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Postdoctoral research fellowships, SMQB Birmingham, UK

by Michael Biehl

Applications are invited for three 3-year research fellowships (Centre Fellows) are available within the Centre for Systems Modelling and Quantitative Biomedicine (SMQB), a new strategic activity at the University of Birmingham/UK. Relevant and up to date knowledge in one or more of the following areas: Dynamical Systems, Complex Networks Parameter Inference (including Bayesian Methods) Machine Learning, Neural Networks, Artificial Intelligence Clinical Data Analytics and Visualisation Advanced (Medical) Imaging Diagnostics and Clinical Decision Support Systems For details, see https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/CFN306/centre-fellow -- ---------------------------------------------------------- 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

May 10, 2021

ICMNS 2021 - First announcement

by Etienne Tanré

—— We apologize if you receive multiple postings of this announcement—— We are delighted to announce the 7th International Conference on Mathematical Neuroscience (ICMNS 2021). Owing to the Coronavirus outbreak, the 7th edition will take place in a virtual format, via Zoom, from the 28th of June to the 1st of July 2021, between 15:00 and 18:00 (GMT+2). ICMNS is an interdisciplinary conference series, bringing together theoretical neuroscientists and mathematicians. The conferences are aimed at scientists interested in using or developing mathematical techniques for neuroscience problems. Plenary speakers will be Olivier Faugeras (Inria Sophia Antipolis Méditerranée, France) Krešimir Josić (University of Houston, USA) Kathrin Ohla (HSU, University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg, Germany) This year, 3 out of 4 talks will be given by Early Career speakers, and there is an open call for micro-talks, delivered to the whole audience. A broad set of topics will be covered, including: Single cell and network dynamics Mean field and probabilistic descriptions of neural networks Mathematical models of synaptic plasticity Phase-amplitude reduction, and data-driven modelling Mathematical modelling of perception Please visit our website to view the preliminary programme, and subscribe to our mailing list and YouTube channel: https://www.danieleavitabile.com/icmns2021digital/ <https://www.danieleavitabile.com/icmns2021digital/> https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXClLvVl35uBrYIgN8dOZsw <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXClLvVl35uBrYIgN8dOZsw> See you online at ICMNS2021! The Organising Committee Peter Ashwin (University of Exeter, UK) Daniele Avitabile (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands) Evelyn Buckwar (Johannes Kepler University, Austria) Grégory Faye (University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France) Eva Löcherbach (Université Paris 1, Panthéon Sorbonne, France) Wilhelm Stannat (Technische Universität Berlin, Germany) Etienne Tanré (Inria Sophia Antipolis Méditerranée, France) Peter J. Thomas (Case Western Reserve University, USA)

May 7, 2021

Now Open for Applications! Remote Cognitive Science M.Sc.

by mcruz＠uni-osnabrueck.de

Dear all, We’re officially accepting students from all over the world for our new remote and digital program of the Cognitive Science M.Sc. program! Apply now and join us this Winter Semester 2021/22! The Institute of Cognitive Science at Osnabrück University is offering a new digital track of the Cognitive Science M.Sc. program, which is set to start this Winter Semester 2021/22. The DAAD-funded program targets international students who can complete most of the coursework remotely. Possible focus areas include Artificial Intelligence, Neuroinformatics, and Neuroscience. Visit our website for more details: https://vt.uos.de/cosmos Please do not hesitate to contact us (os-cosmos(a)uni-osnabrueck.de) with further inquiries! We look forward to hearing from you. Feel free to forward this to anyone you think would be interested. Best wishes, Misha Cruz Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin OS-COSMOS mishael.g.cruz(a)uni-osnabrueck.de Institut für Kognitionswissenschaften und virtUOS Universität Osnabrück

May 7, 2021

Excellence PhD opening on integration of astrocytes in the Virtual Brain (Aix-Marseille University)

by Christophe Bernard

We are offering one excellence PhD fellowship (3 years) at Aix-Marseille University within the labs of Christophe Bernard (experimental neuroscience) and Viktor Jirsa (theoretical neuroscience) at Institute of Systems Neuroscience - INS, Marseille. The project has the following objectives: A) Incorporating neuron-glia-blood vessel coupling in the generative models used in The Virtual Brain. B) Constant interplay with partners to improve the model (see below). C) Generating testable predictions to be tested experimentally in the same lab (see below). This project is part of the EU high-level training-by-research consortium “Astrotech" (http://www.astrotechproject.eu/ <https://research.ncl.ac.uk/in2pb/>), federating world-leading european groups working in the development of new technologies to explore astrocyte function in the brain. Becoming PhD within the network will offer unique training and interaction opportunities with other Astrotech members, in addition to the specific research conducted in the host lab. More information is available on the EU site: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/636442 The fellowship comes with a competitive salary (beyond national averages) within the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions scheme and with grant money for participating to training, conferences, buying equipment... In addition to the training providing within the “Astrotech" international program, the candidate will also profit ot the local "Neuroschool" graduate program (https://neuro-marseille.org/ <https://neuro-marseille.org/>) offering high-level training (in English language) in integrative neuroscience, research management and soft skills, within one of the largest neuroscience communities in France. Aix-Marseille University is one of few excellence-labelled universities (IDEX) in France, making of interdisciplinary research one of its main axes. Marseille is a vibrant city with wonderful natural surroundings and high-speed train and flight connections to many large cities in Europe. DEADLINE is 15th Dec 2021 The top-ranked candidates are then going to be interviewed orally and finally selected through a competitive, equal-opportunities procedure. Applying candidates are strongly invited to make a parallel inquiry by writing to us directly, including a CV, the name of two references and any other information that you may wish to share. Contact: christophe.bernard(a)univ-amu.fr Christophe Why you should submit your best science to eNeuro: https://www.eneuro.org/content/overview <https://www.eneuro.org/content/overview> Christophe Bernard INS - Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes UMR INSERM 1106, Aix-Marseille Université Equipe Physionet 27 Bd Jean Moulin 13385 Marseille Cedex 05 France christophe.bernard(a)univ-amu.fr +33 4 91 32 42 49 https://ins-amu.fr/physionet <https://ins-amu.fr/physionet>

