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postdoctoral positions in computational neuroscience at IIT, Italy
by Stefano Panzeri 24 Apr '19

24 Apr '19

Two postdoctoral positions will be available at Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia) to work with me (Stefano Panzeri https://www.iit.it/people/stefano-panzeri) in the laboratory of Neural Computation. The laboratory investigates, by developing and using advanced data analysis methods and neural network models, how circuits of neurons in the brain encode information and use it to produce appropriate behaviors. The positions on offer would leave the candidate the choice of developing a research project of mutual interest within this research area. The laboratory offers a wide range of interdisciplinary expertise in computational neuroscience, including both advanced neural analysis techniques and neural network modeling. The laboratory also offers a thriving, ambitious research environment which is well funded (including several grants from the NIH Brain Initiative). Moreover, the laboratory offers extensive long-term international collaborations with empirical neuroscience laboratories (including Chris Harvey at Harvard Medical School, Wei Lee at Children’s Hospital, Christoph Kayser at Bielefeld, Nikos Logothetis at Tuebingen, Mathew Diamond at SISSA, Tommaso Fellin and Cristina Becchio at the IIT, Alex Thiele at Newcastle) and ample opportunities for advanced training and personal scientific growth. I seek candidates holding a PhD in a numerate or neuroscientific discipline, with a solid computational background and a keen interest in neuroscience. They must be highly motivated and creative individuals who want to work in a dynamic, multi-disciplinary research environment and be willing to interact with both experimental and theoretical neuroscientists. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to conduct research at the IIT center in Rovereto (Italy), or at the IIT headquarters in Genova, (Italy). For representative recent publications from my lab, please see: Runyan C. A., et al (2017) Distinct timescales of population coding across cortex, Nature: 548: 92-96. Panzeri S., et al (2017) Cracking the neural code for sensory perception by combining statistics, intervention and behaviour. Neuron 93: 491-507 Safaai, H., et al (2015) Modelling the effect of Locus Coeruleous firing on single trial cortical state dynamics and sensory processing. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 112(41): 12834–12839 Further information about my research can be found at my IIT and Google Scholar web pages: https://www.iit.it/people/stefano-panzeri https://scholar.google.it/citations?user=C-HCQ9cAAAAJ&hl=en Applications (full CV, statement of research interest and name and contact of 2 referees) should be sent by e-mail to stefano.panzeri(a)iit.it, quoting “Postdoctoral position in Computational Neuroscience” in the subject line. The deadline for applications is May 18th, 2019. Applications will be examined until the position is filled. Interested applicants are advised to contact me by email informally as soon as possible to discuss about the science and the position informally. Thanks Stefano Panzeri

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First Call for Papers: Neurodegeneration and Language - Special Session on Language Disorders
by Dimitrios Kokkinakis 24 Apr '19

24 Apr '19

*Call for Papers [apologies for x-posting]* *Neurodegeneration and Language - Special Session on Language Disorders* *Special session date*: September 27th, 2019 Lisbon, Portugal, co-located with ExLing-2019 *Website*: https://spraakbanken.gu.se/eng/neural-2019 *Submissions*: https://exlingworkshop.com/exling-2019/special-sessions-2019.html *Deadline of extended abstract submission**: *July 1st, 2019 *Contact**:* dimitrios _DOT_ kokkinakis _AT_ gu _DOT_ se *NEURodegeneration And Language (NEURAL 2019)* is a special session on language disorders which will take place in the context of *ExLing 2019 <https://www.exlingworkshop.com/>* in Lisbon, Portugal, 27 September 2019, under the auspices of *Centro de Linguística da Universidade de Lisboa.* The *NEURAL 2019* special session aims to advance our knowledge on language disorders and the development of experimental methods for the analysis and processing of speech and language. Special emphasis is put on interdisciplinary approaches among different research areas, including computational linguistics (CL), (cognitively inspired) natural language processing (NLP), speech acoustics, and also other related areas and modalities, including wearable, vision, and ambient sensor technologies . The special session programme will contain a combination of oral and poster papers on main areas of language disorders. Furthermore, attendees will have opportunities of free discussions among *NEURAL 2019* as well as *ExLing 2019 <https://www.exlingworkshop.com/>* participants. Submission of 4-page papers related to the above aims of the special session *NEURAL 2019* are welcome at <https://www.exlingworkshop.com/exling-2019/submissions-2019.html> https://www.exlingworkshop.com/exling-2019/special-sessions-2019.html

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DeepMath 2019 Call for Contributions
by Ahmed El Hady 21 Apr '19

21 Apr '19

*ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS* ** * The 2019 Conference on Mathematical Theory of Deep Neural Networks (DeepMath 2019) Princeton Club, New York City, Oct 31-Nov 1 2019. Web: https://www.deepmath-conference.com/ ======= Important Dates ======= Submission deadline for 1-page abstracts: June 28, 2019 Notification: TBA. Conference: Oct 31-Nov 1 2019. ======= Confirmed speakers ======= Anima Anandkumar (CalTech), Yasaman Bahri (Google), Minmin Chen (Google), Michael Elad (Technion), Surya Ganguli (Stanford), Tomaso Poggio (MIT), David Schwab (CUNY), Shai Shalev-Shwartz (Hebrew University), Haim Sompolinsky (Hebrew University and Harvard), and Naftali Tishby (Hebrew University). ======= Workshop topic ======= Recent advances in deep neural networks (DNNs), combined with open, easily-accessible implementations, have made DNNs a powerful, versatile method used widely in both machine learning and neuroscience. These advances in practical results, however, have far outpaced a formal understanding of these networks and their training. Recently, long-past-due theoretical results have begun to emerge, shedding light on the properties of large, adaptive, distributed learning architectures. Following the success of the 2018 IAS-Princeton joint symposium on the same topic (https://sites.google.com/site/princetondeepmath/home) the 2019 meeting is more centrally located and broader in scope, but remains focused on rigorous theoretical understanding of deep neural networks. ======= Call for abstracts ======= In addition to these high-profile invited speakers, we invite 1-page non-archival abstract submissions. Abstracts will be reviewed double-blind and presented as posters. To complement the wealth of conferences focused on applications, all submissions for DeepMath 2019 must target theoretical and mechanistic understanding of the underlying properties of neural networks. Insights may come from any discipline and we encourage submissions from researchers working in computer science, engineering, mathematics, neuroscience, physics, psychology, statistics, or related fields. Topics may address any area of deep learning theory, including architectures, computation, expressivity, generalization, optimization, representations, and may apply to any or all network types including fully connected, recurrent, convolutional, randomly connected, or other network topologies. Committee Information: Organizing committee: * Ahmed El Hady * Adam Charles * Mikio Aoi * Andrew Saxe * Joan Bruna * Michael Shvartsman * Sebastian Musslick * Stephen Keeley Advisory committee * Jonathan Cohen * Daniel Lee * Sebastian Seung * Ted Willke Local Committee * NYU: Joan Bruna * Columbia: Ashok Kumar * SUNY Stonybrook: Il Memming Park * Yale: Gal Mishne * City College: David Schwab * IAS: Nadav Cohen *

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Summer School in Computational and Theoretical Models in Neuroscience, Venice, Italy (September 9th - September 14th, 2019)
by Samir Suweis 19 Apr '19

