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CNS*2020 Online Meeting: abstract submission deadline approaching
by Martin Zapotocky April 21, 2020

April 21, 2020

Organization for Computational Neurosciences 2885 Sanford Ave SW #15359 Grandville, MI 49418 USA* * *Meeting Update* *29th Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting (CNS*2020)* July 18--22, 2020 Due to the continuing restrictions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, *the CNS*2020 Meeting in Melbourne* will be *replaced by an **online meeting of the CNS community*. For the format of the meeting and further updates, please follow https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2020-quick Registration for the meeting is open and *free of charge*. * The deadline for submission of abstracts* remains as follows: *April 29 *in case a *plenary oral presentation *is requested, **May 6 **in case a **poster-type presentation** is requested. Please see https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2020-abstract-submission The *call for workshops* currently remains open: https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2020-call-for-workshops We are glad to announce that the online meeting will feature *keynote presentations* by the speakers originally scheduled to appear in Melbourne: Matt Botvinick <http://clicks.memberclicks-mail.net/ls/click?upn=0q9n39ErOfD80mnaMiQulqGfCi…> Zhaoping Li <http://clicks.memberclicks-mail.net/ls/click?upn=0q9n39ErOfD80mnaMiQulswYUA…> Geoff Goodhill <http://clicks.memberclicks-mail.net/ls/click?upn=0q9n39ErOfD80mnaMiQuluw3UK…> Daniel Polani <http://clicks.memberclicks-mail.net/ls/click?upn=WlHEp4SFVCdIhPrNLw-2BOWTkz…> Upozorneni: Neni-li v teto zprave vyslovne uvedeno jinak, ma tato E-mailova zprava nebo jeji prilohy pouze informativni charakter. Tato zprava ani jeji prilohy v zadnem ohledu ustavy AV CR, v.v.i. k nicemu nezavazuji. Text teto zpravy nebo jejich priloh neni navrhem na uzavreni smlouvy, ani prijetim pripadneho navrhu na uzavreni smlouvy, ani jinym pravnim jednanim smerujicim k uzavreni jakekoliv smlouvy a nezaklada predsmluvni odpovednost ustavu AV CR, v.v.i. Disclaimer: If not expressly stated otherwise, this e-mail message (including any attached files) is intended purely for informational purposes and does not represent a binding agreement on the part of Institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences. The text of this message and its attachments cannot be considered as a proposal to conclude a contract, neither the acceptance of a proposal to conclude a contract, nor any other legal act leading to concluding any contract; nor does it create any pre-contractual liability on the part of Institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences.

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[Conferences] CFP: IEEE RO-MAN 2020 Special Session on Applied Emotion/Mind-Aware Neuroimaging in Real-world Human-Robot Symbiosis with Heart, Mind, and Soul
by Ker-Jiun Wang April 20, 2020

April 20, 2020

29th IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication(IEEE RO-MAN2020) *SPECIAL SESSION* *Applied Emotion/Mind-Aware Neuroimaging in Real-world Human-Robot Symbiosis with Heart, Mind, and Soul* *(Website: **http://ro-man2020.unina.it/special-sessions.php* <http://ro-man2020.unina.it/special-sessions.php>*)* *CALL FOR PAPERS* *(Download CFP: **https://tinyurl.com/tgvhue5* <https://tinyurl.com/tgvhue5> *)* *Title* *Applied Emotion/Mind-Aware Neuroimaging in Real-world Human-Robot Symbiosis with Heart, Mind, and Soul* *Motivation and goals* Wearable technologies that connect human with the surrounding smart environment could potentially replace the cellphone and other cumbersome tablet/laptops to become the next generation human-computer interface. It opens a new frontier of using stretchable, sticky and flexible body sensors, galvanic skin response (GSR), photoplethysmogram (PPG), inertial measurement unit (IMUs), and neurophysiological electrodes, such as EEG/EMG/ECG/EKG to measure various brain and body activity signals, and decode meaningful information for multi-modal interactions. Such dramatic shift of paradigm can be manifested in many technology development from big companies/startups, like Google, Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Samsung and Neuralink (Elon Musk), etc., to build more mobile, invisible, ubiquitous, compact computing platforms, such as smart watches, smart glasses, smart headphones, VR/AR headsets, and state-of-the-art Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs), in which the devices embed various kinds of sensors and electrodes to directly/indirectly interpret human body states, intentions, emotions and/or even high level motivations from neural signals, while other “out-of-body” sensors, like cameras, could not observe. Along with the scientific and practical implementation challenges of such technology, the personal big data collection also brings a lot of social norms, privacy and ethical issues as well. In this Special Session, we want to solicit impactful paper contributions to push the boundary to the limit, in order to explore the most critical issues in applying this futuristic technology to the real-world environment. Since our human have complex behaviors, which involve multiple disciplinary explanations, the technologies that closely-interact and solve the human-related problems should also reflect such complex multidisciplinary nature. As part of purely theoretical findings, we will also create a multidisciplinary educational and discussion forum, in which we will have industrial applications, art and design, consumer electronics, embedded system and mobile computing, Human-Robot Neural Interaction (HRNI) user experience/interface (UX/UI) design, and social norm and ethical paper presentations to discuss the emotion/mind-aware data collection and the use of AI to fully release the potential of this promising technology. Hopefully our dedicated effort of organizing this Special Session focusing on Emotion/Mind-Aware Neuroimaging could make such futuristic promising technology more human-centered, with more human-like heart, mind, and soul to interact with the people, the robot, and all other smart IoT devices, to enable a seamless Human-Robot Symbiotic society. Areas of interest include but are not limited to: *List of Topics* - Affective Computing - Wearable Platform and Wearable Device Form Factor Design - Soft Robotics - AI, Big Data, IoT, Deep Learning - Machine Learning and Biosignal Processing - Brain-Computer Interface and Physiological Signal Measurement - Invasive and Non-Invasive Brain-Computer Interface - Wearable Computing and Embedded System, IC/SoC design - Consumer Electronics Applications - Cloud/Edge Computing - Human-Robot/Computer Interaction - Neuroprosthesis, Exoskeleton, Rehabilitation robot - Biofeedback/Neurofeedback Training - Human-Robot Neural Interaction (HRNI) User Experience/Interface Design - Human-Centered Natural Interaction Design - Social Norms and Ethical issues of Using Emotion-Aware Big Data *PAPER SUBMISSIONS* Authors are invited to submit a *6~8-page (regular) Special Session paper* via RO-Man 2020 portal in *Papercept* (https://ras.papercept.net/) using *Special Session code* (Code: gxf38). Manuscripts are in double-column IEEE format following the official IEEE Manuscript Formatting guidelines. Review will be single-blind, so please retain all authors information in the submissions. Also consider the IEEE policies for publications. The conference proceedings will be included in the *IEEE Xplore Digital Library* . *Submission link* https://ras.papercept.net/ *Submission Code* *"gxf38"* *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* *Due to COVID-19, we are now accepting "Video Live Streaming" and/or "Video Recording" presentations, so the accepted papers can be presented remotely! **The paper submission deadline has been extended to the 29th of April to provide authors of the time to produce their best work, despite the many additional challenges we are facing at the moment. We are considering alternatives to allow for remote participation to both the main conference and workshops should disruptions still occur in September. All accepted papers will be published in the conference proceedings and uploaded to IEEE Xplore, regardless of whether a physical or virtual presentation will be given.* *IMPORTANT DATES* - *Submission deadline for full papers: April 29, 2020 (extended)* - Notifications: June 15, 2020 - Final camera ready deadline: June 30, 2020 - Conference: August 31 - September 4, 2020 *ORGANIZERS* Ker-Jiun Wang (University of Pittsburgh) Mohammad Shidujaman (Tsinghua University) Caroline Yan Zheng (Royal College of Art) Maitreyee Wairagkar (Imperial College of London) Midori Sugaya (Shibaura Institute of Technology) Zhi-Hong Mao (University of Pittsburgh) Kai-Tai Song (National Chiao Tung University) Kindest regards, *Ker-Jiun Wang, PhD* Department of Bioengineering University of Pittsburgh On Behalf of Organizing Committees of Applied Emotion/Mind-Aware Neuroimaging in Real-world Human-Robot Symbiosis with Heart, Mind, and Soul