May 6, 2021

ONLINE SUMMER SCHOOL IN COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE, August 2021

by Rava A. da Silveira

*CN**EURO**2021* *Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience Summer School* *14 to 21 August 2021 — Online, hosted by Tsinghua University, Beijing and IOB, Basel* *www.cneuro.net <http://www.cneuro.net>* *About CNeuro* How intelligence and behavior emerge from complex and intricate interactions within the brain remains a deep and unsolved mystery, central to an exciting area of interdisciplinary research. The past decade has seen rapid progress in experimental tools that now make it possible to monitor and manipulate brain circuits in unprecedented detail. This evolution presents challenges and opportunities for both experimentalists and theorists, as the complex algorithmics of brain function and the intricate interactions among neurons cannot be approached with experiments alone. Mathematical theory is instrumental in the emergence of theoretical insights and frameworks that can help guide experimental work and identify unifying principles of brain function. The aim of the one-week summer school will be to introduce students with a strong quantitative background (in mathematics, physics, computer science, and engineering) to the emerging field of theoretical and computational neuroscience. The course will bring together leading scientists in the field, who will deliver lectures, take part in small-group discussions, and share their personal experience and views on a range of research topics. The distinguishing feature of CNeuro is the emphasis it places on the role of systematic mathematical theory for understanding the brain, in part by stressing the connections between neuroscience, statistics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. *Faculty* Vijay Balasubramanian (University of Pennsylvania) Dmitrii Chklovskii (Flatiron Institute) Julijana Gjorgjieva (MPI for Brain Research) Christian Machens (Champalimaud Center) Kanaka Rajan (Mount Sinai) Eric Shea-Brown (University of Washington) *Organizers* Rava Azeredo da Silveira (ENS) Stella Christie (Tsinghua University) Sen Song (Tsinghua University) Louis Tao (Peking University) Xiaoqin Wang (Johns Hopkins University) Quan Wen (USTC) *Application and deadline* Please apply by 31 May 2021; details at www.cneuro.net/cneuro2021.

May 5, 2021

Phd and Postdoc Positions in Neuromorphic Computing and Software at Forschungzentrum Juelich

by Emre Neftci

The newly created Peter Gruenberg Institute-15 led by Emre Neftci at Forschungzentrum Juelich is excited to offer PhD and Postdoc positions in the area of neuromorphic engineering. We are looking for creative researchers with interest in brain-inspired machine learning and neuromorphic hardware. To see full descriptions and apply, please follow these links: https://www.fz-juelich.de/SharedDocs/Stellenangebote/_common/dna/2021D-049-… https://www.fz-juelich.de/SharedDocs/Stellenangebote/_common/dna/2021-175-E… Applications are due May 10 and 21 respectively, but we'll continue reading applications until the positions are filled. Please contact me directly for any questions. Emre Neftci -- Emre Neftci, PhD, Assistant Professor, Neuromorphic Machine Intelligence Lab (http://nmi-lab.org/) Department of Cognitive Sciences, 2308 Social & Behavioral Sciences Gateway Building, UC Irvine 92697-5100

May 5, 2021

Excellent academic resource for junior and senior scholars

by Barbora Wichterlova

Dear All, I would like to share with the community the mentor-mentee platform called Figbox: https://figbox.co/ <https://figbox.co/>. Who is behind figbox? The platform was developed by two postdocs at Yale and Harvard to help Early Career Researchers and PhD students in the field of computational neuroscience, physics, neurobiology, biochemistry, linguistics, physiology and more. Currently there are over 20k mentors and mentees on figbox. What do it actually do? Figbox allows junior scholars to find mentors willing to provide general advice on the following: thesis topics, experimental designs, publication, and more. It also allows junior scholars the ability to receive double-blind reviews of their working papers, sections of their thesis and grants before they officially submit. What do you gain as a mentor? For those who are curious about the benefits of mentoring junior scholars, see: https://figbox.co/benefit/ <https://figbox.co/benefit/> is it free? yes, mentors and mentee can sign up safely and securely using their ORCID account With best regards, BW

