- Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

Prestigious Lecture Series - Live Talk by Prof. Tony Prescott - University of Sheffield

by Amir Aly

Dear All * *Apologies for cross-posting** I’m pleased to share that the next talk of the *CRNS Talk Series* at the University of Plymouth, scheduled for May 14th, will be an *IEEE-RAS* *co-sponsored Prestigious Lecture.* *Prof. Tony Prescott *from the University of Sheffield will deliver a talk on Wednesday, *May 14th *from *11:00 AM - 12:30 PM* (*London time*) over Zoom. *Thank you for forwarding the invitation to any of your colleagues who might be interested*. >> *Events*: The CRNS talk series will cover a wide range of topics including Social and Cognitive Robotics, Computational Neuroscience, Developmental Psychology, Computational Linguistics, Cognitive Vision, AI and Machine Learning, and healthcare. More details are available here: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/robotics-neural-systems/whats-on <https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.plymo…> >> *Link for the next event*: According to IEEE regulations, registration to the event is required (*Registration Link <https://events.vtools.ieee.org/event/register/484198>*). A Zoom link will be sent to registered persons prior to the event. >> *Title of the talk: **Analysis and Synthesis of the Embodied Self: A Robotics Perspective* *Abstract*: This talk will consider the specific challenge of synthesizing a robot “sense of self”. The starting point is an analysis of the human self that sees it as brought into being by the activity of a set of transient self-processes instantiated by the brain and body. I propose that we can better understand this self-system, and thereby this core aspect of the human condition, through embodied (robotic) modelling. The self begins with the brain’s discovery of the body, of its ability to control it, and of the distinctive dynamics of interoceptive compared to exteroceptive sensory signals. These processes give rise to a minimal sense of self as a bounded agent, upon which layers of reflective self-processes are constructed that extend the self in space and time and that allow the recognition of other selves. To illustrate the talk, I will discuss ongoing attempts to create a sense of self for robots within my own lab and others. >> If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me, Regards -------------------------------------------- *Dr. Amir Aly*, PhD, FHEA, SIEEE Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Programme Manager of Artificial Intelligence UK and Ireland IEEE RAS Chapter Vice Chair Director of the Centre for Robotics and Neural Systems (CRNS) School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics Room A307 Portland Square, Drake Circus, PL4 8AA University of Plymouth, UK

May 6, 2025

Brains in Space - 20.05.25 - Thomas Wolbers (DZNE Magdeburg)

by Vinita Samarasinghe

It is time for *Brains in Space* again! This semester we invite you to talks by: Thomas Wolbers (DZNE Magdeburg), James McLaren (Universität Oldenburg), Xiangshuai Zeng (Ruhr University Bochum), and Lukas Kunz (Universität Bonn). 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 May 20th 2025 and is open to the public. Please feel free to forward this information to any of your colleagues who may be interested. May 20th: *Thomas Wolbers* - DZNE Magdeburg *Title:* Mechanisms of Navigational decline in human ageing Zoom link: https://ruhr-uni-bochum.zoom-x.de/j/67839364827?pwd=RfcIgK8OUfjkwWTNCf80ARX… [Meeting ID: 678 3936 4827; Passcode: 841644] We look forward to seeing you. Kind regards, Vinita -- Best, Vinita Vinita Samarasinghe M.Sc., M.A. Science Manager Arbeitsgruppe Computational Neuroscience <https://rub.de/cns> Institut für Neuroinformatik Ruhr-Universität Bochum, NB 3/73 Postfachnummer 110 Universitätstr. 150 44801 Bochum Tel: +49 (0)234 32 27996 Mobile: +49 (0)1512 7278698 Email: samarasinghe(a)ini.rub.de

May 6, 2025

World wide VVTNS series (fifth season): Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 11:00 am EDT| Mark van Rossum, University of Nottingham

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online <https://streaklinks.com/A9c7PbbpKY7PxB6PaAJWGD3-/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the lecture Mark van Rossum University of Nottingham Energy efficient learning in neural networks The lecture will be held on zoom on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at *11:00 am EDT * To receive the link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: *The brain is one of the most energy intense organs. Some of this energy is used for neural information processing, however, fruitfly experiments have shown that also learning is metabolically costly. We will present estimates of this cost and introduce a general model of this cost, and compare it to costs in computers. Next, we turn to a supervised artificial network setting and explore a number of strategies that can save energy needed for plasticity. Either by modifying the objective function, by restricting plasticity, or by using less costly transient forms of plasticity. Finally, we will discuss adaptive strategies and possible relevance for biological learning. *About VVTNS : Launched as the World Wide Theoretical Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), 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

May 4, 2025

2025 Gatsby Unit PhD Programme - Apply by 27 May

by Lin, I-Chun

We have an opportunity for students to join our PhD programme this September. PhD Programme in Theoretical Neuroscience and Machine Learning Deadline: Tuesday 27 May 2025 The Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit is a leading research centre focused on theoretical neuroscience and machine learning. We study (un)supervised and reinforcement learning in brains and machines; inference, coding and neural dynamics; Bayesian and kernel methods, and deep learning; with applications to the analysis of perceptual processing and cognition, neural data, signal and image processing, machine vision, network data and nonparametric hypothesis testing. The Unit provides a unique opportunity for a critical mass of theoreticians to interact closely with one another and with researchers at the Sainsbury WellcomeCentre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour (SWC), the Centre for Computational Statistics and Machine Learning (CSML) and related UCL departments such as Computer Science; Statistical Science; Artificial Intelligence; the ELLIS Unit at UCL; Neuroscience; and the nearby Alan Turing and Francis Crick Institutes. Our PhD programme provides a rigorous preparation for a research career. Students complete a 4-year PhD in either machine learning or theoretical/computational neuroscience, with minor emphasis in the complementary field. Courses in the first year provide a comprehensive introduction to both fields and systems neuroscience. Students are encouraged to work and interact closely with SWC/CSML researchers to take advantage of this uniquely multidisciplinary research environment. Applicants should have a strong analytical and quantitative background, a keen interest in neuroscience, machine learning or both, and a relevant first degree, for example in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Neuroscience or Cognitive Psychology. Full funding is available regardless of nationality. The unit also welcomes applicants who have secured or are seeking funding from other sources. Applications should be submitted directly to us via the online portal. For programme details and how to apply, see www.ucl.ac.uk/gatsby/study-and-work/gatsby-unit-phd-programme<https://www.ucl.ac.uk/gatsby/study-and-work/gatsby-unit-phd-programme>. -- I-Chun Lin Scientific Programme Manager Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, UCL

May 2, 2025

Neuronal Spike Timing: Precision, Reliability, and the Neural Code from 1995-2025

by Paul Tiesinga

Dear Colleague In 1995 Mainen and Sejnowski published a striking result showing neurons in mammalian neocortex are capable of producing precise, reliable spike trains in response to fluctuating inputs. This work inspired sustained inquiry into the role of spike timing in sensory, motor and cognitive processes, including learning and memory, as well as theoretical investigations into neural coding, plasticity, and the mechanisms of precise spike timing. In recognition of the 30th anniversary of this seminal paper, Biological Cybernetics invites submissions to a special article collection on the topic “Neuronal Spike Timing: Precision, Reliability, and the Neural Code from 1995-2025.” Whether you have contributed to past research in this area and would like to write a retrospective review, or if you are actively pursuing new research building on spike timing, we encourage you to submit an article to this collection. The submission window will remain open from May 1 - November 1, 2025. Full details of the call for submissions are available at https://link.springer.com/collections/aadfbhcbii. We look forward to receiving your submission. Please direct inquiries regarding scope and suitability to pjthomas(a)case.edu and p.tiesinga(a)science.ru.nl. Sincerely Peter Thomas, Case Western Reserve University Paul Tiesinga, Radboud University

April 30, 2025

Call for Participation & Papers - ACAIN 2025 - 5th International Advanced Course & Symposium on Artificial Intelligence & Neuroscience, September 21-24 2025, Riva del Sole Resort & SPA, Tuscany * Course Registration: May 23 * Paper Submission: May 23 *

by ICAS Organizing Committee

Call for Participation & Call for Papers (apologies for multiple copies, please forward to anybody who might be interested, thanks!) The 5th International Advanced *Course* & *Symposium* on Artificial Intelligence & Neuroscience, September 21-24, 2025, Riva del Sole Resort & SPA, Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) Tuscany, Italy W: https://acain2025.icas.events E: acain(a)icas.cc Symposium Deadline: Paper Submission (Symposium): by May 23 (AoE) https://acain2025.icas.events/symposium-call-for-papers/ https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=acain2025 Course Deadline: Regular Registration (Course): by May 23 (AoE) https://acain2025.icas.events/course-description/ https://acain2025.icas.events/registration/ https://2025.iaiss.cc/deadlines/ LECTURERS: Panos Pardalos, University of Florida, USA Jose Principe, University of Florida, USA Maneesh Sahani, University College London, UK Jonathon Shlens, Google DeepMind, USA Dimitra Thomaidou, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Greece Marina Vidaki, University of Crete, Medical School, Crete, Greece More Speakers TBA https://acain2025.icas.events/course-lecturers/ SCOPE & MOTIVATION: ACAIN: AI meets Computational Neuroscience and Cognitive Science The ACAIN 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 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 23-24), will be preceded by lectures of leading scientists, the ACAIN Course, (September 21-22). 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, which is aimed both at AI experts with interests in Neuroscience and at neuroscientists with an interest in AI. ACAIN 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. SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM COMMITTEE (partial list, confirmed members): https://acain2025.icas.events/program-committee/ ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: https://acain2025.icas.events/symposium-committee/ VENUE & ACCOMMODATION: https://acain2025.icas.events/venue/ ACAIN 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. 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://acain2025.icas.events/activities/ REGISTRATION: https://acain2025.icas.events/registration/ See you in Tuscany in September! ACAIN Organizing Committee. E: acain(a)icas.cc W: https://acain2025.icas.events FB: https://www.facebook.com/ACAIN.LakeDistrict Obviously, this is only a Call for Participation & Call for Papers, to have complete and updated information we recommend you access the relevant website: https://acain2025.icas.events * Apologies for multiple copies. Please forward to anybody who might be interested, thanks! *

April 30, 2025

Conference Fellowships and abstract deadline approaching for UK Neural Computation 2025

by Mark Humphries

We are offering up to 8 conference fellowships<https://neuralcomputation.uk/fellowships.html> to support attendance at UK Neural Computation 2025 by presenting authors, sponsored by ARIA's Scalable Neural Interface<https://www.aria.org.uk/opportunity-spaces/scalable-neural-interfaces> program. Fellowships include a full registration fee waiver and attendance expenses up to £225. Deadline: May 23rd. And a reminder that abstract submission closes May 12th. Submit here: https://forms.gle/kg5xaSfBX3sN7tUN9 Speakers, registration and full conference information here: https://neuralcomputation.uk/ Sponsors: ARIA Scalable Neural Interfaces program<https://www.aria.org.uk/opportunity-spaces/scalable-neural-interfaces> Francis Crick Institute<https://www.crick.ac.uk/> Organisers: Danyal Akarca (Imperial) Dan Goodman (Imperial) Mark Humphries (Nottingham) Professor Mark Humphries | Professor of Computational Neuroscience Lab: humphries-lab.org<https://www.humphries-lab.org/> Connect: Bluesky<https://bsky.app/profile/markdhumphries.bsky.social> / LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-humphries-65a460212/> / X<https://x.com/markdhumphries> Essays on the brain and science: drmdhumphries.medium.com<https://drmdhumphries.medium.com/> Book: "The Spike: An Epic Journey Through the Brain in 2.1 Seconds" (Princeton UP) in hardback<https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691195889/the-spike?_gl=1*h…..>, paperback<https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691241487/the-spike>, ebook<https://press.princeton.edu/books/ebook/9780691213514/the-spike-0?_gl=1*1uf…..> & audiobook<https://press.princeton.edu/books/audio/9780691224091/the-spike?_gl=1*37xz7…..> <https://press.princeton.edu/books/audio/9780691224091/the-spike?_gl=1*37xz7…..> read by Anand Jagatia 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 30, 2025

PhD and postdoc positions in accelerator design for computational neuroscience

by Jakob Jordan

Dear all, We are inviting applications for one PhD and one postdoc position in accelerator design for computational neuroscience and asynchronous digital hardware as part of a joint project between the Neuro-inspired Theory, Modeling and Applications (NeuroTMA) Lab led by Mihai A. Petrovici at the University of Bern, Switzerland, and the Asynchronous VLSI and Architecture (AVLSI) Lab led by Rajit Manohar at Yale University, USA. The NeuroTMA Lab focuses on biologically inspired models of spatio-temporal processing in recurrent cortical networks and their relation to reinforcement learning, Bayesian computing, and neuromorphic implementations. The AVLSI Lab conducts research on semantics, design methodologies, and architectures for asynchronous systems with the goal of designing and implementing efficient and programmable computation structures. The project will develop an accelerator for the simulation of cortical models of processing and learning. You can find more details about the positions at - https://physiologie.unibe.ch/Positions/NSFSNSFjobadphd.pdf (PhD candidate) - https://physiologie.unibe.ch/Positions/NSFSNSFjobadpostdoc.pdf (postdoctoral researcher) Both positions are available from June 1st, 2025. Please feel free to share with anyone else you think would be a good fit for these opportunities! Best, Jakob

April 29, 2025

Post-doc position in the UCL Human Electrophysiology Lab

by Bush, Daniel

Hello all, A post-doctoral research position is available in my lab<https://bushlab-ucl.github.io/> at the UCL Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, funded for two and a half years in the first instance. This position is part of an EPSRC project investigating the neural mechanisms of human memory function. The project will focus on collecting and analysing intracranial EEG and single cell recordings from epilepsy patients and MEG recordings from healthy volunteers completing spatial and episodic memory tasks, in conjunction with computational modelling. Candidates must have a PhD (or be studying towards it) in science, engineering, maths or a relevant subject area that incorporates some aspect of neuroscience, and proven knowledge of computer programming (using Matlab, Python, or C++). Experience of collecting and analysing rodent electrophysiology, human EEG and / or MEG data is also essential. For further details including salary, benefits etc. please follow this link<https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/search-ucl-jobs/details?jobId=34112&jobTi…>, and if you have any queries about the role, please contact me at d.bush(a)ucl.ac.uk<mailto:d.bush@ucl.ac.uk> Many thanks Dan ---------------------------------------------------- Dr. Daniel Bush GM01, Medical Sciences Building, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT Principal Investigator, UCL Human Electrophysiology Lab<https://bushlab-ucl.github.io/> Lecturer, UCL Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology<https://www.ucl.ac.uk/npp/> Associate Editor, PLoS Computational Biology<https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/>

April 29, 2025

Neuroinformatics Unit Open Software Week, in London this August

by Nikoloz Sirmpilatze

We’re pleased to announce the first Neuroinformatics Unit Open Software Week <https://neuroinformatics.dev/open-software-week> at the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre <https://www.sainsburywellcome.org/web/> in *London* this *August 11-15*.This event will bring together researchers, developers, and users of *open-source neuroscience software* for some hands-on training, community-building and hacking. There will be three main tracks: 1. *Animals in motion*: using open-source tools to track and analyse animal motion from video footage 2. *BrainGlobe*: using the BrainGlobe ecosystem of computational neuroanatomy tools to analyse whole-brain microscopy datasets 3. *Big Imaging Data*: bridging technical gaps and communities to process and analyse large 3D imaging datasets with open-source tools There will also be a series of satellite events: - Introduction to Python - Alternative research careers clinic - Collaborative coding with Git - Hackday The event is free to all, but spots are limited. We will be offering several travel stipends for participants outside of London.More details and registration on our website. Please share with anyone who may be interested.https://neuroinformatics.dev/open-software-week Kind regards, Niko [image: schedule-2025_white-bg.png] --------------------------------------- *NIKOLOZ SIRMPILATZE *MD PhD Senior Research Software Engineer Sainsbury Wellcome Centre & Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit University College London nikosirmpilatze.com

April 28, 2025

Master Program in Computational Neurosciences - Lyon (FR)

by DI VOLO MATTEO

Dear colleagues, We are excited to invite applications for the new Master's Program in Computational Neurosciences at the University of Lyon 1 (France): https://masterneuro.univ-lyon1.fr/m2-cns/ This program offers a strong theoretical foundation combined with extensive hands-on practical experience. Students will develop their skills through project-based learning and laboratory work. The initial courses focus on building solid knowledge in neuroscience, mathematics, programming, and statistics, forming the basis for advanced courses covering biophysical models of neurons, neural networks, and models of behavior. Students can personalize their curriculum through optional units exploring cutting-edge fields such as clinical neuroscience, cognition, artificial intelligence, and neurotechnologies. The second semester is entirely dedicated to a full-time research internship in a laboratory, providing a unique opportunity for immersion in active research environments. For more information please contact Matteo di Volo (matteo.di-volo(a)univ-lyon1.fr) or Jérémie Mattout (jeremie.mattout(a)inserm.fr)

April 28, 2025

Janelia Farm Junior Scientist Workshop on Theoretical Biophysics ( October 26 - 31, 2025 )

by Ahmed El Hady

*Janelia Farm Junior Scientist Workshop on Theoretical Biophysics* October 26 - 31, 2025 *Application Deadline*: *June 10, 2025 *(11:59pm ET.) *Website:*https://www.janelia.org/you-janelia/conferences/junior-scientist-workshop-on-theoretical-biophysics-0 Organized by Ahmed El Hady ( University of Konstanz / MPI Animal Behavior ) , Magdalena Schneider ( Janelia Farm) , and Allyson Sgro ( Janelia Farm ) , this workshop is intended as a "by the students, for the students" meeting. Other than the organizers and invited speakers, participants will include only students and postdocs working on a variety of problems in theoretical biophysics, broadly defined. Topics include but not limited to : ·Physical principles underlying biological function in molecular, cellular, multicellular systems ·Theory of organismal development ·Theory of animal behavior, ecological systems, and evolutionary dynamics ·Data driven identification of principles in biophysical systems ·Physics of active matter ·Non–equilibrium thermodynamics of living systems Attendees will have the opportunity to present as well as learn from one another. They will give 20-minute talks on their own research questions, as well as in-depth 45-minute whiteboard tutorials on techniques central to their research. To promote spontaneous interactions and community discussions, tutorials will be chalk talk style. We are interested in those who will be able to participate in and actively contribute to all activities, so space is limited and participants are expected to stay for the full duration. We see this workshop as a unique learning opportunity for everyone involved and intend for it to be a valuable and enjoyable experience. Janelia will cover the cost of accommodation, meals and reasonable travel expenses for accepted participants. We especially encourage applications from women and those who identify with groups that are traditionally underrepresented in science *To be considered, applicants must apply online <https://arc.hhmi.org/applicant/application/THB25/home>and provide:* 1. Research Abstract 2. Tutorial Abstract 3. Answers to Scientific Thought Questions 4. Interest Statement 5. Current CV 6. PI Recommendation Letter If you have any questions , please let me know , On behalf of the organizers , Ahmed El Hady Dr. Ahmed El Hady Research Group leader Integrative biophysics group Cluster for Advanced Study of Collective Behavior Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Universitätsstraße 10, 78464 Konstanz Room ZT 907 Postbox 687 Tel.: +49 7531 88-4742

April 28, 2025

Postdoctoral positions -- modeling of dopamine in rhythm perception

by Jonathan Cannon

*[Information here is similar to a previous posting, but our search is now focused on postdoctoral modelers, with an emphasis on negotiable salary]*McMaster University, Hamilton Ontario The METRE lab (Models and Experiments in Timing, Rhythm, and Entrainment, metre.mcmaster.ca), led by Jonathan Cannon (joncannon.net) is initiating a collaboration with Dan Bang’s group at University of Aarhus, Denmark, funded by the Human Frontier Science Program. The project will collect electrophysiological and electrochemical data from human basal ganglia during deep brain stimulator implantations while patients listen to and entrain movement to auditory rhythms. Data will be used to evaluate and develop models of the role of dopamine in rhythm perception, movement, and prediction. Dr. Cannon is looking to welcome at least one postdoctoral researcher *as soon as possible* to develop both neurophysiological and interpretive (Bayesian predictive processing, reinforcement learning) models of rhythm perception. They may also help to analyze intracranial data and pursue other projects at the intersection of computational neuroscience/cognition, experimental neuroscience/psychology, and music perception, in a rapidly growing new Canadian lab focused on rhythm in the brain and what it can tell us about the experience of being human. - Duration: Up to four years (with appointment extended one year at a time) - Start Date: ASAP - Salary: *Negotiable, competitive* - Location: McMaster University, Hamilton Ontario, Canada - *We will start contacting applicants on May 1 -- please apply ASAP!* Research Environment The METRE lab is a rapidly growing, international group with diverse interests and backgrounds. Lab members generally attend at least one conference per year, which may include COSYNE or auditory/music/rhythm-focused conferences. Postdocs will have access to teaching and professional development opportunities through the McCall MacBain Postdoctoral Fellows Teaching & Leadership Program <https://mccallmacbain.mcmaster.ca/>. Hamilton is a family-friendly city with hiking trails everywhere. 1-2hrs to Toronto by car or public transportation. Application Process *Please submit* a cover letter, a CV, and email addresses for two academic references. We will notify applicants before contacting references. *Send materials by email* to Jonathan Cannon: cannoj9(a)mcmaster.ca *Subject line:* HFSP postdoc/phd positions

April 25, 2025

Lab Associate and Research Scientist positions at the NYU Center for Brain Imaging

by Chrysa Papadaniil

The Center for Brain Imaging at New York University <https://as.nyu.edu/research-centers/cbi.html> has two open positions for a Laboratory Associate and a Research Scientist at our MRI facility. Please see the position summaries below - the full details can be accessed through the direct links: *Laboratory Associate *(https://apply.interfolio.com/166760) <https://apply.interfolio.com/166760> The New York University Center for Brain Imaging seeks a full-time Laboratory Associate to oversee the efficient and safe operation of a research MRI facility, including training and supervision of researchers. The role also involves troubleshooting equipment issues and MRI data handling. Qualified applicants should have (among other things): - Bachelor's degree in a science-related field; - Minimum 2 years post-BA/BS with outstanding research competence; - Experience with magnetic resonance equipment, technical facility management, training and/or teaching experience; - Familiarity with word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and web-based applications (e.g., HTML). *Research Scientist *(https://apply.interfolio.com/166773) <https://apply.interfolio.com/166773> The New York University Center for Brain Imaging seeks a full-time Research Scientist to oversee the efficient and safe operation of a researchMRI facility, including training and supervision of the researchers. This position involves collaborating with researchers, MRI data management and analysis. The Research Scientist will also contribute to extramural research funding efforts. Qualified applicants should have (among other things): - Minimum 1 year post-PhD in a science-related field; - Highest research competence, attested to by PhD and equivalent level independent research and publications. - Experience with magnetic resonance imaging, grant writing, technical facility management, training and/or teaching experience. - Ability to troubleshoot both software and hardware, work with databases, web-based applications (e.g., HTML), and good coding, computer, networking, statistics, and/or modeling skills. To apply for the positions, please use the direct links provided above. For informal inquiries, you can reach out to Chrysa Papadaniil ( chrysa(a)nyu.edu) or cbi-info(a)nyu.edu. Please share this email with anyone you think would be a good fit for these opportunities!