19 Apr '19

ConTaMiNEURO 2019 Summer school ,Venice, Italy (September 9th - September 14th, 2019) I would like to bring to your attention to the Summer School in Computational and Theoretical Models in Neuroscience, ConTaMiNEURO 2019 <http://neuroschool19.liphlab.com/> Approaches and techniques from Physics, Mathematics and Computational Science are increasingly becoming critical for understanding and modelling the brain, and also for designing and interpreting experiments. Modeling is an essential tool to cut through the vast complexity of neurobiological systems and their many interacting elements. ConTaMiNEURO 2019 <http://neuroschool19.liphlab.com/> wants to convey central ideas, methods, and practices of modern computational neuroscience through a combination of lectures, tutorials and seminars. During the course’s mornings, distinguished international faculty deliver lectures and seminars on selected topics in computational neuroscience (see below). For the remainder of the time, students work on research projects in teams of 3-4 people under close supervision of expert tutors and faculty. Research projects will include data analyses and the development of theories to explain experimental observations. The School is will take place from 9 to 14 September at palazzo Morelli of the University Ca’Foscari, in the heart of Venice. All the details can be found at the school website: http://neuroschool19.liphlab.com/ <http://neuroschool19.liphlab.com/> Thanks to the support of our sponsor, in particular the University of Padova and the newborn Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC <http://pnc.unipd.it/>), the early bird registration fee for Ph.Ds students and Post Docs is 200 Euro, deadline is 30 June 2019. MAX 40 participants. ConTaMiNEURO 2019 <http://neuroschool19.liphlab.com/> is co-organized by Samir Suweis, Amos Maritan, Maurizio Corbetta, Marco Formentin, Stefano Vassanelli (University of Padova), Achille Giacometti (University of Venice) and Miguel A. Munoz (University of Granada). Invited Speakers Ken Miller, Columbia University, USA. Yiota Poirazi, IMBB-FORTH, Creta. Nicolas Brunel*, Duke University, USA. Andrea Brovelli, University of Marsille. Jordi Soriano, University of Barcellona Mazzuccato Luca, Columbia University & University of Oregon Stefano Panzeri, IIT Rovereto Jesus Cortes, IKERBASQUE: The Basque Foundation for Science Lucilla De Arcangelis, University of Naples Raffaella Burioni, University of Parma Gustavo Deco, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona Jonathan Touboul, Brandeis University (USA) Susanne Ditlevsen, University of Copenaghen Alessandro Treves, Trieste SISSA Misha Tsodyks, Weizmann Institute of Science Marco Zorzi, University of Padova Lamberto Ballan, University of Padova Eleni Vasilaki, University of Shieffield Marcello Pelillo, European Center of Living Techonology & University of Venice Tommaso Fellin, IIT Genova Maria Victoria Sánchez Vives , ICREA-IDIBAPS (Barcelona) Marco dal Maschio, University of Padova Serena del Santo, University of Granada Lorenzo Fontolan, Janelia Farm Samir Suweis, Ph.D. ***** LIPh Lab, Physics & Astronomy Dept. University of Padova Tel: +39 049 827 71 74 @SamirSuweis

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Postdoc in large-scale brain modeling and machine learning
by Jan Fousek 18 Apr '19

18 Apr '19

A postdoc position is available at the Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes (http://ins-amu.fr/) Aix-Marseille University, France. Summary The Theoretical Neuroscience Group (Head: Viktor Jirsa) is seeking to fill a post-doctoral position in the context of the project Virtual Brain Cloud to work on development of parameter inference workflows for connectome-based large-scale brain network models (see The Virtual Brain http://www.thevirtualbrain.org) applied to brain imaging data (EEG, MEG, fMRI). In particular, the project will involve the application and evaluation of common Bayesian estimation techniques such as Markov-Chain Monte-Carlo and variational schemes to high-dimensional time-series models of brain activity. These were previously successfully applied in the context of estimation of brain excitability based on personalized brain models and intracerebral electrophysiological recordings of seizure propagation in epileptic patients. The successful candidate will join a team working towards generalizing these approaches for other paradigms such as stimulation or resting state. Qualification Candidates should be have strong background in data fitting (Bayesian inference approaches, Dynamical Causal Modeling (DCM), Monte Carlo techniques). Experience with computational neuroscience (networks, dynamic system theory) and ability to program in a numerically oriented language (R, Python, MATLAB) are valued. The Theoretical Neuroscience Group We are a multi-national team interested in understanding the mechanisms underlying the spatiotemporal organization of large-scale brain networks. Our work comprises mathematical and computational modeling of large-scale network dynamics and human brain imaging data, the development of neuroinformatics tools for studying large-scale brain networks applied to concrete functions, dysfunctions (epilepsy, dementia) and aging. Terms of salary and employment The position is initially for one year, renewable on an annual basis based on performance. Salary will depend on diploma and experience. Operating language in the laboratory is English and French. CONTACT viktor.jirsa(a)univ-amu.fr | Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes https://ins-amu.fr/ -- Jan Fousek INS - Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes UMR INSERM 1106, Aix-Marseille Université 27 Bd Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille https://ins-amu.fr/

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PhD position - Inverse Reinforcement Learning
by Constantin Rothkopf 18 Apr '19

18 Apr '19

The Centre for Cognitive Science at Technische Universitaet Darmstadt, Germany invites applications for a Ph.D. Position in Inverse Reinforcement Learning initially limited to a period of three years. Research area The Ph.D. student is expected to work in the domain of inverse reinforcement learning with the particular focus of elucidating human decision making and collective human decision making in the wild, i.e., under real world noisy conditions. The research project is a joint venture between the Bioinspired Communication Lab and the Psychology of Information Processing Lab, both members of the Centre of Cognitive Science at TU Darmstadt. Accordingly, the student will be advised by Prof. Heinz Koeppl, Department of Electrical Engineering and Prof. Constantin Rothkopf, Department of Psychology. Work will involve methodological research in machine learning, design of dedicated human behavioral experiments, and the analysis and further processing of gathered data. What we offer We offer a unique interdisciplinary environment to perform cutting-edge research at one of Germany’s leading universities in the domain of computer science and engineering. The student will be embedded in the ongoing research activities within the Centre for Cognitive Science and will hence have the opportunity to interact with many other cognitive science researchers. The conducted research is expected to culminate in a Ph.D. degree. We offer comprehensive support for dissemination of results through leading scientific journals and through participation in leading international conferences and workshops. Your profile Candidates should have a M.Sc. degree in one of the following fields: computer science, physics, mathematics, engineering, or cognitive science. Candidates are required to have a sincere interest in interdisciplinary research at the crossroad of psychology and computer science. Application We look forward to receiving your application, consisting of a cover letter in which you lay out your interest in the indicated research area, curriculum vitae, copies of certificates and contact details of at least two academic references. Please send your application package as a single PDF file to application(a)bcs.tu-darmstadt.de. Code No. 590. The position is initially advertised till May 3rd 2019, but later applications will be considered until the position is filled. -- Constantin A. Rothkopf, PhD http://www.pip.tu-darmstadt.de/ http://www.cogsci.tu-darmstadt.de/ http://www.ai-da.tu-darmstadt.de/

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Postdoctoral position in multivariate connectivity and computational modeling in fMRI
by Joshua Hartshorne 18 Apr '19

18 Apr '19

Second Call. Wanted: Post-doctoral fellow interested in delving into new computational techniques for fMRI analysis. This position is ideal for students with a background in neuroimaging who want to strengthen their technical skills in preparation for a job market that increasingly values advanced analysis methods, or for students with a background in machine learning who want to branch into neuroscience. This Simons Foundation-funded research project will be focused on developing, evaluating, and deploying state-of-the-art multivariate connectivity techniques and other modeling approaches. The initial application will be to a large Autism dataset, and may grow from there depending on progress. The postdoc will work closely with the PIs: Prof. Stefano Anzellotti and Prof. Joshua Hartshorne (Department of Psychology, Boston College). Both PIs run young, small labs, so the post-doc can expect individualized attention and training. Boston College is a research university classified as "Very High Research Activity (R1)" by the Carnegie Classification, and has a bustling Psychology and Neuroscience department with 19 faculty. Graduate students and post-docs in the department regularly go on to prestigious academic appointments (e.g., see https://bit.ly/2PdvK3N) You can learn more about Drs. Anzellotti and Hartshorne at sccnlab.bc.edu and l3atbc.org, respectively. Preferred start date is between June 1 2019 and Jan. 1 2020. Boston College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates from backgrounds underrepresented in psychology/neuroscience are particularly encouraged to apply. The position is funded for two years and may be renewable beyond the second year depending on funding. Salary follows the NIH Postdoc scale. Boston College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates from backgrounds underrepresented in psychology/neuroscience are particular encouraged to apply. To apply, submit a CV, contact information for 2-3 references, and a cover letter highlighting relevant research experiences and interests directly to jkhartshorne(a)gmail.com. Review of application is ongoing and will continue until the position is filled.

