- Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

PhD studentship on “Computational modelling of spiking neural network self-organization” at the University of Surrey (UK)

by roman bauer

*Computational modelling of spiking neural network self-organization* A PhD studentship is available in the lab of Dr Roman Bauer at the Department of Computer Science at the University of Surrey (Guildford, UK). The successful candidate will use computer simulations to study how spiking neural networks can give rise to function, such as classification/prediction of spatio-temporal (visual or auditory) signals. This will contribute to novel technologies for neurally inspired computing, and help shine light shine on how neuronal circuits in the brain operate. This particular PhD studentship will be conducted in co-operation with the BioDynaMo collaboration, where open-source code for the neuroinformatics/computational neuroscience research community is developed. Successful applicants will become part of a vibrant PhD community and will benefit from the strong research environment and high international visibility of the Department. Its researchers publish regularly in top conferences and journals and are renowned experts in their fields, developing innovative, practical solutions to real world problems. The Department has strong links with industry and active collaborations with academic institutions worldwide. *Background:* The ideal candidate will have experience in computer science / physics / mathematics or similar. Proficiency in an object-oriented programming language is required. Previous experience in the modelling and simulation of spiking neural networks would be desired. *Funding:* Each PhD studentship comes with a stipend of £16,000 per annum plus tuition fees covered for the duration of 3 years for UK/EU candidates. International candidates are welcome to apply but will need to cover the difference between the UK/EU and overseas fees. More details including instructions for the application can be found at: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/fees-and-funding/studentships/phd-studentships-com…. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact the lead supervisor Dr Roman Bauer (r.bauer(a)surrey.ac.uk) Application deadline is 21st of February, 2021.

Feb. 7, 2021

Focus on Criticality and Complexity in Brain Dynamics

by Claudius Gros

Dear colleagues A short reminder: Together with Dante Chialvo, we are editing a Focus on Criticality and Complexity in Brain Dynamics Journal of Physics: Complexity Deadline 30 April 2021 https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/2632-072X/page/Focus_on_Criticality_and_… exity_in_Brain_Dynamics Among others, we are especially interested in compact perspectives, e.g. on -- experimental and theoretical methodology -- 'critical' assessments of underlying concepts -- controversial viewpoints We hope that the focus on brain criticality and complexity will be a place to assess where the field stands and where the fields needs to go. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any further information. We are looking forward to your contribution! Claudius Gros ### ### Prof. Dr. Claudius Gros ### http://itp.uni-frankfurt.de/~gros ### ### Complex and Adaptive Dynamical Systems, A Primer ### A graduate-level textbook, Springer (2008/10/13/15) ### ### Life for barren exoplanets: The Genesis project ### https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10509-016-2911-0 ###

Feb. 5, 2021

Open Position: Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Reproducible Neuroimaging Analysis

by Sean Hill

The Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics has an open position for a postdoc with experience in neuroimaging and software engineering: "Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Reproducible Neuroimaging Analysis” The Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics (PI Dr. Sean Hill, http://krembilneuroinformatics.ca/)Toronto, is looking to hire a Post-Doctoral Fellow with a strong background in Neuroimaging and Software Engineering. The successful candidate shall spearhead the group's efforts in developing a comprehensive open science platform that captures a range of experimental data, produces a semantic representation that links related scientific content, and provides users with data discovery tools. Working jointly between the Krembil Centre and Radiologics, the successful candidate will be involved cutting-edge development an electronic laboratory notebook platform that enables reproducible human neuroscience workflows. This work will support a global collaborative effort for Accelerating research on Consciousness: An adversarial collaboration to test contradictory predictions of Global Neuronal Workspace and Integrated Information Theory. Led by Dr. Lucia Melloni research on consciousness by providing decisive, field-transformative evidence in favor of one this project will accelerate theory and against the other. It will also establish a groundbreaking model for scientific practices in cognitive neuroscience at large, by demonstrating the impact of team-based adversary research and open data. This will address major riddles in the field, much like established practices in other fields such as physics and genomics have done. Thus, this project may dramatically change the landscape of research—that is, the social practices and norms—in the field of cognitive neuroscience. https://www.templetonworldcharity.org/projects -database/accelerating-research-consciousness- adversarial -collaboration-test-contradictory The platform will enable researchers to define their experiment protocols, capture and manage experiment metadata associated with these protocols, and publish the resulting data sets to a semantically enabled search engine. The platform will provide the basis for creating interactive publications from which each analysis result and figure is linked through structured provenance record to its original source data and analysis pipelines. • To develop an open source electronic laboratory notebook to support reproducible analysis of data that encompasses the most commonly used techniques in human neuroscience: fMRI, MEG, EEG and ECoG. • To develop standards for data annotation and exchange of data and metadata. • To publish those metadata via a semantically-enabled search engine. • The platform will build on several key components. The e -notebook will advance the pilot software currently in development and will include a user-friendly app-based interface to define the structure and content of experiments including the most common cognitive neuroscience experimental methods (fMRI, EEG, MEG, and ECOG). • The system will integrate XNAT, developed in Dr. Marcus’ laboratory at Washington University andatRadiologics(Marcusetal,2007) and BlueBrainNexus(bluebrainnexus.io)platform developed by a team led by Dr. Hill (Kaufmann et al., 2018). XNAT and Nexus are widely-used, open source applications that have been instrumental in advancing reproducible science. The successful candidate will have a PhD in neuroscience, engineering, physics, psychology, or related area, a track record for independent research, and a strong publication record. Strong programming skills and familiarity with neuroimaging data (s/d/fMRI and/or M/EEG) are required; experience with software development, semantic databases and data models are advantageous. For inquiries, please email David Rotenberg (David.Rotenberg(a)camh.ca) with the title “Post-Doctoral Fellowship Reproducible Neuroimaging Platform” in the subject line." https://www.camh.ca/en/science-and-research/institutes-and-centres/krembil-… — Sean Hill, Ph.D. Scientific Director, Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics Senior Scientist, Campbell Family Research Institute Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Professor, University of Toronto Faculty Affiliate, Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Co-lead, University of Toronto Temerty Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research and Education in Medicine (T-CAIREM) Titular Professor, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland KrembilNeuroinformatics.ca CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. AVIS DE CONFIDENTIALITÉ : Ce message électronique, ainsi que tout fichier qui y est joint, est reserve à l'usage exclusif du destinataire visé et peut contenir des renseignements confidentiels et privilégiés. Toute lecture, utilisation, divulgation ou distribution non autorisée est interdite. Si vous n'êtes pas le destinataire visé, veuillez en aviser l'expéditeur par retour de courriel et détruire toutes les copies du message original.

