- Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

job: machine learning research scientist at NIMH
by Francisco Pereira 02 Nov '21

02 Nov '21

## HIRING: machine learning research scientist The Machine Learning Team at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in Bethesda, MD, has an open position for a machine learning research scientist. The NIMH is the leading federal agency for research on mental disorders and neuroscience, and part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). ## About the NIMH Machine Learning Team Our mission is to help NIMH scientists use machine learning methods to address research problems in clinical and cognitive psychology and neuroscience. These range from identifying biomarkers for aiding diagnoses to creating and testing models of mental processes in healthy subjects. Our overarching goal is to use machine learning to improve every aspect of the scientific effort, from helping discover or develop theories to generating actionable results. We work with many different data types, including very large brain imaging datasets from various imaging modalities, behavioral data, and picture and text corpora. We have excellent computational resources, both of our own (tens of high-end GPUs for deep learning, several large servers) and shared within the NIH (a cluster with hundreds of thousands of CPUs, and hundreds of GPUs). As a machine learning research group, we develop new methods and publish in the main machine learning conferences (e.g. NeurIPS and ICLR), as well as in psychology and neuroscience journals. Many of our problems require devising research approaches that combine imaging and non-imaging data, and leveraging structured knowledge resources (databases, scientific literature, etc) to generate explanations and hypotheses. You can find more about our work and recent publications at https://cmn.nimh.nih.gov/mlt ## About the position We are seeking candidates who are capable of combining machine learning, statistical, and domain-specific computational tools to solve practical data analysis challenges (e.g. designing experiments, generating and testing statistical hypotheses, training and interpreting predictive models, and developing novel models and methods). Additionally, candidates should be capable of visualizing and communicating findings to a broad scientific audience, as well as explaining the details of relevant methods to researchers in a variety of domains. Desirable experience that is not required, but will be considered very favorably: - deep learning - reinforcement learning - Bayesian statistical modelling - other types of modelling of human/animal learning and decision-making - neuroimaging data processing/ analysis (any MRI modality, MEG, or EEG) - other types of neural data (e.g. neural recording, calcium imaging) in the context of substantial research projects, ideally having led to submitted or published articles. Finally, you should have demonstrable experience programming in languages currently used in data-intensive, scientific computing, such as Python, MATLAB or R. Experience with handling large datasets in high performance computing settings is also very valuable. Although this position requires a Ph.D. in a STEM discipline, we will consider applicants from a variety of backgrounds, as their research experience is the most important factor. Backgrounds of team members include computer science, statistics, mathematics, and biomedical engineering. This is an ideal position for someone who wants to establish a research career in method development and applications driven by scientific and clinical needs. Given our access to a variety of collaborators and large or unique datasets, there is ample opportunity to match research interests with novel research problems. We also maintain collaborations outside of the NIH, driven by our own research interests or community impact. If you would like to be considered for this position, please send francisco.pereira(a)nih.gov a CV, with your email serving as cover letter. We especially encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups in the machine learning research community. If you already have a research statement, please feel free to send that as well. There is no need for reference letters at this stage. Other inquiries are also welcome. Thank you for your attention and interest!

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postdoc position on brain-machine interfaces at NYU & UO
by Luca Mazzucato 01 Nov '21

01 Nov '21

The Kiani (NYU) and Mazzucato (UO) labs are looking for a computational neuroscience postdoc to lead a project on closed-loop behavioral control in primates using a brain-machine interface. The candidate will develop a new theoretical framework to infer causal interactions from sparse sampling of large neural ensembles and deploy this method in the prefrontal cortex of behaving primates. The goal of this project is to innovate a technique for targeted manipulation of the prefrontal circuit and alter the monkey’s cognitive behavior in real-time, a key step toward advanced brain-machine interfaces and novel enhancing or therapeutic interventions in the human brain. The theory position will be co-supervised between the labs of Roozbeh Kiani at New York University and Luca Mazzucato at University of Oregon. The postdoc will be part of the vibrant neuroscience and machine learning communities at the Center for Neural Sciences (NYU) and at the Institute of Neuroscience (UO). The postdoc will be a member of the NSF-funded Accelnet consortium "International network for brain-inspired computation," fostering international collaborations between a large network of computational neuroscience/AI labs. Successful candidates will have a PhD in Physics, Neuroscience, Mathematics, Computer Science, Engineering, Statistics or a related discipline and, preferably, working experience in theoretical neuroscience and deep learning. Our labs strongly advocate for inclusivity in science and we encourage applications from underrepresented groups. For informal inquiries about the position please contact Roozbeh Kiani or Luca Mazzucato. Application reviews will start on Nov. 15 and will continue until the position is filled. Roozbeh Kiani & Luca Mazzucato

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Modellers Workshop for the Brain Dynamics Toolbox
by Stewart Heitmann 31 Oct '21

31 Oct '21

Modeller’s Workshop for the Brain Dynamics Toolbox Online Course. Enrolments open 1-20 Nov 2021. This is a practical, self-paced course for researchers and students who wish to build their own dynamical models using the Brain Dynamics Toolbox (bdtoolbox.org<http://bdtoolbox.org>). Participants learn the art of programming differential equations to simulate neuronal dynamics. Topics include programming Ordinary Differential Equations, Partial Differential Equations, Delay Differential Equations, Stochastic Differential Equations, Auxiliary Plot Functions and command-line tools. Example code is provided in all cases. Study time is 8 hours. Course Website https://bdtoolbox.org/p/modellers-workshop/ Important Dates Early-bird enrolments ($125) close Saturday 6th Nov, 2021. Late enrolments ($150) close Saturday 20th Nov, 2021. Stewart Heitmann | Computational Scientist Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute | Lowy Packer Building | 405 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010 Australia E: s.heitmann(a)victorchang.edu.au<mailto:s.heitmann@victorchang.edu.au> | @VictorChangInst Disclaimer The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. This email has been scanned for viruses and malware, and may have been automatically archived by Mimecast Ltd, an innovator in Software as a Service (SaaS) for business. Providing a safer and more useful place for your human generated data. Specializing in; Security, archiving and compliance. To find out more visit the Mimecast website.

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Postdoc in Brain Computer Interfaces, Melbourne, Australia
by David Grayden 29 Oct '21

29 Oct '21

We are recruiting a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join the Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Australia as part of the Australian Research Council Training Centre in Cognitive Computing for Medical Technologies. The Training Centre aims to create a workforce that is expert in developing, applying and interrogating artificial intelligence technologies in data-intensive medical contexts. Research Fellow in Brain Computer Interfaces will aim to develop a brain-computer interface (BCI) that can be used to control commercially available augmentative devices for people with speech, vision or motor disorders. Details: https://jobs.unimelb.edu.au/caw/en/job/906909/ Applications close: 11:55 pm 19 November 2021 Australian Eastern Daylight Time (UTC/GMT+11 hours) Regards, David Professor David B. Grayden Clifford Chair of Neural Engineering Director, Medical Technologies Platform Dept of Biomedical Engineering Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010 Australia https://biomedical.eng.unimelb.edu.au/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/dgrayden This email and any attachments may contain personal information or information that is otherwise confidential or the subject of copyright. Any use, disclosure or copying of any part of it is prohibited. The University does not warrant that this email or any attachments are free from viruses or defects. Please check any attachments for viruses and defects before opening them. If this email is received in error please delete it and notify us by return email.

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Job Posting: MindCORE Postdoctoral Research Fellowships at UPenn
by Calvert, Heather J 26 Oct '21

26 Oct '21

MindCORE Postdoctoral Research Fellowships MindCORE seeks to recruit outstanding postdoctoral researchers for our Research Fellowship for Postdoctoral Scholars. Housed within the School of Arts and Sciences of the University of Pennsylvania, MindCORE (https://mindcore.sas.upenn.edu/) is an interdisciplinary effort to understand human intelligence and behavior. Designed for individuals who have recently obtained a PhD degree in psychology, linguistics, neuroscience, philosophy, computer science or other cognitive science discipline, the MindCORE Fellowship is a springboard for young researchers as they establish their own research program. Fellows are also encouraged to pursue collaborative research with faculty working across disciplines at Penn. Benefits Fellows receive a competitive salary, relocation allowance, health insurance, plus a modest research budget of $20,000. Fellows also benefit from access to the greater community of academics including visiting scholars plus leading research facilities equipped with cutting-edge instrumentation all on an urban campus in a vibrant city. Fellows are invited to join regular working group meetings within their field plus career development workshops aimed at young researchers, and will be provided with a mentoring committee. Funding is provided in one-year terms renewable for up to three years. Eligibility & Application We are accepting applications for 2022-2023 until January 10, 2022. Applicants must have formally completed all requirements of the PhD degree and provide a copy of their diploma at the time of appointment (typically July 1, 2022 - Jan 15, 2023). Candidates must submit a research statement that identifies at least three MindCORE faculty (https://mindcore.sas.upenn.edu/people/faculty-and-associates/) at Penn with whom the applicant could potentially collaborate; along with a CV, and contact information for two referees. Complete applications should be submitted along with some basic information using a form available on the website: https://mindcore.sas.upenn.edu/post-doctoral-research-fellowship/. Selection All eligible and complete applications will be evaluated by the Selection Committee after January 10. Applications are judged on the following criteria: Scientific excellence Scientific match and interdisciplinarity Career potential MindCORE seeks to award ~2 post-doctoral Fellowships per year. Positions may start as early as July 1, 2022. Questions? Contact pennmindcore(a)sas.upenn.edu<mailto:pennmindcore@sas.upenn.edu>

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Postdoc in computational cognitive neuroscience with human neurons in Utah
by ELLIOT H SMITH 26 Oct '21

26 Oct '21

Two NIH-funded (5 years) postdoctoral research scientist positions are available in Human Neuronal Computation Laboratory in the Neurosurgery Department at the University of Utah. We are seeking applicants with computational skills (signal processing, data mining, statistical modeling) to study neural representations of abstract space, and distributional reinforcement learning in human neuron activity recorded from epilepsy patients. Please send an email and CV if interested. Thanks, Elliot _____________________________ Elliot H Smith, PhD (he/him) Assistant Professor Department of Neurosurgery University of Utah 175 N Medical Drive #5 Salt Lake, City, UT 84132 e.h.smith(a)utah.edu<mailto:e.h.smith@utah.edu> +1-206-349-1249

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NEXT WEEK: New Approaches to 3D Vision, 1st-4th Nov 2021, Royal Society online meeting
by Linton, Paul 26 Oct '21

26 Oct '21

NEXT WEEK: NEW APPROACHES TO 3D VISION, 1st-4th November 2021, hosted by the Royal Society This Royal Society online meeting brings together researchers from computer vision, animal vision, and human vision to explore recent developments in 3D vision. Speakers reflect both academia and industry, with representatives from DeepMind, Facebook Reality Labs, Google, and Microsoft Research. Date/Time: 1st-4th November 2021, 3-6pm (3-6:30pm on the 4th), UK Time Please note that the USA/UK time difference is 1hr less than usual Website: https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2021/11/3d-vision/ Registration (Free): https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/new-approaches-to-3d-vision-registration-165… DAY ONE (1st Nov) - Seeing Beyond SLAM Chair: Andrew Fitzgibbon (Microsoft) Session One: Neural Scene Representation SM Ali Eslami (DeepMind): “Neural priors, neural encoders and neural renderers” Ida Momennejad (Microsoft Research): “Multi-scale predictive representations and human-like RL” Session Two: Perception-Action Loop Sergey Levine (UC Berkeley and Google): “Generalization in data-driven control” Andrew Glennerster (University of Reading): “Understanding 3D vision as a policy network” DAY TWO (2nd Nov) - Animals in Action Chair: Matteo Carandini (University College London) Session One: Locating Prey and Rewards Jenny Read (Newcastle University): “Stupid stereoscopic algorithms that still work” Aman Saleem (University College London): “Visual processing in the brain during navigation” Session Two: Navigation in 3D Space Kate Jeffery (University College London): “The cognitive map of 3D space: not as metric as we thought?” Gily Ginosar (Weizmann Institute of Science): “Locally ordered representation of 3D space in the entorhinal cortex” DAY THREE (3rd Nov) - Experiencing Space Chair: Mar Gonzalez-Franco (Microsoft Research) Session One: Theories of Visual Space Dhanraj Vishwanath (University of St Andrews): “Tripartite encoding of visual 3D space” Paul Linton (City, University of London): “New approaches to visual scale and visual shape” Session Two: Challenges for Virtual Reality Sarah Creem-Regehr (University of Utah): “Perception and Action in Virtual and Augmented Reality” Douglas Lanman (Facebook Reality Labs): “Engineering challenges for realistic displays” DAY FOUR (4th Nov) - Grasping the World Chair: Jody Culham (Western University) Session One: One Visual Stream or Two? Fulvio Domini (Brown University): “A novel non-probabilistic model of 3D cue integration explains both perception and action” Irene Sperandio (University of Trento): “Dissociations between perception and action in size-distance scaling” Session Two: 3D Space and Visual Impairment Ione Fine (University of Washington): “Do you hear what I see? How do early blind individuals experience object motion?” Ewa Niechwiej-Szwedo (University of Waterloo): “The role of binocular vision in the development of visuomotor control and performance of fine motor skills” Session Three: Panel Discussion Andrew Fitzgibbon (Microsoft), Matteo Carandini (University College London), Mar Gonzalez-Franco (Microsoft Research), and Jody Culham (Western University), share their thoughts on the future of 3D vision with an interactive Question and Answer session. Organisers: Michael Morgan FRS (City, University of London), Paul Linton (City, University of London), Jenny Read (Newcastle University), Dhanraj Vishwanath (University of St Andrews), Sarah Creem-Regehr (University of Utah), Fulvio Domini (Brown University)

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WWNeuRise series on the neuroscience of navigation
by William Podlaski 25 Oct '21

25 Oct '21

WorldWideNeuRise will host several online talks throughout November-December on the topic of the neuroscience of navigation from the following speakers (titles TBA): Wednesday, 3 November, 5pm CET Erik Hermansen (Dunn Lab, NTNU) Sarthak Chandra (Fiete Lab, MIT) Wednesday, 17 November, 5pm CET Salman Qasim (Gu Lab, Mount Sinai) Jacob Bellmund (Doeller Lab, MPI CBS / Kavli Institute) Wednesday, 1 December, 5pm CET Hannah Payne (Aronov Lab, Columbia University) Nick Robinson (Hausser Lab, UCL) Wednesday, 8 December 5pm CET Philip Shamash (Branco Lab, UCL) Anna Gillespie (Frank Lab, UCSF) For more information, please visit our website (https://neurise.github.io/) find us on WorldWideNeuro (https://www.world-wide.org/Neuro/WWNeuRise/) or follow us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/WWNeuRise) We are always searching for PhD students and postdocs to give talks in our upcoming seminars on any topic in systems neuroscience. On our website ( https://neurise.github.io/) you can find an application form to directly apply, as well as a recommendation form, where you can suggest individuals from your lab, institute, or otherwise who you think might have an interesting story to tell! We are looking forward to seeing you at our upcoming seminars! The organising committee, Ellen Boven (Apps lab, University of Bristol) Christina Buetfering (Häusser lab, University College London) Wesley Clawson (Levin lab, Tufts University) Lucie Descamps (Kentros lab, Norwegian University of Science and Technology) Gily Ginosar (Ulanovsky lab, Weizmann Institute) Loreen Hertäg (Clopath lab, Imperial College London) Joram Keijser (Sprekeler lab, TU Berlin) Bill Podlaski (Machens lab, Champalimaud Research)

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Neuromatch Conference 4.0, Submission deadline Oct 25, conference Dec 1-2
by Rozell, Christopher J 22 Oct '21

22 Oct '21

*****Deadline fast approaching for NMC 4!***** After three conferences in 2020, Neuromatch is pleased to be holding our fourth on December 1-2, 2021. Neuromatch 4.0 will be focused on Computational Neuroscience and will be similar to the scope of the first two NMC events in spring 2020. Agendas from previous NMC editions (1.0, 2.0 and 3.0) can be found on the Agenda from the conference website under the gear icon. The scope of NMC4 includes computational neuroscience and machine learning work that has a biological link. Registration costs are set at 15USD to cover technical costs, and if this is a difficulty, the fee can be waived without question. Each of our conferences has led the way in providing new innovations to the virtual conference space, and this year we are excited to offer you: * A combination of the virtual with the in-person conference experiences. You are encouraged to host or attend a local meetup, bringing people together to enjoy the conference, without the incredible economic and environmental costs of flying around the world. * The maintalks will be hosted on Crowdcast. Instead of posters, we offer flash talks (brief pre-recorded videos), and dedicated meet up times for discussion within Discord. * NMC for kids: a special session of talks for a younger audience and the young at heart interested in neuroscience. * We are developing new mechanisms to connect talks in the conference to corresponding preprints on bioRxiv, and we will provide links to preprints on other platforms as well. Read more at http://conference.neuromatch.io/ Important dates: * October 7, 2021: Registration and submission opens * October 25, 2021: Abstract submission deadline * Early November: local meetups portal opens * November 1 - 2, 2021: Abstract acceptance and live talk selection news * November 12, 2021: Video submission deadline for flashtalks * December 1 - 2, 2021: NMC 4.0 We look forward to seeing you at NMC 4.0! All the best, Neuromatch Conference Organizing Committee

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PhD Student Position for in-vivo Neurophysiology
by Alexander Maÿe 22 Oct '21

22 Oct '21

PhD Student Position for in-vivo Neurophysiology The Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology (head: Prof. Dr. Andreas K. Engel) at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) aims to fill a doctoral researcher (PhD student) position for in-vivo neurophysiology. The vacant position is part of the Marie-Curie training network “European School of Network Neuroscience (euSNN)” (http://www.eusnn.eu <http://www.eusnn.eu/>) and is for a project on modulation of cortical networks by optogenetic approaches. Contract duration will be 3 years, with a salary level according to the EU regulations for Marie-Curie Training Networks. The key research theme at the Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology is the large-scale dynamics of cortical and subcortical networks which is addressed by combining electrophysiological and neuroimaging methods. The specific focus lies on the study of functional and effective connectivity in brain networks. Research at the Department aims to demonstrate and understand the functional role of dynamic large-scale coupling for perception, cognition and action. To this end, ongoing projects also test hypotheses on causal mechanisms by modulation of networks and connectivity. Furthermore, the Department has a strong interest in the pathophysiological relevance of neural synchrony and changes of large-scale coupling in brain disorders. Further information can be found at https://www.uke.de/neurophysiologie <https://www.uke.de/neurophysiologie> and http://www.40hz.net <http://www.40hz.net/>. At the UKE, the Department is embedded in an excellent environment for state-of-the-art network neuroscience, including multiple neuroimaging and animal research facilities, and excellent cooperation partners in all fields of clinical, theoretical and basic neuroscience. The new lab member will join a team with extensive expertise in in-vivo multisite recordings, connectivity analysis and network modulation using electrical and optogenetic stimulation approaches. The focus of the project will be on optogenetic modulation of oscillations and functional connectivity in cortical networks in anesthetized and behaving ferrets. The selected candidate will become a member of the euSNN network (http://www.eusnn.eu <http://www.eusnn.eu/>), which involves leading neuroscience labs as well as industrial partners from seven European countries and offers rich possibilities for interdisciplinary training and cooperation in network neuroscience. Candidates should have or expect a master in neuroscience, biology or related disciplines. Training in neurophysiology, optogenetics and/or data analysis methods is a plus. The Dept. of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology is committed to diversity and seeks applications from qualified individuals regardless of their demographic status, gender, or cultural background. Applications from severely disabled persons with equivalent qualifications will be given preference. Applications should include a motivation letter, a CV, copies of university degrees and a transcript of course records. Please send your application materials as PDF (ideally in one file) to: ak.engel(a)uke.de <mailto:ak.engel@uke.de>. Prof. Dr. Andreas K. Engel Dept. of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf -- _____________________________________________________________________ Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf; Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts; Gerichtsstand: Hamburg | www.uke.de Vorstandsmitglieder: Prof. Dr. Burkhard Göke (Vorsitzender), Joachim Prölß, Prof. Dr. Blanche Schwappach-Pignataro, Marya Verdel _____________________________________________________________________ SAVE PAPER - THINK BEFORE PRINTING

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Postdoc in comp. neuroscience - learning dynamics - Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
by Vinita Samarasinghe 22 Oct '21

22 Oct '21

Prof. Sen Cheng, Institute for Neural Computation at the Ruhr University Bochum, invites applications for a full time *Postdoctoral position* (TV-L E13) in Computational Neuroscience. The position starts on July 1, 2022 and is funded for three years. The position is part of the Collaborative Research Center “Extinction Learning” (SFB 1280 <https://sfb1280.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/en/home/>) and entails the following duties: * analyze learning dynamics in behavioral, neural, and psychophysiological data, which will be collected by other projects within the SFB 1280, * compare the learning dynamics between individuals, species, learning phases and learning paradigms, * develop algorithms to analyze the learning dynamics, * develop and study computational models of learning dynamics, * coordinate research with other participating projects. Candidates must have: * a doctorate degree in neuroscience, physics, mathematics, electrical/biomedical engineering or a closely related field, * relevant experience in mathematical modeling, * excellent programming skills (e.g., Python, C/C++, Matlab), * excellent communication skills in English, * the ability to work well in a team. Research experience in neuroscience would be a further asset. The position is third party funded and does not have any formal teaching duties attached. The research group is highly dynamic and uses diverse computational modeling approaches including biological neural networks, cognitive modeling, and machine learning to investigate learning and memory in humans and animals. For further information see www.rub.de/cns. The Ruhr University Bochum is home to a vibrant research community in neuroscience and cognitive science. The Institute for Neural Computation is an independent research unit and combines different areas of expertise ranging from experimental and theoretical neuroscience to machine learning and robotics. The Institute for Neural Computation focuses on the dynamics and learning of perception and behavior on a functional level but is otherwise very diverse, ranging from neurophysiology and psychophysics over computational neuroscience to machine learning and technical applications. Please send your application, including CV, transcripts and research statement electronically, as a *single PDF file*, to *samarasinghe(a)ini.rub.de*. In addition, at least two academic references must be sent independently to the above email address. The deadline for applications is *January 2, 2022*. Travel costs for interviews will not be reimbursed. The Ruhr University Bochum is committed to equal opportunity. We strongly encourage applications from qualified women and persons with disabilities. We are committed to providing a supportive work environment for female researchers, in particular those with young children. Our university provides mentoring and coaching opportunities specifically aimed at women in research. We have a strong research network with female role models and will provide opportunities to network with them. Wherever possible, events will be scheduled during regular childcare hours. Special childcare will be arranged if events have to be scheduled outside of regular hours, in case of sickness and during school or daycare closures. Where childcare is not an option parents will be offered a home office solution. If you have any questions please feel free to get in touch with Vinita Samarasinghe (contact below) -- Vinita Samarasinghe M.Sc., M.A. Science Manager Arbeitsgruppe Computational Neuroscience Institut für Neuroinformatik Ruhr-Universität Bochum, NB 3/73 Postfachnummer 110 Universitätstr. 150 D-44801 Bochum Tel: +49 (0)234 32 27996 Email: samarasinghe(a)ini.rub.de

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Western-Fields Seminar Series | Frances Skinner
by Lyle Muller 21 Oct '21

21 Oct '21

The eighth talk in the 2021 Western-Fields Seminar Series in Networks, Random Graphs, and Neuroscience<http://www.fields.utoronto.ca/activities/21-22/western-fields> is next Thursday (28 October) at noon ET. Frances Skinner<https://www.skinnerlab.org/> (Krembil Research Institute) will give a talk titled “Tackling the cellular diversity in our brains” (abstract below). Dr. Skinner is a leader in computational neuroscience and has made fundamental contributions to the understanding of neural dynamics from single cells to whole networks. This seminar series features monthly virtual talks from a diverse group of researchers across computational neuroscience, physics, and graph theory. We are looking forward to talks from Alexander Lubotzky (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) in November and Jeannette Janssen (Dalhousie University) in December. Registration link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYuf-GppzkjHt0W5HMDpME2UpUiE7ntO5JS — How do we address the challenge of bringing about a cellular-based understanding of our brain workings? From a neurological disease perspective, this needs to be addressed as pathologies involve cellular specifics. The ‘brain hub’ hippocampus, an essential brain structure for learning and memory, generates robust rhythmic activities. However, figuring out how the multitude of cell types in the hippocampus contribute to these states is an immense challenge. In this talk, I will describe the modeling approaches we are taking to obtain a cellular-based understanding of theta (3-12 Hz) rhythms in the hippocampus, an essential element of the ‘phase-coding functional unit’ in the hippocampus. -- Lyle Muller http://mullerlab.ca

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Post doc in Cognitive-Computational Neuroscience at University College London (discrete and continuous human action control under threat)
by Dominik R. Bach 21 Oct '21

21 Oct '21

*Post doc in Cognitive-Computational Neuroscience at University College London: discrete and continuous human action control under threat* We are looking for a research fellow in an ERC-funded research project "Action selection under threat - the complex control of human defence" led by Dr Dominik Bach (http://bachlab.org <http://bachlab.org>) and based at University College London, Max-Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry (https://www.mps-ucl-centre.mpg.de/en <https://www.mps-ucl-centre.mpg.de/en>) and Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging (http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/ <http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/>). The overarching goal of the project is to understand the cognitive-computational control of human motor behaviour under acute, immediate threat. We investigate this in an immersive virtual reality (VR) environment, in which people can move to avoid a large number of different threats. As part of this project, the candidate will build and test explicit computational models of discrete and continuous action control and action updating under constraints of time pressure and unaffordable costs. We seek applicants with established cognitive-computational modelling skills and a PhD in computational neuroscience, robotics with focus on action planning, computer science/mathematics/physics with a focus on decision science, or in a related area. We are looking for an individual who is strongly motivated to pursue an academic career and is excited by the opportunities for personal and career development this position can provide. The post is available from October 2021 and funded for up to 3 years with initial appointment for 1 year. Starting salary is on UCL grade 7, ranging from £36,028 to £43,533 per annum, inclusive of London Allowance, superannuable. More information and access to the UCL online application portal: https://is.gd/VwTJCA <https://is.gd/VwTJCA> Please contact d.bach(a)ucl.ac.uk <mailto:d.bach@ucl.ac.uk> for any queries about the project or role. *Closing date: 16 July 2021* Interviews will be held remotely in July. Apologies for cross-posting. -- ----------------------- Dominik R Bach MBBS PhD Principal Research Fellow Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London http://bachlab.org | @bachlab_cog

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Two PostDoc positions, computational and experimental, on focused ultrasound neuromodulation
by Marcus Kaiser 20 Oct '21

20 Oct '21

Dear all, Two PostDoc positions for the development and experimental validation of computational models of the effects of human focused ultrasound neuromodulation are available in my lab. *About the project* This programme of work, using the NeuroFUS PRO equipment for focused ultrasound neuromodulation, will focus on developing a software framework for modelling the effects of brain stimulation. Our objectives are to establish models of the biological effect of focused ultrasound and to predict effects of stimulation in humans, based on experiments performed as part of this study at Nottingham, and non-human primates, based on data from collaborators. Validated models of stimulation effects will then be a starting point for personalized stimulation approaches. *Available RA positions* As part of this project, the lab of Prof. Marcus Kaiser ( http://www.dynamic-connectome.org/ ) is seeking talented and enthusiastic research assistants with a PhD awarded, or a PhD thesis about to be submitted, in computational biology or related subjects; prior experience in the neurosciences is desirable. Computational RA position: The research fellow will implement simulations of biological effects on non-invasive interventions on targeted brain regions and on indirect effects in the rest of the brain network. In addition, tools for comparing effects of stimulations within a computer model and effects observed in experimental studies will be developed. Experimental RA position: The research fellow will work on focused ultrasound experiments, will run simulations of the physical effects (pressure and thermal changes) of stimulation, and will perform the processing of neuroimaging data. *Research Environment* Nottingham “the home of MRI” offers an excellent environment for imaging ( https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/beacons-of-excellence/precision-imagi… and https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/groups/spmic/index.aspx ), is pioneering the use of neurotechnology for brain disorders ( http://mindtech.org.uk/ ), hosts the Institute of Mental Health ( https://www.institutemh.org.uk ), and has a large group of faculty members including four full professors (Stephen Coombes, Mark van Rossum, Mark Humphries, Marcus Kaiser) in the area of computational/mathematical neuroscience. *How to Apply*Apply before 2 November 2021 at https://jobs.nottingham.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?id=35657&forced=2 (experimental RA) https://jobs.nottingham.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?id=35654&forced=2 (computational RA) For informal queries, please contact Dr Marcus Kaiser, marcus.kaiser(a)nottingham.ac.uk Best, Marcus -- *Marcus Kaiser, Ph.D. FRSB* @ConnectomeLab <https://twitter.com/ConnectomeLab> *Professor of Neuroinformatics* *Precision Imaging Beacon, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham* Guanci Visiting Professor Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China Book: Changing Connectomes https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/changing-connectomes Lab website: http://www.dynamic-connectome.org/ Neuroinformatics UK: http://www.neuroinformatics.org.uk/

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FLAIRS-35 CFP, May 15-18, 2022, Jensen Beach, Florida
by David B 20 Oct '21

20 Oct '21

FLAIRS-35 Special Track on Neural Networks and Data Mining The Florida Artificial Intelligence Research Symposium (FLAIRS) is an interdisciplinary conference which features double-blind reviewing, free tutorials, and a warm and sunny venue. Abstract Due Date: January 17, 2022 Submission Due Date: January 24, 2022 Conference: May 15-18, 2022 Jensen Beach, Florida Website: https://sites.google.com/view/flairs-35-nn-dm-track/home URL: https://www.flairs-35.info/call-for-papers Papers are being solicited for a special track on Neural Networks and Data Mining at the 35th International FLAIRS Conference (https://www.flairs-35.info/home) This special track will be devoted to neural networks and data mining with the aim of presenting new and important contributions in these areas. Papers and contributions are encouraged for any work related to neural networks, data mining, or the intersection thereof. Topics of interest may include (but are in no way limited to): applications such as Pattern Recognition, Control and Process Monitoring, Biomedical Applications, Robotics, Text Mining, Diagnostic Problems, Telecommunications, Power Systems, Signal Processing; Intelligence analysis, medical and health applications, text, video, and multi-media mining, E-commerce and web data, financial data analysis, cyber security, remote sensing, earth sciences, bioinformatics, and astronomy; algorithms such as new developments in Back Propagation, RBF, SVM, Deep Learning, Ensemble Methods, Kernel Approaches; hybrid approaches such as Neural Networks/Genetic Algorithms, Neural Network/Expert Systems, Causal Nets trained with Backpropagation, and Neural Network/Fuzzy Logic applications such as Intelligence analysis, medical and health applications, text, video, and multi-media mining, E-commerce and web data, financial data analysis, cyber security, remote sensing, earth sciences, bioinformatics, and astronomy; modeling algorithms such as hidden Markov models, decision trees, neural networks, statistical methods, or probabilistic methods; case studies in areas of application, or over different algorithms and approaches; graph modeling, pattern discovery, and anomaly detection; feature extraction and selection; post-processing techniques such as visualization, summarization, or trending; preprocessing and data reduction; and knowledge engineering or warehousing. Questions regarding the track should be addressed to: David Bisant at bisant(a)umbc.edu, Steven Gutstein at s.m.gutstein(a)gmail.com, or Bill Eberle at weberle(a)tntech.edu.

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Fellow applications for Georgia Tech/Emory Computational Neural Engineering Training Program
by Rozell, Christopher J 20 Oct '21

20 Oct '21

Georgia Tech/Emory invite you to apply to become a Fellow in our NIH/NIBIB Computational Neural Engineering Training Program (CNTP)! Fellows receive full stipend and tuition for two years to support rotations and foster cross-disciplinary collaborative training. The CNTP aims to train the next generation of researchers at the intersection of computational neuroscience, neural engineering, data science, and clinical neurophysiology. Central to our mission is our core belief that just as the diversity among cells, circuits, and networks is critical for navigating a complex and ever-changing world, diversity in the background, experiences, and expertise among our team members is key to understanding and interacting with the brain. The CNTP seeks diversity in the recruiting of our fellows, scholars, and training faculty, equity among the members of our diverse team, and to create an inclusive community where everyone feels welcome and heard. Training components include new coursework (“Clinical Experience for Engineers”), seminars, innovation forums, professional development meetings, and community retreats. Overall, the CNTP creates novel opportunities to gain experience in science, engineering and clinical domains, resulting in an exceptional and unique training experience. More information on the CNTP is here: https://sites.gatech.edu/cntp/. Fellow applications are solicited from admitted applicants to one of the four participating PhD programs linked below (PhD in BME, ECE, Bioe or ML). Fellows must be US Citizens or Permanent Residents. If you are interested in joining the CNTP, you must first apply to one of those programs. Deadlines vary, beginning December 1, 2021. Detailed application instructions: https://sites.gatech.edu/cntp/how-to-apply/. Please contact Dr. Rozell at crozell(a)gatech.edu<mailto:crozell@gatech.edu> with any questions. Graduate program application assistance Current CNTP trainees are offering graduate application assistance to provide feedback on essays and give guidance on potentially relevant faculty. You can request assistance by filling out the form below before November 8, 2021: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSefcaCnxG_CLQnUvw6Mvgo2Q2zzrnhDx_d… Participating PhD programs PhD in Biomedical Engineering at GT/Emory (due 12/1/2021) https://bme.gatech.edu/bme/georgia-tech-emory-bme-phd-program PhD in Electrical & Computer Engineering at GT (due 12/16/2021) https://www.ece.gatech.edu/graduate-admissions PhD in Bioengineering at GT with BME or ECE home school (deadline is from home school) https://bioengineering.gatech.edu/ PhD in Machine Learning at GT with BME or ECE home school (deadline is from home school) http://ml.gatech.edu/phd

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Announcing "Bernstein SmartSteps - Featuring Early Career Scientists"
by Anja Dorrn 20 Oct '21

20 Oct '21

The Bernstein SmartSteps<https://bernstein-network.de/en/network/awards-and-initiatives/bernstein-sm…> series provides a unique platform for selected Early Career Scientists of the Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience<https://bernstein-network.de/en/> to present their research projects to the scientific community. Each session one PhD candidate and one Postdoc who are ready to take their next (smart) step for their scientific career will discuss their research in an online seminar. Join the Bernstein SmartSteps Series as an audience if you are interested in cutting-edge computational neuroscience and want to watch out for new talents in the field. The live talks will be held in Zoom. A recording will be published in a separate collection on the Bernstein Vimeo Channel. Please register here<https://indico-jsc.fz-juelich.de/event/201/registration/register#/register>, if you would like to join for the live talks. A link to the event in Zoom will be sent shortly before via email. Fall series 2021<https://bernstein-network.de/en/network/awards-and-initiatives/bernstein-sm…> Thursday, November 4, 4 pm CET * Miriam Henning (Silies lab) | University of Mainz, Germany An optimal population code for global motion estimation in local direction-selective cells * Barna Zajzon (Morrison lab) | Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany Representation transfer and signal denoising through topographic modularity Thursday, November 25, 4 pm CET * Han Lu (Vlachos lab) | University of Freiburg, Germany Homeostatic structural plasticity of neuronal connectivity triggered by optogenetic stimulation * Golan Karvat (Diester lab) | University of Freiburg, Germany Spontaneous activity competes with externally evoked responses in sensory cortex Thursday, December 9, 4 pm CET * Bin Wang (Aljadeff lab) | University of California San Diego, USA A nonlinear shot noise model for calcium-based synaptic plasticity * Helene Schreyer (Gollisch lab) | University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany Nonlinear spatial integration in retinal bipolar cells shapes the encoding of artificial and natural stimuli -- Dr. Anja Dorrn Scientific Coordinator Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience | Bernstein Coordination Site (BCOS) Branch Office of the Forschungszentrum Jülich at the University of Freiburg Hansastr. 9A | 79104 Freiburg, Germany phone: (+49) 0761 203 9589 web: www.bernstein-network.de<http://www.bernstein-network.de> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH 52425 Juelich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Juelich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Dueren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Volker Rieke Geschaeftsfuehrung: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Marquardt (Vorsitzender), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Dr. Astrid Lambrecht, Prof. Dr. Frauke Melchior ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Open position: Master's student in computational neuroscience at the University of Toronto
by Scott Rich 19 Oct '21

19 Oct '21

The Neuron to Brain lab is searching for a Master's student to work on a project in Computational Neuroscience studying the role of neural heterogeneity in generating seizure resilience in neural circuits. The work will be supervised by Dr. Taufik Valiante and directly mentored by Dr. Scott Rich. Details can be found at here <http://www.neurontobrainlaboratory.ca/sites/default/files/N2BLab_Computatio…>. -- Sincerely, Scott Rich, Ph.D Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Krembil Research Institute (affiliated with the University of Toronto) scottrich.strikingly.com

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[Jobs] PhD position in Multimodal Grounding for Robotic Assistants (ANITI, Toulouse, France)
by Rufin VanRullen 19 Oct '21

19 Oct '21

PhD position in Multimodal Grounding for Robotic Assistants (ANITI, Toulouse, France) The Artificial and Natural Intelligence Toulouse Institute (ANITI: https://aniti.univ-toulouse.fr/en/) in Toulouse (France) is looking to recruit a PhD student in Machine Learning to work on multimodal grounding (e.g., joint vision-language models). The selected candidate will develop deep learning models capable of achieving state-of-the-art performance on cognitively challenging problems such as: Visual Question Answering, Incremental Learning, Meta-Learning, Multi-Task Learning, Task-Switching, Robust Representation Learning, etc. The candidate will join an active group of like-minded students (the ANITI Graduate School) and a vibrant research community (made up of nearly 30 ANITI Research Chairs). Work will be carried out in the Chair of Rufin VanRullen (https://rufinv.github.io) at CerCo (https://cerco.cnrs.fr) but in close collaboration with local and international research groups (IRIT, LAAS, Linagora, University of Potsdam, Airbus AI research). Rufin VanRullen’s ANITI Chair is entitled “Deep Learning with Semantic, Cognitive and Biological Constraints”, and aims at fostering next-generation AI architectures by drawing inspiration from Cognitive Sciences and Neuroscience. The PhD project is part of a large-scale France-Germany collaborative grant entitled “Natural Language Programming for Conversational Cobots”. The multi-modal grounding research will need to assist the overall grant objectives (ultimately, helping robotic assistants interact with humans in natural language), but there will also be freedom to pursue independent research questions related to multimodal grounding in AI and/or in the brain. The ideal candidate will have a Masters in Computer Science, Machine Learning or related fields, and substantial experience with at least one deep learning framework (PyTorch, Tensorflow, Keras…). Research experience in Computer Vision, NLP and/or Reinforcement Learning is highly desirable. The salary scale is according to ANITI standards. The position is open to start immediately, but applications will be considered until the position is filled. To apply, send a CV and a short (less than 1-page) statement about research interests to rufin.vanrullen(a)cnrs.fr. Informal inquiries can also be made to the same address. -- ---------------------------------------------------- Rufin VanRullen, PhD. < ANITI - AI Research Chair > Artificial & Natural Intelligence Toulouse Institute CNRS-Centre de Recherche Cerveau & Cognition (CerCo) Faculte de Medecine Purpan - 31052 Toulouse (France) email: rufin.vanrullen(a)cnrs.fr Web: https://rufinv.github.io/ Tel: +33 669 547 468 ----------------------------------------------------

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Professorship in AI at the Stralsund University of Applied Sciences
by André Grüning 19 Oct '21

19 Oct '21

Professorship in AI at the Stralsund University of Applied Sciences In the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science we have an open position for a permanent W2 professorship in Artificial Intelligence. Application deadline is 7.11.2021 with planned start date for the new appointee on 1.9.2022. The post involves teaching and (applied) research. Willingness to participate in the self-administration of the institution is also expected. The formal and binding announcement of the opening (in German only) can be found at: <https://www.hochschule-stralsund.de/host/aktuelles/stellenangebote/> or <https://jobs.zeit.de/jobs/professur-w2-kuenstliche-intelligenz-in-der-fakul…> We are in particular looking for a candidate with comprehensive knowledge of and practical experience in at least one of the following areas: - neurocognition - neurorobotics, - deep learning - natural language processing - computer brain interfaces. Note that normally one of the requirements for an appointment is that the candidate has work experience of at least 5 years prior to the appointment, of which at least three shall be outside the (immediate) University sector. For further information, contact the chair person of the appointment committee Prof Andre Gruening, <andre_gruening(a)hochschule-stralsund.de> -- Prof. Dr. André Grüning -- Mathematik und Künstliche Intelligenz Fakultät Elektrotechnik und Informatik Hochschule Stralsund -- Mathematics and Computational Intelligence Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Stralsund University of Applied Sciences -- 18435 Stralsund Deutschland/Germany

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Multiple vacancies at the University of Melbourne
by Uwe Aickelin 16 Oct '21

16 Oct '21

We have advertised five opportunities to join the top ranked School of Computing and Information Systems in Australia (THES and QS). Please share with your networks and encourage applications.. Full details below. Algorithmic Fairness: https://jobs.unimelb.edu.au/en/job/906606/senior-lecturerassociate-professo… Machine Learning and Systems (two positions): https://jobs.unimelb.edu.au/caw/en/job/906506/lecturer-or-senior-lecturer-i… Digital Ethics: https://jobs.unimelb.edu.au/caw/en/job/906636/senior-lecturerassociate-prof… Information Systems: https://jobs.unimelb.edu.au/caw/en/job/904639/lecturersenior-lecturer-infor… Professor Uwe Aickelin | Head of School of Computing and Information Systems Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology Level 3, Melbourne Connect – 700 Swanston Street The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010 Australia T: +61 3 8344 3635 E: uwe.aickelin(a)unimelb.edu.au<mailto:uwe.aickelin@unimelb.edu.au> http://aickelin.com/ | http://linkedin.com/in/aickelin

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Two Tenure Track Assistant Professor Positions, Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech
by Pearl Chiu 15 Oct '21

15 Oct '21

Dear All, Virginia Tech Psychology is seeking two assistant professors, open area. Computational (cognitive, neuro) science applicants very welcome! Best, Pearl --- Tenure Track Assistant Professor Positions Department of Psychology Virginia Tech The Department of Psychology at Virginia Tech is seeking applicants for two tenure-track assistant professors. We seek candidates who will increase the department's commitment to inclusion, equity, and diversity through their research, teaching, mentoring and/or lived experience. The search is open to candidates in any area of psychology, although applicants are encouraged to think about how they would fit into one of our four existing graduate training areas (Developmental Science, Industrial and Organizational, Biological, Clinical Science). Successful applicants will have a Ph.D. by the Fall 2022 start date, a demonstrated commitment to research, teaching and mentoring, and/or service and engagement. The Department of Psychology includes a group of scholars who work to increase understanding of psychological processes involved in human behavior. This research includes identifying typical and disordered processes that contribute to mental and physical health across the lifespan, as well as the psychological and social processes that influence people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors as they engage with family, work, and their community. While faculty members in Psychology share a common interest in psychological processes, our specific interests, research methods, and expertise are diverse and include both behavioral and neuroscience approaches with experimental, survey, and big data methodologies. Some researchers are committed to increasing understanding of basic psychological processes, while others emphasize implications for developmental, organizational, and clinical issues. We are all committed to building a diverse and inclusive department. Review of applications will begin October 30, 2021, with applications considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Inquiries regarding the position can be directed to Martha Ann Bell (mabell(a)vt.edu) chair of the search committee. Required Qualifications Ph.D. in psychology or a related field Ability to establish an independent research program and contribute to teaching undergraduate and graduate courses Application Instructions Applications must be submitted online at jobs.vt.edu (Job Number 517603; https://careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us/job/517603/assistant-professo…) 1) A full curriculum vitae 2) A statement describing experience and interests in promoting inclusion and equity through teaching, mentoring, and/or research 3) A statement of research accomplishments and future directions 4) A statement of teaching experience and approach 5) Three samples of scholarly writing (published, in press, under review, or in progress). We recommend candidates submit the research they are most proud of, regardless of journal ranking or impact factor. 6) The names and contact information of three academic references (letters are not required initially) The Psychology Department offers a supportive environment, including a mentoring program to its junior faculty. Virginia Tech is an institutional member of the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD). The College of Science is also committed to the professional development of junior faculty through various university initiatives (e.g., the College of Science Faculty Academy, Faculty Writing Group Grants, Faculty Mentoring Grants). Virginia Tech is responsive to the needs of dual career couples. Additional Information The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check as well as documentation of COVID-19 vaccination or receive approval from the university for a vaccination exemption due to a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief. About Virginia Tech Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually. Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law. If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Michelle Wooddell at mwooddel(a)vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event. -- Pearl Chiu, PhD Associate Professor Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech VTC School of Medicine Salem VA Medical Center 2 Riverside Circle, R1110 Roanoke VA 24016 +1 540-526-2019 chiup(a)vtc.vt.edu

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DeepMath Conference 2021 (Nov 4 - 5)
by Ahmed El Hady 15 Oct '21

15 Oct '21

Registration is open for the conference on Deep Learning theory. Details below: Dear Community, We are happy to announce that registration is live for*DeepMath 2021* (https://deepmath-conference.com/) Please register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/deepmath-2021-registration-172453000567and see below for important information about this year’s DeepMath conference. This year we are excited to have speaking at DeepMath: Becca Willet - U Chicago Stephane Mallat - College de France Caroline Uhler - MIT Yannis Kevrekidis - Johns Hopkins Aarti Singh - Carnegie Mellon University Raman Arora - Johns Hopkins Kamalika Chaudhuri - UCSD DeepMath 2021 will be a fully online event. Like last year, we will use Gather to create a virtual DeepMath experience that brings online some of the spontaneous interaction and discussion that we all enjoyed before the pandemic. Gather is an online gathering space that combines a 2d map with seamless drop-in / drop-out video chats to make something a bit more interactive than a single giant video call. Gather worked smoothly the last time, and we feel confident that this is the right choice for DeepMath 2021 as well. Our plenary talks will still be streamed over a Zoom webinar and re-streamed for free to YouTube, but the remainder of the event will be held entirely over Gather. We will soon be opening up registration, and look forward to seeing you there! How to register: Click on the registration link (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/deepmath-2021-registration-172453000567) This will bring you to eventbrite. Make an eventbrite account if you don't already have one. Buy a ticket for the conference. Once you have purchased a ticket, an account with the same email will be propagated to both Zoom and Gather. Note that this process may take some time, so your accounts may not be available immediately. Upon registration, you will also be granted access to the EventBrite conference website, which will include a link to enter our Gather conference venue. The venue will open 2 days ahead of the main conference so you can familiarize yourself with its features if you would like. Our Zoom webinar link will be available in the Gather main conference hall. You will arrive in our gather.town conference venue. This space will open 2 days ahead for you to explore. All conference events will be linked to from this space. Talks will be held on zoom, but can be accessed through the auditorium. There is another room for posters, one for talking with virtual whiteboards, and several spaces for socializing. Some features of our conference map. Gather is a 2d interactive space you can move around in using your arrow keys or the WASD keys on your keyboard. When you come within a few squares of another avatar, a video chat automatically opens between you. Moving your avatar away disengages the video chat. Occasionally you will be able to interact with objects by pressing ‘x’, for example to view a poster PDF or open a whiteboard or Zoom link. Main room: There will be an information desk, as well as a pamphlet describing how to navigate Gather. Press x to interact with either. Volunteers will be available in this space for the duration of the conference to address any questions or concerns you may have. Auditorium Enter this room to access the zoom link for talks. Clicking on the link will automatically turn off your audio and video on ather, eliminating feedback issues. You can also access the zoom talks directly, but be careful of feedback issues. Poster rooms Posters will be displayed here. The poster browsing radius is set slightly larger than the video-call interaction radius, so you will be able to browse posters and decide which one you would like to “walk up” to. Press x to display the poster. Talk to the author and others at the poster. Whiteboard rooms Meet and talk at a numbered whiteboard. Writing persists at the boards, is not erased when you leave. So if you return to the same board, you can continue where you left off. (Unless the next person erases the board! Just like in real life. :) ) Private areas In the rooms, look for areas demarcated by potted trees or carpeting. In these areas, only the people within the demarcated space can see and hear each other. If you step over the line, even if you're within the interaction radius, you will no longer see anyone in the demarcated space. Thanks! DeepMath committee

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Hands-on workshop on High Performance Computing in Jan 2022 - registration is now open
by Anja Dorrn 14 Oct '21

14 Oct '21

The Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience<https://bernstein-network.de/en/> & Bernstein Facility for High Performance Simulation and Data Analysis<https://bernstein-network.de/en/network/research-infrastructure/high-perfor…> invite for a 2,5 day hands-on workshop in a hybrid format: "Advancing your neuroscientific research to the next level - How to use high performance computing and cloud services to answer your scientific questions" Dates: January 18-20, 2022 Registration deadline: November 25, 2021 On-site: Jülich Supercomputing Centre, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, (limited to 25 participants) & Online: Zoom (Link will be sent prior to the event) Neuroscientific research comes along with a multitude of highly complex data. Using high performance computing (HPC) and cloud services can help to better process and understand your data and to get the maximum benefit for your personal research. This is why the Bernstein Facility for High Performance Simulation and Data Analysis is the central port of call for Bernstein members to access the facilities of the high-performance computers at Forschungszentrum Jülich. This hands-on workshop will help you understand how to access the resources of the Jülich Supercomputing Center (JSC) and make the most of this opportunity for your specific research. Get inspired by professional use cases and benefit from the one-on-one exchange with the experts in high performance simulation and data analysis from Jülich. Participation in the 2,5 day event is open to early career researchers (PhD and early Post-docs), regardless of their affiliation with the Bernstein Network. Currently, the event is planned as a hybrid workshop enabling both online and on-site participation. Yet, the global Covid-19 situation might call for a change of plan. In this case, the organizers will inform registered participants straight away. More information and registration: https://bit.ly/3mVW6bS -- Dr. Anja Dorrn Scientific Coordinator Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience | Bernstein Coordination Site (BCOS) Branch Office of the Forschungszentrum Jülich at the University of Freiburg Hansastr. 9A | 79104 Freiburg, Germany phone: (+49) 0761 203 9589 web: www.bernstein-network.de<http://www.bernstein-network.de> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH 52425 Juelich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Juelich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Dueren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Volker Rieke Geschaeftsfuehrung: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Marquardt (Vorsitzender), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Dr. Astrid Lambrecht, Prof. Dr. Frauke Melchior ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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2 Senior Lecturer/Reader (Associates Professor equivalent) positions at Lancaster University, UK
by Westermann, Gert 14 Oct '21

14 Oct '21

This email originated outside the University. Check before clicking links or attachments. Dear colleagues, We are currently advertising two positions at Senior Lecturer/Reader level (US equivalent: Associate Professor) to join our Psychology department at Lancaster University, UK. The search area is broad, including neuroscience (and developmental cognitive neuroscience) and computational approaches. Deadline for applications: 13 December, 2021 We have fantastic shared research facilities for developmental cognitive neuroscience (see http://wp.lancs.ac.uk/babylab/) with several Tobii eye trackers, 4 EGI EEG systems, fNIRS, head mounted eye tracking, motion capture, BioPac, and an observation room, plus excellent technical support. Our facilities for adult neuroscience comprise diverse EEG systems, TMS as well as several eye trackers. Please see our research pages for more details: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/psychology/research/<https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/psychology/research/early-development/> Lancaster University is consistently ranked in the top 10 in the main UK league tables, and Lancaster has a high quality of life with beautiful surrounding countryside, good schools, and excellent transport links (London, Edinburgh, Glasgow 2.5h , Manchester airport 1.5h, all by direct train). Full details are here: https://hr-jobs.lancs.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?ref=A3553 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gert Westermann Professor of Psychology Department of Psychology Lancaster University Lancaster LA1 4YF, UK Contact me on Teams<https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fteams.mic…> Phone: +44 (0)1524 592 942 g.westermann(a)lancaster.ac.uk<mailto:g.westermann@lancaster.ac.uk> https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/people-profiles/gert-westermann

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5-Year MSc/PhD program in Computational Neuroscience in Tuebingen
by Peter Dayan 14 Oct '21

14 Oct '21

International Max Planck Research School: The Mechanisms of Mental Function and Dysfunction 5-Year combined MSc/PhD program The Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and the University of Tübingen invite students from all over the world to apply for their interdisciplinary 5-year combined MSc/PhD program leading to a PhD in Neuroscience. Full funding is available for top-ranked applicants. We are seeking talented, curious and open-minded scientists with strong backgrounds in neuroscience, biomedical sciences, computational science, applied mathematics, statistics, artificial intelligence, or engineering. Successful candidates will possess a burning aspiration to shape the future of neuroscience and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, interdisciplinary, environment. The application deadline is 30th November 2021. Please visit: https://www.kyb.tuebingen.mpg.de/imprs-mmfd https://www.neuroschool-tuebingen.de/about-imprs/ for more details and information about applying. The MSc/PhD program is a collaboration between the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and the University of Tübingen. It is closely affiliated with the renowned Graduate Training Centre of Neuroscience, the centerpiece of neuroscience training in Tübingen. Students (who should have been awarded a Bachelor's degree by September 2022) will receive a broad interdisciplinary training in neuroscience, including expert teaching by international renowned scientists and individual and intensive mentoring. Potential research topics cover a variety of fields in systems neuroscience, cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, computational neuroscience, translational and clinical neuroscience as well as cellular and molecular neuroscience. Teaching and research are conducted in English.