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PhD position at EPFL (Lausanne, Switzerland)
by Milekovic Tomislav April 20, 2020

April 20, 2020

PhD position in the lab of Prof. Gregoire Courtine at EPFL (Lausanne, Switzerland) A computational approach to personalize and optimize clinical treatments for restoring locomotion to people paralyzed by spinal cord injury Location: The laboratory of Prof. Gregoire Courtine at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Lausanne, Switzerland, is looking to fill a fully funded PhD position. The qualified candidate will benefit from joining a very dynamic and multidisciplinary group working at the interface of computational neuroscience, neuroengineering, prosthetics and biology. EPFL provides state-of-the-art facilities and is one of the leading technical universities worldwide. In addition, PhD salaries at EPFL rank the highest in the world. Description: A therapy based on epidural electrical stimulation (EES) of the spinal cord can restore the ability to walk to people paralyzed by spinal cord injury. EES does this by recruiting sensory axons within dorsal spinal roots that enter the spinal cord between the vertebrae. Yet, clinically available electrode arrays used to deliver the EES were not designed to target individual spinal roots. Data driven design of the electrode arrays has the potential to substantially improve the specificity of spinal EES and, therefore, dramatically improve the recovery of people with spinal cord injury. The efficacy of EES could be further enhanced through computational algorithms capable of designing EES protocols that fully utilize the interaction between the electrode array and patient's anatomy. These two developments are critical for deployment of the EES-based therapy to clinics around the world to help millions of people suffering from spinal cord injury. We have created a computational pipeline capable of creating detailed computational models of individual persons' spinal columns from MRI scans and fMRI recordings. These hybrid models are composed of 3D finite element models (FEM) to characterize the electric current and potential in the spinal cord of individuals, and various abstractions of compartmental cable models and network models of spinal cord neuronal populations and their connections to calculate the effects of EES on the spinal networks and, in turn, the activation of muscles. This computational approach has the potential to optimize the efficacy of EES on a personalized basis, lead to novel superior electrode array designs, and further our understanding of the mechanisms by which spinal cord controls movement. The successful candidate will work to automatize our computational pipeline in order to make the described approaches useful in applied clinical practice. They will work on the development of efficient and robust computer vision algorithms to automatically segment medical imaging datasets. They will also further develop our computational pipeline to enable automatic definition of personalized EES stimulation protocols. Furthermore, they will implement a computational framework around our pipeline that can perform a large-scale and diverse sensitivity and uncertainty analysis. This framework will be critical to enhance the efficacy and explore possible novel applications of spinal cord EES. Prerequisites: - Master's Degree in Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Microengineering, Electrical Engineering or related - Proficiency in Python, Matlab and C++ - Experience with Finite Element Models, compartmental cable models, neurobiomechanical models and Machine Learning Contact: Applications including a CV and a cover letter should be sent to andreas.rowald(a)epfl.ch

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Human Brain Project-funded Postdoc position on large-scale modeling of hippocampus
by Salvador Bernal April 20, 2020

April 20, 2020

We are seeking extremely motivated applicants for a Human Brain Project-funded postdoc position in the laboratory of Michele Migliore (Palermo, Italy), in collaboration with the Neurosim laboratory at State University of New York Downstate (Brooklyn, USA). The project involves working with a large-scale biologically-detailed simulation of hippocampal CA1 circuit (https://www.humanbrainproject.eu/en/brain-simulation/hippocampus/) the EBRAINS Brain Simulation Platform (https://ebrains.eu/services/simulation/brain-simulation) and the NetPyNE modeling tool (www.netpyne.org<http://www.netpyne.org>). The position will be based in Palermo, but travel to the collaborating lab in New York will be possible. A PhD in Computational Neuroscience, Physics, Informatics, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field is required. The position is funded by the EU Human Brain Project. Salary follows the National Research Council scale for pre or post-doctoral status. The ideal candidate will have a consolidated experience in Python, NEURON and large-scale biologically-detailed simulations of brain circuits. Applicants should email “michele dot migliore at cnr dot it” a PDF file containing: 1) a CV, highlighting evidence of required skills. 2) a max one-page statement of prior research experience and motivation to be considered for this position. The appointment will be for one year, and it could be extended. Best regards. ________________________________ The contents of this email message and any attachments are confidential and are intended solely for the addressee. The information may also be legally privileged. This transmission is sent in trust, for the sole purpose of delivery to the intended recipient. If you have received this transmission in error, any use, reproduction or dissemination of this transmission is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please immediately notify sender by reply email or by (718) 270-HELP.

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Postdoc position Neuroinformatics/Computational Neuroscience at Radboud University (Nijmegen)
by Paul Tiesinga April 17, 2020

April 17, 2020

The FLAG-ERA project NeuronsReunited is looking for a postdoctoral research associate for a 3 year position at 0.9 fte. Each mental event or voluntary motor act involves the coordinated activity of neurons in areas of the brain far apart. Thin, branched and extremely long cellular processes called axons provide the physical substrate of these interactions. Since a few years it is possible to fully trace these long-range axons one at a time. The goal of the FlagERA research project “NeuronsReunited” is to create tools for speeding up the conversion of experimental data into digital axons, and to precisely place neurons into a digital reference brain to reveal their context. They are applied to existing and new data in mouse, and the resulting insights are incorporated into new models for brain function. The project is a collaboration between five international partners, two experimental partners (Prof. Francisco Clasca, Madrid; Prof. Egidio d’Angelo, Pavia) and three computational/theoretical partners (Prof. Paul Tiesinga, Dr. Rembrandt Bakker, Nijmegen; Prof. Michele Giugliano, Trieste; Prof. Sacha Van Albada, Jülich). As a postdoctoral research associate in Nijmegen you will design pipelines to process the raw anatomical data, create tools for the precise placement of axonal arbors in a digital reference brain and be part of the team that builds models and interprets the results. A key deliverable will be the creation of a gold standard online catalog of precisely placed neurons that future generations of neuroscientists can contribute to and compare data to. The tools make use of an existing body of work that consists of web-based applications (HBP Morphology Viewer and Scalable Brain Atlas, written in JavaScript) and interactive notebooks (Python). Besides being a member of the project team, you will also be part of the European Human Brain Project and have access to the expertise of the large neuroscience community at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior. The position will be embedded within the Donders Centre for Neuroscience (Faculty of Science), in particular in the Department of Neuroinformatics (Paul Tiesinga). The PIs in the department conduct research programs in computational neuroscience, neuroinformatics, large-ensemble electrophysiology/imaging and behavioural neuroscience in the general area of memory dynamics, sensory processing and decision making. What we expect from you • a PhD degree in a quantitative field (engineering, physics, computational neuroscience, etc); • expertise in neuroscience or interest in acquiring it; • excellent programming skills, preferably in JavaScript applications or Python-based pipelines; • experience with neuroinformatics, visualization/3d-graphics, image processing, and/or machine learning; • demonstrated ability to work in a multidisciplinary environment at the forefront of science; • excellent communication skills in spoken and written English. To apply: send an email to p.tiesinga(a)science.ru.nl with cover letter, CV, research statement and names of references, preferably combined into one pdf file or look for the ad at the academic transfer website (https://www.academictransfer.com/nl/, to be posted shortly) and apply there. More information: consult the following websites, • http://www.donders.ru.nl • https://www.ru.nl/science/dcn/research/neuroinformatics/ • https://scalablebrainatlas.incf.org • https://neuroinformatics.nl/HBP/morphology-viewer • https://www.flagera.eu/flag-era-calls/jtc-2019/projects/

