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Call for papers MLCN at MICCAI 2020

by MLCN Workshop

*Please find below the call for papers for the International Workshop of Machine Learning in Clinical Neuroimaging (MLCN) on 4 October 2020 at MICCAI 2020 in Lima, Peru. We welcome contributions on novel machine learning methods and their applications to clinical neuroimaging data.* The submission deadline is *30 June 2020*, and all MLCN accepted papers will be eligible for the best paper award of 500 USD. For more information, please visit https://mlcnws.com/. Best wishes, The MLCN 2020 committee Christos Davatzikos Andre Marquand Jonas Richiardi Emma Robinson Ahmed Abdulkadir Cher Bass Mohamad Habes Seyed Mostafa Kia Jane Maryam Rondina Chantal Tax Hongzhi Wang Thomas Wolfers International Workshop on Machine Learning in Clinical Neuroimaging 4 October 2020 in Lima, Peru The International Workshop of Machine Learning in Clinical Neuroimaging ( https://mlcnws.com/) a satellite event of MICCAI (https://miccai2020.org) calls for original papers in the field of clinical neuroimaging data analysis with machine learning. The two tracks of the workshop include methodological innovations as well as clinical applications. This highly interdisciplinary topic provides an excellent platform to connect researchers of varying disciplines and to collectively advance the field in multiple directions. For the machine learning track, we seek contributions with substantial methodological novelty in analyzing high-dimensional, longitudinal, and heterogeneous neuroimaging data using stable, scalable, and interpretable machine learning models. Topics of interest include but are not limited to: - Spatio-temporal brain data analysis - Structural data analysis - Graph theory and complex network analysis - Longitudinal data analysis - Model stability and interpretability - Model scalability in large neuroimaging datasets - Multi-source data integration and multi-view learning - Multi-site data analysis, from preprocessing to modeling - Domain adaptation, data harmonization, and transfer learning in neuroimaging - Unsupervised methods for stratifying brain disorders - Deep learning in clinical neuroimaging - Model uncertainty in clinical predictions - ... In the clinical neuroimaging track, we seek contributions that explore how the application of advanced machine learning methods help us to move towards precision medicine for complex brain disorders. Topics of interest include but are not limited to: - Biomarker discovery - Refinement of nosology and diagnostics - Biological validation of clinical syndromes - Treatment outcome prediction - Course prediction - Analysis of wearable sensors - Neurogenetics and brain imaging genetics - Mechanistic modeling - Brain aging - ... Submission Process: The workshop seeks high quality, original, and unpublished work that addresses one or more challenges described above. Papers should be submitted electronically in Springer Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LCNS) style (see https://www.miccai2020.org/en/PAPER-SUBMISSION-GUIDELINE.html#manuscript-fo… for detailed author guidelines) using the CMT system at https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/MLCN2020. The page limit is 8-pages (text, figures, and tables) plus up to 2-pages of references. We review the submissions in a double-blind process. Please make sure that your submission is anonymous. Accepted papers will be published in a joint proceeding with the MICCAI 2020 conference. Best Paper Award: This year, all MLCN accepted papers will be eligible for the best paper award. The recipient of the award will be chosen by the MLCN scientific committee based on the scientific quality and novelty of contributions. The winner will be announced at the end of the workshop and will receive 500 USD honorarium. Important Dates: - Paper submission deadline: June 30th, 2020 - Notification of Acceptance: July 24th, 2020 - Camera-ready Submission: July 31st, 2020 - Workshop Date: 4 October 2020

May 8, 2020

PhD position at EPFL (Lausanne, Switzerland)

by Milekovic Tomislav

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

May 8, 2020

Fully-funded PhD Positions in Biomedical Imaging Computing, Lehigh University, USA

by Yu Zhang

*Fully-funded PhD Positions in Biomedical Imaging Computing, Lehigh University, USA* The Biomedical Imaging and Computation Laboratory (BIC Lab) at Lehigh University (Bethlehem, USA) is currently accepting applications for PhD positions in biomedical imaging computing. *Position description: *The research project will focus on developing and applying a variety of machine learning/deep learning methods for biomedical imaging analysis and prediction. The successful applicants will contribute to research and development in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven neural biomarker discovery using advanced neuroimaging techniques (e.g., MRI and EEG) for precision medicine of brain diseases. *Qualifications: *Successful applicants will have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, or other related fields, and strong motivation to do high-quality research in novel biomedical imaging computing with machine learning. Additionally, strong quantitative skills and a programming background (Matlab and/or Python) are important. Previous research experiences in related fields and scientific publications in journals/conferences are preferred. *Lehigh University: *Lehigh University is a premier research university in the United States, consistently ranked in the top tier of national research universities each year. It is a coeducational, nondenominational, private university that offers a distinctive academic environment for undergraduate and graduate students from across the globe. Located in Pennsylvania’s scenic Lehigh Valley, the campus is situated on 1,600 acres in close proximity to both New York City and Philadelphia. The application materials will be reviewed immediately once received. The expected starting time is Fall 2020 or Spring 2021. Interested candidates should send a cover letter describing your research interests, CV (including undergraduate GPA and ranking, transcripts if applicable), and contact information of three references to Dr. Yu Zhang at yzhangsu(a)stanford.edu and zhangyubrain(a)gmail.com. Check here for detailed admission requirements (e.g., GRE and TOEFL scores) https://engineering.lehigh.edu/bioe/graduate/bioengineering-admissions-guid… -- Yu Zhang, PhD Assistant Professor Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University Research Fellow Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University Webpage: http://yuzhangresearch.weebly.com/ Email: yzhangsu(a)stanford.edu