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Independent postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Applied Mathematics
by Cengiz Pehlevan 13 Oct '21

13 Oct '21

Dear colleagues, We have an independent postdoctoral position at Harvard Applied Math. Possible applicant interests are very broad including neuroscience and machine learning. Details are here: https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/10698 <https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/10698> Please feel free to reach out to me with questions. Best wishes, Cengiz — Cengiz Pehlevan SEAS, Harvard University, pehlevan.seas.harvard.edu <http://pehlevan.seas.harvard.edu/>

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Canadian Symposium for Computational Neuroscience
by Wilten Nicola 12 Oct '21

12 Oct '21

*Campus Alberta Neuroscience is pleased to announce the first ever Canadian Symposium for Computational Neuroscience, being held October 26-27 2021. This national symposium will be held virtually and will connect trainees, researchers, and industry representatives from across the country to share knowledge, research, and innovation. The major themes of the symposium will be: Biological Computation, Network Neuroscience, Dimensionality Reduction, and Information Decoding from Neural Networks. These topics will be supplemented with a workshop on machine learning provided by the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute and a keynote from Geoffrey Hinton. You can find more information here: https://www.albertaneuro.ca/education/#CSCN <https://www.albertaneuro.ca/education/#CSCN>*

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Post-doctoral Research Associate in Computational Neuroscience (Computational Modelling of Decision Making)
by Wong-Lin, Kongfatt 12 Oct '21

12 Oct '21

Applications are invited for a US/NIH-Ireland funded Post-doctoral Research Associate post at the Intelligent Systems Research Centre in Ulster University, UK. The successful candidate will develop and apply advanced computational modelling techniques to understand brain and behavioural data across primate species, and to apply biologically based neural network modelling to elucidate the mechanisms underlying various forms of decision making. The duration of the post is 27 months, with possible extension. The personnel will work with Dr. KongFatt Wong-Lin at Ulster University, while collaborating closely with international collaborators in the USA and the Republic of Ireland, namely, Prof. Michael Shadlen at Columbia University (USA), Prof. Stephan Bickel at Northwell-Hofstra School of Medicine (USA), Prof. Redmond O'Connell at Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), and Prof. Simon Kelly at University College Dublin (Ireland). All applicants should hold a degree in in Computational Neuroscience, Computational Biology, Neuroscience, Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Data Science, Physical Sciences, Biology, or a cognate area. Apply online: https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/CJU115/research-associate-in-computational-neuro… Closing date for receipt of completed applications: 24th October 2021. Job Ref: 008566. If you have questions regarding this post, please contact: Dr. KongFatt Wong-Lin, email: k.wong-lin(a)ulster.ac.uk . ------------------- Dr. KongFatt Wong-Lin Reader Intelligent Systems Research Centre School of Computing, Engineering and Intelligent Systems Ulster University, UK https://www.ulster.ac.uk/staff/k-wong-lin This email and any attachments are confidential and intended solely for the use of the addressee and may contain information which is covered by legal, professional or other privilege. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager at postmaster(a)ulster.ac.uk and delete this email immediately. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ulster University. The University's computer systems may be monitored and communications carried out on them may be recorded to secure the effective operation of the system and for other lawful purposes. Ulster University does not guarantee that this email or any attachments are free from viruses or 100% secure. Unless expressly stated in the body of a separate attachment, the text of email is not intended to form a binding contract. Correspondence to and from the University may be subject to requests for disclosure by 3rd parties under relevant legislation. The Ulster University was founded by Royal Charter in 1984 and is registered with company number RC000726 and VAT registered number GB672390524.The primary contact address for Ulster University in Northern Ireland is Cromore Road, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry BT52 1SA

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Postdoctoral Positions at UT Austin
by Franco Pestilli 11 Oct '21

11 Oct '21

Dear Colleagues, I would appreciate sharing the announcement below. Postdoctoral positions are available in the Laboratory of Dr. Franco Pestilli <https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/psychology/faculty/fp4834> in the Department of Psychology <https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/psychology/>, Center for Perceptual Systems <https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/cps/> and Center for Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience <https://ctcn.utexas.edu/> at the University of Texas at Austin <https://www.utexas.edu/>. The positions are funded by NIH and NSF awards and associated with projects integrating the Brain Imaging Data Structure <https://bids.neuroimaging.io/>, brainlife.io, OpenNeuro.org with EEG, MEG and MRI data. The projects are in collaboration with: - Russ Poldrack, Stanford University <https://profiles.stanford.edu/russell-poldrack> - Ted Satterthwaite, University of Pennsylvania <https://www.med.upenn.edu/bbl/faculty-tsatterthwaithe.html> - Ariel Rokem, The University of Washington, Seattle <https://escience.washington.edu/people/ariel-rokem/> - Oscar Esteban, University of Lausanne <https://wp.unil.ch/connectomics/team/oscar-esteban/> - Cyril Pernet, Copenhagen University Hospital <https://cpernet.github.io/> - Robert Smith, Florey Institute of Neuroscience <https://florey.edu.au/science-research/scientist-directory/dr-robert-smith> - Eugene Duff, Imperial College London <https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/e.duff> - Aina Puce, Indiana University <https://psych.indiana.edu/directory/faculty/puce-aina.html> - Nathalie George, Sorbonne Université <https://institutducerveau-icm.org/fr/george-nathalie/> - Guiomar Niso, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid <https://guiomarniso.com/> A few words describing the projects: - *The Brain Imaging Data Structure for Connectivity.* Expanding the usability of the Brain Imaging Data Structure standard by developing the formats necessary to describe advanced data derivatives related to brain connections (diffusion imaging, tractography, tract-profiles, tractometry, functional networks, and network models). - *Integrating EEG and MEG data-processing Apps on brainlife.io <http://brainlife.io>. *Develop powerful web services to Integrate EEG and MEG data on brainlife.io so to allow standardization, reutilization and automated visualization of data. - *Deep and Shallow Machine-Learning for neuroimaging data analysis and augmentation using brainlife.io <http://brainlife.io>. *Work on projects related to the application of Machine-Learning algorithms to validate data and process open datasets from OpenNeuro.org using *software-as-service* reproducible processing pipelines on brainlife.io For more information please email: pestilli(a)utexas.edu Best regards, *FRANCO PESTILLI*, *Ph.D.* | *Associate Professor* Department of Psychology <https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/psychology/index.php> | College of Liberal Arts <https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/> | The University of Texas at Austin <https://www.utexas.edu/> he/him | pestilli(a)utexas.edu | web <https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/psychology/faculty/fp4834> | GitHub <https://github.com/francopestilli> | brainlife.io

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New Approaches to 3D Vision, 1st-4th Nov 2021, Royal Society online meeting
by Linton, Paul 11 Oct '21

11 Oct '21

New Approaches to 3D Vision, 1st-4th November 2021, hosted by the Royal Society This Royal Society online meeting brings together researchers from computer vision, animal vision, and human vision to explore recent developments in 3D vision. Speakers reflect both academia and industry, with representatives from DeepMind, Facebook Reality Labs, Google, and Microsoft Research. Date/Time: 1st-4th November 2021, 3-6pm (3-6:30pm on the 4th), UK Time Please note that the USA/UK time difference is 1hr less than usual Website: https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2021/11/3d-vision/ Registration (Free): https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/new-approaches-to-3d-vision-registration-165… DAY ONE (1st Nov) - Seeing Beyond SLAM Chair: Andrew Fitzgibbon (Microsoft) Session One: Neural Scene Representation SM Ali Eslami (DeepMind): “Neural priors, neural encoders and neural renderers” Ida Momennejad (Microsoft Research): “Multi-scale predictive representations and human-like RL” Session Two: Perception-Action Loop Sergey Levine (UC Berkeley and Google): TBC Andrew Glennerster (University of Reading): “Understanding 3D vision as a policy network” DAY TWO (2nd Nov) - Animals in Action Chair: Matteo Carandini (University College London) Session One: Locating Prey and Rewards Jenny Read (Newcastle University): “Stupid stereoscopic algorithms that still work” Aman Saleem (University College London): “Visual processing in the brain during navigation” Session Two: Navigation in 3D Space Kate Jeffery (University College London): “The cognitive map of 3D space: not as metric as we thought?” Gily Ginosar (Weizmann Institute of Science): “Locally ordered representation of 3D space in the entorhinal cortex” DAY THREE (3rd Nov) - Experiencing Space Chair: Mar Gonzalez-Franco (Microsoft Research) Session One: Theories of Visual Space Dhanraj Vishwanath (University of St Andrews): “Tripartite encoding of visual 3D space” Paul Linton (City, University of London): “New approaches to visual scale and visual shape” Session Two: Challenges for Virtual Reality Sarah Creem-Regehr (University of Utah): “Perception and Action in Virtual and Augmented Reality” Douglas Lanman (Facebook Reality Labs): TBC DAY FOUR (4th Nov) - Grasping the World Chair: Jody Culham (Western University) Session One: One Visual Stream or Two? Fulvio Domini (Brown University): “A novel non-probabilistic model of 3D cue integration explains both perception and action” Irene Sperandio (University of Trento): “Dissociations between perception and action in size-distance scaling” Session Two: 3D Space and Visual Impairment Ione Fine (University of Washington): “Do you hear what I see? How do early blind individuals experience object motion?” Ewa Niechwiej-Szwedo (University of Waterloo): “The role of binocular vision in the development of visuomotor control and performance of fine motor skills” Session Three: Panel Discussion Andrew Fitzgibbon (Microsoft), Matteo Carandini (University College London), Mar Gonzalez-Franco (Microsoft Research), and Jody Culham (Western University), share their thoughts on future directions for 3D vision. Organisers: Michael Morgan FRS (City, University of London), Paul Linton (City, University of London), Jenny Read (Newcastle University), Dhanraj Vishwanath (University of St Andrews), Sarah Creem-Regehr (University of Utah), Fulvio Domini (Brown University)

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Postdoctoral Fellow/Research Associate Position in Computational Neuroscience at Drexel University College of Medicine
by Ilya Rybak 08 Oct '21

08 Oct '21

Postdoctoral Fellow/Research Associate Position in Computational Neuroscience at Drexel University College of Medicine Two Postdoctoral Fellow/Research Associate positions are available in the Computational Neuroscience Center (https://drexel.edu/medicine/about/departments/neurobiology-anatomy/research…) and the lab for Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience (https://drexel.edu/medicine/about/departments/neurobiology-anatomy/research…) at the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University (https://drexel.edu/medicine/about/departments/neurobiology-anatomy/) The qualified postdoc/research associate will join a team of computational neuroscientists focusing on studying and modeling different aspects of neural control of locomotion, including the organization and operation of spinal and supraspinal/brainstem neural circuits and their interactions with animal biomechanics during locomotion and steering. The modeling studies are performed in close, interactive collaboration with several leading laboratories in the USA, Canada, and France focusing on complementary experimental studies. The projects are supported by several grants from NIH and NSF. The studies involve the development of realistic computer models of neural circuits in the mammalian spinal cord and brainstem involved in control of locomotion and steering. The models will be integrated with biomechanical models of animals (mouse, rat, cat) and used (tested) for the control of quadrupedal robots imitating animal locomotion in open space. The successful candidate will closely collaborate with other computational and experimental neuroscientists: they will use experimental data to implement and refine the model and use the model to derive predictions that will then be tested experimentally by our collaborators. Essential Functions: * Work with existing and develop new computational models of spinal locomotor circuits * Integrate the neural and biomechanical models to simulate locomotor behavior * Use numerical optimization to optimize the integrated neuromechanical models * Use the models to derive experimentally testable predictions * Closely collaborate with experimental neuroscientists * Analyze kinematic and electrophysiological data * Write and submit research manuscripts * Present novel findings at national and international conferences Required Qualification include: * PhD in computer science, computational neuroscience, biomedical engineering, or a related field * Excellent programming skills (e.g., Python, C++) * Good written and verbal skills in English Previous experience in either (a) modeling of biological neurons and neural networks (spiking and/or rate based), and/or (b) modeling of biomechanics, and/or (c) machine learning is desirable. The qualified candidate will benefit from joining a well-funded research group that works in a dynamic, collaborative, and interdisciplinary environment within the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. The Department provides an outstanding scientific environment for multidisciplinary training. Interactions and collaborations between labs and centers and between other departments are encouraged. Each position will be initially for one year with possible extension to 3-4 years. Salary will be commensurate with experience. To apply, please email a current CV and contact information for 3 references to Dr. Ilya Rybak (rybak(a)drexel.edu<mailto:rybak@drexel.edu>) The positions will remain posted until filled. ================================= Ilya A. Rybak, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy Drexel University College of Medicine 2900 Queen Lane Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA http://rybak-et-al.net

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Postdoc position in computational systems neuroscience, Voigts Lab at Janelia
by Jakob Voigts 07 Oct '21

07 Oct '21

The Voigts Lab at HHMI Janelia Research Campus is recruiting postdocs. We'll work on how neocortex builds and uses models of the world to give animals complex cognitive abilities. The lab will specifically attempt to go beyond repeated stimulus-response associations, instead using complex, naturalistic spatial behaviors to study flexible cognition. We'll be able to throw significant technology at the problem of combining sufficient measurements with complex naturalistic behavior, but more importantly we'll have to overcome the challenge of modeling, analyzing, and ultimately learning from data when there are few or no trials to average over. We will use experimental approaches, such as designing tasks where mice make decisions based on incomplete knowledge of their environment, as well as developing new computational techniques to test circuit mechanisms in the context of unconstrained behaviours. We're part of the new Mechanistic Cognitive Neuroscience research area at Janelia, where there are unique resources for this type of work. We'll work closely with experimental, theoretical, methods, and machine learning researchers in and outside of Janelia to make this research program possible, collaborative, and fun. To apply, please send a cover letter, brief statement of research interests, and CV to jvoigts(a)mit.edu. Lab website: https://www.voigtslab.org/hiring Twitter ad: https://twitter.com/jvoigts/status/1443196881958363143

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Postdoc in Machine learning applied to brain activity data
by Erik Fransén 07 Oct '21

07 Oct '21

Postdoc in Machine learning applied to brain activity data We are seeking a candidate with a PhD in one of the following areas Machine Learning, Computational Neuroscience, Computer Science or Physics. The project will entail analysis of neural data. We are currently analyzing data from Parkinson’s patients (eye-tracking, MEG) and extracting features to be used for disease diagnostics and prediction. The candidate will work in close collaboration with other postdocs and PIs in the consortium. dBRAIN is an interdisciplinary initiative to better understand neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. We combine brain imaging, machine learning, topological data analysis and computational modelling of biological neural networks at multiple scales to identify causal links among disease biomarkers and disease symptoms. This understanding should improve diagnosis, prediction of the disease progression and suggest better therapies. For more information about the position and to apply, visit the web site: https://www.kth.se/en/api/2.61673/what:job/jobID:432976/where:4/ Deadline for application: 01.Nov.2021 11:59 PM CET Prof. Erik Fransén Dept. of Computational Science and Technology School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science KTH Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm, Sweden https://www.kth.se/profile/erikf https://scholar.google.se/citations?user=VFtGuvcAAAAJ&hl=sv

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PhD position in theoretical neuroscience in Berlin
by Tilo Schwalger 06 Oct '21

06 Oct '21

Dear all, we are looking for a PhD candidate in theoretical neuroscience on the topic "Dynamics and variability of structured spiking neural networks". Although the focus is on the theory side, the project also includes the analysis of neuronal population data and associated problems of data assimilation. Methods will be developed within the frameworks of stochastic processes, statistical physics and nonlinear dynamics. The PhD position in my group will be part of the vibrant computational neuroscience community at the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin and the Institute of Mathematics (Stochastics and Financial Mathematics) of TU Berlin. The successful candidate should have a degree in mathematics or physics, keen interest in computational neuroscience, expertise in analytical calculations, programming skills (C++ or C, Python or Julia, LaTeX), and excellent command of the English language, and good communication skills. Funding is provided for five years. Applications, including a letter of motivation, a CV, a current copy of academic transcripts, and a list of at least two potential referees should be sent by email to me: schwalger(a)math.tu-berlin.de The deadline for applications is October 15th 2021, however, later applications might also be considered. More information is available under: https://tub.stellenticket.de/en/offers/106202/?locale=en Kind regards, Tilo Schwalger -- Tilo Schwalger, PhD Assistant Professor Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Berlin Philippstr. 13, Haus 6, 10115 Berlin Room: 202, phone: 0049(0)302093 6788 Technische Universität Berlin Institute of Mathematics Straße des 17. Juni 136, 10623 Berlin Room: 726, phone: +49 (0)30 314-22698 http://page.math.tu-berlin.de/~schwalge tilo.schwalger(a)bccn-berlin.de

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Postdoc in Machine Learning at KTH, Stockholm, Sweden
by Tony Lindeberg 06 Oct '21

06 Oct '21

Postdoc in Machine Learning Job description The division of Computational Science and Technology at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden is seeking a Postdoc in Machine Learning to handle scale-dependent image information in deep networks. In our research, we develop deep networks for processing image data that handle scaling transformations and other image transformations in a theoretically well-founded manner. Our research in this area comprises both theoretical modelling of the influence of image transformations on different architectures for deep networks and the experimental evaluation of such networks on benchmark datasets to explore their properties. The work also comprises the creation of new benchmark datasets, to enable characterization of properties of deep networks that are not covered by existing datasets. For examples of our previous work in this area, see https://www.kth.se/profile/tony/page/deep-networks Within the scope of this postdoc position, you are expected to work on and contribute to the research frontier regarding scale-covariant or scale-equivariant deep networks and/or deep networks parameterized in terms of Gaussian derivatives, on specific research topics that we choose together. The selected candidate will work closely together with the project leader Tony Lindeberg. For further information and information about to how to apply, see https://kth.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:432053/ Application deadline: November 1, 2021 [cid:FD2B374F-C472-4895-ADA7-B3CD5419FD22@csc.kth.se] Tony Lindeberg Professor of Computer Science — Computational Vision KTH Royal Institute of Technology Computational Brain Science Lab Division of Computational Science and Technology, CST SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden Phone: +46 8 790 6205 https://www.kth.se/profile/tony/

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Open position in Modeling at the Allen Institute
by Anton Arkhipov 06 Oct '21

06 Oct '21

Are you excited about building bio-realistic, large-scale models of brain circuits? Do you enjoy collaborative, team science environment? Do you want to contribute to understanding fundamental mechanisms of brain function? If yes, this job opening might be for you! Check out this Scientist position in the lab of Anton Arkhipov at the Allen Institute in Seattle: https://alleninstitute.hrmdirect.com/employment/job-opening.php?req=1770679 The Scientist will build bio-realistic models and simulate the entrainment of neuronal populations by periodic sensory stimulation at different frequencies. This NIH BRAIN Initiative-sponsored project will leverage our expertise in modeling and unique data on cortex composition and connectivity at the Allen Institute, as well as experimental data from our collaborators at the group of Dr. Li-Huei Tsai at MIT. Relevant resources and publications: * https://portal.brain-map.org/explore/models/mv1-all-layers * https://portal.brain-map.org/explore/connectivity * Iaccarino et al., Nature (2016); Adaikkan et al., Neuron (2019); Martorell et al., Cell (2019) The Allen Institute believes that team science significantly benefits from the participation of diverse voices, experiences and backgrounds. High-quality science can only be produced when it includes different perspectives. We are committed to increasing diversity across every team and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for this role. Anton Arkhipov Associate Investigator T: 206.548.8414 E: antona(a)alleninstitute.org<mailto:antona@alleninstitute.org> alleninstitute.org<https://alleninstitute.org> brain-map.org

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multiple positions (postdoc/phd/lab technician ) available in Tuebingen, Germany (Human psychophysics, ERP/TMS, fMRI, zebrafish )
by Li Zhaoping 05 Oct '21

05 Oct '21

Multiple job openings (PhD, Postdoc and Lab technician positions) are available in the working group/department of Li Zhaoping in the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics and/or University of Tuebingen. Please follow the links below for the open positions and application procedure. We look forward to receiving your application. • Lab Mechatronics / Programming Assistant https://jobs.tue.mpg.de/en/programs/132 <https://jobs.tue.mpg.de/en/programs/132> • PhD position in Human Psychophysics with TMS and/or EEG https://jobs.tue.mpg.de/en/programs/147 <https://jobs.tue.mpg.de/en/programs/147> • Postdoctoral position in Human Psychophysics with TMS and/or EEG https://jobs.tue.mpg.de/en/programs/148 <https://jobs.tue.mpg.de/en/programs/148> • Postdoctoral position in Human Psychophysics with High field and/or 3T fMRI https://jobs.tue.mpg.de/en/programs/149 <https://jobs.tue.mpg.de/en/programs/149> • PhD position in Zebrafish Neuroscience https://jobs.tue.mpg.de/en/programs/150 <https://jobs.tue.mpg.de/en/programs/150> • Postdoctoral position in Zebrafish Neuroscience https://jobs.tue.mpg.de/en/programs/151 <https://jobs.tue.mpg.de/en/programs/151> Informal inquiries can be addressed to jobs.li(a)tuebingen.mpg.de <mailto:jobs.li@tuebingen.mpg.de>. More information can be obtained from http://www.lizhaoping.org/jobs.html

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Postdoc Position in Computational Psychiatry/Neuroscience @Columbia
by Kiyohito Iigaya 05 Oct '21

05 Oct '21

The Laboratory for Computational Psychiatry and Translational Neuroscience at Columbia University (PI: Kyo Iigaya. https://www.iigayalab.com) is looking for a motivated postdoc to work on research in computational psychiatry, with a particular focus on understanding neural computation underlying maladaptive learning and decision-making under uncertainty. We are a new laboratory working at the interface between computational neuroscience and psychiatry. Our goal is to understand neural computation underlying learning and decision-making across species in normal and abnormal states, and to translate our findings to clinical applications in psychiatry. We use both theoretical and experimental tools, including reinforcement-learning models, (deep, recurrent) neural network models, web-based behavioral experiments, and fMRI. We work closely with basic and clinical laboratories across Columbia, including labs at the Psychiatry Department, the Center for Theoretical Neuroscience, and the Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute. The ideal candidate has a strong background in the computational modeling of behavioral and neural dynamics, as well as in data analyses using machine learning tools. Experiences in programming online experiments (e.g., Mturk) or administrating fMRI experiments are a plus. The successful candidate should have a Ph.D. in computational neuroscience, physics, computer science, psychology, or related fields. Candidates should send a single PDF file to ki2151(a)columbia.edu with the subject 'Postdoc Application'. The PDF should contain: 1) a CV 2) a summary of previous/current research and a future plan, and 3) the names and contact details of three referees who will be willing to write reference letters. Informal inquiries about the position are encouraged. Application reviews will start on Oct. 15 and will continue until the position is filled. Best wishes, Kyo --------------------------------- Kiyohito Iigaya, Ph.D. ki2151(a)columbia.edu Assistant Professor of Neurobiology (in Psychiatry) Columbia University Irving Medical Center

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Postdoctoral competition leading to a professorship position in engineering at the University de Sherbrooke
by Jean Rouat 04 Oct '21

04 Oct '21

Dear all, The University of Sherbrooke (Quebec, Canada), is currently seeking female doctoral candidates and young doctoral graduates for the Claire-Deschênes postdoctoral fellowship competition. This unique opportunity aims to promote postdoctoral training for women leading to a professorship position in engineering at the University de Sherbrooke. We encourage submissions in the emerging fields of systems-neuroscience, computational neuroscience, and neuromorphic computing. Candidates from other fields of Computer Engineering will also be considered such as software aspects for new architectures (distributed, heterogeneous, neuromorphic and quantum); artificial intelligence; standalone systems; information security; formal methods. Any other relevant field may be considered. The candidate will demonstrate the ability to teach several subjects (C and C++ programming systems, networking and programmable logic) and present their vision for teaching information technology to engineering students. Applications must be received no later than November 18, 2021. Details regarding the application procedure are available at: English: www.usherbrooke.ca/promo/genie/claire-deschenes-en/ French: www.usherbrooke.ca/promo/genie/claire-deschenes/ Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. Jean Rouat, ing., Ph.D. Full Prof. ECE Dept. App. Comp. Computer Science Dept. Member Institut interdisciplinaire d’innovation technologique - 3IT, https://www.usherbrooke.ca/3it/en/ Associate Member Institut Quantique, https://www.usherbrooke.ca/iq/ Faculty of Engineering, 2500 boul. université Sherbrooke, Québec, J1K 2R1 Member of the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology McGill Schulich School of Music, 527 Sherbrooke Street West Montréal, Québec, H3A 1E3 https://www.cirmmt.org Jean.Rouat(a)usherbrooke.ca https://www.gel.usherbrooke.ca/rouat https://www.gel.usherbrooke.ca/necotis https://www.usherbrooke.ca/recherche/specialistes/?getSpecialist=369656&pag… https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=LQVQJ50AAAAJ&view_op=list_w…

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Last call - Register for free - ISRC Computational Neuroscience, Neurotechnology and Neuro-inspired AI Autumn School (ISRC-CN3)
by Wong-Lin, Kongfatt 04 Oct '21

04 Oct '21

LAST CALL: Register for FREE and attend our ISRC Computational Neuroscience, Neurotechnology and Neuro-inspired AI Autumn School (ISRC-CN3) at the following link: https://store.ulster.ac.uk/product-catalogue/faculty-of-computing-engineeri… Student bursaries are available - please state this when registering. This Autumn School (25-29 October) is organised by our Intelligent Systems Research Centre (ISRC) at Ulster University, Magee campus. More details can be found here: https://sites.google.com/view/isrc-cn3/home Please share this with your contacts to help promote the event. If you have any further queries about this event, please contact KongFatt Wong-Lin (k.wong-lin(a)ulster.ac.uk<mailto:k.wong-lin@ulster.ac.uk>). This email and any attachments are confidential and intended solely for the use of the addressee and may contain information which is covered by legal, professional or other privilege. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager at postmaster(a)ulster.ac.uk and delete this email immediately. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ulster University. The University's computer systems may be monitored and communications carried out on them may be recorded to secure the effective operation of the system and for other lawful purposes. Ulster University does not guarantee that this email or any attachments are free from viruses or 100% secure. Unless expressly stated in the body of a separate attachment, the text of email is not intended to form a binding contract. Correspondence to and from the University may be subject to requests for disclosure by 3rd parties under relevant legislation. The Ulster University was founded by Royal Charter in 1984 and is registered with company number RC000726 and VAT registered number GB672390524.The primary contact address for Ulster University in Northern Ireland is Cromore Road, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry BT52 1SA

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Faculty Position in Mathematical Biology at the University of Pittsburgh
by Chengcheng Huang 03 Oct '21

03 Oct '21

*The Department of Mathematics at the University of Pittsburgh* invites applications for *a tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor level in the area of Mathematical Biology (including computational neuroscience)* to begin in the fall term of 2022, pending budgetary approval. We seek outstanding candidates with expertise in developing and applying mathematical methods to address biological questions, who will complement and enhance our existing strength in this area. We are dedicated to the mutual success of our faculty and students in our research and education enterprise. The University of Pittsburgh is an active center for interdisciplinary research in the life sciences, offering exciting opportunities for collaborations across departments as well as with our highly ranked medical school and nearby Carnegie Mellon University. The University is currently ranked third in the nation in total NIH funding. Successful candidates will have a Ph.D. in Mathematics or another quantitative field and should demonstrate substantial research accomplishment and dedication to teaching. Review of applications will begin on *November 15, 2021*, and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants can apply online at: *https://www.join.pitt.edu/* <https://www.join.pitt.edu/> (under Faculty Positions, Keyword search for Mathematical Biology or Mathematics). Candidates should submit (a) a cover letter, (b) a CV, (c) a statement of research accomplishments and future plans, (d) a brief description of teaching experience and interests, and (e) a brief description of how your research, teaching or service demonstrates a commitment to diversity and inclusion. Applicants should also have (f) at least three letters of reference emailed to math(a)pitt.edu by November 15, 2021. Any questions about the application process can be directed to Dana Freund at daf125(a)pitt.edu. The Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences is committed to building and fostering a culturally diverse environment, so the ability to work effectively with a wide range of individuals and constituencies in support of a diverse community is essential. The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and values equality of opportunity, human dignity, and diversity. EOE, including disability/vets.

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COSYNE 2022: Call for workshop proposals
by Tomas Hromadka 02 Oct '21

02 Oct '21

==================================================== Computational and Systems Neuroscience 2022 (Cosyne) MAIN MEETING 17 - 20 March 2022 Lisbon, Portugal WORKSHOPS 21 - 22 March 2022 Cascais, Portugal www.cosyne.org ==================================================== ---------------------------------------------------- MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT ---------------------------------------------------- The annual Cosyne meeting provides an inclusive forum for the exchange of empirical and theoretical approaches to problems in systems neuroscience, in order to understand how neural systems function. The MAIN MEETING is single-track. A set of invited talks is selected by the Executive Committee, and additional talks and posters are selected by the Program Committee, based on submitted abstracts. The WORKSHOPS feature in-depth discussion of current topics of interest, in a small group setting. All abstract submissions will be reviewed double blind. The deadline for Abstract submission will be 20 November 2021. Cosyne topics include but are not limited to: neural basis of behavior, sensory and motor systems, circuitry, learning, neural coding, natural scene statistics, dendritic computation, neural basis of persistent activity, nonlinear receptive field mapping, representations of time and sequence, reward systems, decision-making, synaptic plasticity, map formation and plasticity, population coding, attention, neuromodulation, and computation with spiking networks. We would like to foster increased participation from experimental groups as well as computational ones. Please circulate widely and encourage your students and postdocs to apply. IMPORTANT DATES Abstract submission opens: 15 October 2021 Workshop pre-proposal deadline: 15 October 2021 Travel grant submission opens: 01 November 2021 Workshop proposal deadline: 12 November 2021 Abstract submission deadline: 20 November 2021 When preparing an abstract, authors should be aware that not all abstracts can be accepted for the meeting. Abstracts will be selected based on the clarity with which they convey the substance, significance, and originality of the work to be presented. ORGANIZING COMMITTEE General Chairs: Anne-Marie Oswald (U Pittsburgh) and Srdjan Ostojic (Ecole Normale Superieure Paris) Program Chairs: Laura Busse (LMU Munich) and Tim Vogels (IST Austria) Workshop Chairs: Anna Schapiro (U Penn) and Blake Richards (McGill) Tutorial Chair: Kanaka Rajan (Mount Sinai) DEIA Committee: Bianca Jones Martin (Columbia), Gabrielle Gutierrez (Columbia), and Stefano Recanatesi (U Washington) Undergraduate Travel Chairs: Angela Langdon (Princeton) and Bob Wilson (U Arizona) Fundraising Chair: Michael Long (NYU) Social Media Chair: Grace Lindsay (Columbia) Poster Design: Maja Bialon PROGRAM COMMITTEE Laura Busse (U Munich) Tim Vogels (IST Austria) Athena Akrami (UCL) Omri Barak (Technion) Brice Bathellier (Paris) Bing Brunton (U Washington) Yoram Burak (Hebrew University) SueYeon Chung (Columbia) Christine Constantinople (NYU) Victor de Lafuente (UNAM Mexico) Jan Drugowitsch (Harvard) Alexander Ecker (Göttingen) Tatiana Engel (Cold Spring Harbor) Annegret Falkner (Princeton) Kevin Franks (Duke) Jens Kremkow (Berlin) Andrew Leifer (Princeton) Sukbin Lim (Shanghai) Scott Linderman (Stanford) Emilie Mace (MPI Neurobiology) Mackenzie Mathis (EPFL Lausanne) Ida Momennejad (Microsoft) Jill O'Reilly (Oxford) Il Memming Park (Stony Brook) Adrien Peyrache (McGill Montréal) Yiota Porazi (FORCE) Nathalie Rochefort (Edinburgh) Christina Savin (NYU) Daniela Vallentin (MPI Ornithology) Brad Wyble (Penn State) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Stephanie Palmer (U Chicago) Zachary Mainen (Champalimaud) Alexandre Pouget (U Geneva) Anthony Zador (CSHL) CONTACT meeting [at] cosyne.org ----------------------------------------------------- CALL FOR WORKSHOP PROPOSALS ----------------------------------------------------- A series of workshops will be held after the main Cosyne meeting. The goal is to provide an informal forum for the discussion of important research questions and challenges. Controversial issues, open problems, comparisons of competing approaches, and alternative viewpoints are encouraged. The overarching goal of all workshops should be the integration of empirical and theoretical approaches, in an environment that fosters collegial discussion and debate. - There will be 6-10 workshops/day, running in parallel. - Each workshop is expected to draw between 20 and 100 people. - The workshops will be split into morning (9.30am-12.30pm) and afternoon (3.30pm-6.30pm) sessions. - Workshops will be held at the Hotel Cascais Miragem. - Workshop speakers do *not* receive free registration, travel expenses, or accommodation for either the main meeting or the workshop sessions. Organizers should let invited speakers know that they are expected to pay for workshop registration fees Workshop organizer responsibilities include coordinating workshop participation and content, scheduling all speakers, submitting a final schedule for the workshop program, and moderating the discussion. Organizers can, but need not, be speakers. One complimentary (free) organizer registration is provided per workshop. For workshops with two organizers, the free registration can be given to one of the organizers or split evenly between them. Any required multimedia resources beyond a projector, screen, and microphones will be the responsibility of the workshop organizers to coordinate with Cosyne and Hotel staff. EVALUATION CRITERIA As stated above, the goal of Cosyne workshops is to provide an interactive, informal forum for discussions. Relevant topics include, but are not limited to: sensory processing; motor planning and control; functional neural circuits; motivation, reward and decision making; learning and memory; adaptation and plasticity; neural coding; neural circuitry and network models; and methods in computational or systems neuroscience. Workshop proposals will be evaluated by the Cosyne Workshop Chairs, and a subset of the proposals will be selected. The proposals will be evaluated according to the following six metrics (which will be weighted equally): 1. Relevance to the Cosyne community 2. Integration of experimental and theoretical issues 3. Current interest in the topic in the scientific community 4. Potential for new research directions and interactions to emerge 5. Distinctive scope/approach compared to other workshops (including previous years’) 6. Diversity and equity in the proposed speakers PRE-PROPOSALS - Deadline 15 October 2021 In an effort to coordinate submissions, workshop organizers are *strongly encouraged* to submit a pre-proposal by *15 October 2021* Submission instructions for workshop (pre)-proposals are available at Cosyne.org -> Workshops. Pre-proposals may be shared among submitters to reduce topical overlap or facilitate merging of workshops. Pre-proposals are not mandatory, but workshops with a pre-proposal will have priority. In order to foster discussion within Workshops and reduce overlap between workshops, organizers should inform invited speakers that a speaker can take part in no more than two Workshops. The pre-proposals should include: - Name(s) and email address(es) of the organizers (no more than 2 organizers per session, please). A primary contact should be designated. - A title. - A brief description of 1) what the workshop will address and accomplish, 2) why the topic is of interest, 3) who is the targeted group of participants. - Names of potential invitees, with indication of confirmed speakers. Preference will be given to workshops with confirmed speakers. - Proposed workshop length (1 or 2 days). Most workshops will be limited to a single day. If you think your workshop needs two days, please explain why. - A brief resume of the workshop organizer(s) along with a short list of workshop-relevant publications (about half a page total). Experience has shown that the best discussions during a workshop are those that arise spontaneously. A good way to foster these is to have short talks and long question periods (e.g. 30+15 minutes), and have plenty of breaks. We recommend keeping the number of talks small (i.e., fewer than 10 talks per day). FULL PROPOSALS - Deadline 12 November 2021 The full proposals should include the list of confirmed speakers in addition to all of the components required for a pre-proposal. WORKSHOP COSTS Detailed registration costs, etc, will be available at www.cosyne.org. Please note: Cosyne does *not* provide travel funding for workshop speakers. Organizers should let invited speakers know that they are expected to pay for workshop registration fees. Participants are encouraged to register early, in order to qualify for discounted registration rates. One complimentary (free) organizer registration is provided per workshop. For workshops with two organizers, the free registration can be given to one of the organizers or split evenly between them. COSYNE 2022 WORKSHOP CHAIRS Anna Schapiro (U Penn) and Blake Richards (McGill) COSYNE WORKSHOPS CONTACT workshops [at] cosyne.org COSYNE MAILING LISTS Please consider adding yourself to Cosyne mailing lists (groups) to receive email updates with various Cosyne-related information and join in helpful discussions. See Cosyne.org -> Mailing lists for details.

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Announcing the 3rd Brain-Computer Interface Un-Conference (3rd BCI-UC)
by Philipp Raggam 01 Oct '21

01 Oct '21

Dear Colleagues, We cordially invite you to the *3rd Brain-Computer Interface Un-Conference* (BCI-UC) on*January 27th, 2022, from 03:00 pm to 09:00 pm (CET)* [1]! The BCI-UC is an online un-conference that provides rapid dissemination of novel research results in the BCI community. Participants can *submit abstracts* to apply for *20 minutes presentation* slots. Abstracts are not reviewed by a program committee. Rather, all registered participants can vote on which of the submitted abstracts they would like to see presented at the un-conference. Because the BCI-UC does not publish conference proceedings, submitted abstracts can report novel as well as already published work. *Registration and attendance are free of charge*. Presentations of the 1st and 2nd BCI-UC can be re-watched at [2] and [3]. The 3rd BCI-UC will feature *keynotes* by *Cynthia Chestek* (University of Michigan) [4] and *Thorsten Zander* (TU Brandenburg) [5]. *Registration and abstract submission open on November 1st, 2021* [1]. Abstract submissions are text-only. The length and format of the submissions are up to the authors - use whatever format you consider best for attracting up-votes!*Submission closes on December 3rd, 2021 at 11:59 pm*. *Voting on submitted abstracts begins on December 6th, 2021, and closes on December 12th, 2021 at 11:59 pm*. We will invite the authors of the top-voted abstracts to present at the un-conference. *All presentations will be streamed via Crowdcast* [6] and can be accessed free of charge. Join us in supporting this novel community-driven dissemination of research results! The BCI-UC committee: Moritz Grosse-Wentrup Anja Meunier Philipp Raggam Jiachen Xu Links: [1] https://bciunconference.univie.ac.at/3rd-bci-uc/ [2] https://bciunconference.univie.ac.at/past-events/1st-bci-uc/ [3] https://bciunconference.univie.ac.at/past-events/2nd-bci-uc/ [4] https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=36sxAZEAAAAJ&hl=de [5] https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=0E49HxYAAAAJ [6] https://www.crowdcast.io/ -- DI Philipp Raggam, BSc Research Group Neuroinformatics Faculty of Computer Science University of Vienna Hörlgasse 6, A-1090 Wien, Austria

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New Job Posting | Scientific Software Engineer (Max Planck)
by Tanya Brown 30 Sep '21

30 Sep '21

The *Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics* in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, investigates the attentional, cognitive, and affective mechanisms of aesthetic perception and evaluation. The *Department of Neuroscience *invites applications for a *Scientific Software Engineer (m/f/x)* As part of an external funded project in collaboration with Dan Marcus, Wash. U; Sean Hill, CAMH; and members of the Cogitate Consortium, we are searching for a Scientific Data Engineer to contribute to the development of generic, cross-domain metadata management framework to foster the reuse of open datasets as well as reproducibility of cognitive neuroscience datasets i.e., metadata describing the experimental context of studies employing fMRI, MEEG, and ECoG. The successful candidate will also heavily contribute to the development of data infrastructure including storage, streaming and analysis tools for reproducible science based on the BIDS standard. Efforts will be devoted to develop tools for an efficient organization and exploration of raw and processed datasets. The position is ideal for networking in the open science community as it includes interaction with the open (neuro)science community; and is a unique opportunity for someone keen to contribute to the development of open-science and large-scale collaborations and aiming to contribute to community efforts and dissemination. *Your tasks in interdisciplinary research projects focus on:* · Review of existing approaches and tools, Requirement specification, Conceptual design, blueprint of implementation, Proof-of-concept application to Cognitive Neuroscience · Presentation and publication of the results · Exchange and networking within national (NFDI, MPDL) and international (RDA, EOSC) initiatives · Developing, testing and implementing scientific software i.e., standardized neuroscience data acquisition, reproducible analysis pipelines and data storage for open science building on the BIDS standard · Providing training and support for students and postdocs at varied levels of competence in modern, high quality, open science/source coding practices · Providing support and training for data management · Being the lab’s interface with the Institute’s core IT team *Your Profile:* · Completed university degree in natural sciences, engineering or a similar field (e.g., Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Physics, Informatics, Neuroscience) · Solid programming skills preferably in Python and/or C++ · Experience with Python libraries (e.g., NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib, and pandas) is beneficial · Experience with software development (e.g., version control with Git) and data organization (e.g., data bases with SQL and MySQL) is preferable · Knowledge of relevant metadata standards and semantic techniques are beneficial (including W3C, schema.org, RDF, JSON-LD, etc) · Interest in interdisciplinary projects and cognitive and systems neuroscience · Familiarity or experience with scientific research methods · High degree of self-organization and independent work · Team spirit, reliability, and sense of responsibility · Complete spoken and written fluency in English; knowledge of German is a plus · Preference will be given to candidates with prior experience in any of these domains: BIDS standards, Open science tools, neuroimaging techniques and data analysis (especially fMRI and MEG/EEG) and/or XNAT We offer an exciting interdisciplinary field of engagement in an international scientific environment. The Institute is located in an attractive location with excellent infrastructure in Frankfurt’s Westend neighbourhood. You can expect a modern equipped workplace with flexible working hours (some remote working is possible) and the Opportunity to participate in (international) conferences and project meetings. Further development of your personal strengths, e.g. through direct interactions with the group of Dan Marcus and Sean Hill, as well as researchers forming part of the Cogitate Consortium (e.g., Christof Koch, Gabriel Kreiman, Ole Jensen, Sylvain Baillet among many others) is possible. The position *will begin earliest on December 1, 2021* and is initially limited to two years, with the possibility of an extension pending funding approval. Salary is paid in accordance with the collective agreement for the public sector (TVöD Bund), according to your qualifications and experience. The Max Planck Society strives for gender equality and diversity. We are also committed to increasing the number of individuals with disabilities in our workforce. Therefore, applicants of all backgrounds are welcome. Your application should include: your detailed CV (including details of your educational background and skills); a cover letter that explains why this position interests you and how your skills and abilities are suitable; copies of relevant degrees and/or certificates. Please send these materials all together in a single PDF file, *before November 1, 2021*, by e-mail to job(a)ae.mpg.de using the code *“TWCF Engineer”* in the subject. Please feel free to contact job(a)ae.mpg.de or Tanya Brown < tanya.brown(a)ae.mpg.de <tanya.brown(a)ae.mpg.de?subject=TWCF%20Engineer>> if you have any questions about the position.

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PhD position in Numerical and Computational Analysis for Mathematical Neuroscience
by Avitabile, D. 27 Sep '21

27 Sep '21

Below you can find the details of a PhD position at Radboud University (The Netherlands) on Numerical and Computational Analysis for Mathematical Neuroscience, under the supervision of Prof. Gabriel Lord. The deadline for applications is the 29th of October 2021. https://www.ru.nl/english/working-at/vacature/details-vacature/?recid=11705… Daniele Avitabile Associate Professor in Applied Mathematics Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam www.danieleavitabile.com

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Online Workshop: 30/09 - 01/10/2021 "Towards multipurpose neural network models II: Model testing and model fitting"
by Zélie Tournoud 27 Sep '21

27 Sep '21

Dear colleagues, The European Institute for Theroretical Neurosience (EITN) is happy to invite you all to its next online workshop taking place online this week from Wednesday to Friday. It is open to everyone upon registration. You will find all the information at the end of this email. Kind regards, Zélie, for the EITN team *_____* **** * * *Workshop on "Towards multipurpose neural network models II: Model testing and model fitting"* /Organized by Anton Arkhipov (Allen Institute, Seattle), Gaute Einevoll (NMBU/University of Oslo)/ *_Dates:_*Wednesday 29 September – Friday October 1st *_Time:_*5PM – 9.15PM (CET) <https://www.eitn.org/images/events/TMNNM-II-MTaMF_Flyer.pdf> Online workshop. Free to attend, but registration is mandatory. *REGISTER HERE.* <https://cnrs.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_saMXfg31Roe4tqHbWtTdFg> *https://cnrs.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_saMXfg31Roe4tqHbWtTdFg* *_Abstract:_* Starting with the work of Hodgkin, Huxley, Cole, Rall, Katz, Eccles and others in the 1950s and 1960s, we have a reasonably good understanding of the biophysical principles by which single neurons operate. For neural circuits the understanding is much more limited. Most network studies have considered stylized models with a few populations of identical neurons and focused on explaining a particular experimental phenomenon. However, real neural networks consist of a variety of neuron types and have structured synaptic connections. Furthermore, real networks typically perform multiple functions and can be characterized by a variety of readouts from various measurement modalities, including spiking activity, local field potentials, and others. How can we move towards multipurpose models that incorporate the true biological complexity of neural circuits and faithfully reproduce multiple observables in many different situations? The first workshop on the topic was arranged in August 2020 (see https://alleninstitute.org/what-we-do/brain-science/events-training/allen-i… <https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Falleninst…> for program and videos of talks). In this second (also virtual) workshop in the series we will focus on two key aspects of the overall endeavor: model testing and model fitting. Multipurpose network models mimicking real neural circuits will contain numerous model parameters that must be optimized. Efficient methods for fitting of model parameters to experimental data are thus needed. Further, the candidate models must be systematically tested against a variety of experimental data, requiring development of commonly accepted benchmarks and test suites. In the workshop these methodological challenges will be addressed from a variety of angles. *_Confirmed speakers:_*__ Anton Arkhipov (Allen Institute) Marcus Covert (Stanford) Sharon Crook (Arizona State U.) James DiCarlo (MIT) Gaute Einevoll (NMBU/U. Oslo) Julijana Gjorgjeva (Max Planck Institute and TUM) Peder Jedlicka (U. Giessen) Szabolcs Kali (Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary) Arvind Kumar (KTH Stockholm) Jacob Macke (U. Tübingen) Stefan Mihalas (Allen Institute) Aaron Milstein (Rutgers U.) Kanaka Rajan (Mount Sinai) Atle Rimehaug (U. Oslo) Frances Skinner (Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, and U. Toronto) Carsen Stringer (Janelia) Kristin Tøndel (NMBU) * * *Wednesday, September 29, 2021* *Time (PDT)* *Time (CEST)* *Speaker* *Affiliation* *Title* 8:00 am – 8:15 am 5:00 pm – 5:15 pm Gaute Einevoll NMBU/U. Oslo Introduction 8:15 am – 8:55 am 5:15 pm – 5:55 pm Jacob Macke U. Tübingen *Keynote* Simulation-based inference: Bridging the gap between mechanistic models and machine learning. 8:55 am – 9:25 am 5:55 pm – 6:25 pm Aaron Milstein Rutgers U. Nested parallel simulation and multi-objective optimization of neuronal cell and circuit models 9:25 am – 9:40 am 6:25 pm – 6:40 pm Break 9:40 am – 10:10 am 6:40 pm – 7:10 pm Atle Rimehaug U. Oslo Enhancing model constraints by utilizing current source densities 10:10 am – 10:40 am 7:10 pm – 7:40 pm Kristin Tøndel NMBU Facilitating optimization using metamodelling 10:40 am – 10:50 am 7:40 pm – 7:50 pm Break 10:50 am – 11:20 am 7:50 pm – 8:20 pm Frances Skinner Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, and University of Toronto Clarity in model development and goals leads to model linkages and biological insights 11:20 am – 12:10 pm 8:20 pm – 9:10 pm _Panel debate – All participants of the day._ *Thursday, September 30, 2021* *Time (PDT)* *Time (CEST)* *Speaker* *Affiliation* *Title* 8:00 am – 8:15 am 5:00 pm – 5:15 pm Anton Arkhipov Allen Institute Introduction 8:15 am – 8:55 am 5:15 pm – 5:55 pm James DiCarlo MIT *Keynote* Reverse Engineering Visual Intelligence 8:55 am – 9:25 am 5:55 pm – 6:25 pm Sharon Crook Arizona State U. Testing the Data-driven Model 9:25 am – 9:40 am 6:25 pm – 6:40 pm Break 9:40 am – 10:10 am 6:40 pm – 7:10 pm Szabolcs Kali Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary Systematic construction and evaluation of models of rodent hippocampal neurons 10:10 am – 10:40 am 7:10 pm – 7:40 pm Peter Jedlicka U. Giessen Building consistent and robust models of hippocampal granule cells and CA1 pyramidal cells 10:40 am – 10:50 am 7:40 pm – 7:50 pm Break 10:50 am – 11:20 am 7:50 pm – 8:20 pm Stefan Mihalas Allen Institute Computing with a mess: How nonstationary, heterogeneous and noisy components help the brain’s computational power 11:20 am – 12:10 pm 8:20 pm – 9:10 pm _Panel debate – All participants of the day._ *Friday, October 1, 2021* *Time (PDT)* *Time (CEST)* *Speaker* *Affiliation* *Title* 8:00 am – 8:40 am 5:00 pm – 5:40 pm Markus Covert Stanford *Special lecture* Simultaneous cross-evaluation of heterogeneous E. coli datasets via mechanistic simulation 8:40 am – 9:20 am 5:40 pm – 6:20 pm Kanaka Rajan Mount Sinai *Keynote* Data-constrained neural network models of adaptive learning in the brain 9:20 am – 9:40 am 6:20 pm – 6:40 pm Break 9:40 am – 10:10 am 6:40 pm – 7:10 pm Julijana Gjorgjeva Max Planck Institute and TUM Biologically plausible learning in developing networks 10:10 am – 10:40 am 7:10 pm – 7:40 pm Carsen Stringer Janelia Rastermap: Extracting structure from high-dimensional neural data 10:40 am – 10:50 am 7:40 pm – 7:50 pm Break 10:50 am – 11:20 am 7:50 pm – 8:20 pm Arvind Kumar KTH Stockholm Structure and activity dynamics relationship in biological neuronal networks: Measurements and models 11:20 am – 12:10 pm 8:20 pm – 9:10 pm _Panel debate – All participants of the day._

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Brain Mechanisms: Linking Cognitive Phenomena to Neuron Activity
by Andrew Coward 23 Sep '21

23 Sep '21

Dear colleagues, I would like to bring to your attention a book that has just been published. The book, Brain Mechanisms: Linking Cognitive Phenomena to Neuron Activity, describes how to understand higher cognition in terms of anatomical, physiological and chemical processes in the brain using techniques based on how we understand the operation of complex electronic systems. A brain has absolutely no resemblance to an electronic system. Nevertheless, how we go about understanding complex electronic systems has some important lessons for how to go about understanding the brain. Brains have huge numbers of neurons, and understanding obviously cannot be based on simultaneously imagining the ongoing activity of all these neurons. Some way must be found to organize all this information in a way humans can handle. A complex computing system can have hundreds of billions of components like transistors. Engineers could not design such systems by simultaneously imagining the activity of all the components that could be involved. Rather, the design information is organized in such a way that all design tasks are within the mental bandwidth of a human designer. The techniques to achieve this involve hierarchies of description, carefully managed use of approximation, and the ubiquitous use of just two types of information process: instructions and data read/writes. Natural selection pressures have resulted in brain architectures to which analogous techniques for organizing information can be applied. The pressures have resulted in the ubiquitous presence of two types of information processes in the brain, condition definition/detections and behavioural recommendation definition/integrations. These information processes are completely different from those in computing systems, but they allow creation of analogous hierarchies of description. Such hierarchies of description make it possible to achieve an intuitively satisfying understanding of human memory, consciousness and self-awareness in terms of the activity of the billions of neurons. A blog touches on some of these ideas. The book is available at Amazon.comDownload a sample chapterVideo of recent lecture at Florida State University Andrew CowardAustralian National UniversityCanberrahttps://researchers.anu.edu.au/researchers/coward-a

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PhD's and Postdoc positions at UVa
by Mario Negrello 22 Sep '21