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Dopaminergic Signaling Workshop at OCNS meeting in Barcelona July 16-17
by Canavier, Carmen C. 17 Apr '19

17 Apr '19

CNS*2019 Twenty Eighth Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. Jul. 16 - 17, 2019 Workshop Title: Dopaminergic Signaling Workshop Organizer: Carmen Canavier, LSU Health Science Center New Orleans, ccanav(a)lsuhsc.edu Brief Description: This workshop will examine dopaminergic signaling from the perspective of the regulation of afferent inputs to dopamine neurons, to plasticity of afferent synapses onto dopamine neurons, to the dynamic diversity of dopamine neuron subpopulations, to plasticity and other forms of dopaminergic signaling in projection areas such as the striatum and prefrontal cortex, with reference to depression, schizophrenia, Parkinson's and addiction. This work is timely in that the diversity of dopaminergic populations is beginning to be appreciated and significant because of the cognitive, motor and motivational functional circuits that rely on dopaminergic signaling. https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2019 Speakers: Joshua Berke Dissociable dopamine dynamics for learning and motivation UCSF Avrama Blackwell TBA George Mason University Carmen Canavier Dynamics of distinct subpopulations of dopamine neurons LSU Health Science Center Kenji Doya State, value and action coding in the striatum Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Daniel Durstewitz Inferring nonlinear dynamics from fMRI recordings in schizophrenia University of Heidelberg Arif Hamid Wave-like spatio-temporal patterns organize dopamine Brown University transients into compartmentalized decision-signals Laurent Venance Dopamine-endocannabinoid interactions mediate bidirectional spike Collège de France timing dependent plasticity in the striatum Martin Vinck TBA Ernst Struengmann Institute for Neuroscience Jeff Wickens Timing of dopamine directs synaptic plasticity Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Denis Zakharov Role of VTA GABAergic neurons in high-frequency firing of dopaminergic neuron Higher School of Economics (Moscow) Larry Zweifel TBA University of Washington

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Postdoc positions on decision-making in Hamburg
by Bharath Chandra Talluri 17 Apr '19

17 Apr '19

***** Posting on behalf of Dr. Konstantinos Tsetsos ******* The University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE, Hamburg, Germany) is inviting highly qualified and motivated candidates to apply for two 3-year postdoctoral positions embedded in the recently established “Decision Neuroscience Group” at the Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, led by Konstantinos Tsetsos. These positions are part of the European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant “Information Sampling in Multiattribute Choice” (INFOSAMPLE) awarded to Konstantinos Tsetsos. This project will utilise tools from sensory neuroscience in order to characterise how humans distribute their attention across time during multiattribute decisions. Using this approach we aspire to understand why humans reverse their preferences irrationally, when irrelevant alternatives are added to the choice-set. The postdoctoral researchers will be involved in designing and conducting psychophysical experiments using MEG and pharmacology, in analysing MEG data, and in working with computational models of attention & decision-making. A sufficiently strong quantitative background is required for both positions. Experience with ICA, source reconstruction, frequency tagging (SSVEP) and decoding techniques is desirable. Lack of exposure to these techniques can be compensated with experience in attention/ visual search or decision-making research. The positions are available for three years and may start on the 01.06.2019 or the soonest possible after that date. The positions will be remunerated at salary level E13 TV-KAH, 100%. Applicants should send their CV and publication list, a brief statement of research interests as well as the names of two referees to Dr Konstantinos Tsetsos (k.tsetsos(a)uke.de <mailto:k.tsetsos@uke.de>) until the 10th of May, 2019. Informal inquiries about the positions can also be addressed to K. Tsetsos. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview. Information about the lab: https://www.ktsetsoslab.net <https://www.ktsetsoslab.net/> Further details as well as information on how to apply: https://bit.ly/2XXWlWD <https://bit.ly/2XXWlWD> On behalf of Konstantinos Tsetsos, Bharath Talluri. -- Bharath Chandra Talluri, MSc PhD Student, Cognitive Neuroscience Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology University Medical Centre, Hamburg-Eppendorf Hamburg, Germany @BharathTalluri <https://twitter.com/BharathTalluri> https://bharathtalluri.info/ <https://bharathtalluri.info/>

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Summer internship. Role of the thalamus in sleep oscillatory dynamics underlying memory consolidation
by Carmen Varela 16 Apr '19

16 Apr '19

*Paid Summer Research Internship in Systems Neuroscience* *(MIT, FAU)* We are looking for a talented student that will apply analytical techniques to investigate the role of the thalamus in the oscillatory dynamics that organize the consolidation of episodic memory during sleep. The project will involve the analysis of neural data (single cells, local field potentials) from extracellular recordings in sleeping rats. *Requirements:* Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, demonstrated initiative and dedication, ability to learn fast. Strong analytical skills, including signal processing and programming. EECS, Physics, Computational Neuroscience students encouraged to apply. *What you get: * · Two months of research in systems neuroscience, including the application of analytical techniques to extracellular electrophysiology data. · Spend this summer in the Jupiter campus of Florida Atlantic University, an expanding and interactive neuroscience hub that also holds our partners the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience and Scripps Research Institute. · Possibility of visiting MIT in August to present results from your work. *Contact:* Submit resume and a brief paragraph commenting on how your skills and background could be helpful to this neuroscience project. Let Dr. Carmen Varela know when you would be available for an interview. varelac(a)fau.edu https://www.thethalamus.org/

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Athens International MSc in Neurosciences -- now accepting 2019-20 applications
by Vassilis Cutsuridis 16 Apr '19

