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World wide VVTNS series: Wednesday, May 1st 2024 at 11am (EDT), Lorenzo Fontolan, Université Aix-Marseille| "Neural mechanisms of memory-guided behaviour"

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the lecture given by Lorenzo Fontolan Université Aix-Marseille on the topic of "Neural mechanisms of memory-guided behaviour*"* The lecture will be held on zoom on *May 1st, 2024*, at *11:00 am EDT * To receive the zoom link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: *Persistent, stimulus-dependent neuronal activity has been observed in numerous brain areas during tasks that require the temporary maintenance of information. Several competing hypotheses for the neuronal mechanisms underlying persistent activity have been proposed. We have employed data-driven models in conjunction with optogenetic disruptions of neural circuits within memory-guided motor tasks. Our findings revealed a mechanism governed by dynamic attractors, pivotal in sustaining neuronal activity. This mechanism, shaped by time-varying inputs reflecting temporal predictions, is instrumental in regulating the impact of sensory information on the premotor cortex, thereby preserving memory traces from distracting stimuli. We then asked how persistent activity driven by attractor dynamics emerges during motor learning. It has been proposed that activity-dependent synaptic plasticity underpins motor learning, as it can reconfigure network architectures to produce the appropriate neural dynamics for specific behaviors. To verify this hypothesis, we investigated how the mouse premotor cortex acquires specific neural dynamics that govern the planning of movement at different stages of motor learning. We developed network models that replicated the effects of acute manipulations of synaptic plasticity. The models, which display attractor dynamics, also explain flexible behavior after learning has ended. By leveraging the model's predictions, we can formulate testable hypotheses regarding the distinct mechanisms governing movement planning at various stages of the learning process. *About VVTNS : Created as the World Wide Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), its aim is to be a platform to exchange ideas among theoreticians. Speakers have the occasion to talk about theoretical aspects of their work which cannot be discussed in a setting where the majority of the audience consists of experimentalists. The seminars, **held on Wednesdays at 11 am ET,** are 45-50 min long followed by a discussion. The talks are recorded with authorization of the speaker and are available to everybody on our YouTube channel.* ᐧ ᐧ ᐧ ᐧ ᐧ -- "В каждой шутке есть доля шутки" 'Life is good ..' (Carl van Vreeswijk, 1962-2022) --------------------------------------- David Hansel Directeur de Recherche au CNRS Co-Group leader Cerebral Dynamics Plasticity and Learning lab., CNRS 45 rue des Saints Peres 75270 Paris Cedex 06 Tel (Cell): +33 607508403 - Fax (33).1.49.27.90.62 ᐧ

April 28, 2024

[Meetings] [CFP] (3nd Call) Call for Submission: NeuroDesign EXPO in HRI Student Showcase Competition at ICRA 2024 (USD $1800 in cash)

by NeuroDesign in HRI

[Meetings] [CFP] (3nd Call) Call for Submission: NeuroDesign EXPO in HRI Student Showcase Competition at ICRA 2024 (USD $1800 in cash) —------------------------------------------------------------ =============================== Call for Submission =============================== NeuroDesign EXPO in HRI Student Showcase Competition ($1800 USD for your participation) 2nd Workshop on NeuroDesign in Human-Robot Interaction: The making of engaging HRI technology your brain can’t resist IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA 2024) Yokohama, Japan May 17, 2024 https://neurodesign-in-hri.webflow.io/ Dear Colleagues, Are you working on a human-interactive robot project that already has prototypes or some initial research findings? Perhaps you're pondering how to evolve these into more human-centric, real-world applications with a seamless, intuitive "brain"-centered experience, aiming to connect robots more deeply with our bodies, minds, and souls. Worry not! We're excited to announce the NeuroDesign EXPO in HRI Showcase Competition at ICRA 2024, in conjunction with the NeuroDesign in HRI workshop (https://neurodesign-in-hri.webflow.io/) This event will feature a panel of world-renowned experts from diverse fields such as Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cognitive Neuroscience, Social and Behavioral Psychology, Art & Design, RoboEthics, and the Startup community. These professionals will offer live, integrated-perspective feedback and recommendations to help refine your projects into more impactful research and commercial products. We invite students at the BSc, MSc, and PhD levels to submit your projects. Submissions can fall into, but are not limited to, the following categories: - Affective Computing - Social and Service Robot - Industrial Collaborative Robot - Wearable Robot/ Device - Brain-Machine/Computer Interface - Haptics and Tele-operation - Soft Robotics - VR/AR & Metaverse - Cyborg and Bionic System - Healthcare Robotics - Exoskeleton and Rehabilitation Robot - LLM and Foundation Model for Human Robot Interaction - Brain Dynamics and Psychology for Cognitive and Physical HRI (cHRI/pHRI) - Human-Drone/AutoVehicle Interaction - Assistive Technology - Intelligence Augmentation and Human 2.0 Technologies - Supernumerary Limbs - Biometric Information Processing - Pervasive-Ubiquitous/Spatial Computing - Smart Home/Internet of Things (IoTs) - Edge-Fog-Cloud Computing - Speech/Gesture Recognition or Image/Audio Processing - Big Data, AI & Machine Learning for Multimodal Interaction - Smart Tutoring/Chatbot System - RoboEthics - RoboFashion, Clothing and Robot Skin - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) for HRI Technologies Participation Procedure: Our selection process is on a rolling basis, and we aim to choose 10 projects for the final on-stage pitch presentation. We especially encourage those who have already submitted their work as posters or papers to ICRA 2024 or have publications elsewhere to participate in our event. This competition offers a fantastic opportunity to increase the visibility of your research globally. Submission Options: Submissions can be made in one of three formats: 1. A concise 100-word abstract and a 1-2 minute video, offering a brief yet engaging overview. 2. A 100-word abstract accompanied by 5 detailed slides for a short but thorough presentation. 3. A 2-page extended abstract (Please follow IEEE ICRA format: https://ras.papercept.net/conferences/support/word.php) for a more in-depth submission. *4. Participants are also welcome to submit using any combination of the above formats. Final Round and Presentation: The selected 10 projects will each have a 5-minute pitch presentation on stage during the final round. If the final project team is unable to attend in person in Japan, we will provide a Zoom link for virtual presentation. Alternatively, you may submit a polished, pre-recorded 5-minute video presentation, which we will play on stage. Exhibition and Virtual Participation: All submitted projects will receive a dedicated booth for poster and prototype demonstrations. For participants unable to travel to Japan, we will print your posters and display them on the bulletin boards at our venue. The event is designed to be "Hybrid" to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate, regardless of their ability to travel to Japan. A Zoom link will be provided for your virtual participation. Awards: We are thrilled to present two distinguished award categories at the competition. The "Best Innovation in HRI NeuroDesign Award" will be awarded to 3 outstanding projects, as recognized by our panel of speakers and committee members. The *First Prize* will be awarded for USD 1000 USD and the* 2nd Prize* will be awarded 800 hundred for the prototyping. These projects will exemplify groundbreaking innovation within Human-Robot Interaction NeuroDesign. Additionally, the "Most Popular Project in HRI NeuroDesign Award" will be given to 2 projects, for which the First Prize will be awarded for “Full Waiver” for the submission to Journal of Frontiers in Robotics and AI in that capture the hearts of our workshop attendees and audience, determined through a popular vote. Winners in both categories will receive certificates acknowledging their achievements. Timeline: - Submission Deadline: Your entries must be submitted by *May 1, 2024*. Please note that our selection process is rolling, so early submissions are encouraged. - Announcement of Final Project Teams: The teams selected for the final round will be announced on May 3, 2024. - Competition Date: The competition will take place on May 17, 2024, where finalists will present their projects to the panel and attendees. Submission Website: https://forms.gle/fQMxJtkXb8JEU2WR6 If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're looking forward to seeing you at ICRA 2024! Best regards, Organizing Committee 2nd Workshop on NeuroDesign in Human-Robot Interaction: The making of engaging HRI technology your brain can’t resist https://neurodesign-in-hri.webflow.io/

April 28, 2024

Videos posted for AE Spring Summit on Fundamental Challenges for AI (Algorithm Developement)

by Battleday, Ruairidh

------------------------------ Last week we held a Summit on the Fundamental Technical Challenges <http://www.algopreneurship.org/program> for ML/AI Development at the Computer History Museum in Palo Alto (April 15th). The videos are now available free-of-charge at the below link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA59nMLAkDyjuCkh7_6E5QSYv8ZNzXipf&si=mZo… *Keynotes* Professor Jay McClelland (Stanford / DeepMind) Professor Bin Yu (UC Berkeley) Professor Diyi Yang (Stanford) Professor Sergey Levine (UC Berkeley) *Panels* New Landscapes for AI Research New Professional Pathways Challenges for AI in Biomedicine Fundamental Challenges We hope you enjoy! The Thinking About Thinking Team <http://www.thinkingaboutthinking.org> -- Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday BMBCh (Oxon) PhD Postdoctoral Research Fellow Center for Brain Science, Harvard University Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines, MIT

April 28, 2024

Postdoc position available at UChicago

by Jorge Jaramillo

one week left to apply! Dear Comp-Neuro community, https://neuroscience.uchicago.edu/postdoctoral-fellow-computational-neurosc… We are looking for an outstanding applicant to develop large-scale circuit models for decision making within a collaborative consortium that includes the Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics, New York University, and the University of Chicago. This ambitious NIH-funded project requires the creativity and expertise to integrate multimodal data sets (e.g., connectivity, large-scale neural recordings, behavior) into a comprehensive modeling framework. The successful applicant will join Jorge Jaramillo’s Distributed Neural Dynamics and Control Lab at the Grossman Center at the University of Chicago. The Grossman Center Core Faculty | Neuroscience Institute<https://neuroscience.uchicago.edu/grossman-center-core-faculty> Throughout the course of the postdoctoral training, there will be opportunities to visit the other sites in Seattle (Karel Svoboda) and New York (Adam Carter, Xiao-Jing Wang) for additional training and collaboration opportunities. Appointees will join as Grossman Center Postdoctoral Fellows at the University of Chicago and will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and additional opportunities for collaboration with exceptional experimental labs within the Department of Neurobiology, as well as other labs from the departments of Physics, Computer Sciences, and Statistics. The Grossman Center offers competitive postdoctoral salaries in the vibrant and international city of Chicago, and a rich intellectual environment that includes the Argonne National Laboratory and the Data Science Institute. Postdoctoral fellows will also have the possibility to work in additional projects with other Grossman Center faculty members. Application: Please send your application before May 1st 2024 as a single PDF file including: i) a CV with publications highlighted; ii) a motivation letter specifying how you can contribute to large-scale circuit modeling and data analysis based on current and previous work; iii) the contact details of two academic references to jorgejaramillo(a)uchicago.edu<mailto:jorgejaramillo@uchicago.edu>. A doctoral degree and sufficient computational background is required; informal enquiries are welcome. Starting date: The position is available immediately, starting date can be defined via mutual agreement. The University of Chicago is committed to sustaining a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status. Underrepresented minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.

April 26, 2024

Abstracts submission by 17th May for the UK Neural Computation meeting July 8-10th, Sheffield

by Mark Humphries

Abstract submission is open for the UK Neural Computation meeting 2024 (Sheffield 8-10th July) https://neuralcomputation.uk/ A national meeting for everyone interested in the computations of the brain, both experimentally and theoretically Abstracts: https://neuralcomputation.uk/submission.html Deadline of 17th May 2024 4 submitted abstracts will be selected for main meeting talks Registration: https://neuralcomputation.uk/registration.html Deadline of 21st June 2024 Discounted accommodation options also available. 8 July: ECR day. ~40 places are available 9-10 July: main meeting Please spread the word! Enquiries: uknc24(a)sheffield.ac.uk<mailto:uknc24@sheffield.ac.uk> Organisers Hannes Saal (Sheffield) Stuart Wilson (Sheffield) Mark Humphries (Nottingham) This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender and delete the email and attachment. Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham. Email communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored where permitted by law.

April 26, 2024

SAB 2024 Paper Submission Deadline Extended to May 15th

by Jeffrey L Krichmar

Dear Colleagues, Due to many requests, the submission deadline for SAB 2024 has been extended to May 15th! Because of the tight schedule, THERE WILL BE NO MORE EXTENSIONS. From Animals to Animats: 17th International Conference on the Simulation of Adaptive Behavior (SAB 2024) More information can be found at: https://sites.uci.edu/sab2024/ CALL FOR PAPERS - SAB 2024 ------------------------------------------- The Simulation of Adaptive Behavior (SAB) interdisciplinary conference brings together researchers in artificial intelligence, artificial life, computer science, cybernetics, ethology, evolutionary biology, neuroscience, robotics, and many other fields, to further our understanding of the behaviors and underlying mechanisms that allow natural animals and artificial agents to adapt and survive in complex, dynamic and uncertain environments. Animats denote the connection between animals and synthetic agents. The conference focuses on models and experiments designed to help characterize and compare various organizational principles and architectures underlying adaptive behavior in real animals and in animats. SAB 2024 solicits contributions dealing with any aspect of adaptive behavior. We especially invite submissions from researchers who connect biology and natural behavior to synthetic agents. Conference papers are peer-reviewed and accepted papers will be published in “From Animals to Animats 17. SAB 2024.” Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence, Springer Nature. Venue -------- CalIT2 Auditorium University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA 92697 USA Important Dates ——————————— May 15, 2024: Deadline for paper submission May 15, 2024: Deadline for Workshop and tutorial proposals June30, 2024: Notice of acceptance July 15, 2024: Camera-ready papers September 9-12: Conference dates Jeff Krichmar Department of Cognitive Sciences 2328 Social & Behavioral Sciences Gateway University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA 92697-5100 jkrichma(a)uci.edu http://www.socsci.uci.edu/~jkrichma https://sites.uci.edu/sab2024/

April 26, 2024

[Jobs] Available Ph.D. Position at the intersection of AI / Psychology / Human-Robot Interaction

by Amir Aly

Dear All *Apologies for cross-posting* We are pleased to announce an opportunity for a funded PhD studentship (*Delivering Functional Imagery Training via Generative AI To Improve Access to Effective Psychological Interventions for Health*) at Plymouth University, UK. The closing date for applications is *29**th May 2024 (**midnight, UK time) **(**The difference in tuition fees between national and international students will be waived for excellent international candidates**)*. Join our interdisciplinary team to shape the future of mental health care. *AI models like ChatGPT* fundamentally change the landscape for the automated delivery of psychological interventions. These models will likely make it possible to deliver *psychologically-informed treatment* at scale, meeting a substantial unmet need for these services. This project will develop datasets and software to deliver *Functional Imagery Training (FIT)* via mobile devices and, ultimately, via *embodied agents (robots)*. As a person-centred intervention, FIT presents an interesting challenge: the practitioner or AI must tailor responses to the content of what the 'client' says, and guide mental imagery exercises based on that personal content. By building an interdisciplinary team of psychologists and machine learning experts this project will deliver real-world impact with broad implications for mental healthcare. More details *about the topic *and *how to apply* are available at: https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DHA540/phd-studentship-fit-for-all-delivering-fu… <https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DHA540/phd-studentship-fit-for-all-delivering-fu…> PhD Studentship: FIT for All: Delivering Functional Imagery Training via Generative AI To Improve Access to Effective Psychological Interventions for Health at University of Plymouth <https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DHA540/phd-studentship-fit-for-all-delivering-fu…> jobs.ac.uk are now advertising a PhD Studentship: FIT for All: Delivering Functional Imagery Training via Generative AI To Improve Access to Effective Psychological Interventions for Health. Discover exciting PhD opportunities on jobs.ac.uk. www.jobs.ac.uk If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me, Regards ---------------- *Dr. Amir Aly* Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Programme Manager of Artificial Intelligence Center for Robotics and Neural Systems (CRNS) School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics Room A307 Portland Square, Drake Circus, PL4 8AA University of Plymouth, UK ------------------------------ <http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/worldclass>

April 25, 2024

Postdoc in signal processing and cognitive neuroscience with ECOFEC project

by Elif Köksal

*Context.* Epilepsy is a multi-causal neurological disorder affecting more than 50 million of the population worldwide. Epilepsy is known for its clinical manifestations (seizures) and subclinical manifestations (interictal epileptic discharges - IEDs -). Although subclinical*, **IEDs perturb neuroplasticity processes* by altering the physiological activity of cortical networks. *IEDs have long-term adverse effects on developing brain circuits and can cause long-term cognitive deficits in children* that negatively impact their lives as much as seizures do. Yet, one of the most recurrent questions in epilepsy neuro-pediatric clinics is whether IEDs should be treated or not. While research studies have advanced our understanding of the relation between some cognitive impairments and IEDs, their translation to clinical practice is limited due to a lack of *quantification* of the long-term relationship between interictal EEG abnormalities and cognitive functions and the *accessibility* of this information with available techniques. *Objective*. The ECOFEC (Evolution of COgnitive Functions in Epileptic Children) aims to (i) understand how the relation between the electrophysiology and neuropsychological tests evolved over the years in children with epilepsy and (ii) unveil the electrophysiological biomarkers that may lead to a IEDs and cognitive deficits treatment if there are any. *Mission*. Neuropsychological test scores and EEG recordings collected during four years of the patient’s follow up and MRI will be considered as clinical data. Low-resolution EEG analysis enhanced by machine-learning techniques will be considered to detect the biomarkers that can be related to the cognitive dysfunctions. In the first stage of the project, the post-doctoral researcher will focus on resting-state scalp EEG signals to define the intrinsic networks, detect the IEDs and define their spatiotemporal and connectivity features (e.g. IED morphology, frequency, functional connectivity etc.). All the analyses will be done in the source-space after solving the inverse problem on patient-specific anatomical models. In the second stage of the project, the interactions between the intrinsic connectivity networks and IED networks will be studied to capture network-level variations and to define whether there is a relationship between these variations and neuropsychological assessments. *Profile*. The ECOFEC project is at the interface between signal processing (EEG, independent component analysis, and inverse problem), cognitive neuroscience (neuropsychological) and clinics (epilepsy, neuropediatry). The post-doctoral fellow should have a strong background in electrophysiology, EEG analysis and processing, functional connectivity and statistical analysis. Knowledge on machine learning, cognitive neuroscience, and neuroanatomy would be an asset. The post-doc fellow will join a multidisciplinary team including research scientists in biomedical engineering, neurophysiological modeling, bio-physics, signal processing, electrophysiology, neurology, and interact with clinicians. *Contract*. The 1-year contract is supported by the Institute of Clinical Neuroscience of Rennes (INCR, https://www.incr.fr/) starting as soon as suitable candidates are identified. *Location*. The position is located in Signal and Image Processing Labrotory (LTSI, https://ltsi.univ-rennes.fr/) Rennes, France. LTSI is affiliated to INSERM and University of Rennes. *Contact*. Applicants should send a CV and a list of two reference via e-mail to Elif Köksal-Ersöz (elif.koksal-ersoz(a)inserm.fr) and Isabelle Merlet (isabelle.merlet(a)inserm.fr) Please put [ECOFEC post-doc application] in the subject of the mail.

April 25, 2024

FENS satellite symposium "Convergence, Divergence, and Computational Optimization in Neural Circuit Evolution", 23-24 June 2024, Vienna and online

by von Behren, Christina

Dear all, We would like to draw your attention to the upcoming FENS satellite symposium "Convergence, Divergence, and Computational Optimization in Neural Circuit Evolution<https://www.uni-goettingen.de/de/682787.html>" taking place in Vienna and online on June 23-24, 2024. The event is organized by SPP 2205 "Evolutionary Optimization of Neuronal Processing". You are welcome to submit a poster abstract. If you plan to attend the FENS meeting anyway, you can easily go to Vienna a few days earlier... Please register by May 20, 2024. Feel free to spread the news. Best regards, on behalf of the organizers **************** Dr. Britta Korkowsky Coordinator Goettingen Campus Institute for Dynamics of Biological Networks (CIDBN) Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Graduate Program in Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience SPP 2205 Evolutionary Optimization of Neuronal Processing University of Goettingen Heinrich-Düker-Weg 12 37073 Göttingen Tel.: +49-551-39-26675

April 24, 2024

JOB ALERT - Postdoc and research assistant positions in Cambridge

by Flavia Mancini

Dear all, There are two positions available in my group at the University of Cambridge, in the Computational and Biological Learning research unit. 1 Postdoc • 2 years • Modelling neural dynamics involved in statistical/aversive learning and homeostatic/pain regulation • Scope to develop new projects https://www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/46142/ 1 Research Assistant • 1 year, extendible • Behavioral and neuroimaging experiments • To be advertised end April, start date asap More info: fm456(a)cam.ac.uk Many thanks! Best wishes, Flavia Mancini Assistant Professor & MRC Career Development Fellow Nox Lab / Computational Biological Learning Research Group Department of Engineering / University of Cambridge Fellow, Pembroke College

April 24, 2024

[Meetings] [CFP] Call for Submission: NeuroDesign in HRI Student Showcase Competition at ICRA 2024 (USD $1000 in cash)

by NeuroDesign in HRI

[Meetings] [CFP] (2nd Call) Call for Submission: NeuroDesign EXPO in HRI Student Showcase Competition at ICRA 2024 (USD $1000 in cash) —------------------------------------------------------------ =============================== Call for Submission =============================== NeuroDesign EXPO in HRI Student Showcase Competition ($1000 USD for participation) 2nd Workshop on NeuroDesign in Human-Robot Interaction: The making of engaging HRI technology your brain can’t resist IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA 2024) Yokohama, Japan May 17, 2024 https://neurodesign-in-hri.webflow.io/ Dear Colleagues, Are you working on a human-interactive robot project that already has prototypes or some initial research findings? Perhaps you're pondering how to evolve these into more human-centric, real-world applications with a seamless, intuitive "brain"-centered experience, aiming to connect robots more deeply with our bodies, minds, and souls. Worry not! We're excited to announce the NeuroDesign EXPO in HRI Showcase Competition at ICRA 2024, in conjunction with the NeuroDesign in HRI workshop (https://neurodesign-in-hri.webflow.io/) This event will feature a panel of world-renowned experts from diverse fields such as Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cognitive Neuroscience, Social and Behavioral Psychology, Art & Design, RoboEthics, and the Startup community. These professionals will offer live, integrated-perspective feedback and recommendations to help refine your projects into more impactful research and commercial products. We invite students at the BSc, MSc, and PhD levels to submit your projects. Submissions can fall into, but are not limited to, the following categories: - Affective Computing - Social and Service Robot - Industrial Collaborative Robot - Wearable Robot/ Device - Brain-Machine/Computer Interface - Haptics and Tele-operation - Soft Robotics - VR/AR & Metaverse - Cyborg and Bionic System - Healthcare Robotics - Exoskeleton and Rehabilitation Robot - LLM and Foundation Model for Human Robot Interaction - Brain Dynamics and Psychology for Cognitive and Physical HRI (cHRI/pHRI) - Human-Drone/AutoVehicle Interaction - Assistive Technology - Intelligence Augmentation and Human 2.0 Technologies - Supernumerary Limbs - Biometric Information Processing - Pervasive-Ubiquitous/Spatial Computing - Smart Home/Internet of Things (IoTs) - Edge-Fog-Cloud Computing - Speech/Gesture Recognition or Image/Audio Processing - Big Data, AI & Machine Learning for Multimodal Interaction - Smart Tutoring/Chatbot System - RoboEthics - RoboFashion, Clothing and Robot Skin - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) for HRI Technologies Participation Procedure: Our selection process is on a rolling basis, and we aim to choose 10 projects for the final on-stage pitch presentation. We especially encourage those who have already submitted their work as posters or papers to ICRA 2024 or have publications elsewhere to participate in our event. This competition offers a fantastic opportunity to increase the visibility of your research globally. Submission Options: Submissions can be made in one of three formats: 1. A concise 100-word abstract and a 1-2 minute video, offering a brief yet engaging overview. 2. A 100-word abstract accompanied by 5 detailed slides for a short but thorough presentation. 3. A 2-page extended abstract (Please follow IEEE ICRA format: https://ras.papercept.net/conferences/support/word.php) for a more in-depth submission. *4. Participants are also welcome to submit using any combination of the above formats. Final Round and Presentation: The selected 10 projects will each have a 5-minute pitch presentation on stage during the final round. If the final project team is unable to attend in person in Japan, we will provide a Zoom link for virtual presentation. Alternatively, you may submit a polished, pre-recorded 5-minute video presentation, which we will play on stage. Exhibition and Virtual Participation: All submitted projects will receive a dedicated booth for poster and prototype demonstrations. For participants unable to travel to Japan, we will print your posters and display them on the bulletin boards at our venue. The event is designed to be "Hybrid" to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate, regardless of their ability to travel to Japan. A Zoom link will be provided for your virtual participation. Awards: We are thrilled to present two distinguished award categories at the competition. The "Best Innovation in HRI NeuroDesign Award" will be awarded to 3 outstanding projects, as recognized by our panel of speakers and committee members. The *First Prize* will be awarded for USD 1000 USD and the* 2nd Prize* will be awarded 800 hundred for the prototyping. These projects will exemplify groundbreaking innovation within Human-Robot Interaction NeuroDesign. Additionally, the "Most Popular Project in HRI NeuroDesign Award" will be given to 2 projects, for which the First Prize will be awarded for “Full Waiver” for the submission to Journal of Frontiers in Robotics and AI in that capture the hearts of our workshop attendees and audience, determined through a popular vote. Winners in both categories will receive certificates acknowledging their achievements. Timeline: - Submission Deadline: Your entries must be submitted by April 27, 2024. Please note that our selection process is rolling, so early submissions are encouraged. - Announcement of Final Project Teams: The teams selected for the final round will be announced on May 1, 2024. - Competition Date: The competition will take place on May 17, 2024, where finalists will present their projects to the panel and attendees. Submission Website: https://forms.gle/fQMxJtkXb8JEU2WR6 If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're looking forward to seeing you at ICRA 2024! Best regards, Organizing Committee 2nd Workshop on NeuroDesign in Human-Robot Interaction: The making of engaging HRI technology your brain can’t resist https://neurodesign-in-hri.webflow.io/

April 23, 2024

NEXTEN Conference deadline May 1st

by Goodhill, Geoffrey

NEXTEN: Envisaging Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience for the next 10 years May 16-17, 2024, Washington University in St Louis Full program now available: https://nexten.wustl.edu/program Final registration deadline is May 1st (or earlier if capacity is reached). Theoretical/Computational Neuroscience is currently undergoing a phase of unprecedented growth. Dramatic advances in the ease with which large-scale datasets of behavior, neural activity, connectomic and gene expression information can be collected have coincided with a revolution in the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence-based algorithms to interrogate such datasets. Concurrently, these new datasets are inspiring exciting new developments in mathematical tools for extracting their underlying structure and relationships. What is the current state of the art in our theoretical/computational understanding of the brain, and what does the future hold? You are invited to join an exciting line-up of leaders in the field to address these questions. Confirmed speakers include Mackenzie Mathis (EPFL) Terry Sejnowski (Salk Institute) Andreas Tolias (Baylor College of Medicine) Richard Zemel (Columbia University) ShiNung Ching (WashU) Naoki Hiratani (WashU) Adam Kepecs (WashU) Barani Raman (WashU) Gaia Tavoni (WashU) Please direct any questions to ctcn(a)wustl.edu Professor Geoffrey J Goodhill Departments of Developmental Biology and Neuroscience Director, Center for Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience (ctcn.wustl.edu) Washington University School of Medicine 4370 Duncan Ave. St Louis, MO 63110 g.goodhill(a)wustl.edu https://neuroscience.wustl.edu/people/geoffrey-goodhill-phd

April 22, 2024

Fully-funded PhD in machine-learning for analysing subject's decisions - July start (Nottingham, UK)

by Mark Humphries

A fully-funded PhD is immediately available with Dr Silvia Maggi and Professor Mark Humphries (University of Nottingham) and Dr Hazem Toutonji (University of Sheffield). Decision-making happens in dynamic environments. Understanding how subjects respond to such a fast-changing world requires approaches that can track subject's choice strategies at the resolution of single trials. We recently published a Bayesian inference algorithm (Maggi et al., 2024, eLife<https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.86491>) that enables trial-resolution tracking of learning and exploration during decision-making. This project will build on this work to solve crucial problems of determining which of a set of behavioural strategies a subject is using and how to incorporate evidence uncertainty into its detection of the learning of strategies and transitions between them. Using the extended algorithm on datasets of rodents and humans performing decision tasks will let us test a range of hypotheses for how correct decisions are learnt and what innate strategies are used. Studentship is for "Home" students<https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/eligibility-for-home-fee-status-and-st…> only Application deadline: May 30th 2024 PhD start date: July 1st 2024 Please send all queries to Silvia (silvia.maggi(a)nottingham.ac.uk) or Mark (mark.humphries(a)nottingham.ac.uk) Full details and how to apply here: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/psychology/study-with-us/phd-by-research/schoo… Professor Mark Humphries | Professor of Computational Neuroscience Lab: humphries-lab.org<https://www.humphries-lab.org/> Twitter: @markdhumphries Public blog: https://medium.com/the-spike Book: "The Spike: An Epic Journey Through the Brain in 2.1 Seconds" (Princeton UP) out now in paperback: https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691241487/the-spike This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender and delete the email and attachment. Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham. Email communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored where permitted by law.