22 Sep '21

Posting on behalf of Jorge Mejias: Dear all, I hope things are going well for all of you. I’m writing you because I’m looking for candidates with a strong quantitative background for a PhD position and a postdoc position at my lab, both for working on computational models of large-scale brain networks. If you know of anybody in your surroundings who might be interested, would you mind sharing this information with them? I think it’s especially important for the postdoctoral position, as the deadline is approaching (Sept 30) and we still don’t have a lot of candidates. The PhD position is focused on studying multisensory integration under noisy or uncertain conditions. The researcher will design and study computational models of large-scale brain networks of the mouse for this purpose, constraining the models with anatomical data and comparing the predictions with electrophysiological recordings from local colleagues at the Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience group at the UvA. The models will later inform other colleagues, also involved in the project, to build neuro-inspired algorithms for sensor fusion in self-driving vehicles and drones. More information and application procedure (with deadline October 15) can be found here: https://www.uva.nl/en/content/vacancies/2021/09/21-734-phd-position-in-comp… <https://www.uva.nl/en/content/vacancies/2021/09/21-734-phd-position-in-comp…> The postdoc position aims to uncover the mechanisms behind compulsive behavior. The researcher will build computational models of large-scale brain networks of mouse and human, using anatomical and electrophysiological data to constrain and test the models. This is a collaboration with Ingo Willuhn at the NIN, who will provide mouse electrophysiological and human clinical data to test the models for healthy and OCD subjects. The final goal is to use the model to investigate translational biomarkers for compulsive disorders. More information and application procedure (deadline September 30) can be found in this link: https://www.uva.nl/shared-content/uva/en/vacancies/2021/09/21699-postdoctor… <https://www.uva.nl/shared-content/uva/en/vacancies/2021/09/21699-postdoctor…> Thanks a lot for the help with spreading this around! Best, Jorge

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Call for Teaching Assistants for the Cape Town Imbizo, August 11th to September 4th 2022. Apply by October 11
by Tim Vogels 22 Sep '21

22 Sep '21

Dear Colleagues, We are looking for teaching assistants for the IBRO-Simons Computational Neuroscience Imbizo (#isiCNI), a computational neuroscience summer school held in Cape Town, South Africa. We are looking for post-doctoral or advanced PhD researchers to join our team as Teaching Assistants (TAs) for the #isiCNI2022 in August 2022. Please send your application to to isicn.imbizo(a)gmail.com <mailto:isicn.imbizo@gmail.com>. Include 1) CV and a 2) cover letter with a short motivational statement for why you would be a good fit, and what your favourite topics would be for teaching tutorials and supervising student projects. Additionally, 3) please provide the email address of one reference. We will start assessing applications on 11 October 2021. About the Imbizo: The school hosts 31 students for an amazing 25 days of lectures, tutorials, projects and parties. All this takes place on Noordhoek beach, between the mountain and the ocean. It's a spectacular location. The dates for the isiCNI2022 are August 11th to September 4th 2022. The Imbizo is a special experience, with students being totally immersed in academic, social, touristic and cultural activities, and has resulted in student and TA groups from previous schools becoming very close, personally and scientifically. This is fantastic, as a major goal of the isiCNI project is to help young African researchers grow their academic peer and friend group. About being a TA: Each TA runs one afternoon tutorial in the first week of the school, which they design themselves. Each TA will teach a different topic, which the TA's choose among themselves, to provide students with a broad exposure to problems and methods in computational neuroscience. Each TA is also assigned 5 students to supervise for project work during the last 2 weeks of the school. TAs will be asked to help processing student applications. TAs are integral in helping run the school. In addition to academic support, they foster good social interactions and academic discussions among students, and they help 'shy' students meet faculty. They also act as 'social glue’, helping to notice and support students who may be feeling ill, not fitting in socially, or generally having difficulties. To fulfil these roles, TAs need to be at all school meals and activities. What we provide: We cover a direct as possible, economy class ticket to Cape Town, as well as all board and lodging during the school. In addition, TAs will receive a cash budget for 'hosting purposes' during the school (e.g. for buying some beverages/ice-creams for students, train tickets, etc.). We also provide you with life-long memories of one of the most beautiful places on earth. I'm interested, how do I apply: If you think you would like to join us for this amazing experience, please send us a brief CV (2 or 3 pages is fine) to isicn.imbizo(a)gmail.com <mailto:isicn.imbizo@gmail.com>. Please include (as a cover letter or in your email) a short motivational statement for why you would be a good fit, and what your favourite topics would be for teaching tutorials and supervising student projects. We will start assessing applications on 11 October 2021. A call for student application will follow soon. We hope to hear from you soon! Let us know if you have any questions. Thanks and regards Demba Ba, Peter E. Latham, Joseph Raimondo, Emma Vaughan, and Tim Vogels IBRO-Simons Computational Neuroscience Imbizo Committee 2022 #isicni2022 Twitter: @isicni

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"Brains Through Time" reading club
by Paul Cisek 20 Sep '21

20 Sep '21

Dear all, I would like to bring to your attention the Brains Through Time Reading Club I am co-organizing with people from the Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante. As the name implies, the idea is to review the book Brains Through Time<https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/oso/978019512568…>, by Georg Striedter<https://www.faculty.uci.edu/profile.cfm?faculty_id=3006> and Glenn Northcutt<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Northcutt>. It is a masterful synthesis of much what is known about brain evolution, and I believe it offers great insights to anyone interested in a broad understanding of how the brain produces behavior. We will dedicate a ~90 minute session to each of the 7 chapters. The first session will be on the 6th of October (6pm CEST / 12 EST) and will include the participation of Georg Striedter<https://www.faculty.uci.edu/profile.cfm?faculty_id=3006> (one of the authors), Luis Puelles<https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=nIoLKVAAAAAJ&hl=en> and Paul Cisek<https://cisek.org/pavel/>. If you are interested, please visit our web site<https://sites.google.com/view/bbtreadingclub/home> for more information and to register! Paul Cisek, PhD Département de neurosciences Université de Montréal Physical: 2960 chemin de la tour, local 4117 Montréal, QC H3T 1J4 CANADA Mailing: CP 6128 Succursale centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7 CANADA e-mail: paul.cisek(a)gmail.com<mailto:paul.cisek@gmail.com> Web: www.cisek.org/pavel<http://www.cisek.org/pavel>

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[CFP] MDPI Molecules (IF: 4.411, ISSN: 1420-3049) - Special Issue "Practical Aspects of Molecular Communications"
by Murat Kuşcu 20 Sep '21

20 Sep '21

MDPI Molecules (IF: 4.411, ISSN: 1420-3049) Special Issue on Practical Aspects of Molecular Communications https://www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules/special_issues/molecular_communicati… --------------------------- CALL FOR PAPERS The Internet of Bio-Nano Things (IoBNT) is an emerging technology that aims to extend our connectivity to nanoscale and biological environments with collaborative nanonetworks of artificial nanomachines and biological entities integrated into the Internet infrastructure. To enable the IoBNT and its groundbreaking applications, such as continuous intrabody health monitoring, it is imperative to devise low-complexity nanoscale communication techniques suitable for the envisioned nanomachines of simple architectures. The most promising communication technology for realizing the IoBNT is Molecular Communications (MC), as it ubiquitously manifests itself in many complex biological systems in the Universe, and thus, stands as one of the most common communication modalities, optimized from many aspects as a result of billions of years of evolutionary advancement. Making use of this naturally existing technology requires understanding its foundations through our existing modeling and analysis tools. This quest, which started almost 15 years ago, has received increasing attention from ICT researchers, which have been overly inspired by conventional electromagnetic communication technologies in their approach to this radically different paradigm. These theoretical approaches, however, have not always come with sufficient physical relevance. Currently, this emerging field has come to a critical turning point, as many researchers have started to report on initial MC experiments following different approaches and using different materials, while consistently pointing out a discrepancy between the obtained experimental results and the past theoretical work. This reveals the need to rethink the previous efforts and come up with new interdisciplinary strategies, thus building practical MC techniques and developing feasible MC system components, experimental testbeds, and prototypes in order to close the gap between theory and practice, and expedite the transfer of this emerging technology to the market. Among the challenges stated above, this Special Issue is particularly focused on the practical aspects of MC. Therefore, we are calling for technical papers that report on new research with the potential to move this field forward towards its practical applications, as well as surveys/tutorials focusing on the practical challenges of MC research. Hence, its scope encompasses a wide range of interdisciplinary research topics, with some examples listed as follows: ** The physical design, modeling, and implementation of MC system components (e.g., transmitter, receiver, channel); ** The design and implementation of MC testbeds; ** Practical and low-complexity MC methods (e.g., modulation, detection, channel estimation, synchronization, coding methods); ** The testing and validation of MC transceiver/channel models and MC methods; ** Applications of microfluidics, biosensors, and nanomaterials for MC system design; ** Bio-cyber interfaces between MC networks and conventional macroscale networks; ** Synthetic biology-based MC transceiver architectures; ** Optimization of ligand-receptor interactions for MC; ** Biocompatibility and co-existence challenges; ** Energy harvesting and power transfer techniques for MC networks; ** The design and demonstration of MC applications (e.g., those in healthcare, agriculture, biocomputing). --------------------------- Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2021 --------------------------- Guest Editors Murat Kuscu, Koc University, Turkey (mkuscu(a)ku.edu.tr) Sasitharan Balasubramaniam, TSSG/Walton Institute, Waterford Institute of Technology (sasi.bala(a)waltoninstitute.ie) Kerstin Lenk, Graz University of Technology, Austria (kerstin.lenk(a)tugraz.at ) Ergin Dinc, University of Cambridge, UK (ed502(a)cam.ac.uk) Michael Barros, University of Essex, UK (m.barros(a)essex.ac.uk) Bige D. Unluturk, Michigan State University, USA (unluturk(a)msu.edu) --------------------------- Paper submission Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short 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 thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI. Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions. --------------------------- Additional information: Please visit the MDPI Molecules Special Issue webpage at: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules/special_issues/molecular_communicati… Inquiries can be addressed to Ms. Emity Wang at: emity.wang(a)mdpi.com, molecules(a)mdpi.com

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New "Developing Minds" global online lecture series; September 30: Pierre-Yves Oudeyer
by Jochen Triesch 19 Sep '21

19 Sep '21

What: New bi-monthly "Developing Minds" global online lecture series; inaugural lecture by Pierre-Yves Oudeyer, INRIA, Bordeaux Sud-Ouest, France on "Developmental AI: machines that learn like children and help children learn better" When: Thursday, September 30, 13:00 UTC Where: online via zoom; please register at: https://sites.google.com/view/developing-minds-series Background: In 1950, Alan Turing asked "Instead of trying to produce a programme to simulate the adult mind, why not rather try to produce one which simulates the child's?" Today, over 70 years later, constructing a computer program that can learn like a child and that develops a human-like general intelligence is still considered a grand, if not the ultimate, challenge for artificial intelligence (AI). An interdisciplinary community of scientists from AI, Cognitive Science, Psychology, Engineering, and Neuroscience are tackling this grand challenge. In the Developing Minds global lecture series we showcase the progress being made. It is organized by the IEEE Technical Committee on Cognitive and Developmental Systems of the IEEE Computational Intelligence Society. The inaugural lecture by Pierre-Yves Oudeyer is entitled: "Developmental AI: machines that learn like children and help children learn better" Abstract: Current approaches to AI and machine learning are still fundamentally limited in comparison with the amazing learning capabilities of children. What is remarkable is not that some children become world champions in certains games or specialties: it is rather their autonomy, open-endedness, flexibility and efficiency at learning many everyday skills under strongly limited resources of time, computation and energy. And they do not need the intervention of an engineer for each new task (e.g. they do not need someone to provide a new task specific reward function or representation). I will present a research program, which I call Developmental AI, that studies models of open-ended development and learning. These models are used as tools to help us understand better how children learn, as well as to build machines that learn like children with applications in educational technologies, automated discovery, robotics and human-computer interaction. I will ground this research program into several fundamental ideas proposed by developmental psychologists: 1) the child is autotelic, setting its own goals and spontaneously exploring the world like a curious little scientist (e.g. Piaget, Berlyne); 2) intelligence develops in a social context, where language and culture are internalized to become cognitive tools (e.g. Vygostky and Bruner); 3) intelligence is embodied and develops through self-organization of the dynamical system formed by the brain-body-environment interactions (e.g. Thelen and Smith). I will show how, together with many colleagues and students, we have worked on operationalizing these ideas in computer and robotic models, and explain how this has enabled to advance child development understanding, open new possibilities for AI systems (including for recent language-guided intrinsically motivated Deep RL systems and for training more classical Deep RL systems to foster generalization), and led to applications now used by thousands of children in the world to help them learn (educational technologies). Speaker Bio: Dr. Pierre-Yves Oudeyer has been Research Director at Inria, France, and head of the Flowers lab (Inria, Univ. Bordeaux, Ensta ParisTech). Before, he has been a permanent researcher in Sony Computer Science Laboratory for 8 years (1999-2007). He studies models of open-ended development and learning, at the frontiers of AI and cognitive sciences. These models are used as tools to help us understand better how children learn, as well as to build machines that learn like children within the field of developmental artificial intelligence. He has been developing models of intrinsically motivated learning, pioneering curiosity-driven learning algorithms working in real world robots, and developed theoretical frameworks to understand better human curiosity and autonomous learning. He also studied mechanisms enabling machines and humans to discover, invent, learn and evolve language. He is also working on applications in educational technologies, automated discovery, video games, robotics and human-computer interaction. He received several prizes for his work in developmental AI and on the origins of language. In particular, he is laureate of the Inria-National Academy of Science young researcher prize in computer sciences, and of an ERC Starting Grant EXPLORERS. Finally, he is also working actively for the diffusion of science towards the general public, through the writing of popular science articles and participation to radio and TV programs as well as science exhibitions. Web: http://www.pyoudeyer.com and http://flowers.inria.fr Upcoming speakers: Linda B. Smith, Indiana University Joshua B. Tenenbaum, MIT Please visit https://sites.google.com/view/developing-minds-series/home for up-to-date information. -- Prof. Dr. Jochen Triesch Johanna Quandt Research Professor Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies http://fias.uni-frankfurt.de/~triesch/ Tel: +49 (0)69 798-47531 Fax: +49 (0)69 798-47611

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CFP - Annual Conference of Cognitive Science (ACCS8) - Jan 20--22, 2022, India
by Shyam Diwakar 18 Sep '21

18 Sep '21

Dear All, As the local organizer, it is our pleasure to invite you to participate at ACCS8. Here's more details. ACCS8: Call for contributions 8th Annual Conference of Cognitive Science (ACCS8) Amrita University, India – 20 – 22 January 2022 https://www.amrita.edu/accs8 The 8th edition of ACCS, to be hosted by Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Amrita University), Kollam, India will be held virtually. List of our invited speakers, TPC and other info will soon be made available at https://www.amrita.edu/event/accs8 CONFERENCE TOPICS Like in our previous years, the ACCS8 conference is open to all topics with Cognitive Science as a discipline, and in various areas of study, including Neuroscience, Artificial Intelligence, Linguistics, Skilling, Medicine, Anthropology, Psychology, Philosophy, and Education. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES We welcome submissions from all areas of cognitive science and from anyone worldwide. For the 2022 online event, we are accepting only abstracts containing the salient details of your study. Please copy and paste the title and abstract into the submission form. Contribution size limit for the abstract is 1000 words. We are not accepting any paper-length submissions this year, so do include all relevant details in the abstract itself. A small number of abstracts will be selected for oral presentations/talks. Submission link: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=accs8 For CFP: https://easychair.org/cfp/accs8 IMPORTANT DATES Abstract registration deadline November 25, 2021 Submission deadline November 25, 2021 BEST PAPER AWARDS We are planning some best poster and oral presentations. Please stay tuned. CONTACT All questions about submissions should be emailed to accs8conference(a)gmail.com<mailto:accs8conference@gmail.com> Previous ACCS events - https://www.amrita.edu/event/accs8/about With best regards, Shyam Diwakar -- Prof. Shyam Diwakar, Ph.D. Director - Amrita Mind Brain Center Faculty Fellow - Amrita Center for International Programs Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Amrita University) Amritapuri, Clappana P.O. Kollam, India. Pin: 690525 Ph:+91-476-2803116 Fax:+91-476-2899722 http://amrita.edu/mindbrain [https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1_nOxaCXob6wVcuQyYI5KVk1PhMgi…] [https://intranet.cb.amrita.edu/sig/RankingLogo.png] Disclaimer : The information transmitted in this email, including attachments, is intended only for the person(s) or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. Any views expressed in any message are those of the individual sender and may not necessarily reflect the views of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and destroy any copies of this information.

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(Call for papers) Adaptive Machines: Leveraging Neuroscience for Lifelong Learning Systems
by Andrea Soltoggio 17 Sep '21

17 Sep '21

Dear All, This is a reminder of the upcoming deadline (30th of September) to submit to the Research Topic “Adaptive Machines: Leveraging Neuroscience for Lifelong Learning Systems”, co-hosted by Frontiers in Neuroscience, Robotics and AI, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Neurorobotics and Computational Neuroscience. Link: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/20053/adaptive-machines-leverag… Description: Artificial intelligence has always sought inspiration in the brain. Artificial neural networks (ANNs), in particular, were modeled after their biological counterparts (biological neural networks, BNNs). However, state-of-the-art deep networks are drastically different from BNNs. Their architectures (at both the single-neuron and macro levels), learning algorithms, and failure conditions share little in common with brain circuit dynamics. In particular, state-of-the-art deep learning is optimized for single, well-defined, static tasks. Deep networks struggle to learn multiple or evolving tasks over time (i.e., continual learning) or to adjust their processing based on environmental conditions. They are also less modular than BNNs, and thus less energy efficient, and utilize little-to-no feedback signals. We believe that deep networks suffer from these limitations because their modeling of brain dynamics is too superficial. Modeling more sophisticated neural mechanisms is therefore key for deep networks to achieve continual or lifelong learning and to cope with open-ended, dynamic environments. The goal of this Research Topic is to publish novel models and/or algorithms that expand the capabilities of deep learning (e.g., achieve better continual learning) by incorporating additional properties of BNNs. We are also interested in neuroscience research that elucidates mechanisms that can be leveraged by the AI community. Neuroscience has uncovered a wide range of learning and regulatory mechanisms, at scales ranging from single molecules to the entire nervous system, that help the brain learn, remember, and adapt. These include replay (systems-level consolidation), neuromodulation, neurogenesis, neuroevolution, attention, homeostatic plasticity, and synaptic consolidation. There exist some deep learning techniques motivated by these mechanisms (e.g., experience replay or attention networks), but they have rarely been used for lifelong learning. As such, our focus will be on approaches that leverage brain-like principles---ideally biologically well-grounded---to solve problems currently beyond the capabilities of the state of the art. We will also welcome neuroscience research that helps to elucidate the brain’s mechanisms, in the hope that they can be used by the next generation of machine learning models. The scope of this Research Topic covers: (1) biologically inspired techniques in deep learning (2) neuroscience research on how the brain facilitates learning and adapts to different contexts We seek to address continual or lifelong learning, transfer learning, and other ML scenarios that go beyond the traditional, train-then-test learning paradigm. Since machine learning is an experimental field, a paper must include experimental results to be accepted; however, we encourage authors to include theoretical analyses of their methods. We aim to collect the following types of manuscripts: Original Research and Brief Research Reports. Since the goal of this Research Topic is to publish highly novel, experimentally grounded work, we are not interested in Reviews (Systematic, Policy and Practice, etc.), General Commentaries, or Opinions. In addition, since the editorial board does not include medical experts, we cannot accept Clinical Trials or Study Protocols. The Research Topic is edited by Rolando Jose Estrada, Georgia State University, USA Andrea Soltoggio, Loughborough University, UK Praveen K. Pilly, HRL Laboratories, USA Vincenzo Lomonaco, University of Pisa, Italy, Davide Maltoni, University of Bologna, Italy. Please consider submitting your original research to this Research Topic. Do not hesitate to get in touch if you wish to discuss your contribution. Best wishes, Andrea -- Dr. Andrea Soltoggio (he/him or they/them) Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Artificial Intelligence Department of Computer Science, School of Science & Intelligent Automation Centre https://www.intelligent-automation.org.uk/about-us/centre-staff & Centre for Information Management https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/sbe/cim/ Haslegrave Building, N.2.03 Loughborough University LE11 3TU, UK Email: a.soltoggio(a)lboro.ac.uk<mailto:a.soltoggio@lboro.ac.uk> Web: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/compsci/staff/dr-andrea-soltoggio.html

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ISRC Computational Neuroscience, Neurotechnology and Neuro-inspired AI Autumn School (ISRC-CN3)
by Wong-Lin, Kongfatt 17 Sep '21

17 Sep '21

Dear All, We are excited to announce that our ISRC Computational Neuroscience, Neurotechnology and Neuro-inspired AI Autumn School (ISRC-CN3) is now live and open for registration at the following link: https://store.ulster.ac.uk/product-catalogue/faculty-of-computing-engineeri… This Autumn School (from 25th October to 29th October), which will be conducted in a hybrid format, is organised by our Intelligent Systems Research Centre (ISRC) at Ulster University, Magee campus. More details can be found at the website: https://sites.google.com/view/isrc-cn3/home<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.goo…> If you have any further queries about this event, please contact Dr. KongFatt Wong-Lin (k.wong-lin(a)ulster.ac.uk) This email and any attachments are confidential and intended solely for the use of the addressee and may contain information which is covered by legal, professional or other privilege. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager at postmaster(a)ulster.ac.uk and delete this email immediately. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ulster University. The University's computer systems may be monitored and communications carried out on them may be recorded to secure the effective operation of the system and for other lawful purposes. Ulster University does not guarantee that this email or any attachments are free from viruses or 100% secure. Unless expressly stated in the body of a separate attachment, the text of email is not intended to form a binding contract. Correspondence to and from the University may be subject to requests for disclosure by 3rd parties under relevant legislation. The Ulster University was founded by Royal Charter in 1984 and is registered with company number RC000726 and VAT registered number GB672390524.The primary contact address for Ulster University in Northern Ireland is Cromore Road, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry BT52 1SA

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Postdoctoral Associate in Neural Circuits of Learning and Memory
by Yuri Dabaghian 17 Sep '21

17 Sep '21

NIH-funded postdoctoral position is immediately available in the group of Dr. Yuri Dabaghian in the Department of Neurology at McGovern Medical School of the University of Texas, Houston. We are looking for scientists with research interests at the intersection of mathematics, physics, and neuroscience, in the general area of emergent phenomena and representations, network dynamics, topological data analyses. Some projects aim to explain electrophysiological data patterns, some are theoretically motivated. Specifically, we are interested in circuit mechanisms of learning and memory and their involvement in neurological disorders, notably Alzheimer's Disease. Successful candidates will develop data-driven hippocampal neuronal network models explaining spatial learning dynamics, develop and creatively apply tools for the data analysis including novel methods of brain waves (EEG) analyses, Topological Data Analysis of spiking data, etc. The Position requires strong background in quantitative disciplines (PhD and ongoing interest in computational or theoretical neuroscience, physics, mathematics, or related), plus willingness to do programming and to analyze experimental data. Previous experiences in data analyses are preferred but not required. All Appointments are initially for one year and are renewable for at least three years given satisfactory performance. The salary is competitive. The postdoc will be integrated into the large, vibrant neuroscience community of the Texas Medical Center and have the opportunity to participate in collaborations with groups at Baylor College of Medicine and Rice University. To apply, please send application materials including a detailed CV, a brief statement of research interests, and contact information of 3 references to Dr. Yuri Dabaghian at [Yuri.A.Dabaghian [at] uth.tmc.edu) The position is available immediately, until filled. For Additional information and informal inquiries, please contact Dr. Dabaghian. We Strive for a diverse and inclusive environment, and encourage applications from members of any identity.

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COSYNE 2022: Meeting announcement
by Tomas Hromadka 17 Sep '21

17 Sep '21

==================================================== Computational and Systems Neuroscience 2022 (Cosyne) MAIN MEETING 17 - 20 March 2022 Lisbon, Portugal WORKSHOPS 21 - 22 March 2022 Cascais, Portugal www.cosyne.org ==================================================== ---------------------------------------------------- MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT ---------------------------------------------------- The annual Cosyne meeting provides an inclusive forum for the exchange of empirical and theoretical approaches to problems in systems neuroscience, in order to understand how neural systems function. The MAIN MEETING is single-track. A set of invited talks is selected by the Executive Committee, and additional talks and posters are selected by the Program Committee, based on submitted abstracts. The WORKSHOPS feature in-depth discussion of current topics of interest, in a small group setting. All abstract submissions will be reviewed double blind. The deadline for Abstract submission will be 20 November 2021. Cosyne topics include but are not limited to: neural basis of behavior, sensory and motor systems, circuitry, learning, neural coding, natural scene statistics, dendritic computation, neural basis of persistent activity, nonlinear receptive field mapping, representations of time and sequence, reward systems, decision-making, synaptic plasticity, map formation and plasticity, population coding, attention, neuromodulation, and computation with spiking networks. We would like to foster increased participation from experimental groups as well as computational ones. Please circulate widely and encourage your students and postdocs to apply. IMPORTANT DATES Abstract submission opens: 15 October 2021 Travel grant submission opens: 01 November 2021 Abstract submission deadline: 20 November 2021 When preparing an abstract, authors should be aware that not all abstracts can be accepted for the meeting. Abstracts will be selected based on the clarity with which they convey the substance, significance, and originality of the work to be presented. ORGANIZING COMMITTEE General Chairs: Anne-Marie Oswald (U Pittsburgh) and Srdjan Ostojic (Ecole Normale Superieure Paris) Program Chairs: Laura Busse (LMU Munich) and Tim Vogels (IST Austria) Workshop Chairs: Anna Schapiro (U Penn) and Blake Richards (McGill) Tutorial Chair: Kanaka Rajan (Mount Sinai) DEIA Committee: Bianca Jones Martin (Columbia), Gabrielle Gutierrez (Columbia), and Stefano Recanatesi (U Washington) Undergraduate Travel Chairs: Angela Langdon (Princeton) and Bob Wilson (U Arizona) Fundraising Chair: Michael Long (NYU) Social Media Chair: Grace Lindsay (Columbia) Poster Design: Maja Bialon PROGRAM COMMITTEE Laura Busse (U Munich) Tim Vogels (IST Austria) Athena Akrami (UCL) Omri Barak (Technion) Brice Bathellier (Paris) Bing Brunton (U Washington) Yoram Burak (Hebrew University) SueYeon Chung (Columbia) Christine Constantinople (NYU) Victor de Lafuente (UNAM Mexico) Jan Drugowitsch (Harvard) Alexander Ecker (Göttingen) Tatiana Engel (Cold Spring Harbor) Annegret Falkner (Princeton) Kevin Franks (Duke) Jens Kremkow (Berlin) Andrew Leifer (Princeton) Sukbin Lim (Shanghai) Scott Linderman (Stanford) Emilie Mace (MPI Neurobiology) Mackenzie Mathis (EPFL Lausanne) Ida Momennejad (Microsoft) Jill O'Reilly (Oxford) Il Memming Park (Stony Brook) Adrien Peyrache (McGill Montréal) Yiota Porazi (FORCE) Nathalie Rochefort (Edinburgh) Christina Savin (NYU) Daniela Vallentin (MPI Ornithology) Brad Wyble (U Penn) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Stephanie Palmer (U Chicago) Zachary Mainen (Champalimaud) Alexandre Pouget (U Geneva) Anthony Zador (CSHL) CONTACT meeting [at] cosyne.org COSYNE MAILING LISTS Please consider adding yourself to Cosyne mailing lists (groups) to receive email updates with various Cosyne-related information and join in helpful discussions. See Cosyne.org -> Mailing lists for details.

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Online workshop "Towards multipurpose neural network models II: Model testing and model fitting"
by Anton Arkhipov 14 Sep '21

14 Sep '21

Dear Colleagues, Registration is now open for the online workshop "Towards multipurpose neural network models II: Model testing and model fitting" organized by Gaute Einevoll (NMBU/University of Oslo) and Anton Arkhipov (Allen Institute, Seattle) and supported by the European Institute for Theoretical Neuroscience (EITN). Please join us for three days of talks about cutting-edge science by fantastic speakers, as well as panel discussions. Dates: September 29 – October 1, 2021 Time: 8AM – 12:15PM US Pacific time / 5PM – 9:15PM Central European Time Daily. Registration: https://cnrs.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_saMXfg31Roe4tqHbWtTdFg Please see the agenda below and more details at this web page: https://www.eitn.org/index.php/calendar-event/eventdetail/750/-/workshop-on… We hope to see you there! Wednesday, September 29, 2021 Gaute Einevoll (NMBU/U. Oslo) Introduction Jacob Macke (U. Tübingen) Keynote. Simulation-based inference: Bridging the gap between mechanistic models and machine learning. Aaron Milstein (Rutgers U.) Nested parallel simulation and multi-objective optimization of neuronal cell and circuit models Atle Rimehaug (U. Oslo) Enhancing model constraints by utilizing current source densities Kristin Tøndel (NMBU) Facilitating optimization using metamodelling Frances Skinner (Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, and University of Toronto) Clarity in model development and goals leads to model linkages and biological insights Panel debate – All participants of the day. Thursday, September 30, 2021 Anton Arkhipov (Allen Institute) Introduction James DiCarlo (MIT) Keynote. Reverse Engineering Visual Intelligence Sharon Crook (Arizona State U.) Testing the Data-driven Model Szabolcs Kali (Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary) Systematic construction and evaluation of models of rodent hippocampal neurons Peter Jedlicka (U. Giessen) Building consistent and robust models of hippocampal granule cells and CA1 pyramidal cells Stefan Mihalas (Allen Institute) Computing with a mess: How nonstationary, heterogeneous and noisy components help the brain’s computational power Panel debate – All participants of the day. Friday, October 1, 2021 Markus Covert (Stanford) Special lecture. Simultaneous cross-evaluation of heterogeneous E. coli datasets via mechanistic simulation Kanaka Rajan (Mount Sinai) Keynote. Data-constrained neural network models of adaptive learning in the brain Julijana Gjorgjeva (Max Planck Institute and TUM) Biologically plausible learning in developing networks Carsen Stringer (Janelia) Rastermap: Extracting structure from high-dimensional neural data Arvind Kumar (KTH Stockholm) Structure and activity dynamics relationship in biological neuronal networks: Measurements and models Panel debate – All participants of the day.

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PhD position in computational neuroscience/machine learning at UC Santa Barbara
by Michael Beyeler 14 Sep '21

14 Sep '21

The Bionic Vision Lab lab at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) invites applications for a fully funded PhD position to develop computational models of neural activity in mice navigating through real-world and virtual environments. The successful candidate will have a strong quantitative background that includes machine learning, programming experience, and a thorough interest in neuroscience. This is an opportunity to work on an impactful real-world problem within a highly interdisciplinary and collaborative environment. Interested applicants should send a CV and transcript (unofficial is fine) to Michael Beyeler (mbeyeler(a)ucsb.edu) Official applications will have to be submitted through UCSB Grad Admissions before the application deadline indicated below. All genders welcome. Application deadline: December 1, 2021 Start date: Fall 2022 UCSB is a dynamic research institution, particularly in physical sciences and engineering, and was recently rated one of the Top 5 public schools in the United States (US News & World Report). Neuroscience research is well established here, featuring >35 faculty members whose research interests span the range from molecular to theoretical neuroscience.

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Call for community feedback on the endorsement of Neurolucida XML as a standard
by Malin Sandström 14 Sep '21

14 Sep '21

Dear all, INCF is seeking community feedback and comments on the review of the MBF neuromorphological file format v 4.0, a format for digital reconstruction & modeling structure for microscopic anatomies, also known as “Neurolucida XML”, which has been submitted to INCF for endorsement as a community standard. If you have experience of using Neurolucida XML, we ask you to read the review report and comment based on your experiences, especially if you share or reuse data in the format, or work on models or tools that use the format. Link to the review: https://f1000research.com/documents/10-712 *Why endorse community standards? * INCF (incf.org) has implemented a formal procedure for evaluating and endorsing community standards and best practices in support of the FAIR principles. Our mission is to make neuroscience more open and FAIR, to ensure that research funds and efforts are well invested, and that neuroscientific findings are robust and replicable. Open community review is a very important step in the process. Quality community standards are necessary to make FAIR resources and processes work, but too many neuroscience communities lack robust standards or have competing incompatible standards. The rapid development of new techniques also means that there is a continuous need for new and updated standards, and that old standards need an active developer and user community keeping them up to date. By endorsing standards, INCF wants to make it easy to find the best, most reliable standard appropriate for your research, and ensure recognition for community members investing their time and effort in standards. The review criteria (https://incf.org/incf-standards-review-criteria-v20) include Openness; FAIRness; Design, Testing and Implementation; Governance; Adoption and use; Stability and support; Extensibility; Comparison (similarity to other standards). -- Malin Sandström, PhD Community Engagement Officer malin.sandstrom(a)incf.org ORCID: 0000-0002-8464-2494 International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility Karolinska Institutet Nobels väg 15 A SE-171 77 Stockholm Sweden http://www.incf.org

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workshop on Brain Criticality: The Past, the Present and the Future
by Claudius Gros 14 Sep '21

14 Sep '21

You are invited to attend the upcoming Bernstein workshop on Brain Criticality: The Past, the Present and the Future https://www.bernstein-network.de/en/bernstein-conference/2021-online/satell… Tuesday, September 21, 2021, 2pm CEST It is free, but you need to register with the Bernstein conference (see link above). Claudius Gros ### ### Prof. Dr. Claudius Gros ### http://itp.uni-frankfurt.de/~gros ### ### Complex and Adaptive Dynamical Systems, A Primer ### A graduate-level textbook, Springer (2008/10/13/15) ### ### Life for barren exoplanets: The Genesis project ### https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10509-016-2911-0 ###

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Bernstein Conference 2021 - abstracts are published
by Anja Dorrn 13 Sep '21

13 Sep '21

Each year the Bernstein Network invites the international computational neuroscience community to the annual Bernstein Conference for intensive scientific exchange. It has established itself as one of the most renown conferences worldwide in this field, attracting students, postdocs and PIs from around the world to meet and discuss new scientific discoveries. Due to the ongoing pandemic the Bernstein Conference will be held online. www.bernstein-conference.de ____ IMPORTANT DATES & NEWS * Bernstein Conference: September 21-23, 2021 * Abstracts are published * Registration is open and free of charge * PhD Symposium on September 24, 2021 ____ ABSTRACTS All accepted abstracts are now published online and are citable via Digital Object Identifiers (DOI). Please find them here: https://abstracts.g-node.org/conference/BC21/abstracts#/ ____ REGISTRATION The participation at the online Bernstein Conference 2021 will be free of charge for all participants. Thus the Bernstein Network contributes to keep the scientific exchange alive in the ongoing challenges during the pandemic. Please register here: https://hopin.com/events/bernstein-conference-2021 ____ PHD SYMPOSIUM The Bernstein PhD Symposium on September 24, 2021 is an opportunity for junior researchers to meet their peers, share their experience and make new connections. This year's topic is Gaming meets neuroscience. Please register here: https://hopin.com/events/bernstein-phd-symposium-2021 ____ INVITED SPEAKERS Keynote Timothy Behrens (University of Oxford, UK) Invited Talks Athena Akrami (University College London, UK) Nadine Gogolla (Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany) Guillaume Hennequin (University of Cambridge, UK) Jennifer Li & Drew Robson (Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany) Scott Lindermann (Stanford University, USA) Ashok Litwin-Kumar (Columbia University, New York City, USA) Ida Momennejad (Microsoft Research, New York City, USA) Cristina Savin (New York University, USA) Marion Silies (Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany) Daniela Vallentin (Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany) ____ CONFERENCE COMMITTEE Christian Leibold (Conference Chair) Julijana Gjiorgjieva (Program Chair) Christian Machens (Program Vice Chair) Marion Silies (Workshop Chair) Moritz Helias (Workshop Vice Chair) & Matthew Botvinick, Megan Carey, Peter Dayan, Brent Doiron, Rainer Friedrich, Ann Hermundstad, Srdjan Ostojic, Nathalie Rochefort, Nicole Rust, Gasper Tkacik ____ For any further questions, please contact: bernstein.conference(a)fz-juelich.de -- Dr. Anja Dorrn Scientific Coordinator Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience | Bernstein Coordination Site (BCOS) Branch Office of the Forschungszentrum Jülich at the University of Freiburg Hansastr. 9A | 79104 Freiburg, Germany phone: (+49) 0761 203 9589 web: www.bernstein-network.de<http://www.bernstein-network.de> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH 52425 Juelich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Juelich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Dueren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Volker Rieke Geschaeftsfuehrung: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Marquardt (Vorsitzender), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Dr. Astrid Lambrecht, Prof. Dr. Frauke Melchior ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Biologically plausible models of path planning in humans and rodents
by Jeffrey Krichmar 10 Sep '21

10 Sep '21

Dear Colleagues, We recently published two papers on biologically plausible models of path planning that simulate and analyze navigation strategies in rodents and humans. Some of the ideas presented in these papers may be applicable to autonomous systems. If you are interested, please see: Krichmar, J.L., and He, C. (2021). Importance of Path Planning Variability: A Simulation Study. Topics in Cognitive Science. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/tops.12568 Individuals vary in the way they navigate through space. Some take novel shortcuts, while others rely on known routes to find their way around. We wondered how and why there is so much variation in the population. To address this, we first compared the trajectories of 368 human subjects navigating a virtual maze with simulated trajectories. The simulated trajectories were generated by strategy-based path planning algorithms from robotics. Based on the similarities between human trajectories and different strategy-based simulated trajectories, we found that there is a variation in the type of strategy individuals apply to navigate space, as well as variation within individuals on a trial-by-trial basis. Moreover, we observed variation within a trial when subjects occasionally switched the navigation strategies halfway through a trajectory. In these cases, subjects started with a route strategy, in which they followed a familiar path, and then switched to a survey strategy, in which they took shortcuts by considering the layout of the environment. Then we simulated a second set of trajectories using five different but comparable artificial maps. These trajectories produced the similar pattern of strategy variation within and between trials. Furthermore, we varied the relative cost, that is, the assumed mental effort or required timesteps to choose a learned route over alternative paths. When the learned route was relatively costly, the simulated agents tended to take shortcuts. Conversely, when the learned route was less costly, the simulated agents showed preference toward a route strategy. We suggest that cost or assumed mental effort may be the reason why in previous studies, subjects used survey knowledge when instructed to take the shortest path. We suggest that this variation we observe in humans may be beneficial for robotic swarms or collections of autonomous agents during information gathering. Krichmar, J.L., Ketz, N.A., Pilly, P.K., and Soltoggio, A. (2021). Flexible Path Planning through Vicarious Trial and Error. bioRxiv, 2021.2009.2008.459317. https://www.biorxiv.org/node/2148912.abstract Flexible planning is necessary for reaching goals and adapting when conditions change. We introduce a biologically plausible path planning model that learns its environment, rapidly adapts to change, and plans efficient routes to goals. Unlike prior models of hippocamapl replay, our model addresses the decision-making process when faced with uncertainty. We tested the model in simulations of human and rodent navigation in mazes. Like the human and rat, the model was able to generate novel shortcuts, and take detours when familiar routes were blocked. Similar to rodent hippocampus recordings, the neural activity of the model resembles neural correlates of Vicarious Trial and Error (VTE) during early learning or during uncertain conditions. Similar to rodent studies, after learning, the neural activity resembles forward replay or preplay predicting a future route, and VTE activity decreases. We suggest that VTE, in addition to weighing possible outcomes, is a way in which an organism may gather information for future use. Best regards, Jeff Krichmar Department of Cognitive Sciences 2328 Social & Behavioral Sciences Gateway University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA 92697-5100 jkrichma(a)uci.edu http://www.socsci.uci.edu/~jkrichma

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Postdoctoral position available
by Sara A. Solla 10 Sep '21

10 Sep '21

*Integrating Human and Machine Learning for Enabling Co-Adaptive * *Body-Machine Interfaces* * Sandro Mussa-Ivaldi and Sara A. Solla PI’s * *Northwestern University* We are seeking postdoctoral applicants with interests and experience in computational methods, machine learning, and human-machine interactions to participate in an NSF-funded project. The goal of the project is customizing human-machine interfaces through a collaborative interaction between human and machine learning. This has relevance to the recovery of function after injury to the spinal cord. The same goals apply also to non-clinical domains. Common to the different domains is the necessity to learn novel movement skills. The project will consider how this challenge is met through the interaction with an adaptive interface, the body-machine interface, that maps body motions onto commands to external devices. The working hypotheses are H1) that through a dynamical process of learning the human operators form an internal model of the interface and connected device, and H2) that the human machine interface can be adapted to its users by an update rule that tracks the learning process of the human operator. The success of the research project will lead to a new family of intelligent human machine interfaces capable of customizing themselves to the evolving ability of their users. Applications, including a brief statement, a bio sketch, and the names of two references, should be sent to bomiproject2021(a)gmail.com

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Postdoc position on neural mechanisms of flexible behavior
by Luca Mazzucato 05 Sep '21

05 Sep '21

Dear colleagues, We are looking for a computational neuroscience postdoc to lead a project on the neural mechanisms of flexible behavior. The theory position will be co-supervised by Luca Mazzucato and David McCormick and funded by the NIH BRAIN Initiative collaboration between the McCormick, Niell, Jaramillo and Mazzucato labs at University of Oregon. The project aims at elucidating the whole-brain dynamics enabling flexible modality switching in an audiovisual decision-making task. A successful candidate will use state-space models and multi-area recurrent network models to elucidate the activity and functional connectivity of cortical circuits from large datasets in behaving mice (2-photon mesoscope with ~10k neurons; multiple neuropixel probes). Experience with deep learning is recommended for integrating behavioral analyses with task performance and neural activity. The postdoc will be part of the vibrant neuroscience and machine learning community at the University of Oregon including the Institute of Neuroscience <https://ion.uoregon.edu/> and the Knight Campus <https://accelerate.uoregon.edu/> for Accelerating Science. The University is located in beautiful Eugene, the country's leader in the "20-minute friendly <https://tinyurl.com/y8jd8pmr>" bike commute movement, at close range between the Cascades ski areas and the Pacific Ocean. Successful candidates will have a PhD in Physics, Neuroscience, Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics or a related discipline and, preferably, experience in theoretical neuroscience and statistical analysis of large neuroscience datasets. For inquiries please contact Luca Mazzucato or David McCormick.

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8th Baltic-Nordic Summer School on Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics (BNNI 2021)
by Pawel Herman 05 Sep '21

05 Sep '21

Dear Fellow Neuroscientists and Students We would like to invite you to the 8th Baltic-Nordic Summer School on Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics, which will be organised as a virtual event on 21-25 September, 2021. The 8th Baltic-Nordic Summer School on Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics 2021 “Learning in the Brain and NeuroRobots – from Molecules to Behaviour” offers interdisciplinary course and covers modelling at different levels of organization of the brain, from single neurons to microcircuits, neural networks and neurorobotics. The course offers lectures on the latest achievements in understanding learning, neural and network dynamics and function in health and disease, neurorobotic theory and applications, and hands-on tutorials on the EBRAINS services and tools. The summer school targets advanced master students, doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers in biomedical and technology sciences, ranging from medicine, biology, psychology, to mathematics, informatics, information technology, physics and chemistry, who would like to get an introduction to neuroinformatics and computational neuroscience and especially the EBRAINS Infrastructure<http://ebrains.eu/> (ebrains.eu<http://ebrains.eu>). Further information and registration: https://www.humanbrainproject.eu/en/education/BNNI2021/ Best regards Pawel Herman on behalf of the organising committee ------------------------------------ Paweł Herman Associate Professor, PhD, Docent KTH Royal Institute of Technology School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) Division of Computational Science and Technology (CST) Lindstedtsvägen 5 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden room 4442 (4th floor, D-building) tel. +46 8 790 6513

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DEADLINE EXTENDED: Summer School on Network and Control Sciences for Psychiatry
by Jasper Bischofberger 02 Sep '21

02 Sep '21

Dear all, We are happy to announce a Summer School on “Current and Future Applications of Network and Control Sciences for Psychiatry” Host Institution: *University of Tübingen, Germany* Location: *Online event* Dates: *September 29th – October 1st 2021* Abstract deadline: *September 10th, 2021* Registration fees: *free* *Focus* This Summer School gives an opportunity to students and young researchers to get acquainted with and exchange within a range of current topics in network and control sciences and its applications in Psychiatry. ____ *Keynotes* Danielle S. Bassett (University of Pennsylvania, USA) Peter Dayan (MPI Tübingen, Germany) John Medaglia (Drexel University, USA) For the full list of speakers visit: https://www.medizin.uni-tuebingen.de/de/summer-school-controlpsychiatry/spe… ____ *Registration* The summer school is free of charge for all participants, but to get all important information please register online via: https://www.medizin.uni-tuebingen.de/de/summer-school-controlpsychiatry ____ *Poster Submission* Participants can present their latest research results as a poster. Some of the most relevant submissions will have the possibility to present their work in a dedicated oral session and receive an official certificate. Please submit your abstract (limited to 250 words) latest by September 10th to: controlpsychiatry(a)med.uni-tuebingen.de ____ Questions? Please contact: controlpsychiatry(a)med.uni-tuebingen.de We are excited to see you soon! Best wishes, The organizing committee

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Faculty Position in Computational Neuroscience at Bristol University.
by Conor Houghton 31 Aug '21

31 Aug '21

In the Department of Computer Science at the University of Bristol we are seeking to appoint a faculty member in Computational Neuroscience at Lecturer or Senior Lecturer level, comparable to Assistant or Associate Professorship level. https://www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/details/?jobId=252155 Candidates are sought with expertise in computational neuroscience or computational cognitive science; any area of our broad subject will be considered. The University of Bristol is a significant centre for both computational neuroscience and machine learning and a leader in experimental, clinical and cognitive neuroscience. There is a robust tradition of collaboration between experimental and computational neuroscientists. Bristol itself is a friendly green coastal city with a rich and lively cultural scene and is regarded one of the best places to live in the UK. You are welcome to contact one of us (conor.houghton||laurence.aitchison||n.lepora||rui.costa)(a)bristol.ac.uk, or our head of department Chris Allen, c.b.allen(a)bristol.ac.uk, to discuss the post informally. The closing date for applications is 3 October. We value diversity and are committed to equality of opportunity. All the best Conor Houghton Laurence Aitchison Nathan Lepora Rui Ponte Costa https://bristolcnu.github.io/ http://www.bristol.ac.uk/neuroscience/

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PhD position at the Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany
by Claudius Gros 30 Aug '21

30 Aug '21

Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD position at the Institute for Theoretical Physics, Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany Fields: theoretical neurosciences, complex systems theory, Covid-19 modeling Application deadline: Oct 15, 2021 Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Claudius Gros We are developing new models and generative principles for the societies of interacting agents using a range of toolsets from dynamical systems theory and game theory. Examples are Covid-19 modeling and the influence of envy on the structure of human societies. We are also developing operating principles for reference robot systems, and for neuroscience applications. It is expected that applicants study the publication list available on the website of the lab, as given below. Several subjects are available for the announced PhD thesis, depending on the background of the successful candidate. The work will include analytical investigations and numerical simulations. The candidates should have a Diploma/Master's in physics with an excellent academic track record and good computational skills. Experience or strong interest in the fields of complex systems, dynamical systems theory, game 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 appointment will start early 2022, for three years. Interested applicants should submit a curriculum vitae and a list of publications, and arrange for letters of reference to be sent to the address below. Prof. Claudius 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://www.itp.uni-frankfurt.de/~gros General information on the University of Frankfurt and its employment policy: With its around 46,000 students and 4,600 employees, the Goethe University in Frankfurt is the largest university in the state of Hessen and an internationally renowned, important regional employer. Numerous quality and performance oriented internal reforms have been initiated in the recent years. The reorganized campuses for natural sciences and humanities offer an ideal environment for research and education. Since 2008, the Goethe University is a foundation under public law and enjoys full administrative autonomy.  The fixed-term employment of the academic staff is subject to the provisions of the Temporary Science Employment Law and the Hessian Higher Education Act. The University advocates gender equality and therefore strongly encourages women to apply. People with disabilities are given preference if equally qualified. -- ### ### Prof. Dr. Claudius Gros ### http://itp.uni-frankfurt.de/~gros ### ### Complex and Adaptive Dynamical Systems, A Primer ### A graduate-level textbook, Springer (2008/10/13/15) ### ### Life for barren exoplanets: The Genesis project ### https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10509-016-2911-0 ###

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Ph.D. student / Postdoc position in machine learning with spiking neurons at University of Bremen, Germany
by David Rotermund 30 Aug '21

30 Aug '21

tl;dr: You looked at our paper Back-Propagation Learning in Deep Spike-By-Spike Networks ( https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncom.2019.00055/full ) and thought "Interesting idea but I can improve that!" then you may want to tell us your idea... You could end up working on it as a Ph.D. student / Postdoc for the next three years in Bremen, Germany. ------------- The Computational Neuroscience group of Klaus Pawelzik invites applications for an open Ph.D. student / Postdoc position (E13 TV-L 100% for 3 years; all genders welcome) in the project "Efficient Implementation of Spike-by-Spike Neural Networks using Stochastic and Approximative Techniques". We are looking for a person with a strong background in mathematics, programming, and machine learning as well as an intense interest in neuroscience. Someone who is not afraid of cooperating with engineers, since this is a joint project with a focus on hardware development. The overarching goal of our project is to improve the efficiency of spiking artificial neural networks using hardware and algorithmic approximation techniques. Specifically, the project focuses on Spike-by-Spike networks since they offer a balance between computational requirements and biological-realism which keeps the advantages of the biological networks while enabling a compact technical realization. To fully take advantage of the unique features of SbS in terms of robustness and sparseness, dedicated hardware architectures are required. You would join in with numerical simulations, theoretical analyses, as well as through the development of new ideas and approaches for boosting the performance and capabilities of the Spike-By-Spike model. Furthermore, you would also work on combining Spike-By-Spike networks with non spiking deep neuronal networks into hybrid models. The details can be found at http://www.neuro.uni-bremen.de/content/open-position-sbs

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Postdoc / Staff Scientist in brain imaging during natural behavior
by Geoffrey Goodhill 28 Aug '21

28 Aug '21

Postdoc / Staff Scientist in brain imaging during natural behavior The Goodhill lab at Washington University in St Louis is looking for a postdoc or staff scientist for an NIH-funded project to develop novel microscopy methods for whole-brain calcium imaging in freely-behaving zebrafish. This is a collaboration with Oliver Cossairt at Northwestern University. The lab focuses on the formation of neural circuits underlying behavior. This includes developing novel experimental, computational and theoretical methods and applying them to domains including hunting and social behavior, sleep and autism spectrum disorders. In this project we will be constructing new light-field imaging techniques to record the activity of ~100,000 neurons in the zebrafish brain during unconstrained hunting behavior. We are looking for someone with a background in developing new imaging technologies. The lab is fully integrated between experimental and theoretical work. Washington University in St Louis is ranked in the top 10 globally for Neuroscience and Behavior, and offers an outstanding intellectual environment for neuroscience research. To apply please send a detailed CV and cover letter explaining your interest to g.goodhill(a)wustl.edu<mailto:g.goodhill@wustl.edu>. Professor Geoffrey J Goodhill Departments of Developmental Biology, Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, and Electrical and Systems Engineering Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, MO 63110 https://neuroscience.wustl.edu/people/geoffrey-goodhill-phd Email: g.goodhill(a)wustl.edu<mailto:g.goodhill@wustl.edu>

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Post-doctoral Position in Human Perceptual Neuroscience at NYU
by Hardstone, Richard 27 Aug '21

27 Aug '21

The Perception and Brain Dynamics Laboratory (PI: Biyu J. He, Ph.D.; www.med.nyu.edu/helab<http://www.med.nyu.edu/helab>) at New York University currently has two open post-doctoral positions, which can start immediately (with a flexible start date). We are interested in candidates with a background in perceptual/cognitive neuroscience and/or related computational modeling. Experience in human electrophysiology (MEG/EEG or intracranial recordings) or neuroimaging (fMRI) is ideal. Successful applicants will be able to participate in cutting-edge research to understand the neural basis of human perception (broadly defined), and will have opportunities to employ multiple advanced recording (e.g., M/EEG, 7T fMRI, ECoG) and analysis approaches in their research. Research questions may include: * What are the roles of spontaneous brain activity in perception? * How do prior knowledge and past experiences influence perception? * What are the neural differences between conscious and unconscious processing? * What are the temporal dynamics of neural activity underlying perception? To apply, please email PI Biyu J. He at biyu.jade.he(a)gmail.com<mailto:biyu.jade.he@gmail.com>, with subject line "post-doctoral application", and include a CV, a 1-2 page research statement (including accomplishments and interests), and names and contacts for 2-3 referees. To inquire, please email PI Biyu J. He at biyu.jade.he(a)gmail.com<mailto:biyu.jade.he@gmail.com>, with subject line "post-doctoral application inquiry", and attach your CV. Our laboratory is located on the medical campus of New York University in Manhattan, NY, and is affiliated with the Neuroscience Institute, Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience & Physiology, and Radiology. We offer competitive salaries and benefits that adjust for cost of living in New York City. The position is expected to last at least 2 years, and is renewed annually depending on satisfactory performance and availability of funding. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, starting immediately.