16 Apr '19

Apologies for cross-posting – please forward to any interested party. / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / *Applications for the 2019-20 MSc programme in* *Athens International Master's in Neurosciences <http://mastermeuroscience.biol.uoa.gr>* *at National and Kapodistian University of Athens, Greece* *are now OPEN.* / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / This cutting-edge Masters programme is a combined effort of several Athens-based departments and research centers including the - Department of Biology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - Department of Nursing of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - Department of Dentistry of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - School of Medicine of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - Foundation for Biomedical Research of the Academy of Athens - National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos" - Hellenic Pasteur Institute - Biomedical Sciences Research Center “Alexander Fleming” which builds on the multi-disciplinary research profiles of its staff. Teaching and research staff includes Greek and International professors and researchers of Greek and International Universities and Research Centers. *All lectures are taught in English*. The programme equips students with a rigorous grounding in experimental and computational methods of neurosciences; it also provides them with the opportunity to apply the knowledge they acquired in a practical research project, which may be carried out in collaboration with one of the Masters programme’s industry partners. ** COURSE OUTLINE ** ————————— This is a two-year MSc degree programme, consisting of taught modules (12 months) plus research project and dissertation (12 months). It is designed for students with a good degree in the biological / life sciences (psychology, neuroscience, biology, medicine, etc.) or physical sciences (computer science, mathematics, physics, engineering) interested in how the brain and mind works. The core contents of this programme include (i) fundamentals of experimental neurosciences (developmental neuroscience, cellular and molecular neuroscience, neuroanatomy, neurobiological bases of diseases of the nervous system, neuropharmacology, neuroimmunology, neuroendocrinology. behavioral neuroscience, electrophysiology, neuroimaging), (ii) Lab rotations, and (iii) concepts,methods of computational modelling, data analytics and machine learning. Unlike other standard neuroscience programmes (focusing predominantly either on “low-level” or "high-level" aspects of neuroscience), one of the distinctive features of this programme is that it covers the whole spectrum of the neurosciences bridging the gap between molecular and cellular neuroscience to high-level cognitive processes (e.g., language, attention, and decision making) including computational neuroscience and big data analytics. The final research project and dissertation is carried out in collaboration with an external partner, either from academia or industry. ** WHY STUDY IN ATHENS ** -------------------------------------- Aside from mastering neuroscience, you can also enjoy the largest open-air museum during its mostly sunny and dry days. These include Acropolis and Parthenon, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Arch of Hadrian, the Theatre of Dionysus, Panathenaic Stadium-Kallimarmaro, the iconic Temple of Olympian Zeus, pedestrian avenue of Dionysios Areopagitou, Pnyx Hill, Thiseio, Monastiraki, Plaka and etc, that are full of temples and ancient and Byzantine monuments. In addition, Athens has great museums incunding the Acropolis meuseum, the National Archaeological museum, the museum of Modern Art, the museum of Greek Folk Art and of Greek Folk Musical Instruments, the War Museum, the Benaki Museum, the Museum of Cycladic Art, the National Gallery, and others. You will also have the opportunity to enjoy excellent nature and coast line and the easily reached Aegean islands. ** TUITION FEES ** ————————— *F**ull time EU students*: 2000 Euros per year *Full time non-EU students*: 3000 Euros per year *Part time students*: 500 Euros per semester during the first two years and 1000 Euros per semester during the third year. ** HOW TO APPLY ** ————————— *Applications for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 Academic Years are now open. * To fill in an application, click on this link and follow the instructions: http://masterneuroscience.biol.uoa.gr/admissions.html <https://bit.ly/2Fi86SB> *NOTE: places are limited.* We recommend submitting an application as soon as possible to ensure a place on the programme. For any further information about the programme, please visit: *http://mastermeuroscience.biol.uoa.gr* <https://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/msc-computational-cognitive-neuroscience/> Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to receiving your application soon! With very best wishes, Professor Spiros Efthimiopoulos ( <M.Garagnani(a)gold.ac.uk>efthis(a)biol.uoa.gr ) — Spiros Efthimiopoulos Professor Director of the Master's Programm: "Athens International Master's Programme in Neurosciences" University of Athens Department of Biology Division of Animal and Human Physiology Central Building, 3nd Floor, Room 38 or 44 157 84 Panepistimiopolis, Ilisia Athens, Greece Tel# ++ 30 210 7274890, ++306974874328 Fax# ++ 30 210 7274635 E-mail: efthis(a)biol.uoa.gr / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

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Job opening: Visiting Professorship in Machine Learning at Jacobs University
by Herbert Jaeger 16 Apr '19

16 Apr '19

Jacobs University Bremen (www.jacobs-university.de) invites applications for a *** 3-year Visiting Professorship in Machine Learning *** The full job description can be found at https://www.jacobs-university.de/visiting-professor-computer-science-mfd-ma… Jacobs University is a small, select, private, research-oriented, English-speaking university with a beautiful campus located at the outskirts of Bremen, a charming old trading seaport in the north of Germany. In the Times Higher Education (THE) worldwide university ranking 2018, Jacobs University ranked in the top 300 in the general ranking, in the 151-175 bracket in Engineering and Technology and in the 176-200 bracket in the Life Sciences. The review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Ideally, a successful candidate can start on this position in August 2019. - Herbert Jaeger ------------------------------------------------------------------ Dr. Herbert Jaeger Professor for Computational Science Jacobs University Bremen gGmbH Campus Ring 28759 Bremen, Germany Phone (+49) 421 200 3215 email h.jaeger(a)jacobs-university.de http://minds.jacobs-university.de ------------------------------------------------------------------

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[meetings] CfP: Workshop on Naturalistic Non-Verbal and Affective Human-Robot Interactions, IEEE ICDL-EpiRob 2019
by Nicolás Navarro-Guerrero 15 Apr '19

15 Apr '19

Apologies for cross-posting. Dear Colleagues, We would like to cordially invite you to submit a paper to the ICDL-EpiRob 2019 workshop on Naturalistic Non-Verbal and Affective Human-Robot Interactions. Call for Contributions and Participation IEEE ICDL-EpiRob workshop on Naturalistic Non-Verbal and Affective Human-Robot Interactions 19th August 2019, Oslo, Norway Website: https://nicolas-navarro-guerrero.gitlab.io/workshop-non-verbal-human-robot-… Humans continually manifest non-verbal and affective cues and expressions used to foster cooperation, mutual understanding and signal trustworthiness. If these cues are not appropriately reciprocated, however, the interaction can be negatively impacted. Moreover, inappropriate reciprocation, or lack thereof, may be the result of misperception and or non-timely reactions. Failure to adequately account for biologically plausible perceptual and temporal facets of interactions may detract from the quality of human-robot interaction and hinder progress in the field of social robotics more generally. Incorporation of naturalistic and adaptive forms of sensorimotor and affective human-robot non-verbal communication is challenging because such interaction is highly dependent on the context and the relationship between the observer and the expresser. Biological species based interaction often requires explicit forms of social signalling such as nodding, nonverbal gestures, emotional expressions, etc., the interpretation of all of which may be highly context-sensitive. Furthermore, naturalistic social signalling may involve a certain degree of mimicry of autonomic responses such as pupil dilation, blinking, blushing, etc. which, in human-robot interaction requires the implementation of time-sensitive perceptual mechanisms currently underused in both commercial and research robotics platforms. In this workshop, we will investigate and discuss to what extent the aforementioned naturalistic social signalling capabilities needs to be accounted for in human-robot interaction and what modalities are more relevant, and in what contexts. The workshop will focus strongly on research motivated by naturalistic empirical data. We hope to provide a discussion friendly environment to connect with research covering complementary interests in the areas of robotics, computer science, psychology, neuroscience, affective computing and animal learning research. The primary list of topics covers the following (but not limited to): * Emotion recognition * Gesture recognition * Social gaze recognition * The development of expression and recognition capabilities * Joint visual attention and activity * Alignment in social interactions * Non-verbal cues in human-robot interaction Invited Speakers Christian Balkenius, Lund University, Sweden Vicky Charisi, Joint Research Centre, European Commission Kerstin Dautenhahn, University of Waterloo, Canada Frank Foerster, University of Hertfordshire, UK Stefanie Höhl, University of Vienna, Austria Yukie Nagai, University of Tokyo, Japan Alessandra Sciutti, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Italy Important Dates Paper submission deadline: 12th May 2019 Notification of acceptance: 7th June 2019 Camera-ready version: 1st August 2019 Workshop: 19th August 2019 Participants are invited to submit short papers (max. 4 pages) following the standard IEEE conference template, link at the workshop webpage. Send your PDF manuscript indicating [ICDL-EPIROB 2019] in the subject to: nng(a)ieee.org . Selected contributions will be presented during the workshop. Organizers Nicolás Navarro-Guerrero, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark Robert Lowe, University of Gothenburg, Sweden Best regards, Nicolás -- Nicolás Navarro-Guerrero Assistant Professor Department of Engineering, and School of Culture and Society Aarhus University, Denmark E-mail: nng(a)eng.au.dk https://nicolas-navarro-guerrero.github.io/ https://socialrobotics.au.dk/ Aarhus University Finlandsgade 22, building 5125 8200 Aarhus N Denmark Tel.: +45 8715 0000 eng(a)au.dk www.eng.au.dk/en/

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Fourth International Workshop on Intrinsically-Motivated Open-endedLearning (IMOL2019)
by Jochen Triesch 15 Apr '19