April 25, 2025

Postdoc position on modeling Metacognition in Inria Bordeaux, France

by Frederic Alexandre

The Mnemosyne team of the Inria centre of the University of Bordeaux (France) is looking for a talented postdoctoral fellow with confirmed competences in the domain of Machine Learning for the development of a modeling framework of Metacognition . Metacognition is the cognitive process by which, instead of just learning to associate a response or a behavior with a situation, animals (and mainly primates) monitor the functioning (and particularly errors) of simple cognitive processes, learn to inhibit automatic responses and promote instead contextually appropriate behavioral rules. Better understanding and modeling this process is important for several reasons. In cognitive neuroscience , it paves the way to exploring higher cognitive functions like reasoning, imagination and other kinds of deliberation-based thoughts. In Artificial Intelligence , it stands on the same grounds as Generative AI and proposes different processes and algorithms that might remedy several weaknesses of GenAI and suggest innovative brain-inspired extensions. Located in Bordeaux (France), the role of the postdoctoral fellow to be recruited is to participate to a research program, under the following axes: Axis 1: Specification of Metacognition and its main computational mechanisms: Metacognition is generally described through three main mechanisms: (i) the possibility to monitor cues indicating difficulties in the process of problem solving (errors or conflicts between resources), in order to inhibit elementary default responses, (ii) working memory to keep in sustained activity the different aspects to be integrated (goals and subgoals, predictions, constraints) and (iii) cognitive flexibility corresponding to new goals and contextual rules that can be learned and integrated in the process of problem solving. Existing models (including from our team) indicate possible correspondence with cerebral circuitries and adaptive operations. Nevertheless, they are many and split these general mechanisms in different pieces which are not always consistent and may differ under several aspects. A major contribution will be to carry out a thorough analysis of these elements, to propose a synthesis associating both a precise description of the mechanisms and a map of their functional dependencies. Axis 2: Definition of relevant tasks in the domain of visual reasoning: Although many standard tasks have been defined and shared for simple sensorimotor control, it is not yet the case for cognitive control, generally corresponding to much more complex behaviors. A variety of tasks have been proposed in models evoked above but they differently integrate fundamental constituents such as hierarchical and temporal dependencies. In a similar view of standardization as in the axis above, the goal will be consequently to enumerate properties that have to be assessed when developing such metacognitive models and propose or design corresponding tasks. Subsequently, the postdoctoral fellow will work on integrating the insights from Axis 1 and task definitions in this Axis, with an architecture that integrates selected mechanisms from the different frameworks, particularly under the perspective of extending and evaluating models proposed in our team with novel properties. Axis 3: Organization of an international network of collaboration on the topic: We have already begun to identify and contact international (mainly European) teams working on the topic and willing to contribute to the elaboration of such a roadmap, toward more ambitious international projects. A corresponding goal will be to interact with these partners and to help with the preparation of such projects. This postdoc position is proposed for 18 to 24 months, preferably starting on November 1 st , 2025 and will be located in the Mnemosyne team, in Bordeaux, France. Please send CV + motivation letter to [ mailto:Frederic.Alexandre@inria.fr | Frederic.Alexandre(a)inria.fr ] for preliminary contact and interview. Deadline for application: June 1 st , 2025 References: Dagar, S., Alexandre, F., & Rougier, N. (2022). From Concrete to Abstract Rules: A Computational Sketch. In M. Mahmud, J. He, S. Vassanelli, A. van Zundert, & N. Zhong (Eds.), Brain Informatics . Springer International Publishing. [ https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15037-1_2 | https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15037-1_2 ] Kruijne, W., Bohte, S. M., Roelfsema, P. R., & Olivers, C. N. L. (2020). Flexible Working Memory Through Selective Gating and Attentional Tagging. Neural Computation , 33 (1), 1–40. [ https://doi.org/10.1162/neco_a_01339 | https://doi.org/10.1162/neco_a_01339 ] van den Berg, A. R., Roelfsema, P. R., & Bohte, S. M. (2023). Biologically plausible gated recurrent neural networks for working memory and learning-to learn. bioRxiv , 2023-07. Alexander, W. H., & Brown, J. W. (2015). Hierarchical Error Representation: A Computational Model of Anterior Cingulate and Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex. Neural Computation , 27 (11), 2354–2410. [ https://doi.org/10.1162/NECO_a_00779 | https://doi.org/10.1162/NECO_a_00779 ] Botvinick, M. M., Braver, T. S., Barch, D. M., Carter, C. S., & Cohen, J. D. (2001). Conflict monitoring and cognitive control. Psychological Review , 108 (3), 624–652. Collins, A., & Koechlin, E. (2012). Reasoning, Learning, and Creativity: Frontal Lobe Function and Human Decision-Making. PLOS Biology, 10(3), e1001293+. [ https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001293 | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001293 ] Domenech, P., & Koechlin, E. (2015). Executive control and decision-making in the prefrontal cortex. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences , 1 , 101–106. [ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2014.10.007 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2014.10.007 ] Miller, K., Eckstein, M., Botvinick, M., & Kurth-Nelson, Z. (2024). Cognitive model discovery via disentangled RNNs. Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems , 36 . -- Frederic A LEXANDRE

April 25, 2025

Postdoc position in computational neuroscience

by pedro goncalves

Dear all, The Verstreken Lab and our lab are based in Leuven, Belgium and part of the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, and NERF and VIB.AI, respectively. The Verstreken lab is developing advanced multielectrode array systems to mimic human brain circuits relevant to Parkinson’s disease, and has been supported by the ERC for the past 15 years. Our lab is currently exploring a range of exciting topics at the intersection between computational neuroscience and probabilistic machine learning, in particular, to derive mechanistic insights from neural data. We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic postdoctoral colleague with strong computational skills in the analyses of complex data sets to join our teams. More details about the position and the labs can be found at https://jobs.vib.be/j/110908/postdoc-position-computational-methods-for-neu… Best wishes, Pedro Gonçalves --------------- Pedro Gonçalves Principal Investigator at NERF, a joint research initiative by imec, VIB, and KU Leuven Associate Professor at the Departments of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, KU Leuven Affiliated PI at VIB Center for AI & Computational Biology https://goncalveslab.sites.vib.be/en

April 24, 2025

FRCCS 2025 Program is Live – Join Us in Bordeaux!

by Hocine Cherifi

Dear colleagues, The final program for *FRCCS 2025* is now available! 📅 *May 21–23, 2025* 📍 *Bordeaux, France* 🔗 Program : https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/program_/ This year’s edition brings together a vibrant mix of research and community, including: - 5 keynote speakers: Caterina A. M. La Porta, Mikko Kivelä, Elsa Arcaute, Ulrik Brandes, and the René Thom Award presentation - 3 workshops on timely topics in complex systems - 8 oral sessions and 2 poster sessions - Welcome reception, gala dinner, and awards Whether you're presenting or simply passionate about complex systems, we’d love to see you in Bordeaux! 🎟️ Registration is open: 🔗 : https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/registration/ Please share with your network — and get ready for three inspiring days of science and exchange! Warm regards, The FRCCS 2025 Organizing Committee

April 24, 2025

Workshop of Ideas in Neuroscience - Decoding the Brain: from methods to meaning, June 2-4th

by Mateusz Kostecki

Hello! We are super happy to announce the next *Workshop of Ideas in Neuroscience, that will take place **at the Paris Brain Institute, June 2–4th.* This time, the topic is *Decoding the brain: from methods to meaning*. Applying machine learning and other models to decode behavioral parameters from neural activity is now a standard procedure in neuroscience. These approaches are often used to demonstrate that a specific neural population processes information related to behavior, or that certain patterns of brain activity represent external stimuli. However, this framework has not been without its critics. The notion that the brain’s primary role is to encode and decode information has been questioned by neuroscientists and philosophers alike. Ambiguity often surrounds the concept of "encoding," including what is meant by it and the criteria required for neural activity to be considered as encoding a particular feature. The aim of this workshop will be to perform an in-depth analysis and discussion of this framework and see examples of how, when, and why it should be applied – or challenged. With our speakers, we will try to trace different meanings of "encoding", discuss shortcomings of methods applied to decode information from neural signals – and how those considerations can improve our experiments! *Our speakers are:* - Mazviita Chirimuuta (University of Edinburgh) - Henry Yin (Duke University) - Romain Brette (Institute of Intelligent Systems and Robotics) - Farid Zahnoun (University of Antwerp) - Heike Stein (Sorbonne Université Paris) The workshop will follow the tradition of our *Schools of Ideas in Neuroscience*, with long, in-depth talks, discussions, and interactions in an informal environment! The deadline for application is *May 11th*. Please find more info and the link here – https://nenckiopenlab.org/decoding/. Best, Mateusz Kostecki -- --- Mateusz Kostecki PhD Student Knapska Laboratory Nencki Institute 02-093 Warsaw, Pasteura 3, Poland https://twitter.com/mtkostecki https://evolvingbehavior.blog/

April 24, 2025

Deadline for Satellite Workshops at the Bernstein Conference 2025 is coming up

by Bernstein Communication

+++ The Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience invites proposals for Satellite Workshops of the Bernstein Conference 2025 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. +++ ____ 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/ ____ Satellite Workshops Satellite Workshops of the Bernstein Conference 2025 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, 2025 · Monday, Sep 29, 14:00 - 18:30 CEST · Tuesday, Sep 30, 8:30 - 12:30 CEST Main Conference: September 30 - October 2, 2025 Deadline for Satellite Workshop proposal submission: May 7, 2025 – 15:00 CEST Notification of Satellite Workshop acceptance: End of May 2025 ____ For each workshop, the organizers will receive one fee waiver for the Satellite Workshops, which they can award to one of the workshop speakers. We strongly recommend that the waiver is issued under the consideration of aspects of inclusion. ____ INVITED SPEAKERS Alison Barker (Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Germany) Upinder S. Bhalla (National Centre for Biological Sciences, India) Albert Compte (Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Spain) Luca Mazzucato (University of Oregon, USA) Tirin Moore (Stanford University, USA) Edvard Moser (Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway) Katherine Nagel (NYU School of Medicine, USA) Panayiota Poirazi (Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Greece) Viola Priesemann (Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Germany) Andreas Tolias (Stanford University, USA) ____ CONFERENCE COMMITTEE Jochen Triesch (Conference Chair) Matthias Kaschube (Conference Host) Tatiana Engel (Program Chair) Tim Vogels (Program Vice Chair) Wiktor Młynarski (Workshop Chair) Katharina Wilmes (Workshop Vice Chair) & Athena Akrami, Nicolas Brunel, Alex Cayco-Gajic, Mehrdad Jazayeri, Jennifer Li, Scott Linderman, Ashok Litwin-Kumar, Ida Momennejad, Christina Savin, Andrew Saxe, Daniela Vallentin. ____ 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), Dr. Stephanie Bauer (stellv. Vorsitzende), Prof. Dr. Ir. Pieter Jansens, Prof. Dr. Laurens Kuipers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 24, 2025

Deadline approaching - Valentin Braitenberg Award for Computational Neuroscience

by Bernstein Communication

Dear Colleagues, The Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience invites nominations for the Valentin Braitenberg Award for Computational Neuroscience. The Valentin Braitenberg Award honors outstanding scientific achievements in the field of computational neuroscience. Following Baritenberg's scientific tradition, special attention is paid to theoretical studies that reveal functional significance of brain structure and their neuronal dynamics. The awardee receives €5.000 prize money, donated by the Autonome Provinz Bozen Südtirol, as well as an invitation to the Bernstein Conference 2025 (including registration fee, travel- and accommodation expenses). The award will be presented together with a Golden Neuron pin in a special award ceremony at the Bernstein Conference, followed by a lecture of the Braitenberg Awardee. Nominations may be submitted by scientists working in the field of computational neuroscience and should include the following documents: - One-page laudation, in which the scientific work of the candidate is honored with regard to the award criteria - CV and list of publications Deadline for nominations is April 30, 2025 by email to a.stein(a)fz-juelich.de<mailto:a.stein@fz-juelich.de> Please note that self-nominations are not permitted. The call for nominations can be found under the following URL: https://bernstein-network.de/en/network/awards-and-initiatives/valentin-bra…<http://www.nncn.de/en/bernstein-conference/2018/braitenberg_award> For inquiries please contact a.stein(a)fz-juelich.de<mailto:a.stein@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), Dr. Stephanie Bauer (stellv. Vorsitzende), Prof. Dr. Ir. Pieter Jansens, Prof. Dr. Laurens Kuipers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 23, 2025

Request for Guidance on Computer Vision Integration for Assistive Technology

by Areeba Gull

Dear *Computer Vision Community*, I hope this message finds you well. My name is *Areeba Gull*, a Computer Science student from *Pakistan*, currently working on my *Final Year Project (FYP)*. My goal is to develop an *AI-powered assistive technology* system to support *visually impaired individuals*, with a strong focus on *computer vision* techniques. I would be sincerely grateful for any *resources*, *research papers*, or *expert guidance* related to building effective *CV-based assistive tools*. Suggestions on suitable *models*, *datasets*, or *leading researchers* in this field would be incredibly helpful. Thank you so much for your time and support. Warm regards, *Areeba Gull* Computer Science Student Iqra Girls College, *Pakistan*

April 23, 2025

PhD Position in Computational Neuroscience: Modelling Predictive Error Responses

by Fleur Zeldenrust

*My lab is looking for a PhD candidate in Modelling Predictive Error Responses:* https://www.ru.nl/en/working-at/job-opportunities/phd-position-in-computati… For the NWO project ‘DBI2 <https://dbi2.nl/>’ we are looking for a PhD candidate to study predictive error responses in the auditory cortex. The main goal is to design an experimental approach to distinguish between two alternative theories of predictive coding and processing. Predictive coding and predictive processing are compelling theories to explain brain function. The idea that the brain continually maintains and updates an internal model of the outside world, and compares the incoming input with the expectations generated by this model, can explain many phenomena including adaptive behaviour and sensory effects such as oddball responses. However, until now there is no consensus on how such predictive coding could be implemented in real neural tissue. Importantly, there are two alternative theories on how error signals in predictive processing could be coded in neural signals: either as (1) top down signals from ‘higher order’ brain areas (hierarchical predictive coding, [2]) or (2) local signals, resulting in membrane potentials reflecting error signals ([3], for a review, see [1]). The goal of the research presented here, under the primary supervision of Dr Zeldenrust, is to design an experimental approach to distinguish between these two theoretical approaches. Measuring error signals in neural tissue is experimentally challenging. Therefore, a direct exchange between theory and experiment is needed, so that hypotheses and specific predictions about which neurons to record from and stimulate and the results expected can be quickly updated for the design of optimal experiments. The student will work in close collaboration with the Englitz lab, so that there is a direct link between modelling, data analysis and experiment. As a PhD candidate you will use data on oddball paradigms [4,5], which provide the ability to directly observe predictions and distinguish them from prediction errors. The data are a combined approach of widefield imaging of the entire auditory cortex with local and layer-specific imaging using 2-photon recordings in the same animals. To directly test the top-down hypothesis, neurons in subareas of the prefrontal cortex will be transfected with an inhibitory opsin (eNpHR3.0) to modulate their top-down influence. You will develop a model of the hierarchical interaction between the auditory cortex and the prefrontal cortex, in which error signals are either coded as top-down (theory 1) or local (theory 2). You will use this model to formulate testable predictions, distinguishing theory 1 from theory 2. These predictions will be tested by both analysing existing data from the Englitz lab and formulating new experimental paradigms that are suitable to distinguish between the local and top-down hypothesis. [1] N’dri, A. W., Gebhardt, W., Teulière, C., Zeldenrust, F., Rao, R. P. N., Triesch, J., & Ororbia, A. (2024). Predictive Coding with Spiking Neural Networks: A Survey (arXiv:2409.05386). arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2409.05386 [2] Rao, R. P. N., & Ballard, D. H. (1999). Predictive coding in the visual cortex: A functional interpretation of some extra-classical receptive-field effects. Nature Neuroscience, 2(1), 79–87. [3] Zeldenrust, F., Gutkin, B., & Denéve, S. (2021). Efficient and robust coding in heterogeneous recurrent networks. PLOS Computational Biology, 17(4), e1008673. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008673 [4] Nieto-Diego, J. & Malmierca, M. S. Topographic Distribution of Stimulus-Specific Adaptation across Auditory Cortical Fields in the Anesthetized Rat. (2016) PLOS Biol. 14, e1002397 [5] Lao-Rodríguez, A. B. ... Englitz B, (2023) Neuronal responses to omitted tones in the auditory brain: A neuronal correlate for predictive coding. Sci. Adv. 9, eabq8657 *Profile* - You hold an MSc degree in computational neuroscience, mathematics, physics, computer science, AI or a similar computational field. - You have experience in developing models (preferably in computational neuroscience) and can perform simulations, analytical derivations and advanced data analysis. - You are a highly motivated, independent, critical, and creative researcher who wants to bridge the gap between real data and abstract theoretical models. - You are a team player, ready to collaborate in a diverse, multidisciplinary research group. - You have an excellent command of spoken and written English. - You have experience in coding (Python and/or Matlab). You will be appointed at the Biophysics of Neural Computation group <https://www.ru.nl/en/departments/donders-centre-for-neuroscience/biophysics…>, Donders Centre for Neuroscience <https://www.ru.nl/en/donders-centre-for-neuroscience>, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour. <https://www.ru.nl/en/donders-institute> This vibrant and multidisciplinary institute studies the organisation and function of neural circuits across scales and techniques, from genes and proteins to behaviour, and from in vitro and in vivo experiments to computational modelling. It is an open and international environment, where young scientists from different backgrounds share a fascination for the interaction between brain structure and function. For PhD candidates, there is a lively graduate school and specialised support. <https://www.ru.nl/en/donders-institute/talent-development/phd-programme> <https://www.ru.nl/en/donders-institute/talent-development/phd-programme>*We offer* - We will give you a temporary employment contract (1.0 FTE) of 1.5 years, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, your contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4-year contract). - You will receive a starting salary of €2,901 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €3,707 in the fourth year (salary scale P). - You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus. - We offer Dual Career Coaching. The Dual Career Coaching assists your partner via support, tools, and resources to improve their chances of independently finding employment in the Netherlands. - You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20. -- Fleur Zeldenrust Associate Professor Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour Donders Centre for Neuroscience Faculty of Science, Radboud University Heyendaalseweg 135, room HG 00.111 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands tel +31 24 36 53195 fleurzeldenrust.nl Due to my own family/work balance, you may receive emails from me outside of normal working hours. I do not expect a response from you outside of your own working pattern, nor do I expect an immediate response when you are working.

April 22, 2025

6th International Conference on Mathematics of Neuroscience and AI (Split, Croatia, 27-30 May 2025) - abstract submission and attendance still open!

by Battleday, Ruairidh

6th International Conference on Mathematics of Neuroscience and AI (Split, Croatia, 27-30 May 2025) - abstract submission and attendance still open! —--------- Just under 6 weeks left until this year’s Conference on Mathematics of Neuroscience and AI! In this high-profile conference, we profile foundational research into the basis of intelligence from the perspective of neural data, neural theory, cognitive science, and machine learning & artificial intelligence (AI). www.neuromonster.org Thank you to all those that have submitted—the quality has been exceptional. - Abstract submissions are rolling - Student admission $50 - General admission $100 Keynote Speakers Professor Wolfgang Maas (Graz), Professor Eve Marder (Brandeis), Professor Jay McClelland (Stanford), Professor Christine Constantinople (NYU), Dr Kim Stachenfeld (DeepMind), Professor Kanaka Rajan (Harvard), Dr Ida Momennejad (Microsoft Research), Professor Jacob Foerster (Oxford / Meta). Invited Speakers Professor Alex Cayco-Gajic (ENS) Dr Jenelle Feather (Flatiron Institute) Dr Joao Barbosa (Institute for Neuromodulation) Tejas Ramdas (Harvard) Professor Vijay Namdoodiri (UCSF) Professor Annegret Falkner (Princeton) Dr Chris Hillar (New Theory AI) Dr Juan Gallego (Imperial) Professor Bonan Zhao (Edinburgh) Professor Lisa-Marie Vortmann (Groningen) Felix Sosa (Harvard) Dr Mathias Sablé-Meyer (Harvard / MIT) Dr Lio Wong (MIT) Dr Chen Sun (Mila) Session Chairs Dr Valeria Fascianelli (Columbia; Neural data) Dr Francesca Mignacco (CUNY & Princeton; Neural data) Dr James Whittington (Oxford & Stanford; Neural theory) Dr Maria Eckstein (DeepMind; Cognitive science) Mikey Lepori (Brown & DeepMind; Machine learning & AI) Location The conference will be held in the ancient port town of Split, Croatia, on the Dalmatian Coast. Submissions The submission format is an abstract of 250 words, and we invite submissions for each session via the following Google form: https://forms.gle/a9JDH5B4Z5otS69Y7 These will be accepted for poster, with the best 6 papers in each session category given an additional spotlight talk. We have a very open acceptance policy, and are happy to hear about relevant work that has been submitted to other events. We look forward to seeing you there! The Organizing Committee. Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday (Harvard & MIT) Dr James Whittington (Oxford & Stanford) Dr Ivana Kaljc (DeepMind) Professor Dan V. Nicolau Jr (Kings College London) -- Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday BMBCh (Oxon) PhD President Thinking About Thinking, Inc <https://thinkingaboutthinking.org> Postdoctoral Research Fellow Center for Brain Science, Harvard University Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines, MIT

April 21, 2025

World wide VVTNS series (fifth season): Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at 11:00 am EDT| Daniel Durstewitz, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online <https://streaklinks.com/A9c7PbbpKY7PxB6PaAJWGD3-/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the lecture Daniel Durstewitz Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim Learning generative dynamical systems models from multi-modal and multi-animal neuro-data The lecture will be held on zoom on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at *11:00 am EDT * To receive the link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: *For decades dynamical systems theory played a pivotal role in theoretical and computational neuroscience, as it links biophysical and biochemical processes to neural computation. In fact, dynamical systems are computationally universal. Rather than hand-crafting computational theories of neural function based on dynamical systems, recent developments in scientific machine learning (ML) and AI suggest that we may be able to infer such dynamical-computational models directly from neurophysiological and behavioral observations. This is called dynamical systems reconstruction (DSR), the learning of generative surrogate models of the underlying dynamics, including its long-term temporal and geometrical properties, from time series data. In my talk I will cover recent ML/AI architectures, training algorithms, and validation procedures for DSR. I will discuss specifically how recent AI architectures for DSR can integrate neuroscience data from multiple modalities (like multiple single-unit recordings and behavioral choices), across diverse time scales, and across many different animals and task designs, into a joint DSR model. This provides first steps toward dynamical systems based AI foundation models for neuroscience. *About VVTNS : Launched as the World Wide Theoretical Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), 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 20, 2025

Postdoc and PhD position Computational Neuroscience Bern, Switzerland

by walter.senn＠unibe.ch

Dear all We are pleased to announce the opening of postdoc or PhD position in computational neuroscience at the University of Bern. For a detailed description see below. Besides the top research in our groups, you will find in the capital of Switzerland a beautiful city with lots of opportunities to enjoy together nature and mountains. Best wishes Walter Postdoc or PhD position on cortical self-attention The Senn lab<https://physiologie.unibe.ch/~senn/group/> offers a Postdoc<https://physiologie.unibe.ch/Positions/AnnouncementSenn12.aspx> or PhD position<https://physiologie.unibe.ch/Positions/AnnouncementSenn13.aspx> on a computational model of cortical self-attention<https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.06354> (supported by EBRAINS 2.0). Based on our current work and a collaboration with The Virtual Brain<https://www.ebrains.eu/modelling-simulation-and-computing/simulation/whole-…> (Marmaduke Woodman), we seek for an implementation of neuronal self-attention mechanisms in thalamo-cortical circuits. The model is inspired by transformer-type architectures, but is consistent with experimentally observed cortical connectivity patterns. It shall be trained on cognitive tasks while being constrained to human cortical recordings. Postdoc or PhD position on the Neuronal Least-Action principle The Senn lab<https://physiologie.unibe.ch/~senn/group/> also offers a Postdoc or PhD position on the Neuronal Least-Action principle<https://elifesciences.org/reviewed-preprints/89674> and its extention to long-term temporal processing and spikes (supported by the SNSF). The framework offers a rigorous description of the neuronal dynamics in cortical networks together with gradient-based synaptic learning rules. It will be applied to integrate-and-fire neurons with multiple intrinsic time constants. The project links to implementations in spike-based neuromorphic hardware. Ideal candidates for all positions have a strong background in computational neuroscience, machine learning and mathematics. The Postdoc positions start with a contract for 2 years, but are extendable to 3 years. Please send CV, letter of motivation, and publication list latest by April 28, 2025, to walter.senn(a)unibe.ch<mailto:walter.senn@unibe.ch)> and virginie.sabado(a)unibe.ch<mailto:virginie.sabado@unibe.ch>.

April 18, 2025

Workshop deadline extended: Collective Dynamics and Information Processing in Neural Systems" - Venice, Italy | June 30 - July 02

by Fabrizio Lombardi

Dear All, The deadline for abstract submission to the workshop "Collective Dynamics and Information Processing in Neural Systems <https://liphlab.github.io/NeuroStatPhys_Satellite/>" has been extended to *May 15, 2025.* *To apply please visit* https://liphlab.github.io/NeuroStatPhys_Satellite/registration/ The workshop will take place* in Venice, Italy, on 30 June - 02 July 2025* at the European Center for Living Technology (ECLT). *About the workshop* A longstanding question is how populations of neurons cooperate and coordinate to perform function and maintain an “optimal” state for information processing and computation. While electrophysiological recordings in behaving animals have provided considerable information about what the firing patterns of single neurons encode in isolation, it remains largely a mystery how populations of neurons interact to perform brain functions. How do emergent collective behaviors, such as neuronal oscillations, waves, or avalanches, support function? And what is the nature of the brain’s internal state and how that affects function? With the aim of further strengthening the connection between neuroscience and statistical physics, this satellite workshop is intended to gather neuroscientists, physicists, and mathematicians who work on collective dynamics, cognition and behavior, and provide an interdisciplinary stage to discuss recent theoretical/computational and experimental advances on the role of neural ensembles for brain function. The workshop will be carefully planned to foster discussion and interaction between attendees, and to encourage the establishment of professional relationships. Particular emphasis will be given to participation of young PI’s and scholars and to the diversity in the pool of participants, with a good balance between physicists, mathematicians, theoretical and experimental neuroscientists. *Topics that will be covered in this workshop include (but are not limited to):* - Dynamics of neuronal ensembles: theory and models - Encoding and decoding of neural ensembles - Learning and memory - Control theory and behavior - Statistical inference - Modeling of brain dynamics in health and disease - Criticality in neural systems *Confirmed invited speakers:* - Stefano Fusi (Columbia University) - Gašper Tkačik (IST Austria) - Dietmar Plenz (NIH) - Gianluigi Mongillo (Institut de la Vision) - Raffaella Burioni (University of Parma) - Nima Dehghani (MIT) - Henrik J. Jensen (Imperial College) - Francesca Mastrogiuseppe (Champalimaud Foundation) - Gaia Tavoni (Washington University in St Louis) - Olivier Marre (Institut de la Vision) - Luca Mazzucato (University of Oregon) - Carlotta Martelli (University Mainz) - Athena Akrami (University College London) - Federico Stella (Donders Institute) - Johannes Felsenberg (FMI Basel) - Ana Paula Millán Vidal (University of Granada) - Michele Allegra (University of Padova) For further information please check the workshop website https://liphlab.github.io/NeuroStatPhys_Satellite/ We hope to see you in Venice! The organizing committee, Fabrizio Lombardi, Lucilla de Arcangelis, Serena Di Santo, Samir Suweis, Ulisse Ferrari, Achille Giacometti, Guido Caldarelli, Elisa Tentori

April 17, 2025

Re: Date change Workshop at OCNS25 in Florence July 8

by Canavier, Carmen C.

Please note that this workshop was just now rescheduled to an earlier date and time! Here is a link to the workshop webpage for those interested in oscillations: https://www.medschool.lsuhsc.edu/cell_biology/cns_2025.aspx Here is link to the conference website https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2025 Workshop on Mechanisms for Oscillatory Neural Synchrony CNS*2025 in Florence, Italy on July 08, 2025 From 09:00 to 12:30 This workshop will bring together researchers who have recently published on synchronization networks of coupled oscillators, with a mix of approaches but an emphasis on phase response curve (PRC) theory. The researchers come from both theoretical and experimental backgrounds. Topics include synchronization mechanisms for theta nested gamma in the medial entorhinal cortex, mean-field pulsatile coupling methods for fast oscillations in inhibitory networks, beta oscillations in parkinsonian basal ganglia, the relative contributions of synaptic and ultra-fast non-synaptic ephaptic coupling to the inhibition of cerebellar Purkinje cells by basket cells, infinitesimal macroscopic PRC (imPRC) within the exact mean-field theory applied to ING and PING, and robustness in a neuromechanical model of motor pattern generation. Carmen Canavier, LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans: "A Mean Field Theory for Pulse-Coupled Oscillators based on the Spike Time Response Curve" Joshua A Goldberg, Hebrew University of Jerusalem: "Empirical study of dendritic integration and entrainment of basal ganglia pacemakers using phase response curves" Dimitri M Kullmann, University College London: "Basket to Purkinje Cell Inhibitory Ephaptic Coupling Is Abolished in Episodic Ataxia Type 1" Hermann Rieke, Northwestern University: "Paradoxical phase response of gamma rhythms facilitates their entrainment in heterogeneous networks" Yangyang Wang, Brandeis University: "Variational and phase response analysis for limit cycles with hard boundaries, with applications to neuromechanical control problems" Brandon Williams, Boston University: "Fast spiking interneurons generate high frequency gamma oscillations in the medial entorhinal cortex"

April 17, 2025

Registration open for UK Neural Computation 2025

by Mark Humphries

Register now for the UK Neural Computation meeting 2025 (Imperial College, 9-11th July): https://neuralcomputation.uk/registration.html UK Neural Computation<https://neuralcomputation.uk/> <https://neuralcomputation.uk/> is a national meeting for everyone interested in the computations of the brain, both experimentally and theoretically. Speakers include Jennifer Bizley, Rafal Bogacz, Claudia Clopath, Jonathan Cornford, Paul Graham, Flavia Mancini, Simon Schultz, Petra Vertes and Petr Znamenskiy. ARIA will be hosting a session on developing grant proposals. 9 July: ECR day. ~30 places are available 10-11 July: main meeting. Abstract submission<https://neuralcomputation.uk/submission.html> <https://neuralcomputation.uk/submission.html> is open until May 12th 2025 Please spread the word! Sponsors: ARIA Scalable Neural Interfaces program<https://www.aria.org.uk/opportunity-spaces/scalable-neural-interfaces> Francis Crick Institute<https://www.crick.ac.uk/> Organisers: Danyal Akarca (Imperial) Dan Goodman (Imperial) 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 17, 2025

Workshop at OCNS25 in Florence July 9

by Canavier, Carmen C.