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2nd SMILES workshop, Aug 31st: Sensorimotor Interaction, Language and Embodiment of Symbols
by Xavier Hinaut 27 Aug '21

27 Aug '21

* WHAT The SMILES workshop is about Sensorimotor Interaction, Language and Embodiment of Symbols (SMILES). It is a satellite event from the ICDL 2020 (International Conference on Developmental Learning). * WHEN Tuesday 31st of August 2021. Planned schedule: 9am - 8.30pm CEST (UTC+2). * WHERE Online event on Zoom. (Link sent to registered people the day before, see LINKS section) * WHO 8 Invited speakers from multiple fields: neurolinguistics, speech communication, language evolution, developmental science, social robotics, computational neuroscience, language acquisition. - Morten Christiansen, Cornell University, NY, USA & Aarhus University, Denmark - Kaya de Barbaro, University of CaliforniaSan Diego, USA - Cynthia Matuszek, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, USA - Yair Lakretz, NeuroSpin Center, Gif sur Yvette, France - Harm Brouwer, Saarland University, Germany - Jean-Luc Schwartz, Gipsa lab, Grenoble-Alpes University, France - Daniel Dor, Tel Aviv University, Israel - Lauren Emberson, University of British Columbia, Canada - Bart de Boer, AI-lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium * LINKS - ** Website **: https://sites.google.com/view/smiles-workshop/home - ** Registration is free but mandatory **: https://forms.gle/tyvMdbb8UJFyXZky8 - Contact: smiles.conf(a)gmail.com - ICDL conference website: https://icdl-2021.org/ * WHAT+ (Short Description) On the one hand, models of sensorimotor interaction are embodied in the environment and in the interaction with other agents. On the other hand, recent Deep Learning development of Natural Language Processing (NLP) models allow to capture increasing language complexity (e.g. compositional representations, word embedding, long term dependencies). However, those NLP models are disembodied in the sense that they are learned from static datasets of text or speech. How can we bridge the gap from low-level sensorimotor interaction to high-level compositional symbolic communication? The SMILES workshop will address this issue through an interdisciplinary approach involving researchers from (but not limited to): - Sensori-motor learning, - Emergent communication in multi-agent systems, - Chunking of perceptuo-motor gestures (gestures in a general sense: motor, vocal, ...), - Sensori-motor learning, - Symbol grounding and symbol emergence, - Compositional representations for communication and action sequence, - Hierarchical representations of temporal information, - Language processing and acquisition in brains and machines, - Models of animal communication, - Language evolution, - Understanding composition and temporal processing in neural network models, and - Enaction, active perception, perception-action loop. SMILES workshop organisers - Xavier Hinaut, Inria, Bordeaux, France - Clément Moulin-Frier, Inria and Ensta ParisTech, Bordeaux, France - Silvia Pagliarini, Inria, Bordeaux, France - Michael Spranger, Sony AI and Sony CSL, Tokyo, Japan - Tadahiro Taniguchi, Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, Japan - Anne S. Warlaumont, University of California, Los Angeles, America - Junpei Zhong, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom Xavier Hinaut Inria Researcher (CR) Mnemosyne team, Inria LaBRI, Université de Bordeaux Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives www.xavierhinaut.com

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Recorded talks from TEX2021 - Bringing together Predictive Processes and Statistical Learning
by Yamil Vidal 26 Aug '21

26 Aug '21

Dear all, This July we had the honor of hosting TEX2021 - Bringing together Predictive Processes and Statistical Learning. Here you can find the recordings of the talks: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtD9ktPLCbafVngJ_whZL65_KT23XAKnl Thanks again to all of our amazing invited speakers, Tristan Bekinschtein, Lucia Melloni, Padraic Monaghan, Maria Chait, Floris de Lange, Caspar Schwiedrzik, Lori Holt and Nicola Molinaro. Please share!! Best regards, Yamil Vidal and Davide Crepaldi Dr. Yamil Vidal Cognitive Neuroscience Sector Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati - SISSA via Bonomea, 265 34136 Trieste, ITALY

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CfP: Call for Paper Frontiers in Neuroscience: Special Issue "Graph Learning for Brain Imaging"
by Feng Liu 26 Aug '21

26 Aug '21

Dear Colleagues, We are writing to you know that we are organizing a special issue "Graph Learning for Brain Imaging" in Frontiers in Neuroscience (impact factor 4.7). We believe this is a timely special issue to showcase the new developments using graph representation, deep learning on graph-structured data to address important brain imaging and computational neuroscience problems. *Link*: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/23683/graph-learning -for-brain-imaging *Keywords*: Brain Networks, Graph Neural Networks, Brain Imaging, Graph Embedding, Multi-Modal Imaging. *Topics*: We are looking for original, high-quality submissions on innovative research and developments in the analysis of brain imaging using graph learning techniques. Topics of interest include (but are not limited to): • Graph neural networks (GNN) for network neuroscience applications • Graph neural network for brain mapping and data integration • Graph convolution network (GCN) for brain disorder classification • (Dynamic) Functional brain networks • Brain networks development trajectories • Graphical model for brain imaging data analysis • Spatial-temporal brain network modeling • Graph embedding and graph representation learning • Information fusion for brain networks from multiple modalities or scales (fMRI, M/EEG, DTI, PET, genetics) • Generative graph models in brain imaging • Brain network inference: scalable, online, and from non-linear relationships • Machine learning over graphs: kernel-based techniques, clustering methods, scalable algorithms for brain imaging • A few-shot learning for learning from limited brain data • Graph federated learning for brain imaging *Important Dates*: Abstract: 30-Sep-2021 Full paper: 30-Dec-2021 *Background:* Unprecedented collections of large-scale brain imaging data, such as MRI, PET, fMRI, M/EEG, DTI, etc. provide a unique opportunity to deepen our understanding of the brain working mechanisms, improve prognostic predictions for mental disorders, and tailor personalized treatment plans for brain diseases. Recent advances in machine learning and large-scale brain imaging data collection, storage, and sharing lead to a series of novel interdisciplinary approaches among the fields of computational neuroscience, signal processing, deep learning, brain imaging, cognitive science, and computational psychiatry, among which graph learning provides a valuable means to address important questions in brain imaging. Graph learning refers to designing effective machine learning and deep learning methods extracting important information from graphs or exploiting the graph structure in the data to guide the knowledge discovery. Given the complex data structure in different imaging modalities as well as the networked organizational structure of the human brain, novel learning methods based on graphs inferred from imaging data, graph regularizations for the data, and graph embedding of the recorded data, have shown great promise in modeling the interactions of multiple brain regions, information fusion among networks derived from different brain imaging modalities, latent space modeling of the high dimensional brain networks, and quantifying topological neurobiomarkers. The goal of this Research Topic is to synergize the start-of-the-art discoveries in terms of new computational brain imaging models and insights of brain mechanisms through the lens of brain networks and graph learning. --On Behalf of all the Guest Editors Feng Liu, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ, USA Yu Zhang, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA Jordi Solé-Casals, Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya, Barcelona, SpainIslem Rekik, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, TurkeyYehia Massoud, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia Best regards Feng Liu

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WWNeuRise series on predictive processing (Sept-Oct 2021)
by William Podlaski 24 Aug '21

24 Aug '21

WorldWideNeuRise will host several online talks throughout September-October on the topic of predictive processing from the following speakers (titles TBA): Wednesday, 8 September, 5pm CET Caroline Jahn (Buschman Lab, Princeton University) Ramon Bartolo (Averbeck Lab, National Institute of Mental Health) Wednesday, 22 September, 5pm CET Nick Audette (Schneider Lab, New York University) Colleen J. Gillon (Richards Lab, Mila & McGill University) Wednesday, 6 October, 5pm CET Nuttida Rungratsameetaweemana (Sejnowski Lab, UCSD & Salk Institute) Oded Bein (Niv Lab, Princeton University) Wednesday, 20 October, 5pm CET Selina Solomon (Growth Intelligence) Tomaso Muzzu (Saleem Lab, University College London) For more information, please visit our website (https://neurise.github.io/) find us on WorldWideNeuro (https://www.world-wide.org/Neuro/WWNeuRise/) or follow us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/WWNeuRise) We are actively searching for PhD students and postdocs to give talks in our upcoming seminar blocks. On our website (https://neurise.github.io/) you can find an application form to directly apply, as well as a recommendation form, where you can suggest individuals from your lab, institute, or otherwise who you think might have an interesting story to tell! We are looking forward to seeing you at our upcoming seminars! The organising committee, Ellen Boven (Apps lab, University of Bristol) Christina Buetfering (Häusser lab, University College London) Lucie Descamps (Kentros lab, Norwegian University of Science and Technology) Gily Ginosar (Ulanovsky lab, Weizmann Institute) Loreen Hertäg (Clopath lab, Imperial College London) Joram Keijser (Sprekeler lab, TU Berlin) Bill Podlaski (Machens lab, Champalimaud Research)

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Reminder (one week left): Call for papers: Symposium on Mathematics of Neuroscience
by Ruairidh McLennan Battleday 23 Aug '21

23 Aug '21

Two decades into the 21st century, can we claim to be any closer to a unified model of the brain? In this exploratory symposium, we invite submissions for short talks and posters presenting general mathematical models of brain function. We give priority to those models that account for brain or behavioural data, or provide simulations to that effect. The symposium will be held at the applied mathematics conference ICNAAM 2021, to be held virtually and in person on the island of Rhodes, Greece from the 20-26th of September 2021. Submission is by 250-word abstract before the 30th August, sent to the organizers Prof Dan V. Nicolau Jr ( dan.nicolau(a)qut.edu.au) and Dr Ruairidh M. Battleday ( battleday(a)princeton.edu) We already have a great lineup (www.neuromonster.org) and with one week left until the deadline for the abstract submission encourage any remaining interested parties to apply. Ruairidh and Dan -- Dr. Ruairidh McLennan Battleday, BMBCh (Oxon) MA PhD Candidate and Cognitive Science Fellow Computational Cognitive Science Lab, Department of Computer Science Princeton University Department of Statistics St John's College University of Oxford

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[meetings] 2nd SMILES workshop, Aug 31st: Sensorimotor Interaction, Language and Embodiment of Symbols
by Xavier Hinaut 21 Aug '21

21 Aug '21

* WHAT The SMILES workshop is about Sensorimotor Interaction, Language and Embodiment of Symbols (SMILES). It is a satellite event from the ICDL 2020 (International Conference on Developmental Learning). * WHEN Tuesday 31st of August 2021. Planned schedule (it might change): 9am - 8.30pm CEST (UTC+2). * WHERE Online event on Zoom. (Link sent to registered people the day before, see LINKS section) * WHO 8 Invited speakers from multiple fields: neurolinguistics, speech communication, language evolution, developmental science, social robotics, computational neuroscience, language acquisition. - Morten Christiansen, Cornell University, NY, USA & Aarhus University, Denmark - Kaya de Barbaro, University of CaliforniaSan Diego, USA - Cynthia Matuszek, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, USA - Yair Lakretz, NeuroSpin Center, Gif sur Yvette, France - Harm Brouwer, Saarland University, Germany - Jean-Luc Schwartz, Gipsa lab, Grenoble-Alpes University, France - Daniel Dor, Tel Aviv University, Israel - Lauren Emberson, University of British Columbia, Canada * LINKS - ** Website **: https://sites.google.com/view/smiles-workshop/home <https://sites.google.com/view/smiles-workshop/home> - ** Registration is free but mandatory **: https://forms.gle/tyvMdbb8UJFyXZky8 <https://forms.gle/tyvMdbb8UJFyXZky8> - Contact: smiles.conf(a)gmail.com <mailto:smiles.conf@gmail.com> - ICDL conference website: https://icdl-2021.org/ <https://icdl-2021.org/> * WHAT+ (Short Description) On the one hand, models of sensorimotor interaction are embodied in the environment and in the interaction with other agents. On the other hand, recent Deep Learning development of Natural Language Processing (NLP) models allow to capture increasing language complexity (e.g. compositional representations, word embedding, long term dependencies). However, those NLP models are disembodied in the sense that they are learned from static datasets of text or speech. How can we bridge the gap from low-level sensorimotor interaction to high-level compositional symbolic communication? The SMILES workshop will address this issue through an interdisciplinary approach involving researchers from (but not limited to): - Sensori-motor learning, - Emergent communication in multi-agent systems, - Chunking of perceptuo-motor gestures (gestures in a general sense: motor, vocal, ...), - Sensori-motor learning, - Symbol grounding and symbol emergence, - Compositional representations for communication and action sequence, - Hierarchical representations of temporal information, - Language processing and acquisition in brains and machines, - Models of animal communication, - Language evolution, - Understanding composition and temporal processing in neural network models, and - Enaction, active perception, perception-action loop. SMILES workshop organisers - Xavier Hinaut, Inria, Bordeaux, France - Clément Moulin-Frier, Inria and Ensta ParisTech, Bordeaux, France - Silvia Pagliarini, Inria, Bordeaux, France - Michael Spranger, Sony AI and Sony CSL, Tokyo, Japan - Tadahiro Taniguchi, Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, Japan - Anne S. Warlaumont, University of California, Los Angeles, America - Junpei Zhong, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom Xavier Hinaut Inria Researcher (CR) Mnemosyne team, Inria LaBRI, Université de Bordeaux Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives www.xavierhinaut.com <http://www.xavierhinaut.com/>

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Postdoc and PhD Positions in Computational Cognitive Neuroscience at UKE - Hamburg
by Stefano Panzeri 20 Aug '21

20 Aug '21

The Panzeri and Donner laboratories at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) aim to fill joint postdoc and PhD positions starting at any time. The vacant positions are for collaborative projects in computational cognitive neuroscience, and funding is available for several years. Applications will be reviewed when they are received until positions are filled. Both labs aim to understand how higher brain functions such as sensation, perception, decision-making, and memory, emerge from the interactions between brain areas and/or populations of neurons within these areas. These topics are studied in the healthy brain and in neuropsychiatric disorders, and they are addressed through a tight interplay between theoretical and experimental approaches. Joint ongoing work focuses on how feedforward and feedback communication across the cortical hierarchy, excitation-inhibition balance, and neuromodulatory processes, shape decision-making. The Panzeri Lab, newly established at UKE Hamburg, is a theoretical lab which develops advanced mathematical tools for brain data analysis, applies these methods to real data to produce new results on neural information processing, and develops biophysically plausible neural network models of how information is processed in the brain. The Donner lab is an experimental lab that combines pharmacological intervention, psychophysics, eye-tracking, and neuroimaging (MEG and fMRI) in human subjects with advanced data analysis and computational modeling tools to uncover signatures and mechanisms of cognitive computation. The new lab members will join existing teams with extensive expertise in both computational and experimental neuroscience. The new lab members will also benefit from both labs’ extensive international collaborations including Harvard Medical School, Italian Institute of Technology, Baylor College of Medicine, Cornell University, École Normale Supérieure, New York University, Pompeu Fabra University, University of Pennsylvania, SISSA and others. We seek applications from qualified individuals from all demographics, genders, and backgrounds. Both labs are committed to diversity, highly international, and operate in English. Hamburg is a vibrant, international, family-friendly, and green city. It hosts one of the world’s largest harbours, an internationally acclaimed concert hall, a large lake, and dozens of canals, lots of beautiful parks, and many other nice places for leisure time. The UKE also has excellent family-friendly facilities. Candidates should have a solid background in numerate sciences and a keen interest in applying advanced mathematical concepts to reveal the function of the brain. Experience in quantitative or computational neuroscience is a major plus. The main criterion, however, is a commitment to scientific excellence. Applications (full CV, statement of research interest and name and contact of 2 referees) should be sent to t.donner(a)uke.de , stefano.panzeri(a)gmail.com Further information on both labs can be found here: http://www.tobiasdonner.net https://www.uke.de/english/departments-institutes/institutes/department-of-… Recent relevant publications of the labs include: Pfeffer, T. et al (2021), Circuit mechanisms for the chemical modulation of cortex-wide network interactions and behavioral variability*. *Science Advances 7: eabf5620 Valente, M., et al (2021), Correlations enhance the behavioral readout of neural population activity in association cortex. Nature Neuroscience, 24, 975–986 Murphy P., et al (2021), Adaptive circuit dynamics across human cortex during evidence accumulation in changing environments. Nature Neuroscience 7: 987-997. Wilming N., et al (2020), Large-scale dynamics of decision information across human cortex. Nature Communications 11: 5109. Chong, E. et al (2020) Manipulating synthetic optogenetic odors reveals the coding logic of olfactory perception. Science 368, 1329. Runyan C. A., et al (2017) Distinct timescales of population coding across cortex, Nature: 548: 92-96. Stefano Panzeri, Professor of Neural Information Processing Tobias H. Donner, Professor of Integrative Neuroscience University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

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Faculty research fellowships ('tenure-track') available at the University of Nottingham
by Marcus Kaiser 19 Aug '21

19 Aug '21

Dear all, New recruitment round launched for Nottingham Research and Anne McLaren Fellowship schemes! Join a cohort of ambitious and exceptional early-career researchers. Generous funding, research expenses, childcare costs, leadership mentoring + more. We have two schemes, each offering the same package of support: - *Anne McLaren Fellowships* are aimed at outstanding female postdoctoral researchers in science, technology, engineering and medicine, who are at the early stage of their academic careers and wish to establish a research career in the UK - *Nottingham Research Fellowships* are aimed at outstanding postdoctoral researchers who are at the early stage of their academic careers from all academic disciplines represented at the university We offer: - three years’ independent research funding, covering salary costs at c. £40,000-49,000 - *the link to a permanent academic post, subject to performance* - additional funding for research expenses totalling £75,000 - childcare costs of up to £15,000 - access to mentoring, career development and networking with the wider fellowship community Find out more at: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/researchwithus/fellowships/nottingham… Nottingham “the home of MRI” offers an excellent environment for imaging ( https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/beacons-of-excellence/precision-imagi… and https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/groups/spmic/index.aspx ), is pioneering the use of neurotechnology for brain disorders ( http://mindtech.org.uk/ ), hosts the Institute of Mental Health ( https://www.institutemh.org.uk ), and has a large group of faculty members including four full professors (Stephen Coombes, Mark van Rossum, Mark Humphries, Marcus Kaiser) in the area of computational/mathematical neuroscience. Please contact me if you want to find out more about how your research might fit in with our priorities of connectomics, brain stimulation, neurotechnology, neuroimaging, and computational/mathematical neuroscience. Best, Marcus -- *Marcus Kaiser, Ph.D. FRSB* @ConnectomeLab <https://twitter.com/ConnectomeLab> *Professor of Neuroinformatics* *Precision Imaging Beacon, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham* Guanci Visiting Professor Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China Book: Changing Connectomes https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/changing-connectomes Lab website: http://www.dynamic-connectome.org/ Neuroinformatics UK: http://www.neuroinformatics.org.uk/

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PhD position: Molecular basis of synaptic plasticity and consolidation
by Fauth, Michael 18 Aug '21

18 Aug '21

Apologies for cross-postings. The Institute of Biophysics at the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen is looking to fill a Ph.D. position (German Salary Scale TV-L E13, 66% of 39.8 weekly hours) for 3 years to work on theoretical models of the molecular underpinnings of (structural) synaptic plasticity and consolidation. This post is designed to foster young researchers and give the successful applicant the opportunity to pursue a doctoral degree. The position should be filled by September 15th 2021 or soon thereafter. Suitable candidates should hold a Master in Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science or comparable subjects, preferably with some additional experiences in Computational Neuroscience, Geometrical Modeling and Stochastic Processes. We expect excellent mathematical and coding skills (e.g., Python, Matlab, C++) as well as skills in scientific communication (including proficiency in English). The candidate should be curious, highly motivated, self-organized, and show a keen interest to work in a lively research team, collaborate with experimental research labs and to perform leading-edge research. The positions will be affiliated with the groups of Dr. Michael Fauth and Prof Florentin Wörgötter, who are investigating the emergence of stable behavior like memory and computation in the presence of a continuously changing biological substrate (see, e.g., Fauth & van Rossum, eLife, 2019; Bonilla-Quintana et al., Scientific Reports 2021). The aim of the research project is to model the dynamics of the synaptic scaffolding protein actin as well as its influence on synapse geometry during and after synaptic plasticity, exploring a possible molecular mechanism for the consolidation of synaptic changes. The project is embedded in and funded through the Collaborative Research Center 1286 “Quantitative Synaptology” (German Science Foundation). Consequently, the successful candidate will also be involved and pursue an active collaboration with experimental partners within the CRC. The Göttingen Campus is a leading center of neuroscience in Europe hosting numerous internationally renowned research institutions, including the University and its Medical Center, the three life science Max Planck Institutes, the European Neuroscience Institute, the German Primate Center, and the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience (BCCN) Göttingen. For more information, consult the official announcement at https://www.uni-goettingen.de/de/2794.html?cid=15701

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Call for papers: Symposium on Mathematics of Neuroscience
by Ruairidh McLennan Battleday 18 Aug '21

18 Aug '21

Symposium on the Mathematics of Neuroscience. ICNAAM, Rhodes, 20-26th September 2021. Two decades into the 21st century, can we claim to be any closer to a unified model of the brain? In this exploratory symposium, we invite submissions for short talks and posters presenting general mathematical models of brain function. We give priority to those models that account for brain or behavioural data, or provide simulations to that effect. The symposium will be held at the applied mathematics conference ICNAAM 2021, to be held virtually and in person on the island of Rhodes, Greece from the 20-26th of September 2021 (www.neuromonster.org) Submission is by 250-word abstract before the 30th August, sent to the organizers Prof Dan V. Nicolau Jr (dan.nicolau(a)qut.edu.au) and Dr Ruairidh M. Battleday ( battleday(a)princeton.edu) -- Dr. Ruairidh McLennan Battleday, BMBCh (Oxon) MA Cognitive Science Fellow Computational Cognitive Science Lab, Department of Computer Science Princeton University Department of Statistics St John's College University of Oxford

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Assistant Professor in Cognitive Neuroscience of Aging at UC Riverside
by Aaron Seitz 16 Aug '21

16 Aug '21

Cognitive Neuroscience of Aging in the UCR Psychology Department Tenure-Track Assistant Professor The Department of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor position with a focus on Cognitive Neuroscience of Aging beginning July 1, 2022. We seek applicants who investigate individual differences, as well as diverse populations, in cognitive and neural mechanisms of aging. We are particularly interested in candidates whose research will benefit from the social, ethnic, and linguistic diversity of Southern California’s aging population. Specific topics of research can address any area of cognitive psychology that will add to or complement our existing research specializations in perception, action, learning, memory, language, and experience-driven change. We are further interested in candidates whose research includes quantitative methods such as computational neuroscience; uses neuroimaging methodologies; makes connections between human, animal, and computational perspectives of cognition; and/or makes connections with the Developmental, Social/Personality, and/or Behavioral Neuroscience areas of the Department. Applicants should be committed to excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, and interest in teaching courses related to cognitive neuroscience, aging, cognition, and quantitative methods is desirable. Review of applications will begin on 11/15/2021 and will continue until the position is filled. Candidates who apply by this date will be given full consideration. The University of California, Riverside is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate and graduate student body (http://diversity.ucr.edu/)<http://diversity.ucr.edu/>. Its mission is explicitly linked to providing routes to educational success for underrepresented and first-generation college students. A commitment to this mission is a preferred qualification. The department is particularly interested in candidates who have experience working with students from diverse backgrounds and a demonstrated commitment to improving access to higher education for underrepresented students. The campus is surrounded by mountain ranges and is only an hour away from ski slopes, surfing, and hiking in mountain and desert environments. It boasts a fully-accredited child care facility and maintains a commitment to “family friendly” policies and programs. A Ph.D. in psychology, neuroscience or a related discipline is required at the time of appointment, and relevant postdoctoral experience and significant publications are expected. Salary level will be competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. Advancement through the faculty ranks at the University of California is through a series of structured, merit-based evaluations, occurring every 2-3 years, each of which includes substantial peer input. Applications must include a cover letter, curriculum vita, statements of research and teaching interests, reprints and preprints, a statement of contributions to diversity, and three letters of recommendation. All application materials must be submitted through AP Recruit at: https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/apply/JPF01442. For more information about the position, please contact the Search Committee Chair, Dr. Aaron Seitz, Department of Psychology, at aseitz(a)ucr.edu<mailto:aseitz@ucr.edu>. UCR is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. Its mission is explicitly linked to providing routes to educational success for underrepresented and first-generation college students. A commitment to this mission is a preferred qualification. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. -Aaron ************************************************** Aaron Seitz, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology Director of UCR Brain Game Center Director of UCR Aging Initiative Campbell Endowed Term Chair for Research Excellence and Undergraduate Research Mentoring University of California, Riverside 900 University Ave. Riverside, CA 92521 Ph: (951) 827-6422 Fax: (951) 827-3985 Email: aseitz(a)ucr.edu<mailto:aseitz@ucr.edu> Web: http://faculty.ucr.edu/~aseitz/ BGC: http://braingamecenter.ucr.edu<http://braingamecenter.ucr.edu/> **************************************************

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Call For Participation - Workshop on Spatio-temporal Aspects of Embodied Predictive Processing - StEPP @ ICDL2021 - 22.08.2021
by Stefan Heinrich 15 Aug '21

15 Aug '21

Call For Participation - Workshop on Spatio-temporal Aspects of Embodied Predictive Processing - StEPP @ IEEE ICDL2021 Schedule and Venue Date: 22. August 2021, 13:30-18:00h (GMT+8) Location: Online (Details will be announced on the website) All details and full schedule: https://sites.google.com/view/stepp21 Aims and Scope: Understanding human intelligence and building strong AI systems is a key challenge for our generation. A particularly puzzling aspect is that the human brain seems to cope very well with the highly variable and uncertain nature of perception and action, regarding both their signal characteristic and how they extend over time. Furthermore, it seems apparent that the information processing in the brain always involves previous bodily experiences and all our senses, thus is embodied and crossmodal. For explaining these characteristics, there are strong accounts that the brain is constantly predicting sensory input and feedback while minimising free energy in the prediction and is hierarchically abstracting the perception as well as hierarchically composing action. Furthermore, it is also hypothesised that mechanistic priors in the brain’s information processing induce a failure of hierarchical inference in the brain, accounting for atypical perception and action of psychiatric disorders. For example, some brains might have developed to focus too strongly on current sensory input while others might focus too strongly on memorised previous experience. A typically developed brain, in contrast, would show a fine balance compared to these two extreme priors. The big open mystery is: how is the brain developing this on a mechanistic level and thus how can this get learned within an AI system? Thus, to lift this mystery, we further need to bring together research from computational neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and artificial intelligence. With this workshop, we particularly want to wrap up different recent hypotheses, models, and experiments and discuss in-depth how to shape future imaging, behavioural, and developmental robotics studies as a complement to computational modelling and bio-inspired artificial intelligent algorithms. As a guiding theme, we aim to approach the following central questions: - How does the brain learn spatio-temporal stochasticity in perception and action? - What is the role of priors in learning spatio-temporal adaptive prediction? - How can developmental robotics help us to study spatio-temporal stochasticity as an analogy to infant learning? We examine these questions with the insight from invited key speakers from complementary fields as well as original contributions in breakout sessions in order to conclude the next steps within a panel discussion. Keynotes/Panellists and topics: - Jun Tani, Cognitive Neurorobotics, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) An analysis of meta-level cognitive processes of a variational recurrent neural network model when acting with the environment. - Marcel van Gerven, Artificial Cognitive Systems, Donders Institute, Radboud University How can the brain match the unreasonable effectiveness of backpropagation? - Takuya Isomura, Brain Intelligence Theory, RIKEN Center for Brain Science Reverse engineering Bayesian aspect of canonical neural networks. - Takamitsu Watanabe, Brain Network Dynamics, International Research Center for Neurointelligence (IRCN), The University of Tokyo Global and local brain dynamics underlying typical and atypical human intelligence. Organisers: Stefan Heinrich, IRCN, The University of Tokyo, Japan Shingo Murata, Dept. Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Keio University, Japan Yukie Nagai, IRCN & Institute for AI and Beyond, The University of Tokyo, Japan Yuichi Yamashita, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan -- ************************************************************* Dr. Stefan Heinrich Postdoctoral Project Researcher Cognitive Developmental Robotics Lab The University of Tokyo, Institutes for Advanced Studies, International Research Center for Neurointelligence Email: heinrich.stefan(a)ircn.jp https://developmental-robotics.jp/en/members/stefan_heinrich/ https://ircn.jp/en/ https://stefanheinrich.net/ *************************************************************

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[jobs] Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence Sheffield Hallam University - College of Business, Technology and Engineering - Department of Computing
by Di Nuovo, Alessandro 13 Aug '21

13 Aug '21

Closing date 22/08/21 at 23:30 We are seeking an outstanding individual who can make a strong academic contribution in Cognitive Computing and Intelligent Systems. You will join a large and vibrant Computing Department that is engaged in both teaching and research. The teaching and research activities in Computing are consistent with the University aims of being the leading applied university in the UK and deliver practical knowledge, skills and solutions that meet the needs of employers and society. Your main duties and responsibilities will include: * Design, develop and deliver teaching across a wide range of modules and within artificial intelligence. * Contribute to the research and innovation in artificial intelligence by publishing high-quality outputs, applying for funding, and undertaking knowledge transfer projects. We would be particularly interested in any candidate with experience of artificial intelligence and robotics. You must hold a PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant subject and possess excellent communication skills. Teaching experience at undergraduate level, is essential, including developing excellent teaching materials and assessments, delivering lectures and tutorials, supervising dissertations as well as assessing and marking student work. It is expected that the successful candidate will contribute to module and course developments, and therefore having knowledge and experience of course development would be beneficial. An excellent research record and reputation, including publications of the highest quality suitable for submission to the REF (UK Research Excellence Framework), would be advantageous. Applications from people with strong backgrounds in cognitive computing and experience of programming in Python, C++, ROS and Tensorflow (or similar) would also be desirable. More information: https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/CIE152/lecturer-senior-lecturer-in-artificial-in… Alessandro Di Nuovo, PhD Professor of Machine Intelligence Leader of Technological and Digital Innovations, Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre College of Business, Technology and Engineering Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom Email: a.dinuovo(a)shu.ac.uk<mailto:a.dinuovo@shu.ac.uk>

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2nd SMILES workshop, Aug 31st: Sensorimotor Interaction, Language and Embodiment of Symbols
by Xavier Hinaut 13 Aug '21

13 Aug '21

* WHAT The SMILES workshop is about Sensorimotor Interaction, Language and Embodiment of Symbols (SMILES). It is a satellite event from the ICDL 2020 (International Conference on Developmental Learning). * WHEN Tuesday 31st of August 2021. Planned schedule (it might change): 9am - 8.30pm CEST (UTC+2). * WHERE Online event on Zoom. (Link sent to registered people the day before, see LINKS section) * WHO 8 Invited speakers from multiple fields: neurolinguistics, speech communication, language evolution, developmental science, social robotics, computational neuroscience, language acquisition. - Morten Christiansen, Cornell University, NY, USA & Aarhus University, Denmark - Kaya de Barbaro, University of CaliforniaSan Diego, USA - Cynthia Matuszek, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, USA - Yair Lakretz, NeuroSpin Center, Gif sur Yvette, France - Harm Brouwer, Saarland University, Germany - Jean-Luc Schwartz, Gipsa lab, Grenoble-Alpes University, France - Daniel Dor, Tel Aviv University, Israel - Lauren Emberson, University of British Columbia, Canada * LINKS - ** Website **: https://sites.google.com/view/smiles-workshop/home - ** Registration is free but mandatory **: https://forms.gle/tyvMdbb8UJFyXZky8 - Contact: smiles.conf(a)gmail.com - ICDL conference website: https://icdl-2021.org/ * WHAT+ (Short Description) On the one hand, models of sensorimotor interaction are embodied in the environment and in the interaction with other agents. On the other hand, recent Deep Learning development of Natural Language Processing (NLP) models allow to capture increasing language complexity (e.g. compositional representations, word embedding, long term dependencies). However, those NLP models are disembodied in the sense that they are learned from static datasets of text or speech. How can we bridge the gap from low-level sensorimotor interaction to high-level compositional symbolic communication? The SMILES workshop will address this issue through an interdisciplinary approach involving researchers from (but not limited to): - Sensori-motor learning, - Emergent communication in multi-agent systems, - Chunking of perceptuo-motor gestures (gestures in a general sense: motor, vocal, ...), - Sensori-motor learning, - Symbol grounding and symbol emergence, - Compositional representations for communication and action sequence, - Hierarchical representations of temporal information, - Language processing and acquisition in brains and machines, - Models of animal communication, - Language evolution, - Understanding composition and temporal processing in neural network models, and - Enaction, active perception, perception-action loop. SMILES workshop organisers - Xavier Hinaut, Inria, Bordeaux, France - Clément Moulin-Frier, Inria and Ensta ParisTech, Bordeaux, France - Silvia Pagliarini, Inria, Bordeaux, France - Michael Spranger, Sony AI and Sony CSL, Tokyo, Japan - Tadahiro Taniguchi, Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, Japan - Anne S. Warlaumont, University of California, Los Angeles, America - Junpei Zhong, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom Xavier Hinaut Inria Researcher (CR) Mnemosyne team, Inria LaBRI, Université de Bordeaux Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives www.xavierhinaut.com

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WU TSAI POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS Phase II: Call for Applicants
by Gustavo Santana 13 Aug '21

13 Aug '21

The Wu Tsai Institute (WTI) is a new neuroscience institute at Yale that seeks to understand human cognition and explore human potential by establishing an inclusive and interdisciplinary community spanning the biological, psychological, and computational sciences. People, collaborations, and diverse perspectives are at the heart of WTI’s mission. To this end, we are announcing a new postdoctoral fellowship program to attract and foster the career success of a new generation of integrative scientists. The fellowships offer a generous stipend ($60K starting) for up to 3 years, funds for training, cohort-based professional development and community-building activities, and access to cutting edge facilities in the new Wu Tsai Institute (WTI) at Yale, dedicated to integrative studies of the mind. International applicants are welcome. We encourage applications from scientists from backgrounds historically underrepresented in science and/or who have a demonstrated commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. The call features four co-mentored areas of research, carefully selected for the mentors' outstanding interdisciplinary research and the labs' inclusive and supportive training environments. Students from this listserv may be especially interested in working with Drs. David van Dijk and Jessica Cardin, who are interested in mentoring someone with a background in computer science, applied math, computational biology, or other engineering discipline, and experience working with large datasets for the development of cutting-edge machine learning methods for newly developed large-scale brain imaging techniques. Candidates who are interested in joining the WTI, but who have other research interests are also welcome to apply to our Open-Track, to join any of the almost 100 labs affiliated with the WTI. The deadline for applications is September 15. You can find more information and application instructions here: https://bit.ly/WTIPostdocFellows Best, Gustavo Madeira Santana PhD Student @ Yale @gumadeiras

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CFP - IEEE Symposium on Computational Intelligence for Brain Computer Interfaces (4-7 Dec 2021)
by Chun-Shu Wei 10 Aug '21

10 Aug '21

The IEEE Symposium on the Computational Intelligence for Brain Computer Interfaces (CIBCI) will be held in Orlando, Florida at IEEE SSCI 2021 on 4-7 December 2021. A brain-computer interface (BCI) is a communication pathway for a user to interact with his/her surroundings by using brain signals, which contain information about the user’s cognitive state or intentions. The brain signals could be non-invasive, e.g., the scalp electroencephalogram (EEG), magnetoencephalography (MEG), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and invasive, e.g., electrocorticography (ECoG). Early BCI systems were mainly used to help people with disabilities. For example, motor imagery based BCIs have been used to help severely paralyzed patients to control powered exoskeletons or wheelchairs without the involvement of muscles, and event related potential spellers enable patients who cannot move nor speak to type. Recently, the application scope of BCIs has been extended to able-bodied people. However, there are still many challenges in the transition of BCIs from laboratory settings to real-life applications, including the reliability and convenience of the sensing hardware, and the availability of high-performance and robust algorithms for signal analysis and interpretation. This symposium focuses on the latter. It will discuss how advances in computational intelligence can facilitate BCI signal processing, feature extraction, and pattern recognition, in order to make them more robustness and reliability in everyday applications. Research Topics Topics of interest include but are not limited to: Potential impact of AI/CI on the human workforce and distribution of wealth Potential impact of AI/CI on privacy Possible bias in AI/CI systems (e.g. can a deep neural network trained to detect lying from spoken language be more likely to get a false positive result for one racial group more than another) Safety of AI/CI systems embedded in autonomous and automated systems (e.g. autonomous vehicles, nuclear power plant control systems) Human-machine Trust and Risk in AI/CI Systems Ethics of AI/CI systems in business, economics or manufacturing Specific applications of AI/CI and the potential ethical/social benefits and risks (e.g. Marking of student assignments, assessment of legal documents, automated decision making in the stock market, medical research) Legal implications of AI/CI (e.g. legal liabilities when things go wrong; how do you certify systems that can ‘learn’ from their environment etc.) Need and direction for developing formal standards in ethics for AI/CI Public perception of AI/CI Impact of AI/CI on human cognition and social relatedness Role of AI/CI in politics and in manipulating public opinion Ethics and Legal implications of use of AI/CI in National Security Ethics in games and virtual reality Important Dates Paper Submissions: August 20th 2021 Paper Acceptance: October 1st 2021 Camera ready Paper: October 15th 2021 Early Registration: October 15th 2021 Conference dates: December 4th to 7th 2021 Paper Submission Each paper should be between 6 to 8 pages, including figures, tables and references. A maximum of two extra pages per paper is allowed (i.e., up to 10 pages), at an additional charge of US$100 per extra page. All papers should be submitted using the IEEE two-column conference style file. All papers must be submitted through the IEEE SSCI 2021 online submission system which will open in April 2021. Authors will need to select the symposium they wish to submit to from the dropdown list of research areas in the submission system. Program Committee Yu-Kai (YK) Wang (Chair), University of Technology Sydney, Australia Gang Li (Co-Chair), University of Glasgow, UK Fani Deligianni (Co-Chair), University of Glasgow, UK Chun-Shu Wei (Co-Chair), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan Boon Giin, Lee, University of Nottingham Ningbo China Trung-Hau Nguyen, Chi Minh City University of Technology, Vietnam Dalin Yang, Pusan National University, South Korea Ogechi Onuoha, University of Glasgow, UK Fu-Yin Cherng, National Taiwan University, Taiwan Poyuan Jeng, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan Kuan-Jung Chiang, University of California San Diego, USA Tien-Thong Nguyen Do, University of Technology Sydney, AU Fred Chang, University of Technology Sydney, AU About SSCI IEEE SSCI is an established flagship annual international series of symposia on computational intelligence sponsored by the IEEE Computational Intelligence Society. IEEE SSCI 2021 promotes and stimulates discussion on the latest theory, algorithms, applications and emerging topics on computational intelligence across several unique symposia, providing an opportunity for cross-fertilization of research and future collaborations. IEEE SSCI 2021 will feature exciting keynotes, panel discussions, oral presentations and social events. COVID-19 The organizers are carefully monitoring the current situation concerning COVID-19 and will Provide regular up-to-date information regarding the conference format. At this stage the conference is planned to take place in Orlando, Florida from 4th to the 7th of December 2021. The next review of the conference format will be in April 2021. Please check the website for more information IEEE SSCI 2021. Policy on Multiple Submissions IEEE SSCI 2021 will not accept any paper that is under review, has been accepted, or has been published in any other venue at the time of submission or during the review process of IEEE SSCI 2021. If in doubt, email your question to the Program Chairs, Prof. Alice Smith at smithae(a)auburn.edu or Prof. Carlos Coello at carlos.coellocoello(a)gmail.com. Review Process Each paper submitted to IEEE SSCI 2021 will receive at least three reviews. The paper will be assessed based on originality, significance, adherence to the scientific method, correctness, clarity and quality of scientific presentation. The decision made on the paper by the Program Chairs is final. Submission and Registration Restrictions There are no restrictions on the number of papers submitted by a single author. However, each accepted paper must have at least one of its authors with a full registration to the conference. A full registration covers up to two accepted papers. Archiving policy IEEE allows authors to have their paper appears in a public archive such as Techrxiv (https://www.techrxiv.org/) or Arxiv (https://arxiv.org/) The PSPB Operations Manual (www.ieee.org/documents/opsmanual.pdf) contains the policies related to posting of preprints of articles submitted to IEEE publications. Copyright All accepted papers at IEEE SSCI 2021 will be published in the IEEE SSCI 2021 proceedings, copyrighted by IEEE. Dr Yu-Kai Wang, Dr Gang Li, Dr Fani Deligianni, Dr. Chun-Shu Wei

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NeuroML tutorials at INCF Training week: 23/26 August 2021
by Ankur Sinha 09 Aug '21

09 Aug '21

Dear all, Apologies for the cross posts. We will be conducting a NeuroML tutorial at the upcoming INCF training week at the end of August. This tutorial is intended for members of the research community interested in learning more about how NeuroML and its related technologies facilitates the standardization, sharing, and collaborative development of models. This tutorial will be offered twice during the Neuroinformatics Training Week: session 1 is targeted to participants residing in Europe, Africa, and the Americas while session 2 is targeted at participants residing in Asia and Australia. Session 1: 23 Aug 2021, 11:00-15:00 EDT / 17:00-21:00 CEST Session 2: 26 Aug 2021, 09:00-13:00 CEST / 16:00-20:00 JST / 17:00-21:00 AEST Registration is free for INCF members. For non-members, registration is only $20 for students and postdocs, and $50 for others. Please register here: https://www.incf.org/virtual-incf-neuroinformatics-training-week-2021 More information on the tutorial, including the topics to be covered can be found here: https://docs.neuroml.org/Events/202108-INCF-Training-Week.html -- Thanks, Regards, Ankur Sinha (He / Him / His) Research Fellow at the Silver Lab | http://silverlab.org/ Department of Neuroscience, Physiology, & Pharmacology University College London, London, UK Time zone: Europe/London

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Job research software engineer @ SWC/GCNU
by Joaquin Rapela 09 Aug '21

09 Aug '21

Hello list, I am the first member of the newly established Data Center of the Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit (GCNU) and Sainsbury Wellcome Centre (SWC). The GCNU develops state-of-the-art neural data analysis and machine learning algorithms. The SWC performs sophisticated neuroscience experiments, and records unprecedented behavioral and neural data. Combining these data analysis methods and these behavioral and neural recordings we will revolutionize our understanding of how computation in neural circuits gives rise to behavior. The Data Center is growing and is looking for a research engineer; details appear below. Please contact Tom Mrsic-Flogel (https://www.sainsburywellcome.org/web/people/tom-mrsic-flogel) director of the SWC, or send me an email, if you have any question about this position. Cordially, Joaquin RESEARCH SOFTWARE ENGINEER - BEHAVIOUR AND NEURAL DATA The Sainsbury Wellcome Centre and the Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit are looking for a proactive and creative Research Software Engineer to join the technical team in a newly established Data Centre. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in establishing data architectures and data processing pipelines for efficient querying of complex, large-scale and multi-format datasets of neural and behavioural data. Your work will directly contribute to our efforts to understand how the brain generates flexible, intelligent behaviour. The role will include developing, training and supervising a small team of research engineers to assist with the implementation of the software design and documentation. You will have a collaborative approach to work and the ability to build strong working relationships with colleagues to deliver successful research outcomes. Working alongside our IT team, you will create data management workflows for internal users and for sharing of data with the international research community. You will work closely with neuroscientists, electrical and mechanical engineers to design large-scale data collection, analysis and interactive visualization systems for next generation brain data. You will have advanced experience with systems programming languages and substantial experience in Python, NumPy or MATLAB. Substantial experience and knowledge of software development best practice including testing, documentation and version control is essential. With a competitive salary and benefits, this post is full time and funded until 31 October 2025 in the first instance. For further details download the information for candidates (https://www.sainsburywellcome.org/web/sites/default/files/2021-07/Job%20Des…) To apply visit UCL's vacancy listings and search for the advert using reference number 1877608. Click on "Apply Now" at the bottom of the advert to enter the online recruitment portal. The deadline for applications is Sunday 22 August 2021.

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Open PhD Position in Computational Neurosience in Juelich, Germany - Generic metadata management for reproducible high-performance-computing simulation workflows
by Martina Reske 06 Aug '21

06 Aug '21

The Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine - Computational and Systems Neuroscience (INM-6) at Research Center Juelich is also part of the Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS-6, Theoretical Neuroscience) and hosts the Coordination Site (BCOS) of the national Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience. Among other projects, the INM-6/IAS-6 participates in the EU flagship “Human Brain Project” (HBP, https://humanbrainproject.eu) The institute creates mathematical models of the dynamics and function of neural circuits. This includes model-driven analysis of brain activity and structure, and simulation of biologically realistic models using high-performance computing (HPC) technology. A main challenge in this research field is the acquisition and organization of the metadata accompanying these simulations. This challenge will be addressed in an interdisciplinary project in Neuroscience and Environmental Research funded by the Helmholtz Metadata Collaboration (HMC, https://helmholtz-metadaten.de) The recently started project “Generic metadata management for reproducible high-performance-computing simulation workflows” aims at developing a generic, cross-domain metadata management framework to foster reproducibility of HPC based simulation science, and to provide workflows and tools for an efficient organization, exploration and visualization of simulation data. A central goal of this project is to unify existing approaches, while at the same time developing concepts and tools that are applicable to diverse research fields and can cope with the modularity and flexibility demands of rapidly progressing science. This project is a collaboration between the Research Centre Jülich and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig. We at INM-6 are searching for a PhD candidate contributing to the development of a metadata management framework for generic HPC-based simulation science and in particular its application to the research field Computational Neuroscience. We are offering a PhD Position - Generic metadata management for reproducible high-performance-computing simulation workflows Your Job: The successful candidate will contribute to the project by designing, implementing, and evaluating a metadata management framework for a Computational Neuroscience use case. This includes: * Review of existing approaches and tools * Requirement specification * Conceptual design blueprint of implementation * Proof-of-concept application to Computational Neuroscience * Development of neuronal network models addressing Neuroscience questions * Simulations of neuronal networks using HPC infrastructure * Presentation and publication of the results * Close interaction with team members and collaborators from INM-6, the Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC) and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ * Exchange and networking within national (NFDI) and international (RDA, EOSC) initiatives and within the funding incubator platform HMC Your Profile: * Completed study (Diploma/Master) in Physics, Computer Science, Computational Neuroscience or a related field * Solid programming skills preferably in Python and/or C++; experience with Python libraries (e.g., NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib, and pandas) is beneficial * Experience with software development (e.g., version control with Git) and data organization (e.g., data bases with SQL and MySQL) is preferable * Knowledge of relevant metadata standards and semantic techniques are beneficial * Experience with modeling, simulation, and analysis of complex systems * Keen interest in cognitive and systems neuroscience * Interest in interdisciplinary projects * Interest in collaborative work and good communication skills * Good command of English Our Offer: We work on the very latest issues that impact our society and are offering you the chance to actively help in shaping the change! We offer ideal conditions for you to complete your doctoral degree: * A highly motivated working group as well as an international and interdisciplinary working environment at one of Europe’s largest research establishments * Outstanding scientific and technical infrastructure * Opportunity to participate in (international) conferences and project meetings * Continuous scientific mentoring by your scientific advisor * Flexible working hours and 30 days of annual leave * Further development of your personal strengths, e.g. through an extensive range of training courses; a structured program of continuing education and networking opportunities specifically for doctoral researchers via JuDocS, the Jülich Center for Doctoral Researchers and Supervisors: https://www.fz-juelich.de/judocs * Targeted services for international employees, e.g. through our International Advisory Service The position is initially for a fixed term of 3 Jahre years. Pay in line with 65 % of pay group 13 of the Collective Agreement for the Public Service (TVöD-Bund) and additionally 60 % of a monthly salary as special payment („Christmas bonus“). Further information on doctoral degrees at Forschungszentrum Jülich including our other locations is available at: www.fz-juelich.de/gp/Careers_Docs<http://www.fz-juelich.de/gp/Careers_Docs> Forschungszentrum Jülich promotes equal opportunities and diversity in its employment relations. We also welcome applications from disabled persons. Please apply via our online recruiting system<https://www.fz-juelich.de/portal/EN/Careers/application/_node.html?cms_hre_…> until Sept 15th, 2021. Reference number: 2021D-107 Martina Reske -- Dr. Martina Reske Scientific Coordinator Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-6) Computational and Systems Neuroscience & Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS-6) Theoretical Neuroscience Jülich Research Centre and JARA Jülich, Germany Work +49.2461.611916 Work Cell +49.151.26156918 Fax +49.2461.619460 www.csn.fz-juelich.de<http://www.csn.fz-juelich.de> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH 52425 Juelich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Juelich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Dueren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Volker Rieke Geschaeftsfuehrung: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Marquardt (Vorsitzender), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Dr. Astrid Lambrecht, Prof. Dr. Frauke Melchior ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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„Bridging grant” from the German Society for Cognitive Science (GK) for BA-, MA- and PhD students
by Constantin Rothkopf 06 Aug '21

06 Aug '21

„Bridging grant” from the German Society for Cognitive Science (GK) for Bachelor, Master and PhD students The German Society for Cognitive Science (GK) would like to support students who find themselves in a difficult (emergency) situation caused by the Corona pandemic with a bridging grant. The grant consists of funding for a maximum of three months á 500 € per month. The GK is able to offer six to eight grants. The grant is meant as financial support allowing to finish the respective degree (Bachelor or Master) or providing some financial relief during an important PhD thesis phase (e.g. finishing a paper). The selection will be done by the members of the steering committee of the German Society for Cognitive Science (GK). The committee will consider all emergency cases as long as they have been caused by the Corona pandemic within the context of the studies and/or doctoral programme and are sufficiently substantiated with proof. Target group: The funding is intended for students who are enrolled and/or registered in a German university. In particular, only the following persons are eligible for funding: (1) Bachelor or Master students in subjects belonging to Cognitive Science (e.g. Cognitive Science, Philosophy, Psychology, CS, AI, Linguistics, Neuroscience) who, ideally, will be able to graduate soon, and (2) PhD students registered in one of the subjects belonging to Cognitive Science who are working on a cognitive science project. Persons who already received a bridging grant from the GK are not eligible to apply. Paradigmatic cases: A student pursuing a Master degree has fallen behind with their master thesis because due to the Corona-pandemic there was no constant childcare. The funding could be used to pay for a privately organised childcare. Or a PhD student could not finish his or her dissertation because data acquisition was delayed due to reduced lab capacities. The funding could be used to cover living expenses after the contract has expired. Application and Proof: Please submit: - a statement comprehensibly describing applicant’s situation (cases with evidence are preferred) and indicating the use of the funding. - Bachelor and Master students: -- Enrollment confirmation and transcript of record -- A letter from the faculty’s/program’s advisor confirming the regular continuation of studies, anticipated graduation (within the winter term 2021/2022) - PhD students: -- A short statement from the first supervisor roughly sketching the cognitive science related project and describing the project’s progress. The application shall be emailed with the subject „Application Bridging Grant“ to the following email: Chair of the GK, Prof. Dr. Barbara Kaup, barbara.kaup(a)uni-tuebingen.de; Application deadline: 15.10.2021 -- Prof. Constantin A. Rothkopf, PhD http://www.cogsci.tu-darmstadt.de/ http://www.pip.tu-darmstadt.de/ https://hessian.ai/ https://fias.uni-frankfurt.de/~rothkopf/

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Summer School on Network and Control Sciences for Psychiatry
by Jasper Bischofberger 06 Aug '21

06 Aug '21

Dear all, We are happy to announce a Summer School on “Current and Future Applications of Network and Control Sciences for Psychiatry” Host Institution: *University of Tübingen, Germany* Location: *Online event* Dates: *September 29th – October 1st 2021* Abstract deadline: *September 1st, 2021* Registration fees: *free* *Focus* This Summer School gives an opportunity to students and young researchers to get acquainted with and exchange within a range of current topics in network and control sciences and its applications in Psychiatry. ____ *Keynotes* Peter Dayan (MPI Tübingen, Germany) John Medaglia (Drexel University, USA) Danielle S. Bassett (University of Pennsylvania, USA) For the full list of speakers visit: https://www.medizin.uni-tuebingen.de/de/summer-school-controlpsychiatry/spe… ____ *Registration* The summer school is free of charge for all participants, but to get all important information please register online via: https://www.medizin.uni-tuebingen.de/de/summer-school-controlpsychiatry ____ *Poster Submission* Participants can present their latest research results as a poster. Some of the most relevant submissions will have the possibility to present their work in a dedicated oral session and receive an official certificate. Please submit your abstract (limited to 250 words) latest by September 1st to: controlpsychiatry(a)med.uni-tuebingen.de ____ Questions? Please contact: controlpsychiatry(a)med.uni-tuebingen.de We are excited to see you soon! Best wishes, The organizing committee

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Job Openings: Research Assistant Professor (3 vacancies) at Hong Kong Baptist University
by COMP HKBU 05 Aug '21

05 Aug '21

The Department of Computer Science at Hong Kong Baptist University presently offers BSc, MSc, MPhil, and PhD programmes, and is now seeking outstanding applicants for the following positions. Research Assistant Professor in Computer Science (3 vacancies) (PR0166/19-20) The positions are created and funded as part of the strategic research development initiatives in the Department. The appointees will be provided with a conducive research environment, and will work within an established group of faculty in the Department. They are also expected to perform group-based high-impact research and to undertake some teaching duties. Applicants should possess a PhD degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field, and sufficiently demonstrate abilities to conduct high-quality research in one of the Department's key research areas: (i) Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; (ii) Big Data and Data Management; (iii) Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition; and (iv) Distributed Systems and Networking. These key research areas have a special thematic focus on (a) Health Informatics and (b) Security and Privacy-aware Computing related applications. Initial appointment will be made on a fixed-term contract of two to three years. Re-appointment thereafter is subject to mutual agreement. For enquiry, please contact Dr William Cheung, Head of Department (email: william(a)comp.hkbu.edu.hk) More information about the Department can be found on its website at https://www.comp.hkbu.edu.hk <http://www.comp.hkbu.edu.hk/>. *Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.* Application Procedure: Applicants are invited to submit their applications at the HKBU e-Recruitment System (jobs.hkbu.edu.hk) with samples of publications, preferably *three* best ones out of their most recent publications/works. Those should also request *two* referees to send in confidential letters of reference, with PR number (stated above) quoted on the letters, to the Human Resources Office (Email: recruit(a)hkbu.edu.hk) direct. Those who are not invited for interview 4 months after the closing date may consider their applications unsuccessful. All application materials including publication samples, scholarly/creative works will be disposed of after completion of the recruitment exercise. Details of the University’s Personal Information Collection Statement can be found at http://hro.hkbu.edu.hk/pics. The University reserves the right not to make an appointment for the post advertised, and appointment will be made according to the terms and conditions then applicable at the time of offer. Closing date: *Review of applications is on-going until the positions are filled.* URL: http://www.comp.hkbu.edu.hk/v1/?page=job_vacancies&id=540

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Postdoc position in theoretical neuroscience, Aljadeff lab at UCSD
by Johnatan (Yonatan) Aljadeff 04 Aug '21

04 Aug '21

Johnatan Aljadeff is recruiting a motivated postdoc to join his lab at UCSD, to investigate theoretical models of synaptic plasticity and learning of spatial representations. The CRCNS project is funded for a 4-year period, and is conducted in close collaboration with Nachum Ulanovsky's lab at the Weizmann Institute. The ideal candidate will have a quantitative background (math / physics / CS / EE / comp. neuro., etc.). Prior experience working on problems in neuroscience is welcome but not required. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter (incl. brief statement of research interests and possible start dates), curriculum vitae, and arrange for two reference letters to be sent on their behalf. Materials should be sent to aljadeff(a)ucsd.edu. Informal inquiries about details of the project and the position are encouraged. Application reviews will begin Sep. 15, 2021 and will continue until the position is filled.

