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faculty positions in computational neuroscience, cognitive psychology, etc Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia

by boris gutkin

School of Psychology at the Faculty of Social Sciences Assistant Professor in Psychology (multiple positions) School of Psychology at the Faculty of Social Sciences National Research University Higher School of Economics Moscow, Russia The School of Psychology of the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, Russia invites applications for full-time, tenure-track positions of Assistant Professor in psychology and related fields, notably in cognitive psychology, social and personality psychology, economic psychology, engineering psychology cognitive and computational neuroscience (including neuroeconomics). Applications for Associate and Full Professorships can also be considered in exceptional cases. Knowledge of Russian is not required as teaching is done in English. About HSE The HSE is a young, dynamic, fast-growing Russian research university. Over the past twenty years, the HSE has become one of Russia's largest universities in the fields of economics, social sciences and humanities, and has earned the reputation of a national leader in higher education. One of its unique features has been its direct involvement in socioeconomic reforms in Russia, which has allowed HSE to develop as a “project and research university” where education, fundamental and applied research, and "think tank" activities are combined for the comprehensive development of society. Committed to high-quality research, HSE now has over twenty international research laboratories, led by eminent professors from all over the world; more such laboratories are expected to be opened by early 2016. The Department of Psychology provides excellent research facilities for studies in experimental psychology and cognitive neuroscience. We provide excellent opportunities to teach in English at BA and MS levels. Requirements Candidates must hold a recent Ph.D. in psychology, social sciences, neuroscience, computer science, electrical engineering, mathematics or related fields, or be within a year of completion at the time of application. The successful candidate is expected to conduct high-quality research publishable in reputable peer-reviewed journals with research support provided by the university’s Centre for Advanced Studies. The appointments will be made for three years in the first instance, starting in September 2016, with reviews of teaching and research during the third year. Benefits The salary is competitive, indexed to inflation annually, and subject to a 13% flat income tax. The university offers health insurance (free of charge), language assistance, and other social benefits; travel support and other research assistance are generous. Since we have heavy emphasis placed on high quality research, the teaching load of newly hired faculty is relatively low and service is minimal. Application and Interviews Please provide a CV, a statement of research interest and a recent research paper via online application form. At least 2 letters of reference should be forwarded directly to the attention of the Psychology Review Committee at cas(a)hse.ru. The deadline for accepting application materials is December 04, 2015 . More information about the university and the Centre is available at the www.hse.ru/en, http://social.hse.ru/en/psy/ and www.cas.hse.ru For more information about research at the Theoretical Neuroscience Group please contact me directly. Boris Gutkin, PhD Research Director CNRS Group for Neural Theory Laboratoire des Neurosciences Cognitives, INSERM U 960 Department of Cognitive Studies Institute for the Study of Cognition Ecole Normale Superieure Paris. France boris.gutkin(a)ens.fr www.gnt.ens.fr

Nov. 6, 2015

Fully funded PhD position in: Machine learning in multi-variate data processing / integration and analysis for clinical diagnostics and prognostics