Feb. 5, 2021

Open postdoc position in plasticity in action execution (Washington DC)

by Ella Striem-Amit

*Postdoctoral researcher position in plasticity in action execution* The SAMP Lab (Sensory and motor plasticity, Ella Striem-Amit’s lab) at Georgetown University (Washington DC, USA) is looking for a passionate and dedicated Postdoctoral researcher to work on a project on plasticity and abstractness in action execution. The SAMP lab explores the balance between innate brain organization and experience-dependent plasticity by studying models of sensory and motor deprivation using behavioral and fMRI state of the art analytical techniques. Specifically, in this project we will explore neural action representations which are independent from the body part used to execute them, studying people born without hands. For detail of the lab see *samp-lab.facultysite.georgetown.edu <http://samp-lab.facultysite.georgetown.edu/>*, and a relevant recent publication: *www.pnas.org/content/117/45/28433 <http://www.pnas.org/content/117/45/28433>*. Excellent understanding of and experience with fMRI and data analysis are required. Strong programming skills (Matlab/R/python, etc.) are also a requirement. Experience with behavioral methods used in motor control and mapping is desirable but not a requirement. The position is not limited to US citizens. The start date is flexible, but preferably May-July 2021.This position is available for two years, and can be extended further based on performance. To apply, please send your CV, a brief statement of research interests and a copy of your recent, representative publication by email to Dr. Ella Striem-Amit (*Ella.StriemAmit(a)georgetown.edu <Ella.StriemAmit(a)georgetown.edu>*) with the subject line: “post-doc application”. Georgetown University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer fully dedicated to achieving a diverse faculty and staff. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. -- *Ella Striem-Amit (she/her)* Sensory and Motor Plasticity (SAMP) Lab Edwin H. Richard and Elisabeth Richard Assistant Professor Department of Neuroscience Georgetown University Medical Center 3970 Reservoir Rd., NW Washington, DC 20007 http://samp-lab.facultysite.georgetown.edu/

Feb. 5, 2021

[2nd BCI-UC] Program online

by Moritz Grosse-Wentrup

Dear colleagues: The program of the 2nd BCI-UC on February 10th & 11th 2021 from 03:00 pm to 08:00 pm (CET) is now online: https://bciunconference.univie.ac.at/2nd-bci-uc/ All presentations are streamed live and free-of-charge via https://www.crowdcast.io/e/2nd-brain-computer-interface-unconference/ The 2nd BCI-UC features keynotes by *Camille Jeunet* on "User-centered approach to improve BCI efficiency and usability: Stakes, Progress and Obstacles" and by *Marco Congedo* on "Recent Advances on Riemannian Transfer Learning". In addition, we have twelve contributed presentations on a broad range of topics and a symposium on commercial perspectives for BCI technologies. The BCI-UC committee: Moritz Grosse-Wentrup Anja Meunier Philipp Raggam Jiachen Xu

Feb. 5, 2021

Postdoctoral Position in Computational Neuroscience at the Institute for Neural Computation

by Vinita Samarasinghe

*Pending funding approval*, Prof. Sen Cheng, Institute for Neural Computation at the Ruhr University Bochum, invites applications for a full time (currently 39.83 hours/week) *Postdoctoral position (TV-L E13) in Computational Neuroscience <https://www.ini.rub.de/the_institute/jobs/postdoctoral_position_in_computat…>. * The position starts 01.07.2021 and is funded for three years. *Job description* The position is part of the Collaborative Research Center “Extinction Learning” (SFB 1280) and expected to study the principles underlying spatial learning and its extinction with reinforcement learning models. A particular focus is the role of episodic-like memory in learning and extinction processes. The research group is highly dynamic and uses diverse computationalmodeling approachesincludingbiological neural networks, cognitive modeling, and machine learning to investigatelearning and memory in humans and animals. For further information see www.rub.de/cns <http://www.rub.de/cns>. *Your Profile: * Candidates must have * a doctorate degreein neuroscience, physics, mathematics, electrical/biomedical engineering or a closely related field, * relevant experience in mathematical modeling, * excellent programming skills (e.g., Python, C/C++, Matlab), * excellent communication skills in English * the ability to work well in a team. Research experience in neuroscience would be a further asset. The Ruhr University Bochum is home to a vibrant research community in neuroscienceand cognitive science. The Institute for Neural Computation is an independent research unit and combines different areas of expertise ranging from experimental and theoretical neuroscienceto machine learning androbotics. Please send your application, including CV, transcripts and research statement electronically, as a single PDF file, to samarasinghe(a)ini.rub.de <mailto:samarasinghe@ini.rub.de>. In addition, at least two academic references mustbe sent independently to the above email address. The deadline for applications is April11^th , 2021. Travel costs for interviews will not be reimbursed. The Ruhr University Bochum is committed to equal opportunity. We strongly encourage applications from qualified women and persons with disabilities. We are committed to providing a supportive work environment for female researchers, in particular those with young children. Our university provides mentoring and coaching opportunities specifically aimed at women in research. We have a strong research network with female role models and will provide opportunities to networkwith them. Wherever possible, events will be scheduled during regular childcare hours. Special childcare will be arranged if events have to be scheduled outside of regular hours, in case of sickness and during school or daycare closures. Where childcare is not an option parents will be offered a home office solution. -- Vinita Samarasinghe M.Sc., M.A. Science Manager Arbeitsgruppe Computational Neuroscience Institut für Neuroinformatik Ruhr-Universität Bochum, NB 3/26 Postfachnummer 110 Universitätstr. 150 D-44801 Bochum Tel: +49 (0)234 32 27996 Email: samarasinghe(a)ini.rub.de

Feb. 5, 2021

FENS job advertisement for Executive Director position

by Helena Ledmyr

The Federation of European Neuroscience Societies, FENS, seeks an outstanding association executive or executive‐scientist to serve as its next Executive Director. The new Executive Director should have experience in leading a scientific organisation, knowledge of current trends and issues facing life sciences and particularly neuroscience, and understand the legislative process and public policy, as well as the financial tenets of a non‐profit organisation. This is a full-time position based in Brussels, Belgium. Reviewing of applications will begin on 15 February 2021 and applications will be accepted until the position has been filled. https://www.fens.org/News-Activities/News/2021/02/FENS-ED-position/ All the best Helena ----------------------------- Helena Ledmyr, PhD *Director* *Development and Communications* International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility Secretariat Karolinska Institutet. Nobels väg 15A, SE-171 77 Stockholm. Sweden Email: helena.ledmyr(a)incf.org Phone: +46 8 524 870 35 incf.org neuroinformatics.incf.org

Feb. 4, 2021

2 Yr RA in Mathematical Neuroscience

by Stephen Coombes

2 Yr RA in Mathematical Neuroscience, Nottingham, UK Deadline Mar 8 2021 We are looking for a researcher, whose expertise lies in Mathematical Neuroscience, to work with Professor Stephen Coombes on an EPSRC- funded project entitled “White matter networks”. The central aim of the project is to build a new mathematical framework for biologically motivated neural networks to help understand the important contribution that activity-dependent regulation of myelination can make to patterns of rhythmic activity known to subserve important aspects of large-scale brain dynamics and its dysfunction. https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/jobs/currentvacancies/ref/SCI012521 Informal enquiries to Professor Stephen Coombes: stephen.coombes(a)nottingham.ac.uk<mailto:stephen.coombes@nottingham.ac.uk> ------------------------------------------------------------------ Stephen Coombes Professor of Applied Mathematics School of Mathematical Sciences Nottingham, UK Tel: 0115 846 7836 https://www.maths.nottingham.ac.uk/plp/pmzsc/ ------------------------------------------------------------------ This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender and delete the email and attachment. Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham. Email communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored where permitted by law.