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Seeking Scientific Software Engineer @ Tübingen
by Peter Dayan 04 Aug '21

04 Aug '21

My lab at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen, Germany, is looking to hire a Scientific Software Engineer. We build and test theories and computational models of neural processing, with a particular emphasis on decision-making, learning and representation. We are therefore looking for someone with excellent skills and experience in programming and data analysis to help us develop, test and implement scientific software across our interdisciplinary projects. Full details at: https://www.kyb.tuebingen.mpg.de/577071/scientific-software-engineer1?c=702… Preference will be given to applications received by September 10th, 2021. The Max Planck Society endeavours to employ more severely handicapped people. Applications of severely disabled persons are expressly desired. The Max Planck Society strives for gender and diversity equality. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds.

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PhD position with Prof. Laurenz Wiskott at the Institute for Neural Computation, Bochum, Germany
by Laurenz Wiskott 02 Aug '21

02 Aug '21

The Ruhr-Universität Bochum is one of the leading research universities. The university draws its strengths from both the diversity and the proximity of scientific and engineering disciplines on a single, coherent campus. This highly dynamic setting enables students and researchers to work across traditional boundaries of academic subjects and faculties. One particular strength of RUB is interdisciplinary research in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, see https://ml-ai.rub.de/. The Institute for Neural Computation is a central research institute, see https://www.ini.rub.de/. It focuses on the dynamics and learning of perception and behavior on a functional level but is otherwise very diverse, ranging from neurophysiology and psychophysics over computational neuroscience to machine learning and technical applications. There is an open position for a research assistant / Phd-student in the group „Theory of Neural Systems“ of Prof. Dr. Laurenz Wiskott to be filled at 15th of Septembert. The appointment will be for three years. Salary is 75% of salary scale TV-L E13. Task: • Develop a generative model for learning high-level representations of images that ideally should include visual invariances, should enable attention driven selection, and support classification of objects. A promising basis for the development is the vector quantizes variational autoencoder (VQ-VAE). The system will be developed with methods from machine learning but should integrate well into a system-level model of episodic memory. • Present results on conferences and publish them in journals of machine learning or computational neuroscience. • Teaching assistance for 3 semester hours per week. • Constructive contributions to the research group. We offer: • An interesting interdisciplinary environment in the field of Machine Learning / Artificial Intelligence / Computational Neuroscience. • Room to develop your own ideas in the project. • Infrastructure to integrate well into the institute and the group. • Opportunity to do a PhD (Dr). Applications (CV, transcript of records for MSc and BSc, statement of purpose) should be sent as a single pdf file to laurenz.wiskott(a)rub.de. Travel expenses for interviews will not be refunded. Ruhr-University Bochum is committed to equal opportunity in employment and gender equality in its working environment. We therefore look forward to applications from qualified women. Applications from appropriately qualified handicapped persons are also encouraged. Requirements: • Very good Master in mathematics, computer science, engineering, or a related field. • Good programming and mathematical skills. • Interest in interdisciplinary research questions and cooperations. Advantageous: • Experience in Machine Learning and/or Computational Neuroscience. • Good communication and teamwork skills. • Experience in interdisciplinary projects. • Programming skills in Python.

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Post doc in cognitive neuroscience/virtual reality research at University College London (movement trajectories, wearable MEG, human behaviour under threat, PI Dominik Bach)
by Dominik R. Bach 02 Aug '21

02 Aug '21

We are looking for a research fellow in an ERC-funded research project "Action selection under threat - the complex control of human defence" led by Dominik Bach (http://bachlab.org <https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbachlab.or…>) at University College London. The position will be based at the Max-Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry (https://www.mps-ucl-centre.mpg.de/en <https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mps-u…>). OPM-MEG research takes place at the Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging (http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/ <http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/>). Our immersive virtual reality lab is based at the UCL Department for Clinical and Movement Neuroscience. These places offer world-class training and networking opportunities and an intellectually vibrant and inspiring research culture. The overarching goal of the project is to understand the computational algorithms of decision-making under acute, immediate threat. We investigate this in an immersive virtual reality (VR) environment, in which people can move to avoid a large number of different threats. The candidate will design and perform human behavioural experiments and analyse movement trajectories. They will also develop and perform MEG experiments using wearable sensors (OPM). The role requires a good understanding of human VR experimentation as well as an interest in using wearable MEG. The interdisciplinary project team is composed of VR experts, psychologists, movement scientists, and decision theorists, and we are looking for an individual who enjoys working in a team environment. Within the topical focus, the project offers freedom to explore and develop novel experimental manipulations that allow inference on the mechanisms of decision-making and action selection. Successful applicants will have an established track record of experimental human research using virtual reality or OPMs, and a strong interest in combining both. They will have a PhD in cognitive-computational (neuro)science, applied machine-learning, motor science, a quantitative field of psychology (e.g. decision-making, perception), or a related area by the agreed start date of the position. They will be keen to solve technical challenges. We are looking for an individual who is strongly motivated to pursue an academic career and is excited by the opportunities for personal and career development this position can provide. The post is available from October 2021 and funded for up to 3 years with initial appointment for 1 year. Starting salary is on UCL grade 7, ranging from £36,028 to £43,533 per annum, inclusive of London Allowance, superannuable. More information and access to the UCL online application portal: https://is.gd/sOiFPc <https://is.gd/sOiFPc> Please contact d.bach(a)ucl.ac.uk <mailto:d.bach@ucl.ac.uk> for any queries about the project or role. *Closing date: 24 August (tbc)* Interviews will be held remotely in late August/early September. Apologies for cross-posting. -- ----------------------- Dominik R Bach MBBS PhD Principal Research Fellow Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London bachlab.org | @bachlab_cog

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Multiple openings in the Anastassiou Lab at Cedars Sinai (Neurosciences and Regenerative Medicine)
by Anastassiou, Costas 28 Jul '21

28 Jul '21

The Anastassiou Laboratory at Cedars Sinai<https://www.cedars-sinai.edu/research/labs/anastassiou.html> located in magnificent Los Angeles is hiring at multiple levels! Our team studies how the molecular and cellular composition of neurons translates to their phenotype and how these properties combine in brain circuits to produce function or, in the case of disease, dysfunction. You will get to work in a highly collaborative environment at the interface of applied mathematics, computer science and biology. We are affiliated with the Department of Neurosurgery and Neurology<https://www.cedars-sinai.org/programs/neurology-neurosurgery.html?s_kwid=&g…>, the Center of Neural Sciences and Medicine<https://www.cedars-sinai.edu/research/areas/neural-science.html> and the Regenerative Medicine Institute<https://www.cedars-sinai.edu/research/departments-institutes/regenerative-m…> at Cedars Sinai, one of the top US hospitals<https://www.cedars-sinai.org/newsroom/cedars-sinai-ranked-6-nationally-in-u…>. Links to specific openings (incl. information on where/how to apply) are found below: · Postdoctoral scientist in computational neuroscience and human biophysics<https://jobs.cedars-sinai.edu/job/los-angeles/postdoctoral-scientist-comput…> (in collaboration with Ueli Rutishauser<https://www.cedars-sinai.edu/research/labs/rutishauser.html>) · Postdoctoral scientist in computational neuroscience of brain stimulation<https://jobs.cedars-sinai.edu/job/los-angeles/postdoctoral-scientist-comput…> (in collaboration with Soo Yeun Lee<https://alleninstitute.org/what-we-do/brain-science/about/team/staff-profil…> and the Allen Institute for Brain Science<https://alleninstitute.org/what-we-do/brain-science/>) · Research associate II in model optimization and generation<https://jobs.cedars-sinai.edu/job/los-angeles/research-associate-ii-computa…> Note that we are continuously looking for talented and motivated students, postdocs, and staff members to join our team in our search to understand how neurons and circuits shape human brain functioning in health and disease<https://www.cedars-sinai.edu/research/labs/anastassiou.html>. See our current projects<https://www.cedars-sinai.edu/research/labs/anastassiou/areas.html> to know about our recent directions, and our publications to learn more about our work and overall approach. Interested? Join us<https://www.cedars-sinai.edu/research/labs/anastassiou.html>! We are looking for computational and experimental applicants. Regardless of your specific background and project, you will end up being exposed to a broad range of computational and experimental aspects of neuroscience and operate in a highly interdisciplinary team and department. You will have the opportunity to participate in the experiment design, experiment execution, method development, software implementation, data analysis & simulation, and experimental validation. If you have questions about positions and projects email us at anastassiou.lab(a)gmail.com<mailto:anastassiou.lab@gmail.com> . -- Costas A. Anastassiou, Ph.D. Department of Neurosurgery and Neurology Center for Biomedical Sciences and Medicine Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute Cedars Sinai Medical Center Advanced Health Sciences Pavilion 127 S San Vicente Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90048 IMPORTANT WARNING: This message is intended for the use of the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged and confidential, the disclosure of which is governed by applicable law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this information is strictly prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation.

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Postdoctoral Positions in Neuromorphic Computing in the Nicola Lab at University of Calgary
by Wilten Nicola 27 Jul '21

27 Jul '21

We are recruiting talented postdoctoral researchers to develop functional spiking neural networks and deploy them onto neuromorphic chips/FGPAs. There are several opportunities for developing brain-inspired networks and for commercialization. The ideal candidates will have a quantitative background (e.g. PhD in mathematics, physics, computer science, electrical engineering, computational neuroscience) along with experience in FPGAs or neuromorphic computing. Prior experience with neuromorphic computing is a strict requirement. These postdoctoral positions will be housed in the lab of Dr. Wilten Nicola at the University of Calgary. Interested candidates should submit their application package including a cover letter, their CV with a list of publications, brief statement of research interests and their possible start dates in PDF format to Dr. Wilten Nicola (wilten.nicola(a)ucalgary.ca) and Dr. Aaron Gruber ( aaron.gruber(a)uleth.ca) Applicants should arrange for at least two letters of reference to be sent as well. Review of applications will begin September 1st, 2021, and continue until the positions are filled. For additional information and informal inquiries, please contact Dr. Nicola or Dr. Gruber.

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Two 6-Year postdoc positions at SCAN-Unit, University of Vienna (PI Claus Lamm; social neuroscience)
by Lei Zhang 26 Jul '21

26 Jul '21

Dear colleagues, At the SCAN-Unit of University of Vienna (PI: Claus Lamm), we will soon have two 6-year(!) post-doc positions available. Unlike many other postdoc positions tied to a grant, these positions do not come with a fixed research program attached to them. Rather, our aim is to allow the candidates a sizeable amount of autonomy and flexibility in pursuing their own research questions and to develop their own research line, connected to the research interests and expertise of the SCAN Unit, which focuses on questions such as empathy, prosociality, trust, social decision making, and related phenomena, in both humans and non-human animals (see https://scan.psy.univie.ac.at) The idea is to hire and mentor someone who has the potential to transit to a fully independent (tenure-track/junior group leader) position within the 6-year hiring period (the positions themselves do not have a tenure/tenure-track option). We thus encourage the candidates to secure their own grants (e.g., from the Austrian Science Fund and the ERC) and to establish their own first research group, under the wings of the SCAN-Unit and the mentoring of group leader Claus Lamm. To apply, please contact Claus Lamm (claus.lamm(a)univie.ac.at) with a brief (format-free) statement of motivation (e.g., why you apply for this position, why you feel you’d be a suitable candidate, and what is your career development goal: max. 1 page), the research questions you would be interested in pursuing (i.e., a short research statement, describing what you would want to work on, and how you would want to do so, max. 1 page), and a C.V., including a list of publications, that summarizes a) your research achievements, b) the skills and expertise that you have acquired in your previous and ongoing training, and c) your past teaching activities (if any). Applications will be considered on an ongoing basis until suitable candidates are identified. Informal inquiries before submitting a fully-fledged application are also highly encouraged. The positions will be available from around September/October 2021 onwards, but a later starting date until roughly mid 2022 is certainly possible (and further extensions can be discussed). Please see the link below for the full job description. https://scan-psy.univie.ac.at/fileadmin/user_upload/p_bio_psy/Postdocs_SCAN… See also a tweet thread about this search: https://twitter.com/ScanUnit/status/1418205124850163715?s=20 Informal inquiries can be directed to Claus Lamm (claus.lamm(a)univie.ac.at) Best, Lei ---------- Dr. Lei Zhang Postdoc Social, Cognitive & Affective Neuroscience Unit Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology Faculty of Psychology University of Vienna Liebiggasse 5, 1010 Vienna, Austria e: lei.zhang(a)univie.ac.at w: lei-zhang.net t: @lei_zhang_lz

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Call for Chapter for Springer Book by M. Murugappan and R. Yuvaraj (Editors)
by Yuvaraj Rajamanickam 26 Jul '21

26 Jul '21

Dear Researchers, Good day to you. Currently, we are accepting the high-quality book chapters for our upcoming edited book in *Springer,* titled, *Biomedical signal-based computer-aided diagnosis for neurological disorders*. Please see below for more information. We invite you and your network connections to consider submitting a high-quality paper related to the aim and scope of this book for possible publication. If possible, you could share this CFP in your network for their possible contribution. Please feel free to contact us, if you have any questions. Submission link: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=bscadnd2021 Any queries, please feel free to write to us at bookchapter.bscad(a)gmail.com and CC to m.murugappan(a)kcst.edu.kw ; yuvaraj.rajamanickam(a)nie.edu.sg. Major topics to be included in the book are: •Introduction to neurological disorders (ND) and biomedical signal processing. •Basic principles of CAD in ND diagnosis. •Characterization of biomedical signals in ND. •Feature engineering and optimization. •Machine learning techniques in CAD for ND •Deep learning algorithms in CAD for ND •Neural network applications in CAD for ND •Fuzzy logic and optimization techniques •Supervised and unsupervised learning •Case studies related to ND diagnosis. •Challenges in the CAD for ND •Advances and trends in CAD for ND diagnosis. •Open Challenges in CAD in ND diagnosis Important dates •Abstract Submission (max 250 words): 30th July 2021 •Acceptance of abstract: 5th August 2021 •Full chapter submission:15th September 2021 •Authors notification: 15th October 2021 •Camera ready submission: 10th November 2021 •Permission and copyright:20th November 2021 •Publication date: 1st quarter of 2022 Submission guidelines •MS Word, single column, Times New Roman, 11 font size, 1.15 spacing. •References must follow springer style. •Length of the chapter: 20-25 pages (11550 words (approx.)) including references, tables, figures. •Similarity index should be less than 10 % (without reference). •All figures must be supplied as final artwork (e.g., JPEG, PNG, TIFF, etc.) at high-resolution. NO PUBLICATION/ ARTICLE PROCESSING FEE. •All manuscripts are accepted based on a double-blind peer review editorial process. Indexed by Web of Science (WoS), SCOPUS, Google Scholar, SCImago Regards YUVARAJ

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What is self-organisation? Entropy special issue
by Claudius Gros 23 Jul '21

23 Jul '21

Dear Colleagues Together with Damian Zanette and Carlos Gershenson we are running a Special Issue "What is Self-Organization?" with Entropy. The aim is to have a collection of viewpoints, perspectives, and applied considerations on questions regarding the notions of self-organization and complexity. Your contribution would be welcome! Claudius ------ info ------ https://www.mdpi.com/journal/entropy/special_issues/self_organzation Deadline: 15 October 2021 Many of us have used the notion of `self-organization' in our studies. What is it precisely, though? A constituent element could be, e.g., the emergence of non-trivial properties from comparatively simple rules. What would simple, non-trivial or complex emergence mean in this context? In this Special Issue, we invite viewpoints, perspectives, and applied considerations on questions regarding the notions of self-organization and complexity. -- ### ### Prof. Dr. Claudius Gros ### http://itp.uni-frankfurt.de/~gros ### ### Complex and Adaptive Dynamical Systems, A Primer ### A graduate-level textbook, Springer (2008/10/13/15) ### ### Life for barren exoplanets: The Genesis project ### https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10509-016-2911-0 ###

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Save the date! Online workshop "Towards multipurpose neural network models II: Model testing and model fitting"
by Anton Arkhipov 23 Jul '21

23 Jul '21

Dear all, Please save the date! Announcing the online workshop "Towards multipurpose neural network models II: Model testing and model fitting" Dates: September 29 – October 1, 2021 See details at this web page<https://www.eitn.org/index.php/calendar-event/eventdetail/750/-/workshop-on…>. Organized by Anton Arkhipov (Allen Institute, Seattle) and Gaute Einevoll (NMBU/University of Oslo) and supported by the European Institute for Theoretical Neuroscience (EITN). We have a great lineup of speakers! Keynotes by James DiCarlo (MIT), Jacob Macke (U. Tübingen), and Kanaka Rajan (Mount Sinai). Confirmed speakers: Sharon Crook (Arizona State U.) Julijana Gjorgjeva (Max Planck Institute and TUM) Peder Jedlicka (U. Giessen) Szabolcs Kali (Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary) Arvind Kumar (KTH Stockholm) Stefan Mihalas (Allen Institute) Aaron Milstein (Rutgers U.) Atle Rimehaug (U. Oslo) Frances Skinner (Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, and U. Toronto) Carsen Stringer (Janelia) Kristin Tøndel (NMBU) And a Special Lecture by Marcus Covert (Stanford)! Registration opens on September 1, 2021. We hope to see you there. Anton Arkhipov Associate Investigator T: 206.548.8414 E: antona(a)alleninstitute.org<mailto:antona@alleninstitute.org> [Text Description automatically generated] alleninstitute.org<https://alleninstitute.org> brain-map.org

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[Journals] Final CFP: Special Issue on "Theory of Mind in Humans and in Machines"
by Bogdan Ionut Cirstea 22 Jul '21

22 Jul '21

Dear colleagues, Apologies for cross-posting. Together with Prof. Fabio Cuzzolin (Oxford Brookes University, UK), Prof. Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian (University of Cambridge, UK) and Dr. Christelle Langley (University of Cambridge, UK), we are organizing a special issue (Frontiers Research Topic) on the emerging topic of "Theory of Mind in Humans and in Machines" under the "Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence" and "Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience" journals. We would like to invite you to contribute articles to the Research Topic. For more information on this special issue, please visit the website at https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/16802/theory-of-mind-in-humans-… Papers may be submitted until the 30th of July 2021 (manuscript submission extended deadline). Submitted papers should not be under consideration for publication elsewhere. We also encourage authors to send a short abstract (via the platform) to ensure compliance with the topic and scope of the Frontiers journals as early as possible. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, theoretical proposals, computational experiments, and case studies of: • Computational Theory of Mind • Learning from Demonstrations • Cognitive Models for Learning from Demonstration and Planning • Neuroscience-inspired models of Theory of Mind • Human-Robot Interaction • Cooperative Inverse Reinforcement Learning (assistance games) • Learning from Preferences If you intend to send an article to the special issue, please do let us know by hitting the "Participate" button in the web interface. If you have any questions or need any kind of assistance from us, please do not hesitate to let us know. On behalf of the topic editors, -- Bogdan-Ionut Cirstea Topic Editors: Prof. Fabio Cuzzolin, Oxford Brookes University, UK < fabio.cuzzolin(a)brookes.ac.uk> Prof. Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian, University of Cambridge, UK < bjs1001(a)cam.ac.uk> Dr. Bogdan-Ionut Cirstea, Oxford Brookes University, UK < bcirstea(a)brookes.ac.uk> Dr. Christelle Langley, University of Cambridge, UK <cl798(a)medschl.cam.ac.uk >

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Open postdoc position in plasticity in blindness and handlessness (Georgetown University, Washington DC)
by Ella Striem-Amit 22 Jul '21

22 Jul '21

*Postdoctoral researcher position in visual and/or motor brain plasticity* The SAMP Lab (Sensory and motor plasticity, Ella Striem-Amit’s lab) at Georgetown University (Washington DC, USA) is looking for a passionate and dedicated postdoctoral researcher to study brain plasticity in congenital visual and/or motor deprivation. The SAMP lab explores the balance between innate brain organization and experience-dependent plasticity by studying people born blind or born without hands using behavioral and fMRI state of the art analytical techniques. Relevant projects include (but are not limited to) exploring individual differences in brain plasticity and action execution without hands. For more details see https://samp-lab.facultysite.georgetown.edu/people/opportunities. A PhD in a relevant field, excellent understanding of and experience with fMRI data analysis are required. Strong programming skills (Matlab/R/python, etc.) are also a requirement. Experience with behavioral methods used in visual, multisensory or motor control is desirable but is not a requirement. The position is not limited to US citizens. The start date is flexible, but preferably fall/winter 2021-2. This position is available for two years, and can be extended further based on performance. To apply, please send your CV and brief statement of research interests by email to Dr. Ella Striem-Amit (Ella.StriemAmit(a)georgetown.edu) with the subject line: “post-doc application”. Georgetown University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer fully dedicated to achieving a diverse faculty and staff. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. -- *Ella Striem-Amit (she/her)* Sensory and Motor Plasticity (SAMP) Lab Edwin H. Richard and Elisabeth Richard Assistant Professor Department of Neuroscience Georgetown University Medical Center 3970 Reservoir Rd., NW Washington, DC 20007 http://samp-lab.facultysite.georgetown.edu/

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[meetings] Bionics today, July 27, 2.00 - 4.30 pm CEST
by Calogero Maria Oddo 22 Jul '21

22 Jul '21

Don't miss this unique event! BIONICS TODAY ROBOTS AND BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS: A CHECKPOINT OF BIONICS EVOLUTION Online event, on Tuesday, July 27, from 2.00 to 4.30 pm CEST. Chairs: Paolo Dario and Giulio Sandini Streaming from The BioRobotics Institute of Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy Looking back at a historical workshop held in Italy in 1989, it seems timely to re-propose the same question and analyze the evolution of bionics. Join us in a conversation with top scientists who pioneered the field. Details and program here: https://www.santannapisa.it/it/event/bionics-today -- Calogero M. Oddo, PhD Associate Professor of Bioengineering https://www.santannapisa.it/en/calogero-maria-oddo https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=y1rffgkAAAAJ&hl=en Vice-Coordinator of the PhD programme in BioRobotics Head of the Neuro-Robotic Touch Laboratory The BioRobotics Institute and Department of Excellence in Robotics & AI Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy https://www.santannapisa.it/en/education/phd-biorobotics http://www.santannapisa.it/en/neuro-robotic-touch-laboratory email: calogero.oddo(a)santannapisa.it<mailto:calogero.oddo@santannapisa.it>

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Job opening in Computational Neuroscience Institute in Juelich, Germany: Science communication officer with a focus on graphics
by Martina Reske 22 Jul '21

22 Jul '21

The goal of the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine - Computational and Systems Neuroscience (INM-6), at Research Center Juelich, Germany, is to relate the structure and dynamics of the brain using mathematical models. Bottom-up modeling is accompanied by top-down approaches and theory in order to include functional constraints and to gain insights into dynamic mechanisms. In addition, activity data (dynamics) and structural data (anatomy) are used and integrated into the biophysical models. For this purpose, analysis methods adapted to the questions are developed and, if necessary, data are collected with cooperation partners. In order to be able to perform simulations of the models, a further focus is on the development of simulation technology. Furthermore, the institute hosts the Bernstein Coordination Office (BCOS), which supports the scientists of the Bernstein Network for Computational Neuroscience. We are looking to recruit a Science communication officer with a focus on graphics! Your Job: * Planning and designing of scientific graphics, illustrations, texts and audio-visual or interactive media for the visualization of scientific contents of the institute`s department as well as their integration into the international scientific community * Graphical editing from templates submitted by scientists, e.g. image, text and graphical data, transferring and converting as necessary for different user communities * Graphic realisation and preparation of scientific presentations * Coordination and assistance in the creation of posters and institute flyers * Recording, digital processing and data protection compliant storage of scientific photographs and films * Reviewing, analysing and evaluating very complex, technically difficult and thematically diverse scientific information in order to provide information appropriate to the target group * Consideration of the current data protection regulations when recording, processing, using and securing the scientific images, videos, photographs and other media data of the institute * Development of concepts for the graphical external presentation as well as their implementation for various scientific media * Placement of graphic contents of the Institute on the Institute website and in social media * Designing presentations and graphics in accordance with the corporate design guidelines of Forschungszentrum Jülich and/or the Helmholtz Association * Preparation of research results for the Institute’s website * Coordination of the work with the Graphical Services of the Research Centre * Support of internal and external scientific events * Training of scientists in the use of media Your Profile: * University degree (Master) in physics, mathematics, biology or a related subject * High proficiency in the handling of open source graphics and video software, e.g. GIMP, lnkscape, for the production of scientific graphics and illustrations * Experience in the placement of scientific content, especially graphics and images, on social media channels such as Twitter * Extensive experience in the production of photo and video material. * Solid experience with Linux, LaTeX and Python, Git and Github * Knowledge of editorial systems of websites * Very good knowledge of written and spoken English * Very structured working style to prioritize the work. Experience in project and time management are desirable * Very independent and proactive working style * Assertiveness with empathy * Very high communication skills with researchers and administrative staff Our Offer: We work on the very latest issues that impact our society and are offering you the chance to actively help in shaping the change! We support you in your work with: * A large research campus with green spaces, offering the best possible means for networking with colleagues and pursuing sports alongside work * Comprehensive training courses and individual opportunities for personal and professional further development * Extensive company health management * Ideal conditions for balancing work and private life, as well as a family-friendly corporate policy * Flexible working hours, part-time employment with 19,5 working hours per week, and 30 days of annual leave * Targeted services for international employees, e.g. through our International Advisory Service * We offer you an exciting and varied role in an international and interdisciplinary working environment. The position is initially for a fixed term of 2 years, with possible long-term prospects. Salary and social benefits in conformity with the provisions of the Collective Agreement for the Civil Service (TVöD). * Forschungszentrum Jülich promotes equal opportunities and diversity in its employment relations. We also welcome applications from disabled persons. We look forward to receiving your application via our online recruiting system<https://www.fz-juelich.de/portal/EN/Careers/application/_node.html?cms_hre_…> Martina Reske -- Dr. Martina Reske Scientific Coordinator Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-6) Computational and Systems Neuroscience & Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS-6) Theoretical Neuroscience Jülich Research Centre and JARA Jülich, Germany Work +49.2461.611916 Work Cell +49.151.26156918 Fax +49.2461.619460 www.csn.fz-juelich.de<http://www.csn.fz-juelich.de> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH 52425 Juelich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Juelich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Dueren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Volker Rieke Geschaeftsfuehrung: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Marquardt (Vorsitzender), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Harald Bolt, Dr. Astrid Lambrecht, Prof. Dr. Frauke Melchior ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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PDF at the intersection of brain dynamics, machine learning, and psychedelics
by AaronJ Gruber 22 Jul '21

22 Jul '21

*Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Calgary* We are recruiting a talented postdoctoral researcher to participate in a cutting-edge International Network for Brain-Inspired Computation that includes nodes in Montreal, Paris, and the Pacific Northwest of the US and Canada (e.g. University of Washington, Allen Brain Institute). The project is at the intersection of mathematics, physics, and neuroscience in the general area of complex network dynamics and emergent activity patterns and representations that drive biological computation. The specific objective is to understand cognitive brain function and the effects of psychedelics by analyzing large-scale ensemble neural data collected in our labs, in conjunction with computational and/or analytical work to identify key mathematical principles and develop theories of core function. The ideal candidate will have a quantitative background (e.g. PhD in mathematics, physics, computer science) along with experience in applying this background to neuroscience. This postdoctoral position is partially funded by the Pacific Institute for Mathematical Sciences and is aimed to strengthen the link between the Campus Alberta computational neuroscience community at the University of Calgary (Complexity Science Group, Hotchkiss Brain Institute) and the University of Lethbridge (Canadian Center for Behavioural Neuroscience) with the other network members including the Computational Neuroscience Center at the University of Washington. The position is open immediately with primary locations in either Calgary or Lethbridge. The specific start date has to be within five years of being awarded a PhD degree. The position is funded for at least two years and includes an annual stipend in the range of CAD$42,000 – $50,000 plus benefits. Opportunities for brief residences in partner nodes (Montreal, Seattle, or Paris) are also available. Interested candidates should submit their application package including a cover letter, their CV with a list of publications, brief statement of research interests and their possible start dates in PDF format to Dr. Jörn Davidsen (jdavidse(a)ucalgary.ca) and Dr. Aaron Gruber (aaron.gruber(a)uleth.ca) Applicants should arrange for at least two letters of reference to be sent as well. Review of applications will begin* July 31st, 2021*, and continue until the position is filled. For additional information and informal inquiries, please contact Dr. Davidsen or Dr. Gruber. We strive for a diverse and inclusive environment, and encourage applications from members of any identity

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Multiple postdoctoral openings in multi-scale brain network dynamics, reinforcement learning and decision-making at Washington University in St. Louis
by Ching, ShiNung 21 Jul '21

21 Jul '21

Multiple postdoctoral openings are available for a new and large project to study the circuit underpinnings of reinforcement learning and decision-making. A key focus is on understanding multiple time-scales of information processing in neural circuits and involvement of neuron-astrocyte interactions. Experiment- and theory-forward positions are available. Applicants should have prior experience in neuroscience (computational or otherwise), modeling of large-scale systems, optimization, machine learning or related areas. Positions will be appointed in Neuroscience and/or Engineering. Washington University in St. Louis is an independent, Research 1 university in St. Louis, MO, USA, with nearly 60 of the university's graduate and undergraduate programs ranked in the top 25 by US News & World Report. Interested applicants are invited to send a CV and brief description of interests to shinung(a)wustl.edu<mailto:shinung@wustl.edu>

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Postdoc opportunity in EEG computational analysis (Houston, TX)
by Maheshwari, Atul 21 Jul '21

21 Jul '21

The Maheshwari Lab is looking for an enthusiastic post-doctoral associate to join the lab ASAP. We study mouse models of epilepsy, trying to understand the underlying development of epilepsy as well as the overlap between epilepsy and comorbidities such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Techniques used in the lab include implantation of EEG electrodes, immunohistochemistry, confocal imaging, advanced computational analysis of EEG, video-EEG monitoring, and behavioral testing for sustained attention. We also apply advanced techniques to analyze scalp and intracranial EEG from patients who are being evaluated in an Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) setting. The main role for this position is performing advanced computational EEG analysis. Experience with machine learning is preferred. Prior work with rodents is not necessary. For more information or to apply: https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/job/postdoctoral-associate-baylor-coll…. You'll love Houston - a diverse and friendly environment for science! You can contact me by email at atul.maheshwari(a)bcm.edu<mailto:atul.maheshwari@bcm.edu> or DM me on Twitter @NeuroMaheshwari. Atul Maheshwari, MD Associate Professor Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience Baylor College of Medicine

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Apply Now: Shanahan Foundation Fellowship at the Interface of Data and Neuroscience
by Eric Shea-Brown 21 Jul '21

21 Jul '21

Shanahan Foundation Fellowship at the Interface of Data and Neuroscience Overview The Shanahan Foundation Fellowship at the Interface of Data and Neuroscience is a new, three-year fellowship program that aims to: · Integrate data scientists in neuroscience research · Challenge traditional approaches to neuroscience · Provide multidisciplinary, multi-organizational co-mentorship · Provide a network and community · Support career development in data science The fellowship will be co-hosted by the Allen Institute and the University of Washington (through its eScience Institute and the Computational Neuroscience Center) and is directed by Dr. Christof Koch at the Allen Institute. Details During the three-year fellowship, fellows will identify a mentor at the Allen Institute, where the fellows will be based. Fellows will select a co-mentor at the University of Washington who will provide additional guidance on a project designed by the fellow, focused on quantitative analysis of neuroscience data available through the Allen Institute’s vast data banks <http://www.brain-map.org/> – ranging from molecular, genomic, transcriptional, physiological, morphological, anatomical and functional whole-brain level in the brains of mice, non-human primates and humans – or through ongoing laboratory work. Fellows will participate in the postdoctoral career development program at the University’s e-Science Institute and the UW Institute of Neuroengineering (UWIN). The eSciences Institute offers regular workshops on key topics including cloud computing, python and reproducibility. New fellows will attend the annual Summer Workshop on the Dynamic Brain <https://alleninstitute.org/what-we-do/brain-science/events-training/summer-…> where they will learn how to apply data science skills to neuroscience data and questions. Throughout the three years, fellows will be supported in developing a network in the neuroscience field and sharing their progress with peers at conferences. Up to three fellows will be selected to begin in Fall 2021. Eligibility Requirements Applicants must be data scientists in a broad sense, with a Ph.D. in a quantitative field such as computer science, electrical engineering, physics, mathematics or biology with a background in statistical, computational and machine learning methods. Ph.D.’s should have been awarded in the last 3 years. One goal of the fellowship is to build a network of collaborators, as such, priority will be given to applicants who are not currently postdoctoral fellows or scientists at the University of Washington or the Allen Institute respectively. We believe high-quality science can only be produced when it includes different perspectives. We are building an environment of diversity and inclusion and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for this fellowship. Application Instructions For full consideration, please submit your application by August 1, 2021. Applications may continue to be considered after this deadline on a rolling basis until positions are filled. Learn more and apply on the Shanahan Fellowship Website <https://alleninstitute.org/what-we-do/brain-science/careers/shanahan-founda…>. Applications must include: · A curriculum vitae from the applicant · Two letters of support from advisors and other mentors · A one page personal statement from the applicant describing their history, activities and interests as an individual (especially those outside of science) which may give the committee a greater sense of you as a person and your ability to simultaneously interact with and challenge traditional scientific fields. · A two to three page research statement from the applicant describing their prior research, interests in applying data science to the field of neuroscience, potential research interests (including tools they are familiar with) and how this fellowship aligns with their career goals. · The choice of the final advisor/co-advisor will be accomplished during the first year of this fellowship. Questions? Email: shanahan.fellow(a)alleninstitute.org <mailto:shanahan.fellow@alleninstitute.org>

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SCGB Global Postdoc/Student Meeting: Thursday, August 5th by Kayvon Daie
by Laura Long 20 Jul '21

20 Jul '21

The Simons Collaboration on the Global Brain (SCGB) hosts postdoc/student meetings to bring together trainees interested in neural coding and dynamics to discuss ideas and data. In addition to regional meetings in New York, Boston, and the Bay Area, SCGB holds a Global virtual series to connect systems and computational neuroscientists across the world. We would love to see you at this month's Global meeting! Please see event details and Zoom link below. SCGB Global Postdoc/Student Meeting: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/scgb-global-postdocstudent-meeting-tickets-163… Thursday, August 5th, 1pm Eastern Time https://simonsfoundation.zoom.us/j/93637538440?pwd=MnNCeVF1eThKZmVUa2p5bUlR… Passcode: 443599 *Kayvon Daie*Research Associate, Svoboda Laboratory HHMI's Janelia Research Campus *Dissection of the neural circuitry underlying short-term memory* Short-term memory is associated with persistent neural activity without sustained input, arising from the interactions between neurons with brief time constants. A variety of neural circuit models could account for existing measurements of neural activity. To explore which, if any, of these models are most consistent with neural circuitry, we measured coupling between functionally characterized motor cortex neurons in mice performing a memory-guided response task. Targeted two-photon photostimulation of small (<10) groups of neurons produced sparse calcium responses in coupled neurons over approximately 100 μm. Neurons with similar task-related selectivity were preferentially coupled. Photostimulation of different groups of neurons modulated activity in different subpopulations of coupled neurons. Responses of stimulated and coupled neurons persisted for seconds, far outlasting the duration of the photostimuli. Photostimuli produced behavioral biases that were predictable based on the tuning of the photostimulated population, even though photostimulation preceded the behavioral response by seconds. Our results suggest that memory-related neural circuits contain intercalated, recurrently connected modules and that these modules are coupled via long-range “hidden feedforward” connections. *Please note that this meeting is open to all neuroscience postdocs and PhD students, regardless of location or SCGB affiliation (sorry, no PIs). *After Q&A with the speaker, we will open breakout rooms for anyone interested in staying to chat, network, or further discuss the talk. In addition to these breakouts, SCGB Scientific Staff will be available for "office hours" to chat and answer questions about SCGB programs and support. Registration on EventBrite is encouraged but not required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/scgb-global-postdocstudent-meeting-tickets-163… Please contact Laura Long at llong(a)simonsfoundation.org with any questions. Sign up for our mailing list here: https://forms.gle/DZa1b2WCtvw5XFhAA

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Postdoc position in Tuebingen on TMS/ERP projects to understand visual perception/attentional processes
by Zhaoping Li 20 Jul '21

20 Jul '21

Two postdoc positions are available at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tuebingen, Germany, to work on projects aimed towards understanding visual attentional and perceptual processes using TMS and/or EEG methodologies. The framework and motivation of the projects can be found at http://www.lizhaoping.org/zhaoping/AGZL_HumanVisual.html. The projects can involve, for example, visual search tasks, stereo vision tasks, visual illusions, and will be discussed during the application process. TMS and/or EEG methodologies can be used in combination with fMRI/MRI, eye tracking, and other related methods as necessary. The postdoc will be working closely with the principal investigator and other members of Zhaoping's team when needed. Candidates should be skilled in visual psychophysics and proficient in programming, previous experience in TMS and/or ERP is a plus. Please send your application by a single pdf file, including your CV, a brief statement of research interests, an approximate date for availability, and names and contacts for three references to jobs.li(a)tuebingen.mpg.de. Applications sent before September 1st will be preferred, but later applications will be considered until the positions are filled. The appointment is for one year, renewable for additional years. Enquiry to li.zhaoping(a)tuebingen.mpg.de Li Zhaoping -- Li Zhaoping Ph.D. Prof. of Cognitive Science, University of Tuebingen Head of Dept of Sensory and Sensorimotor Systems, Max Planck Institute of Biological Cybernetics Author of "Understanding vision: theory, models, and data", Oxford University Press, 2014 www.lizhaoping.org

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PhD position - Neuroscience - University of Antwerp, Belgium
by Georgios A. Keliris 19 Jul '21

19 Jul '21

The Bio-Imaging Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences is looking for a full-time doctoral scholarship holder in the field of Biomedical Sciences/Neuroscience with a focus on using neuromodulation to alleviate deficits in Alzheimer’s disease Position You will work actively on the preparation and defence of a PhD thesis in the field of Biomedical Sciences/Neuroscience. The PhD project will use state-of-the-art techniques including MRI, fiberoptic photometry, electrophysiology, behaviour, and neuromodulations tools (chemogenetics/DREADDs and/or optogenetics) specifically targeting neurons in the basal forebrain to alleviate behavioural and brain network deficits of rodent models of neurodegeneration (Alzheimer’s Disease). You will publish scientific articles related to the research project. You will carry out a limited number of teaching and research support tasks for the Bio-Imaging Lab. Profile You hold a Master degree in neuroscience, biomedical sciences, cognitive science, engineering or related fields or you will have obtained it by the time you start work. You can demonstrate excellent study results. Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision <https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/about-uantwerp/organisation/mission-and-vision…>. Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies <https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/research/management/>. You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation. You have a FELASA C attest or you are willing to obtain one. You are fluent in English and have strong communication skills. Preferably you have experience with (small-animal) imaging or electrophysiology Experience in one or more of: imaging, mathematics, computational neuroscience, programming (e.g., Matlab/Python/C/…) will be considered as a bonus. What we offer We offer a doctoral scholarship for a period of two years. Following a positive evaluation, the scholarship can be renewed once for another two-year period. The planned start date is 1 October 2021 or as soon as possible after that date. Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts <https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/jobs/what-do-we-offer/salaries/>for doctoral scholarship holders on the pay scales for Contract Research Staff (Dutch: Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP). You will do most of your work at Campus Drie Eiken (CDE) in a dynamic and stimulating working environment. Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here <https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/jobs/uantwerp-as-an-employer/hr-policy/>. Want to apply? You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including 16 August 2021 (by midnight Brussels time). Click on the 'Apply' button, complete the online application form and be sure to include the following attachments: a motivation letter, your academic CV, three names and contact information of people that can provide recommendation letters, any additional certificates that can indicate your competences. The selection committee will review all of the applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision has been made, we will inform you about the next steps in the selection procedure. If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions <https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/jobs/apply-online-uantwerp/> or send an email to jobs(a)uantwerpen.be <mailto:jobs@uantwerpen.be>. If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact Prof. Georgios Keliris, georgios.keliris(a)uantwerpen.be <mailto:georgios.keliris@uantwerpen.be> and include the following in the title of your email: <QNEUROPOSKEL>. The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award <https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/jobs/uantwerp-as-an-employer/hr-excellence-in-…> for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity <https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/about-uantwerp/organisation/mission-and-vision…> and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.

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Bernstein Conference 2021 - registration is now open
by Anja Dorrn 19 Jul '21

19 Jul '21

Each year the Bernstein Network invites the international computational neuroscience community to the annual Bernstein Conference for intensive scientific exchange. It has established itself as one of the most renown conferences worldwide in this field, attracting students, postdocs and PIs from around the world to meet and discuss new scientific discoveries. Due to the ongoing pandemic the Bernstein Conference will be held online. www.bernstein-conference.de ____ IMPORTANT DATES & NEWS * Bernstein Conference: September 21-23, 2021 * Registration is now open * Abstract submission deadline: August 3, 2021, 1 pm CEST * Selected Satellite Workshops are now online<https://bit.ly/BC21_workshops> ____ REGISTRATION The participation at the online Bernstein Conference 2021 will be free of charge for all participants. Thus the Bernstein Network contributes to keep the scientific exchange alive in the ongoing challenges during the pandemic. Please register here: https://hopin.com/events/bernstein-conference-2021 ____ ABSTRACTS We invite the computational neuroscience community to submit their abstracts for poster presentations. All accepted abstracts will be published online and will be citable via Digital Object Identifiers (DOI). Abstract submission is open until August 3, 1 pm CEST. Further information can be found here: https://bit.ly/BC21_abstracts ____ INVITED SPEAKERS Keynote Timothy Behrens (University of Oxford, UK) Invited Talks Athena Akrami (University College London, UK) Nadine Gogolla (Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany) Guillaume Hennequin (University of Cambridge, UK) Jennifer Li & Drew Robson (Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany) Scott Lindermann (Stanford University, USA) Ashok Litwin-Kumar (Columbia University, New York City, USA) Ida Momennejad (Microsoft Research, New York City, USA) Cristina Savin (New York University, USA) Marion Silies (Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany) Daniela Vallentin (Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany) ____ CONFERENCE COMMITTEE Christian Leibold (Conference Chair) Julijana Gjiorgjieva (Program Chair) Christian Machens (Program Vice Chair) Marion Silies (Workshop Chair) Moritz Helias (Workshop Vice Chair) & Matthew Botvinick, Megan Carey, Peter Dayan, Brent Doiron, Rainer Friedrich, Ann Hermundstad, Srdjan Ostojic, Nathalie Rochefort, Nicole Rust, Gasper Tkacik ____ For any further questions, please contact: <bernstein.conference(a)fz-juelich.de> bernstein.conference(a)fz-juelich.de -- Dr. Anja Dorrn Scientific Coordinator Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience | Bernstein Coordination Site (BCOS) Branch Office of the Forschungszentrum Jülich at the University of Freiburg Hansastr. 9A | 79104 Freiburg, Germany phone: (+49) 0761 203 9589 web: www.bernstein-network.de<http://www.bernstein-network.de> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH 52425 Juelich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Juelich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Dueren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Volker Rieke Geschaeftsfuehrung: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Marquardt (Vorsitzender), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Harald Bolt, Dr. Astrid Lambrecht, Prof. Dr. Frauke Melchior ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Postdoc in computational neuroscience in New York - Coen-Cagli Laboratory
by Ruben Coen-Cagli 14 Jul '21

14 Jul '21

The Laboratory for Computational Neuroscience<https://sites.google.com/site/rubencoencagli> (Coen-Cagli lab) invites applications for a postdoctoral position in the Department of Systems and Computational Biology and Department of Neuroscience at Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Einstein) in the Bronx, New York City. Our lab studies how biological sensory systems interpret the surrounding environment. We study how populations of visual-cortical neurons represent and transmit visual information, and how those processes control perception. We combine theories of probabilistic neural coding, machine learning and natural image statistics, psychophysics, and neurophysiology through collaborations. The candidate is expected to perform research related to these topics, and will have the opportunity to interact closely with experimental collaborators and access to datasets including electrophysiology, imaging, and perturbations of large neural populations. Most recent publications: (2021) D. Festa et al. Nature Communications 12:3635<https://rdcu.be/cmy7M> (preprint bioRxiv<https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.17.142182>) (2021) D. Herrera et al. Journal of Vision 21(1):1<https://jov.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2772139> (2021) G. Dehaene et al. PLoS Computational Biology 17(1):e1008138<https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008138>. (2021) D. Herrera et al. Vision Research 187:55-65<https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visres.2021.06.007> (preprint bioRxiv<https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.04.26.441524v1>) (2020) J. Vacher et al. NeurIPS 2020<https://papers.nips.cc/paper/2020/hash/fba9d88164f3e2d9109ee770223212a0-Abs…> spotlight. (2019) R. Coen-Cagli, S. S. Solomon. Journal of Neuroscience 39(37):7344<https://www.jneurosci.org/content/39/37/7344> (preprint biorxiv<https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/12/31/508838>). Applicants must have a Ph.D. in a relevant discipline, with an academic record of scientific excellence and independent research, and a keen interest in interdisciplinary approaches to biological and neural systems. Prior experience should include areas such as computational neuroscience, machine learning, statistics, or computer vision. We are particularly interested in applicants with a genuine interest in linking theoretical and computational work to quantitative analysis of neurophysiology data. Einstein offers a vibrant interdisciplinary environment, with a strong systems and computational contingent. It is located in a quiet neighborhood of the Bronx, New York. The Bronx is one of the most diverse counties in the United States, the birthplace of hip-hop, and home to a rich cultural and sports scene. Einstein is also a short subway ride from Manhattan. Information about working at the Einstein, including benefits and housing for postdocs, can be found at: https://einsteinmed.org/research/belfer-institute/ The position is available immediately, and is funded for several years, with an initial one-year appointment and expectation of extension given satisfactory performance. Salary is competitive and will be commensurate with experience. Candidates should send a single pdf file, consisting of a 1-page motivation letter, CV, and publication list to ruben.coencagli(a)gmail.com. Furthermore, candidates should organize two letters of reference, to be sent to the same e-mail address. The position is open until filled. Albert Einstein College of Medicine is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. The lab strives to be an open, inclusive, harassment-free environment. Ruben is an ally of Black In AI and a member of Einstein's Senate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee. Ruben Coen Cagli, PhD Department of Systems and Computational Biology, and Dominick Purpura Department of Neuroscience Albert Einstein College of Medicine 1300 Morris Park Ave. Price 353B Bronx, 10461. NY office: +1.718.678.1150 web: https://sites.google.com/site/rubencoencagli/<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.goo…>

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Young post-doc neuromorphic position at Sevilla Microelectronics Institute, Spain.
by bernabe 13 Jul '21

13 Jul '21

*Young post-doc neuromorphic position at IMSE* The "Instituto de Microelectrónica de Sevilla" (IMSE) has an opening for a 3-year young post-doc position to join the Neuromorphic Group at IMSE (www.imse-cnm.csic.es/neuromorphs) financed by the Andalusian Regional Government. Gross annual salary is 30k€, which allows for a wealthy life in Sevilla, Spain. Requirements: - Official PhD graduation date must be after June 2016, although earlier dates are possible in case of leaves due to pregnancies, child birth, adoption, major accident or disease. - Deadline for candidacy submission is end of July. Prospective candidates please contact us at bernabe(a)imse-cnm.csic . - More details here: <link> <http://www2.imse-cnm.csic.es/neuromorphs/data/_uploaded/image/Post-doctoral…> The IMSE Neuromorphic Group develops research in Silicon chips and FPGAs for neuromorphic hardware with stronger focus on vision applications. We have developed several DVS (Dynamic Vision Sensor) cameras as well as cortical processing systems and spiking based learning techniques. In the last years we have strongly engaged into exploiting memristors for neuromorphic hardware and have designed full monolithic CMOS-memristive neuromorphic systems. We welcome both, candidates with more hardware profile (either analog or digital) as well as with more computing profile. The successful candidate can participate in any of the active research projects in the group (see www.imse-cnm.csic.es/neuromorphs) can also develop alternative research lines within the neuromorphic field, participate in grant proposals, and advice PhD and MSc students. Please do redistribute. Deadline is very short. Thanks. -- Prof. Bernabe Linares-Barranco, Director, Instituto de Microelectronica de Sevilla (IMSE-CNM), Sevilla, Spain www.imse-cnm.csic.es/~bernabe

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Call for Chapter for Springer Book by M. Murugappan and R. Yuvaraj (Editors)
by Yuvaraj Rajamanickam 13 Jul '21