by Andrea Soltoggio

*Fully funded PhD position in: Machine learning in multi-variate data processing / integration and analysis for clinical diagnostics and prognostics * A fully funded PhD position is available in a multi-disciplinary project between the School of Science and the School of Business and Economics, Loughborough University, UK, on the topic of machine learning in multi-variate data processing / integration and analysis for clinical diagnostics and prognostics. Loughborough University is ranked 11th in the 2016 UK League Table Ranking ( http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/loughborough/performance , and is located in Loughborough, a town well connected to London by a 1h20m journey by train. *Research. *The application of advanced analytical techniques to the discovery and implementation of human-borne Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) markers of interest requires large numbers of samples taken from a highly variable sampled population. Efficient progress in this enterprise is limited by the current limits on the speed and sophistication of the data processing and multivariate analysis of the analytical system outputs. This studentship will start the exploration of the boundary between advanced analytical science (sensory capability) and machine learning, including neural and deep learning. It will be part of what is intended to be an enduring collaboration between researchers in Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics and Information Science. The supervisory team is composed of Dr. Andrea Soltoggio, expert in Artificial Intelligence and Neural Learning, and Dr. Martin Sykora, expert in Machine Learning, Data Mining and Big Data. The academic team supporting this project will include: Prof. C. L. Paul Thomas Chemistry, markers and detection Prof. Tom Jackson, Centre for Information Management, applied and theory based knowledge management Dr. Iain Phillips, Department of Computer Science, computer networks and high performance computing Dr. Eugenie Hunsicker, Department of Mathematics, statistical techniques *Working environment.* The student, based at the Computer Science Department http://www.cs.lboro.ac.uk, School of Science, will work and collaborate with diverse research groups: the Center for Analytical Science (Chemistry Department) with access to research of the Toxi-triage H2020 project (http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/194860_en.html)) and the Center for Information Management (CIM) http://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/cim/. Loughborough University offers cutting-edge computing capabilities with a Hydra High Performance Computing cluster, a 1956-core 64-bit Intel Xeon cluster supplied by Bull, and GPUs computing capabilities. *Requirements.* The ideal candidate holds (or is about to obtain) a first-class honour undergraduate/postgraduate degree (or equivalent) in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Electrical or Electronic Engineering, or has authored publications in recognised conferences/journals. Independent working skills are valued as well as the capability of working in a team. Collegiality and interpersonal skills are essential. Excellent English language skills are highly desired (see requirements here http://www.lboro.ac.uk/international/englang/index.htm) *Period/Scholarship.* Start: January 2016. Duration: 3 years. Scholarship: £14,057 per annum plus tuition fees at the UK/EU rate (currently £4,052 p.a.) Application deadline: 16 November 2015. *Enquiries and applications.* Informal enquiries are encouraged and to be addressed to Dr. Andrea Soltoggio (a.soltoggio(a)lboro.ac.uk) Interested candidates are invited to submit an application at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/apply/research/including a CV, the names and addresses of two referees, and a statement of research interest (maximum 300 words). Best regards, Andrea Soltoggio -- Dr. Andrea Soltoggio Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence Department of Computer Science Haslegrave Building, N.2.03 Loughborough University LE11 3TU, UK Phone: +44 (0) 1509 635748 Email: a.soltoggio(a)lboro.ac.uk Web: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/compsci/staff/dr-andrea-soltoggio.html

Nov. 6, 2015

postdoc opening at University of Pittsburgh

by Jonathan Rubin

Postdoctoral position in Mathematical Biology The Department of Mathematics at the University of Pittsburgh invites applications for a two-year postdoctoral position in Mathematical Biology, to begin in the Fall Term 2016, pending budgetary approval. A Ph.D. in Mathematical Sciences or a closely related discipline is required. We seek excellence in research and teaching. Salary and benefits are competitive. Applicants should submit a vita, three letters of recommendation, a research statement and evidence of teaching accomplishments electronically through http://www.mathjobs.org. Review of completed files will begin on January 4, 2016 and continue until the position is filled. The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and members of minority groups underrepresented in academia are especially encouraged to apply.

Nov. 5, 2015

Phd-Positions in Bonn & Florida: Max Planck Research School Brain and Behavior

by Jakob Macke

Dear Colleagues, The new International Max Planck Research School for Brain and Behavior is a fully funded graduate program in the neurosciences jointly hosted between caesar, Bonn, Germany and the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI), USA. In addition, IMPRS for Brain and Behavior is co-run by partner Universities: University of Bonn, Germany and Florida Atlantic University in the USA. Detailed information is available on our web site: http://www.imprs-brain-behavior.mpg.de. IMPRS for Brain and Behavior is announcing fully-funded Ph.D. positions in Neuroscience. Students will receive both theoretical and hands-on training in a large range of modern imaging, electro-physiological, molecular and computational techniques. They will be exposed to a broad range of research areas based on how sensory information is encoded in neural circuits and how these circuits are activated during behavior. Students will take courses and attend scientific symposia at the partner institutions in Bonn and Florida – thereby being exposed to an exceptionally broad group of international scientists and provided the opportunity to earn a doctorate under outstanding research conditions. Successful candidates will work in a young and dynamic international environment, embedded in the local scientific communities of caesar or MPFI. As both caesar and MPFI are part of a large cluster of Max Planck Institutes working in the neurosciences, students will have unparalleled insight into the broad range of outstanding research taking place in the Max Planck Society, Germany’s most successful research organization. The Ph.D. program is open to highly qualified and motivated candidates from all over the world who hold an outstanding diploma or master degree. Please upload your application (details online) through the online application portal found at: http://www.imprs-brain-behavior.mpg.de Application deadline is December 1; positions available starting September 2016. For further information please contact: info(a)imprs-brain-behavior.org or Denise Butler, Coordinator, phone: +49(0)228 / 9656-318, imprs.info(a)caesar.de. We are excited about this new venture! We ask that you spread the word far and wide by forwarding this email to students and colleagues interested in our overarching theme of how sensory information is encoded in neural circuits and is ultimately transformed to behavior. Jakob Macke Max Planck Research Group Leader Neural Systems Analysis phone +49/228/9656170 fax +49/228/96569170 e-mail: jakob(a)caesar.de www.mackelab.org research center caesar an associate of the Max Planck Society Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2 53175 Bonn, Germany www.caesar.de Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience 72076 Tübingen, Germany www.bccn-tuebingen.de

