- Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

2nd Announcement: Bernstein Sparks Workshop and CI2014 conference, 20 June 2014

by Seeber, Bernhard

Dear List, I would like to invite you to the 3rd Bernstein Sparks Workshop on "Modelling and Signal Processing for Auditory Implants" and to the CI 2014 conference in Munich. The conference will take place on 18-21 June 2014 and the workshop will be held on Friday, 20 June 2014, in the conference venue. The workshop will feature invited talks by experts in the field which cover the topic from physiological aspects to various models (physiologically inspired and perceptual models) and their application for designing new stimulation strategies for auditory implants. Attendance to the workshop is free for conference participants and Bernstein members. Conference day tickets will be available. More information can be found at: http://www.ci2014muc.info/Bernstein-Sparks-Workshop.708.0.html http://www.ci2014muc.info Looking forward to meeting you in Munich, Bernhard Seeber -- Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernhard U. Seeber Audio Information Processing Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology Technische Universität München Arcisstrasse 21 D-80333 Munich, Germany Office: +49 89 289-28282 Fax: +49 89 289-28211 Mobile: +49 (0)174 928 6338 Visitors: Theresienstrasse 90, building N5, room N6504 Web: www.aip.ei.tum.de www.bseeber.de

May 30, 2014

IEEE SSCI 2014 Doctoral Consortium (deadline June 15, 2014) - Call for Applications

by Stephen G Matthews

IEEE SSCI 2014 Doctoral Consortium - Call for Applications The IEEE Symposium Series on Computational Intelligence (SSCI) 2014 will be running a Doctoral Consortium alongside the symposium. The objective of this Doctoral Consortium is to provide an opportunity for Ph.D. students to discuss their dissertation research topics, research plans, and research methodologies in a supportive environment with peers in the community. The feedback, advice, and guidance will be invaluable to Ph.D. students in supporting their current and future research in computational intelligence and their future careers. There are dedicated financial support for selected Ph.D. students to attend this Doctoral Consortium as well as student travel grants for SSCI. Applications In order to submit to the Doctoral Consortium, students are required to submit the following items through the same portal as papers for SSCI. 1. Cover sheet that includes: - Full name - Affiliation and email address - Expected graduation date - Thesis advisor’s full name, title, affiliation and email address - Title of research - List of up to 5 keywords to help select reviewers for the application 2. A 2-page summary of Ph.D. research that includes: - Title of research - Name, affiliation, and email address - Research question and significance - Important literature - Proposed research methodology - Preliminary results - Future research plan - Reference list (maximum one page, not included in 2-page limit) 3. CV 4. Letter of support from Ph.D. supervisor or other faculty member 5. Confirmation letter of Ph.D. student status Key dates are the same as for the SSCI Submission June 15, 2014 Notification September 5, 2014 Final Submission October 5, 2014 Full details of the Doctoral Consortium are available from http://ieee-ssci.org/consortium.html Co-Chairs Stephen G. Matthews, University of Bristol, UK Xiaorong Zhang, San Francisco State University, USA Demetrios G. Eliades, University of Cyprus, Cyprus

May 30, 2014

CogModel notes: ICCM15/BRIMS14/books/prize/new society/Job

by Frank Ritter

This is the second emailing for ICCM 2015. Please forward if appropriate to your members, and put appropriate links onto your web site. Normally, the ICCM 2015 announcement would drive this email (it will be in Gronigen, near April 2015, on its regular (15/18 month) schedule, this should be settled next month). But, there are several timely announcements that indicate new publication outlets, resources, and jobs in Cog Sci and in cognitive modeling. I have also included several unusual items, including an interesting conference and a Kickstarter campaign! Now in order: meetings, resources, jobs. If you would like to be removed, please just let me know. I maintain it by hand to keep it small. [Hypertext version available at http://acs.ist.psu.edu/iccm2015/iccm-mailing-may2014.html] cheers, Frank Ritter frank.e.ritter(a)gmail.com http://www.frankritter.com **************************************************************** 1. Intnl. Conf. on Cognitive Modeling, April 2015 in Gronigen, NL 2. WASET International Conference on Cognitive Modeling (!) [link suppressed] :::: Other conferences, workshops 3. BRIMS 2014 proceedings online http://cc.ist.psu.edu/BRIMS/archives/2014/ 4. Cognitive Science Society annual meeting, 27 june early reg. deadline http://cognitivesciencesociety.org/conference_future.html 5. Cognitive Science Tutorial Program, 23 July 2014 http://cognitivesciencesociety.org/conference2014/tutorials.html 6. ACT-R Workshop at Cognitive Science 2014 http://cognitivesciencesociety.org/conference2014/workshops.html [from act-r mailing list] 7. Soar Workshop, week of 16 June https://web.eecs.umich.edu/~soar/workshop/ 8. 3rd Conference on Advances in Cognitive Systems, May 2015 http://www.cogsys.org/2015 9. BICA 2014 call for papers, due 26 May 2014, but other dates http://bicasociety.org/meetings/2014/ 10. Nengo Summer School, 8-21 June http://nengo.ca/summerschool 11. Summer School - Web Science & the Mind, 7-18 July, reg. still open http://www.summer14.isc.uqam.ca/ 12. CFP for 2015 iConference in Newport Beach, CA, 24-27 March 2015 http://ischools.org/the-iconference/ papers due 5 sept 2014 13. Intl. Summer School in Cog. Sci., 30 Jun-11 July, Bulgaria http://nbu.bg/cogs/events/ss2014.html 14. 14th Neural Computation and Psychology Workshop, 21-23 Aug http://www.psych.lancs.ac.uk/ncpw14 15. AI for Human-Robot Interaction (AI-HRI), papers due 13 June 14 http://ai-hri.github.io/ :::: Other resources 16. OpenWorm Kickstarter Campaign http://www.openworm.org 17. Numerous books to review 18. Premodeling / HCI book FDUCs: What designers need to know about people http://www.frankritter.com/fducs/ 19. New Society: The Society for Affective Science and Conference http://www.society-for-affective-science.org/conference 20. $10k prize for best paper in Human Factors journal, due 2 June 14 http://www.hfes.org/web/pubpages/hfprize.html :::: Jobs 21. Post doctoral Scholar in Systems Neuroscience and Connectivity Modeling http://www.la.psu.edu/facultysearch/ **************************************************************** 1. International Conf. on Cognitive Modeling, April 2015 in Gronigen, NL The International Conference on Cognitive Modeling will take place in April 2015 (approx. date) at RU/Gronigen, in the Netherlands. The deadline date for submissions will be in the Fall of 2014. Further announcements will provide more details. **************************************************************** 2. WASET International Conference on Cognitive Modeling (!) [link suppressed] Cognitive modeling has grown, and we don't always know everyone doing it any more. But, it has also now grown enough that WASET, the (so-called) World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology has created a "WASET International Conference on Cognitive Modeling". WASET has NO RELATION to the ICCM conference folks. If you have any useful suggestions, please get in touch. I've emailed a few of their program committee members, where I could find their addresses, to start a discussion. The program committee appears to be made up of scholars from other areas, and I have confirmed that with two of them, who don't know how to be removed. References https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Academy_of_Science,_Engineering_and_Tec… Google has plenty more information on WASET. Google: WASET International Conference on Cognitive Modeling 2014 will get you to the interesting conference. [I now suggest that we put copyright on our web pages, and, realise that cognitive modeling is now important enough to be copied (that is a neutral term) by WASAT.] **************************************************************** 3. BRIMS 2014 proceedings online http://cc.ist.psu.edu/BRIMS/archives/2014/ The Behavior Representation in Modeling and Simulation (BRIMS) conference (http://cc.ist.psu.edu/BRIMS2014/) was held 1-4 April. It was held with the Social computing, Behavioral-cultural modeling, and Prediction (SBP) conference (http://sbp-conference.org/) in DC. Its proceedings are online at http://cc.ist.psu.edu/BRIMS/archives/2014/ The place and time for next year are not yet announced. **************************************************************** 4. Cognitive Science Society annual meeting, 27 june early reg. deadline http://cognitivesciencesociety.org/conference_future.html CogSci 2014 - Cognitive Science Meets Artificial Intelligence: Human and Artificial Agents in Interactive Contexts Quebec City, CA 23-26 July 2014 Website URL for future conference: http://cognitivesciencesociety.org/conference_future.html ---- Highlights Include: Plenary Speakers: Dedre Gentner, Steven Harnad, & Minoru Asada 13th Rumelhart Prize Recipient: Ray Jackendoff Symposia: "Foundations of Social Cognition", "Moral Cognition and Computation", "The Future of Human-Agent Interaction" Cognitive scientists from around the world are invited to attend CogSci 2014, the world's premiere annual conference on cognitive science. The conference represents a broad spectrum of disciplines, topics, and methodologies from across the cognitive sciences. In addition to the invited presentations, the program will be filled with reviewed submissions from the following categories: papers, symposia, presentation-based talks, member abstracts, tutorials, and workshops. Submissions must be completed electronically through the conference submissions web site. Submissions may be in any area of the cognitive sciences, including, but not limited to, anthropology, artificial intelligence, computational cognitive systems, cognitive development, cognitive neuroscience, cognitive psychology, education, linguistics, logic, machine learning, neural networks, philosophy, robotics and social network studies. Information regarding the submission process, including opening dates for the submission website will be posted shortly. http://cognitivesciencesociety.org/conference2014/submissions.html We look forward to seeing you in Quebec City. Conference Co-Chairs: Paul Bello, Marcello Guarini, Marjorie McShane, and Brian Scassellati *********************************************************** 5. Cognitive Science Tutorial Program, 23 July 2014 http://cognitivesciencesociety.org/conference2014/tutorials.html Growth Curve Analysis: A Hands-On Tutorial on Using Multilevel Regression to Analyze Time Course Data Daniel Mirman Full Day Tutorial on Quantum Models of Cognition and Decision Zheng Wang, Jerome Busemeyer, Jennifer Trueblood Probability, programs, and the mind: Building structured Bayesian models of cognition Noah Goodman, Josh Tenenbaum Online Experiments using jsPsych, psiTurk, and Amazon Mechanical Turk Josh de Leeuw, Anna Coenen, Doug Markant, Jay B. Jay B. Martin, John McDonnell, Alexander Rich, Todd Gureckis Types and states: Mixture and hidden Markov models for cognitive science Ingmar Visser, Maarten Speekenbrink Practical Advice on How to Run Human Behavioral Studies Frank Ritter, Jong Kim *********************************************************** 6. ACT-R Workshop at Cognitive Science 2014 http://cognitivesciencesociety.org/conference2014/workshops.html [from act-r mailing list] The ACT-R Workshop 2014 will be held as part of the Cognitive Science annual meeting: http://cognitivesciencesociety.org/conference2014/workshops.html The workshop this year will be organized around four themes: Neuroscience, Metacognition, Applications, and Architecture. We expect to discuss a wide range of issues that relate to cognitive architectures and cognitive modeling more generally; anyone interested in these issues (regardless of familiarity with ACT-R) is invited and encouraged to attend. If you have an idea for a short presentation at the workshop, please email me, salvucci(a)drexel.edu a possible title and description. Registration information should be available soon on the Cognitive Science web site. **************************************************************** 7. Soar Workshop, week of 16 June https://web.eecs.umich.edu/~soar/workshop/ The Center for Cognitive Architecture at the University of Michigan (http://sitemaker.umich.edu/soarweb/home) and Soar Technology (http://www.soartech.com/) are pleased to announce that the 34th Soar Workshop will be held the week of June 16, 2014 at the Computer Science and Engineering building at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. For those of you not familiar with the Soar Workshop (https://web.eecs.umich.edu/~soar/workshop/) each year, members of the Soar community -- faculty, scientists, graduate students, technical staff and developers -- gather together for several days of intensive interaction and exchange on Soar. The Soar community is widely distributed geographically, so these workshops (http://sitemaker.umich.edu/soar/soar_workshop_proceedings) provide an opportunity to have face-to-face conversations, learn about the current status of other participants' research and get previews of what will happen in the future. We will try to give as many members of the community as possible the opportunity to describe their research or discuss the Soar issues that are of concern to them. This means the time available per talk is quite short (typically either 5 or 15 minutes). Since workshop attendees are already entrenched in the Soar world, brief talks that concentrate on only the essentials work very well. The workshop format is presentations only -- no formal papers. [but slides are often collected] There is no charge to attend the 33rd Soar Workshop although registration at https://web.eecs.umich.edu/~soar/workshop/manage.php this link is required. You may sign up to give talks of various lengths as soon as you're registered. And then please upload a copy of your presentation(s) by June 4th, 2013 via the Soar Workshop registration page (https://web.eecs.umich.edu/~soar/workshop/manage.php) Please make sure to register as soon as possible so that we can plan the workshop accordingly! Questions and information regarding the workshop should be directed to John Laird via (laird(a)umich.edu) email, mail or phone: Soar Workshop 33 c/o John Laird 2260 Hayward Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2121 (734) 647-1761 **************************************************************** 8. 3rd Conference on Advances in Cognitive Systems, May 2015 http://www.cogsys.org/2015 We are currently in the process of organizing the 3rd Conference on Advances in Cognitive Systems (ACS). We wanted to give you a heads up that ACS will be moving to a spring conference. The next ACS will be held at Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Georgia USA on May 29-31, 2015. The paper submission deadline will be in February 2015. As you may have heard, AAAI has moved to a winter conference to avoid conflict with IJCAI (which has become an annual event). The ACS organizing committee felt it best to avoid a collision with AAAI's paper submission deadlines. We hope that the ACS move to spring will allow the diverse and dynamic cognitive systems community to grow. Please be on the look out for the call for papers in the coming months. Best, Ashok Goel and Mark Riedl Co-Chairs, 3rd Conference on Advances in Cognitive Systems [there is also a mailing list that they have added people to: advances-cognitive-systems(a)lists.gatech.edu] **************************************************************** 9. BICA 2014 call for papers, due 26 May 2014, but other dates http://bicasociety.org/meetings/2014/ 2014 Annual Intl Conf on Biologically Inspired Cognitive Architectures (BICA 2014) Fifth Annual Meeting of the BICA Society November 7-9 (Friday-Sunday): MIT, Cambridge, MA (http://bicasociety.org/meetings/2014) Sponsors: The BICA Society; MIT; Elsevier B.V. Points of contact: Paul Robertson (paulr(a)dollabs.com) and Alexei Samsonovich (alexei(a)bicasociety.org) Call for Papers Biologically Inspired Cognitive Architectures (BICA) are computational frameworks for building intelligent agents that are inspired from biological intelligence. Biological intelligent systems, notably animals such as humans, have many qualities that are often lacking in artificially designed systems including robustness, flexibility and adaptability to environments. At a point in time where visibility into naturally intelligent systems is exploding, thanks to modern brain imaging and recording techniques allowing us to map brain structures and functions, our ability to learn lessons from nature and to build biologically inspired intelligent systems has never been greater. At the same time, the growth in computer science and technology has unleashed enough computational power at sufficiently low prices, that an explosion of intelligent applications from driverless vehicles, to augmented reality, to ubiquitous robots, is now almost certain. The growth in these fields challenges the computational replication of all essential aspects of the human mind (the BICA Challenge), an endeavor which is interdisciplinary in nature and promises to yield bi-directional flow of understanding between all involved disciplines. Scope With the scope of BICA 2014 covering all areas of BICA-related research listed below, the major thrusts will be Perception, Attention, and Language. Here the key questions are: ? What can we learn from biological systems about how perception, attention, decision making, and action work together to produce intelligent behavior that is robust in natural environments? ? What have we learned about information flow in biological systems that can aid us in building better artificial systems that combine perception, action, language, learning, and decision making in robots and intelligent agents? ? What have we learned recently about information flow in the brain that can lead to better cognitive models that combine perception, attention, decision making, action, language, and learning? ? What role is played by emotions in perception, attention, decision making, language, and learning? ? How have we, or can we incorporate into cognitive architectures new evolving understandings about flow of information in biological cognitive systems? ? What mathematical foundations are emerging today that can support perception and learning? In addition to these focus topic areas of BICA 2014, we encourage submission of papers in all areas of BICA research, especially in the following areas. Neuroscience: .... Social, Economic and Educational Sciences: ... Cognitive Science: .... Artificial Intelligence: .... General: .... Format and Agenda The format of the conference is a 2.5-day meeting including paper presentations, panel discussions, invited talks, and demonstration showcases. Symposia and other mini-events (special sessions, breakout groups, brainstorms, think-tanks, socials, contests, and more) as part of the conference will be added as needed (proposals are solicited). In addition, BICA 2014 will host a special track "Doctorial Consortium" for which a "best student paper" award will be presented. We will also host technology demonstrations, for which we solicit proposals, and a poster session. We solicit additionally proposals for panel topics. The working language is English. As a part of our rich social and cultural program included in the registration, we are planning a Welcome Reception and a boat trip into the Atlantic on Saturday night, with a banquet on the boat. Detailed program is not available yet. Please see our separate pages for Confirmed symposia planned as part of BICA 2014 (we are asking for additional proposals). Submission and Publication Venues Publication venues include: (1) the Elsevier journal BICA - papers may be distributed among several journal issues; and (2) a volume of Procedia Computer Science, indexed by Web of Science and Scopus. One EasyChair submission site will be used for all categories of submissions, including (1), (2) and also (3): stand-alone abstracts that will be included in the conference program brochure, without being published. All submissions will undergo one round of peer-reviews. The category may be changed based on reviews. All conference materials (including papers and abstracts) will be together made available locally for conference participants (included in the registration package) via USB and/or the Internet. Invited speakers are not required, but are encouraged to submit papers or abstracts. Other participants can have presentations accepted based on an abstract only, without a paper submission. Core Organizing Committee Paul Robertson (DOLL, Inc.): General Chair Patrick H. Winston (CSAIL/MIT): Co-Chair Howard Shrobe (CSAIL/MIT): Co-Chair Alexei Samsonovich (GMU): Co-Chair, PC Chair Antonio Chella: OC Member Christian Lebiere: OC Member Kamilla R. Johannsdottir: OC Member Important Dates Proposals for Sub-Events: Symposia, Workshops and Socials - March 1 Doctoral Consortium Submit - May 05 Technology Demos - June 13 Panel Session Interest - June 27 Paper and Abstract Submission: Paper and abstract submission opens - March 1st Abstract and Paper Submission Due - May 26* Paper Review Feedback - June 14* Final Papers Due - August 01 Late-breaking stand-alone abstracts due - August 31 Registration and Conference: Early-bird registration (opens soon) due: June 17* Regular author-presenter registration due - June 27* Guest and non-presenting attendee online registration due - October 1 Sessions of the conference BICA 2014: November 7-9 *Deadlines extended as of April 28 **************************************************************** 10. Nengo Summer School, 8-21 June http://nengo.ca/summerschool [From Chris Eliasmith, the registration is long past, but it's worth noting that this is another cognitive architecture summer school, which might be repeated.] I thought you might have some acquaintances or students who would be interested to know that we're hosting a summer school this year. It will be on all things Nengo & SPA. We're encouraging people to bring projects and/or data they'd like to turn into a detailed model. We'll have a very good instructor/student ratio (1:2). It's more fully described here: http://nengo.ca/summerschool The application deadline was Feb 15. **************************************************************** 11. Summer School - Web Science & the Mind, 7-18 July, reg. still open http://www.summer14.isc.uqam.ca/ [This appears to be a standing event that might be useful to modellers] The Institut des Sciences Cognitives at UQAM (Montreal) is organising its fifth Summer School, this year on the topic of "Web Science and the Mind" * Topic includes social network analysis, semantic web, distributed cognition, ... * Scholarships (500$ + registration) * Call for posters * Can be worth 3 credits Please contact us with any questions or comments you may have: summer14.isc(a)uqam.ca Guillaume Chicoisne Institut des sciences cognitives, Montreal -------- The Fifth Summer School in Cognitive Sciences : Web Science and the Mind. Organized by the UQAM Cognitive Science Institute in Montreal (Canada), from July 7 to 18. Theme of the Summer Institute: Web Science and the Mind. This summer school will present a comprehensive overview of the interactions between the web and cognitive sciences, with topics ranging from social network analysis to distributed cognition and semantic web. The Summer School will feature a poster session. Information about this poster session is available at: http://www.summer14.isc.uqam.ca/page/affiche.php Deadline: April 11th 2014 Registration for the Summer School is open (''Early Bird'' Registration fees until May 9th). Note that the lowest fee is for students that will attend the Summer School as a credited activity (worth 3 university credits). Details: http://www.summer14.isc.uqam.ca/page/inscription.php Scholarships for travel, accomodation and/or registration will be available for students registered in a Quebec University (CREPUQ). http://www.summer14.isc.uqam.ca/page/bourses.php Want to stay in touch? Follow us on Twitter! @iscUQAM We hope to see you there in July. **************************************************************** 12. CFP for 2015 iConference in Newport Beach, CA, 24-27 March 2015 http://ischools.org/the-iconference/ papers due 5 sept 2014 [This is a potential outlet, particularly for models applied to information systems] [from CHI-announcements] Call for Participation, iConference 2015 http://ischools.org/the-iconference/ The iConference is an international gathering of scholars and researchers concerned with critical information issues in contemporary society. iConference 2015 (http://ischools.org/the-iconference/) takes place March 24-27 in Newport Beach, California. The following submissions are invited: *Submission Type* *Deadline* *Notification* Papers (http://ischools.org/the-iconference/program/papers/) Friday, September 5, 2014, midnight PDT mid-November Posters (http://ischools.org/the-iconference/program/posters/) Friday, October 10, 2014, midnight PDT mid-November Workshops (http://ischools.org/the-iconference/program/workshops/) Friday, September 26, 2014, midnight PDT Monday, October 27, 2014 Interactive Sessions (http://ischools.org/the-iconference/program/sessions-for-interaction-and-en…) Friday, October 10, 2014, midnight PDT mid-November Doctoral Colloquium: http://ischools.org/the-iconference/program/doctoral-colloquium/ Friday, September 12, 2014, midnight PDT Friday, October 24, 2014 Social Media Expo (http://ischools.org/the-iconference/program/social-media-expo/) Participation commitment letter due October 14, 2014; submissions due December 15, 2014. Thursday, January 15, 2015 Dissertation Award: http://ischools.org/the-iconference/program/dissertation-award/ Wednesday, October 15, 2014, midnight PDT Thursday, January 15, 2015 iConference 2015 is presented by the iSchools organization (http://ischools.org) and hosted by The Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences at University of California, Irvine. All information researchers and scholars are welcome. Sample topics of past iConferences include the following: ? social computing ? human-computer interaction ? digital youth ? information retrieval ? network science ? digital humanities ? data science ? information economics ? information systems ? information policy ? knowledge infrastructures ? computational social science ? information work and workers ? user experience and design ? data, text and knowledge mining ? digital curation and preservation ? computer-supported cooperative work ? bibliometrics and scholarly communication ? social, cultural, health and community informatics ? information and communication technology for development -- Gary M. Olson (949) 824-0077 Department of Informatics gary.olson(a)uci.edu Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA 92697-3440 **************************************************************** 13. Intl. Summer School in Cog. Sci., 30 Jun-11 July, Bulgaria http://nbu.bg/cogs/events/ss2014.html The 21st edition of the well-known International Summer School in Cognitive Science will take place during the two weeks from June 30th until July 11th at the New Bulgarian University, Sofia, Bulgaria. The summer school features advanced courses for graduate students and young researchers in a variety of areas, including embodied cognition and dynamic field theory, behavioral experimentation from reaction times to model testing, computational approaches to development, the cognitive science of social dilemmas, the epistemology of cognitive science and neuroscience, and a practical course on working with E-prime as a software tool for experiment design and implementation. The summer school will also feature a participant symposium (submit your brief papers to the school email below by June 9). Registration is now open. For more information, visit the school's website: http://nbu.bg/cogs/events/ss2014.html You can contact us at the following email address: school(a)cogs.nbu.bg **************************************************************** 14. 14th Neural Computation and Psychology Workshop, 21-23 Aug http://www.psych.lancs.ac.uk/ncpw14 NCPW14 Call for Papers - 14th Neural Computation and Psychology Workshop We cordially invite you to participate in the 14th Neural Computation and Psychology Workshop (NCPW14) to be held at Lancaster University, UK, from August 21-23, 2014: http://www.psych.lancs.ac.uk/ncpw14 This well-established and lively workshop aims at bringing together researchers from different disciplines such as artificial intelligence, cognitive science, computer science, neurobiology, philosophy and psychology to discuss their work on models of cognitive processes. Often this workshop has had a theme, and this time it is 'Development across the lifespan', but also submissions that do not fall under this theme are welcome. Papers must be about emergent models - frequently, but not necessarily - of the connectionist/neural network kind, applied to cognition. The NCPW workshops have always been characterized by their limited size, high quality papers, the absence of parallel talk sessions, and a schedule that is explicitly designed to encourage interaction among the researchers present in an informal setting. NCPW14 is no exception. The scientific program will consist of keynote lectures, oral sessions and poster sessions. Furthermore, this workshop will feature a unique set of invited speakers: James McClelland, Stanford University. Bob McMurray, University of Iowa. Michael Thomas, Birkbeck College, London. Rumelhart Memorial Travel Awards The Rumelhart Memorial Travel awards, generously funded by Professor Jay McClelland, will provide funding to support travel costs for students/post docs presenting at the conference. Awards of US$250 are available to students or post docs from Western European countries, and US$750 for students or post docs from elsewhere. Decisions will be based on the quality of the submission. Eligibility criteria The first author of the submission is a PhD student or Post-doctoral fellow who will attend the meeting and will present the submission if chosen to receive a travel award. Location Lancaster is situated in the north west of England, approximately one hour from Manchester and Liverpool airports. Lancaster is surrounded by spectacular scenery, hiking and climbing country. The Yorkshire Dales national park is 10 miles away. The Lake District national park is 20 miles away, http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk. The stagecoach 555 bus (http://www.stagecoachbus.com) takes you directly from Lancaster through the heart of the Lakes. The Trough of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is 2 miles away. Important dates to remember Abstract deadline: 15 May Notification of abstract acceptance: 7 June Early registration deadline: tbc Online registration deadline: tbc Conference dates: 21-23 August, 2014 Looking forward to your participation! Organizing Committee Gert Westermann, Lancaster University Padraic Monaghan, Lancaster University Katherine E. Twomey, Liverpool University Alastair C. Smith, MPI Nijmegen -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prof. Gert Westermann +44 (0)1524 592-942 Department of Psychology g.westermann(a)lancaster.ac.uk Lancaster University http://www.psych.lancs.ac.uk/people/gert-westermann Lancaster LA1 4YF **************************************************************** 15. AI for Human-Robot Interaction (AI-HRI), papers due 13 June 14 http://ai-hri.github.io/ AAAI Fall Symposium: AI for Human-Robot Interaction (AI-HRI) Nov 13-15, 2014 -- Arlington, VA http://ai-hri.github.io/ 2 page abstracts due June 13 Email as a pdf to: ai-hri-symposium-submissions(a)googlegroups.com This symposium will bring together and strengthen the community of researchers working on the AI challenges inherent to Human-Robot Interaction (HRI). Humans and human environments bring with them inherent uncertainty in dynamics, structure, and interaction. HRI aims to develop robots that are intelligent, autonomous, and capable of interacting with, modeling, and learning from humans. These goals are at the core of AI. The field of HRI is a broad community encompassing robotics, AI, HCI, psychology and social science. In this meeting we aim to specifically bring together the subset of this community that are focused on the AI problems of HRI. Currently this type of HRI work is seen across such a variety of venues (HRI, RSS, ICRA, IROS, Ro-Man, RoboCup, and more), that we lack a cohesive core community. Building this community is the central purpose of this symposium. Planned activities: - Keynote talks "How is HRI an AI problem?": We will have keynotes giving eight different perspectives about how AI research is going to bring us closer to the reality of humans interacting with robots on everyday tasks. - Breakout groups + panel discussions: these discussions will be focused on (1) defining a road map of grand challenges for this research area, and (2) what is the core venue for this community. - Poster session: This session will highlight state-of-the-art work and approaches to AI-HRI. - Team building: Given the diverse set of venues that this type of research is presented, it is very rare that members of the AI-HRI community get together in the same room. As such, a large part of this effort is to bring together a community of researchers, strengthen old connections and build new ones. Ample time will be provided for networking and informal discussions. Confirmed speakers: - Rodney Brooks - Cynthia Breazeal - Henrik Christensen - Maja Mataric - Manuela Veloso Important dates: - To have your work featured in the poster session, submit a two-page abstract by 13 June 14. Email your submission as a pdf to ai-hri-symposium-submissions(a)googlegroups.com - Decisions will be returned by July 11, 2014 - The symposium will be held Nov 13-15, 2014 in Arlington, VA. Organizing committee: - Andrea L. Thomaz, Georgia Institute of Technology (chair) - Kris Hauser, Indiana University - Chad Jenkins, Brown University - Maja J. Mataric, University of Southern California - Manuela Veloso, Carnegie Mellon University -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "HRI-announcement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to hri-announcement+unsubscribe(a)cs.byu.edu. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/a/cs.byu.edu/d/optout. **************************************************************** 16. OpenWorm Kickstarter Campaign http://www.openworm.org [from Comp-neuro(a)neuroinf.org] [this is cool and interesting on several levels and ways] From: Shreejoy Tripathy <stripathy(a)chibi.ubc.ca> Date: Mon, 12 May 2014 11:31:07 -0700 To: comp-neuro(a)neuroinf.org, connectionists(a)mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu Subject: [Comp-neuro] OpenWorm Kickstarter Campaign I'm writing to let you know about the OpenWorm Kickstarter Campaign (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/openworm/openworm-a-digital-organism-i…) As you may know, the goal of the OpenWorm project is to digitally simulate a C. Elegans organism. By design, the project is organized in a geographically distributed fashion and all of the work is being done in the open (on GitHub and Youtube) using entirely open source code and public data. Though I'm not a worm researcher, I'm supporting OpenWorm's Kickstarter because I strongly believe in their overall mission. As a computational neuroscientist, I see the project as a necessary first step in the simulation of more complex organisms, including mice and ultimately humans. Moreover, I see my Kickstarter contribution as a future investment in the open source tools and methodologies that OpenWorm develops that I hope to eventually use in my own research. More philosophically, I think that lately the field of neuroscience has suffered from some amount of "overhype", especially given the initially promised outcomes of recent large-scale brain initiatives (e.g., recording from all neurons in a mammalian brain, simulating an entire human brain). While these projects have been hugely successful in catalyzing widespread public support of basic neuroscience research, many neuroscientists see these promises as perhaps a bridge too far given the current research state. Though OpenWorm's goals are itself highly ambitious, the relative simplicity of the worm (named neurons, stereotyped connectomes and musculature, the ability to image neuronal activity in vivo) lends itself well to this attempt. By conducting the project in the open and basing success on quantifiable goals (i.e., how similar are the simulated worm's movements and neural activity to experimental measurements), the project will serve as a roadmap for future endeavours in multi-scale data integration and organismal simulation. Lastly, the geographically distributed and highly interdisciplinary nature of the project makes it challenging to receive funding through traditional NIH-style mechanisms. For this reason, I'm asking you to join me in supporting the project's Kickstarter campaign. More information: OpenWorm Website: http://www.openworm.org Kickstarter campaign link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/openworm/openworm-a-digital-organism-i… Project overview by OpenWorm member and neuroscientist Jim Hokanson: http://jimandscience.blogspot.ca/2014/05/modeling-worm-thoughts-on-openworm… OpenWorm QandA on Reddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/246dlw/science_ama_series_im_steph… Sincerely, Shreejoy Tripathy Post-doc and Developer of http://neuroelectro.org University of British Columbia Centre for High-Throughput Biology **************************************************************** 17. Numerous books to review If you would like to review a book, there are several books recently published that their publishers would give you a copy to facilitate a review in a magazine or journal. If you are interested, email me and I'll foward you to the publisher. Foundations for Designing User-Centered Systems: What system designers need to know about people, Frank Ritter, Gordon Baxter, & Elizabeth Churchill. (2014). Springer. http://www.frankritter.com/fducs/ Game Analytics: Maximizing the Value of Player Data [Hardcover] Magy Seif El-Nasr, Anders Drachen, Alessandro Canossa (Eds) http://www.amazon.com/Game-Analytics-Maximizing-Value-Player/dp/1447147685 http://www.springer.com/computer/hci/book/978-1-4471-4768-8 How to build a brain, A Neural Architecture for Biological Cognition Chris Eliasmith, OUP. http://nengo.ca/build-a-brain Minding Norms: Mechanisms and dynamics of social order in agent societies Rosaria Conte, Giulia Andrighetto, and Marco Campenni (eds) http://global.oup.com/academic/product/minding-norms-9780199812677? Social Emotions in Nature and Artifact Jonathan Gratch and Stacy Marsella (eds). http://global.oup.com/academic/product/social-emotions-in-nature-and-artifa… Running Behavioral studies with human participants Ritter, Kim, Morgan, & Carlson, Sage http://www.sagepub.com/textbooks/Book237263 **************************************************************** 18. Premodeling / HCI book FDUCs: What designers need to know about people http://www.frankritter.com/fducs/ We have published book that is in many ways an HCI book, its first use is as a Human-computer interaction textbook (it has been used in at least 4 universities), but it is also a modeling book -- It is designed to create models of users in designers heads. Foundations for Designing User-Centered Systems: What system designers need to know about people, Frank Ritter, Gordon Baxter, & Elizabeth Churchill. (2014). Springer. If your library subscribes to Springer link, you can get a pdf from there. If you want a desk copy, there are links from the site above to order one. If all else fails, contact me. I use it to teach HCI, as have several at other universities and several penn state campuses. **************************************************************** 19. New Society: The Society for Affective Science and Conference http://www.society-for-affective-science.org/conference A new society has been formed -- The Society for Affective Science. Its mission is to foster basic and applied research in the variety of fields that study affect, broadly defined. Our inaugural conference will be April 24-26, 2014 in Washington DC. This conference will be student-friendly, open, and theoretically and methodologically diverse. It will provide a forum for cross-cutting work in emotion, stress, and many other topics that fall under the broad umbrella of affective science. For more information see the society website: http://www.society-for-affective-science.org/ Program highlights for the first meeting can be found at: http://www.society-for-affective-science.org/conference/highlights/ As you will see, the first meeting features an invited program of talks in addition to a call for posters. We expect the program to shift to submissions as the society develops. Currently, the meeting is largely single tracked, and in addition to the invited addresses and presidential symposium, the program includes methodology lunches, salons with well-known affective scientists, and a debate to keep things lively. Please feel free to send this email to your students, postdocs, and colleagues. If you have questions, please email us at: info(a)society-for-affective-science.org **************************************************************** 20. $10k prize for best paper in Human Factors journal, due 2 June 14 http://www.hfes.org/web/pubpages/hfprize.html [this appears to becoming an annual prize, modeling papers get published in HF and there are modellers as editors and reviewers] Submit your research for the 2014 Human Factors Prize--You could win $10,000! The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) welcomes your submission for the 2014 Human Factors Prize: Recognizing Excellence in Human Factors/Ergonomics Research. The best paper will receive: $10,000 cash award Publication in the Society's flagship journal, (http://content.news.sagepub.com/emessageIRS/servlet/IRSL?v=5&a=10050&r=2223…) Human Factors The 2014 topic is human-automation interaction/autonomy. We seek articles that describe human factors/ergonomics (HF/E) research that pertains to effective and satisfying interaction between humans and automation. Plan to submit your work between April 1 and June 2, 2014. Eligibility Requirements: Any researcher is eligible to submit relevant work; membership in HFES is not required. Submissions must cover original (unpublished) research in the topical area and comply with the requirements in the Human Factors (http://content.news.sagepub.com/emessageIRS/servlet/IRSL?v=5&a=10050&r=2223…) instructions for authors. Review articles and brief reports are not eligible. Submissions must not be received prior to April 1 or after June 2, 2014. To see examples of articles on subject matter similar to the 2014 Prize topic, visit the Human Factors Prize Web page (http://content.news.sagepub.com/emessageIRS/servlet/IRSL?v=5&a=10050&r=2223…) The award will be formally conferred at a special session at the HFES International Annual Meeting, where the recipient will present his or her work (http://content.news.sagepub.com/emessageIRS/servlet/IRSL?v=5&a=10050&r=2223…) Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFS) is a peer-reviewed journal presenting original works of scientific merit that contribute to the understanding and advancement of the systematic consideration of people in relation to machines, systems, tools, and environments. HFS highlights fundamental human capabilities, limitations, and tendencies, as well as the basics of human performance. Human Factors Impact Factor: 1.182 Ranked: 7/16 in Ergonomics | 21/44 in Engineering, Industrial | 39/72 in Psychology, Applied | 44/49 in Behavioral Sciences | 51/75 in Psychology Source: 2012 Journal Citation Reports(R) (Thomson Reuters, 2013) Questions? Contact HFES Communications Director Lois Smith at lois(a)hfes.org. We look forward to receiving your submission. **************************************************************** 21. Post doctoral Scholar in Systems Neuroscience and Connectivity Modeling http://www.la.psu.edu/facultysearch/ [this was announced in February, but is still up on the web site] Post doctoral Scholar in Systems Neuroscience and Connectivity Modeling Job Number: 41202 Affirmative Action Search No. #: 021-320 Department: Psychology Rank: Post Doc Announcement: We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scholar in the area of clinical/cognitive neuroscience, brain imaging, and network modeling. The successful candidate will work in collaboration with investigators at The Pennsylvania State University including Dr. Hillary in Psychology, Dr. Reka Albert in Physics and Dr. Peter Molenaar in Human Development and Family Studies. The goals of the research focus on time series analysis, graph theory, and connectivity modeling of human brain imaging data (high density EEG, BOLD fMRI). The primary responsibility of this position is to facilitate ongoing research examining neural plasticity after severe traumatic brain injury in humans. There is also keen interest for this position to support the development of novel methods for understanding plasticity from a systems neuroscience perspective. This includes prospective data collection as well as analysis of existing data sets. Current lab goals aim to focus on issues regarding: 1) signal processing (i.e., non-stationarity in time series data; cross-frequency coupling), 2) large scale connectivity analysis (e.g., graph theory), 3) machine learning, and 4) novel methods isolating regions of interest. A Doctorate (M.D. and/or Ph.D.) degree is required by the appointment date. Excellent verbal and written communication skills and a background in computational modeling (broadly defined) is required and programming experience is preferred. Review of applications will begin in February and continue until the position is filled. The appointment is for two years with a tentative start date flexible. To apply, submit cover letter, curriculum vita, and the names and contact information for three references through http://www.la.psu.edu/facultysearch/ For additional information, contact Frank G. Hillary, fhillary(a)psu.edu. Employment will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and the diversity of its workforce. **************************************************************** -30-

May 29, 2014

Re: [Comp-neuro] Deep Learning Overview - Draft

by Juergen Schmidhuber

Dear computational neuroscientists, thanks a lot for numerous helpful comments! This was great fun; I learned a lot. A revised version (now with 850+ references) is here: http://arxiv.org/abs/1404.7828 PDF: http://www.idsia.ch/~juergen/DeepLearning28May2014.pdf LATEX source: http://www.idsia.ch/~juergen/DeepLearning28May2014.tex The complete BIBTEX file is also public: http://www.idsia.ch/~juergen/bib.bib Please do NOT reply to the entire list (only to juergen(a)idsia.ch) Juergen Schmidhuber http://www.idsia.ch/~juergen/deeplearning.html ---Revised Table of Contents:--- 1 Introduction to Deep Learning (DL) in Neural Networks (NNs) 2 Event-Oriented Notation for Activation Spreading in Feedforward NNs (FNNs) and Recurrent NNs (RNNs) 3 Depth of Credit Assignment Paths (CAPs) and of Problems 4 Recurring Themes of Deep Learning 4.1 Dynamic Programming for Supervised / Reinforcement Learning (SL / RL) 4.2 Unsupervised Learning (UL) Facilitating SL and RL 4.3 Learning Hierarchical Representations Through Deep SL, UL, RL 4.4 Occam’s Razor: Compression and Minimum Description Length (MDL) 4.5 Fast Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) for DL in NNs 5 Supervised NNs, Some Helped by Unsupervised NNs 5.1 Early NNs Since the 1940s (and the 1800s) 5.2 Around 1960: Visual Cortex Provides Inspiration for DL 5.3 1965: Deep Networks Based on the Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH) 5.4 1979: Convolution + Weight Replication + Subsampling (Neocognitron) 5.5 1960-1981 and Beyond: Development of Backpropagation (BP) for NNs 5.5.1 BP for Weight-Sharing Feedforward NNs (FNNs) and Recurrent NNs (RNNs) 5.6 Late 1980s-2000: Numerous Improvements of NNs 5.6.1 Ideas for Dealing with Long Time Lags and Deep CAPs 5.6.2 Better BP Through Advanced Gradient Descent 5.6.3 Searching For Simple, Low-Complexity, Problem-Solving NNs 5.6.4 Potential Benefits of UL for SL 5.7 1987: UL Through Autoencoder (AE) Hierarchies 5.8 1989: BP for Convolutional NNs (CNNs) 5.9 1991: Fundamental Deep Learning Problem of Gradient Descent 5.10 1991: UL-Based History Compression Through a Deep Hierarchy of RNNs 5.11 1992: Max-Pooling (MP): Towards MPCNNs 5.12 1994: Early Contest-Winning NNs 5.13 1995: Supervised Recurrent Very Deep Learner (LSTM RNN) 5.14 2003: More Contest-Winning/Record-Setting NNs 5.15 2006/7: UL For Deep Belief Networks (DBNs) / AE Stacks Fine-Tuned by BP 5.16 2006/7: Improved CNNs / GPU-CNNs / BP-Trained MPCNNs / LSTM Stacks 5.17 2009: First Official Competitions Won by RNNs, and with MPCNNs 5.18 2010: Plain Backprop (+Distortions) on GPU Yields Excellent Results 5.19 2011: MPCNNs on GPU Achieve Superhuman Vision Performance 5.20 2011: Hessian-Free Optimization for RNNs 5.21 2012: First Contests Won on ImageNet & Object Detection & Segmentation 5.22 2013-: More Contests and Benchmark Records 5.23 Currently Successful Supervised Techniques: LSTM RNNs / GPU-MPCNNs 5.24 Recent Tricks for Improving SL Deep NNs (Compare Sec. 5.6.2, 5.6.3) 5.25 Consequences for Neuroscience 5.26 DL with Spiking Neurons? 6 DL in FNNs and RNNs for Reinforcement Learning (RL) 6.1 RL Through NN World Models Yields RNNs With Deep CAPs 6.2 Deep FNNs for Traditional RL and Markov Decision Processes (MDPs) . 6.3 Deep RL RNNs for Partially Observable MDPs (POMDPs) 6.4 RL Facilitated by Deep UL in FNNs and RNNs 6.5 Deep Hierarchical RL (HRL) and Subgoal Learning with FNNs and RNNs 6.6 Deep RL by Direct NN Search / Policy Gradients / Evolution 6.7 Deep RL by Indirect Policy Search / Compressed NN Search 6.8 Universal RL On May 15, 2014, at 3:36 PM, Juergen Schmidhuber <juergen(a)idsia.ch> wrote: > Dear computational neuroscientists, > > here the preliminary draft of an invited Deep Learning overview: > > http://www.idsia.ch/~juergen/DeepLearning15May2014.pdf > > It mostly consists of references (about 800 entries so far). Important citations are still missing though. As a machine learning researcher, I am obsessed with credit assignment. In case you know of references to add or correct, please send them with brief explanations to juergen(a)idsia.ch (NOT TO THE ENTIRE LIST!), preferably together with URL links to PDFs for verification. Please also do not hesitate to send me additional corrections / improvements / suggestions / Deep Learning success stories with feedforward and recurrent neural networks. I'll post a revised version later. Thanks a lot! > > Abstract. In recent years, deep artificial neural networks (including recurrent ones) have won numerous contests in pattern recognition and machine learning. This historical survey compactly summarises relevant work, much of it from the previous millennium. Shallow and deep learners are distinguished by the depth of their credit assignment paths, which are chains of possibly learnable, causal links between actions and effects. I review deep supervised learning (also recapitulating the history of backpropagation), unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning & evolutionary computation, and indirect search for short programs encoding deep and large networks. > > Juergen Schmidhuber > http://www.idsia.ch/~juergen/ > http://www.idsia.ch/~juergen/whatsnew.html

May 29, 2014

Postdoc in Neuromechanics and Optogenetics at Temple University

by Andrew Spence

Dear colleagues, We have the following postdoc position available within the Spence Lab, Department of Bioengineering, at Temple University in Philadelphia, USA. See www.spencelab.com for information about the group. Cheers! Andrew Spence Have you ever wondered how legged animals manage to move with dexterity, economy, and robustness over challenging terrain? Or how information from sense organs in different parts of your body is used when you move quickly? Have you heard about some of the new neurogenetic technologies, like optogenetics, that are making it possible for us to switch on and off specific parts of the nervous system with light? Members of the Spence Lab are working to answer these questions, using cutting edge techniques including optogenetics, computer vision, and robotics. We aim to explore and examine, as much as possible, freely behaving animals, with an increasing focus on mice. The Spence Lab invites applications from prospective postdocs from a wide range of backgrounds, including neuroscience, biomechanics, physics, physiology, engineering, computer science, and robotics. This postdoc is a three-year Army Research Office funded position that will use optogenetic tools in mice to understand how the structure of the quadrupedal gait controller, and sensory feedback from the limbs, facilitate dynamic locomotion. The Department of Bioengineering at Temple University is a brand new department with newly renovated facilities, and the Spence Lab is investing in state of the art equipment. Temple University lies in Philadelphia, a city known for it's restaurants and vibrant culture, housing a large number of universities, and with excellent links to New York City (two hours away) and Washington DC (2.5 hours away). For further information on the group and it's current activities, please visit www.spencelab.com If you are interested and qualified, please send a cover letter, CV, transcripts and relevant publications to aspence(a)temple.edu. The position is available until filled. Dr. Andrew Spence Associate Professor Department of Bioengineering Engineering Building Room 814 College of Engineering Temple University 1947 N. 12th St. Philadelphia, PA 19122 Phone: 215-204-3056 Email: aspence(a)temple.edu www.spencelab.com <http://www.spencelab.com/>

May 28, 2014

Bernstein Workshop "Characterizing Natural Scenes": Second Call for Abstracts/Contributed Talks

by Arno Onken

Second Call for Abstracts/Contributed Talks You are invited to participate in the pre-conference Bernstein workshop "Characterizing Natural Scenes: Retinal Coding and Statistical Theory", taking place in Göttingen, Germany, on September 2-3, 2014. Please find the preliminary schedule at workshop URL: https://sites.google.com/site/jiankliu/Meetings/2014bccn_workshop The workshop chairs will select a couple of abstracts for short oral presentation at the workshop. All the abstracts will be presented as posters during the Bernstein conference on September 3-4. However, the workshop could hold a separate poster session based on the number and quality of abstracts that we receive. To participate in the workshop please submit the abstract (an extended version is preferred) as a PDF attachment via email to Jian Liu (jian.liu(a)med.uni-goettingen.de) or Arno Onken (arno.onken(a)iit.it) The deadline for submission is August 1. Please note that abstract submission for the main conference is already closed while abstract submission for this workshop is still open. REGISTRATION: Please refer to the Bernstein Conference 2014 for registration and venue information. http://www.bernstein-conference.de/ WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: How does the retina process natural visual inputs? What role do the many types of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) play in this? Experiments with specific artificial stimuli have suggested that individual types of RGCs may have specific functional roles in visual processing, yet it is not clear how these simplified functional investigations relate to the processing of natural images and movies. An important ingredient for future analysis will be a better understanding of the complex statistical properties of natural scenes, as revealed by theoreticians. The relationship between natural visual statistics and retinal coding provides a promising direction for improving our understanding of the visual system. But we still lack a systematic framework for understanding the underlying mechanisms of how relevant features of natural scenes are encoded by the retina. In this workshop, we expect mutual benefits for both natural scene statistics and retinal coding. We will bring together experimentalists and theoreticians in order to highlight recent progress, encourage exchange of insights, and stimulate new ideas for future work with the following core questions: 1) How can we develop useful descriptions of the statistics of natural scenes that are relevant for retinal coding? 2) How can we characterize the functional roles of different RGC types in processing natural scenes? 3) Which coding strategies are present at the level of RGC populations? 4) How can we unify the acquired knowledge of natural scenes and neural data to develop better tools for analysis? CONFIRMED SPEAKERS: * Vijay Balasubramanian (University of Pennsylvania) * Philipp Berens (BCCN, Tübingen) * Thomas Euler (University of Tübingen) * Felix Franke (ETH Zurich) * Olivier Marre (Vision Institute, Paris) * Aman Saleem (University College London) * Maneesh Sahani (University College London) * Rava A. da Silveira (ENS, Paris) We are looking forward to seeing you in Göttingen. Workshop organizers: Jian Liu (University Medical Center Göttingen and BCCN Göttingen) Arno Onken (Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems

May 28, 2014

Valentino Braitenberg Award for Computational Neuroscience - Call for Nominations

by Kerstin Schwarzwälder

Dear Colleagues, The Bernstein Association for Computational Neuroscience <http://www.nncn.de/en/bernstein-association> invites nominations for the *V**alentino Braitenberg Award for Computational Neuroscience.* The award is biannually presented by the Bernstein Association to a scientist in recognition of outstanding research that contributes to our understanding of the functioning of the brain. The major criterion for the award is the impact or potential impact of the recipient's research on the field of brain science. In the spirit of Valentino Braitenberg's research, special emphasis is given to theoretical studies elucidating the functional implications of brain structures and their neuronal network dynamics. The awardee receives a €5.000 prize donated by the Autonome Provinz Bozen Südtirol as well as complimentary participation (registration, travel, and hotel accomodation) in the Bernstein Conference 2014. Here, the prize is awarded together with a Golden Neuron pin badge in a special ceremony that includes the Valentino Braitenberg lecture given by the awardee. Nominations may be submitted by scientists working in the field of Computational Neuroscience and should include toe following documents: - One-page laudation, in which the scientific work of the candidate is honored with regard to the award's criteria - CV and list of publications *Deadline for nominations is **June 16, 2014 *by e-mail to info(a)bcos.uni-freiburg.de The call for nominations can be found under the followingn URL: www.nncn.de/en/bernstein-association/valentino-braitenberg-award-for-comput… For inquiries please contact info(a)bcos.uni-freiburg.de Best regards, Andrea Huber Brösamle -- Dr. Andrea Huber Brösamle Head of the Bernstein Coordination Site (BCOS) Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg Hansastr. 9A 79104 Freiburg, Germany phone: +49 761 203 9583 fax: +49 761 203 9585 andrea.huber(a)bcos.uni-freiburg.de www.nncn.de Twitter: NNCN_Germany YouTube: Bernstein TV Facebook: Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience, Germany LinkedIn: Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience, Germany

May 28, 2014

Special Issue on "Underwater Sensor Networks" in (JSAN)

by Sandra Sendra

=================================================== Journal of Sensor and Actuator Networks (JSAN) Special Issue "Underwater Sensor Networks" http://www.mdpi.com/journal/jsan/special_issues/usn Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2014 ---------------------------------------------------- === SPECIAL ISSUE === New advances in information technologies, circuits, systems and communication protocols have made possible the deployment of underwater sensor networks. These issues have lead researchers to propose new underwater sensor nodes, sensor node placement, protocols for their communication, architectures, and study new ways to communicate with higher bandwidth at higher distances. Moreover, the range of underwater applications is growing fast because of the last research in oceanography, marine science and aquiculture, so there is a need of underwater sensor networks in order to support these disciplines. This special Issue is tries to collect unpublished works on theory and practice on underwater sensor networks, with special interest on real implementations and deployments. We also seek new proposals on wireless communication technologies. === KEYWORDS === The Special Issue "Underwater Sensor Networks" topics include (but are not limited to) the following: - Underwater sensor nodes - Underwater sensor node placement - Routing protocols for underwater sensor networks - Underwater communications - Underwater architectures - Underwater wireless communications - Underwater sensor network deployments === SUBMISSION === Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form (http://www.mdpi.com/user/manuscripts/upload/?journal=jsan) Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. Papers will be published continuously (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website. Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are refereed through a peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Sensor and Actuator Networks is an international peer-reviewed Open Access quarterly journal published by MDPI. Please visit the Instructions for Authors page (http://www.mdpi.com/journal/jsan/instructions) before submitting a manuscript. For the first couple of issues the Article Processing Charge (APC) will be waived for well-prepared manuscripts. English correction and/or formatting fees of 250 CHF (Swiss Francs) will be charged in certain cases for those articles accepted for publication that require extensive additional formatting and/or English corrections. === SPECIAL ISSUE EDITORS === Guest Editors Prof. Dr. Jaime Lloret Mauri (jlloret(a)dcom.upv.es) Integrated Management Coastal Research Institute, Polytechnic University of Valencia, Camino de Vera 46022, Valencia, Spain Dr. Sandra Sendra (sansenco(a)posgrado.upv.es) Integrated Management Coastal Research Institute, Polytechnic University of Valencia, Camino de Vera 46022, Valencia, Spain ===================================================

May 28, 2014

NIPS 2014 Call for Workshops

by Chris Hiestand

NIPS*2014 Post-Conference Workshops Friday December 12 and Saturday December 13, 2014 Palais des Congrès de Montréal/Convention and Exhibition Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Following the NIPS*2014 main conference, workshops on a variety of current topics will be held on Friday December 12 and Saturday December 13, 2014, in Montreal, Canada. We invite researchers interested in chairing one of these workshops to submit workshop proposals. The goal of the workshops is to provide an informal forum for researchers to discuss important research questions and challenges. Controversial issues, open problems, and comparisons of competing approaches are encouraged as workshop topics. There will be seven hours of workshop meetings per day, split into morning and afternoon sessions, with free time between the sessions for individual exchange or outdoor activities. Note that this year, there is no skiing at NIPS; the workshop schedule will thus differ from past NIPS workshops (the morning session will be 8:30am-12pm, and the afternoon session will be 3pm-6:30pm). Francis Bach and Amir Globerson NIPS*2014 Workshops Chairs Web URL: http://nips.cc/Conferences/2014/CallForWorkshops

May 27, 2014

Call for Demonstrations, NIPS 2014

by Hugo Larochelle

The Neural Information Processing Systems Conference 2014 http://nips.cc/Conferences/2014/ has a Demonstration Track running in parallel with some of the evening Poster Sessions, December 8-11, 2014, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Demonstration Proposal Deadline: Monday September 15, 2014, 11pm Universal Time (4pm Pacific Daylight Time). http://nips.cc/Conferences/2014/CallForDemonstrations Demonstrations offer a unique opportunity to showcase: • Hardware technology • Software systems • Neuromorphic and biologically-inspired systems • Robotics or other systems, which are relevant to the technical areas covered by NIPS (see Call for Papers http://nips.cc/Conferences/2014/CallForPapers) Demonstrations must show novel technology and must be run live, preferably with some interactive parts. Unlike poster presentations or slide shows, live action and interaction with the audience are critical elements. Submissions: Submission of demo proposals at the following URL: https://nips.cc/Demonstrators/ You will be asked to fill a questionnaire and describe clearly: • the technology demonstrated • the elements of novelty • the live action part • the interactive part • the equipment brought by the demonstrator • the equipment required at the place of the demo Evaluation Criteria: Submissions will be refereed on the basis of technical quality, novelty, live action, and potential for interaction. Demonstration chair: Hugo Larochelle <demonstration-ch...(a)nips.cc<http://nips.cc/>> http://nips.cc/Conferences/2014/CallForDemonstrations

May 27, 2014

SAB 2014 Early registration: May 31

by Enric Cervera Mateu

Dear Colleagues, This is a friendly reminder that the SAB 2104 registration is open. Early registration deadline is May 31, 2014. Late registration rates will apply starting from June 1, 2014. Please refer to the conference website for details: http://sab2014.org/registration We look forward to seeing you at Castellon, Spain >From the SAB 2014 Organizing Committee

May 27, 2014

FINAL DEADLINES UPDATE - Frontiers Research Topic: Driving innovation in therapeutic brain stimulation with biophysical models

by Dr Julien Modolo

Dear all, Due to the request of several researchers needing more time to finalize their manuscript, and also who missed the abstract submission deadline, we are offering a *final* deadline extension to offer a last opportunity of abstract submission and also allow more time for manuscript finalization. Therefore, our Research Topic organized with Frontiers in Neuroscience (Host Specialty: Frontiers in Computional Neuroscience) is still open, and has now an extended deadline for abstract submission and full manuscript submission. As a reminder, our Research Topic is entitled: "Driving Innovation in Therapeutic Brain Stimulation With Biophysical Models" Topic Editors: Julien Modolo, Alexandre Legros and Alex W Thomas - Lawson Health Research and Western University, London, Ontario (Canada). Abstract Submission Deadline: June 30 2014 Full Article Submission Deadline: September 1st, 2014 Research Topic Description: Electric and magnetic stimulation of the brain have become increasingly used for therapy in numerous neurological disorders over the last 20 years. The domain of therapeutic brain stimulation is complex and dynamic, since it involves many different diseases (e.g., Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy), stimulation devices and protocols (from completely non-invasive stimulation to the chronic implantation of stimulation electrodes in the brain). Despite its use by hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide, it seems paradoxical that, in most cases, the biological mechanisms by which therapeutic brain stimulation can provide symptom relief are unknown. Our limited knowledge in terms of interaction mechanisms dramatically slows down the development of novel brain stimulation techniques, which rely mainly on empiric observations. Fortunately, a paradigm change has begun, and biophysical modeling has emerged as an alternative tool not only allowing ot understand therapeutic brain stimulation, but also to foster innovation. Realistic models of neurons and neural networks are now routinely used in neuroscience research to better understand the outcome of experimental data, and also to help in experiment design. These models can simulate the activity of single cells (e.g., with the Hodgkin-Huxley model), or, at the other extreme, of the entire brain (Blue Brain project). One especially appealing use of these models is to simulate in silico how electric and magnetic fields modulate neuronal activity at different spatial and temporal scales, to ultimately have an impact on behaviour. This application of biophysical models of brain activity is currently the focus of intense research efforts, with the hope of groundbreaking clinical translations on the horizon. The objective of this Research Topic is to offer a comprehensive overview of the most recent biophysical models and their contribution in the development of innovative therapeutic brain stimulation techniques, in various neurological disorders. An emphasis should be made on the critical role of biophysical modeling in the rational and effective design of novel brain stimulation techniques, and also in providing key insights into fundamental interaction mechanisms that can be exploited to ends of therapy. About Frontiers Research Topics: Frontiers Research Topics are designed to be an organized, encyclopedic coverage of a particular research area, and a forum for discussion and debate. Contributions can be of different article types (Original Research, Methods, Hypothesis & Theory, and others). Our Research Topic has a dedicated homepage on the Frontiers website, where contributing articles are accumulated and discussions can be easily held. Once all articles are published, the topic will be compiled into an e-book, which can be sent to foundations that fund your research, to journalists and press agencies, and to any number of other organizations. As the ultimate reference source from leading scientists, Frontiers Research Topic articles become highly cited. Frontiers is a Swiss-based, open access publisher. As such an article accepted for publication incurs a publishing fee, which varies depending on the article type. The publishing fee for accepted articles is below average compared to most other open access journals - and lower than subscription-based journals that apply page and color figure charges. Moreover, for Research Topic articles, the publishing fee is discounted quite steeply thanks to the support of the Frontiers Research Foundation. Details on Frontiers’ fees can be found at http://www.frontiersin.org/about/PublishingFees. When published, your article will be freely available to visitors to the Frontiers site, and will be indexed in PubMed and other academic archives. As an author in Frontiers, you will retain the copyright to your own paper and all figures. The details regarding this Research Topic for Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience can be found at the following URL: http://www.frontiersin.org/computational_neuroscience/researchtopics/drivin… Should you choose to participate, please confirm by sending a quick email and then your abstract using the following link: http://www.frontiersin.org/submissioninfo Thanks in advance for your interest! Julien Modolo, Alexandre Legros and Alex W Thomas -- Julien Modolo, PhD Scientist, Human Threshold Research Group, Lawson Health Research Institute Assistant Professor, Departments of Medical Biophysics and Medical Imaging, Western University Room E4-141 268 Grosvenor Street London, ON, N6A4V2 Canada Phone: (+001) 519-646-6100 ext 64192 Fax: 519-646-6100

May 26, 2014

Computer science lecturerships at Bristol University.

by Conor Houghton

The department of computer science at the University of Bristol is seeking to appoint two lecturers or senior lecturers in computer science. One is an open ended post and the other is a fixed term post for 3 years in the first instance. Both posts are full time. http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/AIU651/lecturers-or-senior-lecturers-in-computer-… These jobs are open across all areas of computer science; this includes computational neuroscience. Computational neuroscience is listed in the job advert as an established research interest of the department and, for example, the department is involved in the Wellcome Trust Neural Dynamics PhD program. The University as a whole has a particular strength in neuroscience, both basic and clinical, and, because of the Neural Dynamics PhD program, the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute, the Centre for Decision Making and the Bristol Center for Complexity Sciences there is a tradition of interaction between experimental and computational neuroscientists.