13 Jul '21

Dear Researchers, Good day to you. Currently, we are accepting the high-quality book chapters for our upcoming edited book in *Springer,* titled, *Biomedical signal-based computer-aided diagnosis for neurological disorders*. Please see below for more information. We invite you and your network connections to consider submitting a high-quality paper related to the aim and scope of this book for possible publication. If possible, you could share this CFP in your network for their possible contribution. Please feel free to contact us, if you have any questions. Submission link: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=bscadnd2021 Any queries, please feel free to write to us at bookchapter.bscad(a)gmail.com and CC to m.murugappan(a)kcst.edu.kw ; yuvaraj.rajamanickam(a)nie.edu.sg. Major topics to be included in the book are: •Introduction to neurological disorders (ND) and biomedical signal processing. •Basic principles of CAD in ND diagnosis. •Characterization of biomedical signals in ND. •Feature engineering and optimization. •Machine learning techniques in CAD for ND •Deep learning algorithms in CAD for ND •Neural network applications in CAD for ND •Fuzzy logic and optimization techniques •Supervised and unsupervised learning •Case studies related to ND diagnosis. •Challenges in the CAD for ND •Advances and trends in CAD for ND diagnosis. •Open Challenges in CAD in ND diagnosis Important dates •Abstract Submission (max 250 words): 30th July 2021 •Acceptance of abstract: 5th August 2021 •Full chapter submission:15th September 2021 •Authors notification: 15th October 2021 •Camera ready submission: 10th November 2021 •Permission and copyright:20th November 2021 •Publication date: 1st quarter of 2022 Submission guidelines •MS Word, single column, Times New Roman, 11 font size, 1.15 spacing. •References must follow springer style. •Length of the chapter: 20-25 pages (11550 words (approx.)) including references, tables, figures. •Similarity index should be less than 10 % (without reference). •All figures must be supplied as final artwork (e.g., JPEG, PNG, TIFF, etc.) at high-resolution. NO PUBLICATION/ ARTICLE PROCESSING FEE. •All manuscripts are accepted based on a double-blind peer review editorial process. Indexed by Web of Science (WoS), SCOPUS, Google Scholar, SCImago Regards YUVARAJ

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Change of date! Announcing free online spiking neural network workshop Nov 2-3, reg & submissions open
by Goodman, Daniel F M 12 Jul '21

12 Jul '21

Apologies for emailing again with this announcement. We originally announced the workshop (included below) for Nov 8-9 but found out that it clashed with SFN online meeting. We have changed the dates to 2-3 November 2021. Please update your diaries accordingly. Many thanks, Dan We are delighted to announce the second edition of the "SNUFA" spiking neural network online workshop, taking place this November 2-3. Free registration and abstract submission is now open at http://snufa.net/2021 This online workshop brings together researchers in the field to present their work and discuss ways of translating these findings into a better understanding of neural circuits. Topics include artificial and biologically plausible learning algorithms and the dissection of trained spiking circuits toward understanding neural processing. We have a manageable number of talks with ample time for discussions. This year’s executive committee comprises Chiara Bartolozzi<https://www.iit.it/people/chiara-bartolozzi>, Sander Bohté<https://homepages.cwi.nl/~sbohte/>, Dan Goodman<https://neural-reckoning.org/>, and Friedemann Zenke<https://fzenke.net/>. The workshop will take place 2-3 November, 2021. Abstract submission will close 1 October, 2021. The workshop will feature invited speakers: * Tara Hamilton<https://profiles.uts.edu.au/Tara.Hamilton>, University of Technology Sydney * Dylan Muir<http://dylan-muir.com/>, SynSense<https://www.synsense-neuromorphic.com/> * Katie Schumann<https://www.ornl.gov/staff-profile/catherine-d-schuman>, Oak Ridge National Laboratory * Henning Sprekeler<https://www.sprekelerlab.org/henning/>, TU Berlin The format will be: * Two half days (European afternoon times) * 4 invited talks * 8 contributed talks * Poster session * Panel debate: “What should be the next big breakthrough in spiking neural networks?” (speakers to be decided) You can see last year’s talks on Crowdcast<https://www.crowdcast.io/e/snufa2020> or the talks and one of the recorded discussions on YouTube<https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL09WqqDbQWHFvM9DFYkM_GfnrVnIdLRhy>. This workshop was great fun last year and we had around 700 participants! This year should be even better with your contributed talks and posters. Looking forward to seeing you all there! And please forward this announcement to any colleagues or local distribution lists. Many thanks, Dan, Chiara, Sander and Friedemann

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Two Postdoctoral Scholar Positions at Washington University in St. Louis
by Shuo Wang 11 Jul '21

11 Jul '21

We are looking for two highly motivated postdoctoral scholars to work on NSF and DoD funded projects. One postdoctoral scholar will use human single-neuron recordings to study the neural circuits underlying social attention, and the other postdoctoral scholar will use multimodal neuroimaging techniques to study social behavior and brain networks in people with autism. The research will be conducted in a highly collaborative environment using state-of-the-art equipment, facilities, and analytical methods. The postdoctoral scholars will collaborate with an established team of investigators within and outside WashU and have ample opportunity to learn new techniques and methods. Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in systems, cognitive, or computational neuroscience, or in physics, electrical engineering, or computer science, with relevant research expertise in neuroscience. Applicants must also have strong programming (Matlab or similar) skills. Individuals with previous human intracranial EEG expertise and/or macaque single-neuron recordings that wish to expand into human single-unit recordings are encouraged to apply. Our lab combines multimodal and advanced measurement techniques with sophisticated computational approaches to understand the neural mechanisms and neural computations underlying social attention, face processing, emotion, memory, and decision making. Overarching questions involve how the brain figures out what is important in the environment, how socially relevant stimuli pop out and attract attention, how faces are processed and represented in general, and how memory is modulated by attention. We are particularly interested in the neural computations underlying these cognitive processes: multimodal approaches allow us to investigate these questions from the microscopic single-neuron and neural circuit level using our state-of-the-art human single-neuron recordings as well as macroscopic level using fMRI, EEG, and intracranial EEG (sEEG and ECoG). These multimodal experimental approaches are powered by sophisticated computational approaches that can deal with complex and large datasets. The Wang Neuroscience Lab is housed in the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (MIR) at the Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM) in St Louis. WUSM is a world class research intensive academic health center that is consistently ranked among the nation’s research-oriented medical schools. Additionally, it is nationally known for its attractive campus, which borders residential neighborhoods and one of the nation’s largest urban parks. St. Louis is consistently rated a Forbes most affordable city with vibrant music, food and park scene, and has one of the fastest growing start-up communities with impressive accelerator and incubator services available through the Biogenerator, Cambridge Innovation Center, and Cortex Innovation District. Shuo Wang, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Washington University in St. Louis https://sites.wustl.edu/wanglab/

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Deadline extension: CFP Workshop on Spatio-temporal Aspects of Embodied Predictive Processing - STEPP @ ICDL2021
by Stefan Heinrich 11 Jul '21

11 Jul '21

Call For Contributions - Workshop on Spatio-temporal Aspects of Embodied Predictive Processing - STEPP @ IEEE ICDL2021 Deadline extended! Aims and Scope: Understanding human intelligence and building strong AI systems is a key challenge for our generation. A particularly puzzling aspect is that the human brain seems to cope very well with the highly variable and uncertain nature of perception and action, regarding both their signal characteristic and how they extend over time. Furthermore, it seems apparent that the information processing in the brain always involves previous bodily experiences and all our senses, thus is embodied and crossmodal. For explaining these characteristics, there are strong accounts that the brain is constantly predicting sensory input and feedback while minimising free energy in the prediction and is hierarchically abstracting the perception as well as hierarchically composing action. Furthermore, it is also hypothesised that mechanistic priors in the brain’s information processing induce a failure of hierarchical inference in the brain, accounting for atypical perception and action of psychiatric disorders. For example, some brains might have developed to focus too strongly on current sensory input while others might focus too strongly on memorised previous experience. A typically developed brain, in contrast, would show a fine balance compared to these two extreme priors. The big open mystery is: how is the brain developing this on a mechanistic level and thus how can this get learned within an AI system? Thus, to lift this mystery, we further need to bring together research from computational neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and artificial intelligence. With this workshop, we particularly want to wrap up different recent hypotheses, models, and experiments and discuss in-depth how to shape future imaging, behavioural, and developmental robotics studies as a complement to computational modelling and bio-inspired artificial intelligent algorithms. As a guiding theme, we aim to approach the following central questions: - How does the brain learn spatio-temporal stochasticity in perception and action? - What is the role of priors in learning spatio-temporal adaptive prediction? - How can developmental robotics help us to study spatio-temporal stochasticity as an analogy to infant learning? We examine these questions with the insight from invited key speakers from complementary fields as well as original contributions in breakout sessions in order to conclude the next steps within in a panel discussion. All information online: https://sites.google.com/view/stepp21/home Keynotes/Panellists: - Jun Tani, Cognitive Neurorobotics, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) - Marcel van Gerven, Artificial Cognitive Systems, Donders Institute, Radboud University - Takuya Isomura, Brain Intelligence Theory, RIKEN Center for Brain Science - Takamitsu Watanabe, Brain Network Dynamics, International Research Center for Neurointelligence (IRCN), The University of Tokyo Contributions: We invite submissions of extended abstracts on ongoing research that focuses on one or several of our guiding questions as contributions. In addition to the live presentation and discussion during the workshop, the contributions will be made public in workshop proceedings. - Extended abstract submission deadline: 25.07.2021 (extended) - Decision & Notification: 01.08.2021 (latest) - Camera-ready version due: 08.08.2021 - Workshop online: 22.08.2021 Submission website: https://sites.google.com/view/stepp21/ => Contribute Organisers: Stefan Heinrich, IRCN, The University of Tokyo, Japan Shingo Murata, Dept. Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Keio University, Japan Yukie Nagai, IRCN & Institute for AI and Beyond, The University of Tokyo, Japan Yuichi Yamashita, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan -- ************************************************************* Dr. Stefan Heinrich Postdoctoral Project Researcher Cognitive Developmental Robotics Lab The University of Tokyo, Institutes for Advanced Studies, International Research Center for Neurointelligence Email: heinrich.stefan(a)ircn.jp https://developmental-robotics.jp/en/members/stefan_heinrich/ https://ircn.jp/en/ https://stefanheinrich.net/ *************************************************************

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Brain Connectivity, Dynamics, and Complexity--please submit abtracts--deadline extended
by Stephen José Hanson 09 Jul '21

09 Jul '21

We are still looking for a few more submissions especially related to Resting state and fMRI..theoretical papers as well. The deadline is extended for submission till Aug 1. https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/20807/brain-connectivity-dynami… send queries through the website. thanks. Steve Hanson -- Stephen José Hanson Professor Director RUBIC (University- Wide) Department of Psychology (NK) Cognitive Science Center (NB)

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Postdoctoral positions: modeling, imaging, and optogenetics (Boston U School of Medicine)
by Christina M. Weaver 08 Jul '21

08 Jul '21

Postdoctoral positions in modeling, imaging, and optogenetics (Boston University School of Medicine) The Luebke & Medalla labs (Dept. of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine) use state-of-the-art approaches in imaging, immunohistochemistry, electrophysiology, and computational modeling to explore neural mechanisms underlying executive function in the mammalian prefrontal cortex. We seek highly motivated, detail-oriented postdoctoral research fellows to join our interdisciplinary team related to several exciting, federally funded projects. Read more about our research here <https://www.bumc.bu.edu/anatneuro/research/cellular-neurobiology/>. Modeling: This project, led jointly by Dr. Jennifer Luebke, Dr. Christina Weaver (Dept of Mathematics, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA), and Dr. Patrick Hof (Dept of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY), aims to characterize changes in the prefrontal cortex and visual cortex during normal aging in the rhesus monkeys. We seek candidates with experience building differential equations-based mathematical models using MATLAB, Python, and/or NEURON compartmental modeling software. Experience with conductance-based modeling of single neurons or excitatory-inhibitory networks preferred. The successful candidate will build computational models to explore mechanisms of network dysfunction, constrained by our data from aging studies in rhesus monkeys, including new multiplexing data in collaboration with GE Healthcare. Imaging: This project, led by Dr. Luebke and Dr Klaus Wimmer (Centre de Recerca Matemàtica, Barcelona, Spain) and funded by the Collaborative Research in Computational Neuroscience (CRCNS) program, focuses on the computational and neural mechanisms underlying working memory and age-related changes to working memory and other executive function in the rhesus monkey. We seek candidates with an excellent track record using magnetic resonance imaging and image processing techniques to explore scientific questions with high health relevance. The successful candidate will lead analyses of structural MRI (T1 TFE scans), resting state fMRI, and diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) brain scans to assess brain morphometry and connectivity. Data generated from brain scans will be correlated with behavioral, physiological and other anatomical data collected across the adult life span to inform sophisticated computational models. The project includes unique cross-national training opportunities for researchers in Boston and Barcelona alike. Optogenetics: One project, newly funded by NIH, uses multi-scale neuroanatomical, in vitro, and in vivo electrophysiological, pharmacologic and optogenetic techniques to study inhibitory circuits in the anterior cingulate cortex and lateral prefrontal cortex (ACC and LPFC) of rhesus monkeys, and how limbic input from the amygdala influences communication within the ACC-LPFC network. We seek candidates with expertise in optogenetics, imaging of voltage-sensitive dyes, patch-clamp recording and multiphoton microscopy. The successful candidate will combine anatomical and viral tracing with in vivo electrophysiological recordings in anesthetized preparations, as well as optogenetic stimulation and whole cell patch-clamp recording in in vitro slices, to investigate the cellular and synaptic properties of prefrontal circuits involved in cognitive and emotional control and integration. Each appointment as a Boston University School of Medicine research fellow will be for at least 1 year with the possibility for extension based on performance. Competitive salary based on experience. Interested applicants should attach the following: - A cover letter, - A current CV, - A brief statement of current and future research interests, - The contact information of three references. Please be aware that references may be contacted anytime after receipt of your application. Contact: Dr. Christina Weaver, christina.weaver(a)fandm.edu or Dr. Jennifer Luebke, jluebke(a)bu.edu Christina M. Weaver, Ph.D. Associate Chair of Mathematics Associate Professor Franklin & Marshall College P.O. Box 3003 Lancaster, PA 17604-3003 Email: christina.weaver(a)fandm.edu

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Announcing free online spiking neural network workshop Nov 8-9, reg & submissions open
by Goodman, Daniel F M 07 Jul '21

07 Jul '21

We are delighted to announce the second edition of the "SNUFA" spiking neural network online workshop, taking place this November 8-9. Free registration and abstract submission is now open at http://snufa.net/2021 This online workshop brings together researchers in the field to present their work and discuss ways of translating these findings into a better understanding of neural circuits. Topics include artificial and biologically plausible learning algorithms and the dissection of trained spiking circuits toward understanding neural processing. We have a manageable number of talks with ample time for discussions. This year’s executive committee comprises Chiara Bartolozzi<https://www.iit.it/people/chiara-bartolozzi>, Sander Bohté<https://homepages.cwi.nl/~sbohte/>, Dan Goodman<https://neural-reckoning.org/>, and Friedemann Zenke<https://fzenke.net/>. The workshop will take place 8-9 November, 2021. Abstract submission will close 1 October, 2021. The workshop will feature invited speakers: * Tara Hamilton<https://profiles.uts.edu.au/Tara.Hamilton>, University of Technology Sydney * Dylan Muir<http://dylan-muir.com/>, SynSense<https://www.synsense-neuromorphic.com/> * Katie Schumann<https://www.ornl.gov/staff-profile/catherine-d-schuman>, Oak Ridge National Laboratory * Henning Sprekeler<https://www.sprekelerlab.org/henning/>, TU Berlin The format will be: * Two half days (European afternoon times) * 4 invited talks * 8 contributed talks * Poster session * Panel debate: “What should be the next big breakthrough in spiking neural networks?” (speakers to be decided) You can see last year’s talks on Crowdcast<https://www.crowdcast.io/e/snufa2020> or the talks and one of the recorded discussions on YouTube<https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL09WqqDbQWHFvM9DFYkM_GfnrVnIdLRhy>. This workshop was great fun last year and we had around 700 participants! This year should be even better with your contributed talks and posters. Looking forward to seeing you all there! And please forward this announcement to any colleagues or local distribution lists. Many thanks, Dan, Chiara, Sander and Friedemann

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Postdoctoral Researcher position on fMRI study of spontaneous thoughts and natural task
by Mingbo Cai 07 Jul '21

07 Jul '21

*Postdoctoral Researcher position on fMRI study of spontaneous thoughts and natural task* We seek a talented neuroscientist with extensive experience in the areas of advanced fMRI analysis, (such as encoding or decoding models) and the design of experiments using naturalistic tasks and assessing spontaneous thoughts. A 2.5-year postdoctoral position is available at Dr. Mingbo Cai’s lab <https://cailab-ircn.org/> at the International Research Center for Neurointelligence <https://ircn.jp/en/>, The University of Tokyo. You will work on an exciting international collaboration project directed by both Dr. Cai <https://ircn.jp/en/mission/people/mingbo-cai> and Dr. Nicolas Schuck <https://schucklab.gitlab.io/> at Max Planck Institute for Human Development. You will also have the opportunity to collaborate remotely with Dr. Quentin Huys <https://quentinhuys.com/> at the University College London. The project will focus on understanding the contents and dynamics of spontaneous thoughts using fMRI decoding and natural tasks. In the later stage of the project, we also plan to examine the clinical implication of differences in spontaneous thoughts. Applicants with experience working on populations with mental disorders are also highly encouraged to apply. The working language is English. The working location is at The University of Tokyo, Japan. Contract duration: renewed annually up until Jan 2024 (future renewal depends on performance and budget), with a probation period of 6 months. Starting date: negotiable Requirements (1) Applicants must hold, or be expected to hold by the time of appointment, a PhD, M.D. or equivalent degree in Neuroscience, Psychology, Psychiatry, Machine Learning, Statistics or related fields. (2) Experience in conducting fMRI experiments and data analysis (evidenced by publications, conference presentations or writing samples). (3) Familiar with at least one of the following tools: AFNI, FSL, nilearn, BrainIAK. (4) Good speaking and scientific writing skills in English. (5) Good programming skills. (6) Willing to collaborate and help colleagues. Requirements 2 and 3 may be replaced by two or three of the preferred skills below: Preferred skills: (1) Research experience with fMRI experiments involving natural tasks and multivariate pattern analysis. (2) Experience with experiments investigating spontaneous thoughts. (3) Research experience with investigations of psychiatric disorders. (4) Knowledge of and experience with deep learning. Application procedure: Please send an email with the title “[Postdoc Application] + your name” to mingbo[doc]cai[at]ircn[dot]jp. Please include a cover letter describing your background and research interest, a curriculum vitae, and contact information for 2-3 recommendation letters (ideally you can also request your referees to send their letters directly to the above email address). To increase the chance of being considered, we suggest you include writing samples or a copy of a poster or other presentation. Informal inquiry can also be sent to Dr. Cai. Application deadline: The application deadline is July 31. The position will remain open until filled. Review of applications starts as soon as they are received. Mingbo Cai Assistant Professor International Research Center for Neurointelligence The University of Tokyo https://cailab-ircn.org/

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PhD and Postdoc opportunities in Germany
by Tatjana Tchumatchenko 06 Jul '21

06 Jul '21

Dear friends and colleagues, I would appreciate if you could spread the word among your students and postdocs. My group which is now at the University of Bonn is looking for Master Students, PhD Students and Postdocs PhD Students or Postdocs interested in understanding how neuronal networks work, how they respond to stimuli and what role connectivity and single neuron dynamics play for the activity of the brain. Though the focus of my research is on the theory side, my lab has close ties to experimentally oriented labs and projects typically involve modelling and data analysis. We are looking for bright and hard-working students with a life-science or quantitative background (physics, math, biology etc). The following PhD and Postdoc positions are currently open: 1) A PhD position in a project exploring the intersection of protein dynamics and machine learning. This involves analyzing the collective motion of multiple receptors in a cell. 2) A PhD position in project designing models describing protein dynamics in dendrites and analyzing imaging data 3) A postdoc or PhD position in a project addressing the relation between neurological diseases, protein dynamics and network activity. When applying please attach a CV (with a publication record) and a current copy of academic transcripts and mention at least one academic reference. For more information, please contact Prof. Tatjana Tchumatchenko via email tatjana.tchumatchenko(a)uni-bonn.de https://twitter.com/TTchumatchenko www.tchumatchenko.de

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Call for applications at the paris Brain Institute
by Jean Daunizeau 05 Jul '21

05 Jul '21

Dear colleagues, This is to let you know that the Paris Brain Institute is seeking to recruit a team leader at the starting, junior or mid-career level, working in computational and/or theoretical neuroscience. Please visit this page for more info: https://institutducerveau-icm.org/en/actualite/call-for-applications/ Best regards, Jean Daunizeau. -- Jean Daunizeau Motivation, Brain and Behaviour group (ICM) web: http://sites.google.com/site/jeandaunizeauswebsite/

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PhD/Postdoc Positions at the Interface of Neuroscience and Machine Learning
by Jian Liu 05 Jul '21

05 Jul '21

*PhD/Postdoc Positions at the Interface of Neuroscience and Machine Learning* The lab of Dr Jian Liu invites applications for several PhD/Postdoc positions at the interface of computational neuroscience and machine learning, at the School of Computing, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds. Research projects will involve theoretical analysis, computational modeling, and data analysis, with worldwide collaborations of neuroscience experimentalists, clinicians, and robotic engineers. We are working on a wide range of topics, from fundamental neuroscience questions to robotic applications. For representative examples and publications, please visit: http://jiankliu.github.io Candidates with a quantitative background are welcome. We are looking for highly motivated candidates with a spirit of intellectual adventure. The positions will come with competitive work conditions. Generous traveling budgets are available. Please send the following information in one single PDF, to j.liu9(a)leeds.ac.uk: - Detailed CV with publications; - Letter on motivation and interests; - Other relevant materials of interest; The School of Computing conducts ranging from fundamental advances in algorithms and our understanding of computation, through to highly applied research into new display technologies for clinical diagnosis, energy-efficient data centres, and profound insight into data through visualisation. We are parents with the Alan Turing Institute, the UK’s premier research centre for data science and artificial intelligence. The University of Leeds is committed to providing equal opportunities for all and offers a range of family friendly policies. The University is a charter member of Athena SWAN and holds the Bronze award. The School of Medicine holds the Gold award. We are committed to being an inclusive medical school that values all staff, and we are happy to consider job share applications and requests for flexible working arrangements from our employees. We will make the working patten inclusive and flexible. If female candidates are selected, the maternity leave will be fully guaranteed and the children care responsibilities will be satisfied (e.g. working in part time). We will also actively promote gender equality in education and employment opportunities through workshops, seminars, webinars, and university open days.

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Job Posting: Scientific Software Developer
by Dr. David Goyer 05 Jul '21

05 Jul '21

Dear All, The Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine - Computational and Systems Neuroscience (INM-6) at Research Center Jülich is looking for a Scientific Software Developer for Neural Data Analysis Tools. Full details of the job offer can be found here: https://www.fz-juelich.de/SharedDocs/Stellenangebote/_common/dna/2021-192-E… Application deadline is 25.07.2021. If you have questions regarding this job posting feel free to contact me. Kind regards, David Goyer Dr. David Goyer Scientific Coordinator Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-6) Computational and Systems Neuroscience & Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS-6) Theoretical Neuroscience Jülich Research Centre and JARA Jülich Germany phone: +49-1756402993

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PhD student in data science of Parkinson's electrophys data (MEG, DBS, etc) in Dusseldorf
by Dmitrii Todorov 05 Jul '21

05 Jul '21

Project Title: Improving deep brain stimulation through artificial intelligence We are looking for a PhD student to join our research project Improving deep brain stimulation through artificial intelligence. In this project, you will collect data from patients using simultaneous MEG and intracranial recordings. In addition, we will obtain kinematic data and anatomical images of the brain using MRI. Besides neuroscientific measurements, data science plays an important role. The project involves the creation of a scientific database and sophisticated data analysis, using dedicated software tools for MEG/MRI and the implementation and application of machine learning algorithms. The doctoral researcher will conduct neuroscientific experiments, analyze and present the data, and prepare publications under supervision, resulting in a PhD thesis. Requirements Master of Science in the natural sciences, computer science or psychology Intrinsic motivation and a passion for brain research First experience in programming and scientific data analysis (mandatory) First experience in at least two of the following: M/EEG, machine learning/AI, local field potential recordings, motion tracking, MRI, scientific databases The project is supported by a five-year grant of the Brunhilde Moll Foundation to Prof. Alfons Schnitzler and Dr. Jan Hirschmann. We offer fixed-term contracts for three years initially, with the possibility of prolongation. Payment accords to the regulations for the German public sector (Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst der Länder). The applications should include a statement of research interests and reasons for applying to the project, a curriculum vitae including a list publications, a certificate of the Master’s degree, a copy of the master’s thesis and grades of Master’s level studies, and the names and e-mail addresses of two referees. Please address questions and send applications (pdf only!) to Jan.Hirschmann(a)med.uni-duesseldorf.de See full details here https://www.uniklinik-duesseldorf.de/en/institute-of-clinical-neuroscience-… -- Best regards, Dmitrii Todorov Postdoc Institute for Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology Dusseldorf University Clinic

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Deadline extension Call for Papers Special Issue IEEE TCDS
by Bruno Lara 03 Jul '21

03 Jul '21

Dear all; The call for papers for our special issue has been extended: New dates: Paper submission deadline - 1 September 2021 Notification to authors - 1 November 2021 Deadline revised papers submission - 15 January 2022 Final version - 15 February 2022 The call can be found in: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=9448373 We would like to announce a special issue for the journal IEEE Transactions on Cognitive and Developmental Systems. The general topic revolves around perceptual optimization processes related to attentional and predictive mechanisms. We are interested in work coming from a wide range of areas including robotics, psychology, philosophy and neuroscience. Themes include: · Attentional and gating mechanisms for action and sensory information processing · Context- and task-dependent perceptual optimization · Sensory attenuation/cancellation and sensory enhancement/facilitation · Interplay of predictive and attentional mechanisms for prediction error minimization · Multimodal integration and/or cross-modal interactions · State representation learning · Constrained innate priors that drive learning · Prediction in language learning and comprehension · Prediction error dynamics monitoring · Dreaming, non-conscious perception, hallucination, altered perceptual phenomena -- -- +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Dr. Bruno Lara Guzman Profesor Investigador Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos Av. Universidad 1001. Col. Chamilpa Cuernavaca, Morelos. C. P. 62209-- M É X I C O +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ http://roboticacognitiva.mx Tel (52) (777) 3-29-70 40 x 3280 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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THEORETICAL/COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE FACULTY POSITION AT CSHL
by Tony Zador 02 Jul '21

02 Jul '21

*Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is seeking faculty candidates in the area of Computational/Theoretical Neuroscience. * Of particular interest to this search are candidates with expertise in *computational and theoretical neuroscience, machine learning, and artificial intelligence*. The successful candidate will have an outstanding record of research achievement and an innovative research program. They will join a highly interactive and collaborative neuroscience group working on neural circuits, neural development, neurogenetics, theoretical and computational neuroscience, artificial intelligence, synaptic function, brain disorders, rodent cognition, perception, and social behavior. Preference will be given to applicants at the Assistant Professor level, but outstanding candidates at all career stages will be considered. *Review of applications is currently underway and will continue until the position is filled. * Please see https://www.cshl.edu/about-us/careers/faculty-positions/ for details. If this position is *of interest to you or your colleagues, we would welcome your applications*. This link will bring you to the formal posting where *interested candidates* can create an account and apply: Faculty Positions In Neuroscience position ID 02703-R. *Specific questions regarding the opportunity can be sent *directly to CSHLfacultyjobs(a)cshl.edu .

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EITN Fall School in Computational Neuroscience : Applications extended to 25 July 2021
by Zélie Tournoud 02 Jul '21

02 Jul '21

Dear colleagues, We are happy to let you know that the application deadline for the *EITN Fall School in Computational Neuroscience* has been extended to the *25th of July 2021*. This *10-days intensive course in computational neuroscience* will take place in *P**aris, France from 15 to 24 September 2021*. This is a yearly event, although previous occurrences took place in the spring. We choose to keep it relatively small-scale in order to facilitate interactions between participants and teaching staff, there are about 20 seats available. There will, therefore, be a selection made after applications are closed. We encourage you to share the word widely with your collaborators and networks so that everyone who might be interested can get the chance to apply. Applications need to be addressed by email with a *resume (CV)* and a *cover letter* at *eitn(a)neuro-psi.fr*. Please make sure to use an explicit email title such as "Application to EITN Fall School". *Organizers: *Sacha Van Albada (Julich), Albert Gidon (U Berlin), Alain Destexhe (CNRS), Gorka Zamora-Lopez (UPF) and Spase Petkowski (AMU) *Faculty:* Nicolas Brunel (Duke University) Mallory Carlu (CNRS) Hermann Cuntz (Max Planck Frankfurt) Damien Depannemaecker (CNRS) Alain Destexhe (CNRS) Michael Dick (Julich) Renato Duarte (Julich) Gaute Einevoll (MBU) Kirsten Fisher (Julich) Albert Gidon (U Berlin) Jennifer Goldman (CNRS) Moritz Helias (Julich) Christian Keup (Julich) Anno Kurth (Julich) Mario Lavanga (AMU) Jean-Didier Lemarechal (AMU) Marja-Leena Linne (U Tempere) Jorge Mejias (UVA) Spase Petkowski (AMU) Marcel Stimberg (Institut de la Vision) Bartosz Telenczuk (CNRS) Fererico Tesler (CNRS) Nuria Tort-Colet (CNRS) Sacha Van Albada (Julich) Gorka Zamora-Lopez (UPF) *Why join?* * 10 days of intensive training in computational neuroscience provided by researchers from all over Europe * Small scale event: get to connect! * A complete program: o Cellular models, and models of brain signals Circuit models and networks o Mean-field models o Whole-brain models * Hands-on learning schedule based on: o Morning classes and tutorials o Group projects in the afternoon o Free time in the evenings to visit Paris *Selection criteria:* 1. Work or study in neuroscience or related 2. Experience in python programming would help 3. Priority to PhD students, although Master students and post-docs are welcome to apply *Practical information:* * Subscription fee 400€. * If selected, you will need to bring your own laptop with a few pre-installed programs. * The tuition fee includes lunch, coffee, access to conference facilities and internet connection during the 10 days of the course. You can also consult these information online <https://www.eitn.org/index.php/calendar-event/eventdetail/737/-/eitn-fall-s…> or by downloading the PDF flyer: https://www.eitn.org/images/events/EITN-FallSchool-2021_Flyer.pdf Thank you very much for applying or sharing with your relevant contacts. Kind regards, The EITN Team

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Scientific Software Engineer or Data Scientist, deadline July 11th 2021, Salary level E13 TVL
by Jochem Rieger 02 Jul '21

02 Jul '21

Dear colleagues, we have an open DFG-funded position for 3+2 years for the development of data infrastructure including storage, streaming and analysis tools for reproducible science based on the BIDS standard at our Neuroimaging Unit at University of Oldenburg, Germany. Link to the announcment: https://uol.de/stellen?stelle=68111 Application deadline is July 11th 2021 The position is ideal for networking in the open science community as it includes workshop organization and interaction with the open (neuro)science community. It is complemented by a full time technician position for support. The salary level is E13. The exact salary is dependent on experience and family status. But the rough numbers are on the web. The Neuroimaging Unit hosts a 3T Siemens Prisma MRI-scanner and a 306 channel Triux MEG system. The university hosts a prestigious DFG-funded Cluster of Excellence in Hearing Research and the Dept. of Psychology was recently evaluated as excellent with the highest third party funding rate among psychologies in Lower Saxony. The city of Oldenburg has a high standard of living, Hamburg, Bremen and the north sea are between 30 to 90 min distance. We are looking forward to your application! Best regards, Jochem The Neuroimaging Unit and the Applied Cognitive Neuropsychology Lab at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University of Oldenburg is seeking to fill the position of a *Scientific Software Engineer or Data Scientist (m/f/d)* *(Salary level E13 TVL, 100%)* ** for the development of open and reproducible neuroscience tools and processing pipelines*.* The position is embedded in a DFG Core Facility grant and is available*as soon as possible**until 30^th of September 2023 (with the possibility to extend another 2,5 years after successful evaluation and extension of the project)*. The position is suitable for part-time work. The Neuroimaging Unit hosts a state-of-the-art MEG (Elekta Triux) and an MRI (Siemens Prisma 3T) and is embedded in an excellent interdisciplinary scientific environment with a strong research focus on neurosensory, neurocognitive, and medical research. The successful candidate is expected to actively perform research on and contribute to the implementation of a standardized neuroscience data acquisition, reproducible analysis pipelines and data storage for open science building on the BIDS standard. He/she should further contribute to community efforts and dissemination. Candidates should have a strong motivation to contribute to the community of developers open science tools. The development can include scientific projects, as long as they fit into the research focus of the lab (machine learning in cognitive neuroscience, speech processeing, and human state monitoring) but tool and processing pipeline development comprises the main part of the position. Candidates are expected to have an academic university degree (Master or equivalent) in the field of informatics, engineering, neuroscience or psychology and have shown their ability to perform excellent scientific work, demonstrated by an excellent publication record. Prior experience with the BIDS standard as well as its programming, experience with neuroimaging techniques and data analysis (especially fMRI or MEG/EEG) and fluency in English is required. Experience with open science tools and databases, other neurophysiological modalities, as well as knowledge of German are desirable. The University of Oldenburg is dedicated to increase the percentage of female employees in the field of science. Therefore, female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. In accordance to § 21 Section 3 NHG, female candidates with equal qualifications will be preferentially considered. Applicants with disabilities will be given preference in case of equal qualification. Please send your application including a cover letter, CV, list of potential referees, links to recent publications and copies of certificates for academic grades to Prof. Dr. Jochem Rieger, Department of Psychology, University of Oldenburg, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany; (jochem.rieger(a)uni-oldenburg.de <mailto:jochem.rieger@uni-oldenburg.de>). Electronic applications (one pdf file) are preferred. For inquiries please use the same contact. The application deadline is*11*th of July 2021**. -- Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Jochem Rieger Head of Applied Neurocognitive Psychology Faculty VI Carl-von-Ossietzky University 26111 Oldenburg Germany Phone: +49(0)4417984533 Fax: +49(0)4417983865

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NERKA8 Summer Course “Ion Channels and Neuronal Excitability”
by luiza filipis 01 Jul '21

01 Jul '21

Dear all, It is our pleasure to invite you to the NERKA8 Summer Course *“Ion Channels and Neuronal Excitability” *to be held *this year and in person* *September 8-12, 2021 *in Kotor, Montenegro. The course is organized by the *Faculty of Biology University of Belgrade* within the *NENS* School PhD program on *Neurobiology*. This school is to cover topics of *Ion Channels and Neuronal Excitability – techniques, modeling, physiology & pathology*. Information on application, deadlines, stipends and programm can be found on the website http://clm.bio.bg.ac.rs/neurobiology-course-2021/ -- Luiza Filipis,PhD Equipe OPTIMA Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Physique (LIPhy), Université Grenoble Alpes et CNRS UMR 5588, Bat. E45, 140 avenue de la physique, Domaine univ., 38402 St Martin d'Hères cedex, FRANCE 33(0)476514731, Fax +33(0)476635495. luiza.filipis(a)univ-grenoble-alpes.fr http://marco-canepari.wix.com/neuron-imaging-team

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Modellers Workshop for the Brain Dynamics Toolbox
by Stewart Heitmann 01 Jul '21

01 Jul '21

Modeller’s Workshop for the Brain Dynamics Toolbox Online Course. Enrolments open 1-18 July 2021. This is a self-paced online course for researchers and students who wish to program their own dynamical models using the Brain Dynamics Toolbox (bdtoolbox.org<https://bdtoolbox.org/>). Participants learn the art of programming differential equations to simulate neuronal dynamics. Topics include programming Ordinary Differential Equations, Partial Differential Equations, Delay Differential Equations, Stochastic Differential Equations, Auxiliary Plot Functions and command-line tools. Example code is provided in all cases. Study time is 8 hours. Course Website https://bdtoolbox.org/p/modellers-workshop/ Important Dates Early-bird enrolments ($125) close Friday 9th July, 2021. Late enrolments ($150) close Sunday 18th July, 2021. Stewart Heitmann | Computational Scientist Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute | Lowy Packer Building | 405 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010 Australia E: s.heitmann(a)victorchang.edu.au<mailto:s.heitmann@victorchang.edu.au> | @VictorChangInst Disclaimer The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. This email has been scanned for viruses and malware, and may have been automatically archived by Mimecast Ltd, an innovator in Software as a Service (SaaS) for business. Providing a safer and more useful place for your human generated data. Specializing in; Security, archiving and compliance. To find out more visit the Mimecast website.

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Tutorials on Allen Institute data and tools for computational neuroscience at CNS*2021
by Anton Arkhipov 30 Jun '21

30 Jun '21

Dear all, Please join us for pre-CNS*2021 tutorials on June 30 and July 1: “From synapses to behavior – using open data, tools, and models from the Allen Institute in computational neuroscience”. https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2021-tutorials#SA5 The Allen Institute recently released multiple free resources focusing on the structure and function of brain circuits, including data, associated analysis software, and models integrating the data to enable bio-realistic simulations. We will introduce several of these resources in a series of 1-hour sessions. The resources covered will include characterization of cell types and synapse types, 2-photon calcium imaging and Neuropixels electrophysiology in vivo, a visual behavior dataset, and bio-realistic models and modeling software. Wednesday, June 30, 2021 11:30 am – 11:45 am EST (8:30 am – 8:45 am PST) - Introduction 11:45 am – 12:45 pm EST (8:45 am – 9:45 am PST) - Synaptic Physiology (Luke Campagnola) 12:45 pm – 1:00 pm EST (9:45 am – 10:00 am PST) - Break 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EST (10:00 am – 11:00 am PST) - Visual Coding 2-photon (Saskia de Vries) 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EST (11:00 am – 12:00 pm PST) - Visual Coding Neuropixels (Josh Siegle) Thursday, July 1, 2021 11:30 am – 11:45 am EST (8:30 am – 8:45 am PST) - Introduction 11:45 am – 12:45 pm EST (8:45 am – 9:45 am PST) - PatchSeq (Nathan Gouwens) 12:45 pm – 1:00 pm EST (9:45 am – 10:00 am PST) - Break 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EST (10:00 am – 11:00 am PST) - Visual Behavior (Alex Piet) 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EST (11:00 am – 12:00 pm PST) - Bio-realistic model of the mouse primary visual cortex (Anton Arkhipov and Kael Dai) Please register for CNS*2021 and join us for the tutorials! https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2021-quick Best wishes, Anton. Anton Arkhipov Associate Investigator T: 206.548.8414 E: antona(a)alleninstitute.org<mailto:antona@alleninstitute.org> [Text Description automatically generated] alleninstitute.org<https://alleninstitute.org> brain-map.org

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Last chance to register: TEX2021 - Bringing together Predictive Processes and Statistical Learning
by Yamil Vidal 29 Jun '21

29 Jun '21

Last chance to register!! TEX2021 - Bringing together Predictive Processes and Statistical Learning A free online symposium organized by Yamil Vidal and Davide Crepaldi. We have few available spots left so do not wait until the last minute to register. Description: While the research communities studying Predictive Processes and Statistical Learning sprout from different traditions, they share a core interest in how our brains pick up on patterns in the environment. In this two-days symposium we will bring these communities closer by sharing talks by some of the leading researchers of these fields. When: 1st and 2nd of July (15:00 to 18:30, CET) Speakers: - Tristan Bekinschtein (Consciousness and Cognition Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge) - Lucia Melloni (Department of Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics. Department of neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine) - Padraic Monaghan (Department of Psychology, Lancaster University) - Maria Chait (Ear Institute, University College London) - Floris de Lange (Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen) - Caspar Schwiedrzik (Neural Circuits and Cognition Lab, European Neuroscience Institute Goettingen. Perception and Plasticity Group, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research) - Lori Holt (Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University) - Nicola Molinaro (BCBL, Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language) Schedule and more info at the registration form: https://sissa-it.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nBOv5NWZQ36HSH7nyffazg We would be very happy to count you among the attendees. Please spread the word. Best regards, Yamil and Davide Dr. Yamil Vidal Cognitive Neuroscience Sector Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati - SISSA via Bonomea, 265 34136 Trieste, ITALY

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Robustness, Adaptability and Critical Transitions in Living Systems satellite - Conference on Complex Systems 2021 Lyon, France
by Samir Suweis 29 Jun '21

29 Jun '21

We are glad to announce the 4th hybrid (on site + virtual) edition of ReACT satellite <https://liphlab.github.io/REACT2021/> during the CCS 2021 <https://ccs2021.univ-lyon1.fr/> in Lyon, France - 25-29/10/2021 Confirmed invited speakers: Anna Levina (University of Tubingen) and Sergi Valverde (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra) Organizing commettee: Samir Suweis (UNIPD), Giorgio Nicoletti (UNIPD), Sandro Azaele (UNIPD), Jacopo Grilli (ICTP) Abstract submission open through EasyChair <https://easychair.org/account/signin_timeout?l=JRR3vhQlzxctciXkPU1pGc#>. Deadline 31 July 2021 All info are available also on the satellite website: https://liphlab.github.io/REACT2021/ <https://liphlab.github.io/REACT2021/> ***** After the success of the Satellite at ECCS 2014, CCS 2016, and CCS 2018, the ReACT Satellite: Robustness, Adaptability and Critical Transitions in Living Systems is back for a fourth edition at CCS 2021 in Lyon, France. We are very pleased to announce that the Satellite will be host in an hybrid format, welcoming participants both online and in person! The Satellite will last half a day and will take place during the main conference (25th - 29th October, 2021). The exact date and times will be announced soon. Living systems are characterized by the recurrent emergence of patterns: power-laws distributions, long-range correlations and structured self-organization in living matter are the norm, rather than the exception. All these features are also typical of systems poised near a critical point. The great lesson from Physics is that criticality can emerge as a collective behaviour in a many-body system with simple interactions and its characteristics depend only on few details, like the dimensionality or the symmetries. One of the most striking feature of living systems is that they are structured as evolving systems were interactions can turn-on or off, as well as strengthening and weakening, reconfiguring the system connectivity. Thus, by rearranging both the structural and functional topology, living interacting systems may demonstrate unique evolvability, scalability and adaptability properties. Among these systems, the brain is probably one of the most impressively complex and has received a considerable amount of attention in recent years, aided by the vast amount of experimental data available. The idea that the collective behavior of neurons might emerge from a self-organized critical state has been widely studied, from its fundamental mechanisms to its functional advantages, and it poses a fascinating question that is far from being answered. It is of crucial importance to make further steps in the understanding of the main properties that simultaneously confer to these systems high level of adaptability, robustness and optimality. If we can “learn” from evolution and unravel the basic principles then we would be able to both better manage/supervise these systems and also design more optimal and sustainable new systems. ***************** Samir Suweis www.liphlab.com Tel: +39 049 827 71 74

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[CFP] 2nd call for abstracts (+deadline extended to July 16th): Computational Cognition workshop (COMCO 2021)
by Juliane Schwab 29 Jun '21

29 Jun '21

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[JOBS] PhD @ Italian Institute of Technology, Ferrara
by Alessandro D'Ausilio 29 Jun '21

29 Jun '21

PHD PROGRAM in TRANSLATIONAL NEUROSCIENCES AND NEUROTECHNOLOGIES The Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication (CTNSC) @ Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), is opening 3 PhD positions starting in November 1st, 2021. Research areas: - Improving performance and biocompatibility of electrode arrays for brain-computer interfaces - Organic neuroelectronics for multimodal recordings and stimulation of the brain in vivo - Hardware and software development for innovative exploration of brain signals - Machine learning applications to multimodal brain and speech signals - Investigation of sensorimotor functions in animal models - Cortical recordings in human patients during awake Neurosurgery - Human non-invasive neurophysiology of speech and sensorimotor communication Who: chemists, physicists, materials scientists, computer scientists, biomedical/electrical engineers, biologists, biotechnologist, medical doctors and experimental psychologists eager to work in an international and multidisciplinary team. Where: The CTNSC (https://www.iit.it/it/ctnsc-unife <https://www.iit.it/centers/ctnsc-unife>) is hosted by the University of Ferrara (UNIFE) in a prestigious historical building in the city center. Ferrara is a well connected renaissance city (30-min to Bologna, 40-min to Padua, 60-min to Venice; 2 nearby international airports), bustling with students (https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/733 <https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/733>). General INFO: http://www.unife.it/studenti/dottorato/it/corsi/riforma/neuroscience <http://www.unife.it/studenti/dottorato/it/corsi/riforma/neuroscience> Application INFO: http://www.unife.it/studenti/dottorato/concorsi/selection <http://www.unife.it/studenti/dottorato/concorsi/selection> DEADLINE: July 23rd, 2021

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Tutorial on NEURON and NetPyNE at CNS*2021
by McDougal, Robert 28 Jun '21

28 Jun '21

(Apologies for cross-posts.) Interested in learning how to build biophysically detailed neuronal models with NEURON and NetPyNE? Join us for a tutorial at CNS*2021 on Saturday, July 3rd starting at 10am EDT: Time (New York City / EDT) Presenter Subject 10:00 - 10:30 Bill Lytton Overview: implementing the conceptual model 10:30 - 11:50 Robert McDougal NEURON scripting basics 11:50 - 12:00 coffee break 12:00 - 1:00 Adam Newton Reaction-Diffusion 1:00 - 1:30 lunch break 1:30 - 2:50 Salvador Dura-Bernal NetPyNE GUI-based tutorials 2:50 - 3:00 coffee break 3:00 - 4:00 Salvador Dura-Bernal NetPyNE programming tutorial For more information, see: https://neuron.yale.edu/neuron/courses/2021-cns-neuron-netpyne-tutorial Register for CNS*2021 to attend; see https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2021-registration-fees

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PhD position with Prof. Laurenz Wiskott at the Institute for Neural Computation, Bochum, Germany
by Laurenz Wiskott 28 Jun '21

28 Jun '21

The Ruhr-Universität Bochum is one of the leading research universities. The university draws its strengths from both the diversity and the proximity of scientific and engineering disciplines on a single, coherent campus. This highly dynamic setting enables students and researchers to work across traditional boundaries of academic subjects and faculties. One particular strength of RUB is interdisciplinary research in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, see https://ml-ai.rub.de/. The Institute for Neural Computation is a central research institute, see https://www.ini.rub.de/. It focuses on the dynamics and learning of perception and behavior on a functional level but is otherwise very diverse, ranging from neurophysiology and psychophysics over computational neuroscience to machine learning and technical applications. There is an open position for a research assistant / Phd-student in the group „Theory of Neural Systems“ of Prof. Dr. Laurenz Wiskott to be filled at 15th of September. The appointment will be for three years. Salary is 75% of salary scale TV-L E13. Task: • Develop a cognitive system that learns to behave reasonably in new situations based on few episodic experiences. Central to the system shall be an episodic and a semantic memory. The application domain will be navigation. The candidate is free to put the focus on machine learning techniques or on the modeling of natural cognition. We offer: • An interesting interdisciplinary environment in the field of Machine Learning / Artificial Intelligence / Computational Neuroscience. • Room to develop your own ideas in the project. • Infrastructure to integrate well into the institute and the group. • Opportunity to do a PhD (Dr). Requirements: • Very good Master in mathematics, computer science, engineering, or a related field. • Good programming and mathematical skills. • Interest in interdisciplinary research questions and cooperations. Advantageous: • Experience in Machine Learning and/or Computational Neuroscience. • Good communication and teamwork skills. • Experience in interdisciplinary projects. • Programming skills in Python. Applications (CV, transcript of records for MSc and BSc, statement of purpose) should be sent as a single pdf file to laurenz.wiskott(a)rub.de. Travel expenses for interviews will not be refunded. Ruhr-University Bochum is committed to equal opportunity in employment and gender equality in its working environment. We therefore look forward to applications from qualified women. Applications from appropriately qualified handicapped persons are also encouraged.

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Bernstein Conference 2021 - Deadline for Contributed Talks extended until July 7
by Anja Dorrn 28 Jun '21

28 Jun '21

Each year the Bernstein Network invites the international computational neuroscience community to the annual Bernstein Conference for intensive scientific exchange. It has established itself as one of the most renown conferences worldwide in this field, attracting students, postdocs and PIs from around the world to meet and discuss new scientific discoveries. Due to the ongoing pandemic the Bernstein Conference will be held online. <www.bernstein-conference.de>www.bernstein-conference.de ____ IMPORTANT DATES & NEWS * Bernstein Conference: September 21-23, 2021 * Abstract submission open: * Deadline for submission of abstracts to be considered for Contributed Talks: extended to July 7, 2021, 1 pm CEST * Deadline for abstract submission: August 3, 2021 * Selected Satellite Workshops are now online<https://bit.ly/BC21_workshops> * Registration will open soon and be free of charge ____ ABSTRACTS We invite the computational neuroscience community to submit their abstracts: Submitted abstracts can either be considered as contributed talks or posters. All accepted abstracts will be published online and will be citable via Digital Object Identifiers (DOI). Abstract submission is open. Further information can be found here: https://bit.ly/BC21_abstracts ____ INVITED SPEAKERS Keynote Timothy Behrens (University of Oxford, UK) Invited Talks Athena Akrami (University College London, UK) Nadine Gogolla (Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany) Guillaume Hennequin (University of Cambridge, UK) Jennifer Li & Drew Robson (Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany) Scott Lindermann (Stanford University, USA) Ashok Litwin-Kumar (Columbia University, New York City, USA) Ida Momennejad (Microsoft Research, New York City, USA) Cristina Savin (New York University, USA) Marion Silies (Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany) Daniela Vallentin (Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany) ____ CONFERENCE COMMITTEE Christian Leibold (Conference Chair) Julijana Gjiorgjieva (Program Chair) Christian Machens (Program Vice Chair) Marion Silies (Workshop Chair) Moritz Helias (Workshop Vice Chair) & Matthew Botvinick, Megan Carey, Peter Dayan, Brent Doiron, Rainer Friedrich, Ann Hermundstad, Srdjan Ostojic, Nathalie Rochefort, Nicole Rust, Gasper Tkacik ____ For any further questions, please contact: <bernstein.conference(a)fz-juelich.de> bernstein.conference(a)fz-juelich.de -- Dr. Anja Dorrn Scientific Coordinator Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience | Bernstein Coordination Site (BCOS) Branch Office of the Forschungszentrum Jülich at the University of Freiburg Hansastr. 9A | 79104 Freiburg, Germany phone: (+49) 0761 203 9589 web: www.bernstein-network.de<http://www.bernstein-network.de> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH 52425 Juelich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Juelich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Dueren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Volker Rieke Geschaeftsfuehrung: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Marquardt (Vorsitzender), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Harald Bolt, Dr. Astrid Lambrecht, Prof. Dr. Frauke Melchior ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Program and preliminary schedule for CNS*2021 Online
by Martin Zapotocky 28 Jun '21

28 Jun '21

**Organization for Computational Neurosciences 2885 Sanford Ave SW #15359 Grandville, MI 49418 USA*** Program and preliminary schedule available for 30th Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting (CNS*2021 Online, **July 3-7)***** The program of the CNS*2021 Meeting can now be viewed at https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2021-calendar <https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2021-calendar> Please note that this year, the main days of the meeting (*July 3-7*) are preceded by software tutorials on *J**une 28-29*, and satellite tutorials on *June 30 - July 2*. For registration information, please visit https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2021-registration-fees <https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2021-registration-fees> Following registration, the attendees can use the conference Sched page to access detailed information for each session and to assemble a personalized schedule. Instructions are sent upon registration. Please follow the Sched page for up-to-date information on the event schedule. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OCNS is the international member-based society for computational neuroscientists. Become a member to be eligible for awards and other benefits. Visit our website for more information: https://www.cnsorg.org <https://www.cnsorg.org> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Open postdoctoral position in Niv lab at Princeton University
by Angela Langdon 25 Jun '21

25 Jun '21

The lab of Dr Yael Niv in the Princeton Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychology at Princeton University is looking for a talented and motivated postdoctoral researcher to join our team to study the neural mechanisms of reward prediction and learning in animals. This position is to work primarily with Dr Angela Langdon on a NIDA-funded project modeling behavior and neural recording data from rodents in a reward learning task (start date: as soon as possible). The ideal candidate will 1) have experience in computational or theoretical modeling, such as reinforcement learning, Bayesian inference, machine learning and/or neural circuit modeling; 2) be excited about mapping theories of learning and decision making onto behavior and its neural basis; 3) be keen to work in a collaborative and interdisciplinary scientific environment. More broadly, members of the lab study the behavioral and neural computations that support learning and decision making, and their interaction with attention and memory mechanisms. Our research spans a diverse set of theoretical tools from reinforcement learning, Bayesian inference and machine learning alongside various empirical techniques, including targeted behavioral experiments, eye tracking and fMRI. In addition, we work closely with our collaborators on model-guided analysis of animal behavior and neural activity across a number of learning paradigms – the current position is for a project in this domain, working with existing neural and behavioral data from rodents. We have a particular interest in research that can shed light on the changes to learning and decision making that are prevalent in a range of clinical disorders. The Princeton Neuroscience Institute and the Psychology Department at Princeton are highly interdisciplinary and collaborative, and provide excellent support for career development. You will be joining a vibrant and international research group, and will have opportunities to interact with and learn from a large number of researchers in cognitive and computational neuroscience. To apply, send your CV and statement of research interests to Yael Niv: yael(a)princeton.edu <mailto:yael@princeton.edu> and Angela Langdon: alangdon(a)princeton.edu <mailto:alangdon@princeton.edu>.

