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Master in Brain and Cognition being offered at Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), Barcelona

by Ruben Moreno Bote

Dear Comp-neuro members, The Master in Brain and Cognition being offered at Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), Barcelona, Spain (http://www.upf.edu/mbc/) opens the rolling application period (final deadline is June 2020). The core of the master's programme is composed of the research groups at UPF's Center for Brain and Cognition (http://cbc.upf.edu) In this email, we emphasize the possibility of participation of outstanding candidates with strong quantitative background, such as physics, mathematics or machine learning eager to learn about computational neuroscience. Candidates with these backgrounds could perform research activity with the following experts in computational neuroscience: Gustavo Deco (http://cns.upf.edu/) Albert Compte (http://complab.fcrb.es/complab/pres) Ruben Moreno-Bote (https://www.upf.edu/web/tcn) Overall, the groups participating at the Master are directed by renowned scientists in areas such as computational neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, psycholinguistics, vision, multisensory perception, human development and comparative cognition http://cbc.upf.edu/node/498 Students will be exposed to ongoing research projects at the Center for Brain and Cognition and will be integrated in one of its main research lines, where they will conduct original research for their final project. Please visit the Master’s web page or contact mbc(a)upf.edu for further information. Scientific-related questions such as fit of quantitative backgrounds can be consulted to Ruben Moreno-Bote, ruben.moreno(a)upf.edu -- Rubén Moreno Bote Serra Húnter & ICREA Academia Professor Center for Brain and Cognition & Dept. of Information and Communications Technologies University Pompeu Fabra Campus Ciutadella c\ Ramon Trias Fargas, 25-27 Mercè Rodoreda building, 3th floor (room 24.331) 08005 Barcelona, Spain https://www.upf.edu/web/tcn https://twitter.com/morenobote <https://twitter.com/morenobote?lang=ca>

Jan. 13, 2020

Post-doctoral position Computational Neuroscience, Moreno-Bote Lab, Barcelona

by Ruben Moreno Bote

We are looking for strong post-doctoral candidates interested in joining the group of Theoretical and Cognitive Neuroscience of Ruben Moreno-Bote lab. We are looking for excellent post-doctoral candidates with Physics, Mathematics or Machine Learning background, ideally with knowledge of Neuroscience or Computational Neuroscience, and interested in theory and applications. The publication record of the candidate should be very strong in his/her respective discipline. The candidate will develop state of the art theory and models of cognition and intelligence by using neural networks, data analysis and multielectrode neural data. The main research topic of our lab is decision-making, from a multidisciplinary angle. The candidate will benefit from the stimulating environment of Barcelona area in Theoretical and Systems Neuroscience and will have the opportunity of enjoying a lively city. Our lab (https://www.upf.edu/web/tcn) forms part of a larger network of neuroscience labs in Barcelona. Financial support is provided by HHMI, ICREA and the Spanish MINECO. APPLICATION: A full CV in pdf format, a 1 page-long project in pdf format, and names and email addresses of 2 referees should be sent to the following address: ruben.moreno(a)upf.edu Informal inquiries are welcome. DEADLINE: up to the position is filled STARTING DATE: any time between September 2020 and January 2021 -- Rubén Moreno Bote Serra Húnter & ICREA Academia Professor Center for Brain and Cognition & Dept. of Information and Communications Technologies University Pompeu Fabra Campus Ciutadella c\ Ramon Trias Fargas, 25-27 Mercè Rodoreda building, 3th floor (room 24.331) 08005 Barcelona, Spain https://www.upf.edu/web/tcn https://twitter.com/morenobote <https://twitter.com/morenobote?lang=ca>