May 7, 2020

Neuromatch 2.0 – an online unconference in neuroscience, May 25-27, 2020

by Grace Lindsay

Announcing Neuromatch 2.0 – an online unconference in neuroscience, May 25-27, 2020. After a successful two-day conference in March, Neuromatch is back for three days this May! This fully online computational neuroscience conference will include invited and submitted talks, a virtual poster session, panels, debates, group discussion, and “mind-matching” events. In partnership with the IEEE Brain Initiative, one day of the conference will focus on neural data analysis. In partnership with eLife, Neuromatch will also feature talks and discussion with early career researchers. Registration and talk/poster submissions are due May 20th. For instructions on how to submit, please see: https://neuromatch.io/instructions/ For more information and to register for the conference, visit our site: https://neuromatch.io/ If you want to participate in the “mind-matching” or group discussion events (where you’ll be algorithmically paired with other scientists based on mutual research interests), don’t forget to include example abstracts so we know your interests! Confirmed Speakers: - Eve Marder (Brandeis University) - Jenny Bizley (UCL) - Richard Naud (U of Ottawa) - Yael Niv (Princeton) - Jakob Macke (TU of Munich) - Asya Rolls (Technion) - Joseph Raimondo (U of Cape Town) - Dan Yamins (Stanford) - Demba Ba (Harvard) - Ilana Witten (Princeton) - Eugenia Chiappe (Champalimaud) - Byron Yu (CMU) - Adrienne Fairhall (U of Washington) - Polina Anikeeva (MIT) Sincerely, Neuromatch 2.0 organizers Dan Goodman (Imperial) Konrad Kording (UPenn) Brad Wyble (Penn State) Titipat Achakulvisut (UPenn) Tim Vogels (Oxford) Chris Rozell (Georgia Tech) Yiota Poirazi (IMBB/FORTH) Grace Lindsay (UCL)

May 7, 2020

Two Post-doc opportunities in machine learning for neurological conditions

by Andre Altmann

Dear Comp-Neuro Community, If you like the challenge of developing novel computational and mathematical solutions to real-world medical challenges, then you will love working with us in the UCL Centre for Medical Image Computing (CMIC) [1] in London, UK. We are looking for two excellent postdoctoral researchers to join the UCL POND[2] team's well-established, supportive, expanding team of computational scientists in developing state-of-the-art data-driven solutions for neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. In this field we lead international initiatives such as EuroPOND[3], TADPOLE Challenge[4], and the new E-DADS consortium[5]. Importantly, we ensure impact by collaborating closely with clinical scientists on our doorstep in London and our network of collaborators across the globe. *Deadline for applications is 25th May*. For details on the roles and to apply: http://pond.cs.ucl.ac.uk/vacancies Best wishes, Andre Altmann Links: [1] https://www.ucl.ac.uk/medical-image-computing/ [2] http://pond.cs.ucl.ac.uk/ [3] http://europond.eu/ [4] https://tadpole.grand-challenge.org/ [5] https://e-dads.github.io/

May 7, 2020

Postdoctoral Associate in Computational Neuroscience of Learning and Memory

by Yuri Dabaghian

*Postdoctoral Associate in Computational Neuroscience of Learning and Memory* A NSF-funded postdoctoral position is immediately available in the group of Dr. Yuri Dabaghian at the University of Texas in Houston. The goal of the projects is to understand the hippocampal mechanisms of learning and memory using computational topological and geometric approaches, neuronal network theory. The projects involve both computational modeling and analyses of in-vivo electrophysiological data provided by experimental collaborators. The ideal candidate should have a strong in background Computational Neuroscience, Applied Mathematics, Theoretical Physics or similar. To apply, please send a CV, letter of motivation and the names of two-three references to Yuri Dabaghian (Yuri.A.Dabaghian(a)uth.tmc.edu) Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