Here is a link to the workshop webpage for those interested in oscillations: https://www.medschool.lsuhsc.edu/cell_biology/cns_2025.aspx Here is link to the conference website https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2025 Workshop on Mechanisms for Oscillatory Neural Synchrony CNS*2025 in Florence, Italy on July 09, 2025 From 14:00 to 17:30 This workshop will bring together researchers who have recently published on synchronization networks of coupled oscillators, with a mix of approaches but an emphasis on phase response curve (PRC) theory. The researchers come from both theoretical and experimental backgrounds. Topics include synchronization mechanisms for theta nested gamma in the medial entorhinal cortex, mean-field pulsatile coupling methods for fast oscillations in inhibitory networks, beta oscillations in parkinsonian basal ganglia, the relative contributions of synaptic and ultra-fast non-synaptic ephaptic coupling to the inhibition of cerebellar Purkinje cells by basket cells, infinitesimal macroscopic PRC (imPRC) within the exact mean-field theory applied to ING and PING, and robustness in a neuromechanical model of motor pattern generation. Carmen Canavier, LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans: "A Mean Field Theory for Pulse-Coupled Oscillators based on the Spike Time Response Curve" Joshua A Goldberg, Hebrew University of Jerusalem: "Empirical study of dendritic integration and entrainment of basal ganglia pacemakers using phase response curves" Dimitri M Kullmann, University College London: "Basket to Purkinje Cell Inhibitory Ephaptic Coupling Is Abolished in Episodic Ataxia Type 1" Hermann Rieke, Northwestern University: "Paradoxical phase response of gamma rhythms facilitates their entrainment in heterogeneous networks" Yangyang Wang, Brandeis University: "Variational and phase response analysis for limit cycles with hard boundaries, with applications to neuromechanical control problems" Brandon Williams, Boston University: "Fast spiking interneurons generate high frequency gamma oscillations in the medial entorhinal cortex"

April 16, 2025

Workshop on Spiking Neural Networks SNNSys

by Robert Legenstein

Abstract submission for the second SNNSys workshop (Current Trends and Future Potential: Spiking Neural Networks) is open. The workshop will be held as part of the AIROV Symposium 7-9 July 2025 in Klagenfurt, Austria. Deadline for Abstract submission is 8 May 2025. SNNSys: https://airov.at/2025/workshop/snnsys AIROV: https://airov.at/2025/ -- Dr. Robert Legenstein Univ.-Professor Institute of Machine Learning and Neural Computation Graz University of Technology Inffeldgasse 16b/I, 8010 Graz, Austria http://www.iml.tugraz.at/legi/ WebEx meeting room: https://tugraz.webex.com/meet/robert.legenstein ++43/316/873-5824 ----------------------------------

April 16, 2025

Survey on the Future of Neuromorphic Computing – Deadline May 12, 2025

by Matteo Saponati

Dear colleagues, We are a group of researchers from the Institute of Neuroinformatics (ETH Zurich and University of Zurich) inviting you to participate in a brief anonymous survey on the current state and future directions of the Neuromorphic field. Since its origins in the late 1980s, Neuromorphic Engineering has evolved through advances in electronics, machine learning, materials science, and robotics. This raises new questions about the field’s identity and priorities. Our survey aims to capture diverse perspectives and provide a snapshot of where the field stands today and where it may be heading. Here is the link to the survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/18zTEIuPxnOciYzNrYxtsHMMm0YrctIeALlu-5027hZ… The estimated completion time is 5 minutes. We kindly ask you to complete the survey by May 12, 2025. We aim to understand how generational shifts, new technologies, and interdisciplinary trends are shaping the field, and this requires a broad community input from both academia and industry. The survey results will be shared openly, with the goal of publishing them in a peer-reviewed journal and using them as a resource to explore our common ground, differences, and future direction. We would be truly grateful if you could participate and, if possible, forward this invitation to colleagues or collaborators in your network who may be interested. Thank you very much for your time and contribution to this initiative. Warm regards, Prof. Dr. Melika Payvand Dr. Laura Kriener Dr. Matteo Saponati Dr. Filippo Moro Dr. Sebastian Billaudelle https://www.ini.uzh.ch/en.html

April 16, 2025

Postdoctoral position in modelling and analysis of foraging behavioural and physiological data ( deadline 15th June 2025)

by Ahmed El Hady

Dear Colleagues, We are seeking a PostDoc with a quantitative background who has finished (or about to finish) a doctoral degree in a quantitative field preferably but not limited to physics or engineering. The candidate should show enthusiasm for analysing large scale data sets that include but not limited to: behavioural, neural and physiological data. Experience with machine learning techniques and animal tracking software programs is preferred but not required. The researcher will be based in the integrative biophysics group at the University of Konstanz and Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, located in Konstanz, Germany. The Postdoc will be working as part of a recently funded Human Sciences Frontiers Program (HSFP) research grant ‘”Neurometabolic mechanisms underlying social foraging” in collaboration with the experimental groups of Robert Froemke (New York University) and Jee Hyun Choi (Korean Institute of Science and Technology). The project aims to understand neuro-metabolic mechanisms underlying social foraging. The PostDoc will have the opportunity to travel to the experimental collaborators in New York and Seoul. The Integrative Biophysics group <https://www.exc.uni-konstanz.de/collective-behaviour/about-us/people/integr…> at the CASCB led by Dr. Ahmed El Hady is focused on theoretical and computational understanding of mechanisms underlying foraging. The postdoc position will be embedded within the highly collaborative environment of the cluster for advanced study of collective behavior at the University of Konstanz. The expected starting date is 01/10/2025 and deadline for application is 15/06/2025. For more information and application , please visit the website: https://stellen.uni-konstanz.de/jobposting/81733e4ecac1d2fc0a665bdc65478a78… For questions about the position , please do not hesitate to contact me via email : ahmed.el-hady(a)uni-konstanz.de All the best regards, Ahmed El Hady Dr. Ahmed El Hady Research Group leader Integrative biophysics group Cluster for Advanced Study of Collective Behavior Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Universitätsstraße 10, 78464 Konstanz Room ZT 907 Postbox 687 Tel.: +49 7531 88-4742

April 16, 2025

NEST Conference 2025 - Extension of abstract submission deadline

by Hans Ekkehard Plesser

Dear colleagues, The abstract submission deadline for the NEST Conference 2025 has been extended to 30 April. We are inviting contributions to the conference, including talks, "posters" and workshops on specific topics. 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. Take the opportunity to advance your skills in using NEST at our hands-on workshops! This year's conference will again take place as a virtual conference on Tuesday/Wednesday 17/18 June 2025. We are delighted to welcome * Marja-Leena Linne, Tampere University, Finland * Daniela Gandolfi, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy * Barna Zajzon, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany * Bernhard Vogginger, TU Dresden, Germany as keynote speakers at the conference. For more information on how to submit your contribution, register and participate, please visit the conference website https://nest-simulator.org/conference Important dates 25 April 2025 - Deadline for NEST Initiative membership applications eligible for fee reduction 30 April 2025 - Extended deadline for submission of contributions 09 May 2025 - Notification of acceptance 11 June 2025 - Registration deadline 17 June 2025 - NEST Conference 2025 starts We are looking forward to seeing you all in June! Hans Ekkehard Plesser and the conference organizing committee -- Prof. Dr. Hans Ekkehard Plesser Research Committee Chair, Faculty of Science and Technology Head, Department of Data Science 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 15, 2025

Professor (W3) of Machine Learning at Ulm University

by Friedhelm Schwenker

*The Faculty of Engineering, Computer Science and Psychology at Ulm University (Germany),* *Institute of Neural Information Processing, is seeking to fill the position, starting as soon as possible, of* Professor (W3) of Machine Learning at the Institute of Neural Information Processing Please find more details at https://stellenangebote.uni-ulm.de/jobposting/69ccf89615183cae538094ff0314e… -- Prof. Dr. Friedhelm Schwenker University of Ulm Institute of Neural Information Processing D-89069 Ulm, Germany phone: +49-731-50-24159 fax: +49-731-50-24156 email:friedhelm.schwenker@uni-ulm.de www:https://www.uni-ulm.de/in/neuroinformatik/institut/hidden/f-schwenker/

April 15, 2025

Summer School "Advanced tools for data analysis in Neuroscience" in Strasbourg

by Axel Hutt

************************************************************************************ Summer School "Advanced tools for data analysis in Neuroscience" ************************************************************************************ When: Sept 11 - 20 2025 Where: Strasbourg, France Part I: Introduction to Python Programming (Thursday, September 11 to Friday, September 12) Part II: School with lectures and student projects (Monday, September 15 to Saturday, September 20) Local Organising Committee: * Jyotika Bahuguna, LNCA, University of Strasbourg * Demian Battaglia, LNCA, University of Strasbourg * Romain Goutagny, CNRS, University of Strasbourg * Axel Hutt, INRIA, University of Strasbourg * Arvind Kumar, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden and USIAS, University of Strasbourg * Philippe Isope, CNRS, University of Strasbourg * Christophe Pouzat, IRMA, University of Strasbourg * Antoine Valera, CNRS, University of Strasbourg Faculty: * Charlotte Bichara, CNRS, University of Strasbourg * Matilde Cordero-Erausquin, CNRS, University of Strasbourg * Pascale Quilichini, INSERM, Aix-Marseille University * Aline Stephan, University of Strasbourg * Greg Stephens, University of Amsterdam * Yaroslav Sych, CPJ CNRS, university of Strasbourg Registration deadline is May 31. For more details and information how to apply, please see [ https://shorturl.at/3xbiZ | shorturl.at/3xbiZ ] .

April 15, 2025

Free Proceedings Access – Submit to COMPLEX NETWORKS 2025 in Binghamton, NY,USA !

by Hocine Cherifi

Last December in Istanbul, over 200 researchers came together to share the latest in *network science, graph learning, and complex systems* at *COMPLEX NETWORKS 2024*. 📚 We’re now offering you *free access* to the full Springer proceedings (Volumes 1–4), featuring high-impact contributions across disciplines: 👉 Access the proceedings (until May 31, 2025) <https://complexnetworks.org/proceedings/> ------------------------------ 🚀 *Be part of what’s next.* Submit your work to *COMPLEX NETWORKS 2025*, held in *Binghamton, NY (USA)*, from *December 9–11, 2025*. 📌 *Important Dates* - Submission Deadline: *September 2, 2025* - Tutorials: *December 8, 2025* - Conference: *December 9–11, 2025* - Springer Proceedings Publication 📖 *Submission Options* - ✅ Full Papers (max 12 pages) – Springer LNCS - ✅ Extended Abstracts (max 4 pages) – Book of Abstracts with ISBN 🏆 Selected papers will be invited to journals including: - *PLOS Complex Systems* - *Applied Network Science (Springer)* - *Advances in Complex Systems (World Scientific)* - *Entropy (MDPI)* - *Social Network Analysis and Mining (Springer)* 📩 Submit your paper <https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/COMPLEXNETWORKS2025/> 🌐 More info <https://complexnetworks.org/> We look forward to your contribution to this dynamic community! Best regards, *The COMPLEX NETWORKS 2025 Organizing Committee* 📧 hocine.cherifi(a)gmail.com | 🌐 complexnetworks.org

April 15, 2025

EiNS Seminar, Wed 30 April, 9am (GMT-3) (9:00 pm JST Japan), Dr. Tom Froese on “How do we make meaning matter in Artificial Intelligence?”

by Jose A. Fernandez

Dear All, You are cordially invited to the first 2025 EiNS seminar in Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence -- https://neuro-ai-lab.intia.exa.unicen.edu.ar/eins-seminars *“How do we make meaning matter in Artificial Intelligence?” by **Tom Froese * Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) -– Embodied Cognitive Science Unit (Japan) *Date:* Wed 30 April - 9am (GMT-3) (9:00 pm JST Japan) *Live Streaming:* https://www.youtube.com/ExactasUNCPBA/live *Language of the talk:* Spanish *Abstract:* How do we ensure that meaning-bearing aspects of agency make a measurable difference in behavior generation? We will consider a novel test for candidate theories, the “participation criterion”: End-directedness of behavior entails that, in principle, it is distinguishable by measurement from one without end-directedness. But how can this criterion ever be satisfied by artificial agents? We will evaluate the possibility that end-directedness will show up as a local increase in unpredictability of system dynamics, which has the global effect of stochastically nudging the system toward aligning with the goal state. *BIO: *Dr. Tom Froese is an Associate Professor at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) in Japan, where he leads the Embodied Cognitive Science Unit (ECSU). Before 2019, he was a Professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where he led the 4E Cognition Group. Froese completed his PhD in Cognitive Science at the University of Sussex in the UK in 2010 and his MSc in Computer Science and Cybernetics at the University of Reading in 2004. His research spans theoretical, computational, and experimental approaches to life, mind, and sociality. Further information at https://neuro-ai-lab.intia.exa.unicen.edu.ar/eins-seminars Regards, Jose A. Fernandez-Leon Fellenz Adjunct Professor UNCPBA - Researcher CONICET CIFICEN (UNCPBA-CICPBA-CONICET) & INTIA (UNCPBA-CICPBA) Dept. of Computer Science and Systems - Exactas-UNCPBA EMail: jafernandez(a)intia.exa.unicen.edu.ar Web: https://jafphd.intia.exa.unicen.edu.ar/ NeuroAI Lab: https://neuro-ai-lab.intia.exa.unicen.edu.ar/

April 14, 2025

OPM-MEG FLUX toolkit 9-12 June, University of Oxford

by Tara Ghafari

Dear all, We are delighted to announce the first OPM-FLUX toolkit to be held 9th-12th June 2025 at St. Catherine's College at the University of Oxford. The OPM-FLUX toolkit course provides a comprehensive introduction to analysing OPM-MEG data using OPM-FLUX, an advanced analysis pipeline for human electrophysiological data. Originally designed for SQUID-based MEG, the FLUX pipeline has been adapted for OPM-MEG. While OPM-MEG offers exciting opportunities in cognitive and clinical neuroscience, analysing its data can be challenging due to technical complexities and a lack of standardised methods. To meet the increasing demand for accessible training in this area, we have developed the FLUX toolkit, built on MNE-Python, a leading MEG analysis toolbox. Participants will be taught the theoretical foundations of OPM sensors and human electrophysiology and gain practical experience with OPM FLUX. In the mornings we will have lectures on the basics data analysis as well as examples on novel cognitive neuroscience research based MEG or OPM-MEG. In the afternoon we will have hands-on data analysis workshops applying the OPM-FLUX pipeline on a data set collected from the local OPM systems. Will cover the analysis of FieldLine as well Cerca/QuSpin data. The analysis sections will include the BIDS format, preprocessing, event-related fields, spectral analysis, source modelling, and multivariate pattern analysis. We will not provide hands-on training on the actual data acquisition but we will outline the general steps required. For details and registration please see https://www.neuosc.com/fluxtoolkit2025 ======================= Tara Ghafari, MD-PhD Postdoctoral Research Associate Department of Psychiatry University of Oxford tara.ghafari(a)psych.ox.ac.uk <mailto:tara.ghafari@psych.ox.ac.uk>

April 14, 2025

Generative Episodic Memories 2025 - Registration deadline 30.04.2025

by Vinita Samarasinghe

*Registration deadline for GEM 2025: 30.04.2025 * GEM 2025 <https://for2812.rub.de/gem2025> will be held at the Ruhr University Bochum from 2nd to 4th June 2025. This conference cuts across subject boundaries and provides a platform for founding interdisciplinary collaborations in the area of episodic memory research. We have an excellent line up of speakers from the areas of computational neuroscience, philosophy of mind and psychology. Thanks to generous funding through the research consortium "FOR 2812 - Constructing scenarios of the past" <https://for2812.rub.de> this meeting has no registration fees. Our program is available at https://www.conftool.net/gem2025/sessions.php *Keynote speakers: * Ali Boyle (LSE); Neil Burgess (UCL); Iris Engelhard (U. Utrecht); Johannes Mahr (York U.); Jeremy Manning (Dartmouth) *Registration:*/**/https://www.conftool.net/gem2025 For more information please visit https://for2812.rub.de or contact Vinita Samarasinghe at for2812(a)rub.de/* */ Follow us on bluesky @for2812.bsky.social/* */ <https://bsky.app/for2812.bsky.social> Kind regards, Vinita Vinita Samarasinghe M.Sc., M.A. Science Manager Arbeitsgruppe Computational Neuroscience <https://rub.de/cns> Institut für Neuroinformatik Ruhr-Universität Bochum, NB 3/73 Postfachnummer 110 Universitätstr. 150 44801 Bochum Tel: +49 (0)234 32 27996 Mobile: +49 (0)1512 7278698 Email: samarasinghe(a)ini.rub.de

April 14, 2025

Nencki Open Lab Bonsai Online Workshop Series

by Mateusz Kostecki

Hello! We are happy to announce a new series of online Bonsai workshops! Modern behavioral neuroscience experiments require us to synchronize multiple data streams, precisely deliver stimuli, and – quite often – do everything in a closed-loop setting. The fact that different devices use different software doesn’t make this task any easier. One of the best – and open – solutions to these challenges is *Bonsai*, a reactive programming language that allows you to collect data from multiple systems – from calcium imaging and sound recordings to sensors and control of output devices such as feeders, motors, or stimulus delivery systems. It is easy to learn, easy to implement, and robust. We will run the workshop in three parts: *Part I* – where we will introduce the basic logic of Bonsai, cover loading and saving data, working with cameras to track animals, and the basics of closed-loop experiments. *Part II* – where we will show you more advanced aspects of Bonsai: working with behavioral subjects, combining different data streams, and using the BonVision library to generate visual stimuli. *Part III* – where we will cover using Arduino alongside Bonsai to control experimental equipment and save data from your sensors. The first workshop – *Introduction to Bonsai* – will take place on *April 25th, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM CET*. You can find the application form here: https://nenckiopenlab.org/bonsai-online/. The fee for each workshop is *EUR 23*. *Requirements:* Windows computer, webcam Best, Mateusz Kostecki -- --- Mateusz Kostecki PhD Student Knapska Laboratory Nencki Institute 02-093 Warsaw, Pasteura 3, Poland https://twitter.com/mtkostecki https://evolvingbehavior.blog/

April 14, 2025

Call for applications: Computational approaches in systems neurophysiology (Rome, Italy – June 23-25, 2025)

by Andrea d'Avella

Applications are open for the XXVIII *School of Physiology and Biophysics* organized by the *Italian Physiological Society *(SIF), which will be held from *June 23 to June 25, 2025*, in *Rome, Italy*. Enquires: sif.sfb.2025(a)gmail.com Online application: https://sfb2025.azuleon.org/ Application deadline: *May 9, 2025* The XXVIII School of Physiology and Biophysics of the Italian Physiological Society is a three-day (one full day and two half days) introductory course designed to provide participants with both theoretical and technical-practical knowledge of computational approaches in systems neurophysiology. The school covers a wide range of topics, from the analysis of behavioral and electrophysiological data to the modeling of brain activity at the cellular, whole-brain, and behavioral levels. Participants will learn how computational methods can be applied to study motor control and sensory systems by integrating experimental data with advanced analytical tools. The curriculum includes psychophysical methods, analyses of kinematic and muscle synergies, eye movement analyses, computational methods of sensory stimulation, neural network models, and quantitative neuroimaging techniques. The course combines lectures with hands-on tutorials, where attendees will analyze sample experimental data using analysis software such as MATLAB and R. Best regards, Andrea d’Avella and the Organizing Committee -- Andrea d'Avella, Ph.D. Professor of Physiology Department of Biology University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy Team leader Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy -- <http://www.hsantalucia.it/5x1000-sostieni-la-nostra-ricerca> Le informazioni contenute in questo messaggio e negli eventuali allegati sono riservate e confidenziali. Il loro utilizzo è consentito esclusivamente al destinatario del messaggio, per le finalità indicate nel messaggio stesso. Qualora Lei non fosse la persona a cui il presente messaggio destinato, La invitiamo ad eliminarlo dal Suo sistema ed a distruggere le varie copie o stampe, dandocene gentilmente comunicazione. Ogni utilizzo improprio e'contrario ai principi del D.Lgs. 196/2003 e del Regolamento UE 2016/679. The information contained in this message as well as the attached file(s) is confidential/privileged and is only intended for the person to whom it is addressed. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, or you have received this communication in error, please be aware that any dissemination, distribution or duplication is strictly prohibited, and can be illegal. Please notify us immediately and delete all copies from your mailbox and other archives. *Rispetta l'ambiente: se non ti è necessario, non stampare questo messaggio - Please consider the environment before printing this email.*

April 12, 2025

[DEADLINE EXTENDED] Registration to Embracing Complexity Workshop

by RUBÉN HERZOG

Join us in the Embracing Complexity Workshop: Principled and Practical Approaches to Emergence! The workshop is scheduled for June 23-27 2025 at the Institute for Cross-Disciplinary Physics and Complex Systems (IFISC in Spanish) in Palma de Mallorca, Spain (https://ifisc.uib-csic.es/) Registration is open until April 25. No abstract is needed, but since we have a limited number of participants, the chances of being selected are higher if you submit an abstract for poster. More info at https://ifisc.uib-csic.es/en/events/conferences/embracing-complexity-25/ Registration HERE: https://forms.gle/eQhWYyC3mjd6EhYC9 On Behalf of the organization committee Rubén Herzog

April 10, 2025

PhD & Postdoc Positions in Cognitive Science & AI

by Angela Yu

Prof. Angela Yu's "Computational Modeling of Intelligent Systems" Group, TU Darmstadt After 14 years as faculty at the University of California San Diego, Prof. Angela Yu joined TU Darmstadt as an Alexander von Humboldt AI Professor in 2023. Multiple PhD and postdoctoral positions are immediately available in her research group. Research Focus Prof. Yu's group investigates the intersection of natural and artificial intelligence using mathematically rigorous approaches to understand the representations and computations underlying intelligent behavior. The research particularly addresses challenges of inferential uncertainty and opportunities of volitional control. The group employs diverse methodological tools including Bayesian statistical modeling, control theory, reinforcement learning, and information theory to develop theoretical frameworks explaining key aspects of cognition: perception, attention, decision-making, learning, cognitive control, active sensing, economic behavior, and social interactions. Current Research Questions How is socio-emotional intelligence similar or different from cognitive intelligence? How can AI be taught socio-emotional intelligence? How are artificial intelligence (e.g. as demonstrated by large language models) and natural intelligence (e.g. as measured by IQ tests) similar or different in their underlying representation or computations? What roles do intrinsic motivations such as curiosity and representational efficiency play in intelligent systems? How can insights about artificial intelligence improve the understanding and augmentation of human intelligence? Are capacity limitations with respect to attention and working memory features or bugs in the brain? How can AI systems be enhanced by attention or WM? How does the brain achieve computational efficiency and efficacy with little labeled data and energetic needs? Academic Environment Prof. Yu brings extensive expertise in computational neuroscience and cognitive science, with substantial experience in computational modeling and cross-disciplinary collaborations. Her research enhances the Centre for Cognitive Science at TU Darmstadt and hessian.AI (the Centre for Artificial Intelligence of Hesse). Group members will have opportunities to collaborate with leading researchers across cognitive science, AI, neuroscience, and related fields not only in Darmstadt but also in nearby research hubs (Frankfurt, Mainz, Marburg, Gießen, Heidelberg, Tübingen). Position Details Start date: flexible (immediately available) Compensation: Highly competitive with U.S. and European standards, based on experience and expertise Language requirements: English fluency required; German proficiency not necessary Location: Darmstadt, an international city with a diverse academic community Application Process Interested candidates should email the following to Prof. Yu (angela(a)angelayu.org <mailto:angela@angelayu.org>) and her secretary (Ms. Anita Schilz (anita.schilz(a)tu-darmstadt.de <mailto:anita.schilz@tu-darmstadt.de>) CV Undergraduate and master's transcripts (unofficial versions acceptable) Contact information for 2-4 references Research statement explaining specifically why you and Prof. Yu's research group would be a good mutual fit -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prof. Dr. Angela Yu Alexander v. Humboldt AI Professor Centre of Cognitive Science & Dept. of Computer Science Technical University of Darmstadt Hessian Center for AI (Hessian.ai) https://www.psychologie.tu-darmstadt.de/intelligent-systems --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 10, 2025

Call for contribution and registration to the Systems Vision Science Symposium: Aug. 20-22, 2025, in Tuebingen, Germany

by Pavlovic, Maria

<https://summerschool.lizhaoping.org/contributions-for-symposium/> Systems Vision Science Symposium <https://summerschool.lizhaoping.org/contributions-for-symposium/> Aug. 20-22, 2025 in Tübingen, Germany Our symposium takes place at the end of our <https://summerschool.lizhaoping.org/> Systems Vision Science Summer School Aug. 11-22, 2025. Our symposium's keynote speaker: Tadashi Isa. Invited speakers of the Systems Vision Science Summer School and Symposium include: Marco Bertamini, David Brainard, Peter Dayan, Andrea van Doorn, Roland Fleming, Pascal Fries, Wilson S Geisler, Robbe Goris, Sheng He, Tadashi Isa, Tomas Knapen, Jan Koenderink, Larry Maloney, Keith May, Marcello Rosa, Jonathan Victor, Li Zhaoping. -------------------------------- We invite you to participate in and contribute (in form of posters) to the symposium. Your contribution will be in the general topic of Systems Vision Science, which promotes the combination of computational, behavioral, and neuroscience methods to discover functions and algorithms for vision in various brain regions and their implementations in neural circuits. To maximize exchanges during the symposium, each poster will be displayed throughout the symposium, which includes four poster sessions (two daytime sessions and two evening sessions), in a venue next to the lecture hall and coffee breaks to give enough time for discussions, networking and knowledge exchange. -------------------------------- To contribute or participate, please fill out the appropriate form at <https://summerschool.lizhaoping.org/contributions-for-symposium/> https://summerschool.lizhaoping.org/contributions-for-symposium/ The deadline for symposium contribution is April 30, 2025. Registration for participation without contribution is open until venue capacity (100) is reached. <https://summerschool.lizhaoping.org/> https://summerschool.lizhaoping.org/ Please direct inquiries to <mailto:svs.summerschool@tue.mpg.de> svs.summerschool(a)tue.mpg.de -------------------------------- Organizing team: Li Zhaoping Maria Pavlovic Vladislav Aksiotis Junhao Liang Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics University of Tuebingen <http://www.lizhaoping.org> www.lizhaoping.org -- Systems Neuroscience mailing list: www.systemsneuroscience.eu <http://www.systemsneuroscience.eu> To post, send email to systems-neuroscience(a)googlegroups.com <mailto:systems-neuroscience@googlegroups.com> --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Systems Neuroscience" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to systems-neuroscience+unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com <mailto:systems-neuroscience+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com> . To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/systems-neuroscience/a1e6117fefb14667abff… <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/systems-neuroscience/a1e6117fefb14667abff…> .