15 Apr '19

Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce the “Fourth International Workshop on Intrinsically-Motivated Open-endedLearning (IMOL2019)”, which will be held at Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS) in Frankfurt (Germany) on 1-2-3 July 2019. The organizers of IMOL 2019 will be - Vieri Giuliano Santucci (ISTC – CNR, Rome) - Kathryn Merrick (University of New South Wales, Canberra) - Jochen Triesch (FIAS, Frankfurt) - Gianluca Baldassarre (ISTC – CNR, Rome) Following three previous editions, the highly focused “Fourth International Workshop on Intrinsically-Motivated Open-ended Learning (IMOL2019)” aims to further explore the promise of intrinsically motivated open-ended lifelong learning. The workshop aims to be a highly interactive event with high-profile keynote presentations (see list of confirmed invited speakers at the end of this message). It will foster close interaction among the participants by discussions, poster sessions, and collective round tables directed toward specific objectives. Participation in the workshop is free of charge but limited to a restricted number of participants. Prospective attendees should express their interest by submitting a brief statement on their motivations to participate, their research interests, and their willingness (or not) to contribute with a poster. The submission should be made by following the instructions at http://www.imol-conf.org/ before the deadline of May, 17th. Both senior and early career researchers, including PhD students, are encouraged to submit to ensure a full representation of the community. Topics of interest involve open-ended lifelong learning in autonomous agents and robots, for example: - Autonomous robots lifelong learning - Multi-task reinforcement learning - Deep reinforcement learning - Intrinsic motivations - Curriculum learning - Goal self-generation - Multiple task solution and parameterized skills - Neural/probabilistic representations and abstractions - Architectures for open-ended learning - Goal-based skill learning - Knowledge transfer and avoidance of catastrophic forgetting - Compositionality and chunking - Hierarchies of goals and skills - Mitigating risks of real-world deployment of open-ended learning systems List of confirmed invited speakers - Luc Berthouze - Marc Bellemare - Bruno Castro da Silva - Stephane Doncieux - Kenji Doya - Richard Duro - Verena Hafner - Matej Hoffman - Petar Kormushev - Georg Martius - Yukie Nagai - Nicolás Navarro-Guerrero - Kevin O'Regan - Matthias Rolf - Elmar Rueckert - Bertram E. Shi - Olivier Sigaud - Jochen Steil - Freek Stulp - Céline Teulière - Emre Ugur (more TBC) -- 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: The 2nd International Workshop on Machine Learning in Clinical Neuroimaging (MLCN 2019): ENTERING THE ERA OF BIG DATA VIA TRANSFER LEARNING AND DATA HARMONIZATION
by MLCN Workshop 15 Apr '19

15 Apr '19

Dear Colleagues, We are delighted to invite you to join us for the MLCN 2019 <https://mlcnws.com/> workshop as a satellite event of the MICCAI 2019 conference, Shenzhen, China. Call for Papers Recent advances in neuroimaging and machine learning provide an exceptional opportunity for investigators and physicians to discover complex relationships between brain, behaviors, and mental and neurological disorders. The MLCN 2019 workshop (https://mlcnws.com) as a satellite event of MICCAI 2019 (https://www.miccai2019.org) aims to bring together researchers in both theory and application from various fields in domains such as *e.g.* machine learning, neuroimaging, predictive clinical neuroscience, *etc.* Topics of interests include, but are not limited to: - Transfer learning in clinical neuroimaging - Model stability in transfer learning - Data prerequisites for successful transfer learning - Domain adaptation in neuroimaging - Data harmonization across sites - Data pooling – practical issues - Cross-domain learning in neuroimaging - Interpretability for transfer learning - Unsupervised methods for domain adaptation - Multi-site data analysis, from preprocessing to modeling - Big data in clinical neuroimaging - Scalable machine learning methods - Benefits, problems, and solutions of working with very large datasets SUBMISSION PROCESS: The workshop seeks high quality, original, and unpublished work on algorithms, theory, and applications of machine learning in clinical neuroimaging related to big data, transfer learning, and data harmonization. Papers should be submitted electronically in Springer Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LCNS) style ( https://www.springer.com/gp/computer-science/lncs/conference-proceedings-gu…) with up to 8-pages and using the CMT system at https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/MLCN2019. The MLCN workshop uses a double-blind review process in the evaluation phase, thus authors must ensure anonymous submissions. Accepted papers will be published in a joint proceeding with the MICCAI 2019 conference. IMPORTANT DATES: - Paper submission deadline: July 1, 2019 (23:59 PST) - Notification of Acceptance: August 5, 2019 - Camera-ready Submission: August 12, 2019 - Workshop Date: October 13, 2019 Best regards, MLCN 2019 Organizing Committee <https://mlcnws.com/organization/>, Email: mlcnworkshop(a)gmail.com Website: https://mlcnws.com/ <https://mlcn2018.com/> twitter: @MLCNworkshop <https://twitter.com/MLCNworkshop>

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post-doctoral positions: Neuroscience and Philosophy of Free Will
by Schurger Lab 13 Apr '19

13 Apr '19

The post-doctoral positions will be part of a large international project on the neuroscience and philosophy of free will, where some 20 neuroscientists and philosophers will collaborate to explore the neural basis of volition, using experimental, theoretical and computational approaches. Please see here for details: https://braininstitute.us/static-media/uploads/freewill_postdoc_2019.pdf

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Computational Neuroscience Modeler for Neurodegeneration Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Project at Certara
by Hugo-Geerts＠In-Silico-Biosciences.com 13 Apr '19

13 Apr '19

Closing Date for Applications: Midnight (UK time), May 12, 2019 Line of Management: Senior Vice President QSP Position Type: Full Time Salary and benefits: Dependent on qualifications, experience and location Location: QSP offices in Sheffield or Canterbury (United Kingdom). Alternative locations and flexible working arrangements can be considered depending on individual circumstances. Job Overview: Certara is expanding its Quantitative Systems Pharmacology (QSP) services in Neurodegeneration and has bold ambitions to revolutionise drug discovery and development in this area of highest medical and societal need. As a result, we have an immediate opening for a Computational Neuroscience Modeller to join our QSP group. This is a unique opportunity to work in a multi-disciplinary team in a world-class organisation and utilise your advanced computational skills to make a difference to the lives of patients with neurodegenerative diseases. Successful applicants will contribute to the development of multi-scale QSP models for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Specifically, they will develop biophysically realistic neuronal circuit-level computer models, linking pathways, pharmacological effect and clinical outcomes. Requirements: Essential * PhD and at least 2 years postdoctoral experience in computational biosciences * Strong publication record (commensurate with level of experience) * Experience in computational neuroscience and neural modelling with NEURON or equivalent software * Excellent programming skills * Good written and oral communication skills * Combines scientific excellence with ability to make impact in drug discovery and development programs in a timely manner * Ability to work virtually with project teams across different locations and time zones Desirable * Experience in QSP modelling * Experience in modelling neurodegenerative diseases * Experience working in drug discovery and development Company Overview: Certara is a world leader in bio-simulation which combines sophisticated research and development informatics with the power of predictive science methodologies to span the drug development spectrum and offer pharma a previously unavailable 'end-to-end' solution in the quest for improving human health. The Certara UK division develops industry-standard mechanistic models and tools in the areas of physiologically-based pharmacokinetics (PBPK), quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) and quantitative systems toxicology and safety (QSTS). Certara combines sophisticated research and development informatics with the power of predictive science methodologies to span the drug development spectrum and offer pharma a previously unavailable 'end-to-end' solution in the quest for improving human health. Applications: Please send your CV, covering letter and the names of two references to the Certara Careers Page: www.certara.com

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Postdoc position in the Dutch Research Consortium 'Language in Interaction' (1.0 FTE)
by Verhoef, J.P. (Julia) 12 Apr '19