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An expert survey on the Futures of Neurosciences
by Jarno Tuominen April 15, 2020

April 15, 2020

Dear colleagues, We are collecting an expert survey on the futures of neurosciences, and would greatly appreciate your time and effort in partaking in this research. The questions range from your perceptions on the current and futures states of the neurosciences to some more metaphysical or epistemological assumptions and beliefs. You can reach the survey here: https://webropol.com/s/futuresneurosciences >From this link you can also volunteer for the second part of this research, consisting of an online expert panel (E-Delphi method). Best wishes, Jarno Tuominen Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology Turku Brain and Mind Center Finland Futures Research Center University of Turku, Finland

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Postdoctoral position at Blue Brain Project in Geneva
by Natalí Barros Zulaica April 15, 2020

April 15, 2020

The Blue Brain Project (BBP) is looking for a postdoctoral researcher in Computational modelling to work on human brain cortical synapses and circuits. The candidate will work in a project which goal is to digitally reconstruct and simulate a human brain cortical microcircuit at the cellular and synaptic level fo detail. The successful candidate would be responsible for: - Gathering data about brain temporal cortex from literature, open-access datasets and international laboratories with which the BBP collaborates. - Interact with experimentalists to validate model predictions. - Provide scientific guidance and expertise to engineering teams and contribute to the on-going refinement of workflows and tools to build data-driven unifying brain tissue models. - Work in collaboration with engineering teams on visualisation, high performance computing, data integration and with project managers to define objectives and timelines to achieve overarching objectives and meet aggressive deadlines. - Collaboration to the general research activities and logistic activities (safety, equipment maintenance, etc.) of the unit. Candidate's profile: - PhD in neuroscience, computational neuroscience, physics or related filed. - Experience in scientific computing programming (python, script, lumpy, hdf5, Linux, ...) - Experience in whole cell electrophysiology - Experience in synapse electrophysiology analysis and research - Experience in model validation - Interest in participating in a collaborative big project - Fluent English speaking and writing. We offer: - One year, renewable contract 100% work rate - An internationally visible project in simulation-based research in neuroscience. - A young, dynamic, inter-disciplinary, and international and modern working environment (Campus Biotech, Geneva). - Possibility to participate in outreach events in Switzerland and abroad. - Very competitive salary. More information and application submission through: https://recruiting.epfl.ch/Vacancies/1036/Description/2

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[meetings] DEADLINE 1st May, CfP - Special session - Hybrid Life III, ALife 2020
by Manuel Baltieri April 14, 2020

April 14, 2020

*** UPDATES in relation to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) *** ********** Call for Papers - NEW Deadline 1st May ********** Special session - Hybrid Life III: Approaches to integrate biological, artificial and cognitive systems https://sites.google.com/view/hybrid-life-iii/ <https://sites.google.com/view/hybrid-life-iii/> 2020 Artificial Life conference (ALife) Virtual conference 13-18th July 2020 - http://2020.alife.org/ <http://2020.alife.org/> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DESCRIPTION: The main focus of ALife research is the study of natural systems with the goal of understanding what life is. More concretely, ALife defines ways to investigate processes that contribute to the formation and proliferation of living organisms. In this session we focus on three common approaches used to tackle this investigation, proposing ways to integrate, extend and possibly improve them. More specifically we refer to: 1) the formalisation of the necessary properties for the definition of life, 2) the implementation of artificial agents, and 3) the study of the relation between life and cognition. For this special session we propose to start from these well-established Alife methodologies, and extend them through: a unified formal language to describe and model living, as well as artificial and cognitive systems, e.g. control theory, Bayesian inference, dynamical systems theory, etc. the exploration of biological creatures enhanced by artificial systems (or artificial systems augmented with organic parts) in order to investigate the boundaries between living and nonliving organisms. This includes work from bio-inspired robotics, human augmentation, synthetic biology, etc. the evaluation of coupled biological-artificial systems that could shed light on the importance of interactions among systems for the study of living and cognitive organisms. This methodology welcomes contributions from the fields of human-agent interaction, animal-computer interaction, virtual / augmented reality systems, etc. This special session aims to invite contributions from the fields of psychology, computational neuroscience, HCI, theoretical biology, artificial intelligence, robotics and cognitive science to discuss current research on the formalisation, combination and interaction of artificial/living/cognitive systems from theoretical, modelling and implementational perspectives. Potential topics include, but are not limited to: Mathematical frameworks for life and cognition (e.g. dynamical systems theory, stochastic optimal control, Bayesian inference, etc.) Cognitive robotics Autopoiesis Life-mind continuity thesis Systems biology Origins-of-life theories with relationships to artificial and cognitive systems Animal-robot interaction Bio-inspired robotics Bio-integrated robotics Human-machine interaction Augmented cognition Sensory substitution Interactive evolutionary computation Artificial perception Important Dates 1st May 2020 – Paper submission deadline TBC – Paper acceptance notification TBC – Camera-ready version 13th-18th 2020 – Artificial Life virtual conference (ALife) Paper Submission Papers and abstracts submitted to this special sessions will be reviewed by a selected group of experts from the ALife community as well as from other areas key to our proposal, specifically chosen for this review process. If you are submitting to a special session you will be given the opportunity to select it during the submission process. Submissions to special sessions follow the same format, instructions and deadlines of regular ALife papers. Organizers Manuel Baltieri, RIKEN Centre for Brain Science, Saitama, Japan Keisuke Suzuki, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK Hiryuki IIzuka, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan Olaf Witkowski, Cross Labs, Tokyo, Japan Lana Sinapayen, Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Tokyo, Japan Contacts For questions, enquiries and more information please check our website https://sites.google.com/view/hybrid-life-iii/ <https://sites.google.com/view/hybrid-life-iii/> or get in touch with manuel.baltieri [at] riken.jp <http://riken.jp/>. All the best, -- Manuel Baltieri Postdoctoral Research Fellow Lab. for Neural Computation and Adaptation RIKEN CBS, Saitama, Japan www.manuelbaltieri.com <https://manuelbaltieri.com/> Twitter: @manuelbaltieri

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PhD position on Accelerating motor learning with computational scaffolding (Tel Aviv)
by Jason Friedman April 13, 2020

April 13, 2020

(also see online: http://www.movementscienceslab.com/PhDApril2020.pdf) Tel-Aviv University offers a funded full-time PhD position on “Accelerating motor learning with computational scaffolding” starting in the summer The last few years have seen an amazing explosion in artificial intelligence and machine learning - helping machines learn to perform tasks better. In this project, we will use similar techniques to optimize the human learning experience in learning complex motor behaviour. ------------------------------ *Your tasks* We will tackle the problem of learning complex motor tasks using a technique known as computational scaffolding. You will play a central role in both designing, setting up, running and analyzing the behavioural experiments with human participants, as well as working on the machine learning algorithms to perform the guidance, based on recordings from experts teaching novices. The techniques developed in this project will eventually allow enhanced remote tele-operation for learning new skills and rehabilitation in different populations. The experiments will involve motion capture, recording performance from an electric piano and use of an exoskeleton for guidance. You will be supervised by Dr. Jason Friedman, from the Dept. Physical Therapy & Sagol School of Neuroscience, and the project will be performed collaboratively with the group of Prof. Dr. Helge Ritter, from the NeuroInformatics group at Bielefeld University in Germany. ------------------------------ *Your profile* We expect: - M.Sc or equivalent in Computer Science, Biomedical engineering, Physical Therapy, Neuroscience, Psychology, Physics, Motor Control, or related areas - Knowledge and experience in machine learning and artificial intelligence - Excellent programming skills - Very good English (written and spoken) - Independent, self-reliant and dedicated style of work - Strong organizational and communication skills - Ability to cooperate and to work in a team - A background in music is an advantage ------------------------------ The successful applicant will apply to be a PhD student in the Faculty of Medicine or the Sagol School of Neuroscience. The research will primarily take place on the campus of Tel Aviv University in Tel Aviv, Israel. Tel Aviv University, with over 30,000 students, is the largest university in Israel, with a vibrant research community. The student will receive a stipend at the standard Tel Aviv University rate. ------------------------------ *Application Procedure* Send the following by email to Dr. Jason Friedman (jason(a)tau.ac.il) - A CV - A transcript of your grades from your M.Sc studies - A cover letter describing how you meet the profile and why you are interested in the position - Names, affiliations, and email address of two academic references Shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an online video interview Recruitment will take place immediately until a suitable applicant is found -- Jason Friedman, PhD Senior Lecturer Department of Physical Therapy Tel Aviv University email: jason(a)tau.ac.il web: http://curiousjason.com