April 22, 2024

HNN Virtual Workshop, May 8th – Limited Places Available

by Paolo Lenotti

Hi all, We would like to invite you to a virtual workshop on the Human Neocortical Neurosolver (HNN) <https://cgR8v04.na1.hs-sales-engage.com/Ctc/OM+23284/cgR8v04/JkM4YGXpW6N1X8…>, jointly organized by the Stephanie Jones Lab and MetaCell, scheduled for May 8th. The workshop is aimed at researchers and clinicians with an interest in neuroscience but without formal computational modeling or coding experience. It will offer a detailed exploration of HNN, a tool designed to interpret the neural origins of human MEG/EEG data. *Workshop Highlights:* - Comprehensive Overview: The workshop will begin with a didactic presentation on the background and development of HNN, providing a foundation for its application in neuroscience research. - Practical Application: Participants will learn how to utilize the HNN graphical user interface (GUI) to investigate the circuit origins of commonly measured signals, including event-related potentials (ERPs) and low-frequency brain rhythms. - Advanced Interface Training: Discover how to use the HNN-core Python interface. *Registration Information:* The workshop will take place online on Wednesday, May 8th from 9am to noon ET. The number of participants will be limited to ensure a productive learning environment. Given the specialized nature of this workshop, we anticipate high interest. To secure your participation, we recommend signing up as soon as possible. A registration fee of $25.00 is required to help us cover the costs of organizing the event. Register here >> <https://cgR8v04.na1.hs-sales-engage.com/Ctc/OM+23284/cgR8v04/JkM4YGXpW6N1X8…> *About the Workshop Content:* MEG/EEG signals are critical to our understanding of both healthy and pathological brain functions, but interpreting these signals at the cellular and circuit levels remains challenging. The HNN software was developed to address this challenge, providing both a graphical and a programmable Python interface to an anatomically detailed model of neocortical circuits. The workshop will offer practical tutorials to guide participants through the process of using HNN to explore the origins of sensory ERPs and low-frequency brain rhythms. We look forward to your participation in this workshop, which promises to be an enriching experience for those looking to enhance their skills in computational neuroscience and the interpretation of MEG/EEG data. Click here to find out more and save your place >> <https://cgR8v04.na1.hs-sales-engage.com/Ctc/OM+23284/cgR8v04/JkM4YGXpW6N1X8…> Best regards, Paolo Lenotti on behalf of MetaCell & the Stephanie Jones Lab -- *Paolo Lenotti* www.MetaCell.us <http://www.metacell.us/> +44 (0)7450 948685 Boston, MA | Oxford, UK | Cagliari, ITA

April 19, 2024

[Arabs in Neuroscience] Introduction to Computational Neuroscience online summer school 2024

by Mohamed Abdelhack

Arabs in Neuroscience is pleased to announce the third iteration of the Introduction to computational neuroscience summer school in 2024. The school is dedicated to fill the interdisciplinary gap in many education systems by gathering students from biological and computational backgrounds and introducing topics essential for computational neuroscientists such as python programming, neurobiology, calculus, statistics and linear algebra. The school is also dedicated to cater to non-native English speakers in the Arabic-speaking countries which is why the language of instruction is in Arabic. The school is supported by the generous funding from Simons Foundation. Details: School dates: August 11-30 2024 Application deadline: May 7, 2024 We are currently opening the applications for students and teaching assistants. Please apply and also share it with your network. More information and application here: https://www.arabsinneuro.org/school/ Also, if you support our mission of democratizing science and education, please consider donating to Arabs in Neuroscience: https://www.arabsinneuro.org/donate/ Best regards,Mohamed Abdelhack

April 18, 2024

Call for Abstracts for the Bernstein Conference 2024

by Alexander Lammers

Call for Abstracts for the Bernstein Conference 2024 in Frankfurt am Main +++ The Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience invites proposals for contributed talks and poster presentations of the Bernstein Conference 2024 in Frankfurt am Main. +++ ____ Each year the Bernstein Network invites the international computational neuroscience community to the annual Bernstein Conference for intensive scientific exchange. It has established itself as one of the most renowned conferences worldwide in this field, attracting students, postdocs, and PIs from around the world to meet and discuss new scientific discoveries. www.bernstein-conference.de<http://www.bernstein-conference.de> ____ IMPORTANT DATES * Bernstein Conference: September 29 – October 2, 2024 * Deadline for contributed talk abstract submission: June 5, 2024, 15:00 CEST * Deadline for travel grant applications: June 12, 2024, 15:00 CEST * Deadline for poster abstract submission: July 10, 2024, 15:00 CEST ____ ABSTRACTS We invite the computational neuroscience community to submit their abstracts: Submitted abstracts can either be considered as contributed talks or posters. All accepted abstracts will be published online and will be citable via Digital Object Identifiers (DOI). Further information can be found here: https://bernstein-network.de/bernstein-conference/abstract-submission/ ____ TRAVEL GRANTS To support the participation of young researchers at the Bernstein Conference, the Bernstein Network offers up to 10 Travel Grants, each endowed with 500 €. Further information can be found here: https://bernstein-network.de/bernstein-conference/early-career-scientists/t… ____ INVITED SPEAKERS Dmitriy Aronov (Columbia University, USA) Alison Barker (Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Germany) Helen Barron (University of Oxford, UK) Elizabeth Buffalo (University of Washington, USA) Alex Cayco Gajic (Ecole Normale Supérieure, France) Jan Drugowitsch (Harvard University, USA) Jakob Macke (University of Tübingen, Germany) Tirin Moore (Stanford University, USA) Mala Murthy (Princeton University, USA) Memming Park (Champalimaud Foundation, Portugal) Xiao-Jing Wang (New York University, USA) ____ CONFERENCE COMMITTEE Matthias Kaschube (Conference Chair) Srdjan Ostojic (Program Chair) Tatiana Engel (Program Vice Chair) Maria Eckstein (Workshop Chair) Wiktor Młynarski (Workshop Vice Chair) & Athena Akrami, Mehrdad Jazayeri, Jennifer Li, Scott Linderman, Ashok Litwin-Kumar, Ida Momennejad, Christina Savin, Andrew Saxe, Daniela Vallentin, Friedemann Zenke. ____ For any further questions, please contact: bernstein.conference(a)fz-juelich.de<mailto:bernstein.conference@fz-juelich.de> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52425 Jülich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Jülich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Düren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Stefan Müller Geschäftsführung: Prof. Dr. Astrid Lambrecht (Vorsitzende), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Dr. Ir. Pieter Jansens ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 18, 2024

Postdoc with human EMG experience

by Harel, Noam

We are looking for a new postdoc with some experience with human surface EMG, neuromodulation, and motor function. Our lab in New York City focuses on improving lives for people with spinal cord injury and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Please check our website: https://labs.icahn.mssm.edu/harellab/ Expected starting salary $75-80k. Also, please be on the lookout for potentials when you attend upcoming meetings, and feel free to forward this email to other labs/people. Thanks, Noam Harel Noam Y. Harel, MD, PhD Staff Physician James J. Peters VA Medical Center Associate Professor Departments of Neurology and Rehabilitation & Human Performance Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai 718-584-9000 x1742 718-741-4675 (fax) Pronouns: he, him, his https://labs.icahn.mssm.edu/harellab/

April 17, 2024

FLUX workshop -- deadline extended

by Qiaoyu Chen

Toolkit in Using the FLUX Pipeline for MEG Research Join us for an immersive learning experience using the FLUX pipeline for MEG data analysis Toolkit at the Centre for Human Brain Health at the University of Birmingham from 11th -14th June 2024. The FLUX pipeline<https://www.neuosc.com/single-project>, is an approach for analysing Magnetoencephalography (MEG) data using state-of-of-the art approaches and standards. Whether you are a newcomer to research using MEG or a healthcare professional integrating MEG into clinical practice, this course is designed to elevate your skills and advance your research capabilities. · Gain practical skills: Learn to streamline data preprocessing, event-related field spectral analysis, source modelling, multi-variate pattern analysis and reporting using the FLUX pipeline. This pipeline is based on the widely used MNE-Python toolbox. · Enhance research practices: Learn the embraces practices for data curation (BIDS), reproducible research, open science, and standardized reporting empowering you to publish reliable and transparent findings. · Cognitive Neuroscience and Clinical research: Learn how the FLUX pipeline is used in our MEG research projects. · Engage in interactive learning: Connect with world-leading experts and fellow attendees in discussions, exercises, and networking opportunities, fostering valuable collaborations and knowledge exchange. Application (pre-registration) deadline: 20th April 2024, 11:59 pm (GMT) Join us at the Centre for Human Brain Health for the FLUX toolkit course<https://www.neuosc.com/flux-toolkit>! For pre-registration, please visit https://www.neuosc.com/pre-registration. Contact us at q.chen.5(a)bham.ac.uk<mailto:q.chen.5@bham.ac.uk> for further details. Best regards, the Organizing Committee

April 17, 2024

Postdoctoral and graduate student opportunities - Resilience and diversity of complex biological networks - Lefebvre lab at uOttawa

by J?r?mie Lefebvre

Postdoctoral and graduate student opportunities - Resilience and diversity of complex biological networks - University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada Application Deadline: May 1st 2024 The Lefebvre<https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-science/professors/jeremie-lefebvre> and Kharouba<https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-science/professors/heather-kharouba> labs are seeking candidates to fill ONE Postdoctoral and ONE PhD (Theoretical Biology, Physics) fully funded positions to explore how resilience and heterogeneity influences the dynamics of complex biological networks. These interdisciplinary projects will combine mathematical (e.g., dynamical systems, spectral theory), computational (e.g., data-informed simulations) approaches used in neuroscience and other complex systems fields to study how diversity contributes to the stability and resilience of brain function(s). The overall objective of the projects is to better understand the role played by heterogeneity in the genesis of critical events (e.g., seizures) and identify potential intervention strategies. The successful candidate will join the Lefebvre and Kharouba labs in the Departments of Biology and Physics at the University of Ottawa, as well as an extensive network of existing experimental and clinical collaborations with both internal and external groups. The research will be conducted in the uOttawa Bioscience Complex, a teaching and research hub hosting dozens of state-of-the-art experimental and computational interdisciplinary research facilities in downtown Ottawa, Canada. Successful candidates will be immersed in a highly interdisciplinary environment, with access to many additional training and networking activities, and be associated with Centre for Neural Dynamics, the Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology, the uOttawa Brain and Mind Institute as well as the Krembil Brain Institute. Details Postdoctoral position: as early as July 1st 2024 PhD position: September 1st 2024. Position Description: Trainees will be expected to work in-person for most of the position. Trainees will be expected to participate in the lab's scholarly activities (i.e., workshops, meetings), and to support other lab member's work whenever applicable. We expect from applicants to demonstrate the ability to work respectfully with others in teams to carry out project goals and contribute to an inclusive lab environment. Additional details of the projects will be provided during the interview process. Please don't hesitate to reach out at Jeremie.Lefebvre [at] uottawa.ca for any questions. Requirements The ideal candidates are expected to possess strong mathematical, computing, writing and presentation skills, and express a vivid interest in computational neuroscience, applied mathematics, computational biology and biophysics. Applicants must meet the required qualifications for admission to graduate/postgraduate studies at the University of Ottawa, and comply to international regulations regarding traveling, studying and working in Canada whenever applicable. Successful candidates must be eligible to work in Ontario as of July 1st 2024 (or at a mutually agreed date) Funding Postdoctoral position: This position is fully funded for 2 years (July. 2024 - June. 2026, or mutually agreed date) with a stipend of $48,000 CAD per year plus benefits. PhD position: This position is fully funded for 4 years (Sept. 2024 - Aug. 2028) with a stipend of $30,000 CAD per year, including teaching assistantship duties. The successful candidate will be eligible to apply for Teaching Assistant (TA) positions and/or other scholarships, such as entrance scholarships. Accommodations and Accessibility: Should you require a copy of this posting in an alternate format, please contact us as soon as possible and we would be happy to get one to you in a timely manner. We believe in the importance of supporting on the-job success for the incumbent and are pleased to discuss and/or provide specific tools, resources, or other requirements for day-to-day work requirements, as needed. How to Apply :Interested candidates are invited to submit their application by May 1st 2024 to Jeremie.Lefebvre[at]uottawa.ca, using the subject "Resilience position". In your dossier, please include: 1. A cover letter stating your interest and explaining why you are a good candidate for this position, and specify clearly which position (Postdoc, PhD) you are applying for 2. up to date CV including a list of publication, if applicable 3. Contact information for 2 references Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Jeremie Lefebvre

April 16, 2024

NEST Conference 2024 - Extension of abstract submission deadline

by Hans Ekkehard Plesser

Dear all, The abstract submission deadline for the NEST Conference 2024 has been extended to 30 April. We are looking forward to your contributions! The NEST Conference provides an opportunity for the NEST Community to meet, exchange success stories, swap advice, learn about current developments in and around NEST spiking network simulation and its application. This year's conference will again take place as a virtual conference on Monday/Tuesday 17/18 June 2024. We are inviting contributions to the conference, including talks, "posters" and workshops on specific topics. For more information on how to submit your contribution, register and participate, please visit the conference website https://nest-simulator.org/conference Important dates 26 April 2024 - Deadline for NEST Initiative membership applications eligible for fee reduction 30 April 2024 - Extended deadline for submission of contributions 08 May 2024 - Notification of acceptance 07 June 2024 - Registration deadline 17 June 2024 - NEST Conference 2024 starts We are looking forward to seeing you all in June! Hans Ekkehard Plesser and the conference organizing committee -- Prof. Dr. Hans Ekkehard Plesser Department of Data Science Faculty of Science and Technology Norwegian University of Life Sciences PO Box 5003, 1432 Aas, Norway Phone +47 6723 1560 Email hans.ekkehard.plesser(a)nmbu.no<mailto:hans.ekkehard.plesser@nmbu.no> Home http://arken.nmbu.no/~plesser

April 16, 2024

Phd and Postdoc positions on computational neuroscience in Peking University

by Guozhang Chen

In school of computer science, Peking University, we are inviting applications for a few PhD and PostDoc positions focusing on the exciting intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence. The selected candidate will collaborate with our team to reverse-engineer the brain (cortical and subcortical structures) in multi-scale, data-based models, exploring its working mechanisms, dynamics, and learning capabilities with respect to generalization. Please refer ifgovh.github.io for more details. This research will build upon foundational work such as: - Chen, Guozhang, Franz Scherr, and Wolfgang Maass. "[Data-based large-scale models provide a window into the organization of cortical computations](https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.04.28.538662v3.a…." bioRxiv (2023): 2023-04. - Chen, Guozhang, Franz Scherr, and Wolfgang Maass. "[A data-based large-scale model for primary visual cortex enables brain-like robust and versatile visual processing](https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/sciadv.abq7592)." Science Advances 8.44 (2022): eabq7592. - Chen, Guozhang, and Pulin Gong. "[A spatiotemporal mechanism of visual attention: Superdiffusive motion and theta oscillations of neural population activity patterns.](https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/sciadv.abl4995)" Science Advances 8.16 (2022): eabl4995. - Chen, Guozhang, and Pulin Gong. "[Computing by modulating spontaneous cortical activity patterns as a mechanism of active visual processing.](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-12918-8)" Nature communications 10.1 (2019): 4915. In addition, depending on the interest, candidates will engage in the development of brain-inspired architectures and algorithms for AI, as well as for highly energy-efficient neuromorphic hardware. ## Qualifications - A strong motivation for understanding "how the brain works". - A strong background in computer science, computational neuroscience, physics, robotics, or related fields. - Proficient skills in mathematics/theory and programming. - An excellent academic record, demonstrated research potential. - Intermediate to advanced English reading, communicating and writing skills. ## How to Apply Interested candidates should submit the following: - A detailed CV. - A brief personal statement (explaining your movtivation and plan). - Academic transcripts. - Names of referees. - Links to thesis, publications, and any other relevant documents. Please send your application with a tile "phd position application" or "postdoc position application" to: guozhang.chen [at] pku.edu.cn -- Regards, Guozhang

April 16, 2024

Postdoc/Junior researcher positions in Computational Neuroscience within the BRADY project

by Jaroslav Hlinka

*Postdoc/Junior researcher positions in Computational Neuroscience within the BRADY project* Several postdoctoral positions are available in the *Complex Networks and Brain Dynamics group (COBRA) at the Institute of Computer Science, Prague (Czech Republic)*. These positions are part of a larger, interdisciplinary consortium that was recently recommended for funding (OPJAK BRADY). The project topics include: *Topic 1*: Detailed biophysical modelling of neurotransmitter action (supervised by Pavel Sanda). *Topic 2*: Computationally efficient mean-field models of cortical microcircuits (supervised by Helmut Schmidt). *Topic 3*: Whole-brain dynamics with applications particularly to schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease (supervised by Gustavo Deco). *Topic 4*: Data-driven model inversion and personalized parameter identification (supervised by Nikola Jajcay). *Topic 5*: Modelling interventions into arousal dynamics (supervised by Jaroslav Hlinka). Other related topics may be considered based on their fit to the overall project. Further information can be found here: https://cobra.cs.cas.cz/brady. 1. Conditions * Positions are available immediately. * Contract is for 12-36 months duration. * Possibility of extension until end of project (30.6.2028), support for transition to tenure-track or external funding applications. * Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, until the positions are filled. * This is a full-time fixed term contract appointment. Part time contract negotiable. * Competitive monthly gross salary: 50 000 - 66 000 CZK based on qualifications and experience (net salary approx. 40 000 - 52 000 CZK). _Cost Of Living Comparison <http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/comparison.jsp>_ * Bonuses and travel funding for conferences and research stays depending on performance. * No teaching duties. * Applicants should: 1. Hold a PhD; up to 7 years from PhD defense at the start of employment. 2. Have a strong background in the fields related to computational neuroscience - mathematical, statistical skills, experience with data analysis, machine learning, computer programming (the exact combination depends on the particular topic, see above). 3. Be fluent in English. * *We seek curious, self-motivated, hard-working, team-spirited researchers.* * *Prior experience with time series and network analysis is advantageous, but not required. * * The applications are to be sent to bradyadmin(a)cs.cas.cz <mailto:bradyadmin@cs.cas.cz>and should contain: 1. Curriculum Vitae. 2. Two letters of recommendation. The referees should send their recommendations directly to bradyadmin(a)cs.cas.cz. 3. A proof of the obtained degree. 4. Mention the *Ref. No. 2024/4*. *Do not hesitate to contact the project Scientific Coordinator for informal inquiries: Ing. Mgr. Jaroslav Hlinka, Ph.D. hlinka[at]cs.cas.cz, http://www.cs.cas.cz/hlinka/. * -- Jaroslav Hlinka Head of the Department of Complex Systems Institute of Computer Science Czech Academy of Sciences Pod Vodarenskou vezi 2 Prague 8, 182 00, Czech Republic Tel: (+420) 26605 3808 E-mail: hlinka(a)cs.cas.cz Web: http://www.cs.cas.cz/hlinka/ Complex Networks and Brain Dynamics Group (COBRA): http://cobra.cs.cas.cz

April 15, 2024

ERRATUM: EITN Fall School in Computational Neuroscience 2024: Applications are now open!

by DEPANNEMAECKER Damien

Erratum: Due to technical issue the email address previously announced is not working, please send your application at: eitnfs2024(a)protonmail.ch EITN Fall School in Computational Neuroscience 2024 <https://eitnschool2022.sciencesconf.org/> Marseille, 16-25 October 2024 The EITN Fall School in Computational Neuroscience consists of a 10-day course in theoretical and computational neuroscience, from cellular to whole-brain levels. The course is structured in thematic days with lectures, tutorials, and project work. The course is typically aimed at PhD students, young postdocs, or master students interested to learn more about techniques of computational neuroscience, and the use of various simulation environments for model building. The students will form thematic groups to work on predefined subjects, with the help of tutors. The course will cover cellular models, models of brain signals, circuit models and networks, mean-field models, and whole-brain models. There will be lectures and tutorials associated with these topics. Why join? 10 days of intensive training in computational neuroscience provided by researchers from all over Europe. A complete program: • Cellular models, and models of brain signals • Circuit models and networks • Mean-field models • Whole-brain models Hands-on learning schedule based on: • Morning classes and tutorials • Group projects in the afternoon • Free time in the evenings and on Sunday to visit Marseille How to apply? This training has a limited capacity of 28 students, therefore a selection will be performed by a scientific organizing committee. Applications are open until 09 June 2024. Application: a one-page CV, a motivation letter to explain why you would like to attend this course, and a recommendation letter. The file names must start with your name (e.g., NAME_CV.pdf, etc....). Send your application by email at eitnfs2024(a)protonmail.ch You will receive a confirmation your application has been received within 5 working days (or on the day the application period closes (whichever comes the soonest). If not, please consider a technical issue and submit your application again. Contact <mailto:eitnfs2024@groups.emdesk.com> eitnfs2024(a)protonmail.ch for any questions or assistance. This training is designed to be attended in person in Marseille. It will not be recorded nor accessible remotely. Organizers: Damien Depannemaecker (AMU), Alain Destexhe (CNRS), Viktor Jirsa (AMU) Preliminary list of Speakers: Viktor Jirsa (AMU, Marseille France)` Alain Destexhe (NeuroPSI, Paris, France) Egidio D’Angelo (University of Pavia, Italie) Michele Migliore (National Research Council, Palerme, Italie) Andrea Brovelli (AMU, Marseille France) Matthieu Gilson (AMU, Marseille France) Marja-Leena Linne (Tempere University, Finlande) Spase Petkoski (AMU, Marseille France) Damien Depannemaecker (AMU, Marseille France) Huifang Wang (AMU, Marseille France) .... ________________________________