May 4, 2020

Fully funded 4-year PhD Position at IIT - Computational approaches to study the neural code

by Stefano Panzeri

Fully funded 4-year PhD Position at IIT - Computational approaches to study the neural code We are seeking candidates for a fully funded 4-year PhD position at the Italian Institute of Technology’s in the lab directed by Stefano Panzeri ( https://www.iit.it/people/stefano-panzeri) We are particularly interested in candidates that wish to work in a project in collaboration with the experimental neurophysiology laboratory of Giuliano Iurilli (https://www.iit.it/people/giuliano-iurilli) We are interested in using mathematical models of neural networks and information theoretic and machine learning analytical tools to understand the principles of neural coding by using as a model the olfactory system. For recent representative publications of Panzeri and Iurilli on relevant topics please see: Chong et al, in press, preprint available at https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/841916v1 van Vugt B, et al, (2018) Science: DOI: 10.1126/science.aar7186 Runyan C. A., et al (2017) Nature: 548: 92-96 Panzeri, S, et al (2017) Neuron 93: 491-507 Iurilli, G. and Datta, R.S. (2017) Neuron 93 , 1180-1197 Safaai, H. et al (2015) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 112(41): 12834–12839 The ideal candidate should have a strong background in numerate sciences, and have a strong propensity for interdisciplinary research. No extensive previous experience in neuroscience is needed. However, a keen interest in understanding the brain is essential. The deadline for the formal application is set to May 27th 2019, but interested candidates are invited me to contact us informally by email ( stefano.panzeri(a)iit.it and Giuliano.urilli(a)iit.it ) as soon as possible, and *no later than May 11th 2020,* by attaching their CV and briefly explaining their interest in this position, to initiate discussion about potential PhD projects of interest. Yours truly, Stefano Panzeri

May 4, 2020

PhD position in theoretical and experimental neuroscience

by Nicolas P. Rougier

PhD position in theoretical and experimental neuroscience Application deadline: 30/05/2020 What: PhD position in theoretical and experimental neuroscience Where: Bordeaux, France When: September 2020 (3 years duration) Who: Nicolas Rougier (Inria) & Arthur Leblois (CNRS) A PhD position is available at the Inria Bordeaux Sud-Ouest center and the Institute of Neurodegenerative Disease in Bordeaux, France. Candidate profile ================= The future PhD candidate must have a strong experience at both the theoretical and experimental level. In particular, the following qualities and skills will be highly valued, if not required: * Solid bases in maths and/or physics; * Previous experience in experimental neuroscience; * Programming experience (Python or similar coding language); * Experience in machine learning or data mining is a plus; * Independence and ability to manage a project; * Good English reading/speaking skills. How to apply ============ Please send your application (CV, letter of motivation, and the names and email addresses of one or two persons who can provide recommendation letters) to Dr. Nicolas Rougier (nicolas.rougier(a)inria.fr) and Arthur Leblois (arthur.leblois(a)univ-bordeaux.fr) before the 30th of May 2020. Proposed research ================= Temporally precise movement patterns underlie many motor skills and innate actions, yet the origin of temporal control in motor behaviors remains unclear. While cortical motor regions traditionally have been viewed as encoding features of motor gestures, these models do not address how sequences of motor gestures are produced or appropriately timed. Recently, a number of studies have suggested that, beyond just representing features of motor output, motor regions may have intrinsic oscillatory dynamics or sequential dynamics to act as their own pattern generators. However, in the order of milliseconds, the neural and anatomical correlates of time processing are still largely unknown because the dominant model, which is based on internal clock fails at giving account on experimental data. Understanding the neural dynamics underlying the acquisition and performance of complex sensorimotor tasks has been hindered by the complexity of the underlying brain networks in common animal models used in neuroscience (e.g. rodents or primates). In particular, the complex interactions between cortical areas (primary and secondary motor cortex in rodents, motor, premotor and supplementary motor areas in primates) related to many different sensorimotor associations and motor skills is daunting. Conversely, in birds, the sensorimotor skill of song production and its learning has a dedicated set of interconnected brain nuclei known as the “song system”, making them an outstanding model to study the neural mechanisms of vocal learning and more generally, of sensorimotor learning. Songbirds indeed rely on learned vocalizations to communicate during courtship or aggressive behaviours. Just as speech learning in humans, vocal learning in young birds requires the coordination of vocal muscles to reproduce previously experienced adult vocalizations. Song learning is also limited to a critical period during development and heavily relies on auditory feedback. The proposed research lies at the interface of neurophysiology, cognitive science, applied mathematics, and theoretical physics. The concepts and methods that will be used will draw on single neuron physiology, electrophysiological studies in behaving animals, statistical mechanics, dynamical system theory, and stochastic differential equations. To this end, we will combine a theoretical approach (development of a mathematical model of the timing system) and an experimental one (chronic neural recording in awake birds, behavioural manipulations). Therefore, a collaboration with a team of physiologists at the Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases, and in particular with Arthur Leblois who has a long-established expertise in the neural mechanisms underlying vocal learning in songbirds. The model will be designed under the supervision of Nicolas Rougier who has extensive experience in computational modelling. Predictions of the model will then be tested experimentally by measuring neuronal activity in the brain areas controlling song timing in songbirds under the supervision of Arthur Leblois. Chronic electrophysiological recordings in singing birds are routinely performed in the lab of Arthur Leblois, and will be implemented in a protocol allowing the induction of plasticity in the duration of song syllables in young adult birds over short periods of time.