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Call for Abstracts : the 2020 Conference on the Mathematical Theory of Deep Learning
by Ahmed El Hady April 11, 2020

April 11, 2020

*Call for Abstracts: The 2020 Conference on the Mathematical Theory of Deep Learning* We are now accepting abstracts for poster presentations at DeepMath 2020. DeepMath is a two day conference focused on the theoretical understanding of deep learning and neural networks (for more information see www.deepmath-conference.com <http://www.deepmath-conference.com/>). A principal goal of this conference is to bring together theoreticians working on deep learning from various disciplines and perspectives. We therefore encourage submissions from researchers from diverse disciplines including, but not limited to * Statistics * Physics * Computer science * Neuroscience * Mathematics * Psychology * Engineering Topics may address any area of deep learning research such as * expressivity * generalization * optimization * representations * computation * network architectures * recurrent networks. To complement the wealth of conferences with applications and theory the focus for DeepMath 2020 will be exclusively on the theoretical and mechanistic understanding of the underlying properties of neural networks. Invited speakers for DeepMath 2020 include * Richard Baraniuk (Rice U) * Gitta Kutyniok (TU Berlin) * Eero Simoncelli (NYU) * Rene Vidal (Johns Hopkins) * Lenka Zdeborova (CEA Saclay) * Demba Ba (Harvard U) * Stephanie Jegelka (MIT) * Mikhail Belkin (OSU) Abstracts will not be made public (i.e., no official proceedings), and will be doubly-blind reviewed and selected for quality. All poster submissions should be properly anonymized in order to allow for blind refereeing. *Submissions should be no more than 1 page* although a second page may be used for references. Authors should submit a pdf file prepared using the *Latex style file available here <https://storage.googleapis.com/wzukusers/user-23451351/documents/5c90d93c12…>* (https://storage.googleapis.com/wzukusers/user-23451351/documents/5c90d93c12… <https://storage.googleapis.com/wzukusers/user-23451351/documents/5c90d93c12…>) and should adopt all formatting, subject headings, font sizes, etc. defined therein. Submissions that fail to meet the format requirements will not be reviewed. The first author listed on the abstract is considered to be the presenting author. Each presenting author may submit only one abstract. Investigators interested in having their abstracts considered for presentation should submit their abstracts no later than June 1. Authors may submit their abstracts at: https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/DEEPMATH2020 <https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/DEEPMATH2020> For more information, please visit the conference website at www.deepmath-conference.com <http://www.deepmath-conference.com/>

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Postdoc position, PhD position and further opportunities in the group “Neural network dynamics and computation” (Raoul-Martin Memmesheimer)
by Raoul-Martin Memmesheimer April 10, 2020

April 10, 2020

Postdoc position, PhD position and further opportunities in the group “Neural network dynamics and computation” (Raoul-Martin Memmesheimer) The “Neural network dynamics and computation” group of Raoul-Martin Memmesheimer at Bonn University offers a PhD and a postdoctoral researcher position to study the dynamics, function and evolution of earliest nervous systems. Your research may address a variety of modeling topics and include experiments on jellyfish nervous systems. The experiments are planned in collaboration with Heinz Beck (Department of Epileptology) and Gerhard von der Emde (Institute for Zoology). The German research council (DFG) fully funds the positions via a grant of the program “SPP 2205 - Evolutionary Optimization of Neuronal Processing”. First related results of our group are presented in Pallasdies et al., “From single neurons to behavior in the jellyfish Aurelia aurita” Elife 2019. If you are at an earlier career stage, you may want to write your Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis on the topic. Optimal backgrounds of applicants include theoretical and experimental neuroscience, theoretical physics, computer science, mathematics and (quantitative) biology. If you are interested in more information, see our website (www.neuralnetworkdynamicscomputation.de) and/or contact us via email, for example Raoul-Martin Memmesheimer (rm.memmesheimer(a)uni-bonn.de) or Wilhelm Braun (wbraun(a)uni-bonn.de) We are looking forward to your application!

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Cheng lab - Two PhD positions in Computational Neuroscience
by Vinita Samarasinghe April 8, 2020

April 8, 2020

Sen Cheng, at the Institute for Neural Computation, Ruhr University Bochum, is looking to fill two PhD positions. Both are funded for 3 years and start as soon as possible. The positions are in the field of computational neuroscience and excellent programming skills are mandatory. 1.The successful candidate will study the function of episodic memory in spatial navigation and time series prediction using computational modeling. This research builds on a computational model that was developed in the research group. The model incorporates a virtual environment and machine learning methods such as reinforcement learning, and deep neural networks. This model should be extended to enable the use of episodic memory in reinforcement learning. https://www.stellenwerk-bochum.de/jobboerse/wissenschaftl-mitarbeiterin-wis… 2. The successful candidate will develop and study computational models of episodic memory and spatial navigation. The models will be based on biologically plausible spiking neurons and will account for the generation and learning of complex behaviors. The research focus will be on modeling the influence of neuro- and psychopathologies on observable behavior. https://www.stellenwerk-bochum.de/jobboerse/wissenschaftl-mitarbeiterin-wis… The deadline for applications is 30.04.2020 23:59 CEST. For further details regarding the positions and instructions on how to apply please follow the given links. English versions of the postings can also be found at: https://www.ini.rub.de/the_institute/jobs/ Please quote the job number when applying. We look forward to hearing from you! Kind regards, -- Vinita Samarasinghe M.Sc., M.A. Science Manager Arbeitsgruppe Computational Neuroscience Institut für Neuroinformatik Ruhr-Universität Bochum, NB 3/26 Postfachnummer 110 Universitätstr. 150 44801 Bochum Tel: +49 (0) 234 32 27316 Email: samarasinghe(a)ini.rub.de

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12 PhD fellowships in Neuroscience at the Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova
by suwies infn April 8, 2020

April 8, 2020

The Padova Neuroscience Center is delighted to announce its call for about 12 fully funded PhD fellowships in Neuroscience at the University of Padova (see flyer: http://pnc.unipd.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/PhD@PNCFlyer_2020.pdf <http://pnc.unipd.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/PhD@PNCFlyer_2020.pdf>). The multidisciplinary PhD program includes research lines and methods from Multimodal Imaging, Molecular-Cellular, Cognitive-Affective-Behavioral, Clinical-Translational and Computational Neuroscience. Given the COVID-19 emergency, the time-frame for the application has been postponed to 4th of May-16th of June 2020 (at 1 pm). The details for the application could be found here: http://pnc.unipd.it/admission/ <http://pnc.unipd.it/admission/>. Stay tuned! Interested candidates can also contact us (pnc.generalinfo(a)gmail.com <mailto:pnc.generalinfo@gmail.com>) for further information. Please forward this message to collaborators and students. **** Padova University is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Europe - established in 1222. The University of Padova invests significantly in research activities and projects. Padova, is a small and beautiful town, shaped around the University. Affordable living costs, great food and social life, and you can bike everywhere! ***** Assistant Professor, www.liphlab.com, Physics & Astronomy Dept. Padova Neuroscience Center University of Padova Tel: +39 049 827 71 74 @SamirSuweis https://suweis.github.io/ Why don't you join the next generation publishing experiment with "Peer Community In" - publish and read at no cost and inject more money into research! Check us out @ https://peercommunityin.org https://youtu.be/4PZhpnc8wwo @PeerCommunityIn