Jan. 13, 2020

PhD Position in Computational Neuroscience, Ruben Moreno-Bote Lab

by Ruben Moreno Bote

PhD Position in Computational Neuroscience, Ruben Moreno-Bote Lab Center for Brain and Cognition, University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain 1 fully funded PhD position is available in the group of Theoretical and Cognitive Neuroscience of Ruben Moreno-Bote in the Center for Brain and Cognition at the University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain. We are looking for excellent candidates with Physics, Mathematics or Machine Learning background interested in developing theory for the brain and mind. Knowledge of Computational Neuroscience or Neuroscience would be ideal, but it is not necessary. The candidate will develop state of the art theory and models of cognition and intelligence by using neural networks, data analysis and multielectrode neural data. The main research topic of our lab is decision-making, from a multidisciplinary angle. The candidate will benefit from the stimulating environment of Barcelona area in Theoretical and Systems Neuroscience and will have the opportunity of enjoying a lively city. Our lab (https://www.upf.edu/web/tcn) forms part of a larger network of neuroscience labs in Barcelona. Financial support is provided by HHMI, ICREA and the Spanish MINECO. APPLICATION: A full CV in pdf format and an extract of grades for degree and master studies should be sent to the following address: ruben.moreno(a)upf.edu DEADLINE: until the position is filled STARTING DATE: any time between September 2020 and January 2021

Jan. 13, 2020

Research assistant (PhD position) in the European School of Network Neuroscience (EuSNN).

by Peter König

Research assistant (PhD position) in the European School of Network Neuroscience (EuSNN). About the project: EuSNN will integrate leading European groups in network neuroscience and deliver training on knowledge and skills that enable students to pursue a successful career in this emerging field. euSNN will combine and train all approaches relevant for investigation of brain networks, including (f)MRI, M/EEG, in-vivo recordings, analysis, modelling, network modulation with optogenetics or non-invasive neurostimulation and studies on network changes in neurological disorders. Be part of it. The tendered position is funded by a Marie Curie grant, in which we participate together with more than 10 top international Universities. (Secondments at several partner laboratories are part of the training.) The partner SciCovery will work on online assessment of stroke and PD patients with altered network dynamics and, thus, affected cognitive capacities, enables us to better understand the effects found in the lab and generalize them to the overall population. For this purpose the early stage researcher (ESR) will further develop the Labvanced platform (https://www.labvanced.com) , which is one of the most advanced internet systems for online research (web-based experiments). Labvanced offers researchers the possibility to create, share and record complex online experiments using an easy to use graphical interface. On top of this, we offer brand new features using latest web technologies, such as webcam based eyetracking, audio recordings, real time interaction for multiple participants. Labvanced is now used by many research institutes world-wide. About the job: This exciting job offer combines web development, scientific research and interaction with several other research groups, data analysis, and the experience of working in a startup environment. Funding is provided by the EU’s Marie Curie (Horizon 2020) program for 3 years with a full time contract. This position is tendered in collaboration with the research group of Prof. Peter König at the Institute of Cognitive Science, University of Osnabrück (Germany). Skills and Qualifications: Excellent MSc degree in Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Computational Neuroscience or related fields. Profound knowledge of at least one higher level programming language (e.g. Javascript, Python, Java). Interest in creating, conducting, and analyzing behavioral experiments. Be able to work independently in an organized and reliable manner. Experience with git workflows. English (Intermediate level or above) is required, both verbal and in writing. Please note the eligibility criteria for researchers in Marie Sklodowska-Curie ITNs: They must be in the first four years of his/her research career, not have a doctoral degree, and not have resided in the country of the recruiting beneficiary (i.e. Germany) for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date. Bonus Points: Interest to work in a startup environment and interaction within an international collaboration, including performing secondments at partner sites. Familiarity with JavaScript, HTML5, CSS3, Node.js. or databases. Proficient understanding of cross-browser and cross-platform (Windows, Linux, Android) compatibility issues. Experience with experimental designs and data analysis Interest to create online assessment tools for stroke and PD patients. Interested in community management and supporting other researchers on our platform. Key Responsibilities: Develop and improve features on the Labvanced platform. Implement a test battery / online assessment capabilities for stroke and PD patients to assess affected cognitive capacities. Monitoring during the data acquisition process and support for longitudinal studies on mobile systems. Collaborate with scientific partners of the Marie Curie consortium for the validation of the test battery and for the data analysis. Analyze the recorded behavioral data in a professional scientific way. Write up concise and meaningful summaries / presentations as well as prepare documents for peer-reviewed publications. What we offer: Obtain a PhD in Cognitive Science from the University of Osnabrück while working in an IT-startup! Opportunities for both local and international travel and present your work at several conferences and workshops. Flexibility in self organising your working hours and location. Work in close collaboration with the interdisciplinary Neurobiopsychology group of Prof. Dr. Peter König at the University of Osnabrück (see https://www.ikw.uni-osnabrueck.de/en/research_groups/neurobiopsychology.html ) Competitive salary with (full-time) employment for up to 3 years. Interested candidates please send your CV to: contact(a)labvanced.com, pkoenig(a)uos.de For further information about MSCA-ITN under EU H2020, see: https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en/h2020-section/marie-sklodows… -- Prof. Dr. Peter König, Institute of Cognitive Science, University Osnabrück -- Prof. Dr. Peter König, Institute of Cognitive Science, University Osnabrück