April 10, 2025

post-doc position in the science of AI cognition

by Anna Leshinskaya

A postdoctoral position is available in the relational cognition lab <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.relcoglab.org/__;!!CzAuKJ42GuquVTTm…> at UC Irvine, directed by Anna Leshinskaya. The position is funded by a 2-year grant from the Schmidt Sciences AI Safety Science Program <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.schmidtsciences.org/safetyscience/_…> , co-led with collaborators Seth Lazar and Alice Oh. The project involves developing experiments and interpretable computational models of morally guided decision-making and conceptual combinatorial thought in humans and large language models. Applicants should have a background in computational cognitive science and ideally, AI interpretability, with strengths in research project design and leadership, collaboration and mentorship, and python skills for working with research code repositories and with large language models. ML experience not required, but familiarity with probabilistic programming and methods in neural network interpretability a plus. Background in conceptual and relational reasoning, moral cognition, and decision-making is highly relevant. The position is either fully onsite in Irvine, CA, or hybrid. Please email me at aleshins(a)uci.edu to express interest.

April 10, 2025

Call for Papers to "Neuromorphic Artificial Intelligence and Its Applications: Retrospective and Prospective" special issue

by Vassilis Cutsuridis

Dear colleagues, we would like to invite you to submit a manuscript to the Special Issue "Neuromorphic Artificial Intelligence and Its Applications: Retrospective and Prospective<https://www.mdpi.com/journal/brainsci/special_issues/ID2J799RH5>" organized by the Brain Sciences<https://www.mdpi.com/journal/brainsci> journal. Scope Neuromorphic artificial intelligence (AI), inspired by brains, constitutes a shift in the development of AI technology that is able to process vast amounts of information extremely quickly, accurately, and with far less energy expenditure than any AI/DL system. Because it utilizes event-based processing in which neurons spike only in response to specific stimuli, at any given time only a small fraction of neurons is active, drastically reducing energy consumption. Neuromorphic AI is expected to open new roads to computing technologies (software and hardware) and pave the way to true artificial general intelligence. This Special Issue aims to solicit articles that report state-of-the-art approaches to and recent advances in: * Novel neuromorphic architectures and models constrained by neurobiological data from multiple levels of detail showing mastery in all faculties, including sensory recognition, learning and memory, decision making, cognitive control, reasoning, language processing, and consciousness * Learning algorithms constrained by the limits of biology and neuromorphic hardware * Neuromorphic hardware (sensors, chips, cameras) for cognitive systems * Applications of neuromorphic architectures or hardware to cognitive robotics * Application of neuromorphic architectures or hardware to all other aspects of science and technology This Special Issue will bring together scientists with diverse backgrounds to discuss current concepts and exciting new results in this broad field, cutting across disciplines and focusing on topics that have a high potential to synergize. It is expected that this Special Issue will generate valuable new insights and highlight promising directions of future progress. Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 Regards, Vassilis --- Dr Vassilis Cutsuridis Associate Professor in Computer Science School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, UK, PL4 8AA Email: vassilis.cutsuridis(a)plymouth.ac.uk Web: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/vassilis-cutsuridis *** I work strange hours. You may receive emails from me outside of office hours, but please do not feel you need to reply outside of office hours. ________________________________ [https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/images/email_footer.gif]<http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/worldclass> This email and any files with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the recipient to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient then copying, distribution or other use of the information contained is strictly prohibited and you should not rely on it. If you have received this email in error please let the sender know immediately and delete it from your system(s). Internet emails are not necessarily secure. While we take every care, University of Plymouth accepts no responsibility for viruses and it is your responsibility to scan emails and their attachments. University of Plymouth does not accept responsibility for any changes made after it was sent. Nothing in this email or its attachments constitutes an order for goods or services unless accompanied by an official order form.

April 9, 2025

Postdoctoral Fellows in Theoretical/Computational Neuroscience at UChicago

by Ramon Nogueira

The Grossman Center for Quantitative Biology and Human Behavior <https://neuroscience.uchicago.edu/GrossmanCenter> at the University of Chicago seeks outstanding applicants for multiple postdoctoral positions in computational and theoretical neuroscience. We especially welcome applicants who develop mathematical approaches, computational models, and machine learning methods to study the brain at the circuits, systems, or cognitive levels. The current faculty members of the Grossman Center to work with are: (informal enquiries are welcome) - Brent Doiron’s lab investigates how the cellular and synaptic circuitry of neuronal circuits supports the complex dynamics and computations that are routinely observed in the brain. ( bdoiron(a)uchicago.edu) - Jorge Jaramillo’s lab investigates how subcortical structures interact with cortical circuits to subserve cognitive processes such as memory, attention, and decision making. (jorgejaramillo(a)uchicago.edu) - Ramon Nogueira’s lab investigates the geometry of representations as the computational support of cognitive processes like abstraction in noisy artificial and biological neural networks. (rnogueira(a)uchicago.edu) - Marcella Noorman’s lab investigates how properties of synapses, neurons, and circuits shape the neural dynamics that enable flexible and efficient computation. (noormanm(a)uchicago.edu) - Samuel Muscinelli’s lab studies how the anatomy of brain circuits both governs learning and adapts to it. We combine analytical theory, machine learning, and data analysis, in close collaboration with experimentalists. ( smuscinelli(a)uchicago.edu) Appointees will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and multiple opportunities for collaboration with exceptional experimental labs within the Neuroscience Institute, 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 <https://www.anl.gov/> and UChicago’s Data Science Institute <https://datascience.uchicago.edu/>. The Neuroscience Institute is currently engaged in a major expansion that includes the incorporation of several new faculty members in the next few years. APPLICATIONS: Please send your application before May 1st, 2025 as a single PDF file to neurotheory(a)uchicago.edu. It must include: 1. CV with publications highlighted; 2. A motivation letter specifying the types of projects you would like to work on; 3. The names and contact details of two academic references. Earliest start date: July 1st, 2025, or via mutual agreement. https://neuroscience.uchicago.edu/grossmancenter-postdoctoral-fellows-theor… *The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.* https://neuroscience.uchicago.edu/grossmancenter-postdoctoral-fellows-theor…

April 9, 2025

[reminder] Birmingham-Leiden Summer School in Computational Social Cognition 2025

by Lei Zhang

(sorry for cross-posting) We are delighted to welcome applications for the second edition of the *Birmingham-Leiden Summer School in Computational Social Cognition (CSC) <https://www.compsoccog.com/>*. The summer school is hosted at the University of Birmingham (UK), in collaboration with Leiden University (NL), and will take place from 2nd-5th September 2025. Apply by 18th April 2025 (see information below)! Attending the Birmingham-Leiden CSC Summer School will equip a diverse cohort of early career researchers (trainees through to junior faculty members) with the ability to understand, program, and interpret the output of a range of computational models of social cognition (e.g., reinforcement learning models, evidence accumulation models, Bayesian inference models) and their potential interaction with other modalities of measurements (e.g., fMRI, EEG, eye-tracking). Attendees will receive various types of training (keynote lectures, workshops, tutorials, etc) and work on a group project, both aimed at understanding modelling as well as the theoretical and practical inferences that can be drawn from computational models under social contexts. Keynote speakers: - Matthew Rushworth, University of Oxford (UK) - Diana Tamir, Princeton University, (USA) - David Amodio, University of Amsterdam, (NL) The full list of instructors is available at *https://compsoccog.com/instructors-and-speakers. <https://compsoccog.com/instructors-and-speakers>* For this year’s training program and organising committee, see *https://www.compsoccog.com/about <https://www.compsoccog.com/about>*. To apply, please complete *this form covering your motivation and experience <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcAccPZFTKLSfvKhwUwH3UQ-6FrpmiPbP…>*, including a short CV. The deadline is 18th April 2025. Outcomes will be communicated in early May, with registration for successful applicants then open until mid-June. This year, the CSC Summer School received financial support from the *William K. & Katherine W. Estes Fund in association with the Association of Psychological Science <https://www.psychologicalscience.org/members/awards-and-honors/estes-fund>* We hope to see you this summer in Birmingham! Jo (2025 co-lead), Lei (2025 co-lead), & Anna, on behalf of the CSC 2025 organising committee --- Dr. Lei Zhang w: lei-zhang.net t: @lei_zhang_lz <https://twitter.com/lei_zhang_lz>

April 8, 2025

NeuroBridges 2025: deadline to apply is approaching

by David Hansel

*NeuroBridges 2025* *A Mediterranean, Middle Eastern Summer School in Neuroscience* *Deadline to apply: April 15th, 2025* *NeuroBridges 2025* is a summer school which will take place between *September 7 and September 18, 2025* in Le Centre de Conferences Internationales de Cluny, France (CCIC) <https://84454458.streaklinks.com/CYSff59uLj27U__lKAXml_qR/https%3A%2F%2Fcol…> . 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 also be available*. *NeuroBridges 2025 Faculty:* - Alaa Ahmed (U. Colorado) Rava Azeredo da Silveira (IOB) Ahmed El Hady (Max Planck Institute) David Hansel (CNRS) Mehdi Khamassi (CNRS) Carole Levenes (CNRS) Yonatan Loewenstein (Hebrew U.) Zach Mainen (Champalimaud), TBC Israel Nelken (Hebrew U.) Drazen Prelec (MIT) Reza Shadmehr (John Hopkins U.) - *NeuroBridges *is co-organized by Ahmed El Hady (Max Planck Institute), David Hansel (CNRS, Paris), Yonatan Loewenstein (Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel) and Carole Levenes (CNRS, Paris). For more information and application, visit our website: https://neurobridges.net/upcoming *Contact us:* neurobridges2025(a)gmail.com <neurobridges2023(a)gmail.com> - ᐧ

April 8, 2025

Research assistant post: neural computations of foraging decisions. University of Nottingham (UK)

by Mark Humphries

The Humphries’ lab<https://www.humphries-lab.org> at the University of Nottingham is seeking a research assistant to join a project on the neural computations of foraging decisions, in collaboration with the groups of Matthew Apps (Birmingham) and Nathan Lepora (Bristol). Whether choosing to leave one shop for another, switching TV programs, or seeking berries to eat, humans and other animals make endless stay-or-leave decisions, but how we make them is not well understood. The goal of this project is to find out if there is a common decision algorithm for leaving across species and what that algorithm is. You will create predictions for how foragers should vary in their stay-of-leave decisions for different types of decision algorithm, and test them using data from humans and rodents tackling foraging tasks. You will have some experience in computational modelling of behaviour, such as decision-making models or reinforcement learning, and good programming skills. The post is for 12 months, and would suit predoctoral candidates seeking research experience. Unsure if you're a good fit for the post? Got any questions? Then contact Mark for a chat: mark.humphries(a)nottingham.ac.uk<mailto:.humphries@nottingham.ac.uk>. For full details of the role and how to apply https://jobs.nottingham.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx?ref=SCI128025 Closing date: May 5th 2025 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, 2025

Brains and Machines Podcast

by Bains, Sunny

Brains and Machines is a monthly podcast about neuromorphic engineering and bio-inspired technology, published in conjunction with EE Times Current. Each episode is featured around an interview, with the latest one being Terry Sejnowski from the Salk Institute. Previous guests (we’re on episode 26) include Mitra Hartmann from Northwestern, Carver Mead of Caltech, and roboticist Rodney Brooks. You can listen to the podcast at EE Times Current<https://www.eetimes.com/category/podcasts/eetimes-current/> (interspersed with other podcasts), through Brains and Machines<https://brainsandmachines.net>, and you can also subscribe (with a one episode delay) by clicking the links at the top right of that site (we’re available through most of the usual channels). We hope you get the chance to listen in!

April 7, 2025

Grenoble Neurotech School 2025 (Aussois, May 11-16, 2025) – Deadline April 14

by Blaise Yvert

Dear colleagues, We would like to remind you that this is the last week to register for the second edition of the Neurotech School 2025, taking place from May 11 to 16 at the Centre Paul Langevin in Aussois, France (https://www.caes.cnrs.fr/sejours/centre-paul-langevin-3-2/) You can register via the following link : https://neurotech2025.sciencesconf.org/ The deadline to register is April 14, and as last year, the number of available seats is limited. We look forward to your participation and to welcoming you in Aussois! Best regards, Blaise Yvert for the organizing committee.

April 7, 2025

This week: Global Summit on Open Problems for AI. Central Tokyo, Japan, 9-11th April 2025

by Battleday, Ruairidh

今週：AI の未解決問題に関するグローバルサミット。Sakura Deeptech、渋谷サクラステージ、東京、日本、2025 年 4 月 9 〜 11 日。This week: Global Summit on Open Problems for AI. Sakura Deeptech, Shibuya Sakura Stage, Tokyo, Japan, 9-11th April 2025. What are the next set of challenges for AI algorithms? What are the big possibilities in entrepreneurship and business application? AI アルゴリズムの次の課題は何でしょうか?起業家精神とビジネス応用における大きな可能性は何ですか? The Algorithmic Innovation and Entrepreneurship Global Summit on Open Problems for AI <http://www.algopreneurship.ai/>. is this week in Sakura Deeptech, Shibuya Sakura Stage, Tokyo, Japan, 9-11th April 2025. Join world-leading AI researchers, policy makers, and entrepreneurs in this global Summit over three days of keynote talks, panels, and breakout sessions. 基調講演、パネル、分科会セッションで構成される 3 日間にわたるグローバルサミットに、世界をリードする AI 研究者、政策立案者、起業家が参加します。日本語でライブ文字起こし Day 1 - Algorithms アルゴリズム We ask what the fundamental challenges for developing AI algorithms are, as well as promising avenues for overcoming them. AI アルゴリズムの開発における根本的な課題は何か、またそれを克服するための有望な道筋は何かを尋ねます。 We’ll be hearing from: Dr Shane Gu (Google DeepMind), Prof. Taro Toyoizumi (Riken CBS), Prof. Masanori Koyama (University of Tokyo), Dr Kai Arulkumaran (Araya Inc.), Dr Emityaz Khan (Riken AIP), Professor Masanori Koyama (University of Tokyo), Prof. Yunzhe Liu (Beijing Normal University), Dr Jad Tarifi (Integral AI), Kiran Mysore (University of Tokyo UTEC), Dr Jiaxian Guo (Google DeepMind), Dr James Whittington (Stanford & Oxford University & Zyphra), Dr Lucy Lai (Harvard University), Dr Yusuke Iwasawa (University of Tokyo), Dr Sam Passaglia (Cohere) Panel on “Is Scale all we need?” 「スケールだけが必要なのでしょうか？」 Panel on “What is the next big breakthrough in AI?” 「AI における次の大きな進歩は何でしょうか?」 Day 2 - Ethics 倫理と社会 We ask what the fundamental ethical challenges and opportunities are for AI. AIにとって根本的な倫理的課題と機会は何かと問う。 Keynotes: Prof. Yuko Harayam (Tohoku University; GPAI), Prof. Arisa Ema (University of Tokyo & RIKEN CAIP), Prof. Toshie Takahashi (Waseda University), Dr Colin Rowat (Rakuten, Cambridge), Dr Joe Ledsam (Google Health), Kenny Song (Citadel AI), Kevin Loi-Heng (Avalon AI), Chris Lengerich (Context Fund), Evan Burkosky (Kimaru AI), Tiffany Kayo (Coral Capital) Panel: Micro Ethics - What Can Individual Researchers Do for Ethical AI? 倫理的な AI のために個々の研究者は何ができるでしょうか? Chair: Nicolay Hagen (NTNU) Panel: Meso Ethics - What Can Organizations Do for Ethical AI? 組織は倫理的な AI のために何ができるでしょうか? Chair: Prof. Skyler Wang (McGill) Panel: Macro Ethics - If AI is the answer, what is the question? AIと社会 Chair: Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday (Harvard & MIT) Day 3 - Applications and entrepreneurship 社会実装 We ask what the fundamental challenges and opportunities are in applications for social good and entrepreneurship. 私たちは、社会貢献と起業家精神への応用における根本的な課題と機会は何かを問います。 Keynotes: Prof. Yukie Nagai (University of Tokyo), Dr Hiroaki Kitano (Adjunct Professor, OIST), Sho Ito (Deputy Director of Innovation, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan), Ilya Kulyatin (Tokyo AI; TAI), Robert Lange (Sakana AI), Dr Daisuke Okanohara (Preferred Networks), Dr Conglong Li (Google Deepmind), Takahiro Matsumoto (Cisco / Robust Intelligence), Dr Jungo Kasai (Kotoba Tech), Dr Nick McGreivy (Princeton University), Dr Andrew Fyfe (Neutone), Elizabeth Oda (Braid AI), Dr Tiago Ramalho (Recursive), Francis Hamilton (Tektome Inc), Dr Qi Chen (Paragraph), Kosuke Arima (Stockmark), Dr Yoshitaka Ushiku (NexaScience) Dr Joshua Tan (Metagov) Run in partnership with the Matsuo-Iwasawa Lab, the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI at NICT), and Tokyo AI (TAI). 松尾・岩澤研究室、人工知能に関するグローバルパートナーシップ、東京 AI と提携して運営されます。 This should be an exciting and productive event, and we expect an audience of 200 of Japan’s best AI researchers and entrepreneurs at student, early-stage, and full career levels. これは刺激的で生産的なイベントになるはずであり、学生、初期段階、フルキャリアレベルの日本最高の AI 研究者や起業家 200 名が参加すると予想しています。 Student tickets: $20 for all three days ¥3000 学生3日間入場 General tickets: $20 per day ¥3000 1日一般入場 Reserve your place now! <http://www.algopreneurship.ai/> 席を予約してください <http://www.algopreneurship.ai/> Ruairidh <https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruairidh-battleday-648a2b65/>, <https://www.jcrwhittington.com/>Lucy <https://lucylai.com/>, and James <https://www.jcrwhittington.com/> Thinking About Thinking <https://www.thinkingaboutthinking.org/> -- Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday BMBCh (Oxon) PhD President Thinking About Thinking (www.thinkingaboutthinking.org) Postdoctoral Research Fellow Center for Brain Science, Harvard University Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines, MIT

April 7, 2025

Call for applications: School on Analytical Connectionism (25 Aug- 5 Sep 2025)

by Lin, I-Chun

Topical focus: Bias in learning 25 August - 5 September 2025, London www.analytical-connectionism.net/school/2025<https://www.analytical-connectionism.net/school/2025/> Apply by 18 April 2025 We are delighted to announce the 3rd edition of the School on Analytical Connectionism. This 2-week course will focus on analytical tools, including methods from statistical physics and probability theory, for probing neural networks and higher-level cognition. This course is appropriate for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty in fields from psychology and neuroscience, to physics, computer science, and mathematics. The course will bring together neuroscience, psychology, and machine-learning communities, introducing participants to connectionist theories of higher-level cognition and psychology as well as analytical methods for neural-network analysis. Participants will work in teams, mentored by course lecturers and organisers, to develop novel research projects on topics related to analytical connectionism. Participants will present the research proposals in Week 1 and interim results at the end of the course. Confirmed Faculty: Rémi Monasson (CNRS/ENS) Tim Rogers (University of Wisconsin-Madison) Tali Sharot (UCL/MIT) Merav Ahissar (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) Xuechunzi Bai (University of Chicago) Marco Baity-Jesi (Eawag) Mathew Diamond (SISSA) Lasana Harris (UCL) Tiago Maia (University of Lisbon) Angela Radulescu (Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai) Levent Sagun (FAIR) Fanny Yang (ETHZ) Best, I-Chun on behalf of the School Organisers -- I-Chun Lin Scientific Programme Manager Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, UCL

April 7, 2025

Worldwide VVTNS series: Carl van Vreeswijk Memorial Lecture | Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at 11:00 am EDT| James DiCarlo, MIT

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online <https://streaklinks.com/A9c7PbbpKY7PxB6PaAJWGD3-/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the first *'Carl van Vreeswijk Memorial Lecture ' * James DiCarlo MIT on the topic of Do contemporary, machine-executable models of primate sensory systems unlock the ability to non-invasively, beneficially modulate high-level brain states? The lecture will be held on Zoom on April 9, 2025, at *11:00 am EDT * To receive the link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: *Over the past decade, neuroscience, cognitive science and computer science (“AI”) converged to create specific, image-computable, deep neural network models intended to appropriately abstract, emulate and explain the mechanisms of primate ventral visual processing, up to its deepest neural level, the inferior temporal cortex (IT). Because these leading neuroscientific emulation models — aka “digital twins” — are fully observable and machine-executable, they offer predictive and potential application power that our field’s prior conceptual models did not. Our team’s ongoing work is aimed at asking if current digital twin models might support non-invasive, beneficial brain modulation. In this talk, I will describe a key result: we demonstrate that we can use a digital twin to design spatial patterns of light energy that, when “added” to the organism’s retinal input in the context of ongoing natural visual processing, results in precise modulation (i.e. rate bias) of the pattern of a population of IT neurons (where any intended modulation pattern is chosen ahead of time by the scientist). Because the IT visual neural populations are known to directly connect to and modulate downstream neural circuits (e.g. amygdala) that may underlie psychological affective states (e.g. mood and anxiety), this novel basic science may unlock a new, non-invasive application avenue of potential future human clinical benefit. This progress and new impact possibilities resulted from convergent brain science and AI engineering efforts in the domain of visual object intelligence. I will motivate this as just one example of what I believe will unlock in other domains of human intelligence as brain scientists and AI engineers collaborate to develop machine-executable models of the underlying mechanisms of those still-mysterious domains. *About VVTNS : Launched as the World Wide Theoretical Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), 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 -- *Il n'y a ni obligation ni pression à traiter ou répondre à ce mail en dehors des heures de travail* "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 *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

April 6, 2025

NeuroAI fellow - exciting opportunity

by Rui Ponte Costa

Dear all, As part of the ENCODE AI for Science program we are hiring a neuroAI fellow for a project that aims to bring together state-of-the-art deep RL systems with both systems and behavioural neuroscience. See more below: https://encode.pillar.vc/projects/behavioral-neuroscience Deadline: 30th April 2025 How to apply? Quick application here: https://encode.pillar.vc/apply we will then get in touch with you to discuss more. Note that the salary is substantially higher than usual for academia (> £100k). Best wishes, Rui Ponte Costa Group Leader, Neural and Machine Learning group<https://neuralml.github.io/> | Oxford Neurotheory Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics | Medical Sciences Division University of Oxford, UK

April 4, 2025

Job posts at the Cognitive Science Center at Jagiellonian University

by Marcin

*Postdoc and PhD student positions to study cognition in naturalistic settings* *Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland* *Job Description* The Brain and Cognition Lab at Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland, is excited to announce several upcoming job openings at different levels (postdoc and PhD) to work on the psychophysics and electrophysiology of cognition. These positions are funded by the National Science Center, Poland. We are seeking highly motivated candidates eager to investigate cognition using eye tracking, virtual reality (VR), electrophysiology, psychophysics, and advanced signal processing tools. Interested applicants should contact Marcin Leszczyński (marcin.leszczynski(a)uj.edu.pl) to discuss possibilities. *Lab Description* Successful candidates will join a dynamic research group at the Cognitive Science Center at Jagiellonian University, located in the heart of the beautiful city of Kraków. Our lab uses a variety of technologies, including scalp and intracranial electrophysiology, eye-tracking, VR, psychophysics, combined with advanced signal processing and machine learning, to study neural mechanisms of cognition in health and disease (see Google Scholar <https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=O-mtQkIAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao>). We are interested in questions including neural mechanisms of perception, memory, mind wandering. Specifically, we aim to understanding why our minds wander and how sensory systems interact in naturally uncertain environments. We explore limits of attention capacity, and many more. To do so, we combine experiments in natural settings (e.g., VR or movie watching) with controlled laboratory experiments including psychophysics and advanced analytical tools like machine learning, signal processing, large language models and more. We offer a vibrant international research environment, with English as the working language. Our lab is located in the heart of the beautiful city of Kraków (ul. Ingardena), right next to a beautiful park (Park Jordana) and within walking distance of the Old Town square and several other tourist attractions. We encourage interested candidates to get in touch to discuss the opportunities available. The department provides excellent infrastructure, including supporting staff and state-of-the-art equipment for conducting experiments (e.g., behavioral laboratories, EEG, eye-tracking, and VR setups, fMRI, TMS). Additionally, motivated candidates will have the chance to participate in numerous collaborative and international projects with partners at Columbia University in New York City, Nathan Kline Institute and University Hospital in Bonn. *Requirements* - *Postdoc applicants* must hold, or expect to hold, a doctorate in Psychology, Neuroscience, Computer Science, or related disciplines. An ideal candidate will have experience designing, performing, analyzing, and disseminating psychophysics studies or experimental studies using eye tracking, VR, EEG, MEG, or LFPs. Motivated candidates with other relevant experience are also encouraged to apply. Ability to work independently and proficiency in English are essential (no need to speak Polish). - *PhD applicants* should have previous programming experience and a research interest in neuroscience, perception, attention, mind wandering, memory, eye movements, sensory-motor, or multi-sensory interactions. Previous experience in analyzing psychophysiological signals is an asset. Ability to work independently and proficiency in English are essential (no need to speak Polish). For further inquiries about the positions, please contact Marcin Leszczyński at marcin.leszczynski(a)uj.edu.pl. *Application Process* Interested candidates should send a 1) cover letter describing research interests and motivation to join our lab (max. 2 pages), 2) curriculum vitae, 3) two reference contacts to Marcin Leszczyński. The application will remain open until the positions are filled.