May 26, 2014

Open doctoral position: sound processing, Institute of Neuroinformatics, Zurich, CH

by Jörg Conradt

Applications are invited for a doctoral student position to implement in software and hardware, computational methods for sound processing inspired by biological principles. The goal is to develop a robust real-time sound processing system which recognizes sounds and uses novel front-end sensor pre-processors such as the silicon cochlea. We are seeking a motivated student with a strong background in physics and / or computer science or electrical engineering. The position is available immediately for individuals with a degree in related fields. Other requirements: Programming knowledge of Matlab/JAVA, worked with DSPs/ FPGAs, comfortable with hardware. Salary is according to the guidelines of the Swiss National Science Foundation. Interested applicants, please send your CV, grades, statement of interest, and the names of at least 1 reference to shih-at-ini-dot-uzh-dot-ch. Deadline for application is May 30, 2014 or until position is filled. This work will be done in conjunction with the groups of Shih-Chii Liu and Richard Hahnloser at the Institute of Neuroinformatics in Zurich. On behalf of Dr. Shih-Chii Liu, INI, http://sensors.ini.uzh.ch/

May 25, 2014

CfP: 2014 IEEE Symposium on Computational Intelligence in healthcare and e-health (IEEE CICARE 2014)

by Mufti Mahmud

Dear all, Apologies for cross-posting of this cfp. -------------------------------------------------------- 2014 IEEE Symposium on Computational Intelligence in healthcare and e-health (IEEE CICARE 2014) IEEE CICARE 2014 is the first Symposium of its kind, and will bring together leading research and clinical scientists, engineers, practitioners, technology and solution providers in healthcare and e-health from around the world to discuss latest advances in the field of computational intelligence applied to solving the growing scale and complexity of problems in these inter-disciplinary domains. This symposium will provide a forum for the presentation of recent results in the theory and practice of computational intelligence in healthcare and e-health systems and services, and there will also be Panel discussions to outline future research directions and challenges. IEEE CICARE 2014 is being held as part of the IEEE Symposium Series on Computational Intelligence (SSCI'2014), Florida, 09-12 December 2014. IEEE SSCI 2014 is one of the two flagship biennial international events sponsored by the IEEE Computational Intelligence Society (IEEE CIS) promoting all aspects of the theory and applications of computational intelligence. The IEEE SSCI co-locates several technical meetings at one location. This event attracts top researchers, professionals, and students from around the world. More details on: http://www.ieee-ssci.org/index.html Call for Papers can be found here: http://www.ieee-ssci.org/data/IEEESSCI_2014_CFP.pdf IEEE is the world's largest professional association dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity. IEEE and its members inspire a global community through IEEE's highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities. www.ieee.org Call for Papers: IEEE CICARE 2014 Special Sessions in 2014 IEEE Symposium on Computational Intelligence in healthcare and e-health Special Session 1: Computationally Intelligent Methods for CNS Research & Its Disorders (Organizers: Mufti Mahmud, Pawel Raif, Amir Hussain) Special Session 2: Computational Intelligence in Health Assessment and Monitoring (Organizers: Erik Cambria, Amir Hussain, Newton Howard) Special Session 3: Prospects and Applications of Computational Intelligence in e-Health (Organizers: Pawel Raif, Mufti Mahmud, Henrique Martins) IEEE CICARE2014 Topics: IEEE CICARE 2014 related topics include but are not limited to: · Ontology Driven Knowledge Management · Decision Support Systems · Telemedicine · Medical research using Grids · Interoperability · Medical and Nursing Informatics · Confidentiality and Data Security · Wearable Health Informatics · Semantic Interoperability · Therapeutic Systems and Technologies · Cognitive Informatics · Affective Computing · Human-Machine Interfaces · ICT, Ageing and Disability · Design and development methodologies for Healthcare IT · Mobile technologies for Healthcare applications (m-Health) · Evaluation and use of Healthcare IT · Health Knowledge Management · Healthcare Management and Information Systems · Electronic Health Records and Standards · Software Systems in Medicine · Pervasive Health Systems and Services · Clinical problems and applications · Data Mining and Visualization · Consumer Health Informatics · Virtual Healthcare Teams · Pattern recognition and Machine Learning · Practice-based Research Methods for Healthcare Informatics/IT · e-Health for Public Health · Integrating genetics with e-health Keynote, Tutorial and Panel Sessions: Please forward your proposals with detailed abstract and bio-sketches of the speakers to Symposium Co-Chairs and SSCI Keynote-Tutorial, Chair, Dr S Das. Special Sessions: Please forward your special session proposals to the Symposium Chair, Prof. Amir Hussain. Symposium Chairs: Chair: Professor Amir Hussain, School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Scotland, E-mail: ahu(a)cs.stir.ac.uk Co-Chair: Professor Calum MacRae, Harvard Medical School, Boston Co-Chair: Professor Jonathan Wu, University of Windsor, Canada Honorary Chair: Professor Warner Slack, Clinical Informatics Division, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA Symposium Organiser: Kamran Farooq, University of Stirling, Scotland, UK International Programme Committee: · Adnan Masood Siddiqui, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Cancer Centre. · Aman Shams, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, UK · Amir Atiya, Cairo University, Egypt · Amir Shah, University Hospital Crosshouse, Kilmarnock, Scotland · Aneel Zaheer, Kings College London Hospital, UK · Anna Esposito, Second University of Naples and IIASS - Vietri sul Mare (SA), Italy · Aziz Sheikh, Centre of Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh · Azzam Taktak, The Royal Liverpool University Hospital, UK · Campbell Grant, Sitekit Solutions Ltd. · Chris Eckl, Sitekit Solutions Ltd. · Eric Chang, Microsoft Asia, Beijing · Erik Cambria, NUS, Singapore · Fabio Augusto Gonzalez Osorio, National University of Colombia · Frances Mair, University of Glasgow · Hicham Attasi, Brno University of Technology, Czech Repulibic · Hollis Kowaloff, Beth Israel Clinical Informatics, USA · Igor Aleksander, Imperial College, London, UK · Irfan Faridoon, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh · Jozsef Farkas, University of Stirling, Scotland, UK · Junichi Tsujii, Microsoft Asia, Beijing · Kaizhu Huang, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China · Kang Li, Queen's University, Belfast · Keshav Dahal, University of Bradford, UK · M.A. Rajak, Ucare Foundation, Glasgow · Marcos Faundez-Zanuy, Escola University-Politecnic Mataro, Spain · Maria Aftab, Sir Syed Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan · Marjorie Skubic, University of Missouri, Columbia, USA · Matthew Bailey, BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh · Mohamed Chetouani, University of Pierre Marie-Curie, France · Muaz Niazi, Bahria University, Pakistan · Ricardo Imbert, University of Madrid, Spain · Sophia Ananiadou University of Manchester, UK · Stefano Squartini, Ancona University, Italy · Stephen Leslie, Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, Scotland · Tingwen Huang, Texas A&M University at Qatar · Usman Bashir, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh · Vassilis Cutsuridis, King's College, London, UK · Vladimir Bajic, KAUST, Saudi Arabia · Wajeeha Aneel, University of Bedfordshire, UK · William Buchanan, Napier University · Zdenek Smekal, Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic · Zubair Khan, Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, University Hospitals NHS Lothian (Edinburgh) Important Dates Paper submission: 15 June 2014, Midnight GMT Decision: 05 Sept 2014 Final submission: 05 Oct 2014 Early Registration: 05 Oct 2014 Paper Submission: Please submit your paper via the IEEE SSCI 2014 on-line submission link accessed from: http://www.ieee-ssci.org/instructions.html -- Mufti Mahmud, PhD Marie Curie Research Fellow Theoretical Neurobiology & Neuroengineering Lab University of Antwerp T6.63, Universiteitsplein 1 2610 - Wilrijk, Belgium Lab: +32 3 265 2610 http://www.muftimahmud.co.nr/ & Assistant Professor (on leave) Institute of Information Technology Jahangirnagar University Savar, 1342 - Dhaka, Bangladesh

May 24, 2014

Postdoc positions: Matt Nolan/Upi Bhalla

by U.S.Bhalla

We offer two Postdoctoral positions in computational and experimental neuroscience, as part of a a collaboration between Matt Nolan (University of Edinburgh) and Upi Bhalla (National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore). The projects are to examine representations, connectivity and plasticity in the Hippocampal-Entorhinal circuitry. One position is for a computational analysis of representations, sequence formation and plasticity. The other position is more experimental, and will involve patch, tetrode, and 2-photon recordings in mice as they learn representations and associations. Interested individuals are encouraged to visit the CBDR (http://instem.res.in/wadhwani-center/center-for-brain-development-and-repair) website for more information and to contact Upi Bhalla (bhalla(a)ncbs.res.in) or Matt Nolan(mattnolan(a)ed.ac.uk) directly for more information. A 2-page CV, 1-page statement of future work and how it fits in with the aims of CBDR and the names of three referees should be sent to the Centre Administrator, Claudia Pisani (cpisani(a)staffmail.ed.ac.uk) Thank you, Upi Bhalla

May 23, 2014

CFP 2nd International Conference on Bioimaging

by Calendar Sites

CALL FOR PAPERS 2nd International Conference on Bioimaging Website: www.bioimaging.biostec.org January 12 15, 2015 Lisbon, Portugal <http://www.bioimaging.biostec.org/Glossary.aspx#RP> Regular Papers Paper Submission: July 29, 2014 Authors Notification: November 3, 2014 Camera Ready and Registration: November 17, 2014 <http://www.bioimaging.biostec.org/Glossary.aspx#PP> Position Papers Paper Submission: September 30, 2014 Authors Notification: November 6, 2014 Camera Ready and Registration: November 17, 2014 Sponsored by: INSTICC-Institute for Systems and Technologies of Information, Control and Communication INSTICC is Member of: WfMC- Workflow Management Coalition OMG - Object Management Group FIPA Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents Logistics Partner: SCITEVENTS Science and Technology Events Media Partner: BMC - Medical Informatics and Decision Making Technical Co-sponsorship by: BMES Biomedical Engineering Society ESEM - European Society for Engineering and Medicine In Cooperation with: EUROMICRO ISfTeH International Society for Telemedicine & eHealth AAAI - The Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence Bioimaging is a term that collectively refers to tools used to create structural or functional images of living objects or systems. Examples are many, including: PET and HRRT PET, MRI and fMRI, MEG, SPECT and so on. Medical imaging is an important case of bioimaging referring to the technique and process used to create images of the human body, anatomical areas, tissue, and so on, down to the molecular level, for clinical purposes, seeking to reveal,diagnose, or examine diseases, or medical science, including the study of normal anatomy and physiology. Another field closely related to bioimaging is structural biology, a branch of molecular biology, biochemistry, and biophysics concerned with the spatial and temporal arrangement of biological macromolecules. KEYNOTE SPEAKERS <http://www.biostec.org/KeynoteSpeakers.aspx#1> Erik Meijering, Erasmus University Medical Center, Netherlands <http://www.biostec.org/KeynoteSpeakers.aspx#2> Lionel Pazart, CHU, France PUBLICATIONS All accepted papers will be published in the conference proceedings, under an ISBN reference, on paper and on CD-ROM support. SCITEPRESS is a member of CrossRef (http://www.crossref.org/) All papers presented at the conference venue will be available at the SCITEPRESS Digital Library. It is planned to publish a short list of revised and extended versions of presented papers with Springer in a CCIS Series book (final approval pending). The proceedings will be submitted for indexation by Thomson Reuters Conference Proceedings Citation Index (ISI), INSPEC, DBLP, EI (Elsevier Index) and Scopus. AWARDS The awards will be announced and bestowed at the conference closing session. Please check the website for further information: http://www.bioimaging.biostec.org/BestPaperAward.aspx CONFERENCE CO-CHAIRS Ana Fred, Instituto de Telecomunicações / IST, Portugal Hugo Gamboa, CEFITEC / FCT - New University of Lisbon, Portugal Dirk Elias, University of Porto / Fraunhofer, Portugal PROGRAM CO-CHAIRS Mário Forjaz Secca, CEFITEC, Departamento de Fisica, FCT/UNL, Portugal Jan Schier, Institute of Information Theory and Automation of the ASCR, Czech Republic CONFERENCE TOPICS: · Medical Imaging and Diagnosis · Biomechanical Imaging · Image Archiving and Communication · Telemedicine and Virtual Environments · Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) · Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Fmri) · Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) · Positron Emission Tomography (PET) · High Resolution Research Tomography (HRRT) · Magnetoencephalography (MEG) · Ultrasound and Optical Imaging · Optical Elastography · X-ray Microscopy · Biophotonics · Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transferv (FRET) · Fluorescent Microscopy · Quantitative Bioimaging · Structural Biology · Brain Function Analysis · Hemodynamics Imaging · Histology and Tissue Imaging PROGRAM COMMITTEE http://www.bioimaging.biostec.org/ProgramCommittee.aspx Please check further details at the conference website (http://www.bioimaging.biostec.org)

May 22, 2014

CFP 8th International Joint Conference on Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies - BIOSTEC 2015

by Calendar Sites

CALL FOR PAPERS 8th International Joint Conference on Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies - BIOSTEC 2015 Website: www.biostec.org January 12 15, 2015 Lisbon, Portugal <http://www.biostec.org/Glossary.aspx#RP> Regular Papers Paper Submission: July 29, 2014 Authors Notification: November 3, 2014 Camera Ready and Registration: November 17, 2014 <http://www.biostec.org/Glossary.aspx#PP> Position Papers Paper Submission: September 30, 2014 Authors Notification: November 6, 2014 Camera Ready and Registration: November 17, 2014 Doctoral Consortium Paper Submission: November 5, 2014 Authors Notification: November 18, 2014 Camera Ready and Registration: November 28, 2014 Special Sessions Paper Submission: November 7, 2014 Authors Notification: November 24, 2014 Camera Ready and Registration: December 3, 2014 Sponsored by: INSTICC - Institute for Systems and Technologies of Information, Control and Communication INSTICC is Member of: WfMC- Workflow Management Coalition OMG - Object Management Group FIPA Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents Logistics Partner: SCITEVENTS Science and Technology Events Media Partner: BMC - Medical Informatics and Decision Making Technical Co-sponsorship by: BMES Biomedical Engineering Society ESEM - European Society for Engineering and Medicine In Cooperation with: EUROMICRO ISfTeH International Society for Telemedicine & eHealth AAAI - The Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence EURASIP The European Association for Signal Processing The purpose of BIOSTEC is to bring together researchers and practitioners, including engineers, biologists, health professionals and informatics/computer scientists, interested in both theoretical advances and applications of information systems, artificial intelligence, signal processing, electronics and other engineering tools in knowledge areas related to biology and medicine. BIOSTEC is composed of five co-located conferences, each specialized in at least one of the aforementioned main knowledge areas. International Conference on Biomedical Electronics and Devices BIODEVICES 2015 Program Chair Alberto Cliquet Jr., University of São Paulo & University of Campinas, Brazil Url: http://www.biodevices.biostec.org/ CONFERENCE TOPICS: · Emerging Technologies · Biomedical Instrumentation · Biomedical Equipment · Biomedical Sensors · Biomedical Metrology · Microelectronics · Health Monitoring Devices · Embedded Signal Processing · Low-Power Design · Electrical Bio-Impedance · Bio-Electromagnetism · Biorobotics · Biocomputing and Biochips · Implantable Electronics · Biotelemetry · Wireless Systems · Biomaterials · MEMS · Nanotechnologies · Biomechanical Devices · Artificial Limbs · Technologies Evaluation · Cardiovascular Biomechanics · Electrocardiography and Heart Monitoring · Computational Physiology (virtual organs) · Brain-Computer Interfaces · Spectroscopic Applications · Imaging and Visualization Devices · Computer-aided Detection and Diagnosis · Rehabilitation Technology International Conference on Bioimaging BIOIMAGING 2015 Program Co-chairs Mário Forjaz Secca, CEFITEC, Departamento de Fisica, FCT/UNL, Portugal Jan Schier, Institute of Information Theory and Automation of the ASCR, Czech Republic Url: http://www.bioimaging.biostec.org/ CONFERENCE TOPICS: · Medical Imaging and Diagnosis · Biomechanical Imaging · Image Archiving and Communication · Telemedicine and Virtual Environments · Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) · Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Fmri) · Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) · Positron Emission Tomography (PET) · High Resolution Research Tomography (HRRT) · Magnetoencephalography (MEG) · Ultrasound and Optical Imaging · Optical Elastography · X-ray Microscopy · Biophotonics · Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transferv (FRET) · Fluorescent Microscopy · Quantitative Bioimaging · Structural Biology · Brain Function Analysis · Hemodynamics Imaging · Histology and Tissue Imaging International Conference on Bioinformatics Models, Methods and Algorithms BIOINFORMATICS 2015 Program Co-chairs Oscar Pastor, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Spain Christine Sinoquet, University of Nantes, France Url: http://www.bioinformatics.biostec.org/ CONFERENCE TOPICS: · Simulation · Computational Intelligence · Genomics and Proteomics · Sequence Analysis · Structural Bioinformatics · Image Analysis · Visualization · Databases and Data Management · Data mining and Machine Learning · Biostatistics and Stochastic Models · Pharmaceutical Applications · Systems Biology · Algorithms and Software Tools · Web Services in Bioinformatics · Computational Molecular Systems · Immuno- and chemo-informatics · Pattern recognition, clustering and classification · Structure prediction · Model design and evaluation · Transcriptomics · Next Generation Sequencing · Structural Variations International Conference on Bio-inspired Systems and Signal Processing BIOSIGNALS 2015 Program Chair Harald Loose, Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany Url: http://www.biosignals.biostec.org/ CONFERENCE TOPICS: · Speech Recognition · Neural Networks · Biometrics · Pattern Recognition · Medical Signal Acquisition, Analysis and Processing · Wearable Sensors and Systems · Real-Time Systems · Evolutionary Systems · Acoustic Signal Processing · Time and Frequency Response · Wavelet Transform · Medical Image Detection, Acquisition, Analysis and Processing · Physiological Processes and Bio-signal Modeling, Non-linear dynamics · Cybernetics and User Interface Technologies · Electromagnetic fields in biology and medicine · Fuzzy Systems and Signals · Monitoring and Telemetry · Cardiovascular Signals · Image Analysis and Processing · Detection and Identification · Motion Control International Conference on Health Informatics HEALTHINF 2015 Program Co-chairs Marta Bienkiewicz, TUM, Technische Universitat Munchen, Germany Christine Verdier, LIG - University Joseph Fourier Grenoble, France Url: http://www.healthinf.biostec.org/ CONFERENCE TOPICS: · Datamining · Knowledge Management · Decision Support Systems · Interoperability · Telemedicine · Medical and Nursing Informatics · Confidentiality and Data Security · Wearable Health Informatics · Semantic Interoperability · Therapeutic Systems and Technologies · Physiological Modeling · Databases and Datawarehousing · Cognitive Informatics · Affective Computing · Human-Machine Interfaces for Disabled Persons · ICT, Ageing and Disability · Design and development methodologies for Healthcare IT · Mobile technologies for Healthcare applications · Evaluation and use of Healthcare IT · Healthcare Management Systems · E-Health · Development of Assistive Technology · Electronic Health Records and Standards · Software Systems in Medicine · Pervasive Health Systems and Services · e-Health for Public Health · Clinical problems and applications · Data Visualization · Pattern recognition and Machine Learning · Practice-based Research Methods for Healthcare IT KEYNOTE SPEAKERS <http://www.biostec.org/KeynoteSpeakers.aspx#1> Erik Meijering, Erasmus University Medical Center, Netherlands <http://www.biostec.org/KeynoteSpeakers.aspx#2> Lionel Pazart, CHU, France PUBLICATIONS All accepted papers will be published in the conference proceedings, under an ISBN reference, on paper and on CD-ROM support. SCITEPRESS is a member of CrossRef ( <http://www.crossref.org/> http://www.crossref.org/) All papers presented at the conference venue will be available at the <http://www.scitepress.org/DigitalLibrary/Default.aspx> SCITEPRESS Digital Library. It is planned to publish a short list of revised and extended versions of presented papers with Springer in a <http://www.springer.com/series/7899> CCIS Series book (final approval pending). The proceedings will be submitted for indexation by Thomson Reuters Conference Proceedings Citation Index (ISI), INSPEC, DBLP, EI (Elsevier Index) and Scopus. AWARDS The awards will be announced and bestowed at the conference closing session. BIOSTEC CONFERENCE CO-CHAIRS Ana Fred, Instituto de Telecomunicações / IST, Portugal Hugo Gamboa, CEFITEC / FCT - New University of Lisbon, Portugal Dirk Elias, University of Porto / Fraunhofer, Portugal Please check further details at the conference website (http://www.biostec.org)

May 22, 2014

Postdoc on EEG data analysis in Cleveland (immediately available)

by Roberto Fernández Galán

A postdoctoral position on the statistical analysis of EEG data from children with autism and epilepsy is immediately available at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, USA. The position is funded by The Hartwell Foundation for a period of up to two years. The selected candidate will work under the supervision of Dr. Roberto F. Galán <http://neurosciences.case.edu/faculty/galan/index> in the department of neurosciences at CWRU. The project involves a collaboration with the department of pediatric neurology at University Hospitals on the same campus. The successful candidate must be a US citizen, have a PhD in biomedical engineering, computational neuroscience, or related discipline. Previous experience with the analysis of EEG, MEG, or MEA data is required. Proficiency in Matlab programming will be considered an asset. To apply for this position please send a cover letter, a CV including a list of publications and the names and contact information of two referees for recommendations to rfgalan(a)case.edu. Related Publications: J. L. Pérez Velázquez and R. F. Galán (2013). Information Gain in the Brain's Resting State: A New Perspective on Autism. *Frontiers in Neuroinformatics, 7(37):1 <http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fninf.2013.00037/abstract>*. A. R. Antony, A. V. Alexopoulos, J. A. González-Martínez, J. C. Mosher, L. Jehi, R. C. Burgess, N. K. So and R. F. Galán (2013). Functional Connectivity Estimated from Intracranial EEG Predicts Surgical Outcome in Intractable Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. *PLoS One, 8(10): e77916 <http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0077916>* . L. G. Domínguez, J. L. Pérez Velázquez and R. F. Galán (2013). A Model of Functional Brain Connectivity and Background Noise as a Biomarker for Cognitive Phenotypes: Application to Autism. *PLoS One, 8(4): e61493 <http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0061493>* . -- Roberto Fernández Galán, PhD Assistant Professor of Neurosciences Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Robbins E-725 10900 Euclid Avenue Cleveland OH, 44106-4975, USA Phone: (001) 216 368 0811 Email: rfgalan(a)case.edu http://www.case.edu/med/galanlab

May 22, 2014

ICTP Winter School on Systems Neuroscience in Trieste, Dec 2014

by Alessandro Treves

The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics is organizing a Winter School on Quantitative Systems Biology with a focus on System Neuroscience, from 1 to 12 December 2014, in Trieste, Italy. New experimental techniques are opening windows on biological mechanisms inside the cell and in the brain, making these systems accessible to quantitative investigation and calling for an understanding of brain functions at the systemic level. The school is targeted to young researchers, especially at the Ph.D and postdoc level who either work in this area or hope to do so. Lecturers include: Winfried Denk (Max Planck Inst., Germany) Stefano Fusi (Columbia, USA) Kate Jeffery (UCL, UK) Etienne Koechlin (ENS Paris, France) Venkatesh Murthy (Harvard, USA) Israel Nelken (Hebrew Univ., Israel) Botond Roska (FMI, Switzerland) Wolfram Schultz (Univ. Cambridge, UK) Tatyana Sharpee (Salk Institute, USA) Misha Tsodyks (Weizmann Institute, Israel) Fred Wolf (Univ. Göttingen, Germany) There is no participation fee for selected participants. DEADLINE for applications June 1st, 2014 Details on http://cdsagenda5.ictp.trieste.it/full_display.php?ida=a13235 -- Alessandro Treves http://people.sissa.it/~ale/limbo.html SISSA - Cognitive Neuroscience, via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy and Master in Complex Actions http://www.mca.sissa.it/

May 21, 2014

PhD student positions in naturalistic visuomotor behavior

by Constantin Rothkopf

Applications are invited for two PhD student positions in the lab of Constantin Rothkopf at the Technical University Darmstadt. The lab focuses on experimental and computational approaches to further the understanding of naturalistic, sequential visuomotor behavior in humans. Current topics include: - statistics of visuomotor behavior in naturalistic tasks, - image statistics in natural visuomotor behavior, - inverse-optimal-control models of human locomotion behavior, - optimal control models of interception behavior, - credit assignment in modular reinforcement learning models, - eye-movements in naturalistic tasks. For further information refer to the website: http://fias.uni-frankfurt.de/~rothkopf/ Ph.D. position applicants need to have a Master's degree in cognitive science, computer science, psychology or related fields. In addition to a general interest in experimental psychology, cognitive science, computational science, and interdisciplinary research, the ideal candidate has a background in eye-tracking or virtual reality technology. Experience with programming (e.g. Matlab, Python, C++) is inevitable. Analytical aptitude as well as awareness of experimental literature is expected. Informal inquiries may be made to Constantin Rothkopf at rothkopf(a)psychologie.tu-darmstadt.de. In your application please include a brief (max. 2 pages) cover letter explaining your research interests, what you are looking for in a PhD, why you would like to study in the lab, your longer term career goals, and contact information for 2-3 references. Applications may be submitted to the Dean of the Department of Human Sciences of the Technical University Darmstadt, Alexanderstraße 10, 64283 Darmstadt, in electronic form as a single pdf document via e-mail at: dekanat(a)humanw.tu-darmstadt.de. More details are available at: PhD position (ref.-no. 170) https://www.intern.tu-darmstadt.de/dez_vii/stellen/stellen_details_128192.d… The Technical University Darmstadt strives for an increase in the number of women in academic employment. Women are therefore especially encouraged to apply and will be preferentially considered under the condition of equal qualification. Disabled candidates are given preference under the provision of equal qualification. -- Prof. Constantin A. Rothkopf, PhD Technical University Darmstadt & FIAS phone: +49 6151 16-76084 mailto:rothkopf@psychologie.tu-darmstadt.de fax: +49 6151 16-6943 http://www.pip.tu-darmstadt.de/

May 21, 2014

Announcement Special Session Neurotechnix 2014

by Martin Bogdan

Dear colleagues, it's my pleasure to announce in behalf of my co-chairs a special session at Neurotechnix 2014, 25- 26 October, 2014 - Rome, Italy (http://www.neurotechnix.org/BrainRehab.aspx) Brain-computer Interfaces and Brain Stimulation for Neurorehabilitation Important Dates Paper Submission: July 17, 2014 Authors Notification: July 31, 2014 Camera Ready and Registration: August 8, 2014 Scope Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) and brain stimulation are unique methods for neurorehabilitation because they allow a direct interaction with the patient's brain. BCIs enable biofeedback approaches for paralyzed patients, while brain stimulation techniques modulate the activity of neuronal circuits to support brain reorganization. However, towards their application as reliable treatment options, important challenges such as a deeper understanding of neural (re-)organization, the design of suitable feedback and stimulation paradigms, the adaptation to individual patients and the transfer from the laboratory to clinical settings need to be faced. We invite neuroscientists, engineers and clinicians to submit papers discussing recent developments and future trends in the fields of neurostimulation and BCIs with a focus on their application towards the rehabilitation of patients. Topics: - Brain-computer interfaces - Decoding of brain activity - Neurofeedback - Brain stimulation - Closed-loop stimulation systems - Chronic pain - Stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases Paper Submission Prospective authors are invited to submit papers in any of the topics listed above. Instructions for preparing the manuscript (in Word and Latex formats) are available at: http://www.neurotechnix.org/GuidelinesTemplates.aspx#paper_templates Please also check the Guidelines and Templates. Papers should be submitted electronically via the web-based submission system at: http://www.insticc.org/Primoris Publication Both complete papers and extended abstracts can be submitted. All accepted extended abstracts will be published on CD-ROM without an ISBN, accepted papers will be published on CD-ROM support and in a special section of the congress proceedings book, under an ISBN reference. The proceedings are submitted for indexation by Thomson Reuters Conference Proceedings Citation Index (ISI), INSPEC, DBLP and EI (Elsevier Index). All papers and extended abstracts presented at the congress venue will also be made available at the SCITEPRESS DIGITAL LIBRARY. SCITEPRESS is member of CrossRef. -- ************************************************************************** Prof. Dr. Martin Bogdan Institut für Informatik Technische Informatik Universität Leipzig Augustusplatz 10 D-04109 Leipzig Germany Postadresse: PF 100920 D-04009 Leipzig Tel: (++49) 341 97 32208 Fax: (++49) 341 97 32252 E-mail: bogdan(a)informatik.uni-leipzig.de www.informatik.uni-leipzig.de/ti/ ************************************************************************** 'Nihil est ab omni parte beatum' (Horaz) **************************************************************************

May 21, 2014

Postdoc in computer vision - joint position at IIT and Harvard

by Diego Sona

IIT-Harvard joint postdoctoral position in computer vision, pattern recognition, and machine learning for the design and development of a virtual foraging system enriched with automatic behavior analysis tools. Available immediately and until filled. The project is highly interdisciplinary, including data analysis, machine learning, computer vision, neuroscience, behavior analysis, and engineering. The aim is to develop a virtual reality (VR) system for mice behavior phenotyping that integrate multiple recording devices and a library of software tools for advanced behavioral data analysis. Strong competences are required both in systems engineering and computer vision / machine learning. The candiate will periodically commute between Genoa (IIT) and Boston (Harvard). Further info can be found at http://www.iit.it/en/openings/research-departments/pattern-analysis-a-compu… Reference: BC 68073 --------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Diego Sona Pattern Analysis & Computer Vision (PAVIS) Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) Genova, Italy www.iit.it/pavis.html ---------------------------------------------------------

May 20, 2014

IEEE International Workshop on Cloud-integrated Cyber Physical Systems 2014 (IEEE Cloud-CPS 2014)

by Sandra Sendra

********************************************************* CALL FOR PAPERS IEEE International Workshop on Cloud-integrated Cyber Physical Systems 2014 (IEEE Cloud-CPS 2014) Submission due July 31, 2014 http://cloudcps.cwins.org Dec 15 � 18, 2014, Singapore Singapore in conjunction with IEEE CloudCom 2014, Dec 15 � 18, 2014, Singapore ******************************************************************** Technology has gone through tremendous changes in terms of computing, communications and control to provide wide range of applications in all domains. This advancement provides the opportunities to bridge the physical components/processes and the cyber space leading to the Cyber Physical Systems (CPS). The notion of CPS is to use computing (sensing, analyzing, predicting, understanding, etc.), communication (interaction, intervene, interface management, etc.) and control (inter-operate, evolve, evidence-based certification, etc.) to make intelligent and autonomous systems. Such systems are playing an increasingly prevalent and important role in this electronic era such as healthcare, manufacturing, civil infrastructure, aerospace, entertainment, transportation and many automated physical systems. Computing and networking are two major components of CPS and Cloud has infinite resources for both. Cloud-integrated CPS will not only enhance CPS itself but also process, analyze! and manage (CPS) big data efficien tly. However, there are many issues and hurdles of Cloud-integrated CPS that need discussions. Our aim is to provide a platform for researchers and practitioners to present their research results in the area of Cloud-integrated Cyber-Physical Systems. The proposed workshop CloudCPS-2014 will serve as a forum for researchers from academia, government and industries to exchange ideas, present new results and provide future visions on these topics. Topics of interest include but not limited to: - Cloud-CPS Architecture - Cloud-CPS Modeling and Simulation - Virtualization of Physical Components in Cloud-CPS - Design and Performance Optimization in Cloud-CPS - Cloud-assisted Situation-aware and decision support - Big-data Processing and Visualization in Cloud-CPS - Mobile Cloud-CPS - Game Theory for Cloud-CPS - Tools and Methods for Cloud-CPS - Sensor-actuator Networks - Security, Privacy, and Trust in Cloud-CPS - Intelligent (Road/Air) Transportation Cloud-CPS - Cloud-CPS in healthcare - Cloud-CPS in energy - Fog computing - Cloud-CPS: Tools, test beds and deployment issues - Opportunistic spectrum access for Cloud-CPS ***************************** SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS ***************************** The authors are advised to submit their research paper following the IEEE CS format: two columns, single-spaced, including figures and references, using 10 fonts, and number each page. Instructions for authors how to format the manuscript can be found at: http://www.computer.org/portal/web/cscps/submission/ http://www.computer.org/portal/web/cscps/formatting/ The following templates below, are general templates designed for conferences using an US Letter (8.5" x 11") trim size. MS Word Template: http://www.computer.org/portal/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=4cc57ba2-39… LaTeX Package: http://www.computer.org/portal/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=cda2f9b2-51… Papers will be carefully evaluated based on originality, significance, technical soundness, and clarity of exposition. The papers, in pdf format, should be submitted electronically through https://www.easychair.org/conferences/?conf=ieeecloudcps2014. If there is any problem during submission, please contact the workshop general chairs or db.rawat(at)ieee.org. All accepted papers will be published by IEEE CS Press (submitted to IEEEXplore) and submitted for indexing by EI and ISSN. *********************** Important Dates *********************** Deadline for paper submissions: July 31, 2014 Notification of Paper acceptance: Sept. 2, 2014 Deadline for camera-ready: Sept.16, 2014 Deadline for author registration: Oct. 1, 2014 Conference: December 15-18, 2014 WORKSHOP WEBSITE For more information, please visit the workshop website at http://cloudcps.cwins.org ++++++++++++++++ Organizers ++++++++++++++++ **************** General Chairs **************** Ivan Stojmenovic, University of Ottawa, Canada Danda B. Rawat, Georgia Southern University, USA Jaime Lloret Mauri, Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain ****************** Program Chairs ****************** Bhed B. Bista, Iwate Prefectural University, Japan Song Guo, The University of Aizu, Japan ******************* Publicity Chairs ******************* Sandra Sendra, Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain

May 20, 2014

Postdoctoral vacancies in London

by Harris, Kenneth

Dear Computational Neuroscientists, We are seeking applicants for 3 postdoctoral jobs at the interface of computational and experimental neuroscience, working with Profs. Kenneth Harris and Matteo Carandini. The closing date for all positions is June 14 2014. For details on how to apply, please see https://www.ucl.ac.uk/cortexlab/positions. Position 1: Large-scale analysis of neocortical activity Modern experimental methods allow for simultaneous recording of thousands of neurons. These methods provide an unprecedented opportunity to study how neuronal populations process information. However, turning this data into concrete conclusions about brain function raises a twofold challenge. First, statistical methods required to characterize, visualize, and test hypotheses about neural data must be developed; second, the data sets involved are so large that they require advanced computational techniques for their efficient processing. We are seeking a postdoctoral scientist to study population coding and circuit function in cortex, by working with data from large-scale electrophysiological and optical recordings. This position would suit an individual with strong quantitative skills together with good knowledge of neurobiology. Position 2: Large-scale simulation of cortical circuits Recent years have seen the development of techniques for rapid simulation of neural circuits, making it at last possible to model how cellular and synaptic properties determine cortical activity in circuits of realistic size. We are seeking a postdoctoral scientist to build large-scale models of recurrent spiking cortical networks, using hardware systems such as large-scale GPGPU clusters or specialized chips such as spiNNaker. Close interaction with experimental neuroscience will be a key part of the project, and the models will be constrained by their ability to both reproduce patterns of population activity measured in vivo, and to perform real-world visual classification tasks. This project involves the use of specialized hardware, and would suit a candidate with strong programming ability as well as neuroscience knowledge. Position 3: Experimental study of cortical population activity Developments in electrophysiology, microscopy, and genetics now make it possible to measure the activity of thousands of neurons simultaneously, while identifying and controlling specific cell classes in real time with light. Combining these experimental technologies with large-scale informatics and computational analysis provides a tremendous tool to understand the function of cortical circuits. We are seeking a postdoctoral scientist to apply these tools to study network activity during a visual discrimination task in behaving mice. This project involves integrating multiple techniques currently in use in our lab including large-scale electrophysiological recordings, optogenetics, two-photon microscopy, and mouse behaviour. This position would suit a candidate with a background in experimental neurobiology, engineering, or experimental physics. --------------------- Kenneth D. Harris Professor of Quantitative Neuroscience Institute of Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, Physiology, and Pharmacology University College London 21 University Street London WC1E 6DE Phone: +44 (0)20 3108 2410

May 19, 2014

new Frontiers journal section "Computational Intelligence"

by Claudius Gros

This is to to call your attention to a new Frontiers journal section "Computational Intelligence" http://www.frontiersin.org/Computational_Intelligence within Robotics and AI. The first articles have been published: --------------------- Rodrigo Echeveste and Claudius Gros Generating functionals for computational intelligence: The Fisher information as an objective function for self-limiting Hebbian learning rules http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/frobt.2014.00001/abstract --------------------- --------------------- Mikhail Prokopenko Grand challenges for Computational Intelligence http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/frobt.2014.00002/full --------------------- We invite you to submit your research! Claudius Gros ***************************************** *** Prof. Dr. Claudius Gros *** *** +49 (0)69 798 47818 *** *** http://itp.uni-frankfurt.de/~gros *** ***************************************** -------------------------------------------------------- --- Complex and Adaptive Dynamical Systems, A Primer --- --- A graduate-level textbook, Springer (2008/10/13) --- --------------------------------------------------------

May 19, 2014

post-doc position: “The informational structure of audio-visuo-motor speech”

by Pierre Bessière

Speech Unit(e)s The multisensory-motor unity of speech Understanding how speech unites the sensory and motor streams, And how speech units emerge from perceptuo-motor interactions ERC Advanced Grant, Jean-Luc Schwartz, GIPSA-Lab, Grenoble, France Proposal for a post-doc position beginning in September 2014: “The informational structure of audio-visuo-motor speech” Context The Speech Unit(e)s project is focused on the speech unification process associating the auditory, visual and motor streams in the human brain, in an interdisciplinary approach combining cognitive psychology, neurosciences, phonetics (both descriptive and developmental) and computational models. The framework is provided by the “Perception-for-Action-Control Theory (PACT)” developed by the PI (Schwartz et al., 2012). PACT is a perceptuo-motor theory of speech communication connecting, in a principled way, perceptual shaping and motor procedural knowledge in speech multisensory processing. The communication unit in PACT is neither a sound nor a gesture but a perceptually shaped gesture, that is a perceptuo-motor unit. It is characterized by both articulatory coherence – provided by its gestural nature – and perceptual value – necessary for being functional. PACT considers two roles for the perceptuo-motor link in speech perception: online unification of the sensory and motor streams through audio-visuo-motor binding, and offline joint emergence of the perceptual and motor repertoires in speech development. Objectives of the post-doc position In a multisensory-motor context such as the present one, a major requirement concerns a better knowledge of the structure of the information. Speech scientists have acquired a very good knowledge of the structure of speech acoustics, capitalizing on large audio corpora and up-to-date statistical techniques (mostly based on sophisticated implementations of Hidden Markov Models, e.g. Schutz & Waibel, 2001, Yu & Deng, 2011). Data on speech rhythms, in relation with the syllabic structure, have been analyzed clearly in a number of works (Greenberg, 1999; Grant & Greenberg, 2003). In spite of strong efforts in the field of audiovisual speech automatic recognition (Potamianos et al., 2003), characterization of the structure of audiovisual information is scarce. While an increasing number of papers on audiovisual speech perception presenting cognitive and neurophysiological data quote the “advance of the visual stream on the audio stream”, few papers provide quantitative evidence (see Chandrasekaran et al., 2009) and when they do, these are sometimes mistaken or oversimplified. Actually, the temporal relationship between visual and auditory information is far from constant from one situation to another (Troille et al., 2010). Concerning the perceptuo-motor link, the situation is even worse. Few systematic quantitative studies are available because of the difficulty to acquire articulatory data, and in these studies the focus is generally set on the so-called “inversion problem” (e.g. Ananthakrishnan & Engwall, 2011, Hueber et al., 2012) rather than a systematic characterization of the structure of the perceptuo-motor relationship. Finally, there is a strong lack of systematic investigations of the relationship between orofacial and bracchio-manual gestures in face-to-face communication. We shall gather a large corpus of audio-visuo-articulatory-gestural speech. Articulatory data will be acquired through ultrasound, electromagnetic articulography (EMA) and video imaging. Labial configurations and estimates of jaw movements will be automatically extracted and processed thanks to a large range of video facial processing. We also additionally plan to record information about accompanying coverbal gestures by the hand and arm, thanks to an optotrack system enabling to track bracchio-manual gestures. A complete equipment for audio-video-ultrasound-EMA-optotrack acquisition and automatic processing, named ultraspeech-tools, is available in Grenoble (more information on www.ultraspeech.com) The corpus will consist in isolated syllables, chained syllables, simple sentences and read material. Elicitation paradigms will associate reading tasks (with material presented on a computer screen) and dialogic situations between the subject and an experimenter to evoke coverbal gestures as ecologically as possible. The corpus will be analyzed, by extensive use and possibly development of original techniques, based on data–driven statistical models and machine learning algorithms, in the search for three major types of characteristics: 1) Quantification of auditory, visual and motor rhythms, from kinematic data – e.g. acoustic envelope, lip height and/or width, variations in time of the principal components of the tongue deformations, analysis of the arm/hand/finger dynamics; 2) Quantification of delays between sound, lips, tongue and hand in various kinds of configurations associated with coarticulation processes (e.g. vowel to vowel anticipatory and perseverative phenomena, consonant-vowel coproduction, vocal tract preparatory movement in silence) and oral/gestural coordination; 3) Quantification of the amount of predictability between lips, tongue, hand and sound, through various techniques allowing the quantitative estimate of joint information (e.g. mutual information, entropy, co-inertia) and perform statistical inference between modalities (e.g. Graphical models such as dynamic Bayesian Framework, multi-stream HMM, etc.) The work will be performed within a multidisciplinary group in GIPSA-Lab Grenoble, associating specialists in speech and gesture communication, cognitive processes, signal processing and machine learning (partners of the project: Jean-Luc Schwartz, Marion Dohen from the “Speech, Brain, Multimodality Development” team; Thomas Hueber, Laurent Girin from the “Talking Machines and Face to Face Interaction” team; Pierre-Olivier Amblard and Olivier Michel from the “Information in Complex Systems” team). Practical information The post-doc position is open for a two-year period, with a possible third-year prolongation. The position is open from September 2014, or slightly later if necessary. Candidates should have a background in speech and signal processing, face-to-face communication, and machine learning, or at least two of these three domains. Candidates should send as soon as possible a short email to Jean-Luc Schwartz (Jean-Luc.Schwartz(a)gipsa-lab.grenoble-inp.fr) to declare their intention to submit a full proposal. Then they must send a full application file in the next weeks. This application file will include an extended CV and a list of publications, together with a letter explaining why they are interested in the project, what their specific interests could be, possibly suggesting other experiments related to the general question of the informational structure of audio-visuo-motor speech, and also how this position would fit into their future plans for the development of their own career. They should also provide two names (with email addresses) for recommendations about their applications. Preselected candidates will be interviewed. Final selection should occur before mid-June.

May 18, 2014

PhD position: “Bayesian model of the joint development of perception, action and phonology”

by Pierre Bessière

Proposal for a PhD position beginning in September 2014: “Bayesian model of the joint development of perception, action and phonology” Context The Speech Unit(e)s project is focused on the speech unification process associating the auditory, visual and motor streams in the human brain, in an interdisciplinary approach combining cognitive psychology, neurosciences, phonetics (both descriptive and developmental) and computational models. The framework is provided by the “Perception-for-Action-Control Theory (PACT)” developed by the PI (Schwartz et al., 2012). PACT is a perceptuo-motor theory of speech communication, which connects in a principled way perceptual shaping and motor procedural knowledge in speech multisensory processing. The communication unit in PACT is neither a sound nor a gesture but a perceptually shaped gesture, that is a perceptuo-motor unit. It is characterised by both articulatory coherence – provided by its gestural nature – and perceptual value – necessary for being functional. PACT considers two roles for the perceptuo-motor link in speech perception: online unification of the sensory and motor streams through audio-visuo-motor binding, and offline joint emergence of the perceptual and motor repertoires in speech development. Objectives of the PhD position In the debates between auditory and motor theories of speech perception, and in their modern revival concerning the role of the dorsal route (Hickok & Poeppel, 2004, 2007), there is no real reflexion about what could be the functional role of a perceptuo-motor coupling for speech perception. The “dorsal route” is supposed to be useful in “adverse conditions”, e.g. in noise or with a foreign language (Callan et al., 2004; Zekveld et al., 2006). But no theoretical explanation is actually proposed for this potential efficiency of motor processes in adverse conditions. We have recently developed a computational framework enabling to compare the predictions of auditory, motor and perceptuo-motor theories in various kinds of situations (Moulin-Frier et al., 2012). Casting these theories into a single, unified mathematical framework is an efficient way to compare the theories and their properties in a systematic manner. Bayesian modeling is a mathematical framework that precisely allows such comparisons. The trick is that the same tool, namely probabilities, can be used both for defining the models and for comparing them (see e.g. Myung & Pitt, 2009). The generic model we developed is called COSMO, which stands for "Communicating about Objects using Sensory-Motor Operations". The COSMO acronym also represents the five variables around which the basic structure of the model is built. In COSMO, communication (C) is a success when an object OS in the speaker’s mind is transferred, via sensory and motor means S and M, to the listener’s mind where it is correctly recovered as OL. COSMO assumes that a communicating agent, which is both a speaker and a listener, internalizes the communication situation inside an internal model. The PhD project aims at developing COSMO in two major directions. (1) Joint acquisition of perceptual and motor repertoires in a syllabic framework. Experiments in COSMO have mainly concerned simple stimuli, e.g. in abstract one-dimensional sensory-motor spaces, or with restricted vowel samples. We will explore strategies for automatically learning to produce and perceive complex sequences such as plosive-vowel CV sequences, which display systematic coarticulation phenomena. Various kinds of exploration and learning mechanisms are available from cognitive and developmental robotics (Moulin-Frier & Oudeyer, 2012). Validation tests will be inspired from real data, on e.g. locus equations for plosive acoustics (Sussman et al., 1998), robustness to perturbations in production (Lindblom et al., 1979; Savariaux et al., 1995), or coupling of perceptual and motor idiosyncrasies. (2) Comparison of auditory, motor and perceptuo-motor theories for speech processing in various conditions. Once these perception and production components will be settled in COSMO, we will compare auditory, motor and perceptuo-motor speech perception theories in challenging conditions, such as noise, speaker normalization, or foreign accent. We will test the ability to develop a perceptuo-motor phonology from auditory and motor experience, e.g. to acquire a category such as “plosive place of articulation” through the discovery of perceptuo-motor links in learning. We will also test COSMO on natural CV stimuli, exploiting natural multi-speaker corpora of CV sequences for learning and perceptual tests. The work will be realized within a multidisciplinary team gathering knowledge in speech communication, cognitive theories and Bayesian modeling (Jean-Luc Schwartz in GIPSA-Lab Grenoble, Julien Diard in LPNC Grenoble, Pierre Bessière in ISIR Paris), in collaboration with Pierre-Yves Oudeyer in INRIA Bordeaux. Practical information The PhD position is open from September 2014, or slightly later if necessary. Candidates should have a master, some knowledge about speech and cognitive modeling, and ability to program and to develop computational models. They must send a CV, together with a letter explaining why they are interested in the project. They should also provide two names (with email addresses) for recommendations about their applications. This should be send before June 15th to Jean-Luc Schwartz (Jean-Luc.Schwartz(a)gipsa-lab.grenoble-inp.fr) Interviews will be done with preselected candidates. Decision will occur in the following weeks.

May 18, 2014

IWSYP'14: deadline extension to May 30

by Thiago Matos Pinto

I International Workshop on Synaptic Plasticity - IWSYP'14 September 8-9, 2014 Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil http://iwsyp14.thiagomatospinto.com University of São Paulo Deadline for abstract submission has now been extended to May 30. Participation is free of charge! Speakers: Chris De Zeeuw (Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands & Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) Freek Hoebeek (Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands) Reinoud Maex (École Normale Supérieure, Paris, France) Ricardo Leão (University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil) Thiago Matos Pinto (University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil) Organizers: Thiago Matos Pinto (University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil) Antonio Roque (University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil) Abstracts: Submission of abstracts for poster and oral presentations are due by May 30, 2014. We welcome both experimental and theoretical contributions addressing novel findings on topics related to synaptic plasticity. Please see http://iwsyp14.thiagomatospinto.com/abstracts for details. Please visit the IWSYP'14 website for program and further details: http://iwsyp14.thiagomatospinto.com You will also find us on Facebook at facebook.com/iwsyp14 We look forward to seeing you in Ribeirão Preto. With best wishes, Thiago Matos Pinto, IWSYP'14 Organizer

May 16, 2014

Special issue on the hard problem of consciousness

by Roman Poznanski

JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE NEUROSCIENCE http://www.worldscinet.com/jin SPECIAL ISSUE: On the Hard problem of consciousness Volume 13, No.2 (JUNE) 2014 Editorial 1. Introduction— Addressing the Hard Problem J. R. Searle. 2. A Neuropsychoanalytic Approach to the Hard Problem of Consciousness M. Solms 3. Co-evolution of Human Consciousness and Language—Revisited M. Arbib 4. Quantum Effects in the Understanding of Consciousness S. R. Hameroff and J.A.Tuszynski 5. The Origins of the Brain's Endogenous Electromagnetic Field and Its Relationship to Provision of Consciousness. C.G. Hales 6. Keeping Time: Could Quantum Beating in Microtubules be the Basis for the Neural Synchrony Related to Consciousness? T.J.A. Craddock, A. Priel and J. A. Tuszynski 7. Genomic Instantiation of Consciousness in Neurons Through a Biophoton Field Theory L.A. Cacha and R.R. Poznanski 8. Physical Integration: A Causal Account for Consciousness R. Manzotti and A. Chella 9. Afference Copy as a Quantitative Neurophysiological Model for Consciousness H. Cornelis and A. Coop 10. Triple-Aspect Monism: Physiological, Unconscious and Conscious Aspects of Brain Activity A.Pereira Jr. ------- Roman R. Poznanski Professor Laboratory of Biological Modeling The Rockefeller University 1230 York Avenue New York, NY 10065-6399 Office: (212) 327-7646 E-mail: rpoznanski(a)rockefeller.edu http://romanpoznanski.blogspot.com and Chief-Editor, Journal of Integrative Neuroscience http://www.worldscinet.com/jin/mkt/editorial.shtml _______________________________________________

May 16, 2014

Research Assistant Position in the Neuroinformatics lab / Institute of Cognitive Science, University Osnabrück

by Gordon Pipa

The Neuroinformatics Research Group (Prof. Dr. Gordon Pipa) of the Institute of Cognitive Science invites applications for a Research Assistant (Postdoc level), (Salary level E 13 TV-L) to be filled by July 1, 2014 for a period of three years. The position allows for further scientific qualification. Description of Responsibilities: The position involves research on complex neuronal networks and the analysis of data generated by such systems. The research will develop tools and apply these on the estimation of complex and causal interactions between neurons and larger areas of the brain, based on various measurements, such as spiking activity, LFP and ECoG. The successful candidate will be involved in several research projects that range from BSc to PhD projects. The position also involves teaching Cognitive Science courses at B.Sc. and M.Sc. level (4 hours/week). Required Qualifications: Candidates are expected to have an excellent academic degree (PhD and Master/diploma). Applicants should have an excellent knowledge in the field of machine learning, i.e. generalized linear and state space models, kernel methods, reservoir computing and deep learning. Experience or a strong interest in the fields of complex systems, computational neurosciences, dynamical systems theory and the concepts to study these, i.e. bifurcation and stability analysis, and delay coupled differential equations, measurements of complexity, are encouraged. The position may be held full or part-time. As a certified family-friendly institution, Osnabrück University is committed to furthering the compatibility between work/studies and family life. Furthermore, qualified applicants with disabilities will be favored. Applications with the usual documentation, including two letters of recommendation (hardcopies which will not be returned) should be submitted no later than June 4, 2014 to the Director of the Institute of Cognitive Science, University of Osnabrueck, Albrechtstraße 28, 49076 Osnabrueck. An electronic copy of your application should be sent to gpipa(a)uni-osnabrueck.de. Further information can be provided by Prof. Dr. Gordon Pipa, (gpipa(a)uni-osnabrueck.de)

May 15, 2014

3 days left for abstract submission - Bernstein Conference 2014 - Call for Abstracts

by Kerstin Mosch

REMINDER: Call for Abstracts: Bernstein Conference 2014 Deadline of Abstract Submission: May 18, 2014 ************************************************************** Satellite Workshops September 02-03, 2014 Main Conference September 03-05, 2014 ************************************************************** The Bernstein Conference has become the largest annual Computational Neuroscience Conference in Europe and now regularly attracts more than 500 international participants. This year, the Conference is organized by the Bernstein Focus Neurotechnology Goettingen and will take place September 03-05, 2014. In addition, there will be a series of pre-conference satellite workshops on September 02-03, 2014. The Bernstein Conference is a single-track conference, covering all aspects of Computational Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, and sessions for poster presentations are an integral part of the conference. We now invite the submission of abstracts for poster presentations from all relevant areas. Accepted abstracts will be published online and will be citable via Digital Object Identifiers (DOI). Additionally, a small number of abstracts will be selected for contributed talks. DETAILS FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSION: For abstract submission visit: http://www.bernstein-conference.de/abstracts Deadline: May 18, 2014 CONFERENCE DETAILS: Venue: Satellite Workshops and Main Conference, Central Lecture Hall (ZHG), Platz der Goettinger Sieben 5, 37073 Göttingen, Germany Registration: Conference Registration starts in April, 2014 Early registration deadline: July 7, 2014 For more information on the conference, please visit the website: http://www.bernstein-conference.de PUBLIC PHD STUDENT EVENT: September 02, 2014 PUBLIC LECTURE: September 04, 2014 PROGRAM COMMITTEE: Ilka Diester, Daniel Durstewitz, Thomas Euler, Alexander Gail, Matthias Kaschube, Jason Kerr, Roland Schaette, Fred Wolf, Florentin Wörgötter, ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: Florentin Wörgötter, Kerstin Mosch, Yvonne Reimann Bernstein Coordination Site (BCOS): Andrea Huber Broesamle, Mareike Kardinal, Kerstin Schwarzwaelder We look forward to seeing you in Goettingen in September! -- Dr. Kerstin Mosch Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience (BCCN) Goettingen Bernstein Focus Neurotechnology (BFNT) Goettingen Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization Am Fassberg 17 D-37077 Goettingen Germany T: +49 (0) 551 5176 - 425 E: kerstin(a)nld.ds.mpg.de I: www.bccn-goettingen.de I: www.bfnt-goettingen.de

May 15, 2014

Deep Learning Overview - Draft

by Juergen Schmidhuber

Dear computational neuroscientists, here the preliminary draft of an invited Deep Learning overview: http://www.idsia.ch/~juergen/DeepLearning15May2014.pdf It mostly consists of references (about 800 entries so far). Important citations are still missing though. As a machine learning researcher, I am obsessed with credit assignment. In case you know of references to add or correct, please send them with brief explanations to juergen(a)idsia.ch (NOT TO THE ENTIRE LIST!), preferably together with URL links to PDFs for verification. Please also do not hesitate to send me additional corrections / improvements / suggestions / Deep Learning success stories with feedforward and recurrent neural networks. I'll post a revised version later. Thanks a lot! Abstract. In recent years, deep artificial neural networks (including recurrent ones) have won numerous contests in pattern recognition and machine learning. This historical survey compactly summarises relevant work, much of it from the previous millennium. Shallow and deep learners are distinguished by the depth of their credit assignment paths, which are chains of possibly learnable, causal links between actions and effects. I review deep supervised learning (also recapitulating the history of backpropagation), unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning & evolutionary computation, and indirect search for short programs encoding deep and large networks. Juergen Schmidhuber http://www.idsia.ch/~juergen/ http://www.idsia.ch/~juergen/whatsnew.html

May 15, 2014

OpenWorm Kickstarter Campaign

by Shreejoy Tripathy

Dear Colleagues, I'm writing to let you know about the OpenWorm Kickstarter Campaign (link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/openworm/openworm-a-digital-organism-i…) As you may know, the goal of the OpenWorm project is to digitally simulate a C. Elegans organism. By design, the project is organized in a geographically distributed fashion and all of the work is being done in the open (on GitHub and Youtube) using entirely open source code and public data. Though I’m not a worm researcher, I’m supporting OpenWorm’s Kickstarter because I strongly believe in their overall mission. As a computational neuroscientist, I see the project as a necessary first step in the simulation of more complex organisms, including mice and ultimately humans. Moreover, I see my Kickstarter contribution as a future investment in the open source tools and methodologies that OpenWorm develops that I hope to eventually use in my own research. More philosophically, I think that lately the field of neuroscience has suffered from some amount of “overhype”, especially given the initially promised outcomes of recent large-scale brain initiatives (e.g., recording from all neurons in a mammalian brain, simulating an entire human brain). While these projects have been hugely successful in catalyzing widespread public support of basic neuroscience research, many neuroscientists see these promises as perhaps a bridge too far given the current research state. Though OpenWorm's goals are itself highly ambitious, the relative simplicity of the worm (named neurons, stereotyped connectomes and musculature, the ability to image neuronal activity in vivo) lends itself well to this attempt. By conducting the project in the open and basing success on quantifiable goals (i.e., how similar are the simulated worm's movements and neural activity to experimental measurements), the project will serve as a roadmap for future endeavours in multi-scale data integration and organismal simulation. Lastly, the geographically distributed and highly interdisciplinary nature of the project makes it challenging to receive funding through traditional NIH-style mechanisms. For this reason, I'm asking you to join me in supporting the project's Kickstarter campaign. More information: OpenWorm Website: http://www.openworm.org Kickstarter campaign link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/openworm/openworm-a-digital-organism-i… Project overview by OpenWorm member and neuroscientist Jim Hokanson: http://jimandscience.blogspot.ca/2014/05/modeling-worm-thoughts-on-openworm… OpenWorm QandA on Reddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/246dlw/science_ama_series_im_steph… Sincerely, Shreejoy Tripathy Post-doc and Developer of neuroelectro.org University of British Columbia Centre for High-Throughput Biology

May 12, 2014

CAN satellite workshop

by Gunnar Blohm

*Invitation to the CAN 2014 satellite workshop on "Neural circuits of health and disease: from computation to experiment" * ** We would like to invite you to join us at the CAN 2014 satellite workshop on "Neural circuits of health and disease: from computation to experiment" to be held on *Monday, May 26 between 5pm and 10pm *at the Montreal Hilton Bonaventure. This workshop is organized by the Canadian Association for Neuroinformatics and Computational Neuroscience (CNCN) and jointly sponsored by CIHR and NeuroDevNet. The *goals *of this workshop are to (1) showcase the significance of CNCN-experimental collaborations, (2) enable new breakthroughs on major health questions through break-out sessions matching CNCN expertise with experimentalists, and (3) prepare a joint vision on how CNCN will optimally benefit health research in Canada. We hope to build new collaborations, exchange ideas and demonstrate the usefulness of CNCN. In addition, we aim at providing specific suggestions to funding agencies on how CNCN could further boost Canadian health research. We are also very honored to have *Dr. Eve Marder* (Brandeis University; former SfN president) as a keynote lecturer. Please see below for a detailed program. If you are interested in participating, please email Dr. Gunnar Blohm (gunnar.blohm(a)queensu.ca <mailto:gunnar.blohm@queensu.ca>) with a short statement of interest and benefit of participation to you. Although this workshop is mainly intended for PIs, we also encourage senior graduate students and postdocs to apply. Participation is by invitation only. The CNCN steering committee will select 60 participants (10 students/postdocs) out of all applications. Thanks to CIHR and NeuroDevNet, workshop participation is free and includes dinner. We hope to see you at the workshop! Sincerely Gunnar Blohm & Paul Pavlidis (co-organizers, co-directors of CNCN) _Preliminary Program_: 5pm -- 5:15pm -- Welcome by Paul Pavlidis & Gunnar Blohm Showcases of CNCN-experimental collaborations 5-15pm -- 5:45pm: Neurodevelopmental disorders (TBD) 5:45pm -- 6:15pm: Stroke (TBD) 6:15pm -- 6:45pm: Changes in the dynamics of network oscillations in hippocampus as markers of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer disease mice models (Frances Skinner, U Toronto; Sylvain Williams, McGill) 6:45pm -- 7:15pm: Genomics and neuropsychiatric disorders (Gustavo Turecki, McGill; Paul Pavlidis, UBC) 7:15pm -- 8:30pm: 6 chaired round table discussions & dinner 8:30pm -- 9:30pm: keynote lecture (Dr. Eve Marder) 9:30pm -- open end: open discussion on vision of CNCN -- ------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Gunnar BLOHM Assistant Professor in Computational Neuroscience Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Departments of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Mathematics & Statistics, and Psychology, School of Computing, and Canadian Action and Perception Network (CAPnet) Queen's University 18, Stuart Street Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7L 3N6 Tel: (613) 533-3385 Fax: (613) 533-6840 Email: Gunnar.Blohm(a)QueensU.ca Web: http://www.compneurosci.com/

May 12, 2014

Postdoctoral Position: Psychiatry and Theoretical Neuroscience

by Andre Longtin

A two-year postdoctoral position is immediately available at the interface of psychiatry and theoretical neuroscience at the University of Ottawa's Center for Neural Dynamics. This is a joint position between the Mind, Brain Imaging and Neuroethics group of Prof. Georg Northoff at the Institute of Mental Health Research and the Neurophysics and Nonlinear Dynamics group of Prof. André Longtin in the Physics Department. The candidate should be open to learning and, most optimally, already experienced in the analysis of the temporal and spatial activity structure in large scale neural data sets, using various measures inspired from linear (e.g. cross-spectral and phase coherence), nonlinear and stochastic dynamics. Ideally the candidate would also be experienced in modelling and simulation. The focus is on the perception of time, in particular on how it is altered by excitation-inhibition imbalances. Candidates should have a PhD degree in physics, engineering, mathematics, computer science, neuroscience, computational neuroscience or cognitive neuroscience, an excellent related research experience in neuroscience, as well as strong computational, written and oral communication skills. Applications consisting of a CV and a brief statement of research interest should be sent to alongtin(a)uottawa.ca . Applications will be considered until the position is filled.

May 9, 2014

NEURON course discounts continue!

by Ted Carnevale

The early registration discounts for this year's NEURON summer courses were originally supposed to end today, but we have been able to arrange to continue the discounts for as long as seats remain open, or until the Friday May 30 registration deadline. NEURON Fundamentals June 21-24 This addresses all aspects of using NEURON to model individual neurons, and also introduces parallel simulation and the fundamentals of modeling networks. Includes a healthy serving of Python. Parallel Simulation with NEURON June 25-26 This is for users who are already familiar with NEURON and need to create models that will run on parallel hardware. Special attention will be paid to critical topics such as powerful strategies and idioms for implementing and managing models, measuring and improving performance, and debugging. $1050 for the Fundamentals course $650 for the Parallel Simulation course $1600 for both These fees cover handout materials plus food and housing on the campus of UC San Diego. For more information and the on-line registration form, see http://www.neuron.yale.edu/neuron/courses --Ted

May 9, 2014

Postdoc position in molecular modeling of signaling pathways

by Erik De Schutter

A postdoctoral position is available in the Computational Neuroscience Unit of Dr. Erik De Schutter at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Japan (http://www.irp.oist.jp/cns/) to model molecular aspects of cerebellar Purkinje cell function. We study the signaling pathways involved in cerebellar long-term depression at the parallel fiber to Purkinje cell synapse. You will be able to use a detailed stochastic model using the STEPS simulator (http://steps.sourceforge.net/) that replicates calcium uncaging experiments in detail (Antunes and De Schutter 2012). This well mixed model with about 400 different reactions has generated new insights in the sources of stochasticity in synaptic plasticity induction. Now we want to expand this work in two directions: to include diffusion, distributing reactions between the spine and dendrite, and to include induction of parallel fiber long-term potentiation. Candidates should have experience with modeling molecular reactions. Knowledge of signaling pathways involved in synaptic plasticity preferred. QUALIFICATIONS: Good English language skills are essential. There will be ample opportunity to interact with modelers and software developers in the lab who are working on several Purkinje cell and cerebellar related projects and with other scientists at the English language multi-disciplinary environment of OIST. Write me if interested. Include CV and names of two references.

May 9, 2014

Open Position: Scientific Computing Specialist at Columbia University Zuckerman Institute

by Rajendra Bose

Announcing an open position for “Scientific Computing Specialist” in the Research Computing group at the new Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute at Columbia. Please pass along the link below to anybody who may be interested. http://www.columbia.edu/~rb2568/zmbbi_scs.pdf Thank you-- Raj Rajendra Bose, Ph.D. 2014 Secretary, Coalition for Academic Scientific Computation http://casc.org Director, Research Computing Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute Columbia University Tel: 212-851-2918 http://zuckermaninstitute.columbia.edu

May 8, 2014

European Summer School on Eye Movements (ESSEM) 2014

by Ulrich Ettinger

Dear list members, * Apologies for multiple postings * This is the first call for the European Summer School on Eye Movements (ESSEM) 2014, funded by the Boehringer-Ingelheim-Stiftung and organised by Christoph Klein (Freiburg/Bangor) and Ulrich Ettinger (Bonn). ESSEM 2014 will be held at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of the University of Freiburg, Germany, from 8th to 13th September 2014. ESSEM brings together internationally renowned researchers to teach students in the theories, neural bases, experimental designs and statistical analysis of eye movements studies in basic science as well as applied settings. Please see below for a preliminary list of speakers. We are pleased to now invite applications from students and researchers at the PhD/MD or early post-doctoral level. Financial support is available for participants’ travel and accommodation expenses. The course fee is €250 and includes catering (lunch, coffee) throughout the summer school. Participants are expected to present a poster of a study they have carried out (not necessarily involving oculographic methods) on the first day of ESSEM. To apply, please send a cover letter with brief personal statement on why you wish to attend ESSEM, your current CV and the abstract for your poster presentation to essem(a)uni-bonn.de. The deadline for applications is 31st May 2014. For further information please visit http://www.psychologie.uni-bonn.de/units/cognitive-psychology?set_language=… or contact essem(a)uni-bonn.de With best wishes, Christoph Klein & Ulrich Ettinger Preliminary List of Speakers, ESSEM 2014: Giuseppe Boccignone (Italy) Ulrich Ettinger (Germany) Tom Foulsham (UK) Mark Greenlee (Germany) Sam Hutton (UK) Yukko Hyönä (Finland) Alan Kingston (Canada) Christoph Klein (Germany/UK) Bruno Laeng (Norway) Rebekka Lencer (Germany) Susana Martinez-Conde (USA) René Müri (Switzerland) Nadine Petrovsky (Germany) Pierre Pouget (France) Nikolaos Smyrnis (Greece) Werner Sommer (Germany)

May 8, 2014

Reminder: Abstract submission closes May 16 for IWSYP'14 (I International Workshop on Synaptic Plasticity) in Brazil

by Thiago Matos Pinto

*I International Workshop on Synaptic Plasticity - IWSYP'14* * September 8-9, 2014* *Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil* iwsyp14.thiagomatospinto.com University of São Paulo The I International Workshop on Synaptic Plasticity - IWSYP'14 will bring together *experimentalists and theoreticians* who have contributed significantly to understanding the biological mechanisms underlying *synaptic plasticity*. The aim of this workshop is to facilitate discussions and interactions in the effort towards increasing our understanding on synaptic plasticity in the brain. The IWSYP'14 will take place in the campus of *Ribeirão Preto* at the University of São Paulo in *Brazil* on September 8 and 9, 2014. You are welcome to join this workshop that focuses on the discussion of fresh ideas, the presentation of work in progress, and the establishment of a scientific network between young researchers. The workshop will be held in English. Participation is *free of charge*! This workshop is a satellite event of the XXXVIII Annual Meeting of the Brazilian Society for Neuroscience and Behavior (SBNeC), which will be held on September 10-13 in Búzios, Rio de Janeiro. The SBNeC meeting will also feature big names in Neuroscience, and will be a preparatory event for the 9th World Congress of the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO), which will take place in Rio de Janeiro in 2015. Organizers: *Thiago Matos Pinto *(Univesity of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil) *Antonio Roque *(University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil) Speakers: *Chris De Zeeuw* (Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands & Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) *Freek Hoebeek* (Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands) *Reinoud Maex* (École Normale Supérieure, Paris, France) *Ricardo Leão *(University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil) *Thiago Matos Pinto *(University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil) Abstracts: *Submission of abstracts for poster and oral presentations are due by May 16, 2014*. We welcome both experimental and theoretical contributions addressing novel findings on topics related to synaptic plasticity. Please see iwsyp14.thiagomatospinto.com/abstracts for details. Important dates: *Abstract submission deadline: May 16, 2014* Notification of acceptance: June 13, 2014 Notification of oral/poster selection: June 30, 2014 Workshop dates: September 8-9, 2014 Please visit the IWSYP'14 website for program and further details: iwsyp14. thiagomatospinto.com You will also find us on Facebook at facebook.com/iwsyp14 We look forward to seeing you in Ribeirão Preto. With best wishes, Thiago Matos Pinto, IWSYP'14 Organizer

May 8, 2014

KOGWIS 2014 Deadline Extension

by Anna Belardinelli

KogWis 2014 – Deadline Extension until May 16. ================ DEADLINE EXTENSION ================ * KOGWIS 2014 * 12th Biannual Conference of the * German COGNITIVE SCIENCE Society * Tübingen, 29th of September - 2nd of October 2014 * Extended deadline: 16 May 2014 ====================================================== Due to numerous requests, KogWis 2014 extends its deadline until May 16. KogWis 2014 invites submissions of extended abstracts on current work in cognitive science. KogWis calls for submissions in extended abstract format. Abstracts can be up to 2 pages (poster contribution) or up to 4 pages (oral contribution) in length. Also work in progress reports in the form of poster or oral contributions are welcome. Note also that Best Paper, Best Poster, and Best Student Paper prices can be won. All accepted contributions will be peer reviewed and published in the form of a *Supplement KogWis 2014* in the journal *Cognitive Processing* (Springer Verlag). Note: The publication will not have an individual DOI but will be highly visible due to free access to GK members and the general visibility of the journal. Authors of accepted contributions will have to sign Springer’s copyright transfer statement (http://static.springer.com/sgw/documents/1384288/application/pdf/62482_CTS+…) but they are definitely allowed to extend their work and results and submit them in other form elsewhere. For more information, please visit * http://www.ccs.uni-tuebingen.de/kogwis14 * The Organizing Committee: General chair: Martin V. Butz Local organizers: Anna Belardinelli, Elisabeth Hein and Jan Kneissler

May 7, 2014

[meetings] Intl Conf. on Artificial Neural Networks (ICANN 2014) - Call for Participation

by Stefan Wermter

Call for Participation. Early Registration is now open. ICANN 2014: 24th Annual Conference on Artificial Neural Networks 15 - 19 September 2014, University of Hamburg, Germany http://icann2014.org/ =================================================================== The International Conference on Artificial Neural Networks (ICANN) is the annual flagship conference of the European Neural Network Society (ENNS). In 2014 the University of Hamburg will organize the 24th ICANN Conference from 15th to 19th September 2014 in Hamburg, Germany. CHAIRS and ORGANISATION: General Chair: Stefan Wermter (Hamburg, Germany) Program co-Chairs Alessandro E.P. Villa (Lausanne, Switzerland, ENNS President) Wlodzislaw Duch (Torun, Poland & Singapore, ENNS Past-President) Petia Koprinkova-Hristova (Sofia, Bulgaria) Günther Palm (Ulm, Germany) Cornelius Weber (Hamburg, Germany) Timo Honkela (Helsinki, Finland) Local Organizing Committee Chairs: Sven Magg, Johannes Bauer, Jorge Chacon, Stefan Heinrich, Doreen Jirak, Katja Koesters, Erik Strahl KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: Christopher M. Bishop (Microsoft Research, Cambridge, UK) Yann LeCun (New York University, NY, USA) Kevin Gurney (University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK) Barbara Hammer (Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany) Jun Tani (KAIST, Daejeon, Republic of Korea) Paul Verschure (Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain) VENUE: Hamburg is the second-largest city in Germany, home to over 1.8 million people. Situated at the river Elbe, the port of Hamburg is the second-largest port in Europe. The University of Hamburg is the largest institution for research and education in the north of Germany. The venue of the conference is the ESA building of the University of Hamburg, situated at Edmund-Siemers-Allee near the city centre and easily reachable from Dammtor Railway Station. Hamburg Airport can be reached easily via public transport. For the accomodation we arranged guaranteed rates for a couple of hotels in Hamburg for ICANN 2014. CONFERENCE TOPICS: ICANN 2014 will feature the main tracks Brain Inspired Computing and Machine Learning research, with strong cross-disciplinary interactions and applications. All research fields dealing with Neural Networks will be present at the conference. A non-exhaustive list of topics includes: Brain Inspired Computing: Cognitive models, Computational Neuroscience, Self-organization, Reinforcement Learning, Neural Control and Planning, Hybrid Neural-Symbolic Architectures, Neural Dynamics, Recurrent Networks, Deep Learning. Machine Learning: Neural Network Theory, Neural Network Models, Graphical Models, Bayesian Networks, Kernel Methods, Generative Models, Information Theoretic Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Relational Learning, Dynamical Models. Neural Applications for: Intelligent Robotics, Neurorobotics, Language Processing, Image Processing, Sensor Fusion, Pattern Recognition, Data Mining, Neural Agents, Brain-Computer Interaction, Neural Hardware, Evolutionary Neural Networks. CONFERENCE WEBSITE: http://www.icann2014.org *********************************************** Professor Dr. Stefan Wermter Chair of Knowledge Technology Department of Computer Science University of Hamburg Vogt Koelln Str. 30 22527 Hamburg, Germany http://www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/~wermter/ http://www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/WTM/ ***********************************************

May 7, 2014

PhD studentships in computational neuroscience and machine learning

by Steuber, Volker

Applications are invited for PhD studentships in the Biocomputation Research Group at the Science and Technology Research Institute at the University of Hertfordshire. PhD projects involve the development of computer simulations of neurons and neuronal networks to study information processing in the brain, and/or the application of machine learning techniques to analyse electrophysiological data. More details about our research and a list of potential projects can be found on our homepage (http://homepages.herts.ac.uk/~comqvs/research.html) Applicants should have good computational and numerical skills and an excellent first degree in computer science, biology, maths, physics, neuroscience, or a related discipline. Previous experience in neuroscience is not required but would be an advantage. Successful candidates are eligible for a research studentship award from the University (approximately GBP 13,800 per annum bursary plus the payment of the standard UK student fees). Applicants from outside the UK or EU are eligible, but will have to pay half of the overseas fees out of their bursary. Research in Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire has been recognized as excellent by the latest Research Assessment Exercise, with 55% of the research submitted being rated as world leading or internationally excellent. The Science and Technology Research Institute provides a very stimulating environment, offering a large number of specialized and interdisciplinary seminars as well as general training opportunities. The University of Hertfordshire is situated in Hatfield, in the green belt just north of London. Please contact Dr Volker Steuber (v.steuber @ herts.ac.uk) for informal enquiries. Application forms can be obtained from Mrs Lorraine Nicholls, Research Student Administrator, STRI, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, Hatfield, Herts, AL10 9AB, Tel: 01707 286083, l.nicholls @ herts.ac.uk. The short-listing process will begin on 9 June 2014.