May 4, 2021

Workshop on Spatial brain dynamics

by Henrik Anders Lindén

Dear colleagues, We are organizing an online workshop on Spatial brain dynamics on May 11-13 that may be of interest to some of you. For details and registration see https://in.ku.dk/seminars-and-events/upcoming-events/workshop-spatial-brain… The meeting is free but registration is required. Confirmed speakers: - György Buzsáki NYU .N.Y. USA - Sonja Grün, Forschungscentrum Jülich, Germany - Kenneth Harris, UCL, London, UK - Jennifer Li & Drew Robson, Max Planck, Tübingen, Germany - David McCormick, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA - Bruce McNaughton, University of California Irvine, CA, USA - Thomas Mrsic-Flogel , Sainsbury Wellcome Center, UK - Carl Petersen, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland - Terry Sejnowski, Salk Institute, La Jolla , CA, USA All the best, Per Roland and Henrik Lindén Contact: Per E. Roland Professor of Neurodynamics, M.D., PhD Department of Neuroscience Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Copenhagen per.ebbe.roland(a)sund.ku.dk<mailto:per.ebbe.roland@sund.ku.dk> Henrik Lindén Assistant professor, PhD Department of Neuroscience Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Copenhagen hlinden(a)sund.ku.dk<mailto:hlinden@sund.ku.dk>

May 4, 2021

NMA application deadline approaching!

by Gunnar Blohm

Applications for the Neuromatch Academy Computational Neuroscience (NMA-CN) and Deep Learning (NMA-DL) courses are approaching fast. Deadline: *May 7, 2021*! Apply as a student (flexible / waivable fee), or paid teaching assistant ($1,500 USD salary). Fore more details, please see here: https://academy.neuromatch.io/ -- Dr. Gunnar BLOHM Neuroscience Graduate Coordinator Professor in Computational Neuroscience Queen's U, Kingston, ON, 18 Stuart Str, Botterell Hall Rm 229 http://www.compneurosci.com/

May 3, 2021

New Book: Models of the Mind: How physics, mathematics, and engineering have shaped our understanding of the brain

by Grace Lindsay

*Models of the Mind: How physics, mathematics, and engineering have shaped our understanding of the brain* by Grace Lindsay Models of the Mind is a popular science book that covers the history and present of computational neuroscience. Each chapter focuses on an individual topic ranging from single neuron models (e.g., leaky integrate-and-fire and Hodgkin-Huxley) through to population models such as the Hopfield Network and onto models of behavior. The book is geared toward a general audience and may be a useful resource for undergraduate courses. More information on the book and how to get it here: https://gracewlindsay.com/2021/02/10/models-of-the-mind-how-physics-enginee… What reviewers have said: "This book is an anthology of the scientific poetry that has illuminated our studies and conceptions of the brain" - Larry Abbott "An engrossing history of science and enlightening guide to neuroscience's current frontiers." - Liam Drew "Grace Lindsay provides a masterful tour of this important frontier, tackling intimidating topics with verve and wit." - Sean Carroll

May 3, 2021

Research Fellow / Postdoc positions in Complex Networks and Brain Dynamics

by pokornam

We are looking for new team members to join the COMPLEX NETWORKS AND BRAIN DYNAMICS GROUP to work on its interdisciplinary projects. The group is part of the Department of Complex Systems, Institute of Computer Science of the Czech Academy of Sciences - based in Prague, Czech Republic. We focus on the development and application of methods of analysis and modelling of real-world complex networked systems, with particular interest in the structure and dynamics of human brain function. Our main research areas are neuroimaging data analysis (fMRI & EEG, iEEG, anatomical and diffusion MRI), brain dynamics modelling, causality and information flow inference, nonlinearity and nonstationarity, graph theory, machine learning and multivariate statistics; with applications in neuroscience, climate research, economics and general communication networks. More information about the group at http://cobra.cs.cas.cz/ [1]. For more information on the positions please see https://www.cs.cas.cz/job-offer/COBRA-postdoc-positions-Hlinka3/cs Institute of Computer Science Czech Academy of Sciences Pod Vodarenskou vezi 2 Prague 8, 182 07, Czech Republic [1] Links: ------ [1] http://cobra.cs.cas.cz/

May 3, 2021

Bernstein Conference 2021 - Submission of Satellite Workshop Proposals - Deadline approaching on May 10

by Anja Dorrn

The Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience invites proposals for Satellite Workshops at the online Bernstein Conference 2021 ____ BERNSTEIN CONFERENCE Each year the Bernstein Network invites the international computational neuroscience community to the annual Bernstein Conference for intensive scientific exchange. It has established itself as one of the most 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, from Sep 21-23, 2021. www.bernstein-conference.de<http://www.bernstein-conference.de> ____ IMPORTANT DATES - Satellite Workshops: September 21, 2021, 2 pm – 10 pm CEST - Main Conference: September 22-23, 2021 - Deadline for Satellite Workshop proposal submission: May 10, 2021 - Notification of workshop acceptance: planned in June 2021 ____ WORKSHOP PROPOSALS Satellite Workshops of the Bernstein Conference provide a stage to discuss topical research questions, novel scientific approaches and challenges in Computational Neuroscience and related fields. Workshops addressing controversial issues, open problems, and comparisons of competing approaches are encouraged. The format should be designed to foster debate, rather than a series of talks. The Workshop Selection Committee will take scientific excellence, topical relevance gender diversity and variety of career levels into account as their selection criteria. Workshop proposals are welcome as flexible formats of 4-8 hours (all workshops will start at 2 pm CEST, but will end based on individual schedules) Workshop Proposal Forms can be downloaded here: https://bit.ly/BC21_workshops Please submit the completed form to bernstein.conference(a)fz-juelich.de<mailto:bernstein.conference@fz-juelich.de> Deadline: May 10, 2021 – not to be extended Workshop organizers and all speakers will receive a waiver for the online conference. ____ WORKSHOP SELECTION COMMITTEE Marion Silies (Workshop Chair) Moritz Helias (Workshop Vice Chair) Matthew Botvinick Megan Carey Peter Dayan Brent Doiron Rainer Friedrich Julijana Gjiorgjieva (Program Chair) Ann Hermundstad Christian Machens (Program Vice Chair) Srdjan Ostojic Nathalie Rochefort Nicole Rust Gasper Tkacik ____ For any further questions, please contact: bernstein.conference(a)fz-juelich.de<mailto:bernstein.conference@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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