Feb. 4, 2021

Postdoctoral Researchers in Computational Neuroscience in Alberta, Canada

by Wilten Nicola

We are recruiting talented postdoctoral researchers to participate in a cutting-edge International Network for Brain-Inspired Computation that includes nodes in Montreal, Paris, and the Pacific Northwest of the US and Canada (e.g. University of Washington, Allen Brain Institute). We seek researchers investigating the intersection of mathematics, physics, and neuroscience with interest in the general area of complex network dynamics and emergent activity patterns or representations that drive biological computation. The ideal candidates will have a quantitative background (e.g. PhD in mathematics, physics, computer science) along with experience in applying this background to neuroscience. These postdoctoral positions are partially funded by the Pacific Institute for Mathematical Sciences and are aimed to strengthen the link between the Campus Alberta computational neuroscience community at the University of Calgary (Complexity Science Group, Hotchkiss Brain Institute) and the University of Lethbridge (Canadian Center for Behavioural Neuroscience) with the other network members including the Computational Neuroscience Center at the University of Washington. Specifically, we are looking for postdoctoral candidates for the following two research themes: Theme 1: Investigating how connectivity and dynamics drive network representations. What principles predict how the connectivity structure of neural networks – their connectomes – combine with the dynamics of nodes and edges to control the dynamics and statistics of the network? Theme 2: How learning drives network representations. What mathematical principles predict how learning rules, either in artificial or biological networks, select network representations that solve particular computations? For both themes, a variety of world-class data sets on the structure and function of the brain are available to guide theoretical advances in the understanding of brain computation, particularly in learning, perception, decision making, and the effects of drugs such as amphetamine and psychedelics. The positions are open immediately with primary locations in either Calgary or Lethbridge. The specific start date has to be within five years of being awarded a PhD degree. The positions are for up to two years and they include an annual stipend in the range of CAD$40,000 – $48,000 plus benefits. Opportunities for brief residences in partner nodes (Montreal, Seattle, or Paris) are also available. Interested candidates should submit their application package including a cover letter, their CV with a list of publications, brief statement of research interests and their possible start dates in PDF format to Dr. Jörn Davidsen (davidsen(a)phas.ucalgary.ca) Dr. Wilten Nicola ( wilten.nicola(a)ucalgary.ca) and Dr. Aaron Gruber (aaron.gruber(a)uleth.ca) Applicants should arrange for at least two letters of reference to be sent as well. Review of applications will begin February 28th, 2021, and continue until the position is filled. For additional information and informal inquiries, please contact Dr. Davidsen, Dr. Nicola or Dr. Gruber. We strive for a diverse and inclusive environment, and encourage applications from members of any identity.

Feb. 4, 2021

Scientist position at the Allen Institute: Functional Roles of Transcriptomically Defined Cell Types

by Anton Arkhipov

A new exciting opportunity is open at the Allen Institute (Seattle, WA): Scientist I – Functional Roles of Transcriptomically Defined Cell Types https://alleninstitute.hrmdirect.com/employment/job-opening.php?req=1500542 The scientist will join a new collaborative project at the Allen Institute, co-lead by Drs. Anton Arkhipov and Saskia de Vries. The position reports to Dr. Arkhipov. In this project, we perform calcium imaging of neural activity in the visual cortex of awake mice, followed by in situ characterization of the genes expressed in these neurons. The Scientist will carry out computational analyses to study the relationships between the transcriptomic cell types and the types of functional visual responses. This is a highly challenging, uncharted area of data analysis. We are looking for an excellent computational scientist who will advance the knowledge and analysis methods at this cutting edge of science. Join us to investigate one of the most fundamental questions in neuroscience – how the transcriptomic cell types are related to the types of functional neuronal responses in vivo! See details and apply here: https://alleninstitute.hrmdirect.com/employment/job-opening.php?req=1500542 Anton Arkhipov Associate Investigator T: 206.548.8414 [cidimage001.png(a)01D5B043.A5662590] www.alleninstitute.org<http://www.alleninstitute.org/>

Feb. 2, 2021

Deadline to March 21, 2021 - CfP: Special Issue on Probabilistic Inference in Goal-Directed Human and Animal Decision- Making - Entropy an Open Access Journal by MDPI (IF: 2.494; Indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), MathSciNet, Inspec, PubMed, PMC, and many other databases)

by Domenico Maisto

Dear Colleagues, You are cordially invited to submit a manuscript to the Entropy Special Issue "Probabilistic Inference in Goal-Directed Human and Animal Decision-Making" https://www.mdpi.com/journal/entropy/special_issues/probabilistic_inference Deadline for manuscript submissions: 21 March 2021. Please find further information below. With best regards, Domenico Maisto ================================================================ Open Access Journal ENTROPY by MDPI Special Issue on Probabilistic Inference in Goal-Directed Human and Animal Decision-Making ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This Special Issue aims to focus on recent advances in probabilistic inference in goal-directed human and animal decision making, and we welcome submissions that: - Shed light on the computations of neuronal circuits involved in goal-directed decision making, with a focus on the inferential mechanisms involved; - Propose novel probabilistic models and methods in decision making including (but not limited to) information-theory approaches, statistical and free- energy minimization, hierarchical models, and deep networks; - Introduce decision-making applications in ethological, social, psychological, psychiatric, robotics, and computer science research. Guest Editors Dr. Francesco Donnarumma Dr. Domenico Maisto Dr. Ivilin Stoianov Entropy is an Open Access Journal by MDPI with high visibility (indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), MathSciNet, Inspec, PubMed, PMC, and many other databases), excellent citescore (IF: 2.494; 2019 Scopus data: 3.7, which equals rank 8/62 (Q1) in 'Mathematical Physics', 14/54 (Q2) in 'Physics and Astronomy', 210/670 (Q2) in 'Electrical and Electronic Engineering', and 104/300 (Q2) in 'Information Systems’), and rapid publication. -- Domenico Maisto, PhD Institute for High-Performance Computing and Networking (ICAR), Italian National Research Council (CNR) Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131, Napoli Italy Phone: +39 0644595208 (Rome), +39 0816139507 (Naples) Fax: +39 0644595243 (Rome), +39 0816139531 (Naples) e-mail: domenico.maisto(a)icar.cnr.it