April 15, 2024

Share Your Expertise: Submit Your Work at COMPLEX NETWORKS 2024 in Istanbul

by Hocine Cherifi

13 *th **International Conference on Complex Networks & Their Applications* Istanbul, Turkey December 10 - 12, 2024 COMPLEX NETWORKS 2024 <https://complexnetworks.org/> You are cordially invited to submit your contribution until *September 03, 2024*. *SPEAKERS* · Federico Battiston <https://people.ceu.edu/federico_battiston> Central European University, Austria · Tina Eliassi-Rad <https://www.khoury.northeastern.edu/people/tina-eliassi-rad/> Northeastern University, USA · Frank Emmert-Streib <https://www.tuni.fi/en/frank-emmert-streib> Tampere University, Finland · Filippo Menczer <https://cnets.indiana.edu/fil/> Indiana University, USA · Luciano Pietronero <http://www.lucianopietronero.it/> University of Rome, Italy *TUTORIALS (December 09, 2024)* · Alessandro Galeazzi <https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=DK0tXAIAAAAJ&hl=en> University of Padova, Italy · Clara Stegehuis <https://www.clarastegehuis.nl/> Twente University, The Netherlands *PUBLICATION* Full papers (not previously published up to 12 pages) and Extended Abstracts (about published or unpublished research up to 4 pages) are welcome. · *Papers *will be included in the conference *proceedings edited by Springer* · *Extended abstracts* will be published in the *Book of Abstracts (with ISBN)* Extended versions will be invited for publication in *special issues of international journals:* o PLOS Complex Systems <https://journals.plos.org/complexsystems/> edited by PLOS <https://plos.org/>. o PLOS <https://journals.plos.org/plosone/> One <https://journals.plos.org/plosone/> edited by PLOS <https://plos.org/> o Applied Network Science <https://appliednetsci.springeropen.com/> edited by Springer Nature <https://www.springernature.com/gp> o Social Network Analysis and Mining <https://link.springer.com/journal/13278> edited by Springer Nature <https://www.springernature.com/gp> o Entropy <https://www.mdpi.com/journal/entropy> edited by MDPI <https://www.mdpi.com/> o Advances in Complex Systems <https://www.worldscientific.com/toc/acs/24/02> edited by World Scientific o Complex Systems Journal <https://www.complex-systems.com/> *SUBMISSION:* *https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/COMPLEXNETWORKS2024/* <https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/COMPLEXNETWORKS2024/> *TOPICS* *Topics include, but are not limited to: * o Models of Complex Networks o Structural Network Properties and Analysis o Complex Networks and Epidemics o Community Structure in Networks o Community Discovery in Complex Networks o Motif Discovery in Complex Networks o Network Mining o Network embedding methods o Machine learning with graphs o Dynamics and Evolution Patterns of Complex Networks o Link Prediction o Multilayer Networks o Network Controllability o Synchronization in Networks o Visual Representation of Complex Networks o Large-scale Graph Analytics o Social Reputation, Influence, and Trust o Information Spreading in Social Media o Rumour and Viral Marketing in Social Networks o Recommendation Systems and Complex Networks o Financial and Economic Networks o Complex Networks and Mobility o Biological and Technological Networks o Mobile call Networks o Bioinformatics and Earth Sciences Applications o Resilience and Robustness of Complex Networks o Complex Networks for Physical Infrastructures o Complex Networks, Smart Cities and Smart Grids o Political networks o Supply chain networks o Complex networks and information systems o Complex networks and CPS/IoT o Graph signal processing o Cognitive Network Science o Network Medicine o Network Neuroscience o Quantifying success through network analysis o Temporal and spatial networks o Historical Networks *GENERAL CHAIRS* Hocine Cherifi (University of Burgundy, France) Murat Donduran (Yildiz Technical University, Turkey) Luis M. Rocha (Binghamton University, USA) *PROGRAM CHAIRS* Chantal Cherifi (University of Lyon, France) Onur Varol (Sabanci University, Turkey) Join us at COMPLEX NETWORKS 2024 <https://www.complexnetworks.org/> *-------------------------* Hocine CHERIFI University of Burgundy Franche-Comté Laboratoire* I*nterdisciplinaire *C*arnot de *B*ourgogne - ICB UMR 6303 CNRS Editor in Chief Plos Complex Systems <https://plos.org/complex-systems-research-journal/#:~:text=PLOS%20Complex%2….> Founding & Adisory Editor Applied Network Science <https://appliednetsci.springeropen.com/> Editorial Board member PLOS One <https://journals.plos.org/plosone/>, IEEE ACCESS <https://ieeeaccess.ieee.org/?http%3A%2F%2Fieeeaccess_ieee_org%2F>, Scientific Reports <https://www.nature.com/srep/>, Journal of Imaging <https://www.mdpi.com/journal/jimaging>, Quality and Quantity <https://www.springer.com/journal/11135/>, Computational Social Networks <https://computationalsocialnetworks.springeropen.com/>, Complex Systems <https://www.complex-systems.com/>

April 15, 2024

LOD 2024 1st Call for papers: 10th International Conference on Learning, Optimization and Data - LOD 2024, 22-25 September, Riva del Sole Resort & SPA, Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) Tuscany, Italy -> Submission Deadline: April 23

by Giuseppe Nicosia

Dear Colleague, Apologies if you receive multiple copies of this announcement. Please kindly help forward it to potentially interested authors/attendees, thanks. -- The 10th International Conference on Learning, Optimization and Data - LOD 2024, 22-25 September, Riva del Sole Resort & SPA, Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) Tuscany, Italy LOD 2024, An Interdisciplinary Conference: Deep Learning, Foundation Models & Artificial Intelligence without Borders https://lod2024.icas.events/ lod(a)icas.cc SATELLITE EVENTS: 2nd International Meeting on Foundation Models - IMFM2024 https://lod2024.icas.events/imfm2024/ 1st Workshop AI in Life Sciences - WAILS2024 https://lod2024.icas.events/wails2024/ 24 TRACKS: https://lod2024.icas.events/tracks/ PAPERS SUBMISSION: All papers must be submitted using EasyChair: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=lod2024 *Paper Submission deadline: April 23 (Anywhere on Earth)* CALL FOR PAPERS: https://lod2024.icas.events/call-for-papers/ Please prepare your paper using the Springer Nature - Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS) template. Papers must be submitted in PDF. TYPES OF SUBMISSIONS: When submitting a paper to LOD 2024, authors are required to select one of the following three types of papers: * long paper / Late breaking paper: original novel and unpublished work (min. 12 pages, max. 15 pages in Springer LNCS format); the long papers and the late breaking papers, if accepted, will be published in the Springer-Nature LNCS conference proceedings; * short paper: an extended abstract of novel work (min. 6 pages, max. 11 pages in Springer LNCS format); the short papers, if accepted, will be published in the Springer-Nature LNCS conference proceedings; * work for oral presentation only (no page restriction; any format). For example, work already published elsewhere, which is relevant, and which may solicit fruitful discussion at the conference; LOD 2024 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: Vivek Natarajan, Google Health AI, San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA "How LLMs might accelerate biomedical discovery and help scale world class healthcare to everyone" Johannes Schmidt-Hieber, University of Twente, The Netherlands "Towards a statistical foundation for machine learning methods" Michal Valko, Google DeepMind Paris, INRIA & École Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay, France "Fine Tuning Large Language Models & Gemini" https://lod2024.icas.events/keynote/ PAST LOD KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: https://lod2023.icas.cc/past-keynote-speakers/ BEST PAPER AWARD: Springer sponsors the LOD 2024 Best Paper Award with a cash prize of 1,000 Euro. https://lod2024.icas.events/best-paper-award/ PROGRAM COMMITTEE: 150+ confirmed PC members! https://lod2024.icas.events/program-committee/ VENUE: https://lod2024.icas.events/venue/ The venue of LOD 2024 will be Riva del Sole Resort & SPA, Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) Tuscany - Italy. LOD 2024 is a Residential Conference, all participants (invited speakers, authors, organizers, chairs, participants) must book and stay at the Riva del Sole Resort and Spa. No exceptions are allowed. https://lod2024.icas.events/lod-2024-a-residential-conference/ Riva del Sole Resort & SPA a: Località Riva del Sole - Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto, CAP 58043‚ Tuscany - Italy p: +39-0564-928111 f: +39-0564-935607 e: booking.events(a)rivadelsole.it w: www.rivadelsole.it/en ACTIVITIES: https://lod2024.icas.events/activities/ Submit your research work today! https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=lod2024 See you in the beautiful Tuscany in September! Best regards, LOD 2024 Organizing Committee. Past Editions: https://lod2024.icas.events/past-editions/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/2236577489686309/ https://twitter.com/TaoSciences https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12092025/ https://lod2024.icas.events/ lod(a)icas.cc LOD2024 Poster: https://lod2024.icas.events/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2023/11/LOD-2024-po… * Apologies for multiple copies. Please forward to anybody who might be interested * --

April 15, 2024

World wide VVTNS series: Wednesday, April 17 at 11am (EDT), Tim O'Leary University of Cambridge|Flip flops and toggles for effective decision making in neural circuits

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the lecture given by Tim O'Leary University of Cambridge on the topic of "Flip flops and toggles for effective decision making in neural circuits*"* The lecture will be held on zoom on *April 17, 2024*, at *11:00 am EDT * To receive the zoom link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: *Neural computation is inextricably bound to decisions that must be made under time pressure and uncertainty. At the level of neural circuits, single neurons need to decide whether to spike. On longer timescales, the component circuitry needs to decide whether to reconfigure to store memories and adapt to novel situations. In this talk I will focus on two fun ideas in each of these contexts by showing how nonlinearities in neural components naturally form excitable switches that enable reliable decisions to be made in fluctuating environments. I will also issue propaganda that the kind of high level, cognitive faculties that we normally associate with decision making apply equally well and are understudied at the level of neural and synaptic populations. *About VVTNS : Created as the World Wide Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), its aim is to be a platform to exchange ideas among theoreticians. Speakers have the occasion to talk about theoretical aspects of their work which cannot be discussed in a setting where the majority of the audience consists of experimentalists. The seminars, **held on Wednesdays at 11 am ET,** are 45-50 min long followed by a discussion. The talks are recorded with authorization of the speaker and are available to everybody on our YouTube channel.* ᐧ -- 'Life is good ..' (Carl van Vreeswijk, 1962-2022) --------------------------------------- David Hansel Directeur de Recherche au CNRS Co-Group leader Cerebral Dynamics Plasticity and Learning lab., CNRS 45 rue des Saints Pères 75270 Paris Cedex 06 Tel (Cell): +33 607508403 - ᐧ

April 14, 2024

PhD Opportunity in AI and Neuroscience, Bordeaux, Deadline: April 23rd

by Xavier Hinaut

We are offering a PhD topic that bridges large language models with neuroscience. **Deadline for application: no later than April 23rd** Location: Bordeaux NeuroCampus (France) Laboratories: Inria & Neurological Diseases Insitute This project aims to explore the adaptation of large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, to study their potential in understanding human language and identifying associated pathologies. By focusing on advanced neurocomputational models and the use of functional MRI, this work aims to decipher linguistic representations and their individual variations, particularly in pathological contexts such as dyslexia. We are seeking a candidate with an interdisciplinary research mindset, combining a strong interest in cognitive neuroscience with a solid proficiency in machine learning. The candidate should have a good command of Python scientific libraries (numpy/scipy) and be comfortable with mathematical/statistical concepts, in addition to proficiency in technical English. The project will take place in a dynamic and collaborative research environment linked to the Inria Exploratory Action project "BrainGPT", with access to imaging methods such as MRI and intensive computing clusters. The expected results have the potential to transform our understanding of the neural bases of language and open new avenues for personalized education and language pathology treatment. Applications must be submitted as soon as possible and no later than *April 23rd*, with the thesis expected to begin on October 1st, 2024. To apply, please send your CV, a cover letter, your academic transcripts since high school, and letters of recommendation to these two email addresses: gael.jobard(a)u-bordeaux.fr & xavier.hinaut(a)inria.fr For more information (please disregard the deadline mentioned in the link): https://adum.fr/as/ed/voirproposition.pl?matricule_prop=55386 or informally via email: gael.jobard(a)u-bordeaux.fr & xavier.hinaut(a)inria.fr Best regards, Xavier Hinaut Inria Research Scientist — www.xavierhinaut.com -- +33 5 33 51 48 01 Mnemosyne team, Inria, Bordeaux, France -- https://team.inria.fr/mnemosyne & LaBRI, Bordeaux University -- https://www4.labri.fr/en/formal-methods-and-models & IMN (Neurodegeneratives Diseases Institute) -- http://www.imn-bordeaux.org/en — Our Reservoir Computing library: https://github.com/reservoirpy/reservoirpy

April 11, 2024

Postdoc position available at UChicago

by Jorge Jaramillo

Dear Comp-Neuro community, https://neuroscience.uchicago.edu/postdoctoral-fellow-computational-neurosc… We are looking for an outstanding applicant to develop large-scale circuit models for decision making within a collaborative consortium that includes the Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics, New York University, and the University of Chicago. This ambitious NIH-funded project requires the creativity and expertise to integrate multimodal data sets (e.g., connectivity, large-scale neural recordings, behavior) into a comprehensive modeling framework. The successful applicant will join Jorge Jaramillo’s Distributed Neural Dynamics and Control Lab at the Grossman Center at the University of Chicago. The Grossman Center Core Faculty | Neuroscience Institute<https://neuroscience.uchicago.edu/grossman-center-core-faculty> Throughout the course of the postdoctoral training, there will be opportunities to visit the other sites in Seattle (Karel Svoboda) and New York (Adam Carter, Xiao-Jing Wang) for additional training and collaboration opportunities. Appointees will join as Grossman Center Postdoctoral Fellows at the University of Chicago and will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and additional opportunities for collaboration with exceptional experimental labs within the Department of Neurobiology, as well as other labs from the departments of Physics, Computer Sciences, and Statistics. The Grossman Center offers competitive postdoctoral salaries in the vibrant and international city of Chicago, and a rich intellectual environment that includes the Argonne National Laboratory and the Data Science Institute. Postdoctoral fellows will also have the possibility to work in additional projects with other Grossman Center faculty members. Application: Please send your application before May 1st 2024 as a single PDF file including: i) a CV with publications highlighted; ii) a motivation letter specifying how you can contribute to large-scale circuit modeling and data analysis based on current and previous work; iii) the contact details of two academic references to jorgejaramillo(a)uchicago.edu<mailto:jorgejaramillo@uchicago.edu>. A doctoral degree and sufficient computational background is required; informal enquiries are welcome. Starting date: The position is available immediately, starting date can be defined via mutual agreement. The University of Chicago is committed to sustaining a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status. Underrepresented minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.

April 11, 2024

Sleep spindles in hippocampal axons

by Gregory J Brewer

We are pleased to announce our latest publication out today in Scientific Reports, Spindle oscillations in communicating axons within a reconstituted hippocampal formation are strongest in CA3 without thalamus. (open access) https://link.springer.com/article/10.1038/s41598-024-58002-0?utm_source=rct… Grace to you, Greg Gregory J. Brewer, Ph.D., Professor University of California Irvine, Dept Biomedical Engineering 92697-2715 Institute for Memory Impairment and Neurological Disorders (MIND) Center for Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM) AGE Fellow of the American Aging Association Nat. Sci, 2, Office Rm 3101, Lab 3432 GJBrewer(a)uci.edu<mailto:GJBrewer@uci.edu>, 217-502-4511 http://brewer.eng.uci.edu/

April 10, 2024

New on the van Vreeswijk Theoretical Neuroscience Seminar (VVNTS) website and YouTube channel

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] > > <https://streaklinks.com/B7FpUrTOTmFafqa5pAf069mO/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> > https://www.wwtns.online > <https://streaklinks.com/A9c7PbbpKY7PxB6PaAJWGD3-/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> > - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide > New on the VVTNS website and YouTube channel Biologically motivated learning dynamics: parallel architectures and nonlinear Hebbian plasticity talk given on April 10, 2024 by Michael Buice Allen Institute https://www.wwtns.online/past-seminars-2023-2024 ------------------------------------ *VVTNS: VVTNS is a weekly digital seminar on Zoom targeting the theoretical neuroscience community. Created as the World Wide Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), its aim is to be a platform to exchange ideas among theoreticians. Speakers have the occasion to talk about theoretical aspects of their work which cannot be discussed in a setting where the majority of the audience consists of experimentalists. The seminars, **held on Wednesdays at 11 am ET,** are 45-50 min long followed by a discussion. The talks are recorded with authorization of the speaker and are available to everybody on our YouTube channel.* ᐧ

April 10, 2024

New virtual colloquium series: Brains in Space

by Vinita Samarasinghe

On behalf of Sen Cheng, Sandhiya Vijayabaskaran and Laurenz Wiskott from the Institute of Neural Computation, Faculty for Computer Science, Ruhr University Bochum, I invite you to attend a new colloquium series "*Brains in Space: An Interdisciplinary Research Colloquium on Spatial Navigation*". In this colloquium, speakers will present their research in various areas of spatial navigation, including behavioral, neuroscientific, and theoretical approaches. The goal is to foster interdisciplinary discussions along the lines of the review article "A Map of Spatial Navigation for Neuroscience" (Parra-Barrero et al., 2023) that proposes a taxonomy of spatial navigation processes in mammals. The talks will cover a diverse range of topics, from the neural underpinnings of navigation to complex navigation behaviors. Attendees will gain a better understanding of how the mammalian brain represents and navigates through space, as well as learn about several cognitive processes such as learning and memory through the lens of spatial navigation. The colloquium takes place virtually on Tuesday's from 16:00 to 17:30 (CEST) and the complete schedule can be found at https://www.ini.rub.de/teaching/courses/colloquium_brains_in_space_an_inter… . The first talk is on April 16th 2024. *Confirmed speakers:* Elizabeth Chrastil, Marko Nardini, Laure Rondi-Reig, Denis Sheynikhovich, Aaron Wilber, Sandhiya Vijayabaskaran, Francesca Sargolini and Eloy Parra Barrero. This colloquium is open to the public. Please feel free to forward this information to any of your colleagues who may be interested. *Zoom link*: https://ruhr-uni-bochum.zoom.us/j/68766911124?pwd=MFErK284UmN5V25wZzd5L1FCa… We look forward to seeing you. Kind regards, -- Vinita Samarasinghe M.Sc., M.A. Science Manager Arbeitsgruppe Computational Neuroscience Institut für Neuroinformatik Ruhr-Universität Bochum, NB 3/73 Postfachnummer 110 Universitätstr. 150 44801 Bochum Tel: +49 (0) 234 32 27996 Email:samarasinghe@ini.rub.de

April 10, 2024

EITN Fall School in Computational Neuroscience 2024: Applications are now open!

by DEPANNEMAECKER Damien

EITN Fall School in Computational Neuroscience 2024 <https://eitnschool2022.sciencesconf.org/> Marseille, 16-25 October 2024 The EITN Fall School in Computational Neuroscience consists of a 10-day course in theoretical and computational neuroscience, from cellular to whole-brain levels. The course is structured in thematic days with lectures, tutorials, and project work. The course is typically aimed at PhD students, young postdocs, or master students interested to learn more about techniques of computational neuroscience, and the use of various simulation environments for model building. The students will form thematic groups to work on predefined subjects, with the help of tutors. The course will cover cellular models, models of brain signals, circuit models and networks, mean-field models, and whole-brain models. There will be lectures and tutorials associated with these topics. Why join? 10 days of intensive training in computational neuroscience provided by researchers from all over Europe. A complete program: • Cellular models, and models of brain signals • Circuit models and networks • Mean-field models • Whole-brain models Hands-on learning schedule based on: • Morning classes and tutorials • Group projects in the afternoon • Free time in the evenings and on Sunday to visit Marseille How to apply? This training has a limited capacity of 28 students, therefore a selection will be performed by a scientific organizing committee. Applications are open until 09 June 2024. Application: a one-page CV, a motivation letter to explain why you would like to attend this course, and a recommendation letter. The file names must start with your name (e.g., NAME_CV.pdf, etc....). Send your application by email at eitnfs2024(a)groups.emdesk.com<mailto:eitnfs2024@groups.emdesk.com> You will receive a confirmation your application has been received within 5 working days (or on the day the application period closes (whichever comes the soonest). If not, please consider a technical issue and submit your application again. Contact eitnfs2024(a)groups.emdesk.com<mailto:eitnfs2024@groups.emdesk.com> for any questions or assistance. This training is designed to be attended in person in Marseille. It will not be recorded nor accessible remotely. Organizers: Damien Depannemaecker (AMU), Alain Destexhe (CNRS), Viktor Jirsa (AMU) Preliminary list of Faculty and Speakers: Viktor Jirsa (AMU, Marseille France)` Alain Destexhe (NeuroPSI, Paris, France)) Sacha Van Alba (Research Centre Jülich and University of Cologne, Allemagne) Egidio D’Angelo (University of Pavia, Italie) Michaele Migliore (National Research Council, Palerme, Italie) Andrea Brovelli (AMU, Marseille France) Matthieu Gilson(AMU, Marseille France) Marja-Leena Linne (Tempere University, Finlande) Spase Petkoski (AMU, Marseille France) Damien Depannemaecker(AMU, Marseille France) HuifangWang (AMU, Marseille France) ...

April 10, 2024

[CFP] Modern Machine Learning Methods for robust and real-time Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) - ESANN 2024 - Deadline 02 May

by Jaime Andres Riascos Salas

CALL FOR PAPERS CFP – SPECIAL SESSION MODERN MACHINE LEARNING METHODS FOR ROBUST AND REAL-TIME BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACES (BCI) Paper Submission Deadline: 2 MAY 2024 EUROPEAN SYMPOSIUM ON ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS, COMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING (ESANN 2024) OCTOBER 9-11, 2024 Bruges, Belgium. Online and on-site http://www.esann.org [1] Contact Special Session: jariascos(a)correo.iue.edu.co THE EUROPEAN SYMPOSIUM ON ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS, COMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING (ESANN) is a leading annual conference dedicated to cutting-edge research and applications within these fields. Since 1993, ESANN has provided a vital platform for researchers from academia, industry, and government to share their latest findings, foster interdisciplinary collaborations, and network with others in the field. The conference covers core topics like artificial neural networks, computational intelligence, and machine learning, and explores wide-ranging applications in areas such as bioinformatics, engineering, and finance. The 32nd edition of ESANN (ESANN 2024) will take place in Bruges, Belgium in hybrid mode (both in-person and online participation), from Wednesday 9 to Friday 11 October 2024. Bruges (also called the "Venice of the North") is one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Europe. Bruges is situated about 100 km. from Brussels and can very easily be reached by train from Brussels' main stations. Bruges is unique in Europe: a living city of human proportions where you can wander to your heart's content in virtually unspoiled surroundings. Inside ESANN 2024, the special session "MODERN MACHINE LEARNING METHODS FOR ROBUST AND REAL-TIME BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACES (BCI)” aims to spotlight and consolidate the latest advancements, innovations, challenges, and prospects in modern machine learning algorithms for BCI, which are both accurate and fast enough for real-time use, and ideally assessed for real-time use. BCIs are communication and control systems that enable users to interact with computers using brain activity only. They are very promising for various applications, such as assistive technologies, rehabilitation, or mental state monitoring, but suffer from a lack of robustness. Their robustness mostly relies on advances in machine learning and signal processing. Simple models offer a quick response to real-time constraints but often without high accuracies. In contrast, artificial neural networks and more elaborate models compromise speedy responses for reaching sometimes higher accuracies. Thus, ideally, there is a need for a trade-off in complexity in signal processing and machine learning stages to obtain the best combination, i.e., both high accuracy and speed. Therefore, we aim to foster interdisciplinary collaborations and pave the way for future breakthroughs in this field. We invite authors to submit original research articles, reviews, and case studies on the following topics: 1. Signal Processing and Feature Extraction: I. Novel methods for preprocessing EEG signals II. Feature extraction techniques for real-time BCI applications 2. Classification Algorithms: I. Advanced machine learning algorithms for BCI signal classification II. Deep learning approaches in BCI research 3. Real-time BCI Systems: I. Development of real-time BCI systems II. Applications and challenges in deploying BCI systems in real-time. Prospective authors are invited to contribute to the conference by electronically submitting papers through the ESANN portal following the instructions provided at https://www.esann.org/node/6 [2] and choosing our session's title as Target Session on the paper submission form. Papers must not exceed 6 pages, including figures and references. All papers will be submitted to a single-blind peer-review process. LaTeX and Word-style files are available. They must be used for generating the PDF file (see author guidelines at https://www.esann.org/author_guidelines [3]). Accepted papers will be presented as either talks or posters (in-person or online), to favor interaction with the ESANN attendees. There is no difference in quality between talks and posters; all papers will be published in the conference proceedings. At least one author must register for the conference and pay the registration fee. We ask prospective authors to send us an e-mail with the tentative title of their contribution to the special session as soon as possible. IMPORTANT DATES: Paper submission deadline: 2 MAY 2024 Notification of acceptance: 16 JUNE 2024 The ESANN 2023 conference: 9-11 OCTOBER 2024 SPECIAL SESSION ORGANISERS: Fabien Lotte (Inria, France) Marta Molinas (NTNU, Norway) Jaime A Riascos (Potsdam University - Institution University of Envigado, Germany - Colombia) Bests regards! Links: ------ [1] http://www.esann.org/ [2] https://www.esann.org/node/6 [3] https://www.esann.org/author_guidelines

April 10, 2024

Survey regarding large-scale neuroimaging datasets

by Eline Kupers

Dear all, In recent years, we have seen an increase in the usage, acquisition, and open sharing of rich, large-scale neuroimaging datasets. This is an exciting development in human neuroscience and suggests that we are entering a new era of big open data. To understand users' experiences with current large-scale datasets as well as needs for future datasets, we invite you to this anonymous survey. The survey is anonymous to ensure that we get honest opinions. We welcome participation from all researchers regardless of their experience and/or background. You can find the survey here: https://umn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6fAxIDk3pYdwC6W This survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete and closes on *May 15, 2024*. Eline Kupers & Kendrick Kay