Nov. 5, 2015

4th Winter Q-Bio Mtg in HAWAII Feb. 2016 ***REMINDER! Abstract submission deadline NOV. 10, 2015***

by Santamaria, Cookie

***REMINDER: ABSTRACT DEADLINE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2015!*** THE FOURTH ANNUAL WINTER Q-BIO MEETING Quantitative Biology on the Hawaiian Islands February 15-18, 2016 http://w-qbio.org/ The Winter q-bio meeting brings together scientists and engineers who are interested in all areas of q-bio. Technology is driving revolutionary changes in biology. Systems Biology has arisen as the deduction of interaction networks from -omics data generated in the wake of remarkable technological achievements. Likewise, DNA synthesis technologies are driving the development of Synthetic Biology, whereby engineered circuitry and even entire genomes can be reconstituted from chemical building blocks. These two emerging areas have catalyzed the growth of Quantitative Biology, whereby the central goal is the deduction of quantitative principles that can be used to construct predictive models for biological phenomena. The venue for 2016 is the Sheraton Waikiki<http://www.sheraton-waikiki.com/>, which is located in Honolulu, on the island of Oahu. The resort is known for its breathtaking oceanfront views, a first-of-its-kind recently opened "Superpool" and many award-winning dining venues. This year we will select contributed talks from the submitted abstracts to be presented with the invited talks during the plenary sessions. Contributed talks will also be selected for parallel breakout sessions that commence in the late afternoon. 2016 CONFIRMED SPEAKERS: Nathalie Balaban — Hebrew University Karen Carniol — Cell Hana El-Samad — UCSF James Ferrell — Stanford Justin Gallivan — DARPA Susan Golden — UCSD Jeff Hasty — UCSD Evonne Kaplan-Liss — Stony Brook Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz — NIH X. Shirley Liu — Harvard Amy Palmer — Colorado Katie Pollard — UCSF Bryan Ray — Science Jonathan Weissman — UCSF Lingchong You — Duke CONFERENCE ORGANIZERS: Jeff Hasty, University of California, San Diego Galit Lahav, Harvard University Wendell Lim, University of California, San Francisco Gurol Suel, University of California, San Diego Olga Troyanskaya, Princeton & Simons Center for Data Analysis Lev Tsimring, University of California, San Diego ***REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!*** Registration fee covers conference venue, registration reception, banquet, coffee & snacks. EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ($700 / $475 Student) DEADLINE: Sunday, December 20, 2015 REGULAR REGISTRATION ($800 / $575 Student) DEADLINE: Sunday, January 31, 2016 LATE REGISTRATION ($875 / $650 Student) After Sunday, January 31, 2016 REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE AT: http://www.w-qbio.org/register/ HOTEL: A block of rooms has been reserved for registered conference participants at the Sheraton Waikiki<http://www.sheraton-waikiki.com/> at a negotiated rate starting at $229 per night plus tax. We have also reserved a block of rooms at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani<http://www.princess-kaiulani.com/> (just one block east and across the street from the Sheraton Waikiki) at a negotiated rate starting at $160 per night plus tax. The rooms will be available soon on a first-come, first-served basis, so book early! CONTRIBUTED TALKS: If you wish to present your work at the conference, either as an oral talk or a poster, you must submit an abstract through the conference website by the November 10th deadline. Abstract guidelines and submission information at: http://www.w-qbio.org/submit-abstract/ ABSTRACT DEADLINE: Tuesday, November 10, 2015 Abstract guidelines and submission information at: http://www.w-qbio.org/submit-abstract/ We encourage you to forward this message to any colleagues who may be interested in taking part in this exciting event. Questions should be emailed to: coordinator(a)w-qbio.org<mailto:coordinator@w-qbio.org> SPONSORED BY: ACS Synthetic Biology UC San Diego BioCircuits Institute and the San Diego Center for Systems Biology UC San Diego Divisions of Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, q-bio, and Engineering