May 7, 2014

Special Issue of the Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience on Stochastic Network Models in Neuroscience

by Olivier Faugeras

Dear all, The Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience is pleased to announce a special issue on *Stochastic Network Models in Neuroscience*. This is in conjunction with the workshop Stochastic Network Models of Neocortex (a Festschrift for Jack Cowan) to be held in Banff International Research Station, July 13-18 2014: https://www.birs.ca/events/2014/5-day-workshops/14w5138 Research and review articles are sollicited and should be submitted to the Journal before September 30. More information on the call can be found on the JMN webpage: http://www.mathematical-neuroscience.com/ or directly at: http://www.mathematical-neuroscience.com/sites/10207/pdf/Cowan_JMN_v3.pdf Olivier Faugeras --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Olivier Faugeras : Professor : Equipe INRIA NeuroMathComp Team : co-editor in chief, Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience : http://www-sop.inria.fr/members/Olivier.Faugeras/index.en.html : Email: olivier.faugeras(a)inria.fr : Tel: +334 92 38 78 31 : Sec: +334 92 38 78 30 : ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

May 7, 2014

Multiple scientist (post-doc) and research engineer positions available

by Cheston Tan

Dear colleagues, Multiple scientist and research engineer positions are available immediately in Singapore, at the Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R). The positions are part of a large multidisciplinary grant involving MIT (Prof. Tomaso Poggio) and multiple universities and research institutions in Singapore (SBIC/CIRC, Duke-NUS Medical School, NUS/NUH, NTU, SINAPSE). Successful candidates will work closely with a strong, multidisciplinary team at I2R and Prof. Poggio to investigate, model and implement visual recognition and memory algorithms for wearable systems (e.g. Google Glass). International collaborators include Prof. Gabriel Kreiman (Harvard Medical School) and Dr. Demis Hassabis (Google/DeepMind). Candidates must have a PhD (for scientists) or MS/BS (for engineers) in computer science, engineering, psychology, neuroscience or related fields. Strong programming and quantitative skills are highly desired. Candidates should be proficient in spoken and written English. The appointments will be for up to 3 years, with internationally-competitive salaries and benefits. Other benefits include: - Funding for international conferences and training courses - Collaboration opportunities with an excellent network of international scientists - Opportunities for attachments at MIT and the Center for Brains, Minds and Machines (http://cbmm.mit.edu/) Candidates please send your curriculum vitae, a statement of research interests and three references to Dr. Cheston Tan (cheston(a)mit.edu) and Dr. Vijay Chandrasekhar (vijay(a)i2r.a-star.edu.sg) More information: - Dr. Cheston Tan: http://www.mit.edu/~cheston/CVshort.pdf - Dr. Vijay Chandrasekhar: http://scholar.google.com.sg/citations?user=KUt4JCAAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao - Dr. Lim Joo-Hwee: http://www.i2r.a-star.edu.sg/profile/dr-lim-joo-hwee - Institute for Infocomm Research: http://www.i2r.a-star.edu.sg/ - Working in Singapore: http://www.contactsingapore.sg/professionals/why_singapore/

May 7, 2014

CNS'14 Workshop on large-scale brain structure and dynamics

by Jorge Mejias

Dear colleagues, Please see the information below about an upcoming workshop in large-scale brain modeling. Bests, Jorge *** Workshop on large-scale brain structure and dynamics *** CNS'14 workshop, Quebec City, Canada Workshop date: Thursday, July 31st 2014 Organizers: Jorge F. Mejias and Xiao-Jing Wang Tackling core Neuroscience problems such as memory, perception or attention has been possible, up to now, by focusing on small brain areas where simplified dynamics and connectivity patterns could be assumed, or by using full brain imaging techniques which provide little information about the dynamics of local microcircuits. With the development of novel imaging and neuroanatomical techniques in the recent years, a more systematic study of the brain at a full-size scale is getting close to reality. However, our current understanding of the dynamics of large-scale brain networks, constituted by a complex composite of different neural micro- and mesocircuits, is very limited and requires a significant theoretical and computational effort. In this one-day workshop, recent theoretical and experimental advances on the structure and dynamics of large-scale neural circuits will be presented. Our main goal will be to foster interactions between experimental, computational and theoretical neuroscientists interested in the brain as a large-scale networked system. Confirmed speakers: - Chris Eliasmith (U. Waterloo) - Henry Kennedy (INSERM, Lyon) - Stefan Mihalas (Allen Institute, Seattle) - Randy McIntosh (Baycrest Center, Toronto) - Adrian Ponce (UPF, Barcelona) - Rishidev Chaudhuri (CNS, NYU) - Francis Song (CNS, NYU) One or two slots might be available for researchers who would like to present their work. Please contact the organizers if interested. More information at: https://sites.google.com/site/cns14largescale/ -- Jorge F. Mejias, PhD Postdoctoral Associate Center for Neural Science New York University, 10012 NY www.ugr.es/~jmejias

May 6, 2014

Fwd: Submit your abstract now for the IPEG-Meeting 2014

by Martijn Arns

Dear colleagues, I would like to share the below announcement re. the upcoming IPEG meetin in Leipzig and the call for abstracts. Kind regards, Martijn Arns, PhD Director Research Institute Brainclinics Researcher Utrecht University, Dept. of Experimental Psychology Twitter: @Brainclinics Bijleveldsingel 34 6524 AD Nijmegen The Netherlands Tel: +31(0)24-7503505 GSM: +31 (0)6-48177919 Fax: +31(0)24-8901447 E-mail: martijn(a)brainclinics.com<mailto:martijn@brainclinics.com> URL: www.brainclinics.com<http://www.brainclinics.com/> [http://gallery.mailchimp.com/0d61bb2ec9002f0e9872b8c36/images/header_top.png] [https://gallery.mailchimp.com/6c19f6fe4835a13ca14644c8b/images/IPEG_LOGO.JPG] Reminder: CALL for Abstracts and Registration<http://ipeg-society.us8.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=6c19f6fe4835a13ca146…> [http://gallery.mailchimp.com/0d61bb2ec9002f0e9872b8c36/images/content_borde…] [http://gallery.mailchimp.com/0d61bb2ec9002f0e9872b8c36/images/title_line_le…] Bienal Meeting IPEG-Society<http://ipeg-society.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c19f6fe4835a13ca1464…> [http://gallery.mailchimp.com/0d61bb2ec9002f0e9872b8c36/images/title_line_ri…] SEPTEMBER 25-28th, 2014; Leipzig, Germany [http://gallery.mailchimp.com/0d61bb2ec9002f0e9872b8c36/images/content_borde…] [http://gallery.mailchimp.com/6c19f6fe4835a13ca14644c8b/images/fbd0d5cd-37f2…] There are only about four weeks left for submission of your abstract! Deadline 1st June 2014 The IPEG-meeting 2014 in Leipzig, Germany will have outstanding keynote speeches: Scott Makeig (USA): EEG and measures of arousal Hartmuth Schulz (Germany): Sleep EEG Christoph Mulert (Germany): simultaneous EEG and fMRI in neuropsychiatric disorders Leslie S. Prichep (USA): qEEG in neuropsychiaric disorders Clifford B. Saper (USA): neurophysiology of sleep-wake regulation Gerard Bruder (USA): EMBARC study on biological biomarkers in major depression Therefore it is a pleasure for me to welcome all EEG-enthusiasts, neuropsychiatrists and neuroscientists to the IPEG-Meeting 2014 in Leipzig. It would be a pleasure for us to receive an abstract about your latest EEG, pharmaco-EEG and brain stimulation research and related fields to enrich the program of the meeting and share your findings with colleagues around the world. Prof. Hegerl, Scientific Head of the Conference and Director of the Clinic and Policlinic for Psychiatry and PSychotherapy, University Leipzig IPEG Board and Conference-Organization Group [http://gallery.mailchimp.com/0d61bb2ec9002f0e9872b8c36/images/content_divid…] REGISTER NOW<http://ipeg-society.us8.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=6c19f6fe4835a13ca146…> [http://gallery.mailchimp.com/0d61bb2ec9002f0e9872b8c36/images/icon_twitter.…] TWITTER<http://ipeg-society.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c19f6fe4835a13ca1464…> [http://gallery.mailchimp.com/0d61bb2ec9002f0e9872b8c36/images/icon_facebook…]

May 6, 2014

NEURAL COMPUTATION - June, 2014

by Terry Sejnowski

Neural Computation - Contents -- Volume 26, Number 6 - June 1, 2014 Available online for download now: http://www.mitpressjournals.org/toc/neco/26/6 ----- Article A Causal Perspective on the Analysis of Signal and Noise Correlations and Their Role in Population Coding Daniel Chicharro Letters Towards Unified Hybrid Simulation Techniques for Spiking Neural Networks Michiel D'Haene, Michiel Hermans, and Benjamin Schrauwen Neural Decoding With Kernel-based Metric Learning Austin J. Brockmeier, John S. Choi, Evan G. Kriminger, Joseph T. Francis, and Jose C. Principe Adaptive Multiclass Classification for Brain Computer Interfaces Alberto Llera, Vicenc Gomez, and Hilbert J. Kappen On Non-negative Matrix Factorization Algorithms for Signal-dependent Noise With Application to Electromyography Data Karthik Devarajan, Vincent C.K. Cheung Direct Learning of Sparse Changes in Markov Networks by Density Ratio Estimation Song Liu, John A. Quinn, Michael U. Gutmann, Taiji Suzuki, and Masashi Sugiyama Short Term Memory Capacity in Networks via the Restricted Isometry Property Adam Charles, Han Lun Yap, and Chris Rozell ------------ ON-LINE -- http://www.mitpressjournals.org/neuralcomp SUBSCRIPTIONS - 2014 - VOLUME 26 - 12 ISSUES USA Others Electronic Only Student/Retired $70 $193 $65 Individual $124 $187 $115 Institution $1,035 $1,098 $926 Canada: Add 5% GST MIT Press Journals, 238 Main Street, Suite 500, Cambridge, MA 02142-9902 Tel: (617) 253-2889 FAX: (617) 577-1545 journals-orders(a)mit.edu ------------

May 6, 2014

Reminder: CfP - Special issue on Multimodal Interfaces

by Yves Rybarczyk

*EAI Transactions on Creative Technologies * *Special issue on Multimodal Interfaces **for** Natural Interactions * *Call* *for* *Papers* *Main submission deadline*: May 25th, 2014 *AIMS AND SCOPE * Creativity and user interfaces become an application field of cutting edge technologies like human behavior tracking and understanding, social signal processing, artificial intelligence systems or embodied agents. EAI Transactions on Creative Technologies aims in providing a forge between science, technology and human factors on one side, and creative industries on the other side naturally leading to the theme of this special issue: “where technology gets closer to the human being”. This special issue aims to encourage and publish research about the challenges and new trends associated with applying multimodal interactions and natural user interfaces to education, entertainment and assistive technologies in a creative way or to foster human creativity. The publications can be either long or short papers ( http://eai.eu/transaction/creative-technologies) related to the three main applications domains listed below: *APPLICATION DOMAINS * *Human factor perspective * - Telepresence, immersion feeling and body ownership - Human-machine cooperation in teleoperation and telerobotics - Usability and ergonomic systems - User experience - Human performance in virtual and augmented reality - Intuitive interfaces and personalized systems in real and virtual environments - Involvement of original sensorial modalities in HCI (e.g. proprioception, touch, smell, ...) - Human behavior analysis for media personalization and motivation/emotions discovery (head/eye/face/body tracking) - Multimodality for biometric interfaces *Technologies **for** gaming and entertainment * - Creative interfaces for games and serious games - One or a set of robots interaction with human players - Augmented instruments and new digital instruments - Real-time audio/voice/singing/laughter synthesis - Real-time MoCap mapping and interpretation - Sensors for artistic performances - Live interaction with intelligent robots - Stylistic movement synthesis and human behavior mapping on virtual Characters - Real-time HQ data processing - Linked TV and web media - Mobile movement/localization and multimedia data visualization and browsing - Adaptive and intelligent projections on buildings or inside buildings (e.g., walls, objects, ...) *Assistive and educative technologies * - Augmentative and alternative communication - Ambient assisted living / domotics - Design for all - Interfaces for sensory impairments - Interfaces for motor impairments (e.g., eye-tracking, BCI, ...) - Gestures analysis and recognition for interactive setups - On the use of Natural User Interfaces in education - Multimodal interfaces for improving the learning process - Acquisition of new cognitive and motor skills through NUI - Tangible interfaces *IMPORTANT DATES * - By May 25th, 2014: Submission of manuscripts - By July 25th, 2014: Notification about decisions on initial submissions - By September 25th, 2014: Submission of revised manuscripts - By November 25th, 2014: Notification about decisions on revised manuscripts - By December 25th, 2014: Submission of manuscripts with final minor changes and electronic publication on the EAI Transactions website early 2015. *GUEST EDITORS * The invited editors of this special issue of the EAI Transactions on Creative Technologies on Multimodal Interfaces for Natural Interactions are: - Yves Rybarczyk - Tiago Cardoso - João Rosas from the New University of Lisbon (FCT/UNL), Portugal *HOW TO SUBMIT * Please see the instructions for authors on the EAI Transactions website (http://eai.eu/transaction/creative-technologies) ABOUT EAI Transactions on Creative Technologies The EAI Transactions on Creative Technologies provide fast review and online publication process. The papers are both freely visible by any person (open access) and free for the paper authors. -- Prof. Yves Rybarczyk Departamento de Engenharia Electrotécnica Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia Universidade Nova de Lisboa Campus da Caparica 2829-516 Caparica PORTUGAL Tel: +351 917691175 Email: y.rybarczyk(a)fct.unl.pt<https://webmail.fct.unl.pt/src/compose.php?send_to=y.rybarczyk%40fct.unl.pt> Site: http://docentes.fct.unl.pt/y-rybarczyk/

May 5, 2014

Vision Research Special Issue on Quantitative Approaches in Gestalt Perception

by Frank Jäkel

Vision Research Special Issue on Quantitative Approaches in Gestalt Perception Call for papers: Quantitative Approaches in Gestalt Perception Submissions are invited for a special issue of Vision Research on Quantitative Approaches in Gestalt Perception. Gestalt Perception has been the topic of research for more than 100 years since Wertheimer’s seminal publication in 1912. Recently, quantitative approaches to study Gestalt phenomena helped to specify and clarify some of the early Gestalt notions, generating testable quantitative predictions lacking from much of the original Gestalt writings. This special issue aims to bring together the many diverse quantitative approaches to the study of Gestalt Perception. Contributions are sought from visual psychophysics, computer vision, cognitive psychology, the cognitive neurosciences, computational neuroscience as well as machine learning and theory. Papers are invited on all aspects of Gestalt Perception; given the aim of this Special Issue we have a preference for quantitative approaches, but may exceptionally consider purely experimental work as well as historical treatments and reviews if they specifically provide groundwork for future formal developments. Examples of specific topics include (but are not limited to): - Attention and Top-Down Effects on Gestalt Perception - Configural Superiority - Environmental and Image Statistics and Gestalts - Figure-Ground Segmentation - History and Review of Gestalt Perception - Learning and Development of Gestalt Perception - Models of Gestalt Phenomena - Neuronal Basis of Gestalt Effects - Object Formation - Object Recognition and Gestalt - Perceptual Grouping - Perceptual Organization of Motion, Form or Scenes - Shape Perception - Structural Representations The call for this Special Issue will appear on the Vision Research WWW-site by the end of May 2014. The deadline for submissions is the 30th of September 2014, and the publication of the Special Issue is planned for the end of May 2015. The Special Issue will be edited by Michael Herzog, Frank Jäkel, Manish Singh and Felix Wichmann. Should you have any questions feel free to contact the managing guest editor Frank Jäkel (fjaekel(a)uos.de) or one of the other guest editors.

May 5, 2014

Special Issue on Computational Neuroscience: May 2014 issue of Proceedings of the IEEE

by Mark McDonnell

Dear Colleagues, I invite you to browse the May 2014 issue of Proceedings of the IEEE on "Engineering Intelligent Electronic Systems Based on Computational Neuroscience", edited by M. D. McDonnell, K. Boahen, A. Ijspeert, and T. J. Sejnowski. An editorial overview is at http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=6807551 Individual papers can be downloaded from http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/tocresult.jsp?isnumber=6807530 (you need to have access to a subscription). For more information on Proceedings of the IEEE, see http://www.ieee.org/publications_standards/publications/proceedings/proceed… Papers in the special issue: • The SpiNNaker Project, Furber, S.B. ; Galluppi, F. ; Temple, S. ; Plana, L.A. • Information Systems Opportunities in Brain–Machine Interface Decoders, Kao, J.C. ; Stavisky, S.D. ; Sussillo, D. ; Nuyujukian, P. ; Shenoy, K.V. • Dynamic and Succinct Statistical Analysis of Neuroscience Data, Kim, S. ; Quinn, C.J. ; Kiyavash, N. ; Coleman, T.P. • Neurogrid: A Mixed-Analog-Digital Multichip System for Large-Scale Neural Simulations; Benjamin, B.V. ; Gao, P. ; McQuinn, E. ; Choudhary, S. ; Chandrasekaran, A.R. ; Bussat, J. ; Alvarez-Icaza, R. ; Arthur, J.V. ; Merolla, P.A. ; Boahen, K. • Spike-Based Synaptic Plasticity in Silicon: Design, Implementation, Application, and Challenges; Rahimi Azghadi, M. ; Iannella, N. ; Al-Sarawi, S.F. ; Indiveri, G. ; Abbott, D. • Power Consumption During Neuronal Computation; Sengupta, B. ; Stemmler, M.B. • Small Brains, Smart Machines: From Fly Vision to Robot Vision and Back Again; Franceschini, N. • An Augmented Two-Layer Model Captures Nonlinear Analog Spatial Integration Effects in Pyramidal Neuron Dendrites; Jadi, M.P. ; Behabadi, B.F. ; Poleg-Polsky, A. ; Schiller, J. ; Mel, B.W. • Prospective Optimization; Sejnowski, T.J. ; Poizner, H. ; Lynch, G. ; Gepshtein, S. ; Greenspan, R.J. • Stereo, Shading, and Surfaces: Curvature Constraints Couple Neural Computations; Zucker, S.W. • Regulating Cortical Oscillations in an Inhibition-Stabilized Network; Jadi, M.P. ; Sejnowski, T.J. • Stochastic Electronics: A Neuro-Inspired Design Paradigm for Integrated Circuits; Hamilton, T.J. ; Afshar, S. ; van Schaik, A. ; Tapson, J. • Noise as a Resource for Computation and Learning in Networks of Spiking Neurons; Maass, W. • Large-Scale Synthesis of Functional Spiking Neural Circuits; Stewart, T.C. ; Eliasmith, C. • Evolved Machines Shed Light on Robustness and Resilience; Bongard, J. ; Lipson, H. Regards Mark McDonnell (on behalf of Guest_Editors, M. D. McDonnell, K. Boahen, A. Ijspeert, and T. J. Sejnowski)

May 5, 2014

deadline extended for the Neurobiology of Cognition GRC/GRS!

by Lucia Melloni

Dear colleagues, The deadline for application and abstract submission for the Gordon Research Seminar has been extended to the *15th of May*. Please submit your application and abstract soon!. We are very much looking forward to receiving your contributions and to a vibrant seminar. We have also added a mentorship component which promises to provide us with important tips for a successful transition from postdoc to PI. Looking forward to seeing you at the GRS/GRC! Lucia Melloni. Ayelet N. Landau > > > [image: Gordon Research Conferences] > > > Join us at the 2014 *Gordon Conference* and *Seminar* On > > *Neurobiology of Cognition*<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001WmUIQVsC75imVB3bWl9ZZPIlEuZLUMcBQfSHB8NCzlGR…> > > Circuits, Dynamics, Action and Perception > > We are meeting *July 20-25, 2014 -*New GRC site: *Sunday River Resort*<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001WmUIQVsC75imVB3bWl9ZZPIlEuZLUMcBQfSHB8NCzlGR…> > Newry, Maine > > Click *here*<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001WmUIQVsC75imVB3bWl9ZZPIlEuZLUMcBQfSHB8NCzlGR…>to see the > *GRC* program. > > There is also an associated *GRS* *July 19-20 *for students and postdocs > > Click *here*<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001WmUIQVsC75imVB3bWl9ZZPIlEuZLUMcBQfSHB8NCzlGR…>to see the > *GRS* website. > > *GRS* application & abstract deadline to be considered for oral > presentation - *May 15* > > *Please use attached **flyer > <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001WmUIQVsC75imVB3bWl9ZZPIlEuZLUMcBQfSHB8NCzlGR…> > **to help spread the word! * > > > > The Neurobiology of Cognition is a recently-inaugurated GRC designed to > foster convergence of traditional neuroscience investigations with more > recent developments in systems, cellular and molecular neurobiology, in > engineering and imaging and in computational sciences. Cognition is > construed broadly to embrace empirical findings in a range of species > including humans, and there is a strong focus on integration of findings > and principles across species and levels of analysis. > > In the opening Keynote Session, two leading neuroscientists with provide > an experimental and computational perspective on the recent initiative, > termed Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies > (BRAIN). This initiative, spearheaded by the President and NIH, is aimed at > developing innovative methodologies to study how complex systems of neurons > interact in time and in space during complex behaviors. Along with recent > findings in a few traditional "core" areas, formal sessions will then > explore several new themes, including: 1) the neuroanatomy and 2) > coordination of cognitive circuits in the brain, 3) motor cognition and > brain-computer interfaces, 4) music and language, and 5) learning and > plasticity. The program juxtaposes human psychophysical, neuroimaging and > electrophysiological studies with parallel investigations in rodents and > non-human primates, and with computational approaches that explicate > empirical findings and construct robust, detailed models to represent the > developing picture and guide future experimentation. The program also > underscores novel experimental and theoretical approaches that promise to > define fundamental principles that guide and integrate the understanding of > cognition at a fundamental level, and to extend these to improved treatment > of brain dysfunction. The format of the meeting promotes intensive > interactions among investigators and trainees from different perspectives > and analytic levels, and in particular, between experimentalists and > theorists. There is a linked Gordon Research Seminar for trainees, most of > whom also attend the GRC. > > > > All that is missing now is your *application* to attend. > > Click *here*<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001WmUIQVsC75imVB3bWl9ZZPIlEuZLUMcBQfSHB8NCzlGR…>for the > *GRC*. Click* here*<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001WmUIQVsC75imVB3bWl9ZZPIlEuZLUMcBQfSHB8NCzlGR…>for the > *GRS*. (You must apply to both to attend both.) > > Best regards, > > GRC Chair: *Charles E. Schroeder*<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001WmUIQVsC75imVB3bWl9ZZPIlEuZLUMcBQfSHB8NCzlGR…> > GRC V. Chair:*Tatiana Pasternak*<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001WmUIQVsC75imVB3bWl9ZZPIlEuZLUMcBQfSHB8NCzlGR…> > > GRS Chair: *Lucia Melloni*<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001WmUIQVsC75imVB3bWl9ZZPIlEuZLUMcBQfSHB8NCzlGR…> > GRS Assoc. Chair: *Ayelet N. Landau*<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001WmUIQVsC75imVB3bWl9ZZPIlEuZLUMcBQfSHB8NCzlGR…> > > > > *Apply*<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001WmUIQVsC75imVB3bWl9ZZPIlEuZLUMcBQfSHB8NCzlGR…> now > and see why our attendees consistently rate GRCs > > "the best conference I've attended this year"! > > [image: Like us on Facebook]<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001WmUIQVsC75imVB3bWl9ZZPIlEuZLUMcBQfSHB8NCzlGR…> > [image: Follow us on Twitter]<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001WmUIQVsC75imVB3bWl9ZZPIlEuZLUMcBQfSHB8NCzlGR…> > [image: View our profile on LinkedIn]<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001WmUIQVsC75imVB3bWl9ZZPIlEuZLUMcBQfSHB8NCzlGR…> > > > > *Forward this email > <http://ui.constantcontact.com/sa/fwtf.jsp?llr=8zdsldnab&m=1113583062843&ea=…>* > > > <http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=un&m=001yZEdZuQ8HYK105RSD5eD0w%3D%3…> > > <http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?pn=&cc=> > > This email was sent to htobin(a)grc.org by announcements(a)grc.org | > > Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe<http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=un&m=001yZEdZuQ8HYK105RSD5eD0w%3D%3…>™ > | Privacy Policy<http://ui.constantcontact.com/roving/CCPrivacyPolicy.jsp> > . > > Gordon Research Conferences | 512 Liberty Lane | West Kingston | RI | > 02892 > > > > Follow GRC: Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/GordonResearchConferences/>| > Twitter <https://twitter.com/GordonConf/> > Call > Send SMS > Add to Skype > You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype > > > > > > >

May 4, 2014

Assistant Professor Job in BioRobotics; Odense, Denmark

by John Hallam

Application deadline: 1st June 2014 The Center for BioRobotics at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) in Odense seeks to recruit two new assistant professors. These posts are for 3 years in the first instance. The scientific goal of the Centre for BioRobotics is to tackle questions arising from the acoustic behaviours of animals which cannot be addressed completely by biology or technology alone while also exploring applications of insights from biology in the robotics and technological domain and vice versa. Practically, the intention is to strengthen existing synergy and use it to create new opportunities for seeking external funding. The first position is based in the Maersk Institute (Faculty of Engineering) and is intended for a technically-educated person who has experience in biorobotics, biomimetics or modelling biological systems using engineering tools. Further details of the position can be found via this[1] direct link. A complementary position in the Biology Department at SDU (Faculty of Science) is being advertised, for which information can be found here[2]. This position is intended for a person educated in biology who has experience with technically-based methods for modelling and replicating biological systems. If you need further information beyond that in the linked page, contact John Hallam <john(a)mmmi.sdu.dk> in the first instance. [1] https://ssl1.peoplexs.com/Peoplexs22/CandidatesPortalNoLogin/Vacancy.cfm?Po… [2] https://ssl1.peoplexs.com/Peoplexs22/CandidatesPortalNoLogin/Vacancy.cfm?Po…

May 4, 2014

Extended dealine - call for papers - 2014 IEEE International Workshop on Machine Learning for Signal Processing (MLSP)

by 2014 IEEE International Workshop on Machine Learning fo Signal Processing

The deadline for full paper submission has been extended to May 16, 2014. Call for papers: - Submission of full paper: May 16, 2014 - Notification of acceptance: June 27, 2014 2014 IEEE International Workshop on Machine Learning for Signal Processing (MLSP) September 21-24, 2014 Reims, France http://mlsp2014.conwiz.dk CALL FOR PAPERS The 24th MLSP workshop in the series of workshops organized by the IEEE Signal Processing Society MLSP Technical Committee will present the most recent and exciting advances in machine learning for signal processing through keynote talks, tutorials as well as special and regular single-track sessions. Prospective authors are invited to submit papers on relevant algorithms and applications including, but not limited to: - Learning theory and techniques - Graphical models and kernel methods - Data-driven adaptive systems and models - Pattern recognition and classification - Distributed, Bayesian, subspace/manifold and sparsity-aware learning - Multiset data analysis and multimodal data fusion - Perceptual signal processing in audio, image and video - Cognitive information processing - Multichannel adaptive and nonlinear signal processing - Applications, including: speech and audio, image and video, music, biomedical signals and images; communications; bioinformatics; biometrics, computational intelligence, genomic signals and sequences; social networks; games, and smart grid. DATA ANALYSIS AND SIGNAL PROCESSING COMPETITION Data Analysis and Signal Processing Competition is being organized in conjunction with the workshop. The goal of the competition is to advance the current state-of-the-art in theoretical and practical aspects of signal processing domains. The problems are selected to reflect current trends, evaluate existing approaches on common benchmarks, and identify critical new areas of research. Winners will be announced and awards given at the workshop. BEST STUDENT AWARD The MLSP Best Student Paper Award will be granted to the best overall paper for which a student is the principal author and presenter. This author must be a registered student at the time of paper submission to be eligible for this award. The award will be presented during the conference and consists of a honorarium (to be divided equally between all student authors of the paper), and a certificate for each such author. The award will be selected by a subcommittee of the program committee. The selection is based on the quality, originality, and clarity of the submission. PAPER SUBMISSION Prospective authors are invited to submit a double column paper of up to six pages using the electronic submission procedure at http://mlsp2014.conwiz.dk/paper_submission.htm Accepted papers will be published on memory sticks to be distributed at the workshop. The presented papers will be published in and indexed by IEEE Xplore. SCHEDULE: - Submission of full paper: May 5, 2014 - Notification of acceptance: June 27, 2014 - Advance registration before: July 25, 2014 - Camera-ready paper: July 25, 2014 ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: General Chair Mamadou Mboup Contact general chair at mlsp2014-chair(a)conwiz.dk Program Chairs Tülay Adali Eric Moreau Contact program chairs at mlsp2014-programchairs(a)conwiz.dk Data Competition Chair Vince Calhoun Special Session Chair Jean-Yves Tourneret Publicity Chair Marc Van Hulle Web and Publication Chair Jan Larsen Kevin Guelton Local Arrangement Chairs Valeriu Vrabie Hassan Fenniri

May 4, 2014

MSc. SCHOLARSHIP AT JAUME I UNIVERSITY, SPAIN

by Enric Cervera Mateu

MSc. SCHOLARSHIP AT JAUME I UNIVERSITY,SPAIN The purpose of this announcement is to grant one scholarship for the training of research personnel at UJI Robotic Intelligence Laboratory, Universitat Jaume I, Castellon, Spain, an internationally renowned research center. The goal of this scholarship is to train qualified personnel for R&D tasks, and is aimed at university degree holders from non-Spanish universities, with a recent degree in science/engineering with outstanding performance, fulfilling requirements for admittance to a master degree. The beneficiary is also expected to join a research team within the framework of an on-going project related to robotic research, working with state-of-the-art equipment such as a humanoid torso with anthropomorphic head and multifinger hands, and/or teams of humanoid robots. http://robinlab.uji.es The research will typically pertain to bio-inspired approaches about learning and multimodal sensorimotor coordination of head, eyes and limbs movements during the planning and execution of manipulation or interaction tasks. After getting acquainted with the computational models and the humanoid torso available at the Lab, the beneficiary is expected to extend it by modeling additional mechanisms and implementing other tasks and capabilities. Coordination between eyes, head, arm and hand movements and multimodal integration will be central from both theoretical and practical viewpoints. In this context, the student will have freedom to pursue his/her own research goals according to his/her background and interests. This scholarship is intended for brilliant young graduates and experience in robotics is desirable but not required. Interest in theoretical neuroscience, mental development, or interdisciplinary bio-inspired research would be a plus. Scholarship period The period of validity covered by the scholarships is two years or until defending one’s doctoral thesis, should this be earlier. If, in the period of one month before the end of the scholarship, the beneficiary applicant has obtained the university master’s degree, or has been admitted to a doctorate programme in research phases, he/she may apply for an extension of an additional scholarship up to 12 months, with a view to prolonging his/her research period. The beneficiary applicant may take a master’s degree during this period, namely the "Master on Intelligent Systems. Service Robotics" at the UJI Department of Engineering and Computer Science. http://www.uji.es/UK/infoest/estudis/postgrau/oficial/sistemint.html Scholarship stipend 1. Scholarships’ stipend will be €1,200 monthly (gross). The corresponding IRPF (income tax) will be deducted from this amount. 2. The scholarship also includes an additional stipend of: a) €1,600 to cover costs of travel and settling in Castellon, during the first year of the scholarship. b) €1,200 per year, where applicable, for registration fees for university master’s during the first two years of the scholarship. 3. UJI shall take out an accident insurance and public liability insurance, plus health insurance with coverage for the whole period of the scholarship, if applicants are citizens of countries that have no arrangements with the Spanish Social Security or if insurance coverage of such arrangements were not sufficient. Requirements of beneficiary These scholarships are open to persons fulfilling the following requirements within the period of submission of applications: a) An Engineering or Science degree from a non-Spanish university, fulfilling requirements for admittance to a master degree. b) Having obtained the degree after 1 January 2011. c) Knowledge of Spanish or English (with good speaking skills) for the proposed training. d) Not being in possession of a PhD. Applications The scholarship candidate shall submit the following documents NO LATER THAN MAY 16, 2014 24:00 CET (strict) to robinlab(a)uji.es a) Personal data (see below) b) Photocopy of national identity card of your country. Citizens of EU member states should also include a photocopy of NIE (residence permit) in the event of possessing one. c) Photocopy of valid passport, if not a citizen of the EU. Also a photocopy of NIE (residency permit) in the event of possessing one. d) Photocopy of official academic transcript including the name of obtained degree, showing courses taken and grades achieved together with dates, as well as its translation into English or Spanish. e) Photocopy of academic degree or deposit made for the issuance of degree. f) Applicant’s updated résumé. g) Statement of motivation about your research interests h) 2 reference letters i) Supporting documents of knowledge of Spanish or English. Admission Beneficiaries must join the corresponding research body within the scheduled period as provided in the award decision. In the event that he/she does not join within the scheduled period, the scholarship will be canceled, unless the beneficiary has been granted an adjournment period (to be authorized only by the General Director of Scientific Policy) for a maximum period of three months from the date specified in the award decision. Beneficiary may not recover said adjournment period. Temporary suspension of scholarship The voluntary suspension, previously authorized by the General Director of Scientific Policy, shall not exceed 6 months from the whole period of scholarship and during such suspension period no stipend shall be paid. For further information contact: Mail_to: robinlab(a)uji.es UJI Robotic Intelligence Lab http://robinlab.uji.es ****** Personal data (see (a) above) NATIONAL ID / PASSPORT NO. OR EQUIVALENT: SURNAME: NAME: NATIONALITY: DATE OF BIRTH (YYYY/MM/DD): GENDER: ADDRESS FOR NOTIFICATION ADDRESS (STREET / SQUARE): No..: POSTCODE: COUNTRY: PROVINCE: CITY: PHONE : MOBILE PHONE: E-MAIL: SUMMARY OF ACADEMIC RECORD ACADEMIC DEGREE: UNIVERSITY: STUDIES END DATE (YYYY/MM/DD):

May 2, 2014

2 PhD positions at the Institute of Neuroinformatics, Zurich, Switzerland

by Jean-Pascal Pfister

Applications are invited for two PhD student positions at the Institute of Neuroinformatics (ETHZ, UZH) in Zurich. The positions are funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation grant entitled "Inference and Learning with Spiking Neurons". The PhD students will be supervised by Jean-Pascal Pfister in the Theoretical Neuroscience Group. There are several lines of evidence showing that the brain combines unreliable sensory informations in a Bayesian optimal way. The aim of the project is to determine how Bayesian inference and learning can be implemented at the level of neurons and synapses. The Institute of Neuroinformatics in Zurich (which is a joint institute belonging to both the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETHZ) and the University of Zurich) offers an ideal environment for studying Computational Neuroscience due to the presence of multiple theoretical and experimental labs. Candidates should hold a Diplom/Master degree in Physics, Mathematics, Machine learning, Computational Neuroscience or a related field. They should have a strong analytical background and demonstrate interest in theoretical neuroscience. Preference will be given to candidates with good programming skills. The position is offered for a period of three years, starting on the 1st of September 2014 at earliest. Salary scale is provided by the Swiss National Science Foundation (www.snf.ch) Applicants should submit (by email) a CV, a statement of research interests, 2 reference letters, marks obtained for the Diploma/Master, abstract of the Diploma/Master to Jean-Pascal Pfister (pfister(a)pyl.unibe.ch) Deadline for application is 30th of Mai 2014 or until the positions are filled. --------------------------------- Jean-Pascal Pfister, PhD Theoretical Neuroscience Group Physiology Department, University of Bern 5 Bühlplatz, CH-3012 Bern, CH e-mail: pfister(a)pyl.unibe.ch URL: http://www.physio.unibe.ch/~pfister/ tel: ++41 31 631 35 09 From the 1st of September 2014: Institute of Neuroinformatics University of Zurich and ETH Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190 8057 Zurich, Switzerland

May 2, 2014

Workshop and lecture series on "Cognitive neuroscience of auditory and cross-modal perception"

by Norbert Kopco

Workshop and lecture series on "Cognitive neuroscience of auditory and cross-modal perception" 26 - 30 May 2014 (Lectures 26 - 28 May, Consultations 29 - 30 May) Web: http://pcl.upjs.sk/Workshop2014/ Venue: Institute of Computer Science Faculty of Science, P. J. Safarik University Jesenna 5, 040 11 Kosice, Slovakia Organizers: doc. Norbert Kopco, PhD. (norbert.kopco(a)upjs.sk) - scientific program Beata Tomoriova, PhD. (beata.tomoriova(a)upjs.sk) - technical Perception and Cognition Lab Contact: kogneuro(a)gmail.com Objectives: This workshop and lecture series will include introductory lectures and advanced research talks on a range of topics related to the neural processes of auditory, visual and cross-modal perception. The talks will illustrate multidisciplinary character of cognitive neuroscience research, covering behavioral, neuroimaging, and modeling approaches, as well as applications of the research in auditory prosthetic devices. The workshop is aimed at early-stage and advanced students and young researchers, and it will provide ample opportunities for direct interactions between the lecturers and the attendees. Themes: spatial hearing vision and crossmodal perception neural modeling methods in cognitive neuroscience: behavioral experiments, imaging (EEG, fMRI), modeling applications: cochlear implants, hearing aids Format of lectures on 26 - 28 May: 14 one-hour lectures by experts on individual topics (2 lectures per expert) student / attendee session with short 10-min presentations and/or posters by the students small modeling / data analysis assignments prepared by the experts for the students Some of the lecturers will be available for individual consultations by appointment following the lectures on 29 - 30 May 2014 Program: TBA Speakers (and tentative topics): Simon Carlile (University of Sydney) Six degrees of spatial separation - The portal for auditory perception (abstract) The plastic ear: Perceptual relearning and auditory spatial perception (abstract) Pierre Divenyi (Stanford University) Cocktail-party effect deficit in aging: what formant transition processing tells us Phonemic restoration: done by our brain or our tongue? Frederick (Erick) Gallun (US Dept. of Veterans Affairs and Oregon Health & Science University) Impacts of age and hearing loss on spatial release from masking (abstract) Characterizing attentional resources using the auditory dual-task (abstract) Bernhard Laback (Austrian Academy of Sciences) Binaural cues in electric hearing Spectral localization cues in acoustic and electric hearing Aaron Seitz (University of California, Riverside) Cognitive Neuroscience of Perceptual Learning: Specificity and Transfer Cognitive Neuroscience of Perceptual Learning: Mechanisms Guiding Learning Christopher Stecker (Vanderbilt University) Integration of spatial information across multiple cues Neuroimaging of spatial hearing Arash Yazdanbakhsh (Boston University) Neural and computational models of vision: Fundamental problems of vision (abstract) Neural and computational models of vision: Neural models and their implementation in early vision (abstract) Registration: The workshop is open to all interested students/scientists. Registration is free of charge but required (mostly for organizational reasons). In order to register, please send an email to kogneuro(a)gmail.com stating your name and affiliation, dates on which you are planning to attend. In case you would like to have a presentation please send us an abstract (up to 200 words) and an indication whether you prefer poster or oral presentation no later than May 19. Travel, accommodation, visitor information: Attendants are kindly requested to make their own travel and accommodation arrangements. Travel:The Kosice Airport is served by Austrian Airlines and Czech Airlines (via Vienna, Prague, Bratislava) and by low-cost airline Wizzair (London Luton Airport). Alternatively you can fly to Budapest and take a 3.5-hr shuttle bus to Kosice (for example, using the cassoviaexpres shuttle company which also offers shuttle bus from the Krakow airport). More information about how to get to Kosice (also by train or bus) can be found here. Accomodation:There are several hotels close to workshop venue, for example Hotel Yasmin, Hotel Maraton (for more hotel options please see http://www.booking.com, http://www.hotels.com, for hostels see: http://www.hostels.com, http://www.hostelworld.com) Visitor information: Kosice was one of the European Capitals of Culture in 2013, for current events see http://www.visitkosice.eu/ , http://www.mickosice.sk/, http://slovakia.travel/ , or http://www.slovakia.com/ Funding: This workshop / lecture series is organized within the Project implementation: SOFOS – knowledge and skill development of the academic staff and students at the University of Pavol Jozef Safarik in Kosice with emphasis on interdisciplinary competencies and integration into international research centres, ITMS: 26110230088, supported by the Research & Development Operational Programme funded by the ESF. -- doc. Norbert Kopco, Ph.D. Inst of Computer Sci, Faculty of Science, Safarik Univ, Kosice, Slovakia Visiting Scholar: Ctr for Computational Neurosci (CompNet), Boston Uni & Martinos Ctr for Biomed Imaging, Harvard Med School - Mass Gen Hospital Phone: +1 (617) 575 9556 Fax: +1 (484) 727 9884 Email: kopco(a)bu.edu Web: http://cns.bu.edu/~kopco

May 1, 2014

Phd position in the Human Brain Project: Principles of Brain Computation and Learning

by Wolfgang Maass

We are inviting applications for a fully funded Phd position at the Graz University of Technology (Faculty for Computer Science) for research on Principles of Brain Computation and Learning in the Human Brain Project https://www.humanbrainproject.eu/ It is planned to combine this Phd position with a part-time position as University Assistant, thereby providing the first step for a possible university career. Our Lab in Graz focuses currently on the development of new paradigms for probabilistic inference and learning in networks of spiking neurons (either in brain networks, or in neuromorphic hardware). Preceding results on which we will build can be found on http://www.igi.tugraz.at/maass/publications.html Excellent research skills, a genuine interest in answering fundamental open questions about computation and learning in networks of spiking neurons, and the capability to work in an interdisciplinary research team are expected. Applications are especially invited by students who have a strong background in a theoretical area related to machine learning, computational theory or probabilistic models, and who also have substantial experience in programming and computer simulations. Our doctoral program will lead to a Phd in Computer Science. Please send your CV, information about your grades, and a letter describing your scientific interests and goals by May 21 to my assistant Regina Heidinger: regina.heidinger(a)igi.tugraz.at It would be helpful if you could include names and email addresses of referees, and pdf files of your master thesis and/or other publications. -- Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Maass Institut fuer Grundlagen der Informationsverarbeitung Technische Universitaet Graz Inffeldgasse 16b , A-8010 Graz, Austria Tel.: ++43/316/873-5822 Fax ++43/316/873-5805 http://www.igi.tugraz.at/maass/Welcome.html

April 30, 2014

CoSMo 214: extended deadline! - May 5, 2014

by Gunnar Blohm

Due to continues interest, we have decided to extend the application deadline for CoSMo 2014! This is a tremendous opportunity for students and postdocs to get hands-on training in computational neuroscience. *Extended deadline: May 5, 2014* http://www.compneurosci.com/CoSMo/ Best Gunnar Blohm, Konrad Körding, Paul Schrater (organizers) -- ------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Gunnar BLOHM Assistant Professor in Computational Neuroscience Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Departments of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Mathematics & Statistics, and Psychology, School of Computing, and Canadian Action and Perception Network (CAPnet) Queen's University 18, Stuart Street Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7L 3N6 Tel: (613) 533-3385 Fax: (613) 533-6840 Email: Gunnar.Blohm(a)QueensU.ca Web: http://www.compneurosci.com/

April 29, 2014

Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, PhD Programme

by Peter Dayan

Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, University College London 4 year PhD Programme The Gatsby Unit is a centre for theoretical neuroscience and machine learning, focusing on unsupervised, semi-supervised and reinforcement learning, neural dynamics, population coding, Bayesian and nonparametric statistics, kernel methods, and applications of these to the analysis of perceptual processing, neural data, machine vision and bioinformatics. It provides a unique opportunity for a critical mass of theoreticians to interact closely with each other, and with other world-class research groups in related departments at UCL, including the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, with which we will shortly share a building, and Biosciences, Computer Science, Functional Imaging, Physics, Physiology, Psychology, Neurology, Ophthalmology and Statistics, the cross-faculty Centre for Computational Statistics and Machine Learning, and also with other UK and overseas universities. The Unit has openings for exceptional PhD candidates. Applicants should have a strong analytical background, a keen interest in neuroscience and/or machine learning and a relevant first degree, for example in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Neuroscience, Physics, Psychology or Statistics. The PhD programme lasts four years, including a first year of intensive instruction in techniques and research in theoretical neuroscience and machine learning. All students are fully funded, regardless of nationality. The Unit also welcomes applications from students with pre-secured funding or who are currently soliciting other scholarship/studentships. We will review applications as soon as they are complete (including a CV, statement of research interests and letters from three referees) until the positions are filled. Early application is thus advised. Full details of our programme, and how to apply, are available at: http://www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/teaching/phd For further details of research interests please see http://www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/research.html and the individual faculty webpages at http://www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/members.html

April 29, 2014

Postdoc EEG data analysis and source modeling

by Thomas Knoesche

The Research & Development Unit „MEG and Cortical Networks“ at the Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Science at Leipzig offers a position as POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER in the area of Medical Signal Processing and Biophysical Modelling. The research project aims at the development of fast and effective processing techniques for EEG data. The task of the successful applicant will be to develop methods for artefact identification and correction, spatial interpolation and source reconstruction. The successful applicant holds a PhD degree in informatics, mathematics, physics, biomedical engineering, electrical engineering or similar. Experience with the measurement and analysis of brain signals is an advantage, but not essential. A keen interest in the biological foundations of cognition should be present. Decent programming skills are of importance. In order to increase the proportion of female staff members, applications from female scientists are particularly encouraged. Disabled applicants are preferred if qualification is equal. The position is available for 2 years. Payment is according to the German scale TVöD 13. The selection procedure starts as the applications come in. Please send your application by email, citing the code number "PD 14" to: PD Dr.habil. Thomas R. Knösche Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Stephanstraße 1A, 04103 Leipzig, Germany [phone: +49 341 9940-2619] [email: knoesche(a)cbs.mpg.de]

April 29, 2014

Fully funded PhD position in the Neural Computation Lab Italian Institute of Technology

by Stefano Panzeri

I have an open fully funded PhD position in computational neuroscience in my laboratory at the Italian Institute of Technology in Trento. Stipend, tuition fees and research expenses of the successful candidate will be fully covered by the Italian Institute of Technology. The topic of investigation is how neuronal populations encode and exchange sensory information. The successful candidate will begin the PhD in November 2014 and will be registered with the Doctoral Programme at the University of Trento (ranked 1 st in Italy according to the Times Higher Education). All PhD courses are given in English, and the working language of the research institute is English. The selection requires a Master level degree (Laurea Magistrale or equivalent), a certifiable B2 level of English (or BA/BS/MA/MSc done entirely in English), and a proposed research project. There are no constraints on nationality for the applicants. *The deadline for applications is* *Tuesday May 13, 2014 at 4:00 p.m Italian Time.* Please visit the Doctoral Programme’s website http://www.unitn.it/en/drcimec/10140/admission-doctoral-school-cognitive-an… for information pertaining to the timeline of the application process and for a link to the actual online application. Note that the candidates will have to apply for the topic “computational neuroscience” (see http://www.unitn.it/en/drcimec/32957/30th-cycle-topics-2014-call) and submit with application a brief summary of the proposed research project applicants will submit. This brief document should be intended as a description of the candidate’s research interests within computational neuroscience rather than a detailed research project. Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to write to me ( stefano.panzeri(a)iit.it) as soon as possible attaching their CV to discuss the application further. However, applications will be formally considered only if submitted through the above official link of the University of Trento PhD selection programme. Regards Stefano Panzeri Research Professor Italian Institute of Technology Neural Computation Laboratory – Rovereto (Trento) Italy http://cncs.iit.it/people/iit-unitn-neural-computation/senior-researcher/st… http://cncs.iit.it/research-labs/neural-computation.html

April 29, 2014

NEURON Summer Course openings

by Ted Carnevale

Space is still available in the NEURON Summer Course, but you'll have to act quickly to make sure you qualify for the early registration rates. NEURON Fundamentals June 21-24 This addresses all aspects of using NEURON to model individual neurons, and also introduces parallel simulation and the fundamentals of modeling networks. Parallel Simulation with NEURON June 25-26 This is for users who are already familiar with NEURON and need to create models that will run on parallel hardware. Apply by Friday, May 9, and pay only $1050 for the Fundamentals course $650 for the Parallel Simulation course $1600 for both Registration fees for applications received after May 9 are $1200 for Fundamentals $750 for Parallel Simulation $1800 for both These fees cover handout materials plus food and housing on the campus of UC San Diego. Registration is limited, and the registration deadline is Friday, May 30, 2014. For more information and the on-line registration form, see http://www.neuron.yale.edu/neuron/courses --Ted

April 28, 2014

INNS Request for nominations: Hebb, Helmholtz, Gabor, and Young Investigator awards

by Schmidhuber Juergen

The International Neural Network Society's Awards Program is established to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the field of Neural Networks. Up to three awards, at most one in each category, of up to $1,000 ($500 cash award plus up to $500 travel award), are presented annually to senior, highly accomplished researchers for outstanding contributions made in the field of Neural Networks. The Hebb, Helmholtz and Gabor Awards: - The Hebb Award - recognizes achievement in biological learning. - The Helmholtz Award - recognizes achievement in sensation/perception. - The Gabor Award - recognizes achievement in engineering/application. - Young Investigator Awards: Up to two awards of $500 each are presented annually to individuals with no more than five years postdoctoral experience and who are under forty years of age, for significant contributions in the field of Neural Networks. Nominations: 1. The Awards Committee should receive nominations of no more than two pages in length, specifying: - The award category (Hebb, Helmholtz, Gabor, or Young Investigator) for which the candidate is being nominated. - The reasons for which the nominee should be considered for the award. - A list of at least five of the nominee's important and published papers. 2. The curriculum vitae of both the nominee and the nominator must be included with the nomination, including the name, address, position/title, phone, fax, and e-mail address for both the nominee and nominator. 3. The nominator must be an INNS member in good standing. Nominees do not have to be INNS members. If an award recipient is not an INNS member, they shall receive a free one-year INNS membership. 4. Nominators may not nominate themselves or their family members. 5. Individuals may not receive the same INNS Award more than once All nominations will be considered by the Awards Committee and selected ones forwarded to the INNS Board of Governors, along with the Committee's recommendations for award recipients. Voting shall be performed by the entire BoG. The INNS Award Committee members must be INNS Governors in the year that they are appointed. The 2014 Committee consists of Prof. Jürgen Schmidhuber, Prof. Leonid Perlovsky, and Prof. Hava Siegelmann. Please email the 2015 nominations along with their attachments directly to the chair of the Awards Committee at juergen(a)idsia.ch, with a copy to the Secretary of the Society at bill(a)billhowell.ca by June 1, 2014. Please use the following subject line in the email: INNS award nomination. Please find additional information here: http://www.inns.org/awards Jürgen Schmidhuber http://www.idsia.ch/~juergen/

April 28, 2014

CFA: Two postdoctoral positions in mathematical modeling and machine learning for collective behavior

by Kristiaan Pelckmans

CFA: Two postdoctoral positions in mathematical modeling and machine learning for collective behavior Dear all, We have openings for two postdocs on our project for relating social behavior to brain morphology. A full description of the applications can be found at http://www.uu.se/en/jobs/jobs-detail-page/?positionId=36625 Best, -Kristiaan Pelckmans

April 28, 2014

Post-doc (or PhD student) in Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience

by Pieter Roelfsema

Post-doc (or PhD student) in Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience - What is the role of the cortical layers? A post-doc (or PhD student) position is available to study computational models about the roles of the different layers of the cerebral cortex in the Vision & Cognition group (head Pieter Roelfsema) at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience in Amsterdam. What roles do the different cortical layers play in visual processing? This project, funded by the Human Brain Project, aims to build computational models for the unique contributions of the different cortical layers to perceptual processing. We recently discovered that the cortical layers have different roles in visual perception (Self et al., Curr. Biol, 2013). We now wish to understand this subdivision of labor by making models of the layers and the interactions between them that take place in the visual cortex during perception. The candidate will have close interactions with researchers addressing laminar processing with high-field fMRI. The successful applicant will have a solid computational background and an interest in cognitive neuroscience, preferably affinity with neuroimaging, and good programming skills. Appointment: The position involves a temporary appointment for 2-4 years. To apply, please send application letter, CV and two letters of recommendation to: Tini Eikelboom The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience Meibergdreef 47 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands Telephone: +31-20-5664587 E-mail: t.eikelboom(a)nin.knaw.nl<mailto:t.eikelboom@nin.knaw.nl>

April 28, 2014

Two PhD Positions and one Postdoc Position in Machine Learning / Sensory Data Processing

by Jörg Lücke

The Machine Learning research group at the University of Oldenburg, Germany, is seeking to fill Two PhD Research Positions and one (postdoctoral) Research Associate Position All positions are part of the Machine Learning group which develops learning and inference technology for sensory data. We pursue basic research, develop new technology, and apply our approaches to different tasks. Our research hereby combines modern probabilistic data descriptions, modern computer technology and insights from the neurosciences. We contribute to the improvement of current methods for computer hearing, pattern recognition and computer vision as well as to the understanding of biological and artificial intelligence. Research will be conducted in close collaboration with leading international and national research labs. Our research field can be considered as part of the Data Sciences, Computational Sciences, or Big Data approaches (to name some terms recently used in the media). Salary levels of the positions are based on the TV-L scale of the German public sector (Öffentlicher Dienst). After the deduction of health insurance, pension tax and other taxes, the salary for the PhD positions amounts to approximately 1600 EUR per month, and to about 2000 EUR per month for the (postdoctoral) Research Associate Position. Depending on the experience of the candidates, the salary can be higher. But please note that the only definite sources for all information on the positions including salary, job description and application/selection procedure are the central websites of the University of Oldenburg. For the PhD positions see: http://www.uni-oldenburg.de/stellen/?stelle=63323 For the postdoc position see: http://www.uni-oldenburg.de/stellen/?stelle=63322 Depending on the skills and interests of the candidates, the research focus will be on the development of new probabilistic learning algorithms and/or their applications to high-dimensional sensory data. Projects can emphasize basic research for general purpose learning and pattern recognition, or applications of algorithms to specific tasks. Candidates for the PhD positions have to hold a Master degree in Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics or a closely related subject (at the latest at the time when the contract is signed). Analytical/mathematical skills and programming skills (e.g. python, matlab, C++) are required for all candidates. Experiences with Machine Learning algorithms are desirable. Experiences with acoustic data, other types of sensory data, and an interest in the neurosciences are a plus but are not strictly required. The candidates for the (postdoctoral) Research Associate position have to hold a Master degree or (preferably) a PhD/Doctoral degree in Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics or a closely related subject (alternatively, a statement can be provided that a PhD/Doctoral degree will be issued when the position is taken or shortly thereafter). Analytical/mathematical skills, programming skills, and experience with Machine Learning algorithms are required. Experiences with acoustic data, other types of sensory data, and an interest in the neurosciences are a plus but are not strictly required. The (postdoctoral) Research Associate position is suitable for part-time work. All positions can be filled immediately and are available for initially two years with an option for extension. The appointed researchers will be part of a very new working environment. The research group is currently established through a strategic investment into Machine Learning technology at Oldenburg. The group is located in a new building, and the Cluster of Excellence Hearing4all is part of the German Excellence Initiative which funds top-tier research in Germany. The cluster comprises many interdisciplinary research groups that are currently set up or that are extended. As a consequence, many new PhD, postdoc and faculty positions allow for interesting collaboration opportunities and provide an attractive scientific and social environment. The city of Oldenburg is one of Germany's cities with the highest rated living quality, it is close to the North See and near to the cities of Bremen and Hamburg. For more information about the Machine Learning research group visit: http://www.uni-oldenburg.de/ml/ For more information about the Cluster of Excellence Hearing4all visit: http://hearing4all.eu/EN/ The University of Oldenburg is dedicated to increasing the percentage of women in science. Therefore, female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply. According to § 21 III NHG (legislation governing Higher Education in Lower Saxony) preference will be given to female candidates in cases of equal qualification. Handicapped applicants will be given preference if equally qualified. Please send your application including the usual documents (including contact details for reference letters) preferably electronically (PDF) to Jörg Lücke <joerg.luecke(a)uni-oldenburg.de> or per mail to: Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Fakultät VI, Machine Learning, z.Hd. Frau Jennifer Köllner, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany. Please use “Research Position (PhD)” as subject line for applications to the PhD positions, and “Research Associate Position (postdoc)” for applications to the (postdoctoral) Research Associate position. The application deadline is 15 June 2014. Applications received after this date are not guaranteed to enter the selection process. -- Jörg Lücke (PhD) Associate Professor Machine Learning Lab and Cluster of Excellence Hearing4all Department of Medical Physics and Acoustics School of Medicine and Health Sciences University of Oldenburg 26111 Oldenburg Germany www.uni-oldenburg.de/ml

April 27, 2014

BCBT2014 summer school

by BCBT, Bústia Compartida

*Barcelona Cognition, Brain and Technology Summer School (BCBT2014)* University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain. September 1-12, 2014 http://bcbt.upf.edu/bcbt14/ Join us for the annual *"Barcelona Cognition, Brain and Technology summer school - BCBT2014 *" (see* http://bcbt.upf.edu/bcbt14 <http://bcbt.upf.edu/bcbt14>*) to be held from September 1-12, 2014 in Barcelona Spain. The BCBT summer school is part of a series of events organized by the Convergent Science Network of Biomimetics and Neurotechnology (*http://csnetwork.eu/ <http://csnetwork.eu/>*) and is positioned at the interface between biology and future and emerging technologies with an emphasis on the principles underlying brains and their translation to avant-garde technologies. BCBT promotes a shared systems-level understanding of the functional architecture of the brain and its possible emulation in artificial systems. This is the 7th year of BCBT, which has ran with great success in previous years thanks to an excellent line-up of outstanding speakers (see bcbt.upf.edu for previous editions of the school). BCBT lectures are available online (see *http://csnetwork.eu/ <http://csnetwork.eu/>*) as well as the CSN *Podcast interviews *with many of the BCBT speakers. BCBT caters to students and researchers involved in projects that are in the ambit of "BIO-ICT convergence", "Brain Inspired ICT", "Cognitive systems-robotics". BCBT will offer up to 30 student slots for the practical workshops while as many researchers can register to attend the presentations and discussion sessions as they are interested. The atmosphere of the BCBT summer school is informal with the goal to stimulate in-depth discussion. There are presentations in the morning, usually 2, with the afternoons reserved for tutorials and projects for student participants and road-mapping workshops or further discussion for senior scientists. For the 2014 edition we plan a *1st week* of the school addressing *Evolutionary and Developmental aspects of nervous systems and behavior*(*Session 1*, 1-5 Sept*)*, while the *2nd week* will include presentations aimed at the investigation of *Core Brain Systems* with emphasis on the basal ganglia (*Session 2*, 8-9 Sept) followed by roadmapping sessions (*Session 3*, 10-11 Sept). Friday 12 is reserved for the presentation of the student projects to which everybody is invited. *Application deadline: August 2nd, 2014* For more information, and to apply, please go to http://bcbt.upf.edu/bcbt14/home BCBT2014 is supported by the Convergent Science Network of Biomimetics and Neurotechnology (*http://csnetwork.eu/ <http://csnetwork.eu/>*). and is co-organized by Paul Verschure (BCBT Chair) SPECS, University Pompeu Fabra Barcelona, ES Tony Prescott (BCBT Co-Chair) University of Sheffield, UK Leah Krubizer (BCBT Co-Chair) UC Davis, CA, USA Anna Mura (BCBT Co-Chair) SPECS, University Pompeu Fabra Barcelona, ES

April 25, 2014

Invitation to NeuroFutures Summit - Seattle, June 16-18, 2014.

by Rad Roberts

We are pleased to invite you to the 2014 NeuroFutures Summit. Who/what/why: The NeuroFutures Summit will bring together research, industry, and clinical thought leaders to explore how innovations in neuromodulation, brain mapping, neuroimaging, computational neuroscience, and brain computer interfaces will transform our understanding of neural systems and enable life-changing medical treatments. Participants will learn the state of the art, present and discuss their work, and interact with neurotechnology leaders in a small conference setting. The abstract deadline for poster presenters is May 16th, 2014. Over thirty speakers are confirmed. See agenda below. When: Public lecture 6-8pm June 16th followed by the technical conference on June 17th and 18th, 2014. Where: Hotel Deca and the University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Website: Visit www.neurofutures.us to learn more. We hope you can join us. Sincerely, The organizers: Rad Roberts, Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering, University of Washington, Dan Rizzuto, Allen Institute for Brain Science, Bill Rooney, Oregon Health and Science University, and Bobby Heagerty, Oregon Health and Science University. NeuroFutures Summit Agenda June 16th- 18th, 2014 University of Washington, Seattle, WA <http://www.neurofutures.us> www.neurofutures.us Monday, June 16th, 6pm - 8pm Public lecture: The Brain on Circuit Training: Finding and Fixing Misfiring Neural Circuitry. A presentation by Dr. Andres Lozano with an interactive discussion moderated by David Heil. Tuesday, June 17th Functional Mapping Informs BCI and Neuromodulation Innovations Richard Buxton, UCSD, Kim Burchiel, OHSU, Richard Andersen, Caltech Measuring, Mapping, and Modifying Cognitive Function. Justin Sanchez, DARPA, Tom Grabowski, U of Washington, Brian Kopell, Mt. Sinai Hospital. Lunch, posters, informal discussion. Structure and Target Selection in Neuromodulation Chris Kroenke, OHSU, Andres Lozano, U of Toronto, David Newell, Swedish Neuroscience Institute. Mining Shared Neural Data Sets Magali Haas, Orion Bionetworks, Julie Harris, Allen Institute for Brain Science, Mike Hawrylycz, Allen Institute for Brain Science, Paul Fearn, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Northwest NeuroNeighborhood Resources and Partnering Opportunities I. Bart Keogh, Radia Inc., Rajesh Rao, U of Washington, John Henson, Swedish Neuroscience Institute. Evening reception at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. Wednesday, June 18th The Past, Present, and Future of Closed-loop Neuromodulation. Milton Morris, Cyberonics, Eberhard Fetz, U of Washington, Tim Denison, Medtronic. Ryder Gwinn, Swedish Neuroscience Institute. De-coding Commands and Learning Modes in the Motor Cortex. Chet Moritz, U of Washington, Jeff Ojemann, U of Washington, Adrienne Fairhall, U of Washington. Neurotechnology Development and Brain Mapping: A Virtuous Cycle Ed Lein, AIBS, Craig Forest, Georgia Institute of Technology. Northwest NeuroNeighborhood Resources and Partnering Opportunities II. Norman Beauchamp, U of Washington. Bob Wilcox, Viket Medical. Lunch, posters, informal discussion. Generating and Handling Large Neural Data Sets. Hanchuan Peng, Allen Institute for Brain Science, Tim Blanche, Allen Institute for Brain Science, Bing Brunton, U of Washington, Matt Reynolds, U of Washington. Neural engineering approaches for hearing, sight, and memory prostheses. Adrian KC Lee, U of Washington, Josh Jacobs, Drexel University

April 25, 2014

Reminder: Abstract submission closes April 27 for Neuroinformatics 2014

by Malin Sandström

Welcome to the 7th INCF Congress of Neuroinformatics in Leiden, the Netherlands, August 25 - 27, 2014 Neuroinformatics 2014 includes keynote lectures (Margarita Behrens, Mitya Chklovskii, Daniel Choquet, Ila Fiete, Michael Milham, and Felix Schürmann), workshops, and a special symposium on population-based neuroimaging, hosted by the INCF Netherlands Node. The last day to submit your abstract is April 27, submit it here: http://www.neuroinformatics2014.org/abstracts Registration is open at http://www.neuroinformatics2014.org/registration Watch the NI2014 promo video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEudq3SOwK0 We kindly ask that you print and display the congress poster at your institution: it's available for download at http://www.neuroinformatics2014.org/documents/a0_poster_nov_2013 We're looking forward to seeing you in August! -- Malin Sandström, PhD Community Engagement Officer malin.sandstrom(a)incf.org International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility Karolinska Institutet Nobels väg 15 A SE-171 77 Stockholm Sweden http://www.incf.org

April 25, 2014

International Workshop on The Versatile Action of Noise, June 22-27, 2014 in Bremen

by Alberto Bernacchia

Dear Colleagues, we are organizing an international workshop on *The Versatile Action of Noise: Applications from Genetic to Neural Circuits* at Jacobs University Bremen, Germany from June 22-27, 2014. http://noise-workshop.user.jacobs-university.de/<https://exchange.jacobs-university.de/owa/redir.aspx?C=gZfK3TmIBkiF8b5kI43d…> Stochastic mechanisms, often summarized under “noise”, are ubiquitous in artificial and biological networks. In applications to genetic circuits the goal is to trace back the various manifestations of noise to a few sources on underlying levels like the stochastic fluctuations in biochemical reactions, to follow the propagation and modification of noise towards the cellular level and to pursue the interaction of different sources of noise with respect to their mutual repression or amplification. In applications to neural systems the focus is on microscopic noise, e.g. the thermal fluctuations on channel dynamics, the effect of synaptic noise on neuronal firing, but also on large-scale collective fluctuations of brain areas, information loss, effects of large-scale noise on attention and decision-making, as well as on bridges between the different levels. A comparison between both types of applications should reveal parallels in how natural systems transform or utilize noise. It is the tools of theoretical physics that provide a deeper understanding of its role, in particular when it acts counterintuitive. Advanced methods from statistical physics and nonlinear dynamics allow for predicting the action of noise on excitable media like neural systems, extinction events in various populations and noise-induced rare events. *We invite applications from graduate students, PhD students and postdocs with a background in theoretical physics, applied mathematics with an interest in biological applications and neuroscience. Applicants from the experimental side should be interested in the mathematical modeling and analysis of experimental data.* The fee is *150 Euro* *for early registration until April 30* and 250 Euro afterwards, including accommodation in the guesthouse on campus and all meals, for the period of the workshop. The workshop is generously supported by the WE-Heraeus foundation. For registration please visit our website. Selected abstracts will be invited for oral presentation, we shall also have poster sessions. Kind regards Hildegard Meyer-Ortmanns and Alberto Bernacchia *Invited speakers:* *Michael Assaf * (*Racah Institute of Physics, Hebrew University of Jerusalem);*Jan Benda* * (Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen);*Michael Breakspear ** (QIMR and UNSW Berghofer, Sidney, Australia);*Thierry Emonet ** (Yale University, New Haven, U.S.A.);*Tobias Galla ** (Manchester University, Manchester);*Jordi Garcia-Ojalvo ** (Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona );*Benjamin Lindner ** (Humboldt University, Berlin);*Wolfgang Maass * *(Graz Technical University, Graz);*Ralf Metzler * *(Potsdam University, Potsdam);*Sidney R. Nagel* (The University of Chicago, U.S.A.);*Simone Pigolotti* * (Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Barcelona);*Joachim Rädler ** (Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich);*Jaime de la Rocha* (*) (Institut D’ Invest. Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona);*Lutz Schimansky-Geier**(Humboldt University, Berlin);*Susanne Schreiber**(Humboldt University, Berlin);*Pieter Rein Ten Wolde ** (FOM Institute AMOLF, Amsterdam);*Raúl Toral ** (IFISC, UIB-CSIC, Palma de Mallorca) *confirmed *Topics include:* § The effects of extrinsic noise on cellular decision making; § Correlated fluctuations in genetic networks; § Propagation of noise of sequential gene regulation; § Error rates in biological copying; § Single cell response and decision making under noise; § The generation of transcriptional noise in bacteria; § Costs and benefits of biochemical noise; § Noise in large-scale cortical rhythms; § Noise-induced order in collective neural populations; § Computations by noisy networks of spiking neurons § Noise and irregular firing in cortical circuits; § Cellular mechanisms of temperature-compensation in receptor neurons; § Coherent noise, scale invariance and intermittency in large systems; § Shaping noise for population success; § Quasi-cycles induced by noise; § Interplay between noise and delay. § *Scientific Organization* *Prof. Dr. Hildegard Meyer-Ortmanns*<https://exchange.jacobs-university.de/owa/redir.aspx?C=gZfK3TmIBkiF8b5kI43d…>/ Statistical Physics Group / Jacobs University Bremen gGmbH / School of Engineering and Science / Campus Ring 8 / 28759 Bremen / Germany / Tel: ++49 (0) 421 / 200-3221 / Tel: ++49 (0) 421 / 200-3249 / Email: h.ortmanns(a)jacobs-university.de<https://exchange.jacobs-university.de/owa/redir.aspx?C=gZfK3TmIBkiF8b5kI43d…> *Prof. Dr. Alberto Bernacchia*<https://exchange.jacobs-university.de/owa/redir.aspx?C=gZfK3TmIBkiF8b5kI43d…>/ Computational Neuroscience Group / Jacobs University Bremen gGmbH / School of Engineering and Science / Campus Ring 6 / 28759 Bremen / Germany / Tel: ++49 (0) 421 / 200-3542 / Tel: ++49 (0) 421 / 200-3249 / Email: a.bernacchia(a)jacobs-university.de<https://exchange.jacobs-university.de/owa/redir.aspx?C=gZfK3TmIBkiF8b5kI43d…>