April 4, 2025

Postdoctoral fellowship opportunity

by Samuel Reiter

Dear colleagues, Interested in a postdoc in Japan, studying octopus, cuttlefish and squid brains, on a tropical island, well-funded by the Japanese government and CZI? Apply here, and please spread the word. Open to graduates of US institutions. https://chanzuckerberg.com/rfa/global-science-scholars/ All the best, Sam

April 3, 2025

Reminder: Registration, Abstract Submission and Travel Award applications deadline in 2 weeks for the NSF-Simons NITMB MathBio Convergence Conference 11-14 August 2025 Chicago IL

by William L. Kath

* In response to the recent financial uncertainty associated with federal awards, we have significantly reduced the conference registration fee. Please note that travel award funding for the conference is secure and a generous number of awards are available. * *The NSF-Simons NITMB MathBio Convergence Conference 11-14 August 2025 Chicago, IL Registration, Abstract Submission and Travel Award applications is open! * More details at https://www.nitmb.org/nitmb-mathbio-convergence-conference We are calling for talks and posters discussing challenging problems in biology that are inspiring new mathematics, statistics, theory and computation, and mathematics that is generating important new insights into biology. If you are a mathematician working on biology or a biologist using mathematics, or just someone who would like to learn more about research at the interface between mathematics and biology, we encourage you to attend. * *Registration:* The number of attendees at the conference is finite. We are asking participants to pay a small fee ($40, or $20 for undergraduates) to hold their place. * *Abstracts:* Register before 15 April if you would like to submit an abstract. * *Travel Awards:* We are offering travel awards for students, early career researchers, faculty at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs) and others who live more than 50 miles from Chicago who may need funding to attend. A brief application is required for consideration -- deadline April 15. * Travel awards fund up to $650 for domestic travel and $800 for intercontinental travel, plus reimbursement for local hotel costs and for meals not provided by the conference (gsa.gov rates apply). Award recipients must lodge at The Drake Hotel (140 East Walton Place Chicago, IL 60611) to receive reimbursement. *Registration/submission steps:* 1. Register at https://www.nitmb.org/nitmb-mathbio-convergence-conference 2. Upon entering your information, you will be directed to a payment site. 3. After confirmation of payment (please note your confirmation number), you will be sent links with which to submit an abstract and/or apply for a travel award. If you have questions, please email nitmb(a)nitmb.org I_mportant Dates:_ Abstract Submission April 15, 2025 Travel Award Application April 15, 2025 Early Registration (to be considered for a presentation) ($40, or $20 for undergraduates) February 15 - April 15, 2025 Notification of selection for an Oral Talk or a Poster Late May Regular Registration (no presentation) ($40, or $20 for undergraduates) February 15 - July 14, 2025 Late Registration ($80) July 15 - August 4, 2025 Hotel Registration (at the Drake) Mid-April - July 15, 2025 *Confirmed plenary speakers:* *Alexander Auhlela, The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)* Dr. Aulehla uses dynamical systems to study how a vertebrate embryo forms the unique number of body segments that make up the vertebrae. *Carina Curto, Brown University* Dr. Curto combines mathematical tools from algebra, geometry, topology and dynamical systems to elucidate complex patterns of activity in networks of neurons. *Lorin Crawford, Microsoft Research and Brown University* Dr. Crawford uses machine learning and statistical tools to study the genotype-to-phenotype map for complex traits and diseases. *Michael Hawrylycz, The Allen Institute* Dr. Hawrylycz studies the cellular constitution and organization of the brain using single-cell transcriptomics and cutting-edge computational and statistical tools. *Anna-Liisa Laine, University of Helsinki* Dr. Laine studies complex problems in ecology across a spectrum of length and time scales. *Reidun Twarock, University of York* Dr. Twarock uses mathematics to study the symmetries of animal viruses and how they self-assemble inside host cells.

April 3, 2025

Call for Participation: International Artificial Intelligence Summer School – IAISS 2025, Sept 21-25, Riva del Sole Resort & SPA @ Tuscany * Registration: by April 23 *

by Giuseppe Nicosia

* Apologies for multiple copies. Please forward to anybody who might be interested, thanks! * IAISS2025, A Residential Summer School in AI & Generative AI for Science and Engineering IAISS 2025 is a full-immersion 5-day Summer School in Tuscany on cutting-edge advances in AI and Generative AI with lectures delivered by world-renowned experts. Riva del Sole Resort & SPA @ Tuscany, Italy, Sept 21-25, 2025 https://2025.iaiss.cc iaiss(a)icas.cc REGISTRATION: by April 23 (AoE) https://2025.iaiss.cc/registration/ Oral Presentation Submission Deadline: by April 23 (AoE) Applicant *may* submit (during the Registration Process) a research abstract (max 2 pages; any format) for presentation. School directors and the scientific committee will review the abstracts and will recommend for poster and/or short talk. Abstract must be submitted by April 23 during the registration process. LECTURERS: Each Lecturer will hold up to four lectures on one or more research topics. Yuki Asano, University of Technology Nuremberg, Germany Pierre Baldi, University of California, Irvine, CA,USA Lucas Beyer, OpenAI, Zürich, Switzerland Wessel Bruinsma, Microsoft Research Amsterdam, The Netherlands Sam Buchanan, Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago, USA Floris Geerts, University of Antwerp, Belgium Sven Giesselbach, Fraunhofer Institute - IAIS, Germany & Telecom Systems Chin-Wei Huang, Microsoft Amsterdam, The Netherlands Vicky Kalogeiton, Ecole Polytechnique Paris, France Thomas Kipf, Google DeepMind, USA Yi Ma, University of California, Berkeley, USA Abigail See, Google DeepMind, London, UK Michal Valko, Meta Paris, France More Speakers TBA TUTORIAL SPEAKERS: Druv Pai, University of California, Berkeley, USA Yaodong Yu, University of California, Berkeley, USA Peng Wang, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA https://2025.iaiss.cc/lecturers/ https://2025.iaiss.cc/lectures/ VENUE: https://2025.iaiss.cc/venue/ Riva del Sole Resort & SPA Località Riva del Sole‚ Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) CAP 58043‚ Tuscany‚ Italy p: +39-0564-928111 e: booking.events(a)rivadelsole.it w: https://www.rivadelsole.it/en/ REGISTRATION: https://2025.iaiss.cc/venue/ CERTIFICATE & 8 ECTS: The International Artificial Intelligence Summer School – IAISS 2025 is a full-immersion five-day Summer School at the Riva del Sole Resort & SPA (Castiglione della Pescaia – Grosseto – Tuscany, Italy) on cutting-edge advances in AI and Generative AI with lectures delivered by world-renowned experts. The Summer School provides a stimulating environment for PhD students, Post-Docs, junior academics (only up to assistant professors), early career researchers, and industry leaders (and highly motivated, promising and brilliant Master students / BSc students). Participants will also have the chance to present their results with talks, and to interact with their colleagues, in a convivial, professional and productive environment. PhD students, PostDocs, Industry Practitioners and Junior Academics (only up to assistant professors) will be typical profiles of the IAISS attendants. The Summer School will involve a total of 36–40 hours of lectures, according to the academic system the final achievement will be equivalent to 8 ECTS points for the PhD Students (and some strongly motivated Master Student – BSc Student) attending the Summer School. Language: English. To participate in the IAISS 2025, all attendants must (1/2) register for the school (by April 23, 2025) and (2/2) book accommodation at the school venue, “Riva del Sole Resort & SPA” (by July 23, 2025); all attendants must stay at the “Riva del Sole Resort & SPA”. Once accommodation has been booked at “Riva del Sole Resort & SPA“, the participant must send this information (including the Booking Number) to the IAISS organizing committee (iaiss(a)icas.cc) IAISS is a residential school, so all lecturers and participants must reside in the same Hotel (Riva del Sole Resort & SPA). No exceptions are made. For privacy reasons, the Hotel cannot match people. If you have someone to share the apartment with, please send to the Hotel ( booking.events(a)rivadelsole.it ) the name, surname and email address. Otherwise the solution is to book an apartment in single use. IAISS is organized as a non-profit scientific event. Please note that only IAISS registered participants can book a room (in hotel or apartment) at the Riva del Sole Resort & SPA with the accommodation form attached in the registration email and with the IAISS Discounted Rates. The Booking Office of the Riva del Sole Resort & SPA will verify the names of the participants and the corresponding registration number to confirm the booking. Anyone interested in participating in IAISS 2025 should register as soon as possible: https://2025.iaiss.cc/registration/ See you in Riva del Sole in September! IAISS 2025 Organizing Committees. https://2025.iaiss.cc iaiss(a)icas.cc Obviously, this is only a Call for Participation, to have complete and updated information we recommend you access the relevant website: https://2025.iaiss.cc the News Section: https://2025.iaiss.cc/category/news/ and the FAQ: https://2025.iaiss.cc/faq/ * Apologies for multiple copies. Please forward to anybody who might be interested, thanks! *

April 3, 2025

Apply Now: EITN EBRAINS Fall School 2025

by DEPANNEMAECKER Damien

Dear All, Applications are now open for the EITN EBRAINS Fall School in Computational Neuroscience 2025, which will take place November 19–28, 2025, in Marseille, France. This intensive course is designed for Master’s students, PhD candidates, and postdocs looking to deepen their expertise in computational neuroscience. 🔹 Application deadline: June 4, 2025 (Anywhere on Earth) All application details, including course topics, required documents, and IBRO fellowship information, are available on our webpage: 🌐 https://www.ebrains.eu/news-and-events/eitn-ebrains-fall-school-2025 We look forward to your applications! Best regards, The EITN EBRAINS Fall School Team 📧 eitn2025(a)proton.me

April 3, 2025

The Canadian Neuroanalytics Scholars (CNS) Program

by Joern Davidsen

The Canadian Neuroanalytics Scholars (CNS) Program The Canadian Neuroanalytics Scholars (CNS) Program is now accepting Notices of Intent for the 2025 recruitment cycle. Up to 10 scholars will be awarded $70,0000 per year for up to two years, plus access to training and mentorship from CNS Program partners. Who is eligible? The applicant must: * Be affiliated with a Canadian post-secondary institution * Have less than 5 years of full-time training after completion of a doctoral degree * Current PhD students can apply if their degree will be completed before the program start date The proposed supervisor must: * Hold a full-time faculty position at a degree-granting research institution in Canada, such as the Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI) at the University of Calgary which is one of the Partner Institutes of the CNS Program (potential supervisors in Computational Neuroscience at the HBI can be found here<https://hbi.ucalgary.ca/computational-neuroscience/graduate-specialization/…>) * Conduct research primarily in the field of neuroscience * Only supervise one scholar awarded from this competition; i.e., a supervisor can only be associated with a single applicant NOI Deadline: June 6, 2025 12 pm (noon) MT Interested in learning more? Visit https://www.albertaneuro.ca/funding-programs/canadian-neuroanalytics-schola… This program is made possible by generous funding from the Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation, and from support by our partners at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, The Ontario Brain Institute and The Neuro. We are pleased to collaborate with Canada's centres for excellence in AI/ML as training partners: Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii), Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute (Mila). If you have any questions about the program, we would love to hear from you at abneuro(a)ucalgary.ca<mailto:abneuro@ucalgary.ca>. --- Dr. Jörn Davidsen Professor of Physics & Humboldt Research Fellow University of Calgary www.ucalgary.ca/davidsen<http://www.ucalgary.ca/davidsen>

April 2, 2025

2 PhD/postdoc positions in computational/cognitive neuroscience/neuroAI/precision psychiatry in Tübingen

by Trang-Anh Nghiem

Dear All, I am pleased to announce that my research group at the Hertie Institute for AI in Brain Health (Hertie AI, https://hertie.ai/) within the Eberhard Karls University in Tübingen, invites applications for *two PhD students or postdoctoral researchers (f/m/d)*. My group will investigate the neural mechanisms of altered brain dynamics and function in neuropsychiatric disorders, leveraging biophysical whole-brain models personalized to each patient using AI and model inference methods. Research questions for PhD/postdoctoral projects will be chosen from a range of topics in *computational neuroscience / neuro-AI / precision psychiatry / cognitive neuroscience * including: - Whole-brain biophysical modeling of resting-state brain dynamics in neuropsychiatric disorders, personalized to each patient using evolutionary algorithms and simulation-based inference approaches, and - Whole-brain biophysical modeling of brain function and dysfunction in tasks tied to core symptoms of disorders, including sensory salience paradigms *Required qualifications*: MSc in neuroscience, physics, data science, computer science, engineering, applied mathematics or similar. *Preferred qualifications*: experience with whole-brain or neural network modeling, with neuroimaging data analysis, and/or with model inference. Recruited researchers will be expected to start in Sept 2025 for a duration of 3 years with the possibility of extension. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. If interested, please get in touch and send me your CV and statement of research interests (limited to 2 pages). Looking forward to hearing from you! Best, Trang-Anh Nghiem https://scholar.google.fr/citations?user=2PlcVlIAAAAJ&hl=en

April 2, 2025

Postdoctoral and PhD Positions -- modeling/analysis of dopamine in rhythm perception

by Jonathan Cannon

Postdoctoral and PhD Positions in modeling and analyzing intracranial dopamine data from rhythm perception experiments McMaster University, Hamilton Ontario The METRE lab (Models and Experiments in Timing, Rhythm, and Entrainment, metre.mcmaster.ca), led by Jonathan Cannon (joncannon.net) is initiating a collaboration with Dan Bang’s group at University of Aarhus, Denmark, funded by the Human Frontier Science Program. The project will collect electrophysiological and electrochemical data from human basal ganglia during deep brain stimulator implantations while patients listen to and entrain movement to auditory rhythms. Data will be used to evaluate and develop models of the role of dopamine in rhythm perception, movement, and prediction. Dr. Cannon is looking to welcome at least one postdoctoral researcher and multiple PhD students over the next two years. These lab members will help to refine rhythm experiments, analyze intracranial electrical and chemical data, and develop both neurophysiological and interpretive (Bayesian predictive processing, reinforcement learning) models of rhythm perception. They may also pursue other projects at the intersection of computational neuroscience/cognition, experimental neuroscience/psychology, and music perception, in a rapidly growing new Canadian lab focused on rhythm in the brain and what it can tell us about the experience of being human. About the Postdoctoral Position(s) - Duration: One year with possibility of one- or two-year extension - Start Date: ASAP - Salary: $55k CAD, potentially negotiable - Location: McMaster University, Hamilton Ontario, Canada About the PhD Positions(s) - Program: Psychology, Neuroscience, or Computational Science/Engineering - Start Date: Summer or fall 2026 — earlier start date could be discussed - Stipend: Program dependent, top-up negotiable - Location: McMaster University, Hamilton Ontario, Canada Research Environment The METRE lab is a rapidly growing, international group with diverse interests and backgrounds. Graduate students and postdocs generally attend at least one conference per year, which may include computational neuroscience or auditory/music/rhythm-focused conferences. Postdocs will have access to teaching and professional development opportunities through the McCall MacBain Postdoctoral Fellows Teaching & Leadership Program <https://mccallmacbain.mcmaster.ca/>. Hamilton is a family-friendly city with hiking trails everywhere. 1-2hrs to Toronto by car or public transportation. A living costs calculator can be found here: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Hamilton Application Process *Please submit* a cover letter, a CV, and email addresses for two academic references. We will notify applicants before contacting references. *Send materials by email* to Jonathan Cannon: cannoj9(a)mcmaster.ca *Subject line:* HFSP postdoc/phd positions The postdoc selection process may begin as early as May 1, but feel free to reach out after that! PhD inquiries will be evaluated in fall 2025 except in unusual circumstances, but it’s never too early to establish contact!

April 1, 2025

Reminder for the BrainNet 2025 workshop, end of the week deadline for contributed talk abstracts!

by Pascal Helson

Dear all, This is a reminder for the fourth BrainNet workshop. If you're interested in exploring how analysis of brain data, network science and different imaging methods can explain more about the brain and its functioning, we cordially invite you to attend the BrainNet 2025 in Stockholm, Sweden, from May 5th to 8th. The event is hybrid, you can participate either in person or virtually. For on-site participants, you have until 6th of April 2025 to submit an abstract for giving a contributed talk https://brainnet2025.carrd.co/. The confirmed speakers are: Adrián Ponce-Alvarez, Polytechnic University of Catalonia Roxana Zeraati, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics Michael Winding, Francis Crick Institute Matthieu Gilson, Faculty of Medicine, Aix-Marseille University Barbara Hollunder, Charité - University Medicine Berlin Jacob Vogel, Lund University Alex Bhogal, UMC Utrecht Andrew Lehr, University Medical Center Göttingen Sacha van Albada, Research center Jülich Lida Kanari, Laboratory for topology and neuroscience, EPFL Grégoria Kalpouzos, Karolinska Institutet Katharina Heining, Karolinska Institutet Annegret Habich, Karolinska Institutet Rodrigo Moreno, KTH Dhrubaditya Mitra, Nordita, Stockholm University Josefine Waldthaler, Karolinska Institutet This is a unique opportunity to connect with the experts and the participants as the event is structured with ample time for discussions. You can find all the details – including the preliminary schedule, speaker list and abstracts, and registration link – on the BrainNet 2025 webpage at https://brainnet2025.carrd.co/. We look forward to seeing you there! Please distribute the link in your networks for anyone who might be interested in attending. Best regards, The BrainNet 2025 Organizing Committee: Pascal Helson, KTH Arvind Kumar, KTH Henri Riihimäki, Nordita, Stockholm University Jason Smith, Nottingham Trent University Gonzalo Uribarri, KTH Sarah Vandenbulcke, KTH

April 1, 2025

Postdoc/student workshop at Washington University in St Louis

by Goodhill, Geoffrey

Opportunity for postdocs and senior graduate students! The Center for Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience (ctcn.wustl.edu) at Washington University in St. Louis invites applications from postdocs and senior graduate students, who are using primarily theoretical and computational techniques to study the principles of brain organization and function, for its third Computational Neuroscience Next Generation symposium, September 15-16th 2025: https://ctcn.wustl.edu/2025-next-gen-symposium The CTCN will pay travel expenses for successful applicants. Participants will engage with researchers at CTCN-participating departments over two days, including: - Presenting their work during the symposium, which will also feature leading WashU neuroscientists. - One-on-one meetings with faculty. - Informal discussions with the Washington University computational and theoretical neuroscience community. Being selected as a Next Generation Symposium speaker is an exciting opportunity s to share your research with Washington University computational neuroscientists, to receive feedback, to explore postdoctoral opportunities including CTCN postdoctoral fellowships (https://ctcn.wustl.edu/postdoc-fellows) and to form professional and intellectual relationships with peers, mentors and potential future collaborators. The application form is available at https://ctcn.wustl.edu/next-gen-symposium. The application deadline is May 16th. Professor Geoffrey J Goodhill Departments of Developmental Biology and Neuroscience Director, Center for Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience (ctcn.wustl.edu) Affiliate appointments: Physics, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, and Electrical and Systems Engineering Washington University School of Medicine 4370 Duncan Ave. St Louis, MO 63110 g.goodhill(a)wustl.edu<mailto:g.goodhill@wustl.edu> https://neuroscience.wustl.edu/people/geoffrey-goodhill-phd

April 1, 2025

Postdoc positions in computational neuroscience and biology the Mathematical and Computational Biosciences Collective at NJIT

by Rotstein, Horacio G

Research at the interface of theory/computations & experiments *Position Summary:* Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position in the field of mathematical and computational biology in the recently created Mathematical & Computational Biosciences Collective (MCBC) at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. The position is initially for one year, with the possibility of renewal for up to three years, subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of funding. The start date is September 1, 2025, or earlier. *Essential Functions:* Conduct research in mathematical and computational biology at the interface of theory and experiments, take part in seminars, group meetings, journal clubs, help mentor students, and other research activities of the MCBC and the associated Departments of Mathematical and Biological Sciences. The ideal candidate would have an interest in building successful interactions with experimental scientists and experience in one or more of the following areas: (i) neuroscience, (ii) systems biology / biochemical systems, (iii) collective behavior, and (iv) machine learning / artificial intelligence. The successful candidate will be co-mentored by a theorist and an experimentalist and will have the opportunity to interact with researchers in the pharmaceutical industry, IBM Research, and other industrial partners. In addition to research duties, the Postdoctoral Fellow might have the opportunity to teach one course per semester, subject to availability. *Prerequisite Qualifications:* A candidate should hold a PhD in the areas of applied mathematics, computer science, data science, quantitative biology, or other relevant disciplines. *How to Apply:* Please email (1) a cover letter with a brief research statement, (2) a CV, and (3) names and email addresses of three references to Profs. Casey Diekman (diekman(a)njit.edu) and Horacio G. Rotstein (horacio(a)njit.edu) with the subject line “MCBC Postdoctoral Fellow Application”.

March 31, 2025

Workshop on AI / ML for the analysis of single-cell spatial transcriptomics 15-17 Oct 2025 Lyon (France)

by Hugues Berry

///// Registration to the workshop is now open ///// ///// as well as a call for contributed talks and live sessions ///// 15th-17th OCTOBER, 2025 A 2.5 day workshop on the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning of the analysis of single-cell spatial transcriptomics, in Lyon, France. Information, registration and submissions at https://ai4singlecell.sciencesconf.org/?lang=en https://ai4singlecell.sciencesconf.org/ Confirmed invited speakers: Xiang Zhou <https://xiangzhou.github.io/>, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA Per Uhlén <https://ki.se/en/research/research-areas-centres-and-networks/research-grou…>, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden Genevieve Stein O’Brien <https://www.steinobrienlab.org/>, Johns Hopkins University, USA Sergio Sarnataro <https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=FJD-UagAAAAJ&hl=it>, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Lyon, France Yvan Saeys <https://saeyslab.sites.vib.be/en>, Ghent University, Belgium Marianna Rapsomaniki <https://www.chuv.ch/en/bdsc/research/our-groups/ai-ml-for-biomedicine>, Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland Franck Picard <https://franckpicard.github.io/>, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Lyon, France Guillaume Marcy <https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=BZ9YK6gAAAAJ&view_op=list_w…>, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, France Laura Cantini <https://research.pasteur.fr/en/member/laura-cantini/>, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France Quentin Blampey <https://github.com/quentinblampey>, Paris-Saclay University, France The program will feature both general introductory talks and expert-level methodology-oriented presentations. As well as live sessions demos of application packages for concrete illustration of use cases! This event is organized by Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 <https://www.univ-lyon1.fr/en>, with support from the Spatial-Cell-ID <https://spatial-cell-id.ens-lyon.fr/> national equipment.

March 31, 2025

Workshop on Modern Applications of Control Theory and Reinforcement Learning (to complex adaptive systems) 20-21 May, 2025 at CWI, Amsterdam, Netherlands

by Aditya Gilra

Dear all, Announcing an exciting Workshop on Modern Applications of Control Theory and Reinforcement Learning, particularly to complex adaptive systems including neuroscience:https://www.cwi.nl/en/events/cwi-research-semester-programmes/workshop-on-modern-applications-of-control-theory-and-reinforcement-learning/ Applications of control theory and reinforcement learning are increasingly diverse. This workshop aims to foster the transfer of methods of control and RL across upcoming domains, especially complex adaptive systems such as climate-socio-economics, neuroscience, and similar.Dates: 20-21 May 2025Venue: CWI (Research Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science), Amsterdam, NetherlandsRegistration deadline: 1 May 2025Posters are welcome! We have distinguished speakers covering a wide variety of application domains:Diederik Roijers, VU Brussel, BelgiumElena Rovenskaya, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), AustriaHerke van Hoof, University of Amsterdam, NetherlandsMarcel van Gerven, Radboud University Nijmegen, NetherlandsMarta Kwiatkowska, University of Oxford, United KingdomSander Bohté, CWI, University of Amsterdam, NetherlandsSander Keemink, Radboud University Nijmegen, NetherlandsTimm Faulwasser, University of Stuttgart, GermanyWolfram Barfuss, University of Bonn, Germany Please register as soon as possible!https://www.cwi.nl/en/events/cwi-research-semester-programmes/workshop-on-modern-applications-of-control-theory-and-reinforcement-learning/ This workshop is part of a research semester programme on Control Theory and Reinforcement Learning at CWI, Amsterdam, NL. It follows a Spring School (17-21 March - deadline 10 March) and a Workshop on Themes (24-25 March - deadline 1 March) and is followed by an upcoming Workshop on Theory (19-20 June). Download and advertise the poster. Looking forward to seeing you!On behalf of the organizers.