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Workshop on Clinical Computational Neuroscience at OCNS*2021
by Laure Buhry 25 Jun '21

25 Jun '21

Dear all, We would like to announce the Workshop on *“Clinical computational neuroscience: How computational neuroscience can solve problems from the clinic”,* which will be held on *July 7th* during the OCNS annual meeting from 9:30 am to 5:45 am (Paris time) / 3:30 am to 11:45 am (NY time)/ 5:30 pm to 1:45 am (Sydney time). Please keep in mind that for workshop attendance a registration at the main conference (https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2021-registration-fees) is necessary. More information here: https://xenia-kobeleva.com/CNS2021/ We would love to see you there! Organizing Committee: Laure Buhry (co-chair) Xenia Kobeleva -- Dr Laure Buhry Associate Professor LORIA UMR CNRS 7503 - INRIA - University of Lorraine, France

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Postdoc position in neuronal network modelling and simulation
by Andrew Davison 24 Jun '21

24 Jun '21

Dear colleagues, A postdoc position in neuronal network modelling and simulation is available within the Neuroinformatics research group of the Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, as part of the Human Brain Project (https://neuropsi.cnrs.fr/en/departments/icn/group-leader-andrew-davison/) The large number of different simulation environments in neuroscience presents both a problem and an opportunity. Since each simulator has its own programming interface and output data format, reproducing, reusing, or combining models written for different simulators typically presents considerable difficulty. On the other hand, since each simulation environment has a different balance between efficiency, flexibility, scalability and user-friendliness, we can choose the most appropriate one for a given problem, or cross-check the results obtained with different tools. Simulator-agnostic model representation languages such as NeuroML and PyNN allow us to preserve the advantages of simulator diversity while reducing or eliminating the disadvantages, thereby making reproducibility and reuse much easier. Such languages let us take a single model description and simulate it in different environments without having to reimplement the model each time. The aim of this project is to expand the scope of PyNN from networks of simplified neuron models, such as integrate-and-fire, to networks consisting of biophysically- and morphologically-detailed neuron models, targeting the NEURON and Arbor simulators, the SpiNNaker and BrainScaleS neuromorphic computing systems, and interoperability with NeuroML and the SONATA format. We offer a flexible and collaborative working environment, including remote working up to two days per week. For more details and to apply, see https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/UMR9197-ANDDAV-007/Default.aspx?lang=EN Informal enquiries are welcome, contact andrew.davison(a)cnrs.fr Andrew Davison, PhD Group leader, Neuroinformatics Department for Integrative and Computational Neuroscience (ICN) NeuroPSI - Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience CNRS - Université Paris-Saclay 1, avenue de la Terrasse 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette France Tel: +33 1 69 82 34 51 Twitter: @apdavison https://neuropsi.cnrs.fr/en/departments/icn/group-leader-andrew-davison/

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Tutorial on "Understanding early visual receptive fields from efficient coding principles"
by Zhaoping Li 24 Jun '21

24 Jun '21

Understanding principles of efficient coding can enable you to answer questions such as: why should the input contrast response function of a neuron take its particular form? Why do retinal ganglion cells have center-surround receptive fields? How correlated or uncorrelated should the visual responses from different retinal ganglion cells be? Why do receptive fields of retinal ganglion cells increase their sizes in dim light? How could visual coding depend on animal species? Why are color selective V1 neurons less sensitive to visual motion signals? How can one predict the ocular dominance properties of V1 neurons from developmental conditions? How should neurons adapt to changes in visual environment? This tutorial guides you on how to answer such questions. It contains: (1) A list of 45 short video lecture clips (about 10 minutes each on average) on YouTube, see http://www.lizhaoping.org/zhaoping/EfficientVisualCoding_Playlist.html (2) In addition to (1), you can join CNS *2021 (see https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2021-tutorials#T3 ), which enables social interactions with the lecturer and other students via Discord, and on July 3rd (the tutorial day) for highlights, Q&As, and discussions. best, Li Zhaoping -- Li Zhaoping Ph.D. Prof. of Cognitive Science, University of Tuebingen Head of Dept of Sensory and Sensorimotor Systems, Max Planck Institute of Biological Cybernetics Author of "Understanding vision: theory, models, and data", Oxford University Press, 2014 www.lizhaoping.org

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CNS*2021 Workshop: Computational approaches for studying astrocyte dynamics and astrocyte-neuron communication (July 6-7, Online)
by Marsa Taheri 23 Jun '21

23 Jun '21

Dear all, We are pleased to announce a workshop on “*Computational approaches for studying astrocyte dynamics and astrocyte-neuron communication*” at this year’s Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting (CNS*2021). This workshop will run over 2 half-days: July 6-7 (9 am – 12:30 pm UTC-7). ------------------- *Brief Description*: Exciting experimental studies in the last decade have led to an entirely new body of work on the participation of astrocytes in normal and pathological brain function. However, the development of a solid theoretical framework to support and quantify some of the pathways has been somewhat limited, first, due to the lack of intensive collaboration between experimentalists and theorists, and second, due to a persistent neurocentrist view of brain function. Please join us to hear from an incredible lineup of speakers, bringing together specialists, theorists, and experimentalists in the field of astrocyte-neuron signaling: Yukiko Goda, Riken, Japan Alla Borisyuk, University of Utah, USA Jennifer Shih, MIT, USA Annalisa Scimemi, University of Albany, USA Guoqiang Yu, Virginia Tech, USA Laszlo Heja, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungary Anup Pillai, University of Ottawa, Canada Renaud Jolivet, Université de Genève, Switzerland Max Collard, UCSF, USA Audrey Denizot, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Japan Ron Refaeli, The Hebrew University, Israel Kerstin Lenk, Graz University of Technology, Austria ------------------- More information on the workshop at: https://astrocytenet.org/cns2021-online-workshop/ Register and gain access to all CNS*2021 presentations, tutorials, and workshops at: https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2021 We look forward to your participation! *On behalf of the workshop organizers:* *Kerstin Lenk*, Institute for Neural Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria *Audrey Denizot*, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Computational Neuroscience Unit, Onna-Son, Japan *Barbara Genocchi*, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, BioMediTech, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland *Suhita Nadkarni*, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune (IISER Pune), Pune, India *Marsa Taheri*, Department of Neurobiology, University of California Los Angeles, CA, USA Contact information: cns2021.astro.workshop(a)gmail.com

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Software WG satellite tutorials at CNS*2021 on Bash, Git, and Python: June 28, 29 2021
by Ankur Sinha 23 Jun '21

23 Jun '21

Dear all, Apologies for the cross-posts. The INCF/OCNS Software Working Group is running three beginner/intermediate level satellite tutorials on Bash, Git, and Python at CNS*2021. These tutorials are on Monday and Tuesday (28/29 June). They are intended for both complete beginners and occasional/regular users who are looking to expand and refresh their skills. More information on these, including topics that we will cover can be seen on our website: https://ocns.github.io/SoftwareWG/2021/06/09/software-wg-tutorials-at-cns-2… - Effective use of Bash (Felix B. Kern): 28 June, 2021 1200 UTC - Effective use of Git (Ankur Sinha): June 28, 2021 1700 UTC - Python for beginners (Joe Graham, Shailesh Appukuttan, Ankur Sinha): 29 June, 2021 1300 UTC One can register for CNS*2021 here to gain access to excellent set of tutorials/workshops/posters and oral presentations that are being organised this year: https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2021 More information on the Software working group, our work, how you can contact us, and how you can join us (it is open to all) is here: https://ocns.github.io/SoftwareWG/index.html On behalf of the Software WG, -- Thanks, Regards, Ankur Sinha (He / Him / His) Research Fellow at the Silver Lab | http://silverlab.org/ Department of Neuroscience, Physiology, & Pharmacology University College London, London, UK Time zone: Europe/London

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Post-doc position on machine learning and human motion/physiological data analysis at AIST, Japan
by 平山淳一郎 23 Jun '21

23 Jun '21

Dear colleagues, We invite applications for a postdoctoral researcher position on machine learning and human motion/physiological data analysis, available at Mathematical Neuroscience Research Group, Human Informatics and Interaction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) (https://www.aist.go.jp/index_en.html) Japan. The successful candidate will join a collaborative project with ATR, Kyoto University and Hokkaido University on human-AI co-evolution, funded by NEDO (https://www.nedo.go.jp/english/) and conduct research on machine learning modeling and analysis of human motion data and/or related physiological signals from the brain and body, depending on his/her interests. The starting date is negotiable, with a preference for candidates who can start early. The initial appointment will be until March 2022, with the possibility of extension until March 31, 2025. Salary for the postdoctoral fellow will follow the AIST guideline. To apply, please visit https://jrecin.jst.go.jp/seek/SeekJorDetail?fn=3&ln=1&id=D121020014&ln_jor=1 and send the required application documents to junichiro.hirayama(a)aist.go.jp. The deadline of application is August 31, 2021. The deadline may be extended until the position is filled. -- Jun-ichiro Hirayama Senior Researcher Human Informatics and Interaction Research Institute National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) junichiro.hirayama(a)aist.go.jp https://staff.aist.go.jp/junichiro.hirayama

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Postdoctoral positions in the Geffen lab at the University of Pennsylvania
by Maria Geffen 22 Jun '21

22 Jun '21

The Geffen laboratory <http://hosting.med.upenn.edu/hearing> at the University of Pennsylvania <http://www.upenn.edu/> has multiple postdoctoral positions open in systems neuroscience with the broad goal of understanding the neuronal circuits for auditory perception and learning. We are looking for energetic and talented scientists interested in studying the function of the brain. The postdoctoral fellow will have the opportunity to learn and apply a host of systems neuroscience techniques, including two-photon imaging of population activity, optogenetic manipulations, large-scale electrophysiology and behavior in mice. Prior experience with some of these methods is preferred, but not required. Depending on the candidate’s interests, all projects provide an opportunity to learn and apply advanced computational methods, including dynamic systems analysis of neuronal population activity; Bayesian approaches for understanding the relation between neuronal activity and behavior; machine learning methods to understand large-scale neuronal activity. We currently have openings for postdoctoral fellows for three projects: (1) Neuronal mechanisms for predictive coding: Auditory perception relies on predicting statistics of incoming signals, be it identifying the speech of a conversation partner in a crowded room or recognizing the sound of a babbling brook in a forest. The human brain detects statistical regularities in sounds as a fundamental aspect of prediction, evidenced by reduced responses to repeated sound patterns and enhanced responses to unexpected sounds. Multiple studies demonstrate that the neuronal responses to regular signals are reduced through adaptation, which can contribute to prediction. However, adaptation alone is not sufficient to account for prediction and studies at cellular and neuronal population levels in animals thus far lend only partial support to existing theories of predictive coding. The goal of the project is to close this gap in knowledge and to determine the circuits that predict signals and detect statistical regularity and its violation in auditory behavior. Funded by NIH NIDCD. (2) Neuronal circuits for learning-driven changes in auditory perception: Everyday auditory behavior depends critically on learning-driven changes in auditory perception that rely on neuronal plasticity within the auditory pathway. By combining state-of-the-art optogenetic, electrophysiological, behavioral and computational approaches, the project seeks to identify the function of specific circuit elements in auditory learning. Funded by NIH NIDCD. (3) Neuronal mechanisms for hearing under uncertainty: In everyday life, because both sensory signals and neuronal responses are noisy, important cognitive tasks, such as auditory categorization, are based on uncertain information. To overcome this limitation, listeners incorporate other types of signals, such as the statistics of sounds over short and long time scales and signals from other sensory modalities into their categorization decision processes. This project will identify the contribution of specific cell types to categorization and the neuronal mechanisms for how contextual signals bias auditory categorization. In collaboration with Dr. Yale Cohen <https://auditoryresearchlaboratory.weebly.com/> and Dr. Konrad Kording <http://kordinglab.com/>, funded by NIH BRAIN Initiative. Our laboratory is a close community of fun-loving scientists, striving to help each other while exploring the mysteries of the brain. Our trainees have won numerous awards and have been awarded government and private foundation grants. We value diversity and promote equity in the scientific community and beyond <https://hosting.med.upenn.edu/hearing/philosophy/>. The systems neuroscience community at the University of Pennsylvania is top-notch and highly collaborative, and postdoctoral fellows will have opportunities to engage in interdepartmental initiatives, including MindCore <https://mindcore.sas.upenn.edu/>, MINS <https://www.med.upenn.edu/ins/> and CNI <https://www.cni.upenn.edu/>. Penn has a gorgeous campus and offers many cultural activities. Philadelphia is a beautiful city with world-class music, food and entertainment. To apply, please email Dr. Geffen at mgeffen(a)pennmedicine.upenn.edu <mailto:mgeffen@pennmedicine.upenn.edu> : a cover letter (summarize your prior research experience, why you are interested in the position, and your future plans) and your CV. __________________________ Maria N. Geffen, Ph.D. (she/her) Associate Professor Department of Otorhinolaryngology Department of Neuroscience Department of Neurology Stemmler Hall G14 3450 Hamilton Walk Philadelphia PA 19104 (215)898-0782 mgeffen(a)pennmedicine.upenn.edu http://hosting.med.upenn.edu/hearing Twitter: @neimarkgeffen

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Three Assistant Professor Positions at University of Sussex
by Thomas Nowotny 22 Jun '21

22 Jun '21

Dear all, The School of Engineering and Informatics at the University of Sussex is seeking to hire three Assistant Professors (“Lecturers”, permanent position) in Computer Science and AI. One of the positions is particularly focused on a researcher with interests in one or more of the following areas: machine learning, ethical AI, computational Neuroscience, complexity science, consciousness science and bio-inspired AI and robotic control. They should be able to teach general subjects in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence at Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate levels. They will work within the Artificial Intelligence Research Group, including opportunities to interact with the robotics group in the Department of Engineering. The AI Research Group at the University of Sussex was created through the merger of the Evolutionary and Adaptive Systems (EASy) and the Data Science groups. We conduct research and teach a wide range of AI related topics, often cross-disciplinary and with a unique Sussex angle. We collaborate internationally and locally with academics, businesses, and public stakeholders, working at the frontiers of knowledge, on solving real-world problems, and in policy and public outreach. Applications should be accompanied by a full CV, and statements of future research plans and ways in which the applicant could contribute to teaching across the School. Please contact Dr Ian Mackie I.Mackie(a)sussex.ac.uk<mailto:I.Mackie@sussex.ac.uk> , Head of the Department of Informatics, for informal enquiries. The full job advert is posted at https://t.co/K0CdIYx6xH?amp=1 including a detailed person specification and details how to apply. Please get in touch if you are interested in these positions and forward to any interested colleagues. Kind regards, Thomas -- Prof Thomas Nowotny Head of the AI Research Group Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange School of Engineering and Informatics University of Sussex Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QJ, UK Phone: +44-1273-678593 FAX: +44-1273-877873

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Post-doc / research associate position in neural reinforcement learning using causal models (Sheffield, UK, 33 months, deadline 4th July)
by Aditya Gilra 22 Jun '21

22 Jun '21

Dear All, We're looking for a post-doc / research associate to work on bio-plausible neural networks that learn causal models of the environment and utilize these to plan and explain actions in reinforcement learning. The position is for 33 months at the University of Sheffield, UK. Read more at: https://www.chistera.eu/projects/causalxrl . Apply via (deadline: 4th July): https://jobs.shef.ac.uk/sap/bc/webdynpro/sap/hrrcf_a_posting_apply?PARAM=cG… Best, Aditya. -- Aditya Gilra, Lecturer (Assistant Professor), Machine Learning Group <https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/dcs/research/groups/machine-learning> & Neuroscience Institute <https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/neuroscience-institute/research/computational-a…> , Department of Computer Science, University of Sheffield, UK. https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/dcs/people/academic/aditya-gilra

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WWNeuRise series on neuromodulation & applications/recommendations
by William Podlaski 21 Jun '21

21 Jun '21

WorldWideNeuRise will host several online talks throughout June-July on the topic of neuromodulation in the brain from the following speakers: Wednesday, 30 June, 5pm CET Lindsay Collins (McCormick Lab, University of Oregon, USA) Cristina Colangelo (Blue Brain Project, EPFL, Switzerland) Wednesday, 14 July, 5pm CET Jasmine Pickford (Apps Lab, University of Bristol, UK) Luke Coddington (Dudman Lab, Janelia Research Campus, USA) Wednesday, 28 July, 5pm CET Rohan Sharma (Suhita Lab, IISER Pune, India) Ines Guerreiro (Gutkin Lab, Ecole Normale Superieure, France) For more information, please visit our website (https://neurise.github.io/) find us on WorldWideNeuro (https://www.world-wide.org/Neuro/WWNeuRise/) or follow us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/WWNeuRise) We are actively searching for PhD students and postdocs to give talks in our upcoming seminar blocks. On our website (https://neurise.github.io/) you can find an application form to directly apply, as well as a recommendation form, where you can suggest individuals from your lab, institute, or otherwise who you think might have an interesting story to tell! We are looking forward to seeing you at our upcoming seminars! The organising committee, Ellen Boven (Apps lab, University of Bristol) Christina Buetfering (Häusser lab, University College London) Lucie Descamps (Kentros lab, Norwegian University of Science and Technology) Gily Ginosar (Ulanovsky lab, Weizmann Institute) Loreen Hertäg (Clopath lab, Imperial College London) Joram Keijser (Sprekeler lab, TU Berlin) Bill Podlaski (Machens lab, Champalimaud Research)

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NeuroML hands-on satellite tutorial at CNS*2021 on July 2nd 2021 at 1500 UTC
by Ankur Sinha 21 Jun '21

21 Jun '21

Dear all, Apologies for the cross-posts. We will be running a half day satellite tutorial at the 30th annual meeting of the Organization for Computational Neurosciences (OCNS), CNS*2021 Online. The tutorial will be held on July 2nd, 2021 at 1500 UTC. https://docs.neuroml.org/Events/202107-CNS2021.html The goal of the tutorial is to teach users to build, visualise, analyse, and simulate models using NeuroML. Why take part? --------------- This tutorial is aimed at new and current NeuroML users. We will start with a quick introduction to the NeuroML standard and the associated software ecosystem, after which we will proceed to conduct hands-on sessions to show how one can build computational models with NeuroML. Times and dates ---------------- - Friday 2nd July 1500 UTC Click here for your local time: https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=NeuroML+tutorial+… Registration ------------- To take part in the tutorial, please register here for the CNS*2021 meeting: https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2021 Pre-requisites --------------- The sessions will make use of the NeuroML Python tools. Please follow the documentation to install them on your system if you wish to use them locally: - PyNeuroML: https://docs.neuroml.org/Userdocs/Software/pyNeuroML.html#pyneuroml - libNeuroML: https://docs.neuroml.org/Userdocs/Software/libNeuroML.html#libneuroml You can also use the interactive Jupyter notebooks from the documentation if you prefer (example: https://docs.neuroml.org/Userdocs/NML2_examples/SingleNeuron.html) These can be run on Binder and Google Collab in your web browser and do not require you to install anything locally on your computer. Slack ----- To aid communication with the community during (and after) the meeting, we have a Slack channel for NeuroML related discussions. Please contact Padraig Gleeson (p DOT gleeson AT ucl DOT ac DOT uk) or Ankur Sinha (ankur DOT sinha AT ucl DOT ac DOT uk) for an invite. You can also contact the NeuroML community using one of our other channels: https://docs.neuroml.org/NeuroMLOrg/CommunicationChannels.html#contact-chat We look forward to working with the community to drive further uptake of NeuroML compliant models and tools! -- Thanks, Regards, Ankur Sinha (He / Him / His) Research Fellow at the Silver Lab | http://silverlab.org/ Department of Neuroscience, Physiology, & Pharmacology University College London, London, UK Time zone: Europe/London

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Q&A about INCF activities and membership
by Helena Ledmyr 21 Jun '21

21 Jun '21

Hello! Are you an open neuroscience practitioner or want to become one? Do you want to have input on global strategies for data sharing in neuroscience? Join the INCF network! INCF directors Helena Ledmyr and Mathew Birdsall Abrams will answer all your questions about INCF participation in our webinar on June 29th at 10am EDT / 4pm CEST, where long-time community member Samir Das (McGill U) will reflect on how he has benefited from membership. Register at bit.ly/INCFwebinar Information about INCF and memberships can be found on our website <https://www.incf.org/>. All the best, Helena Ledmyr ----------------------------- Helena Ledmyr, PhD *Director* *Development and Communications* International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility Secretariat Karolinska Institutet. Nobels väg 15A, SE-171 77 Stockholm. Sweden Email: helena.ledmyr(a)incf.org Phone: +46 8 524 870 35 incf.org neuroinformatics.incf.org

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Assistant professor position in Göttingen, Germany
by Ecker, Alexander 21 Jun '21

21 Jun '21

We have an opening for an assistant professor position for ML/CV for biomedical applications in the computer science department at the University of Göttingen, Germany. Application deadline it July 11. For details see below or at https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/645470.html The Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science at the Georg-August-University of Goettingen invites applications for a Sartorius AG Endowed Junior Professorship W1 – „Computational Cell Analytics“ (all genders welcome) The junior professorship will be part of the "CIDAS-Sartorius lab for AI-based high-throughput analysis of cell systems" and will actively contribute to its further development. In the CIDAS-Sartorius Lab, we will develop novel data analysis methods to obtain scientific insights from observations of cell systems in various areas of the life sciences. It is a collaboration between the Campus Institute Data Science (CIDAS), the Institute for Computer Science, the University Medical Center Goettingen and Sartorius AG. The junior professorship will also be part of the Campus Institute Data Science (CIDAS) and contribute to its development. CIDAS is a central institution of the University of Goettingen and works closely with the partners of the Goettingen Campus such as the University Medical Center, several Max Planck Institutes, the German Primate Center, the Academy of Sciences and the German Aerospace Center Goettingen. The junior professorship is thus optimally integrated into Goettingen's top-notch life science research environment. The future holder of the position should have expertise in computer science with a focus on machine learning/deep learning and/or computer vision. The professorship contributes to the development of new analytical methods and their application in the field of cell analysis. Possible research foci are among others: - Computer vision in biomedical imaging - Biomedical image processing - Image based cell and biomolecular analytics - Methods for object recognition and image segmentation - Large-scale machine learning & deep learning - Nonlinear and dynamic prognosis models for the description and prediction of complex, nonlinear processes in cell models The candidate should have a track record of internationally competitive high-quality research and a high potential for groundbreaking research in internationally visible projects. The candidate is expected to contribute to teaching in the data science programs. Goettingen University is committed to research-oriented teaching. Applications of international scientists are highly encouraged. The University is an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. We specifically encourage women to apply. Disabled persons with appropriate qualifications and aptitude for the position will be given special consideration. Applications including CV, publications list and details of teaching and research including funded research projects should be submitted by 11 July 2021 online via the application portal: https://tinyurl.com/44r336yn For further information please contact Prof. Dr. Alexander Ecker, Institute of Computer Science and Campus Institute Data Science: ecker(a)cs.uni-goettingen.de. -- Alexander Ecker Professor of Data Science Department of Computer Science • Campus Institute Data Science University of Göttingen • Max Planck Inst. for Dynamics and Self-Organization Goldschmidtstr. 1 • room 2.137 • 37077 Göttingen https://eckerlab.org • @alxecker • +49 551 39-21272

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PhD Studentship in Improving medication verification for cancer patients
by Shangming Zhou 20 Jun '21

20 Jun '21

Dear All, *PhD Studentship in Improving medication verification for cancer patients: An AI driven population health study* Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship. The studentship will start on* 1 October, 2021, *or as soon as possible after that. *Overview of the Studentship* This fully funded PhD studentship is based at the University of Plymouth’s Centre for Health Technology <https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.plymo…>, a leading international research group focused on the design, development and implementation of health technology innovations in health and care. This vibrant team of researchers work within the intersection of digital health, software engineering, data science, clinical artificial intelligence, and innovation strategy, with a primary aim to create a global hub for technology incubation in the South West of the United Kingdom. *Project Description* Medication errors, including those in prescribing, dispensing, or administration of a drug, are the single most preventable cause of patient harm. They have a significant impact on the efficiency of the workflow in pharmacy, raise safety concerns for patients, and result in a financial burden on the healthcare systems. Within cancer treatment, emphasis on reducing the number of medication errors has been an active research area for many years, with understanding that interdisciplinary approaches are vital to assure continuous improvement. Opportunities created by the reduction of transaction times for complex computational processes and use of machine learning to support clinical decision making, create a potential catalyst for the development of tools for reduction in medication errors. This PhD studentship offers an exciting opportunity of exploring AI and machine learning with large clinical data sets residing within electronic health records to create methods to assure the effective use of systemic anticancer treatment (including traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy, immunotherapy, novel oral therapies etc.) without compromising patient safety. The studentship will require application of interdisciplinary skills to enable cooperation between the research, clinical, industry and patient communities in the development of a novel approach which could enhance clinical outcomes. *Supervision Team* - Professor Shang-Ming Zhou <https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.plymo…> (shangming.zhou(a)plymouth.ac.uk) https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=iWiXGWMAAAAJ&hl <https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fscholar.g…> - Dr Edward Meinert (edward.meinert(a)plymouth.ac.uk) https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=7V-WsrwAAAAJ <https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fscholar.g…> - Mrs Andrea Preston (Andrea.Preston(a)uhbw.nhs.uk) This PhD student will be academically advised by Professor Shang-Ming Zhou and Dr Edward Meinert, research scientists with research interests in applied artificial intelligence and machine learning, computing science in health and care. The student will also be advised by Mrs Andrea Preston, a Macmillan Divisional Lead Haematology & SW Cancer Commissioning Pharmacist. This supervision team will assure the execution of a world-class PhD embedded into the wider digital health ecosystem at the University of Plymouth. *Eligibility* · This PhD studentship is offered for UK and international applicants. · Applicants should have: 1) A first or upper second-class honours degree, and a relevant Master’s qualification in Computing Science, Data Science, Statistics, Health Informatics, Medical Informatics, Bioinformatics, or any areas related; 2) Interest in working with real-world problems and large data sets; 3) Excellent proficiency in English and outstanding communication skills; 4) Strong analytical and programming skills; 5) A “can do”, positive attitude with an aspiration to change the world. · Experience in machine learning is advantageous. · Experience in publication of peer-reviewed literature is desirable. *International Students* International applicants should meet the English language requirements, please see the details from the University’s website https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/international/how-to-apply/english-language-requ… <https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.plymo…>. IELTS Academic 6.5 or above (or equivalent) with 5.5 in each individual category is commonly required by the University’s Doctoral College. *How to Apply* *To apply for this position,* please visit: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/student-life/your-studies/research-degrees/postg… <https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.plymo…>. *Please clearly state the name of the studentship that you are applying for on your Personal Statement.* A research proposal is required. Please see: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/student-life/your-studies/research-degrees/appli… <https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.plymo…> for a list of supporting documents to upload with your application. *Enquiry * If you wish to discuss this project further informally, please contact Professor Shang-Ming Zhou (shangming.zhou(a)plymouth.ac.uk) Dr Edward Meinert (edward.meinert(a)plymouth.ac.uk) or Mrs Andrea Preston ( Andrea.Preston(a)uhbw.nhs.uk) For more information on the admissions process, please contact doctoralcollege(a)plymouth.ac.uk. *Closing Date* *The closing date for applications is 30 July 2021. *Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview. Best wishes Shangming Zhou _______________________________________________________ Shang-Ming Zhou Professor in e-Health, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Centre for Health Technology, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK Tel: +44 (0)1752 586513 Email: shangming.zhou(a)plymouth.ac.uk ; smzhou(a)ieee.org https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/shang-ming-zhou <https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.plymo…> https://www.hdruk.ac.uk/people/dr-shang-ming-zhou <https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hdruk…> https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/centre-for-health-technology <https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.plymo…>

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BrainCosmos Summer School on Neural Circuit Complexity from Aug 30-Sep 3
by Shyam Diwakar 19 Jun '21

19 Jun '21

Dear Fellow Neuroscientists and Students, We would like to welcome you to a BrainCosmos Summer School titled "Neural circuit complexity: Neuroscience, Models and Robotics - Where do they lead?" organized at Lake Como, Italy from August 30-September 3, 2021. For more info: https://brco.lakecomoschool.org/ <https://brco.lakecomoschool.org/> The BrainCosmos summer school focuses on the study of the brain, neuroscience of circuits and behavior in micro and macro scales, models, experiments, alongside topics of robotics and artificial intelligence and a perspective on brain diseases. The school primarily targets PhD students across all research disciplines, but applications from professionals, masters students and post-doctoral researchers are welcome as well. The School will also cater to early career researchers in Neuroscience and will aim to promote critical thinking within the field and beyond. The scope covers a very wide range of topics that we believe to be of interest to many fields related to neuroscience, modeling, robotics and artificial intelligence. PARTICIPATION: The school will run in parallel with two simultaneous batches, one in presence (20 participants) and another remotely (20 participants). The lectures will be streamed. APPLY: https://brco.lakecomoschool.org/application/ FEES: There are some nominal fees for participation. In presence attendance: € 120, 22% VAT included (including lunches, coffee breaks, and all lectures and school materials). Online attendance: €100, 22% VAT included (including the possibility to participate remotely to all the lectures given during the school and to the related initiatives, and to have access to the recordings of the lessons from the school portal for a period of three months after the end of the school. KEY DATES Application deadline: July 20 Acceptance notification: July 23 Registration (only accepted students): August 3 Confirmed FACULTY list: Anna Letizia Allegra Mascaro - LENS, Florence, Italy Alberto Antonietti - EPFL, Swiss Silvia Casarotto – University of Milan, Italy Claudia Casellato - University of Pavia, Italy Marco Dal Maschio – University of Padoa, Italy Egidio D'Angelo - University of Pavia, Italy Damien Depannemaecker - CNRS, Paris, France Shyam Diwakar - Amrita Mind Brain Center, Amrita University, India Kenji Doya – Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Japan Claudia Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott - University College London, UK & University of Pavia, Italy Alice Geminiani - University of Pavia, Italy Michele Giugliano – SISSA, Trieste, Italy Alberto Mazzoni - Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna Pisa, Italy Michele Migliore - CNR Palermo, Italy Fulvia Palesi – BCC Pavia, Italy Alessandra Laura Giulia Pedrocchi - Politecnico Milano, Italy Michele Piana - University of Genoa, Italy Isabella Pozzi - CWI, Amsterdam Holland Simone Sarasso – University of Milan, Italy The School DIRECTORS: Giovanni Naldi - University of Milan, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Italy. giovanni.naldi(a)unimi.it<mailto:giovanni.naldi@unimi.it> Thierry Nieus - University of Milan, Italy. thierry.nieus(a)unimi.it<mailto:thierry.nieus@unimi.it> Simone Sarasso - University of Milan, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “Luigi Sacco”, Italy. simone.sarasso(a)unimi.it<mailto:simone.sarasso@unimi.it> Shyam Diwakar - Amrita Mind Brain Center, Amrita University, India. shyam(a)amrita.edu<mailto:shyam@amrita.edu> Please feel free to circulate! With best wishes, -- Prof. Shyam Diwakar, Ph.D. Director - Amrita Mind Brain Center Faculty Fellow - Amrita Center for International Programs Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Amrita University) Amritapuri, Clappana P.O. Kollam, India. Pin: 690525 Ph:+91-476-2803116 Fax:+91-476-2899722 http://amrita.edu/mindbrain [https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1_nOxaCXob6wVcuQyYI5KVk1PhMgi…] [https://intranet.cb.amrita.edu/sig/RankingLogo.png] Disclaimer : The information transmitted in this email, including attachments, is intended only for the person(s) or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. Any views expressed in any message are those of the individual sender and may not necessarily reflect the views of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and destroy any copies of this information.

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Job: Editor with Nature Machine Intelligence (9 month locum position - London, NY, Berlin)
by Yann Sweeney 18 Jun '21

18 Jun '21

Dear all, Nature Machine Intelligence are looking to recruit a locum editor. We are a new Nature Research journal that launched in 2019. It publishes both fundamental and applied research in a wide range of areas in artificial intelligence and robotics. The journal incorporates elements of computer science, electrical engineering, mathematics, physics, neuroscience, cognitive science and psychology. The journal also publishes news, commentary and perspectives on the impact of machine intelligence on science and society. We are inviting applications from those with a background in any of the above and related fields. Applicants should have completed a PhD, have a strong research record, feel driven to continually learn about new fields and trends and have a keen interest in exploring the wide implications of research on other scientific areas, industry and society. We would be interested in hearing from candidates who can demonstrate strong science writing skills. Editorial experience is not required, although applicants with significant editorial experience are encouraged to apply and will potentially be considered for a Senior Editor position. The successful candidate will report to the Chief Editor. They will participate in all aspects of the editorial process, including manuscript selection, commissioning and editing News and Views, Comments, Perspectives and Reviews, as well as writing for the journal. The successful candidate must be dynamic and outgoing, and have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. A key aspect of the job is liaising with the research community through laboratory visits and international conferences, and therefore a willingness to travel is essential. The position is offered on a full-time basis, for an initial fixed term of 9 months, and will ideally be located in our London, Berlin or New York office. The starting date is envisaged as soon as possible within the next few weeks. Full advert here, apply by 22 June: https://career5.successfactors.eu/sfcareer/jobreqcareer?jobId=33925&company… Feel free to email with informal inquiries. All the best, Yann Senior Editor Nature Machine Intelligence yann.sweeney(a)nature.com

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Postdoc opportunity at Stanford Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience Laboratory
by Mai-Phuong K Bo 18 Jun '21

18 Jun '21

The Stanford Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience Laboratory (scsnl.stanford.edu<https://med.stanford.edu/scsnl.html>) invites applications for post-doctoral positions with expertise in cognitive, systems and computational neuroscience. Candidates must have a PhD and research experience in cognitive neuroscience, psychology, cognitive science, computer science, electrical/biomedical engineering, or related fields. The successful candidate will develop a vigorous research program that contributes to, and complements, ongoing research studies of human brain function and psychopathology. The candidate will have access to multiple large datasets and state-of-the-art computational resources, including HPCs and GPUs. We are especially interested in talented and highly motivated individuals with expertise in at least one of these areas: cognitive neuroscience; computational psychiatry; cognitive modeling of behavioral dynamics; computational and statistical analysis of brain imaging and electrophysiological data, including dynamic brain circuit analysis, statistical modeling and Bayesian inference, machine learning, and deep neural networks. Please email your CV and a statement of research interests, explaining how your skills and past experience will advance human neuroscience research, to Prof. Menon at scsnl.stanford+postdoc(a)gmail.com<mailto:scsnl.stanford+postdoc@gmail.com>. Mai-Phuong Bo (She/Her) Lab & Recruitment Manager Stanford Cognitive & Systems Neuroscience Lab Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences Email: maipbo(a)stanford.edu [cid:461d2e43-3a74-4692-8e70-e709a54c2c86]

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Postdoc position at Inria Sophia Antipolis
by Etienne Tanré 17 Jun '21

17 Jun '21

Dear colleagues, Apologies for Cross-Posting, This is an announcement for a 24 months post-doctoral position at Inria Sophia Antipolis on the theme ``Heterogeneity in interacting neural networks'’. The candidate will be supervised by E. Tanré, R. Veltz and O.Faugeras. This project is part of the Human Brain Project HBP SGA3. More information is available on : https://jobs.inria.fr/public/classic/en/offres/2021-03818 <https://jobs.inria.fr/public/classic/en/offres/2021-03818> Please note that you must apply for the position using the link above. Can you please forward this announcement to your interested contacts? Thank you, Best regards, E. Tanré, R. Veltz and O. Faugeras.

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Opening: Postdoctoral Researcher in Computational Neuroscience to study network dynamics, brain function, and psychedelics
by Joern Davidsen 16 Jun '21

16 Jun '21

Dear all: We are recruiting a talented postdoctoral researcher to participate in a cutting-edge International Network for Brain-Inspired Computation<https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2019976&HistoricalAwards=f…> that includes nodes in Montreal, Paris, and the Pacific Northwest of the US and Canada (e.g. University of Washington, Allen Brain Institute). The project is at the intersection of mathematics, physics, and neuroscience in the general area of complex network dynamics and emergent activity patterns and representations that drive biological computation. The specific objective is to understand cognitive brain function and the effects of psychedelics by analyzing large-scale ensemble neural data collected in our labs, in conjunction with computational and/or analytical work to identify key mathematical principles and develop theories of core function. The ideal candidate will have a quantitative background (e.g. PhD in mathematics, physics, computer science) along with experience in applying this background to neuroscience. This postdoctoral position is partially funded by the Pacific Institute for Mathematical Sciences<https://www.pims.math.ca/> and is aimed to strengthen the link between the Campus Alberta computational neuroscience community at the University of Calgary (Complexity Science Group<https://www.ucalgary.ca/complexity/>, Hotchkiss Brain Institute<https://hbi.ucalgary.ca/>) and the University of Lethbridge (Canadian Center for Behavioural Neuroscience<https://www.uleth.ca/artsci/neuroscience/about>) with the other network members including the Computational Neuroscience Center<https://cneuro-web01.s.uw.edu/> at the University of Washington. The position is open immediately with primary locations in either Calgary or Lethbridge. The specific start date has to be within five years of being awarded a PhD degree. The position is funded for at least two years and includes an annual stipend in the range of CAD$42,000 – $50,000 plus benefits. Opportunities for brief residences in partner nodes (Montreal, Seattle, or Paris) are also available. Interested candidates should submit their application package including a cover letter, their CV with a list of publications, brief statement of research interests and their possible start dates in PDF format to Dr. Jörn Davidsen (davidsen(a)phas.ucalgary.ca<mailto:davidsen@phas.ucalgary.ca>) and Dr. Aaron Gruber (aaron.gruber(a)uleth.ca<mailto:aaron.gruber@uleth.ca>). Applicants should arrange for at least two letters of reference to be sent as well. Review of applications will begin July 31st, 2021, and continue until the position is filled. For additional information and informal inquiries, please contact Dr. Davidsen or Dr. Gruber. We strive for a diverse and inclusive environment, and encourage applications from members of any identity. --- Dr. Jörn Davidsen Professor of Physics & Humboldt Research Fellow University of Calgary www.ucalgary.ca/davidsen<http://www.ucalgary.ca/davidsen>

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PostDoc position in Neuroinformatics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
by Rembrandt Bakker 16 Jun '21

16 Jun '21

(apologies for any cross-postings) The FLAG-ERA project NeuronsReunited is looking for a postdoctoral research associate (Neuroinformatics/Computational Neuroscience) for a 2 year position at 0.9 fte. Each mental event or voluntary motor act involves the coordinated activity of neurons in areas of the brain far apart. Thin, branched and extremely long cellular processes called axons provide the physical substrate of these interactions. Since a few years it is possible to fully trace these long- range axons one at a time. The goal of the FlagERA research project "NeuronsReunited" (https://www.flagera.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/FLAG-ERA_JTC2019_HBP_Neur…) is to create tools for speeding up the conversion of experimental data into digital axons, and to precisely place neurons into a digital reference brain to reveal their context. The tools are applied to existing and new data in mouse, and the resulting insights are incorporated into new models for brain function. The project is a collaboration between five international partners, two experimental partners (Prof. Francisco Clasca, Madrid; Prof. Egidio d'Angelo, Pavia) and three computational/theoretical partners (Prof. Paul Tiesinga, Dr. Rembrandt Bakker, Nijmegen; Prof. Michele Giugliano, Trieste; Prof. Sacha Van Albada, Jülich). As a postdoctoral research associate you will design strategies to get axonal arbors precisely registered in a brain atlas. The brain atlas consists of high-resolution 3d dataset that represents the average mouse brain anatomy, while the neuron consists of a vector representation of its morphology that can be extended with images of selected tissue sections. Depending on your field of expertise, further steps can focus on automating the process to trace neurons from stained tissue sections or to integrate the resulting database of precisely registered neurons with other data modalities to generate new knowledge. You will be part of a team that deals with atlasing and data integration (Nijmegen) and model building (Jülich, Padova, Trieste). A key deliverable will be the creation of a gold standard online catalog of precisely placed neurons that future generations of neuroscientists can contribute to and compare data to. The tools make use of an existing body of work that consists of web-based applications: HBP Morphology Viewer (https://neuroinformatics.nl/HBP/morphology-viewer) Scalable Brain Atlas (https://scalablebrainatlas.incf.org/) and interactive notebooks (Python). Besides being a member of the project team, you will also be part of the European Human Brain Project and have access to the expertise of the large neuroscience community at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior. We ask: • A PhD degree in a quantitative field (engineering, physics, computational neuroscience, etc). • Expertise in neuroscience or interest in acquiring it. • Excellent programming skills, preferably in JavaScript applications or Python-based pipelines. • Experience with neuroinformatics, visualization/3d-graphics, image processing, and/or machine learning. • Demonstrated ability to work in a multidisciplinary environment at the forefront of science. • Excellent communication skills in spoken and written English. We are: The Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, home to more than 600 researchers from 35 countries, is a world-class research centre devoted to understanding the mechanistic underpinnings of human cognition and behaviour in health and disease. The institute's mission includes conducting excellent interdisciplinary research at the unique interface between genetic, molecular and cellular processes at one end and computational, system-level neuroscience with cognitive and behavioural analysis at the other end. Within this playing field, the Neuroinformatics department plays an essential role in developing new approaches for both computational modeling and data processing, all with the aim to turn raw data into highly valuable and well-integrated resources from which neuro-scientific insights can be extracted. Radboud University We want to get the best out of science, others and ourselves. Why? Because this is what the world around us desperately needs. Leading research and education make an indispensable contribution to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. This is what unites the more than 22,000 students and 5,000 employees at Radboud University. And this requires even more talent, collaboration and lifelong learning. You have a part to play! We offer: • Employment: 0.9 FTE. • A maximum gross monthly salary of € 4,402 based on a 38-hour working week (salary scale 10). • The exact salary depends on the candidate's qualifications and amount of relevant professional experience. • In addition to the salary: an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus. • Duration of the contract: 25 months. • The intended start date is 1 September 2021. • You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Care Services. Our Dual Career and Family Care Officer can assist you with family-related support, help your partner or spouse prepare for the local labour market, provide customized support in their search for employment and help your family settle in Nijmegen. • Have a look at our excellent employment conditions. They include a good work-life balance (among other things because of the excellent leave arrangements), opportunities for development and a great pension scheme. Apply directly Please use this link to apply: https://www.ru.nl/english/working-at/vacature/online-solliciteren/?tk=uk&re…. Address your application to Paul Tiesinga and submit it no later than 1 July 2021. Your application should include the following attachments: • Letter of motivation. • CV including contact details of two references. • Your research statement. The first round of interviews will take place on 6th July 2021. The second round of interviews will take place on 13th July 2021. For more information about this vacancy, please contact: Paul Tiesinga, Full Professor Tel.: +31 24 365 22 32 Email: p.tiesinga(a)science.ru.nl<mailto:p.tiesinga@science.ru.nl> Rembrandt Bakker, Postdoctoral Researcher Tel.: +31 24 365 26 33 Email: r.bakker(a)donders.ru.nl<mailto:r.bakker@donders.ru.nl> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH 52425 Juelich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Juelich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Dueren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Volker Rieke Geschaeftsfuehrung: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Marquardt (Vorsitzender), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Harald Bolt, Dr. Astrid Lambrecht, Prof. Dr. Frauke Melchior ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Postdoctoral position - Pinto Lab @ Northwestern University
by Lucas Pinto 15 Jun '21

15 Jun '21

Dear colleagues, The Pinto Lab<http://www.pintolab.org> is seeking a postdoc who is excited about studying how neural circuits across many brain areas interact to support decision making, at the interface between experimental and computational neuroscience. In particular, the lab is interested in understanding the circuit mechanisms the control how these interactions are flexibly reconfigured when animals make decisions that use different underlying computations. To answer these questions, the candidate will use a combination high-throughput behavior in virtual reality, optical and genetic tools to measure and/or manipulate the dynamics of single neurons and neuronal populations, and computational approaches to understand both the behavior and its relationship to neural activity. We are a brand new lab that started in January 2021 at the Feinberg School of Medicine<https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/> at Northwestern University<http://www.northwestern.edu>, located in the heart of Chicago. Come join a vibrant neuroscience community<https://www.nuin.northwestern.edu/> in a world-class and highly livable city, working with a young PI committed to mentoring. Please visit our website<http://www.pintolab.org> for more details. Applicants should be nearing completion or already hold a PhD in neuroscience, biology, engineering, computer science, psychology or other related fields. Coding and/or experimental skills are preferred, but the applicant will have the opportunity to be trained in these techniques. We strongly encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply. Please send a CV, a one-page statement of research interests and skills, and contact information for 2-3 references to Lucas Pinto at lucas.pinto(a)northwestern.edu<mailto:lucas.pinto@northwestern.edu>. Best, Lucas - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Lucas Pinto, M.D., Ph.D. Assistant Professor Department of Physiology Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern University lucas.pinto(a)northwestern.edu<mailto:lucas.pinto@northwestern.edu> www.pintolab.org

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NEST Conference 2021 — Registration Deadline 21 June
by Hans Ekkehard Plesser 15 Jun '21

15 Jun '21

Dear all, Just a little reminder that the registration deadline for the NEST Conference 2021 is on Monday next week, June 21. More information on the programme and how to register can be found on the conference website https://nest-simulator.org/conference This year's conference will again take place as a virtual conference on Monday/Tuesday 28/29 June 2021 followed by a virtual NEST User Hackathon until Friday 2 July. The NEST Conference provides an opportunity for the NEST Community to meet, exchange success stories, swap advice, learn about current developments in and around NEST spiking network simulation and its application. We are looking forward to seeing you all! Hans Ekkehard Plesser & many more -- Prof. Dr. Hans Ekkehard Plesser Head, Department of Data Science Faculty of Science and Technology Norwegian University of Life Sciences PO Box 5003, 1432 Aas, Norway Phone +47 6723 1560 Email hans.ekkehard.plesser(a)nmbu.no<mailto:hans.ekkehard.plesser@nmbu.no> Home http://arken.nmbu.no/~plesser

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INCF/OCNS Software WG Dev session on SciUnit/NeuronUnit (June 21, 1600 UTC)
by Ankur Sinha 14 Jun '21

14 Jun '21

Dear all, Apologies for the cross posts. The INCF/OCNS Software WG[1] is happy to announce the next Dev Session where members of the developer teams of commonly used neuroscience software introduce their software and then discuss their *development* pipelines. ---- In the next Dev Session, Rick Gerkin will introduce the SciUnit framework and discuss its development: https://ocns.github.io/SoftwareWG/2021/06/04/dev-session-rick-gerkin-sciuni… The session will be held at June 21, 2021, 1600 UTC over Zoom: https://ucl.zoom.us/j/91246735902?pwd=WVdVK3I5SGdlaDFZdllDQ0w2djVBdz09 Click here to see the event in your local time: https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=Dev+session%3A+Ri… SciUnit is a discipline-agnostic framework for model validation, handling all of the testing workflow by using a implementation-independent interface to models. SciUnit also contains code for visualization of model results, and command line tools for incorporating testing into continuous integration workflows. SciUnit is used in model validation in neuroscience via NeuronUnit, which implements an interface to several simulators and model description languages, handles test calculations according to domain standards, and enables automated construction of tests based on data from several major public data repositories. ------- The aim of these sessions is to stimulate discussion of the development practices and tools used by different teams to improve the software we use while also improving our knowledge of these practices and tools. We also hope to encourage more users of these tools to contribute to their development to ensure their longevity. If you develop software for neuroscience, we would love to hear about your development pipeline. Please get in touch with the Software WG on our communication channels[2]. The WG is a community based group that is open to everyone at all levels of their careers (academic or otherwise). Please introduce yourself to the community on our channels to get involved. [1] https://ocns.github.io/SoftwareWG/ [2] https://ocns.github.io/SoftwareWG/pages/contact.html On behalf of the Software WG, -- Thanks, Regards, Ankur Sinha (He / Him / His) Research Fellow at the Silver Lab | http://silverlab.org/ Department of Neuroscience, Physiology, & Pharmacology University College London, London, UK Time zone: Europe/London

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Postdoc on Alzheimer's Disease modeling (Inria, UCL, BCAM)
by desroche 14 Jun '21

14 Jun '21

Dear all, This is an invitation to join a multidisciplinary research on Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) for a 24-month postdoc. The project aims at combining mathematics and novel experiments to better understand the causes of the progressive symptoms of memory impairment in persons living with AD. Despite progress, AD research has hit a bottleneck and to date there are no effective treatments to prevent AD. It is now recognised that this is partially due to limitations in AD mice models that do not recapitulate human AD, to conflicting results and research focus on molecular mechanisms. We aim to overcome these limitations by exploring a gab in our understading of abnormal synaptic process (including neural-glia, inflammatory processes) and neural tissue dynamics that lead to AD. To this end, we will combine state-of-the-art experiments based on human brain tissue data, recent mice model that recapitulate human AD, mathematics and computations, which in tandem will address the multi-factorial nature of the disease for future successful drug development. The project is part of a long-standing collaboration between Mathieu Desroches (MathNeuro Project-Team, Inria Sophia Antipolis, France), Serafim Rodrigues (MCEN research group, Basque Center for Applied Mathematics, Bilbao, Spain) and Afia B Ali (School of Pharmacology, University College London, UK) on neurotransmission and its possible disruptions (see here <https://www.pnas.org/content/113/8/E1108.short>). The postdoc will strongly interact with these three researchers. Regarding profiles that we are seeking, familiarity of the candidate with mathematical modeling in Neuroscience. Experience with multiple-timescale systems is wishable but not mandatory. Ability and willingness to do programming, as well as analyse experimental data, will also be a strong point to select candidates. Please apply online via the following page: https://recrutement.inria.fr/public/classic/fr/offres/2021-03775 <https://recrutement.inria.fr/public/classic/fr/offres/2021-03775> For informal enquiries, please contact me: mathieu.desroches(a)inria.fr <mailto:mathieu.desroches@inria.fr> --------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Mathieu Desroches Research Scientist (Chargé de Recherche) MathNeuro Project Team Leader <https://team.inria.fr/mathneuro/> Inria Sophia Antipolis - Méditerranée, France http://www-sop.inria.fr/members/Mathieu.Desroches/ <http://www-sop.inria.fr/members/Mathieu.Desroches/>

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CFP Workshop on Spatio-temporal Aspects of Embodied Predictive Processing @ ICDL2021
by Stefan Heinrich 14 Jun '21