April 9, 2024

Ph.D. Positions in Computational Neuroscience in Padova

by Samir Suweis

Dear colleagues, I would like to share with you the opening of the official call for the PhD program in Neuroscience hosted at the "Padova Neuroscience Center". This is a unique opportunity for young researchers to join a vibrant, active and interdisciplinary community of international faculty and to perform cutting-edge research in Neuroscience. The call offers 10 fully funded PhD positions with more than 45 research lines in diverse neuroscience fields, like Circuits & Systems, Cognitive, Affective, Behavioral, Computational Neuroscience, Neuroimaging, Translational and Clinical Neuroscience. This is is an incredible opportunity for aspiring neuroscientists to dive into a dynamic and multidisciplinary field, collaborating with more than 35 distinguished faculty members from 7 academic departments. Program Highlights: Deadline for Applications: 13th May 2024, 1 pm CET Interviews Scheduled: 28th May - 20th June 2024 Research Areas: The program covers five main lines: Multimodal Neuroimaging Methods Circuit and Systemic Neuroscience Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Neuroscience Translational and Clinical Neuroscience Computational Neuroscience Facilities and Support: Gain access to our in-house preclinical, PET, MRI, and EEG facilities. Benefit from superb computing, administrative, and technical supports. Duration: A comprehensive 3-year program. The University of Padova is not just a hub of academic excellence but also lies in the heart of a vibrant city known for its history, culture, and lively university atmosphere. Padova offers a unique blend of ancient heritage and modern innovation, making it an ideal place for both study and exploration. Don't miss this chance to step into the world of neuroscience research in one of Italy's most historic and dynamic university cities. We encourage all interested candidates to apply before the deadline and join us in this exciting journey of discovery and learning. For more details and application procedures, please visit our website https://pnc.unipd.it/admission <https://pnc.unipd.it/admission>. Best regards, Samir Suweis ***************** Samir Suweis www.liphlab.com Tel: +39 049 827 71 74

April 9, 2024

Postdoc vacancy DBS modelling

by Bernadette van Wijk

Dear (future) post-docs, Our vacancy for a post-doc position in Amsterdam on the biophysical modelling and optimisation of deep brain stimulation treatment for Parkinson’s disease is still open until April 15: https://workingat.vu.nl/vacancies/post-doc-position-amsterdam-1065164?utm_c… Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an undeniable clinical success in the treatment of movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. Yet, DBS exhibits a large outcome variability in individual patients and patients might suffer from stimulation-induced side effects. The sophistication of DBS systems is far ahead of the present understanding and clinical exploitation of the available stimulation features offered by the technology. Finding the right frequency, amplitude, and pulse width settings for an individual patient can be a cumbersome process. Within our European research consortium (Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Uppsala, Berlin), we aim to optimize DBS treatment through biophysical and statistical modelling, with a strong focus on electrophysiology (local field potential recordings) in Amsterdam. We are looking for a postdoc who could contribute to one or more of the following research aims: 1) localizing spatial origins of LFP oscillations through inverse source modelling; 2) biophysical modelling of the effect of stimulation on electrophysiological activity; 3) applying optimization algorithms for optimal navigation through the stimulation parameter landscape. You are expected to take initiative in conducting the work and to present the project’s outcomes in scientific papers and at international conferences. There is an opportunity to supervise student projects, participate in data collection, and to take part in working visits to partners in the consortium. The work in this project will be conducted in close collaboration with the DBS Neurology group at the Amsterdam University Medical Centers location AMC. You are expected to regularly visit the AMC hospital for attending research meetings and to conduct parts of your work, as appropriate. The project will be supervised by Dr. Bernadette van Wijk (VU University Amsterdam) and Dr. Martijn Beudel (Amsterdam University Medical Centers). Please consider applying if you’re interested. Kind regards, Dr. Bernadette van Wijk Department of Human Movement Sciences Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam The Netherlands

April 9, 2024

NEST Conference 2024 - reminder for abstract submission deadline on 15 April 2024

by Hans Ekkehard Plesser

Dear all, The abstract submission deadline for the virtual NEST Conference 2024 is approaching (15 April 2024). We are looking forward to your contributions! The NEST Conference provides an opportunity for the NEST Community to meet, exchange success stories, swap advice, learn about current developments in and around NEST spiking network simulation and its application. This year's conference will again take place as a virtual conference on Monday/Tuesday 17/18 June 2024. We are inviting contributions to the conference, including talks, "posters" and workshops on specific topics. Important dates 15 April 2024 - Deadline for submission of contributions 26 April 2024 - Deadline for NEST Initiative membership applications eligible for fee reduction 08 May 2024 - Notification of acceptance 07 June 2024 - Registration deadline 17 June 2024 - NEST Conference 2024 starts For more information on how to submit your contribution, register and participate, please visit the conference website https://nest-simulator.org/conference We are looking forward to seeing you all in June! Hans Ekkehard Plesser and the conference organizing committee -- Prof. Dr. Hans Ekkehard Plesser Department of Data Science Faculty of Science and Technology Norwegian University of Life Sciences PO Box 5003, 1432 Aas, Norway Phone +47 6723 1560 Email hans.ekkehard.plesser(a)nmbu.no<mailto:hans.ekkehard.plesser@nmbu.no> Home http://arken.nmbu.no/~plesser

April 9, 2024

Postdoc positions in Cognitive Neuroscience, Computational Psychiatry and Developmental Psychology, University of Tuebingen, Germany

by Susan Fischer

**Apologies for cross-posting** Dear colleagues, The "Developmental Computational Psychiatry" lab and the W3 professorship "Computational Psychiatry" led by Tobias Hauser at the University of Tübingen (Germany) is currently hiring new postdocs. The focus of the lab is to better understand the computational and neural mechanisms underlying decision making and learning, and how these processes go awry in patients with mental illnesses. The successful candidates will have the chance to work in a highly dynamic and inspiring environment and to collaborate closely with Prof Peter Dayan and the Max-Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics. Concretely, we are looking for the following candidates: * Postdoc with developmental psychology background * Postdoc with experimental & neuroimaging (MEG / MRI) background More information about the positions can be found here: https://devcompsy.org/join-the-lab/ Interested candidates are encouraged to reach out to Tobias Hauser directly to informally discuss the positions. Best regards, Susan. ************************************************ Susan Fischer Coordinator Alexander von Humboldt Professorship Prof Peter Dayan & W3-Professorship ‘Computational Psychiatry’, Prof Tobias Hauser Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics & Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen & Universitätsklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie AI Research Building R 20-7/A21 Maria-von-Linden-Str. 6 72076 Tübingen Germany ************************************************

April 9, 2024

Online workshop: Dendritic computation, synaptic plasticity & molecular mechanisms

by O'Donnell, Cian

Please join us for our free, online and global workshop on 22/23/25 April 2024 on: Dendritic computation, synaptic plasticity & molecular mechanisms One of the workshop goals is to try to bring together computational and experimental researchers working on molecular mechanisms of neurons. Each session is in a different time window to help reach people in different parts of planet earth: 9-13h CET Monday 22nd April 15-19h CET Tuesday 23rd April 17-21h CET Thursday 25th April Schedule, speaker list, and registration link at: http://tchumatchenko.de/Workshop/workshop_homePage.html Current speakers * Haruhiko Bito, University of Tokyo, Japan * Brenda Bloodgood, University of California San Diego, USA * Spiros Chavlis, IMBB-FORTH, Greece * Julijana Gjorgjieva, Technical University of Munich, Germany * Seth Grant, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom * Anne-Sophie Hafner, Donders Centre for Neuroscience, Netherlands * Sybille Krauss, Naturwissenschaftlich-Technische Fakultät Universität Siegen, Germany * Boaz Mohar, HHMI's Janelia Research Campus, USA * Cian O'Donnell, Ulster University, United Kingdom * Thomas Oertner, Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg Germany * Silvio Rizzoli, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Germany * Erin M. Schumann, MPI for Brain Research Frankfurt, Germany * Walter Senn, University of Bern, Switzerland * Jason Shepherd, University of Utah, USA * Tatjana Tchumatchenko, University Clinic Bonn, Germany * Noam Ziv, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Israel Short talks by * Cornelius Bergmann, University Clinic Bonn, Germany * Edita Bulovaite, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom * Arno Granier, University of Bern, Switzerland * Sofia Raak, University of Bristol, United Kingdom * Annika Reisbitzer, Naturwissenschaftlich-Technische Fakultät Universität Siegen, Germany Best, Tatjana Tchumatchenko & Cian O’Donnell This email and any attachments are confidential and intended solely for the use of the addressee and may contain information which is covered by legal, professional or other privilege. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager at postmaster(a)ulster.ac.uk and delete this email immediately. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ulster University. The University's computer systems may be monitored and communications carried out on them may be recorded to secure the effective operation of the system and for other lawful purposes. Ulster University does not guarantee that this email or any attachments are free from viruses or 100% secure. Unless expressly stated in the body of a separate attachment, the text of email is not intended to form a binding contract. Correspondence to and from the University may be subject to requests for disclosure by 3rd parties under relevant legislation. The Ulster University was founded by Royal Charter in 1984 and is registered with company number RC000726 and VAT registered number GB672390524.The primary contact address for Ulster University in Northern Ireland is Cromore Road, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry BT52 1SA

April 8, 2024

CFP: Workshops in conjunction with FRCCS 2024, Montpellier, France May 28, 2024

by Hocine Cherifi

We encourage researchers to participate in the FRCCS 2024 <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/> workshops to share their insights and foster interdisciplinary collaborations in the study of complex systems. *Workshops* · Modeling Cities and Regions as Complex and Evolving Systems · Beauty in Complexity · Network Sparsification & beyond *Important dates* Submission Deadline: *April 14, 2024* Final Decisions Released:* April 17, 2024* Camera-Ready Deadline: *April 30, 2024* *1) **Modeling Cities and Regions as Complex and Evolving Systems* <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/workshop-on-modeling-cities-and-…> Cities consist of interacting entities, such as people and infrastructure, and exhibit emergent properties, which appear additionally to the sum of the isolated properties. This makes cities a prime example of complex systems. Accordingly, complexity theories and methods are particularly relevant to their study. By focusing on the commonalities that underpin urban systems, the workshop seeks to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and explore novel approaches to studying cities as complex entities. *More info at: * *https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/workshop-on-modeling-cities-and-regions-as-complex-and-evolving-systems/* <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/workshop-on-modeling-cities-and-…> *Workshop chair* *Daniela Cialfi - NRCouncil of Italy - **danielacialfi(a)gmail.com* <danielacialfi(a)gmail.com> *2) **Beauty in Complexity* <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/beauty-in-complexity/> The Beauty in Complexity exhibition invites researchers to share the visual wonders of their work with a wide and diverse audience. Whether it's a photograph, diagram, visualization, or montage, we encourage submissions that evoke curiosity and wonder. We seek captivating visuals showcasing the beauty found within complex systems research. More info at: https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/beauty-in-complexity/ *Workshop chairs* Benjamin Renoust - *Median Technologies,- **renoust@gmail* <benjamin.renoust(a)mediantechnologies.com> *.com *Arnaud Sallaberry - *LIRMM *- *arnaud.sallaberry(a)lirmm.fr* <arnaud.sallaberry(a)lirmm.fr> *3) **Network Sparsification & beyond* <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/complex-network-sparsification/> Numerous algorithms are designed to construct simpler or smaller network representations to address scalability and performance issues. This workshop aims to bring together researchers working on the broad theme of network simplification and discuss graph reduction methods and their applications. More info at: https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/complex-network-sparsification/ *Workshop chairs* Hamida Seba -* University Lyon 1- **Hamida.seba(a)univ-lyon1.fr* <Hamida.seba(a)univ-lyon1.fr> Hocine Cherifi* - University of Burgundy - **hocine.cherifi(a)u-bourgogne.fr* <hocine.cherifi(a)u-bourgogne.fr> Join us at COMPLEX NETWORKS 2024 <https://www.complexnetworks.org/> *-------------------------* Hocine CHERIFI University of Burgundy Franche-Comté Laboratoire* I*nterdisciplinaire *C*arnot de *B*ourgogne - ICB UMR 6303 CNRS Editor in Chief Plos Complex Systems <https://plos.org/complex-systems-research-journal/#:~:text=PLOS%20Complex%2….> Founding & Adisory Editor Applied Network Science <https://appliednetsci.springeropen.com/> Editorial Board member PLOS One <https://journals.plos.org/plosone/>, IEEE ACCESS <https://ieeeaccess.ieee.org/?http%3A%2F%2Fieeeaccess_ieee_org%2F>, Scientific Reports <https://www.nature.com/srep/>, Journal of Imaging <https://www.mdpi.com/journal/jimaging>, Quality and Quantity <https://www.springer.com/journal/11135/>, Computational Social Networks <https://computationalsocialnetworks.springeropen.com/>, Complex Systems <https://www.complex-systems.com/>

April 8, 2024

PhD funded application

by Eirini Mavritsaki

Dear all, I would like to advertise the below PhD funded application. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions. Thank you in advance for any help. Best wishes, Eirini Project 1: Using machine learning, AI and computational modelling to predict recovery from stroke from brain-scans across a range of language and cognitive deficits. This funding model includes a 36 month fully funded PhD Studentship, in-line with the Research Council values, which comprises a tax-free stipend paid monthly (2024/5 - £19,237) per year and a Full Time Fee Scholarship for up to 3 years, subject to you making satisfactory progression within your PhD. All applicants will receive the same stipend irrespective of fee status. Application Closing Date: 23:59 on Tuesday 30th April 2024 for a start date of the 2nd September 2024. How to Apply To apply, please complete the project proposal form,<https://www.bcu.ac.uk/Download/Asset/d3f86737-6b53-ec11-981f-501ac52d968f> <https://www.bcu.ac.uk/Download/Asset/d3f86737-6b53-ec11-981f-501ac52d968f>ensuring that you quote the project reference, and then complete the online application<https://www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/social-sciences-research-degrees-2024-25> where you will be required to upload your proposal in place of a personal statement as a pdf document. You will also be required to upload two references, at least one being an academic reference, and your qualification/s of entry (Bachelor/Masters certificate/s and transcript/s). Project Title: Using machine learning, AI and computational modelling to predict recovery from stroke from brain-scans across a range of language and cognitive deficits. Project Lead: Professor Eirini Mavritsaki Eirini.Mavritsaki(a)bcu.ac.uk<mailto:Eirini.Mavritsaki@bcu.ac.uk> Reference: PreSReB Project Description Stroke can be caused when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, this can take place either by blockage or through a traumatic event. Several cognitive deficits can be caused by stroke ranging from paralysis or weakness on one side of the body to problems with memory, attention, vision, thinking, emotional changes and language problems. For the best possible recovery from stroke, the correct rehabilitation is vital. However, predicting the best treatment and outcomes is challenging since every patient is different, and each case of stroke is unique. Machine learning has been previously used, but it is difficult to interpret the outcomes due to complex interactions of the large data used. To overcome these challenges, we are planning to combine machine learning with AI and computational modelling. To achieve the best outcomes, we are collaborating with University of Birmingham and UCL and we have access to the Predicting Language Outcome and Recovery After Stroke (PLORAS) database with over 2000 stroke patients. Anticipated Findings and Contribution to Knowledge This research work aims to contribute towards the development of new approaches for predicting stroke recovery. This will not only advance research in this area, but it will also lead to development of new tools that clinicians can use to predict outcomes for rehabilitation approaches. In addition, this work will make significant contributions towards the advancement of research in computational neuroscience. By combining machine learning, AI and computational modelling, it will help improve our understanding of this complex field. More information on the project can be found using the link below https://www.bcu.ac.uk/research/our-phds/phd-opportunities/using-machine-lea… and the application and process https://www.bcu.ac.uk/research/our-phds/phd-opportunities Please note that I think your work-life balance and your right to disconnect from your work or studies is very important. Therefore, if this message arrives in an evening or on a weekend, I really would not expect you to attend to it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Prof. Eirini Mavritsaki, Ph.D., CPsychol Professor in Cognitive Psychology Faculty Research Strategy Deputy and Research Development Framework Lead eirini.mavritsaki(a)bcu.ac.uk<mailto:eirini.mavritsaki@bcu.ac.uk> 0121 331 6361 Faculty of Business Law and Social Sciences Birmingham City University ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Disclaimer This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender immediately, delete this email from your system and do not use, copy, or disclose the information contained in this message or in any attachment. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Birmingham City University. Birmingham City University accepts no liability for any loss or damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email and the recipient must ensure that the email (and attachments) is virus free.

April 8, 2024

Abstracts & registration for UK Neural Computation meeting July 8-10th, Sheffield

by Mark Humphries

Abstract submission and registration are now open for the UK Neural Computation meeting 2024 (Sheffield 8-10th July). Abstracts: https://neuralcomputation.uk/submission.html Deadline of 17th May 2024 4 submitted abstracts will be selected for main meeting talks Registration: https://neuralcomputation.uk/registration.html Deadline of 21st June 2024 Discounted accommodation options also available. 8 July: ECR day. ~40 places are available 9-10 July: main meeting Please spread the word! All info: https://neuralcomputation.uk/ Enquiries: uknc24(a)sheffield.ac.uk<mailto:uknc24@sheffield.ac.uk> Organisers Hannes Saal (Sheffield) Stuart Wilson (Sheffield) Mark Humphries (Nottingham) This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender and delete the email and attachment. Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham. Email communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored where permitted by law.

April 8, 2024

Deadline approaching - Brains for Brains Young Researcher Award

by Alexander Lammers

International early career scientists who have shown their outstanding potential at a very early career stage are invited to apply for the Brains for Brains Award. You can win a 2000 € travel grant to join the Bernstein Conference 2024 and visit labs of Bernstein members. ____ Who can apply? International students of all nationalities from relevant disciplines (biology, medicine, physics, mathematics, computer science, engineering, psychology, etc.) who plan to pursue a research career in computational neuroscience and who have at least one peer reviewed publication (as co-author) or peer reviewed conference abstract (as first author). ____ The award is endowed with: * a travel grant of 2.000 € for a one-week trip to Germany, including free participation at the Bernstein Conference 2024 in Frankfurt * the chance to present your research as a talk and as a poster at the Bernstein Conference 2024 * individually planned visits to labs of the Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience ____ Application deadline: April 21, 2024, 23:59 CEST ____ Details & application https://bernstein-network.de/en/network/awards-and-initiatives/brains-for-b… ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52425 Jülich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Jülich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Düren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Stefan Müller Geschäftsführung: Prof. Dr. Astrid Lambrecht (Vorsitzende), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Dr. Ir. Pieter Jansens ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 8, 2024

TA applications now open for Simons Computational Neuroscience Imbizo, 12 January to 2 February 2025

by Spyridon Chavlis

Dear Colleagues, We are looking for teaching assistants for the Simons Computational Neuroscience Imbizo, a computational neuroscience summer school held in Cape Town, South Africa (https://imbizo.africa/) We are looking for post-doctoral or advanced PhD researchers to join our team as Teaching Assistants (TAs) for the Imbizo in January 2025. Please apply via the link: https://imbizo.africa/ta-application/. Before you apply, you should have the following documents/information ready: 1) A brief CV (2-4 pages is fine) 2) A short motivational statement about your scientific interests and background, why you would be a good fit, and your favourite topics for teaching tutorials and supervising student projects. 3) Contact details of one referee. *The application deadline is April 25, 2024 (20:00 UTC), and the reference letter submission deadline is April 29, 2024 (20:00 UTC).* Please notify your referee beforehand to meet the deadline. *About the Imbizo:* The school hosts 28-30 students for an amazing 22 days of lectures, tutorials, projects and forging new friendships. All this takes place on Noordhoek beach, between the mountain and the ocean. It's a spectacular location. * / Arrival day: Sunday 12 January 2025/ * / Imbizo dates: Monday 13 January to Saturday 1 February 2025/ * / Departure day: Sunday 2 February 2025/ The Imbizo is a special experience, with students being totally immersed in academic, social, touristic and cultural activities, and has resulted in student and TA groups from previous schools becoming very close, personally and scientifically. This is fantastic, as a major goal of the Imbizo project is to help young African researchers grow their academic peer and friend group. About being a TA: * Each TA runs one afternoon tutorial in the first week of the school, which they design themselves. * Each TA will teach a different topic, which the TA's choose among themselves, to provide students with a broad exposure to problems and methods in computational neuroscience. * Each TA is also assigned 5 students to supervise for project work during the last 2 weeks of the school. * TAs will be asked to help process student applications. TAs are integral in helping run the school. In addition to academic support, they foster good social interactions and academic discussions among students, and they help 'shy' students meet faculty. They also act as 'social glue’, helping to notice and support students who may be feeling ill, not fitting in socially, or generally having difficulties. To fulfill these roles, TAs need to be at all school meals and activities. We will also need a little help processing student applications. *What we provide:* We cover as direct as possible, economy class tickets to Cape Town, as well as all board and lodging during the school. *We will start assessing applications on May 1, 2024.* A call for student applications will follow soon. We hope to hear from you soon! Let us know if you have any questions. Thanks and regards Demba Ba, Arif Hamid, Peter E Latham, Spiros Chavlis, and Emma Vaughan Simons Computational Neuroscience Imbizo Committee 2025 Twitter: @CompNeuroImbizo email: isicn.imbizo[AT]gmail.com -- *Spyridon Chavlis, PhD* Postdoctoral Researcher and Systems Administrator Poirazi Lab Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB) Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH) Nikolaou Plastira, 100 GR 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece Tel: (+30) 2810 39 1264 Εmail: schavlis(a)imbb.forth.gr Webpage: dendrites.gr <https://www.dendrites.gr>

April 8, 2024

Research Summit on Fundamental Challenges for AI. Mountain View, April 15th.

by Battleday, Ruairidh

We are most excited to announce the final line-up and substantially reduced ticket prices for the AE Spring Summit on Fundamental Challenges for AI <http://bit.ly/springsummitaievent>. Computer History Museum, Mountain View; April 15th. This is a day of keynote talks and panels by leading AI researchers on what the open problems for ML/AI development are, and promising scientific and engineering strategies for solving them. Keynotes Professor Jay McClelland (Stanford / DeepMind) Professor Bin Yu (UC Berkeley) Professor Diyi Yang (Stanford) Professor Sergey Levine (UC Berkeley) Panels New Landscapes for AI Research New Professional Pathways Challenges for AI in Biomedicine Fundamental Challenges We have invited speakers and representatives from the following five technical stakeholder groups to this Summit: Academia Tech FROs / nonprofits Start-up VCs / Funders By soliciting answers and discussions from scientists and leaders at these different groups we hope to also examine what their different roles will be in the next period of AI research, and to foster the sharing of research. Full details can be found at www.algopreneurship.org. This should be an exciting and productive day, and we have made lower-priced tickets available for students and early-stage researchers. Lunch and a reception will be provided. We look forward to seeing some of you there, and please feel free to share news about the event on social media. The Thinking About Thinking Team Twitter / X: https://bit.ly/springsummitaix LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/springsummitaiLI -- Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday BMBCh (Oxon) PhD President Thinking About Thinking <http://www.thinkingaboutthinking.org> Postdoctoral Research Fellow Center for Brain Science, Harvard University Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines, MIT

April 8, 2024

Fwd: Available Positions in Computer Science at the University of Plymouth

by Amir Aly

Dear All The University of Plymouth has several available positions in Computer Science. More details are available in this advertisement (deadline is 27th May 2024): https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DGN533/lecturer-associate-professor-in-computer-… If you have any remarks, pls don't hesitate to contact me, Regards ---------------- *Dr. Amir Aly* Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Programme Manager of Artificial Intelligence Center for Robotics and Neural Systems (CRNS) School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics Room A307 Portland Square, Drake Circus, PL4 8AA University of Plymouth, UK

April 7, 2024

Fwd: [seminar.wwtns] World wide VVTNS series: Wednesday, April 10 at 11am (EDT), Michael Buice, Allen Institute |Biologically motivated learning dynamics: parallel architectures and nonlinear Hebbian plasticity

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the lecture given by Michael Buice Allen Institute on the topic of "Biologically motivated learning dynamics: parallel architectures and nonlinear Hebbian plasticity*"* The lecture will be held on zoom on *April 10, 2024*, at *11:00 am EDT * To receive the zoom link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: *Learning in biological systems takes place in contexts and with dynamics not often accounted for by simple models. I will describe the learning dynamics of two model systems that incorporate either architectural or dynamic constraints from biological observations. In the first case, inspired by the observed mesoscopic structure of the mouse brain as revealed by the Allen Mouse Brain Connectivity Atlas, as well as multiple examples of parallel pathways in mammalian brains, I present a mathematical analysis of learning dynamics in networks that have parallel computational pathways driven by the same cost function. We use the approximation of deep linear networks with large hidden layer sizes to show that, as the depth of the parallel pathways increases, different features of the training set (defined by the singular values of the input-output correlation) will typically concentrate in one of the pathways. This result is derived analytically and demonstrated with numerical simulation with both linear and non-linear networks. Thus, rather than sharing stimulus and task features across multiple pathways, parallel network architectures learn to produce sharply diversified representations with specialized and specific pathways, a mechanism which may hold important consequences for codes in both biological and artificial systems. In the second case, I discuss learning dynamics in a generalization of Hebbian rules and show that these rules allow a neuron to learn tensor decompositions of higher-order input correlations. Unlike the case of the Oja rule and PCA, the resulting learned representation is not unique but selects amongst the tensor eigenvectors according to initial conditions. *About VVTNS : Created as the World Wide Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), its aim is to be a platform to exchange ideas among theoreticians. Speakers have the occasion to talk about theoretical aspects of their work which cannot be discussed in a setting where the majority of the audience consists of experimentalists. The seminars, **held on Wednesdays at 11 am ET,** are 45-50 min long followed by a discussion. The talks are recorded with authorization of the speaker and are available to everybody on our YouTube channel.* ᐧ ᐧ ᐧ ᐧ ᐧ -- 'Life is good ..' (Carl van Vreeswijk, 1962-2022) --------------------------------------- David Hansel Directeur de Recherche au CNRS Co-Group leader Cerebral Dynamics Plasticity and Learning lab., CNRS 45 rue des Saints Peres 75270 Paris Cedex 06 Tel (Cell): +33 607508403 - Fax (33).1.49.27.90.62 ᐧ