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Postdoc job in New York in computational neuroscience - Fall 2020
by Ruben Coen-Cagli April 7, 2020

April 7, 2020

The Laboratory for Computational Neuroscience<https://sites.google.com/site/rubencoencagli> (Coen-Cagli lab) invites applications for a postdoctoral position in the Department of Systems and Computational Biology and Department of Neuroscience at Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Einstein) in New York City. Our lab studies how biological sensory systems interpret the surrounding environment. We study probabilistic representations of natural images, to understand visual perception and neural activity in visual-cortical populations. We combine theories of probabilistic neural coding, computer vision and machine learning algorithms, psychophysics, and neurophysiology through collaborations. The candidate is expected to perform research related to these topics. Applicants must have a Ph.D. in a relevant discipline, with an academic record of scientific excellence and independent research, and a keen interest in interdisciplinary approaches to biological and neural systems. Prior experience should include areas such as computational neuroscience, machine learning, computer vision, or statistics. We are particularly interested in applicants with a genuine interest in linking theoretical and computational work to quantitative analysis of neurophysiology data, in the context of a NIH funded project<https://projectreporter.nih.gov/project_info_description.cfm?aid=9801995&ic…> on natural image processing in the visual cortex. The project is a collaboration with the laboratory of Adam Kohn<https://www.einstein.yu.edu/faculty/10522/adam-kohn/> at Einstein, and the fellow will have the opportunity for substantial interactions with the Kohn lab. Einstein offers a vibrant interdisciplinary environment, with a growing systems and computational contingent. It is located in a quiet neighborhood of New York, only a short subway ride from Manhattan. Information about working at the Einstein, including benefits and housing for postdocs, can be found at: https://www.einstein.yu.edu/research/belfer-institute/ The position starts in fall 2020, and is funded for several years, with an initial one-year appointment and expectation of extension given satisfactory performance. Salary is competitive and will be commensurate with experience. Candidates should send a single pdf file, consisting of a 1-page motivation letter, CV, and publication list to ruben.coencagli(a)gmail.com. Furthermore, candidates should organize two letters of reference, to be sent to the same e-mail address. The position is open until filled. Albert Einstein College of Medicine is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. Ruben Coen Cagli, PhD Department of Systems and Computational Biology, and Dominick Purpura Department of Neuroscience Albert Einstein College of Medicine 1300 Morris Park Ave. Price 353B Bronx, 10461. NY office: +1.718.678.1150 web: https://sites.google.com/site/rubencoencagli/<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.goo…>

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Extension of CFP SAB 2020: FROM ANIMALS TO ANIMATS 16th International Conference on the Simulation of Adaptive Behavior - Cergy-Pontoise, France, 22-24 Sep 2020 -- deadline: 15th Apr 2020
by alexandre pitti April 6, 2020

April 6, 2020

Extension of Call for papers for the 16th International Conference on the Simulation of Adaptive Behavior (SAB2020) SAB 2020 : FROM ANIMALS TO ANIMATS 16 that will be held at Cergy-Paris University (near Paris), France 22-24 september 2020 + workshops day 21st https://sab2020.sciencesconf.org/ COVID-19 information: the conference is maintained Deadline Extension: 15th of April. the organizers message: the conference is maintained in September and the deadline has been extended to the 15th of April. If you find any difficulty to submit and you are willing to, please contact us. Take care of you and of your relatives. *Invited Speakers* ================== Mehdi Khamassi, ISIR, Paris-Sorbonne University Some applications of the model-based / model-free reinforcement learning framework to Neuroscience and Robotics Bruno Poucet, LNC, Aix-Marseille Université Goal-directed spatial navigation and the hippocampus More speakers TBA *Scope of the Conference* ========================= The objective of this interdisciplinary conference is to bring together researchers in computer science, artificial intelligence, artificial life, control, robotics, neurosciences, ethology, evolutionary biology and related fields in order to further our understanding of the behaviors and underlying mechanisms that allow natural and artificial animals to adapt and survive in uncertain environments. The conference will focus on experiments with well-defined models including robot models, computer simulation models and mathematical models designed to help characterize and compare various organizational principles or architectures underlying adaptive behavior in real animals and in synthetic agents, the animats. *Location* ========== Cergy-Paris University, close to Paris, France *Relevant Research Areas* ========================= SAB2020 solicits contributions dealing with any aspect of adaptive behavior in natural and artificial systems. Typical, but not exclusive, topics of interest are: The animat approach Motor control Body and brain co-evolution Self-assembling and self-replication Sensory-motor coordination Action selection and behavioral sequencing Navigation and mapping Internal models and representation Evolution, development and learning Collective and social behavior Applied adaptive behavior Motivation and emotion Communication and language Emergent structures and behaviors Neural correlates of behavior Evolutionary and co-evolutionary approaches Bio-inspired and hybrid robotics Autonomous robotics Humanoid robotics Cognitive and developmental robotics Software agents and virtual creatures Philosophical and psychological issues Animats in education *Conference Format* =================== Following the tradition of SAB conferences, the conference will be single track with additional poster sessions. There will also be a day of tutorials. *Important Dates* ================= The conference will be held between 22-24 Sep 2020 and the 21st of September will be dedicated to workshops and tutorials Submission deadline : 15th of April, 2020 Notification of Acceptance : 15th of May, 2020 Camera ready: 15th of June, 2020 workshops/tutorials: 21st of September, 2020 Venue: 22nd-24th of September, 2020 Workshop/Tutorial Proposal Deadline: 21st May, 2020 Workshop/Tutorial Notification of Acceptance: 31th May, 2020 *Paper Submission Instruction and Publication Details* ====================================================== Submitted papers must not exceed 12 pages. Detailed submission instructions are available from the conference website (https://sab2020.sciencesconf.org/ or soon http://www.sab2020.org/ ). Special Issue to Springer Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence All accepted papers with oral or poster presentation will be published in Springer Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence series conference proceedings. Selected authors may additionally be invited to submit extended versions for a conference Special Issue of the Journal of Adaptive Behavior. *Workshops & tutorials* ======================= The SAB2020 organizing committee invites proposals for workshops and tutorials, which will be held on the 21st of September, 2020. Instructions for preparing the tutorial proposal and further details on the tutorials will be found at http://www.sab2020.sciencesconf.org / http://www.sab2020.org/ *Best Paper Award* ================== Two best paper prizes will be awarded at the end of the conference to honour the authors of papers of exceptional merit. For more information please refer to the official SAB2020 website. *Further Information* ===================== Up-to-date information will be published on the website https://sab2020.sciencesconf.org/ and http://www.sab2020.org/ . For information about local arrangements, registration forms, etc., please refer to the website or contact the local organizers at the address below. * Organizers * ============== ISAB Philippe Gaussier General Chair, UCP Sofiane Boucenna Program Chair, UCP Nicolas Cuperlier Program Chair, UCP Alexandre Pitti Local Chair and Publicity Chair, UCP *Conference Address* ==================== Cergy-Pontoise, CY Cergy-Paris University. Site Les Chênes *Contact * ========== sab2020(a)sciencesconf.org Alex Pitti Maître de Conférence Laboratoire ETIS, CY Cergy Paris Université, ENSEA, CNRS, UMR8051 http://perso-etis.ensea.fr/alexpitt/ Alex Pitti associate professor Laboratoire ETIS, CY Cergy Paris Université, ENSEA, CNRS, UMR8051 http://perso-etis.ensea.fr/alexpitt/

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Scientific software developer positions at the SimLab Neuroscience, Juelich, Germany
by Abigail Morrison April 6, 2020