Feb. 2, 2021

PhD student position in neuroengineering at EPFL (Lausanne, Switzerland)

by Milekovic Tomislav

PhD student position in the lab of Prof. Gregoire Courtine at EPFL (Lausanne, Switzerland) A computational approach to personalize and optimize clinical treatments for people with chronic hemodynamic instability caused by neurological disorders 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. PhD salaries at EPFL rank the highest in the world. Opportunity The offered position will be based at the Defitech Center for interventional Neurotherapies (NeuroRestore) - a research and innovation center joining EPFL’s lab of Prof. Gregoire Courtine and the University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV) lab of Prof. Jocelyne Bloch. NeuroRestore conceives, develops and applies medical therapies aimed to restore neurological functions. To this end, NeuroRestore integrates implantable neurotechnologies with innovative treatments developed through rigorous preclinical and clinical studies. By working with our network of vibrant high-tech start-ups and established medical technology companies, NeuroRestore is committed to validate our medical therapy concepts. The overarching goal of NeuroRestore is to see our medical therapies used every day in hospitals and rehabilitation clinics worldwide. Project Description Neurological disorders that disrupt the communication between the brain and the spinal cord can induce inability to adequately regulate blood pressure. This hemodynamic instability threatens survival, increases cardiovascular disease risk, and reduces quality of life. Such hemodynamic instability results from the interruption of supraspinal efferent commands to sympathetic circuits located in the spinal cord, which prevents the natural baroreflex from controlling these circuits to adjust peripheral vascular resistance. We previously showed that epidural electrical stimulation (EES) of the spinal cord can compensate for interrupted supraspinal commands to motor circuits below injury, which restored walking after paralysis. We also leveraged these concepts to develop EES protocols that restore hemodynamic stability after spinal cord injury. Nonetheless, other neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, also induce hemodynamic instability. Effective clinical solutions for these patients are not yet available. The successful candidate will work to develop and implement an EES therapy to alleviate hemodynamic instability in people with Parkinson’s disease. They will use develop approaches to initialize stimulation protocols for this therapy and engineer algorithms that will automatize this process. They will develop computational techniques to identify optimal spinal cord stimulation locations and devise physiological experiments to guide the surgeons when implanting the spinal leads to target those optimal locations. They will develop software that wile automatize these pre-operative panning and intra-operative assistance procedures. They will assist with organizing a clinical trial of their therapeutic concept and analyze the physiological and behavioral data acquired during the trial. On all of these tasks, the successful candidate will benefit from our solutions and experiences from developing spinal cord injury treatments. Requirements * Master’s Degree in Physics, Computer Science, Microengineering, Engineering or related * Proficiency in Matlab or Python * Proficiency in and some programming language (e.g. C++, C#, Java) * Experience with analysis of data * Good written and verbal skills in English Contact Applications including a CV and a cover letter describing your background and interest should be sent to PDHEMO.Courtine(a)gmail.com. Informal inquiries are welcome and should be sent to tomislav.milekovic(a)epfl.ch.

Feb. 2, 2021

PhD-positions in computational neuroscience at the University of Oslo as part of CompSci grant in EU Horizon 2020

by Gaute Einevoll

CompSci is a Doctoral Programme launched and managed by the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University of Oslo (UiO). It is partly funded by the EU Horizon 2020 under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) - Co-funding of Regional, National and International Programmes (COFUND). The CompSci Doctoral Program will recruit 32 PhDs in two calls. In this Call, we open for applications to the 1st cohort of 16 PhD fellowship positions, that will join our PhD programme starting autumn 2021 at UiO. The possible PhD-projects span over a wide range of topics where methods from computational science are applied to different fields in the natural sciences: https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/ Four of the possible projects in Call 1 are within computational neuroscience: * Bio-inspired neural networks for navigation<https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/bioscience/bio-inspired-neur…> Supervisors: Anders Malthe-Sørenssen<https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/supervisors/malthe-sorenssen…>, Gaute T. Einevoll<https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/supervisors/einevoll.html> * Large-scale recordings of neurons to reveal mechanisms of learning and memory<https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/bioscience/learning-and-memo…> Supervisors: Marianne Fyhn<https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/supervisors/fyhn.html>, Anders Malthe-Sørenssen<https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/supervisors/malthe-sorenssen…> * Large-scale network simulations of mouse visual cortex<https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/bioscience/neural-networks.h…> Supervisors: Gaute T. Einevoll<https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/supervisors/einevoll.html>, Marianne Fyhn<https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/supervisors/fyhn.html> * Modelling systems levels changes in brain aging induced by genome instability<https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/bioscience/brain-aging.html> Supervisors: Hilde Nilsen<https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/supervisors/nilsen.html>, Gaute T. Einevoll<https://www.mn.uio.no/compsci/english/projects/supervisors/einevoll.html> For information about how to apply, see https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/193610/compsci-call-1-marie-… . The extended application deadline for Call 1 is: March 1st 2021 Questions about the individual projects should be sent to the supervisors listed above. ******************************* Professor Gaute T. Einevoll Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1432 Aas, Norway; Department of Physics, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway mobile: +47-95124536 email: Gaute.Einevoll(a)nmbu.no<mailto:Gaute.Einevoll@nmbu.no>, web: www.nmbu.no/ans/gaute.einevoll<http://www.nmbu.no/ans/gaute.einevoll>, cinpla.org<http://cinpla.org> twitter: https://twitter.com/gauteeinevoll podcast: https://vettogvitenskap.no podcast (English only): https://vettogvitenskap.no/senseandscience

Feb. 1, 2021

Funded Ph.D. Studentship in Computational Modelling and Machine Learning in Decision Neuroscience