April 7, 2024

Call for Participation & Papers - ACAIN 2024 - 4th Int. Advanced Course & Symposium on Artificial Intelligence & Neuroscience, September 22-25 2024, Riva del Sole Resort & SPA, Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) Tuscany, Italy -> Deadline: April 23

by ICAS Organizing Committee

Call for Participation & Call for Papers (apologies for multiple copies) ________________________________________________________________________ The 4th International Advanced Course & Symposium on Artificial Intelligence & Neuroscience, September 22-25, 2024, Riva del Sole Resort & SPA, Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) Tuscany, Italy W: https://acain2024.icas.events E: acain(a)icas.cc FB: https://www.facebook.com/ACAIN.LakeDistrict/ Symposium Deadlines Paper Submission (Symposium): by April 23, 2024 (AoE). https://acain2024.icas.events/symposium-call-for-papers/ https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=acain2024 Notification of Decision for Papers (Symposium): by July 10, 2024. Camera Ready Submission (Symposium): by July 20, 2024. Author Registration (Symposium): by July 20, 2024. Course Deadlines Regular Registration (Course): by April 23, 2024. https://acain2024.icas.events/registration/ Late Registration (Course): from April 24, 2024. Oral Presentation Submission (Course): by April 23, 2024. Notification of Decision for Oral Presentation (Course): by August 31, 2024. SCOPE & MOTIVATION: ACAIN 2024: AI meets Computational Neuroscience and Cognitive Science The ACAIN 2024 symposium and course is an interdisciplinary event featuring leading scientists from AI and Neuroscience, providing a special opportunity to learn about cutting-edge research in the fields of AI, Neuroscience, Neuroscience-Inspired AI, Human-Level AI, and Cognitive Science. The 4th Advanced Course and Symposium on Artificial Intelligence & Neuroscience (ACAIN) is a full-immersion four-day Course and Symposium in Tuscany on cutting-edge advances in Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience with lectures delivered by world-renowned experts. The Course provides a stimulating environment for academics, early career researchers, Post-Docs, PhD students and industry leaders. Participants will also have the chance to present their results with oral talks or posters, and to interact with their colleagues, in a convivial and productive environment. Two days of keynote talks and oral presentations, the ACAIN Symposium, (September 24-25), will be preceded by lectures of leading scientists, the ACAIN Course, (September 22-23). Bringing together AI and neuroscience promises to yield benefits for both fields. The future impact and progress in both AI and Neuroscience will strongly depend on continuous synergy, exchange, collaboration and efficient cooperation between the two research communities. These are the goals of the International Course and Symposium - ACAIN 2024, which is aimed both at AI experts with interests in Neuroscience and at neuroscientists with an interest in AI. ACAIN 2024 accepts rigorous research that promotes and fosters multidisciplinary interactions between artificial intelligence and neuroscience. The Advanced Course is suited for scholars, academics, early career researchers, Post-Docs, PhD students and industry leaders. The Event (Course and Symposium) will involve a total of 36-40 hours of lectures. Academically, this will be equivalent to 8 ECTS points for the PhD Students and the Master Students attending the Event. LECTURERS https://acain2024.icas.events/course-lecturers/ * Maria Eckstein, Google DeepMind, London, UK * Auke Jan Ijspeert, EPFL, Switzerland * Zeb Kurth-Nelson, Google DeepMind & UCL, London, UK * Loic Matthey, Google DeepMind, London, UK * Kevin J. Miller, DeepMind & UCL, London, UK * Thomas Parr, Oxford University, UK * Melika Payvand, Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zurich & ETH Zurich, Switzerland * Alessandro Treves, International School for Advanced Studies, Italy More Lecturers TBA COURSE DESCRIPTION: https://acain2024.icas.events/course-description/ SYMPOSIUM CALL FOR PAPERS: https://acain2024.icas.events/symposium-call-for-papers/ SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM COMMITTEE (partial list, confirmed members): https://acain2024.icas.events/program-committee/ ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: https://acain2024.icas.events/symposium-committee/ VENUE & ACCOMMODATION: https://acain2024.icas.events/venue/ ACAIN 2024 is a *Residential Conference*, all participants (invited speakers, authors, organizers, chairs, participants) must book and stay at the Riva del Sole Resort and Spa. No exceptions are allowed. https://lod2024.icas.events/lod-2024-a-residential-conference/ Riva del Sole Resort & SPA a: Località Riva del Sole - Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) CAP 58043, Tuscany - Italy p: +39-0564-928111 f: +39-0564-935607 e: booking.events(a)rivadelsole.it w: www.rivadelsole.it/en ACTIVITIES: https://acain2024.icas.events/activities/ REGISTRATION: https://acain2024.icas.events/registration/ See you in Tuscany in September! ACAIN 2024 Organizing Committee. E: acain(a)icas.cc W: https://acain2024.icas.events FB: https://www.facebook.com/ACAIN.LakeDistrict --

April 6, 2024

Applications Open for Analytical Connectionism Summer School 2024

by Matthew Turner

Analytical Connectionism Summer School 2024 Analytical Connectionism is a 2-week summer course on analytical tools, including methods from statistical physics and probability theory, for probing neural networks and higher-level cognition. The course brings together neuroscience, psychology and machine-learning communities, and introduces attendees to analytical methods for neural-network analysis and connectionist theories of higher-level cognition and psychology. Connectionism, a key theoretical approach in psychology, uses neural-network models to simulate a wide range of phenomena, including perception, memory, decision-making, language, and cognitive control. However, most connectionist models remain, to a certain extent, black boxes, and we lack a mathematical understanding of their behaviors. Recent progress in theoretical neuroscience and machine learning has provided novel analytical tools that have advanced our mathematical understanding of deep neural networks, and can help us unravel these ‘black boxes’. This course will introduce (1) mathematical methods for neural-network analysis, providing a solid theoretical and analytical overview of the tools available to understand neural-network models, and (2) key connectionist models with links to experimental observations, and which provide important targets for analytical results. To provide context for the applications of these methods, we will discuss phenomena in psychology that still lack an explanation. During the 2-week course you will: - Attend lectures on theoretical methods and applications, key connectionist models, and experimental observations - Participate in tutorials, Q&A sessions, and panel discussions - Take part in activities such as poster and networking sessions The course will run from Aug. 12 to Aug. 23, 2024, Mondays-Fridays and will end with a 2-day hackathon, during which students will apply what they have learned in group projects. There are no course fees, but attendees are expected to cover their own travel, visa expenses, and any meals not offered by the summer school (morning and afternoon coffee breaks and lunch will be provided Monday-Friday). Accommodation in NYC (for students not living in NYC and surrounding) will be provided by the school. Travel grants inclusive of the above named expenses will be offered to individuals whose participation furthers the goal to promote diversity in systems and computational neuroscience, in particular among populations underrepresented in the scientific workforce as defined by NIH <https://diversity.nih.gov/about-us/population-underrepresented>, including but not limited to racially underrepresented individuals, women, individuals with disabilities and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. Organizers: - Chi-Ning Chou (CCN) - SueYeon Chung (CCN/NYU) - Francesca Mignacco (Princeton/CCN) - Stefano Sarao Mannelli (UCL) - Andrew Saxe (UCL) For more information and to apply, please visit: https://events.simonsfoundation.org/event/e070287e-741e-4809-adea-726914273… Administrative Contact: Alicja Jankowska, CCN Administrative Coordinator, ajankowska(a)flatironinstitute.org Cordially, MATTHEW B. TURNER any pronouns Senior Manager for Center Administration | Center for Computational Neuroscience Flatiron Institute 917.363.1095 mobile mturner(a)flatironinstitute.org 162 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010 simonsfoundation.org/flatiron <https://www.simonsfoundation.org/flatiron/>

April 5, 2024

Available PhD Position at the intersection between AI and Marine Conservation

by Amir Aly

Dear All, We have an available PhD position (*Monitoring health and unlocking social behaviour in bottlenose dolphins with interdisciplinary next-generation technology*) at the intersection of Marine Conservation and AI. More details are available here: Link <https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/schools/school-of-biological-and-marine-sciences…> . The closing date for applications is *22/04/2024**.* Project description Monitoring health and social behaviour in cetacean populations is required for population management and quantification of human impacts. Measures of individual fitness, survival, reproductive success, and sociality can have far-reaching implications for wildlife management and conservation, as populations adapt, or not, to human disturbance. Quantifying individual interactions is the foundation of social behaviour and cetaceans arguably demonstrate some of the most complex social systems in the mammalian world. However, the nature of social relationships in cetaceans remains poorly studied. Cetaceans provide unique research challenges that can constrain data collection and prevent multimodal inference. Recent developments in marine robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and bioacoustics open opportunities for a technology-driven approach for conservation and behavioural research. AI-based techniques employing machine learning to analyse unoccupied aerial systems (UAS)-captured footage, and acoustic data need integration into tools to extract behavioural patterns and allow application to conservation research. The Scottish bottlenose dolphin project is one of the longest running individual-based studies of dolphins in the world, with multi decade sighting histories and life history data. This population has high societal importance, with core habitat impacted by coastal developments and in key areas for UK renewable energy. This project is an opportunity to integrate new generation technologies and contribute vital population and individual level information for conservation management and compliance monitoring for UK renewables. *Project aims and methods* This PhD project will integrate technology-driven data collection across bioacoustics, marine robotics and artificial intelligence to advance animal behaviour research. The project has four main research objectives: - Synchronise and integrate data collection of vocal signals and movement patterns of wild dolphin groups. - Determine social relationships, group behaviour and population demographics from boat-based and UAS still and video imagery. - Explore the boundaries of social behaviour using AI for tracking individuals. - Integrate and disseminate data across research and industrial sectors for policy and conservation management of this protected population. *Research Methodology* The student will collect acoustic, behavioural and UAS data during the annual summer field campaigns run by the Lighthouse Field Station based in Cromarty, Scotland. They will use a modified multi-rotor UAS, fitted with a laser altimeter to collect high-resolution still and video imagery of dolphin groups to verify individual identity information from known bottlenose dolphins within the population, and deploy hydrophones to record underwater acoustics. The student will explore dolphins’ fine-scale spatial interactions and individual movement trajectories and their link to acoustics, as well as morphometric and demographic data. The student will utilize and integrate a suite of AI methodologies to test hypotheses relating to the influence of social relationships and individual identity on group movement and acoustics in dolphins. Training This project will provide the student with multi-disciplinary skills development and training across bioacoustics, behavioural ecology and artificial intelligence. They will complete small boat work and field data collection at a world leading field station enhancing their data collection skills and providing benefits of interaction across two institutions. The student will also benefit from access to the Scottish bottlenose dolphin project longitudinal dataset to inform the individual level analysis that underpins this project, as well as a highly skilled field team to facilitate data collection and individual training. They will receive dedicated training in UAS operation and maintenance and depending on background may receive training in ecology, bioacoustics, artificial intelligence applications and R and Matlab programming. *Supervisory team* The project will be supervised by Dr. Nicola Quick <https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/nicola-quick>, Dr. Clare Embling <https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/clare-embling>, Dr. Barbara Cheney <https://www.abdn.ac.uk/sbs/people/profiles/b.cheney>, and Dr. Amir Aly <https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/amir-aly> If you have questions, pls don't hesitate to ask, Regards ---------------- *Dr. Amir Aly* Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Programme Manager of Artificial Intelligence Center for Robotics and Neural Systems (CRNS) School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics Room A307 Portland Square, Drake Circus, PL4 8AA University of Plymouth, UK

April 5, 2024

New on the VVTNS website and YouTube channel

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] > > <https://streaklinks.com/B6q193DODqR1jYtfTwOu_wvC/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> > https://www.wwtns.online > <https://streaklinks.com/A9c7PbbpKY7PxB6PaAJWGD3-/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> > - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide > New on the VVTNS website and YouTube channel Manuel Beiran Columbia University "Prediction of neural activity in connectome-constrained recurrent networks" talk given on April 3, 2024 https://www.wwtns.online/past-seminars-2023-2024 ------------------------------------ *VVTNS: VVTNS is a weekly digital seminar on Zoom targeting the theoretical neuroscience community. Created as the World Wide Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), its aim is to be a platform to exchange ideas among theoreticians. Speakers have the occasion to talk about theoretical aspects of their work which cannot be discussed in a setting where the majority of the audience consists of experimentalists. The seminars, **held on Wednesdays at 11 am ET,** are 45-50 min long followed by a discussion. The talks are recorded with authorization of the speaker and are available to everybody on our YouTube channel.* -- 'Life is good ..' (Carl van Vreeswijk, 1962-2022) --------------------------------------- David Hansel Directeur de Recherche au CNRS Co-Group leader Cerebral Dynamics Plasticity and Learning lab. 45 rue des Saints Pères 75270 Paris Cedex 06 Tel (Cell): +33 607508403 - Fax (33).1.49.27.90.62 ᐧ

April 5, 2024

[jobs] PhD position(s) in Toulouse (France): Deep learning models of the Global Workspace

by Rufin VanRullen

PhD position(s) in an ERC-funded project exploring deep-learning implementations of the Global Workspace theory. We are seeking highly motivated and dedicated students to join our group in Toulouse, France. Successful candidates will have formal training in AI, Computer Science or related fields (e.g. computational neuroscience), and a keen interest in cognitive neuroscience. Our ERC Advanced Grant "GLoW" aims to take inspiration from neuroscience and cognitive theories to build deep neural network models of cognition, capable of integrating or "grounding" information across sensory and linguistic modalities, and of displaying flexible cognitive behavior. We will also use advanced AI models to improve the decoding and understanding of brain activity. Details on the ideas that are developed in the project can be found in this Opinion paper <https://www.cell.com/trends/neurosciences/fulltext/S0166-2236(21)00077-1>. The project is headed by Rufin VanRullen (CNRS, Toulouse, France), with external advisors Ryota Kanai (Araya, Tokyo, Japan) and Murray Shanahan (ICL/Deepmind, London, UK). Our lab <https://rufinv.github.io/> is part of the CerCo Institute <https://cerco.cnrs.fr/en> as well as the Artificial and Natural Intelligence Toulouse Institute (ANITI) <https://aniti.univ-toulouse.fr/en/>. Our team has many opportunities to collaborate with neuroscientists, computer scientists, linguists, roboticists etc. We have direct access to fMRI recording facilities and to in-house (GPU) computing clusters as well as research-dedicated supercomputers. Typical appointments for PhD students are 3 years. The PhD stipend is 2,000 Euros/month (net). We expect to hire at least one candidate in the Fall of 2024, but will continue to recruit exceptional applicants in the foreseeable future. There is no firm deadline, but applications received before May 15, 2024 will receive full consideration. To apply, please send a CV and a letter <mailto:rufin.vanrullen@cnrs.fr> explaining your research interests and motivations to: rufin.vanrullen [at] cnrs.fr Any questions should also be directed to the same address. --

April 4, 2024

Flatiron Neuro Data Analysis Workshop at Federation of European Neuroscience Societies Forum 2024

by Jessica Hauser

Applications are open for the Flatiron Institute's Center for Computational Neuroscience's first pynapple-fastplotlib-nemos workshop, a satellite event of FENS Forum 2024 in Vienna. Learn neural data analysis, visualization and modeling using state-of-the-art open source python packages developed by the NeuroRSE Group <https://neurorse.flatironinstitute.org/> at CCN. *Accommodation and meals are provided.* Learn more and apply here <https://events.simonsfoundation.org/event/62ec461f-1f9d-4e7b-8827-67e1c47c1…> . *Flatiron CCN Neuro data analysis workshop at Federation of European Neuroscience Societies Forum 2024* *Date: *June 23-24, 2024 *Application deadline: *April 19pynapple <https://pynapple-org.github.io/pynapple/> is a light-weight python library for neurophysiological data analysis. The goal is to offer a versatile set of tools to study typical data in the field, i.e. time series (spike times, behavioral events, etc.) and time intervals (trials, brain states, etc.). It also provides users with generic functions for neuroscience such as tuning curves and cross-correlograms.fastplotlib <https://github.com/fastplotlib/fastplotlib> is a next-gen plotting library built using the pygfx rendering engine that can utilize modern GPUs so it is very fast! It is an expressive plotting library that enables rapid prototyping for large scale explorative scientific visualization.nemos <https://github.com/flatironinstitute/nemos> is a statistical modeling framework for systems neuroscience, with a current focus on electrophysiology, fully compatible with pynapple. As of today, its core functionality includes the implementation of the Generalized Linear Model (GLM) for spike train analysis.If you have any questions, please contact jhauser(a)flatironinstitute.org. -- Jessica Hauser Coordinator, Center Administration Center for Computational Neuroscience *FLATIRON INSTITUTE* 160 Fifth Avenue, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10010 +1 (929) 969-7812 mobile +1 (929) 562-4586 desk

April 4, 2024

Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience Summer School application deadline extension (April 10)

by Chengcheng Huang

Application deadline is extended for the 12th Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience Summer School (CCNSS), which will be held from *June 23 to July 14, 2024*, at *Suzhou, China*. Online application: https://www.csh-asia.org/?content/2382 Application deadline: **April 10, 2024** About CCNSS: Designed to emphasize computational principles and neural circuit mechanisms of higher cognitive functions, the course aims at training talented and highly motivated students and postdoctoral fellows from Asia and around the world. We welcome both applicants with quantitative backgrounds (including Physics, Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Science) and those with experimental backgrounds. The lectures will introduce the basic concepts and methods, as well as cutting-edge research on higher brain functions such as decision-making, attention, learning and memory. Modeling will be taught at multiple levels, ranging from single neuron computation and microcircuits up to large-scale brain systems and artificial intelligence and psychiatric disorders. Python-based programming labs coordinated with the lectures will provide practical training in important computational methods. 2024 Faculty: Hannah Choi, Georgia Institute of Technology Robert Desimone, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Alain Destexhe, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Tomoki Fukai, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Leyla Isik, Johns Hopkins University Máté Lengyel, University of Cambridge Sukbin Lim, New York University, Shanghai Yunzhe Liu, Beijing Normal University Luca Mazzucato, University of Oregon Jorge Mejias, University of Amsterdam Yuanyuan Mi, Tsinghua University Ida Momennajad, Microsoft Research Memming Park, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown Anqi Wu, Georgia Institute of Technology Organizers: Dora Angelaki, New York University Christopher Honey, Johns Hopkins University Chengcheng Huang, University of Pittsburgh Songting Li, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Xiao-Jing Wang, New York University Guangyu Robert Yang, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Supports: Cold Spring Harbor Asia Simons Foundation -- Dr. Chengcheng Huang Assistant Professor Department of Neuroscience Department of Mathematics University of Pittsburgh

April 4, 2024

Neuroinformatics Assembly 2024: Keynote announcement, IP sessions, abstract submissions, & early bird registration

by Heather Topple

*Neuroinformatics Assembly 2024: Keynote announcement,* *IP sessions, abstract submissions, & early bird registration* The INCF Assembly <https://neuroinformatics.incf.org/> is a unique venue where neuroscience standards developers, infrastructure providers, and software developers have the opportunity to interact with the research community to share the latest advancements in neuroinformatics. For the first time since 2019, we're hosting Assembly in-person! Assembly will run from Sep 23-25 in Austin, Texas, with training activities from Sep 26-27. This year's theme is Brain Meets AI: Pioneering the Future of Neuroinformatics. Abstract submission <https://neuroinformatics.incf.org/abstract-submission> and early bird registration <https://neuroinformatics.incf.org/register> are open for INCF Neuroinformatics Assembly 2024 <https://neuroinformatics.incf.org/> - make sure to register before Jun 28 to get the early bird price! Are you interested in presenting at Assembly 2024? We’re seeking 3 investigator presentations for each of the 4 main sessions at INCF Neuroinformatics Assembly 2024: - FAIR neuroscience - Technologies for large-scale computation and team science - Applications of AI to neuroscience research - Closing the discovery loop and digital twins Please submit your investigator presentation abstract via this link <https://neuroinformatics.incf.org/abstract-submission> no later than April 08, 2024. Selected presenters will have their registration fee waived as a thank-you for your contribution. Note: You need to be signed in to submit an abstract, but you don’t need to be an INCF member to create an account. Keynote announcement! Elisabeth Bik, PhD, Microbiome Digest Microbiome specialist Elisabeth Bik is a Microbiome and Science Integrity consultant. She can often be found discussing science papers on Twitter at @MicrobiomDigest <https://twitter.com/MicrobiomDigest>, writing for her blog ScienceIntegrityDigest <https://scienceintegritydigest.com/> or searching the biomedical literature for inappropriately duplicated or manipulated photographic images, plagiarized text, or poor study design and data analysis. Bik’s work has been featured in Nature, Science, the New York Times, Le Monde, Wall Street Journal, STAT News, and The Scientist. Viktor Jirsa, PhD, Institut de Neurosciences des Systemès Dr. Jirsa is one of the Lead Scientists in the Human Brain Project <https://www.humanbrainproject.eu/> and The Virtual Brain <https://www.thevirtualbrain.org/> and has published more than 150 scientific articles and book chapters, as well as co-edited several books including the Handbook of Brain Connectivity <https://www.amazon.ca/Handbook-Brain-Connectivity-Viktor-Jirsa/dp/3540714626>. Dr. Jirsa has made notable contributions to the understanding of how network structure constrains the emergence of functional dynamics using methods from nonlinear dynamic system theory and computational neuroscience. Danilo Bzdok, MD, PhD, Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute Dr Bzdok currently serves as Associate Professor at McGill's Faculty of Medicine and as Canada CIFAR AI Chair at Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, Montreal, Canada, including cross-appointments at the McConnell Brain Imaging Center, Montreal Neurological Institute, Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, and the School of Computer Science at McGill University. His interdisciplinary research activity centers on narrowing knowledge gaps in the brain basis of human-defining types of thinking, with a special focus on the higher association cortex in health and disease. Important dates Mar 15 - Early bird, abstract, & investigator presentation registration open! Apr 08 - IP registration closes Jun 29 - Regular registration Sep 23-25 - Assembly Sep 26-27 - Training See you at Assembly 2024! /The INCF Team

April 4, 2024

2-years post-doc position in neuro-computational AI ethics, ISIR, Sorbonne University, Paris

by Mehdi Khamassi

Context The CAVAA European project (https://cavaa.eu/) proposes to realize a theory of awareness instantiated as an integrated computational architecture and its components to explain awareness in biological systems and engineer it in technological ones. In a world governed by hidden states, awareness enables to deal with the “invisible”, from unexplored environments (counterfactual pasts and futures) to social interaction that depends on the internal states of agents and moral norms. In particular, we will study such cognitive architecture agents’ ability and propensity of reasoning, decision-making, or revisiting past experiences, but also reflecting upon what was right or wrong given some moral norms, and which possible future states could be right or wrong. CAVAA’s awareness engineering is accompanied by an ethics framework towards human users and aware artefacts in the broader spectrum of trustworthy AI, considering shared goals, counterfactuals and projections towards new future scenarios, and prediction of the impact of choices. CAVAA aims to deliver a better user experience because of its explainability, adaptability, and legibility. Location and environment The post-doc position will be located in the Institute of Intelligent Systems and Robotics (ISIR, http://www.isir.upmc.fr) Paris, France. ISIR belongs to Sorbonne Université, CNRS and INSERM, and is located in the center of Paris, thus at walking distance from the Seine river, from other academic institutions (La Sorbonne, Collège de France, Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Université Paris Cité, Hôpital la Pitié Salpétrière), and from famous monuments (Notre Dame, Conciergerie, Panthéon, Théâtre du Châtelet, Institut du Monde Arabe). Speaking or understanding French is not required. This work will be done in close collaborations with philosophers, engineers and computational neuroscientists of the CAVAA consortium. Profile We are looking for highly motivated candidates with a strong academic record. An excellent background is expected at the interface between computational neuroscience and machine learning. Significant experience in cognitive architectures and computational modeling for neuroscience, psychology, AI or cognitive robotics will be appreciated. Mastery of reinforcement learning and game theory, and advanced programming skills in modern C++ and python are required. A strong interest in philosophy of mind and moral philosophy is expected. Mission The post-doc work will focus on ethical reasoning through virtualization, deliberation and alignment with human values. The theoretical framework will be anchored on probabilistic model-based reinforcement learning, extended to include homeostatic, epistemic and social values, including social conventions and moral norms as starting point. Research will investigate learning through interaction with the environment and with other agents, social decision-making, mental simulation and counterfactual reasoning to inform humans about potential long-term consequences of actions. The model will be confronted to experimental data about human decision-making when confronted to various social and moral dilemmas. The model will be integrated into the CAVAA cognitive architecture and applied in artificial agents and robots in virtual and real-world scenarios involving spatial navigation and social interaction. To apply Applicants should send a CV, letter of motivation (max 2 pages), and a list of two references via e-mail to mehdi.khamassi(a)sorbonne-universite.fr and raja.chatila(a)sorbonne-universite.fr. Please put [CAVAA post-doc application] in the subject of the mail. Review of applications will begin immediately, and will continue until the position is filled. -- Mehdi Khamassi, PhD, HDR Research director (DR2), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Institute of Intelligent Systems and Robotics, Sorbonne Université ISIR - BC 173, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France phone: +33 6 50 76 44 92 email: mehdi.khamassi(a)sorbonne-universite.fr https://pages2.isir.upmc.fr/mkhamassi/ Visiting Researcher at the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems National Technical University of Athens, Greece https://www.iccs.gr/en/?noredirect=en_US