May 4, 2020

NEST Conference 2020 goes virtual — Call for Contributions

by Hans Ekkehard Plesser

Dear all, The NEST Initiative is excited to invite everyone interested in Neural Simulation Technology and the NEST Simulator to the NEST Conference 2020. The NEST Conference provides an opportunity for the NEST Community to meet, exchange success stories, swap advice, learn about current developments in and around NEST spiking network simulation and its application. This year's conference will take place as a virtual conference on Monday/Tuesday 29/30 June 2020. We are now inviting contributions to the conference, including plenary talks, "posters" and breakout sessions on specific topics. Important dates 01 June 2020 — Deadline for submission of contributions 08 June 2020 — Notification of acceptance 10 June 2020 — Deadline for NEST Initiative Membership applications (registration is free for members in 2020) 22 June 2020 — Registration deadline 29 June 2020 — NEST Conference 2020 starts For more information on how to submit your contribution, register and participate, please visit the conference website https://nest-simulator.org/conference We are looking forward to seeing you all in June! Hans Ekkehard Plesser, Susanne Kunkel, Dennis Terhorst, Anne Elfgen & many more När du skickar e-post till Karolinska Institutet (KI) innebär detta att KI kommer att behandla dina personuppgifter. Här finns information om hur KI behandlar personuppgifter<https://ki.se/medarbetare/integritetsskyddspolicy>. Sending email to Karolinska Institutet (KI) will result in KI processing your personal data. You can read more about KI’s processing of personal data here<https://ki.se/en/staff/data-protection-policy>. _______________________________________________ Neuroinfo mailing list Neuroinfo(a)incf.org<mailto:Neuroinfo@incf.org> https://lists.incf.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/neuroinfo

May 4, 2020

Announcement: Online Seminar Series on Consciousness

by Xerxes D. Arsiwalla

Dear Comp-Neuro Community, Hope you are all doing well in these difficult times! This is to announce a new online seminar series on consciousness that will include regular weekly or bi-weekly talks until the end of 2020 by well known researchers in the field. As in the previous years, part of the seminar will be devoted to discussing new ideas, visions and recent results. This time, we would like to put more emphasis on critically assessing the use of mathematics in studying consciousness. How exactly do mathematical approaches integrate with and depend on neuroscientific and philosophical research? Do they allow to go beyond what non-formal approaches can do? If so, how? To answer these and similar questions, we will host talks, discussion sessions, background lectures and tutorials. Our overall goals in doing so are: - To review the various mathematical approaches that are being used in consciousness science. - To discuss the underlying visions and the current progress of each. - To assess the merits and drawbacks of the mathematical method as a whole in this context. - To develop a rigorous understanding of how precisely mathematics can be used to address the problem of consciousness. - To identify key questions that a mathematical science of consciousness should address. - To help establish a comprehensive methodology of mathematical consciousness research, which is intimately tied to both empirical and conceptual research in neuroscience, philosophy and related disciplines. A partial and developing list of confirmed speakers include: - Karl Friston, University College London - David Balduzzi, DeepMind Google - Chen Song, Cardiff University - Anil Seth, Sackler Center for Consciousness Science, Sussex - Ryota Kanai, Araya Artificial Intelligence, Tokyo - Jenann Ismael, Columbia University in New York - Jennifer Windt, Monash University - Erik Hoel, Allen Discovery Centre - Andrew Haun, Center for Sleep and Consciousness, UW-Madison - Rafi Malach, Weizmann Institute of Science - Catherine Tallon-Baundry, École normale supérieure - Nao Tsuchiya, Consciousness tLab, Melbourne - Liad Mudrik, Tel Aviv University - William Seager, University of Toronto - Selen Atasoy, University of Oxford - Jeffrey Yoshimi, University of California Merced As in the previous events, we hope to create an open-minded and non-dogmatic atmosphere. This is one reason why we would like to cordially invite you all to join the seminar. To do so, simply visit the seminar's website (https://seminar.math-consciousness.org) click on the tab "Join" and follow the explanations there. Further information about the seminar is given in the tab "Details" and will be announced to those who have joined soon. We hope to see many of you online in the next couple of months! Stay safe! The organizers Johannes Kleiner (Munich) Joanna Szczotka (Sussex and Krakow) Xerxes D. Arsiwalla (Barcelona) Sean Tull (Oxford) Robin Lorenz (Oxford)

May 3, 2020

Associate Lecturer (Education-focused) at the University of St Andrews

by Thomas Otto

Please see the vacancy for a position as Associate Lecturer (Education-focused) at the University of St Andrews. This is a full-time, permanent post, which will primarily focus on delivery of Neuroscience content. Please share with interested colleagues, the advertisement can be found at: https://www.vacancies.st-andrews.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/7074/0/267435/889/associ… -- Dr. Thomas Otto University of St Andrews School of Psychology and Neuroscience St Mary’s Quad, South Street, St Andrews, KY16 9JP, Scotland Phone: +44 (0)1334 462091 http://lclab.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/