April 6, 2020

Dear colleagues, We have two Scientific software developer positions available in the SimLab Neuroscience at the Juelich Supercomputing Centre, Juelich Research Centre, Germany. For the full descriptions and details of how to apply, please see the announcements on our website: Scientific Software Developer - Closed loop simulation engine development https://www.fz-juelich.de/SharedDocs/Stellenangebote/_common/dna/2020-106-E… Scientific Software Developer - Neuroscience middleware for High-Performance Computing systems https://www.fz-juelich.de/SharedDocs/Stellenangebote/_common/dna/2020-107-E… The deadline for applications is 22 April 2020. All the best, Abigail Morrison -- Prof. Dr. Abigail Morrison IAS-6 / INM-6 / SimLab Neuroscience Jülich Research Center & Computer Science 3 - Software Engineering RWTH Aachen http://www.fz-juelich.de/inm/inm-6 http://www.fz-juelich.de/ias/jsc/slns http://www.se-rwth.de Office: +49 2461 61-9805 Fax # : +49 2461 61-9460 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Postdoctoral fellow position: Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles
by Gulati, Tanuj April 2, 2020

April 2, 2020

Postdoctoral Position – Electrophysiology | Motor Learning | Sleep Motor Systems Neuroscience and Neural Engineering Laboratory We have a NIH-funded postdoctoral position available in the Motor Systems Neuroscience and Neural Engineering Laboratory<https://www.gulatilab.org/> at Cedars-Sinai’s newly formed Center for Neural Science<https://www.cedars-sinai.org/research/areas/neural-science.html> in Los Angeles. Our lab is utilizing a combination of systems neuroscience & neural engineering methods, along with causal manipulation of networks to understand the process of motor skill consolidation in the brain. A specific focus is on sleep’s role in motor learning (Gulati et al, Nat Neurosci 2014; Gulati et al, Nat Neurosci 2017; Kim, Gulati & Ganguly, Cell 2019). We are also utilizing this knowledge to develop novel neurotechnology that promotes motor recovery in motor injuries such as stroke (Gulati et al, J Neurosci 2015; Ramanathan*, Guo*, Gulati* et al, Nat Med 2018). While this published work has looked at motor cortex, our next goal is to record simultaneously from motor cortex and cerebellum in rodents and study the emergence of shared variance as the motor skill consolidates. Postdoctoral fellow will be involved in multi-site recordings as well as data analyses and preparing manuscripts. He/she will also have an opportunity to mentor junior trainees (interns/ graduate students). Salary will follow new California labor laws (current minimum is $54,080) and is negotiable. The position also offers excellent Cedars-Sinai employee benefits. Requirements Applicants are expected to have a PhD in Biomedical Engineering/ Neuroscience or a related discipline. Experience in one or more of the following is needed: data analyses and programming (Matlab/ python)/ animal training/ experimental neurophysiology. Candidates with strong experience in computational analyses but limited experimental experience will also be considered. Application Instructions Interested applicants should contact me with their CV, a letter stating their interests & experiences, and contact information for 2-3 references. Email: tanuj.gulati(a)csmc.edu<mailto:tanuj.gulati@csmc.edu> IMPORTANT WARNING: This message is intended for the use of the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged and confidential, the disclosure of which is governed by applicable law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this information is strictly prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation.

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Research assistant position
by Luczak April 2, 2020

April 2, 2020

Research assistant at the University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada Our lab seeks highly motivated individuals with strong computational backgrounds to work at the interface of neuroscience and machine learning. We are especially interested in application of deep neural networks to improve our understanding of neuronal data, and application of recent neuroscience findings to improve performance of deep neural networks. In our lab we also record activity of hundreds of neurons in normal and epileptic animals, and successful candidate is welcome to participate in those projects. Preferred candidate should have strong background in modeling neurons and networks, and should be very familiar with models of synaptic plasticity (e.g. BCM). Our lab at the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience in Lethbridge is located in the sunniest area of Canada and next to scenic Rocky Mountains. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Duties and responsibilities: - Compile research results and assist in the analyses. - Analyze data using machine learning methods. - Develops analytical methods for biologically plausible artificial neural networks. - Conduct research and literature reviews. - Participate in scientific discussion groups and seminars. Skills & Qualifications: - 3 years of research work experience. - Having strong background in modeling neurons and networks, and should be very familiar with models of synaptic plasticity. - Familiarity with epilepsy is a plus. - Highly experience in programing with Python and Matlab. - Ability to work with data, applying machine learning methods and deep learning. - Working with computer clusters and cloud computing. - Excellent communication and team work skills. Hours of Work: Full-time, 30 hours per week. Salary: $21.63 /hour Duration: one year Language requirements: English Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Dr Artur Luczak (Luczak(a)uleth.ca) with a copy of their CV and a cover letter. For more information please visit our website at http://lethbridgebraindynamics.com/artur_luczak

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FY21 US Air Force Young Investigator Research Program (YIP)
by GREENWALD, HAL S DR-04 USAF AFMC AFOSR/RTA April 2, 2020

April 2, 2020

The Air Force Young Investigator Research Program (YIP) is an excellent way for new principal investigators to accelerate their careers in basic research with three years of funding at up to $150,000 per year. Each year, every AFOSR program can nominate one YIP recipient. AFOSR's Cognitive & Computational Neuroscience program is in its second year and funds basic research in neuroscience and at the intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence. Unlike with most of AFOSR's research grants that are open to researchers worldwide, YIP applicants must be US persons (citizens, nationals, or permanent residents) with full-time, permanent positions at US institutions (by Oct. 1, 2020) who received their doctorates no earlier than April 1, 2013. White papers are due May 14, 2020, and the proposal submission deadline is July 14, 2020. Please see the funding opportunity announcement at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=325614 for complete details and requirements. Program Description: The Air Force YIP supports scientists and engineers who have received Ph.D. or equivalent degrees within the last seven years and show exceptional ability and promise for conducting basic research. The objectives of this program are: 1. to foster creative basic research in science and engineering; 2. enhance early career development of outstanding young investigators; 3. and increase opportunities for the young investigator to recognize the Air Force mission and related challenges in science and engineering. Eligibility: Individual awards are made to U.S. institutions of higher education, industrial laboratories, for-profit businesses, or non-profit research organizations where the principal investigator (PI) is employed on a full-time basis and holds a regular position. Researchers working at a Federally Funded Research and Development Center or DoD Laboratory are not eligible for this competition. Research proposals must address Research Interests of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, FA9550-19-S-0003, found at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=314753 (see Amendment 003). Most YIP awards are funded up to $150,000 per year for three years, for a total of $450,000. Exceptional proposals will be considered individually for higher funding levels and/or longer durations. Questions about YIP may be sent to afosryip(a)us.af.mil <mailto:afosryip@us.af.mil> . Pre-solicitation questions are due April 14, 2020. Sincerely, Hal Greenwald Hal S. Greenwald, Ph.D. Program Officer, Cognitive & Computational Neuroscience Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR/RTA) 875 N. Randolph St. Arlington, VA 22203-1768 (703) 588-8441

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JOBS - Early Stage Researchers (ERS) Positions, Conversational Brains EU project
by Rosario Tomasello April 2, 2020