April 3, 2024

New positions for postdoc at unipv

by Shailesh Appukuttan

*(posting on behalf of Simona Tritto)* *New calls for postdoc positions are now open at the Neurophysiology/Neurocomputation Units of the University of Pavia coordinated by prof. Egidio D'Angelo *(dangelo lab <https://dangelo.unipv.it/>) · Spiking neural networks for digital brain twins of schizophrenia <https://dangelo.unipv.it/2024/03/20/7606/> · Generation and simulation of a cerebellar robotic controller <https://dangelo.unipv.it/2024/03/20/new-position-1-generation-and-simulatio…> · Workflow design and signal analysis <https://dangelo.unipv.it/2024/03/20/new-position-3-workflow-design-and-sign…> Many thanks, best wishes Simona [image: LOGO-UNIPV] Simona Tritto Dipartimento di Scienze del Sistema Nervoso e del Comportamento Scientific Technician T. 0382.987048 <0382987048>

April 3, 2024

Call for participants -- WasON study

by Davide Coraci

Dear list members, We are recruiting participants worldwide and it would be fantastic if you could take part in the WasON study. The aim of the study is to investigate how *neuroscientists* and researchers (psychologists, cognitive scientists, philosophers, etc.) with some familiarity with neuroimaging techniques draw associations between *cognitive processes* and *fMRI data* observed experimentally. The study has been developed by the SANe and the MInD units (MoMiLab <https://momilab.imtlucca.it/> research group at IMT School Lucca, Italy) and can be found here: https://www.sane-elab.eu/NRIA/welcome.php. The questionnaire can be completed through PC or smartphone (however, the use of the PC is warmly suggested to visualize the fMRI maps better). Collected data will be completely *anonymous*. Once the questionnaire is finished, you can *check your accuracy* and decide to continue with another set of questions. In this case, please do not close or restart the session, otherwise the system will create another participant ID. We ask you to complete the questionnaire individually. However, after completing the survey you may want to compare your score with one of your lab mates and colleagues. Feel free to forward the link to anyone you think could be interested. If you have any questions or just want to be updated with the results of the study, please do not hesitate to contact us (davide.coraci(a)imtlucca.it) Thank you very much for your availability and your time. All the best, Davide Coraci -- Davide Coraci Phd Student IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca MoMiLab <https://momilab.imtlucca.it> - *Molecular Mind Laboratory* MInD <https://momilab.imtlucca.it/research/mind> - *Models, Inference, and Decisions * https://www.davidecoraci.com/welcome.php

April 3, 2024

positions available in consciousness research: 2x postdoc and 3x PhD

by Anil Seth

Apologies for cross posting: 2x Postdoc and 3x PhD new positions now available at Sussex! Do you have a strong background in cognitive and computational neuroscience and a desire to contribute to the cutting edge of consciousness research? Two postdoctoral research positions and three PhD positions are now available at the Sussex Centre for Consciousness Science (SCCS; https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ccs/) The SCCS is a University of Sussex Centre of Excellence and an internationally prominent group in consciousness science, situated in the beautiful Falmer campus of Sussex University, and boasting enviable research facilities as well as strong collaborative links with a range of national and international partners. The positions are supported by an ERC Advanced Investigator Grant (project CONSCIOUS; 2 postdocs and 2 PhDs) to Anil Seth, and by the SCCS, via the School of Informatics and Engineering (1 PhD). The postdoc positions funded for 2 years with possible extension for another 2, starting as soon as suitable candidates are identified. The PhD positions are fully funded (for both UK and overseas candidates) for 3.5 years, starting in September 2024 (earlier start may be negotiable). The ERC positions are all within the broad remit of computational (neuro)phenomenology, exploring different applications of a predictive processing view of conscious perception. One of the ERC PhD positions will focus on perceptual diversity, analysing and extending our unique Perception Census project (https://perceptioncensus.dreamachine.world/) The SCCS PhD is flexible in terms of project focus and supervisor; here, we invite PhD proposals that have a computational/informatics element. *Updated Deadline*. Apply by April 26 for all positions. Further details, including how to apply, are here: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/centres/sussex-centre-for-consciousness-s… ------------------------------------------- Anil K. Seth, D.Phil. Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, University of Sussex Director, Sussex Centre for Consciousness Science, University of Sussex Co-Director, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Program on Brain, Mind, and Consciousness Advanced Investigator, European Research Council Editor-in-Chief, Neuroscience of Consciousness www.anilseth.com @anilkseth [Being You Pb Digital Assets v1 Email copy.png]

April 3, 2024

Dana Ballard memorial symposium at ICDL (May 20, 2024), UT Austin

by Reinoud Maex

From: Brian Sullivan <brian.sullivan(a)bristol.ac.uk<mailto:brian.sullivan@bristol.ac.uk>> Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2024 14:27 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>> Subject: Dana Ballard memorial symposium at ICDL (May 20, 2024), UT Austin On May 20, 2024, a memorial symposium will be held as a remembrance and celebration of the life and scientific work of Dr. Dana Ballard (1946–2022), who was a pioneer in the study of computer vision, neural computation, human vision and motor coordination, and robotics. Dr. Ballard was a professor of computer science at the University of Texas at Austin and a member of the Center for Perceptual Systems. As part of the IEEE International Conference on Development and Learning (ICDL) 2024,https://la.utexas.edu/users/dil/ICDL_Austin_2024/<https://la.utexas.edu/users/dil/ICDL_Austin_2024>, we will host a morning seminar session celebrating Dana Ballard’s research with presentations by: Rajesh Rao, Jochen Triesch, Chen Yu, Virginia De Sa, Constantin Rothkopf, Janneke Jehee, and Ruohan Zhang. Memorial Session Website: https://la.utexas.edu/users/dil/symposium%20_icdl/index.html<https://la.utexas.edu/users/dil/symposium%20_icdl/index.html> Date: Monday May 20, 2024 Time: 8:30 am to 12:00 pm Location: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA The session is free but we ask that you kindly register your plans to attend via the Google form listed on the session website, or via the direct link here: Registration for the Dana Ballard Memorial Symposium at ICDL 2024 (google.com)<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScI5RRtrBBlKpEi3wcXw30MBM3nfe7mwCj…> Note that registration for the main conference is not required, but if you are interested in attending the main conference, you can register here: https://web.cvent.com/event/298b4f7f-1772-4c46-b774-f438a164f72f/summary<https://web.cvent.com/event/298b4f7f-1772-4c46-b774-f438a164f72f/summary> Information about accommodation is available on the main conference web page. Brian Sullivan & Chen Yu -- Brian Sullivan brian.sullivan(a)bristol.ac.uk<mailto:brian.sullivan@bristol.ac.uk> Honorary Research Fellow Population Health Sciences Bristol Medical School BF7 Barley House University of Bristol Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK

April 3, 2024

Applications are now open for CAMP2024

by Jeevan Kumar Gochhayat

Dear All, Applications for CAMP 2024 are now open <https://campiiser.com/>! . CAMP (Computational Approaches to Memory and Plasticity) summer school is a two-week program that provides Ph.D. students and postdocs with training in the areas of learning, memory, and plasticity in the brain. The program will take place between 1st and 17th July 2024 at IISER Pune <https://www.iiserpune.ac.in/>, India. Deadline for application submission is 23rd April ,2024. Apply now at https://campiiser.com/ Please circulate the course information among labs/departments/students that might be interested. You can also follow us on X (formerly Twitter) : https://x.com/camp_course?t=p_3pXlqRl3yNmRgb83_AMQ&s=09 CAMP invites Ph.D. students, master’s students, final-year undergraduates, and postdocs worldwide from all backgrounds to CAMP@Pune. At this intensive 17-day course, students will be trained in theoretical and computational modeling of memory and plasticity in the brain, spanning different scales of space, time, and complexity. This year’s flavor of CAMP will be Data-Driven Neuroscience. The course will have lectures, hands-on tutorials, and projects to launch students into the exciting field of computational neuroscience. Accommodation and meals will be covered for the participants. More details on the poster <https://campiiser.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/CAMP2024.pdf>. For more information please visit https://campiiser.com/ or email us at: camp(a)acads.iiserpune.ac.in On behalf of the organisers, Aravind Kumar Collins Assisi Rishikesh Narayanan Suhita Nadkarni Upi Bhalla ReplyForward

April 3, 2024

Modellers Workshop for the Brain Dynamics Toolbox

by Stewart Heitmann

Enrolments are now open for the Modellers Workshop for the Brain Dynamics Toolbox. This is an online course for researchers who wish to build custom dynamical models in matlab using the Brain Dynamics Toolbox. The course focuses on practical programming techniques for the major classes of differential equations (ordinary, partial, delay, stochastic) in computational neuroscience. Study time is 8 hours. Example code is provided in all cases. Upon completion, students will be able to turn custom differential equations into working simulations. Course Website https://bdtoolbox.teachable.com/p/modellers-workshop Toolbox Website https://bdtoolbox.org Important Dates Enrolments close 28th April 2024. Disclaimer The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. This email has been scanned for viruses and malware, and may have been automatically archived by Mimecast Ltd, an innovator in Software as a Service (SaaS) for business. Providing a safer and more useful place for your human generated data. Specializing in; Security, archiving and compliance. To find out more visit the Mimecast website.

April 2, 2024

Optics and Microscopy Workshop, Goniądz, Poland - Deadline April 10th

by Mateusz Kostecki

Dear Colleagues We would like to remind you that the deadline for registration to our Optics and Microscopy Workshop is April 10th! The workshop will be a *thorough, hands–on introduction to optics and microscopy*. With our instructor, Fred Marbach from Crick Institute, we will start from absolute basics – *photons, ray diagrams and lenses*; then move to building a simple optical system, just to *end up building DIY bright-field and fluorescent microscopes.* We will image neurons (hopefully!), and understand every last bit of how that image came to be (this is a certainty!). During the workshop you will build an intuition for optics, allowing you to reason about optical systems found in the lab (and in publications): you will understand the equipment you are using on a much deeper level. The workshop will take place *May 10-12th in Goniądz*, in Dwór Bartla, overlooking the beautiful Biebrza river, which at this time of the year provides great opportunities for birdwatching. The deadline for registration is April 5th,* the cost of the workshop is EUR 250 (but we provide fee waivers if needed)*. The cost includes the r*egistration fee, accommodation, breakfast and lunch.* Please find the registration form and more info here - https://nenckiopenlab.org/optics-and-microscopy-workshop-2024/ Best! NOL Team -- --- Mateusz Kostecki PhD Student Knapska Laboratory Nencki Institute 02-093 Warsaw, Pasteura 3, Poland https://twitter.com/mtkostecki https://evolvingbehavior.blog/

April 2, 2024

PhD Studentships in Computational Neuroscience at the University of Hertfordshire, UK

by Volker Steuber

PhD Studentships in Computational Neuroscience Biocomputation Research Group School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science University of Hertfordshire, UK Application deadline 1 May 2024 Bursary £19,632 per annum bursary plus the payment of the student fees Applications are invited from candidates with excellent first degrees in computer science, engineering, physics, maths, biology, neuroscience or other relevant disciplines to join projects as research students. Projects are available in (but not limited to): Computational Modelling of Homeostatic Plasticity Mechanisms for Functional Recovery of Neuronal Networks after Peripheral Lesions (supervisors Dr Muhammad Yaqoob, Dr Ankur Sinha, UCL, Dr Christoph Metzner, Technical University Berlin, Prof Volker Steuber). Mathematical Modelling of Microglia and the Neuroimmune System (supervisors Dr Alireza Poshtkohi, Prof Volker Steuber). Research in Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire has been recognised as excellent in REF 2021, with 90% of the research submitted and all of the research impact rated as internationally excellent or world leading. The University of Hertfordshire provides a very stimulating environment, offering a large number of specialised and interdisciplinary seminars as well as general training and researcher development opportunities. The University is situated in Hatfield, in the green belt just north of London. For informal enquiries contact Prof Volker Steuber (v.steuber(a)herts.ac.uk) Dr Mohammad Yaqoob (m.yaqoob3(a)herts.ac.uk) or Dr Alireza Poshtkohi (a.poshtkohi(a)herts.ac.uk) Detailed project descriptions and an application form can be found at: https://www.herts.ac.uk/study/schools-of-study/physics-engineering-and-comp… Volker Steuber Professor of Computational Neuroscience Biocomputation Research Group School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science University of Hertfordshire College Lane, Hatfield, AL10 9AB, UK biocomputation.herts.ac.uk<http://biocomputation.herts.ac.uk> ________________________________

April 2, 2024

Paper Submission Deadline May 1st: From Animals to Animats: 17th International Conference on the Simulation of Adaptive Behavior (SAB 2024)

by Jeffrey L Krichmar

Dear Colleagues, The submission deadline for SAB 2024 is one month away! More information about the conference can be found at: https://sites.uci.edu/sab2024/ CFP DEADLINE: From Animals to Animats: 17th International Conference on the Simulation of Adaptive Behavior (SAB 2024) CALL FOR PAPERS - SAB 2024 ------------------------------------------- The Simulation of Adaptive Behavior (SAB) interdisciplinary conference brings together researchers in artificial intelligence, artificial life, computer science, cybernetics, ethology, evolutionary biology, neuroscience, robotics, and many other fields, to further our understanding of the behaviors and underlying mechanisms that allow natural animals and artificial agents to adapt and survive in complex, dynamic and uncertain environments. Animats denote the connection between animals and synthetic agents. The conference focuses on models and experiments designed to help characterize and compare various organizational principles and architectures underlying adaptive behavior in real animals and in animats. SAB 2024 solicits contributions dealing with any aspect of adaptive behavior. We especially invite submissions from researchers who connect biology and natural behavior to synthetic agents. Conference papers are peer-reviewed and accepted papers will be published in “From Animals to Animats 17. SAB 2024.” Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence, Springer Nature. Venue -------- CalIT2 Auditorium University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA 92697 USA Important Dates ——————————— May 1, 2024: Deadline for paper submission May 1, 2024: Deadline for Workshop and tutorial proposals June15, 2024: Notice of acceptance June 30, 2024: Camera-ready papers September 9-12: Conference dates Jeff Krichmar Department of Cognitive Sciences 2328 Social & Behavioral Sciences Gateway University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA 92697-5100 jkrichma(a)uci.edu http://www.socsci.uci.edu/~jkrichma https://sites.uci.edu/sab2024/

April 1, 2024

World wide VVTNS series: Wednesday, April 3 at 11am (EDT),Manuel Beiran Columbia University | Prediction of neural activity in connectome-constrained recurrent networks

by David Hansel

Important: North America moved to daylight savings time on March 10 Please check the time in your country ------------------- [image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the lecture given by Manuel Beiran Columbia University on the topic of "Prediction of neural activity in connectome-constrained recurrent networks *"* The lecture will be held on zoom on *April 3, 2024*, at *11:00 am EDT * To receive the zoom link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: *In this talk, I will explain a theory of connectome-constrained neural networks in which a “student” network is trained to reproduce the activity of a ground-truth “teacher”, representing a neural system for which a connectome is available. Unlike standard paradigms with unconstrained connectivity, here both networks have the same connectivity but they have different biophysical parameters, reflecting uncertainty in neuronal and synaptic properties. We find that the connectome is often insufficient to constrain the dynamics of networks that perform a specific task, illustrating the difficulty of inferring function from connectivity alone. However, recordings from a small subset of neurons can remove this degeneracy, producing dynamics in the student that agree with the teacher. Our theory can prioritize which neurons to record from to most efficiently unmeasured network activity. The analysis shows that the solution spaces of connectome-constrained and unconstrained models are qualitatively different, and provides a framework to determine when such models yield consistent dynamics. *About VVTNS : Created as the World Wide Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), its aim is to be a platform to exchange ideas among theoreticians. Speakers have the occasion to talk about theoretical aspects of their work which cannot be discussed in a setting where the majority of the audience consists of experimentalists. The seminars, **held on Wednesdays at 11 am ET,** are 45-50 min long followed by a discussion. The talks are recorded with authorization of the speaker and are available to everybody on our YouTube channel.* -- 'Life is good ..' (Carl van Vreeswijk, 1962-2022) --------------------------------------- David Hansel Directeur de Recherche au CNRS Co-Group leader Cerebral Dynamics Plasticity and Learning lab., CNRS 45 rue des Saints Pères 75270 Paris Cedex 06 Tel (Cell): +33 607508403 - Fax (33).1.49.27.90.62 ᐧ

March 31, 2024

Research Summit on Fundamental Challenges for AI. Mountain View, April 15th.

by Battleday, Ruairidh

We are most excited to announce the AE Spring Summit on Fundamental Challenges for AI (Computer History Museum, Mountain View; April 15th). www.algopreneurship.org This is a day of keynote talks and panels by leading AI researchers on what the open problems for the development of AI algorithms are, and promising scientific and engineering strategies for solving them. We have invited speakers and representatives from the following five technical stakeholder groups to this Summit: - Academia - Tech - FROs / nonprofits - Start-up - VCs / Funders By soliciting answers and discussions from scientists and leaders at these different groups we hope to also examine what their different roles will be in the next period of AI research, and to foster the sharing of research between them. This should be an exciting and productive day, and we have made lower-priced tickets available for students and early-stage researchers. Lunch and a reception will be provided. We look forward to seeing some of you there, and please feel free to share news about the event on social media. The Thinking About Thinking <http://www.thinkingaboutthinking.org> Team Twitter / X: https://bit.ly/springsummitaix LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/springsummitaiLI -- Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday BMBCh (Oxon) PhD Postdoctoral Research Fellow Center for Brain Science, Harvard University Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines, MIT

March 29, 2024

Doctoral studies in the computational neuroscience of decision-making

by Paul Cisek

Doctoral studies in the computational neuroscience of decision-making Department of Neuroscience, University of Montreal Applications are invited for doctoral studies in computational neuroscience, in the laboratory of Paul Cisek at the University of Montreal. Our research investigates the neural mechanisms of embodied decision-making and action planning in humans and non-human primates using computational models of the nervous system integrated with behavioral experiments, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and multi-electrode recording in multiple regions of the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia. New projects will use virtual reality to study naturalistic behavior in humans and non-human primates and develop theoretical models of how distributed cortical and subcortical circuits govern continuous interaction with a dynamic environment. We are currently seeking a PhD student whose primary project will involve mathematical models that capture and explain data from previous and current experiments and make testable predictions for future work. Students with a strong background in mathematics, engineering, computer science, or physics, coupled with a keen interest in theoretical neuroscience are encouraged to apply. Prior experience in neurophysiology, behavioral neuroscience and/or computational modeling of neural systems is desirable. Interested candidates are asked to send a curriculum vita, copies of academic transcripts, a statement of research interests and the names and contact information for two references, to Paul Cisek (paul.cisek(a)umontreal.ca<mailto:paul.cisek@umontreal.ca>). Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but preference will be given to applications received before April 30, 2024. Paul Cisek, PhD Département de neurosciences Université de Montréal Physical: 2960 chemin de la tour, local 4117 Montréal, QC H3T 1J4 CANADA Mailing: CP 6128 Succursale centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7 CANADA e-mail: paul.cisek(a)umontreal.ca<mailto:paul.cisek@umontreal.ca> Web: www.cisek.org/pavel<http://www.cisek.org/pavel>

March 28, 2024

Present at Assembly 2024: Submit your IP session abstract today

by INCF

Present at Assembly 2024: Submit your IP session abstract today! Deadline: April 08 **please share with your networks** Are you interested in speaking at INCF Neuroinformatics Assembly 2024 <https://neuroinformatics.incf.org/>? We are seeking 3 investigator presentations for each of the 4 main sessions at INCF Neuroinformatics Assembly 2024: - FAIR neuroscience - Technologies for large-scale computation and team science - Applications of AI to neuroscience research - Closing the discovery loop and digital twins Those selected for investigator presentations will have their registration fee waived. See the full list of topics & apply today <http://bit.ly/INCFabstracts> Poster abstract submissions <https://neuroinformatics.incf.org/abstract-submission> and early bird registration <https://neuroinformatics.incf.org/register> are also open - be sure to check them out while time lasts! /The INCF Team

March 28, 2024

Position of Associate Professor in software engineering and Computer Science, University of Lille

by Chaabane Djeraba

The position of Associate Professor in computer science is open at the University of Lille. It is open for the FOX research team (https://www.cristal.univ-lille.fr/equipes/fox/; doi: 10.1109/TAFFC.2019.2949559), which wishes to strengthen research in the field of computer vision, and in particular: * software engineering for computer vision * computer vision and artificial intelligence * spiking neural network and neuromorphic approaches to computer vision * frugal learning for computer vision https://galaxie.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/antares/fichePosteAntee?t… Candidates will be expected to publish in vision-related conferences and journals. In terms of disciplinary teaching, there is a strong need for courses in areas such as software engineering, databases, computer architecture, system programming, networks, cybersecurity; programming and software engineering; algorithms, automata, languages, logic; data, AI, machine learning; HMI, vision, image processing. More generally, the experience of candidates coming to reinforce all the department's teaching units will be appreciated. Contact: Chaabane Djeraba (chaabane.djeraba(a)univ-lille.fr) and Ioan Marius Bilasco (marius.bilasco(a)univ-lille.fr) for further information. Deadline : Friday 29 March 2024, 4 PM, heure de Paris Start date : 01 September 2024 — Chaabane Djeraba Professeur des Universités en Informatique Univ. Lille CRIStAL CNRS - UMR 9189 Cité Scientifique 59650 Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex - France ----oooOooo---- Recent papers of the target research team: DOI: 10.1109/TIP.2021.3129120 DOI: 10.1109/TAFFC.2019.2949559 Doi: 10.1016/j.neucom.2023.126805 Doi: 10.1109/TAFFC.2021.3124142 Doi: 10.1016/j.patcog.2019.04.016 ----ooooOooo----

March 27, 2024

Deadline approaching: Call for Satellite Workshop Proposals - Bernstein Conference 2024

by Alexander Lammers

The Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience invites proposals for Satellite Workshops at the Bernstein Conference 2024 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Deadline: April 10, 2024 – 15:00 CEST ____ Bernstein Conference Each year, the Bernstein Network invites the international computational neuroscience community to the annual Bernstein Conference for intensive scientific exchange. It has established itself as one of the most renowned conferences worldwide in this field, attracting students, postdocs, and PIs from around the world to meet and discuss new scientific discoveries. https://www.bernstein-conference.de/ ____ Invited speakers Dmitriy Aronov (Columbia University, USA) Alison Barker (Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Germany) Helen Barron (University of Oxford, UK) Elizabeth Buffalo (University of Washington, USA) Alex Cayco Gajic (Ecole Normale Supérieure, France) Jan Drugowitsch (Harvard University, USA) Jakob Macke (University of Tübingen, Germany) Tirin Moore (Stanford University, USA) Mala Murthy (Princeton University, USA) Memming Park (Champalimaud Foundation, Portugal) Xiao-Jing Wang (New York University, USA) ____ Satellite Workshops Satellite Workshops of the Bernstein Conference 2024 provide a forum to discuss topical research questions, novel scientific approaches, and challenges in computational neuroscience and related fields. Ideally, the format should foster extensive scientific discussions and debates, and go beyond a mere series of talks. https://bernstein-network.de/bernstein-conference/call-for-satellite-worksh… ____ Important Dates Satellite Workshops: September 29 - 30, 2024 * Sunday, Sep 29, 14:00 - 18:30 CEST * Monday, Sep 30, 8:30 - 12:30 CEST Main Conference: September 30 - October 2, 2024 Deadline for Satellite Workshop proposal submission: April 10, 2024 – 15:00 CEST Notification of Satellite Workshop acceptance: May 2024 ____ Benefits of participation Satellite Workshop registration is free for speakers of workshops. Workshop organizers (max. 2 per workshop) will receive waivers for the Satellite Workshops and Main Conference. ____ For any further questions, please contact: bernstein.conference(a)fz-juelich.de<mailto:bernstein.conference@fz-juelich.de> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52425 Jülich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Jülich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Düren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Stefan Müller Geschäftsführung: Prof. Dr. Astrid Lambrecht (Vorsitzende), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Dr. Ir. Pieter Jansens ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

March 27, 2024

Last few days to apply to the Eresfjord School "Mathematical Methods in Computational Neuroscience"

by Ines Samengo

If you are a master, a PhD student, or a postdoc working in computational neuroscience, you may want to consider applying to the Eresfjord summer school "Mathematical Methods in Computational Neuroscience" taking place in Eresfjord, Norway, between the 8th and the 16th July 2024. The deadline is next Sunday 31st March. More information in https://www.compneuronrsn.org/

March 27, 2024

Postdoc/Master position ML

by Sivan Kinreich

Please forward this to those who may be interested: Dr. Kinreich's group at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, NY ( https://www.pmbd2.org/) investigates the structural and functional neural networks (fMRI, EEG), genetics, and other phenotypes associated with the risk and resilience factors underlying the development of brain diseases. We use advanced machine learning algorithms and seek a skilled, motivated, and enthusiastic individual with a Master's degree / postdoctoral fellow to join the lab. The position: Education: Candidates must have a Master's degree or a Ph.D. degree (or towards completion) in computational neuroscience, biology, computer science, data science, or a related discipline. Computer and General Skills: Knowledge of experimental statistics and excellent programming skills are required (Python, Matlab). High-level expertise in neuroimaging analyses is a plus. Previous experience in machine learning analysis and computational modeling is desirable. Takes initiative. Strong communications skills and research productivity, as well as the ability to work effectively in a research team. Duties and Responsibilities: • Managing and analyzing big data, including neuroimaging, genetics, and clinical data • Writing machine learning programs in Python and Matlab to identify patterns in data • Writing manuscripts • Presenting findings at national conferences and local seminars/meetings This job is available immediately for 2 years. Job is open until filled. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications according to NIH scales. Candidates should send their CV, representative publications, and contact information of two references to Sivan Kinreich, email: sivan.kinreich(a)downstate.edu Sivan Kinreich, Ph.D. Department of Psychiatry Prediction Modeling and Biomarker Discovery of Brain Disorders lab (PMBD2) Henri Begleiter Neurodynamics Laboratory SUNY Downstate Medical Center 450 Clarkson Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11203 Tel: 718-270-3322 646-775-8509 Email: sivan.kinreich(a)downstate.edu sivankinreich(a)gmail.com ________________________________ The contents of this email message and any attachments are confidential and are intended solely for the addressee. The information may also be legally privileged. This transmission is sent in trust, for the sole purpose of delivery to the intended recipient. If you have received this transmission in error, any use, reproduction or dissemination of this transmission is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please immediately notify sender by reply email or by (718) 270-HELP.