April 30, 2020

Fully-funded PhD position at the Vision Institute, Sorbonne University, Paris, France

by angelo.arleo＠inserm.fr

Fully-funded PhD position at the Vision Institute, Sorbonne University, Paris, France Job description Applications are invited for a 3-year PhD position to develop clinical endpoints of daily-life activity for low vision patients in order to assess visual restoration. The therapeutic benefits of vision restoration are usually evaluated in clinical studies using conventional functional measures such as visual field and contrast sensitivity. However, these tests are not sufficient to characterize the impact of a visual pathology on patients’ quality of life and autonomy. This project will set forth a set of benchmark measures to evaluate a range of daily life functions (locomotion, spatial orientation, posture, balance, reading) in real or virtual conditions. The main goal is to identify behavioral biomarkers of the benefit of vision restoration solutions (namely optogenetic therapy and retinal implants) in visually impaired patients. The PhD candidate will work hand-in-hand with clinicians of the National Hospital Center for Ophthalmology of the Quinze-Vingts and with researchers of the Vision Institute as well as the Streetlab company. The project will be carried out under the supervision of Dr. Colas Authié and Dr. Angelo Arleo. Requirements & eligibility criteria Applicants should have a quantitative background (engineering, computer science, physics, applied mathematics), and a keen interest in behavioral neuroscience. The ideal candidate should have expertise in virtual reality, motor control, and biometric data analysis. Experience in low-vision or knowledge on machine learning and programming languages (Matlab, C or Python) are a plus. Knowledge of French is important (but not mandatory). Proficiency in oral and written English is required. Successful candidates are expected to work in an interdisciplinary environment with engineers, neuroscientists, and clinicians. Applicants must be in the first four years of their research career and they must not have lived in France more than 12 months during the last 3 years. Benefits The position is funded by the Marie Curie ITN project ENTRAIN-VISION and it will start in fall 2020. It corresponds to a full PhD appointment (36 months) with competitive salary and working conditions, monthly mobility allowance, and family allowance (if family obligations). It also provides continuing education, secondments in the private sector, training modules, and transferable skills courses. Working environment The Vision Institute is one of the top international centers for integrated research on vision and eye diseases. It is located at the heart of Paris, on the campus of the National Hospital Center for Ophthalmology of the Quinze-Vingts. The Vision Institute includes multidisciplinary research laboratories, which share state-of-the-art platforms for human and animal experimentation. It also harbors a Clinical Investigation Center, which fosters translational research. The Streetlab provides a panel of unique platforms (reproducing virtual and real immersive environments) and standardized evaluation solutions to measure autonomy, mobility, and quality of life of visually impaired people. How to apply Applicants should apply to the ENTRAIN-VISION consortium (www.entrain-vision.eu <http://www.entrain-vision.eu/>) by May 29th, 2020. For further inquiries, please contact Colas Authié (colas.authie(a)streetlab-vision.com <mailto:colas.authie@streetlab-vision.com>) and/or Angelo Arleo (angelo.arleo(a)inserm.fr <mailto:angelo.arleo@inserm.fr>). *************************************** Angelo ARLEO FONTAINE, PhD Director of Research CNRS Head of the Aging in Vision and Action Lab, Director of the Chair Silversight, Institute of Vision, CNRS - INSERM - Sorbonne University, 17, rue Moreau F-75012 Paris, France Phone: +33 (0)1 53 46 26 52 Mobile: +33 (0)6 46 84 09 56 Email: angelo.arleo(a)inserm.fr Website: www.aging-vision-action.fr

April 30, 2020

PhD Studentship in Computational Neuroscience and Rehabilitation Robotics at the University of Hertfordshire

by Volker Steuber

PhD Studentship in Computational Neuroscience and Rehabilitation Robotics Biocomputation Research Group Centre for Computer Science and Informatics Research University of Hertfordshire, UK Application deadline 1 June 2020 Bursary GBP 15,285 p.a. Applications are invited for PhD positions in the Biocomputation Research Group at the University of Hertfordshire. (http://biocomputation.herts.ac.uk/). Project description Stroke is a major cause of disability in adults. More than 15 million strokes occur every year in the world, and more than 100,000 of these affect patients in the UK. Stroke patients often have an impaired ability to control their upper limbs and need assistance with every-day tasks. Relearning motor skills after stroke is similar to learning new motor skills, for example learning to play tennis, but a problem for stroke survivors is that their impaired movements often restrict the ability to use sensory feedback for re-learning. Rehabilitation robotics has shown promise to augment the rehabilitation process and to offer feedback on performance. However, the personalisation of the therapy to individual needs remains a major challenge to date. The proposed project will use a computational model of the cerebellum that is being developed by the Biocomputation Research Group (biocomputation.herts.ac.uk) to optimise robotic rehabilitation for individual subjects. The cerebellum has been optimised throughout vertebrate evolution to become an adaptive controller of biological skeletomuscular structures that is unrivalled by any artificial adaptive motor control algorithm. This has led and is still leading to the development of a rapidly increasing number of computational models of cerebellar learning, and to the successful applications of these cerebellar models to controlling simulated and real robots. The PhD project will involve the development and application of personalised cerebellar models in order to optimise rehabilitation robots for individual subjects. Applicants should have excellent computational and numerical skills and a very good first degree in computer science, biology, maths, physics, neuroscience, or a related discipline. Successful candidates are eligible for a research studentship award from the University (GBP 15,285 per annum bursary plus payment of the student fees). Applicants from outside the UK or EU are eligible. Research in Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire has been recognised as excellent in the latest Research Excellence Framework Assessment, with 50% of the research submitted rated as internationally excellent or world leading. The Centre for Computer Science and Informatics Research provides a very stimulating environment, offering a large number of specialised and interdisciplinary seminars as well as general training and researcher development opportunities. The University is situated in Hatfield, in the green belt just north of London. Please contact Dr Volker Steuber or Prof Farshid Amirabdollahian for informal enquiries. Application forms are available under https://www.herts.ac.uk/study/schools-of-study/engineering-and-computer-sci… and should be returned to doctoralcollegeadmissions(a)herts.ac.uk. The short-listing process will begin on 1 June 2020.