Nov. 5, 2015

COSYNE 2016: Abstract submission closes soon; Travel grants

by Tomas Hromadka

==================================================== Computational and Systems Neuroscience 2016 (Cosyne) MAIN MEETING Feb 25 - Feb 28, 2016 Salt Lake City, Utah WORKSHOPS Feb 29 - Mar 01, 2016 Snowbird Ski Resort, Utah www.cosyne.org ==================================================== IMPORTANT COSYNE NEWS (see below for details): Abstract submission deadline is Fri 13 Nov 2015 (11.59pm PST) Meeting registration will open on 16 Nov 2015 Travel grant submission will open on 16 Nov 2015 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 are 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. 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. 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. Based on last year's survey, we decided to keep the accepted number of abstracts the same as in 2015, 345 accepted abstracts (a modest increase over previous years). This was a difficult decision as we know the review process cannot be perfect, meaning that suitable abstracts are sometimes rejected. However, the feedback from the community indicated a clear preference for keeping the meeting at its current size with the restricted number of posters. For more information and details on submitting abstracts please visit www.cosyne.org, section Abstracts. TRAVEL GRANTS Applications will open on 16 Nov 2015 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, and authors of submitted Cosyne abstracts. For details on applying, see cosyne.org, section Travel grants. CONFIRMED SPEAKERS Blaise Aguera y Arcas (Google) Marisa Carrasco (NYU) Edward Chang (UCSF) Greg DeAngelis (Rochester) Mark Goldman (UC Davis) Sonja Hofer (Basel) Richard Mooney (Duke) Mala Murthy (Princeton) Peggy Series (Edinburgh) Reza Shadmehr (Johns Hopkins) Paul Smolensky (Johns Hopkins) Leslie Vosshall (Rockefeller) Xiao-Jing Wang (NYU) ORGANIZING COMMITTEE General Chairs: Maria Geffen (U Penn) and Konrad Körding (Northwestern) Program Chairs: Megan Carey (Champalimaud) and Emilio Salinas (Wake Forest) Workshop Chairs: Claudia Clopath (Imperial College) and Alfonso Renart (Champalimaud) Publicity Chair: Xaq Pitkow (Rice) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Anne Churchland (CSHL) Zachary Mainen (Champalimaud) Alexandre Pouget (U Geneva) Anthony Zador (CSHL) CONTACT cosyne.meeting [at] gmail.com

Nov. 5, 2015

postdoctoral position in Computational Neuroscience at the Italian Institute of Technology

by Stefano Panzeri

We are about to open a postdoctoral position focusing on the development of advanced mathematical methods for analysing fluorescence signals recorded in cortical networks expressing the genetically encoded calcium indicator GCaMP6 during two-photon microscopy experiments. With this email, we are soliciting expressions of interest from interested candidates. The applicants should have a strong background in numerate sciences, with a strong interest and previous experience in MATLAB, be highly independent and have a strong propensity for interdisciplinary research. Experience in or understanding of experimental neuroscience is desirable, but not necessary. Candidates must hold a PhD in computational neuroscience, bio-physics or a related discipline and be highly motivated and creative individuals who want to work in a dynamic, multi-disciplinary research environment and who are willing to interact with both experimental and theoretical neuroscientists. Research activities will be carried out in the newly established and highly interdisciplinary Neural Coding Laboratory, which is jointly supervised by Dr. Panzeri and Dr. Fellin and aims to combine experiments and mathematics to crack the neural code. For reference to recent work of the PIs please see Zuo et al. Cur. Biol. 2015; Panzeri et al. Trends Cogn. Neurosci. 2015; Bovetti and Fellin, J. Neurosci. Methods 2015; Einevoll et al. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 2013; Beltramo et al., Nat. Neurosci. 2013. Applications (full CV, two recommendation letters and statement of research interest) should be sent by email to Dr. Stefano Panzeri ( stefano.panzeri(a)iit.it <https://mail.iit.it/owa/redir.aspx?C=oajclq8rPE6FcMCJ-lI1Hsu55NFH69II9YBluB…>) and Dr. Tommaso Fellin (tommaso.fellin(a)iit.it <https://mail.iit.it/owa/redir.aspx?C=oajclq8rPE6FcMCJ-lI1Hsu55NFH69II9YBluB…> ). Regards Stefano Panzeri and Tommaso Fellin