May 3, 2021

Research placement positions at Secondmind Labs

by Hrvoje Stojic

Dear all We have just opened five research placement positions at [Secondmind Labs](https://www.secondmind.ai/labs/), based in Cambridge, United Kingdom. The overall area for the placements is Gaussian process models and Bayesian optimisation. The placements are three months long and are typically targeted at PD candidates. More details, including some placement proposals, can be found [here](https://boards.greenhouse.io/secondmind/jobs/5205946002). Note that it is also possible for applicants to propose their own topics for the placement. Kind regards, Hrvoje ----------------------------- Hrvoje Stojic, PhD Web: [https://hstojic.re/](http://hstojic.re/)

May 1, 2021

The Algonauts Project 2021 Challenge- How the Human Brain Makes Sense of a World in Motion

by Gemma Roig

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce a new challenge sponsored by The Algonauts Project <http://algonauts.csail.mit.edu/>: How the Human Brain Makes Sense of a World in Motion. We invite you to join us in a competition to develop the best computer model of how the human brain perceives videos of everyday events. Participants who come up with a model that most closely matches recorded brain data will be invited to present their work at a virtual workshop on Sept. 7, 2021 at this year’s Conference on Cognitive Computational Neuroscience (CCN <https://ccneuro.org/2021/>). Submission deadline: Aug. 15, 2021. The Algonauts Project: http://algonauts.csail.mit.edu/ <http://algonauts.csail.mit.edu/> CCN Workshop: How the Human Brain Makes Sense of a World in Motion Sept. 7, 2021 Organizers will summarize the outcome and provide hands-on tutorials. Challenge winners will present the results of their work. We look forward to seeing you at the workshop in September, and we hope you will consider joining the challenge! Best wishes, The Algonauts Project Team Algonauts 2021 Project Team: Radoslaw Cichy, Freie Universität Berlin Aude Oliva, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Gemma Roig, Goethe University Frankfurt Alex Andonian, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Kshitij Dwivedi, Goethe University Frankfurt Monika Graumann, Freie Universität Berlin Polina Iamshchinina, Freie Universität Berlin Kendrick Kay, University of Minnesota Benjamin Lahner, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Alex Lascelles, Massachusetts Institute of Technology N Ratan Murty, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

April 30, 2021

Excellence PhD opening on advanced analyses of monkey recordings in parieto-motor cortices (Aix-Marseille University)

by BATTAGLIA Demian

We are offering one excellence PhD fellowship (3 years) at Aix-Marseille University within the labs of Bjorg Kilavik (experimental electrophysiology; Timone Institute of Neuroscience - INT, Marseille) and Demian Battaglia (computational neuroscience; Institute of Systems Neuroscience - INS, Marseille & University of Strasbourg Institute of Advanced Studies - USIAS). The project will involve the analysis with advanced computational methods (network and activity pattern analyses, machine learning, information theory...) of laminar-specific recordings in parietal and motor cortices of non-human primates. The aim will be to investigate the role of different cortical layers and of their dynamic interactions, mediating the processing and integration of information from bottom-up and top-down sources, in the encoding of motor plans and behaviors. This project corresponds to "ESR1" (https://research.ncl.ac.uk/in2pb/phdprojects/esr1/) within the EU high-level training-by-research consortium "In2PrimateBrains" (https://research.ncl.ac.uk/in2pb/) federating world-leading european groups working in non-human primate neuroscience research. Becoming PhD within the network will offer unique training and interaction opportunities with other In2PrimateBrains members, in addition to the specific research conducted in the host lab. Depending on the profile of the candidate, the PhD project will revolve on the computational analysis side of existing data or may also include the possibility to learn how to acquire new recordings, in a mixed experimental-theoretical project. The fellowship comes with a competitive salary (beyond national averages) within the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions scheme and with grant money for participating to training, conferences, buying equipment... In addition to the training providing within the "In2PrimateBrains" international program, the candidate will also profit ot the local "Neuroschool" graduate program (https://neuro-marseille.org/) offering high-level training (in English language) in integrative neuroscience, research management and soft skills, within one of the largest neuroscience communities in France. Aix-Marseille University is one of few excellence-labelled universities (IDEX) in France, making of interdisciplinary research one of its main axes. Marseille is a vibrant city with wonderful natural surroundings and high-speed train and flight connections to many large cities in Europe. The interesting candidate will file an application through an online form (https://research.ncl.ac.uk/in2pb/phdprojects/) selecting Project "ESR1 - Layer-specific dynamics of parieto-motor networks during visually-guided arm reaching behaviour" as first choice (other projects described on the website can be selected as second and third choice). DEADLINE is 15th May 2021 The top-ranked candidates are then going to be interviewed orally and finally selected through a competitive, equal-opportunities procedure. Applying candidates are strongly invited to make a parallel inquiry by writing to us directly, including a CV, the name of two references and any other information that you may wish to share. Demian Battaglia - demian.battaglia(a)univ-amu.fr Bjorg Kilavik - bjorg.kilavik(a)univ-amu.fr