March 26, 2024

FLUX workshop for MEG data analysis

by Qiaoyu Chen

[cid:e934249d-37a9-41ef-9696-bb8c8f3992cf]Toolkit in Using the FLUX Pipeline for MEG Research Join us for an immersive learning experience using the FLUX pipeline for MEG data analysis Toolkit at the Centre for Human Brain Health at the University of Birmingham from 11th -14th June 2024. The FLUX pipeline<https://www.neuosc.com/single-project>, is an approach for analysing Magnetoencephalography (MEG) data using state-of-of-the art approaches and standards. Whether you are a newcomer to research using MEG or a healthcare professional integrating MEG into clinical practice, this course is designed to elevate your skills and advance your research capabilities. · Gain practical skills: Learn to streamline data preprocessing, event-related field spectral analysis, source modeling, multi-variate pattern analysis, and reporting using the FLUX pipeline. This pipeline is based on the widely used MNE-Python toolbox. · Enhance research practices: Learn the embraces practices for data curation (BIDS), reproducible research, open science, and standardized reporting empowering you to publish reliable and transparent findings. · Cognitive Neuroscience and Clinical Research: Learn how the FLUX pipeline is used in our MEG research projects. · Engage in interactive learning: Connect with world-leading experts and fellow attendees in discussions, exercises, and networking opportunities, fostering valuable collaborations and knowledge exchange. Application (pre-registration) deadline: 15th April 2024, 11:59 pm (GMT) Join us at the Centre for Human Brain Health for the FLUX toolkit course<https://www.neuosc.com/flux-toolkit>! For pre-registration, please visit https://www.neuosc.com/pre-registration. Contact us at q.chen.5(a)bham.ac.uk<mailto:q.chen.5@bham.ac.uk> for further details.

March 26, 2024

Cogitate Connectivity Data Challenge at BIOMAG 2024

by Qiaoyu Chen

We’re thrilled to invite researchers and enthusiasts to the Cogitate Connectivity Data Challenge<https://www.arc-cogitate.com/biomag-2024>, a featured event at BIOMAG 2024<https://www.biomag2024.org/cms/call-for-submissions-2-2/>! [cid:00d63bba-7772-41cb-8330-edb48529bde1] What’s the Challenge About? The Cogitate Connectivity Data Challenge aims to scrutinize contrasting predictions of two neuroscientific theories of consciousness: Global Neuronal Workspace Theory (GNWT) and Integrated Information Theory (IIT). Your task is to explore meaningful measures of functional connectivity using MEG data sets collected from healthy volunteers. MEG data have been collected from approximately 100 participants. The first batch of data will be available from March 25, 2024, setting the stage for your initial discoveries. Following this, the replication dataset will be released on June 15, 2024, offering further opportunities to validate and deepen your findings. Timeline * Data release - Batch 1: March 25, 2024 * Report - First draft/preregistration: June 14, 2024 [23:59 GMT] * Data release - Batch 2: June 15, 2024 * Report - Replication: July 15, 2024 [23:59 GMT] * Competition scoring: July 16 - August 25, 2024 * Competition results: August 26-29 @ BIOMAG 24 Prizes Entries will be evaluated by a board from the Cogitate Consortium, with prizes awarded as follows: * 1st prize: $1000 * 2nd prize: $500 * 3rd prize: $250 The winners will be announced at BIOMAG 2024<https://www.biomag2024.org/cms/call-for-submissions-2-2/> in Sydney (Australia), August 26-29, 2024. For more information, visit the Cogitate Connectivity Data Challenge<https://www.arc-cogitate.com/biomag-2024> website. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to us at cogitateconnectivitychallenge(a)gmail.com<mailto:cogitateconnectivitychallenge@gmail.com>. Best regards, the Organizing Committee

March 26, 2024

PhD/Postdoc positions available at the Max Plank Institute in Leipzig (Germany) and BCBL in San Sebastian (Spain)

by Alejandro Tabas

The Perceptual Inference Group is building an interdisciplinary team of cognitive and computational neuroscientists to work at the interface between machine learning and ultra-high-resolution fMRI. We are currently looking for postdocs and PhD students. Our group investigates how cortical and subcortical populations of the brain work together to infer the content of noisy sensory signals at multiple timescales. We work primarily in the auditory modality and the human brain, but collaborate closely with animal electrophysiologists. The positions are funded by the ERC and there will plenty of funding for conferences, traveling between Leipzig and San Sebastian, and visiting our large network of international collaborators. The positions will be primarily based in one of the two cities and traveling will be optional. Ideal candidates will have a background in either cognitive neuroscience (including experimental psychology) or a quantitative discipline (physics, computer science, statistics, or related) and a keen interest in building models of brain function. Experience on layer-fMRI, probabilistic modelling, high-resolution fMRI data analysis, state-space models, auditory experimental paradigms, and/or predictive processing are bonuses. For more information and for applying, please check: (For the PhD/Postdoc positions based in San Sebastian): https://www.bcbl.eu/en/join-us/job-offers (Job offers from the Perceptual Inference Group) (For the PhD/Postdoc position based in Leipzig): https://recruitingapp-5218.de.umantis.com/Vacancies/412/Description/2/Defau… For questions and/or enquires please feel free to contact me at tabas[at]bcbl[dot]eu or tabas[at]cbs[dot]mpg[dot]de, I'm more than happy to chat informally about the positions! Cheers, Alejandro.

March 26, 2024

Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence meeting - Bordeaux May 23-24

by Arthur Leblois

Dear compneuro list members, The French Society for Neuroscience organizes a meeting on *Neuroscience and Artificial intelligence <https://www.neurosciences.asso.fr/JT2024/>*, taking place on the 23 and 24rd of May 2024 in Bordeaux, France. It will be an important place and time to discuss about state of the art in the fields joining neuroscience and AI developments. Also plenty of time to debate about current technical, theoretical, and ethical issues, and of future directions to take, which should impact way beyond neuroscience. Early bird registration <https://www.neurosciences.asso.fr/JT2024/inscriptions>on th*e 31st of March*, registration deadline 7th of May. Please forward to your colleagues, collaborators, and advertise in your respective networks! Looking forward to seeing you in Bordeaux! Arthur Leblois, Emmanuel Procyk, and Nicolas Rougier, coordinators

March 25, 2024

School of Ideas in Neuroscience 2024: Deadline March 29th

by Mateusz Kostecki

Hello! We would like to remind you that the deadline for application to School of Ideas in Neuroscience 2024* is Friday, March 29th!* How the knowledge in neuroscience is accumulated? How can we make sense of the terabytes of empirical data we collect every day? In everyday work, we often forget that every scientific endeavour is embedded in a broader theoretical framework. At the same time, most courses and workshops in neuroscience teach us experimental techniques, giving us more tools to gather more data. But, we are not taught how to develop ideas and integrate our research with the existing knowledge. *We believe that theoretical thinking and idea development are skills that can be trained just as new methodologies and data analysis tools*. At our school, we aim to teach participants how to think theoretically to collect data that makes sense and to make sense of collected data! Come to Warsaw to discuss the most exciting theories and ideas with neuroscientists & philosophers! We provide beautiful surroundings, great atmosphere and a lot of time to talk and think together. The school will take place in Warsaw, *July 9th - July 15th 2024*, in the famous historical building of Polish Academy of Sciences Museum of the Earth, in the beautiful park area of the city. *The fee is EUR 550, but we offer fee waivers and travel grants*. Please find more info and the application form here - https://nenckiopenlab.org/school-of-ideas-2024/ Best, School of Ideas Team -- --- Mateusz Kostecki PhD Student Knapska Laboratory Nencki Institute 02-093 Warsaw, Pasteura 3, Poland https://twitter.com/mtkostecki https://evolvingbehavior.blog/

March 25, 2024

CFP: Workshops in conjunction with FRCCS 2024, Montpellier, France May 28, 2024

by Hocine Cherifi

We encourage researchers to participate in the FRCCS 2024 <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/> workshops to share their insights and foster interdisciplinary collaborations in the study of complex systems. *Workshops* · Modeling Cities and Regions as Complex and Evolving Systems · Beauty in Complexity · Network Sparsification & beyond *Important dates* Submission Deadline: *April 14* Final Decisions Released:* April 17* Camera-Ready Deadline: *April 30* *1) **Modeling Cities and Regions as Complex and Evolving Systems* <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/workshop-on-modeling-cities-and-…> Cities consist of interacting entities, such as people and infrastructure, and exhibit emergent properties, which appear additionally to the sum of the isolated properties. This makes cities a prime example of complex systems. Accordingly, complexity theories and methods are particularly relevant to their study. By focusing on the commonalities that underpin urban systems, the workshop seeks to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and explore novel approaches to studying cities as complex entities. *More info at: * *https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/workshop-on-modeling-cities-and-regions-as-complex-and-evolving-systems/* <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/workshop-on-modeling-cities-and-…> *Workshop chair* *Daniela Cialfi - NRCouncil of Italy - **danielacialfi(a)gmail.com <danielacialfi(a)gmail.com>* *2) **Beauty in Complexity* <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/beauty-in-complexity/> The Beauty in Complexity exhibition invites researchers to share the visual wonders of their work with a wide and diverse audience. Whether it's a photograph, diagram, visualization, or montage, we encourage submissions that evoke curiosity and wonder. We seek captivating visuals showcasing the beauty found within complex systems research. More info at: https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/beauty-in-complexity/ *Workshop chairs* Benjamin Renoust - *Median Technologies,- renoust@gmail <benjamin.renoust(a)mediantechnologies.com>.com *Arnaud Sallaberry - *LIRMM *- *arnaud.sallaberry(a)lirmm.fr* <arnaud.sallaberry(a)lirmm.fr> *3) **Network Sparsification & beyond* <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/complex-network-sparsification/> Numerous algorithms are designed to construct simpler or smaller network representations to address scalability and performance issues. This workshop aims to bring together researchers working on the broad theme of network simplification and discuss graph reduction methods and their applications. More info at: https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/complex-network-sparsification/ *Workshop chairs* Hamida Seba -* University Lyon 1- **Hamida.seba(a)univ-lyon1.fr* <Hamida.seba(a)univ-lyon1.fr> Hocine Cherifi* - University of Burgundy - **hocine.cherifi(a)u-bourgogne.fr* <hocine.cherifi(a)u-bourgogne.fr> Join us at COMPLEX NETWORKS 2024 <https://www.complexnetworks.org/> *-------------------------* Hocine CHERIFI University of Burgundy Franche-Comté Laboratoire* I*nterdisciplinaire *C*arnot de *B*ourgogne - ICB UMR 6303 CNRS Editor in Chief Plos Complex Systems <https://plos.org/complex-systems-research-journal/#:~:text=PLOS%20Complex%2….> Founding & Adisory Editor Applied Network Science <https://appliednetsci.springeropen.com/> Editorial Board member PLOS One <https://journals.plos.org/plosone/>, IEEE ACCESS <https://ieeeaccess.ieee.org/?http%3A%2F%2Fieeeaccess_ieee_org%2F>, Scientific Reports <https://www.nature.com/srep/>, Journal of Imaging <https://www.mdpi.com/journal/jimaging>, Quality and Quantity <https://www.springer.com/journal/11135/>, Computational Social Networks <https://computationalsocialnetworks.springeropen.com/>, Complex Systems <https://www.complex-systems.com/>

March 25, 2024

World wide VVTNS series: Wednesday, March 27 at 11am (EDT), Lorenzo Fontolan Université Aix-Marseille

by David Hansel

Important: North America moved to daylight saving time on March 10 Please check the time in your country (e.g 4 pm CET) [image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the lecture given by Lorenzo Fontolan Université Aix-Marseille on the topic of "Neural mechanisms of memory-guided behaviour*"* The lecture will be held on zoom on *March 27, 2024*, at *11:00 am EDT * To receive the link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: *Persistent, stimulus-dependent neuronal activity has been observed in numerous brain areas during tasks that require the temporary maintenance of information. Several competing hypotheses for the neuronal mechanisms underlying persistent activity have been proposed. We have employed data-driven models in conjunction with optogenetic disruptions of neural circuits within memory-guided motor tasks. Our findings revealed a mechanism governed by dynamic attractors, pivotal in sustaining neuronal activity. This mechanism, shaped by time-varying inputs reflecting temporal predictions, is instrumental in regulating the impact of sensory information on the premotor cortex, thereby preserving memory traces from distracting stimuli. We then asked how persistent activity driven by attractor dynamics emerges during motor learning. It has been proposed that activity-dependent synaptic plasticity underpins motor learning, as it can reconfigure network architectures to produce the appropriate neural dynamics for specific behaviors. To verify this hypothesis, we investigated how the mouse premotor cortex acquires specific neural dynamics that govern the planning of movement at different stages of motor learning. We developed network models that replicated the effects of acute manipulations of synaptic plasticity. The models, which display attractor dynamics, also explain flexible behavior after learning has ended. By leveraging the model's predictions, we can formulate testable hypotheses regarding the distinct mechanisms governing movement planning at various stages of the learning process. *About VVTNS : Created as the World Wide Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), its aim is to be a platform to exchange ideas among theoreticians. Speakers have the occasion to talk about theoretical aspects of their work which cannot be discussed in a setting where the majority of the audience consists of experimentalists. The seminars, **held on Wednesdays at 11 am ET,** are 45-50 min long followed by a discussion. The talks are recorded with authorization of the speaker and are available to everybody on our YouTube channel.* ᐧ ᐧ ᐧ ᐧ ᐧ -- 'Life is good ..' (Carl van Vreeswijk, 1962-2022) --------------------------------------- David Hansel Directeur de Recherche au CNRS Co-Group leader Cerebral Dynamics Plasticity and Learning lab., CNRS 45 rue des Saints Peres 75270 Paris Cedex 06 Tel (Cell): +33 607508403 - Fax (33).1.49.27.90.62 *CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY NOTICE:* *This message and the documents that might be attached, are addressed exclusively to their(s) recipient(s) and may contain privileged or confidential information. The access to this information by people other than those designated is not authorized. If you are not the indicated recipient, you are notified that the use, disclosure and / or copying without authorization is prohibited under current legislation. If you have received this message in error, please kindly inform the sender immediately and proceed to its destruction.* ᐧ

March 24, 2024

NeuroBridges 2024 application deadline approaching

by Ahmed El Hady

*NeuroBridges 2024* *A Mediterranean, Middle Eastern Summer School in Neuroscience* *Deadline to apply: April 1st, 2024* *NeuroBridges 2024* is a summer school which will take place between *September 15 and September 26, 2024* in Le Centre de Conferences Internationales de Cluny, France (CCIC) <https://streaklinks.com/B3KCp_jAQOMpwC7dQwRSV3xc/https%3A%2F%2Fcollegecluny…>. The school will provide an overview of theoretical and experimental frameworks used to study a variety of *decision making* processes. It will cover different model systems from rodents to humans and a plethora of decision making mechanisms. Another objective of Neurobridges is to bring together *Mediterranean and Middle Eastern scientists*, in order to promote scientific cooperation between young researchers from these countries. The organizers of NeuroBridges are convinced that such scientific collaborations can lead to personal relations, which eventually may alleviate the political distress in the Middle East. The school is intended for graduate students and postdocs, primarily, but not only, from the Middle East and the Mediterranean region, either working in their home countries or abroad. Applicants should have some background in related fields in neuroscience or cognitive psychology. *All costs of registration and accommodation will be covered by the organizers. A limited number of travel grants will be also be available*. *NeuroBridges 2024 Faculty:* * Alaa Ahmed (U. Colorado) * Ahmed El Hady ( Uni Konstanz / Max Planck Institute) * Rava Azeredo da Silveira (IOB and CNRS) * Sylvie Granon (Université Paris-Saclay) * David Hansel (CNRS) * Carole Levenes (CNRS) * Yonatan Loewenstein (Hebrew U.) * Eran Lottem (Hebrew U.) * Drazen Prelec (MIT) * Reza Shadmehr (John Hopkins U.) * Haim Sompolinsky (Hebrew U. and Harvard) * *NeuroBridges*is co-organized by Ahmed El Hady (Uni Konstanz / Max Planck Institute), David Hansel (CNRS, Paris), Yonatan Loewenstein (Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel) and Carole Levenes (CNRS, Paris). ** *NeuroBridges 2024* is supported by the Simons Foundation, the ANR and ELSC, and is in partnership with VVTNS (https://www.wwtns.online/ <https://www.wwtns.online/>). For more information and application, visit our website: https://neurobridges.net/ *Contact us:*neurobridges2024@gmail.com <mailto:neurobridges2023@gmail.com>

March 24, 2024

Postdoc in Computational Social Neuroscience in Coimbra

by Renato Duarte

The Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of the University of Coimbra ( CNC-UC <https://cnc.uc.pt/>) is seeking an enthusiastic PostDoctoral researcher to work at the interface between Behavioral, Systems and Computational Neuroscience. Supported by the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme, under the project DYNABRAIN <https://dynabrain.cnc.uc.pt/>, the PostDoctoral fellow will conduct research activities in modelling and simulation of reward-modulated prosocial behavior and decision-making. The position is part of a larger effort to uncover the computational and mechanistic bases of prosociality and empathy at the behavioral and circuit levels and will be co-supervised by Cristina Marquez <https://cnc.uc.pt/en/people/c-marquez> and Renato Duarte <https://cnc.uc.pt/en/people/r-duarte-1>. It offers a great opportunity to work at the interface between experimental data (animal behavior and electrophysiology) and theoretical modelling (emphasis on Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning and neural population dynamics) and to be part of a dynamic, friendly and stimulating research group. Based in Coimbra and Cantanhede and embedded in one of Europe's oldest Universities and a UNESCO World Heritage site <https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1387/>, the CNC-UC has a vibrant neuroscience community <https://cnc.uc.pt/en/research-areas/neuroscience-and-disease> and the region offers exceptional quality of life. The ideal candidate should hold a PhD degree in Computational / Theoretical Neuroscience, Computer Science or Physics (specialising in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence or Biophysics) or other strongly analytical fields. Documented experience with Reinforcement Learning algorithms and Artificial Neural Networks is desirable and so is extensive programming and scientific software development experience. More information and application details: https://dynabrain.cnc.uc.pt/?page_id=2271 Note that the application deadline is April 1st, so don't delay! For further information, feel free to contact Cristina Marquez ( cmarquez(a)cnc.uc.pt) or Renato Duarte (renato.duarte(a)cnc.uc.pt)

March 23, 2024

Poste de Maître de Conférences des Universités (MCF) ouvert en vision par ordinateur, Université de Lille

by Chaabane Djeraba

The position of Assistant Professor in computer science is open at the University of Lille. It is open for the FOX research team (https://www.cristal.univ-lille.fr/equipes/fox/) which wishes to strengthen research in the field of computer vision, and in particular: * vision and artificial intelligence * spiking neural network and neuromorphic approaches to computer vision * frugal learning for computer vision https://galaxie.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/antares/fichePosteAntee?t… Candidates will be expected to publish in vision-related conferences and journals. In terms of disciplinary teaching, there is a strong need for courses in areas such as computer architecture, system programming, networks, cybersecurity; programming and software engineering; algorithms, automata, languages, logic; data, AI, machine learning; HMI, vision, image processing. More generally, the experience of candidates coming to reinforce all the department's teaching units will be appreciated. Please contact: Chaabane Djeraba (chaabane.djeraba(a)univ-lille.fr) and Marius Bilasco (marius.bilasco(a)univ-lille.fr) for further information. — Chaabane Djeraba Professeur des Universités en Informatique Univ. Lille CRIStAL CNRS - UMR 9189 Cité Scientifique 59650 Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex - France

March 22, 2024

Call for Participation & Papers - ACAIN 2024 - 4th Int. Advanced Course & Symposium on Artificial Intelligence & Neuroscience, September 22-25 2024, Riva del Sole Resort & SPA, Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) Tuscany, Italy -> Deadline: March 23

by Giuseppe Nicosia

Call for Participation & Call for Papers (apologies for multiple copies) _______________________________________________________________ The 4th International Advanced Course & Symposium on Artificial Intelligence & Neuroscience, September 22-25, 2024, Riva del Sole Resort & SPA, Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) Tuscany, Italy W: https://acain2024.icas.events E: acain(a)icas.cc FB: https://www.facebook.com/ACAIN.LakeDistrict/ Symposium Deadlines Paper Submission (Symposium): by Saturday March 23, 2024 (AoE). https://acain2024.icas.events/symposium-call-for-papers/ https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=acain2024 Notification of Decision for Papers (Symposium): by Wednesday July 10, 2024. Camera Ready Submission (Symposium): by Monday July 20, 2024. Author Registration (Symposium): by July 20, 2024. Regular Registration (Symposium): by Saturday March 23, 2024. Late Registration (Symposium): from Sunday March 24, 2024. Course Deadlines Regular Registration (Course): by Saturday March 23, 2024. https://acain2024.icas.events/registration/ Late Registration (Course): from Sunday March 24, 2024. Oral Presentation Submission (Course): by Saturday March 23, 2024. Notification of Decision for Oral Presentation (Course): by August 31, 2024. SCOPE & MOTIVATION: ACAIN 2024: AI meets Computational Neuroscience and Cognitive Science The ACAIN 2024 symposium and course is an interdisciplinary event featuring leading scientists from AI and Neuroscience, providing a special opportunity to learn about cutting-edge research in the fields of AI, Neuroscience, Neuroscience-Inspired AI, Human-Level AI, and Cognitive Science. The 4th Advanced Course and Symposium on Artificial Intelligence & Neuroscience (ACAIN) is a full-immersion four-day Course and Symposium in Tuscany on cutting-edge advances in Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience with lectures delivered by world-renowned experts. The Course provides a stimulating environment for academics, early career researchers, Post-Docs, PhD students and industry leaders. Participants will also have the chance to present their results with oral talks or posters, and to interact with their colleagues, in a convivial and productive environment. Two days of keynote talks and oral presentations, the ACAIN Symposium, (September 24-25), will be preceded by lectures of leading scientists, the ACAIN Course, (September 22-23). Bringing together AI and neuroscience promises to yield benefits for both fields. The future impact and progress in both AI and Neuroscience will strongly depend on continuous synergy, exchange, collaboration and efficient cooperation between the two research communities. These are the goals of the International Course and Symposium - ACAIN 2024, which is aimed both at AI experts with interests in Neuroscience and at neuroscientists with an interest in AI. ACAIN 2024 accepts rigorous research that promotes and fosters multidisciplinary interactions between artificial intelligence and neuroscience. The Advanced Course is suited for scholars, academics, early career researchers, Post-Docs, PhD students and industry leaders. The Event (Course and Symposium) will involve a total of 36-40 hours of lectures. Academically, this will be equivalent to 8 ECTS points for the PhD Students and the Master Students attending the Event. LECTURERS https://acain2024.icas.events/course-lecturers/ * Maria Eckstein, Google DeepMind, London, UK * Auke Jan Ijspeert, EPFL, Switzerland * Zeb Kurth-Nelson, Google DeepMind & UCL, London, UK * Loic Matthey, Google DeepMind, London, UK * Kevin J. Miller, DeepMind & UCL, London, UK * Thomas Parr, Oxford University, UK * Melika Payvand, Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zurich & ETH Zurich, Switzerland * Alessandro Treves, International School for Advanced Studies, Italy More Lecturers TBA COURSE DESCRIPTION: https://acain2024.icas.events/course-description/ SYMPOSIUM CALL FOR PAPERS: https://acain2024.icas.events/symposium-call-for-papers/ SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM COMMITTEE (partial list, confirmed members): https://acain2024.icas.events/program-committee/ ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: https://acain2024.icas.events/symposium-committee/ VENUE & ACCOMMODATION: https://acain2024.icas.events/venue/ ACAIN 2024 is a *Residential Conference*, all participants (invited speakers, authors, organizers, chairs, participants) must book and stay at the Riva del Sole Resort and Spa. No exceptions are allowed. https://lod2024.icas.events/lod-2024-a-residential-conference/ Riva del Sole Resort & SPA a: Località Riva del Sole - Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) CAP 58043, Tuscany - Italy p: +39-0564-928111 f: +39-0564-935607 e: booking.events(a)rivadelsole.it w: www.rivadelsole.it/en ACTIVITIES: https://acain2024.icas.events/activities/ REGISTRATION: https://acain2024.icas.events/registration/ See you in Tuscany in September! ACAIN 2024 Organizing Committee. E: acain(a)icas.cc W: https://acain2024.icas.events FB: https://www.facebook.com/ACAIN.LakeDistrict -- >

March 22, 2024

Postdoc in Machine Learning for Neuroscience, Edinburgh

by Matthias Hennig

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to develop new machine learning approaches for the analysis of large-scale extracellular recordings. The position is part of a wider effort to enable new discoveries with state-of-the-art electrode arrays and recording devices, and jointly supervised by Matthias Hennig and Matt Nolan. It offers a great opportunity to work with theoretical and experimental neuroscientists innovating open source tools and software for systems neuroscience. Based in Edinburgh - vibrant neuroscience community and a great place to live. More information and application details: https://elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/job/10003 Feel free to contact me for more information (m.hennig(a)ed.ac.uk) Best, Matthias -- Matthias H Hennig http://homepages.inf.ed.ac.uk/mhennig/ The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336. Is e buidheann carthannais a th’ ann an Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann, clàraichte an Alba, àireamh clàraidh SC005336.