by Wong-Lin, Kongfatt

Applications are invited for a funded 3-year Ph.D. studentship in Computational Modelling and Machine Learning in Decision Neuroscience at Ulster University, UK. https://www.ulster.ac.uk/doctoralcollege/find-a-phd/801216 This Ph.D. project aims to develop and apply computational techniques and modelling to understand brain and behavioural data across primate species. Specifically, the project will apply techniques in computational neuroscience, particularly biologically based neural network modelling, to elucidate the mechanisms underlying perceptual decisions abstracted from movements. The project will also use advanced machine learning methods to analyse various types of neural and behavioural data. The Ph.D. project is part of an ambitious externally funded 5-year research project proposes to break new ground by integrating data from multimodal human and non-human primate neurophysiology with computational modelling to gain convergent insights into how and where abstract decision mechanisms take place in the human and monkey brain, and provide an unprecedented, detailed view on the brain’s decision making machinery. The international collaborators are Prof. Michael Shadlen at Columbia University (USA), Prof. Stephan Bickel at Northwell-Hofstra School of Medicine (USA), Prof. Redmond O'Connell at Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), and Prof. Simon Kelly at University College Dublin (Ireland). Some relevant references: (i) O'Connell RG, Shadlen MN, Wong-Lin K, Kelly SP. Bridging Neural and Computational Viewpoints on Perceptual Decision-Making. Trends Neurosci. 2018;41(11):838‐852. doi:10.1016/j.tins.2018.06.005 (ii) Atiya NAA, Rañó I, Prasad G, Wong-Lin K. A neural circuit model of decision uncertainty and change-of-mind. Nat Commun. 2019;10(1):2287. doi:10.1038/s41467-019-10316-8 (iii) O'Connell RG, Dockree PM, Kelly SP. A supramodal accumulation-to-bound signal that determines perceptual decisions in humans. Nat Neurosci. 2012;15(12):1729‐1735. doi:10.1038/nn.3248 This timely and exciting project is available in the Computer Science Research Institute and is tenable in the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment at Magee Campus. The successful Ph.D. candidate will benefit from the expertise of Ulster University’s Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Machine Learning, and Computational Biology communities, and will interact closely with international experimental collaborators. The student will gain valuable skills and knowledge in computational and mathematical modelling, biological signal processing, machine learning, high-performance computing, mathematics/statistics, and brain sciences. All applicants should hold a first or upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) in Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Engineering, Statistics, Neuroscience, Biology, or a cognate area. Applications will be considered on a competitive basis with regard to the candidate’s qualifications, skills, experience, motivation and interests. Successful candidates will enrol as of 1st August 2021, on a full-time programme of research studies leading to the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The Ph.D. studentship will comprise fees together with an annual stipend and will be awarded for a period of up to three years subject to satisfactory progress. Additional financial support will be available from the supervisor's research funding for additional specialised training, research meeting and conference attendance, and computational resources. The successful student will be based at the Intelligent Systems Research Centre at Magee campus in Derry~Londonderry, with arguably the largest cluster of computational neuroscientists and neuro-inspired A.I researchers in Ireland. The city was awarded the 2013 UK City of Culture, with affordable living costs. In 2019, Ulster University was ranked 3rd in the UK for research culture and 8th in the UK for overall PhD researcher satisfaction. If you wish to discuss your proposal or receive advice on this project, please contact: Dr. KongFatt Wong-Lin, email: k.wong-lin(a)ulster.ac.uk . Apply online: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/doctoralcollege/find-a-phd/801216 The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 8th March 2021. Interviews will be held on 25th March 2021, and the starting date is on 1st August 2021. ------------------- Dr. KongFatt Wong-Lin Reader Intelligent Systems Research Centre School of Computing, Engineering and Intelligent Systems Ulster University, UK https://www.ulster.ac.uk/staff/k-wong-lin This email and any attachments are confidential and intended solely for the use of the addressee and may contain information which is covered by legal, professional or other privilege. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager at postmaster(a)ulster.ac.uk and delete this email immediately. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ulster University. The University's computer systems may be monitored and communications carried out on them may be recorded to secure the effective operation of the system and for other lawful purposes. Ulster University does not guarantee that this email or any attachments are free from viruses or 100% secure. Unless expressly stated in the body of a separate attachment, the text of email is not intended to form a binding contract. Correspondence to and from the University may be subject to requests for disclosure by 3rd parties under relevant legislation. The Ulster University was founded by Royal Charter in 1984 and is registered with company number RC000726 and VAT registered number GB672390524.The primary contact address for Ulster University in Northern Ireland is Cromore Road, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry BT52 1SA

Feb. 1, 2021

Save the date: virtual INCF Assembly 19-27 April, 2021

by Helena Ledmyr

Dear INCF community, The INCF Assembly <https://neuroinformatics.incf.org/> will be a virtual meeting this year, starting on April 19. The program <https://neuroinformatics.incf.org/2021/program-at-a-glance> is currently being fine-tuned and will include: - FAIR approaches for neuroscience in general, neuroimaging, electrophysiology, and computational neuroscience - Electrophysiology, and computational neuroscience - Data science - Showcase of tools, infrastructures - Information about ongoing work in INCF councils and committees - Funders and publishers roundtable - Workshops on developing standards and a roadmap for FAIR neuroscience Abstract submission will reopen within the next couple of weeks, as will registration. If you submitted an abstract for the cancelled 2020 Assembly you will be contacted with the option to keep or retract your abstract. Registration fees are discounted for INCF members - sign up for INCF membership here <https://www.incf.org/join-incf>! We hope to see you at the INCF Assembly <https://neuroinformatics.incf.org/> ! All the best Helena ----------------------------- Helena Ledmyr, PhD *Director* *Development and Communications* International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility Secretariat Karolinska Institutet. Nobels väg 15A, SE-171 77 Stockholm. Sweden Email: helena.ledmyr(a)incf.org Phone: +46 8 524 870 35 incf.org neuroinformatics.incf.org

Jan. 29, 2021

Fully funded PhD and postdoc positions in Neuroethology / Systems Neuroscience at Max Planck Institute for Brain Research (Frankfurt, Germany)

by Stempel, Vanessa

Dear colleagues, A fully funded PhD and postdoctoral position are available in the newly installed research group “Instinctive Behaviour Circuits”, headed by Vanessa Stempel at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research in Frankfurt, Germany. Are you excited about neuroethology and systems neuroscience? Our group works on the neural mechanisms of flexible instinctive behaviours and is looking for PhD students and postdocs to join their team! The lab will employ state-of-the-art in vivo neural activity recordings and manipulation experiments in ethologically-relevant behavioural tasks in mice, and combine these with molecular, cellular and circuit-level analyses in vitro. We're also welcoming applications for BSc and MSc research projects! Please get in touch with us via email at vanessa.stempel(a)brain.mpg.de Best, Vanessa Job ads PhD mpg.de/16351407/phd-student-instinctive-behaviour-circuits<https://www.mpg.de/16351407/phd-student-instinctive-behaviour-circuits> Postdoc mpg.de/16351421/postdoctoral-researcher-instinctive-behaviour-circuits<http://www.mpg.de/16351421/postdoctoral-researcher-instinctive-behaviour-ci…> ___________________________ DR. VANESSA STEMPEL Max Planck Research Group Leader Instinctive Behaviour Circuits Group Max Planck Institute for Brain Research Max-von-Laue-Straße 4 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany www.brain.mpg.de/research/instinctive-behaviour-circuits-group.html

Jan. 29, 2021

Simons Foundation Bridge to Independence (BTI) Award programs

by Alyssa Picchini Schaffer

The Simons Foundation is invested in supporting the next generation of researchers. Our Bridge to Independence (BTI) Award programs promote talented early-career scientists by facilitating their transition to research independence and providing grant funding at the start of their professorships. We are offering such awards through two of our programs: the Simons Collaboration on the Global Brain (SCGB), and the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI). These requests for applications (RFAs) are aimed at Ph.D. and M.D. – holding scientists who are currently in training positions and intend to seek tenure-track faculty positions over the next two years (i.e., 2021-2023). Successful applicants will receive a commitment of $495,000 over three years, activated upon assumption of a tenure-track professorship. Visit bit.ly/3i3GNeA for more information on both programs. __________________________________ Alyssa Picchini Schaffer, PhD Senior Scientist & Administrative Director Neuroscience Collaborations *SIMONS FOUNDATION* 160 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10010 646.654.0066 *main * 646.751.1277 *direct * 717.818.8281 *mobile*