April 30, 2021

Two Postdoctoral Scholar Positions at Washington University in St. Louis

by Shuo Wang

Our lab will be moving to Washington University in St. Louis in July 2021. 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. Shuo Wang, Ph.D. Assistant Professor West Virginia University https://wangshuo45.wixsite.com/shuowang

April 30, 2021

New Master’s programme Applied Data Science in Göttingen, Germany

by Ecker, Alexander

*New Master’s program Applied Data Science in Göttingen, Germany* https://uni-goettingen.de/msc/datascience In the upcoming winter term, we are launching the new international Master’s programme Applied Data Science at the University of Göttingen. The study programme is characterised by its interdisciplinary nature. Students holding a Bachelor’s degree in data science, computer science or mathematics are welcome, as well as graduates from other fields. We want to equip students with both in-depth knowledge of the key mathematical, statistical and computer science methods for Data Science as well as to make sure they understand how to use these methods in an application domain. Currently, the following application domains can be chosen: Computational Neuroscience, Bioinformatics, Medical Data Science, and Digital Humanities. The Göttingen Campus features an amazing variety of data-intensive research from natural and life sciences to social science and humanities. It includes top-notch research institutions like five Max Planck Institutes, the German Primate Center and the German Aerospace Center. Göttingen a university town located in the centre of Germany and Europe, in a region known for its green hills, lovely small towns with half-timbered houses and the Harz Mountains. Well-connected through motorways and high-speed trains, it is a great place to discover Germany and Europe. For further information see https://uni-goettingen.de/msc/datascience or the flyer: https://owncloud.gwdg.de/index.php/s/gBeb11Io6mw9XiR

April 29, 2021

WWNeurise series on naturalistic behavior & applications/recommendations

by William Podlaski

WorldWideNeuRise will host several online talks throughout May-June on the topic of naturalistic behavior from the following speakers: Wednesday, 5 May, 5pm CET Asaf Gal (Kronauer Lab, The Rockefeller University, USA) Daniel Knebel (Ayali Lab, Tel Aviv University, Israel) Wednesday, 19 May, 5pm CET Constanze Lenschow (Lima Lab, Champalimaud Research, Portugal) Takashi Yamaguchi (Lin Lab, NYU, USA) Wednesday, 2 June, 5pm CET Ayelet Sarel (Ulanovsky Lab, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel) Tu Anh Nguyen Thi (el Jundi Lab, University of Wuerzburg, Germany) Wednesday, 16 June, 5pm CET Yael Bitterman (Luethi Lab, Friedrich Miescher Institute, Switzerland) Adam Calhoun (Murthy Lab, Princeton University, USA) 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)

April 29, 2021

Open Position for a PhD Candidate at the Donders Centre for Cognition

by Nasir Ahmad

*Dear Colleagues,* *We invite applicants for a PhD position on 'Bio-inspired learning algorithms for efficient and robust neural network models with a focus on neuromorphic computing and control of complex environments'.* https://www.ru.nl/english/working-at/vacature/details-vacature/?recid=11475… This project is embedded within the European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS) Unit in Radboud AI. The aim is to develop highly effective algorithms for training artificial neural network models which make use of (biologically plausible) information local to the individual nodes of the network. This locality will allow efficient implementation and testing of these algorithms on neuromorphic computing systems. The efficacy of the algorithms will be tested in the context of relevant reinforcement learning tasks using a control system theoretic approach to interaction with modelled environments. This work entails a theoretical (mathematical) development of state-of-the-art biologically plausible learning rules and reinforcement learning strategies alongside implementation/testing of these algorithms in the form of neuromorphic computing algorithms and agent-based artificial neural network modelling. We offer you a full-time (100%) position for 4 years. This project is supervised by Prof. van Gerven, Dr Nasir Ahmad and Dr. Bodo Rueckauer. You will be employed at the Artificial Intelligence department of the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, where you will have the opportunity to collaborate and interact with renowned international experts in machine learning, computational neuroscience and neuromorphic computing. You will also benefit from the extensive training programme of the Donders Graduate School. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to supervise MSc and BSc students in their thesis projects. 10% of your appointment will be devoted to support tasks in the ELLIS unit, such as helping to organise ELLIS activities or (co)supervision of ELLIS-related projects. If you are interested, please follow the link below for more information and instruction on how to apply: https://www.ru.nl/english/working-at/vacature/details-vacature/?recid=11475… The deadline is 16th May 2021. Feel free to email me or Marcel van Gerven ( marcel.vangerven(a)donders.ru.nl) with any questions/thoughts. Best wishes, Nasir Ahmad