April 24, 2014

Special issue of the Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience

by Olivier Faugeras

Dear all, I am pleased to announce that a Special Issue of the Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience on Uncertainty and the Brain has just appeared in Open Access at: http://www.mathematical-neuroscience.com/series/UB Uncertainty and the Brain Edited by: Dr Olivier Faugeras, Prof Michele Thieullen Theoretical and applied neuroscientists are in great need of stochastic models to account for sources of uncertainty in neural tissues in a mathematically rigorous framework allowing for quantitative descriptions and predictions. Collection published: 17 April 2014 Editorial ** *Editorial for the Special Issue on Uncertainty in the Brain <http://www.mathematical-neuroscience.com/content/4/1/7>* Olivier Faugeras, Michèle Thieullen /The Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience/ 2014, *4*:7 (17 April 2014) ** *Measuring Edge Importance: A Quantitative Analysis of the Stochastic Shielding Approximation for Random Processes on Graphs <http://www.mathematical-neuroscience.com/content/4/1/6>* Deena R Schmidt, Peter J Thomas /The Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience/ 2014, *4*:6 (17 April 2014) Research ** *How Uncertainty Bounds the Shape Index of Simple Cells <http://www.mathematical-neuroscience.com/content/4/1/5>* D Barbieri, G Citti, A Sarti /The Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience/ 2014, *4*:5 (17 April 2014) ** *Fokker--Planck and Fortet Equation-Based Parameter Estimation for a Leaky Integrate-and-Fire Model with Sinusoidal and Stochastic Forcing <http://www.mathematical-neuroscience.com/content/4/1/4>* Alexandre Iolov, Susanne Ditlevsen, André Longtin /The Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience/ 2014, *4*:4 (17 April 2014) ** *Goodness-of-Fit Tests and Nonparametric Adaptive Estimation for Spike Train Analysis <http://www.mathematical-neuroscience.com/content/4/1/3>* Patricia Reynaud-Bouret, Vincent Rivoirard, Franck Grammont, Christine Tuleau-Malot /The Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience/ 2014, *4*:3 (17 April 2014) ** *Large Deviations for Nonlocal Stochastic Neural Fields <http://www.mathematical-neuroscience.com/content/4/1/1>* Christian Kuehn, Martin G Riedler /The Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience/ 2014, *4*:1 (17 April 2014) ** *A Density Model for a Population of Theta Neurons <http://www.mathematical-neuroscience.com/content/4/1/2>* Grégory Dumont, Jacques Henry, Carmen Tarniceriu /Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience/ 2014, *4*:2 (17 April 2014) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Olivier Faugeras : Professor : Equipe INRIA NeuroMathComp Team : co-editor in chief, Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience : http://www-sop.inria.fr/members/Olivier.Faugeras/index.en.html : Email: olivier.faugeras(a)inria.fr : Tel: +334 92 38 78 31 : Sec: +334 92 38 78 30 : ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 24, 2014

[RSS2014] CfP: First Workshop on Affordances: Affordances in "Vision for Cognitive Robotics" (in conjunction with RSS 2014)

by Karthik Mahesh Varadarajan

====================================================================== *Call for Papers- First Workshop on Affordances: Affordances in Vision for Cognitive Robotics* (in conjunction with RSS 2014), July 13, 2014, Berkeley, USA http://affordances.info/workshops/RSS.html ====================================================================== Based on the Gibsonian principle of defining objects by their function, "affordances" have been studied extensively by psychologists and visual perception researchers, resulting in the creation of numerous cognitive models. These models are being increasingly revisited and adapted by computer vision and robotics researchers to build cognitive models of visual perception and behavioral algorithms in recent years. This workshop attempts to explore this nascent, yet rapidly emerging field of affordance based cognitive robotics while integrating the efforts and language of affordance communities not just in computer vision and robotics, but also psychophysics and neurobiology by creating an open affordance research forum, feature framework and ontology called AfNet (theaffordances.net) In particular, the workshop will focus on emerging trends in affordances and other human-centered function/action features that can be used to build computer vision and robotic applications. The workshop also features contributions from researchers involved in traditional theories to affordances, especially from the point of view of psychophysics and neuro-biology. Avenues to aiding research in these fields using techniques from computer vision and cognitive robotics will also be explored. Primary topics addressed by the workshop include the following among others - Affordances in visual perception models - Affordances as visual primitives, common coding features and symbolic cognitive systems - Affordances for object recognition, search, attention modulation, functional scene understanding/ classification - Object functionality analysis - Affordances from appearance and touch based cues - Haptic adjectives - Functional-visual categories for transfer learning - Actions and functions in object perception - Human-object interactions and modeling - Motion-capture data analysis for object categorization - Affordances in human and robot grasping - Robot behavior for affordance learning - Execution of affordances on robots - Affordances to address cognitive and domestic robot applications - Affordance ontologies - Psychophysics of affordances - Neurobiological and cognitive models for affordances The workshop also seeks to address key challenges in robotics with regard to functional form descriptions. While affordances describe the function that each object or entity affords, these in turn define the manipulation schema and interaction modes that robots need to use to work with objects. These functional features, ascertained through vision, haptics and other sensory information also help in categorizing objects, task planning, grasp planning, scene understanding and a number of other robotic tasks. Understanding various challenges in the field and building a common language and framework for communication across varied communities in are the key goals of the proposed workshop. Through the course of the workshop, we also envisage the establishment of a working group for AfNet. An initial version is available online at www.theaffordances.net. We hope the workshop will serve to foster greater collaboration between the affordance communities in various fields. *Paper Submissions* Paper contributions to the workshop are solicited in four different formats - *Conceptual papers* (1 page): Authors are invited to submit original ideas on approaches to address specific problems in the targeted areas of the workshop. While a clear presentation of the proposed approach and the expected results are essential, specifics of implementation and evaluations are outside the scope of this format. This format is intended at exchange and evaluation of ideas prior to implementation/ experimental work as well as to open up collaboration avenues. - *Design papers* (3 pages): Authors submitting design papers are required to address key issues regarding the problem considered with detailed algorithms and preliminary or proof-of-concept results. Detailed evaluations and analyses are outside the scope of this format. This format is intended at addressing late-breaking and work in progress results as well as fostering collaboration between research and engineering groups. - *Experimental papers* (3 pages): Experimental papers are required to present results of experiments and evaluation of previously published algorithms or design frameworks. Details of implementation and exhaustive test case analyses are key to this format. These papers are geared at benchmarking and standardizing previously known approaches. - *Full papers* (5 pages): Full papers must be self-inclusive contributions with a detailed treatment of the problem statement, related work, design methodology, algorithm, test-bed, evaluation, comparative analysis, results and future scope of work. Submission of original and unpublished work is highly encouraged. Since the goal of this workshop is to bring together the various affordance communities, extended versions/ summary reports of recent research published elsewhere, as adapted to the goals of the workshop, will also be accepted. These papers are required to clearly state the relevance to the workshop and the necessary adaptation. The program will be composed of oral as well as Pecha-Kucha style presentations. Each contribution will be reviewed by three reviewers through a single-blind review process. The paper formatting should follow the RSS formatting guidelines (Templates: Word<http://www.roboticsconference.org/paper-template-word.zip> andLaTeX <http://www.roboticsconference.org/paper-template-latex.tar.gz>). All contributions are to be submitted via Microsoft Conference Management Tool <https://cmt.research.microsoft.com/A2014/Default.aspx> in PDF format. Appendices and supplementary text can be submitted as a second PDF, while other materials such as videos (though, preferably as links on vimeo or youtube) as a zipped file. All papers are expected to be self-inclusive and supplementary materials are not guaranteed to be reviewed. Please adhere to the following strict deadlines. In addition to direct acceptance, early submissions may be conditionally accepted, in which case submission of a revised version of the paper based on reviewer comments, prior to the late submission deadline is necessary. The final decision on acceptance of such conditionally accepted papers will be announced along with the decisions for the late submissions. *Important Dates* - Initial submissions (Early): 23:59:59 PDT May 5, 2014 - Notification of acceptance (Early submissions): May 15, 2014 - Initial submissions (Late): 23:59:59 PDT May 27, 2014 - Notification of acceptance (Late submissions): June 5, 2014 - Submission of publication-ready version: June 10, 2014 - Workshop date: July 13, 2014 *Organizers* Karthik Mahesh Varadarajan <http://www.karthikmahesh.com/> (varadarajan(at) acin.tuwien.ac.at), TU Wien Markus Vincze <http://www.acin.tuwien.ac.at/index.php?id=231&L=1> (vincze(at)tuwien.ac.at), TU Wien Trevor Darrell <http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/~trevor/> (trevor(at) eecs.berkeley.edu) UC. Berkeley Juergen Gall <http://www.vision.ee.ethz.ch/~gallju/>(gall(at)iai.uni-bonn.de), Univ. Bonn *Speakers and Participants* (To be updated) Abhinav Gupta (Affordances in Computer Vision), Carnegie Mellon University Ashutosh Saxena (Affordances in Cognitive Robotics), Cornell University Lisa Oakes (Psychophysics of affordances)*, UC. Davis TBA (Neurobiology of affordances)* *Program Committee* Irving Biederman (USC) Aude Olivia (MIT) Fei-Fei Li (Stanford University) Martha Teghtsoonian (Smith College) Derek Hoiem (UIUC) Barbara Caputo (Univ. of Rome, IDIAP) Song-Chun Zhu (UCLA) Antonis Argyros (FORTH) Tamim Asfour (KIT) Michael Beetz (TUM) Norbert Krueger (Univ. of Southern Denmark) Sven Dickinson (Univ. of Toronto) Diane Pecher (Erasmus Univ. Rotterdam) Aaron Bobick (GeorgiaTech) Jason Carso (UB New York) Juan Carlos Niebles (Universidad del Norte) Tamara Berg (UNC Chapel Hill) Moritz Tenorth (Univ. Bremen) Dejan Pangercic (Robert Bosch) Roozbeh Mottaghi (Stanford) Alireza Fathi (Stanford) Xiaofeng Ren (Amazon) David Fouhey (CMU) Tucker Hermans (Georgia Tech) Tian Lan (Stanford) Amir Roshan Zamir (UCF) Hamed Pirsiavash (MIT) Walterio Mayol-Cuevas (Univ. of Bristol)

April 23, 2014

new MATLAB toolbox for Granger causality analysis

by Anil Seth

Dear all, Lionel Barnett and I are pleased to announce the availability of our wholly new MATLAB toolbox for implementing Granger causality analysis. This new free software is a wholesale revision of my previous ‘GCCA’ toolbox which has been available since 2010 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19961876) and which has enjoyed a wide uptake within the neuroscience community and beyond. Granger causality is a powerful analysis method which can be used to detect directed functional connectivity in stationary time-series data, of the sort often (but not always) found in neuroscience datasets. The new ‘multivariate Granger causality’ ‘MVGC’ toolbox offers a range of enhancements. It easily handles conditional spectral analyses. It requires only estimation of the ‘full’ regression model, avoiding biases inherent in estimation of both full and reduced models. It is accompanied by a fully functional help system integrated into the online MATLAB documentation. And much else besides. The toolbox can be downloaded here: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/sackler/mvgc/ A paper describing the toolbox and the basic concepts and maths underlying Granger causality has been recently published in Journal of Neuroscience Methods: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165027013003701 … which is the appropriate citation for any published work utilizing the software. Preparation of the toolbox was supported by the Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science, which is funded by the Dr. Mortimer and Dame Theresa Sackler Foundation. We hope you find it useful! Best regards Anil Seth and Lionel Barnett ------------------------------------------- Anil K. Seth, D.Phil. Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience Co-Director, Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science University of Sussex www.anilseth.com<http://www.anilseth.com> a.k.seth(a)sussex.ac.uk<mailto:a.k.seth@sussex.ac.uk>

April 23, 2014

DecMeg2014 data analysis competition

by Emanuele Olivetti

DecMeg2014 data analysis competition Biomag 2014 Decoding Challenge - Brain Decoding Across Subjects https://www.kaggle.com/c/decoding-the-human-brain Decoding mental states from functional neuroimaging data is a data analysis paradigm adopted both in neuroscience studies and in brain-computer interface applications. Decoding means determining, from the recorded brain activity, what stimulus was provided to a subject. In this competition, a large number of trials, from a face vs. scrambled face visual task, are available from multiple subjects. The brain activity was recorded by means of magnetoencephalography (MEG). MEG recordings from various subjects and the category of the associated visual stimuli are given to the participants of the competition in order to train their prediction algorithms. With their algorithms, the participants will have to predict the category of the stimulus of a different set of MEG recordings, from other subjects. Each submission to the competition will be scored according to the accuracy of prediction. Decoding across subjects is a difficult task because of the variability in head shape, cortical folding and functional organisation. For MEG data, the literature on decoding across subjects is still in early stages and this competition aims at raising the awareness about this complex scientific problem. This competition is associated with the the 19th International Conference on Biomagnetism, Biomag 2014, Halifax (Canada), August 24-28, 2014. The competition begins: April 21st, 2014. The competition ends: July 27th, 2014. Prizes: 1st 3,000 USD, 2nd 1,500 USD, 3rd 500 USD. Organizers: Emanuele Olivetti, Seyed Mostafa Kia and Paolo Avesani (NeuroInformatics Lab, Bruno Kessler Foundation and University of Trento, IT), e-mail: decmeg2014(a)list.fbk.eu . Scientific steering committee: Ole Jensen (Donders Institute, NL), Nathan Weisz (University of Trento, IT), Richard Henson (MRC/CBU, UK) and Alexandre Gramfort (Telecom ParisTech, CNRS, CEA / Neurospin). We would also like to thank Daniel Wakeman (Martinos Center, MGH, USA). The awards for this competition are funded by Elekta Oy, MEG International Services Ltd (MISL), Fondazione Bruno Kessler and Besa Gmbh. Relevant links: - competition website: https://www.kaggle.com/c/decoding-the-human-brain - Biomag 2014: http://www.biomag2014.org - NeuroInformatics Lab: http://nilab.fbk.eu - Elekta Oy: http://www.elekta.com - MISL (CTF MEG): http://www.ctfmeg.com - Fondazione Bruno Kessler: http://www.fbk.eu - Besa GmbH: http://www.besa.de Please feel free to forward this message to your colleagues or contacts who might be interested in this competition.

April 22, 2014

NEURON Summer Course deadline approaching

by Ted Carnevale

The early registration deadline for the NEURON Summer Course is Friday, May 9, less than three weeks from today. Applicants who sign up by that date are eligible for reduced registration fees. NEURON Fundamentals June 21-24 This course shows how to model individual neurons and networks of neurons, and introduces parallel simulation. The early registration fee is $1050, but after May 9 registration goes up to $1200. Parallel Simulation with NEURON June 25-26 This is for users who are already familiar with NEURON and now need to parallelize an existing model or create a new model that will run on parallel hardware. The early registration fee is $650, but after May 9 it goes up to $750. Sign up for both courses by May 9 and pay only $1600, or wait until May 10 or later and pay $1800. Registration is limited, and the final registration deadline is Friday, May 30, 2014. For more information about these courses see http://www.neuron.yale.edu/neuron/courses or contact Ted Carnevale ted dot carnevale at yale edu 203-494-7381

April 22, 2014

CoSMo 2014: application deadline approaching!

by Gunnar Blohm

Just a quick reminder that the application deadline for the summer school on Computational Sensory-Motor Neuroscience (CoSMo 2014) is approaching fast: Apr 28, 2014!!! http://www.compneurosci.com/CoSMo/ Best Gunnar Blohm, Konrad Körding, Paul Schrater -- ------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Gunnar BLOHM Assistant Professor in Computational Neuroscience Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Departments of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Mathematics & Statistics, and Psychology, School of Computing, and Canadian Action and Perception Network (CAPnet) Queen’s University 18, Stuart Street Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7L 3N6 Tel: (613) 533-3385 Fax: (613) 533-6840 Email: Gunnar.Blohm(a)QueensU.ca Web: http://www.compneurosci.com/

April 22, 2014

Advanced Statistics and Data Mining Summer School (Madrid) - Early registration deadline

by asdm＠fi.upm.es

Dear colleagues, We would like to remind you that the early registration period for the Advanced Statistics and Data Mining Summer School will finish on June 2nd. The summer school will be held in Madrid, from June 23rd to July 4th. This year's programme comprises 12 courses and runs for 2 weeks. Attendees may register in each course independently. Extended information on course programmes, price, venue, accommodation and transport is available at the school's website: http://www.dia.fi.upm.es/ASDM Please, send this information to your colleagues, students, and whoever you think may find it interesting. Best regards, Pedro Larranaga, Concha Bielza, Bojan Mihaljevic and Laura Anton-Sanchez. -- School coordinators. *** List of courses and brief description *** * Week 1 (June 23rd - June 27th, 2014) * 1st session: 9:30 - 12:30 Course 1: Bayesian Networks (15 h) Basics of Bayesian networks. Inference in Bayesian networks. Learning Bayesian networks from data. Real applications. Course 2: Time Series(15 h) Basic concepts in time series. Descriptive methods for time series. Linear models for time series. Extensions. 2nd session: 13:30 - 16:30 Course 3: Supervised Pattern Recognition (15 h) Introduction. Assessing the performance of supervised classification algorithms. Preprocessing. Classification techniques. Combining multiple classifiers. Comparing supervised classification algorithms. Course 4: Bayesian Inference (15 h) Introduction: Bayesian basics. Conjugate models. MCMC and other simulation methods. Regression and Hierarchical models. Model selection. 3rd session: 17:00 - 20:00 Course 5: Neural Networks and Deep Learning (15 h) Introduction. Training algorithms. Learning and Optimization. MLPs in practice. Deep Networks. Course 6: Feature Subset Selection (15 h) Introduction. Filter approaches. Wrapper methods. Embedded methods. Advanced topics. Practical session. * Week 2 (June 30th - July 4th, 2014) * 1st session: 9:30 - 12:30 Course 7: Statistical Inference(15 h) Introduction. Some basic statistical test. Multiple testing. Introduction to bootstrap methods. Introduction to Robust Statistics. Course 8: Bayesian Classifiers (15 h) Discrete predictors. Gaussian Bayesian networks-based classifiers. Other Bayesian classifiers. Bayesian classifiers for: positive and unlabeled data, semi-supervised learning, data streams, temporal data. 2nd session: 13:30 - 16:30 Course 9: Text Mining (15 h) Introduction. Fundamentals. Language Modeling. Text Classification. Information Extraction. Course 10: Unsupervised Pattern Recognition (15 h) Introduction to clustering. Data exploration and preparation. Prototype-based clustering. Density-based clustering. Graph-based clustering. Cluster evaluation. Miscellanea. Conclusions and final advise. 3rd session: 17:00 - 20:00 Course 11: Support Vector Machines and Convex Optimization (15 h) Introduction. SVM models. SVM learning algorithms. Convex non differentiable optimization. Course 12: Hidden Markov Models (15 h) Introduction. Discrete Hidden Markov Models. Basic algorithms for Hidden Markov Models. Semicontinuous Hidden Markov Models. Continuous Hidden Markov Models. Unit selection and clustering. Speaker and Environment Adaptation for HMMs. Other applications of HMMs.

April 22, 2014

2nd call for papers - 2014 IEEE International Workshop on Machine Learning for Signal Processing (MLSP)

by 2014 IEEE International Workshop on Machine Learning fo Signal Processing

2014 IEEE International Workshop on Machine Learning for Signal Processing (MLSP) September 21-24, 2014 Reims, France http://mlsp2014.conwiz.dk CALL FOR PAPERS The 24th MLSP workshop in the series of workshops organized by the IEEE Signal Processing Society MLSP Technical Committee will present the most recent and exciting advances in machine learning for signal processing through keynote talks, tutorials as well as special and regular single-track sessions. Prospective authors are invited to submit papers on relevant algorithms and applications including, but not limited to: - Learning theory and techniques - Graphical models and kernel methods - Data-driven adaptive systems and models - Pattern recognition and classification - Distributed, Bayesian, subspace/manifold and sparsity-aware learning - Multiset data analysis and multimodal data fusion - Perceptual signal processing in audio, image and video - Cognitive information processing - Multichannel adaptive and nonlinear signal processing - Applications, including: speech and audio, image and video, music, biomedical signals and images; communications; bioinformatics; biometrics, computational intelligence, genomic signals and sequences; social networks; games, and smart grid. DATA ANALYSIS AND SIGNAL PROCESSING COMPETITION Data Analysis and Signal Processing Competition is being organized in conjunction with the workshop. The goal of the competition is to advance the current state-of-the-art in theoretical and practical aspects of signal processing domains. The problems are selected to reflect current trends, evaluate existing approaches on common benchmarks, and identify critical new areas of research. Winners will be announced and awards given at the workshop. BEST STUDENT AWARD The MLSP Best Student Paper Award will be granted to the best overall paper for which a student is the principal author and presenter. This author must be a registered student at the time of paper submission to be eligible for this award. The award will be presented during the conference and consists of a honorarium (to be divided equally between all student authors of the paper), and a certificate for each such author. The award will be selected by a subcommittee of the program committee. The selection is based on the quality, originality, and clarity of the submission. PAPER SUBMISSION Prospective authors are invited to submit a double column paper of up to six pages using the electronic submission procedure at http://mlsp2014.conwiz.dk/paper_submission.htm Accepted papers will be published on memory sticks to be distributed at the workshop. The presented papers will be published in and indexed by IEEE Xplore. SCHEDULE: - Submission of full paper: May 5, 2014 - Notification of acceptance: June 27, 2014 - Advance registration before: July 25, 2014 - Camera-ready paper: July 25, 2014 ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: General Chair Mamadou Mboup Contact general chair at mlsp2014-chair(a)conwiz.dk Program Chairs Tülay Adali Eric Moreau Contact program chairs at mlsp2014-programchairs(a)conwiz.dk Data Competition Chair Vince Calhoun Special Session Chair Jean-Yves Tourneret Publicity Chair Marc Van Hulle Web and Publication Chair Jan Larsen Kevin Guelton Local Arrangement Chairs Valeriu Vrabie Hassan Fenniri

April 22, 2014

Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships

by Naotsugu Tsuchiya

Dear all, The Australian government is offering Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships https://aei.gov.au/scholarships-and-fellowships/international-applicants/pa… to those competitive international students and postdocs to visit and conduct short-term research in Australia. Please see the web site if you are interested. In my lab, we are looking for students/postdocs who are proficient in Matlab (and preferably signal processing and/or information theory as well) and interested in 1) application of the integrated information theory of consciosness to the real neuronal data, 2) analysis of intracranial recording data (using decoding, cross-frequency coupling etc) to understand the neuronal basis of consciousness. Please send me <naotsugu.tsuchiya(a)monash.edu> your CV if you are interested. Endeavour Awards will be closing 30 June 2013. Regards Nao Tsuchiya -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nao (Naotsugu) Tsuchiya, Ph.D. 1. Associate Professor School of Psychological Sciences Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University 2. ARC Future Fellow homepage: http://users.monash.edu.au/~naotsugt/Tsuchiya_Labs_Homepage/Main.html

April 22, 2014

NIPS 2014 Call for Papers

by Chris Hiestand

Neural Information Processing Systems Conference and Workshops December 8-13, 2014 Montreal Convention Center, Montreal, Canada Deadline for Paper Submissions: Friday, June 6, 2014, 11 pm Universal Time (4 pm Pacific Daylight Time). Submit at: https://cmt.research.microsoft.com/NIPS2014/ Submissions are solicited for the Twenty-Eigth Annual Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems, an interdisciplinary conference that brings together researchers in all aspects of neural and statistical information processing and computation, and their applications. The conference is a highly selective, single track meeting that includes oral and poster presentations of refereed papers as well as invited talks. The 2014 conference will be held on December 8-11 at Montreal Convention Center, Montreal, Canada. One day of tutorials (December 8) will precede the main conference, and two days of workshops (December 12-13) will follow it at the same location. Complete details: http://nips.cc/Conferences/2014/CallForPapers

April 22, 2014

Postdoctoral Position in Computational and Experimental Social Neuroscience

by Emmanuelle Tognoli

The Human Brain and Behavior Laboratory (HBBL), Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Position in Experimental and Computational Social Neuroscience. The research program aims to advance our understanding of basic forms of real-time social behavior. This new NIMH-supported program employs a three-pronged approach that combines (1) experimental studies aimed at elucidating how neuromarkers are organized dynamically during the course of social interaction (2) the design and analysis of the Human Dynamic Clamp (reciprocal coupling between humans and mathematical models of a social partner) and (3) multiscale neurocomputational modeling of both structure and function. The postdoctoral scientist will be highly motivated and able to work independently. He/she will also collaborate within an interdisciplinary team of researchers whose expertise spans Neuroscience, Psychology and Physics. The successful applicant will contribute to the design and conduct of neurobehavioral experiments and to theoretical modeling in which social interactions are treated as meaningfully coupled dynamical systems (Coordination Dynamics). Candidates should have a PhD degree or equivalent. Experience or willingness to learn in one or more relevant domains will be considered an advantage: - Theoretical modeling, dynamical systems - Preparation and conduct of social, neurobehavioral and neurocognitive experiments - Recording and analysis of brain activity and behavior (e.g. EEG, MEG, fMRI, etc) - Digital signal processing and statistical analysis - Programming (Matlab, C, visual basic), - Excellent writing skills The position will be for one year with a possibility of extension depending on satisfactory progress. Salary will be commensurable with experience. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Qualified candidates should send a CV and arrange for 3 reference letters via email to: J. A. Scott Kelso & Emmanuelle Tognoli, kelso at ccs.fau.edu, tognoli at ccs.fau.edu www.ccs.fau.edu/hbbl.html HBBL, Center for Complex Systems & Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL USA -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

April 20, 2014

OpenWorm for scientists

by Stephen Larson

Hi all, OpenWorm <http://openworm.org/> is an open source project and open science community dedicated to creating the world’s first whole organism in a computer, a C. elegans nematode<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caenorhabditis_elegans>, via bottom-up computational modeling. It is an association of highly motivated scientists, engineers, coders, and curious citizens from around the world who believe in open science and open access. While our ultimate goal is to simulate every cell in the c. elegans, we are starting out by building a model of its body and environment, its nervous system, and its muscle cells. At the center of this is an incrementally improving detailed multi-compartmental representation of the c. elegans nervous system<http://docs.openworm.org/en/latest/Projects/datarep.html#neuroml-connectome>. You can read more about our neuromechanical modeling approach in our online documentation<http://docs.openworm.org/en/latest/modeling.html#closing-the-loop-with-neur…> . We've recently pulled together a page<http://www.openworm.org/science.html> that focuses content that is relevant to experimental biologists and other scientists in a single place online. http://www.openworm.org/science.html This outreach effort is aimed at creating a conversation between biologists collecting data and making observations and computational modelers building models and validating them against real data. We invite the comp-neuro community to have a look, provide feedback, and join the conversation! Thanks, Stephen Larson, Ph.D Project coordinator http://openworm.org

April 19, 2014

Postdoc/engineer positions in Parkinsons/DBS and Neuroprosthetics

by Dawn Taylor

We currently have multiple openings for Postdocs and/or engineers for two newly funded studies. Detailed descriptions of each study are listed below. If interested, please send a CV to Dr. Dawn Taylor at dxt42(a)case.edu. 1) The goal of the *Parkinson's* project is to understand how Parkinson's disease alters cortical network processing and how *Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)* can be improved to better re-normalize motor processing. Cortical network activity will be recorded in monkeys via intracortical electrode arrays before and after making the animals hemi-Parkinsonian via injections of the selective neurotoxin MPTP (note this toxin is initially applied in such a way that the animal only develops parkinsonian symptoms on one half of its body so the animal can still groom, ambulate, and take care of itself). DBS will then be applied to two subcortical regions (subthalamic nucleus and globus pallidus) to alleviate Parkinsonian symptoms. Computational models of the cortical microcircuit will be developed that accurately reflect the recorded cortical activity in the normal and Parkinsonian states as well as under the influence of different DBS patterns. The model parameters that need to be changed to make the network computational model behave like the recorded experimental data under the different conditions will be informative regarding the underlying mechanisms of DBS. The refined computational model will also be used to rapidly screen for new DBS patterns that are more effective at restoring normal cortical network processing. The improved DBS patterns suggested by the computational model will then be validated by testing those novel patterns in the monkeys. This project is being done in conjunction with Dr. Cameron McIntyre who will oversee the computational modelling part of the study. We are looking for multiple post docs that can focus on either the animal work, the computational modeling, or both depending on their skills and interests. 2) The long-term goal of the *Neuroprosthetics* project is to enable paralyzed individuals to use their brain signals to control their upper limb via implanted muscle stimulators. Most labs working on brain-controlled neuroprosthetics decode intended limb kinematics (e.g. velocity, joint angles, etc.) from the recorded brain signals. However, that approach still requires converting those kinematic commands into the appropriate stimulation patterns required to generate the desired limb motion. That conversion process has not been resolved for the upper limb due to the limb's complex dynamical nature and the fact that the limb is subject to unknown external forces during use. We bypass this obstacle by retraining the brain to control muscle stimulators directly. We have come up with some novel, but clinically feasible ways of mapping neural signals directly to muscle stimulators. Our methods can enable the user to have good control over both limb motion and stiffness. To demonstrate and refine our methods, we are training monkeys to control the movements of a realistic musculoskeletal model of a paralyzed limb activated via implanted muscle stimulators. The paralyzed limb simulator (developed by the lab of Robert Krisch) provides real-time visual feedback to the animal of the limb motion that would result from stimulating the paralyzed muscles based on the animal's neural signals decoded in real time. The use of this real-time paralyzed arm simulator allows us to test and refine our process of brain-controlled muscle stimulation in monkeys without actually having to paralyze any animals. -- Dawn M. Taylor, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Neuroscience, Cleveland Clinic Researcher Scientist, Cleveland VA Medical Center, Functional Electrical Stimulation Center Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering & of Molecular Medicine, Case Western Reserve University The Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute 9500 Euclid Ave. / NC30 Cleveland, OH 44195 email: dxt42(a)case.edu or taylord8(a)ccf.org Phone: (216) 636-0140 Fax: (216) 778-4259

April 18, 2014

Major change in NIH Policy regarding Revision (Amended) Applications -- NOT-OD-14-074

by Glanzman, Dennis (NIH/NIMH) [E]

I am writing to let the community know that effective immediately, NIH no longer limits applicants to a single Revision Application (A1). >From today's Notice: "... following an unsuccessful resubmission (A1) application, applicants may submit the same idea as a new (A0) application for the next appropriate due date." See the full Notice online at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-14-074.html Dennis L. Glanzman, Ph.D. Chief, Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience Program National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, DHHS 6001 Executive Boulevard Room 7192; MSC 9637 Bethesda, MD 20892-9637 Telephone: (301) 443-6429

April 17, 2014

Postdoctoral position in systems neuroscience at the University of Manchester

by Mark Humphries

We seek an electrophysiologist to join a team investigating the neural basis of perception. This is a BBSRC-funded project led by Dr Rasmus Petersen in collaboration with Dr Mark Humphries at the University of Manchester, UK. The project is a multidisciplinary team effort involving both experimentalists and computational modellers. Your primary role will be experimental. You will be using state-of-the-art electrophysiological methods to investigate active perception in an awake, behaving in vivo model, using a whisker-guided sensory discrimination task. You will also have the opportunity to develop your skills in data analysis. You will hold a Ph.D. in neuroscience and experience of electrophysiological recording in vivo. Experience with data analysis is an advantage. The position is immediately available and will be for up to 3 years. For more details and to apply, please visit: https://www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/displayjob.aspx?jobid=7514 Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Rasmus Petersen. Email r.petersen(a)manchester.ac.uk<mailto:r.petersen@manchester.ac.uk> Dr Mark Humphries MRC Senior non-Clinical Research Fellow AV Hill Building Faculty of Life Sciences University of Manchester http://www.systemsneurophysiologylab.ls.manchester.ac.uk/

April 17, 2014

Fully funded combined theoretical and experimental neuroscience PhD at UCL

by Peter Latham

We are looking for an exceptional candidate to carry out a combined theoretical and experimental PhD. The student will receive training from two labs: Professor Peter Latham (Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit; theory) and Professor Michael Hausser (Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research; experiment). The candidate will initially be based at the Gatsby Unit with Professor Latham, taking courses in computational neuroscience and developing theories at the circuit level; the rest of the PhD will be with Professor Hausser testing those theories using advanced experimental tools for linking neural circuit function with behavior (most notably targeted optogenetics and fast 2-photon imaging). The applicant should have a strong analytical background and a keen interest in neuroscience. Experience in an experimental lab is desirable but not absolutely necessary. The applicant will be fully funded for four years. Start date is flexible (but ideally by 1 October 2014). Closing date is May 15! Applicants should apply directly to Professor Latham (pel(a)gatsby.ucl.ac.uk) Please send, in PDF or plain text format where possible, the following: - CV - statement of research interests, - transcript(s) for previous degrees, and arrange for three academic letters of recommendation, also to pel(a)gatsby.ucl.ac.uk . For further details of research interests please visit our websites: Latham: http://www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/~pel/ Hausser: http://www.dendrites.org/

April 16, 2014

Second Call for Papers: LDAB@CIBB2014

by Andrea Bracciali

[We apologize if you have received multiple copies of this message] ==================================================== Second Call for Papers Large-scale and HPC data analysis in bioinformatics: Intelligent methods for computational, systems and synthetic biology. 26-28 June 2014 University of Cambridge, UK http://www.cussb.unisr.it/cibb2014/ss.html#LSAHDAIB Special Session of CIBB 2014: Eleventh International Meeting on Computational Intelligence Methods for Bioinformatics and Biostatistics http://www.cussb.unisr.it/cibb2014/index.html *** Submission deadline: 5th May 2014 *** ==================================================== AIMS and SCOPE Biomedical research is currently facing the Big Data wave created by the huge amount of experiments performed every day in omics sciences. This new situation demands appropriate IT-infrastructures and scalable software to analyse data within an acceptable timespan. Massive parallel clusters, distributed technologies, on-Chip solutions such as GPGPU and Xeon Phi must be exploited with adequate algorithmic solutions to reach their full potential. The aim of this special session is to bring together researchers interested in cutting-edge methods to address the challenges posed by the huge amount of data produced in omics science. The idea is to present the latest advancements concerning High Performance Computing solutions required to treat multi-omics data and the related Big Data paradigms that are needed to manage the large-scale challenges of current computational biology. Examples of relevant areas of interest within this context include - but are not limited to - - Next-Generation Sequencing data analysis and interpretation, - Genomics patterns identification and mining, - Transcriptomics and Proteomics data integration, - Systems Biology models simulation and optimization, - Structural Biology and Molecular Dynamics, - Synthetic Biology circuits design and simulation. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES http://www.cussb.unisr.it/cibb2014/calls.html#submissions Papers should be submitted in PDF format on the Easy Chair conference system. Paper length should be at least 4 pages and should not exceed 6 pages. Papers are required to be structured according to the following five sections: • 1. Scientific background • 2. Material and methods • 3. Results • 4. Conclusion • 5. References (no more than 10) (Please refer to the latex template on the web page for more accurate instructions). Please note that only PDF versions of papers can be accepted, as the proceedings of CIBB will be produced starting from them. A correct submission requires selecting this special session in the submission system. PUBLICATION Each paper will be peer-reviewed and the resulting scores used to determine invitations for oral or poster presentations. Following the conference, an extended version of the presented contributions (12 page format) will be considered for publication in the Springer’s Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics (LNBI) series. Moreover, a selection of the best papers will be considered for pu blication in a special issue of BMC Bioinformatics dedicated to CIBB2014. IMPORTANT DATES Paper submission: 5th May 2014 Acceptance notification: 10th May 2014 Camera ready due: 30th May 2014 Conference: 26th - 28th June 2014 ORGANISERS Andrea Bracciali, University of Stirling, UK Ivan Merelli, CNR-ITB, Italy CONTACTS Andrea Bracciali, University of Stirling, UK Computing Science and Mathematics School of Natural Sciences Stirling University abb(a)cs.stir.ac.uk +44 (0)1786 467446 Ivan Merelli, CNR-ITB, Italy Institute for Biomedical Technologies Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche ivan.merelli(a)itb.cnr.it +39 02 26422600

April 16, 2014

Post-doctoral position - Boston University

by Michael Hasselmo

Post-doctoral position – Boston University The Hasselmo laboratory in the Center for Memory and Brain at Boston University is looking for a post-doctoral fellow to work on a multi-disciplinary university research initiative (MURI) project in collaboration with the Leonard and Roy labs at MIT and the Milford lab at QUT. Applicants should have experience in the area of robotics with an emphasis on spatial navigation and computational neuroscience. This background should include a degree in electrical engineering, computer science, computational neuroscience or mechanical engineering. The successful candidate will extend current research on goal directed spatial behavior, including work on modeling navigation in robots guided by models of neurophysiological circuits. He/she will also implement previously developed computational models in 3D simulation environments and robotic hardware. The ideal candidate will have experience in path planning, autonomous navigation, computational modeling, neural networks, AI and/or computer vision. Excellent programming skills in MATLAB, Python and/or C++ are a must. Experience in implementing computational models on hardware platforms is a plus. Requirements: - A degree in one of the following areas: electrical engineering, computer science, computational neuroscience, mechanical engineering. - Experience in robotics, mathematical modeling, autonomous navigation, and/or neural networks. - Excellent coding skills in MATLAB, C++ and/or Python. -- Prof. Michael Hasselmo Center for Memory and Brain, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Graduate Program for Neuroscience, Principal Investigator, ONR Multi-disciplinary University Research Initiative on Grid cells and Autonomous Systems, Boston University, 2 Cummington St., Boston, MA, 02215, USA Tel: (617) 353-1397, e-mail: hasselmo(a)bu.edu, http://www.bu.edu/hasselmo

April 16, 2014

Recruitment for Post-doctoral Position: Sinapse, Singapore

by Wong Kian Foong

Postdoctoral Research in Neuroimaging Data Processing and Analysis National University of Singapore – Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology (Cognitive Engineering Group) A postdoctoral appointment is available in the Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology (SINAPSE) (http://sinapseinstitute.org/) at National University of Singapore. The post-holder will be a member Professor Anastasios Bezerianos’s group focused on Neuroimaging data processing and analysis. Professor Bezerianos’s group makes use of concurrent EEG and fMRI recording to study the mechanisms of brain under various mental states. We are looking for a research fellow who is interested in developing and employing advanced signal processing techniques for analysis of neuroimaging data and developing pattern recognition approaches to classify different brain states. The candidate has to have expertise in design and running of fMRI experiments, management of fMRI data and knwoledge of existing tools for fMRI image analaysis The ideal candidate should have a strong background in Neuroimaging data processing and (or) machine learning techniques. Previous experience on multimodal neuroimaging signal processing techniques is preferable but not necessary. Previous research experience with concurrent EEG/fMRI techniques would be an advantage. You will have the ability to manage the day-to-day running of research project including assisting junior researchers, and good communication and writing skills. You will have to and should be able to work independently as well as in a team. You will have the ability to deliver results to the required standard and schedule. The position is full-time fixed-term for minimum 1 year in the first instance with potential 2 year extension. Competitive salaries according to the NUS standards. Interested applicants will be required to send you CV and supporting documents to: Prof. Anastasios Bezerianos Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology National University of Singapore Email: tassos.bezerianos(a)nus.edu.sg

April 16, 2014

Applications open for INCF two-day course "Introduction to neuroinformatics"

by Malin Sandström

Dear all, Application is now open for our two-day course "Introduction to Neuroinformatics" in Leiden in August. The course aim is to give researchers and advanced students an introduction to the field, with lectures given by carefully selected world experts. The content is suitable for both neuroscience and informatics backgrounds. Please help us spread the word to fellow researchers and students in your department! There is no course fee, and we have some travel support available. The application deadline is May 20th. More info: http://www.incf.org/community/events/incf-short-course-2014 Download course poster: http://www.incf.org/community/events/incf-short-course-2014/at_download/eve… In case of questions, please contact Mathew Abrams on course-admin(a)incf.org Best regards, Malin -- Malin Sandström, PhD Community Engagement Officer malin.sandstrom(a)incf.org International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility Karolinska Institutet Nobels väg 15 A SE-171 77 Stockholm Sweden http://www.incf.org

April 16, 2014

BCF/NWG course "Analysis and Models in Neurophysiology" 2014 at the Bernstein Center Freiburg, Germany

by Birgit Ahrens

BCF/NWG-Course "Analysis and Models in Neurophysiology" /Sunday, October 5 - Friday, October 10, 2014 / /Bernstein Center Freiburg, Hansastraße 9a, 79104 Freiburg, Germany/ *Aim of the course:* The course is intended to provide advanced Diploma/Masters and PhD students, as well as young researchers from the neurosciences with approaches for the analysis of electrophysiological data and the theoretical concepts behind them. *The course includes various topics such as*: * Neuron models and spike train statistics * Point processes and correlation measures * Systems and signals * Local field potentials The course will consist of lectures in the morning and and matching exercises using Matlab and Mathematica in the afternoon. Experience with these software packages will be helpful but is not required for registration. The participants should have a basic understanding of scientific programming. This course is designated especially for advanced diploma/master-students and PhD-students (preferentially in their first year). *Application:* Please apply by sending one pdf document containing your CV and a meaningful letter of motivation to nwg-course(a)bcf.uni-freiburg.de. The letter of motivation should refer to the following points: * Reasons for wanting to take this course * Background in mathematics * Experience using Matlab/Python/Mathematika * Background in neuroscience The course is limited to 20 participants. *Course fees:* NWG members - 50EUR, others - 125EUR *Application deadline: *June 30, 2014 *More information: *http://www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de/events/conferences-workshops/20141005-nwgcourse *-- Dr. Birgit Ahrens --* Teaching & Training Coordinator Bernstein Center Freiburg University of Freiburg Hansastr. 9a D - 79104 Freiburg Germany Phone: +49 (0) 761 203-9575 Fax: +49 (0) 761 203-9559

April 16, 2014

Research Fellowship Opportunity in Cognitive Neuroscience

by Naotsugu Tsuchiya

Dear All, The School of Psychological Sciences is pleased to announce the opening of a call for a *Research Fellow in Cognitive Neuroscience*. Expressions of interest from suitably qualified applicants are sought and appointments may be made at the level of Research Fellow, Senior Research Fellow or Principal Research Fellow, depending upon experience. Salary and research support are available for 4 years. Domestic and international applicants are welcome to apply. Please see the attached document or follow the link below for further information regarding this outstanding career opportunity. http://jobs.monash.edu.au/jobDetails.asp?sJobIDs=523427&lWorkTypeID=&lLocat… Best wishes Mark Bellgrove and Kim Cornish -- Professor Mark Bellgrove Research Chair School of Psychological Sciences Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Monash University, Clayton Campus Room 533, Building 17 Victoria, 3800 AUSTRALIA Tel +61 3 990 24200 Fax +61 3 99053948 Monash Provider No. 00008C www.med.monash.edu.au/psych/research -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nao (Naotsugu) Tsuchiya, Ph.D. 1. Associate Professor School of Psychological Sciences Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University 2. ARC Future Fellow homepage: http://users.monash.edu.au/~naotsugt/Tsuchiya_Labs_Homepage/Main.html

April 16, 2014

Deadline Extension: AAAI Workshop on Incentives and Trust in Electronic Communities (WIT-EC) 2014

by Jay Zhang

Sorry for multiple copies. The submission deadline of the AAAI WIT-EC 2014 has been extended to April 25, 2014. CALL FOR PAPER AAAI 2014 WORKSHOP ON INCENTIVE AND TRUST IN E-COMMUITIES (WIT-EC'14) http://trust.sce.ntu.edu.sg/wit-ec14/ The 3nd WIT-EC workshop will be held together with the Twenty-Eighth AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence (AAAI'14), July 27-31, 2014, in Quebec, Canada. Trust and incentive have bidirectional relationships. As trustworthiness measures are used as part of incentive mechanisms to promote honesty in electronic communities, incentive mechanisms motivate participants to contribute their truthful opinions that are useful for trust modeling. Hence, trust and reputation systems should not only provide a means to detect and prevent malicious activities but also design a mechanism to discourage dishonesty attitudes amongst participants. The evidential success of combining these two concepts inspires and encourages researchers in the trust community to enhance the efficacy and performance of trust modeling approaches by adopting various incentive mechanisms. The main objective of this workshop is to bring together researchers and practitioners of both fields, to foster an exchange of information and ideas, and to facilitate a discussion of current and emerging topics relevant to building effective trust, reputation and incentive mechanisms for electronic communities. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: - Social, cognitive trust, reputation - Computational trust, reputation - Incentive Mechanisms - Cross-cultural approaches - Components and dimensions of sociotechnical trust - Game theoretic approaches to trust and reputation - Game theory and trusting behaviours - Risk management and trust-based decision making - Trust management dynamics - Trust, regret, and forgiveness - Economic drivers for trustworthy systems - Trust and economic models - Trust metrics assessment and threat analysis - Context-aware trust assessments - Trust-aware recommender systems - Evolution of trust - Trust-based incentive mechanisms - Robustness of trust and reputation systems - Trust metrics assessment and threat analysis - Robustness of incentive mechanisms - Deception and fraud, and its detection and prevention - Attacks on, and defences for, trust, reputation and incentive mechanisms - Testbeds and framework of trust - User interfaces to incentive mechanisms - Real-world applications for virtual communities (e.g. e-commerce, social network, e-health, e-learning, blog, online tutoring systems) Previous Workshops: Reacting to the strong needs and trend, the first Workshop on Incentives and Trust in E-Commerce (WIT-EC'12) was organized with the 13th ACM Conference on Electronic Commerce (EC'12), on June 4-8, 2012, in Valencia, Spain, to bring together researchers in both the area of game theory for designing incentive mechanisms and the area of trust and reputation modeling, towards the design of more effective trust, reputation and incentive mechanisms for creating safe e-marketplace environments. The second Workshop on Incentive and Trust in E-commerce has been held together with the 23rd International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI'13), on August 3-9, 2013, in Beijing, China. Following up the success of the WIT-EC'12 workshop, we invite eight accepted papers to the special issue of Computational Intelligence on Incentives and Trust in E-Commerce ( http://www.ntu.edu.sg/home/zhangj/doc/cfp-ci-si-trust.pdf ) aiming to further elicit articles in a more comprehensive and extended form that contribute to the resolving of the above mentioned challenges. Workshop Co-Chairs Stephen Marsh, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Canada Jie Zhang, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Christian Jensen, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark Zeinab Noorian, University of Saskatchewan, Canada Program Committee Sviatoslav Braynov, University of Illinois at Springfield, USA Chris Burnett, University of Aberdeen, UK Robin Cohen, University of Waterloo, Canada Babak Esfandiari, Carleton University, Canada Rino Falcone, Institute of Cognitive Science and Technologies, CNR, Italy Carol Fung, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA Audun Josang, University of Oslo, Norway Sama Khosravifar, University of Tehran, Iran Siyuan Liu, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Tim Muller, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Masakatsu Nishigaki, Shizouka University, Japan Thanasis Papaioannou, EPFL, Switzerland Sarvapali Ramchurn, University of Southampton, UK Thomas Tran, University of Ottawa, Canada Kewen Wu, University of Saskatchewan, Canada Contact Info Zeinab Noorian z.noorian(a)unb.ca Important Dates Paper Submission Deadline : April 25, 2014 Notification of Acceptance: May 1, 2014 Camera-ready Paper: May 15, 2014 Workshop Date: July 27, 2014 Submission and Proceedings Papers must be formatted according to the AAAI 2014 style guide. We solicit short and long papers as well as research demos. Long papers (6 pages) present original research work; short papers (4 pages) report on work in progress or describe demo systems. All the selected papers will be published in an AAAI technical report volume. Submissions will be reviewed for relevance, originality, significance, validity and clarity. All articles selected for publication will be reviewed by at least two reviewers with expertise in the area. As previous years, we plan to invite the best papers for a journal special issue.

April 16, 2014

Computational Modeling of Cognition-Emotion Interactions - Quebec City - July 23, 2014

by Jean-Marc

CFP: Workshop on ***"Computational Modeling of Cognition-Emotion Interactions: Relevance to Mechanisms of Affective Disorders and Psychotherapeutic Action"*** To be held at the 36^th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society July 23, 2014 Quebec City, Quebec, Canada Recent years have witnessed an increasing interest in developing computational models of emotion and emotion-cognition interaction, within the emerging area of computational affective science.At the same time, emotion theorists and clinical psychologists have been recognizing the importance of moving beyond descriptive characterizations of affective disorders, and identifying the underlying mechanisms that mediate both psychopathology and psychotherapeutic action. Computational models of cognition-emotion interactions have the potential to facilitate more accurate assessment and diagnosis of affective disorders, and to provide a basis for more efficient and targeted approaches to treatment, through an improved understanding of the mechanisms of therapeutic action. In spite of the significant synergy that could result from a dialogue among researchers and practitioners in affective modeling, emotion research and clinical psychology, limited interaction exists among these communities. The goal of this workshop is to provide a forum for interdisciplinary dialog among the members of these research communities, and explore how computational models of emotion-cognition interaction can help elucidate the mechanisms mediating affective disorders, as well as the mechanisms of therapeutic action. Workshop Format To facilitate cross-disciplinary discussions and interaction, the workshop format will emphasize moderated panels, small working groups, and open discussion, in addition to the traditional paper sessions. To this end, we encourage submissions of proposals for discussion topics, panels and small working groups. Keynote address:Keith Oatley, University of Toronto-- "The cognitive bases of emotions, emotional disorders and psychotherapy." *Submission Guidelines* Interested participants should submit extended abstracts (1-3 pages), discussion and working group topics (1 page), or panel proposals (1-2 pages) to hudlicka(a)cs.umass.edu <mailto:Hudlicka@ieee.org> by *June 1*.Relevant topics include: ·Which processes mediating cognition-emotion interactions are sufficiently well understood to support computational modeling (e.g., affective biases on attention & perception; emotion regulation; cognitive appraisal)? ·How can models of these processes contribute to an understanding of the mechanisms of therapeutic action, across different types of psychotherapies (e.g., cognitive, psychodynamic, emotion-focused)? ·What are the relative benefits and drawbacks of the dominant theoretical perspectives on emotion with respect to computational models of emotion-cognition interaction and therapeutic action (e.g., discrete / categorical models, dimensional models (PAD), componential models)? ·What are the best representational and reasoning approaches for modeling cognitive-affective schemas and their transformation during therapy?Can we characterize the differences in these transformations across distinct therapeutic approaches (e.g., cognitive, metacognitive, emotion-focused, motivational interviewing, psychodynamic)? ·What are the most appropriate computational methods for modeling the distinct modalities of affective processes (e.g., physiological / somatic, expressive /behavioral, cognitive)? ·How can we model intermodal interactions across processes operating at different time scales? ·What types of data are necessary to develop these models, and how can these be obtained? ·For a given affective process and modality, what criteria determine the best level of model resolution (e.g., models of lower-level processes via connectionist methods vs. higher-level symbolic models)? ·How can we validate computational models of cognition-emotion interactions and therapeutic action, and what are the limits of this validation (e.g., validation of detailed symbolic models hypothesizing specific internal mental constructs, such as goals or plans, may not be possible with current technologies). Addressing these questions from a multi-disciplinary perspective will provide the context within which concrete gaps in both theoretical knowledge and methodologies can be identified, and research priorities established. Submitters will receive notification of acceptance/rejection by *June 15.* For more information see: https://people.cs.umass.edu/~hudlicka/cogsci2014-cog-em.html Post-Workshop Publication The workshop papers will be published as a separate report, and both the papers and the presentations will be made available on the workshop web site. The workshop organizers will also pursue the possibility of a special issue of a relevant journal (TBD) and/or an edited volume in the Affective Science Series published by Oxford University Press. Program Committee Eva Hudlicka, Chair, Psychometrix Associates & University of Massachusetts-Amherst Michael Arbib, University of Southern California Jorge Armony, McGill University Luc Beaudoin, Simon Fraser University Jean-Marc Fellous, University of Arizona Ian Horswill, Northwestern University Richard Lane, University of Arizona

April 15, 2014

Poster submission deadline extended to the Fourth International Symposium on Biology of Decision-Making, 26-28 May 2014 @ Paris, France

by Mehdi Khamassi

[Please accept our apologies if you get multiple copies of this message] Dear colleagues, The deadline for poster submission is extended to April 30 for the Fourth Symposium on Biology of Decision Making which will take place in Paris, France, on May, 26-28th 2014. Poster submission and online registration can be done on the dedicated website: http://sbdm2014.isir.upmc.fr Please circulate widely and encourage your colleagues to attend. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FOURTH SYMPOSIUM ON BIOLOGY OF DECISION MAKING (SBDM 2014) May 26-28, 2014, Paris, France Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle, Hôpital La Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France. & Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France. & Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France. http://sbdm2014.isir.upmc.fr ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PRESENTATION: The Fourth Symposium on Biology of Decision Making will take place on May 26-28, 2014 at the Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle, Paris, France, with a satellite day at Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France. The objective of this three day symposium is to gather people from different research fields with different approaches (economics, ethology, psychiatry, neural and computational approaches) to decision-making. The symposium will be a single-track, will last for 3 days and will include 6 sessions: (#1) Who is making decisions? Cortex or basal ganglia; (#2) New computational approaches to decision-making; (#3) A new player in decision-making: the hippocampus; (#4) Neuromodulation of decision-making; (#5) Maladaptive decisions in clinical conditions; (#6) Who is more rational? Decision making across species. CONFIRMED SPEAKERS: Elsa Addessi (ISTC-CNR, Italy) Bernard Balleine (Sydney University, Australia) Karim Benchenane (CNRS-ESPCI, France) Roland Benoit (Harvard, USA) Matthew Botvinick (Princeton University, USA) Anne Collins (Brown University, USA) Roshan Cools (Radboud Univ. Nijmegen, The Netherlands) Molly Crockett (UCL, UK) Jean Daunizeau (INSERM-ICM, France) Nathaniel Daw (NYU, USA) Kenji Doya (OIST, Japan) Philippe Faure (CNRS-UPMC, France) Lesley Fellows (McGill University, Canada) Aldo Genovesio (Universita La Sapienza, Italy) Ben Hayden (University of Rochester, USA) Tobias Kalenscher (Universität Düsseldorf, Germany) Etienne Koechlin (CNRS-ENS, France) James Marshall (Sheffield University, UK) Genela Morris (Haifa University, Israel) Camillo Padoa-Schioppa (Washington Univ. St Louis, USA) Alex Pouget (Rochester University, USA) Pete Redgrave (Sheffield University, UK) Jonathan Roiser (UCL, UK) Masamichi Sakagami (Tamagawa University, Japan) Daphna Shohamy (Columbia University, USA) Klaas Stephan (Univ. Zurich & ETH Zurich, Switzerland) IMPORTANT DATES: April 30, 2014 Deadline for Poster Submission (extended deadline) May 1, 2014 Deadline for Registration May 26-28, 2014 Symposium Venue ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: Thomas Boraud (CNRS, Bordeaux, France) Sacha Bourgeois-Gironde (La Sorbonne, Paris, France) Kenji Doya (OIST, Okinawa, Japan) Mehdi Khamassi (CNRS - UPMC, Paris, France) Etienne Koechlin (CNRS - ENS, Paris, France) Mathias Pessiglione (ICM - INSERM, Paris, France) CONTACT INFORMATION : Website, registration, poster submission and detailed program: http://sbdm2014.isir.upmc.fr Contact: sbdm2014 [ at ] isir.upmc.fr Questions about registration: sbdm2014-registration [ at ] isir.upmc.fr -- Mehdi Khamassi, PhD Researcher (CNRS) Institut des Systèmes Intelligents et de Robotique (UMR7222) CNRS - Université Pierre et Marie Curie Pyramide, Tour 55 - Boîte courrier 173 4 place Jussieu, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France tel: + 33 1 44 27 28 85 fax: +33 1 44 27 51 45 cell: +33 6 50 76 44 92 http://people.isir.upmc.fr/khamassi

April 15, 2014

2 Post-doc positions on the relation of information and causation (Prof. Giulio Tononi)

by albantakis

Up to 2 postdoctoral positions are available at the center for sleep and consciousness science in the laboratory of Dr. Giulio Tononi (University of Wisconsin, Madison), to study the relation of information and causation within the framework of the integrated information theory of consciousness (Balduzzi & Tononi, 2008; Tononi, 2012). Immediate funding is available for a range of projects related to foundational questions regarding the ontological status of information, and its relation to causation, emergence, adaptation, evolution, and consciousness (see detailed scope of work below). Successful candidates will work at the center for sleep and consciousness science, dedicated to a broad range of research problems focused on two neurobiological problems -- the mechanisms and functions of sleep and the neural substrates of consciousness. Candidates are expected to have strong training in an analytically rigorous discipline such as theoretical biology/neuroscience, physics, mathematics, computer science, or engineering. For at least one of the positions, we explicitely encourage mathematicians to apply. Experience in information theory, complex systems, and an interest in the philosophy of information/causation are a plus. Programming experience is required (knowledge of MATLAB, Python, and/or C++ is of advantage). Appointments are renewable from year to year for up to 3 years, starting as soon as possible or until the positions are filled. Post-doc salaries correspond to the National Institutes of Health National Research Service Award (NRSA) stipend schedule for postdoc trainees, based on number of years of postdoctoral experience. Candidates should send a CV, brief statement of previous research and future research interests, and email addresses and phone numbers of three references to: Giulio Tononi, gtononi(a)wisc.edu. Balduzzi D, Tononi G (2008) Integrated information in discrete dynamical systems: motivation and theoretical framework. /PLoS Comput Biol/ 4:e1000091. Hoel, E. P., Albantakis, L., & Tononi, G. (2013). Quantifying causal emergence shows that macro can beat micro. /PNAS/, /110/(49), 19790--19795. Tononi G (2012) Integrated Information Theory of Consciousness: An Updated Account. /Arch Ital Biol/ 150:56--90. The scope of work will range from: -theoretical development and computational implementation of the notion of intrinsic causal information -causal analysis, including the systematic use of perturbations, counterfactuals, and irreducibility -analysis of complex systems in terms their causal/informational structure -meaning (understanding and control) from the intrinsic perspective of the system -actual causation (causal explanation) -examining similarities and differences between existing notions of information and causation (Shannon information, algorithmic information,...) -defining emergence in terms of the spatio-temporal grain size at which a system of elements achieves a maximum of causal power -evolutionary/adaptive aspects of information/causation including simulations based on small adaptive neural networks (animats), which evolve and adapt to an environment that requires sensitivity to context for survival

April 15, 2014

Neuroimaging and Modelling Research Associate Posts at the University of Ulster

by Wong-Lin, Kongfatt

The School of Computing and Intelligent Systems at the University of Ulster has two available 2-year fixed term research associate posts. One of the posts will involve research in the general area of neuroimaging using magnetoencephalography (MEG), particularly in mild cognitive impairment. The other post will involve research in the general area of computational modelling of neuromodulatory effects on MEG signals. Interested applicants are welcomed to apply at: http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/AIJ303/research-associate/ http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/AIJ301/research-associate<http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/AIJ301/research-associate/>/ Note that the closing date is on 28 April 2014. Successful applicants will be based primarily at the Functional Brain Mapping facility at the Intelligent Systems Research Centre (ISRC) with opportunities to interact with other related research teams at the ISRC (e.g. Brain-Computer Interface and Assistive Technologies, Computational Neuroscience, Bio-Inspired and Neuro-Engineering, and Cognitive Robotics), research groups from the (5* research rating) Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, and the recently developed Centre for Stratified Medicine. ------ Dr. KongFatt Wong-Lin Computational Neuroscience Research Team Intelligent Systems Research Centre School of Computing and Intelligent Systems University of Ulster ________________________________ This email and any attachments are confidential and intended solely for the use of the addressee and may contain information which is covered by legal, professional or other privilege. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager at postmaster(a)ulster.ac.uk and delete this email immediately. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the University of Ulster. The University's computer systems may be monitored and communications carried out on them may be recorded to secure the effective operation of the system and for other lawful purposes. The University of Ulster does not guarantee that this email or any attachments are free from viruses or 100% secure. Unless expressly stated in the body of a separate attachment, the text of email is not intended to form a binding contract. Correspondence to and from the University may be subject to requests for disclosure by 3rd parties under relevant legislation. The University of Ulster was founded by Royal Charter in 1984 and is registered with company number RC000726 and VAT registered number GB672390524.The primary contact address for the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland is,Cromore Road, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry BT52 1SA

April 14, 2014

2nd call for papers: NCPW14 - 14th Neural Computation and Psychology Workshop, Lancaster UK

by Gert Westermann

2nd call for papers: NCPW14 - 14th Neural Computation and Psychology Workshop, Lancaster UK * Apologies for cross-posting * Dear colleague, We cordially invite you to participate in NCPW14, the 14th Neural Computation and Psychology Workshop, to be held at Lancaster University, UK, from August 21-23, 2014: http://www.psych.lancs.ac.uk/ncpw14 This well-established and lively workshop aims at bringing together researchers from different disciplines such as artificial intelligence, cognitive science, computer science, neurobiology, philosophy and psychology to discuss their work on models of cognitive processes. Often this workshop has had a theme, and this time it is ‘Development across the lifespan’, but also submissions that do not fall under this theme are welcome. Papers must be about emergent models - frequently, but not necessarily - of the connectionist/neural network kind, applied to cognition. The NCPW workshops have always been characterized by their limited size, high quality papers, the absence of parallel talk sessions, and a schedule that is explicitly designed to encourage interaction among the researchers present in an informal setting. NCPW14 is no exception. The scientific program will consist of keynote lectures, oral sessions and poster sessions. Furthermore, this workshop will feature a unique set of invited speakers: James McClelland, Stanford University. Bob McMurray, University of Iowa. Michael Thomas, Birkbeck College, London. Abstract submission Please submit one-page abstracts (pdf) by email to ncpw14conf(a)gmail.com, stating whether you want to present as a talk, poster, or talk/poster. Please also indicate whether you would like to be considered for a Rumelhart Memorial Travel Award (see below). Rumelhart Memorial Travel Awards The Rumelhart Memorial Travel awards, generously funded by Professor Jay McClelland, will provide funding to support travel costs for students/post docs presenting at the conference. Awards of US$250 are available to students or post docs from Western European countries, and US$750 for students or post docs from elsewhere. Decisions will be based on the quality of the submission. Eligibility criteria: The first author of the submission is a student or Post-doctoral fellow who will attend the meeting and will present the submission if chosen to receive a travel award. Location Lancaster is situated in the north west of England, approximately one hour from Manchester and Liverpool airports. Lancaster is surrounded by spectacular scenery, hiking and climbing country. The Yorkshire Dales national park is 10 miles away. The Lake District national park is 20 miles away, http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk. The stagecoach 555 bus (http://www.stagecoachbus.com) takes you directly from Lancaster through the heart of the Lakes. The Trough of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is 2 miles away. Important dates to remember Abstract deadline: 15 May Notification of abstract acceptance: 7 June Early registration deadline: tbc Online registration deadline: tbc Conference dates: 21-23 August, 2014 Looking forward to your participation! Organizing Committee Gert Westermann, Lancaster University Padraic Monaghan, Lancaster University Katherine E. Twomey, Liverpool University Alastair C. Smith, MPI Nijmegen -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prof. Gert Westermann Department of Psychology Lancaster University Lancaster LA1 4YF Phone: +44 (0)1524 592 942 Fax: +44 (0)1524 593 744 g.westermann(a)lancaster.ac.uk http://www.psych.lancs.ac.uk/people/gert-westermann -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prof. Gert Westermann Department of Psychology Lancaster University Lancaster LA1 4YF Phone: +44 (0)1524 592 942 Fax: +44 (0)1524 593 744 g.westermann(a)lancaster.ac.uk http://www.psych.lancs.ac.uk/people/Gert-Westermann.html

April 14, 2014

Wellcome Trust 4-year PhD programme 'Systems Neuroscience: From Networks to Behaviour' (second round)

by Marcus Kaiser

Dear all, our Wellcome Trust 4-year PhD programme in systems neuroscience, aimed at applicants from the physical sciences (physics, engineering, mathematics, or computer science), is now accepting applications for studentships starting in September 2014 (see below). Research areas include Neuroinformatics, Computational Neuroscience, Neuroimaging (fMRI, DTI, EEG, ECoG in rodents, non-human primates, and humans), Brain Connectivity, Clinical Neuroscience, Behaviour and Evolution, and Brain Dynamics (simulations and time series analysis). Strong interactions between clinical, experimental, and computational researchers are a key component of this programme. Best, Marcus *Wellcome Trust 4-year PhD programme 'Systems Neuroscience: From Networks to Behaviour'* Programme Directors: Prof. Stuart Baker, Prof. Tim Griffiths, and Dr Marcus Kaiser The Institute of Neuroscience at Newcastle University integrates more than 100 principal investigators across medicine, psychology, computer science, and engineering. Research in systems, cellular, computational, and behavioural neuroscience. Laboratory facilities include auditory and visual psychophysics; rodent, monkey, and human neuroimaging (EEG, fMRI, PET); TMS; optical recording, multi-electrode neurophysiology, confocal and fluorescence imaging, high-throughput computing and e-science, artificial sensory-motor devices, clinical testing, and the only brain bank for molecular changes in human brain development. The Wellcome Trust's Four-year PhD Programmes are a flagship scheme aimed at supporting the most promising students to undertake in-depth postgraduate research training. The first year combines taught courses with three laboratory rotations to broaden students' knowledge of the subject area. At the end of the first year, students will make an informed choice of their three-year PhD research project. This programme is based at Newcastle University and is aimed to provide specialised training for physical and computational scientists (e.g. physics, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, and computer science) wishing to apply their skills to a research neuroscience career. Eligibility/Person Specification: Applicants should have, or expect to obtain, a 1st or 2:1 degree, or equivalent, in a physical sciences, engineering, mathematics or computing degree. Value of the award: Support includes a stipend for 4 years (£20k/yr tax-free), PhD registration fees at UK/EU student rate, research expenses, general training funds and some travel costs. Applications will be accepted and considered upon receipt until the deadline of the 30 of May 2014 or until a suitable candidate has been appointed. You must apply through the University's online postgraduate application form (*http://www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding/search/list/in065 <http://www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding/search/list/in065>* ) inserting the reference number IN065 and selecting 'Master of Research/Doctor of Philosophy (Medical Sciences) - Neuroscience' as the programme of study. You should also send your covering letter and CV to Helen Stewart, Postgraduate Secretary, Institute of Neuroscience, Henry Wellcome Building, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, or by email to *ion-postgrad-enq(a)ncl.ac.uk <ion-postgrad-enq(a)ncl.ac.uk>* . For more information, see *http://www.ncl.ac.uk/ion/study/wellcome/ <http://www.ncl.ac.uk/ion/study/wellcome/>* -- Marcus Kaiser, Ph.D. Associate Professor (Reader) in Neuroinformatics School of Computing Science Newcastle University Claremont Tower Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK Lab website: http://www.biological-networks.org/ Neuroinformatics@Newcastle: http://research.ncl.ac.uk/neuroinformatics/

April 14, 2014

Reminder: Call for applications: Brains for Brains Young Researchers' Computational Neuroscience Award 2014

by Kerstin Schwarzwälder

Dear colleagues, Please let me remind you that, for the fifth time, the Bernstein Association for Computational Neuroscience is announcing the "Brains for Brains Young Researchers' Computational Neuroscience Award". The call is open for researchers of any nationality who have contributed to a peer reviewed publication (as coauthor) or peer reviewed conference abstract (as first author) that was submitted before starting their doctoral studies, is written in English and was accepted or published in 2013 or 2014. The award comprises 500 € prize money, plus a travel grant of up to 2.000 € to cover a trip to Germany, including participation in the Bernstein Conference 2014 in Göttingen (www.bernstein-conference.de) and an individually planned visit to up to two German research institutions in Computational Neuroscience. Deadline for application is April 25, 2014. Detailed information about the application procedure can be found under: www.nncn.de/en/bernstein-association/brains-for-brains-2014 For inquiries please contact info(a)bcos.uni-freiburg.de Best regards, Kerstin Schwarzwälder -- Dr. Kerstin Schwarzwälder Bernstein Coordination Site of the National Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg Hansastr. 9A 79104 Freiburg Germany phone: +49 761 203 9594 fax: +49 761 203 9585 schwarzwaelder(a)bcos.uni-freiburg.de www.nncn.de Twitter: NNCN_Germany <http://twitter.com/NNCN_Germany> YouTube: Bernstein TV <http://www.youtube.com/user/BernsteinNetwork> Facebook: Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience, Germany <https://www.facebook.com/BernsteinNetwork> LinkedIn: Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience, Germany <http://www.linkedin.com/company/bernstein-network-computational-neuroscienc…>

April 14, 2014

early registration discounts for NEURON Summer Course

by Ted Carnevale

Good news for all who are interested in the NEURON Summer Course! Applicants who sign up by Friday, May 9, are now eligible for early registration discounts that range from $100 to $200 depending on which course components they request. NEURON Fundamentals June 21-24 This addresses all aspects of using NEURON to model individual neurons, and also introduces parallel simulation and the fundamentals of modeling networks. Parallel Simulation with NEURON June 25-26 This is for users who are already familiar with NEURON and need to create models that will run on parallel hardware. After Course Early May 9 ====== ===== ===== Fundamentals $1050 $1200 Parallel 650 750 Both 1600 1800 Registration is limited, and the registration deadline is Friday, May 30, 2014. For more information regarding NEURON courses see http://www.neuron.yale.edu/neuron/courses --Ted

April 14, 2014

Conference on meditation and science

by Pedro Resende

CONFERENCE ON MEDITATION AND SCIENCE TIME AND PLACE: Monday, May 5, 2014, from 18:30 to 20:30, at Auditorium of Biblioteca Almeida Garrett, Porto, Portugal SPEAKER: Matthieu Ricard (PhD, Buddhist Monk - http://www.matthieuricard.org) PANEL DISCUSSION: - Alexandre Castro Caldas (Director of Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Univ. Católica, Portugal) - João Relvas (Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Univ. Porto, Portugal) - João Forjaz de Lacerda (Faculdade de Medicina, Univ. Lisboa, Portugal), moderator DESCRIPTION: During the past 20 years, neuroscientists have learned that the plasticity of the human brain is greater than previously known, and that it can be modified by both internal and external factors via the exposition to new events and training processes. In this conference, Matthieu Ricard will present the benefits of meditation - mind training - for overcoming the power that obsessive thoughts and negative emotions have over our minds, a power which undermines our well being and ultimately is the deep cause of suffering. He will describe work carried out by neuroscientists at prestigious research centers in the USA, such as Madison, Princeton, and Berkeley, and in Europe, such as the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig, among others, and results showing that mind training can bring deep changes to our personalities. The talk will be followed by a panel discussion with Prof. Alexandre Castro Caldas (Univ. Católica), Dr. João Relvas (Univ. Porto), and Prof. João Forjaz de Almeida (Univ. Lisboa) as moderator. REGISTRATION (SCIENTIFIC ATTENDEES): If you would like to attend please send an email to office(a)krfportugal.org containing your name, scientific affiliation, and email address. The available space is limited, and seats will be assigned on a first come first served basis. There is no registration fee. REGISTRATION (GENERAL PUBLIC): Seats will also be available to non-scientific attendees, and tickets can be purchased from http://ticketline.sapo.pt/evento/meditacao-e-ciencia-8546. ORGANIZATION: Fundação Kangyur Rinpoche, Songtsen INFORMATION: office(a)krfportugal.org, (+351) 936 812 484 SUPPORT: Centro de Apoio ao Sem Abrigo (CASA, IPSS), Multicare, Câmara Municipal do Porto Any profits resulting from this event will be donated to CASA.