April 2, 2020

*NEW APPLICATION DEADLINE: 15 APRIL 2020* A Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network funded by the European Union https://www.cobra-network.eu/ *The COBRA Project* *The purpose of the COBRA network is to train the next generation of researchers to accurately characterize and model the linguistic, cognitive and brain mechanisms that allow conversation to unfold in both human-human and human-machine interactions. * The network includes world-level academic research centers on language, cognition and the human brain as well as 4 non-academic partners that include fast-developing SMEs and one world-level company. The partners’ both unique combined expertise and high complementarity will allow COBRA to offer early-stage researchers (ESRs) an excellent training programme as well as very strong exposure to the non-academic sector. *A new research paradigm* There is a longstanding tradition of research on the relationships between language, cognition and the human brain. However, work in this domain has long been limited to studying language production or comprehension in talkers individually exposed to highly-controlled linguistic material. Recently, major advances have been simultaneously accomplished in language sciences, cognitive sciences and neurosciences, which have brought us on the verge of a new research paradigm. Language sciences have entered a new phase as they move away from individually-administered protocols towards the characterization of how spoken language is jointly used by two or more talkers as a shared set of resources for interacting with each other. This has occurred in conjunction with the advent of increasingly large databases on conversational spoken language, together with that of powerful large-scale spoken-language processing tools and techniques. Cognitive sciences and neurosciences have also undergone a paradigm shift, which has made them pass from a single-brain to a *multi-brain frame of reference*(Hasson et al. 2012; Schilbach et al. 2013) as a new challenge has arisen that consists in understanding how the brains of two people speaking with each other are temporarily coupled. These advances make it possible to explore language and the brain in the context in which they both primarily develop, i.e. social interactions. Our network will aim to train 15 Europe-based PhD students in this emerging highly interdisciplinary research field: conversational brains. *Focusing on interactive alignment and prediction* Research and training activities will focus on two major mechanisms employed by speakers in a conversational interaction, namely *interactive alignment*, and *prediction*. *Interactive alignment*refers to the process by which people align their representations at different linguistic levels at the same time, by making use of each others’ choices of sounds, words, grammatical forms, and meanings (Garrod & Pickering 2004). Alignment contributes to making conversation *easy*by setting a common ground between speakers, for these speakers to have a better joint understanding of what they are talking about. *Prediction*refers to the process by which one speaker predicts what the other speaker is likely to say next, as well as how and when it will be said (Pickering & Garrod 2013). It is a major factor in what makes conversation *fluent*, and in the dynamics of turn-taking, those key moments in the interaction where one speaker hands over the conversational floor to her/his interlocutor. New metrics will be devised for the quantitative assessment of inter-speaker alignment and prediction and the speakers’ underlying cognitive and brain activities. ESRs will be trained to explore these mechanisms across a large variety of languages and communicational settings, and will address two main challenges. The first challenge will be to determine how alignment and prediction may both rely on and contribute to setting up *brain-to-brain coupling relationships*. The second challenge will relate to the development of computational models of alignment and prediction for *more effective and socially-acceptable text-to-speech synthesizers, human-machine dialogue systems, and social robots*. This will open the way towards using neurobehavioral measures for both the on-line monitoring of artificial agents, and the offline evaluation of quality of communication in human-machine interactions. Within the consortium, *eight European languages*(English, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Slovak, Swedish) as well as *Mandarin Chinese*will be represented that will allow the ESRs to confront a wide set of linguistic phenomena spread across the European territory and Asia. *Technological and societal implications * *Transfer-of-technology activities*will include innovative experimental set-ups for the joint monitoring of brain and physiological activities in two or more people engaged in a spoken-language interactions, as well as the development of spoken-dialogue systems and social robots with high-level conversational skills. The training programme will also have major societal implications as it will address issues that relate to communication in people’s native and non-native languages. The focus on the dynamics of conversational exchanges between people and on the mechanisms employed for the establishment of a conversational common ground will make it possible to significantly further our understanding of what makes spoken language communication efficient and successful in a large variety of languages and interaction situations. *Proposed PhD projects* *Fifteen early-stage researchers (ESRs) will be recruited as PhD students in the framework of COBRA.* The call for applications is open. Deadline for submission: *15 April 2020*. Each selected ESR will be offered a three-year contract starting from September/October 2020. Further information about the 15 proposed projects is available below: ESR1 : Categorization of speech sounds as a collective decision process ESR2 : Brain markers of between-speaker convergence in conversational speech ESR3 : Does prediction drive neural alignment in conversation? *ESR4 : Brain indexes of semantic and pragmatic prediction* ESR5 : Communicative alignment at the physiological level ESR6 : Lexical alignment in human-machine spoken interaction ESR7 : Contribution of discourse markers to alignment in conversation ESR8 : Discourse units and discourse alignment ESR9 : Acoustic-phonetic alignment in synthetic speech ESR10 : Phonetic alignment in a non-native language ESR11 : Conversation coordination and mind-reading ESR12 : The influence of alignment ESR13 : Parametric dialogue synthesis: from separate speakers to conversational interaction ESR14 : Gender and vocal alignment in speakers and robots ESR15 : Endowing robots with high-level conversational skills ESR4 : Brain indexes of semantic and pragmatic predictionPhD fellowship at the Freie Universität BerlinObjectives: Although the role of prediction in language and communication processing is widely acknowledged, there exist few brain indexes that directly map the neurophysiological correlates of prediction as these emerge in real time. Most studies use event-related activity elicited *after*the predicted (or not predicted) linguistic forms, e.g., the N400 to semantically expected or unexpected words, and more recently, speech acts. ESR4 will use the readiness potential to directly map the emergence of prediction correlates in the course of communications between two people. Participants will engage in different interactive language games while predictive brain responses will be measured with EEG or fMRI and, eventually, MEG. TMS will be applied to find out whether local stimulation can specifically interfere with communicative predictions. ESR4 will also examine the role of sentence context, where semantic predictions in affirmative and negated sentences will be contrasted. We expect ESR4 to find new brain indexes of semantic and pragmatic predictions, which will be used to directly assess current theories of alignment between communication partners in different types of conversations. For more information regarding ESR4, please contact Prof Friedemann Pulvermüller f.p(a)fu-berlin.deor Dr Rosario Tomasello tomasello.r(a)fu-berlin.de Benefits The ESR will be contractually employed for 36 months by the main institution, and will be covered under the social security scheme of the enrolling country. She/he will monthly receive a Living Allowance, a Mobility Allowance and a Family Allowance (if applicable) compliant with the applicable EC Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions-ITN general conditions. The net salary for ESR4 will be about*€2.300-2.700 *according to her/his situation. Eligibility criteria: Experience eligibility requirement: Eligible applicants must be in the first 4 years of their research careers (full-time equivalent research experience) at the signature of the contract (measured from the time the Master’s degree has been obtained). Eligible applicants must not hold a Doctoral Degree yet. Mobility eligibility requirement The fellow must not have resided in the main institution’s country for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment date, and not have carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in that country. How to apply Applications should be submitted via the website of the targeted ESR, see https://www.cobra-network.eu/the-project/topics You can apply for several of the 15 ESRs, but should indicate your preference for 2 of them. Deadline for the submission of applications: *15 April**2020* The complete application should be provided in the form of one single pdf file, named as follows: lastname-firstname.pdf For more information regarding the application, see https://www.cobra-network.eu/ https://www.cobra-network.eu/contact-us/frequently-asked-questions/

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29th International Conference on Artificial Neural Networks ICANN 2020 - extended deadline
by Paolo Masulli ENNS April 1, 2020

April 1, 2020

29th International Conference on Artificial Neural Networks ICANN 2020 https://e-nns.org/icann2020 *Bratislava, Slovakia** **15 - 18 September 2020* ============================================================ *Submission Deadline Extended: 30 April* * * Dear colleagues, As ICANN organizing committee and ENNS, the safety and health of all our participants is a top priority. We are monitoring closely the situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. *We will carefully evaluate the situation in the few next weeks and will work on solutions; we are aware of the current situation and remain flexible*. No one can predict what will happen in the next weeks or months exactly, but we we will monitor closely and react accordingly and will communicate any backup plan options in due course on the website if and once necessary. *However, for now we hope and assume that ICANN will take place in September and that you will submit and attend it*. If you were planning to submit your contribution to ICANN 2020, we advise you to continue preparing your manuscript and submit it as planned on the conference website <https://e-nns.org/icann2020/submission/>. We understand that the current situation is impacting the working conditions of many of us, and therefore we have decided to *extend the submission deadline to April 30*, *2020*. We will keep you informed and announce any relevant changes on the conference website. In the meanwhile, we wish you and your dear ones to stay healthy and safe in this difficult time. Best regards, The ICANN 2020 Organizing Committee