12 Apr '19

Postdoc position in the Dutch Research Consortium 'Language in Interaction' (1.0 FTE) Donders Institute, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging Maximum salary: € 4,978 gross/month Vacancy number: 30.05.19 Application deadline: 5 May 2019 [Logo NWO] [Logo Language in Interaction] Responsibilities We are currently recruiting for a 3-year postdoctoral researcher position regarding "Understanding the nature of the mental lexicon" in the Language in Interaction consortium. The goal of this project is to use advanced computational models applied to neural data to understand the structure and function of the language system and obtain a better understanding of the mental lexicon. You will be member of Big Question 1 (BQ1), a larger endeavour to develop computational models of the mental lexicon from linguistic, psychological and neuroscience perspectives. Your responsibility is to develop computational models and apply them to neural data to obtain new neurolinguistic insights. To this end, you will make use of existing publicly available datasets. You will also facilitate collaborative projects in BQ1 that combine the scientific expertise across different work packages. You are expected to take a leading role in translating modeling work to scientific output that provides new insights into the neural correlates of language, as disseminated via high-impact publications. The position also includes a small number of organizational and administrative tasks within BQ1 and the larger consortium. This position provides an opportunity to conduct world-class research as a key member of an interdisciplinary team operating at the interface between artificial intelligence and cognitive neuroscience. Work environment The Netherlands has an outstanding track record in the language sciences. The Language in Interaction research consortium, which is sponsored by a large grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific research (NWO), brings together many of the excellent research groups in the Netherlands in a research programme on the foundations of language. In addition to excellence in the domain of language and related relevant fields of cognition, our consortium provides state-of-the-art research facilities and a research team with ample experience in the complex research methods that will be invoked to address the scientific questions at the highest level of methodological sophistication. These include methods from genetics, neuroimaging, computational modeling, and patient-related research. This consortium realises both quality and critical mass for studying human language at a scale not easily found anywhere else. We have identified five Big Questions (BQs) that are central to our understanding of the human language faculty. These questions are interrelated at multiple levels. Teams of researchers will collaborate to collectively address these key questions of our field. Our five Big Questions are: BQ1: The nature of the mental lexicon - How to bridge neurobiology and psycholinguistic theory by computational modeling? BQ2: What are the characteristics and consequences of internal brain organization for language? BQ3: Creating a shared cognitive space - How is language grounded in and shaped by communicative settings of interacting people? BQ4: Variability in language processing and in language learning - Why does the ability to learn language change with age? How can we characterise and map individual language skills in relation to the population distribution? BQ5: How are other cognitive systems shaped by the presence of a language system in humans? You will be appointed at the Donders Institute, Centre for Cognition, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. The project is embedded in the Donders Institute’s research theme "Brain Networks and Neuronal Communication" and will be supervised by Prof. Marcel van Gerven. The research is conducted in an international setting at all participating institutions. English is the lingua franca. What we expect from you We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a PhD degree in Cognitive Neuroscience, Computational Linguistics, Artificial Intelligence or a related field of research. We expect you to have expertise in the domain of language research, excellent computational skills and Python programming experience, as well as experience with neural data analysis. You will further develop the modeling approaches that are being created within the team and apply these approaches to rich neural datasets to generate new insights about the nature of the mental lexicon. You should have an outstanding scientific track record, excellent organisational, and communication skills, a strong motivation, and high proficiency in written and spoken English. Applications from excellent candidates with a less than ideal profile will also be considered. What we have to offer * employment: 1.0 FTE; * a maximum gross monthly salary of € 4,978 based on a 38-hour working week (salary scale 11); * in addition to the salary: an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus; * term of contract: you will be appointed for an initial period of 12 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 24 months; * UFO job profile: Researcher, Level 3; * the Collective Labour Agreement (CAO) of Dutch Universities is applicable to this position; * Dutch universities and the institute involved have a number of regulations in place that enable employees to create a good work-life balance; * you will be able to make use of our Dual Career Service<http://www.ru.nl/dualcareerservice> where our Dual Career Officer will assist with family related support, such as child care, and help your partner prepare for the local labour market and with finding an occupation. Are you interested in our excellent employment conditions<http://www.ru.nl/english/arbeidsvoorwaarden?kn>? Other Information The institute involved is an equal opportunity employer, committed to building a culturally diverse intellectual community, and as such encourages applications from women and minorities. Would you like to know more? Further information on: Language in Interaction<https://www.languageininteraction.nl/> Further information on: Donders Institute<https://www.ru.nl/donders/> For more information about this vacancy, please contact: Prof. dr. Marcel van Gerven, Principal Investigator Artificial Cognitive Systems, and Telephone: +31 24 365 59 31 E-mail: m.vangerven(a)donders.ru.nl<mailto:m.vangerven@donders.ru.nl> Prof. dr. Peter Hagoort, Programme Director Language in Interaction consortium Telephone: +31 24 361 06 48, +31 24 352 13 01 E-mail: p.hagoort(a)donders.ru.nl<mailto:p.hagoort@donders.ru.nl> Are you interested? You should upload your application (attn. of Prof. dr. M. van Gerven) exclusively using the button 'Apply' below. Your application should include (and be limited to) the following attachment(s): * a cover letter * CV, including a list of publications and the names of at least two persons who can provide references Please apply before 5 May 2019, 23:59 CET. [Apply]<https://www.ru.nl/applyonline?recid=601960&tk=uk>

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PhD in Computational and Mathematical Neuroscience (EPSRC funded, 3.5 yrs, Sept 2019 start)
by James Rankin 12 Apr '19

12 Apr '19

*PhD in Computational and Mathematical Biology (EPSRC funded, 3.5 yrs, Sept 2019 start) [re-advertised]* General information & apply (funding is primarily targeted at UK students): http://www.exeter.ac.uk/studying/funding/award/index.php?id=3386 Project description: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/codebox/phdprojects/Tabak-EPSRC-DTP-Project.pdf <http://www.exeter.ac.uk/codebox/phdprojects/Rankin-EPSRC-DTP-Project.pdf> *Closing date 13 May 2019. Interviews will be held at the University of Exeter Streatham Campus during the week of 10 June 2019.* Neurons and endocrine cells generate pulses of electrical activity. The patterns of electrical activity vary from cell-to-cell, and characteristics of these patterns (pulse duration, amplitude, timing) are critical to the function performed by the cell. For instance, electric pulse duration and frequency determines the quantity of hormone released by endocrine cells. Electrical currents are produced by ion channels, which act as non-linear electric conductances. The interactions between these non-linear conductances generate the complex patterns of electrical activity. Thus, the exact activity pattern of a given cell depends in a complex way on the exact distribution, or combination of weightings, of the different ion channels. To understand how different combinations of ion channel weightings result in a given pattern of electrical activity, we use mathematical models based on nonlinear differential equations that describe how the conductances vary with the cell electric potential and how they in turn change this potential. The problem with these models is that a lot of parameters are unknown, including the weightings of each channel. Electrophysiologists can record the electrical activity patterns from individual cells, but they cannot measure all the channel weightings from one cell. The objective of this funded PhD project is to extract information about the weightings from the measured electrical activity. The successful candidate will generate a database of channel weighting combinations and compute the resulting electrical activity pattern associated with each combination. They will then apply machine learning and/or topological data analysis to this database. This will allow them to deduce the relationships between weightings across models that generate electrical activity patterns selected from a subset of the database. By identifying the relationships between channel weightings across a highly heterogeneous population we can pinpoint the rules that regulate electrical activity across heterogeneous populations of cells. These methods will then be applied to existing datasets of electrophysiological recordings from electrically active cells. This project provides a unique opportunity to develop experience in machine learning and to receive training in mathematical modelling of neurons. This work will be done in close collaboration with experimentalists using cutting-edge methods that incorporate modelling and electrical recordings together. The student will therefore be exposed to multidisciplinary teamwork. If they so desire, they will also have the opportunity to learn electrophysiology and generate their own dataset of experimental electrical recordings. Candidates with quantitative backgrounds (mathematics, physics, engineering, computer science) are encouraged to apply to this 3.5 year PhD Scholarship. Programming experience, knowledge of dynamical systems theory and experience in biological modelling are a plus. The successful candidate will also be expected to travel to conferences to present their work. *For further information, please contact Dr Joel Tabak J.Tabak(a)exeter.ac.uk <J.Tabak(a)exeter.ac.uk> and Dr James Rankin j.a.rankin(a)exeter.ac.uk <j.a.rankin(a)exeter.ac.uk>* http://emps.exeter.ac.uk/mathematics/staff/jar226

