(a)lists.cnsorg.org<mailto:comp-neuro-owner@lists.cnsorg.org>> You don't often get email from greynol3(a)utk.edu<mailto:greynol3@utk.edu>. Learn why this is important<https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification> Please post to the listserv this job ad for an open position as Assistant/Associate/Full Professor of Music, Science, and Health, Natalie L. Haslam College of Music at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The Natalie L. Haslam College of Music invites applications for a 9-month tenure-track position at the Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor level in Music, Science, and Health. This is a rare and forward-looking appointment designed for a scholar-teacher who believes that a fuller understanding of music — how we hear it, perform it, feel it, analyze it, and create it — is enriched by understanding the human brain, human behavior, and the science behind how we interact with the art of music and human health. The successful candidate will occupy a distinctive role at the intersection of music, medicine and health, neuroscience, psychology, cognitive science, or other theoretical and applied sciences, contributing to both the core curriculum of the College and to an emerging cross-disciplinary research culture. The candidate will work in the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music with potential for collaboration with other colleges, and relevant health organizations. The successful candidate is expected to have either existing or strong potential for obtaining extramural funding. More information and application materials can be found here: https://apply.interfolio.com/194546<https://apply.interfolio.com/194546> ______________________________________ Greg D. Reynolds, Ph.D. Professor Department of Psychology & Neuroscience University of Tennessee, Knoxville http://dcnlab.utk.edu<http://dcnlab.utk.edu>

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Faculty position in Computational Neuroscience at Boston University
by Emily Stephen Oct. 19, 2026

Oct. 19, 2026

The Boston University Department of Mathematics and Statistics is recruiting an Assistant Professor of Computational Neuroscience as part of Boston University’s Advancing Brain and Cognitive Health convergent search—part of a new University-wide approach to convergent research. The convergent search will involve up to 6 tenure-track faculty hires. Going beyond traditional interdisciplinary collaboration, convergent research intentionally brings together different disciplines, methods, and ways of thinking to tackle complex challenges and open new directions for discovery. Faculty joining this cluster will have opportunities to build collaborations across neuroscience, computation, engineering, and health sciences to pursue ambitious questions about the brain and cognitive health. Learn more about the position and the other openings in the convergent search: https://bit.ly/4hP8ya0 Best, Emily Stephen

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PhD and postdoc positions in computational and theoretical neuroscience || University of Texas at Dallas
by Muller, Lyle Oct. 19, 2026

Oct. 19, 2026

PhD and postdoctoral positions are available in a growing cluster of computational neuroscience labs at the University of Texas at Dallas. The Muller Lab (http://mullerlab.io<http://mullerlab.io/>) and the Lakshminarasimhan Lab (https://neuralalgorithms.github.io<https://neuralalgorithms.github.io/>) are recruiting new trainees in computational and theoretical neuroscience. PhD positions start in Fall 2027. Postdoctoral start dates are flexible. Research across the cluster combines computational analysis of neural data, applied mathematics, and machine learning to understand computation in biological and artificial neural networks in close collaboration with experimental groups. Projects in the Muller Lab include traveling waves in neural systems (link<https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-39076-2>) and analyses of spikes in large neural populations (link<https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.03804>). The group has an active collaboration with the Fields Institute through the Lab for Network Computation<https://www.fields.utoronto.ca/activities/fields-lab-network-computation>. The Lakshminarasimhan Lab develops computational theories of learning, memory and decision-making that link synaptic plasticity, neural dynamics and behavior. Ongoing projects in the lab include developing and testing normative theories of dopamine signaling (link<https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.03.18.643990v2.full>) and representational drift. The two labs are building shared training in computational neuroscience and NeuroAI at UTD. Trainees will join a growing computational neuroscience community in the Dallas area, including connections to UT Southwestern and the Texas Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (TAIRI). Prior experience with scientific computing, signal analysis, applied mathematics, or machine learning is preferred. Prospective PhD students should apply to the Cognition and Neuroscience PhD program at UTD (link<https://bbs.utdallas.edu/departments/neuroscience/graduate-programs/cogniti…>) before December 1, 2026. Prospective postdocs can write to lyle.muller(a)utdallas.edu or kaushik.laksh(a)utdallas.edu with a CV and short statement of interest. -- Lyle Muller http://mullerlab.io

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Faculty position in computational neuroscience || University of Texas at Dallas
by Muller, Lyle Oct. 19, 2026