April 13, 2014

Fully-funded PhD Studentship in Computational Neuroscience and Biophysics, Imperial College London

by Tobias Reichenbach

EEG assessment of central auditory disorder in patients with brain injury The Group for Biophysics of Hearing and Sensory Neuroscience (http://www.bg.ic.ac.uk/research/reichenbach/) at the Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, is looking for a highly motivated PhD student. The PhD project is embedded in the new EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Neurotechnology for Life and Health at Imperial College London (http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/neurotechnology/cdt) Our auditory environment is highly complex: different speakers often talk at the same time, music plays in the background, cars drive by. Our central nervous system is highly effective in analyzing such an auditory scene; for example, we can easily understand a speaker despite background noise. A range of neurological disorders can, however, impair the cognitive processes necessary to parse an acoustic scene and hence significantly impair a person's life. Both the brain's auditory processing as well as the associated disorder remain poorly understood. The graduate project will develop methods to assess the brain’s processing of complex auditory signals such as speech and music through noninvasive electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings. The methods will be used to diagnose patients with brain injury whose auditory processing is impaired. As an example, the project will study patients with aphasic stroke that affects brain regions for communication and language. The research will help to better understand the neurological basis of such disorder and help to develop novel rehabilitation strategies. The project will involve EEG data acquisition, advanced data analysis, machine learning, computational modeling and collaboration with clinical researchers. Candidates should have a degree in mathematics, physics, engineering, or computer science, solid quantitative and computational abilities, and a strong interest in working on biomedical problems. Eligible candidates must be EU nationals. Applicants should send their CV and a cover letter together with a copy of transcripts to Tobias Reichenbach (reichenbach(a)imperial.ac.uk) Applicants should also arrange for two letters of recommendation to be sent to Tobias Reichenbach. Closing date is 02 May 2014. The Department of Bioengineering at Imperial College London is performing internationally-leading, multi-disciplinary research in biomechanics, neurobiology, neurotechnology, and further related areas. More information about the department and about Imperial College can be found online (http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/bioengineering/about and http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/aboutimperial) ------------------------------------------- Tobias Reichenbach Lecturer Department of Bioengineering Imperial College London http://www.bg.ic.ac.uk/research/reichenbach/

April 13, 2014

Second Announcement: International workshop on Neurodynamics (NDy14)

by Roberto Barrio

We are pleased to send you the Second announcement of the --------------------------------------------------------------------- INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON NEURODYNAMICS (NDy14) July 14-17, 2014 Castro-Urdiales, Spain http://cody.unizar.es/events/neurodynamics14 http://www.ciem.unican.es/international-workshop-neurodynamics *** Scientific committee *** R. Barrio (University of Zaragoza) Spain S. Coombes (University of Nottingham) UK A. Guillamon (Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya - Barcelona Tech) Spain M. Wechselberger (University of Sydney) Australia A. Shilnikov (Georgia State University) USA Neuroscience is nowadays one of the most collaborative and active scientific research fields as it has been increasingly involving the participation of experts from other disciplines. In particular, computational and mathematical aspects of neuroscience are currently playing an important role both in modeling and replicating experimental findings and in explaining the underlying mechanisms of neurophysiological or cognitive processes. Differential equations are ubiquitous in the modeling of such phenomena and, consequently, nonlinear dynamics and dynamical systems techniques become fundamental sources of new mathematical and computational tools to study neuroscience models. The aim of this Workshop on Neurodynamics (NDy'14) is to present an overview of successful achievements in this rapidly developing collaborative field by putting together different types of applications of nonlinear dynamics (geometrical tools in dynamical systems, numerical methods, computational schemes, dynamical measures,...) to different problems in neuroscience (mononeuronal dynamics, network activity, cognitive problems,...). Additional emphasis will be put on experimental findings seeking for theoretical explanations, and therefore this meeting is focussed on using mathematics as the primary tool for elucidating the fundamental mechanisms responsible for experimentally observed behavior in the applied neurosciences. Importantly, it will draw attention to, those pieces of mathematical theory which are likely to be relevant to future studies of the brain. The final goal is spreading together mathematical methodology and neuroscience challenges and stimulating future cross-collaborations among participants, being Mathematical Neuroscience the generic topic for NDy'14. The workshop length will be 4 days, distributed in special sessions and talks, with several round tables on different topics. --------------------------------------------------------------------- *** IMPORTANT DATES *** Extended Abstract Submission Deadline Short abstract/Title submission deadline 30th April 2014 Payment deadline (reduced fee, 200 Euros) 15th May 2014 Payment deadline (complete fee, 250 Euros) 31st May 2014 The registration includes the coffee-breaks, lunches and social dinner. ---------------------------------------------------------------------

April 11, 2014

NEURAL COMPUTATION - May, 2014

by Terry Sejnowski

Neural Computation - Contents -- Volume 26, Number 5 - May 1, 2014 Available online for download now: http://www.mitpressjournals.org/toc/neco/26/5 ----- Article A Transition to Sharp Timing in Stochastic Leaky Integrate-and-Fire Neurons Driven by Frozen Noisy Input Thibaud Taillefumier, Marcelo Magnasco Letters Sample Skewness as a Statistical Measurement of Neuronal Tuning Sharpness Jason Michael Samonds, Brian Richard Potetz, and Tai Sing Lee Prewhitening High Dimensional fMRI Data Sets Without Eigendecompoistion Abd-Krim Seghouane, Yousef Saad Signal-tuned Gabor Functions as Models for Stimulus-dependent Cortical Receptive Fields Jose R. A. Torreao, Silvia M.C. Victer, and Marcos S. Amaral Energy Complexity of Recurrent Neural Networks Jiri Sima On Some Classes of Sequential Spiking Neural P Systems Xingyi Zhang, Xiangxiang Zeng, Bin Luo, and Linqiang Pan ------------ ON-LINE -- http://www.mitpressjournals.org/neuralcomp SUBSCRIPTIONS - 2014 - VOLUME 26 - 12 ISSUES USA Others Electronic Only Student/Retired $70 $193 $65 Individual $124 $187 $115 Institution $1,035 $1,098 $926 Canada: Add 5% GST MIT Press Journals, 238 Main Street, Suite 500, Cambridge, MA 02142-9902 Tel: (617) 253-2889 FAX: (617) 577-1545 journals-orders(a)mit.edu ------------

April 11, 2014

PhD opportunities at Imperial College London in the Clopath lab

by Claudia Clopath

PhD opportunities in Computational Neuroscience. Computational Neuroscience Laboratory Headed by Dr. Claudia Clopath Department of Bioengineering Imperial College London -----------------Requirements:----------------- The Computational Neuroscience Laboratory, headed by Dr. Claudia Clopath, is looking for a talented PhD student, interested in working in the field of computational neuroscience, specifically addressing questions of learning and memory. The PhD position is fully funded, and has a flexible starting date. The perfect candidate has a strong mathematical, physical or engineering background (or equivalent), and a keen interest in biological and neural systems. Demonstrated programming skills are a plus. This position is restricted to EU citizens. More information can be found at: http://www.bg.ic.ac.uk/research/c.clopath/ -----------------Research topic:----------------- Learning and memory are among the most fascinating topic of neuroscience, yet our understanding of it is only at the beginning. Learning is thought to change the connections between the neurons in the brain, a process called synaptic plasticity. Using mathematical and computational tools, it is possible to model synaptic plasticity across different time scales, which helps understand how different types of memory are formed. The PhD candidate will be working to build those models of synaptic plasticity, and study the functional role of synaptic plasticity in artificial neural networks. They will have the opportunity to collaborate with experimental laboratories, which study connectivity changes and behavioural learning. -----------------The lab:----------------- The Computational Neuroscience Laboratory is very young and dynamic, and publishes in prestigious journals, such as Nature and Science. It is part of the Department of Bioengineering, which conducts state-of-the-art multidisciplinary research in biomechanics, neuroscience and neurotechnology. The lab is at Imperial College London, the 3rd ranked university in Europe, and is located in the city centre of London. -----------------How to apply:----------------- Candidates should send a single pdf file, consisting of a 1-page motivation letter, CV, and names and contact information of two references, to clopathlab.imperial(a)gmail.com, with the subject containing 'PHD2014'. The position remains open until filled, but applications received first will be first considered.

April 10, 2014

Postdoc opportunities at the Queensland Brain Institute

by Geoffrey Goodhill

The University of Queensland is currently offering generous postdoctoral fellowships, some targeted specifically at women, which can be held at the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI, www.qbi.uq.edu.au) a state-of-the-art facility located on The University of Queensland’s (UQ) St Lucia campus, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Established in 2003, the QBI's multidisciplinary environment is home to more than 300 staff and approximately 100 PhD students. Key areas of interest include computation and neuronal circuits, cognition and behaviour, neurogenesis and neuronal survival, genetics and epigenetics, neuronal development and connectivity, sensory systems, and synaptic function. QBI researchers have published almost 500 papers in the past two years, including 2 in Science, 4 in Nature, 2 in Neuron, 3 in Nature Neuroscience, 8 in Nature Genetics, 8 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, and 18 in Journal of Neuroscience. The period of appointment will be for three years and appointees are expected to commence in early 2015. The salary range is AU$71,528.60 – AU$79,708.50 (currently 1 AU$ = 0.94 US$). Each appointee will be entitled to maintenance funds of AU$20,000 over the term of the Fellowship to support research costs. Appointees relocating from interstate or overseas will be entitled to reimbursement of travel and relocation costs. For more details see http://www.uq.edu.au/research/research-management/uq-postdoctoral-research-… http://www.uq.edu.au/research/research-management/uq-postdoctoral-research-… and then contact the group leader at QBI with whom you are interested in working: http://qbi.uq.edu.au/group-leaders Note these fellowships are highly competitive and a strong publication record is an essential requirement. Professor Geoffrey J Goodhill Queensland Brain Institute and School of Mathematics & Physics University of Queensland St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia Phone: +61 7 3346 6431 Fax: +61 7 3346 6301 Email: g.goodhill(a)uq.edu.au http://www.qbi.uq.edu.au/professor-geoffrey-goodhill

April 9, 2014

Open post-doc position in Nano-Electronics Design for Embedded NVM-based Cognitive Computing

by BICHLER Olivier

Open Postdoctoral Position in Nano-Electronics Design for Embedded NVM-based Cognitive Computing Novel embedded non-volatile memories, like resistive memory, are a fantastic technology enabler for the low-power chips capable of “cognitive” computing that are necessary for the new Internet of Things. To advance this topic, we are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to join our team in the Nano-Design project of the Campus Paris-Saclay. The goal of the project is to study and design an innovative embedded resistive memory-based neuro-inspired computing architecture, with computer vision as the primary target application. The ability to demonstrate state of the art applicative performance, on a pattern detection or classification problem, with a clear implementation gain, in silicon area or power consumption, is a major challenge for this ambitious project. To this aim, your research will associate high-level computer simulation, HDL modeling and IC design. Your ability to quickly adapt to and master our team simulation frameworks will give you a leading edge in your research. Finally, the realization of a fully integrated hybrid RRAM/CMOS chip demonstrator is a strong objective of the project. You will get to work in interaction with a team of tightly coupled labs of the Campus Paris-Saclay and CEA LETI. Candidates should hold a high-quality PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Applied Physics or a related field, with experience in analog and/or mixed-signal CMOS electronics, Verilog/VHDL-AMS modeling and software engineering (working knowledge of C++ is a requirement). The candidate should be able to perform schematic capture and spice simulation; knowledge of industry standard tools and flows like Cadence Virtuoso or similar tools would be greatly appreciated. Other relevant subjects (not required for the position) are resistive memory (CBRAM, OXRAM), neuromorphic engineering, deep/convolutional/spiking neural network… Starting month: during 2014 18 months contract. Salary provided along CEA standards. About our team: Our team is composed of the Institut d’Electronique Fondamentale (IEF) in Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, the Laboratory of Innovation in Surface Chemistry and Nanosciences (LICSEN) at CEA IRAMIS and the Laboratory for Enhancing Reliability of Embedded Systems (LFSE) at CEA LIST. We are also working in strong interaction with the CEA LETI in Grenoble. Contacts: Olivier Bichler (olivier.bichler(a)cea.fr<mailto:olivier.bichler@cea.fr>) Christian Gamrat (christian.gamrat(a)cea.fr<mailto:christian.gamrat@cea.fr>) Tel: (+33)1.69.08.28.31 Contexte du projet NanoDesign / NanoDesign Project Context (in french) Les processeurs actuels reposent sur un couple technologie/architecture (CMOS / Von Neumann) ayant fait la preuve de sa remarquable efficacité. Toutefois, plusieurs éléments de contexte incitent à développer des recherches exploratoires, non pour remplacer les technologies existantes mais pour les compléter / les enrichir grâce à des briques de circuits dédiés compétitifs sur certaines gammes de tâches. Parmi ces éléments de contexte, on note en particulier: (i) la problématique de la consommation d'énergie qui s'aggrave avec le scaling, (ii) l'augmentation de la variabilité des dispositifs qui s'aggrave également à l'échelle nanométrique, (iii) l'évolution des domaines d'applications des processeurs avec notamment une augmentation de la demande concernant le traitement de données naturelles (sons, images, signaux biologiques...) et le traitement de très grandes quantités de données (notamment issues de l'internet ou de capteurs massivement distribués). Ces traitements consistent essentiellement en des taches de reconnaissance et de classification, qui nécessitent une quantité très importante de mémoire (constituant la connaissance a priori du système) et pour lesquels l’architecture processeur classique Von Neumann, qui sépare fondamentalement mémoire et unités de calcul, est particulièrement inefficace. Dans ce contexte, le cerveau représente un exemple particulièrement intéressant de système capable de traiter les données naturelles avec une efficacité redoutable, notamment en termes de consommation. Ce traitement d'information est réalisé de façon massivement parallèle, asynchrone et impulsionnelle grâce à un large ensemble de neurones interconnectés via des synapses. Le nombre de synapses par neurone étant de l'ordre de 104, l'implémentation matérielle d'une telle architecture suppose notamment une densité d'intégration extrême des synapses, d'où le lien fort avec les nanotechnologies. En particulier, il a été montré récemment qu’une synapse peut être émulée efficacement par une mémoire analogique à deux terminaux (un memristor). Celle-ci a la propriété de pouvoir se programmer dynamiquement, en impulsionnel, à la manière d’une synapse biologique, ce qui ouvre la voie à l’implémentation de mécanismes d’apprentissage performants et présents dans le vivant, tels que la plasticité synaptique de type STDP (Spike timing-dependent plasticity) [Poo04]. Les équipes du CEA LIST, du CEA IRAMIS et de l’IEF, impliquées dans le projet NanoDesign support de ce post-doc ont travaillé ensemble et séparément sur différents aspects de cette problématique. En particulier, le CEA LIST, dans lequel sera affecté le post-doc, a développé des architectures de circuits adaptées à différentes technologies mémoires (PCM [Bic12a], RRAM [Sur13], mémoires organiques [Bic12b]…) pour réaliser des fonctions de traitement de données neuro-inspirées. Il s’est doté d’une plateforme de simulation, Xnet [Bic13], dédiée à l’étude de ces architectures, intégrant des modèles fonctionnels ou semi-physiques de dispositifs et des méthodes d’apprentissage [Bic12c] (supervisées et non supervisées). Celle-ci a déjà permis de réaliser un certain nombre d’études, dans le cadre de thèses, notamment sur la robustesse de ces circuits vis-à-vis de la variabilité ainsi que sur la co-intégration nano/CMOS [Que13]. Ainsi, avec ce post-doc, dans ce projet, nous proposons notamment : ● De réaliser des assemblées de dispositifs à une échelle suffisante pour la réalisation d’une fonction cognitive de haut niveau (de type détection/classification visuelle). Ceci, dans un schéma d'interconnexion adapté à cette fonction. ● De poursuivre l’étude des modes de codages de l'information impulsionnels et les règles d'apprentissage et/ou de programmation adaptées aux applications et aux dispositifs étudiés. ● De poursuivre le développement de simulations au niveau circuit afin d'évaluer a priori les architectures et d'en comparer les mérites à d'autres formes de traitements des données. ● De réaliser des prototypes de circuits mixtes intégrant des technologies RRAM et des neurones réalisés en électronique conventionnelle. ● De combiner l'ensemble des avancées du projet pour la réalisation d’une fonction cognitive intégrée, de type détection/classification, pour une application réelle de traitement de données visuelles, avec l’ambition de démontrer la viabilité de notre approche à l’échelle d’un prototype pouvant se comparer aux solutions alternatives classiques sur des métriques concrètes (coût, consommation, fiabilité…). References [Bic12a] Bichler, O.; Suri, M.; Querlioz, D.; Gamrat et al., 'Visual Pattern Extraction Using Energy-Efficient ‘2-PCM Synapse’ Neuromorphic Architecture', IEEE Trans on Elec Devices 8, 2206-2214, 2012. [Bic12b] O. Bichler, W. Zhao, F. Alibart, S. Pleutin, S. Lenfant, D. Vuillaume, C. Gamrat, ‘Pavlov's Dog Associative Learning Demonstrated on Synaptic-Like Organic Transistors’, Neural Computation 25(2):549-566, 2012. [Bic12c] O. Bichler, D. Querlioz, S.J. Thorpe, J.-P. Bourgoin, C. Gamrat, ‘Extraction of temporally correlated features from dynamic vision sensors with spike-timing-dependent plasticity’, Neural Networks, 32:339-348, 2012. [Poo04] Y. Dan and M. Ming Poo. ‘Spike timing-dependent plasticity of neural circuits’. Neuron, 44(1):23–30, 2004. [Bic13] O. Bichler, D. Roclin, C. Gamrat, D. Querlioz, ‘Design Exploration Methodology for Memristor-Based Spiking Neuromorphic Architectures with the Xnet Event-Driven Simulator’, Nanoscale Architectures (NANOARCH), 2013 IEEE/ACM International Symposium on, 2013. [Que13] D. Querlioz, O. Bichler, P. Dollfus, C. Gamrat, ‘Immunity to Device Variations in a Spiking Neural Network with Memristive Nanodevices’, Nanotechnology, IEEE Transactions on, 12(3):288-295, 2013. [Sur13] M. Suri, D. Querlioz, O. Bichler, G. Palma, E. Vianello, D. Vuillaume, C. Gamrat, B. DeSalvo, ‘Bio-Inspired Stochastic Computing Using Binary CBRAM Synapses’, Electron Devices, IEEE Transactions on, 60(7):2402-2409, 2013. -- Olivier Bichler CEA, LIST, Laboratory for Enhancing Reliability of Embedded Systems F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France Ph: (+33)1.69.08.28.31 Fax: (+33)1.69.08.83.95

April 9, 2014

New Job Posting for Comp-neuro (F9804z)

by Neil Paz-Cruzat

*George Mason University Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Molecular Neuroscience/Computational Neuroscience* The George Mason University, Krasnow Institute seeks a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to develop and use multiscale spatiotemporal models of cardiac mitochondria to understand how mitochondrial structure and function are related. *Qualifications:* The ideal candidate is expected to have expertise in biological modeling, computer programming, and related numerical methods. Programming on parallel architectures is also desirable, as is knowledge of mitochondrial modeling. This project involves close collaboration with experimental collaborators. The duration of the position is subject to available research funding. For full consideration, applicants must apply for position number F9804z at http://jobs.gmu.edu/; complete and submit the online application; and upload a CV, a list of three references with contact information, and a description of research accomplishments.*These three required documents will need to be uploaded to the Other Doc category as a single (multipaged) document.*Questions may be addressed to*sjafri(a)gmu.edu*. AA/EOE

April 8, 2014

Postdoctoral positions in neuroimaging and rapid decision making

by Paul Sajda

The Laboratory for Intelligent Imaging and Neural Computing (LIINC) at Columbia University has immediate openings for several Postdoctoral Research Scientists. Specifically these positions will contribute to our research program focusing on understanding the neural basis for rapid decision making in the human brain and using this understanding to build brain computer interfaces (BCI) for next-generation human-machine interaction. Our approach leverages multi-modal neuroimaging, including a custom designed simultaneous EEG/fMRI system, to identify spatio-temporal cortical and subcortical networks underlying rapid decision making. Our analysis methods are deeply rooted in machine learning techniques, with a focus on using such techniques to enable single-trial analysis for correlating with decision variables. Applicants should have a background in one, and preferably several, of the following area: machine learning, neural signal processing, neuroimaging (EEG and/or fMRI), decision making, cognitive neuroscience and/or BCI. A Ph.D. in Engineering, Computer Science or Neuroscience is preferred. LIINC (liinc.bme.columbia.edu) is in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University and interacts closely with other departments at Columbia, including Electrical Engineering, Biological Sciences, Computer Science and Neuroscience. We are also a member lab of the newly formed Center for Neural Engineering and Computation (CNEC) at Columbia University (cnec.columbia.edu) as well as the Institute for Data Sciences and Engineering (idse.columbia.edu) Additionally, we are a member of the Cognition and Neuroergonomics Collaborative Technology Alliance (CaN CTA) which a collaborative research effort between the Army Research Labs, Academia and Industry. Postdoctoral Research Scientists will thus have the opportunity to broadly collaborate will other scientists in academia, industry and government, being part of one of the largest collaborative programs in real-world neuroimaging and brain computer interfaces. Interested candidates should send via email their CV, three representative papers, the names of three references, and cover letter to Prof. Paul Sajda (psajda(a)columbia.edu) Applications will be considered until the positions are filled. The position is for one year, with the option to renew for 2-3 years, given satisfactory performance and available funding. Paul Sajda, Ph.D. Professor Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Radiology Columbia University 351 Engineering Terrace Building, Mail Code 8904 1210 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10027 tel: (212) 854-5279 fax: (212) 854-8725 email: ps629(a)columbia.edu http://liinc.bme.columbia.edu Editor-in-Chief IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering email: editortnsre(a)gmail.com http://tnsre.bme.columbia.edu

April 8, 2014

Bernstein Conference 2014 - Registration is now open

by Kerstin Mosch

*BERNSTEIN CONFERENCE 2014 in Göttingen* Registration is open now! Please register here <http://www.nncn.de/en/bernstein-conference/2014/registration>. Early registration deadline: July 7, 2014 **************************************************************************** Satellite Workshops <http://www.nncn.de/en/bernstein-conference/2014/workshops> September 02-03, 2014 Main Conference <http://www.nncn.de/en/bernstein-conference/2014/program-1> September 03-05, 2014 **************************************************************************** The Bernstein Conference has become the largest annual Computational Neuroscience Conference in Europe and now regularly attracts more than 500 international participants. This year, the Conference is organized by the Bernstein Focus Neurotechnology Goettingen and will take place September 03-05, 2014. In addition, there will be a series of pre-conference satellite workshops on September 02-03, 2014. The Bernstein Conference is a single-track conference, covering all aspects of Computational Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, and sessions for poster presentations are an integral part of the conference. The Bernstein conference will also feature a series of satellite workshops on September 02-03, 2014. The goal is to provide an informal forum for the discussion of timely research questions and challenges. For more information on the conference, please visit: http://www.bernstein-conference.de CONFERENCE DATE AND VENUE: Satellite Workshops September 02-03, 2014 Main Conference September 03-05, 2014 Venue: Central Lecture Hall (ZHG), Platz der Goettinger Sieben 5, 37073 Göttingen, Germany PUBLIC PHD STUDENT EVENT: September 02, 2014 PROGRAM COMMITTEE: Ilka Diester, Daniel Durstewitz, Thomas Euler, Alexander Gail, Matthias Kaschube, Jason Kerr, Roland Schaette, Fred Wolf, Florentin Wörgötter, ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: Florentin Wörgötter, Kerstin Mosch, Yvonne Reimann We look forward to seeing you in Goettingen in September! -- Dr. Kerstin Mosch Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience (BCCN) Goettingen Bernstein Focus Neurotechnology (BFNT) Goettingen Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization Am Fassberg 17 D-37077 Goettingen Germany T: +49 (0) 551 5176 - 425 E: kerstin(a)nld.ds.mpg.de I: www.bccn-goettingen.de I: www.bfnt-goettingen.de

April 7, 2014

School J. A. Balseiro 2014: Modeling in Neuroscience

by German Mato

****************************************************************************************** We're pleased to announce the "School J. A. Balseiro 2014: Modeling in Neuroscience" which will take place in Bariloche, Argentina from the 6th to the 31st of October. Additional information in: http://fisica.cab.cnea.gov.ar/escuelaib2014-neurociencias ******************************************************************************************

April 7, 2014

ANNPR 2014: Call for papers

by Dr. Schwenker

Please note the extended deadlines. Sixth IAPR TC3 International Workshop on Artificial Neural Networks in Pattern Recognition October 6-8, 2014 Concordia University, Montreal, Canada ANNPR 2014 invites papers that present original work in areas of neural networks, machine learning and pattern recognition, focusing on both theoretical and applied aspects. Topics of interest include, but not limited to: Methodological Issues - Supervised learning - Unsupervised learning - Combination of supervised and unsupervised learning - Feed-forward, recurrent, and competitive neural nets - Kernel machines - Hierarchical modular architectures and hybrid systems - Combination of neural networks and Hidden Markov models - Multiple classifier systems and ensemble methods - Probabilistic graphical models - Kernel methods - Deep architectures Applications in Pattern Recognition - Image processing and segmentation - Handwritten recognition and Document analysis - Sensor-fusion and multi-modal processing - Feature extraction, dimension reduction - Clustering and vector quantization - Speech and speaker recognition - Data, text, and web mining - Bioinformatics/Cheminformatics Note: A PDF of the Call for Papers may be downloaded at: http://users.encs.concordia.ca/~annpr14/ANNPR2014-CFP.pdf Invited Speakers ANNPR 2014 is proud to announce the following invited speakers: Dr. Yoshua Bengio, Canada Full Professor of the Department of Computer Science and Operations Research, University of Montreal Research Areas: Machine learning (ML), neural computation and adaptive perception, statistical learning algorithms Dr. Zhi-Hua Zhou, China Professor in the Department of Computer Science & Technology, Nanjing University, China Research Areas: Machine learning, data mining, pattern recognition, multimedia information retrieval Dr. Michael Herrmann, U.K. Lecturer at The University of Edinburgh School of Informatics Research Areas: Neurocomputation, neural nets, learning theory in autonomous agents & behavioral neuroscience, ML, dynamics of neural systems More information can be found on our homepage (see below) Special Sessions Fellow scientists wishing to organize a special session should submit a proposal to the ANNPR chairs (annpr2014(a)encs.concordia.ca) Proposals should include the session title, a list of topics covered by the session and a list of 3-6 papers for possible presentation in the session. Proposals must be received by March 15th, 2014. Important Dates Proposals of special sessions: March 15th, 2014 Paper submission: April 28th, 2014 Notification of acceptance: June 30th, 2014 Camera ready due: July 18, 2014 Workshop: October 6-8, 2014 General Chairs Ching Suen, Concordia University Canada Friedhelm Schwenker, Ulm University, Germany Neamat El Gayar, Cairo University, Egypt/Canada For more information, please visit or contact us: Homepage: http://www.annpr2014.com/ PDF CFP: http://users.encs.concordia.ca/~annpr14/ANNPR2014-CFP.pdf email: annpr2014(a)encs.concordia.ca -- Sixth IAPR TC3 International Workshop on Artificial Neural Networks in Pattern Recognition ANNPR 2014 October 6-8, 2014 Concordia University, Montreal, Canada Web: http://www.annpr2014.com/ eMail: annpr14(a)encs.concordia.ca

April 6, 2014

Last Mile, April 18 || DATA ANALYTICS 2014 || August 24 - 28, 2014 - Rome, Italy

by Cristina Pascual

INVITATION: ================= Please consider to contribute to and/or forward to the appropriate groups the following opportunity to submit and publish original scientific results to DATA ANALYTICS 2014. The submission deadline is April 18, 2014. Authors of selected papers will be invited to submit extended article versions to one of the IARIA Journals: http://www.iariajournals.org ================= ============== DATA ANALYTICS 2014 | Call for Papers =============== CALL FOR PAPERS, TUTORIALS, PANELS DATA ANALYTICS 2014, The Third International Conference on Data Analytics August 24 - 28, 2014 - Rome, Italy General page: http://www.iaria.org/conferences2014/DATAANALYTICS14.html Call for Papers: http://www.iaria.org/conferences2014/CfPDATAANALYTICS14.html Submission page: http://www.iaria.org/conferences2014/SubmitDATAANALYTICS14.html Contributions: - regular papers - short papers (work in progress) - posters - ideas - presentations - demos - doctoral forum submissions Proposals for: - symposia - workshops Submission deadline: April 18, 2014 Sponsored by IARIA, www.iaria.org Extended versions of selected papers will be published in IARIA Journals: http://www.iariajournals.org Print proceedings will be available via Curran Associates, Inc.: http://www.proceedings.com/9769.html Articles will be archived in the free access ThinkMind Digital Library: http://www.thinkmind.org The topics suggested by the conference can be discussed in term of concepts, state of the art, research, standards, implementations, running experiments, applications, and industrial case studies. Authors are invited to submit complete unpublished papers, which are not under review in any other conference or journal in the following, but not limited to, topic areas. All tracks are open to both research and industry contributions, in terms of Regular papers, Posters, Work in progress, Technical/marketing/business presentations, Demos, Tutorials, and Panels. Before submission, please check and conform with the Editorial rules: http://www.iaria.org/editorialrules.html DATA ANALYTICS 2014 Topics (topics and submission details: see CfP on the site) Fundamentals for data analytics Tools, frameworks and mechanisms for data analytics; Open API for data analytics; In-database analytics; Pre-built analytics (pattern, time-series, clustering, graph, statistical analysis, etc.); Analytics visualization; Multi-modal support for data analytics; Google/FaceBook/Twitter/etc. analytics; High-performance data analytics Mechanisms and features Scalable data analytics; Big data analytics; Deep data analytics; Mass data analytics; Storing, dropping and filtering data; Relevant/redundant/obsolete data analytics; Volume vs. semantics analytics; Nomad analytics; Predictive analytics; Trust in data analytics; Legal issues analytics; Failure on data analytics Sentiment/opinion analysis Architectures for generic sentiment analysis systems; Sentiment analysis techniques on social media; Document-level analysis; Sentence-level analysis; Aspect-based analysis; Comparative-sentiment analysis; Sentiment lexicon acquisition; Optimizing sentiment analysis algorithms; Applications of sentiment analysis. Application-oriented analytics Statistical applications; Simulation applications; Crawling web services; Cross-database analytics; Forecast analytics; Financial risk management; ROI analytics Target analytics Business analytics; Malware analytics; Cyber-threats analytics; Mining user logs; Reputation analytics; User choice analytics; Branding analytics; Utility proximity-search analytics; Survey-based online asset analytics; Online employment analytics; Geology analytics; Global climate analytics; Remote learning analytics; Homecare analytics; Population growth and migration analytics; Food-borne illness outbreaks analytics Big Data Foundational models for Big Data; Big Data Analytics and Metrics; Big Data processing and management; Big Data search and mining; Big Data platforms; Big Data persistence and preservation; Big Data and social networks; Big Data economics Huge data Knowledge Discovery from Huge Data; Computational Intelligence for Huge Data; Linked Huge Data; Security Intelligence with Huge Data -------------------- Committee: http://www.iaria.org/conferences2014/ComDATAANALYTICS14.html DATA ANALYTICS Advisory Chairs Fritz Laux, Reutlingen University, Germany Lina Yao, The University of Adelaide, Australia Eiko Yoneki, University of Cambridge, UK Takuya Yoshihiro, Wakayama University, Japan Felix Heine, University of Applied Sciences & Arts Hannover, Germany Dominik Slezak, University of Warsaw & Infobright Inc., Poland Panos M. Pardalos, University of Florida, USA Michele Melchiori, Universit� degli Studi di Brescia, Italy Rudolf Berrendorf, Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University, Germany Kerstin Lemke-Rust, Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, Germany Sergio Ilarri, University of Zaragoza, Spain Les Sztandera, Philadelphia University, USA Prabhat Mahanti, University of New Brunswick, Canada Dominique Laurent, University of Cergy Pontoise, France Ryan G. Benton, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, USA Erik Buchmann, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany Stratos Idreos, Harvard University, USA Andrew Rau-Chaplin, Dalhousie University, Canada Takuya Yoshihiro, Wakayama University, Japan DATA ANALYTICS Industry/Research Liaison Chairs Qiming Chen, HP Labs - Palo Alto, USA Alain Crolotte, Teradata Corporation - El Segundo, USA Tiziana Guzzo, National Research Council/Institute of Research on Population and Social Policies - Rome, Italy Shlomo Geva, Queensland University of Technology - Brisbane, Australia Farhana Kabir, Intel, USA Prabhanjan Kambadur, IBM TJ Watson Research Center, USA Serge Mankovski, CA Technologies, Spain Sumit Negi, IBM Research, India Vedran Sabol, Know-Center - Graz, Austria George Tambouratzis, Institute for Language and Speech Processing - Athena Research Centre, Greece Yanchang Zhao, RDataMining.com, Australia Masahiro Terabe, Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc., Japan Marina Santini, Santa Anna IT Research Institute AB, Sweden Mario Zechner, Know-Center, Austria DATA ANALYTICS Publicity Chairs Johannes Leveling, Dublin City University, Ireland Tim Weninger, University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, USA Roberto Zicari, Johann Wolfgang Goethe - University of Frankfurt, Germany Shandian Zhe, Purdue University, USA Michael Schaidnagel, Reutlingen University, Germany ================================================

April 4, 2014

Open position in Theoretical Neuroscience

by David Rotermund

The Computational Neuroscience group of Klaus Pawelzik ( http://www.neuro.uni-bremen.de ) invites applications for an open Ph.D. student position in the project 'I-See The artificial eye: Chronic wireless interface to the visual cortex' (http://www.isee.uni-bremen.de for details about the project) In this project we investigate the possibilities and foundations of injecting visual information into the visual cortex via electrical stimulation for neuro - prosthetic purposes. We are looking for a PhD student with a background in physics and/or computational neuroscience. She/he will work in close cooperation with experimentalists in the group of Andreas Kreiter (www.brain.uni-bremen.de) The student will analyse electro-physiological data with the goal to identify the underlying network structure/model which generates a specific neural response and visual percept to a particular electrical stimulation. She/he will then invert this model in order to determine the spatio-temporal stimulation pattern required for creating a desired visual percept. Basic knowledge in programming and in formal methods/Computational Neuroscience are required. Interested candidates should send their application in German or English language, a letter of motivation, CV, copies of school and university certificates (master/diploma or equivalent) until the 17th of April to: Agnes Janßen Cognium Hochschulring 18 Universität Bremen D-28359 Bremen Germany The documents can be sent in via eMail ( ajanssen(a)neuro.uni-bremen.de ) or in paper form. Severely disabled applicants and women with essentially identical technical and personal suitability will be preferentially selected.

April 4, 2014

IWSYP'14: I International Workshop on Synaptic Plasticity, Brazil (call for abstracts)

by Thiago Matos Pinto

*I International Workshop on Synaptic Plasticity - IWSYP'14* * September 8-9, 2014* *Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil* http://iwsyp14.thiagomatospinto.com University of São Paulo The I International Workshop on Synaptic Plasticity - IWSYP'14 will bring together *experimentalists and theoreticians* who have contributed significantly to understanding the biological mechanisms underlying *synaptic plasticity*. The aim of this workshop is to facilitate discussions and interactions in the effort towards increasing our understanding on synaptic plasticity in the brain. The IWSYP'14 will take place in the campus of *Ribeirão Preto* at the University of São Paulo in *Brazil* on September 8 and 9, 2014. You are welcome to join this workshop that focuses on the discussion of fresh ideas, the presentation of work in progress, and the establishment of a scientific network between young researchers. The workshop will be held in English. Participation is *free of charge*! This workshop is a satellite event of the XXXVIII Annual Meeting of the Brazilian Society for Neuroscience and Behavior (SBNeC), which will be held on September 10-13 in Búzios, Rio de Janeiro. The SBNeC meeting will also feature big names in Neuroscience, and will be a preparatory event for the 9th World Congress of the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO), which will take place in Rio de Janeiro in 2015. Organizers: *Thiago Matos Pinto *(University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil) *Antonio Roque *(University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil) Speakers: *Chris De Zeeuw* (Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands & Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) *Freek Hoebeek* (Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands) *Reinoud Maex* (École Normale Supérieure, Paris, France) *Ricardo Leão *(University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil) *Thiago Matos Pinto *(University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil) Abstracts: *Submission of abstracts for poster and oral presentations are due by May 16, 2014*. We welcome both experimental and theoretical contributions addressing novel findings on topics related to synaptic plasticity. Please see http://iwsyp14.thiagomatospinto.com/abstracts for details. Important dates: *Abstract submission deadline: May 16, 2014* Notification of acceptance: June 13, 2014 Notification of oral/poster selection: June 30, 2014 Workshop dates: September 8-9, 2014 Please visit the IWSYP'14 website for program and further details: http://iwsyp14.thiagomatospinto.com We look forward to seeing you in Ribeirão Preto. With best wishes, Thiago Matos Pinto, IWSYP'14 Organizer

April 4, 2014

1 PostDoc + 2 PhD positions in Computational Cognitive NeuroImaging

by Uta Noppeney

*2 PhD and 1 PostDoc positions in Computational Cognitive Neuroimaging; University of Birmingham, UK* In our natural dynamic environment the senses are constantly bombarded with many different signals. How does the human brain integrate information from multiple senses during perception? To study the neural mechanisms of multisensory integration and learning, we combine psychophysics, functional imaging (fMRI, EEG/MEG & interleaved TMS-fMRI) and models of Bayesian Inference and learning. The Computational Cognitive Neuroimaging Group (Prof Uta Noppeney) is seeking 1 enthusiastic PostDoc and 2 PhD candidates. Applicants should have astrong quantitative background and a degree in neuroscience, psychology, computer science, physics, medicine or related areas. Prior experience in functional imaging, MatLab, data analysis and/or machine learning would be an advantage. The lab is part of the Computational Neuroscience and Cognitive Robotics Centre and the Department of Psychology of the University of Birmingham, UK. The centre provides an excellent multidisciplinary and collaborative research environment combining expertise in cognitive neuroimaging, psychophysics and computational neuroscience. The psychology department was rated 3rd in the UK research assessment exercise. Applications will be considered until the positions are filled. Starting dates are flexible. For further information, please contact u.noppeney(a)bham.ac.uk <mailto:u.noppeney@bham.ac.uk> and see http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/cncr/index.aspx <http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/psychology/index.aspx> http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/psychology/index.aspx <http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/psychology/people/profile.aspx?Referenc…> http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/psychology/people/profile.aspx?Referenc… <mailto:u.noppeney@bham.ac.uk> For application to the PostDoc positions, please send applications to http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/AIM528/research-fellow/ For application to the PhD positions, please send application including CV, statement of research interests, and the names and full contact details of two referees to:u.noppeney@bham.ac.uk <mailto:u.noppeney@bham.ac.uk> <http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/AIM528/research-fellow/>

April 3, 2014

Last Mile, April 18 || ADVCOMP 2014 || August 24 - 28, 2014 - Rome, Italy

by Cristina Pascual

INVITATION: ================= Please consider to contribute to and/or forward to the appropriate groups the following opportunity to submit and publish original scientific results to ADVCOMP 2014. The submission deadline is April 18, 2014. Authors of selected papers will be invited to submit extended article versions to one of the IARIA Journals: http://www.iariajournals.org ================= ============== ADVCOMP 2014 | Call for Papers =============== CALL FOR PAPERS, TUTORIALS, PANELS ADVCOMP 2014, The Eighth International Conference on Advanced Engineering Computing and Applications in Sciences August 24 - 28, 2014 - Rome, Italy Submission page: http://www.iaria.org/conferences2014/SubmitADVCOMP14.html General page: http://www.iaria.org/conferences2014/ADVCOMP14.html Call for Papers: http://www.iaria.org/conferences2014/CfPADVCOMP14.html Contributions: - regular papers - short papers (work in progress) - posters - ideas - presentations - demos - doctoral forum submissions Proposals for: - symposia - workshops Submission deadline: April 18, 2014 Sponsored by IARIA, www.iaria.org Extended versions of selected papers will be published in IARIA Journals: http://www.iariajournals.org Print proceedings will be available via Curran Associates, Inc.: http://www.proceedings.com/9769.html Articles will be archived in the free access ThinkMind Digital Library: http://www.thinkmind.org The topics suggested by the conference can be discussed in term of concepts, state of the art, research, standards, implementations, running experiments, applications, and industrial case studies. Authors are invited to submit complete unpublished papers, which are not under review in any other conference or journal in the following, but not limited to, topic areas. All tracks are open to both research and industry contributions, in terms of Regular papers, Posters, Work in progress, Technical/marketing/business presentations, Demos, Tutorials, and Panels. Before submission, please check and conform with the Editorial rules: http://www.iaria.org/editorialrules.html ADVCOMP 2014 Topics (topics and submission details: see CfP on the site) Advances on computing theories Finite-state machines; Petri nets /stochastic/colored/probabilistic/etc; Genetic algorithms; Machine learning theory; Prediction theory; Bayesian theory /statistics/filtering/estimation/reasoning/rating/etc; Markov chains/process/model/etc; Graphs theories Advances in computation methods Hybrid computational methods; Advanced numerical algorithms; Differential calculus; Matrix perturbation theory; Rare matrices; Fractals & super-fractal algorithms; Random graph dynamics; Multi-dimensional harmonic estimation Computational logics Knowledge-based systems and automated reasoning; Logical issues in knowledge representation /non-monotonic reasoning/belief; Specification and verification of programs and systems; Applications of logic in hardware and VLSI; Natural language, concurrent computation, planning; Deduction and reasoning; Logic of computation; Dempster-Shafer theory; Fuzzy theory/computation/logic/etc Advances on computing mechanisms Clustering large and high dimensional data; Data fusion and aggregation; Biological sequence analysis; Biomecatronics mechanisms; Biologically inspired mechanisms; System theory and control mechanisms; Multi-objective evolutionary algorithms; Constraint-based algorithms; Ontology-based reasoning; Topology and structure patterns; Geometrical pattern similarity; Strong and weak symmetry; Distortion in coordination mechanisms Computing techniques Distributed computing; Parallel computing; Grid computing; Autonomic computing; Cloud computing; Development of numerical and scientific software-based systems; Pattern-based computing; Finite-element method computation; Elastic models; Optimization techniques; Simulation techniques; Stream-based computing Resource intensive applications and services (RIAS) Fundamentals on RIAS; Basic algorithms for RIAS; Communications intensive; Process intensive; Data-intensive computing; Operational intensive; Cloud-computing intensiveness; User intensive; Technology intensive; Control intensive; Complex RIAS; Bioinformatics computation; Large scale ehealth systems; Pharmaceutical/drug computation; Weather forecast computation; Earthquake simulations; Geo-spatial simulations; Spatial programs; Real-time manufacturing systems; Transportation systems; Avionic systems; Economic/financial systems; Electric-power systems Computational geometry Theoretical computational geometry; Applied computational geometry; Design and analysis of geometric algorithms; Design and analysis of geometric algorithms and data structures; Discrete and combinatorial geometry and topology; Data structures (Voronoi Diagrams, Delaunay triangulations, etc.); Experimental evaluation of geometric algorithms and heuristics; Numerical performance of geometric algorithms; Geometric computations in parallel and distributed environments; Geometric data structures for mesh generation; Geometric methods in computer graphics; Solid modeling; Space Partitioning; Special applications (animation of geometric algorithms, manufacturing, computer graphics and image processing, computer-aided geometry design, solid geometry) Interdisciplinary computing Computational /physics, chemistry, biology/ algorithms; Graph-based modeling and algorithms; Computational methods for /crystal, protein/ structure prediction; Computation for multi-material structure; Modeling and simulation of large deformations and strong shock waves; Computation in solid mechanics; Remote geo-sensing; Interdisciplinary computing in music and arts Cloud computing Hardware-as-a-service; Software-as-a-service [SaaS applicaitions]; Platform-as-service; On-demand computing models; Cloud Computing programming and application development; Scalability, discovery of services and data in Cloud computing infrastructures; Privacy, security, ownership and reliability issues; Performance and QoS; Dynamic resource provisioning; Power-efficiency and Cloud computing; Load balancing; Application streaming; Cloud SLAs, business models and pricing policies; Custom platforms; Large-scale compute infrastructures; Managing applications in the clouds; Data centers; Process in the clouds; Content and service distribution in Cloud computing infrastructures; Multiple applications can run on one computer (virtualization a la VMWare); Grid computing (multiple computers can be used to run one application); Cloud-computing vendor governance and regulatory compliance Grid Networks, Services and Applications GRID theory, frameworks, methodologies, architecture, ontology; GRID infrastructure and technologies; GRID middleware; GRID protocols and networking; GRID computing, utility computing, autonomic computing, metacomputing; Programmable GRID; Data GRID; Context ontology and management in GRIDs; Distributed decisions in GRID networks; GRID services and applications; Virtualization, modeling, and metadata in GRID; Resource management, scheduling, and scalability in GRID; GRID monitoring, control, and management; Traffic and load balancing in GRID; User profiles and priorities in GRID; Performance and security in GRID systems; Fault tolerance, resilience, survivability, robustness in GRID; QoS/SLA in GRID networks; GRID fora, standards, development, evolution; GRID case studies, validation testbeds, prototypes, and lessons learned Computing in Virtualization-based environments Principles of virtualization; Virtualization platforms; Thick and thin clients; Data centers and nano-centers; Open virtualization format; Orchestration of virtualization across data centers; Dynamic federation of compute capacity; Dynamic geo-balancing; Instant workload migration; Virtualization-aware storage; Virtualization-aware networking; Virtualization embedded-software-based smart mobile phones; Trusted platforms and embedded supervisors for security; Virtualization management operations /discovery, configuration, provisioning, performance, etc.; Energy optimization and saving for green datacenters; Virtualization supporting cloud computing; Applications as pre-packaged virtual machines; Licencing and support policies Development of computing support Computing platforms; Advanced scientific computing; Support for scientific problem-solving; Support for distributed decisions; Agent-assisted workflow support; Middleware computation support; High performance computing; Problem solving environments; Computational science and education; Neuronal networks Computing applications in science Advanced computing in civil engineering; Advanced computing in physics science; Advanced computing in chemistry science; Advanced computing in mathematics; Advanced computing in operation research; Advanced computing in economics; Advanced computing in electronics and electrical science; Advanced computing on Earth science, geosciences and meteorology Complex computing in application domains Computation genomic; Management of scientific data and knowledge; Advanced computing in bioinformatics and biophysics; Advanced computing in molecular systems and biological systems; Application of engineering methods to genetics; Medical computation and graphics; Advanced computing in simulation systems; Advanced computing for statistics and optimization; Advanced computing in mechanics and quantum mechanics; Advanced computing for geosciences and meteorology; Maps and geo-images building; Curve and surface reconstruction; Financial computing and forecasting; Advanced computing in robotics and manufacturing; Advanced computing in power systems; Environmental advanced computing --------------------------------- Committee: http://www.iaria.org/conferences2014/ComADVCOMP14.html ADVCOMP Advisory Chairs Chih-Cheng Hung, Southern Polytechnic State University, USA Juha R�ning, Oulu University, Finland Sigeru Omatu, Osaka Institute of Technology, Japan Erich Schweighofer, University of Vienna, Austria Paul Humphreys, University of Ulster, UK Danny Krizanc, Wesleyan University, USA Ivan Rodero, Rutgers University - Piscataway, USA Ali Shawkat, CQ University of Australia - North Rockhampton, Australia George Spanoudakis, City University London, UK Vladimir Vlassov, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden Jerry Trahan, Louisiana State University, USA Dean Vucinic, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium Rudolf Berrendorf, Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University, Germany Wenbing Zhao, Cleveland State University, USA Camelia Mu�oz-Caro, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Spain Laurent R�veill�re, Bordeaux Institute of Technology, France Ewa Grabska, Jagiellonian University - Krakow, Poland ADVCOMP Industry/Research Chairs Jorge Ejarque Artigas, Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS), Spain Helmut Reiser, Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ)-Garching, Germany H. Metin Aktulga, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, USA Sameh Elnikety, Microsoft Research, USA Umar Farooq, Amazon.com - Seattle, USA Dmitry Fedosov, Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Germany Alice Koniges, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory/NERSC, USA Markus Kunde, German Aerospace Center & Helmholtz Association - Cologne, Germany Peter M�ller, IBM Zurich Research Laboratory- R�schlikon, Switzerland Simon Tsang, Applied Communication Sciences - Piscataway, USA Anna Schwanengel, Siemens AG, Germany Christoph Fuenfzig, Fraunhofer ITWM, Germany ADVCOMP Publicity Chairs Marie Lluberes, University of Puerto Rico at Mayag�ez, USA Sascha Opletal, University of Stuttgart, Germany �lvaro Navas, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Spain Iwona Ryszka, Jagiellonian University - Krakow, Poland ================================================

April 3, 2014

Research Fellow position University of Leeds/HBP

by Marc de Kamps

A postdoctoral Research Fellow position is available for immediate start at the University of Leeds, UK. The position is funded as part of the Human Brain Project. This project focuses on modelling of neural populations using population density techniques. Population density methods are a powerful statistical methods that capture and evolve dynamics at the population level directly, rather than through a large number of neuron point model instances. More details about this research can be found in recent publications (see below). In this project, you will investigate the theoretical foundations of population density techniques, and apply them in the creation of efficient numerical algorithms. The resulting software should be usable by non-experts in large-scale network models. We are looking for outstanding candidates with a PhD in Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, Computer Science or related disciplines. They are expected to have good mathematical analytic skills, as well as substantial experience in scientific computation in languages such as C/C++ or Fortran. A background in computational neuroscience is highly desirable. An interest in other activities in the Human Brain project is expected, and the application of the techniques in large-scale network models is actively encouraged. You will be expected to interact with other researchers at the European Institute of Theoretical Neuroscience in Paris through regular visits. You will be based in the School of Computing at the University of Leeds. The School has as research themes 'Applied Computing in Biology, Medicine and Health' as well as 'Computational Science and Engineering'. Informal enquiries about this position can be made directly to Marc de Kamps (m.dekamps(a)leeds.ac.uk) The complete advert and application instructions can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/oxzfqho The closing date for applications is 30 April 2014. Relevant publications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1162/089976603322297322 http://arxiv.org/abs/1309.1654) http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neunet.2008.07.006 Dr Marc de Kamps Institute of Aritificial Intelligence and Biological Systems School of Computing University of Leeds Leeds LS2 9JT, UK

April 3, 2014

Article on data sharing/analysis of multielectrode array

by Stephen Eglen

I'd like to highlight the following article from our group that I hope will be of use to the community. Code and data are available via the project site: http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/sje30/waverepo Best wishes, Stephen ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Eglen SJ, Weeks M, Jessop M, Simonotto J, Jackson T, Sernagor E (2014) A data repository and analysis framework for spontaneous neural activity recordings in developing retina. Gigascience 3:3. Paper: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2047-217X-3-3 Background During early development, neural circuits fire spontaneously, generating activity episodes with complex spatiotemporal patterns. Recordings of spontaneous activity have been made in many parts of the nervous system over the last 25 years, reporting developmental changes in activity patterns and the effects of various genetic perturbations. Results We present a curated repository of multielectrode array recordings of spontaneous activity in developing mouse and ferret retina. The data have been annotated with minimal metadata and converted into HDF5. This paper describes the structure of the data, along with examples of reproducible research using these data files. We also demonstrate how these data can be analysed in the CARMEN workflow system. This article is written as a literate programming document; all programs and data described here are freely available. Conclusions 1. We hope this repository will lead to novel analysis of spontaneous activity recorded in different laboratories. 2. We encourage published data to be added to the repository. 3. This repository serves as an example of how multielectrode array recordings can be stored for long-term reuse. Keywords: Retinal waves; Spontaneous activity; Electrophysiology; HDF5; Multielectrode arrays

April 3, 2014

DENDRITES 2014, July 1-4, Crete: LAST CALL & LOWER REGISTRATION

by Yiota Poirazi

Apologies for cross-posting! Please distribute to interested parties. many thanks! Yiota Poirazi ------------------------------------------------------- DENDRITES 2014 4^th NAMASEN Training Workshop Heraklion, Crete, Greece. July 1-4, 2014 http://dendrites2014.gr/ info(a)dendrites2014.gr <mailto:info@dendrites2014.gr> * * * * * FINAL DEADLINE EXTENSION* * * * * Abstract submission for poster and oral presentation has been extended to *April 14th, 2014. This is the final submission date.* * * * * * *REGISTRATION WAIVERS FOR STUDENTS/POSTDOCS** * * * * Several registration waivers are still available!! Waivers are provided by IBRO PERC funding for Symposia, Workshops & Meetings. Students and postdocs presenting an abstract are eligible. To request a waiver, please send an email to info(a)dendrites2014.org <mailto:info@dendrites2014.org>including information about your submitted abstract. Travel funds might also become available and will be announced on the web site. * * * * **LOWER REGISTRATION FEES if registering by April 30th, 2014** * * * * We are happy to announce that, given the availability of new sponsorships, we can provide lower registration fees (-40 Euro) for attendants registering by April 30th, 2014. People who registered already will get reimbursed. * * * * * EMBO KEYNOTE LECTURE* * * * * We are happy to announce that Prof. Tonegawa's lecture will be supported by EMBO, as the "EMBO Keynote Lecture". This award, given to EMBO members presenting in major international scientific meeting, highlights the international standing of DENDRITES 2014. ---------------------------------------- Dendrites 2014 aims to bring together scientists from around the world to present their research on dendrites, ranging from the molecular to the anatomical and biophysical levels. The Workshop will take place in the beautiful island of Crete, just after the AREADNE meeting (areadne.org) which takes place in the nearby island of Santorini. Note that Santorini is just a 2 hour boat ride from Crete. One could combine two meetings in a single trip to Greece! FORMAT AND SPEAKERS The meeting consists of the Main Event (July 1-3) and the Soft Skills Day (July 4). Invited speakers for the Main Event include: * Susumu Tonegawa (Nobel Laureate), * Angus Silver, * Tiago Branco, * Alcino J. Silva, * Michael Häusser, * Julietta U. Frey, * Stefan Remy, and * Kristen Harris. For the Soft Skills Day, Kerri Smith, Nature podcast editor, is going to present on communication and dissemination of scientific results. Alcino J. Silva (UCLA) will present his recent work on developing tools for integrating and planning research in Neuroscience. There will be a hands on session on tools used to model neural cells/networks and a talk about the advantages of publishing under the Creative Commons License. CALL FOR ABSTRACTS Submission of abstracts for poster and oral presentations are due by *14 April 2014*. We welcome both experimental and theoretical contributions addressing novel findings related to dendrites. For details, please see http://dendrites2014.gr/call/. Electronic abstract submission is hosted on the Frontiers platform, where extended abstracts will be published as an online, open access special issue (in Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, Impact factor 4.5). One of the authors has to register for the main event as a presenting author. In case an abstract is not accepted for presentation, the registration fee will be refunded. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Please see the conference web site (http://dendrites2014.gr/) subscribe to our twitter (https://twitter.com/dendrites2014) or RSS feeds (http://dendrites2014.gr/rss_feed/news.xml) or send an email to info(a)dendrites2014.org <mailto:info@dendrites2014.org>. -- Panayiota Poirazi, Ph.D. Research Director Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB) Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH) Vassilika Vouton, P.O.Box 1385 GR 711 10 Heraklion, Crete, GREECE Tel: +30 2810 391139 Fax: +30 2810 391101 Εmail:poirazi@imbb.forth.gr http://www.dendrites.gr

April 3, 2014

models of structural plasticity

by Ooijen, A. van

Dear colleagues, We would like to draw your attention to a series of recent papers dedicated to models of structural plasticity. Developing as well as mature brains are much less hard-wired than traditionally thought. Formation of new connections and breaking of existing connections (structural plasticity) by dendritic spine and axonal bouton turnover, as well as re-routing of axonal branches, can cause a dramatic rewiring of brain connectivity, which so far has largely been disregarded in neuronal network models. The following papers describe novel models of structural plasticity: Homeostatic structural plasticity increases the efficiency of small-world networks Markus Butz, Ines D. Steenbuck and Arjen van Ooyen Front. Synaptic Neurosci., 01 April 2014. DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2014.00007 (Open access) http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnsyn.2014.00007/abstract A simple rule for dendritic spine and axonal bouton formation can account for cortical reorganization after focal retinal lesions Markus Butz and Arjen van Ooyen PloS Computational Biology, 10 October 2013. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003259 (Open access) http://www.ploscompbiol.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pcbi.100… Further reading: Van Ooyen, A. (2011). Using theoretical models to analyse neural development. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 12: 311-326. Butz, M., Worgotter, F., and Van Ooyen, A. (2009). Activity-dependent structural plasticity. Brain Research Reviews 60: 287-305. Kind regards, Markus Butz Arjen van Ooyen

April 3, 2014

Bernstein Workshop "Characterizing Natural Scenes": Call for Abstracts/Contributed Talks

by Jian Liu

Bernstein workshop: Characterizing Natural Scenes: Retinal Coding and Statistical Theory Call for Abstracts/Contributed Talks You are invited to participate in the pre-conference Bernstein workshop "Characterizing Natural Scenes: Retinal Coding and Statistical Theory", taking place in in Göttingen, Germany, on September 2-3, 2014. Please find the preliminary schedule on workshop URL: https://sites.google.com/site/jiankliu/Meetings/2014bccn_workshop The workshop chairs will select a couple of abstracts for short oral presentation at the workshop. All the abstracts will be presented as posters during the Bernstein conference on September 3-4. However, the workshop could hold a separate poster session based on the number and quality of abstracts that we receive. To participate in the workshop please submit the abstract (the extended version is preferred) as a PDF attachment via email to Jian Liu ( jian.liu(a)med.uni-goettingen.de) or Arno Onken (arno.onken(a)iit.it) The deadline for submission is August 1. REGISTRATION: Please refer to the Bernstein Conference 2014 for registration and venue information. http://www.bernstein-conference.de/ WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: How does the retina process natural visual inputs? What role do the many types of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) play in this? Experiments with specific artificial stimuli have suggested that individual types of RGCs may have specific functional roles in visual processing, yet it is not clear how these simplified functional investigations relate to the processing of natural images and movies. An important ingredient for future analysis will be a better understanding of the complex statistical properties of natural scenes, as revealed by theoreticians. The relationship between natural visual statistics and retinal coding provides a promising direction for improving our understanding of the visual system. But we still lack a systematic framework for understanding the underlying mechanisms of how relevant features of natural scenes are encoded by the retina. In this workshop, we expect mutual benefits for both natural scene statistics and retinal coding. We will bring together experimentalists and theoreticians in order to highlight recent progress, encourage exchange of insights, and stimulate new ideas for future work with the following core questions: 1) How can we develop useful descriptions of the statistics of natural scenes that are relevant for retinal coding? 2) How can we characterize the functional roles of different RGC types in processing natural scenes? 3) Which coding strategies are present at the level of RGC populations? 4) How can we unify the acquired knowledge of natural scenes and neural data to develop better tools for analysis? CONFIRMED SPEAKERS: * Vijay Balasubramanian (University of Pennsylvania) * Philipp Berens (BCCN, Tübingen) * Thomas Euler (University of Tübingen) * Felix Franke (ETH Zurich) * Olivier Marre (Vision Institute, Paris) * Aman Saleem (University College London) * Maneesh Sahani (University College London) * Rava A. da Silveira (ENS, Paris) We are looking forward to seeing you in Göttingen. Workshop organizers: Jian Liu (University Medical Center Göttingen and BCCN Göttingen) Arno Onken (Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Rovereto) ************************************************************************** Jian K. Liu, Ph.D. Mathematics Department of Ophthalmology University Medical Center Goettingen Waldweg 33, 37073 Goettingen Phone: +49 (0)551 39-91248 Fax: +49 (0)551 39-13541 email: jian.liu(a)med.uni-goettingen.de Webpage: https://sites.google.com/site/jiankliu **************************************************************************

April 2, 2014

Fully funded Postdoc position in Computational Neuroscience

by Thomas Kreuz

Fully funded Postdoc position (Experienced Researcher) in Computational Neuroscience New approaches for the analysis of neuronal spike trains (ER3) within the Marie Curie Initial Training Network - ‘Neural Engineering Transformative Technologies’ (NETT) at the Institute of Complex Systems (ISC), CNR, Florence, Italy. Gross Salary per annum: 64,701 € (Living Allowance) plus 9,290 - 13,272 € (Mobility Allowance) depending on circumstances Required title: PhD in Physics, Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or Computational Neuroscience Applications: Please first send an informal enquiry to Dr. Thomas Kreuz (thomas.kreuz(a)cnr.it) and/or Dr. Alessandro Torcini (alessandro.torcini(a)cnr.it) Once you are preselected (you will receive a reply within a few days), a full application has to be submitted according to the rules stated here [http://neuro.fi.isc.cnr.it/index.php?page=how-to-apply] Closing date for the position: May 15, 2014 Applications are invited for the above post to work with Dr. Thomas Kreuz [http://www.fi.isc.cnr.it/users/thomas.kreuz/] and Dr. Alessandro Torcini [http://www.fi.isc.cnr.it/users/alessandro.torcini/] in the Computational Neuroscience group [http://neuro.fi.isc.cnr.it/] at ISC, Florence. This world leading group combines theoretical investigations (e.g., on non-trivial collective phenomena in neuronal populations) with practical applications (such as spike train analysis). The group is one of the main participants in the Center for the Study of Complex Dynamics (CSDC) created with the purpose of coordinating interdisciplinary training and research activities. CSDC researchers include physicists, control engineers, mathematicians, biologists and psychologists. This full-time post will begin on the 1st of September 2014 (at the latest) and will be offered on a fixed-term contract for a period of 24 months. The fellowship will include a six-month stay (probably at the end) with NETT partner Prof. Bert Kappen [http://www.snn.ru.nl/~bertk/] at the Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands. The Florence part of the project will mainly consist of two parts: Development of new approaches for (multivariate) data analysis and analysis of electrophysiological data (in particular neuronal spike trains). During the six-month stay in the Netherlands the project will investigate the applicability of methods derived from latent state models, sequential Monte Carlo sampling, and path integral control to analyze neural time-series data, such as spike trains. The candidate should have a strong background in at least one of the following fields: computational neuroscience, data analysis, and nonlinear dynamics as well as solid experience in scientific programming (Matlab). Candidates must be in the first 5 years of their research careers and already be in possession of a doctoral degree in physics, engineering, applied mathematics, or computational neuroscience. Preference will be given to a candidate with experience in (non-linear) data analysis. As part of our commitment to promoting diversity we encourage applications from women. To comply with the Marie Curie Actions rule for mobility applicants must not have resided, worked or studied in Italy for more than 12 months in the 3 years prior to May 2014. Thomas Kreuz Institute for complex systems, CNR Via Madonna del Piano 10 50119 Sesto Fiorentino (Italy) Tel: +39-349-0748506 Email: thomas.kreuz(a)cnr.it Webpage: http://www.fi.isc.cnr.it/users/thomas.kreuz/

April 1, 2014

Postdoctoral Positions in Human Intracranial Physiology at the National Institutes of Health

by Zaghloul, Kareem (NIH/NINDS) [E]

Two full-time post-doctoral position focused on understanding the neural correlates of cognitive function and on the physiology of seizure onset and propagation are available in the Surgical Neurology Branch of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at the NIH. The first position involves studies focused on designing and investigating behavioral tasks related to memory encoding, decision making, and attention, and on analyzing and manipulating human intracranial signals, including single-unit activity, local field potentials, and electro corticography (ECoG), captured from patients with medically refractory epilepsy and from patients receiving deep brain stimulation surgery. The goal of this project is to investigate the neural mechanisms that underlie cognitive behavior. The second position involves studies focused on analyzing ictal and inter-ictal activity across multiple modalities from patients with medically refractory epilepsy, including ECoG recordings and single-unit activity captured through implanted microwires. The goal of this project is to link these data with data captured using MEG, high-density scalp EEG, and functional MRI in order to gain insight into the seizure localization, onset, and spread. Post-doctoral fellows will join a laboratory aimed at understanding the neural mechanisms that underlie human cognitive function and abnormal seizure physiology and at developing novel and innovative techniques to decode and directly communicate with those circuits through electrical stimulation. We are seeking candidates that are highly creative, motivated, and independent with a Ph.D. in neuroscience, psychology, biomedical engineering, or a related field. Candidates must have a strong research background, with a record of relevant publications. Candidates will be encouraged and expected to participate in independent laboratory research, and will be expected to write scholarly manuscripts. Candidates must be able to lead and work well in a team. Candidates should have strong computational, quantitative, and/or engineering skills, with proficiency in developing custom code for data analysis preferred. Past medical research is not required, but candidates must be willing to perform experiments in a clinical setting. Candidates will interact with clinical staff, graduate students, research fellows, and must have excellent spoken and written English skills. Applicants should submit a brief statement of research activities and interests, a current CV, and names and contact information of at least three references. Salary will be commensurate with experience and accomplishments. To arrange a meeting with the PI and to send materials required for consideration for this appointment please contact Dr. Zaghloul at zaghloulka(a)mail.nih.gov.