March 31, 2025

[jobs] Postdoc Position in Cognitive Computational Neuroscience at TU Dresden

by Kiebel, Stefan

Dear colleagues, We are hiring a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Chair of Cognitive Computational Neuroscience, TU Dresden (Germany). The position is part of a DFG-funded project on neurocomputational mechanisms of decision-making through forward planning and state abstraction. Project highlights: * Modeling human learning and decision-making using probabilistic approaches * Analyzing behavioral and fMRI data * Collaborative work with experimentalists and theorists * Opportunity to design and run experiments We’re looking for: * A strong background in physics, computer science, mathematics, or related fields * Programming skills in Python * Interest in cognitive neuroscience and modeling * Experience with probabilistic programming (PyMC, Stan, Pyro) is a plus 🗓️ Start date: July 1, 2025 (or soon after) 📅 Application deadline: April 30, 2025 📍 Location: TU Dresden, Germany 💼 Duration: Until Oct 2027, with extension possible This is a great opportunity for quantitatively strong researchers interested in cutting-edge cognitive neuroscience. Even applicants with limited neuroscience background are encouraged to apply if they have strong modeling skills. For details, please see the full job ad https://tud.link/9d2n92 or reach out to julia.herdin(a)tu-dresden.de<mailto:julia.herdin@tu-dresden.de>. Best regards, Stefan Kiebel TU Dresden – Chair of Cognitive Computational Neuroscience -- Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Stefan J. Kiebel Professur für Kognitive Computationale Neurowissenschaft Technische Universität Dresden 01062 Dresden https://tu-dresden.de/mn/psychologie/ifap/ccns

March 31, 2025

ICONIP2025 Call for Papers

by Kenji Doya

We are pleased to announce the 32nd International Conference on Neural Information Processing (ICONIP) 2025. Date: November 20 to 24, 2025 Venue: Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST): https://www.oist.jp Web site: https://iconip2025.apnns.org Keynote Speakers: • Asako Kanezaki, Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan • Yew Soon Ong, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore • Jun Tani, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Japan Honorary Chairs: Shun-ichi Amari, Kunihiko Fukushima General Chairs: Kenji Doya, Maryam Doborjeh We invite paper submissions across a broad spectrum of topics in machine learning, computational neuroscience, and neural network applications. The conference will be in person. All presenters must be on-site. We use OpenReview for paper submission and reviewing. Accepted papers are published in Springer Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS) or Communications in Computer and Information Science (CCIS), and become open access in OpenReview. For more details, please visit the Call for Papers page: https://iconip2025.apnns.org/call-for-papers Important Dates Tutorial proposal deadline: May 1st Paper submission deadline: May 15th Notification of acceptance: July 15th Camera ready submission: August 15th Registration deadline: August 15th Conference dates: November 20-24 We look forward to receiving diverse and high-quality submissions from researchers around the world! Inquiry: iconip2025(a)apnns.org ---- Kenji Doya <doya(a)oist.jp> Neural Computation Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan Phone: +81-98-966-8594; Fax: +81-98-966-2891 https://groups.oist.jp/ncu

March 30, 2025

Call for Participation & Papers - ACAIN 2025 - 5th International Advanced Course & Symposium on Artificial Intelligence & Neuroscience, September 21-24 2025, Riva del Sole Resort & SPA, Tuscany * Course Registration: April 23 * Paper Submission: May 23 *

by Giuseppe Nicosia

Call for Participation & Call for Papers (apologies for multiple copies, please forward to anybody who might be interested, thanks!) The 5th International Advanced *Course* & *Symposium* on Artificial Intelligence & Neuroscience, September 21-24, 2025, Riva del Sole Resort & SPA, Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) Tuscany, Italy W: https://acain2025.icas.events E: acain(a)icas.cc Symposium Deadline: Paper Submission (Symposium): by May 23 (AoE) https://acain2025.icas.events/symposium-call-for-papers/ https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=acain2025 Course Deadline: Regular Registration (Course): by April 23 (AoE) https://acain2025.icas.events/course-description/ https://acain2025.icas.events/registration/ https://2025.iaiss.cc/deadlines/ LECTURERS: Panos Pardalos, University of Florida, USA Jose Principe, University of Florida, USA Maneesh Sahani, University College London, UK Jonathon Shlens, Google DeepMind, USA Dimitra Thomaidou, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Greece Marina Vidaki, University of Crete, Medical School, Crete, Greece More Speakers TBA https://acain2025.icas.events/course-lecturers/ SCOPE & MOTIVATION: ACAIN: AI meets Computational Neuroscience and Cognitive Science The ACAIN 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 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 23-24), will be preceded by lectures of leading scientists, the ACAIN Course, (September 21-22). 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, which is aimed both at AI experts with interests in Neuroscience and at neuroscientists with an interest in AI. ACAIN 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. SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM COMMITTEE (partial list, confirmed members): https://acain2025.icas.events/program-committee/ ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: https://acain2025.icas.events/symposium-committee/ VENUE & ACCOMMODATION: https://acain2025.icas.events/venue/ ACAIN 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. 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://acain2025.icas.events/activities/ REGISTRATION: https://acain2025.icas.events/registration/ See you in Tuscany in September! ACAIN Organizing Committee. E: acain(a)icas.cc W: https://acain2025.icas.events FB: https://www.facebook.com/ACAIN.LakeDistrict Obviously, this is only a Call for Participation & Call for Papers, to have complete and updated information we recommend you access the relevant website: https://acain2025.icas.events * Apologies for multiple copies. Please forward to anybody who might be interested, thanks! *

March 28, 2025

AE Spring Summit on Open Problems for AI, Shibuya, Tokyo, April 9-11th AIの未解決問題に関する会議

by Battleday, Ruairidh

Dear all, We are holding an event in Tokyo in two weeks' time that we think might be of interest to your members. Please pass on the details, below my signoff, to others you might think interested. 2 週間後に東京でイベントを開催する予定ですが、これは貴社の会員の皆様にとって興味深いものになると思います。ご興味がおありそうな方に、私の署名の下に詳細をお伝えください。 Our sincere thanks, Ruaridh and the team ------- Global Summit on Open Problems for AI. Sakura Deeptech, Shibuya Sakura Stage, Tokyo, Japan, 9-11th April 2025. What are the next set of challenges for AI algorithms? What are the open problems in regulation & application? AI技術のこれからの課題は？ AIアルゴリズムの開発、倫理、社会実装において世界をリードする専門家が議論します We are most excited to announce the Algorithmic Innovation and Entrepreneurship Global Summit on Open Problems for AI <http://www.algopreneurship.ai>. Sakura Deeptech, Shibuya Sakura Stage, Tokyo, Japan, 9-11th April 2025. Join world-leading AI researchers, policy makers, and entrepreneurs in this global Summit over three days of keynote talks, panels, and breakout sessions. 基調講演、パネル、分科会セッションで構成される 3 日間にわたるグローバルサミットに、世界をリードする AI 研究者、政策立案者、起業家が参加します。日本語でライブ文字起こし Day 1 - Algorithms アルゴリズム We ask what the fundamental challenges for developing AI algorithms are, as well as promising avenues for overcoming them. AI アルゴリズムの開発における根本的な課題は何か、またそれを克服するための有望な道筋は何かを尋ねます。 We’ll be hearing from Dr Shane Gu (Google DeepMind), Prof. Taro Toyoizumi (Riken CBS), Prof. Masanori Koyama (University of Tokyo), Dr Kai Arulkumaran (Araya Inc.), Dr Emityaz Khan (Riken AIP), Professor Masanori Koyama (University of Tokyo), Prof. Yunzhe Liu (Beijing Normal University), Dr Jad Tarifi (Integral AI), Kiran Mysore (University of Tokyo UTEC), Dr Jiaxian Guo (Google DeepMind), Dr James Whittington (Stanford & Oxford University & Zyphra), Dr Lucy Lai (Harvard University), Dr Yusuke Iwasawa (University of Tokyo), Dr Sam Passaglia (Cohere) Panel on “Is Scale all we need?” 「スケールだけが必要なのでしょうか？」 Panel on “What is the next big breakthrough in AI?” 「AI における次の大きな進歩は何でしょうか?」 Day 2 - Ethics 倫理と社会 We ask what the fundamental ethical challenges and opportunities are for AI. AIにとって根本的な倫理的課題と機会は何かと問う。 Keynotes: Prof. Yuko Harayam (Tohoku University; GPAI), Prof. Arisa Ema (University of Tokyo & RIKEN CAIP), Prof. Toshie Takahashi (Waseda University), Prof. Yuko Itatsu (University of Tokyo), Dr Colin Rowat (Rakuten, Cambridge), Dr Joe Ledsam (Google Health), Kenny Song (Citadel AI), Kevin Loi-Heng (Avalon AI), Chris Lengerich (Context Fund), Evan Burkosky (Kimaru AI), Tiffany Kayo (Coral Capital) Panel: Micro Ethics - What Can Individual Researchers Do for Ethical AI? 倫理的な AI のために個々の研究者は何ができるでしょうか? Chair: Nicolay Hagen (NTNU) Panel: Meso Ethics - What Can Organizations Do for Ethical AI? 組織は倫理的な AI のために何ができるでしょうか? Chair: Prof. Skyler Wang (McGill) Panel: Macro Ethics - If AI is the answer, what is the question? AIが答えなら、疑問は何でしょうか? Chair: Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday (Harvard & MIT) Day 3 - Applications and entrepreneurship 社会実装 We ask what the fundamental challenges and opportunities are in applications for social good and entrepreneurship. 私たちは、社会貢献と起業家精神への応用における根本的な課題と機会は何かを問います。 Keynotes: Prof. Yukie Nagai (University of Tokyo), Dr Hiroaki Kitano (CTO of Sony Group Corporation), Robert Lange (Sakana AI), Dr Daisuke Okanohara (Preferred Networks), Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday (Harvard & MIT), Dr Aran Komatsuzaki (Eleuther AI), Dr Conglong Li (Google Deepmind), Takahiro Matsumoto (Cisco / Robust Intelligence), Dr Jungo Kasai (Kotoba Tech), Dr Nick McGreivy (Princeton University), Dr Andrew Fyfe (Neutone), Elizabeth Oda (Braid AI), Ilya Kulyatin (Tokyo AI; TAI), Dr Tiago Ramalho (Recursive), Francis Hamilton (Tektome Inc), Dr Qi Chen (Paragraph), Kosuke Arima (Stockmark), Dr Yoshitaka Ushiku (NexaScience) Run in partnership with the Matsuo-Iwasawa Lab, the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, and Tokyo AI (TAI). 松尾・岩澤研究室、人工知能に関するグローバルパートナーシップ、東京 AI と提携して運営されます。 This should be an exciting and productive event, and we expect an audience of 200 of Japan’s best AI researchers and entrepreneurs at student, early-stage, and full career levels. これは刺激的で生産的なイベントになるはずであり、学生、初期段階、フルキャリアレベルの日本最高の AI 研究者や起業家 200 名が参加すると予想しています。 Student tickets: $20 for all three days ¥3000 学生3日間入場 General tickets: $20 per day ¥3000 1日一般入場 Reserve your place now! <http://www.algopreneurship.ai> 席を予約してください <http://www.algopreneurship.ai> Ruairidh <https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruairidh-battleday-648a2b65/>, <https://www.jcrwhittington.com/>Lucy <https://lucylai.com/>, and James <https://www.jcrwhittington.com/> Thinking About Thinking <https://www.thinkingaboutthinking.org/> -- Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday BMBCh (Oxon) PhD President Thinking About Thinking, Inc <https://thinkingaboutthinking.org> Postdoctoral Research Fellow Center for Brain Science, Harvard University Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines, MIT

March 27, 2025

Call for PhD scholarship - Social Coding in Mouse Cortex with Longitudinal Imaging and Computational Modeling

by Lorenzo Fontolan

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce the opening of a PhD position at INMED (Aix-Marseille University) through the SCHADOC program, focused on the neural coding of social interactions and memory in the cortex of behaving mice. The project will investigate how social behaviors essential for cooperation, mating, and group dynamics are encoded in the brain, and how these processes are disrupted in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism. ————— Project Overview This project uses longitudinal calcium imaging and population-level data analysis to study how cortical circuits encode social interactions in mice. Recordings from mPFC and S1 in wild-type and Neurod2 KO mice will be used to extract neural representations of social memory. The candidate will develop and apply computational models of neural dynamics and representational geometry to uncover how these codes evolve over time and are disrupted in social amnesia. Key features • Combination of systems neuroscience, data analysis, and computational modeling • High-density, longitudinal calcium imaging in freely behaving animals • Strong quantitative and analytical component • Integration in an international and interdisciplinary research environment Supervision • Supervisor: Dr. Lorenzo Fontolan, INMED (Aix-Marseille University) • Co-supervisor: Dr. Antoine de Chevigny, INMED (Aix-Marseille University) • Consultant: Leo Guignard, IBDM (Aix-Marseille University) The ideal candidate will have a strong background in neuroscience, physics, engineering, or applied mathematics, with experience or interest in data analysis, computational neuroscience, and systems-level brain function. ————— More information here: https://schadoc.univ-amu.fr/en/call-candidates/call-candidates/health-well-… https://schadoc.univ-amu.fr/en/call-candidates/call-candidates/health-well-… We would appreciate it if you could circulate this opportunity to interested students or relevant mailing lists. For any further information, feel free to get in touch. Best regards, Lorenzo Fontolan — Group Leader CENTURI Institute de Neuroscience de la Mediterranée (INMED) Centre de Physique Théorique (CPT) Aix-Marseille University Campus scientifique de Luminy 13009 Marseille, France

March 27, 2025

Reminder: Eresfjord Summer School on Mathematical Methods in Computational Neuroscience

by Nicolai Waniek

Dear all, This is a reminder for the Eresfjord Summer School 2025 on "Mathematical Methods in Computational Neuroscience"! The application deadline is 31. March 2025. The summer school will take place from 7 July to 25 July 2025 at the Fred Kavli Knowledge Center in beautiful Eresfjord, Norway. We will cover some of the most important methods used in computational neuroscience research through both main lectures and scientific seminars. For more information, visit https://www.compneuronrsn.org/ The confirmed speakers and lecturers are Sara Solla, Northwestern University, USA Predrag Cvitanović, Georgia Tech, USA Carina Curto, Brown University, USA Soledad Gonzalo Cogno, NTNU, Norway Juan Gallego, Imperial College London, UK Inés Samengo, Balseiro Institute, Argentina Valeria Fascianelli, Columbia University, USA Christian Machens, Champalimaud, Portugal Nicolai Waniek, NTNU, Norway Iván Davidovich, NTNU, Norway Federico Stella, Donders Institute, the Netherlands Melvin Vaupel, NTNU, Norway Yoram Burak, ELSC, Israel Best, Nicolai -- on behalf of the organizers

March 26, 2025

Fwd: [CNE-Announce:] GU-TUM Neuroengineering summer school "Neuroengineering for Return to Function" (application deadline 4/8/2025)

by Ella Striem-Amit

(Apologies for cross-posting) ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Center for Neuroengineering <neuroengineering(a)georgetown.edu> Date: Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 9:34 AM Subject: [CNE-Announce:] GU-TUM Neuroengineering summer school "Neuroengineering for Return to Function" (application deadline 4/8/2025) To: <cne-announce(a)georgetown.edu> *3rd annual GU-TUM Neuroengineering Summer School <https://cne.georgetown.edu/2025-summer-school/>* *Georgetown University* *Washington, DC* *June 16-20, 2025* *Application deadline: April 8, 2025* The Georgetown-TUM Summer Schools in Neuroengineering started in 2023 with the rollout of the Center for Neuroengineering (CNE) <https://cne.georgetown.edu/> and the first summer school at Georgetown, followed by the “TUM-GU Summer School in Neuroengineering” at the Technical University of Munich, Germany in 2024. This year’s edition is back at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. The theme is “Neuroengineering for Restoration to Function”, highlighting ways in which neuroengineering approaches can aid in restoring function after injury- or disease-related impairment. The goal of neuroengineering is to apply engineering principles and techniques to understand, repair, replace, and enhance the nervous system. The interdisciplinary nature of the field requires a close collaboration between neuroscientists (spanning approaches from cellular to cognitive) and engineers (including biomedical, computer science, electrical, mechanical…), and the goal of the summer school is to bring together students (from advanced undergraduate to graduate), postdocs and faculty from all these areas. After the great response to the pre-summer school workshops in Munich last year, this summer school for the first time includes a number of workshops. Summer school participants will work in small groups and gain hands-on experience in solving neuroengineering-related problems. In addition, as in previous years, there will be a range of talks from speakers in the CNE alliance (GU, TUM, Lawrence Livermore National Labs) and other institutions, discussion panels (on “the future of neuroengineering in the clinic” and “neuroethics”), as well as social activities. Get ready for an exciting week! Applications using the *online form* <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfUUkBh8DYGgEHNMc6iyjgZBap8io6WDtc…> are due April 8. Participation fees are $50 and scholarships can be provided. Breakfasts and lunches are included. Participants are responsible for travel to DC as well as housing (note that we have reserved housing in on-campus dorms). If you have questions about the summer school, please contact *neuroengineering(a)georgetown.edu* <neuroengineering(a)georgetown.edu>. We hope to see you in DC! -- CNE Team Georgetown University 202-687-3730 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Center for Neuro Engineering Announcements" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cne-announce+unsubscribe(a)georgetown.edu. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/georgetown.edu/d/msgid/cne-announce/CAPa2tZdnQQ… <https://groups.google.com/a/georgetown.edu/d/msgid/cne-announce/CAPa2tZdnQQ…> . -- *Ella Striem-Amit (she/her)* Sensory and Motor Plasticity Lab (SAMPL) Edwin H. Richard and Elisabeth Richard Assistant Professor Department of Neuroscience Georgetown University Medical Center 3970 Reservoir Rd., NW Washington, DC 20007 http://samp-lab.facultysite.georgetown.edu/

March 25, 2025

Summer Course Application deadlines extended to March 30th

by Bonnen, Kathryn

Dear Colleagues, Reminder to apply for Neuromatch summer courses. Application deadlines have been extended to March 30th. This is a great opportunity to learn computational concepts and modeling with students from around the globe. Courses are available in Computational Neuroscience, NeuroAI, Deep Learning and Computational Climate Science. You can apply as a student or a TA (TA positions offer financial compensation). Please share with students/postdocs and your departments. More information below. Thanks, Kate Bonnen -- Kathryn Bonnen Assistant Professor School of Optometry, Department of Cognitive Science, Program in Neuroscience Indiana University kbonnen(a)iu.edu<mailto:kbonnen@iu.edu> https://bonnenlab.github.io COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT We’re excited to announce that applications are open for students and Teaching Assistants. 3-week Courses (July 7-25): * Computational Neuroscience<https://neuromatch.io/computational-neuroscience-course/>: Explore the intricacies of the brain's computational processes and join an engaging community of learners. * Deep Learning<https://neuromatch.io/deep-learning-course/>: Delve into the world of artificial intelligence to uncover the principles and applications of deep learning. 2-week Courses (July 14-25): * Computational Tools for Climate Science<https://neuromatch.io/computational-tools-for-climate-science-course/>: Uncover the tools and techniques driving climate science research in this dynamic two-week course. * NeuroAI<https://neuromatch.io/neuroai-course/>: Explore the intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence through the lens of generalization. Application Info: * Close: Sunday, March 23rd, at midnight in your local time zone * Decisions: Mid-April * Requirements: * Students are expected to be familiar with Python and have foundational science skills in math/science. * Teaching Assistants should have strong Python skills and a background in the relevant topic. See the course pages for more information. * Link: Apply Here<https://portal.neuromatchacademy.org/> Additional Information: * All courses are synchronous but will be conducted exclusively online, providing flexibility and accessibility. * Participation fees are lower than those of other courses to make education affordable to everybody, no matter their financial background. They are also adjusted for national economic factors. Detailed information about course fees can be found here<https://neuromatchacademy.github.io/widgets/cola.html>. * Teaching Assistants will lead small groups of students, fostering collaborative learning. TA positions offer financial compensation; detailed rates can be found here<https://neuromatchacademy.github.io/widgets/ta_cola.html>. * Students and TAs who complete the course are eligible to apply to our Impact Scholars Program<https://impact-scholars.neuromatch.io/impact-scholars/intro.html>, a 4-month supported research program Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to expand your knowledge, connect with experts in the field, and contribute to the success of our courses. Apply today and join us on a journey of discovery! Should you have any questions or need further information, feel free to reach out to us at nma(a)neuromatch.io<mailto:nma@neuromatch.io>.

March 25, 2025

[PhD] Embodied decision making and the emergence of concepts

by Nicolas P. Rougier (inria)

Title: Embodied decision making and the emergence of concepts What: PhD in computer science Where: Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases / Inria Bordeaux, France When: October 1st, 2025 -- October 1st 2028 Who: Nicolas P. Rougier (https://www.labri.fr/perso/nrougier) The goal of this PhD is to explore a minimal model of decision making using a simulated agent in a contiguous environment (T-Maze like). The goal for the agent is to learn to alternate between left and right, independently of the geometry of the maze, even though topology remains the same. This will be done using an echo state network of limited size in order to be able to perform a thorough analysis of its dynamics and representations from three different perspectives (sensory-motor space, external behavior and neural activity). The goal is to find the conditions for the emergence of concepts such as left, right using a manifold-based approach and to prove for their existence independently an external observer. Application (before May 5, 2025) https://adum.fr/as/ed/voirproposition.pl?langue=&site=edmi&matricule_prop=6… -- Nicolas P. Rougier —— www.labri.fr/perso/nrougier Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bordeaux

March 25, 2025

[jobs] Professor/Assoc. Professor/Assist. Professor/Lecturer- AI/ML/Robotics at Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC), Thailand

by Poramate Manoonpong

Dear colleagues, The School of Information Science and Technology (IST) at Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC), Thailand, offers a full-time position (Professor / Associate Professor / Assistant Professor / Lecturer (Tenure Track)). We are expanding our faculty to support the Sense-Think-Act initiative, which focuses on the next generation of AI-driven systems capable of perceiving their environment, reasoning effectively, and acting autonomously. We seek faculty members from diverse fields, including Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Robotics, and Biomedical Engineering, to drive innovation in AI, robotics, and intelligent systems. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://www.vistec.ac.th/recruitment/30 Best regards, Poramate Manoonpong Professor of School of Information Science & Technology Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science & Technology (VISTEC) Wangchan, Rayong 21210 Thailand e-mail: poramate.m(a)vistec.ac.th

March 25, 2025

Introducing the NeuroAI Emerging Leaders Webinar Series – Join Us!

by Moein Khajehnejad

Dear colleagues, Following the very successful *NeuroAI Workshop @ NeurIPS 2024*, we are delighted to see such widespread enthusiasm and engagement from researchers in the field. To continue fostering discussions, collaborations, and knowledge exchange, we are excited to introduce the *NeuroAI Emerging Leaders Webinar Series* – a platform to stay connected and updated on the latest advancements in our field while showcasing the work of early-career researchers who are shaping the future of NeuroAI. This monthly webinar series will feature emerging early-career researchers sharing insights into their latest groundbreaking work, followed by a live Q&A session and an informal online social gathering. If you are interested in broader intersections of neuroscience, intelligence, and computation, this is an opportunity to engage with cutting-edge ideas and build meaningful connections in the community. *First Webinar:* 3rd April 2025, 5-6 PM EST / 9-10 PM GMT *Registration Link: *[Register for free <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSds3VRDTUKdkKd3g6dXHHvXZsWHzfCM-Te…> ] *Webinar Link:* [Join here <https://monash.zoom.us/j/85798268827?pwd=Zc9R2cwvlRj2arSSeiaOE0aGanj65O.1>] *Speaker:* Aran Nayebi <https://anayebi.github.io/>, Assistant Professor at Carnegie Mellon University *Topic:* *Using embodied agents to help answer “why” questions in systems neuroscience* Stay Updated and Connect: Discord NeuroAI Website <https://neuroai-workshop.github.io/NeuroAI_Webinar/> Youtube Channel <https://www.youtube.com/@NeuroaiNeurips2024> Bluesky <https://bsky.app/profile/neuro-ai.bsky.social> X <https://x.com/NeuroAI_NeurIPS> Best wishes, Moein Khajehnejad, Forough Habibollahi, and Adeel Razi

March 24, 2025

NeuroBridges 2025 Deadline approaching

by Ahmed El Hady

*NeuroBridges 2025* *A Mediterranean, Middle Eastern Summer School in Neuroscience* *Deadline to apply: April 15, 2025* NeuroBridges 2025 is a summer school which will take place between September 7 and September 18, 2025 in Le Centre de Conferences Internationales de Cluny, France (CCIC) <https://streaklinks.com/B3KEKFd397UPDx5n8gyfD1BJ/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 also be available. *Faculty:*** * Alaa Ahmed (U. Colorado) <https://www.colorado.edu/mechanical/alaa-ahmed> * Rava Azeredo da Silveira (IOB) <https://www.silveira-lab.com/rava-azeredo-da-silveira> * Ahmed El Hady (Max Planck Institute) <https://www.ab.mpg.de/person/111828> * David Hansel (CNRS) <https://incc-paris.fr/people/david-hansel/> * Mehdi Khamassi (CNRS) <https://pages.isir.upmc.fr/mkhamassi/> * Carole Levenes (CNRS) <https://incc-paris.fr/people/carole-levenes/> * Yonatan Loewenstein (Hebrew U.) <https://elsc.huji.ac.il/people-directory/faculty-members/yonatan-loewenstei…> * Zach Mainen (Champalimaud), TBC <https://mainenlab.org/> * Israel Nelken (Hebrew U.) <https://elsc.huji.ac.il/people-directory/faculty-members/israel-nelken/> * Drazen Prelec (MIT) <https://mitsloan.mit.edu/faculty/directory/drazen-prelec> * Reza Shadmehr (John Hopkins U.) <https://www.shadmehrlab.org/> NeuroBridges is co-organized by Ahmed El Hady (Max Planck Institute and University of Konstanz), David Hansel (CNRS, Paris), Yonatan Loewenstein (Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel), Carole Levenes (CNRS, Paris), Shir Shapira (Hebrew University of Jerusalem). NeuroBridges 2025 is supported by the Simons Foundation, the Cyril Taylor Charitable FoundationELSC, 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/ <https://neurobridges.net/>

March 23, 2025

Postdoctoral position in circuit neuroscience at LMU Munich

by Schröder, Anna

Description of the Schroeder Lab The newly established group of Prof. Dr. Anna Schroeder at LMU Munich is seeking an excellent candidate for a postdoctoral position in neuroscience. For more information, visit www.annaschroederlab.com Our lab investigates the neural circuits underlying emotions, motivations, and physiological needs, focusing on how these internal states shape behavior in dynamic environments. Specifically, we study the subthalamic circuits of the zona incerta, an enigmatic brain region that integrates internal states, external sensory cues, and past experiences to adapt behavior flexibly. To dissect the neural circuit mechanisms driving behavior, we employ cutting-edge methodologies including: * In vivo calcium imaging with 2-photon microscopy or Miniscopes * Whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology * Single-cell RNA sequencing * Optogenetics * Chemogenetics * Viral circuit tracing * State-driven behavioral paradigms * Transgenic mouse models * Advanced machine learning techniques Our ultimate goal is to advance understanding of brain function and develop novel therapeutic strategies for psychiatric disorders through neuromodulation. Prof. Dr. Schroeder is deeply committed to training, mentorship and career development for lab members. The lab offers state-of-the-art neuroscience in a very supportive environment. Your tasks and responsibilities: * Conduct independent research within the scope of the Schroeder lab's focus using advanced neuroscience techniques * Contribute to teaching within the Faculty of Biology and the Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences<https://www.gsn.uni-muenchen.de/index.html> * Take a leading role in training and supervising students * Proactively apply for external funding (e.g. Marie Curie, EMBO, HFSP, Alexander von Humboldt) * Attend lab meetings and conferences to present their work and offer constructive feedback to peers * Collaborate with the team, the broader Munich neuroscience community, and beyond * Help foster an inclusive, hardworking and supportive lab environment What we offer * The best environment for neuroscience in Germany: * LMU Munich is often ranked as the best university<https://www.shanghairanking.com/rankings/arwu/2024> in Germany and is consistently ranked among the top 50 universities worldwide,<https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/lmu-munich> both overall and for life sciences specifically * According to the Nature Index<https://www.nature.com/nature-index/supplements/nature-index-2024-neuroscie…>, LMU Munich is the top academic institution in Germany for neuroscience * Advanced neuroscience research with cutting-edge tools in state-of-the-art facilities * Collaborative and inclusive environment, including partnerships with leading local institutions (e.g., Max Planck Institutes, DZNE, Helmholtz Institutes, TU Munich) all connected via the Munich Center for Neurosciences * Mentorship and career development support from Prof. Dr. Schroeder, a young and highly motivated PI who is genuinely invested in the success of her team members * Opportunity to live in Munich, a vibrant, international city near lakes and mountains with one of the world's strongest neuroscience communities and a very high quality of life<https://www.mercer.com/en-be/insights/total-rewards/talent-mobility-insight…> * Remuneration according to the collective agreement for the public service of the federal states (TV-L) in E13<https://oeffentlicher-dienst.info/c/t/rechner/tv-l/allg?id=tv-l-2025&matrix…> * Various LMU corporate benefits<https://www.lmu.de/en/about-lmu/working-at-lmu/additional-services/corporat…> Eligibility requirements Candidates must meet the following criteria: * Ph.D. or equivalent in a relevant field (e.g., biology, psychology, medicine, physics) * A proven track record (including peer-reviewed publications or pre-prints) * Relevant experience with at least one advanced circuit technology (e.g., in vivo calcium imaging, electrophysiology, optogenetics) * Competence in quantitative data analysis and scientific programming * Proficiency in English Beneficial qualifications: * Practical experience with rodents (e.g., stereotactic surgeries, behavioral experiments) How to apply Applications must provide the following and can be sent to Prof. Dr. Schroeder by email at anna.schroeder(a)bio.lmu.de<mailto:anna.schroeder@bio.lmu.de>: * Cover letter detailing prior research experience, future career goals and why you'd like to join the Schroeder lab * CV * Names and contact details for 2-3 referees * A copy of a publication (or pre-print) you authored The application deadline is April 15, 2025. The start date for this position is flexible.