April 30, 2020

Postdoctoral Position in Computational Neuroscience, Barcelona

by Alex Roxin

The Computational Neuroscience Group at the Centre de Recerca Matemàtica in Bellaterra (Barcelona), Spain, is looking for a postdoctoral researcher to model dynamics, plasticity and learning in hippocampal circuits. The goal is to understand how sensory-driven activity in areas CA3 and CA1 during spatial exploration leads to memory formation in rodents. The work involves network modelling as well as the analysis of in-vivo electrophysiological and calcium imaging data provided by experimental collaborators. The ideal candidate has a strong technical background, such as in Computational Neuroscience, Applied Mathematics, Physics or similar. To apply, please send a CV, letter of motivation and the names of two references to Alex Roxin at aroxin(a)crm.cat Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Pre-application inquiries are also welcome. -- Alex Roxin Computational Neuroscience Group Centre de Recerca Matemàtica Campus de Bellaterra, Edifici C 08193, Bellaterra (Barcelona) Spain https://sites.google.com/site/alexanderroxin/home

April 30, 2020

Open positions at the SimLab Neuroscience, Juelich, Germany

by Abigail Morrison

Dear colleagues, We have two open 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 with a focus on neuroscience community engagement https://www.fz-juelich.de/SharedDocs/Stellenangebote/_common/dna/2020-061-E… Research Scientist – Development of Neuroscience Data Transport Middleware on High-Performance Computing Systems https://www.fz-juelich.de/SharedDocs/Stellenangebote/_common/dna/2020-128-E… The deadline for applications is 10 May 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 28, 2020

Workshop on Machine Learning for Pharma and Healthcare Applications (PharML 2020) - Deadline 11 June 2020

by Konstantinos Sechidis

*** Call For Papers PharML 2020: Machine Learning for Pharma and Healthcare Applications We invite contributions from both industry and academia to share their research and experience in using artificial intelligence and machine learning methods in pharmaceutical research and development. PharML will be held at the European Conference on Machine Learning and Principles and Practice of Knowledge Discovery in Databases (ECML-PKDD) to take place in Ghent, Belgium, on 14th - 18th of September 2020. Submission Guidelines We invite authors to submit extended abstracts including preliminary results as well as published work. Authors should submit a paper of up to 4 pages (excluding references). Longer papers will be rejected immediately. Priority will be given to unpublished work. Authors should commit to present their work at the workshop in case it is accepted for an oral or poster presentation. All accepted abstracts will be posted on the workshop's website. - All manuscripts will be peer-reviewed, double-blinded - Abstracts should be in PDF format, following the Springer Lecture Notes in Computer Science style https://www.overleaf.com/latex/templates/springer-lecture-notes-in-computer… - Submissions should be done via the workshop EasyChair page https://easychair.org/my/conference?conf=pharml2020# Topics of Interest The following list, although not exhaustive, covers some of the main topics that will be discussed in the workshop. - Learning on Graphs - Representing patients and molecules as graphs - Transfer learning and generative models - Modelling dynamic graphs - Node and link prediction on molecular graphs - Biological pathway mining for cancer biomarker discovery - Machine learning with brain graphs - Causal structure learning from real world data - Deep learning in healthcare and pharmaceutical research - Medical Imaging - Natural Language Processing - Reinforcement learning in computer-assisted procedures - Audio Processing - Time series analysis - Bayesian methods - Modelling uncertainty - Bayesian methods for classification and imputation - Bayesian networks - General machine learning methods for healthcare and pharma - Machine learning for personalized healthcare - Multimodal machine learning (e.g. combining genomics, pathology reports, clinical data to predict survival) - Remote sensing for healthcare applications - Causal inference with observational data - Subgroup discovery and targeted learning - Longitudinal and trajectory data analysis - Medical decision support Workshop Programme The workshop will feature: - Invited keynote speakers from academia (Stephan Günnemann, Technische Universität München) and industry (Fabien Gaire, Roche). - Oral presentations - A poster session The full programme will be posted on the workshop's website in due course. Important dates Submission Deadline: June 11, 2020 Notification: July 09, 2020 Camera ready: TBA Workshop date: TBA (Monday 14th or Friday 18th of September) Committees Organizing Committee - Lee Cooper (Northwestern University, USA) - Naghmeh Ghazaleh (Roche, Switzerland) - Jonas Richiardi (Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland) - Damian Roqueiro (ETH Zurich, Switzerland) - Diego Saldana (Roche, Switzerland) - Konstantinos Sechidis (Roche, Switzerland) Program Committee - Laura Azzimonti (IDSIA, Switzerland) - Christian Bock (ETH Zurich, Switzerland) - Christoph Freyre (Novartis, Switzerland) - Geoffrey Fucile (University of Basel, Switzerland) - Marius Garmhausen (Roche, Switzerland) - Elisabetta Ghisu (ETH Zurich, Switzerland) - Max Horn (ETH Zurich, Switzerland) - Elina Koletou (Roche, Switzerland) - Valeria De Luca (Novartis, Switzerland) - Matteo Manica (IBM, Switzerland) - Joseph Mellor (University of Edinburgh, UK) - Michael Mitchley (Roche, Switzerland) - Michael Moor (ETH Zurich, Switzerland) - Nikolaos Nikolaou (UCL, UK) - Marilena Oita, (Simply Vision, Switzerland) - Konstantinos Papangelou (University of Manchester, UK) - Laetitia Papaxanthos (Google Brain, France) - Jon Parkinson (University of Manchester, UK) - Maria Giulia Preti (EPFL, Switzerland) - Bastian Rieck (ETH Zurich, Switzerland) - Elizaveta Semenova (AstraZeneca, UK) - Grigorios Tsoumakas (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece) Venue Colocated with ECML-PKDD, Ghent, Belgium, on September 14-18, 2020. Contact Visit the official website of the workshop for additional details. https://sites.google.com/view/pharml2020 If you have questions, please send us an e-mail to: pharml2020(a)easychair.org