Jan. 28, 2021

Undergraduate computational neuroscience research position

by Neymotin, Samuel (NKI)

A new Army Research Office (ARO) undergraduate research apprenticeship program (URAP) position is available for the summer of 2021 at the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research in Orangeburg, NY (https://www.nki.rfmh.org/) Research will be conducted under the mentorship of Samuel Neymotin, Haroon Anwar, and Salvador Dura-Bernal to help achieve the goals of an ARO grant (PI: Neymotin) that aims to train neocortical circuit models to play video games using biologically-plausible learning rules, and to compare the models’ performance against commonly used deep reinforcement learning algorithms. Students will have the opportunity to learn cutting edge methods in computational neuroscience, machine learning, and Python software development, and potentially publish their results. Candidates will be considered based on their experience in computational neuroscience, machine learning, and Python programming. Candidates must be located within commuting distance to Nathan Kline Institute during the apprenticeship period. For consideration, please click the link to “Apply Now” at https://www.usaeop.com/program/undergraduate-apprenticeships/ Make sure to use code U803 (Nathan Kline Institute) and apply by the deadline (March 15, 2021). Letters of recommendation are optional. For questions, email Samuel.Neymotin(a)nki.rfmh.org<mailto:Samuel.Neymotin@nki.rfmh.org> For more information about the URAP visit: http://www.usaeop.com/<https://protect2.fireeye.com/v1/url?k=1b10bbdd-47344dbc-1b1242e8-0cc47a6d17…> ________________________________ IMPORTANT NOTICE: This e-mail is meant only for the use of the intended recipient. It may contain confidential information which is legally privileged or otherwise protected by law. If you received this e-mail in error or from someone who was not authorized to send it to you, you are strictly prohibited from reviewing, using, disseminating, distributing or copying the e-mail. PLEASE NOTIFY US IMMEDIATELY OF THE ERROR BY RETURN E-MAIL AND DELETE THIS MESSAGE FROM YOUR SYSTEM. Thank you for your cooperation.

Jan. 27, 2021

[jobs] machine learning research scientist at NIMH

by Francisco Pereira

### HIRING: machine learning research scientist The Machine Learning Team at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in Bethesda, MD, has an open position for a machine learning research scientist. The NIMH is the leading federal agency for research on mental disorders and neuroscience, and part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). ### About the NIMH Machine Learning Team Our mission is to help NIMH scientists use machine learning methods to address a diverse set of research problems in clinical and cognitive psychology and neuroscience. These range from identifying biomarkers for aiding diagnoses to creating and testing models of mental processes in healthy subjects. Our overarching goal is to use machine learning to improve every aspect of the scientific effort. We work with many different data types, including very large brain imaging datasets from various imaging modalities, behavioral data, and picture and text corpora. We have excellent computational resources, both of our own (tens of high-end GPUs for deep learning, several large servers) and shared within the NIH (a cluster with hundreds of thousands of CPUs, and hundreds of GPUs). As a machine learning research group, we develop new methods and publish in the main machine learning conferences (e.g. NeurIPS and ICLR), as well as in psychology and neuroscience journals. Many of our problems require devising research approaches that combine imaging and non-imaging data, and leveraging structured knowledge resources (databases, scientific literature, etc) to generate explanations and hypotheses. You can find more about our work and publications at https://cmn.nimh.nih.gov/mlt ### About the position We are seeking candidates who are capable of combining machine learning, statistical, and domain-specific computational tools to solve practical data analysis challenges (e.g. designing experiments, generating and testing statistical hypotheses, training and interpreting predictive models, and developing novel models and methods). Additionally, candidates should be capable of visualizing and communicating findings to a broad scientific audience, as well as explaining the details of relevant methods to researchers in a variety of domains. Desirable experience that is not required, but will be considered very favorably: - neuroimaging data processing and analysis (any MRI modality, as well as MEG and EEG) - other types of neural data (e.g. neural recording, calcium imaging) - modelling of human and animal learning and decision-making - Bayesian statistical modelling Finally, you should have demonstrable experience programming in languages currently used in data-intensive, scientific computing, such as Python, MATLAB or R. Experience with handling large datasets in high performance computing settings is also very valuable. Although this position requires a Ph.D. in a STEM discipline, we will consider applicants from a variety of backgrounds, as their research experience is the most important factor. This is an ideal position for someone who wants to establish a research career in method development and applications driven by scientific and clinical needs. Given our access to a variety of collaborators and large or unique datasets, there is ample opportunity to match research interests with novel research problems. We also maintain collaborations outside of the NIH, driven by our own research interests. If you would like to be considered for this position, please send francisco.pereira(a)nih.gov a CV, with your email serving as cover letter. We especially encourage applications from women and members of underrepresented groups. If you already have a research statement, please feel free to send that as well. There is no need for reference letters at this stage. Other inquiries are also welcome. Thank you for your attention and interest! ReplyForward <https://drive.google.com/u/0/settings/storage?hl=en&utm_medium=web&utm_sour…> <https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/terms/> <https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/> <https://www.google.com/gmail/about/policy/>

Jan. 27, 2021

[CFP] ICLR 2021 Workshop on "How Can Findings About The Brain Improve AI Systems?"