Nov. 5, 2015

A parameter-free dimensionality reduction method

by 桂杰

The paper can be found in http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?arnumber=6560364 and the matlab code can be downloaded from http://www.openpr.org.cn/index.php/104-How-to-Estimate-the-Regularization-P… . Whenever you need to use LDA (linear discriminant analysis), you can also try our method. This method is parameter-free, avoiding the pain of tuning parameters. When applied to large scale data, it is faster than LDA. Despite that the paper is a little mathematical intensive, the matlab code is very easy to use. If you want to use it, there is no need to know the details of all formulas in this paper. Have funJ -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------- Associate Professor Jie Gui (Chinese name: 桂杰), PhD Institute of Intelligent Machines, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Hefei 230031, China Homepage: http://www.escience.cn/people/guijie/index.html --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------

Nov. 5, 2015

Faculty position: CRC chair in Biostatistics and Big Data Analytics, York University, Canada

by Kari Hoffman

https://www.mathjobs.org/jobs/jobs/7335 Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University *Position ID:* York <https://www.mathjobs.org/jobs/York>-CRC <https://www.mathjobs.org/jobs/York/CRC> [#7335] *Position Title:* Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Biostatistics and Big Data Analytics *Position Type:* Tenured/Tenure-track faculty *Position Location:* Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3, Canada [map <https://www.mathjobs.org/jobs?joblist-695-7335----m>] *Subject Area:* Statistics *Application Deadline:* 2015/12/01 (posted 2015/07/13, listed until 2016/01/13) *Position Description:* Apply <https://www.mathjobs.org/jobs/York/7335/apply> Applications are invited from emerging world-class leaders in the areas of biostatistics, machine learning and big data analysis to be nominated for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair at York University. Preference will be given to candidates with expertise in analyzing large volumes of data generated by biological and/or medical studies in areas that may include biological or computational vision research. Canada Research Chairs are research-intensive faculty positions providing the chair holder with an exceptional opportunity to grow their research program through the provision of protected time and enhanced access to research supports. The successful candidate should have a Ph.D. in statistics or a related field and a minimum of three years of postdoctoral experience at the time of taking up the appointment, with a prior faculty appointment preferred, or equivalent qualifications. The incumbent will also have an outstanding early career record including training and research awards and publications in high-quality refereed journals, and clear evidence of cross-disciplinary collaboration. The incumbent is also expected to demonstrate excellence or promise of excellence in graduate supervision and teaching and be eligible for prompt appointment to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. The Department of Mathematics and Statistics has a strong research group developing methodology and applications in statistical machine learning and big data analysis. The incumbent must be willing and able to take a leadership role in the activities and development of a vibrant Big Data Statistics research group within the Department. The incumbent is expected to form strong collaborations with fellow researchers in cognate fields across the University, throughout Canada and internationally. In addition, he/she is expected to recruit graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, attract significant external funding, and develop new courses in the area of statistics, machine learning and the analysis of big data. The Department also has strong research groups with interests in medical research (including the Centre for Disease Modelling and the Centre for Vision Research), climate change as well as biological and financial applications. Related research hubs across the Faculty of Science and York University – including the York Institute for Health Research, and the High-Energy Physics Group – also provide excellent collaborative opportunities. Further information about the Department of Mathematics and Statistics in the Faculty of Science can be found at http://science.yorku.ca . The successful candidate will be appointed to a tenure-track position at the Assistant or Associate Professor level. The award of the Chair is subject to approval by the CRC program review process. Tier 2 Chairs have a five-year term, once renewable, and are intended for exceptional emerging researchers (i.e., typically with less than 10 years experience as an active researcher in their field, with consideration for career breaks) who have the acknowledged potential to lead their field of research. Information about the CRC program can be found at http://www.chairs.gc.ca. The start date for the position is July 1, 2016 or as soon as possible thereafter. Applications should be submitted via the AMS MathJobs site http://www.mathjobs.org/jobs <https://www.mathjobs.org/jobs/jobs/%3Chttp://www.mathjobs.org/jobs%3E,> and include a letter of interest (incorporating a brief five-year research plan and evidence of teaching effectiveness), curriculum vitae, and names and contact information of three referees. Applications must be received by December 1, 2015. All York University positions are subject to budgetary approval. York University is an Affirmative Action (AA) employer and strongly values diversity, including gender and sexual diversity, within its community. The AA program, which applies to Aboriginal people, visible minorities, people with disabilities, and women, can be found at http://yorku.ca/acadjobs or by calling the AA office at 416-736-5713.All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents will be given priority. Applicants wishing to self identify can do so by downloading and completing the form found at: http://acadjobs.info.yorku.ca/files/2014/12/AA-Self-ID-Form-October-2013.pdf. You can confirm you are a Canadian by downloading and completing the form found at: http://acadjobs.info.yorku.ca/affirmative-action/citizenship-form/ . Once these forms have been signed they can be uploaded to MathJobs. *Application Materials Required:**Submit <https://www.mathjobs.org/jobs?apply-695-7335> the following items online at this website:* - Cover Letter - Curriculum Vitae - Research Statement - Teaching Statement - Publication List - AA form(s) (optional) - Three Reference Letters (to be submitted by the reference writers at this site ) *Further Info:* www.math.yorku.ca416-736-5757 Department of Mathematics and Statistics N520 Ross, York University 4700 Keele Street Toronto, Ontario Canada M3J 1P3 -----