Jan. 12, 2020

Postdoctoral Position at the University of Calgary

by Wilten Nicola

*POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLARSHIP* *UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY* *CHIMERA STATES IN NEURONAL CIRCUITS* The Complexity Science Group at the University of Calgary invites applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar in the field of *complex* *networks* *and* *neuronal* *dynamics*. The successful applicant is expected to work closely with a multidisciplinary research team co-led by Dr. Wilten Nicola and Dr. Jörn Davidsen on questions related but not limited to the emergence of chimera states in circuits of neurons. Successful candidates are expected to primarily conduct theoretical and computational research in collaboration with a number of experimental and clinical partners. More information about the Complexity Science Group is available at www.ucalgary.ca/complexity/. Candidates should have received or will soon receive a PhD in mathematics, theoretical physics or a related discipline. Chimera states have been demonstrated previously in simple homogeneous Kuramoto oscillator systems, however, they have only been recently demonstrated to exist in physical systems. Postdoctoral candidates will be expected to have prior expertise in analyzing Wilson-Cowan or Kuramoto Oscillator systems, in addition to analyzing experimental data from in vivo and in vitro neural recordings. A general background in complex networks, neuroscience, computational physics or nonlinear dynamics is beneficial. The position will be sponsored by the University of Calgary’s Hotchkiss Brain Institute and targets candidates of the highest caliber. Possible start dates are between July 1, 2020 and January 1, 2021. The start date has to be within five years of being awarded a PhD degree. The position is for two years and includes an annual stipend of $50,000 including benefits. Applicants should submit their application package including a cover letter, CV with a list of publications, reprints of (up to) three most relevant publications, brief statement of research interests and their possible start dates in PDF format to wilten.nicola(a)ucalgary.ca or davidsen(a)phas.ucalgary.ca. Applicants should arrange for at least two letters of reference to be sent as well. Review of applications will begin February 3, 2020 and continue until the position is filled. For additional information and informal inquiries, please contact Dr. Wilten Nicola or Dr. Jörn Davidsen. *About the University of Calgary* The University of Calgary is a leading Canadian university located in the nation’s most enterprising city. The university has a clear strategic direction to become one of Canada’s top five research universities, where innovative teaching and groundbreaking research go hand in hand, and where we fully engage the communities we both serve and lead. The strategy is called Eyes High, inspired by our Gaelic motto, which translates to ‘I will lift up my eyes.’ *About Calgary* Named a cultural capital of Canada and one of the best places to live in the world, Calgary is a city of leaders – in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Canada’s fastest-growing major city, is vibrant and multicultural with a population of more than 1,000,000. Calgarians benefit from the strongest economy in the nation and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour’s drive from the majestic Rocky Mountains and Banff National Park and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America. *Wilten Nicola*, PhD Assistant Professor Cell Biology and Anatomy Department University of Calgary HMRB 113, 3330 Hospital Drive NW Calgary, Alberta, CANADA T2N 1N4 T: 1.403.220.4973 wilten.nicola(a)ucalgary.ca The University of Calgary is a global intellectual hub located in Canada’s most enterprising city. In our spirited, high-quality learning environment, students thrive in programs made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. Our strategy drives us to be recognized as one of Canada’s top five research universities, engaging the communities we both serve and lead. This strategy is called Eyes High, inspired by the university's Gaelic motto, which translates as 'I will lift up my eyes.' For more information, visit ucalgary.ca/eyeshigh.