April 1, 2014

1 PhD +1 Postdoctoral position in Computational Neuroscience at CRM / IDIBAPS (Barcelona).

by JROCHAV＠clinic.ub.es

Dear Colleagues, We are looking for one PhD student and one Postdoctoral fellow to work in a joint project between the labs of Alex Roxin (Centre de Reserca Matemàtica, CRM) and the lab of Jaime de la Rocha (IDIBAPS). The projects require the development of network models to investigate spontaneous activity in cortical circuits and the relation between neuronal and behavioral variability. The funding comes from an agreement between La Caixa and the Catalan Government to sponsor a training programme on Collaborative Mathematics presented by the CRM. Several positions are available within the training program which offers other projects. Candidates would be chosen on based on academic merit. Funding for the PhD position lasts 39 months and for the postdoctoral position lasts 3 years. Start dates from Fall to Winter 2014-2015 are preferred. The deadline to apply is April 16, 2014. Information about how to apply and a description of the projects can be found here: http://www.crm.cat/SiteAssets/Lists/Crides/EditForm/Calls_Collaborative%20M… If you have any questions please contact Alex Roxin (aroxin(a)crm.cat<mailto:aroxin@crm.cat>) or Jaime de la Rocha (jrochav(a)clinic.ub.es<mailto:jrochav@clinic.ub.es>). Best Jaime Jaime de la Rocha Ramón y Cajal researcher at IDIABPS c. Roselló 149-153 Barcelona, 08036 Spain Tel. +34 932275400 (4307) http://neuro.fcrb.es/delaRochaLab

April 1, 2014

Call for Papers: LDAB@CIBB2014

by Andrea Bracciali

[We apologize if you have received multiple copies of this message] ==================================================== Call for papers Large-scale and HPC data analysis in bioinformatics: Intelligent methods for computational, systems and synthetic biology. 26-28 June 2014 University of Cambridge, UK http://www.cussb.unisr.it/cibb2014/ss.html#LSAHDAIB Special Session of CIBB 2014 (later deadline): Eleventh International Meeting on Computational Intelligence Methods for Bioinformatics and Biostatistics http://www.cussb.unisr.it/cibb2014/index.html *** Submission deadline: 5th May 2014 *** ==================================================== AIMS and SCOPE Biomedical research is currently facing the Big Data wave created by the huge amount of experiments performed every day in omics sciences. This new situation demands appropriate IT-infrastructures and scalable software to analyse data within an acceptable timespan. Massive parallel clusters, distributed technologies, on-Chip solutions such as GPGPU and Xeon Phi must be exploited with adequate algorithmic solutions to reach their full potential. The aim of this special session is to bring together researchers interested in cutting-edge methods to address the challenges posed by the huge amount of data produced in omics science. The idea is to present the latest advancements concerning High Performance Computing solutions required to treat multi-omics data and the related Big Data paradigms that are needed to manage the large-scale challenges of current computational biology. Examples of relevant areas of interest within this context include - but are not limited to - - Next-Generation Sequencing data analysis and interpretation, - Genomics patterns identification and mining, - Transcriptomics and Proteomics data integration, - Systems Biology models simulation and optimization, - Structural Biology and Molecular Dynamics, - Synthetic Biology circuits design and simulation. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES http://www.cussb.unisr.it/cibb2014/calls.html#submissions Papers should be submitted in PDF format on the Easy Chair conference system. Paper length should be at least 4 pages and should not exceed 6 pages. Papers are required to be structured according to the following five sections: • 1. Scientific background • 2. Material and methods • 3. Results • 4. Conclusion • 5. References (no more than 10) (Please refer to the latex template on the web page for more accurate instructions). Please note that only PDF versions of papers can be accepted, as the proceedings of CIBB will be produced starting from them. A correct submission requires selecting this special session in the submission system. PUBLICATION Each paper will be peer-reviewed and the resulting scores used to determine invitations for oral or poster presentations. Following the conference, an extended version of the presented contributions (12 page format) will be considered for publication in the Springer’s Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics (LNBI) series. Moreover, a selection of the best papers will be considered for pu blication in a special issue of BMC Bioinformatics dedicated to CIBB2014. IMPORTANT DATES Paper submission: 5th May 2014 Acceptance notification: 10th May 2014 Camera ready due: 30th May 2014 Conference: 26th - 28th June 2014 ORGANISERS Andrea Bracciali, University of Stirling, UK Ivan Merelli, CNR-ITB, Italy CONTACTS Andrea Bracciali, University of Stirling, UK Computing Science and Mathematics School of Natural Sciences Stirling University abb(a)cs.stir.ac.uk +44 (0)1786 467446 Ivan Merelli, CNR-ITB, Italy Institute for Biomedical Technologies Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche ivan.merelli(a)itb.cnr.it +39 02 26422600

April 1, 2014

Deadline is April 2nd (but site will be open until April 4th): Call for Applications in 2014 Telluride Neuromorphic Cognition Engineering Workshop

by Ralph Etienne-Cummings

Telluride Neuromorphic Cognition Engineering Workshop 2014 Neuromorphic Cognition Engineering Workshop: The 20th Anniversary Edition Telluride, Colorado, June 29th - July 19th, 2014 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Deadline is April 2nd, 2014 NEUROMORPHIC COGNITION ENGINEERING WORKSHOP www.ine-web.org Sunday June 29th - Saturday July 19th, 2014, Telluride, Colorado We invite applications for a three-week summer workshop that will be held in Telluride, Colorado.Sunday June 29th - Saturday July 19th, 2014. The application deadline is Wednesday, April 2nd and application instructions are described at the bottom of this document. This is the 20th Anniversary of the Workshop, and ~25 years since the conception of the "Meadian" version of Neuromorphic Engineering. Hence, we plan a celebratory Workshop, where some of the originators and benefactors of the field will participate in discussions of the successes and challenges over the past 25 years and prognosticate the potential contributions for the next 25 years. The 2014 Workshop and Summer School on Neuromorphic Engineering is sponsored by the National Science Foundation, Institute of Neuromorphic Engineering, Qualcomm Corporation, The EU-Collaborative Convergent Science Network (CNS-II), University of Maryland - College Park, Institute for Neuroinformatics - University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Georgia Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University, Boston University, University of Western Sydney and the Salk Institute. Directors: Cornelia Fermuller, University of Maryland, College Park Ralph Etienne-Cummings, Johns Hopkins University Shih-Chii Liu, Institute of Neuroinformatics, UNI/ETH Zurich, Switzerland Timothy Horiuchi, University of Maryland, College Park Workshop Advisory Board: Andreas Andreou, Johns Hopkins University Andre van Schaik, University Western Sydney, Australia Avis Cohen, University of Maryland Barbara Shinn-Cunningham, Boston University Giacomo Indiveri, Institute of Neuroinformatics, Uni/Eth Zurich, Switzerland Jonathan Tapson, University Western Sydney, Australia Malcolm Slaney, Microsoft Research Jennifer Hasler, Georgia Institute of Technology Rodney Douglas, Institute of Neuroinformatics, Uni/Eth Zurich, Switzerland Shihab Shamma, University of Maryland Tobi Delbruck, Institute of Neuroinformatics, Uni/Eth Zurich, Switzerland Previous year workshop can be found at: ine-web.org/workshops/workshops-overview/index.htmland the workshop wiki is athttps://neuromorphs.net/ GOALS: Neuromorphic engineers design and fabricate artificial neural systems whose organizing principles are based on those of biological nervous systems. Over the past 18 years, this research community has focused on the understanding of low-level sensory processing and systems infrastructure; efforts are now expanding to apply this knowledge and infrastructure to addressing higher-level problems in perception, cognition, and learning. In this 3-week intensive workshop and through the Institute for Neuromorphic Engineering (INE), the mission is to promote interaction between senior and junior researchers; to educate new members of the community; to introduce new enabling fields and applications to the community; to promote on-going collaborative activities emerging from the Workshop, and to promote a self-sustaining research field. FORMAT: The three week summer workshop will include background lectures on systems and cognitive neuroscience (in particular sensory processing, learning and memory, motor systems and attention), practical tutorials on emerging hardware design, mobile robots, hands-on projects, and special interest groups. Participants are required to take part and possibly complete at least one of the projects proposed. They are furthermore encouraged to become involved in as many of the other activities proposed as interest and time allow. There will be two lectures in the morning that cover issues that are important to the community in general. Because of the diverse range of backgrounds among the participants, some of these lectures will be tutorials, rather than detailed reports of current research. These lectures will be given by invited speakers. Projects and interest groups meet in the late afternoons, and after dinner. In the early afternoon there will be tutorials on a wide spectrum of topics, including analog VLSI, mobile robotics, vision and auditory systems, central-pattern-generators, selective attention mechanisms, cognitive systems, etc. 2014 TOPIC AREAS: Human Auditory Cognition: Acoustic Priming, Imagination and Attention. Project Leaders: Shihab Shamma (UM-College Park), Malcolm Slaney (Microsoft), Edward Lalor (Trinity College, Dublin), Barbara Shinn-Cunningham (Boston U) Motion and Action Processing on Wearable Devices Project Leaders: Michael Pfeiffer (INI-UZH), Ryad Benosman (UPMC, Paris), Garrick Orchard (NUS, Singapore), and Cornelia Fermüller (UMCP) Planning with Dynamic Neural Fields: from Sensorimotor Dynamics to Large-Scale behavioral Search Project Leaders: Yulia Sandamirskaya (RUB, Bochum) and Erik Billing (U. Skovde) Neuromorphic Olympics Project Leaders: Jorg Conradt (TUM, Munich) and Terry Stewart (U. Waterloo) Embodied Neuromorphic Real-World Architectures of Perception, Cognition and Action Project Leaders: Andreas Andreou (JHU) and Paul Verschure (UPF, Barcelona) Terry Sejnowski (Salk Institute) - Computational Neuroscience (invitational mini-workshop) LOCATION AND ARRANGEMENTS: The summer school will take place in the small town of Telluride, 9000 feet high in southwest Colorado, about 6 hours drive away from Denver (350 miles). Great Lakes Aviation and America West Express airlines provide daily flights directly into Telluride. All facilities within the beautifully renovated public school building are fully accessible to participants with disabilities. Participants will be housed in ski condominiums, within walking distance of the school. Participants are expected to share condominiums. The workshop is intended to be very informal and hands-on. Participants are not required to have had previous experience in analog VLSI circuit design, computational or machine vision, systems level neurophysiology or modeling the brain at the systems level. However, we strongly encourage active researchers with relevant backgrounds from academia, industry and national laboratories to apply, in particular if they are prepared to work on specific projects, talk about their own work or bring demonstrations to Telluride (e.g. robots, chips, software). Wireless internet access will be provided. Technical staff present throughout the workshops will assist with software and hardware issues. We will have a network of PCs running LINUX and Microsoft Windows for the workshop projects. We encourage participants to bring along their personal laptop. No cars are required. Given the small size of the town, we recommend that you do not rent a car. Bring hiking boots, warm clothes, rain gear, and a backpack, since Telluride is surrounded by beautiful mountains. Unless otherwise arranged with one of the organizers, we expect participants to stay for the entire duration of this three week workshop. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS: Notification of acceptances will be mailed out around the April 15th, 2014. The Workshop covers all your accommodations and facilities costs for the 3 weeks duration. You are responsible for your own travel to the Workshop, however, sponsored fellowships will be available as described below to further subsidize your cost. Registration Fees: For expenses not covered by federal funds, a Workshop registration fee is required. The fee is $1250 per participant for the 3-week Workshop. This is expected from all participants at the time of acceptance. Accommodations: The cost of a shared condominium, typically a bedroom in a shared condo for senior participants or a shared room for students, will be covered for all academic participants. Upgrades to a private rooms or condos will cost extra. Participants from National Laboratories and Industry are expected to pay for these condominiums. Fellowships: This year we will offer two Fellowships to subsidize your costs: Qualcomm Corporation Fellowship: Three non-corporate participants will have their accommodation and registration fees ($2750) directly covered by Qualcomm, and will be reimbursed for travel costs up to $500. Additional generous funding from Qualcomm will provide $5000 to help organize and stage the Workshop. EU-CSNII Fellowship (http://csnetwork.eu/) which is funded by the 7th Research Framework Program FP7-ICT-CSNII-601167: The top 8 EU applicants will be reimbursed for their registration fees ($1250), subsistence/travel subsidy (up to Euro 2000) and accommodations cost ($1500). The registration and accommodation costs will go directly to the INE (the INE will reimburse the participant's registration fees after receipt from CSNII), while the subsistence/travel reimbursement will be provided directly to the participants by the CSNII at the University of Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain. HOW TO APPLY: Applicants should be at the level of graduate students or above (i.e. postdoctoral fellows, faculty, research and engineering staff and the equivalent positions in industry and national laboratories). We actively encourage women and minority candidates to apply. Anyone interested in proposing or discussing specific projects should contact the appropriate topic leaders directly. The application website is (after February 7th, 2014): ine-web.org/telluride-conference-2014/apply-info Application information needed: Contact email address. First name, Last name, Affiliation, valid e-mail address. Curriculum Vitae (a short version, please). One page summary of background and interests relevant to the workshop, including possible ideas for workshop projects. Please indicate which topic areas you would most likely join. Two letters of recommendation (uploaded directly by references). Applicants will be notified by e-mail. 7th February, 2014 - Applications accepted on website 2nd April, 2014 - Applications Due 15th April, 2014 - Notification of Acceptance -- Ralph Etienne-Cummings, PhD, FIEEE Professor Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Computational Sensor Motor Systems Lab

April 1, 2014

Summer school in Computational Sensory-Motor Neuroscience (CoSMo 2014)

by Gunnar Blohm

*Fourth Annual Computational Sensory-Motor Neuroscience Summer School (CoSMo 2014)* University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA August 3-17, 2014 We would like to invite you to join us for the third annual Computational Sensory-Motor Neuroscience Summer School. The course is about experimental, computational and medical aspects of sensory-motor neuroscience with a focus on data/model sharing. Covered topics include Bayesian approaches, motor control, computational neuroimaging, sensory-motor transformations and prosthetics. An important focus is on doing research as opposed to just hearing about it. Each teaching module will take up two days with morning lecture sessions. Afternoon sessions involve hands-on Matlab programming, simulation and data-analysis. Newly acquired computational tools can also be applied in 2-week evening group research projects. The course is aimed at students and post-doctoral fellows from diverse backgrounds including Life Sciences, Psychology, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics and Engineering. Basic knowledge in calculus, linear algebra and Matlab is expected. Enrollment will be limited to 40 trainees. *Application deadline: April 27, 2014* For more information and to apply, please go to http://www.compneurosci.com/CoSMo/ The school is co-organized by Drs Gunnar Blohm, Paul Schrater and Konrad Körding. It receives funding from the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) via an NSERC-CREATE training grant on "Computational Approaches in Neuroscience – Action, Control & Transformations", and from the National Science Foundation (NSF, USA). -- ------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Gunnar BLOHM Assistant Professor in Computational Neuroscience Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Departments of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Mathematics & Statistics, and Psychology, School of Computing, and Canadian Action and Perception Network (CAPnet) Queen’s University 18, Stuart Street Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7L 3N6 Tel: (613) 533-3385 Fax: (613) 533-6840 Email:Gunnar.Blohm@QueensU.ca Web:http://www.compneurosci.com/

March 31, 2014

2014 NEURON Summer Course

by Ted Carnevale

This year's NEURON Summer Course has two components that can be taken individually or together. NEURON Fundamentals, which runs from June 21-24, addresses all aspects of using NEURON to model individual neurons, and also introduces parallel simulation and the fundamentals of modeling networks. Parallel Simulation with NEURON is for users who are already familiar with NEURON and need to create models that will run on parallel hardware. Registration is limited, and the registration deadline is Friday, May 30, 2014. For more information regarding NEURON courses see http://www.neuron.yale.edu/neuron/courses --Ted

March 31, 2014

Open Source Brain workshop 2014: Building and sharing models of the cortex

by solinas

(Apologies for cross postings) Announcing the 2014 Open Source Brain Workshop: Building and sharing models of the cortex. May 14-16th, Alghero, Sardinia. There are an increasing number of cortical cell and network models being developed and made publicly available, from networks of leaky integrate and fire neurons based on cortical connectivity and firing properties, to multicompartmental, conductance based cell models. Many of these are being reused, reimplemented and extended to address new scientific questions by labs around the world. In this meeting, we will look at the range cortico-thalamic models out there which are of widespread interest and work towards getting these into public, open source repositories, in standardised formats such as NeuroML and PyNN. We will investigate the steps needed to ensure these models are well tested, annotated and ready for use as research tools by the attendees and the wider community. There will be presentations from experimentalists who are producing the data to constrain these models, as well as simulator and application developers who will create the infrastructure to build, simulate, analyse and share the models. On the morning of Friday 16th, there will be a symposium on Oscillation and Resonance in CNS Network Loops. The symposium will focus on the reconstruction and analysis of oscillating networks. These methods can be applied at multiple levels of brain modelling providing valuable constraints for single neuron and network models. There will be presentations of modelling studies on how the brain generates oscillations and how external, oscillating electro-magnetic fields influence brain activity. Confirmed speakers Sharon Crook, Arizona State University, USA Markus Diesmann, Research Center Jülich, Germany Dirk Feldmeyer, Aachen University, Germany Alon Korngreen, Bar-Ilan University, Israel Dave Lester, SpiNNaker project, University of Manchester, UK Robert A. McDougal, Yale University School of Medicine, USA Michele Migliore, National Research Council, Italy & Yale University School of Medicine, USA Eilif Muller, Blue Brain Project, EPFL, Switzerland Ole Paulsen, University of Cambridge, UK Angus Silver, University College London Tim Vogels, University of Oxford, UK Daniel Wójcik, Nencki Institute, Poland Full details of the workshop can be found here: http://www.opensourcebrain.org/projects/osb/wiki/OSB2014 There will also be a NeuroML Editorial Board meeting on Tues 13th. More details will follow on the NeuroML mailing lists. Interested parties are welcome to attend; please email p.gleeson(a)ucl.ac.uk. The Open Source Brain initiative aims to encourage collaborative, open source model development in computational neuroscience and is primarily supported by the Wellcome Trust. The OSB symposium is primarily supported by the IRCCS C. Mondino and the Italian Ministry of Health through the research project GR-2009-1493804. Regards, The OSB 2014 organising committee

March 31, 2014

New book - Directed Information Measures in Neuroscience

by Joseph Lizier

Dear all, We are pleased to announce the publication of the following edited book: "Directed Information Measures in Neuroscience" edited by Michael Wibral, Raul Vicente, Joseph T. Lizier in series "Understanding Complex Systems", Springer, Berlin, 2014. About the book: http://www.springer.com/physics/complexity/book/978-3-642-54473-6 Analysis of information transfer has found rapid adoption in neuroscience, where a highly dynamic transfer of information continuously runs on top of the brain's slowly-changing anatomical connectivity. Measuring such transfer is crucial to understanding how flexible information routing and processing give rise to higher cognitive function. Directed Information Measures in Neuroscience reviews recent developments of concepts and tools for measuring information transfer, their application to neurophysiological recordings and analysis of interactions. Written by the most active researchers in the field the book discusses the state of the art, future prospects and challenges on the way to an efficient assessment of neuronal information transfer. Highlights include the theoretical quantification and practical estimation of information transfer, description of transfer locally in space and time, multivariate directed measures, information decomposition among a set of stimulus/responses variables and the relation between interventional and observational causality. Applications to neural data sets and pointers to open source software highlight the usefulness of these measures in experimental neuroscience. With state-of-the-art mathematical developments, computational techniques and applications to real data sets, this book will be of benefit to all graduate students and researchers interested in detecting and understanding the information transfer between components of complex systems. Downloads of individual chapters (requires Springer access) via: http://link.springer.com/book/10.1007%2F978-3-642-54474-3 Contents: Section 1 - Introduction to Directed Information Measures Chapter 1. "Transfer Entropy in Neuroscience", Michael Wibral, Raul Vicente, Michael Lindner -- http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-54474-3_1 Chapter 2. "Efficient Estimation of Information Transfer", Raul Vicente, Michael Wibral -- http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-54474-3_2 Section 2 - Information Transfer in Neural and Other Physiological Systems Chapter 3. "Conditional Entropy-Based Evaluation of Information Dynamics in Physiological Systems", Luca Faes, Alberto Porta -- http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-54474-3_3 Chapter 4. "Information Transfer in the Brain: Insights from a Unified Approach", Daniele Marinazzo, Guorong Wu, Mario Pellicoro, Sebastiano Stramaglia -- http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-54474-3_4 Chapter 5. "Function Follows Dynamics: State-Dependency of Directed Functional Influences", Demian Battaglia -- http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-54474-3_5 Chapter 6. "On Complexity and Phase Effects in Reconstructing the Directionality of Coupling in Non-linear Systems", Vasily A. Vakorin, Olga Krakovska, Anthony R. McIntosh -- http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-54474-3_6 Section 3 - Recent Advances in the Analysis of Information Processing Chapter 7. "Measuring the Dynamics of Information Processing on a Local Scale in Time and Space", Joseph T. Lizier -- http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-54474-3_7 Chapter 8. "Parametric and Non-parametric Criteria for Causal Inference from Time-Series", Daniel Chicharro -- http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-54474-3_8 Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/3642544738/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=17… Regards, Michael Wibral, Raul Vicente and Joseph Lizier

March 31, 2014

Decision Making Bristol 2014: Abstract Submission deadline EXTENDED to 7 April 2014

by DMB 2014 Mailbox

***The Deadline for submission of abstracts to the Decision Making Bristol 2014 conference has been extended to 7 April 2014.*** *Decision Making Bristol 2014* The Decision-making Group at the University of Bristol invites you to submit abstracts to our second conference - Decision Making Bristol 2014<http://www.bris.ac.uk/decisions-research/conference2014/> - to be held 9-12 September 2014. Following the success of the 2012 conference, this conference aims to embrace a breadth of research, appealing to those interested in all aspects of decision making. We are pleased to announce that the following Key Note speakers have been secured Gerd Gigerenzer<http://www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/en/staff/gerd-gigerenzer> , Tom Griffiths <http://psychology.berkeley.edu/people/tom-griffiths>, Antonio Rangel <http://www.rnl.caltech.edu/index.html> and Jeffrey D. Schall<http://www.vanderbilt.edu/psychological_sciences/bio/jeffrey-schall>. These will be accompanied by invited talks from Nick Chater<http://www.wbs.ac.uk/about/person/nick-chater/> , Eric-Jan Wagenmakers <http://www.ejwagenmakers.com/> and Daniel Wolpert<http://learning.eng.cam.ac.uk/Public/Wolpert/Wolpert> . Held in the beautiful city of Bristol, at one of the UK's leading science and discovery centres, At-Bristol <http://www.at-bristol.org.uk/>, the conference will promote interdisciplinary collaborations and welcomes attendance from both theoreticians and experimentalists. The *call for short abstracts *(500 words) is now *OPEN *and we invite you to submit your abstract to the following email address: DMB-2014(a)bristol.ac.uk. The closing date for receipt is now *****7 April 2014**.* *Further information and Registration: * http://www.bris.ac.uk/decisions-research/conference2014/ . Registration closing date is 30 June 2014. Please feel free to share this email with your colleagues and research students. We look forward to seeing you in September. Best wishes, Sally-Ann Parry, *on behalf of the Decision-making Group* -- *Decision Making Bristol 2014, * *9- 12 September* e: DMB-2014(a)bristol.ac.uk w: http://www.bris.ac.uk/decisions-research/conference2014/ w: http://www.bris.ac.uk/decisions-research/ a: University of Bristol, 5 Priory Road, Bristol, BS8 1TZ

March 31, 2014

PhD position available at the School of Engineering, University of Lincoln

by Basabdatta Sen Bhattacharya

A fully funded PhD is available at the School of Engineering, University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, to work under the supervision of Dr. Basabdatta Bhattacharya <http://staff.lincoln.ac.uk/bbhattacharya> and Prof. Timothy Gordon <http://staff.lincoln.ac.uk/tgordon>. The details and how to apply are available at: https://sites.google.com/site/bsenbhattacharya/phd/fully-fundedphdstudentsh… The *Deadline* for Application is *18th April 2014.* For informal enquiries please contact Basabdatta Sen Bhattacharya at bbhattacharya(a)lincoln.ac.uk or at basab(a)ieee.org. A link to the advert on the University website is available at the link below; scroll down to the heading 'College of Science': http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studyatlincoln/postgraduateprogrammes/postgra… *Note:* The *full funding* is for UK/EU students *only*. International students would need to provide the difference in fees as appropriate. --------------------------------------------------------------- Basabdatta Sen Bhattacharya, PhD Lecturer, School of Engineering ENG 321, Engineering Hub University of Lincoln Brayford Pool, Lincoln LN6 7TS United Kingdom Telephone: +44(0)1522837947 *http://staff.lincoln.ac.uk/bbhattacharya <http://staff.lincoln.ac.uk/bbhattacharya>* Personal page: https://sites.google.com/site/bsenbhattacharya

March 31, 2014

KOGWIS 2014 Last Call for Papers

by Anna Belardinelli

Please consider to submit your work to the following conference: ================ FINAL CALL FOR PAPERS ================ * KOGWIS 2014 * * 12th Biannual Conference of the German Society for COGNITIVE SCIENCE * * 29th of September - 2nd of October 2014 * * Topical focus: How Language and Behavior Constitute Cognition * Submission deadline: 7 May 2014 * * http://www.ccs.uni-tuebingen.de/kogwis14 * ====================================================== KogWis 2014 invites submissions of extended abstracts on current work in cognitive science. Generally *all topics related to cognitive science* are welcome. Contributions that address the focus of this meeting, that is, language and behavior and the construction of cognition due to language and behavior are particularly encouraged. Submissions will be sorted by topic and paradigms and will be independently reviewed. Notifications of acceptance will depend on the novelty of the research, the significance of the results, and the presentation of the work. Submission and Proceedings: KogWis calls for submissions in extended abstract format. Abstracts for oral presentations should not exceed 4 pages, abstracts for poster contributions should not exceed 2 pages, including pictures and references. All accepted contributions will be published in the form of a *Supplement KogWis 2014* in the journal *Cognitive Processing* (Springer Verlag). ——— PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS —————— Confirmed plenary speakers: * Prof. Dr. Harold Bekkering * Prof. Dr. Henrik Ehrsson * Prof. Dr. Karl Friston * Prof. Dr. Wayne Gray * Prof. Dr. Gregor Schöner * Prof. Dr. Natalie Sebanz Confirmed symposia: * Processing Language in Context: Insights from Empirical Approaches Organizers: Christian Brauner , Bettina Rolke, & Gerhard Jäger (University of Tübingen) * Manual action Organizer: Dirk Koester (Bielefeld University) * How language and number representation contribute to numerical cognition Organizer: Hans-Christoph Nürk (University of Tübingen) * Eye tracking, linking hypotheses and measures in language processing Organizers: Pia Knoeferle and Michele Burigo (Bielefeld University) * Cognition of human actions: From individual actions to interactions Organizer: Stephan de la Rosa (MPI, Tübingen) * Cortical Systems of Object Grasping and Manipulation Organizer: Marc Himmelbach (University of Tübingen) * Modelling of cognitive aspects of mobile interaction Organizers: Nele Russwinkel, Sabine Prezenski, & Stefan Lindner (TU Berlin) * Predictive processing: philosophical and neuroscientific perspectives Organizer: Alex Morgan (University of Tübingen) * PhD Symposium Organizers: Dong-Seon Chang, Zhen Peng, Stefan Kopp, Marco Ragni, and Kai Vogeley (MPI Tübingen, Bielefeld University, University of Freiburg, & University Hospital Cologne) * History of Cognitive Science Organizers: Stefan Kopp and Kai Vogeley (Bielefeld University and University Hospital Cologne) ****** PRIZES AND AWARDS****** * CCS - Best Student Paper Award, sponsored by the Cognitive Science Society (plus 1 year Membership) * SMI - Best Poster Award, sponsored by SensoMotoric Instruments (SMI,www.smivision.com) * Brain Products - Best Paper Award, sponsored by BRAIN PRODUCTS _____________ The Organizing Committee: General chair: Martin V. Butz Local organizers: Anna Belardinelli, Elisabeth Hein and Jan Kneissler ------------------------------------------- Anna Belardinelli, Cognitive Modeling, Department of Computer Science University of Tübingen http://www.wsi.uni-tuebingen.de/lehrstuehle/cognitive-modeling/staff/staff/…

March 30, 2014

application deadline extended till Apr 14 for international summer school: CAMP@Bangalore

by Aditya Gilra

The deadline for applying to the international summer school: Computational Approaches to Memory and Plasticity, CAMP@Bangalore 2014<http://www.ncbs.res.in/camp/>is extended to 14th April, 2014. Please download the poster <http://www.ncbs.res.in/camp/content/poster> and circulate widely. Details follow ... Computational Approaches to Memory and Plasticity (CAMP @ Bangalore) 2014<http://www.ncbs.res.in/camp> . Website: http://www.ncbs.res.in/camp/ Venue: National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, India<http://www.ncbs.res.in/> Dates: 28th June to 12th July, 2014 Organizer: Upinder Bhalla (NCBS, Bangalore, India)<http://www.ncbs.res.in/bhalla> CAMP @ Bangalore is a 15-day summer school on the theory and simulation of learning, memory and plasticity in the brain. PhD students and post-docs from theoretical and/or experimental backgrounds (physics, math, neuroscience, engineering, etc.) are welcome. Familiarity with programming, dynamical systems, and/or computational neuroscience is highly desirable. Master's or Bachelor's degree students can apply if they have sufficient background beyond course-work. The school will start with remedial tutorials on neuroscience / math / programming and then work upwards from sub-cellular electrical and chemical signaling in neurons, onward to micro-circuits and networks, all with an emphasis on learning, memory and plasticity. Students worldwide are encouraged to apply online at www.ncbs.res.in/camp latest by 14th Apr, 2014. Lecturers: Sumantra Chattarji (NCBS, Bangalore) <http://www.ncbs.res.in/shona>, Xiao-Jing Wang (New York University, New York)<http://www.cns.nyu.edu/wanglab/> , Suhita Nadkarni (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune)<http://www.iiserpune.ac.in/~suhita/Suhita/Home.html> , Claudia Clopath (Imperial College, London)<http://www.bg.ic.ac.uk/research/c.clopath/> , Eve Marder (Brandeis University, Waltham/Boston)<http://blogs.brandeis.edu/marderlab/> , Rishikesh Narayanan (Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore)<http://mbu.iisc.ernet.in/~rngrp/> , Arthur Wingfield (Brandeis University, Waltham/Boston)<http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/faculty/wingfield.html> , Michael Hausser (University College, London)<http://www.ucl.ac.uk/WIBR/research/neuro/mh/index.htm> , Arvind Kumar (Bernstein Center, Freiburg)<http://www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de/people/details/kumar> , Stefano Fusi (Columbia University, New York)<http://neurotheory.columbia.edu/stefano.html> , Raghav Rajan (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune)<http://www.iiserpune.ac.in/~raghav/> For more information, email camp2014(a)ncbs.res.in Best Regards, Aditya. ---- Aditya Gilra, Prof Upinder S Bhalla's lab, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK, Bellary Road, Bangalore - 560065, India. Ph: 91-80-23666507.

March 29, 2014

Post-doc - Detailed Neuronal Modeling - Blue Brain Project, Lausanne, Switzerland

by emuller

Dear comp-neuro community, I wish to draw your attention to an opening for a post-doctoral researcher in "Detailed Neuron Modeling and Dendritic Integration" (full advert below), at the Blue Brain Project, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland. For more details, and instructions how to apply, see: http://emploi.epfl.ch/page-106385-en.html Best regards, Eilif ------------- Dr. Eilif Muller Section Manager - In Silico Neuroscience - Experimentation EPFL - Blue Brain Project QIJ 3ème étage CH-1015 Lausanne Switzerland Tel: ++41 21 693 0698 Fax: ++41 21 693 5350 www: http://bluebrain.epfl.ch/page-77926-en.html www: http://neuralensemble.org/people/eilifmuller ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Blue Brain Project, led by Prof. Henry Markram, seeks outstanding candidates for the position of: Post-doctoral Researcher in Detailed Neuron Modeling and Dendritic Integration The primary objectives for this position are to strengthen on-going large-scale detailed neuron modeling and validation efforts in the project, and to undertake original scientific research to characterize the role of single cell and dendritic integration mechanisms in computation and dynamics at the network level. Scientific leadership is expected to supervise computational neuroscience students, as is an intimate knowledge of the employed software in order to interface with engineering teams. The position is in close contact with an electrophysiology lab and modeling will go hand in hand with available and newly acquired experimental data. Detailed Requirements: * PhD in neuroscience, computational neuroscience, physics or related field * expert in NEURON and multi-compartment conductance-based modeling as demonstrated by strong publication record * expert in automated neuron model optimization techniques * expert knowledge of whole cell electrophysiology, ion channel experiments * expert of scientific computing (python, scipy, numpy, hdf5, matplotlib, Linux, etc.) * knowledge of other programming languages (C++) and parallel computing is of advantage * familiarity with model description languages (e.g. NeuroML) * experience in supervision of students and teaching * strong team player * fluent English in speech and writing What we offer: * An internationally visible project in simulation-based research in neuroscience having a leading role in the EU FET flagship “Human Brain Project” * A vibrant, dynamic, inter-disciplinary, and international working environment * Very competitive salary Start date: 1 June 2014. Deadline for application: open until position is filled. Activity rate: 100%. Duration of contract: 1 year, renewable. For more details, and instructions how to apply, see: http://emploi.epfl.ch/page-106385-en.html

March 28, 2014

Postdoctoral and Ph.D. positions at the Ben Gurion University, Israel

by David Golomb

Funded postdoctoral and Ph.D. positions in theoretical and computational neuroscience or experimental neurophysiology are available at the Ben-Gurion University, Be'er-Sheva, Israel. We are looking for highly motivated post-doctoral fellows and PhD students to lead projects aiming to explore the rodent whisker somatosensory system, the visual system, and possible applications to robotics. Fellows and students will participate in collaborative research combining neurophysiology and computational neuroscience with emphasis on the dynamic transformation of sensory information along the sensory pathways at the brainstem, thalamic and cortical levels, as well as sensory-motor control. Candidates should have a strong background in neurophysiology, physics, mathematics or electrical engineering, and be proficient programmers and creative thinkers. The Ben-Gurion University has strong and interacting neuroscience and robotic communities. Be'er-Sheva is within one-hour train ride from Tel-Aviv.* * ***Deadline: May 1, 2014 or until position fulfilled.* For more information, please contact: Prof. David Golomb -- golomb(a)bgu.ac.il <mailto:golomb@bgu.ac.il>__ Prof. Rony Azouz -- razouz(a)bgu.ac.il <mailto:razouz@bgu.ac.il> Dr. Maoz Shamir -- shmaoz(a)bgu.ac.il <mailto:shmaoz@bgu.ac.il>

March 27, 2014

Computational Approaches to Memory and Plasticity: deadline approaching

by Subhasis Ray

(With apologies for cross postings) Reminder for the international summer school at NCBS, Bangalore, organized by Dr. Upinder Bhalla. The deadline for application is 30 March 2014. This 15 day workshop will involve both lectures and hands-on tutorials. The confirmed speakers are: Sumantra Chattarji (NCBS, Bangalore) Xiao-Jing Wang (New York University, New York) Suhita Nadkarni (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune) Claudia Clopath (Imperial College, London) Eve Marder (Brandeis University, Waltham/Boston) Rishikesh Narayanan (Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore) Arthur Wingfield (Brandeis University, Waltham/Boston) Michael Hausser (University College, London) Arvind Kumar (Bernstein Center, Freiburg) Stefano Fusi (Columbia University, New York) Raghav Rajan (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune) Further details and application form are available here: http://ncbs.res.in/camp/ ------ Subhasis Ray NCBS, TIFR GKVK Campus Bellary Road Bangalore 560065 +91 80 67176520

March 27, 2014

Summer Workshop on the Dynamic Brain, Friday Harbor: deadline approaching!

by Adrienne Fairhall

Reminder that applications for the Summer Workshop on the Dynamic Brain, co-organized by the Allen Institute for Brain Science and the Computational Neuroscience Program at the University of Washington and directed by Drs. Christof Koch and Adrienne Fairhall, are due on April 1st. Application procedures and more information can be found at http://courses.washington.edu/braindyn/ . This intensive two week summer course aims to give advanced students – graduate students, postdocs and faculty – a rapid introduction to the current state of understanding of the neurobiology of sensory processing, including anatomy, physiology and neural coding; tutorials on the tools of the Allen Brain Institute; and an opportunity to carry out an informatics or computational research project with the guidance of faculty. The experimental focus is on vision in rodents. Faculty will include: Christof Koch Wyeth Bair Jay Neitz Clay Reid Shawn Olsen Adrienne Fairhall Rajesh Rao Anne Churchland Hongkui Zeng Bill Howe

March 27, 2014

Fwd: a foundation professor in computational neuroscience at Monash, Australia

by Naotsugu Tsuchiya

We seek to appoint a dynamic and talented principal investigator to lead the development of Computational Neuroscience at Monash University. The successful candidate is expected to have an internationally recognised track record of scientific achievement and demonstrable ability to build a cutting edge multidisciplinary research platform that will transform the landscape of computational neuroscience at Monash, within Australia and internationally. This appointee will complement and integrate with experimental neuroscience researchers in the new Faculty of Biomedical and Psychological Sciences who work across a wide range of levels including single-unit recordings in non-human primates through to in vivo EEG and functional MRI in humans. These collaborations will leverage existing Monash University research platforms such as Monash Biomedical Imaging and the MASSIVE Supercomputing facility, as well as the newly established ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function to undertake novel, multi-disciplinary research programs. An excellent remuneration package is available for both the principal investigator and their team. Enquiries Confidential enquiries should be directed to either Professor Kim Cornish, Head of the School of Psychological Sciences, tel: +61 3 9902 0488 or email: kim.cornish(a)monash.edu or Professor Mark Bellgrove, Director, Research Strategy, School of Psychological Sciences, tel: +61 3 9902 4200 or email: mark.bellgrove(a)monash.edu Closing Date Friday, 15 May, 2014, 11:55pm Aus. Standard Daylight Time Applications Expressions of interest, comprising a cover letter and CV should be submitted as part of your application. The University reserves the right to appoint by invitation. For details, please check http://jobs.monash.edu.au/jobDetails.asp?sJobIDs=523000&lWorkTypeID=&lLocat… -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nao (Naotsugu) Tsuchiya, Ph.D. 1. ARC Future Fellow & Associate Professor Tsuchiya Laboratory School of Psychological Sciences Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University 2. Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Japan 3. Visitor, RIKEN, Japan 4. Visitor, Caltech, USA homepage: http://users.monash.edu.au/~naotsugt/Tsuchiya_Labs_Homepage/Main.html

March 26, 2014

Advanced Course in Computational Neuroscience 2014

by Máté Lengyel

ADVANCED COURSE IN COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE August 3 - 30, 2014, FIAS, Frankfurt, Germany http://fias.uni-frankfurt.de/accn/ *** NOTE EXTENDED DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS *** Applications accepted: February 10, 2014 – March 31, 2014 SCIENTIFIC DIRECTORS: * Ehud Ahissar (Weizmann Institute, Israel) * Dieter Jaeger (Emory University, USA) * Máté Lengyel (University of Cambridge, UK) * Christian Machens (Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Portugal) LOCAL ORGANIZERS: * Jochen Triesch (FIAS, Frankfurt, Germany) * Hermann Cuntz (FIAS & ESI, Frankfurt, Germany) FUNDING: FENS, IBRO, FIAS, MPI Brain Research, Hertie Foundation The ACCN is for advanced graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who are interested in learning the essentials of the field of computational neuroscience. The course has two complementary parts. Mornings are devoted to lectures given by distinguished international faculty on topics across the breadth of experimental and computational neuroscience. During the rest of the day, students pursue a project of their choosing under the close supervision of expert tutors. This gives them practical training in the art and practice of neural modeling. The first week of the course introduces students to essential neurobiological concepts and to the most important techniques in modeling single cells, synapses and circuits. Students learn how to solve their research problems using software such as MATLAB, NEST, NEURON, Python, XPP, etc. During the following three weeks the lectures cover networks and specific neural systems and functions. Topics range from modeling single cells and subcellular processes through the simulation of simple circuits, large neuronal networks and system level models of the brain. The course ends with project presentations by the students. The course is designed for students from a variety of disciplines, including neuroscience, physics, electrical engineering, computer science, mathematics and psychology. Students are expected to have a keen interest and basic background in neurobiology as well as some computer experience. Students of any nationality can apply. Essential details: * Course size: about 30 students. * Fee (which covers tuition, lodging, meals and excursions): EUR 750. * Scholarships and travel stipends are available. * Application start: February 10, 2014 * Application deadline: March 23, 2014 * Deadline for letters of recommendation: March 23, 2014 * Notification of results: May, 2014 Information and application http://fias.uni-frankfurt.de/accn/ Contact address: accn(a)fias.uni-frankfurt.de FACULTY Erik De Schutter (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Japan), Dieter Jaeger (Emory University, USA), Astrid Prinz (Emory University, USA), Charles Wilson (University of Texas, San Antonio, USA), Michael Hausser (University College London, UK), Sophie Deneve (Ecole Normale Superieure, France), Christian Machens (Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Portugal), Jochen Triesch (FIAS, Germany), Misha Tsodyks (Weizmann Institute, Israel), Carl van Vreeswijk (CNRS Paris, France), Peter Dayan (University College London, UK), Joern Diedrichsen (University College London, UK), Máté Lengyel (University of Cambridge, UK), Zhaoping Li (University College London, UK), Tatjana Tchumatchenko (MPI for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany), Ehud Ahissar (Weizmann Institute, Israel), Merav Ahissar (Hebrew University, Israel), Nava Rubin (Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain) General Interest Lectures: Hans-Joachim Pflueger (Freie Universitaet Berlin, Germany), Erin Schuman (MPI for Brain Research, Germany), Erik De Schutter (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Japan), J. Kevin O'Regan (Paris Descartes University, France) Tutors: Daniel Miner (Frankfurt, Germany), Andreea Lazar (Frankfurt, Germany), Wieland Brendel (Lisbon / Tuebingen, Portugal / Germany), Sina Tootoonian (Cambridge, UK), Peter Jedlicka (Frankfurt, Germany) SECRETARY DURING THE COURSE Chris Ploegaert (University of Antwerp, Belgium) -- Mate Lengyel, PhD Computational and Biological Learning Lab Cambridge University Engineering Department Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UK tel: +44 (0)1223 748 532, fax: +44 (0)1223 332 662 email: m.lengyel(a)eng.cam.ac.uk web: www.eng.cam.ac.uk/~m.lengyel

March 26, 2014

post-doc available in computational neuroscience applied to regenerative biology

by Levin, Michael

A funded post-doctoral position is available at Tufts University (near Boston) in the lab of Dr Michael Levin - www.drmichaellevin.org to work on applications of computational neuroscience to developmental biology and regenerative medicine. My group studies the role that slow bioelectrical communication plays in coordinating cell activity towards building and repairing large-scale anatomical structures (as occurs during embryogenesis and regeneration in species like salamanders and planaria, which can rebuild whole body parts). Through the last 14 years, we've shown that distributions of resting potentials in non-neural somatic tissues (and their dynamics via gap junctions, or electrical synapses) play an important part in regulating growth and form (having developed molecular-genetic tools for tracking and altering resting potentials in vivo). We hope to take some ideas and approaches from cognitive science and computational neurobiology to understand how memories of shape and pattern are stored in non-neural network electrical dynamics. This project can be described as cracking the bioelectric code to understand the semantics encoded in electrical signaling among non-neural cells. We will build in silico models of shape memory storage in electrically-connected (slow) cell networks and then implement them in real embryonic (frog, chick) or bioengineered (human) tissues to test and refine the models. The ideal applicant will have a strong background in computational neuroscience (understanding how activity of neurons adds up to logic, memory, and decision-making in simple circuits); experience in computer modeling is a strong plus. This is a very interdisciplinary project and ideal for someone who is 1) strong in basic computational neuroscience, 2) likes thinking way outside the box in a novel area, 3) wants to extend their repertoire and training to include developmental, regenerative, and molecular biology, and 4) wants to contribute to an entirely new area of deep basic and clinical significance. Please check our website and contact michael.levin(a)tufts.edu if interested. --- Dr. Michael Levin Biology Department, and Tufts Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology Tufts University Suite 4600, 200 Boston Ave. Medford, MA 02155-4243 Tel. (617) 627-6161 Fax: (617) 627-6121 email: michael.levin(a)tufts.edu http://www.drmichaellevin.org/ http://www.cellregeneration.org/ Center Administrator: William F. Baga Tel. (617) 627-5735 Fax: (617) 627-5035 email: william.baga(a)tufts.edu

March 25, 2014

Ninth Summer School on Advanced Statistics and Data Mining (Madrid, June 23rd - July 4th, 2014)

by asdm＠fi.upm.es

Dear colleagues, The Technical University of Madrid (UPM) will once more organize the summer school on 'Advanced Statistics and Data Mining'. The summer school will be held in Madrid, between June 23rd and July 4th. This year's programme comprises 12 courses divided into 2 weeks. Attendees may register in each course independently. Early registration is now *OPEN*. Extended information on course programmes, price, venue, accommodation and transport is available at the school's website: http://www.dia.fi.upm.es/ASDM Please, send this information to your colleagues, students, and whoever may find it interesting. Best regards, Pedro Larranaga, Concha Bielza, Bojan Mihaljevic and Laura Anton-Sanchez. -- School coordinators. *** List of courses and brief description *** * Week 1 (June 23rd - June 27th, 2014) * 1st session: 9:30 - 12:30 Course 1: Bayesian Networks (15 h) Basics of Bayesian networks. Inference in Bayesian networks. Learning Bayesian networks from data. Real applications. Course 2: Time Series(15 h) Basic concepts in time series. Descriptive methods for time series. Linear models for time series. Extensions. 2nd session: 13:30 - 16:30 Course 3: Supervised Pattern Recognition (15 h) Introduction. Assessing the performance of supervised classification algorithms. Preprocessing. Classification techniques. Combining multiple classifiers. Comparing supervised classification algorithms. Course 4: Bayesian Inference (15 h) Introduction: Bayesian basics. Conjugate models. MCMC and other simulation methods. Regression and Hierarchical models. Model selection. 3rd session: 17:00 - 20:00 Course 5: Neural Networks and Deep Learning (15 h) Introduction. Training algorithms. Learning and Optimization. MLPs in practice. Deep Networks. Course 6: Feature Subset Selection (15 h) Introduction. Filter approaches. Wrapper methods. Embedded methods. Advanced topics. Practical session. * Week 2 (June 30th - July 4th, 2014) * 1st session: 9:30 - 12:30 Course 7: Statistical Inference(15 h) Introduction. Some basic statistical test. Multiple testing. Introduction to bootstrap methods. Introduction to Robust Statistics. Course 8: Bayesian Classifiers (15 h) Discrete predictors. Gaussian Bayesian networks-based classifiers. Other Bayesian classifiers. Bayesian classifiers for: positive and unlabeled data, semi-supervised learning, data streams, temporal data. 2nd session: 13:30 - 16:30 Course 9: Text Mining (15 h) Introduction. Fundamentals. Language Modeling. Text Classification. Information Extraction. Course 10: Unsupervised Pattern Recognition (15 h) Introduction to clustering. Data exploration and preparation. Prototype-based clustering. Density-based clustering. Graph-based clustering. Cluster evaluation. Miscellanea. Conclusions and final advise. 3rd session: 17:00 - 20:00 Course 11: Support Vector Machines and Convex Optimization (15 h) Introduction. SVM models. SVM learning algorithms. Convex non differentiable optimization. Course 12: Hidden Markov Models (15 h) Introduction. Discrete Hidden Markov Models. Basic algorithms for Hidden Markov Models. Semicontinuous Hidden Markov Models. Continuous Hidden Markov Models. Unit selection and clustering. Speaker and Environment Adaptation for HMMs. Other applications of HMMs.

March 25, 2014

Fully funded PhD position: computational neuroscience / complex system theory

by Prof. Claudius Gros

I would like to bring your attention to our PhD-program in Complex Dynamical Systems Theory / Computational Neurosciences At the Institute for Theoretical Physics, Goethe University Frankfurt Field(s): complex systems theory, computational neurosciences neural models and networks, dynamical systems Application deadline: April 27, 2014 Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Claudius Gros E-mail: cgr(a)itp.uni-frankfurt.de Address: Institute for Theoretical Physics, Goethe University Frankfurt, Job description: Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD position at the Institute for Theoretical Physics, Frankfurt University. We are developing new models and generative principles for the brain using a range of toolsets from dynamical systems theory and computational neurosciences. Examples are new objective functions and generating functionals, attractor metadynamics, transient state dynamics and self-limiting Hebbian plasticity rules. Several subjects are available for the announced PhD thesis including studies of the autonomous brain dynamics and/or studies of new synaptic plasticity rules, like trace formulations of STDP and the interplay between short term synaptic plasticity and neural dynamics. The work will include analytical investigations and numerical simulations of neural models and neural networks, using the toolset of dynamical systems theory. The candidates should have a Diploma/Master in physics with an excellent academic track record and good computational skills. Experience or strong interest in the fields of complex systems, computational neurosciences, dynamical systems theory and/or artificial or biological cognitive systems is expected. The degree of scientific research experience is expected to be on the level of a German Diploma/Master. The appointments will start summer 2014, for up to three years. Interested applicants should submit a curriculum vitae, a list of publications and arrange for two letters of reference to be sent to the address below. Prof. Dr. C. Gros Institute for Theoretical Physics Goethe University Frankfurt Max-von-Laue-Str. 1 60438 Frankfurt am Main Germany cgr(a)itp.uni-frankfurt.de http://itp.uni-frankfurt.de/~gros ***************************************** *** Prof. Dr. Claudius Gros *** *** +49 (0)69 798 47818 *** *** http://itp.uni-frankfurt.de/~gros *** ***************************************** -------------------------------------------------------- --- Complex and Adaptive Dynamical Systems, A Primer --- --- A graduate-level textbook, Springer (2008/10/13) --- --------------------------------------------------------

March 25, 2014

Position for a Senior Postdoctoral Neuroscientist

by Ileana Hanganu-Opatz

Invitation for applications: A postdoctoral position for neurophysiology and optogenetics is available at the Department of Developmental Neurophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg, Germany. Our group investigates the synchronized patterns of electrical activity in the immature brain, their relevance for the development of cognitive and behavioral abilities and their impairment associated with neurological disorders, such as perinatal ischemia and schizophrenia (www.zmnh.uni-hamburg.de/zmnh/groups/hanganu/hanganu) We seek a Senior Postdoctoral Neuroscientist to develop, execute and analyze state-of-the-art electrophysiological, optogenetic, anatomical and behavioral experiments in rodents as part of a research project aiming to elucidate the neuronal circuitry accounting for the maturation of cognitive and multisensory abilities. The position offers an excellent opportunity to perform highly collaborative research within the DFG-funded Priority Program 1665 and Collaborative Research Center 936. Qualified candidates should hold a Ph.D, M.D. or equivalent qualification, and should have outstanding certificates and good publication record. Candidates are also expected to have significant experience in electrophysiology and optogenetics as well as strong background in mathematics with good programming experience (MATLAB). Good communication skills, creative and independent thinking are mandatory. The position is available from September 2014 or later and will run initially for 3 years. The salary will be on the level of the German public service research salary (E13-14, 40.000-45.000 EUR per annum, depending on experience). Applications including (i) CV, (ii) a brief statement of expertise and interests, (iii) academic achievements and list of publications and (iv) 2 letters of reference should be sent to *Prof. Dr. Ileana Hanganu-Opatz*by email (*hangop(a)zmnh.uni-hamburg.de*) Incomplete applications will not be considered. For further information please contact --------------------------------------------------------------------- Prof. Dr. Ileana Hanganu-Opatz, PhD University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf Developmental Neurophysiology Postal address: Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH) Falkenried 94 20251 Hamburg Germany Phone: +49 (0) 40 7410 58966 Fax: +49 (0) 40 7410 58925 Email: ileana.hanganu-opatz(a)zmnh.uni-hamburg.de i.hanganu-opatz(a)uke.de Website: www.zmnh.uni-hamburg.de/zmnh/groups/hanganu/hanganu Website SPP 1665: www.spp1665.de -- Pflichtangaben gemäß Gesetz über elektronische Handelsregister und Genossenschaftsregister sowie das Unternehmensregister (EHUG): Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts Gerichtsstand: Hamburg Vorstandsmitglieder: Prof. Dr. Christian Gerloff (Vertreter des Vorsitzenden) Prof. Dr. Dr. Uwe Koch-Gromus Joachim Prölß Rainer Schoppik

March 25, 2014

Call for Abstracts: Bernstein Conference 2014

by Kerstin Mosch

March 25, 2014

Research Associate Position at University of Manchester

by Sergio Davies

https://www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/displayjob.aspx?jobid=7520 You will join the SpiNNaker team, part of the Advanced Processor Technologies (APT) group within the School of Computer Science at Manchester. The APT group is a world-leading research centre, continuing the long and distinguished record of the University of Manchester in the field of Computer Architecture. This record includes the development of the world's first stored program computer, the invention of virtual memory and the building of the first practical Dataflow computer. The group's high international research profile has attracted a great deal of UK and EU funding and resulted in significant industrial collaboration. The APT staff have significant expertise in computer architecture, system software and Neuromorphic Engineering, which is demonstrated by its extensive industrial impact (e.g. the ICL Goldrush Database server, Amulet processors for ARM Ltd., and Transitive Corporation, now IBM Manchester, and Silistix Ltd. spin offs). As a Research Associate you will have a PhD (or equivalent experience) and possess proven research ability. As a Research Assistant a good/relevant MSc (or equivalent experience) is essential. You will also have knowledge in one or more of the following areas: 1. Hardware system development and commissioning including FPGA design, basic robotics, circuit board testing, microprocessor systems, ARM processors. 2. System software development including operating systems, parallel computing, C and Python programming. Informal Enquiries Informal enquiries may be made to Professor Steve Furber, ICL Professor of Computer Engineering Email: steve.furber(a)manchester.ac.uk More information can be found at: http://apt.cs.manchester.ac.uk http://apt.cs.man.ac.uk/projects/SpiNNaker/ http://www.prime-project.org http://apt.cs.manchester.ac.uk/people/sfurber *Please note for the Research Assistant post *if you do not have permission to work in the UK, the University of Manchester will not be able to obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship for you to take up this position. Therefore you must have valid immigration status and/or a UK visa valid for the duration of the contract. The University of Manchester values a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. -- Dr Sergio Davies Research associate - APT Group Room IT 302 - IT Building School of Computer Science Oxford Road, Manchester The University of Manchester M13 9PL, U.K. mailto: daviess(a)cs.man.ac.uk mailto: sergio.davies(a)gmail.com http://apt.cs.man.ac.uk/people/daviess/

March 24, 2014

Research Associate Position at University of Manchester

by Sergio Davies

https://www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/displayjob.aspx?jobid=7614 Applications are invited for the above post to work as research assistant/associate on the SpiNNaker project. The SpiNNaker architecture is optimized to support the simulation of simple (point-like) neurons and their connections (or synapses). This architecture now has a world-wide user base, drawn to a reliable and flexible platform for real-time neural network simulation; this community is comprised of both traditional computational neuroscientists and also scientists and engineers from application areas such as robotics. The position is linked to the PRiME EPSRC-funded Programme Grant led by the University of Southampton, with Imperial College, London, and the Universities of Manchester and Newcastle as partners. This position will run immediately until 12th May 2018. You will join the SpiNNaker team, part of the Advanced Processor Technologies (APT) group within the School of Computer Science at Manchester. The APT group is a world-leading research centre, continuing the long and distinguished record of the University of Manchester in the field of Computer Architecture. This record includes the development of the world's first stored program computer, the invention of virtual memory and the building of the first practical Dataflow computer. The group's high international research profile has attracted a great deal of UK and EU funding and resulted in significant industrial collaboration. The APT staff have significant expertise in computer architecture, system software and Neuromorphic Engineering, which is demonstrated by its extensive industrial impact (e.g. the ICL Goldrush Database server, Amulet processors for ARM Ltd., and Transitive Corporation, now IBM Manchester, and Silistix Ltd. spin offs). We are seeking a motivated researcher with knowledge in one or more of the following areas: 1. Hardware system development and commissioning including FPGA design, basic robotics, circuit board testing, microprocessor systems, ARM processors. 2. System software development including operating systems, parallel computing, C and Python programming. It is essential that candidates for the Research Associate appointment should possess proven research ability, a PhD or other equivalent experience, while a good/relevant MSc or other equivalent experience will be essential for the Research Assistant appointment. Please note that if you do not have permission to work in the UK, the University of Manchester will not be able to obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship for you to take up the Research Assistant position. All non EU/EEA candidates must have valid immigration status and/or a UK visa valid for the duration of the contract in order to be considered for this appointment. *Informal enquiries* Informal enquiries can be made to Professor Steve Furber, Email: steve.furber(a)manchester.ac.uk The University of Manchester values a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. -- Dr Sergio Davies Research associate - APT Group Room IT 302 - IT Building School of Computer Science Oxford Road, Manchester The University of Manchester M13 9PL, U.K. mailto: daviess(a)cs.man.ac.uk mailto: sergio.davies(a)gmail.com http://apt.cs.man.ac.uk/people/daviess/

March 24, 2014

Research Associate position at Bernstein Centre Freiburg, Germany

by Carsten Mehring

Invitation for applications: Research Associate in Computational Neuroscience and Neurotechnology Bernstein Centre, University of Freiburg A research associate position (‘akademischer Rat’, A13Z) is available in the group of Carsten Mehring at the Bernstein Centre and the Institute of Biology 3 at the University of Freiburg, Germany. This is a new lab, established to study sensorimotor behavior and brain-machine interfaces. Research topics include: motor adaptation and skill learning; brain-machine and machine-brain interfaces; neuronal dynamics; decision making. The primary research tools are behavioural experiments, electrophysiology and neuroimaging (EEG, ECoG, fNIRS), transcranial electrical stimulation (tDCS&tACS), advanced neural signal analysis and computational modeling. We are looking for an enthusiastic scientist who has expertise in Computational Neuroscience and Neurotechnology. This is a full-time position, with an initial 3 years fixed-term contract that can be extended by another 3 years. The salary will be according to A13. The position includes teaching duties in neuroscience, which can be carried out in English. Starting date is flexible, if possible May/June 2014. The ideal candidate has a strong background in quantitative analysis, experience running behavioural and/or neurophysiological experiments and proficiency in programming. A PhD in a relevant field is required. The lab is located in Freiburg (Germany), which is in the southwest of Germany close to the French and Swiss borders. Freiburg has a vibrant academic community and our group is part of the Bernstein Centre Freiburg (http://www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de) and the cluster of excellence BrainLinks-BrainTools (http://www.brainlinks-braintools.uni-freiburg.de) which provide first-class environments for research on Computational Neuroscience and Neurotechnology. Applicants should email a CV, a letter of motivation, a short research statement (max. 1 page) and contact details for two academic references to carsten.mehring(a)biologie.uni-freiburg.de. Reviewing of applications starts on April, 15th. Further information: Carsten Mehring carsten.mehring(a)biologie.uni-freiburg.de http://www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de/people/details/mehring

March 24, 2014

First neural connectomics challenge: from imaging to connectivity

by Demian Battaglia

The brain contains nearly 100 billion neurons with an average 7000 synaptic connections. Recovering the exact wiring of the brain (connectome) at this neural level is therefore a daunting task. Traditional neuroanatomical methods of axonal tracing or electrophysiological direct assays cannot scale up to very large networks. Could there be alternative methods, such as inference algorithms, to recovering neural network structures from patterns of neural activity? This challenge (inaugurating a series of future "Connectomics" challenges) will stimulate research on network structure inference from calcium fluorescence data, including causal discovery methods. WHAT YOU GET: Time series of the activity of 1000 neurons in a culture (simulated calcium fluorescence data) WHAT YOU PREDICT: The directed connections between neurons. 45 days to go, 3000 $ allocated for the top three ranked competitors (if they accept to make an open release of their code ;-) Challenge submission website: https://www.kaggle.com/c/connectomics Over 70 teams are already attending! There will be $3000 in prizes awarded. We are an official challenge at IEEE WCCI 2014 meeting in Beijing, where challenge results will be spotlighted: http://www.ieee-wcci2014.org (see "accepted competitions") Participants may present their results at a dedicated workshop at ECML 2014 (Nancy, France): http://www.ecmlpkdd2014.org (see "discovery challenges") http://connectomics.chalearn.org/workshop (workshop webpage) The top-ranked challenge participants and authors of the best workshop papers will be invited to participate to full length submissions (individual or collective, including detailed post-challenge analytics and algorithm comparisons and benchmarking) to peer-reviewed journals, such as Frontiers in Neuroinformatics or PLoS Computational Biology. Calendar: May 5, 2014: End of challenge. May 20, 2014: All teams must turn in fact sheets. The three top ranking teams must turn in their code to qualify for prizes. The post-challenge verifications start. June 1, 2014: End of the post challenge verifications. Release of the official ranking. June 20, 2014: ECML workshop proceeding paper submission deadline. July 6-11, 2014: Result presentation at WCCI 2014, Beijing, China. August 30, 2014: Revised papers due for ECML workshop proceedings. Beginning of post-challenge papers design. September 15 or 19, 2014: ECML workshop, Nancy, France. Discussion of the results and preparation of post-challenge synthesis. For any information or request, please contact: Demian Battaglia, demian.battaglia(a)univ-amu.fr --- Demian Battaglia, PhD Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, Aix-Marseille Université - Marseille, France Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience - Göttingen, Germany http://www.nld.ds.mpg.de/~demian

March 24, 2014

Deadline is Approaching:: CFP::4th DICTAP- IEEE-Thailand

by Natalie Walker

% Apologies for cross posting% ==================================================== ======== 4th DICTAP 2014 || Call for Papers =========== The Fourth International Conference on Digital Information and Communication Technology and its Applications (DICTAP 2014) University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Bangkok, Thailand May 6-8, 2014 http://sdiwc.net/conferences/2014/dictap2014/ DICTAP 2014 is technically Co-Sponsored by IEEE- Thailand ==================================================== Paper Submission Deadline: April 06, 2014 ===================================== **Scope and Motivation** The Fourth International Conference on Digital Information and CommunicationTechnology and its Applications (DICTAP 2014) cover theoretical and practical aspects related to Information Systems, Communication Networks and Computing Technologies. The multi-thematic program of DICTAP 2104 focuses then on the major future scientific issues in Computing and Communication Networks. The scientific topics developed in his edition are divided into but not limited to the following tracks: - Networking, Communications and Security - Information Technology, Services and Architecture - Digital Information Management - PHY-Layer Communications and Signal Processing ====================================================

March 23, 2014

The Scientific World Journal special issue titled 'Hybrid Systems to Investigate the Computational and Learning Properties of Neuronal Assemblies’

by Michela Chiappalone

Dear colleagues, I am pleased to announce the extension of the deadline for submitting your contribution to the special issue of The Scientific World Journal (http://www.hindawi.com/journals/tswj/ titled ‘Hybrid Systems to Investigate the Computational and Learning Properties of Neuronal Assemblies’. The Scientific World Journal is open access and with an impact factor of 1.730. You can find the call for paper here: http://www.hindawi.com/journals/tswj/si/438539/cfp/. Potential topics include, but are not limited to: · Encoding of inputs and retrieval of memories in cultured and simulated neuronal networks · Learning and adaptation in cultured networks · Electrophysiological experiments in closed-loop systems · Mathematical neuronal network models as tools to deduce computational properties of neural circuits · Hybrid systems: living networks coupled to artificial ones · Software and hardware strategies to manipulate and control neuronal dynamics Deadline for article submission: May 30th, 2014; Publication date: October 17th, 2014. On behalf of the other guest editors [Paolo Massobrio (University of Genova, Italy), Danny Eytan (The Hospital for Sick Children, Canada), Paolo Bonifazi (Tel Aviv University, Israel) and Paul Tiesinga (Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands)], I look forward to receiving your contribution! Best regards Michela Chiappalone Lead Guest Editor The Scientific World Journal ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr Michela Chiappalone, PhD NeuroTech Group Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies (NBT) Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) Via Morego 30 16163 Genova (Italy) e-mail : michela.chiappalone(a)iit.it<mailto:michela.chiappalone@iit.it> web-site : www.iit.it<http://www.iit.it/> direct phone : +39 010 71781743_

March 21, 2014

Ph.D. position in Systems and Control

by Kristiaan Pelckmans

re: A fully funded Ph.D. graduate study in Uppsala University, Sweden, Department of Information Technology, Division of Systems and Control (4yrs.+1yr. teaching). subject: This position aims at relating modern insights in (Online) Machine Learning (OML) to the esteemed tool of the Kalman Filter (KF). OML has led to renewed insights in such tasks as optimisation, multiple-armed bandits algorithms and sequential designs, and comes nowadays with a solid theoretical underpinning. The KF on the other hand, is the workhorse of the control-engineering, and is for example used as the observer of choice in many state-feedback schemes. It is analysed and found optimal in different settings. Integrating KFs in a modern OML setting would provide new insights and modifications to basic schemes.The particular focus would be how to extend the KF to the case of many variables. Modern techniques of OML have excelled in this topic, while traditional approaches as the KF have not been studied extensively in this regard. practical: This is a full-time funded position covering five years in total. The successful candidate is expected to spend 80% on this research challenge, as well as 20% on assisting in different (under-) graduate courses taught at our division. The deadline for application is April 22 (right after easter). The applicant can start directly after that (in spring 2014). Supervisor for this project is Kristiaan Pelckmans. Do send an email to kp(a)it.uu.se for further enquiries. Swedish citizens are encouraged to apply. A link to the official site of application will be sent out via the same channels in the near future.