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NEST Conference 2019 --- Abstract submission extended to 23 April
by Hans Ekkehard Plesser 11 Apr '19

11 Apr '19

Dear colleagues! We are looking forward to welcoming you to NMBU's beautiful campus south of Oslo for the NEST Conference 2019 on 24/25 June 2019 (Monday/Tuesday) To give you a chance to include your latest results in your NEST Conference 2019 Abstract, we have EXTENDED the ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE to TUESDAY 23 April Please submit your one-page abstract by email to conference(a)nest-initiative.org using the template available from http://www.nest-initiative.org/conference As we experienced problems with our email system in recent weeks. If you have submitted an abstract, but not received a confirmation of receipt, please submit your abstract once more by mail to conference(a)nest-initiative.org. We apologise for the inconvenience. 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 would like you to share your experiences made and results obtained with NEST during the conference. You can do so either by a short oral presentation (10–15 minutes), on a poster, through a demo, or by organizing group work. Important dates • 23 April 2019 — Deadline for abstract submissions • 01 May 2019 — Notification of acceptance • 15 May 2019 — Deadline for registration For details, abstract submission and registration, please see http://www.nest-initiative.org/conference You are also welcome to contact us at conference(a)nest-initiative.org. Hans Ekkehard Plesser President The Neural Technology Simulation Initiative http://www.nest-initiative.org -- Prof. Dr. Hans Ekkehard Plesser Head, Data Science Section 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 Home http://arken.nmbu.no/~plesser

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Call for applications: Brains for Brains Young Researchers' Computational Neuroscience Award 2019
by Kerstin Schwarzwaelder 11 Apr '19

11 Apr '19

Dear colleagues, It's our pleasure to inform you that for the ninth time, the Bernstein Network<http://www.nncn.de/en/bernstein-association> is announcing the "Brains for Brains Young Researchers' Computational Neuroscience Award". The call is open for researchers of any nationality who have contributed to a peer reviewed publication (as coauthor) or peer reviewed conference abstract (as first author) that was submitted before starting their doctoral studies, is written in English and was accepted or published in 2018 or 2019. The award is endowed with a travel grant of 2.000 € to cover a trip to Germany, including participation in the Bernstein Conference 2019 in Berlin (www.bernstein-conference.de<http://www.bernstein-conference.de>), and an individually planned visit to up to two German research institutions in Computational Neuroscience. Deadline for application is April 24, 2019, 2:00 p.m. CET (Application deadline will not be extended!) Detailed information about the application procedure can be found under: https://www.bernstein-network.de/en/the-network/awards/b4b2019 For inquiries please contact bernstein.network(a)fz-juelich.de<mailto:bernstein.network@fz-juelich.de> Best regards, Kerstin Schwarzwälder -- Dr. Kerstin Schwarzwälder Scientific Coordination / Management Officer Please note: Our email addresses have changed. Please use k.schwarzwaelder(a)fz-juelich.de<mailto:k.schwarzwaelder@fz-juelich.de> 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 mail: k.schwarzwaelder(a)fz-juelich.de<mailto:k.schwarzwaelder@fz-juelich.de> web: www.nncn.de<http://www.nncn.de> Twitter: NNCN_Germany<https://twitter.com/NNCN_Germany> YouTube: Bernstein TV<https://www.youtube.com/user/BernsteinNetwork> Facebook: Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience, Germany<https://www.facebook.com/BernsteinNetwork/> LinkedIn: Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience, Germany<https://www.linkedin.com/company/bernstein-network-computational-neuroscien…> <https://www.linkedin.com/company/bernstein-network-computational-neuroscien…> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH 52425 Juelich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Juelich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Dueren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Dr. Karl Eugen Huthmacher Geschaeftsfuehrung: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Marquardt (Vorsitzender), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Harald Bolt, Prof. Dr. Sebastian M. Schmidt ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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PhD summit on Intelligent Systems on Oct. 2-4, 2019 at EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
by Auke Ijspeert 10 Apr '19

10 Apr '19

*PhD summit on Intelligent Systems on Oct. 2-4, 2019 at EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland* https://phdsummit.epfl.ch/ Please circulate widely. Dear Colleagues, dear PhD students, The School of Engineering of EPFL in Switzerland is pleased to announce the 2nd edition of the annual Engineering *PhD Summit, a workshop for final year PhD students* interested in a career in academia. This year the summit will focus on *"Intelligent Systems"*, i.e. software and/or hardware systems that can interact with their dynamic environments, process data, perform proper actions, and improve over time, see https://phdsummit.epfl.ch/intelligent-systems/ * *Workshop dates: October 2-4, 2019* * *Deadline for application: May 31st, 2019* *Top final year PhD students active in intelligent systems are invited to apply.* We will select up to 20 candidates on a very competitive basis and invite them to EPFL Switzerland where they will get the opportunity to present their research and get informal feedback from top faculty members. Each accepted student will be given the opportunity to visit EPFL laboratories related to summit theme and have intensive exchange with the lab head and the students. The PhD Summit prize for the best presentation and research content will be awarded at the end of the workshop.*Funds for travel and accommodation will be provided for the selected candidates.* Visit the Engineering PhD Summit website: https://phdsummit.epfl.ch/ More details about the application process: https://phdsummit.epfl.ch/application-process/ Many thanks in advance and best regards, Auke Ijspeert -- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Prof Auke Jan Ijspeert Biorobotics Laboratory EPFL-STI-IBI-BIOROB, ME D1 1226, Station 9 EPFL, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne CH 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland Office: ME D1 1226 Tel: +41 21 693 2658 Fax: +41 21 693 3705 www:http://biorob.epfl.ch Email:Auke.Ijspeert@epfl.ch -----------------------------------------------------------------

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Computational Vision Summer School 2019 in the Black Forest, Germany - Application deadline April 15th
by Hendrikje Nienborg 10 Apr '19

10 Apr '19

** *[apologies for cross-posting]* * We are seeking applications for the 3rd Computational Vision Summer School (CVSS) from 30.6. to 7.7.2019 in Freudenstadt (Black Forest), Germany. The summer school, aimed at PhD students and Postdocs, spans the spectrum of vision research from neuroscience and psychophysics to computer vision to foster discussions at the intersection of biological and artificial vision systems. It seeks to bring together people from diverse disciplines who all share a computational view of vision and who, due to the diversity of disciplines involved, do not regularly meet. CVSS is free of tuition and accomodation is sponsored by the German Research Foundation (DFG: CRC/1233 Robust Vision). Application deadline: April 15, 2019 http://orga.cvss.cc/ Confirmed speakers: Ted Adelson (MIT, USA) Matthias Bethge (University of Tübingen, Germany) Michael Black (MPI-IS Tübingen, Germany) EJ Chichilnisky (Stanford University, USA) Alexei Efros (UC Berkeley, USA) Sanja Fidler (University of Toronto / NVIDIA, Canada) Chelsea Finn (UC Berkeley, USA) Roland Fleming (University Giessen, Germany) Bill Geisler (UT Austin, USA) Otmar Hilliges (ETH Zürich, Switzerland) Mackenzie Mathis (Harvard University, USA) Bruno Olshausen (UC Berkeley, USA) Ruth Rosenholtz (MIT, USA) Stefan Roth (TU Darmstadt, Germany) Eero Simoncelli (New York University, USA) Antonio Torralba (MIT, USA) Raquel Urtasun (University of Toronto / Uber ATG, Canada) Felix Wichmann (University of Tübingen, Germany) Li Zhaoping (MPI-IS and University of Tübingen, Germany) Program Chairs and Advisory Board: Andreas Geiger, Hendrikje Nienborg, Siyu Tang, Bei Xiao Matthias Bethge, Michael Black, Felix Wichmann * -- Dr. Hendrikje Nienborg Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience Universitaet Tuebingen Tel: +49 (0) 7071- 29 88846 email: hendrikje.nienborg(a)cin.uni-tuebingen.de