April 28, 2020

Announcing the release of the CompNeuro-Fedora OS for Computational Neuroscientists

by Ankur Sinha

Hello everyone, (Apologies for the cross-posts) The NeuroFedora team is excited to announce the first release of the CompNeuro-Fedora operating system for computational neuroscientists. https://labs.fedoraproject.org/en/comp-neuro/ CompNeuro-Fedora is a Fedora Linux based Free/Open Source operating system that includes a plethora of tools for computational modelling. These tools are built from their sources as per the Fedora packaging guidelines that enforce the current best practices in software development. So, all you have to do is: - download the image, - install it to disk or a virtual machine (or run it "live"), and - get to work! This release of the ISO image is based on the popular GNOME desktop environment. For computational neuroscience, it includes: Auryn, Bionetgen, Calc: calcium-calculator, COPASI, GetDP, GENESIS, MOOSE, NEST simulator, NEURON, PyLEMS, Smoldyn; along with multiple tools used in analysis: the complete Python science stack: NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib, IPython, SymPy, and Pandas, R, Julia, GNU Octave, GNUPlot, Paraview, and others. Apart from this set of tools, the NeuroFedora team also provides more neuroscience software that can be installed from the Fedora repositories. Additionally, you also have access to the *complete* set of Free/Open Source software packages available for the Fedora Linux distribution. You can read more about the CompNeuro-Fedora release here: https://neuroblog.fedoraproject.org/2020/04/28/fedora-32-computational-neur… NeuroFedora is a Free/Open Source volunteer community based initiative to support the use of Free/Open Source software in Neuroscience. The team consists wholly of volunteers who spend a few hours a week on this project. We would love to hear from you, and for you to join us. We, especially encourage students to join the community to develop their skills while contributing to NeuroFedora. You can learn more about NeuroFedora here: https://neuro.fedoraproject.org You can get in touch with the community using any of our communication channels: https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/neurofedora/communicating/ -- Thanks, Regards, Ankur Sinha (He / Him / His) | https://ankursinha.in PhD candidate in computational neuroscience at UH Biocomputation | http://biocomputation.herts.ac.uk/ Research Fellow at the Silver Lab | http://silverlab.org/ Free/Open source community volunteer at the Fedora project | https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/User:Ankursinha Time zone: Europe/London

April 28, 2020

Two postdoctoral positions in cellular electrophysiology and neurobiology at SISSA, Italy

by Michele Giugliano

Apologies for cross posting Two postdoctoral positions in cellular electrophysiology and neurobiology at SISSA, Italy Two postdoctoral positions are available immediately at the Neuroscience Area of SISSA - the International School for Advanced Studies, in the lab of Neuronal Dynamics head by Dr. Michele GIUGLIANO. Both positions are covered for up to 38 months each, on an EC-Horizon 2020 funded project called "Ionic Neuromodulation For Epilepsy Treatment (IN-FET)". (www.in-fet.eu <http://www.in-fet.eu/>) This project combines neurobiology, nanotechnologies, electrochemistry, and electronics together towards a novel breakthrough technology in brain modulation. At SISSA, we aim at experimentally validating novel routes for cellular and microcircuit stimulation or suppression, in collaboration with a consortium of partners which includes IBM Research Zurich, the University of Geneva, the University of Sheffield, and the Inter-university consortium for Nanoelectronics. We thus search for experts in in vitro electrophysiology (substrate-integrated microelectrode arrays) and patch-clamp recordings (dissociated cell cultures, acute and organotypic brain tissue slices) with a strong background in quantitative data analysis and an interest for interdisciplinary research. The deadline for the application is 28/05/2020 and the link to apply is: https://pica.cineca.it/sissa/ar-fe-neur-29-2020/ <https://pica.cineca.it/sissa/ar-fe-neur-29-2020/> More information at: https://www.sissa.it/bandi/selezione-pubblica-titoli-colloquio-conferimento… <https://www.sissa.it/bandi/selezione-pubblica-titoli-colloquio-conferimento…> For scientific inquiries, email to michele.giugliano_AT_sissa.it For administrative inquiries, email to assegniricerca_AT_sissa.it