April 29, 2021

Doctoral positions in experimental and computational neuroscience in Mainz and Frankfurt, Germany

by Matthias Kaschube

POSITIONS: The groups of Simon Rumpel at the Medical Center of the University of Mainz and Matthias Kaschube at FIAS in Frankfurt, Germany, together have openings for fully funded doctoral positions in experimental and computational neuroscience. The two groups tightly interact on several interdisciplinary joint projects funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). Research combines behavioral learning assays, chronic imaging of synapses and activity patterns in the auditory cortex of mice, machine learning-assisted image analysis and data analysis, and neural circuit modelling. The overarching goal of these projects is to gain a deeper understanding of the neural underpinnings of adaptive, yet stable behavior by bridging studies of the dynamic connectome, large scale population activity and behavioral learning. The positions are available immediately. LAB ENVIRONMENTS: The experimental work will be carried out at the Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz offering methodology for advanced approaches in systems neuroscience including two-photon microscopy and molecular interventions using AAV vector systems (www.unimedizin-mainz.de/agrumpel) The theoretical work will be carried out primarily at FIAS, a research institution dedicated to fundamental theoretical research in various areas of science (https://www.fias.science/en/neuroscience/research-groups/matthias-kaschube/) FIAS hosts state-of-the-art facilities and has tight links to neuroscience centers at the Goethe University, the Max-Planck Institute for Brain Research and the Ernst Strüngmann Institute for Neuroscience. The Rhine-Main area including the cities of Frankfurt and Mainz is a vibrant metropolitan area in the heart of Europe and boasts a rich cultural community. Due to the strong interactive nature, mutual short- and long-term visits in both labs will be part of the project. QUALIFICATIONS: This call for applications is geared towards theoreticians as well as experimentalists, and also offers a unique opportunity to all who see themselves in between the two poles. Selection criteria include scientific enthusiasm, strong experimental or quantitative skills and past research accomplishments. Applicants must have received training and a master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant quantitative discipline including biomedicine, biology, computer science or physics. Previous experience in neurobiology is advantageous but not essential. APPLYING: Applicants should email a brief letter of intent, a detailed CV and the names of at least two scientists who can give references (in a single PDF) to Simon Rumpel (sirumpel(a)uni-mainz.de, emphasis on the experimental aspects) or Matthias Kaschube (kaschube(a)fias.uni-frankfurt.de emphasis on the computational aspects). The position is available immediately, and we look forward to reviewing applications as they arrive. Both Mainz University and FIAS are dedicated to building a diverse community in its training and employment programs.

April 29, 2021

3 days remaining to submit a "Trainee Talk" for the second Canadian Computational Neuroscience Spotlight

by Scott Rich

The second edition of the Canadian Computational Neuroscience Spotlight (CCNSv2) is fast approaching, with the meeting taking place this coming May 17-18. We now have a permanent homepage for the meeting at ccnsmeeting.ca where you can see details on our finalized list of speakers and our four fantastic session chairs: Drs. Maurizio De Pitta, Etay Hay, Carmen Canavier, and Bratislav Misic. *There are now three days remaining for trainees (undergrads, grad students, postdocs, and research scientists) to submit an abstract for a "trainee talk" via https://forms.gle/bsbrvZca6F1q62RA6 <https://forms.gle/bsbrvZca6F1q62RA6>*. We anticipate all submissions that reasonably fall under the broad banner of "computational neuroscience" will be accepted unless the demand far exceeds our expectations. Talks will either be 8 minutes (with 2 minutes for questions) or 12 minutes (with 3 minutes for questions) depending on the demand. Four submissions that are both the most meritorious and best correspond with the themes of our sessions will be offered a longer, "spotlight" presentation. Please be sure to register for the meeting itself at https://www.crowdcast.io/e/ccnsv2/register if you submit a trainee abstract. Please feel free to spread the news about our meeting to anyone who might be interested as well! We look forward to seeing you at CCNSv2. Sincerely, – Scott Rich, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Krembil Research Institute – Andreea Diaconescu, Ph.D. Independent Scientist, Krembil Center for Neuroinformatics at CAMH – John Griffiths, Ph.D. Independent Scientist, Krembil Center for Neuroinformatics at CAMH – Milad Lankarany, Ph.D. Scientist, Krembil Research Institute

April 28, 2021

Open PhD Position on Machine Learning for Brain Connectivity in Clinical Neuroscience