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Position Group Leader Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience
by Vacatures 10 Apr '19

10 Apr '19

[cid:image001.jpg@01D4EEB8.807F5A50] The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN) is an institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). We aim to explain how circuits of neurons enable us to see the world and act upon it. We have an exciting opportunity for an inspiring Group Leader who is a creative and independent scientist with leadership capabilities and who increases the diversity of the staff. Can you develop a productive and innovative research program and establish an independent research group through a combination of core funding and extramural funding? Can you complement our research program, which is dedicated to understanding the circuits of the brain? Would you enjoy working in close collaboration with other research groups at our institute? And do you have a clear vision on how to approach current challenges in neuroscience? Then this job may be for you. We are looking for a candidate whose research fits with that of our current groups and who harmonizes with us by contributing conceptual and methodological bridges. If you are using innovative ways to analyze brain circuits at any level from synaptic plasticity to sensation and behavior, you could strengthen the institute’s portfolio. Our groups use state of the art electrophysiology, in vivo microscopy, transgenic and viral techniques, gene expression profiling as well as high-density EEG and 3T and 7T functional MRI. Ideal candidates are passionate about sharing these approaches and would contribute with their own excellence in, for example, computational, big data, molecular, cell biological or behavioral approaches. Job description You would have the following responsibilities: • coordinate and conduct research in one of the above mentioned fields • acquire external research funding • mentor PhD students and postdocs • make an inspiring and complementary contribution to the NIN • actively collaborate with the diverse groups at the NIN Desired skills and experience • you preferably have obtained your PhD degree no longer than 10 years ago. We will deduct a 1.5 year period for each child when comparing productivity across candidates to account for the family investment involved in maternity • you have an excellent and demonstrable track record in scientific research, and publications in relevant journals, • experience in acquiring external funding for research, • excellent communication skills, • ability to work and troubleshoot independently and collaboratively. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we strongly encourage those who are underrepresented in neuroscience to consider our employment opportunities. Team The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (www.nin.nl<http://www.nin.nl>) is the country’s leading fundamental neuroscience research institute. It provides a critical mass of scientists in the neuroscience techniques, together with a dynamic multi-cultural environment. English is the working language of all research groups. Amsterdam is an internationally-oriented city and an attractive, progressive and easy-to-integrate environment. The research groups have members from more than 27 nations with backgrounds ranging from philosophy to engineering, but with an emphasis on biology and psychology. Appointment We offer an exciting job at a dynamic research institute and an attractive package of fringe benefits. Based on seniority, the position is either tenure track with predefined evaluation criteria or tenured. The salary is in accordance with the regulations for academic personnel, and will range from €67,000 up to a maximum of €89,000 per year before tax, (including holiday and end of year allowance) based on a full-time appointment, and depending on expertise and previous experience. Gross monthly salaries are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement (CAO) for Dutch Universities. <http://www.vsnu.nl/en_GB/cao-universiteiten.html> Additionally, the housing department of the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience assists foreign employees and students in finding accommodation. Starting date Summer 2019 Application and time schedule Applications should be submitted via email (to vacatures(a)nin.knaw.nl<mailto:vacatures@nin.knaw.nl>): · * a cover letter and a statement summarizing your research interests and motivation (max 1 page); * * a curriculum vitae including a complete list of publications and a list of your five best papers; * * your previous research accomplishments and your future research goals (max 2 pages); * * the name and email addresses of up to three referees * * a completed excel file with specific questions that you download from https://nin.nl/form.xlsx The deadline for applications is 15 May 2019. Pre-selection of candidates will be completed 31 May 2019 by a gender-balanced panel of peers from the institute. Applicants will be emailed about pre-selection outcomes by 3 June 2019. Pre-selected candidates will be invited for a 2-day visit to our institute in Amsterdam on the 24th and 25th of June 2019 for presentations, discussions and interviews. For further information on our institute please visit our website: https://nin.nl/ or contact Pieter Roelfsema p.roelfsema(a)nin.knaw.nl<mailto:p.roelfsema@nin.knaw.nl>; General Director, Ronald van der Neut r.van.der.neut(a)nin.knaw.nl<mailto:r.van.der.neut@nin.knaw.nl>; Managing director, or Dorien Bisselink d.bisselink(a)nin.knaw.nl<mailto:d.bisselink@nin.knaw.nl>; head human resources department. Any acquisition further to this advertisement will not be appreciated Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience Meibergdreef 47 1105 BA Amsterdam The Netherlands Present on: Monday|Tuesday|Wednesday|Thursday|Friday [Logo]

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Fully funded PhD positions in Frankfurt, Germany
by Martin Vinck 09 Apr '19

09 Apr '19

Apologies for cross-posting: The laboratory of Dr. Martin Vinck at the Ernst Struengmann Institute for Neuroscience in Cooperation with Max Planck Society <http://www.esi-frankfurt.de/esi-frankfurt/>is seeking multiple candidates for computational neuroscience Ph.D. positions to be filled in Spring/Early Summer 2019. Positions are fully funded. These positions encompass following projects: 1) Theoretical and data-analytical approaches to population coding in the nervous system. These include: - Mathematical approaches to understand the relationship between rate and temporal coding. - Development of unsupervised machine learning techniques to study neuronal patterns in high-dimensional state-spaces, with an emphasis on temporal sequencies in neural activity. This work builds further on our recent Plos Computational Biology paper. <https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006283> - Study of state-space trajectories on short time-scales. 2) Study of travelling wave patterns from electrode arrays. The goal here is to detect different kinds of spatio-temporal travelling wave patterns and understand how they relate to behavior and sensory stimulation. 3) The study of predictive coding using deep learning network models. These projects include: - Use of deep learning models for predictive coding models, and optimization of learning strategies in unsupervised learning models. - Predicting features of neural activity from these models. 4) Development of algorithms and open-source platform for efficient analysis of high-dimensional neural datasets on high-performance computing clusters and GPUs in Julia or Python. The focus is on the extraction of network correlation measures in high-dimensional spiking datasets, and the development of new tools to quantify Granger-causality and spike-field coherence. PhD students will work together with experimental neuroscientists in our laboratory and apply methods and models on experimental datasets from primate and rodent animal models. Experiments in the laboratory include multi-areal electrophysiology with sillicon probes together with optogenetics. It is also possible for PhD students to participate actively in these experiments. We are primarily looking for students with training in a quantitative discipline (physics, electrical or biomedical engineering, computer science, mathematics, etc.), or neuroscientists with additional quantitative training. Some experience with neuroscience, or a proven interest in neuroscience, is a pre, but not a must. Frankfurt is an internationally oriented city with many prestigious neuroscience institutes in the neighbourhood, e.g. the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research <http://brain.mpg.de/home.html>, the FIAS <https://fias.institute/> and the Interdisciplinary Center for Neuroscience <https://www.izn-frankfurt.de/en/>. Major collaborator on this project is Dr. Francesco Battaglia from the Donders Centre, Nijmegen. ------------------------------ Interested candidates are invited to send their application materials in electronic form (PDF format) to martin.vinck(a)esi-frankfurt.de Applications should contain a letter of intent, a detailed curriculum vitae, lists of university courses completed with marks obtained, and the names of at least two scientists who can give references (or at least two reference letters). Please indicate which projects are of your core interest. First deadline is 15th of April. The advertisement will be valid until positions are filled.

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