Nov. 4, 2015

PhD position at the University of Zurich / ETH Zurich

by Jean-Pascal Pfister

Applications are invited for one PhD student position at the University of Zurich/ETH Zurich. The position is funded by a SystemsX grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation. The project is entitled "Baysian learning of quantal parameters at single synapse resolution", and involves both experimentation and theory. Most models of synaptic transmission assume that all synapses between two neurons are identical. However, there is experimental evidence for significant heterogeneity in synaptic transmission between synapses. The major goal of this project is the development of an approach that allows for quantification of functional synaptic parameters incorporating single synapse heterogeneity. Half of the project will be devoted to experiments (electrophysiological and optophysiological investigation of synaptic transmission at Drosophila synapses), while the second part will involve modeling (Bayesian learning). The PhD student will be co-supervised by Prof. Martin Müller (Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich) and Prof. Jean-Pascal Pfister (Institute of Neuroinformatics, ETH and University of Zurich). Both institutes offer ideal environments for performing theory-driven experiments due to the presence of many theoretical and experimental labs. The candidate should hold a Master degree in Physics, Biology, Neuroscience, Computational Neuroscience or a related field. She/he should have keen interests in theory-driven experiments. Preference will be given to candidates with prior experience in an experimental lab, strong mathematical or good programming skills. The applicant should submit a CV (including contacts of two referees), a statement of research interests, marks obtained for the Master, and the abstract of the Master thesis in electronic format to Jean-Pascal Pfister (jpfister(a)ini.uzh.ch <mailto:jpfister@ini.uzh.ch>) or Martin Müller (Martin.Mueller(a)imls.uzh.ch <mailto:Martin.Mueller@imls.uzh.ch>). The position is offered for a period of three years and can be extended. The preferred starting date is January 2016. Salary scale is provided by the Swiss National Science Foundation (http://www.snf.ch/SiteCollectionDocuments/allg_doktorierende_e.pdf <http://www.snf.ch/SiteCollectionDocuments/allg_doktorierende_e.pdf>). Deadline for application is the 30th of November 2015 or until the position is filled. +++ Martin Müller SNSF Assistant Professor Institute of Molecular Life Sciences University of Zurich Y55-K78 Winterthurerstrasse 190 8057 Zurich Switzerland www.imls.uzh.ch/mueller.html <http://www.imls.uzh.ch/mueller.html> www.neuroscience.ethz.ch/research/molecular_cellular/mueller <http://www.neuroscience.ethz.ch/research/molecular_cellular/mueller> +++ Jean-Pascal Pfister SNSF Assistant Professor Theoretical Neuroscience Group Institute of Neuroinformatics University of Zurich and ETH Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190 8057 Zurich, Switzerland www.ini.uzh.ch/~jpfister <http://www.ini.uzh.ch/~jpfister> www.neuroscience.ethz.ch/research/computation_modeling/pfister <http://www.neuroscience.ethz.ch/research/computation_modeling/pfister>

Nov. 4, 2015