March 21, 2014

Lab Manager position at Ohio State

by Dirk Bernhardt-Walther

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Sloutsky, Vladimir M. <sloutsky(a)psy.ohio-state.edu> Dirk, Can you please post the position below? Thanks! Vladimir -- Vladimir M. Sloutsky Professor Department of Psychology 239 Psychology Building 1835 Neil Ave. The Ohio State University Columbus, OH 43210 Office: (614)-247-4449 Lab: (614)-688-1235 Home Page: http://cogdev.osu.edu -------------------- Lab Manager/Coordinator Position Available Cognitive Development Laboratory Ohio State University Job Description: The Cognitive Development Laboratory at Ohio State University directed by Dr. Vladimir Sloutsky is looking for highly organized and well-spoken person to serve as a full-time lab manager. We seek a recent college graduate who has majored in psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, or a related field and who is looking for additional research experience before going on to graduate school. The lab conducts research on conceptual development, category learning, and interactions between language and cognition in infants and children. Duties include managing research projects in the lab, creating stimuli, programming experiments, recruiting participants, and testing infant, child, and adult subjects, using behavioral, eye tracking, and ERP methodologies. There is the possibility of becoming a co-author on manuscripts submitted for publication. Administrative duties include recruiting, hiring, and training undergraduate volunteers, managing subject recruitment, purchasing equipment, managing human subject protocols, coordinating lab events and meetings, and general faculty support. This job offers competitive salary (commensurate with experience), health benefits, and a dynamic and intellectually stimulating work environment. Review of applications will start immediately and the position to begin as early as May 2014. A verbal 1-2-year commitment is required. The Ohio State University is a vibrant, research-centered public university, located in Columbus, Ohio. To apply for this position, please submit a cover letter and resume electronically to Priya Patel (patel.1489(a)buckeyemail.osu.edu) Please also be prepared to arrange three letters of recommendation. Specific Responsibilities: · Maintaining participant database. · Managing participant recruitment and participant scheduling. · Overseeing lab organization, including the supervision and training of research assistants. · Conducting research activities, including the development of experimental protocols, submission of IRB forms, and data collection, coding and analysis. · Additional administrative duties include requisition of new equipment and materials, and hardware/software maintenance. Required Experience: · Bachelors degree or equivalent in psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, natural science, or a technical field. · Excellent skills interacting with infants and children as well as teachers and parents, and must be able to supervise undergraduate research assistants. · Experience working with infants or young children and strong interest in cognitive development. · Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and SPSS or equivalent statistical package and willing to learn E-Prime, Matlab, Adobe Director, and File Maker Pro. · Excellent verbal communication skills are essential as duties involve interacting with parents, teachers, and department administrators. · Excellent writing skills. Experience with eye-tracking and/or ERP data acquisition and data analysis is a plus but not required. -- ================================= Dirk Bernhardt-Walther, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology Associate Director, Center for Cognitive and Brain Sciences The Ohio State University 200C Lazenby Hall 1835 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH 43210, USA bernhardt-walther.1(a)osu.edu <berhardt-walther.1(a)osu.edu> http://bwlab.psy.ohio-state.edu/

March 20, 2014

Frontiers Research Topic: Memory Processes in Medial Temporal Lobe: Experimental, Theoretical and Computational Approaches

by Vassilis Cutsuridis

Dear colleagues, we would like to inform you that our Research Topic organized with Frontiers in Neuroscience (Host Specialty: Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience) is still open and it will be accepting abstracts till *May 1st, 2014*. Our Research Topic is entitled: "Memory Processes in Medial Temporal Lobe: Experimental, Theoretical and Computational Approaches" Topic Editors: Motoharu Yoshida (University of Bochum) and Vassilis Cutsuridis (Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH)) Important deadlines ---------------------------- Abstract Submission Deadline: *May 1st, 2014* Article Submission Deadline: August 1st, 2014 Research Topic Description ---------------------------------------- The medial temporal lobe (MTL) includes the hippocampus, amygdala and parahippocampal regions, and is crucial for episodic and spatial memory. MTL memory function consists of distinct processes such as encoding, consolidation and retrieval. Encoding is the process by which perceived information is transformed into a memory trace. After encoding, memory traces are stabilized by consolidation. Memory retrieval (recall) refers to the process by which memory traces are reactivated to access information previously encoded and stored in the brain. Although underlying neural mechanisms supporting these distinct functional stages remain largely unknown, recent studies have indicated that distinct oscillatory dynamics, specific neuron types, synaptic plasticity and neuromodulation, play a central role. The theta rhythm is believed to be crucial in the encoding and retrieval of memories. Experimental and computational studies indicate that precise timing of principal cell firing in the hippocampus, relative to the theta rhythm, underlies encoding and retrieval processes. On the other hand, sharp-wave ripples have been implicated in the consolidation through the "replay" of memories in compressed time scales. The neural circuits and cell types supporting memory processes in the MTL areas have only recently been delineated using experimental approaches such as optogenetics, juxtacellular recordings and optical imaging. Principal (excitatory) cells are crucial for encoding, storing and retrieving memories at the cellular level, whereas inhibitory interneurons provide the temporal structures for orchestrating the activities of neuronal populations of principal cells by regulating synaptic integration and timing of action potential generation of principal cells as well as the generation and maintenance of network oscillations (rhythms). In addition, neuromodulators such as acetylcholine alter dynamical properties of neurons and synapses, and modulate oscillatory state and rules of synaptic plasticity and their levels might tune MTL to specific memory processes. The goal of the research topic is to offer a snapshot of the current stateof-the-art on how memories are encoded, consolidated, stored and retrieved in MTL structures. Particularly welcome will be studies (experimental or computational) focusing on the structure and function of neural circuits, their cellular components (principal cell and inhibitory interneurons), synaptic plasticity rules involved in these memory processes, network oscillations such as theta and sharp-wave ripples, and role of neuromodulators. Questions to be addressed: (1) Which areas or pathways within the MTL support encoding/consolidation/retrieval? (2) What neural activity defines specific memory processes? (3) What are the roles of neuromodulators in defining/switching these memory processes? (4) Could the role of synaptic plasticity be different in different memory processes? (5) What functional roles do the various inhibitory interneurons support during the encoding/consolidation/retrieval processes? About Frontiers Research Topics ------------------------------------------------ Frontiers Research Topics are designed to be an organized, encyclopedic coverage of a particular research area, and a forum for discussion and debate. Contributions can be of different article types (Original Research, Methods, Hypothesis & Theory, and others). Our Research Topic has a dedicated homepage on the Frontiers website, where contributing articles are accumulated and discussions can be easily held. Once all articles are published, the topic will be compiled into an e-book, which can be sent to foundations that fund your research, to journalists and press agencies, and to any number of other organizations. As the ultimate reference source from leading scientists, Frontiers Research Topic articles become highly cited. Frontiers is a Swiss-based, open access publisher. As such an article accepted for publication incurs a publishing fee, which varies depending on the article type. The publishing fee for accepted articles is below average compared to most other open access journals - and lower than subscription-based journals that apply page and color figure charges. Moreover, for Research Topic articles, the publishing fee is discounted quite steeply thanks to the support of the Frontiers Research Foundation. Details on Frontiers' fees can be found at http://www.frontiersin.org/about/PublishingFees. When published, your article will be freely available to visitors to the Frontiers site, and will be indexed in PubMed and other academic archives. As an author in Frontiers, you will retain the copyright to your own paper and all figures. The details regarding this Research Topic for Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience can be found at the following URL: http://www.frontiersin.org/systems_neuroscience/researchtopics/memory_proce… Should you choose to participate, please confirm by sending a quick email and then your abstract using the following link: http://www.frontiersin.org/submissioninfo Thanks in advance for your interest! Vassilis Cutsuridis and Motoharu Yoshida --- Vassilis Cutsuridis, PhD IMBB - FORTH Heraklion, Crete Greece

March 20, 2014

NSG provides free access to supercomputers for parallel simulations

by Ted Carnevale

The NSF-supported Neuroscience Gateway (NSG) http://www.nsgportal.org allows computational neuroscientists to run parallel simulations, free of charge, on supercomputers using tools like GENESIS, NEURON, NEST, Brian, and PyNN. Other tools will be added based on users' requests. NSG provides a simple web-based interface that makes it quick and easy to create an account, upload model code, run simulations, and get back results. To get started, go to http://www.nsgportal.org , click on the "Go to the NSG Portal" button, and follow the instructions in the sentence: "New users who are interested in getting an account should fill out the form and email it to nsghelp(a)sdsc.edu" For any questions or suggestions related to the NSG portal, please contact us at nsghelp(a)sdsc.edu The NSG developers team

March 20, 2014

PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience

by Christoph T. Weidemann

Applications are sought for a 3 year, fully-funded PhD position (UK & EU nationals) in the lab of Dr Christoph Weidemann at Swansea University, UK investigating context effects in cognition. The successful student will investigate how environmental statistics affect behaviour in "perceptual" and "recognition memory" tasks using computational modelling and rigorous empirical tests utilising dependent variables from choice responses (such as accuracy and response times) as well as brain activity (measured with EEG). Candidates should have substantial computer programming experience and quantitative skills. Prior experience in collecting / working with EEG data is desirable, but not essential. For more details and to apply: http://www.swan.ac.uk/postgraduate/scholarships/research/psychology-phd-con… For all inquires, contact Dr. Christoph Weidemann: ctw(a)cogsci.info

March 20, 2014

RA position in Computational Tools for Optogenetics

by Nikolic, Konstantin

[Apologies if you get multiple copies of this message] Imperial College London Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Research Associate in Computational Neuroscience Salary Range: £32,750– £34,500 per annum Full Time, fixed-term appointment for 12 months Applications are invited for a BBSRC funded Research Associate post on the development of multiscale computational tools for optogenetics. You will be based in the Centre for Bio-Inspired Technology (CBIT) http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/bioinspiredtechnology, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial College London. You will work jointly with Dr Konstantin Nikolic (PI, CBIT & Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering) and Dr Simon Schultz (Department of Bioengineering) on the mathematical and computational modeling of optogenetic (light-activated) ion channels (e.g. channelrhodopsin, halorhodopsin, ArchT, etc) and neurons expressing them. For details about the post please see: http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/AIJ206/research-associate-in-computational-neuros…

March 19, 2014

Call for posters/registration: Fourth International Symposium on Biology of Decision-Making, 26-28 May 2014 @ Paris, France

by Mehdi Khamassi

[Please accept our apologies if you get multiple copies of this message] Dear colleagues, Registration is now open for the Fourth Symposium on Biology of Decision Making which will take place in Paris, France, on May, 26-28th 2014. Online registration is accessible at http://sbdm2014.isir.upmc.fr The deadline for poster submission is on April, 15th. The deadline for registration is on May, 1st. Registration fees (120 euros) include lunches, coffee breaks and access to social events. Please circulate widely and encourage your colleagues to attend. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FOURTH SYMPOSIUM ON BIOLOGY OF DECISION MAKING (SBDM 2014) May 26-28, 2014, Paris, France Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle, Hôpital La Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France. & Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France. & Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France. http://sbdm2014.isir.upmc.fr ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PRESENTATION: The Fourth Symposium on Biology of Decision Making will take place on May 26-28, 2014 at the Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle, Paris, France, with a satellite day at Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France. The objective of this three day symposium is to gather people from different research fields with different approaches (economics, ethology, psychiatry, neural and computational approaches) to decision-making. The symposium will be a single-track, will last for 3 days and will include 6 sessions: (#1) Who is making decisions? Cortex or basal ganglia; (#2) New computational approaches to decision-making; (#3) A new player in decision-making: the hippocampus; (#4) Neuromodulation of decision-making; (#5) Maladaptive decisions in clinical conditions; (#6) Who is more rational? Decision making across species. CONFIRMED SPEAKERS: Bernard Balleine (Sydney University, Australia) Karim Benchenane (CNRS-ESPCI, France) Roland Benoit (Harvard, USA) Matthew Botvinick (Princeton University, USA) Anne Collins (Brown University, USA) Roshan Cools (Radboud Univ. Nijmegen, The Netherlands) Molly Crockett (UCL, UK) Jean Daunizeau (INSERM-ICM, France) Nathaniel Daw (NYU, USA) Kenji Doya (OIST, Japan) Philippe Faure (CNRS-UPMC, France) Lesley Fellows (McGill University, Canada) Algo Genovesio (Universita La Sapienza, Italy) Tobias Kalenscher (Universität Düsseldorf, Germany) Etienne Koechlin (CNRS-ENS, France) James Marshall (Sheffield University, UK) Genela Morris (Haifa University, Israel) Camilio Padoa-Schioppa (Washington Univ. St Louis, USA) Alex Pouget (Rochester University, USA) Pete Redgrave (Sheffield University, UK) Jonathan Roiser (UCL, UK) Masamichi Sakagami (Tamagawa University, Japan) Daphna Shohamy (Columbia University, USA) Klaas Stephan (Univ. Zurich & ETH Zurich, Switzerland) IMPORTANT DATES: April 15, 2014 Deadline for Poster Submission May 1, 2014 Deadline for Registration May 26-28, 2014 Symposium Venue ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: Thomas Boraud (CNRS, Bordeaux, France) Sacha Bourgeois-Gironde (La Sorbonne, Paris, France) Kenji Doya (OIST, Okinawa, Japan) Mehdi Khamassi (CNRS - UPMC, Paris, France) Etienne Koechlin (CNRS - ENS, Paris, France) Mathias Pessiglione (ICM - INSERM, Paris, France) CONTACT INFORMATION : Website, registration, poster submission and detailed program: http://sbdm2014.isir.upmc.fr Contact: sbdm2014 [ at ] isir.upmc.fr Questions about registration: sbdm2014-registration [ at ] isir.upmc.fr -- Mehdi Khamassi, PhD Researcher (CNRS) Institut des Systèmes Intelligents et de Robotique (UMR7222) CNRS - Université Pierre et Marie Curie Pyramide, Tour 55 - Boîte courrier 173 4 place Jussieu, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France tel: + 33 1 44 27 28 85 fax: +33 1 44 27 51 45 cell: +33 6 50 76 44 92 http://people.isir.upmc.fr/khamassi -- Mehdi Khamassi, PhD Researcher (CNRS) Institut des Systèmes Intelligents et de Robotique (UMR7222) CNRS - Université Pierre et Marie Curie Pyramide, Tour 55 - Boîte courrier 173 4 place Jussieu, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France tel: + 33 1 44 27 28 85 fax: +33 1 44 27 51 45 cell: +33 6 50 76 44 92 http://people.isir.upmc.fr/khamassi

March 18, 2014

Frontiers Computational Neuroscience call for papers on "Integrating computational and neural findings in visual object perception"

by Peters J (PSYCHOLOGY)

Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience, special issue on "Integrating computational and neural findings in visual object perception" http://www.frontiersin.org/computational_neuroscience/researchtopics/integr… Abstract submission deadline: Apr 1st 2014 Full paper submission deadline: June 1st 2014 Topic editors: Judith Peters Maastricht University / The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, The Netherlands Hans Op De Beeck University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium Rainer Goebel Maastricht University / The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, The Netherlands The advent of new imaging techniques such as ultra-high field fMRI and advanced multi-unit recordings provide insights into large-scale neural activation patterns underlying visual object perception with unprecedented detail. In parallel, innovative neuroscientific applications of machine learning and computational methods, including various encoding and decoding methods (Miyawaki et al., 2008; Naselaris et al., 2011), representational similarity analysis (Kriegeskorte et al., 2008; Op de Beeck et al., 2001), and hyperalignment (Haxby et al., 2011) have been developed, offering novel opportunities to tackle longstanding questions concerning the neural correlates of object representations (e.g., DiCarlo et al., 2012; Marr, 1982; Biederman, 1987). Likewise, new techniques to integrate simulated and empirical data (e.g., Braet, Kubilius, Wagemans, & Op de Beeck, in press; Peters et al., 2012, 2010; Goebel & De Weerd 2009) allow direct testing of neural findings against predictions of various computational object perception models, which may facilitate the incremental, cross-fertilized development of both biologically-validated machine vision models as well as computationally interpretable empirical models of neural object perception. The aim of this Research Topic is to provide a forum for state-of-the-art research integrating computational and empirical approaches to study the neural mechanisms underlying visual object perception as it is observed behaviorally in humans as well as other animals, including nonhuman primates and rodents. We welcome contributions addressing computational mechanisms underlying object perception related - but not limited - to key questions such as: * What is the nature of neural object representations (e.g., the degree of invariance, sparseness) and how do these representations change across different processing stages? * How are object features (e.g., Tanaka, 1996) computationally integrated into coherent object representations? * How do object representations in the ventral visual system allow invariant recognition without losing specificity to distinguish between similar exemplars? * How are object representations read-out by higher-order areas (e.g., hippocampus and prefrontal cortex), and how do current task instructions (e.g., between- versus within-category discrimination) or past experiences influence this read-out? * How are object perception mechanisms shaped by experience and development? * How can we optimally compare computer vision models to empirically-derived neural models based on human or animal object perception? Pre-submission inquiries can be sent to Judith Peters ( j.peters(a)maastrichtuniversity.nl<mailto:j.peters@maastrichtuniversity.nl>). All articles become freely available upon publication and benefit from the unique marketing tools developed by Frontiers. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Judith Peters (PhD) Maastricht Brain Imaging Center (M-BIC), Maastricht University Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Neuroimaging and Neuromodeling group, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam

March 18, 2014

Open Frontiers in neuroRobotics Research Topic

by Ajaz Ahmad Bhat

A new research topic in Frontiers in NeuroRobotics "Motor cognition in animals and animates: Melting Neuroscience with Embodied Robotics" is open for abstracts submission. Emerging trends in motor neuroscience now provide converging evidence for this perspective and substantiate the fact that action 'generation, observation, imagination and understanding' share underlying functional networks in the brain. In this sense, overt actions are just the tip of an iceberg: under the surface is hidden a vast territory of actions without movements (covert actions). Unravelling and unifying the neural/computational basis of such mechanisms is the essence of motor cognition. This Research Topic looks for novel insights that can help "melting" the gap between "how the brains do it" and how we can create "better artifacts i.e. autonomous robotic assistants" that can intelligently and dexterously support us in the worlds that we inhabit and create. Full details are: http://www.frontiersin.org/Neurorobotics/researchtopics/Motor_cognition_in_… Best regards, Ajaz Bhat PhD-Fellow ajaz.bhat(a)iit.it<mailto:ajaz.bhat@iit.it>

March 18, 2014

cybernetics in the brain

by Danko Nikolic

Dear members, I would like to bring to your attention a newly available manuscript that dives into the mind-body problem using the approaches of cybernetics. The proposed theory describes the interaction between neurons, plasticity, genetics, and other biological phenomena in terms of feedback loops closed with the environment. This effort has a wonderful result: One can identify a missing component of today's brain theories--a component that is the "missing link" for explaining how mental phenomena emerge from physical events, and which is a result that could not be obtained with the classical "representational" approach. Those who intend to take a look at the manuscript, be prepare to think about neuronal activity differently than you are used to. You will need to make mental images of closed feedback loops, systems permeable to their environments at all levels of their organization, and components controlling properties of other components. You will also need to exercise the thoughts of certain components located low on the hierarchy, such as genes, induce cybernetic knowledge of other components located higher on the hierarchy, such as the sensory-motor loops. The manuscript provides a general theory of what it takes for such adaptive systems to achieve biological-like intelligent behavior. The paper is available at arXiv.org <http://arXiv.org> but it can also be downloaded from my website: http://www.danko-nikolic.com/practopoiesis/ Also, the manuscript has began its search for a home in a journal. (It will need some luck, so you may well wish it a good luck.) Suggestions for improvements and feedback are most welcome. With warm greetings from Germany, Danko -- Danko Nikolic, Ph.D. Web: http://www.danko-nikolic.com Mail address 1: Department of Neurophysiology Max Planck Institut for Brain Research Deutschordenstr. 46 60528 Frankfurt am Main GERMANY Mail address 2: Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies Wolfgang Goethe University Ruth-Moufang-Str. 1 60433 Frankfurt am Main GERMANY ---------------------------- Office: (..49-69) 96769-736 Lab: (..49-69) 96769-209 Fax: (..49-69) 96769-327 danko.nikolic(a)gmail.com ----------------------------

March 17, 2014

postdoc in social learning in Collective Decision-making

by Peter Latham

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Assistant at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London. The postdoc will be jointly supervised by Peter Latham (Gatsby Unit) and Bahador Bahrami (Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience). The goal of the project is to develop and test computational models of social learning and collective decision-making. This will build on our previous work in collective decision-making (Bahrami et al: Science 329:1081-1085, 2010; J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 38:3–8, 2012; Phil Trans R Soc B 367:1350-1365, 2012), and will form the basis of model-based fMRI analysis. Salary: £32,699 - £39,523 per year Duties and Responsibilities: The successful candidate will carry out research in the area of social collective decision-making and emergent crowd behaviour, with specific focus on computational and social/cognitive neuroscience. S/he will develop and test computational models of social learning and collective decision-making, implement and run behavioural experiments, perform analysis of data, and prepare reports of the research for publication in peer reviewed international scientific journals. The work will require a strong computational background, and the successful candidate should have a reasonable subset of the following: - PhD (or close to a PhD) in computer science, computational neuroscience, or cognitive neuroscience. - Knowledge of computational neuroscience, behavioural economics, or big-data analysis. - Experience in statistics or machine learning. - Experience in the analysis of behavioural and functional imaging data. - Programming skills in MATLAB or similar languages. - Effective written and verbal communication skills. - Experience working in a research environment. - Ability and/or experience in programming web-based and smartphone applications. If interested, send a CV and a very brief cover letter to Bahador Bahrami <bbahrami(a)gmail.com>

March 17, 2014

PhD in image analysis for behavioural tracking

by Mark Humphries

Posted on behalf of Dr Robyn Grant: Applications are sought for a 3 year, fully-funded PhD position (UK & EU nationals) in the lab of Dr Robyn Grant at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. Title: "Indicators of Neurodegenerative Disease revealed through Animal Behaviour: open source toolbox development for measurement of disease progression." Summary: A multi-disciplinary project developing image analysis tools for objective, non-invasive assessment of animal behaviour. In particular, the project will focus on developing methods to quantify changes in patterns of locomotion and whisker movements resulting from neurodegenerative disorders such as Motor Neuron Disease, Huntingdon's Disease and ageing. Candidates must have good programming skills (e.g. Matlab) and a strong motivation for research. Expertise of developing image analysis algorithms would be desirable, with an interest in animal behavior. The student will also receive training on image processing techniques and software development, alongside collecting animal behavior data. For more details and to apply: http://www.findaphd.com/search/ProjectDetails.aspx?PJID=53553&LID=1837 For all inquiries, contact Dr Robyn Grant: Robyn.Grant(a)mmu.ac.uk -- Dr M D Humphries MRC Senior Non-Clinical Research Fellow @ Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, UK Honorary Research Fellow @ Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, UK http://www.systemsneurophysiologylab.ls.manchester.ac.uk/

March 17, 2014

two listings

by Levin Kuhlmann

Dear comp-neuro, I have two submissions for listing on comp-neuro. They are pasted below. Cheers, Levin Kuhlmann, PhD Centre for Neural Engineering Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering The University of Melbourne Parkville VIC 3010 & Brain Dynamics Lab Brain and Psychological Sciences Research Centre Swinburne University of Technology Hawthorn VIC 3122 Australia Ph: +61412552283 Email: levink(a)unimelb.edu.au<mailto:levink@unimelb.edu.au> Submission 1: 10 PhD scholarships in the ARC Training Centre in Biodevices The ARC Training Centre in Biodevices at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne Australia has 10 PhD scholarships on offer for motivated and capable students to enter its advanced PhD program designed to develop future leaders in the medical device industry. Participants will be outstanding students drawn from the disciplines of engineering, science, medicine, design and ICT, or recent graduates with relevant business or technology innovation experience. Students will have the opportunity to participate in a structured three year PhD program that links their core research activities with skills development in areas relevant to the medical device industry. Students will spend at least one third of their time within industry environments. In addition, students will also have the opportunity to take units from Swinburneâ€™s Masters in Entrepreneurship and Innovation during their first year. With respect to neural engineering, potential projects lie in the applications of the development of software and/or hardware for electroencephalography-based depth of anaesthesia monitoring, such as dry electrodes, or the development of implantable bionic devices to better diagnose and treat epilepsy. Information can be found at the following links: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/biodevices/ http://www.swinburne.edu.au/science-engineering-technology/biodevices/postg… The deadline to apply is March 31st 2014. International students are required to sit an IELTS test (or equivalent, e.g. TOEFL) with an average band score of at least 6.5, with no band less than 6.0. Swinburne also strongly encourages minorities and women to apply. Interested applicants should email Prof. David T. J. Liley at dliley(at) swin.edu.au. -- Prof David Liley ARC Training Centre in Biodevices and Brain and Psychological Sciences Research Centre Swinburne University of Technology P.O. Box 218 Hawthorn VIC 3122 Australia ph: +61 3 9214 8812 Submission 2: Seeking PhD student to study human brain networks underlying anaesthesia and consciousness The Brain Dynamics Unit in the Brain and Psychological Sciences Research Centre at the Swinburne University of Technology is seeking a motivated and capable PhD student to work on the functional neuroimaging of anaesthetic action. The planned project, to be performed in collaboration with anaesthetists, will involve the administration of the dissociative anaesthetic agents xenon (a noble gas) and nitrous oxide ('laughing gas') to healthy participants while simultaneous MEG and EEG is recorded. The induced changes in the functional architecture of the recorded electromagnetic activity will then be characterised using a range of existing and to be developed information theoretic, graph theoretic and non-linear methods. Attempts to account for any induced changes in terms of mean field/mass action models of brain electrical activity will be investigated. The dissociative anaesthetic agents are of particular interest because they are reported to increase activity in the brain in addition to targeting glutamatergic neurotransmitter systems implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of psychiatric and neurological disorders. The position is suitable for those entering the field of neuroscience from other appropriate backgrounds - e.g., from theoretical physics - since comprehensive skills in applied mathematics and scientific programming are required. In this case the necessary neuroscience training will be provided "on the job" during the first year. Interested applicants should have a strong background in any of the following disciplines: theoretical physics, mathematics, biomedical or electrical engineering or quantitative biology. A first class honours degree or equivalent is required with proficiency in more than one of the following: C, Fortran, Python or Matlab Researchers in the unit, led by Prof David Liley, have developed a physiologically motivated theory of the dynamical genesis of the electroencephalogram (EEG). The model accounts for the rhythms of the human EEG and predicts their alteration by a range of pharmaceutical agents, in particular that of anaesthetic and sedative agents. Numerical solutions of the model's coupled set of non-linear partial differential equations have revealed spatio-temporal structures similar to those observed in experiment. It is hoped that this model can contribute to our understanding of how anaesthetic agents modulate brain activity. The Brain Dynamics group is part of the Brain and Psychological Sciences Research Centre (BPsyC), a vibrant, multi-disciplinary team of researchers whose expertise spans several different fields that include physics, psychology, psychophysiology, biophysics and the neurosciences. The BPsyC has among the most comprehensive suite of functional neuroimaging facilities available in Australia. These facilities include a 306 channel Elekta TRIUX MEG system, a Siemens 3T TIM Trio MRI and multiple high density EEG systems. A range of scholarships for national and international students are available, at up AUD 24,653 per year for three and a half years, tax-free. The deadline for applications is the 30th May 2014. More details on the application process can be found at http://www.research.swinburne.edu.au/research-students/scholarships/. International students are required to sit an IELTS test (or equivalent, e.g. TOEFL) with an average band score of at least 6.5, with no band less than 6.0. Swinburne also strongly encourages minorities and women to apply. Interested applicants should email Prof. David T. J. Liley at dliley(at) swin.edu.au. -- Prof David Liley Brain and Psychological Sciences Research Centre Swinburne University of Technology P.O. Box 218 Hawthorn VIC 3122 Australia ph: +61 3 9214 8812

March 16, 2014

Cognitive Computation journal (Springer): Table of Contents, Vol.6, No.1 / Mar 2014 Issue

by Dr Amir Hussain

Dear Colleagues: (with advance apologies for any cross-postings) We are delighted to announce the publication of Volume 6, No.1 / March 2014 Issue, of Springer's Cognitive Computation journal - www.springer.com/12559 The individual list of published articles (Table of Contents) for this Issue can be viewed here (and also at the end of this message, followed by an overview of the previous Issues/Archive listings): http://link.springer.com/journal/12559/6/1/ You may also be interested in the journal's Seminal Special Issue (Sep 2013 Issue): In Memory of John G Taylor: A Polymath Scholar, by Guest Editors: Vassilis Cutsuridis and Amir Hussain (the Guest Editorial is available here: http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs12559-013-9226-z.pdf and full listing of articles can be found at: http://link.springer.com/journal/12559/5/3/page/1) A list of the journal's most downloaded articles (which can always be read for FREE) can be found here: http://www.springer.com/biomed/neuroscience/journal/12559?hideChart=1#realt… Other 'Online First' published articles not yet in a print issue can be viewed here: http://www.springerlink.com/content/121361/?Content+Status=Accepted All previous Volumes and Issues of the journal can be viewed here: http://link.springer.com/journal/volumesAndIssues/12559 ======================================================= NEW: ISI Impact Factor for Cognitive Computation of 0.867 for 2012 (5 year IF: 1.137) ======================================================= As you will know, Cognitive Computation was selected for coverage in Thomson Reuter’s products and services in 2011. Beginning with V.1 (1) 2009, this publication is now indexed and abstracted in: ♦ Science Citation Index Expanded (also known as SciSearch®) ♦ Journal Citation Reports/Science Edition ♦ Current Contents®/Engineering Computing and Technology ♦ Neuroscience Citation Index® Cognitive Computation also received its first Impact Factor of 1.0 (Thomson Reuters Journal Citation Reports® 2011) in 2011 0.867(Thomson Reuters Journal Citation Reports® 2011) in 2012 ============================================ Reminder: New Cognitive Computation "LinkedIn" Group: ============================================ To further strengthen the bonds amongst the interdisciplinary audience of Cognitive Computation, we have set-up a "Cognitive Computation LinkedIn group", which has over 700 members already! We warmly invite you to join us at: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=3155048 For further information on the journal and to sign up for electronic "Table of Contents alerts" please visit the Cognitive Computation homepage: http://www.springer.com/12559 or follow us on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/CognComput for the latest On-line First Issues. For any questions with regards to LinkedIn and/or Twitter, please contact Springer's Publishing Editor: Dr. Martijn Roelandse: martijn.roelandse(a)springer.com Finally, we would like to invite you to submit short or regular papers describing original research or timely review of important areas - our aim is to peer review all papers within approximately six-eight weeks of receipt. We also welcome relevant high quality proposals for Special Issues - five are already planned for 2014-15 (for CFPs, see: http://www.springer.com/biomed/neuroscience/journal/12559?detailsPage=press ) With our very best wishes to all aspiring readers and authors of Cognitive Computation, Professor Amir Hussain, PhD (Editor-in-Chief: Cognitive Computation) E-mail: ahu(a)cs.stir.ac.uk (University of Stirling, Scotland, UK) Professor Igor Aleksander, PhD (Honorary Editor-in-Chief: Cognitive Computation) (Imperial College, London, UK) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents Alert -- Cognitive Computation Vol 6 No 1, Mar 2014 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Computational Cognitive Model of Information Search in Textual Materials Myriam Chanceaux , Anne Guérin-Dugué , Benoît Lemaire & Thierry Baccino http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12559-012-9200-1 Artificial Development of Biologically Plausible Neural-Symbolic Networks Joe Townsend , Ed Keedwell & Antony Galton http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12559-013-9217-0 BrainSpace: Relating Neuroscience to Knowledge About Everyday Life Newton Howard & Henry Lieberman http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12559-012-9171-2 Taxonomical Associative Memory Diogo Rendeiro , João Sacramento & Andreas Wichert http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12559-012-9198-4 Searching the Hyper-heuristic Design Space Jerry Swan , John Woodward , Ender Özcan , Graham Kendall & Edmund Burke http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12559-013-9201-8 Analogical Mapping with Sparse Distributed Memory: A Simple Model that Learns to Generalize from Examples Blerim Emruli & Fredrik Sandin http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12559-013-9206-3 Characteristic Analysis of Bioinspired Pod Structure Robotic Configurations Azfar Khalid , Samir Mekid & Aamir Hussain http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12559-013-9210-7 A Multimodal Connectionist Architecture for Unsupervised Grounding of Spatial Language Michal Vavrečka & Igor Farkaš http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12559-013-9212-5 Toward a Formal, Visual Framework of Emergent Cognitive Development of Scholars Amir Hussain & Muaz Niazi http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12559-013-9219-y Region-Based Artificial Visual Attention in Space and Time Jan Tünnermann & Bärbel Mertsching http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12559-013-9220-5 --------------------------------------------------- Previous Issues/Archive: Overview: --------------------------------------------------- All previous Volumes and Issues can be viewed here: http://link.springer.com/journal/volumesAndIssues/12559 Alternatively, the full listing of the Inaugural Vol. 1, No. 1 / March 2009, can be viewed here (which included invited authoritative reviews by leading researchers in their areas - including keynote papers from London University's John Taylor, Igor Aleksander and Stanford University's James McClelland, and invited papers from Ron Sun, Pentti Haikonen, Geoff Underwood, Kevin Gurney, Claudius Gross, Anil Seth and Tom Ziemke): http://www.springerlink.com/content/1866-9956/1/1/ The full listing of Vol. 1, No. 2 / June 2009, can be viewed here (which included invited reviews and original research contributions from leading researchers, including Rodney Douglas, Giacomo Indiveri, Jurgen Schmidhuber, Thomas Wennekers, Pentti Kanerva and Friedemann Pulvermuller): http://www.springerlink.com/content/1866-9956/1/2/ The full listing of Vol.1, No. 3 / Sep 2009, can be viewed here: http://www.springerlink.com/content/1866-9956/1/3/ The full listing of Vol. 1, No. 4 / Dec 2009, can be viewed here: http://www.springerlink.com/content/1866-9956/1/4/ The full listing of Vol.2, No. 1 / March 2010, can be viewed here: http://www.springerlink.com/content/1866-9956/2/1/ The full listing of Vol.2, No. 2 / June 2010, can be viewed here: http://www.springerlink.com/content/1866-9956/2/2/ The full listing of Vol.2, No. 3 / Aug 2010, can be viewed here: http://www.springerlink.com/content/1866-9956/2/3/ The full listing of Vol.2, No. 4 / Dec 2010, can be viewed here: http://www.springerlink.com/content/1866-9956/2/4/ The full listing of Vol.3, No.1 / Mar 2011 (Special Issue on: Saliency, Attention, Active Visual Search and Picture Scanning, edited by John Taylor and Vassilis Cutsuridis), can be viewed here: http://www.springerlink.com/content/1866-9956/3/1/ The Guest Editorial can be viewed here: http://www.springerlink.com/content/hu2245056415633l/ The full listing of Vol.3, No.2 / June 2011 can be viewed here: http://www.springerlink.com/content/1866-9956/3/2/ The full listing of Vol. 3, No. 3 / Sep 2011 (Special Issue on: Cognitive Behavioural Systems, Guest Edited by: Anna Esposito, Alessandro Vinciarelli, Simon Haykin, Amir Hussain and Marcos Faundez-Zanuy), can be viewed here: http://www.springerlink.com/content/1866-9956/3/3/ The Guest Editorial for the special issue can be viewed here: http://www.springerlink.com/content/h4718567520t2h84/ The full listing of Vol. 3, No. 4 / Dec 2011 can be viewed here: http://www.springerlink.com/content/1866-9956/3/4/ The full listing of Vol. 4, No.1 / Mar 2012 can be viewed here: http://www.springerlink.com/content/1866-9956/4/1/ The full listing of Vol. 4, No.2 / June 2012 can be viewed here: http://www.springerlink.com/content/1866-9956/4/2/ The full listing of Vol. 4, No.3 / Sep 2012 (Special Issue on: Computational Creativity, Intelligence and Autonomy, Edited by: J. Mark Bishop and Yasemin J. Erden) can be viewed here: http://www.springerlink.com/content/1866-9956/4/3/ The full listing of Vol. 4, No.4 / Dec 2012 (Special Issue titled: "Cognitive & Emotional Information Processing", Edited by: Stefano Squartini, Björn Schuller and Amir Hussain, which is followed by a number of regular papers), can be viewed here: http://link.springer.com/journal/12559/4/4/page/1 The full listing of Vol. 5, No.1 / March 2013 Special Issue titled: Computational Intelligence and Applications Guest Editors: Zhigang Zeng & Haibo He, which is followed by a number of regular papers), can be viewed here: http://link.springer.com/journal/12559/5/1/page/1 The full listing of Vol. 5, No.2 / June 2013 Special Issue titled: Advances on Brain Inspired Computing, Guest Editors: Stefano Squartini, Sanqing Hu & Qingshan Liu, which is followed by a number of regular papers), can be viewed here: http://link.springer.com/journal/12559/5/2/page/1 The full listing of Vol. 5, No.3 / Sep 2013 Special Issue titled: In Memory of John G Taylor: A Polymath Scholar, Guest Editors: Vassilis Cutsuridis & Amir Hussain, which is followed by a number of regular papers), can be viewed here: http://link.springer.com/journal/12559/5/3/page/1 The full listing of Vol. 5, No.4 / Dec 2013, which includes regular papers (including an invited paper by Professor Ron Sun, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, USA, titled: Moral Judgment, Human Motivation, and Neural Networks), and a Special Issue titled: Advanced Cognitive Systems Based on Nonlinear Analysis. Guest Editors: Carlos M. Travieso and Jesús B. Alonso, can be viewed here: http://link.springer.com/journal/12559/5/4/page/1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The University of Stirling is ranked in the top 50 in the world in The Times Higher Education 100 Under 50 table, which ranks the world's best 100 universities under 50 years old. The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159. -- The University of Stirling has been ranked in the top 12 of UK universities for graduate employment*. 94% of our 2012 graduates were in work and/or further study within six months of graduation. *The Telegraph The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159.

March 15, 2014

Deadline extension, April 12 || ADVCOMP 2014 || August 24 - 28, 2014 - Rome, Italy

by Cristina Pascual

INVITATION: ================= Please consider to contribute to and/or forward to the appropriate groups the following opportunity to submit and publish original scientific results to ADVCOMP 2014. The submission deadline is April 12, 2014. Authors of selected papers will be invited to submit extended article versions to one of the IARIA Journals: http://www.iariajournals.org ================= ============== ADVCOMP 2014 | Call for Papers =============== CALL FOR PAPERS, TUTORIALS, PANELS ADVCOMP 2014, The Eighth International Conference on Advanced Engineering Computing and Applications in Sciences August 24 - 28, 2014 - Rome, Italy Submission page: http://www.iaria.org/conferences2014/SubmitADVCOMP14.html General page: http://www.iaria.org/conferences2014/ADVCOMP14.html Call for Papers: http://www.iaria.org/conferences2014/CfPADVCOMP14.html Contributions: - regular papers - short papers (work in progress) - posters - ideas - presentations - demos - doctoral forum submissions Proposals for: - symposia - workshops Submission deadline: April 12, 2014 Sponsored by IARIA, www.iaria.org Extended versions of selected papers will be published in IARIA Journals: http://www.iariajournals.org Print proceedings will be available via Curran Associates, Inc.: http://www.proceedings.com/9769.html Articles will be archived in the free access ThinkMind Digital Library: http://www.thinkmind.org The topics suggested by the conference can be discussed in term of concepts, state of the art, research, standards, implementations, running experiments, applications, and industrial case studies. Authors are invited to submit complete unpublished papers, which are not under review in any other conference or journal in the following, but not limited to, topic areas. All tracks are open to both research and industry contributions, in terms of Regular papers, Posters, Work in progress, Technical/marketing/business presentations, Demos, Tutorials, and Panels. Before submission, please check and conform with the Editorial rules: http://www.iaria.org/editorialrules.html ADVCOMP 2014 Topics (topics and submission details: see CfP on the site) Advances on computing theories Finite-state machines; Petri nets /stochastic/colored/probabilistic/etc; Genetic algorithms; Machine learning theory; Prediction theory; Bayesian theory /statistics/filtering/estimation/reasoning/rating/etc; Markov chains/process/model/etc; Graphs theories Advances in computation methods Hybrid computational methods; Advanced numerical algorithms; Differential calculus; Matrix perturbation theory; Rare matrices; Fractals & super-fractal algorithms; Random graph dynamics; Multi-dimensional harmonic estimation Computational logics Knowledge-based systems and automated reasoning; Logical issues in knowledge representation /non-monotonic reasoning/belief; Specification and verification of programs and systems; Applications of logic in hardware and VLSI; Natural language, concurrent computation, planning; Deduction and reasoning; Logic of computation; Dempster-Shafer theory; Fuzzy theory/computation/logic/etc Advances on computing mechanisms Clustering large and high dimensional data; Data fusion and aggregation; Biological sequence analysis; Biomecatronics mechanisms; Biologically inspired mechanisms; System theory and control mechanisms; Multi-objective evolutionary algorithms; Constraint-based algorithms; Ontology-based reasoning; Topology and structure patterns; Geometrical pattern similarity; Strong and weak symmetry; Distortion in coordination mechanisms Computing techniques Distributed computing; Parallel computing; Grid computing; Autonomic computing; Cloud computing; Development of numerical and scientific software-based systems; Pattern-based computing; Finite-element method computation; Elastic models; Optimization techniques; Simulation techniques; Stream-based computing Resource intensive applications and services (RIAS) Fundamentals on RIAS; Basic algorithms for RIAS; Communications intensive; Process intensive; Data-intensive computing; Operational intensive; Cloud-computing intensiveness; User intensive; Technology intensive; Control intensive; Complex RIAS; Bioinformatics computation; Large scale ehealth systems; Pharmaceutical/drug computation; Weather forecast computation; Earthquake simulations; Geo-spatial simulations; Spatial programs; Real-time manufacturing systems; Transportation systems; Avionic systems; Economic/financial systems; Electric-power systems Computational geometry Theoretical computational geometry; Applied computational geometry; Design and analysis of geometric algorithms; Design and analysis of geometric algorithms and data structures; Discrete and combinatorial geometry and topology; Data structures (Voronoi Diagrams, Delaunay triangulations, etc.); Experimental evaluation of geometric algorithms and heuristics; Numerical performance of geometric algorithms; Geometric computations in parallel and distributed environments; Geometric data structures for mesh generation; Geometric methods in computer graphics; Solid modeling; Space Partitioning; Special applications (animation of geometric algorithms, manufacturing, computer graphics and image processing, computer-aided geometry design, solid geometry) Interdisciplinary computing Computational /physics, chemistry, biology/ algorithms; Graph-based modeling and algorithms; Computational methods for /crystal, protein/ structure prediction; Computation for multi-material structure; Modeling and simulation of large deformations and strong shock waves; Computation in solid mechanics; Remote geo-sensing; Interdisciplinary computing in music and arts Cloud computing Hardware-as-a-service; Software-as-a-service [SaaS applicaitions]; Platform-as-service; On-demand computing models; Cloud Computing programming and application development; Scalability, discovery of services and data in Cloud computing infrastructures; Privacy, security, ownership and reliability issues; Performance and QoS; Dynamic resource provisioning; Power-efficiency and Cloud computing; Load balancing; Application streaming; Cloud SLAs, business models and pricing policies; Custom platforms; Large-scale compute infrastructures; Managing applications in the clouds; Data centers; Process in the clouds; Content and service distribution in Cloud computing infrastructures; Multiple applications can run on one computer (virtualization a la VMWare); Grid computing (multiple computers can be used to run one application); Cloud-computing vendor governance and regulatory compliance Grid Networks, Services and Applications GRID theory, frameworks, methodologies, architecture, ontology; GRID infrastructure and technologies; GRID middleware; GRID protocols and networking; GRID computing, utility computing, autonomic computing, metacomputing; Programmable GRID; Data GRID; Context ontology and management in GRIDs; Distributed decisions in GRID networks; GRID services and applications; Virtualization, modeling, and metadata in GRID; Resource management, scheduling, and scalability in GRID; GRID monitoring, control, and management; Traffic and load balancing in GRID; User profiles and priorities in GRID; Performance and security in GRID systems; Fault tolerance, resilience, survivability, robustness in GRID; QoS/SLA in GRID networks; GRID fora, standards, development, evolution; GRID case studies, validation testbeds, prototypes, and lessons learned Computing in Virtualization-based environments Principles of virtualization; Virtualization platforms; Thick and thin clients; Data centers and nano-centers; Open virtualization format; Orchestration of virtualization across data centers; Dynamic federation of compute capacity; Dynamic geo-balancing; Instant workload migration; Virtualization-aware storage; Virtualization-aware networking; Virtualization embedded-software-based smart mobile phones; Trusted platforms and embedded supervisors for security; Virtualization management operations /discovery, configuration, provisioning, performance, etc.; Energy optimization and saving for green datacenters; Virtualization supporting cloud computing; Applications as pre-packaged virtual machines; Licencing and support policies Development of computing support Computing platforms; Advanced scientific computing; Support for scientific problem-solving; Support for distributed decisions; Agent-assisted workflow support; Middleware computation support; High performance computing; Problem solving environments; Computational science and education; Neuronal networks Computing applications in science Advanced computing in civil engineering; Advanced computing in physics science; Advanced computing in chemistry science; Advanced computing in mathematics; Advanced computing in operation research; Advanced computing in economics; Advanced computing in electronics and electrical science; Advanced computing on Earth science, geosciences and meteorology Complex computing in application domains Computation genomic; Management of scientific data and knowledge; Advanced computing in bioinformatics and biophysics; Advanced computing in molecular systems and biological systems; Application of engineering methods to genetics; Medical computation and graphics; Advanced computing in simulation systems; Advanced computing for statistics and optimization; Advanced computing in mechanics and quantum mechanics; Advanced computing for geosciences and meteorology; Maps and geo-images building; Curve and surface reconstruction; Financial computing and forecasting; Advanced computing in robotics and manufacturing; Advanced computing in power systems; Environmental advanced computing --------------------------------- Committee: http://www.iaria.org/conferences2014/ComADVCOMP14.html ADVCOMP Advisory Chairs Chih-Cheng Hung, Southern Polytechnic State University, USA Juha R�ning, Oulu University, Finland Sigeru Omatu, Osaka Institute of Technology, Japan Erich Schweighofer, University of Vienna, Austria Paul Humphreys, University of Ulster, UK Danny Krizanc, Wesleyan University, USA Ivan Rodero, Rutgers University - Piscataway, USA Ali Shawkat, CQ University of Australia - North Rockhampton, Australia George Spanoudakis, City University London, UK Vladimir Vlassov, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden Jerry Trahan, Louisiana State University, USA Dean Vucinic, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium Rudolf Berrendorf, Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University, Germany Wenbing Zhao, Cleveland State University, USA Camelia Mu�oz-Caro, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Spain Laurent R�veill�re, Bordeaux Institute of Technology, France Ewa Grabska, Jagiellonian University - Krakow, Poland ADVCOMP Industry/Research Chairs Jorge Ejarque Artigas, Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS), Spain Helmut Reiser, Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ)-Garching, Germany H. Metin Aktulga, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, USA Sameh Elnikety, Microsoft Research, USA Umar Farooq, Amazon.com - Seattle, USA Dmitry Fedosov, Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Germany Alice Koniges, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory/NERSC, USA Markus Kunde, German Aerospace Center & Helmholtz Association - Cologne, Germany Peter M�ller, IBM Zurich Research Laboratory- R�schlikon, Switzerland Simon Tsang, Applied Communication Sciences - Piscataway, USA Anna Schwanengel, Siemens AG, Germany Christoph Fuenfzig, Fraunhofer ITWM, Germany ADVCOMP Publicity Chairs Marie Lluberes, University of Puerto Rico at Mayag�ez, USA Sascha Opletal, University of Stuttgart, Germany �lvaro Navas, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Spain Iwona Ryszka, Jagiellonian University - Krakow, Poland ================================================

March 14, 2014

Organismal Assistant Professor of Biology Position

by Weaver, Adam L

Dear Colleagues, I respectfully submit an advertisement below for an organismal biologist in our department of Biology. The job description and method of application are described below. Please share with suitable candidates. Thank you, Adam Weaver ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Adam L. Weaver, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Dept. of Biology Phone: (802) 654-2624 Saint Michael’s College (Office: Cheray 313E) FAX: (802) 654-2236 One Winooski Park, Box 283 Email: AWeaver2(a)smcvt.edu<mailto:AWeaver2@smcvt.edu> Colchester, VT 05439 Web: http://academics.smcvt.edu/aweaver2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This job opportunity has been sent to you through Saint Michael's College Careers. Please click here<http://smcvt.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=47078&type=7> to view the posting and to apply online. If your email system does not support links, please cut and paste the following text in a web browser: http://smcvt.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=47078&type=7 Specifically we are seeking an excellent educator whose research interests and training will lend themselves to serving the growing number of Biology majors interested in the health care professions. This is a tenure track position with a Fall 2014 start date. Full posting follows: Assistant Professor of Biology Category: Faculty Department: Biology Locations: Colchester, VT Posted: Mar 03, '14 Type: Full-time About Saint Michael's College : At Saint Michael’s College students are challenged to do their best, find their niche, take on opportunities to grow, and immerse themselves in academic pursuits. A residential Catholic college, Saint Michael’s is steeped in the social justice spirit of its founding priests, the Edmundites. Saint Michael’s is located three miles from Burlington, Vermont, one of America's top 10 college towns. Headed by President John J. Neuhauser, the college has 1,900 undergraduate students and 500 graduate students. A Phi Beta Kappa institution, Saint Michael’s also features an extraordinary Wilderness Program and rare Fire & Rescue Squad, both of which other colleges use as models. Identified by the Princeton Review, 2014 as one of the nation’s Best 378 Colleges, and included in the Fiske Guide to Colleges 2014, Saint Michael's students and professors have received Rhodes, Woodrow Wilson, Goldwater, Pickering, Guggenheim, Fulbright, and other awards. The college is one of the nation's top-100, Best Liberal Arts Colleges as listed in the 2014 U.S. News & World Report rankings. Job Description: The Department of Biology at Saint Michael’s College invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position for an assistant professor of biology starting in the 2014-2015 academic year. The successful candidate will be expected to participate in the team teaching of introductory biology and to teach upper-level lecture and laboratory courses in the areas of human anatomy and physiology thus enhancing the department’s offerings for students interested in post-graduate opportunities in health care. Advising students pursuing careers in the health professions will become part of this new faculty member’s role. The successful candidate must also maintain a productive scholarship program focusing on research at the organismal level providing opportunities for student involvement. For example, focus areas of scholarship could include, but are not limited to the following (listed in alphabetical order, not in order of preference): anatomy, biomechanics, developmental biology, embryology, kinesiology, functional morphology, neurobiology, physiology, or vertebrate evolution. Please note however that the Biology Department does not have facilities to maintain live mammals. Research programs strictly at the population or cell and molecular levels are not compatible with this position. Requirements: * Ph.D. in biology or related organismal field * College-level teaching experience * Promising record of scholarship * Willingness to participate as part of a team of colleagues with the primary focus being the learning and development of our students * Direct experience in the health care industry or in advising pre-health students would be valued An offer of employment will be contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Additional Information: Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to innovative undergraduate teaching and be able to apply appropriate technology to the teaching & learning process. Candidates should be supportive of the mission of this Catholic, residential, liberal arts college with an undergraduate enrollment of 2,000 students. Saint Michael’s College is committed to fostering and affirming an inclusive, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment for its students, faculty, and staff. Applicants are invited to discuss how they might contribute to this diversity in their cover letter. Application Instructions: Please be prepared to attach the following documents after clicking on Apply Now button. * Cover letter, including statement of teaching philosophy, research objectives, and addressing the balance between teaching and research at an undergraduate liberal arts institution. * Research statement detailing the fit of your program of scholarship in the context of a small liberal arts college and how undergraduate students will participate in your research. * Curriculum vitae, including names and contact information of at least three references. Finalists will be contacted before we contact referees.

March 13, 2014

Postdoc: color neurophysiology, modeling and vision prosthesis, SUNY, New York City

by Youping Xiao

A NIH-supported postdoctoral position is available immediately for studying the processing of color information in primate cortex, and applying optogentics to vision prosthesis. The projects is under the direction of Dr. Youping Xiao at State University of New York - Downstate Medical Center, New York, New York. We employ a multidisciplinary approach, including optical imaging of intrinsic signal and voltage-sensitive dye, multi-channel single-unit recording, optogentics, neuroanatomy, advanced statistical analysis, and modeling. Our current research focuses on the population based representation of color or other information, functional connectivity between neurons, neural circuitry for color perception, and the development of cortical vision prosthesis using optogenetics. For further information about the Xiao Lab see http://www.downstate.edu/ophthalmology/faculty/xiao.html. The candidate should have a doctoral degree in any field of natural science or engineering with experience in working on electrophysiology, neural network, neuroimaging. A strong quantitative background and experience in programming (Matlab, C/C++, or Python) is preferred. Interested individuals should send a statement of interests, CV, 2-3 letters of reference, PDFs of representative publications, and the expected date of availability to Dr. Xiao (youping.xiao(a)downstate.edu) State University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Best, Youping Xiao, PhD Associate Professor Department of Ophthalmology SUNY Downstate Medical Center 450 Clarkson Avenue, MSC 58 Room BSB 6-30 Brooklyn, NY 11203 phone: 718-270-3900 fax: 718-270-2972

March 13, 2014

Postdoctoral position in computational neuroscience at IIT-CNCS - Laboratory of Neural Computation, Rovereto, Italy

by Stefano Panzeri

Postdoctoral position in computational neuroscience at IIT-CNCS - Laboratory of Neural Computation, Rovereto, Italy Applications are sought for a post-doctoral researcher to work in computational neuroscience. The postdoctoral candidates will be working in the Centre for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems in Trento (Italy) under the supervision of Prof. Stefano Panzeri. The postdoc will contribute to a project entitled "VISUAL MODELLING USING GANGLION CELLS". The project, funded by the European Union Future Emerging Technology programme, will develop a set of novel information theoretic algorithms for the analysis of simultaneous recordings from large populations of retinal ganglion cells under dynamic natural visual stimulation. These algorithms will be applied to analyse the functional response properties of these cells and will expose new principles of spike timing encoding that bridge the gap between single cell and population information processing. The project will involve collaborations with a retinal neurophysiology laboratory at Gottingen University (Prof Tim Gollish), as well as collaborations with neuromorphic electronic engineers and roboticists (University of Zurich, and University of Ulster) to contribute to the development of novel theoretical and hardware models of biological retinal ganglion cell types for dynamic vision applications. The ideal candidates will have a strong background in numerate sciences (physics, mathematics, engineering or informatics) and a keen interest in applying their numerate background to make breakthroughs in the understanding of the brain. Proficiency in English is required. The postdoctoral researchers will work at the IIT (CNCS@UNITN) most of the time under the superivision of internationally recognized experts and will have access to state-of-the-art equipment and laboratories. Interested applicants should contact Stefano Panzeri (stefano.panzeri(a)iit.it) for any informal queries. For a formal application, the candidate will submit his/her CV, list of publications, a statement of research interests and the names and email addresses of two referees by e-mail to both stefano.panzeri(a)iit.it and Sara Maistrelli ( Cncs_selezioni(a)iit.it ). Please quote REF CB 69468 in the application. Deadline for the application is April 6, 2014. For recent reviews about the work carried out by the laboratory of Neural Computation, prospective applicants are invited to consult the following articles: G.T. Einevoll, C. Kayser, N.K. Logothetis and S. Panzeri (2013) Modelling and analysis of local field potential for studying the function of cortical circuits. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 14:770-785; Panzeri S, Brunel N, Logothetis NK, Kayser C (2010) Neural codes at multiple temporal scales in sensory cortex.Trends in Neuroscience 33: 111-120 Quian Quiroga R, Panzeri S (2009) Extracting information from neuronal populations: information theory and decoding approaches. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 10: 173-185. The formal full job post advert can be found at: http://www.iit.it/en/openings/iit-centres/iit-unitn-openings/2331-postdocto…

March 13, 2014

Workshop on information theoretic incentives for artificial life

by Keyan Ghazi-Zahedi

*** WORKSHOP ON INFORMATION THEORETIC INCENTIVES FOR ARTIFICIAL LIFE *** to be held at the 14th International Conference on the Synthesis and Simulation of Living Systems (ALIFE-14) New York City, 30 July-2 August 2014 Workshop web page: http://www.mis.mpg.de/ay/workshops/alife14ws.html Conference web page: http://alife14.org Please forward this mail to other interested parties. ~~~ IMPORTANT DATES Submission deadline: 2 May 2014 Notification of acceptance: 23 May 2014 Workshop date: 30 July 2014 (to be confirmed, possible alternative is the 31st of July) ~~~ ABOUT Artificial Life aims to understand the basic and generic principles of life, and demonstrate this understanding by producing life-like systems based on those principles. In recent years, with the advent of the information age, and the widespread acceptance of information technology, our view of life has changed. Ideas such as "life is information processing" or "information holds the key to understanding life" have become more common. But what can information, or more formally Information Theory, offer to Artificial Life? One relevant area is the motivation of behaviour for artificial agents, both virtual and real. Instead of learning to perform a specific task, informational measures can be used to define concepts such as boredom, empowerment or the ability to predict one's own future. Intrinsic motivations derived from these concepts allow us to generate behaviour, ideally from an embodied and enactive perspective, which are based on basic but generic principles. The key questions here are: "What are the important intrinsic motivations a living agent has, and what behaviour can be produced by them?" Related to an agent's behaviour is also the question on how and where the necessary computation to realise this behaviour is performed. Can information be used to quantify the morphological computation of an embodied agent and to what degree are the computational limitations of an agent influencing its behaviour? Another area of interest is the guidance of artificial evolution or adaptation. Assuming it is true that an agent wants to optimise its information processing, possibly obtain as much relevant information as possible for the cheapest computational cost, then what behaviour would naturally follow from that? Can the development of social interaction or collective phenomena be motivated by an informational gradient? Furthermore, evolution itself can be seen as a process in which an agent population obtains information from the environment, which begs the question of how this can be quantified, and how systems would adapt to maximise this information? The common theme in those different scenarios is the identification and quantification of driving forces behind evolution, learning, behaviour and other crucial processes of life, in the hope that the implementation or optimisation of these measurements will allow us to construct life-like systems. ~~~ WORKSHOP FORMAT The workshop is scheduled for a full day, and will consist of a combination of keynotes, presentations, discussions and shorter student presentations. To participate in the workshop by giving a presentation we would ask you to submit an extended abstract. We are interested in both, the current existing approaches in the field, and possible future avenues of investigation. Student presentations are an option for younger researchers, new to the field, that would like to outline and discuss their research direction or early results. The general idea is to offer a forum for those interested in applying information theory and similar methods to the field of artificial life, to have a focused discussion on both, the possibilities and technical challenges involved. After the workshop, there will a special issue in the Journal "Entropy" on the topic of the workshop, and we encourage participants to submit an extended version of their work. Further details will be announced as soon as possible. ~~~ SUBMISSION AND PARTICIPATION How to submit If you want to participate in the workshop by giving a talk we would invite you to send us an email (itialife(a)gmail.com) by 2 May 2014 with - name - contact details -1-2 pages long extended abstract. We are interested in previous work related to the subject and current work, including preliminary results. Specifically for students we also offer the option to submit for a shorter student talk, to present some early results, and discuss their approach to the field. In this case, please submit a 1-2 pages long extended abstract and indicate that you are interested in a student presentation. If there are any questions, or if you just want to indicate interest in submitting or attending, please feel free to mail us at itialife(a)gmail.com. ~~~ CONTACTS Web: http://www.mis.mpg.de/ay/workshops/alife14ws.html Email: itialife(a)gmail.com ~~~ Organisers: Christoph Salge, Keyan Zahedi, Georg Martius and Daniel Polani With best wishes, Keyan Zahedi, on behalf of the organisers -- Keyan Ghazi-Zahedi, Dr. rer. nat. Information Theory of Cognitive Systems Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences phone: (+49) 341 9959 545, fax: (+49) 341 9959 555, office A11

March 12, 2014

[3 DAYS LEFT] Frontiers Research Topic - Models of brain stimulation

by Dr Julien Modolo

Dear all, Just a friendly reminder that the deadline of our Research Topic organized with Frontiers in Neuroscience (Host Specialty: Frontiers in Computional Neuroscience) is in THREE DAYS only (March 15). As a reminder, our Research Topic is entitled: "Driving Innovation in Therapeutic Brain Stimulation With Biophysical Models" Topic Editors: Julien Modolo, Alexandre Legros and Alex W Thomas - Lawson Health Research and Western University, London, Ontario (Canada). Abstract Submission Deadline: March 15 2014 Article Submission Deadline: June 1st, 2014 Research Topic Description: Electric and magnetic stimulation of the brain have become increasingly used for therapy in numerous neurological disorders over the last 20 years. The domain of therapeutic brain stimulation is complex and dynamic, since it involves many different diseases (e.g., Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy), stimulation devices and protocols (from completely non-invasive stimulation to the chronic implantation of stimulation electrodes in the brain). Despite its use by hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide, it seems paradoxical that, in most cases, the biological mechanisms by which therapeutic brain stimulation can provide symptom relief are unknown. Our limited knowledge in terms of interaction mechanisms dramatically slows down the development of novel brain stimulation techniques, which rely mainly on empiric observations. Fortunately, a paradigm change has begun, and biophysical modeling has emerged as an alternative tool not only allowing ot understand therapeutic brain stimulation, but also to foster innovation. Realistic models of neurons and neural networks are now routinely used in neuroscience research to better understand the outcome of experimental data, and also to help in experiment design. These models can simulate the activity of single cells (e.g., with the Hodgkin-Huxley model), or, at the other extreme, of the entire brain (Blue Brain project). One especially appealing use of these models is to simulate in silico how electric and magnetic fields modulate neuronal activity at different spatial and temporal scales, to ultimately have an impact on behaviour. This application of biophysical models of brain activity is currently the focus of intense research efforts, with the hope of groundbreaking clinical translations on the horizon. The objective of this Research Topic is to offer a comprehensive overview of the most recent biophysical models and their contribution in the development of innovative therapeutic brain stimulation techniques, in various neurological disorders. An emphasis should be made on the critical role of biophysical modeling in the rational and effective design of novel brain stimulation techniques, and also in providing key insights into fundamental interaction mechanisms that can be exploited to ends of therapy. About Frontiers Research Topics: Frontiers Research Topics are designed to be an organized, encyclopedic coverage of a particular research area, and a forum for discussion and debate. Contributions can be of different article types (Original Research, Methods, Hypothesis & Theory, and others). Our Research Topic has a dedicated homepage on the Frontiers website, where contributing articles are accumulated and discussions can be easily held. Once all articles are published, the topic will be compiled into an e-book, which can be sent to foundations that fund your research, to journalists and press agencies, and to any number of other organizations. As the ultimate reference source from leading scientists, Frontiers Research Topic articles become highly cited. Frontiers is a Swiss-based, open access publisher. As such an article accepted for publication incurs a publishing fee, which varies depending on the article type. The publishing fee for accepted articles is below average compared to most other open access journals - and lower than subscription-based journals that apply page and color figure charges. Moreover, for Research Topic articles, the publishing fee is discounted quite steeply thanks to the support of the Frontiers Research Foundation. Details on Frontiers’ fees can be found at http://www.frontiersin.org/about/PublishingFees. When published, your article will be freely available to visitors to the Frontiers site, and will be indexed in PubMed and other academic archives. As an author in Frontiers, you will retain the copyright to your own paper and all figures. The details regarding this Research Topic for Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience can be found at the following URL: http://www.frontiersin.org/computational_neuroscience/researchtopics/drivin… Should you choose to participate, please confirm by sending a quick email and then your abstract using the following link: http://www.frontiersin.org/submissioninfo Thanks in advance for your interest! Julien Modolo, Alexandre Legros and Alex W Thomas -- Julien Modolo, PhD Scientist, Human Threshold Research Group, Lawson Health Research Institute Assistant Professor, Departments of Medical Biophysics and Medical Imaging, Western University Room E4-141 268 Grosvenor Street London, ON, N6A4V2 Canada Phone: (+001) 519-646-6100 ext 64192 Fax: 519-646-6100

March 12, 2014

rTMS and Neurofeedback training courses 2014

by Martijn Arns

Dear colleagues, I hereby would to inform you that we have just updated our final overview of training courses and workshops for 2014 on our website<http://www.brainclinics.com/neurofeedback-rtms-workshops>. We offer a 2 day rTMS training course that will focus on rTMS in the treatment of Depression and OCD, and also cover other developments in rTMS such as personalizing treatment and indications such as Parkinson and Tinnitus. Furthermore, we offer a 4-day BCIA accredited neurofeedback course with a focus on ADHD and insomnia. This course will also focus on recent insights relating sleep problems, chronobiology and ADHD. For more information and dates also see: http://www.brainclinics.com/neurofeedback-rtms-workshops These courses are intended for academics and clinicians who want to learn to apply these techniques in clinical practice and research settings, or who want to further specialize in these techniques or disorders. For more background reading material, scientific articles and reviews, you can download all these from our community<http://www.brainclinics.com/community> after registration or simply see our publication list<http://www.brainclinics.com/publications>. Kind regards, Martijn Arns, PhD Director / Researcher Twitter: @Brainclinics Research Institute Brainclinics Brainclinics Education Bijleveldsingel 34 6524 AD Nijmegen The Netherlands Tel: +31(0)24-7503505 GSM: +31 (0)6-48177919 Fax: +31(0)24-8901447 E-mail: martijn(a)brainclinics.com<mailto:martijn@brainclinics.com> URL: www.brainclinics.com<http://www.brainclinics.com>

March 12, 2014

NEURAL COMPUTATION - April, 2014

by Terry Sejnowski

Neural Computation - Contents -- Volume 26, Number 4 - April 1, 2014 Available online for download now: http://www.mitpressjournals.org/toc/neco/26/4 ----- Article Parametric Inference in the Large Data Limit Using Maximally Informative Models Justin Block Kinney, Gurinder Singh Atwal Letters Input Statistics and Hebbian Crosstalk Effects Anca R. Radulescu Learning Nonlinear Regularities in Natural Images by Modeling the Outer Product of Image Intensities Peng Qi, Xiaolin Hu Dissociable Forms of Repetition Priming: A Computational Model Kirill Makukhin, Scott Bolland Refined Rademacher Chaos Complexity Bounds With Applications to the Multi-Kernel Learning Problem Yunwen Lei, Lixin Ding Large Margin Low Rank Tensor Analysis Guoqiang Zhong, Mohamed Cheriet Large-scale Linear RankSVM Ching-Pei Lee, Chih-Jen Lin ------------ ON-LINE -- http://www.mitpressjournals.org/neuralcomp SUBSCRIPTIONS - 2014 - VOLUME 26 - 12 ISSUES USA Others Electronic Only Student/Retired $70 $193 $65 Individual $124 $187 $115 Institution $1,035 $1,098 $926 Canada: Add 5% GST MIT Press Journals, 238 Main Street, Suite 500, Cambridge, MA 02142-9902 Tel: (617) 253-2889 FAX: (617) 577-1545 journals-orders(a)mit.edu ------------

March 11, 2014

4th information letter: International Symposium on the Role of Eye Movements in Vision - Yarbus-100

by Durant, Szonya

Institute for Information Transmission Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Kharkevich Institute) The Yarbus-100 Organizing Committee is pleased to present the up-to-date information about Yarbus-100 Symposium Deadlines Earlier, in the 2nd information letter, it was announced that the deadline, both for abstract and for short report submission is March, 10. However, it has now been arranged that the proceedings of our symposium will be published in a Special Issue of Perception, raising the possibility of allowing more time for participants planning submission of reports because, in the case of the Special Issue, the manuscripts should be submitted to Perception via the PiMMS website after the symposium. At the same time, we are not able to postpone the deadline for abstract submission, taking into account the time necessary for reviewing the texts received and creating the symposium program. Thus, all the potential participants are requested to send their abstracts to the organizing committee no later than March 17, but those who need some additional time to complete the report, may delay sending the main text up to April 1. Submission procedure - Prospective manuscript (both .pdf and .doc) should be send to yarbus100(a)iitp.ru<mailto:yarbus100@iitp.ru> as an attachment. - Guidelines for authors can be found at the Perception official site. - Before the symposium, the approved abstracts will be published in the Program of the symposium. - After the symposium, Perception/Pion will set up a special folder "Yarbus 100" for collecting the manuscripts selected for publication in Perception. The authors will be allowed to improve their manuscripts taking into account discussions at the symposium. Additional Master Classes Two additional proposals for Master Classes have been added: from SR Research ("Eye Tracking in Vision Sciences - Practical Considerations for Saccadic, Pursuit, Video, and 3D Studies") and from Acuity Intelligence ("Getting real: Eye-tracking beyond the screen and outside of the lab"). Information on the ITaS website Beginning from the February 27 all the information about the symposium will be posted on the ITaS's official website: http://itas2014.iitp.ru/?q=en/node/50 We are looking forward to welcoming you and/or your colleagues at the symposium Yarbus-100 and the conference ITaS'14. For any questions and suggestions please contact Mr Andrey Bolshakov at: yarbus100(a)iitp.ru<mailto:yarbus100@iitp.ru> .

March 11, 2014

Postdoc(s) in computational neuroscience

by Kevin Gurney

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Research Associate to join an EU-funded, project NoTremor which aims to provide patient specific, multi-scale computational models of the coupled brain and neuromuscular systems that will be subsequently used to improve the quality of analysis, prediction and progression of Parkinson's disease. In particular, it aspires to establish the neglected link between brain modelling and neuromuscular systems that will result in a holistic representation of the physiology for PD patients. We are offering an opportunity to play a key role in this EU-funded, multi-centre, multidisciplinary project. The remit of this post is twofold: (i) To help develop the software infrastructure supporting the modeling which will make use of new middleware and model description frameworks developed at Sheffield. (ii) To develop high level computational models of brain nuclei dealing with motor control using concepts and techniques from control theory. This post has been nominally identified as a single full-time position to begin straight away for 21 months, but depending on the skills of the applicants, the post may be split (with the possibility of part time working) for two candidates who each have either software or control engineering skills, qualifications and experience. You can view the supporting documentation by clicking on About the Job and About the University located near the top of your screen. Salary Grade 7 £28,972 per annum. Closing date 2/4/2014. Informal enquiries to Prof. Kevin Gurney k.gurney(a)shef.ac.uk Application may be made online at http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/ -- Kevin Gurney, PhD, FSB Professor of Computational Neuroscience Adaptive Behaviour Research Group Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, S10 2TP, UK<http://www.shef.ac.uk/%7Eabrg/> http://abrg.group.shef.ac.uk/people/kevin/ ------------- "Email is a wonderful thing for people whose role in life is to be on top of things. But not for me; my role is to be on the bottom of things. What I do takes long hours of studying and uninterruptible concentration." Donald Knuth: Professor Emeritus of the Art of Computer Programming at Stanford University, and winner of the 1974 Turing Award.