by Mariya Toneva

ICLR 2021 - Workshop on "How Can Findings About The Brain Improve AI Systems?" Submission deadline: February 26, 2021 Workshop website: https://iclrbrain2ai.github.io/ Contact: brain2ai.2021(a)gmail.com The brain comprises billions of neurons organized into an intricate network of highly specialized functional areas. This biological cognitive system can efficiently process vast amounts of multi-modal data to perceive and react to its ever-changing environment. Unlike current AI systems, it does not struggle with domain adaptation, few-shot learning, or commonsense reasoning. Inspiration from neuroscience has benefited AI in the past: modern convolutional networks mimic the deep, nested information flow in visual cortex, and hippocampal replay of previous experiences has brought about experience replay in reinforcement learning. Recent work at the intersection of neuroscience and AI has made progress in directly integrating neuroscientific data with AI systems and has led to learned representations that are more robust to label corruptions, allow for better generalization in some language tasks, and provide new ways to interpret and evaluate what domain-relevant information is learned by deep neural networks. In this workshop, we aim to examine the extent to which insights about the brain can lead to better AI. We will consider the following (non-exhaustive) list of topics for contribution: - Integration of neuroscientific data at different granularities (neural recordings, neuroimaging etc.) to train AI systems - Brain-inspired inductive biases and ML architectures for AI systems - Neuroscientific data as an evaluation metric for AI systems - Mechanistic insight into cognitive functions (vision, language, decision making, attention, etc.) - Limitations of current AI systems in tasks at which humans excel (compositionality, commonsense reasoning, continual learning, few-shot learning, causality, etc.) - Cross-modality and cross-species comparisons of neuroscientific data with respect to benefits to AI - Datasets that can facilitate the transfer of neuroscientific insight to AI Submit at: https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/BRAIN2AI2021/Submission/Index The workshop will feature a diverse set of topics led by the following invited speakers and panelists (in alphabetical order): 1. Anima Anandkumar, California Institute of Technology 2. David Cox, Harvard University 3. Kenji Doya, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University 4. Allyson Ettinger, University of Chicago 5. Alona Fyshe, University of Alberta 6. Jack Gallant, University of California, Berkeley 7. Andrea Martin, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics 8. Kimberly Statchenfeld, DeepMind 9. Josh Tenenbaum, MIT Formatting Instructions: All submissions must be in PDF format. Submissions are limited to four content pages, including all figures and tables; additional pages containing only references are allowed. You must format your submission using the ICLR 2021 LaTeX style files. Submissions that meaningfully violate the ICLR style (e.g., by decreasing margins or font sizes) or page limits may be rejected without further review. All submissions should be anonymous. The review process is double-blind. We also welcome recently (within the last year) published papers that are within the scope of the workshop (without re-formatting). Already-published papers do not have to be anonymous. They are eligible for a spotlight session and will only have a very light review process. Virtual format: The workshop will be geared towards more dynamic and interactive discussion focused on Q&A sessions. Accepted abstracts and papers will result in, at minimum, a pre-recorded spotlight talk. All presenters will be given live virtual “coffee break” rooms during all breaks in the conference schedule to engage in small group discussions with participants. Discussions around talks will be organized in live virtual “breakout” rooms with similar topics and themes so that workshop attendees and presenters can interact in a less formal, discussion-centric setting. Important Dates: Paper submission deadline: 11:59 PM EST, Feb 26, 2021 Author notification: 11:59 PM EST, Mar 26, 2021 Camera-ready papers due: 11:59 PM EST, Apr 15, 2021 Workshop: May 8, 2021

Jan. 26, 2021

2 NEUROSCIENCE / DATA SCIENCE POSITIONS (Deadline: 11 Feb 2021)

by Prata, Diana

2 NEUROSCIENCE / DATA SCIENCE RESEARCH POSITIONS IN LAB AT UNIVERSITY OF LISBON (DPRATALAB.WORDPRESS.COM <http://dpratalab.wordpress.com/>) (Deadline: 11 Feb 2021) 1 RESEARCH POSITION IN BIOMEDICAL DATA SCIENCE Work plan: Statistical analysis of retrospective neuroimaging and clinical data, using artificial intelligence (machine learning) for the development and validation of diagnostic neuroimaging biomarkers, with high potential of clinical applicability; coordination with Portuguese and UK research, IT and medical teams within an academic-entrepreneurial join-venture, with the goal of helping clinical decision-making in neurodegenerative illnesses. Up to 2 years duration. Details in: http://www.eracareers.pt/opportunities/index.aspx?task=global&jobId=130697 <http://www.eracareers.pt/opportunities/index.aspx?task=global&jobId=130697> 1 RESEARCH POSITION IN HUMAN NEUROSCIENCE Work plan: Statistical analysis of varied psychophysiological data (EEG and/or MRI and/or pupillometry) and write up of scientific articles in clinical study with pharmacological intervention of oxytocin, with the goal of characterizing the role of oxytocin in human brain function in health and in psychosis. Up to 1.5 years duration. Details in: http://www.eracareers.pt/opportunities/index.aspx?task=global&jobId=130890 <http://www.eracareers.pt/opportunities/index.aspx?task=global&jobId=130890> Diana Prata, Phd Principal Investigator & Lecturer, Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, FCUL Visiting Lecturer, IoPPN, King's College London Associate Investigator, CIS, ISCTE-IUL (+351)966595936; https://dpratalab.wordpress.com/ <https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdpratalab…>, https://neurocolab.wordpress.com/ <https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fneurocola…>.

Jan. 25, 2021

Postdoc position in multimodal imaging of brain dynamics

by Laura Lewis

Dear colleagues, We have an open postdoctoral position in multimodal imaging of brain states, please feel free to circulate the ad below. *Postdoctoral position in multimodal imaging of brain dynamics* We have an opening for a postdoctoral associate to lead multimodal neuroimaging studies of brain function in Laura Lewis' lab in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Boston University ( http://www.lewisneurolab.org) This position offers the opportunity to develop multimodal neuroimaging and analysis techniques, and study the neural basis and cognitive consequences of sleep and arousal states. We use fast fMRI, simultaneous EEG-fMRI, computational modeling, ultra-high field (7 Tesla) imaging, and other multimodal approaches to measure and analyze brain function across diverse states. Areas of focus include: - fast fMRI/EEG studies of brain dynamics - thalamic and brainstem networks across vigilance states - neural basis of sleep and sleep deprivation - sleep and mood states in major depression - neurovascular coupling and cerebrospinal fluid physiology - sleep and brain function in aging The lab is a fast-paced and interdisciplinary environment that supports its members in achieving their long-term research and career goals, and has strong collaborations throughout the Boston-area computational neuroscience and neuroimaging communities. The position may involve conducting neuroimaging studies at both Boston University and at the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital. For more information, see http://www.lewisneurolab.org/positions . This position requires a Ph.D. in neuroscience, engineering, computer science, psychology, or related fields. To apply, please email C.V., a statement describing research experience and future interests and goals, and names of three references to Laura Lewis, ldlewis(a)bu.edu thanks, Laura Lewis Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering Boston University https://www.lewisneurolab.org/

Jan. 25, 2021

[2nd BCI-UC] Voting and abstract submission closes this Friday

by Moritz Grosse-Wentrup

Dear colleagues, We have extended the deadline for abstract submission for the 2nd Brain-Computer Interface Un-Conference until this Friday at 11:59 pm CET: https://bciunconference.univie.ac.at/2nd-bci-uc/ The deadline for voting on submitted abstracts is extended accordingly. The BCI-UC committee: Moritz Grosse-Wentrup Anja Meunier Philipp Raggam Jiachen Xu -- Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Moritz Grosse-Wentrup Research Group Neuroinformatics Faculty of Computer Science University of Vienna Hörlgasse 6, A-1090 Wien, Austria moritz.grosse-wentrup(a)univie.ac.at +43-1-4277-79610 http://neural.engineering/