by Emanuele Olivetti

We are pleased to announce the opening of one PhD position in neuroinformatics at the International Doctoral School in Cognitive and Brain Sciences (CIMeC) of the University of Trento, Italy. The PhD Grant is funded by the Neuroinformatics Laboratory (NILab) of Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK). The position is part of the “Neusurplan” project, an integrated approach to neurosurgery planning based on multimodal and longitudinal data. Neuroimaging methods, like structural, functional, and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), can be used to investigate the anatomical and functional connectivity of the brain. In this project, the candidate will pursue research on machine learning methods for neuroimaging data analysis to study and characterize brain connectivity, with applications to longitudinal studies and clinical practice. The ideal candidate should have a mixed background in neuroimaging techniques and numerate disciplines, like computer science, engineering, physics, or mathematics. This project is in collaboration with the Division of Neurosurgery, S. Chiara Hospital, Trento (IT). The position is for a 4 year PhD program (Nov. 1, 2020- Oct. 31, 2024). Courses are in English. The salary is starting at approximately €1.200/mo., net. An additional personal budget of around €5.000 is provided for research and mobility. The University of Trento ranks among top Italian Universities ( https://www.unitn.it/en/ateneo/1636/rankings) Fondazione Bruno Kessler ranks first among the Italian research centers in Engineering and Computer Science ( https://magazine.fbk.eu/en/news/fbk-ranks-1st-in-italy-for-scientific-excel… ). Why choose Trento? ( http://www.unitn.it/en/ateneo/1629/why-choose-the-university-of-trento) Important dates: Deadline for application: 25 May 2021 Evaluation interview: 28 June 2021 Beginning of PhD program: 1 November 2021 Apply now: https://www.unitn.it/en/ateneo/1942/announcement-of-selection https://www.unitn.it/drcimec/105/2021-topic-specific-grants-and-descriptions You are kindly invited to contact in advance Emanuele Olivetti ( olivetti(a)fbk.eu) and Paolo Avesani (paolo.avesani(a)unitn.it) Recent related publications: - Giulia Bertò, Daniel Bullock, Pietro Astolfi, Soichi Hayashi, Luca Zigiotto, Luciano Annicchiarico, Francesco Corsini, Alessandro De Benedictis, Silvio Sarubbo, Franco Pestilli, Paolo Avesani, Emanuele Olivetti, "Classifyber, a robust streamline-based linear classifier for white matter bundle segmentation", Neuroimage, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117402 - Gabriele Amorosino, Denis Peruzzo, Pietro Astolfi, Daniela Redaelli, Paolo Avesani, Filippo Arrigoni, Emanuele Olivetti, "Automatic Tissue Segmentation with Deep Learning in Patients with Congenital or Acquired Distortion of Brain Anatomy", Machine Learning in Clinical Neuroimaging and Radiogenomics in Neuro-oncology (MLCN 2020), https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-66843-3_2 - Pietro Astolfi, Ruben Verhagen, Laurent Petit, Emanuele Olivetti, Jonathan Masci, Davide Boscaini, Paolo Avesani, "Tractogram filtering of anatomically non-plausible fibers with geometric deep learning", Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention (MICCAI 2020), https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59728-3_29 -- Emanuele Olivetti, Ph.D. Senior Research Scientist at Bruno Kessler Foundation (FBK-ICT) NeuroInformatics Laboratory (NILab) http://nilab.fbk.eu Center for Mind and Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento Via delle Regole 101 - 38123 Mattarello (Trento), ITALY olivetti(a)fbk.eu - +39 0461314179 emanuele.olivetti(a)unitn.it - +39 0461282760 -- -- Le informazioni contenute nella presente comunicazione sono di natura privata e come tali sono da considerarsi riservate ed indirizzate esclusivamente ai destinatari indicati e per le finalità strettamente legate al relativo contenuto. Se avete ricevuto questo messaggio per errore, vi preghiamo di eliminarlo e di inviare una comunicazione all’indirizzo e-mail del mittente. -- The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material.

April 28, 2021

Open positions in the Vogels Lab

by Tim Vogels

Dear Colleagues, the Vogels lab has two open postdoctoral positions. TL;DR, if you liked our last NeurIPS paper https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.10.24.353409v1 <https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.10.24.353409v1> and you think you can contribute and imagine, oh, the places we’ll go from here,…from one of the most liveable cities in the world, … DO apply. — We are looking for at least two scientists to join the vogelslab.org as postdocs at the @ISTAustria near Vienna. The successful candidate will join an ongoing ERC funded project to discover families of spike-induced synaptic plasticity rules by way of numerical derivation. Together, we will define and explore search spaces of biologically plausible plasticity rules expressed e.g., as polynomial expansions or multi layer perceptrons. We aim to compare the results to various experimental and theoretical data sets, including functional spiking network models, human stem-cell derived neural network cultures, in vitro and in vivo experimental data. We are looking for someone who can expand and develop our multipurpose modular library dedicated to optimization of non-differentiable systems. Due to the modularity of the library, the candidate will have extensive freedom regarding which optimization techniques to use and what to learn in which systems, but being a team player will be a crucial skill. A conceivably successful candidate will have a strong expertise in numerical simulations, and specifically spiking neuron models, and some knowledge in the field of synaptic plasticity. A strong background in applied maths, especially in numerical optimization would be desirable. Some of the questions we ponder: How to express high dimensional rules in However, we can hire more than one person, and we would also be interested in someone who can contribute to design, implementation and maintenance of a library dedicated to performing numerical optimization in non-differentiable systems on large scales. We are thinking about how to simulate spiking neural networks with complex, unsupervised and supervised plasticity rules efficiently, in parallel, on a cluster. Depending on your (flexible, possibly immediate) starting date we can offer up to 4-year contracts with competitive salaries, benefits, vacation time and ample budget for materials and travel in a tranquil and inspiring environment. The Vogelslab, and the IST Austria is located in Klosterneuburg, a historic city northwest of Vienna. The campus is located in the middle of the beautiful landscape of the Vienna Woods, 30 minutes from downtown Vienna, the capital of Austria that consistently scores in the top cities of the world for its high standard of living. If you are interested, send an email with your application to Jessica . deAntoni [at] ist.ac.at. Your application should include your CV, your most relevant publication, contact information for 2 or more references, and a cover letter with a short description of you & your career, and a brief discussion of what you think is the greatest weakness of the above mentioned NeurIPS paper (and maybe how you would go about fixing it). We are looking to build a diverse and interesting environment, so if you bring any qualities that make our lab (and computational neuroscience at large) more diverse than it is right now, please consider applying. We will begin to evaluate applications at the end of April and aim to get back to you with a decision within 5 weeks of your application. We are also looking for people with a strong background in maths and machine learning, and an intense interest in neuroscience. Specifically, we will focus on (GABAergic, <http://www.neurotheory.ox.ac.uk/~timv/pub/VogelsScience2011.pdf> codependent <http://www.neurotheory.ox.ac.uk/~timv/pub/Hennequin2017.pdf>, and machine-learning inspired <https://fzenke.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/ZenkeGanguli2018_SuperSpike.p…>) synaptic plasticity, and modulated <https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-018-0276-0> neural network dynamics. <http://www.neurotheory.ox.ac.uk/~timv/pub/HennequinNeuron2014.pdf> Finally, we are keen to hear from women and members of underrepresented groups in neuroscience. Please email me with any questions or thoughts. Best wishes, Tim Vogels --- Professor Neurotheory IST Austria vogelslab.org +43 2243 9000 2170