March 21, 2025

Canada Excellence Research Chair in Neuromorphic Computing at the University of Calgary

by Wilten Nicola

The University of Calgary is looking for applicants for a recently approved Canada Excellence Research Chair in Neuromorphic Computing for the 2026 CERC competition (see link below), which would generously fund an established researcher through the CERC program (see info below). For additional information, please feel free to contact me at wilten.nicola(a)ucalgary.ca *Link to Application * https://research.ucalgary.ca/research/our-impact/canada-excellence-research… *More info on the CERC program* https://www.cerc.gc.ca/about-au_sujet/index-eng.aspx *Launched in 2008, the Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) Program supports Canadian universities in their efforts to build on Canada's growing reputation as a global leader in research and innovation. The program awards world-renowned researchers and their teams either $8 million or $4 million over eight years to establish ambitious research programs at Canadian universities. These awards are among the most prestigious and generous available globally. * *CERC in Neuromorphic Computing at Calgary* *The human brain is a hyper-efficient computer, capable of rapidly performing the operations necessary for movement, interaction and memory by using biological networks of neurons and other neural cells. Human performance requires that complex computations are done nearly instantaneously using relatively little power. Inspired by biological systems, neuromorphic computational solutions are poised to dramatically increase the types of computational problems we can answer using energy-efficient approaches. Neuromorphic systems consist of a range of new technologies that mimic brain cells and brain function in their design and implementation of computing hardware, software and algorithms. Distinct from current computing approaches, which are powered by discretized mathematical operations running on digital transistor-based solutions, neuromorphic computing promises leaps forward in both computing power and energy efficiency.* *A Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Neuromorphic Computing Systems will develop and refine biologically inspired hardware, software, and algorithmic solutions that harness the efficiencies of brain-inspired computing to solve complex problems that would otherwise require prohibitive amounts of classical computing power.* *Candidates will have an established track record of expertise in neuromorphic computing systems. Relevant domains include, but are not limited to, 1) hybrid digital implementations/emulation of analog neural systems (e.g., spiking neural networks implemented in specialized hardware, such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and application-specific integrated circuit (ASICs), 2) direct analog systems which use circuits of electrical elements (e.g., resistors/memristors) to mimic brain cells and operations, or 3) smart materials, which can provide brain-like computation with radically different computational elements (e.g., nanowire networks), and 4) energy-efficient brain-inspired hardware, software and algorithm design.* *CERCs are international leaders in their field, and it is expected that applicants will have an excellent track record of securing national and international grant support, publications with demonstrated impact across a range of appropriate technical journals and alongside other higher impact forums and have contributed to the training of a large and diverse group of trainees. A clear vision of the broad societal impact of their research is essential, as is a commitment to collaborative inter- and trans-disciplinary research.* *The University of Calgary’s Neuromorphic Computing Program <https://hbi.ucalgary.ca/computational-neuroscience> has emerged from our well-established and international recognized Brain and Mental Health Strategy. Led by the Hotchkiss Brain Institute (hbi.ucalgary.ca <http://hbi.ucalgary.ca>) in partnership with other faculties, including the Cumming School of Medicine, the Faculty of Science, and the Schulich School of Engineering, the Brain and Mental Health Strategy coordinates the research and education a multidisciplinary group of over 350 faculty and 1,500 staff and trainees across brain and mental health scholarship. The successful CERC will join, build upon and meaningfully contribute to the activities in our computational neuroscience initiative that includes a rapidly growing group of transdisciplinary researchers working across many relevant and highly complementary areas including computational modeling of brain function, perception and behavior; assessment of complex, dynamical systems; and advanced application of network neuroscience, machine learning and brain computer interface approaches and methodologies. *

March 20, 2025

REMINDER – Application deadline approaching for the Systems Vision Science Summer School: Aug. 11-22, 2025 in Tuebingen, Germany

by Pavlovic, Maria

Systems Vision Science Summer School & Symposium: Aug. 11-22, 2025 in Tübingen, Germany -------------------------------- REMINDER – SUMMER SCHOOL APPLICATION DEADLINE MARCH 31, 2025! -------------------------------- Applications are invited for our third edition of Systems Vision Science (SVS) summer school since 2023, designed for everyone interested in gaining a systems level understanding of biological vision. We plan a coherent, graduate-level, syllabus on the integration of experimental data with theory and models, featuring lectures, guided exercises and discussion sessions. The summer school will end with a Systems Vision Science symposium on frontier topics on August 20-22, with additional invited and contributed presentations and posters. All summer school participants are invited to attend, and welcome to submit contributions to the symposium. -------------------------------- Invited lecturers and speakers include: Marco Bertamini, David Brainard, Peter Dayan, Andrea van Doorn, Roland Fleming, Pascal Fries, Wilson S Geisler, Robbe Goris, Sheng He, Tadashi Isa, Tomas Knapen, Jan Koenderink, Larry Maloney, Keith May, Marcello Rosa, Jonathan Victor, Li Zhaoping. We are pleased to announce our symposium's keynote speaker: Tadashi Isa, on the topic of blindsight in monkeys. The keynote speech will be on August 20, 2025. -------------------------------- Please find the application procedure here https://summerschool.lizhaoping.org/application<https://summerschool.lizhaoping.org/application/> and apply by March 31, 2025. Click here <https://summerschool.lizhaoping.org/contributions-for-symposium/> if you ONLY want to participate in the symposium. Check out our webpage https://summerschool.lizhaoping.org to find more out about the program, our invited lecturers/speakers, and other details. Please direct inquiries to svs.summerschool(a)tue.mpg.de<mailto:svs.summerschool@tue.mpg.de> -------------------------------- Organizing team: Li Zhaoping Maria Pavlovic Junhao Liang Vladislav Aksiotis Ali Gholamzadeh Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics University of Tuebingen www.lizhaoping.org<http://www.lizhaoping.org>

March 20, 2025

Grenoble Neurotech School 2025 (Aussois, May 11-16, 2025) : Registration is now open

by Blaise Yvert

Dear colleagues, Following the success of the Neurotech School held in Aussois in April 2024 (https://neurotechschool.sciencesconf.org/) we are pleased to announce that the next edition will take place at the same location from May 11 to May 16, 2025. Registration is now open at the following link : https://neurotech2025.sciencesconf.org/ As last year, the number of available seats will be limited. For any question, feel free to contact Salma Mezzi in cc of this message Looking forward your participation and welcoming you in Aussois Kind regards, Blaise for the local organizing committee.

March 20, 2025

Looking for Feedback: Neurosimulation Chatbot 🧠💡

by Tim Brauer

Dear all, Over the past few months, I’ve been working on a project related to non-invasive brain stimulation for well-being. In the process, I explored various simulation tools like The Virtual Brain, Brian2, and NEST. However, I quickly found that setting up installations, models, and parameters often took more time than actual scientific exploration. To simplify this, I built a chatbot that runs neurosimulation scenarios in the background. It’s still in an early stage, and I’d love to get your feedback! 👉 You can try it out here: neuropilot.chat<https://neuropilot.chat> For example, you can ask it to simulate the effects of a psychedelic experience on neural activity—it will run the simulation using Brian2 and deliver a report with the results. I’d love to hear your thoughts: * How accurate and useful are the simulation results for your research questions? * Where could this tool fit into your work (or not)? * What worked smoothly, and what didn’t? If you’re interested, I’d really appreciate any feedback to improve this tool for the computational neuroscience community. Thanks in advance! Best, Tim

March 19, 2025

SIMONS-BALSEIRO POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS

by German Mato

The Balseiro Institute, located in Bariloche, Argentina, invites applications for 6 postdoctoral positions, funded by the Simons Foundation through the Targeted Grants to Institutes program. The positions are open to candidates in all areas of theoretical physics, broadly defined, including condensed matter physics, high energy physics, and complex systems. Appointments will begin in September 2025, with a duration of two years, with possible extensions to one more year. The stipend, free of taxes, will be approximately USD 2,000 per month. Successful candidates should have expertise in one or more areas of theoretical physics; candidates working at the intersections of fields are also encouraged to apply. The selected postdoctoral scholars will work in collaboration with members of the theoretical physics groups at Balseiro Institute (see details below). Applications should include a CV, a statement of research interests that identifies the preferred area(s) from the list below, a list of publications, and a minimum of two recommendation letters. The application deadline is April 10, 2025, and the results will be announced by April 30, 2025. The application materials should be sent to simons(a)ib.edu.ar. For further information please contact simons(a)ib.edu.ar. Theoretical Physics Groups at Balseiro Institute The postdoctoral scholars will have the opportunity to collaborate with the following groups and researchers. Condensed Matter Physics The research activities carried out by this group include the description of topological phases of matter, strongly correlated electron systems, driven quantum systems and non-equilibrium statistical phenomena such as yielding and depinning. Members of the group: A. Aligia, L. Arrachea, C. Balseiro, P. S. Cornaglia, D. Dominguez, J. I. Facio, E. Ferrero, D. Garcia, K. Hallberg, A. Hernandez Nieves, E. Jagla, A. Kolton, C. Proetto, M. J. Sanchez, G. Usaj, C. Ventura. Particles and Fields The group’s main focus is to understand the fundamental constituents of matter and their interactions, encompassing research in high-energy physics, astrophysics, cosmology, quantum field theory, string theory, and quantum information theory. Members of the group: G. Aldazabal, I. Allekotte, H. Casini, L. Da Rold, C. Fosco, G. Golup, M. Huerta, J. Magán, F.D. Mazzitelli, S. Mollerach, E. Roulet, G. Torroba, R. Trinchero. More information: webpage of the group Complex Systems The research carried out by this group includes theoretical research on complex systems. The main lines of research are the following: Complex and out-of-equilibrium systems (Collective dynamics, Self-organization, Synchronization, Stochastic processes, Critical phenomena, Open quantum systems), Mathematical biology (Dynamics of ecosystems, Animal movement, Epidemic processes, Forest fires, Biological evolution, Modeling based on Machine Learning and Neural Networks), Socio-economic systems (Dynamics of social networks, Wealth distribution, financial markets, Opinion formation) Members of the group: G. Abramson, S. Bouzat, A. Budini, M. Kuperman, L. Kazimierski, F. Laguna, K. Laneri, D. Schneider, D. Zanette. -- ============================================================ German Mato Centro Atomico Bariloche 8400 S. C. de Bariloche Rio Negro ARGENTINA Phone: +54 294 4445100 E-mail: german.mato(a)ib.edu.ar <mailto:german.mato@ib.edu.ar> ============================================================

March 17, 2025

Cambridge Open Lab Workshop - Electronics for neuroscience: from basics to setup development

by Mateusz Kostecki

Hello! We are pleased to announce the next *Cambridge Open Lab Workshop*, organized with support from FENS. A solid understanding of electronics is essential for neuroscientists. It helps in understanding electrophysiological setups, the mechanisms of action potentials, and the development of experimental setups—from selecting components and synchronizing data streams to implementing closed-loop control systems. This workshop will provide both theoretical and practical training in electronics. It will cover fundamental concepts such as voltages and currents, explore components like capacitors, transistors, and amplifiers, and introduce the use of microcontrollers in neuroscientific experiments. *Workshop Details:* - *Location:* Sheringham, Norfolk - *Dates:* May 4th – 8th - *Fee:* £375 (includes accommodation and food) - *Funding:* Travel grants and fee waivers are available—please indicate your need in the application form. Apply here: *https://nenckiopenlab.org/electronics-cam/ <https://nenckiopenlab.org/electronics-cam/>* *Application deadline:* April 1st We look forward to your application. Best regards, Best, Mateusz Kostecki -- --- Mateusz Kostecki PhD Student Knapska Laboratory Nencki Institute 02-093 Warsaw, Pasteura 3, Poland https://twitter.com/mtkostecki https://evolvingbehavior.blog/

March 17, 2025

Brain Connectivity Workshop (BCW) 2025 - earlybird registration extended!

by James Roberts

Brain Connectivity Workshop (BCW) 2025 Founded in 2002, the Brain Connectivity Workshop (BCW) is an annual international meeting for in-depth discussions of all aspects of brain connectivity research. See past events here<https://brain-connectivity-workshop.org/>. By bringing together experts in computational neuroscience, neuroscience methodology and experimental neuroscience, it aims to improve the understanding of the relationship between anatomical connectivity, brain dynamics and cognitive function. These workshops have a unique format, featuring only short presentations (15 minutes, 3 slides), followed by 45 minutes of intense discussion. This year, join us on the beautiful Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island), Queensland, Australia. BCW will be held on the days before this year's OHBM Annual Meeting in Brisbane. Date: 20th - 22nd June 2025 (Welcome drinks on Friday 20th June from 4:00PM) Venue: Point Lookout Community Hall, East Coast Road, Point Lookout Accommodation: Allure Stradbroke Resort, 43 - 57 East Coast Road, Point Lookout Register: https://qimrberghofer.eventsair.com/brain-connectivity-workshop-2025/regist… Confirmed speakers: Petra Ritter (Charitè, Berlin) - presenting the 2025 Rolf Kötter lecture Melanie Boly (University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA) Joana Cabral (University of Minho, Braga, Portugal) Martijn van den Heuvel (Vrije Universiteit and VU Medical Center, Amsterdam) Viktor Jirsa (Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille) James Pang (Monash University, Melbourne, Australia) Richa Phogat (University of Newcastle, Australia) Maria Giulia Preti (EPFL, Geneva) Marc Tittgemeyer (Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne) Changsong Zhou (Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong) Early Bird Registration *EXTENDED* By 11:59PM AEST, 1 April 2025 AUD $945.00 including accommodation (~USD $595) Standard Registration By 11:59PM AEST, 15 April 2025 AUD $1,045.00 including accommodation (~USD $660) Registration includes: - Access to all sessions including Welcome drinks on Friday 20th June from 4:00pm - Two (2) nights accommodation and buffet breakfast at Allure Stradbroke Resort - Ferries to/from the island (departing from the Brisbane suburb of Cleveland) and transfers to/from the accommodation Conference organisers: James Roberts, QIMR Berghofer Luca Cocchi, QIMR Berghofer Michael Breakspear, University of Newcastle Richa Phogat, University of Newcastle

March 17, 2025

World wide VVTNS series (fifth season): Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 11:00 am EDT| Marcelo Rozenberg, CNRS, Paris

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online <https://streaklinks.com/A9c7PbbpKY7PxB6PaAJWGD3-/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the lecture given by Marcelo Rozenberg CNRS, Paris Dynamics of neural motifs realized with a minimal memristive neuro-synaptic unit The lecture will be held on zoom on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at *11:00 am EDT * To receive the link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Note that the USA moved to Summer time. * *On Wednesday, March 19, 11am EDT = 4 pm CET = 3 pm GMT* *Abstract: *The use of electronic circuits to model neural systems goes back to C. Mead and is present in models, from leaky-integrate-and-fire to Hodking-Huxley. Simulating neural network with analog hardware is attractive: it allows to implement neurocomputations in real time without discretization approximations, it has perfect simulation-time scaling with system size, and it provides ready-to-deploy neuromorphic circuit for applications. There are implementations in CMOS technology, however, they are complex, require sophisticated fabrication facilities and, most important, suffer from significant device mismatch. In a radically different approach, based on the concept of memristors, we introduce a neuro-synaptic circuit of unprecedented simplicity, with readily available cheap off-the-shelf electronic components, that can quantitatively reproduce textbook theoretical neuron and synaptic current models. Our neuron circuits can avoid the mismatch problem and are easily tuneable at bio-compatible time-scales. We first introduce a voltage-gated conductance bursting neuron model that produces spike traces that bare striking similarity to experimental recordings. We then introduce synaptic current circuits and show the modularity of our method implementing neurocomputing primitives of basic network motifs, including CPGs. With this "theoretical hardware" approach we show: (i) that neuron adaptation and self-excitation can be viewed as a self-consistent dynamical problem; (ii) that a dynamical memory can be minimally implemented with a single recursive spiking neuron; (iii) that an adaptive membrane current reveals a connection between bursting and the driven harmonic oscillator, perhaps pointing to a neural correlate of the pendular limb motion. Finally we discuss the limitation of the approach to networks of mid-size and its potential application for brain-machine-interfaces, robotics and AI. *About VVTNS : Launched as the World Wide Theoretical Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), 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 -- *Il n'y a ni obligation ni pression à traiter ou répondre à ce mail en dehors des heures de travail* "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 *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.*

March 16, 2025

NEST Conference 2025 – registration and call for contributions are open

by Hans Ekkehard Plesser

Dear colleagues, The NEST Initiative is excited to invite everyone interested in Neural Simulation Technology and the NEST Simulator to the NEST Conference 2025. 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. Take the opportunity to advance your skills in using NEST at our hands-on workshops! We explicitly encourage young scientists to participate in the conference! This year's conference will again take place as a virtual conference on Tuesday/Wednesday 17/18 June 2025. We are delighted to welcome * Marja-Leena Linne, Tampere University, Finland * Daniela Gandolfi, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy * Barna Zajzon, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany * as keynote speakers at the conference. Registration and submission of contributions are now open! We are inviting contributions to the conference, including talks, "posters" and workshops on specific topics. Please register and submit your contribution(s) via the conference website https://nest-simulator.org/conference Important dates 15 April 2025 - Deadline for submission of contributions 25 April 2025 - Deadline for NEST Initiative membership applications eligible for fee reduction 09 May 2025 - Notification of acceptance 11 June 2025 - Registration deadline 17 June 2025 - NEST Conference 2025 starts We are looking forward to seeing you all in June! Hans Ekkehard Plesser and the conference organizing committee -- Prof. Dr. Hans Ekkehard Plesser Research Committee Chair, Faculty of Science and Technology Head, Department of Data Science 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

March 16, 2025

Konstanz School of Collective Behaviour 2025. Application deadline April 15th, 2025

by Ahmed El Hady

*Konstanz School of Collective Behaviour 2025* *Konstanz, Germany * *Deadline to apply: April 15th, 2025* ** The Konstanz School of Collective Behaviour (KSCB) <https://www.exc.uni-konstanz.de/kscb/about/> will take place between /21st July 2025 – 8th August 2025/ at the Cluster of Excellence Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour (CASCB) at the University of Konstanz <https://www.uni-konstanz.de/en/>. Uni Konstanz is a University of Excellence and ranked #1 young university in Germany with “Collective Behaviour" <https://www.exc.uni-konstanz.de/collective-behaviour/> as one of five research foci. Konstanz <https://www.konstanz.de/start> is a vibrant, small city located on the border between Germany and Switzerland, on the shores of the Bodensee (Lake Constance). Over three weeks, students will delve deeply into the topic of collective behaviour with lectures, hands-on tutorials, and projects, making it a unique and unforgettable experience. The school faculty will cover collective behaviours across a variety of species from cells, worms, drosophila, fish to non – human primates and human. A set of tutorials delving into state-of-the-art quantitative methods used to study collective behaviour will complement the lectures. At the end of the school, students will work on independent projects guided by our resident faculty. Accommodation will be provided and paid by the organizers. A limited number of travel grants will be provided and a registration fee will be due (500 Euros) once the student is admitted to the Konstanz School of Collective Behaviour. The registration fee will be waived to those coming from underrepresented minorities and those in need of financial support. The submission of applications for the second Konstanz School of Collective Behaviour was open until April 15, 2025. We will inform you on May 15, 2025 whether your application was successful For further information and application, visit our website: _https://www.exc.uni-konstanz.de/kscb/application-procedure/ <https://www.exc.uni-konstanz.de/kscb/application-procedure/> _ *KSCB 2025 faculty : * ·Iain Couzin ( Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior , Konstanz) ·Peter Dayan ( Max Planck Institute of Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen) ·Ilya Nemenman ( Emory University , USA) ·Yonatan Loewenstein ( Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel) ·Aneta Koseska ( Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology of Behavior, Bonn) ·Francesco Ginelli ( Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Italy) ·Thejasvi Ravindra Beleyur ( Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Konstanz) ·Liang Li ( Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Konstanz) ·Andreagiovanni Reina ( University of Konstanz, Konstanz) ·Einat Couzin-Fuchs ( University of Konstanz, Konstanz ) ·Ofer Feinermann ( Weizmann Institute of Sciences, Israel) ·Naama Brenner ( Israel Institute of Technology, Israel) ·Ariana Strandburg-Peshkin ( Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior , Konstanz) ·Wataru Toyokawa (Riken Center for Brain Science in Tokyo). ·Raphaela Heesen ( University of Konstanz, Konstanz) ·Caroline Schuppli ( Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior , Konstanz) . Dan Gorbonos ( Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Konstanz) . Michael Chimento ( Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Konstanz). *Contact: **ahmed.el-hady(a)uni-konstanz.de <mailto:ahmed.el-hady@uni-konstanz.de> * All the best regards, Ahmed El Hady On behalf of the KSCB organizational committee Dr. Ahmed El Hady Principal Investigator Cluster for Advanced Study of Collective Behavior, University of Konstanz Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Universitätsstraße 10, 78464 Konstanz Room ZT 907 Postbox 687 Tel.: +49 7531 88-4742

March 14, 2025

Two PhD/Postdoc positions in computational neuroscience/machine learning/bioinformatics in Tübingen

by Philipp Berens

The Department of Data Science (Philipp Berens) at the Hertie Institute for AI in Brain Health (Hertie AI, https://hertie.ai/) part of the Medical Faculty of the Eberhard Karls University in Tübingen, has open positions for Two Postdoctoral Researchers or PhD students (f/m/d) in computational neuroscience / bioinformatics / machine learning for the following topics: - Machine learning models for longitudinal spatial transcriptomics data acquired in the retina during disease and aging - Deep reinforcement learning for studying efficient coding in the visual system Both positions are initially for 3 years with the possibility of extension and can either be filled with a postdoctoral research or a PhD student. To apply, please go to: https://jobs.medizin.uni-tuebingen.de/Job/5996/Postdoctoral-Researcher-or-P… https://jobs.medizin.uni-tuebingen.de/Job/5995/Postdoctoral-Researcher-or-P… Looking forward to your applications, Philipp -- Professor of Data Science, Director Hertie Institute for AI in Brain Health Medical Faculty of the University of Tübingen www.hertie.ai

March 13, 2025

[Meetings] Deadline extension - IEEE Int. Conf. Development and Learning (ICDL) 2025

by Matej Hoffmann

* Dear colleagues, Due to multiple requests, we are happy to grant a two-week extension of the submission deadline for the regular paper submissions and the workshop and tutorial proposal submission. Full papers:March 28, 2025. Workshop and tutorial proposals—deadline:March 28, 2025. We would also like to draw your attention to the template which we have updated. Please kindly use this one: https://ras.papercept.net/conferences/support/support.php <https://ras.papercept.net/conferences/support/support.php>. If you have already submitted, you will be able to update it also during the camera-ready submission stage. We are also happy to announce that the BabyBot and BabyObserve Challenge winners will receive a prize of 150$, sponsored by the IEEE RAS TC Cognitive Robotics. Travel grants are available through IEEE CIS - see https://icdl2025.fel.cvut.cz/travel-grants/ <https://icdl2025.fel.cvut.cz/travel-grants/>. ----------------------------------- CfP IEEE ICDL 2025 ----------------------------------- https://icdl2025.fel.cvut.cz/ <https://icdl2025.fel.cvut.cz/> 16–19 September 2025 in Prague; Czechia 2025 IEEE International Conference on Development and Learning (ICDL) We invite submissions to explore, extend, and consolidate the interdisciplinary boundaries of this exciting research field. In addition to the usual paper submission-selection process, we announce two Challenges: the BabyBot Challenge that will award computational models that capture core aspects of specific psychology experiments and (new!!) BabyObserve Challenge that will foster the community’s discoveries in research related to the development of cognition and learning and go beyond what is currently in focus. Submissions that address both challenges at the same time are also welcome. There is a prize of 150$ for the winners of the challenges! ----------------------------------- Important Deadlines ----------------------------------- Contributed papers (6–8 pages)—extended deadline: March 28, 2025. Workshop and tutorial proposals—extended deadline: March 28, 2025. Journal Track—deadline: April 1, 2025. Late-breaking results (1-page abstracts)—deadline: June 13, 2025. ----------------------------------- Speakers ----------------------------------- Jeff Krichmar (University of California, Irvine, USA) Masako Myowa-Yamakoshi (Kyoto University, Japan) Giulio Sandini (IIT Genoa, Italy) Tilbe Göksun (Koç University, Turkey) Josef Šivic (CIIRC, CTU in Prague, Czechia) ----------------------------------- Topics ----------------------------------- ICDL is a unique conference gathering researchers from both computational science (including robotics, AI, cognitive architecture) and developmental studies (psychology, linguistics, anthropology, education, philosophy) for a fertile exchange sharing ideas, perspectives, knowledge, research findings on how humans and animals develop sensing, reasoning and actions, including interactive ecologies and how these capabilities can be implemented in computing (embodied) systems. This approach goes hand in hand with the goal of both understanding human and animal development and how this can be applied to improve future intelligent technology including all kinds of artificial systems that will be in close interaction with humans. Topics of interest include (but are not limited to): – general principles and theories of development and learning; – embodied learning in biological systems and robots; – development of skills in biological systems and robots; – developmental stages and sensitive periods; – architectures for cognitive development and life-long learning; – emergence of body knowledge and affordance perception; – learning control of body movement; – (models of) curiosity, intrinsic motivations, exploration, play and active learning; – (models for) prediction, planning and problem solving; – developmentally-inspired machine learning; – applications of machine learning to human and animal development; – emotional development and the role of emotion in learning; – emergence of verbal and nonverbal communication; – metacognitive skills and the role of metacognitive learning and explicit communication; – (models of) human–human and human–system interaction; – epistemological foundations and philosophical issues; – the relationship between evolution and development; – ethics in modeling learning and development. ----------------------------------- Submission ----------------------------------- We accept four types of research submissions. The submissions are available through the PaperPlaza (https://ras.papercept.net/conferences/scripts/start.pl <https://ras.papercept.net/conferences/scripts/start.pl>) system. Detailed instructions are at https://icdl2025.fel.cvut.cz/submission/ <https://icdl2025.fel.cvut.cz/submission/>. Full 6-page paper submissions (up to 2 extra pages with additional charge)—deadline:March 28, 2025. Papers of up to 6 pages in IEEE double column format will undergo peer-review, and accepted and presented submissions will be included in the conference proceedings published by IEEE Xplore. Up to two extra pages are acceptable for a publication fee of $100 per page. Accepted papers will be invited for presentation either in oral or poster format Please make use of the template provided at https://ras.papercept.net/conferences/support/support.php <https://ras.papercept.net/conferences/support/support.php> Workshop and tutorial proposals—deadline:March 28, 2025. Workshops proposals can be submitted for one-day or half-day-workshop that will take place on the first day of the conference. The proposals should motivate the topic and provide a schedule. Journal-track posters—deadline:April 1, 2025. Journal track poster submissions must be about a journal paper that has been published the March 2024 – March 2025 period (online ahead of print is fine) on a topic relevant to the conference. Late-breaking posters with 1-page abstract—deadline: June 13, 2025. To encourage discussion of late-breaking results or for work that is not sufficiently mature for a full paper, we will accept 1-page abstracts. These submissions will not be included in the conference proceedings. Accepted abstracts will be presented during the poster session. ----------------------------------- BabyBot Challenge Paper Award ----------------------------------- Babybot Challenge papers are expected to establish a strong link between developmental psychology and robotics and/or computational modeling. Submissions will be judged by the following criteria: – How well does the computational model (e.g., an artificial system, which can be a robot, artificial system, or a software agent) represent the particular features of the experimental research addressed. – How closely the performance of the model replicates the experimental findings and how parsimonious is the model. – How explicit the model is about cognitive mechanisms and the – The extent of the novel insights or explanations generated by the model, and importantly whether the model make interesting and testable predictions. We encourage the authors to tag their submission for “Babybot Challenge” award during contributed paper submission, which would indicate that there is significant content that puts the paper in the spotlight of “Babybot Challenge”. Prize for winner: 150 $. ----------------------------------- BabyObserve Challenge Paper Award ----------------------------------- This Challenge is new, and its intention is to foster the community’s discoveries in research related to the development of cognition and learning that go beyond what is currently in focus. BabyObserve Challenge papers are expected to introduce novel or “edge case” phenomena to the ICDL community from observations of child development, but also related mechanisms, interplays of skills, properties of (environmental and / or social) ecologies that promote it. Observations can result in quantitative or qualitative research that is further described in the paper. Submissions will be judged by the following criteria: – How innovative is the phenomenon and why it is important for the ICDL community – How well is the phenomenon described to inspire computational models – How well is the phenomenon theoretically grounded or linked to the existing literature We encourage the authors to tag their submission for “BabyObserve Challenge” award during contributed paper submission, which would indicate that there is significant content that puts the paper in the spotlight of “BabyObserve Challenge”. Prize for winner: 150 $. General chair: Matej Hoffmann Program chairs: Alessandra Sciutti, Emre Ugur, Katharina J. Rohlfing * -- Matej Hoffmann, PhD Associate Professor Department of Cybernetics Faculty of Electrical Engineering Czech Technical University in Prague Karlovo namesti 13 121 35 Praha 2, Czech Republic +420 224 357 387 https://sites.google.com/site/matejhof/home https://cyber.felk.cvut.cz/humanoids IEEE ICDL 2025 General Chairhttps://icdl2025.fel.cvut.cz/