March 22, 2024

Postdoc in Data Science for a National Neurophysiologic Database – Technical University of Denmark

by Tobias Andersen

Postdoc in Data Science for a National Neurophysiologic Database – Technical University of Denmark Do you want to play a key role in using personal health data for research in diagnosing, monitoring and treating neurophysiological disorders? We are looking for a data scientist with a keen interest in neuroscience/neuroinformatics to help us build the National Neurophysiologic Database in Denmark. The National Neurophysiologic Database is a 5-year project funded by the Novo Nordic Foundation with partners from Copenhagen University hospital, Computerome and the Technical University of Denmark. The purpose of the database is to collect neurophysiological data from all hospitals in Denmark and make it available for research. When completed, the database will contain data from more than 100.000 measurements, that can be linked to detailed patient records, making it the largest database of its kind worldwide and an unmatched resource for neurophysiological research. Responsibilities and qualifications Your role will be to structure the database in collaboration with researchers in neurophysiology, medicine and data science. You will build tools for data harmonization and quality control. You will also play a key role in analysing data for neurophysiological research. Finally, you will also participate in developing multiple privacy preserving levels of access to the database. Our ideal candidate holds a PhD in neuroinformatics, data science or a related field, and has a keen interest in developing a research career in neuroinformatics with the National Neurophysiologic Database at its center. The ideal candidate for the position will have the following qualifications: * Strong programming skills in Python and, preferably, also Matlab. * Experience in using version control systems and documenting code * Experience in managing larger software projects with many partners * Experience in communicating with end users and documenting their requirements * Solid experience with full machine learning pipelines including feature design and selection, classification and validation. * Experience in analysing neurophysiological data, particularly EEG * Good knowledge of signal processing * Motivation to pursue or, preferably, extend a research career in neuroinformatics and data science As a formal qualification, you must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent). We offer You will work with dedicated colleagues at the Section for Cognitive Systems at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and Copenhagen University Hospital. You will have working facilities at DTU and at Rigshospitalet. DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility. Salary and terms of employment The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is initially 1 year but there are further career opportunities after the initial contract based on performance. Starting date is 1 May (or according to mutual agreement). The position is a full-time position. You can read more about career paths at DTU here: https://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths Further information You can get further information from associate professor Tobias Andersen toban(a)dtu.dk<mailto:toban@dtu.dk> and professor Poul Jennum mobile phone +45 4025 4795. If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU here: https://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/moving-to-denmark Application procedure Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 15 April 2024 (23:59 Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link: https://efzu.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1… Fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include: * Application (cover letter) * CV * Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD – in English) * List of publications * Optional: Letters of reference / Contact information for references Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. DTU Compute is an internationally unique academic environment spanning the science disciplines: mathematics, statistics and computer science. We are an engineering department covering informatics and communication technologies (ICT) in their broadest sense. We play a major role in addressing the societal challenges of the digital society where ICT is a part of every industry, service, and human endeavour. The Section for Cognitive Systems at DTU Compute, is an internationally renowned group for machine learning research, with a strong emphasis on applications within the life sciences. Collaboration within the section will be encouraged. The section prioritize an friendly work environment and emphasizes a healthy work/life balance, You can find more information at https://www.compute.dtu.dk/english/research/research-sections/cogsys Technology for people DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

March 22, 2024

Lecturer in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of St Andrews

by Tom Otto

Dear Colleagues, We are seeking to appoint a lecturer in cognitive neuroscience in the School of Psychology & Neuroscience at the University of St Andrews. We are particularly interested in candidates who study areas at the interface of psychology and neuroscience and also in those with clinically related research and teaching interests. This is a permanent appointment, with a start date of August 1st 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter. Full details: https://www.vacancies.st-andrews.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/2508/0/423584/889/lectur… *Dr Thomas Otto* *Director of Postgraduate Studies (Research)* School of Psychology & Neuroscience to7(a)st-andrews.ac.uk St Mary’s Quad, South Street, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9JP Office 2-24

March 22, 2024

Fully-funded PhD opening at the University of Oslo

by Eis Annavini

Are you a talented and innovative person who would like to contribute to the next generation of implantable sensor systems for medical devices? Come join us for a 3 years PhD fellowship at the University of Oslo! Our lab focuses on mechanisms behind tissue damage and recovery after neurotrauma; in this position you develop and test body sensor data analysis pipelines, and simulations and prototypes for an implantable sensor system for function recovery in spinal cord injuries patients (more information about the research group can be found here<https://www.med.uio.no/imb/english/research/groups/nerd/>). For further details about the position, and to apply, go to https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/259917/phd-candidate-in-medi… We look forward to hearing from you! The application deadline has been extended to April 15th, 2024. Best, Eis Annavini, PhD Head Engineer University of Oslo Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Phone: +47 22851201 Email: eis.annavini(a)medisin.uio.no Web: https://www.med.uio.no/imb/ [cid:image001.png@01DA7BA9.493E7390]

March 21, 2024

Multiple tenure-track openings in Neuroscience at SISSA, Trieste (Italy)

by Eugenio Piasini

The Neuroscience Department of the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA; https://www.sissa.it/research/neuroscience ) invites expressions of interest from scientists from various fields of Neuroscience for multiple tenure-track positions with anticipated start in 2025. Ongoing neuroscience research at SISSA includes cognitive neuroscience, computational and theoretical neuroscience, systems neuroscience, molecular and cellular research as well as genomics and genetics. The Department intends to potentiate its activities in these fields and to strengthen cross-field interactions. Expressions of interest from scientists in any of these fields are welcome. The working and teaching language of SISSA is English. This is an equal opportunity career initiative and we encourage applications from qualified women, racial and ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities. Candidates should have a PhD in a relevant field and a proven record of research achievements. A clear potential to promote and lead research activities, and a specific interest in training and supervising PhD students is essential. Interested colleagues should present an original and innovative plan for their independent future research. We encourage both proposals within existing fields at SISSA as well as novel ideas outside of those or spanning various topics and methodologies of Neuroscience. SISSA is an international school promoting basic and applied research in Neuroscience, Mathematics and Physics and dedicated to the training of PhD students. Lab space and other resources will be commensurate with the appointment. Shared facilities include cell culture rooms, viral vector facilities, confocal microscopes, animal facilities, molecular and biochemical facilities, human cognition labs with EEG, TMS, and eye tracking systems, mechatronics workshop, and computing facilities. Agreements with national and international MRI scanning facilities are also in place. SISSA encourages fruitful exchanges between neuroscientists and other researchers including data scientists, physicists and mathematicians. Interested colleagues are invited to send a single pdf file including a full CV, a brief description of past and future research interests (up to 1,000 words), and the names of three referees to neuro.search(a)sissa.it . Selected candidates will be invited for an online or in-person seminar and 1-on-1 meetings in summer/autumn 2024. Deadline: A first evaluation round will consider all applications submitted before 15 May 2024. Later applications might be considered if no suitable candidates have been identified yet.

March 21, 2024

10th EBRAINS Baltic-Nordic Summer School on Neuroscience, 28-31 May 2024 – Helsinki-Stockholm-Helsinki

by Peter Jedlicka

10TH EBRAINS BALTIC-NORDIC SUMMER SCHOOL ON NEUROSCIENCE FROM NEURONS TO THE VIRTUAL BRAIN, CONSCIOUSNESS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 28 May 2024 – University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland 29-31 May 2024 – Cruise Ship Silja-Line Helsinki-Stockholm-Helsinki 30 May 2024 – KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden https://lsmu.lt/en/events/ebrains/ We kindly invite you to attend 10th EBRAINS Baltic-Nordic Summer School on Neuroscience FROM NEURONS TO THE VIRTUAL BRAIN, CONSCIOUSNESS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE that will take place at the University Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; KTH Royal Institue of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, and a cruise ship Silja-Line Helsinki-Stockholm-Helsinki, symbolically linking European countries for research and collaboration in neuroscience and artificial intelligence. The 10th EBRAINS Baltic-Nordic Summer School on Neuroscience will provide you with the latest achievements in the brain research, implications to AI methods and applications in clinical practice. The combined workshops and 10th EBRAINS Baltic-Nordic Summer School on Neuroscience are focused on: * multiscale modeling of brain functions; * brain-inspired computation algorithms; * individualized virtual human brain models; * intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence; * concepts of consciousness in biological and artificial systems; * ethics in neuroscience and artificial intelligence. The target audience of this school are advanced master students, doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers in neuroscience, medicine, artificial intelligence, and other related fields such as mathematics, informatics, physics, chemistry, biology, neuropsychology, cognitive sciences. HOW TO APPLY The summer school has a limited capacity of 25 students; therefore, a selection will be performed by a scientific organizing committee. Submit your application: https://lsmu.lt/en/events/ebrains/ DEADLINE: 15 April 2024. TUITON FEE Registration fee is 200 € for selected participants. The tuition fee includes accommodation and meals on the cruise ship Helsinki-Stockholm-Helsinki on 29-31 May 2024, access to conference facilities during the course days; workshop at the University of Helsinki, Finland on 28 May 2024; workshop at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden on 30 May 2024; bus tour in Stockholm, Sweden on 30 May 2024. A limited number of scholarships is available. Please indicate in the application form should you need financial support. PRELIMINARY LIST OF SPEAKERS Leading neuroscientists of Europe will give the lectures on theoretical and clinical neuroscience and AI: * Viktor Jirsa (Director, System Neuroscience Institute, Aix-Marseille Université, France; EBRAINS Chief Science Officer) * Walter Senn (Institue of Physiology, University of Bern, Switzerland; EBRAINS) * Alain Destexhe, Director, European Institure of Theoretical Neuroscience, Paris, France; EBRAINS * Marja-Leena Linne (Tampere University, Finland) * Jeanette Helgren-Kotaleski (KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden) * Michele Migliore (Institute of Biophysics, Palermo, Italy) * Simo Vanni (University of Helsinki, Finland) * Bruce Graham (University of Stirling, UK) * Peter Jedlicka (Justus Liebig University Giessen, Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany) * Herman Cuntz (Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, Germany) * Arnd Roth (Wolfson Institute of Biomedical Research, University College London, UK) * Pawel Herman (KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden) * Daniel Wojcik (Nencki Institute for Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland) * Ausra Saudargiene (Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania) * Gaute Einevoll (Norwegian University of Life Sciences & University of Oslo, Norway) * Johannes Mehres (NeuroAI lab, EPFL, Switzerland) * Timothee Proix, Department of Basic Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland) * Pierpaolo Sorrentino (Aix-Marseille Université, France; EBRAINS) * Damien Depannemaecker (Aix-Marseille Université, France) * Spase Petkoski (Aix-Marseille Université, France) * Tuomo Mäki-Marttunen (University of Tampere, Finland) * Eero Pekkonen (Dept Neurology, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland) * Päivi Nevalainen (Helsinki University Hospital,Finland) * Saeed Montazeri (Dept of Physiology, University of Helsinki, Finland) PROGRAMME: https://lsmu.lt/wp-content/uploads/Program_EBRAINS_Nordic_Baltic_Summer_Sch… The summer school is organised in collaboration with EBRAINS (https://www.ebrains.eu/) European Brain Research Infrastructures. EBRAINS is the European network of digital infrastructure to accelerate brain research, advance innovations for brain health and translate brain knowledge into technological advances of AI. Scientific Committee and Organizers: * Ausra Saudargiene (Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Lithuania) * Marja-Leena Linne (Tampere University, Finland) * Peter Jedlicka (Justus Liebig University Giessen; Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany) * Pawel Herman (KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden) * Walter Senn (University of Bern, Switzerland) * Viktor Jirsa (Aix-Marseille Université, France) Environment protection: Silja-Line is operated by the Tallink Grupp that has environmental priority to reduce its CO2 emissions group-wide and in line with global emissions reductions targets. Tallink recognizes environmental protection and management as one of its highest priorities and that every effort is to be made to conserve and protect the environment from marine, atmospheric and other forms of pollution.

March 21, 2024

Opportunities at the Institute for Advanced Computational Science, Stony Brook University

by Giancarlo La Camera

*On behalf of the Institute for Advanced Computational Science at Stony Brook University* Interested in Computational Science? Get to Know IACS! Computational science is the use of models, simulations, and modern data analytics to solve complex problems and understand the world around us. It is an intrinsically multidisciplinary field of study. Computational science lies at the intersection of mathematics, informatics, natural and social sciences, and is a dynamic scientific method used to explain real-world processes and a method for solving increasingly complex problems. For instance, IACS researchers use computers to blow up stars, scan satellite imagery for the impacts of climate change, peer into the amazing world of quantum mechanics, and explore the mysteries of songbird communication. We use the world’s largest supercomputers and employ advanced Al. IACS students advance the intellectual foundations of computation and data, with high-impact applications in engineering; in the physical, environmental, life, and social sciences; and in the humanities. Join us! iacs.stonybrook.edu Stony Brook University/SUNY is an affirmative action, equal opportunity educator and employer. -- Giancarlo La Camera <https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/neurobiology/people/faculty_Giancarlo_La…>, PhD Associate Professor, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior Affiliate Faculty, Institute for Advanced Computational Science Affiliate Faculty, Institute for AI-driven Discovery and Innovation Director, Center for Neural Circuit Dynamics <https://www.stonybrook.edu/cncd/> Stony Brook University

March 19, 2024

[JOB ANNOUNCEMENT] Program Officer, Computational Cognition & Machine Intelligence, Air Force Office of Scientific Research

by GREENWALD, HAL S DR-04 USAF AFMC AFOSR/RTA

Do you dream of having strategic influence on the future of AI? Apply to be the program officer for the Computational Cognition & Machine Intelligence program at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and help shape the future of AI and machine intelligence! AFOSR is the basic research funding arm of the US Air Force and Space Force, and we fund basic research that promises to advance future missions across nearly 40 areas of science and engineering. The CCMI portfolio funds high-risk, high-impact research on machine intelligence, including reasoning, inference, planning, decision making, autonomy, and the machine side of human-machine teaming, often informed by concepts and principles about higher-order cognitive processes responsible for complex problem solving and decision making. The Air Force is looking for experienced candidates with expertise in these areas who have a vision for the field, care deeply about the science, and want to work with researchers, other program officers, and interagency and international partners to advance that vision. There may also be opportunities to inform government policy and for research. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact Lt Col Katrina Schweiker (katrina.schweiker.2(a)us.af.mil<mailto:katrina.schweiker.2@us.af.mil>), the hiring manager, with any questions. HOW TO APPLY (deadline April 15): DR-III (GS-14 equivalent, $139,395-181,216 with locality pay): https://airforcestem.recsolu.com/external/requisitions/iSqarQj9VdlB2OsnpyPV… DR-IV (GS-15 equivalent, $163,964-191,900 with locality pay): https://airforcestem.recsolu.com/external/requisitions/a-o1PMeb9GxPYjJjL3X0…

March 18, 2024

Fully-funded PhD opening (UK home fees status) @ Imperial College London (Dr Danyal Akarca & Prof Daniel Goodman).

by Danyal Akarca

*Fully funded PhD position opening* Intelligent Systems and Networks Group Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Imperial College London *Supervisors:* Dr Danyal Akarca & Prof Daniel Goodman *PhD student status:* UK “Home” fee status (for information, see here <https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/tuition-fees/fee-status/#….> ) We are seeking a PhD candidate to join us at Imperial College London. This position offers a unique opportunity to explore the cutting-edge intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence, with the broad goal to investigateshared principles of computation within both artificial and biological intelligent systems. *Research topics:* These include, but are not limited to: (i) Information and communication within brain circuits of modular network topologies; (ii) Inductive structural and communication biases within brain-inspired neural networks; (iii) Comparing neural coding schemes; (iv) Resource rationality in task-solving neural networks and their scaling; (v) Evolutionary and developmental models of heterogeneity in the brain. Relevant papers of the supervisors include this <https://www.nature.com/articles/s42256-023-00748-9>and this <https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-26022-3>. *Requirements:* There is a requirement for a Master’s level degree (at level Merit minimum) and that your undergraduate degree is at level UK 2:1, but a 1st class and/or Distinction (respectively) would be highly desirable. We welcome candidates from a broad range of disciplines, including Neuroscience, Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Machine learning, Cognitive Science, and related fields. Applicants should have a strong analytical and computational background, with proficiency in programming languages commonly used in AI research (e.g., Python). Experience with neural network modelling, machine learning algorithms, or computational neuroscience tools is highly desirable. We are really looking for individuals who are curious, driven, and passionate about research in this exciting field. The ability to work collaboratively within a team and communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences is essential. The position comes with funding, covering tuition fees with a stipend, covered by Danyal’s Imperial College Research Fellowship supported by Schmidt Futures. *Note, this position can only support UK Home fee status students. *This means that you would have been resident and settled in the UK at the start of the PhD (i.e., living in the UK most of the time) for the previous three years. If interested, please send an email to both supervisors with a CV and a paragraph summarising your interests (we welcome research proposals if you have one, but not necessary to write one) at danyal.akarca(a)gmail.com and d.goodman(a)imperial.ac.uk

March 18, 2024

Save the date: UK Neural Computation meeting July 8-10th, Sheffield

by Mark Humphries

Save the date! The UK Neural Computation meeting is in Sheffield for 2024, the gathering of the UK’s computational and systems neuroscience community 8 July: ECR day 9-10 July: main meeting 11 invited speakers, 4 talks from abstracts and loads of posters Abstract submission and registration opening soon Please spread the word! More details: https://neuralcomputation.uk/ Enquiries: uknc24(a)sheffield.ac.uk<mailto:uknc24@sheffield.ac.uk> Organisers Hannes Saal (Sheffield) Stuart Wilson (Sheffield) Mark Humphries (Nottingham) This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender and delete the email and attachment. Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham. Email communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored where permitted by law.

March 18, 2024

Early bird registration open: INCF Neuroinformatics Assembly

by INCF

*INCF Neuroinformatics Assembly early bird registration is open!* This year's theme is Brain Meets AI: Pioneering the Future of Neuroinformatics Assembly 2024 will highlight the transformative impact of state-of-the-art technology and collective ingenuity on our comprehension of the brain. Immerse yourself in the cutting edge of brain science, where innovative tools, shared expertise, and the pursuit of understanding meet to decode the essence of intelligence. *Important dates* Mar 15 - Early bird, abstract, & investigator presentation registration opens Jun 29 - Regular registration opens Sep 23-25 - Assembly Sep 26-27 - Training sessions Learn more & register today: bit.ly/INCFAssembly2024

March 15, 2024

Postdoctoral position in sensory coding and memory - University of Sheffield

by Andrew Lin

How does the brain encode sensory information and form associative memories? Andrew Lin’s lab at the University of Sheffield is seeking a Research Associate to study these questions in the fruit fly Drosophila. We study memory using a range of methods, such as in vivo two-photon calcium imaging, electrophysiology, fly genetics, behavioural experiments, computational modelling and building custom equipment. You will design, develop and perform experiments and data analysis (tailoring the project to your own interests and expertise), write papers, and present your work at conferences and seminars. We seek self-motivated, innovative and creative candidates with a PhD in a relevant field (or equivalent experience), expertise in at least some of the above techniques, excellent communication skills, and an ability to work independently and in a team. We encourage applications from diverse academic backgrounds, such as biology, neuroscience, experimental psychology, computer science, physics and engineering. Of special note to the comp-neuro email list, we would be particularly keen to hire someone with expertise in computational neuroscience. We seek to tie computational models of what plasticity rules would be ‘optimal’ for memory, with experiments testing whether the real brain actually uses these ‘optimal’ rules. Closing date: 25 March 2024 Apply at this link: https://bit.ly/LinPostdoc2024 or https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DGE774/research-associate More about the lab: https://www.aclinlab.org/ Start date is flexible - happy to discuss We welcome international applicants and the university will reimburse the post-holder for many visa expenses: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/induction/before/international/visas For informal enquiries, contact Andrew: andrew.lin(a)sheffield.ac.uk -- Andrew Lin School of Biosciences University of Sheffield Firth Court Western Bank Sheffield S10 2TN +44 (0) 114 222 3643 http://www.aclinlab.org

March 15, 2024

Postdoc in modeling cerebellar function

by Erik De Schutter

A postdoctoral position is available in the Computational Neuroscience Unit (https://groups.oist.jp/cnu) of Prof. Erik De Schutter at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology for a researcher interested in modeling and understanding cerebellar properties and function. Candidates should have good knowledge of cerebellar anatomy and physiology related to previous modeling work, and be open to an explorative approach. Depending on prior experience and interest the focus can be on modeling the cerebellum and its neurons and/or on analyzing experimental data obtained through collaboration. The postdoc will interact with other researchers and students in the lab who are working on cerebellar modeling projects. We offer attractive working conditions in an English language graduate university, located on a beautiful subtropical island. Starting date any time before end 2024. Send curriculum vitae, summary of research interests and experience, and the names of two referees to Prof. Erik De Schutter at erik(a)oist.jp

March 15, 2024

Werner Reichardt Symposium : 19th April Tübingen

by Peter Dayan

2024 marks 100 years since the birth of Werner Reichardt, the founding director of the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics and a pioneer in the field of what is now known as computational neuroscience. In honour of this centenary, we are holding a (hybrid) symposium in Tübingen on the 19th April 2024 with talks from: Alexander Borst, MPI for Biological Intelligence Gwyneth Card, Columbia University Martin Egelhaaf, Bielefeld University Lisa Fenk, MPI for Biological Intelligence Kuno Kirschfeld, MPI for Biological Cybernetics Tomaso Poggio, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Srini Turaga, Janelia Research Campus see https://www.kyb.tuebingen.mpg.de/reichardt-symposium If you would like to attend, please register at: https://forms.gle/wWf233cU5MwU9TZdA and indicate whether you would prefer to come in person or attend online. The size of the room is limited, so it may not be possible to accommodate everyone in Tübingen. Best wishes, Axel Borst, Peter Dayan, Thomas Euler and Jakob Macke

March 14, 2024

Fully Funded PhD and PostDoc Positions @ Sprekeler Lab (Berlin)

by Sprekeler, Henning

Job Openings: Fully Funded PhD and PostDoc Positions in Computational Neuroscience of Inhibitory Circuits @ TU Berlin We are seeking two highly motivated researchers (PhD and/or postdoctoral level) to join our group. You'll become part of a collaborative research center focused on inhibitory interneuron circuits in the mammalian brain. Our contribution to the center involves applying computational models and advanced data analysis methods to investigate how inhibitory circuits support neural computation, in close collaboration with experimental colleagues in Berlin and Freiburg (Germany). We aim to fill these positions as soon as possible. The salary is competitive and should allow a comfortable life in Berlin. Please find further details about the positions and how to apply here: <https://www.sprekelerlab.org/jobs/> Jobs/Theses<https://www.sprekelerlab.org/jobs/> sprekelerlab.org<https://www.sprekelerlab.org/jobs/> [sigmoid_c_f.png] <https://www.sprekelerlab.org/jobs/> <https://www.jobs.tu-berlin.de/en/job-postings/179761> Job Posting IV-104/24: Research Assistant - salary grade E13 TV-L Berliner Hochschulen – Job Postings at Technische Universität Berlin<https://www.jobs.tu-berlin.de/en/job-postings/179761> jobs.tu-berlin.de<https://www.jobs.tu-berlin.de/en/job-postings/179761> [apple-touch-icon-26abb8730d7df74d7ff522205626a7fbdcee47d6c003e0fc06c34855389d19f7.png] <https://www.jobs.tu-berlin.de/en/job-postings/179761> <https://www.jobs.tu-berlin.de/en/job-postings/179757> Job Posting IV-103/24: Research Assistant - salary grade E13 TV-L Berliner Hochschulen – Job Postings at Technische Universität Berlin<https://www.jobs.tu-berlin.de/en/job-postings/179757> jobs.tu-berlin.de<https://www.jobs.tu-berlin.de/en/job-postings/179757> [apple-touch-icon-26abb8730d7df74d7ff522205626a7fbdcee47d6c003e0fc06c34855389d19f7.png] <https://www.jobs.tu-berlin.de/en/job-postings/179757> The application deadline is March 22th, 2024. Best wishes, Henning ---------- Prof. Dr. Henning Sprekeler Modelling of Cognitive Processes Technische Universität Berlin Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience www: https://www.sprekelerlab.org

March 13, 2024

Gordon Research Conference on The Frontal Cortex - August 4-9 2024

by David Moorman

Dear Colleagues, We would like to bring your attention to the 2024 Gordon Research Conference on the Frontal Cortex <https://www.grc.org/frontal-cortex-conference/2024/>, which will be held on *August 4-9, 2024* in Holderness, New Hampshire. We have put together an outstanding line-up of speakers including established leaders in the field as well as up-and-coming future leaders. The conference topics are designed to be inclusive across subject matter, ranging from cognitive control and decision making, to emotional regulation, to motivated behavior, and more, including emphases on computational interpretations and translational outcomes. There will be poster sessions, and ample time for networking and social activities. We're still finalizing the schedule, but you can get a sense of the schedule from our 2022 meeting: https://www.grc.org/frontal-cortex-conference/2022/ *Applications can be submitted until July 7, 2024* and can be submitted here: https://www.grc.org/frontal-cortex-conference/2024/ Please spread the word widely and get in touch with any questions. Hope to see you there! - David Moorman and Becca Shansky, Co-Chairs ---------- David Moorman (he/him) Associate Professor Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences University of Massachusetts Amherst +1.413.545.0663 moorman(a)umass.edu www.moormanlab.org Gordon Research Conference on The Frontal Cortex - August 4-9 2024 <https://www.grc.org/frontal-cortex-conference/2024/>

March 13, 2024