April 27, 2021

Post-doc in the Neurophysiology of Attention & Decision Making at UCLA

by Bisley, James

Apologies for cross-posting We invite applications for a post-doc position studying the interactions of attention and decision making in parietal cortex. The work will include recording from cortical areas MT and LIP while animals perform a visual search task utilizing moving dot patterns. For more information about the sort of work done in the lab, check out our publications at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/james.bisley.2/bibliography/public/. Applicants should have a strong background in systems neurophysiology, behavioral training or computational neuroscience and be comfortable working independently on all aspects of the project. Previous experience with NHP recording and data analysis is desirable. Candidates should hold a PhD in neuroscience, psychology or a related discipline. The position is initially for 12 months with the possibility of renewal. Compensation will be commensurate with relevant experience. Candidates should send a CV, a brief statement of research experience and interests, expected date of availability, and the contact information for two references to James Bisley (jbisley(a)mednet.ucla.edu<mailto:jbisley@mednet.ucla.edu>). Cheers, James ________________________________ UCLA HEALTH SCIENCES IMPORTANT WARNING: This email (and any attachments) is only intended for the use of the person or entity to which it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. You, the recipient, are obligated to maintain it in a safe, secure and confidential manner. Unauthorized redisclosure or failure to maintain confidentiality may subject you to federal and state penalties. If you are not the intended recipient, please immediately notify us by return email, and delete this message from your computer.

April 26, 2021

Postdoc position on causal explanations in reinforcement learning at the University of Vienna

by Moritz Grosse-Wentrup

We have an opening for a postdoc position in the Research Group Neuroinformatics at the University of Vienna [1]. The position is funded by the CHIST-ERA project CausalXRL - Causal eXplanations in Reinforcement Learning [2]. The project aims to equip reinforcement learning agents with causal structure learning and reasoning abilities, enabling them to explore their environment more efficiently and justify their actions, e.g., in medical decision support. All work will be done in close collaboration with partners at the University of Sheffield and Inria Lille. The position is available for three years, with an earliest (but reasonably flexible) starting date on July 1st. Salary is according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement for university staff at the University of Vienna (job group B1 100% [3]). Our ideal candidate would have * a background in computer science or mathematics, * recently finished their Ph.D. on reinforcement learning or causality, * published first-author papers at internationally recognized machine learning conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, UAI, ECML) or in prominent journals. We will consider all applicants with a strong track record in machine learning or artificial intelligence. We strive to be a heterogeneous research team and particularly welcome applications by women, transgender and intersex candidates, people of colour, disabled applicants and candidates from other underrepresented groups. Disabled applicants will receive preference over equally qualified non-disabled applicants. Your application should include a cover letter, a CV, relevant transcripts, and contact information of at least two referees. Please submit your application documents (as one PDF file) to fsg.neuroinformatics(a)univie.ac.at. We will begin screening applications on May 17th. Applications will be considered until the position is filled. Our offices are in downtown Vienna, which has been ranked the most liveable city globally for two years in a row [4]. The University of Vienna is one of Europe's largest universities (with >90k students) and has a vibrant research community. If you have any questions before applying, please contact me at moritz.grosse-wentrup(a)univie.ac.at! 1. https://ni.cs.univie.ac.at/ 2. https://www.chistera.eu/projects/causalxrl 3. https://personalwesen.univie.ac.at/en/jobs-recruiting/job-center/salary-sch… 4. https://www.eiu.com/topic/liveability -- Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Moritz Grosse-Wentrup Research Group Neuroinformatics Faculty of Computer Science University of Vienna Hörlgasse 6, A-1090 Wien, Austria moritz.grosse-wentrup(a)univie.ac.at +43-1-4277-79610 http://neural.engineering/

April 26, 2021