Jan. 9, 2020

5th Workshop on Molecular Communications in Tampere, Finland, on May, 18th-20th, 2020

by Kerstin Lenk

Dear Madam or Sir, The 5th Workshop on Molecular Communications ( https://molecularcommunications.eu/) will be held in Tampere, Finland, on May, 18th-20th, 2020. Building on the success of the previous four workshops, this workshop will act as a hub of knowledge exchange of Molecular Communication Research in Europe with a focus on broadening the reach of the community into border disciplines. Disciplines we wish to attract include (but are not limited to): - Synthetic Biology - Systems Biology - Pharmacology - Inter/Intra Cellular Communication - Chemical Networks - Communication Engineering The workshop will deliver three profile keynote speeches in multidisciplinary topics and incorporates two focused tutorials aimed at young researchers. Moreover, the workshop will run three technical sessions focusing on emerging hot topics and will host three panel sessions. Please find some general information about the workshop in the attached PDF. Thank you very much for your consideration! With kind regards, Kerstin Lenk -- Dr. Kerstin Lenk Academy of Finland Postdoctoral Researcher Computational Biophysics and Imaging Group (CBIG)Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology BioMediTech, Tampere University Arvo Ylpön katu 34 33520 Tampere Finland Phone: +358 50 447 8470 E-mail: kerstin.lenk(a)tuni.fi Twitter: https://twitter.com/astrocytenet Website: https://research.tuni.fi/cbig/ *Human Potential Unlimited. *

Jan. 9, 2020

Postdoc in New York in computational neuroscience

by Ruben Coen-Cagli

**Apologies for cross posting Postdoc in New York in computational neuroscience The Laboratory for Computational Neuroscience<https://sites.google.com/site/rubencoencagli> (Coen-Cagli lab) invites applications for a postdoctoral position in the Department of Systems and Computational Biology and Department of Neuroscience at Albert Einstein College of Medicine (AECOM) in New York City. We are looking for a highly creative and motivated individual to work on a NIH funded project<https://projectreporter.nih.gov/project_info_description.cfm?aid=9916219&ic…> that addresses perceptual grouping and segmentation, using visual psychophysics in human participants and machine learning algorithms for segmentation. The project is a collaboration with the laboratory of Pascal Mamassian<https://lsp.dec.ens.fr/en/member/647/pascal-mamassian> at Ecole Normale Superieure, Paris, and the fellow will have the opportunity for substantial interactions with and travel to the Mamassian lab. Applicants must have a Ph.D. in a relevant discipline, with an academic record of scientific excellence and independent research, and a keen interest in interdisciplinary approaches to biological and neural systems. The ideal candidate has substantial prior experience in either computer vision or visual psychophysics; a strong background in computational neuroscience; and advanced analytical and programming skills. Our lab studies how biological sensory systems interpret the surrounding environment. Topics include probabilistic representations of natural images, models of selectivity and variability in large cortical populations, perceptual uncertainty. We combine theories of probabilistic neural coding, computer vision and machine learning, psychophysics, and neurophysiology through collaborations. Close interaction and collaboration with other members of the lab and the department is anticipated. AECOM offers a vibrant interdisciplinary environment, with a growing systems and computational contingent. It is located in a quiet neighborhood of New York, only a short subway ride from Manhattan. Information about working at the AECOM, including benefits and housing for postdocs, can be found at: https://einsteinmed.org/research/belfer-institute/ The position starts in spring/summer 2020, and is funded for several years, with an initial one-year appointment and expectation of extension given satisfactory performance. Salary is competitive and will be commensurate with experience. Candidates should send a single pdf file, consisting of a 1-page motivation letter, CV, and publication list to ruben.coencagli(a)gmail.com. Furthermore, candidates should organize two letters of reference, to be sent to the same e-mail address. The position is open until filled. Albert Einstein College of Medicine is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.