Jan. 25, 2021

CFP 30th International Conference on Artificial Neural Networks ICANN 2021, Sept 14-17, Bratislava, SK

by Paolo Masulli ENNS

30th International Conference on Artificial Neural Networks ICANN 2021 https://e-nns.org/icann2021 Bratislava, Slovakia 14 - 17 September 2021 ============================================================= The International Conference on Artificial Neural Networks (ICANN) is the annual flagship conference of the European Neural Network Society (ENNS). In 2021 the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics (FMPI), Comenius University in Bratislava, together with the Slovak Society for Cognitive Science, organize the 30th ICANN Conference from the 14th to the 17th of September 2021 in Bratislava, Slovakia. *Possibility of online/hybrid event:* in case the organization of a physical event will not be possible because of COVID-19 travel/gathering restrictions, the conference will happen online. * **CONFERENCE TOPICS* ICANN 2021 is a dual-track conference featuring tracks in Brain Inspired Computing and Machine Learning and Artificial Neural Networks, with strong cross-disciplinary interactions and applications. All research fields dealing with Neural Networks will be present at the conference. A non-exhaustive list of topics includes: Machine Learning: Deep Learning, Neural Network Theory, Neural Network Models, Graphical Models, Bayesian Networks, Kernel Methods, Generative Models, Information Theoretic Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Relational Learning, Dynamical Models, Recurrent Networks. Brain Inspired Computing: Cognitive models, Computational Neuroscience, Self-organisation, Reinforcement Learning, Neural Control and Planning, Hybrid Neural-Symbolic Architectures, Neural Dynamics, Cognitive Neuroscience, Brain Informatics, Perception and action. Neural Applications for: Bioinformatics, Biomedicine, Intelligent Robotics, Neurorobotics, Language Processing, Image Processing, Sensor Fusion, Pattern Recognition, Data Mining, Neural Agents, Brain-Computer Interaction, Neural Hardware, Evolutionary Neural Networks. *CALL FOR CONTRIBUTED SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATIONS* All scientific communications presented at ICANN 2021 will be reviewed and scientifically evaluated by a panel of experts. The conference will feature two categories of communications: - oral communications (15'+5') - poster communications. *Call for Special Sessions* ICANN 2021 organizers cordially invite internationally recognised experts to organise Special sessions and workshops within the general scope of the conference. Special Session Proposal request should be sent to icann2021(a)fmph.uniba.sk *CALL FOR PAPERS* Authors willing to present original contributions in either oral or poster category may submit: - A full paper of maximum 12 pages (including references) to be published in Springer-Verlag Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS) series with individual DOI. - An extended abstract of maximum 4 pages to be published in Springer-Verlag Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS) series, without indexing. The number of oral slots is limited. In case the number of requested oral presentations is larger than the available slots the ICANN scientific committee will select which papers will be reassigned to a poster session. This selection will be based on the coherence of the programme and is totally independent of the category of submission. Submission of communications will be on the conference website: https://e-nns.org/icann2021/ *IMPORTANT DATES* Deadline for special sessions proposals: 1 Mar 2021 Opening of contribution submissions: 15 Feb 2021 Deadline for full paper and extended abstract submission: 15 Mar 2021 Notification of acceptance: 1 May 2021 Camera-ready paper and registration opening: 1 June 2021 Deadline for early registration at discount rate: 30 June 2021 *BEST PAPER AWARDS* ENNS will sponsor a maximum of four best paper awards. All awards will be presented during the final ceremony. *TRAVEL GRANTS* The European Neural Network Society sponsors a number of Student Travel Grants covering part of the costs for attending ICANN. Details will be provided on the conference website. *ORGANISATION* General Chairs: Igor Farkaš (FMPI, Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia) Ľubica Beňušková (FMPI, Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia) Organising Committee Chairs: Kristína Malinovská (FMPI, Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia), Alessandra Lintas (ENNS Lausanne, Switzerland) Honorary Chairs: Stefan Wermter, University in Hamburg, Germany (ENNS President) Věra Kůrková, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia (past ENNS President) Communication Chair: Paolo Masulli (Technical University of Denmark, ENNS)

Jan. 22, 2021

Registration Deadline is approaching!

by Mary

Dear community, As we are approaching deadline (January 30) for registering for "EEG/ERPs Recording and Analysis: A multifaceted approach to EEG signals" Online Course, here is a reminder for the interested researchers who haven’t been registered yet. The "EEG/ERPs Recording and Analysis: A multifaceted approach to EEG signals" Online Course is going to be held by Dr. Raphaël Fargier, PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, France, who is a researcher in cognitive neuroscience with 10 years of experience and his research is focused on semantic cognition and the neurobiology of language. Through the course you will learn about the basics of EEG signal and how to record it. You will learn different approaches to EEG signal processing, that are more or less commonly adopted in cognitive neuroscience, including the study of Event-Related Potentials, Microstates/Topographic patterns, and Brain oscillations. You will learn about EEG signal preprocessing and how to compute ERPs, Microstates and Time-frequency maps in relationship with the constraints linked to experimental manipulations and designs. There will be a heavy focus on critical thinking about the choices of analyses as a function of research questions, challenges depending on experimental designs, and parameters to pay attention to. The variety and appropriateness of statistical methods currently used to validate (or not) hypotheses about cognitive processes will also be discussed. All of that will be evidenced through the presentation and discussion of case studies in electrophysiology of language. At the end of the course, you will know the strengths and weaknesses of these tools, and will be able to decide which measure is best adapted to your own scientific investigations about cognition. Prospective overview of the sessions 1. Basics of EEG signal and EEG recordings * Overview of the theory behind neural signals * Contrasting neuroimaging methods * Presentation of different EEG recording systems and their classical features * Tips on EEG recordings * Principles of experimental designs using EEG in cognitive neuroscience (events, timing etc) 2. EEG pre-processing Goal: Mastering the successive pre-processing steps including principles and challenges of: * Artifact rejection and correction (e.g. ICA; 3D Spline electrode interpolation) * Filtering (e.g. parameters, band widths etc) * Re-referencing (e.g. mastoid, average reference, Laplacian) * single-to-noise and number of trials 3. ERPs * Presentation of classical ERPs as markers of cognitive processes(e.g. N1/P2, P1, N400, etc.) * Computing single-subject and group-average ERPs: Pre-stimulus baseline correction (rationale, parameters, tips) Methods used to extract measures including amplitudes, latencies and topographies of ERPs Methods for statistical evaluation of differences across experimental manipulations * Differences between stimulus-aligned and response-aligned epochs, and associated challenges for signal processing 4. Spatio-temporal segmentation * Origin of microstates * Rationale of Spatio-temporal segmentation (StS) and presentation of successive steps of analyses (e.g. Topography consistency test, Tanova) * Presentation of two ways to compute StS (different toolboxes) and the respective parameters to take care of * Extraction of measures, and statistical evaluations of differences across experimental manipulations via fitting (e.g. global explained variance, duration, presence, etc.) * Single-trials and mixed models 5. Time-frequency analyses * Rationale of oscillatory dynamics in EEG signal (evoked vs. induced activity) * Challenges in pre-processing to obtain time-frequency maps as compared to ERPs * Different methods used for time-frequency decomposition * Challenges of baseline normalization (the case of response-aligned epochs) * The various measures that can be extracted from time-frequency maps and the variety of approaches for statistical validation You can watch the introductory webinar to this course using the linke below: https://sciencebeam.com/raphael-fargier-webinar/ For more information and registration click on the link below: https://sciencebeam.com/eeg-erps-recording-and-analyses/ Don’t miss this opportunity!

Jan. 21, 2021