Oct. 19, 2026

The Department of Neuroscience at the University of Texas at Dallas invites applications for a tenure-system faculty position at the Assistant or Associate Professor rank in computational neuroscience, starting Fall 2027. The position is part of a cluster hiring initiative to build an internationally recognized computational neuroscience research and training program at UT Dallas. We are looking for candidates with expertise in neural coding, computation and dynamics, or working at the intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence, including large language models. The ideal candidate would do highly collaborative dry-lab research connected to departmental strengths in learning and memory, decision making, motor control, affective neuroscience, sensory perception and pain, or neurogenomics. The position includes teaching undergraduate and graduate courses. Applicants should have a PhD or equivalent in neuroscience, computer science, mathematics or a related field. The new hire will join a rapidly growing computational neuroscience cluster at UTD, with close ties to the Texas Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (TAIRI), the Texas Biomedical Device Center, and UT Southwestern Medical Center. Full position description and application: https://jobs.utdallas.edu/postings/32729. Priority will be given to applications received by December 31, 2026. -- Lyle Muller http://mullerlab.io

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World wide VVTNS series: Seventh season opening lecture, Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 11:00 am EDT - Richard Hahnloser, ETH Zurich
by David Hansel Oct. 18, 2026

Oct. 18, 2026

[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 seventh season opening lecture of the online VVTNS series. It will be delivered by Richard Hahnloser ETH Zurich on the topic of The Algorithm(s) of Birdsong Learning The lecture will be held on zoom on October 21, 2026, at *11:00 am EDT * To receive the link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: *How do songbirds acquire and refine their complex vocal repertoires? Learning a song requires both evaluating sensory evidence and determining which changes in behavior improve performance. These challenges have traditionally been studied in separate experimental paradigms: auditory-feedback adaptation, reinforcement learning, and imitation. In this talk, I will examine the behavioral and neural algorithms underlying each and ask how they might fit within a common learning architecture. First, when auditory feedback is shifted in pitch, birds change their vocal pitch in the opposite direction. As in humans, compensation is typically incomplete and becomes proportionally smaller for larger shifts. This pattern is consistent with Bayesian causal inference: birds combine internal predictions of pitch with auditory evidence while discounting feedback that is unlikely to have been self-generated. Second, I will show why classical policy-gradient reinforcement learning falls short in explaining the nonlinear pitch trajectories observed in conditioning experiments. A normative extension accounts for these trajectories and aligns with the modular organization of the brain’s song-control system. In this architecture, a learning component generates exploratory variation and is updated by reward. Other components contribute to motor output but are not updated by reward on every trial. Third, I will turn to imitation learning. Songbirds simplify this computational challenge by acquiring vocal units—syllables—independently of their sequential order. The intrinsic reward guiding the acquisition of this vocal inventory can be characterized by a simple sum–max rule: each target syllable contributes a partial reward determined by its best pitch match among the bird’s developing vocalizations, and these rewards are summed across targets. A light-tailed pitch-similarity function ensures that large mismatches contribute little reward. Together, these findings identify complementary mechanisms for interpreting sensory feedback, assigning credit to motor actions, and matching vocal output to remembered targets. The next challenge is to explain how these mechanisms interact within a unified theory of birdsong learning. I will conclude with initial attempts to use AI to develop this synthesis, with the aim of turning a collection of task-specific algorithms into a coherent framework with testable predictions and potential relevance beyond the avian brain. ᐧ

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AICES 2027: early registration October 27
by David Silva - IRDTA Oct. 17, 2026