March 13, 2025

Postdoctoral fellowships at the Neuromathematics Center in Sao Paulo State, Brazil

by Antonio Roque

The Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center for Neuromathematics (NeuroMat), hosted by the University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil, and funded by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), is offering two post-doctoral fellowships for recent PhDs with outstanding research potential. The fellowship will involve collaborations with research teams and laboratories associated with NeuroMat, strictly related to ongoing research lines developed by NeuroMat. For more details about the ongoing research lines of NeuroMat, please visit our website. The project may be developed at the laboratories of USP, campuses of São Paulo or Ribeirão Preto, or at UNICAMP, Campinas, in person. We seek candidates capable of developing independent research in one of the research lines below. 1. Stochastic modeling of neurobiological data. Candidates must have a strong background in probability theory with emphasis on stochastic processes. 2. Development of new statistical methods for neurobiological data. Candidates must have a strong background in statistics and data analysis and knowledge of computer programming. 3. Acquisition, processing, and quantitative analysis of neurobiological data. Candidates must have a strong background in neuroscience with previous experience in neurophysiological data acquisition, processing and analysis, and knowledge of computer programming. 4. Instrumentation development associated with brain stimuli. Candidates must have a strong background in electronic instrumentation, robotics, programing, and safety in medical equipment. The fellowship is competitive at an international level, and fellows benefit from extra funds for travel and research expenses plus limited support for relocation expenses. Application Instructions: Applicants should complete and submit the application form <https://neuromat.numec.prp.usp.br/postdoc/new/>. The following documents and information are requested (please see the form for further details): - Summary of the CV, in the format required by FAPESP (see fapesp.br/en/6351for instructions); - List of publications, with links to those available online. - A summary of the research plan for the next year, up to 5 pages in length. This document must explicitly state for which of the four research lines the candidate is applying. It should also address how this research plan fits within the framework of the NeuroMat research program. It is strongly recommended that candidates visit the webpage of the project, NeuroMat research program <https://neuromat.numec.prp.usp.br/scientific-project/>, consult the list of publications and contact potential supervisors, who are principal or co-principal investigators participating in the NeuroMat project, to align the research proposal with the goals of the project. - Pointers to other research related output, such as software, web pages, and so forth. Candidates should be willing to send copies of publications, if requested. - Any further information deemed relevant to the application. In addition to the above, we require at least two recommendation letters. Those should be emailed by the recommenders directly to postdoc-appl(a)numec.prp.usp.br. Timetable: Candidates are encouraged to apply at their earliest convenience until the deadline of March 31, 2025. Appointment is expected to start by May 2025. The initial period of the position lasts for 12 months, with possible renewals to up to the end of the project, July 31, 2026. This opportunity is open to candidates of any nationality. The selected candidates will be awarded FAPESP Postdoctoral fellowships in the amount of R$ 12,000,00 monthly plus fringe benefits and a research contingency fund, equivalent to 15% of the annual value of the fellowship, which should be spent on items directly related to the research activity. More details on FAPESP's postdoctoral fellowships are available at: https://fapesp.br/en/postdoc. -- Antonio C. Roque Professor Associado Departamento de Fisica FFCLRP, Universidade de Sao Paulo 14040-901 Ribeirao Preto-SP Brazil - Brasil antonior(a)usp.br <antonior(a)ffclrp.usp.br> aroquesilva(a)gmail.com www.sisne.org ORCID: 0000-0003-1260-4840 <https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1260-4840> ResearcherID: C-2316-2011 <http://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/C-2316-2011> Google Scholar: GqHWF74AAAAJ <http://scholar.google.com.br/citations?user=GqHWF74AAAAJ> CV Lattes: 4609096963207702 <http://lattes.cnpq.br/4609096963207702>

March 13, 2025

18th Granada Seminar Announcement

by Prof. Dr. Joaquín J. Torres

Dear Colleague, You are cordially invited to participate in the 18th Granada Seminar on Computational and Statistical Physics, taking place this September 15-19, 2025, focus on: “New Tools and Methods for Complex Systems Research: From Molecules to Living and Intelligent Systems” This seminar is organized by the Institute Carlos I for Theoretical and Computational Physics at the University of Granada and will be celebrate in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Granada. Up-to-date information regarding abstract submissions, grants, accommodation, program details, and more can be found at: https://granadaseminar.com Confirmed Speakers: We are pleased to announce a distinguished lineup of speakers, including: Herbert Levine (Northeastern University) Daniele Marinazzo (Ghent University) Pedro Mediano (Imperial College London) Miguel Ángel Muñoz (University of Granada) Fernando Rosas (Sussex University) Edina Rosta (University College London) Roberta Zambrini (University of the Balearic Islands) Additional talks and poster presentations will be selected from submitted abstracts. Important Dates & Registration Fees: Abstract submission deadline: June 15, 2025 Acceptance notifications: July 10, 2025 Registration Fees: Regular registration: Early: €420 (by July 31) Late: €450 (by August 31) Student registration: Early: €300 (by July 31) Late: €330 (by August 31) In all cases the registration fee includes: Attendance to the working sessions and documentation, certificate of attendance, coffee breaks, welcome cocktail, and gala dinner. Please follow the link below for direct registration: https://granadaseminar.com/index.php/join-granada-seminar/registration/ We look forward to welcoming you to Granada this September! Best regards, Joaquin J. Torres Director of the Granada Seminar Institute Carlos I for Theoretical and Computational Physics University of Granada - 18071, Spain

March 12, 2025

6 Available PhD Positions at the Intersection of Psychology, AI, and Computer Science

by Amir Aly

*Dear All, * **Apologies for cross-posting** *Applications are invited for three-year PhD studentships at the University of Plymouth, UK. * *The studentships will start on Wednesday 1 October 2025.* *The closing date for applications is Friday 9 May 2025 (midnight, UK time).* A list of projects can be found below. It is essential that candidates discuss their proposal/plans with their intended supervisor(s), prior to writing their proposal and submitting an application. The school can only consider PhD research proposals that have the support of a supervisor (see required documents). ------------------------------------------------- *1- AI-Based Analysis of Voice Biomarkers in Neurodevelopmental Disorders* This interdisciplinary PhD project will harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) methodologies to analyse vocal patterns within clinical populations, specifically targeting Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The project aims to develop innovative diagnostic models, such as deep learning models, that accurately identify and differentiate unique vocal characteristics to each disorder utilising extensive and varied datasets of autistic, ADHD and neurotypical people, enhancing our understanding and diagnostic capabilities for these conditions. Candidates should have a basic knowledge in AI and machine learning techniques, especially those applicable to audio processing and speech analysis. While knowledge of psychological or neurological principles is advantageous, it is not compulsory. The candidate will be part of a collaboration between Clinical Psychology and Computer Science, offering a unique chance to pioneer in the application of AI to clinical diagnostics. This interdisciplinary effort aims to push the boundaries of how machine learning can improve understanding and treatment strategies for neurodevelopmental disorders. *- Contact: Dr. Gray Atherton*, gray.atherton(a)plymouth.ac.uk *2- Virtual Reality Training for Spatial Familiarity with Autistic Individuals* This PhD project aims to develop a virtual reality (VR) training program to help autistic individuals navigate unfamiliar spaces with reduced anxiety as well as explore new imaginary spaces that can build confidence. Utilising VR technology, the project will recreate common environments to allow participants to engage with these spaces in a safe and controlled setting. The use of a VE2 walking treadmill will intensify the realism of the experience, enabling participants to physically walk through these virtual spaces, thereby improving spatial familiarity and comfort. Candidates are expected to have a foundational understanding of VR programming, including expertise in Unity. Skills in integrating sophisticated sensory technologies such as eye-tracking and face recognition are appreciated, as they will be used to tailor and adapt scenarios based on real-time user reactions and interactions. This role calls for a blend of technical acumen and creative problem-solving, offering a chance to pioneer VR applications that extend beyond entertainment into therapeutic settings. This interdisciplinary initiative bridges the gap between Clinical Psychology and Computer Science, offering candidates an opportunity to pioneer methods that could significantly advance therapeutic practices for neurodevelopmental disorders. *- Contact: Dr. Liam Cross*, liam.cross(a)plymouth.ac.uk *3- Enhancing Social Interaction for Autistic Individuals through Anthropomorphic Augmented Reality * This PhD project seeks to explore how autistic individuals often show a preference for interacting with non-human entities such as animals, cartoons, and robots, possibly due to the simpler social cues and lack of negative biases associated with human faces. Leveraging these insights, the project will develop an augmented reality (AR) application designed to overlay human faces with non-human characteristics, thereby enhancing comfort, social attention, and engagement among autistic participants. We are seeking a PhD candidate proficient in AR technologies, with hands-on experience in platforms like Hololens, and a good foundation in computer science. The successful candidate will be driven by a desire to apply cutting-edge AR solutions to real-world challenges in education and healthcare settings. The candidate will engage in developing complex AR interfaces and utilise user-centred design principles to create applications that significantly improve social interactions for autistic individuals. Familiarity with the psychological aspects of autism will be crucial in customizing the technology to meet user needs effectively. *- Contact: Dr. Gray Atherton*, gray.atherton(a)plymouth.ac.uk *4-* *Examining Cohesion and Authoritarianism through Synchronised VR Interactions* This project seeks to explore how moving in synchrony with others within a virtual reality (VR) environment influences social behaviour, enhancing cohesion and potentially promoting obedient tendencies. The research will employ VR to simulate scenarios where participants can engage in synchronized activities, studying the psychological effects of these interactions. These effects have historical significance in contexts such as war, riots, an other scenarios. The project will manipulate environmental factors, virtual agents, and reward systems to observe how these controlled variables influence behaviours related to conformity and personal control. We are looking for a PhD candidate with a good experience in VR programming, tools and platforms, interested in using this technology to probe the complex dynamics of human behaviour and applying their technical skills to investigate social psychological phenomena. This interdisciplinary initiative provides a unique opportunity to explore how synchronized movements in virtual environments can shape social behaviours and influence group dynamics, enhancing our understanding of technology's role in social cohesion and control. *- Contact: Dr. Liam Cross*, liam.cross(a)plymouth.ac.uk *5*- *Pure Fantasy: Harnessing VR to Explore and Enhance the Ideal Self in Autistic Individuals* This innovative project taps into the enduring popularity of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), particularly within the autism community, to explore and enhance self-concept through immersive virtual reality (VR). D&D has long served as a valuable tool for autistic individuals to experiment with their identities and improve social skills. Our project aims to create a groundbreaking VR D&D experience that allows players to design avatars embodying traits they aspire to develop or accentuate. Leveraging the Proteus effect, which suggests that the characteristics of an avatar can influence a user’s behaviour, this study will observe how players navigate complex social interactions and quests within a richly detailed virtual world. Players will physically navigate this world using VE2 treadmills, enhancing the immersion and physicality of the experience. We seek a PhD candidate with good skills in VR development, eager to push the boundaries of what VR can achieve in psychological and therapeutic contexts. The ideal candidate will collaborate closely with the Computer Sciences department at the University of Plymouth to refine VR paradigms and should possess an interest in the psychological aspects of VR immersion, specifically how it relates to behaviour change and self-concept in special populations. This interdisciplinary initiative offers a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of technology, psychology, and role-playing games, aiming to provide meaningful insights into how virtual experiences can influence real-world behaviour and self-perception. *- Contact: Dr. Gray Atherton*, gray.atherton(a)plymouth.ac.uk *6- Board games for autistic wellbeing * Board games offer educational and social benefits, particularly for neurodiverse players who thrive in structured settings. This project will establish a board gaming hub for neurodiverse adults, partnering with clinical services to combine social engagement with mental health support. There are currently multiple sites and practices in the Devon area and wider UK keen to take part, and the candidate will have good communication and organisational skills commiserate with working across sites and disciplines. Specifically, we seek a candidate with experience in working with clinical populations and a passion for board gaming. This role suits those interested in intervention design, adult social care, and gaming development for special populations. The candidate will be interested in understanding how to adapt board games for individuals with different needs, and how to liase with research teams and clinical health providers to understand how to most effectively deliver an intervention of this nature. This role will involve working in schools and with young people. *- Contact: Dr. Liam Cross*, liam.cross(a)plymouth.ac.uk ---------------------------------------------------- *Eligibility and funding* Applicants should have a first-class honours degree in an appropriate subject and preferably a relevant MSc or MRes qualification. If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum English requirements for the programme, an academic IELTS score of 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in each component test area) or equivalent. The studentship is supported for three years and includes full home tuition fees plus a stipend of at least £18,655 per annum (2025/26 rate still to be determined). *To apply* To apply, please complete our online application form <https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpgtapply.…> for *PhD Psychology *for entry in* October 2025 *and submit the following mandatory documents <https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.plymo…> : - *A research proposal (max 1,000 words). *Your research proposal should contain a short review of relevant literature, research questions/hypotheses, overview of methods, and a time plan (all included in the word count). Your proposal may also include up to one figure (not included in the word count). The proposal should name the suggested supervisor(s) and include a reference list (not included in the word count). Research proposals that exceed the word count will not be considered. - *Personal statement. *Please clearly state that you are applying for a PhD studentship within the School of Psychology and the name of a potential supervisor(s) on the top of your personal statement. - *Supervisor support statement. *Please submit a short statement (signed and dated) from your intended supervisor in which they confirm that they would supervise your PhD project. - *Evidence of up-to-date qualifications.*Certificates and transcripts for masters or bachelor degrees, plus any relevant professional qualifications. - *CV/résumé* - *English proficiency certificate. *Required for non-UK nationals. - *The details of two academic referees.*Please provide names and details on the application form. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me Regards -------------------------------------------- *Dr. Amir Aly*, PhD, FHEA, SIEEE Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Programme Manager of Artificial Intelligence UK and Ireland IEEE RAS Chapter Vice Chair Director of the Centre for Robotics and Neural Systems (CRNS) School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics Room A307 Portland Square, Drake Circus, PL4 8AA University of Plymouth, UK

March 12, 2025

Workshop on AI / ML for the analysis of single-cell spatial transcriptomics 15-17 Oct 2025 Lyon (France)

by Hugues Berry

SAVE THE DATE 15th-17th OCTOBER, 2025 A 2.5 DAY WORKSHOP on the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning of the analysis of single-cell spatial transcriptomics, in Lyon, France. https://ai4singlecell.sciencesconf.org/ REGISTRATION (TO OPEN SOON) IS FREE BUT MANDATORY The analysis of data from single-cell, potentially spatial, transcriptomics, increasingly relies on artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) computer tools. Beyond the familiar clustering of single-cells, they promise to offer access to a wide spectrum of far-reaching biological information, including the inference of cell-cell interactions, lineage reconstructions or the 3d spatial organisation of the tissue. The workshop will deliver both general introductions targeting the non-expert biologist who plans to start using these algorithms, and state-of-the-art methodology-oriented talks for a more expert audience. PROGRAM DRAFT Confirmed invited speakers include: Xiang Zhou <https://xiangzhou.github.io/>, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA Per Uhlén <https://ki.se/en/research/research-areas-centres-and-networks/research-grou…>, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden Genevieve Stein O’Brien <https://www.steinobrienlab.org/>, Johns Hopkins University, USA Yvan Saeys, <https://saeyslab.sites.vib.be/en> Ghent University, Belgium Marianna Rapsomaniki <https://www.chuv.ch/en/bdsc/research/our-groups/ai-ml-for-biomedicine>, Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland Laura Cantini <https://research.pasteur.fr/en/member/laura-cantini/>, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France Quentin Blampey <https://github.com/quentinblampey>, Paris-Saclay University, France The program will feature both general introductory talks and expert-level methodology-oriented presentations. As well as live sessions demos of application packages for concrete illustration of use cases! MORE SOON... program updates a call for contributed talks a call for contributed live sessions for package demos registration openning Meanwhile, don't hesitate to contact us at: ai4singlecell(a)sciencesconf.org <https://ai4singlecell.sciencesconf.org/>

March 12, 2025

Exciting PhD & Postdoc Positions at Maastricht University and CNRS Marseille – Join the ERC-Synergy NASCE Project!

by Jolivet, Renaud (MACSBIO)

My colleague Elia Formisano at Maastricht University is advertising several positions. Exciting PhD & Postdoc Positions at Maastricht University and CNRS Marseille – Join the ERC-Synergy NASCE Project! Are you passionate about neuroscience and AI? Do you want to unravel how the human brain makes sense of everyday soundscapes? Join <https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAABIzWMMB26hKQDKmkAauU86UR27jk8MEaK0> Elia Formisano<https://www.linkedin.com/in/elia-formisano-05731a86/> and <https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAFyNeAB_dTvI-9M7P3WdPYRnzO7c9v5JXY> Bruno L. Giordano<https://www.linkedin.com/in/brungio/> in the ERC-Synergy NASCE project (Natural Auditory SCEnes in Humans and Machines), where we explore the neural computations behind real-world auditory scene analysis (ASA). Our research combines AI, behavioral experiments (both classic and online), neuroimaging (ultra-high-field fMRI, MEG, iEEG), and advanced statistical modeling to develop groundbreaking theories and models of auditory perception. Funded by the European Union (ERC-2024-SyG, NASCE) Why Join NASCE? * Work in a leading, highly collaborative international research environment between Maastricht University, and CNRS/Aix Marseille University. * Contribute to groundbreaking research at the intersection of neuroscience, AI, and cognitive psychology. * Access to state-of-the-art multimodal neuroimaging and AI-based computational modeling. Locations: Maastricht University (The Netherlands) & CNRS/Aix Marseille University (Marseille, France). Start Dates: From April 2025. 1. PhD Position in NeuroAI & Auditory Scene Analysis (Maastricht, NL) Develop brain-inspired deep neural network (DNN) models to simulate human auditory perception. Requirements: MSc in AI, computer science, computational neuroscience, or related field. Strong programming skills (Python, PyTorch/TensorFlow). Full-time PhD contract (4 years). Start Date: April 2025 (preferred). Apply here: https://lnkd.in/esUG6iQY See also: https://lnkd.in/e3FTfhuY 2. Postdoc in NeuroAI & Multimodal Neuroimaging (Maastricht, NL) Develop brain-inspired DNN models to simulate human auditory perception. Create computational methods to integrate DNNs with neuroimaging. Requirements: PhD in computational neuroscience, AI, biomedical engineering, physics, or related field. Experience with deep learning (applications to audio and neuroimaging integration are a plus) Strong programming skills (Python, PyTorch/TensorFlow). Competitive salary (2 years contract + possibility for 2 more years). Start Date: Flexible within 2025. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/eqVgn45Y See also: https://lnkd.in/e3FTfhuY

March 12, 2025

ICANN 2025 - Second Call for Papers (Deadline Extension)

by Sebastian Otte

=============================================================================== ICANN 2025 - SECOND CALL FOR PAPERS (DEADLINE EXTENSION) =============================================================================== The 34th International Conference on Artificial Neural Networks ICANN 2025 is one of the premier conferences in the field of artificial intelligence, neural networks, neuroscience and brain-inspired computing in Europe, organized in collaboration with the European Neural Network Society ENNS. In 2025, the ICANN will take place in Kaunas, Lithuania. Conference Dates: September 9 to September 12, 2025 Conference Venue: Campus of Vytautas Magnus University and Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania Conference Webpage: https://e-nns.org/icann2025/ Extended deadline for full paper and abstract submission: 29 March 2025 General co-Chairs: Yoshua Bengio (Université de Montréal, Canada) Viktor Jirsa (Aix-Marseille Université, France; EBRAINS) Prof. Yoshua Bengio is a Turing Award laureate and is globally recognized as a pioneer of deep learning and artificial neural networks, driving groundbreaking advancements in artificial intelligence. Prof. Viktor Jirsa is renowned for his work in theoretical neuroscience and Virtual Brain Twins, serving as Chief Science Officer of EBRAINS, Europe’s research infrastructure in digital neuroscience. With the exceptional leadership and expertise of the Chairs, ICANN 2025 promises to be a transformative event with the dual track of Artificial Intelligence & Deep Learning and Neuroscience. The ICANN attracts a global audience of researchers, practitioners & industry experts and provides a forum for the presentation of cutting-edge research papers and invited keynote talks by leading experts. It includes workshops and tutorials, as well as engaging demo sessions. In 2025, ICANN will continue its proud tradition of being a dynamic and interactive conference, fostering collaboration across academia and industry. =============================================================================== We invite prospective authors to submit original and innovative papers in the following areas: AI and Machine Learning: Theory and Foundations of Neural Networks, Novel Neural Network Architectures, Topics in Neural Networks, Large Language Models, Explainable AI, Machine Learning for Graphs, Graph Neural Networks, Clustering, Reinforcement Learning, New Topics in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Neurorobotics Neuroscience: Cognitive and Theoretical/Computational Neuroscience, Brain-Inspired Computing, Neuromorphic Systems, Digital Twins and Virtual Brain models Applications: Human-Computer Interaction, Biosignal Processing, Medicine and Physiology, Speech and Language Processing, Computer Vision, Robotics, Climate and Environment, General Applications of Machine Learning Call for Papers Authors willing to present original contributions in either the oral or poster category are invited to submit: - A full paper of 6-12 pages (including references) to be published in Springer-Verlag Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS) series with individual DOI. - An extended abstract of maximum 2 pages to be published in Springer-Verlag Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS) series, without individual indexing. Papers will undergo rigorous peer review; the Program Committee will make the final decision on which papers will be included in the conference program. Selected papers will be assigned to oral sessions (15 minutes presentation + 5 minutes questions) and poster sessions, depending on the number of submissions; this assignment does in no way incur a judgment on paper quality. Note that presentation rules for workshops and special sessions may differ. All accepted papers will be published in the Springer LNCS series. Papers must be written in English language and must conform to the format defined in the Author’s Kit, available on the conference webpage at: https://e-nns.org/icann2025/submission The ICANN 2025 will be an in-person conference. At least one co-author of each paper must physically attend the conference in Kaunas to present the work. KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Emmanuel Bengio (Valence Labs/Recursion, Canada) Viktor Jirsa (Aix-Marseille Université, France; EBRAINS) Christiane Woopen (University of Bonn, Germany) Zeynep Akata (Technical University Munich & Helmholtz Munich) Alessio Micheli (University of Pisa, Italy) Oher keynote speakers to be announced. CONFIRMED TUTORIALS Dr. Emmanuael Bengio will give a Tutorial on GflowNets. Prof. Viktor Jirsa and his team will provide a Tutorial on The Virtual Brain, an open-source neuroscience platform designed to simulate and model personalised human brain models. CONFERENCE COMMITTEE Program Chairs Walter Senn (University of Bern, Switzerland) Chair Marcello Sanguineti (University of Genova, Italy) Ausra Saudargiene (Lithuanian University of Health Sciences/Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania) Igor Tetko (Helmholtz Munich, Germany) Alessandro Villa (University of Lausanne, Switzerland) Communication Chairs Sebastian Otte (University of Lübeck, Germany) Honorary Chairs Vera Kurkova (Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague) Alessandro Villa (University of Lausanne, Switzerland) Stefan Wermter (University of Hamburg, Germany) Local Organizing Committee Ausra Saudargiene (Lithuanian University of Health Sciences/Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania) Linas Petkevičius (Vilnius University, Artificial intelligence Association of Lithuania, Lithuania) Tomas Krilavicius (Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania) Workshop, Tutorials and Special Session Chairs Povilas Daniusis (Neurotechnology/Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania) Dalius Matuzevičius (VilniusTech) Sponsorship Chair Dalia Breskuvienė (Vilnius University) Diversity & Inclusion Chair Kamilė Dementavičiūtė (Vinted) Steering Committee Stefan Wermter (University of Hamburg, Germany) Alessandro Villa (University of Lausanne, Switzerland) Alessio Micheli (University of Pisa, Italy) Angelo Cangelosi (University of Manchester, UK) Igor Farkaš (Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia) Chrisina Jayne (Teesside University, UK) Matthias Kerzel (University of Hamburg, Germany) Alessandra Lintas (University of Lausanne, Switzerland) Kristína Malinovská (Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia) Jaakko Peltonen (Tampere University, Finland) Brigitte Quenet (ESPCI Paris, France) Roseli Wedemann (Rio de Janeiro State University, Brazil) Sebastian Otte (University of Lübeck, Germany) Ausra Saudargiene (Lithuanian University of Health Sciences/Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania) Igor Tetko (Helmholtz Munich, Germany) IMPORTANT DATES - Deadline for full paper and abstract submission: 29 March 2025 (extended) - Final notification of Acceptance or Rejection: 22 May 2025 - Camera-ready paper upload and author registration: 1 June 2025 For questions, please contact: icann-2025-program-committee(a)googlegroups.com Link to this call: https://e-nns.org/icann2025/call-for-papers

March 11, 2025