Jan. 9, 2020

Reminder: Call for papers for Vision Research special issue on "Calibrating the visual system"

by Ruben Coen-Cagli

**Apologies for cross posting Calibrating the visual system Vision Research seeks contributions for a special issue entitled ‘Calibrating the visual system’. Visual systems evolved according to consistent characteristics of the environment and task demands of the species, but also to be malleable in order to adapt to specific perturbations in the stimulus and the observer. The special issue aims to integrate work on the calibration of visual processes in relation to the stable properties of natural scenes or to variations in the sensory stimulus or the individual’s sensory apparatus, in different visual domains and over different time scales. Of particular interest are processes of short, medium and long-term adaptation, and processes to maintain perceptual constancy, as well as processes that occur during visual development. We are also seeking papers concerned with the benefits, costs, and limitations of these adaptations for optimal encoding of visual information, and for learning and representing relevant stimuli in the environment. We are seeking both original research articles and reviews on this subject, covering diverse methods including psychophysics, physiology, neuroimaging, and computational modelling Guest Editors: Jenny Bosten, University of Sussex Ruben Coen Cagli, Albert Einstein College of Medicine Anna Franklin, University of Sussex Samuel Solomon, UCL Michael Webster, University of Nevada, Reno Submission Deadline: March 2020 Manuscripts are submitted through the Special Issue portal of the submission system and go through peer review as usual. Each article in the special issue is assigned a unique identifier and once the article is accepted will be published in a regular journal issue as soon as available. The unique identifier allows us to simultaneously add the article to the special issue on ScienceDirect which is gradually built up as individual articles are published online. We do provide Shared Link of the final published version to the corresponding authors with 50 days free access so that they can share it. Submission Instructions https://ees.elsevier.com/vr/<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fees.elsev…> Authors to select “VSI: Calibrating vision” as article type when submitting their special issue paper in EES. Guide for Authors for more details is https://www.elsevier.com/journals/vision-research/0042-6989/guide-for-autho…<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.elsev…> <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.goo…>

Jan. 9, 2020

Faculty positions at Imperial's EEE department on Robotics & Machine Learning (deadline: Jan 27)

by Dan Goodman

We are expanding our research activities in Robotics and Machine Learning at the Electrical and Electronic Engineering department at Imperial College, and we are looking to appoint up to 2 new permanent faculty (UK Lecturer/Senior Lecturer level, US equivalent is Assistant/Associate Prof) in the Intelligent Systems and Networks Group. More details here: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/description/ENG01119/lecturersenior-lecture… These posts aren't intended for computational neuroscientists specifically, but might be interesting for someone who has worked applying computational neuroscience ideas to robotics or "intelligent systems" in a fairly applied way (i.e. actual robots not just simulators). Closing deadline is Jan 27th, so apply soon! Dan

Jan. 8, 2020

Up to 6 PhD fellowships in Cognitive Neuroscience at SISSA, Trieste, Italy, to start Oct, 2020

by Alessandro Treves

SISSA is an elite postgraduate research institution located in Trieste, Italy, and focused on Maths, Physics and Neuroscience. It operates in English: many among its students and faculty are not Italian. The Cognitive Neuroscience Department hosts 6 research labs that study the neuronal bases of time and magnitude processing, visual perception, motivation and intelligence, language and reading, tactile perception and learning, and neural computation. The Department is very inter–disciplinary; our approaches include behavioural, psychophysics, and neurophysiological experiments with humans and animals, as well as computational and mathematical models. Students with diverse backgrounds (physics, math, medicine, psychology, biology) are most welcome to apply. The Department has an exceptional track record with highly competitive funds (recent funding includes 4 ERC and 3 Human Frontiers grants) and publication in top journals (Nature, Science, PNAS, Current Biology). Recent placements after PhD include Harvard, MIT, Columbia and Princeton in the US; the NTNU, Manchester and Radboud in Europe; and Sydney University, Australia. Our alumni have been awarded 4 ERC grants, the 2015 Kandel Young Neuroscientist Prize and the 2017 ICTP Prize. More information about the Department is available at our website https://phdcns.sissa.it. The selection procedure is now open; to learn how to apply, please visit https://phdcns.sissa.it/admission-procedure. Please contact the PhD Coordinator (davide.crepaldi(a)sissa.it) and/or your prospective supervisor for more information and informal enquiries. -- Alessandro Treves SISSA, Cognitive Neuroscience, http://people.sissa.it/~ale/limbo.html if in, rm 241, via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy: +39-040-3787623

Jan. 8, 2020