14 Jun '21

Call For Contributions - Workshop on Spatio-temporal Aspects of Embodied Predictive Processing @ IEEE ICDL2021 Aims and Scope: Understanding human intelligence and building strong AI systems is a key challenge for our generation. A particularly puzzling aspect is that the human brain seems to cope very well with the highly variable and uncertain nature of perception and action, regarding both their signal characteristic and how they extend over time. Furthermore, it seems apparent that the information processing in the brain always involves previous bodily experiences and all our senses, thus is embodied and crossmodal. For explaining these characteristics, there are strong accounts that the brain is constantly predicting sensory input and feedback while minimising free energy in the prediction and is hierarchically abstracting the perception as well as hierarchically composing action. Furthermore, it is also hypothesised that mechanistic priors in the brain’s information processing induce a failure of hierarchical inference in the brain, accounting for atypical perception and action of psychiatric disorders. For example, some brains might have developed to focus too strongly on current sensory input while others might focus too strongly on memorised previous experience. A typically developed brain, in contrast, would show a fine balance compared to these two extreme priors. The big open mystery is: how is the brain developing this on a mechanistic level and thus how can this get learned within an AI system? Thus, to lift this mystery, we further need to bring together research from computational neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and artificial intelligence. With this workshop, we particularly want to wrap up different recent hypotheses, models, and experiments and discuss in-depth how to shape future imaging, behavioural, and developmental robotics studies as a complement to computational modelling and bio-inspired artificial intelligent algorithms. As a guiding theme, we aim to approach the following central questions: - How does the brain learn spatio-temporal stochasticity in perception and action? - What is the role of priors in learning spatio-temporal adaptive prediction? - How can developmental robotics help us to study spatio-temporal stochasticity as an analogy to infant learning? We examine these questions with the insight from invited key speakers from complementary fields as well as original contributions in breakout sessions in order to conclude the next steps within in a panel discussion. All information online: https://sites.google.com/view/stepp21/home Keynotes/Panellists: - Jun Tani, Cognitive Neurorobotics, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) - Marcel van Gerven, Artificial Cognitive Systems, Donders Institute, Radboud University - Takuya Isomura, Brain Intelligence Theory, RIKEN Center for Brain Science - Takamitsu Watanabe, Brain Network Dynamics, International Research Center for Neurointelligence (IRCN), The University of Tokyo Contributions: We invite submissions of extended abstracts on ongoing research that focuses on one or several of our guiding questions as contributions. In addition to the live presentation and discussion during the workshop, the contributions will be made public in workshop proceedings. - Extended abstract submission deadline: 11.07.2021 - Decision & Notification: 25.07.2021 - Camera-ready version due: 08.08.2021 - Workshop online: 22.08.2021 Submission website: https://sites.google.com/view/stepp21/ => Contribute Organisers: Stefan Heinrich, IRCN, The University of Tokyo, Japan Shingo Murata, Dept. Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Keio University, Japan Yukie Nagai, IRCN & Institute for AI and Beyond, The University of Tokyo, Japan Yuichi Yamashita, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan -- ************************************************************* Dr. Stefan Heinrich Postdoctoral Project Researcher Cognitive Developmental Robotics Lab The University of Tokyo, Institutes for Advanced Studies, International Research Center for Neurointelligence Email: heinrich.stefan(a)ircn.jp https://developmental-robotics.jp/en/members/stefan_heinrich/ https://ircn.jp/en/ https://stefanheinrich.net/ *************************************************************

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Multiple postdoctoral openings in reinforcement learning in multi-scale brain networks at Washington University in St. Louis
by Ching, ShiNung 14 Jun '21

14 Jun '21

Multiple postdoctoral openings in modeling reinforcement learning in multi-scale brain networks at Washington University in St. Louis Multiple postdoctoral openings are available for a new and large, multi-PI project to study the circuit underpinnings of reinforcement learning and decision-making. A key focus is on understanding multiple time-scales of information processing in neural circuits and involvement of neuron-astrocyte interactions. Experiment- and theory-forward positions are available. Applicants should have prior experience in neuroscience (computational or otherwise), modeling of large-scale systems, optimization, machine learning or related areas. Positions will be cross-appointed between Engineering and Neuroscience. Washington University in St. Louis is an independent, Research 1 university in St. Louis, MO, USA, with nearly 60 of the university's graduate and undergraduate programs ranked in the top 25 by US News & World Report. www.wustl.edu Interested applicants are invited to send a CV and brief description of interests to ShiNung Ching: shinung(a)wustl.edu

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EITN Seminar: Paul Miller (Brandeis U, Waltham MA, USA) - Friday 18 June 16:00
by Zélie Tournoud 14 Jun '21

14 Jun '21

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to welcome *Paul Miller* from Brandeis University (Waltham MA, USA) for an online seminar this week. It will take place on Zoom on *Friday 18 June at 16:00* CEST (Paris time). *Title**: **Information processing in neural circuits with multiple quasi-stable attractor states* *Abstract: *Circuits containing clusters of neurons with strong within-cluster excitatory connections and random between-cluster connections can possess multiple activity states, with each state defined by the set of clusters with stably high versus low neural firing rates. Noise or adaptive processes can render the states quasi-stable such that in the presence of constant input, or following successive identical inputs, the network can progress through a sequence of different activity states. Here we study the properties of such models, including the role of finite size effects in producing multistability in networks with Gaussian random cross-coupling, and we assess the extent to which such state sequences might subserve information processing and behavior in a range of cognitive tasks. Join on the day on the event at: > Topic: EITN seminar: Paul Miller (Brandeis University) > Time: 18 June 2021 04:00 PM Paris (CEST) > Join Zoom meeting: > https://zoom.us/j/99754103845?pwd=UGlHSjgySTBXeUtvSW5SVUVMRnFiZz09 > <https://zoom.us/j/99754103845?pwd=UGlHSjgySTBXeUtvSW5SVUVMRnFiZz09> > Meeting ID: 997 5410 3845 > Password: 634477 We look forwards to see you at the seminar. Kind regards, The EITN Team

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Adaptive Machines: Leveraging Neuroscience for Lifelong Learning Systems
by Andrea Soltoggio 14 Jun '21

14 Jun '21

Dear Connectionists, I’d like to bring your attention to the Research Topic “Adaptive Machines: Leveraging Neuroscience for Lifelong Learning Systems” to be co-hosted by Frontiers in Neuroscience, Robotics and AI, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Neurorobotics and Computational Neuroscience. The article submission deadline is the 30th of September. Link: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/20053/adaptive-machines-leverag… Description: Artificial intelligence has always sought inspiration in the brain. Artificial neural networks (ANNs), in particular, were modeled after their biological counterparts (biological neural networks, BNNs). However, state-of-the-art deep networks are drastically different from BNNs. Their architectures (at both the single-neuron and macro levels), learning algorithms, and failure conditions share little in common with brain circuit dynamics. In particular, state-of-the-art deep learning is optimized for single, well-defined, static tasks. Deep networks struggle to learn multiple or evolving tasks over time (i.e., continual learning) or to adjust their processing based on environmental conditions. They are also less modular than BNNs, and thus less energy efficient, and utilize little-to-no feedback signals. We believe that deep networks suffer from these limitations because their modeling of brain dynamics is too superficial. Modeling more sophisticated neural mechanisms is therefore key for deep networks to achieve continual or lifelong learning and to cope with open-ended, dynamic environments. The goal of this Research Topic is to publish novel models and/or algorithms that expand the capabilities of deep learning (e.g., achieve better continual learning) by incorporating additional properties of BNNs. We are also interested in neuroscience research that elucidates mechanisms that can be leveraged by the AI community. Neuroscience has uncovered a wide range of learning and regulatory mechanisms, at scales ranging from single molecules to the entire nervous system, that help the brain learn, remember, and adapt. These include replay (systems-level consolidation), neuromodulation, neurogenesis, neuroevolution, attention, homeostatic plasticity, and synaptic consolidation. There exist some deep learning techniques motivated by these mechanisms (e.g., experience replay or attention networks), but they have rarely been used for lifelong learning. As such, our focus will be on approaches that leverage brain-like principles---ideally biologically well-grounded---to solve problems currently beyond the capabilities of the state of the art. We will also welcome neuroscience research that helps to elucidate the brain’s mechanisms, in the hope that they can be used by the next generation of machine learning models. The scope of this Research Topic covers: (1) biologically inspired techniques in deep learning (2) neuroscience research on how the brain facilitates learning and adapts to different contexts We seek to address continual or lifelong learning, transfer learning, and other ML scenarios that go beyond the traditional, train-then-test learning paradigm. Since machine learning is an experimental field, a paper must include experimental results to be accepted; however, we encourage authors to include theoretical analyses of their methods. We aim to collect the following types of manuscripts: Original Research and Brief Research Reports. Since the goal of this Research Topic is to publish highly novel, experimentally grounded work, we are not interested in Reviews (Systematic, Policy and Practice, etc.), General Commentaries, or Opinions. In addition, since the editorial board does not include medical experts, we cannot accept Clinical Trials or Study Protocols. The Research Topic will be edited by Rolando Jose Estrada, Georgia State University, USA Andrea Soltoggio, Loughborough University, UK Praveen K. Pilly, HRL Laboratories, USA Vincenzo Lomonaco, University of Pisa, Italy, Davide Maltoni, University of Bologna, Italy. Please consider submitting your original research to this Research Topic. Do not hesitate to get in touch if you wish to discuss your contribution. Best wishes, Andrea -- Dr. Andrea Soltoggio (he/him or they/them) Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Artificial Intelligence Department of Computer Science, School of Science & Intelligent Automation Centre https://www.intelligent-automation.org.uk/about-us/centre-staff & Centre for Information Management https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/sbe/cim/ Haslegrave Building, N.2.03 Loughborough University LE11 3TU, UK Email: a.soltoggio(a)lboro.ac.uk<mailto:a.soltoggio@lboro.ac.uk> Web: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/compsci/staff/dr-andrea-soltoggio.html

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be a mentor for Neuromatch Academy!
by Marius Pachitariu 11 Jun '21

11 Jun '21

Participate as MENTOR in Neuromatch Academy Neuromatch Academy returns this year with twice as many students and TAs participating in twice as many courses. If you are faculty or postdoc with some experience, please sign up to be a mentor for the Computational Neuroscience (syllabus <https://github.com/NeuromatchAcademy/course-content>) and/or the Deep Learning course (syllabus <https://github.com/NeuromatchAcademy/course-content-dl>). NMA is unique in reaching enthusiastic students from all over the world, most of whom cannot afford a traditional summer school. NMA 2020 reached students from ~70(!) countries. This year we have students from >100 !!! Mentors provide guidance and feedback on 3-week long projects that students complete in groups of 4-6. You will be algorithmically matched with students that have similar research interests to you.The mentorship happens in 4-5 sessions of 30-60 minutes each, leading to a time commitment of up to 5 hours per group. Mentors can take on 1-4 groups. Beginner groups are encouraged to use project templates, such as the ones here (link <https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1v7fuzi9Y9RV12CysMBi5rxZKhjnWD5Js29U…>). Please consider contributing a project template, by simply adding a slide to the public google doc. Mentoring is relatively easy because you don’t need to prepare anything. Nonetheless, your feedback is extremely valuable to the students, who are taking their first steps in neuroscience / deep learning. We also encourage you to provide career advice, and optionally set up meetings with TAs after the summer school. Our collective effort to teach and mentor these young scientists and engineers pays off in the long-term: their positive experience at NMA inspires them to consider careers in our research fields. The application for mentors can be found below. Course starts July 5th, so please apply soon! https://portal.neuromatchacademy.org/

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Senior Postdoc ("Akademischer Rat") in the Reichenbach lab, Friedrich-Alexander-University (FAU) Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany
by Reichenbach, Tobias 11 Jun '21

11 Jun '21

The newly founded Chair for Sensory Neuroengineering at the new Department Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering is looking for a Senior Postdoc ("Akademischer Rat"). In close collaboration with clinical and industrial partners, the Chair researches on the neural foundations of hearing, as well as on new technology for better treatments of hearing impairment. Reseach topics are, for instance, the development and application of AI methods to analyse neurological data on human speech processing as well as the development of AI methods to construct audiovisual speech signals for better speech comprehension. The Senior Postdoc should shape this research field with their own innovative projects. The appointment will initially be for three years, and can be made permanent upon excellent performance. To apply, please send a letter detailing your motivation, a CV, copies of your degrees and details of three referees. Please combine all documents into a single pdf and send them per email with subject “Application Senior Postdoc” to Prof. Dr. Tobias Reichenbach (tobias.j.reichenbach(at)fau.de<http://fau.de>). FAU is the most innovative university in Germany and ranks second among the most innovative European universities. It is located in one of the most attractive regions in Germany. Erlangen is a bicycle-friendly city with 100,000 inhabitants, former home of the Huguenots as well as a key location for Siemens. It is close to Nuremberg, a city with a population of half a million and a metropolitan flair. The mixture of academia, innovative companies, art and culture makes the region the perfect place for creative minds, keen athletes and nature lovers. More information is available here: https://www.jobs.fau.de/jobs/senior-postdoc-in-computational-neurotechnolog… ------------------------------------------- Prof. Dr. Tobias Reichenbach Department Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering (AIBE) Friedrich-Alexander-University (FAU) Erlangen-Nuremberg Henkestrasse 91 91056 Erlangen https://reichenbach.bg-research.cc.ic.ac.uk/index.html

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Information theory workshop at CNS*2021 -- call for contributed talks
by Joseph Lizier 10 Jun '21

10 Jun '21

Dear all, We are pleased to announce that the Workshop on Methods of Information Theory in Computational Neuroscience<https://abzinger.github.io/202107-CNS2021-ITW.html> will be held once again at the CNS*2021<http://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2021> conference, online. The workshop will be held during sessions over two days of the main conference, July 6 and 7 (time TBA). Our confirmed speakers so far include the following (schedule available soon): * Tatyana Sharpee, Salk Institute * Raul Vicente, University of Tartu * Viola Priesemann, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization * Fernando Rosas, Imperial College London * Fleur Zeldenrust, Radboud University * Aaron Gutcknecht, University of Goettingen * Lucas Rudelt, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization * ... more TBA! Also, we would like to call for contributions of talks. If you are interested in contributing a talk, please send a title and abstract to Abdullah Makkeh (abdullah.alimakkeh(a)uni-goettingen.de<mailto:abdullah.alimakkeh@uni-goettingen.de>) at your earliest convenience (earlier submissions will be prioritised). Please pay attention to the registration<https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2021-registration-fees> for CNS*2021 (early bird deadline and fees), and see our website<https://abzinger.github.io/202107-CNS2021-ITW.html> for more details. We hope you will join us there! Organising Committee: Michael Wibral (co-chair) Abdullah Makkeh (co-chair) Joseph Lizier

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TEX2021 - Bringing together Predictive Processes and Statistical Learning
by Yamil Vidal 08 Jun '21

08 Jun '21

You are all invited to: TEX2021 - Bringing together Predictive Processes and Statistical Learning A free online symposium organized by Yamil Vidal and Davide Crepaldi. Description: While the research communities studying Predictive Processes and Statistical Learning sprout from different traditions, they share a core interest in how our brains pick up on patterns in the environment. In this two-days symposium we will bring these communities closer by sharing talks by some of the leading researchers of these fields. When: 1st and 2nd of July Speakers: - Tristan Bekinschtein (Consciousness and Cognition Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge) - Lucia Melloni (Department of Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics. Department of neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine) - Padraic Monaghan (Department of Psychology, Lancaster University) - Maria Chait (Ear Institute, University College London) - Floris de Lange (Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen) - Caspar Schwiedrzik (Neural Circuits and Cognition Lab, European Neuroscience Institute Goettingen. Perception and Plasticity Group, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research) - Lori Holt (Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University) - Nicola Molinaro (BCBL, Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language) Schedule and more info at the registration form: https://sissa-it.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nBOv5NWZQ36HSH7nyffazg And here is the announcement that we made through Twitter: https://twitter.com/CrepaldiLab/status/1400856625896902656 We would be very happy to count you among the attendees. Please spread the word. Best regards, Yamil and Davide Dr. Yamil Vidal Cognitive Neuroscience Sector Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati - SISSA via Bonomea, 265 34136 Trieste, ITALY

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EITN Fall School in Computational Neuroscience : Applications open!
by Zélie Tournoud 08 Jun '21

08 Jun '21

Dear colleagues, We are happy to let you know that applications for the *EITN Fall School in Computational Neuroscience* are currently open, until the 2nd of July 2021. This *10-days intensive course in computational neuroscience* will take place in *P**aris, France from 15 to 24 September 2021*. This is a yearly event, although previous occurrences took place in the spring. We choose to keep it relatively small-scale in order to facilitate interactions between participants and teaching staff, there are about 20 seats available. There will, therefore, be a selection made after applications are closed. We encourage you to share the word widely with your collaborators and networks so that everyone who might be interested can get the chance to apply. Applications need to be addressed by email with a *resume (CV)* and a *cover letter* at *eitn(a)neuro-psi.fr*. Please make sure to use an explicit email title such as "Application to EITN Fall School". *Why join?* * 10 days of intensive training in computational neuroscience provided by researchers from all over Europe * Small scale event: get to connect! * A complete program: o Cellular models, and models of brain signals Circuit models and networks o Mean-field models o Whole-brain models * Hands-on learning schedule based on: o Morning classes and tutorials o Group projects in the afternoon o Free time in the evenings to visit Paris *Selection criteria:* 1. Work or study in neuroscience or related 2. Experience in python programming would help 3. Priority to PhD students, although Master students and post-docs are welcome to apply *Practical information:* * Subscription fee 400€. * If selected, you will need to bring your own laptop with a few pre-installed programs. * The tuition fee includes lunch, coffee, access to conference facilities and internet connection during the 10 days of the course. You can also consult these information online <https://www.eitn.org/index.php/calendar-event/eventdetail/737/-/eitn-fall-s…> or by downloading the PDF flyer: https://www.eitn.org/images/events/EITN-FallSchool-2021_Flyer.pdf Thank you very much for applying or sharing with your relevant contacts. Kind regards, The EITN Team

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Postdoc Position at Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre
by Jiaxiang ZHANG 08 Jun '21

08 Jun '21

[Apologize for cross-posting] Dear all, We are seeking an enthusiastic early-career scientist for a research associate position at Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC). The successful candidate will join a collaborative and multidisciplinary research team to work on the neurocognitive mechanisms of human decision-making, integrating multimodal brain imaging (MEG, functional MRI and diffusion MRI) and computational modelling. The post holder will develop computational models that describe data from behavioural and brain imaging experiments, in particular to take a lead role in integrating large-scale computational simulations with imaging results from multiple modalities. The research aims to understand the computational and neurocognitive processes of human decision-making, and how decision deficits may arise due to brain injury or neurodegeneration. The research associate will also be expected to collaborate with other researchers in the team on imaging data analyses and data curation. You will have access to imaging facilities at CUBRIC and several multimodal imaging datasets. Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) houses a unique combination of state-of-the-art facilities and world-leading expertise, with 4 human MRI systems (2 x Siemens Prisma, 1 x Siemens Connectom, 1 x Siemens 7T), MEG, EEG, TMS, tDCS, clinical research units and testing labs. Further details of CUBRIC can be found on our webpage (http://sites.cardiff.ac.uk/cubric) This is a full-time, fixed-term position until February 2023, available to start now. Remote working is possible if COVID-19 restrictions are in place. For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Jiaxiang Zhang ( zhangj73(a)cardiff.ac.uk) A formal application needs to be submitted via the link online ( https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/CEQ831/research-associate) *Application deadline: June 13th, 2021.* *Essential Criteria* 1. A PhD degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., mathematics, computer science, engineering, physics or psychology) 2. Research experience or a strong interest in human decision-making 3. Strong experience in computational models of cognitive processes and/or macroscopic neural systems, including the use of neural mass models or neural field models 4. Experience of analysing brain imaging data in one or more modalities (e.g., diffusion MRI, BOLD functional MRI, MEG/EEG), using common software packages 5. Strong programming skills (e.g., Matlab, Python, C/C++ or R) 6. Experience with Unix/Linux environment for data analysis, including bash scripting and parallel computing on high-performance clusters 7. Proven ability to publish high-quality research in peer-reviewed academic journals 8. Knowledge of software development cycles and best programming practices, including coding standards, version control administration, debug and code sharing, with strong commitments to open science practices 9. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, evidenced by publications and/or conference presentations 10. Strong interpersonal skills, including proven ability to work cooperatively within a team while also being able to take the initiative *Desirable Criteria * 1. Experience of brain functional and structural connectivity analyses 2. Experience in statistical methods (e.g., GLM, mixed models, multivariate statistics, hierarchical models and Bayesian statistics) and/or machine learning methods 3. Experience in deep learning models of imaging processing --- Dr. Jiaxiang Zhang Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) School of Psychology Cardiff University Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ https://ccbrain.org

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[jobs] One-year Postdoc on “Sparse coding for bio-inspired vision models” at CentraleSupèlec, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
by PERRINET Laurent 07 Jun '21

07 Jun '21

Dear Colleagues, Applications are invited for a one-year Postdoc position, starting in September 2021 or as soon as possible thereafter, to work under the joint supervision of Dario Prandi<https://dprn.github.io/> (CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay), Luca Calatroni<https://sites.google.com/view/lucacalatroni/home> (CNRS, Université Côte d'Azur), and Laurent Perrinet<https://laurentperrinet.github.io/> (CNRS, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone). The position is financed by the ANR Rubin-Vase (https://anr.fr/Projet-ANR-20-CE48-0003) and the research focus will be on linking the bio-inspired models studied by D. Prandi and L. Calatroni (see e.g. [1]) to the sparsity promoting neural architectures investigated by L. Perrinet (see, e.g., [2]). The successful applicant will have a strong applied mathematical background, ideally in the fields of sparse optimization and/or dynamical systems, and a good familiarity with neural architectures and the associated implementation issues. Strong skills in coding and programming using standard optimization/deep learning languages (e.g., Python, PyTorch, Julia, MATLAB…) are required. The gross salary is of 50k-59k euros (depending on the seniority of the applicant), and the position comes with no teaching duties. Although the position is officially based at CentraleSupèlec (Université Paris-Saclay), the successful applicant is expected to spend fairly long periods at the INT in Marseille and I3S in Sophia-Antipolis, to work with the co-supervisors. Candidates are asked to write directly to Dario Prandi (dario.prandi(a)centralesupelec.fr<mailto:dario.prandi@centralesupelec.fr>), attaching a CV, a short description of current research interests, and names and contact addresses of at least two reference contacts (no formal letters of recommendation are required). Applications are reviewed continuously, until positions are filled, with a first evaluation round starting on the 14th of June, 2021. Thanks for distributing this announcement to potential candidates! References [1] Bertalmío, M., Calatroni, L., Franceschi, V. et al. Cortical-Inspired Wilson–Cowan-Type Equations for Orientation-Dependent Contrast Perception Modelling. J Math Imaging Vis 63, 263–281 (2021). https://arxiv.org/abs/1910.06808 [2] Boutin V, Franciosini A, Chavane F, Ruffier F, Perrinet L (2021) Sparse deep predictive coding captures contour integration capabilities of the early visual system.<https://laurentperrinet.github.io/publication/boutin-franciosini-chavane-ru…> PLoS Comput Biol 17(1): e1008629. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008629 -- Laurent Perrinet - INT (UMR 7289)/CNRS https://laurentperrinet.github.io/

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[news] Call for Participation - The Chef's Hat Cup @ IJCAI2021
by Pablo Vinicius Alves De Barros 03 Jun '21

03 Jun '21

Deadline Extended! - The Chef's Hat Cup @ IJCAI2021 I. Aim and Scope Most of the current Reinforcement-Learning solutions, although having real-world-inspired scenarios, focus on a direct space-action-reward mapping between the agent's actions and the environment’s state. That translates to agents that can adapt to dynamic scenarios, but, when applied to competitive and/or cooperative cases, fail to assess and deal with the impact of their opponents. In most cases, when these agents choose an action, they do not take into consideration how other agents can affect the state of the scenario. In competitive scenarios, the agents have to learn decisions that a) maximize their chances of winning the game, and b) minimize their adversaries' goals, while in cooperative scenarios b) is inverted. Besides dealing with complex scenarios, such solutions would have to deal with the dynamics between the agents themselves. In this regard, social reinforcement learning is still behind the mainstream applications and demonstrations of the last years. We introduce here the Chef's Hat Cup, a competition that aims at the development of the most challenging artificial players! The competition is separated into two tracks: a competitive and a cooperative scenario. In the first track, the participants will use the already available simulation environment to develop the most effective agents to play the Chef’s Hat card game and be the winner. In the second track, they will have to develop an agent that can increase the chances of a dummy agent winning the game. More information: https://www.whisperproject.eu/chefshat#competition II. Deadlines Starting Date: April 20, 2021 Final submission: July 15, 2021 Winners Announcement: July 29, 2021 III. Team Registration Teams of up to five persons are invited to participate in the competition. You can register by sending the following information: Team name Participant Names and affiliation to this email: pablo.alvesdebarros(a)iit.it IV. Prizes The prizes will be sponsored by the Contact Unit at the Italian Institute of Technology, and will be organized as follows: Competitive Track - Winner – 300 EUR - Second – 150 EUR - Third – 50 EUR Cooperative Track - Winner – 300 EUR - Second – 150 EUR - Third – 50 EUR V. Organizers Pablo Barros, Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Italy Leandro Honorato, University of Pernambuco, Brazil Marco Matarese, Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Italy Alessandra Sciutti, Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Italy ---------------------------------------- Dr. Pablo Barros Postdoctoral Researcher - CONTACT Unit Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia – Center for Human Technologies Via Enrico Melen 83, Building B 16152 Genova, Italy email: pablo.alvesdebarros(a)iit.it website: https://www.pablobarros.net<http://www.pablobarros.net><https://www.p> twitter: @PBarros_br

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PostDoc in Machine Hearing
by Sarah Verhulst 02 Jun '21

02 Jun '21

Dear list, We have a 3-yr post-doc vacancy in my Hearing Technology lab in Ghent, Belgium. We do research on the interface between computational neuroscience and audio signal processing to develop human-inspired machine-hearing applications. More info on the position and application info can be found here (closing date 5th of July): https://tinyurl.com/4h9m497b Feel welcome to distribute, With best regards, Sarah —— Sarah Verhulst Associate Professor Hearing Technology @ WAVES Department of Information Technology Technologiepark 126, 9052 Zwijnaarde T +32 9 331 48 44 T admin +32 09 264 33 21 www.waves.intec.ugent.be/hearing-technology<http://www.waves.intec.ugent.be/hearing-technology> www.gasp.ugent.be<http://www.gasp.ugent.be> @HearingTechLab @GentAuditorySci GitHub: HearingTechnology

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Research fellowships at the Univ. of Birmingham/UK
by Michael Biehl 02 Jun '21

02 Jun '21

*Two research fellowships at the * *Centre for Systems Modelling and Quantitative Biomedicine, College of Medical and Dental SciencesUniversity of Birmingham /UK **Full time, fixed term for 3.5 years* *Closing Date *27th June 2021. Online interviews will take place on 20th July 2021 For further details and information about how to apply visit *https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/CGC736/research-fellows <https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/CGC736/research-fellows> * (do not reply to this message, do not contact M. Biehl directly) The successful candidates will be educated to PhD level and have experience in one or more of the following areas: Position 1: mathematical models; complex networks, (nonautonomous) dynamical systems, bifurcation theory or numerical continuation. Having relevant experience in biology or medicine will be advantageous. Position 2: computational methods; machine learning, neural networks, data visualisation and analytics, artificial intelligence, Bayesian inference, or algorithm development. Having relevant aligned experience in biology, medicine, or wearable technologies will be advantageous. -- ---------------------------------------------------------- Prof. Dr. Michael Biehl Bernoulli Institute for Mathematics, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence P.O. Box 407, 9700 AK Groningen The Netherlands Tel. +31 50 363 3997 https://www.cs.rug.nl/~biehl m.biehl(a)rug.nl

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EITN workshop on "Computational Neuroscience in EBRAINS", 10 june 2021
by Zélie Tournoud 02 Jun '21

02 Jun '21

Dear colleagues, We are happy to invite you to attend to the EITN (European Institute for Theorethical Neuroscience) workshop on "Computational Neuroscience in EBRAINS" taking place online on *June 10th, 2021, starting from 13:00 CEST*. Attendance is free and open to everyone upon registration, feel free to share the event to your collaborator who might be interested in the topic. To automatically receive your access link by email before the event, *register online* on this page: Register to the Zoom meeting <https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0vd-CoqzkoHNTvv9UhOQ0Qbnex9MikG2F1>. The detailled program is available on this page <https://www.eitn.org/index.php/calendar-event/eventdetail/744/-/workshop-on…> that will be kept updated. * *Description of the workshop:* Organized by Andrew Davison (CNRS), Viktor Jirsa (AMU) and Alain Destexhe (CNRS). EBRAINS is a open-access platform built by the Human Brain Project and which provides tools for various applications in neuroscience. The aim of this workshop is to introduce some of the EBRAINS tools that are of particular interest for applications in computational neuroscience. These tools provide help to simulate models, from the cellular to the whole-brain level. Each tool will be introduced, then a "live demo" will be provided to demonstrate its use. As a companion to this workshop, we plan to provide recordings of each session on a YouTube channel, as well as scripts that were used in for the live demos. * *List of speakers:* Egidio d'Angelo (Pavia) Claudia Casellato (Pavia) Florent Bonnier (CNRS) Petrut Bogdan (U Manchester) Andrew Davison (CNRS) Alain Destexhe (CNRS) Timo Dickscheid (Jülich) Jan Fousek (AMU) Alice Geminiani (Pavia) Jennifer Goldman (CNRS) Brent Huisman (Jülich) Viktor Jirsa (AMU) Carmen Lupascu (CNR) Armando Romani (BBP/EPFL) Michael Schirner (Charité) Sam Yates (CSCS) We look forwards on seeing you on the 10th of June! Thank you and have a great day, /The EITN Team/

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[Journals] 2nd CFP: Special Issue on "Theory of Mind in Humans and in Machines"
by Bogdan Ionut Cirstea 01 Jun '21

01 Jun '21

Dear colleagues, Apologies for cross-posting. Together with Prof. Fabio Cuzzolin (Oxford Brookes University, UK), Prof. Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian (University of Cambridge, UK) and Dr. Christelle Langley (University of Cambridge, UK), we are organizing a special issue (Frontiers Research Topic) on the emerging topic of "Theory of Mind in Humans and in Machines" under the "Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence" and "Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience" journals. We would like to invite you to contribute articles to the Research Topic. For more information on this special issue, please visit the website at https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/16802/theory-of-mind-in-humans-… Papers may be submitted until the 30th of July 2021 (manuscript submission extended deadline). Submitted papers should not be under consideration for publication elsewhere. We also encourage authors to send a short abstract (via the platform) to ensure compliance with the topic and scope of the Frontiers journals as early as possible. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, theoretical proposals, computational experiments, and case studies of: • Computational Theory of Mind • Learning from Demonstrations • Cognitive Models for Learning from Demonstration and Planning • Neuroscience-inspired models of Theory of Mind • Human-Robot Interaction • Cooperative Inverse Reinforcement Learning (assistance games) • Learning from Preferences If you intend to send an article to the special issue, please do let us know by hitting the "Participate" button in the web interface. If you have any questions or need any kind of assistance from us, please do not hesitate to let us know. On behalf of the topic editors, -- Bogdan-Ionut Cirstea Topic Editors: Prof. Fabio Cuzzolin, Oxford Brookes University, UK < fabio.cuzzolin(a)brookes.ac.uk> Prof. Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian, University of Cambridge, UK < bjs1001(a)cam.ac.uk> Dr. Bogdan-Ionut Cirstea, Oxford Brookes University, UK < bcirstea(a)brookes.ac.uk> Dr. Christelle Langley, University of Cambridge, UK <cl798(a)medschl.cam.ac.uk >

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Evolving Neural Networks workshop
by manuel molano 01 Jun '21

01 Jun '21

Dear all, We are glad to announce the 1st Evolving Neural Networks Workshop (June 17, 2021). The goal of the workshop is to bring together experts from Systems and Computational Neuroscience, Machine Learning and the Evo-Devo field to discuss if and how knowing the evolutionary history of neural circuits can help us understand the way the brain works, as well as the relative importance of learned VS innate neural mechanisms. We have a great list of speakers from the fields of Systems and Computational Neuroscience, Machine Learning and Evolutionary Developmental (Evo-Devo) biology. If you are interested REGISTER HERE<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfO69TaE5Tk4eUysh4eCnJ7tlJYRTCcE_m…>, it is free! For more information visit our webpage<https://sites.google.com/view/evolving-nns/home> or contact evolvingneuralnetworks(a)gmail.com<mailto:evolvingneuralnetworks@gmail.com> We hope to see you soon! SCHEDULE (Eastern Time) 8-8.10 Intro 8.10-8.35 Pamela Lyon What basal cognition can do for you (neuroscientists) 8.35-9.00 Luis Puelles Brain evolution crosses an ontogenetic 'ant's country' that escapes analysis 9.00-9.25 Paul Cisek The evolution of the human brain, long before humans 9.25-9.50 Robert Yang Evolving the Olfactory System with Machine Learning 09.50-10.20 Discussion 10.20-10.40 Break 10.40-10.50 Intro 10.50-11.15 Linda Wilbrecht Considering contextual factors at acute and evolutionary timescales in the study of learning and decision making 11.15-11.40 Ida Momennejad TBA 11.40-12.05 Dayu Lin Neural mechanisms of aggression 12.05-12.30 Tony Zador Learning through the Genomic Bottleneck 12.30-13.00 Discussion

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Job: Engineer in MEG-EEG signal processing and open-source software development
by Franco Pestilli 31 May '21

31 May '21

The Paris Brain Institute is recruiting a motivated individual to join the *MEEGbrainlife* project, introducing MEG and EEG data processing pipelines on the open-access brainlife.io cloud computing platform. This is a 18-24 months contract funded jointly by the French ANR and the American NIH under the international program call « Collaborative Research in Computational Neuroscience » (CR‐CNS). The successful candidate will be responsible for planning, developing, and maintaining *MEG‐EEG data processing Apps into brainlife.io <http://brainlife.io/>* and *contribute to innovative research projects* on the platform. In close collaboration with the expert members of the MEEGbrainlife consortium, he/she will define data specifications, code architecture, data and code output quality check procedures to set the groundwork for the rapid development of a full data processing pipeline for MEG‐EEG data into brainlife.io. *More information and contact* for the application available here: https://owncloud.icm-institute.org/index.php/s/MBrIpIFcH3F9lV5 *FRANCO PESTILLI*, *Ph.D.* | *Associate Professor* Department of Psychology <https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/psychology/index.php> | College of Liberal Arts <https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/> | The University of Texas at Austin <https://www.utexas.edu/> he/him | pestilli(a)utexas.edu | web <https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/psychology/faculty/fp4834> | GitHub <https://github.com/francopestilli> | brainlife.io CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.

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pre- and post-doc neuromorphic fellowships at the Sevilla Microelectronics Institute
by bernabe 31 May '21

31 May '21

Dear all, The Neuromorphic group at IMSE (Sevilla Microelectronics Institute, Spain) wellcomes candidates to apply for pre- and post-docs fellowships on neuromorphic engineering. Please visit our web-site at www.imse-cnm.csic.es/neuromorphs to find out about our running projects, activities, and publications. More details on the fellowships (duration/salary/contact) is given at: http://www2.imse-cnm.csic.es/neuromorphs/index.php/News-and-position-openin… cheers, -- Bernabe Linares-Barranco, Director Instituto de Microelectrónica de Sevilla (IMSE-CNM), CSIC, Sevilla, Spain

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Job opening: Research Scientist - Computational Neuroscience and Machine Learning/AI
by Michiel Remme 30 May '21

30 May '21

Dear Colleagues, Our startup INAIT, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, is seeking a permanent and full-time Research Scientist at the intersection of computational neuroscience and machine learning/AI. Are you interested in developing new machine learning/AI methods based on neuroscientific insights, and apply them to business problems? Then come join us! Major duties and responsibilities: * Contribute to the research and development of the next generation of neuroscience-inspired machine learning/AI methods * Contribute to the development of computational models of detailed and/or simplified neuronal networks * Work closely with a team of computational neuroscientists, machine learning engineers and software developers towards business solutions Essential skills and experience required: * PhD in computational neuroscience or related field (or equal experience: Masters and 4+ years of research experience) * Research involving learning and/or dynamics in rate-based and/or spiking neural networks * Experience in machine learning using frameworks such as scikit-learn, PyTorch or TensorFlow * Successful publication record * Experience in Python code development * Experience using UNIX/Linux operating systems * Excellent team player * Fluent spoken and written English Preferred: * Experience with a computational neuroscience simulation framework such as NEST, NEURON or Brian * Experience in scientific computing on shared and/or distributed parallel machines * Experience in the software development life-cycle including unit testing, continuous integration, version control, debugging and documentation * Successful track record in designing, developing and maintaining software projects Where: Lausanne, Switzerland Start date: As soon as possible Activity rate: 100% Duration of contract: CDI Competitive salary & benefits Cutting edge research, Positive work environment, Hybrid work model (combination of WFH and work from the office) For applications visit apply.workable.com/inait<http://apply.workable.com/inait/> INAIT SA https://www.inait.ai<https://www.inait.ai/> Avenue du Tribunal Fédéral 34 1005 Lausanne Switzerland

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Call for papers for MLCN2021 workshop at MICCAI 2021
by MLCN Workshop 30 May '21

30 May '21

*Please find below the call for papers for the International Workshop of Machine Learning in Clinical Neuroimaging (MLCN) which is held virtually on the 27th of September 2021 at MICCAI 2021 in Strasbourg, France. We welcome contributions to novel machine learning methods and their applications to clinical neuroimaging data.* The submission deadline is *25 June 2021*, and all MLCN accepted papers will be eligible for the best paper award of 500 USD. For more information, please visit https://mlcnws.com/call-for-papers/*.* Best wishes, The MLCN 2021 steering and organizing committees Christos Davatzikos, Andre Marquand, Jonas Richiardi, Emma Robinson Ahmed Abdulkadir, Mohamad Habes, Seyed Mostafa Kia, Vinod Kumar, Jane Maryam Rondina, Chantal Tax, Thomas Wolfers ================================================================================================ Call for Papers The International Workshop of Machine Learning in Clinical Neuroimaging ( https://mlcnws.com/) a satellite event of MICCAI (https://miccai202 <https://miccai2021.org/>1 <https://miccai2020.org/>.org <https://miccai2021.org/>), calls for original papers in the field of clinical neuroimaging data analysis with machine learning. The two tracks of the workshop include methodological innovations as well as clinical applications. This highly interdisciplinary topic provides an excellent platform to connect researchers of varying disciplines and to collectively advance the field in multiple directions. In the machine learning track, we seek novel contributions that address current methodological gaps in analyzing high-dimensional, longitudinal, and heterogeneous clinical neuroscientific data using stable, scalable, and interpretable machine learning models. Topics of interest include but are not limited to: - Big data - Spatio-temporal brain data analysis - Structural data analysis - Graph theory and complex network analysis - Longitudinal data analysis - Model stability and interpretability - Model scalability in large neuroimaging datasets - Multi-source data integration and multi-view learning - Multi-site data analysis, from preprocessing to modeling - Domain adaptation, data harmonization, and transfer learning in neuroimaging - Unsupervised methods for stratifying brain disorders - Deep learning in clinical neuroimaging - Model uncertainty in clinical predictions - … In the *clinical neuroimaging *track*,* the applications of existing machine learning algorithms are evaluated to move towards precision medicine for complex brain disorders. The discovery of biological markers in medicine is an important challenge across different fields and various experimental procedures and designs are used to detect biological signatures that can be utilized for improvement in diagnostic, treatment, or for other beneficial ends. However, for most complex brain disorders, we do not have reliable biomarkers today. The application of advanced machine learning methods may help to reach this goal. Therefore, we invite the community to submit conference contributions on machine learning approaches with the goal to improve our understanding of complex brain disorders, moving the field closer towards precision medicine. Topics of interest include but are not limited to: - Biomarker discovery - Refinement of nosology and diagnostics - Biological validation of clinical syndromes - Treatment outcome prediction - Course prediction - Analysis of wearable sensors - Neurogenetics and brain imaging genetics - Mechanistic modeling - Brain aging - The presentation of clinical neuroimaging databases to stimulate developments in machine learning - … ------------------------------ Submission Process: The workshop seeks high-quality, original, and unpublished work that addresses one or more challenges described above. Papers should be submitted electronically in Springer Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LCNS) style (see https://miccai2021.org/en/PAPER-SUBMISSION-GUIDELINES.html for detailed author guidelines) using the CMT system at https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/MLCN2021. The page limit is 8-pages (text, figures, and tables) plus up to 2-pages of references. We review the submissions in a double-blind process. Please make sure that your submission is anonymous. Accepted papers will be published in a joint proceeding with the MICCAI 2021 conference. ------------------------------ MLCN Special Issue at the MELBA journal: This year, we will invite the top accepted papers to submit an extended version of their contribution to the MLCN special issue at the Journal of Machine Learning for Biomedical Imaging (MELBA) <https://www.melba-journal.org/about>. The invited papers will go through an independent review process by the journal. ------------------------------ Best Paper Award: All MLCN accepted papers will be eligible for the best paper award. The recipient of the award will be chosen by the MLCN scientific committee based on the scientific quality, novelty, and clarity of contributions. The winner will be announced at the end of the workshop and will receive a 500 USD honorarium. ------------------------------ Important Dates: - Paper submission deadline: June 25, 2021, 11:59 PM Pacific Time - Notification of Acceptance: July 16, 2021 - Camera-ready Submission: July 30, 2021 - Workshop Date: September 27, 2021

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Postdoc in Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience
by Theresa Desrochers 28 May '21

28 May '21

Applications for Postdoctoral Research Associate are being sought for a unique opportunity to study sequential control in the laboratory of Dr. Theresa Desrochers in the Department of Neuroscience at Brown University. Successful candidates will have interest in human behavior, fMRI, TMS, computational psychiatry, and OCD. The Desrochers Lab provides a unique cross-level and cross-species training environment situated within a highly collaborative research environment fostered by Brown University and the Carney Institute for Brain Science. Prior experience in human neuroimaging and strong quantitative skills are preferred. All interested candidates regardless of level of experience with these methods are encouraged to apply. Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, Psychology, or a related discipline or must show evidence that the Ph.D. will be completed before the start of the position. Brown University is an EEO/AA employer and encourages applications from minorities and women. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled or the search is closed. For more information, please contact theresa_desrochers(a)brown.edu. Please apply via Interfolio at https://apply.interfolio.com/87606 <https://apply.interfolio.com/87606>. ~Theresa — Theresa M. Desrochers, Ph.D. Rosenberg Assistant Professor of Brain Science Departments of Neuroscience; Psychiatry and Human Behavior (courtesy) Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University http://neuroscience.brown.edu/desrochers

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PhD positions at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
by Avitabile, D. 28 May '21

28 May '21

Dear colleagues, The Department of Mathematics at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam invites applications for 2 PhD positions, in computational and analytical methods form neuroscience applications. One project concerns uncertainty quantification methods for spatially-extended models in neuroscience. The ideal candidate for this project has a passion for numerical methods (numerical analysis, scientific computing) and is keen to make an impact in a novel application for the neurosciences. Previous knowledge of neuroscience concepts is not a prerequisite, but a firm interest in learning about neuroscience models and applications is essential. The project will be co-supervised by Svetlana Dubinkina (VU), Gabriel Lord (Radboud University), and myself. The second PhD project is about multiple timescale analysis for neural fields, and it aims to develop slow-fast dynamical system methods for spatially-extended systems. The ideal candidate has a passion for dynamical system theory and is interested in applying bifurcation analysis to PDEs and integral equations. Previous knowledge of neuroscience concepts is not a prerequisite. The project will be cosujervised by Jan Bouwe van den Berg (VU) and myself. It will also involve a network of scientific collaborators: Mathieu Desroches (INRIA, Sophia Antipolis, France), Grégory Faye (University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France) and Martin Wechselberger (University of Sydney, Australia). More information can be found at the link below https://werkenbij.vu.nl/ad/phd-positions-in-mathematical-neuroscience/ngla4… The deadline for applications is the 13th of June 2021. Informal enquiries can be sent to d.avitabile(a)vu.nl Daniele Avitabile Associate Professor in Applied Mathematics Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam www.danieleavitabile.com

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Bernstein Conference 2021 - call for abstracts
by Anja Dorrn 27 May '21

27 May '21

Each year the Bernstein Network invites the international computational neuroscience community to the annual Bernstein Conference for intensive scientific exchange. It has established itself as one of the most renown conferences worldwide in this field, attracting students, postdocs and PIs from around the world to meet and discuss new scientific discoveries. Due to the ongoing pandemic the Bernstein Conference will be held online. www.bernstein-conference.de ____ IMPORTANT DATES * Bernstein Conference: September 21-23, 2021 * Abstract submission open: June 1, 2021 * Deadline for submission of abstracts to be considered for Contributed Talks: July 1, 2021 * Deadline for abstract submission: August 3, 2021 ____ ABSTRACTS We invite the computational neuroscience community to submit their abstracts: Submitted abstracts can either be considered as contributed talks or posters. All accepted abstracts will be published online and will be citable via Digital Object Identifiers (DOI). Abstract submission will open on June 1. Further information can be found here: https://bit.ly/BC21_abstracts ____ INVITED SPEAKERS Keynote Timothy Behrens (University of Oxford, UK) Invited Talks Athena Akrami (University College London, UK) Nadine Gogolla (Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany) Guillaume Hennequin (University of Cambridge, UK) Jennifer Li & Drew Robson (Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany) Scott Lindermann (Stanford University, USA) Ashok Litwin-Kumar (Columbia University, New York City, USA) Ida Momennejad (Microsoft Research, New York City, USA) Cristina Savin (New York University, USA) Marion Silies (Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany) Daniela Vallentin (Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany) ____ CONFERENCE COMMITTEE Christian Leibold (Conference Chair) Julijana Gjiorgjieva (Program Chair) Christian Machens (Program Vice Chair) Marion Silies (Workshop Chair) Moritz Helias (Workshop Vice Chair) & Matthew Botvinick, Megan Carey, Peter Dayan, Brent Doiron, Rainer Friedrich, Ann Hermundstad, Srdjan Ostojic, Nathalie Rochefort, Nicole Rust, Gasper Tkacik ____ For any further questions, please contact: bernstein.conference(a)fz-juelich.de -- Dr. Anja Dorrn Scientific Coordinator Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience | Bernstein Coordination Site (BCOS) Branch Office of the Forschungszentrum Jülich at the University of Freiburg Hansastr. 9A | 79104 Freiburg, Germany phone: (+49) 0761 203 9589 web: www.bernstein-network.de<http://www.bernstein-network.de> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH 52425 Juelich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Juelich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Dueren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Volker Rieke Geschaeftsfuehrung: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Marquardt (Vorsitzender), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Harald Bolt, Prof. Dr. Frauke Melchior ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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MOVING FORWARD FROM COVID-19 VIRTUAL STUDENT FORUM
by James Bower 26 May '21

26 May '21

Dr. James M. Bower Ph.D. Executive Director Pacific Division AAAS Affiliate Professor of Biology Southern Oregon University 541-499-7502 Hello everyone. I thought (and hope) that there might be some interest among Computational Neuroscience students in this somewhat unusual, but I hope interesting on-line event I am organizing for AAAS. Any student anywhere in the world can participate. Happy to answer questions, but here is the announcement. Happy to answer questions and please pass the word on to others who might be interested. And look forward to seeing you all at CNS*2021, 30 years - hard to imagine. :-) Jim Bower Applications are now being accepted for our VIRTUAL MOVING FORWARD FROM COVID-19 FORUM. Moving on The virtual forum includes two events: A STUDENT RESEARCH FORUM in which students will present their scientific goals and plans for the future and also interact with scientists as well are representatives of colleges and universities. 2021 Student Research Conference All students are eligible to participate from high school to post-graduate, including citizen scientists. (Application deadline June 22, but best to apply as soon as you can) Additional information on the forum as well as how to apply can be found here: 2021 forum abstract instructions And a TEACHER WORKSHOP on lessons learned from K-12 hybrid and on-line learning over the last year: 2021 educator workshop Participation is open to all K-12 teachers as well as informal educators (best to apply early). IF YOU KNOW A STUDENT OR TEACHER WHO MIGHT LIKE TO ATTEND THIS FORUM, PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL. Registration is also now open for those who would like to attend, even if not presenting: 2021 paid participant form COME JOIN US AS WE MOVE FORWARD FROM COVID-19 This email was sent to bowerj(a)sou.edu by admin(a)aaaspd.org American Association for the Advancement of Science Pacific Division • AAAS Pacific Division / Biology Department, 1250 Siskiyou Blvd, Ashland, Oregon 97520, United States • 541-552-8457 Remove My Email or Manage Preferences • Privacy Policy

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[CFP] Call for abstracts: Computational Cognition workshop (COMCO 2021)
by Juliane Schwab 26 May '21

26 May '21

We are pleased to announce the 2nd "Computational Cognition" workshop, hosted by the DFG-funded Research Training Group by the same name at the Institute of Cognitive, Osnabrück University (Germany). The workshop will be held remotely on September 23 – 24, 2021. In this workshop, we pursue to (re-)integrate research from areas concerned with low- and high-level cognition. Much is understood regarding the neural signals underlying basic sensorimotor processes, as well as the cognitive processes involved in reasoning, problem solving, and language. However, understanding how high-level cognition can arise from low-level mechanisms is a long-standing open problem in cognitive science. Artificial intelligence has recently made great progress on many cognitive tasks using (deep) neural networks. At the same time, cognitive scientists have explored similar ideas, such as predictive coding for unified neural theories of learning. Thus, by bringing together ideas from cognitive science and Al we hope to generate new insights into human and machine intelligence alike. ***Confirmed invited speakers*** Jacob Andreas (MIT), Richard Baraniuk (Rice University), Tom Griffiths (Princeton University), Andrea E. Martin (Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics), Claire Sergent (Université de Paris), Agnieszka Wykowska (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia) *****Call for abstracts***** We invite abstracts for papers from all areas of cognitive science. Submissions should have a strong computational focus, and may concern research questions in low- or high-level cognition. Topics include but are not limited to… -Computational neuroscience -Artificial intelligence -Mathematical and computational models of higher-order cognition (e.g., language, decision making, inference) -Mathematical and computational models of low-level cognition (e.g., signal processing, semantic classification) -Natural language processing and computational models of language -Machine learning and Deep Learning -Empirical studies conducted in relation to either of the above Abstracts should be submitted anonymously. The main text should not exceed one A4 page (12pt font, 2.54 cm/1 inch margins), with an optional second page for additional materials such as tables, figures, and references. Abstracts can be considered for a 30-minute talk or poster. Please indicate when submitting whether you would like the abstract to be considered for a talk, poster, or both. To do so, add the labels "talk", "poster", or "talk/poster" to the title in the submission form (e.g., title: "My first submission (talk/poster)"). The deadline for submission is June 30, 2021 (11:59 pm CEST). We expect to notify authors of the decision by early August 2021. You may submit your abstracts here: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=comco2021 Further information is available on the conference website: https://comco2021.uni-osnabrueck.de/ For any inquiries please contact: comco(a)uni-osnabrueck.de Kind regards The COMCO 2021 organizing committee Michael Marino, Xenia Ohmer, Gabriela Pipa, and Juliane Schwab -- -- Juliane Schwab, M.Sc. RTG Computational Cognition Research Group Psycho- and Neurolinguistics Osnabrück University Institute of Cognitive Science Wachsbleiche 27 49090 Osnabrück Germany office: 50/104 email: jschwab(a)uos.de phone: +49-541-969-2247

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Last Call: Postdoctoral Fellowship / Fellowship for Junior Researchers, Prague, Czech Republic
by pokornam 25 May '21

25 May '21

The Institute of Computer Science (ICS) of the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS) offers FELLOWSHIPS FOR OUTSTANDING AND ENTHUSIASTIC JUNIOR RESEARCHERS, PhD holders, open to cooperation with some of the researchers of the Institute (www.cs.cas.cz) For more information on the position please see https://www.cs.cas.cz/job-offer/ics-postdoctoral-fellowship-2021/en _THE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATION IS 31ST MAY 2021._ The Czech Academy of Sciences is the biggest institution conducting basic research in the Czech Republic. It covers 54 research institutes, the Institute fo Computer Science being one of them.

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LAST CALL: Tenure Track Research Position - Computer Science, Prague, Czech Republic
by pokornam 25 May '21

25 May '21

THE CZECH ACADEMY OF SCIENCES IS THE BIGGEST INSTITUTION CONDUCTING BASIC RESEARCH IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC. IT COVERS 54 RESEARCH INSTITUTES, THE INSTITUTE OF COMPUTER SCIENCE BEING ONE OF THEM. LAST CALL: The Institute of Computer Sciences of the Czech Academy of Sciences (ICS CAS), Prague, Czech Republic, invites applications for one TENURE‐TRACK POSITION IN COMPUTER SCIENCE and related areas fitting and/or expanding its current research focus, consisting mainly of: artificial intelligence, combinatorics, complex dynamic systems, computational complexity, data-mining, mathematical logic, statistics. _THE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATION IS 31ST MAY 2021._ For more information on the position please see https://www.cs.cas.cz/job-offer/Tenure-Track-Position-Computer-Science-2021… [1], or contact us at posinfo(a)cs.cas.cz Institute of Computer Science Czech Academy of Sciences Pod Vodarenskou vezi 2 Prague 8, 182 07, Czech Republic http://www.cs.cas.cz [2] Links: ------ [1] https://www.cs.cas.cz/job-offer/Tenure-Track-Position-Computer-Science-2021… [2] http://www.cs.cas.cz/

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