Oct. 17, 2026

******************************************************** 2nd INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ON HUMAN-AI COLLABORATION IN THE ERA OF AGENTIC AI AICES 2027 Bilbao, Spain May 3-6, 2027 https://aices.irdta.eu/2027/ ******************************************************** Co-organized by: University of Deusto IRDTA – Institute for Research Development, Training and Advice ******************************************************** Early registration: October 27, 2026 ******************************************************** SCOPE The rapid emergence of agentic AI systems capable of planning, reasoning, making decisions and acting with increasing autonomy is transforming the relationship between humans and intelligent machines. Understanding how humans and AI agents can collaborate effectively, safely and responsibly has therefore become a major scientific, technological and societal challenge. AICES 2027 will address this challenge from a broad interdisciplinary perspective, bringing together leading researchers and experts from academia and industry. The scientific program will examine the societal, cognitive, ethical, economic and governance dimensions of agentic AI, with particular emphasis on human–AI collaboration, trust, human oversight and control, the future of work, regulation and governance, explainability, responsible AI, education, democracy, media ecosystems, economic transformation, and the wider implications of increasingly autonomous AI systems. The school will feature 13 monographic three-hour courses, 2 keynote lectures, 1 round table and 1 symposium. Leading academics and industry experts will share their knowledge, research and perspectives with participants. Interaction, discussion and networking will be central elements of the event, while full live online participation will also be available. ADDRESSED TO AICES 2027 is intended for graduate students, researchers, academics, industry professionals and policymakers from a wide range of disciplines, including computer science, cognitive science, economics, sociology, philosophy, law, public policy and business. There are no formal academic prerequisites, and researchers and professionals at all career stages are welcome. The school will provide participants with an opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of one of the most rapidly evolving areas of AI, interact with experts from different disciplines, establish new collaborations, expand their professional networks, and explore the profound changes that agentic AI may bring to work, institutions and society. VENUE AICES 2027 will take place in Bilbao, in northern Spain. Once a major industrial centre, Bilbao has undergone a remarkable urban, cultural and economic transformation over recent decades and is today one of Spain's most dynamic cities. The venue will be: University of Deusto Avenida de las Universidades, 24 48007 Bilbao https://www.deusto.es/ STRUCTURE Two/three courses will run in parallel throughout the event. Participants will be free to select the sessions they wish to attend and may move between courses at any time. In addition to the courses and keynote lectures, the program will include a round table and a symposium devoted to current research and industrial developments. All lectures will be video recorded and made available to participants for 45 days after the event. Full live online participation will be possible. Nevertheless, participants are strongly encouraged to attend in person whenever possible, as direct interaction, discussion and networking are essential components of research training events of this kind. KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Eszter Hargittai (University of Zurich), Myths vs. Measures: Digital Inequality and AI Skills Katia Sycara (Carnegie Mellon University), Human-AI: Collaboration rather than Substitution PROFESSORS AND COURSES Ana Bazzan (University of São Paulo), [introductory/intermediate] Autonomous Agents, Multiagent Systems, Swarm Intelligence and Reinforcement Learning: What Are These and Why They Matter in the Current AI Agenda Justine Cassell (Inria Paris), [introductory/intermediate] Building Agents that Collaborate with People rather than Replacing Them Pierre Dillenbourg (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne), [introductory] Productive Noise: The Benefits of Misunderstandings in Collaboration Steven Drucker (Particle Prismatics LLC), [introductory/intermediate] Attention Is All You Have: Human-Centered AI in the Agentic Era Peter Flach (University of Bristol), [introductory/intermediate] Classifier Calibration: A Prerequisite for Trustworthy AI James Hollan (University of California San Diego), [intermediate] The Future of HCI: Generative AI, Negotiated Agency, and Co-Adaptive Systems Andreas Holzinger (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences), [introductory/intermediate] Trustworthy Agentic AI: Human-AI Collaboration, Explainability, and Verifiable Autonomy Jason Hong (Carnegie Mellon University), [introductory/intermediate] Challenges in Human-AI Interaction Christian Lebiere (Carnegie Mellon University), [intermediate] Metacognition and Theory of Mind in Humans and Machines Sijia Liu (Michigan State University), [introductory/advanced] Safety Alignment for AI Agents: From Centralized to Distributed Solutions Simon Parsons (University of Lincoln), [introductory] Agents and Agentic AI Simone Stumpf (University of Glasgow), [introductory/intermediate] Explainable AI (XAI) and Debugging in the Era of Agentic AI Lyle Ungar (University of Pennsylvania), [introductory] From Tools to Teammates: How AI Changes Human Work and Relationships SYMPOSIUM A symposium will give participants, research groups and companies the opportunity to present ongoing research projects, innovative ideas and industrial developments related to the themes of AICES 2027. Presentations will consist of 15-minute oral contributions. Participants interested in presenting should submit a one-page abstract including the title, authors, and a brief summary to david(a)irdta.eu. Submission deadline: April 19, 2027. ORGANIZING COMMITTEE Pablo García Bringas (Bilbao, Local Chair) Carlos Martín-Vide (Tarragona, Program Chair) Santiago Montes (Tarragona, Webpage) Sara Morales (Luxembourg, Finances) David Silva (London, Organization Chair) REGISTRATION Registration is available at: https://aices.irdta.eu/2027/registration/ During registration, participants will be invited to indicate six courses they are particularly interested in attending. This selection is tentative and non-binding and will be used only to estimate demand and facilitate logistical planning. As the capacity of the venue is limited, registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration will close once maximum capacity has been reached. Early registration is therefore strongly recommended. FEES Registration fees include access to all school activities and lunches. Several early-registration deadlines are available, with fees depending on the date of payment. Fees are the same for on-site and for online participation. ACCOMMODATION Accommodation suggestions will be made available in due time at: https://aices.irdta.eu/2027/accommodation/ CERTIFICATE Participants will receive a certificate documenting 40 hours of academic activities. This certificate should be suitable for participants seeking ECTS or equivalent academic recognition from their home institutions. SPONSORS Companies, institutions and organizations interested in supporting AICES 2027 are invited to consult the sponsorship opportunities available for the event. The sponsorship leaflet can be downloaded from: https://aices.irdta.eu/2027/sponsors/ QUESTIONS AND FURTHER INFORMATION david(a)irdta.eu ACKNOWLEDGMENTS University of Deusto IRDTA – Institute for Research Development, Training and Advice

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