March 11, 2014

eNTERFACE14 Summer Workshop - Call for participation - 4 days left!!

by Daniel Erro

Dear list members, Aholab Signal Processing research group, from Bilbao, Spain, is hosting eNTERFACE’14, the 10th Summer Workshop on Multimodal Interfaces (Bilbao, June 9th to July 9th 2014). eNTERFACE workshops gather in a single place a team of senior project leaders, researchers, and students, to work on a pre-specified list of challenges for 4 weeks. Participants are organized in teams, each team being attached to a specific project. The following project may be of interest to you: Title: Quantification of the alteration in the resting state networks for measuring brain pathologies and diseases Leading team: I. Diez, A. Erramuzpe, S. Stramaglia1, and J.M. Cortes, from Biocruces Health Research Institute Abstract: Resting State Networks (RSNs) are the result from the coherence across brain regions in the high-amplitude ultra-slow (0.1 Hz) fluctuations in the Blood-Oxygen-Level-Dependent (BOLD) signal acquired with resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). The RSNs are universal, meaning that, beyond individual brain differences, they emerge at rest in all healthy subjects. This universal behavior in healthy brains has pushed forward the strategy for quantification of the RSNs alterations in brain pathological conditions to find for new neuroimaging markers for both mental and cognitive disorders. Indeed, alterations in the RSNs have been found in patients with deficit of consciousness after brain traumatic injury, in Alzheimer disease and schizophrenia. Based on these results, it is expected that RSNs alterations occur as well for other brain disorders and diseases. This is the main motivation of this project, given an input rs-fMRI data of a specific patient, to develop new and efficient methods capable to quantify the precise amount of alteration (respect to control) for each of the resting networks. If you are a senior/junior researcher or a PhD/MS/undergraduate student working on similar topics and you want to collaborate in this project, please prepare a short CV in electronic format along with a list of skills you can offer to the team and fill in the application form available on the official website. eNTERFACE’14 has no registration fee and lodging prices will be highly competitive. We will also offer about 5 grants covering accomodation expenses (more information will be given through the official website in due course). Important dates: Deadline for application: March 14th 2014 Notification of acceptance to participants: April 11th 2014 Workshop: June 9th – July 4th 2014 Web: http://aholab.ehu.es/eNTERFACE14 Contact: enterface14(a)aholab.ehu.es

March 11, 2014

Call for applications: Brains for Brains Young Researchers' Computational Neuroscience Award 2014

by Kerstin Schwarzwälder

Dear colleagues, for the fifth time, the Bernstein Association for Computational Neuroscience is announcing the "Brains for Brains Young Researchers' Computational Neuroscience Award". The call is open for researchers of any nationality who have contributed to a peer reviewed publication (as coauthor) or peer reviewed conference abstract (as first author) that was submitted before starting their doctoral studies, is written in English and was accepted or published in 2013 or 2014. The award comprises 500 € prize money, plus a travel grant of up to 2.000 € to cover a trip to Germany, including participation in the Bernstein Conference 2014 in Göttingen (www.bernstein-conference.de) and an individually planned visit to up to two German research institutions in Computational Neuroscience. Deadline for application is April 25, 2014. Detailed information about the application procedure can be found under: www.nncn.de/en/bernstein-association/brains-for-brains-2014 For inquiries please contact info(a)bcos.uni-freiburg.de Best regards, Kerstin Schwarzwälder -- Dr. Kerstin Schwarzwälder Bernstein Coordination Site of the National Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg Hansastr. 9A 79104 Freiburg Germany phone: +49 761 203 9594 fax: +49 761 203 9585 schwarzwaelder(a)bcos.uni-freiburg.de www.nncn.de Twitter: NNCN_Germany <http://twitter.com/NNCN_Germany> YouTube: Bernstein TV <http://www.youtube.com/user/BernsteinNetwork> Facebook: Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience, Germany <https://www.facebook.com/BernsteinNetwork> LinkedIn: Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience, Germany <http://www.linkedin.com/company/bernstein-network-computational-neuroscienc…>

March 10, 2014

Ikerbasque Research Fellow ("Tenure"). Methods in Neuroimaging, Bilbao (Spain)

by Jesus Cortes

Dear researcher, One position for "Ikerbasque Research Fellow" will be host by the new emerging group of Computational Neuroimaging in Biocruces. http://www.biocruces.com/l1003 More information about the position, "Ikerbasque Research Fellow" at http://www.ikerbasque.net/fellows More information about Biocruces http://www.biocruces.com/ Interested researchers must contact me before March 15th, 2014. Feel free in contacting me for any further question or comment. Provide a copy of an updated CV remarking best 5 publications. Prof. Jesus M Cortes Ikerbasque Research Professor Head of the Computational Neuroimaging Lab Biocruces Health Research Institute

March 10, 2014

Call for papers: IEEE HealthCom'14 - Workshop on "e-health in Neurosciences"

by Renan Moioli

[Apologies for cross-postings] ******************************************************************************************************** 16th IEEE International Conference on e-Health Networking, Application & Services (IEEE HealthCom'14) Workshop on "e-health in Neurosciences" (The workshop comprises a full-day technical session with oral presentations of accepted papers and discussions) Natal, RN, Brazil - October 15-18, 2014 1st CALL FOR PAPERS ******************************************************************************************************** Homepage: http://www.ieee-healthcom.org ******************************************************************************************************** IEEE HEALTHCOM 2014 Workshop on "e-health in Neurosciences" is a part of the IEEE International Conference on e-Health Networking, Application & Services (IEEE HEALTHCOM 2014), which is fully sponsored by the IEEE Communications Society. Recent developments in information and communications technologies have been increasingly influencing the health-care field. In this context, work on biomedical engineering and neurosciences are fundamental for the reliable, secure, and ethical use of technology. The workshop in "e-health in Neurosciences" aims at bringing together prominent researchers in this field creating a place to exchange the latest research achievements and experiences. The ongoing inclusion of new technologies such as virtual reality, wearable sensors and actuators, brain-computer interfaces, biosensors, etc., have to be accompanied by a high level debate by the scientific community and society. We believe that the IEEE Healthcom'14 Conference is the appropriate forum to discuss innovative and emerging findings. Prospective authors are cordially invited to submit their original contributions covering completed or ongoing work related to the eHealth area. The topics include but are not limited to: * Brain-machine/computer interfaces (BMI) / (BCI) * Biomedical signal processing * Biofeedback * Neuromodulation * Ethical implications of e-health technologies * Augmented and immersive virtual reality * Telemedicine and mobile telemedicine * Biomedical and biosensors engineering * Body sensor/actuators networks and wearable sensor systems On-Line Submissions & Publications: ******************************************************************************************************** All submissions should be written in English with a maximum paper length of six (6) IEEE style printed pages including figures, without incurring additional page charges. One (1) additional page is allowed with a charge of USD100, if accepted. Papers exceeding 7 pages will not be accepted at EDAS, nor will they be reviewed at all. Papers will be reviewed with the standard reviewing procedure (with at least 3 independent anonymous reviews). Accepted papers will be published on IEEExplore. The best accepted paper will receive the Best Paper Award and an extended version will be considered for publication in the International Journal on E-Health and Medical Communications. Submission link: http://www.ieee-healthcom.org/authors.html Important Dates ******************************************************************************************************** - Deadline for Paper Submissions: April 30, 2014 - Notification of Acceptance: June 30, 2014 - Deadline for Author Registration: August 15, 2014 - Deadline for Camera-ready Papers: August 31, 2014 About the Venue ******************************************************************************************************** Praiamar Natal Hotel & Convention (http://www.praiamarnatal.com.br) Ponta Negra, Natal-RN, Brazil Organizers ******************************************************************************************************** Fabrício L. Brasil (Edmond and Lily Safra Int. Inst. of Neuroscience of Natal (ELS-IINN)) Hougelle Simplício (Edmond and Lily Safra Int. Inst. of Neuroscience of Natal (ELS-IINN)) Mariana F. P. de Araújo (Edmond and Lily Safra Int. Inst. of Neuroscience of Natal (ELS-IINN)) Renan C. Moioli (Edmond and Lily Safra Int. Inst. of Neuroscience of Natal (ELS-IINN)) Contact Information ******************************************************************************************************** Renan C. Moioli <moioli(a)natalneuro.org.br> IEEE HEALTHCOM 2014 Workshop on "e-health in Neurosciences" program chair

March 10, 2014

DENDRITES 2014, July 1-4, Crete: DEADLINE EXTENSION & REGISTRATION WAIVERS

by Yiota Poirazi

Apologies for cross-posting! Please distribute to interested parties. many thanks! Yiota Poirazi ------------------------------------------------------- DENDRITES 2014 4^th NAMASEN Training Workshop Heraklion, Crete, Greece. July 1-4, 2014 http://dendrites2014.gr/ info(a)dendrites2014.gr <mailto:info@dendrites2014.gr> * * * * * ABSTRACT SUBMISSION EXTENDED * * * * * Abstract submission for poster and oral presentation has been extended to *March 31st, 2014.* * * * * * REGISTRATION WAIVERS FOR STUDENTS/POSTDOCS* * * * * We are happy to announce the availability of registration waivers for the entire meeting. Waivers are provided by IBRO PERC funding for Symposia, Workshops & Meetings. Students and postdocs presenting an abstract are eligible. To request a waiver, please send an email to info(a)dendrites2014.org <mailto:info@dendrites2014.org>including information about your submitted abstract. Travel funds might also become available and will be announced on the web site. ---------------------------------------- Dendrites 2014 aims to bring together scientists from around the world to present their research on dendrites, ranging from the molecular to the anatomical and biophysical levels. The Workshop will take place in the beautiful island of Crete, just after the AREADNE meeting (areadne.org) which takes place in the nearby island of Santorini. Note that Santorini is just a 2 hour boat ride from Crete. One could combine two meetings in a single trip to Greece! FORMAT AND SPEAKERS The meeting consists of the Main Event (July 1-3) and the Soft Skills Day (July 4). Invited speakers for the Main Event include: * Susumu Tonegawa (Nobel Laureate), * Angus Silver, * Tiago Branco, * Alcino J. Silva, * Michael Häusser, * Julietta U. Frey, * Stefan Remy, and * Kristen Harris. For the Soft Skills Day, Kerri Smith, Nature podcast editor, is going to present on communication and dissemination of scientific results. Alcino J. Silva (UCLA) will present his recent work on developing tools for integrating and planning research in Neuroscience. There will be a hands on session on tools used to model neural cells/networks and a talk about the advantages of publishing under the Creative Commons License. CALL FOR ABSTRACTS Submission of abstracts for poster and oral presentations are due by *31 March 2014*. We welcome both experimental and theoretical contributions addressing novel findings related to dendrites. For details, please see http://dendrites2014.gr/call/. Electronic abstract submission is hosted on the Frontiers platform, where extended abstracts will be published as an online, open access special issue (in Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, Impact factor 4.5). One of the authors has to register for the main event as a presenting author. In case an abstract is not accepted for presentation, the registration fee will be refunded. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Please see the conference web site (http://dendrites2014.gr/) subscribe to our twitter (https://twitter.com/dendrites2014) or RSS feeds (http://dendrites2014.gr/rss_feed/news.xml) or send an email to info(a)dendrites2014.org <mailto:info@dendrites2014.org>. -- Panayiota Poirazi, Ph.D. Research Director Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB) Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH) Vassilika Vouton, P.O.Box 1385 GR 711 10 Heraklion, Crete, GREECE Tel: +30 2810 391139 Fax: +30 2810 391101 Εmail:poirazi@imbb.forth.gr http://www.dendrites.gr

March 10, 2014

CFP: SSPA2014 (6 Days left deadline) - 2nd Smart Sensor Protocols and Algorithms - Benidorm, Spain, June 22-27, 2014

by Sandra Sendra

[Please accept our apologies if you receive multiple copies of this email] *********************** CFP ******************************* 2nd Smart Sensor Protocols and Algorithms (SSPA2014) http://jlloret.webs.upv.es/sspa2014/ in conjunction with The thirteenth International Conference on Ad-Hoc Networks and Wireless (AdHoc Now-2014) Benidorm, Spain, June 22-27, 2014. http://www.adhocnow.net/ SCOPE: Smart Sensor protocols and algorithms make use of several methods and techniques (such as machine learning techniques, decision making techniques, knowledge representation, network optimization, problem solution techniques, and so on), to establish communication between network devices. They can be used to perceive the network conditions, or the user behavior, in order to dynamically plan, adapt, decide, take the appropriate actions, and learn from the consequences of their actions. The algorithms can make use of the information gathered from the protocol in order to sense the environment, plan actions according to the input, take consciousness of what is happening in the environment, and take the appropriate decisions using a reasoning engine. Goals such as decide which scenario fits best its end-to-end purpose, or environment prediction, can be achieved with smart protocols and algorithms. Moreover, they could learn from the past and use this knowledge to improve future de! cisions. In this workshop, researchers are encouraged to submit papers focused on the design, development, analysis or optimization of smart sensor protocols or algorithms at any communication layer. Algorithms and protocols based on artificial intelligence techniques for network management, network monitoring, quality of service enhancement, performance optimization and network secure are included in the workshop. This conference edition once again targets to gather researchers from academia and industrial sectors to present analytical research, simulations, practical results, position papers addressing the pros and cons of specific proposals, and advances in sensor protocols and algorithms. The topics suggested by the conference can be discussed in term of concepts, state of the art, standards, deployments, implementations, running experiments and applications. TOPICS OF INTEREST: Authors are invited to submit complete unpublished papers, which are not under review in any other conference or journal, including, but are not limited to, the following topic areas: - Reasoning and learning techniques for sensing environment pollution - Smart route prediction in vehicular sensor networks - Smart data aggregation in vehicular sensor networks - Smart multimedia network protocols and algorithms for WSNs - Application layer, transport layer and network layer cognitive protocols - Cognitive radio network protocols and algorithms - Automatic protocols and algorithms for environment prediction - Algorithms and protocols to predict data network states - Intelligent synchronization techniques for sensor network protocols and algorithms - Smart sensor protocols and algorithms for e-health - Software applications for smart algorithms design and development in WSNs - Dynamic protocols based on the perception of their performance - Smart protocols and algorithms for Smartgrids - Protocols and algorithms focused on building conclusions for taking the appropriate actions - Smart Automatic and self-autonomous WSNs - Artificial intelligence applied in protocols and algorithms for WSNs - Smart security protocols and algorithms in WSNs - Smart cryptographic algorithms for communication in WSNs - Artificial intelligence applied to power efficiency and energy saving protocols and algorithms - Smart routing and switching protocols and algorithms in WSNs - Cognitive protocol and algorithm models for saving communication costs - Any kind of intelligent technique applied to QoS, content delivery, network Monitoring and network mobility management - Smart cooperative protocols and algorithms WSNs - Problem recognition and problem solving protocols for WSNs - Genetic algorithms, fuzzy logic and neural networks applied to WSNs IMPORTANT DATES: Abstract registration: 14th of March 2014 Submission deadline: 14th of March 2014 Author notification: 9th of April 2014 Camera-ready version: 25th of April 2014 Workshop Dates: 22-27th of June 2014 SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: Authors are invited to submit original and unpublished papers. Papers presenting original and unpublished work are invited and will be evaluated based on originality, significance, technical soundness, and clarity of exposition. Submitted papers should be in PDF format. The submission website is: http://senldogo0039.springer-sbm.com/ocs/conference/submitpaperto/SSPA2014 Authors can upload papers that should not exceed 8 pages (including a 150 word abstract, all figures, tables and references) in Springer Verlag LNCS format. All papers will be reviewed for technical merit. Detailed formatting and submission guidelines is available on the conference website. Submissions imply the willingness of at least one author to register, attend the conference, and present the paper. SPECIAL ISSUES: Network Protocols and Algorithms COMMITTEES: General Chairs Jaime Lloret Mauri, Universitat Polit�cnica Val�ncia, Spain Kayhan Zrar Ghafoor, University of Koya, Kurdistan Region-Iraq TPC Chairs Miguel Garcia Pineda, Universidad Polit�cnica de Valencia, Spain Ali Safa, Universiti of Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia Panel & Tutorial Chairs Sandra Sendra compte, Universidad Polit�cnica de Valencia, Spain Rashid Khokhar, Charles Sturt University, Australia Web Chair Alejandro C�novas Solbes, Universitat Polit�cnica Val�ncia, Spain

March 8, 2014

Summer school at Bangalore, India: Computational Approaches to Learning and Memory

by Aditya Gilra

Announcing a new course: Computational Approaches to Memory and Plasticity (CAMP @ Bangalore)<http://www.ncbs.res.in/camp> . Venue: National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, India<http://www.ncbs.res.in/> Dates: 28th June to 12th July, 2014 Organizer: Upinder Bhalla (NCBS, Bangalore, India)<http://www.ncbs.res.in/bhalla> CAMP @ Bangalore is a 15-day summer school on the theory and simulation of learning, memory and plasticity in the brain. PhD students and post-docs from theoretical and/or experimental backgrounds (physics, math, neuroscience, engineering, etc.) are welcome. Familiarity with programming, dynamical systems, and/or computational neuroscience is highly desirable. Master's or Bachelor's degree students can apply if they have sufficient background. The course will start with remedial tutorials on neuroscience / math / programming and then work upwards from sub-cellular electrical and chemical signaling in neurons, onward to micro-circuits and networks, all with an emphasis on learning, memory and plasticity. Students worldwide are encouraged to apply online at www.ncbs.res.in/camp latest by 30th Mar, 2014. A poster for the school can be downloaded at the course website<http://www.ncbs.res.in/camp>. Please circulate the information widely. Lecturers: Sumantra Chattarji (NCBS, Bangalore) <http://www.ncbs.res.in/shona> Xiao-Jing Wang (New York University, New York)<http://www.cns.nyu.edu/wanglab/> Suhita Nadkarni (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune)<http://www.iiserpune.ac.in/~suhita/Suhita/Home.html> Michael Hausser (University College, London)<http://www.ucl.ac.uk/WIBR/research/neuro/mh/index.htm> Eve Marder (Brandeis University, Waltham/Boston)<http://blogs.brandeis.edu/marderlab/> Rishikesh Narayanan (Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore)<http://mbu.iisc.ernet.in/~rngrp/> Arthur Wingfield (Brandeis University, Waltham/Boston)<http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/faculty/wingfield.html> Claudia Clopath (Imperial College, London)<http://www.bg.ic.ac.uk/research/c.clopath/> Arvind Kumar (Bernstein Center, Freiburg)<http://www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de/people/details/kumar> Stefano Fusi (Columbia University, New York)<http://neurotheory.columbia.edu/stefano.html> Raghav Rajan (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune)<http://www.iiserpune.ac.in/~raghav/> For more information, email camp2014(a)ncbs.res.in Best Regards, Aditya. ---- Aditya Gilra, Prof Upinder S Bhalla's lab, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK, Bellary Road, Bangalore - 560065, India. Ph: 91-80-23666507.

March 8, 2014

Open Postdoc positions at Bernstein Center Freiburg, Germany

by Birgit Ahrens

Dear Computational Neuroscience Community, Please find below our job posting for Postdoc positions in the labs of Prof. Stefan Rotter, Prof. Ulrich Egert and Dr. Robert Schmidt / Dr. Arvind Kumar at the Bernstein Center Freiburg (BCF) <http://www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de/> , Germany. Best regards Birgit Ahrens PostDoc position on computational models of dopamine neuromodulation One PostDoc position is available from the Cluster of Excellence BrainLinks-BrainTools in Freiburg (Germany) in the research groups of Robert Schmidt and Arvind Kumar located at the Bernstein Center Freiburg. The project is focused on studying the effect of dopamine on the basal ganglia network dynamics and on motor output. In particular, simulations of basal ganglia circuits will be used to characterize the functional role of dopamine through the complex modulation of membrane and synaptic properties of striatal cells. The results of this project are expected to contribute to develop new treatment strategies for akinesia, rigidity, bradykinesia and levodopa-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson's Disease. The ideal candidate has a strong background in computational neuroscience demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications. Advanced programming skills (e.g. Matlab or Python), high motivation and a vivid interest in neuroscientific research are mandatory. Experience in the analysis of neurophysiological data and computational modelling is expected. The position is initially for one year (100% TV-L E13) and can be extended to a total of 30 months after successful internal evaluation of the project. Please send a single PDF containing your CV, and a scientific research statement (max. 2 pages) to <mailto:dopamine@brainlinks-braintools.uni-freiburg.de> dopamine(a)brainlinks-braintools.uni-freiburg.de. In addition, please arrange 2-3 referees to send their recommendation letters directly to the same e-mail address. Application deadline is the 31st March, 2014 and the position starts latest October 2014. Further details on: www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de/jobs <http://www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de/jobs> Postdoc Position on Structure and Dynamics of Cortical Networks in the Computational Neuroscience lab of Prof. Stefan Rotter Our goal is to understand the interplay between network topology and spiking activity dynamics in the neocortex and other parts of the mammalian brain, and to explore the possibilities and constraints of dynamical brain function. Our main tools are mathematical/numerical network modeling and statistical data analysis, often used side by side within the framework of stochastic point processes and statistical graph theory. In collaboration with physiologists and anatomists, we seek to develop new perspectives for the model-based analysis and interpretation of neuronal signals. We are a young group of researchers from mathematics, physics, computer science and biology and invite applications to join the lab for a 2-3 year PostDoc project, and to enter the PostDoc program in Computational Neuroscience at the Bernstein Center Freiburg. Please apply online via our online application form <https://yoda.bcf.uni-freiburg.de/> and indicate "Rotter" as preferred project. Applications are accepted until the position is filled. Further details on: www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de/jobs <http://www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de/jobs> Postdoc position in Non-Clinical Epilepsy Research in the Biomicrotechnology lab of Prof. Ulrich Egert We are currently offering a Postdoc position (2 years) in the Laboratory for Biomicrotechnology (http://www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de/people/details/egert) at the University of Freiburg. The project investigates mechanisms underlying mesiotemporal lobe epilepsy from the perspective of the dysfunction of interaction between subnetworks in the hippocampal formation (Froriep et al. 2012, Epilepsia). We aim to use targeted stimulation to reduce the circuit's susceptibility for seizures. It is essential that you have a background in neuroscience, ideally in experimental neurophysiology in vivo as well as a PhD degree. You should further be competent in data analysis and have an affinity for the network perspective. The project is part of the Cluster of Excellence "BrainLinks-BrainTools'' (www.brainlinks.uni-freiburg.de <http://www.brainlinks.uni-freiburg.de> ) together with the Bernstein Center Freiburg (www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de <http://www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de> ) and will combine neurophysiology, computational neuroscience and neurotechnology. Please apply online via our online application form <https://yoda.bcf.uni-freiburg.de/> and indicate "Egert" as preferred project. Applications are accepted until the position is filled. Further details on: www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de/jobs <http://www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de/jobs> Postdoc position in Neurotechnology & Computational Neuroscience in the lab of Prof. Stefan Rotter We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to join an international team of scientists and engineers in the NeuroSeeker project (see http://www.neuroseeker.eu/) The goal of the project is to develop and apply new methods and software to improve the yield of novel high-resolution probes for recording activity from many neurons simultaneously. Candidates should hold a PhD in physics, applied mathematics, computer science or biology, with proven experience in software engineering and user-oriented application programming (C++ and/or Python). Specific knowledge and scientific publications in the fields of "statistical analysis of neuronal data" and/or "numerical methods and data structures in the neurosciences" are a requirement. Funding is already available, starting date is negotiable. Please apply online via our online application form <https://yoda.bcf.uni-freiburg.de/> and indicate "Rotter" as preferred project. Applications are accepted until the position is filled. Further details on: www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de/jobs <http://www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de/jobs> -- Dr. Birgit Ahrens -- Coordinator for the Teaching & Training Programs Bernstein Center Freiburg Albert-Ludwig University of Freiburg Hansastr. 9a D - 79104 Freiburg Germany Phone: +49 (0) 761 203-9575 Fax: +49 (0) 761 203-9559 Email: <mailto:birgit.ahrens@bcf.uni-freiburg.de> birgit.ahrens(a)bcf.uni-freiburg.de Web: <http://www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de/> www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de

March 7, 2014

[meetings] Living Machines III: Final Call for Papers, Satellite Events and Sponsors

by Nathan F Lepora

______________________________________________________________ Final Call for Papers, Satellite Events and Sponsors Living Machines III: The 3rd International Conference on Biomimetic and Biohybrid Systems 30th July to 1st August 2014 http://csnetwork.eu/livingmachines/conf2014 To be hosted at the Museo Nazionale Della Scienza E Della Tecnologia Leonardo Da Vinci (National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci) Milan, Italy In association with the Istituto Italiano di Technologia (IIT) Accepted papers will be published in Springer Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence Submission deadline March 14th, 2014. Papers should be submitted through the Springer web-portal http://senldogo0039.springer-sbm.com/ocs/conference/submitpaperto/LM2014 ______________________________________________________________ ABOUT LIVING MACHINES 2014 The development of future real-world technologies will depend strongly on our understanding and harnessing of the principles underlying living systems and the flow of communication signals between living and artificial systems. Biomimetics is the development of novel technologies through the distillation of principles from the study of biological systems. The investigation of biomimetic systems can serve two complementary goals. First, a suitably designed and configured biomimetic artefact can be used to test theories about the natural system of interest. Second, biomimetic technologies can provide useful, elegant and efficient solutions to unsolved challenges in science and engineering. Biohybrid systems are formed by combining at least one biological component--an existing living system--and at least one artificial, newly-engineered component. By passing information in one or both directions, such a system forms a new hybrid bio-artificial entity. The following are some examples: * Biomimetic robots and their component technologies (sensors, actuators, processors) that can intelligently interact with their environments. * Active biomimetic materials and structures that self-organize and self-repair. * Biomimetic computers--neuromimetic emulations of the physiological basis for intelligent behaviour. * Biohybrid brain-machine interfaces and neural implants. * Artificial organs and body-parts including sensory organ-chip hybrids and intelligent prostheses. * Organism-level biohybrids such as robot-animal or robot-human systems. ACTIVITIES The main conference will take the form of a three-day single-track oral and poster presentation programme, 30th July to 1st August 2014, hosted at the Museo Nazionale Della Scienza E Della Tecnologia Leonardo Da Vinci in Milan (http://www.museoscienza.org) The conference programme will include five plenary lectures from leading international researchers in biomimetic and biohybrid systems, and the demonstrations of state-of-the-art living machine technologies. Agreed speakers are: Sarah Begreiter, University of Maryland (Microfabrication and robotics) Darwin Caldwell, Italian Institute of Technology (Legged locomotion) Andrew Schwartz, University of Minnesota, Pittsburgh (Neural control of prosthetics) Ricard Sole, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona (Self-organization and synthetic biology) Srini Srinivasan, Queensland Brain Institute (Insect-inspired cognition and vision) There will also be a special session on biomimetics in design, including a talk by Franco Lodato, author of the book 'Bionics in Action.' The full conference will be preceded by up to two days of Satelite Events hosted by the Istituto Italiano di Technologia in Milan. SUBMITTING TO LIVING MACHINES 2014 We invite both full papers and extended abstracts in areas related to the conference themes. All contributions will be refereed and accepted papers will appear in the Living Machines 2014 proceedings published in the Springer-Verlag LNAI Series. Submissions should be made before the advertised deadline via the Springer submission site: http://senldogo0039.springer-sbm.com/ocs/en/home/LM2014 Full papers (up to 12 pages) are invited from researchers at any stage in their career but should present significant findings and advances in biomimetic or biohybid research; more preliminary work would be better suited to extended abstract submission (3 pages). Submitted papers should be prepared using the Springer proceedings format and instructions http://www.springer.com/computer/lncs?SGWID=0-164-6-793341-0 Full papers will be accepted for either oral presentation (single track) or poster presentation. Extended abstracts will be accepted for poster presentation only. Authors of the best full papers will be invited to submitted extended versions of their paper for publication in a special issue of Bioinspiration and Biomimetics. Satellite events Active researchers in biomimetic and biohybrid systems are invited to propose topics for 1-day or 2-day tutorials, symposia or workshops on related themes to be held 28-29th July at Italian Institute of Technology in Milan. Events can be scheduled on either the 28th or 29th or across both days. Attendance at satellite events will attract a small fee intended to cover the costs of the meeting. There is a lot of flexibility about the content, organisation, and budgeting for these events. Please contact us if you are interested in organising a satellite event! EXPECTED DEADLINES March 14th, 2014 Paper submission deadline April 29th, 2014 Notification of acceptance May 20th, 2014 Camera ready copy July 29-August 2nd 2014 Conference SPONSORSHIP Living Machines 2014 is sponsored by the Convergent Science Network (CSN) for Biomimetics and Neurotechnology. CSN is an EU FP7 Future Emerging Technologies Co-ordination Activity that also organises many highly successful workshop series: the Barcelona Summer School on Brain, Technology and Cognition, the Capo Caccia Neuromorphic Cognitive Engineering Workshop, the School on Neuro-techniques, the Okinawa School of Computational Neuroscience and the Telluride workshop of Cognitive Neuromorphic Engineering (see http://csnetwork.eu/activities for details) The 2014 Living Machines conference will also be hosted and sponsored by the Istituto Italiano di Technologia (http://www.iit.it) Call for Sponsors. Other organisations wishing to sponsor the conference in any way and gain the corresponding benefits by promoting themselves and their products to through conference publications, the conference web-site, and conference publicity are encouraged to contact the conference organisers to discuss the terms of sponsorship and necessary arrangements. We offer a number of attractive and good-value packages to potential sponsors. ABOUT THE VENUE Living Machines 2014 continues our practice of hosting our annual meeting in an inspirational venue related to the conference themes. The scientific and technological genius Leonardo da Vinci drew much of his inspiration from biology and invented many biomimetic artefacts. We are therefore delighted that this year's conference will be hosted at the Da Vinci museum of Science and Technology in Milan, one of the largest technology museums in Europe and host to a collection of working machines that realise many of Da Vinci's ideas. We look forward to seeing you in Milan. Organising Committee: Tony Prescott, University of Sheffield (Co-chair) Paul Verschure, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Co-chair) Armin Duff, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Program Chair) Giorgio Metta, Instituto Italiano di Technologia (Local Organizer) Barbara Mazzolai, Instituto Italiano di Technologia (Local Organiser) Anna Mura, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Communications) Nathan Lepora, University of Bristol (Communications) Program Committee: Anders Lyhne Christensen Andy Adamatzky Andy Phillipides Arianna Menciassi Auke Ijspeert Barry Trimmer Ben Mitchinson Benoit Girard Cecilia Laschi Charles Fox Chrisantha Fernando Christophe Grand Danilo de Rossi Darwin Caldwell Dieter Braun Emre Neftci Enrico Pagello Eris Chinaletto Ferdinando Rodrigues y Baena Frank Grasso Fred Claeyssens Frederic Boyer Frederico Carpi Giacomo Indiveri Gregory Chirikjian Hillel Chiel Holger Krapp Holk Cruse Husosheng Hu Jess Krichmar Jira Okada John Hallam Jon Timmis Jonathan Rossiter Jose Halloy Joseph Ayers Julian Vincent Keisuke Morisima Lucia Beccai Marco Dorigo Mark Cutkosky Martin Pearson Mat Evans Mehdi Khamassi Michele Giogliano Nathan Lepora Noah Cowan Pablo Varona Paul Graham Paul Verschure Reiko Tanaka Robert Allen Roberto Cingolani Roderich Gross Roger Quinn Sean Anderson Serge Kernbach Simon Garnier Stephane Doncieux Stuart Wilson Thomas Schmickl Tim Pearce Tony Pipe Tony Prescott Volker Durr Wolfgang Eberle Yiannis Demiris Yoseph Bar-Cohen

March 7, 2014

2nd Call for Papers - HAI 2014

by Tibor Bosse

[Apologies for multiple copies] Second Call for Papers: * **EIGHTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON HUMAN ASPECTS IN AMBIENT INTELLIGENCE* (HAI'14) URL: http://www.few.vu.nl/~tbosse/HAI14/ Warsaw, Poland, August 11, 2014 Workshop at the International Conference on Active Media Technology (AMT'14) (Proceedings will be published by *Springer *in their *LNCS *series) /Background / Recent developments within Ambient Intelligence provide new possibilities to contribute to personal care. For example, our car may monitor us and warn us when we are falling asleep while driving or take measures when we are too drunk to drive. As another example, an elderly person may wear a device that monitors his or her wellbeing and offers support when a dangerous situation is noticed. Such applications can be realised partly because of advances in acquiring sensor information about humans and their functioning. However, their full realisation depends crucially on the availability of adequate knowledge for analysis of such information about human functioning. If such knowledge about human functioning is computationally available within devices in the environment, these systems can show more human-like understanding and contribute to personal care based on this understanding. In recent years, scientific areas focusing on human functioning such as cognitive science, psychology, social sciences, neuroscience and biomedical sciences have made substantial progress in providing an increased insight in the various physical and mental aspects of human functioning. Although much work still remains to be done, models have been developed for a variety of such aspects and the way in which humans (try to) manage or regulate them. Examples of biomedical aspects are (management of) heart functioning, diabetes, eating regulation disorders, and HIV-infection. Examples of psychological and social aspects are emotion regulation, emotion contagion, attention regulation, addiction management, trust management, and stress management. If models of human processes and their management are represented in a formal and computational format, and incorporated in the human environment in systems that monitor the physical and mental state of the human, then such ambient systems are able to perform a more in-depth analysis of the human's functioning. An ambience is created that has a human-like understanding of humans, based on computationally formalised knowledge from the human-directed disciplines, and that may be more effective in assisting humans by offering support in a knowledgeable manner that may improve their wellbeing and/or performance, without reducing them in their freedom. This may concern elderly people, medical patients, but also humans in highly demanding circumstances or tasks. For example, to help coordinate the evacuation of large crowds in case of an emergency, or to optimise the performance of teams in sports or in organisations. The HAI workshop seeks contributions from any area on the intersection of Ambient/Artificial Intelligence and human-directed disciplines such as psychology, social science, neuroscience and biomedical sciences. For more details, see the areas of interest. /Aims / This workshop on Human Aspects in Ambient Intelligence (HAI) is the eighth of a series that began in 2007. The HAI workshop series focuses on applied and theoretical research in the intersection of Ambient and Artificial Intelligence on the one hand and human-directed disciplines (such as psychology, social science, neuroscience and biomedical sciences) on the other hand. The aim is to bring people together from these disciplines, as well as researchers working on cross connections of Artificial and Ambient Intelligence with these disciplines. The emphasis is on the use of knowledge from these disciplines in 'ambient' applications, in order to support humans in their daily living in medical, psychological and social respects. The workshop series plays an important role, for example, to get modellers in the psychological, neurological, social or biomedical disciplines interested in Ambient Intelligence as a high-potential application area for their models, and, for example, get inspiration for problem areas to be addressed for further developments in their disciplines. From the other side, the workshop may make researchers in Ambient Intelligence, Agent Systems, and Artificial Intelligence more aware of the possibilities to incorporate more substantial knowledge from the psychological, neurological, social and biomedical disciplines in Ambient Intelligence applications. /Areas of interest / Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: * human-aware computing * computational modelling of cognitive, neurological, social and biomedical processes for Ambient Intelligence * modelling emotion and mood and their regulation modelling contagion of mental states (e.g., beliefs, intentions, or emotions) * social awareness modelling * collecting and analysing histories of behaviour computational modelling of mindreading, theory of mind building profiles; user modelling in Ambient Intelligence sensoring; e.g., tracking physiological states, gaze, body movements, gestures * sensor information integration methods * analysis of sensor information; e.g., voice and skin analysis with respect to emotional states, gesture analysis, heart rate analysis * environmental modelling * situational awareness * serious gaming and ambient intelligence * virtual reality and virtual humans * model-based reasoning and analysis techniques for Ambient Intelligence * responsive and adaptive systems; machine learning * cognitive agent models * reflective ambient agent architectures * multi-agent system architectures for Ambient Intelligence applications * human interaction with devices wearable devices for ambient health and wellness monitoring brain-computer interfacing * analysis and design of applications to care for humans in need of support for physical and mental health; e.g., elderly or psychiatric care, surveillance, penitentiary care, humans in need of strucural medical or psychological care, support for psychotherapeutical/self-help communities * analysis and design of applications to support humans in demanding circumstances and tasks, such as warfare officers, air traffic controllers, crisis and disaster managers, humans in space missions * evaluation studies * handling aspects of privacy and security * philosophical, ethical, and political aspects of Ambient Intelligence aspects /Submission and Proceedings / Submission should be formatted according to the Springer LNCS template, and should not exceed 10 pages. To submit a paper to the workshop, see: http://wic2014.mimuw.edu.pl/amt/submit-paper-amt-2014-workshop. Accepted workshop papers will be published in the AMT conference proceedings by Springer Verlag, in their LNCS Series. /Registration / For every accepted paper at least one author has to register for the AMT 2014 conference. There is no separate workshop registration fee (i.e., only one conference registration covers everything). /Important Dates / - Submission deadline: March 23, 2014 - Notification: May 11, 2014 - Camera ready papers: May 18, 2014 - Workshop: August 11, 2014 /Coordination Commitee / Juan Carlos Augusto (Middlesex University London, School of Engineering and Information Sciences, UK) Tibor Bosse (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Agent Systems Research Group, Netherlands) Cristiano Castelfranchi (CNR Rome, Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, Italy) Diane Cook (Washington State University, USA) Mark Neerincx (TNO Human Factors; Technical University Delft, Man-Machine Interaction, Netherlands) Fariba Sadri (Imperial College, Department of Computing, UK) /Programme Committee / Juan Carlos Augusto (Middlesex University London, School of Engineering and Information Sciences, UK) Marc Bohlen (State University of New York, USA) Tibor Bosse (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Agent Systems Research Group, Netherlands) Antonio Camurri (University of Genoa, InfoMus Lab, Italy) Cristiano Castelfranchi (CNR Rome, Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, Italy) Diane Cook (Washington State University, USA) Hao-Hua Chu (National Taiwan University, Ubicomp Lab, Taiwan) Rino Falcone (CNR Rome, Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, Italy) Aart van Halteren (Philips Research, Consumer Electronics, Netherlands) Dirk Heylen (University of Twente, Human Media Interaction, Netherlands) Peter Leijdekkers (University of Technology Sydney, Mobile Ubiquitous Services & Technologies Group, Australia) Paul Lukowicz (Austrian University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Austria) Peter-Paul van Maanen (TNO, Department of Perceptual and Cognitive Systems, Netherlands) Stuart Moran (University of Nottingham, School of Computer Science, UK) Neelam Naikar (Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Centre for Cognitive Work and Safety Analysis, Australia) Tatsuo Nakajima (Waseda University, Distributed and Ubiquitous Computing Lab, Japan) Mark Neerincx (TNO Human Factors; Technical University Delft, Man-Machine Interaction, Netherlands) Toyoaki Nishida (Kyoto University, Department of Intelligence Science and Technology, Japan) Pedro A. Nogueira (University of Porto, AI and Computer Science Lab, Portugal) Steffen Pauws (Philips Research Europe, Media Interaction Department, Netherlands) Christian Peter (Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria; Fraunhofer IGD, Rostock, Germany) Nitendra Rajput (IBM Research, Telecom Research Innovation Center, India) Peter Roelofsma (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Ambient Assisted Living Group, Netherlands) Tomasz M. Rutkowski (University of Tsukuba, Japan) Fariba Sadri (Imperial College, Department of Computing, UK) Maarten Sierhuis (NASA Ames Research Center, Human-Centered Computing, USA) Ross T. Smith (University of South Australia Mawson Lakes, Wearable Computer Lab, Australia) WenZhan Song (Georgia State University, Department of Computer Science) Ron Sun (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Cognitive Science Department, USA) Jan Treur (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Agent Systems Research Group, Netherlands)

March 7, 2014

Reminder: Brain Connectivity Workshop 2014 - Early registration closes 31 March

by Claus C. Hilgetag

This is a repeat announcement of the Brain Connectivity Workshop 2014 which will take place in Hamburg, Germany, from 4th to 6th June 2014 (welcome reception on the evening of 3rd June). See website (http://sfb936.net/index.php/events/brain-connectivity-workshop-2014) for details. The Brain Connectivity Workshop (http://www.brain-connectivity-workshop.org) is an annual meeting that is dedicated to discussing the latest approaches and findings in the field of brain connectivity studies within a small group of experts. Hence attendance is limited to 140 participants, and the workshop strongly aims to facilitate exchange and discussion of ideas by a number of unique features. Important dates at a glance: * Registration: Now open - early registration until March 31, 2014, http://www.sfb936.net/index.php/events/brain-connectivity-workshop-2014. Because of the limited number of participants, early registration is strongly advised; seats will be allocated on a first come, first served principle. Speakers do not have to register. * The HBM 2014 meeting will take place in Hamburg, from June 8th to 12th (http://www.humanbrainmapping.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3565) right after the Brain Connectivity Workshop. We look forward to seeing you, Prof. Claus C. Hilgetag, PhD  (University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Dept. of Computational Neuroscience) Prof. Dr. Klaas E. Stephan  (University of Zurich (UZH) & Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich) Prof. Dr. Andreas K. Engel  (University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Dept. of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology) Prof. Dr. Christian Gerloff  (University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Clinic and Policlinic of Neurology) Hilke Marina Petersen  (University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Dept. of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology) – Management The workshop is supported by DFG Sonderforschungsbereich 936 "Multi-Site Communication in the Brain" (SFB 936), www.sfb936.net. Apologies for cross-posting.

March 7, 2014

14th Neural Computation and Psychology Workshop (NCPW14) call for papers

by Gert Westermann

Dear colleague, We cordially invite you to participate in the 14th Neural Computation and Psychology Workshop (NCPW14) to be held at Lancaster University, UK, from August 21-23, 2014: http://www.psych.lancs.ac.uk/ncpw14 This well-established and lively workshop aims at bringing together researchers from different disciplines such as artificial intelligence, cognitive science, computer science, neurobiology, philosophy and psychology to discuss their work on models of cognitive processes. Often this workshop has had a theme, and this time it is ‘Development across the lifespan’, but also submissions that do not fall under this theme are welcome. Papers must be about emergent models - frequently, but not necessarily - of the connectionist/neural network kind, applied to cognition. The NCPW workshops have always been characterized by their limited size, high quality papers, the absence of parallel talk sessions, and a schedule that is explicitly designed to encourage interaction among the researchers present in an informal setting. NCPW14 is no exception. The scientific program will consist of keynote lectures, oral sessions and poster sessions. Furthermore, this workshop will feature a unique set of invited speakers: James McClelland, Stanford University. Bob McMurray, University of Iowa. Michael Thomas, Birkbeck College, London. Abstract submission Please submit one-page abstracts (pdf) by email to ncpw14conf(a)gmail.com, stating whether you want to present as a talk, poster, or talk/poster. Rumelhart Memorial Travel Awards The Rumelhart Memorial Travel awards, generously funded by Professor Jay McClelland, will provide funding to support travel costs for students/post docs presenting at the conference. Awards of US$250 are available to students or post docs from Western European countries, and US$750 for students or post docs from elsewhere. Decisions will be based on the quality of the submission. Eligibility criteria: The first author of the submission is a PhD student or Post-doctoral fellow who will attend the meeting and will present the submission if chosen to receive a travel award. Location Lancaster is situated in the north west of England, approximately one hour from Manchester and Liverpool airports. Lancaster is surrounded by spectacular scenery, hiking and climbing country. The Yorkshire Dales national park is 10 miles away. The Lake District national park is 20 miles away, http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk. The stagecoach 555 bus (http://www.stagecoachbus.com) takes you directly from Lancaster through the heart of the Lakes. The Trough of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is 2 miles away. Important dates to remember Abstract deadline: 15 May Notification of abstract acceptance: 7 June Early registration deadline: tbc Online registration deadline: tbc Conference dates: 21-23 August, 2014 Looking forward to your participation! Organizing Committee Gert Westermann, Lancaster University Padraic Monaghan, Lancaster University Katherine E. Twomey, Liverpool University Alastair C. Smith, MPI Nijmegen -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prof. Gert Westermann Department of Psychology Lancaster University Lancaster LA1 4YF Phone: +44 (0)1524 592 942 Fax: +44 (0)1524 593 744 g.westermann(a)lancaster.ac.uk http://www.psych.lancs.ac.uk/people/gert-westermann

March 6, 2014

Decision Making Bristol 2014: Call for Abstracts

by DMB 2014 Mailbox

The Decision-making Group at Bristol University invites you to attend our second conference 'Decision Making Bristol 2014<http://www.bris.ac.uk/decisions-research/conference2014/>' on 9-12 September 2014. Following the success of the 2012 conference, this conference aims to embrace a breadth of research, appealing to those interested in all aspects of decision making. We are pleased to announce that the following Key Note speakers have been secured Gerd Gigerenzer<http://www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/en/staff/gerd-gigerenzer> , Tom Griffiths <http://psychology.berkeley.edu/people/tom-griffiths>, Antonio Rangel <http://www.rnl.caltech.edu/index.html> and Jeffrey D. Schall<http://www.vanderbilt.edu/psychological_sciences/bio/jeffrey-schall>. These will be accompanied by invited talks from Nick Chater<http://www.wbs.ac.uk/about/person/nick-chater/> , Eric-Jan Wagenmakers <http://www.ejwagenmakers.com/> and Daniel Wolpert<http://learning.eng.cam.ac.uk/Public/Wolpert/Wolpert> . Held in the beautiful city of Bristol, at one of the UK's leading science and discovery centres, At-Bristol <http://www.at-bristol.org.uk/>, the conference will promote interdisciplinary collaborations and welcomes attendance from both theoreticians and experimentalists. For further information and how to register please see http://www.bris.ac.uk/decisions-research/conference2014/. Registration will close on 30 June 2014. The *call for short abstracts *(500 words) is now *open *and we invite you to submit your abstract to the following email address: DMB-2014(a)bristol.ac.uk. The closing date for receipt is *31 March 2014. * Please feel free to share this email with your colleagues and research students. We look forward to seeing you in September. Best wishes Sally-Ann Parry *on behalf of the Decision-making Group* e: DMB-2014(a)bristol.ac.uk w: http://www.bris.ac.uk/decisions-research/ w: http://www.bris.ac.uk/decisions-research/conference2014/ a: University of Bristol, 5 Priory Road, Bristol, BS8 1TZ

March 6, 2014

Google Summer of Code: Open Source models of cortical networks

by Padraig Gleeson

Google Summer of Code is an initiative to encourage students to contribute to open source software projects. Generous stipends are provided for successful applicants to work on these projects for a number of months over the summer. The INCF <http://incf.org/> has been a GSoC mentoring organisation for the past number of years, and has helped link up students with mentors to advance various projects in the wider neuroinformatics and computational neuroscience areas. The Open Source Brain initiative <http://www.opensourcebrain.org> is encouraging students to apply to be part of this. The successful candidate will take models of cells and networks from the cortex and convert them into open, standardised formats (e.g. NeuroML and PyNN) and place them in public repositories as a resource for the wider community. These can be published models available in simulator specific formats on ModelDB, or classic models from the literature which would benefit from curating/updating/documenting. Making models available in these formats will allow them to be used & tested across multiple simulators, make the physiological properties of the models more accessible and facilitate reuse of model components. *This opportunity is particularly relevant for Masters & PhD students currently working in model development in computational neuroscience. Many students **are already converting/updating existing models as part of their work and this is a great opportunity to get paid extra to do this! *** Closing date for student applications: *21st March 2014* Period of working on projects: *19 May - 18 August* Full information on this can be found here: http://incf.org/gsoc/2014/proposals/#open-source--cross-simulator--large-sc… ----------------------------------------------------- Padraig Gleeson Room 321, Anatomy Building Department of Neuroscience, Physiology& Pharmacology University College London Gower Street London WC1E 6BT United Kingdom +44 207 679 3214 p.gleeson(a)ucl.ac.uk -----------------------------------------------------

March 6, 2014

Deadline Approaching: Telluride Neuromorphic Cognition Engineering Workshop

by Ralph Etienne-Cummings

Telluride Neuromorphic Cognition Engineering Workshop 2014 Neuromorphic Cognition Engineering Workshop: The 20th Anniversary Edition Telluride, Colorado, June 29th - July 19th, 2014CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Deadline is April 2nd, 2014 NEUROMORPHIC COGNITION ENGINEERING WORKSHOP www.ine-web.org Sunday June 29th - Saturday July 19th, 2014, Telluride, Colorado We invite applications for a three-week summer workshop that will be held in Telluride, Colorado. Sunday June 29th - Saturday July 19th, 2014. The application deadline is Wednesday, April 2nd and application instructions are described at the bottom of this document. This is the 20th Anniversary of the Workshop, and ~25 years since the conception of the "Meadian" version of Neuromorphic Engineering. Hence, we plan a celebratory Workshop, where some of the originators and benefactors of the field will participate in discussions of the successes and challenges over the past 25 years and prognosticate the potential contributions for the next 25 years. The 2014 Workshop and Summer School on Neuromorphic Engineering is sponsored by the National Science Foundation, Institute of Neuromorphic Engineering, Qualcomm Corporation, The EU-Collaborative Convergent Science Network (CNS-II), University of Maryland - College Park, Institute for Neuroinformatics - University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Georgia Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University, Boston University, University of Western Sydney and the Salk Institute. Directors: - Cornelia Fermuller, University of Maryland, College Park - Ralph Etienne-Cummings, Johns Hopkins University - Shih-Chii Liu, Institute of Neuroinformatics, UNI/ETH Zurich, Switzerland - Timothy Horiuchi, University of Maryland, College Park Workshop Advisory Board: - Andreas Andreou, Johns Hopkins University - Andre van Schaik, University Western Sydney, Australia - Avis Cohen, University of Maryland - Barbara Shinn-Cunningham, Boston University - Giacomo Indiveri, Institute of Neuroinformatics, Uni/Eth Zurich, Switzerland - Jonathan Tapson, University Western Sydney, Australia - Malcolm Slaney, Microsoft Research - Jennifer Hasler, Georgia Institute of Technology - Rodney Douglas, Institute of Neuroinformatics, Uni/Eth Zurich, Switzerland - Shihab Shamma, University of Maryland - Tobi Delbruck, Institute of Neuroinformatics, Uni/Eth Zurich, Switzerland Previous year workshop can be found at: http://ine-web.org/workshops/workshops-overview/index.html and the workshop wiki is athttps://neuromorphs.net/ GOALS: Neuromorphic engineers design and fabricate artificial neural systems whose organizing principles are based on those of biological nervous systems. Over the past 18 years, this research community has focused on the understanding of low-level sensory processing and systems infrastructure; efforts are now expanding to apply this knowledge and infrastructure to addressing higher-level problems in perception, cognition, and learning. In this 3-week intensive workshop and through the Institute for Neuromorphic Engineering (INE), the mission is to promote interaction between senior and junior researchers; to educate new members of the community; to introduce new enabling fields and applications to the community; to promote on-going collaborative activities emerging from the Workshop, and to promote a self-sustaining research field. FORMAT: The three week summer workshop will include background lectures on systems and cognitive neuroscience (in particular sensory processing, learning and memory, motor systems and attention), practical tutorials on emerging hardware design, mobile robots, hands-on projects, and special interest groups. Participants are required to take part and possibly complete at least one of the projects proposed. They are furthermore encouraged to become involved in as many of the other activities proposed as interest and time allow. There will be two lectures in the morning that cover issues that are important to the community in general. Because of the diverse range of backgrounds among the participants, some of these lectures will be tutorials, rather than detailed reports of current research. These lectures will be given by invited speakers. Projects and interest groups meet in the late afternoons, and after dinner. In the early afternoon there will be tutorials on a wide spectrum of topics, including analog VLSI, mobile robotics, vision and auditory systems, central-pattern-generators, selective attention mechanisms, cognitive systems, etc. *2014 TOPIC AREAS:* 1. *Human Auditory Cognition: Acoustic Priming, Imagination and Attention.* Project Leaders: Shihab Shamma (UM-College Park), Malcolm Slaney (Microsoft), Edward Lalor (Trinity College, Dublin), Barbara Shinn-Cunningham (Boston U) 2. *Motion and Action Processing on Wearable Devices* Project Leaders: Michael Pfeiffer (INI-UZH), Ryad Benosman (UPMC, Paris), Garrick Orchard (NUS, Singapore), and Cornelia Fermüller (UMCP) 3. *Planning with Dynamic Neural Fields: from Sensorimotor Dynamics to Large-Scale behavioral Search* Project Leaders: Yulia Sandamirskaya (RUB, Bochum) and Erik Billing (U. Skovde) 4. *Neuromorphic Olympics* Project Leaders: Jorg Conradt (TUM, Munich) and Terry Stewart (U. Waterloo) 5. *Embodied Neuromorphic Real-World Architectures of Perception, Cognition and Action* Project Leaders: Andreas Andreou (JHU) and Paul Verschure (UPF, Barcelona) 6. *Terry Sejnowski (Salk Institute) - Computational Neuroscience (invitational mini-workshop)* LOCATION AND ARRANGEMENTS: The summer school will take place in the small town of Telluride, 9000 feet high in southwest Colorado, about 6 hours drive away from Denver (350 miles). Great Lakes Aviation and America West Express airlines provide daily flights directly into Telluride. All facilities within the beautifully renovated public school building are fully accessible to participants with disabilities. Participants will be housed in ski condominiums, within walking distance of the school. Participants are expected to share condominiums. The workshop is intended to be very informal and hands-on. Participants are not required to have had previous experience in analog VLSI circuit design, computational or machine vision, systems level neurophysiology or modeling the brain at the systems level. However, we strongly encourage active researchers with relevant backgrounds from academia, industry and national laboratories to apply, in particular if they are prepared to work on specific projects, talk about their own work or bring demonstrations to Telluride (e.g. robots, chips, software). Wireless internet access will be provided. Technical staff present throughout the workshops will assist with software and hardware issues. We will have a network of PCs running LINUX and Microsoft Windows for the workshop projects. We encourage participants to bring along their personal laptop. No cars are required. Given the small size of the town, we recommend that you do not rent a car. Bring hiking boots, warm clothes, rain gear, and a backpack, since Telluride is surrounded by beautiful mountains. Unless otherwise arranged with one of the organizers, we expect participants to stay for the entire duration of this three week workshop. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS: Notification of acceptances will be mailed out around the April 15th, 2014. The Workshop covers all your accommodations and facilities costs for the 3 weeks duration. You are responsible for your own travel to the Workshop, however, sponsored fellowships will be available as described below to further subsidize your cost. Registration Fees: For expenses not covered by federal funds, a Workshop registration fee is required. The fee is $1250 per participant for the 3-week Workshop. This is expected from all participants at the time of acceptance. Accommodations: The cost of a shared condominium, typically a bedroom in a shared condo for senior participants or a shared room for students, will be covered for all academic participants. Upgrades to a private rooms or condos will cost extra. Participants from National Laboratories and Industry are expected to pay for these condominiums. Fellowships: This year we will offer two Fellowships to subsidize your costs: 1. Qualcomm Corporation Fellowship: Three non-corporate participants will have their accommodation and registration fees ($2750) directly covered by Qualcomm, and will be reimbursed for travel costs up to $500. Additional generous funding from Qualcomm will provide $5000 to help organize and stage the Workshop. 2. EU-CSNII Fellowship (http://csnetwork.eu/) which is funded by the 7th Research Framework Program FP7-ICT-CSNII-601167: The top 8 EU applicants will be reimbursed for their registration fees ($1250), subsistence/travel subsidy (up to Euro 2000) and accommodations cost ($1500). The registration and accommodation costs will go directly to the INE (the INE will reimburse the participant's registration fees after receipt from CSNII), while the subsistence/travel reimbursement will be provided directly to the participants by the CSNII at the University of Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain. HOW TO APPLY: Applicants should be at the level of graduate students or above (i.e. postdoctoral fellows, faculty, research and engineering staff and the equivalent positions in industry and national laboratories). We actively encourage women and minority candidates to apply. Anyone interested in proposing or discussing specific projects should contact the appropriate topic leaders directly. The application website is (after February 7th, 2014): ine-web.org/telluride-conference-2014/apply-info Application information needed: - Contact email address. - First name, Last name, Affiliation, valid e-mail address. - Curriculum Vitae (a short version, please). - One page summary of background and interests relevant to the workshop, including possible ideas for workshop projects. Please indicate which topic areas you would most likely join. - Two letters of recommendation (uploaded directly by references). *Applicants will be notified by e-mail.* 7th February, 2014 - Applications accepted on website 2nd April, 2014 - Applications Due 15th April, 2014 - Notification of Acceptance ------------------------- -- Ralph Etienne-Cummings, PhD, FIEEE Professor Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Computational Sensor Motor Systems Lab

March 6, 2014

Computational Neuroscience: Vision summer course

by Horwitz Lab

*Summer course* COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE: VISION July 11 - July 24, 2014 COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY *Application Deadline: March 31, 2013* Arranged by Geoff Boynton, Greg Horwitz, Jonathan Pillow and Stefan Treue, this course is offered every two years and gives 24 graduate students and postdocs switching into this field of research the chance for intensive interchange with a diverse faculty in an intellectually stimulating environment. The goal of the course is to introduce students (usually in the middle of their thesis project) to the processing of visual information as a model for general issues in systems neuroscience. The emphasis is on approaches with strong theoretical bases. In addition to talks by an international faculty, the course offers ample opportunity to interact with the speakers and to apply the knowledge gained in the course through hands-on projects. Please see http://meetings.cshl.edu/courses/2014/c-visi14.shtml for more information about the course, the faculty, and the application procedure. Please see http://www.cns.nyu.edu/csh/csh12/alumni.html for a list of previous course participants.

March 6, 2014

Postdoc- Computational Neuroscience - University of Arizona

by Fellous

Computational Neuroscience Postdoctoral Fellow position at the University of Arizona: Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Position to utilize computational tools to study the neural mechanisms and processing that give rise to *a) memory acquisition and consolidation, ** **b) spatial navigation (grid & place cells), and ** **c) neural coding.* Prospective candidates should have a) a strong background in research (e.g., publications), b) a strong quantitative background with computational skills and experience including statistics or information theory, and c) an aptitude and motivation for innovative research. Positions are expected to start Fall 2014. Highly competitive salary and benefits are available and will be commensurate with experience. The candidate will work together with Jean-Marc Fellous and O. Ozan Koyluoglu, and will be affiliated with both the Department of Psychology and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. To apply, please email a CV including a list of publications, a letter of motivation, and the names of three referees to: fellous(a)email.arizona.edu and ozan(a)email.arizona.edu. *The university*: The University of Arizona (UA) is one of the largest universities in the US with its 40,000 students. UA, having excellent Science, Engineering, and Medical programs, is one of the top ranked research universities in the US. University-wide, a total of 26 academic programs rank in the top 20 of their U.S. peers in public and private universities according to U.S. News & World Report. Research expenditures of UA is more than $625 million, and UA is ranked #19 among all public universities in US by the National Science Foundation. *The city*: UA is located in Tucson, Arizona - the real southwest and the Grand Canyon state! Tucson has mild winters and lots of sunshine. From hiking and biking to bird watching, no matter what you love to do in the great outdoors, Tucson is the place to do it. The city has been rated as one of the most affordable and cleanest cities in the US.

March 5, 2014

Frontiers Research Topic: Memory Processes in Medial Temporal Lobe: Experimental, Theoretical and Computational Approaches

by Vassilis Cutsuridis

Dear colleagues, we would like to inform you that our Research Topic organized with Frontiers in Neuroscience (Host Specialty: Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience) is still open and it will be accepting abstracts till April 1st, 2014. Our Research Topic is entitled: "Memory Processes in Medial Temporal Lobe: Experimental, Theoretical and Computational Approaches" Topic Editors: Motoharu Yoshida (University of Bochum) and Vassilis Cutsuridis (Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH)) Important deadlines ---------------------------- Abstract Submission Deadline: April 1st 2014 Article Submission Deadline: August 1st, 2014 Research Topic Description ---------------------------------------- The medial temporal lobe (MTL) includes the hippocampus, amygdala and parahippocampal regions, and is crucial for episodic and spatial memory. MTL memory function consists of distinct processes such as encoding, consolidation and retrieval. Encoding is the process by which perceived information is transformed into a memory trace. After encoding, memory traces are stabilized by consolidation. Memory retrieval (recall) refers to the process by which memory traces are reactivated to access information previously encoded and stored in the brain. Although underlying neural mechanisms supporting these distinct functional stages remain largely unknown, recent studies have indicated that distinct oscillatory dynamics, specific neuron types, synaptic plasticity and neuromodulation, play a central role. The theta rhythm is believed to be crucial in the encoding and retrieval of memories. Experimental and computational studies indicate that precise timing of principal cell firing in the hippocampus, relative to the theta rhythm, underlies encoding and retrieval processes. On the other hand, sharp-wave ripples have been implicated in the consolidation through the "replay" of memories in compressed time scales. The neural circuits and cell types supporting memory processes in the MTL areas have only recently been delineated using experimental approaches such as optogenetics, juxtacellular recordings and optical imaging. Principal (excitatory) cells are crucial for encoding, storing and retrieving memories at the cellular level, whereas inhibitory interneurons provide the temporal structures for orchestrating the activities of neuronal populations of principal cells by regulating synaptic integration and timing of action potential generation of principal cells as well as the generation and maintenance of network oscillations (rhythms). In addition, neuromodulators such as acetylcholine alter dynamical properties of neurons and synapses, and modulate oscillatory state and rules of synaptic plasticity and their levels might tune MTL to specific memory processes. The goal of the research topic is to offer a snapshot of the current stateof-the-art on how memories are encoded, consolidated, stored and retrieved in MTL structures. Particularly welcome will be studies (experimental or computational) focusing on the structure and function of neural circuits, their cellular components (principal cell and inhibitory interneurons), synaptic plasticity rules involved in these memory processes, network oscillations such as theta and sharp-wave ripples, and role of neuromodulators. Possible questions are: (1) Which areas or pathways within the MTL support encoding/consolidation/retrieval? (2) What neural activity defines specific memory processes? (3) What are the roles of neuromodulators in defining/switching these memory processes? (4) Could the role of synaptic plasticity be different in different memory processes? (5) What functional roles do the various inhibitory interneurons support during the encoding/consolidation/retrieval processes? About Frontiers Research Topics ------------------------------------------------ Frontiers Research Topics are designed to be an organized, encyclopedic coverage of a particular research area, and a forum for discussion and debate. Contributions can be of different article types (Original Research, Methods, Hypothesis & Theory, and others). Our Research Topic has a dedicated homepage on the Frontiers website, where contributing articles are accumulated and discussions can be easily held. Once all articles are published, the topic will be compiled into an e-book, which can be sent to foundations that fund your research, to journalists and press agencies, and to any number of other organizations. As the ultimate reference source from leading scientists, Frontiers Research Topic articles become highly cited. Frontiers is a Swiss-based, open access publisher. As such an article accepted for publication incurs a publishing fee, which varies depending on the article type. The publishing fee for accepted articles is below average compared to most other open access journals - and lower than subscription-based journals that apply page and color figure charges. Moreover, for Research Topic articles, the publishing fee is discounted quite steeply thanks to the support of the Frontiers Research Foundation. Details on Frontiers' fees can be found at http://www.frontiersin.org/about/PublishingFees. When published, your article will be freely available to visitors to the Frontiers site, and will be indexed in PubMed and other academic archives. As an author in Frontiers, you will retain the copyright to your own paper and all figures. The details regarding this Research Topic for Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience can be found at the following URL: http://www.frontiersin.org/systems_neuroscience/researchtopics/memory_proce… Should you choose to participate, please confirm by sending a quick email and then your abstract using the following link: http://www.frontiersin.org/submissioninfo Thanks in advance for your interest! Vassilis Cutsuridis and Motoharu Yoshida --- Vassilis Cutsuridis, PhD IMBB - FORTH Heraklion, Crete Greece

March 5, 2014

PhD opportunities at the Queensland Brain Institute

by Geoffrey Goodhill

The Queensland Brain Institute (QBI - http://www.qbi.uq.edu.au<http://www.qbi.uq.edu.au/>) is seeking exceptional and highly motivated PhD students to undertake neuroscience research at its state-of-the-art facility located on The University of Queensland’s (UQ) St Lucia campus, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Established in 2003, the QBI's multidisciplinary environment is home to more than 300 staff and approximately 100 PhD students. Key areas of interest include computation and neuronal circuits, cognition and behaviour, neurogenesis and neuronal survival, genetics and epigenetics, neuronal development and connectivity, sensory systems, and synaptic function. QBI researchers have published almost 500 papers in the past two years, including 2 in Science, 4 in Nature, 2 in Neuron, 3 in Nature Neuroscience, 8 in Nature Genetics, 8 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, and 18 in Journal of Neuroscience. Scholarships and Remuneration QBI offers full-time PhD scholarships for outstanding Australian and International students (living allowance AUD$25,392 per annum, indexed annually, tax exempt) for 3 years with a possible 6 month extension. In addition, QBI supports high quality domestic and international applicants in their nomination to The University of Queensland’s competitive scholarship rounds (three rounds per year). A QBI top-up scholarship of $5,000 per annum may also be available to successful candidates. The Candidate Both Australian and International applicants are welcome to apply. Candidates should have a First Class Honours degree (or equivalent) in neuroscience, molecular biology, bioscience, psychology, genetics, the physical sciences, engineering, mathematics, computer science, or a related discipline. Strong academic performance, the commitment to conduct high quality neuroscience research, and published output are highly desirable. For further information on the Basis of Admission to a UQ research higher degree, please visit http://www.uq.edu.au/grad-school/our-research-degrees. Successful applicants must accept and commence within 6 months of receiving an award. Enquiries and Applications Please review the research interests of QBI Group Leaders at http://www.qbi.uq.edu.au/group-leaders and make direct contact with a Group Leader working in an area of greatest interest to you, providing your detailed academic resume and complete academic records (including GPA scores/grades, and grading scale details). The Group Leader will work with you to develop your application for submission to QBI. APPLICATIONS CLOSE ON 30 APRIL, 2014 Professor Geoffrey J Goodhill Queensland Brain Institute and School of Mathematics & Physics University of Queensland St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia Phone: +61 7 3346 6431 Fax: +61 7 3346 6301 Email: g.goodhill(a)uq.edu.au<mailto:g.goodhill@uq.edu.au> http://www.qbi.uq.edu.au/professor-geoffrey-goodhill

March 5, 2014

Computational & Cognitive Neuroscience Summer School, in Shanghai

by John Murray

We're pleased to announce the 5th Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience Summer School which will take place in Shanghai, China from the 5th to the 23rd of July. Applications are being accepted now on the Cold Spring Harbor Asia website, www.csh-asia.org/summerschool_applinstruct.htm and course information is on the CCN official website www.ccnss.org. The application deadline is March 15. *** Please note that the expenses of the summer school including tuition fee, housing and meals will be fully waived. *** Designed to emphasize higher cognitive functions and their underlying neural circuit mechanisms, the course aims at training talented and highly motivated students and postdoctoral fellows from Asia and other countries in the world. Applicants with quantitative (including Physics, Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Science) or experimental background are welcomed. The lectures will introduce the basic concepts and methods, as well as cutting-edge research on higher brain functions such as decision-making, attention, learning and memory. Modeling will be taught at multiple levels, ranging from single neuron computation, microcircuits and large-scale systems, to normative theoretical approach. Python and Matlab-based programming labs coordinated with the lectures will provide practical training in important computational methods. The summer school is co-organized by Xiao-Jing Wang (NYU & NYU Shanghai), Si Wu (Beijing Normal University), Zach Mainen (Champalimaud Neuroscience Program) and Upi Bhalla (NCBS) and sponsored by Beijing Normal University, East China Normal University, NYU Shanghai, Hugo Shong and the McGovern Institute, and Cold Spring Harbor Asia. Organizers: - Xiao-Jing Wang (NYU) - Zach Mainen (Champalimaud Neurosc. Program) - Upi Bhalla (Nat. Centre for Biological Sciences) - Si Wu (Beijing Normal Univ.) Lecturers: - Bill Newsome (Stanford Univ.) - Bob Desimone (Massachusetts Inst. of Tech.) - Gustavo Deco (Univ. Pompeu Fabra) - Gonzalo G. de Polavieja (Cajal Inst.) - Kenji Doya (Okinawa Inst. Science Technology) - Mariano Sigman (Univ. Buenos Aires) - Michael Breakspear (Queensland Inst. Medical Research) - Michael Hausser (Univ. College London) - Misha Tsodyks (Weizmann Inst.) - Philip Sabes (Univ. California San Francisco) - Sophie Deneve (Ecole Normale Superieure) Feel free to direct any questions to: john.murray(a)nyu.edu

March 4, 2014

Postdoctoral position: neural circuitry of reward and motivated behavior at Cornell

by Melissa R. Warden

We are seeking exceptional postdoctoral fellows to join a creative and multidisciplinary team of researchers, led by Dr. Melissa Warden, in the department of Neurobiology and Behavior at Cornell University. The broad goal of our research program is to understand the neural circuitry underlying reward and motivation in the mammalian brain, and to determine how signals reflecting these quantities are constructed and used to control affective state and behavior. We study these systems with an observational and causal approach, combining monitoring and decoding of neural activity with control of defined circuit elements, and utilize an array of techniques including optogenetics, imaging, high-density freely moving neurophysiology, patch clamp electrophysiology, rodent behavior, and computation. For more information see wardenlab.org. Ideal candidates will have a strong quantitative background, experience in imaging or electrophysiology, and proficiency in MATLAB/Python/R. Previous experience with neurobiology is helpful but not necessary. The main selection criteria will be outstanding research accomplishments, creativity, and promise of future achievement. Cornell has a vibrant neuroscience community spanning a wide range of departments and institutes, including Neurobiology and Behavior, Applied and Engineering Physics, Biomedical Engineering, the Kavli Institute for Nanoscale Science, Psychology, Mathematics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, and Molecular Medicine, an environment which provides a unique opportunity to bring the latest technological innovations to bear on fundamental problems in neuroscience. Cornell's scenic campus is located in Ithaca, New York, an intellectually and culturally rich city in the heart of the Finger Lakes. Interested candidates should send a research statement, a curriculum vitae with publications, and the contact information for three references to Dr. Melissa Warden (mrwarden(a)cornell.edu) Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Informal inquiries are welcome. -- Melissa R. Warden, Ph.D. Assistant Professor and Miriam M. Salpeter Fellow Robertson Neuroscience Investigator, New York Stem Cell Foundation Department of Neurobiology and Behavior Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 http://www.wardenlab.org

March 4, 2014