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Reminder: Call for Papers for Journal of Neuroscience Methods Special Issue: Multiscale Modelling and Analysis in Neuroscience
by Wong-Lin, Kongfatt March 30, 2020

March 30, 2020

This is a reminder regarding a Special Issue on Multiscale Modelling and Analysis in Neuroscience, in the Journal of Neuroscience Methods, which I am co-editing. This Special Issue is focused on state-of-the-art: (i) computational modelling techniques; (ii) theoretical, mathematical or numerical methods; (iii) analysis of data; (iv) curation of data; or (v) combinations of the above. For more information, please see: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-neuroscience-methods/call-for-…<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.journ…> Example of a published paper in this Special Issue can be found at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165027020300947?via%3Di… Both original research and insightful reviews are welcomed. Please contact me or any of the other co-editors if you are interested or have queries. The deadline for submissions is 30th April, 2020. Manuscripts will undergo the normal peer review process as soon as they are submitted. Best, KongFatt Wong-Lin -------------------------- E-mail: k.wong-lin(a)ulster.ac.uk https://www.ulster.ac.uk/staff/k-wong-lin This email and any attachments are confidential and intended solely for the use of the addressee and may contain information which is covered by legal, professional or other privilege. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager at postmaster(a)ulster.ac.uk and delete this email immediately. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ulster University. The University's computer systems may be monitored and communications carried out on them may be recorded to secure the effective operation of the system and for other lawful purposes. Ulster University does not guarantee that this email or any attachments are free from viruses or 100% secure. Unless expressly stated in the body of a separate attachment, the text of email is not intended to form a binding contract. Correspondence to and from the University may be subject to requests for disclosure by 3rd parties under relevant legislation. The Ulster University was founded by Royal Charter in 1984 and is registered with company number RC000726 and VAT registered number GB672390524.The primary contact address for Ulster University in Northern Ireland is Cromore Road, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry BT52 1SA

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Hiring postdoc at Georgia Tech
by Christopher Rozell March 25, 2020

March 25, 2020

A postdoctoral position at the intersection of computational neuroscience and closed-loop optogenetic stimulation is available in the lab of Christopher Rozell at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA). This BRAIN Initiative research project seeks to advance the field of closed-loop computational neuroscience by using real-time feedback stimulation during experiments to decouple recurrently connected circuit elements and make stronger causal inferences about circuit interactions. This position will have a broad opportunity to develop models and algorithms that are implemented in novel experiments using closed-loop optogenetic stimulation. We aim to provide both new scientific insight about computational in neural circuits (especially sensory coding in the thalamo-cortical circuit) as well as new approaches and algorithmic tools for the community to use in novel electrophysiology experiments. This position will work as part of a team and in close collaboration with the experimental lab of Garrett Stanley (also at Georgia Tech), and it is expected that the computational and algorithmic approaches will be implemented experimentally through close partnership with experimentalists in the Stanley Laboratory. Applicants should hold a PhD in a related discipline with a strong record of research impact, quantitative thinking and collaborative work. Experience in computational neuroscience, machine learning, feedback control, and causal inference is all advantageous. The lab is committed to the professional development of the members, making it valuable preparation for people who are interested in academic, industrial or entrepreneurial careers. The position has no mandatory teaching or administrative duties. Excellent (written and oral) communication skills in English are also required. This particular project is part of the Collaborative Research in Computational Neuroscience program (CRCNS), providing access to a community of researchers across the country who are focused on similar types of collaborations between computational and experimental labs. Georgia Tech's campus in the heart of midtown Atlanta, which has a thriving and collaborative neuroscience community that has a particular emphasis on computational and systems neuroscience. Atlanta is also one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States, boasting a wide range of opportunities for recreation and culture. Georgia Tech has competitive benefits (including comprehensive medical insurance) and is an equal opportunity employer. The ideal start would be during summer 2020, but dates beyond that may be considered depending on the fit of the candidate. The position is initially for 12 months with the possibility and expectation of renewal. Compensation will be commensurate with relevant experience. Candidates should send a CV, a statement of research experience and interests, expected date of availability, and the contact information for three references to crozell(a)gatech.edu with the subject line "CRCNS postdoc". Application review will proceed until the position is filled and should be received by April 27 for full consideration. If the current COVID19 situation will delay the ability to apply by this deadline, please send a short note indicating that you intend to apply.

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Bernstein Conference 2020 - extended deadline for Workshop Proposals
by a.dorrn＠fz-juelich.de March 24, 2020

March 24, 2020

Please note that the deadline for Workshop Proposals for the Bernstein Conference 2020 has been extended until April 30. Further information can be found here: https://www.bernstein-network.de/en/bernstein-conference/2020/satellite-wor… The Bernstein Conference has established itself as the largest annual Computational Neuroscience conference in Europe attracting an international audience from across the world. The Satellite Workshops provide a stage to discuss topical research questions, novel scientific approaches and challenges in Computational Neuroscience and related fields. www.bernstein-conference.de<http://www.bernstein-conference.de> As organizers of the Bernstein Conference, we take the current situation regarding COVID-19 seriously and monitor the developments thoroughly. We are aware of the vast impact this crisis has on regular lab life, scientific collaborations and also private lives. In order to keep scientific exchange alive and fruitful we are exploring possibilities on how to make the Bernstein Conference happen in case travel and contact restrictions remain until late summer. Please be assured that we will keep you updated. -- Dr. Anja Dorrn Scientific Coordinator Bernstein Netzwerk Computational Neuroscience | Bernstein Coordination Site (BCOS) Branch Office of the Forschungszentrum Juelich at the Univerity of Freiburg Hansastr. 9A | 79104 Freiburg, Germany phone: (+49) 0761 203 9589 email: a.dorrn(a)fz-juelich.de<mailto:a.dorrn@fz-juelich.de> 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. Sebastian M. Schmidt ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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announcing neuromatch online unconference, 30-31st March
by Dan Goodman March 23, 2020

March 23, 2020

Hi everyone, Conference cancelled due to coronavirus? Don't worry! Next week we are running neuromatch: a free, online (computational-ish) neuroscience unconference. Register now at: https://www.neuromatch.io/ March 30-31 will feature invited speakers including: - Yoshua Bengio (Mila) - Kate Jeffery (UCL) - Russ Poldrack (Stanford) - Maria Geffen (UPenn) - Tim Behrens (Oxford) - Nicole Rust (UPenn) - Danielle Bassett (UPenn) There will also be contributed talks / virtual posters. Please send your title and abstract (< 200 words) to "neuromatchconf(a)gmail.com" by March 25th. We welcome student and postdoc contributions in particular. We know that many people have severe time constraints these days, so we're doing our best to be as flexible as possible about presentation times, and you can present any time in your own time zone or others. The rest of the week, and the week after (Mar 29 - Apr 10) we will be running an extended mind matching session to replace the all important conference coffee breaks. This is an online version of the mind matching sessions run at the last two CCN conferences. You submit a sample of a few abstracts that represent the work you're interested in when you register, and we automatically match you with 6 other scientists with similar interests for 15-20m chats (excluding people you already know). For those who haven't tried it, it's amazingly effective. At CCN I met two people I'd never met before working on extremely similar projects to me. Also, we're hoping this format will catch on not only during the coronavirus crisis but afterwards as well to help reduce the climate impact of academic conferences. Please do get in touch if you'd like to adopt the platform for your own conference (everything is or will be open sourced). All the best, Dan Goodman - http://neural-reckoning.org/ Konrad Kording - http://kordinglab.com/ Brad Wyble - http://wyblelab.com/

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