April 28, 2020

CFP Deadline Extension - 10th IEEE International Conference on Development and Learning (ICDL), Valparaiso Chile

by Pablo Vinicius Alves De Barros

We hope that this message finds you healthy and that you and your families are safe and well during these difficult times! Since many countries are still under heavy pressure from COVID-19 together with the fact the Southern Hemisphere is just entering winter, we have decided to reschedule the conference to the 28th to the 30th of October. The conference will be hybrid, hosting both onsite and online participants. Online participants will have a reduced fee. We have also extended the submission deadline, and already submitted papers can be modified. CALL FOR PAPERS DEADLINE EXTENDED: 10th IEEE International Conference on Development and Learning (ICDL) (This is the follow-up of the previous ICDL-EpiRob conference series) 28th-30th October 2020, Valparaiso, Chile https://cdstc.gitlab.io/icdl-2020/ An IEEE Computational Society-sponsored conference ==== Important Dates ==== Paper Submission Deadline: 14th June 2020 Paper Author Notification: 13th July 2020 Final Paper Version Due: 16th August 2020 Conference: 28th-30th October 2020 ==== Overview ==== The IEEE International Conference on Development and Learning (ICDL), previously referred to as ICDL-EpiRob, is the premier gathering of professionals dedicated to the advancement of cognitive and developmental learning. As such, ICDL is a unique conference gathering researchers from computer science, robotics, psychology and developmental studies. ICDL is a highly selective annual international conference that aims to showcase and share the very best interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research on how humans and animals develop sensing, reasoning and actions. ICDL community focusses on the understanding of how biological agents take advantage of interaction with social and physical environments to develop their cognitive capabilities. Moreover, how this knowledge can be used to improve future computing and robotic systems. We invite submissions for the conference to explore, extend, and consolidate the interdisciplinary boundaries of this exciting research field. ==== Scope and Topics ==== The primary list of topics of interest includes, but not limited to: - principles and theories of development and learning; - development of skills in biological systems and robots; - nature vs nurture, developmental stages; - models on the contributions of interaction to learning; - verbal, non-verbal and multi-modal interaction; - models on active learning; - architectures for lifelong learning; - emergence of body and affordance perception; - analysis and modelling of human motion and state; - models for prediction, planning and problem solving; - models of human-human and human-robot interaction; - emergence of verbal and non-verbal communication; - epistemological foundations and philosophical issues; - robot prototyping of human and animal skills; - ethics and trust in computational intelligence and robotics; - social learning in humans, animals, and robots. ==== Submissions ==== Authors are invited to submit original and unpublished papers of six pages with the possibility of two-extra pages at a fee. Submissions are in the IEEE conference template. Submission will be selected for either oral or poster presentation based on the reviews. Accepted and presented regular six-page paper submissions will be included in the conference proceedings published by IEEE Xplore after the conference. For more information about submissions, travel grants, social events, etc. visit the conference webpage under https://cdstc.gitlab.io/icdl-2020/ ICDL-EpiRob: Joint IEEE International Conference on Development and Learning and on Epigenetic Robotics » ICDL 2020<https://cdstc.gitlab.io/icdl-2020/> cdstc.gitlab.io IEEE International Conference on Development and Learning (ICDL), previously known as Joint IEEE International Conference on Development and Learning and on Epigenetic Robotics (ICDL-EpiRob). IEEE, CIS, CDSTC, Electrical and Electronic Engineers Inc., Computational Intelligence Society, Cognitive and Developmental Systems Technical Committee, Autonomous Mental Development . ICDL, IEEE International Conference on Development and Learning, 2020, 10th, Valparaíso, Chile. This page includes content related to call for papers, call for contributions, registration, submissions, attend, program, call, guidelines, computer science, robotics, psychology and developmental studies, sponsors, creative commons, license, research, about us. ==== Organizing committee ==== General Chairs: Giulio Sandini, and Javier Ruiz-del-Solar Program and Finance Chairs: Nicolás Navarro-Guerrero, and María-José Escobar Bridge Chairs: Minoru Asada, Frédéric Alexandre, and Linda Smith Publicity Chairs: Carmelo Bastos, Maya Cakmak, Angelo Cangelosi, Yukie Nagai, and Emre Ugur Publication Chairs: Pablo Barros, and Haian Wu Tutorials and Workshops Chair: Miguel Solis Travel and Registration Awards Chair: Francisco Cruz Local chairs: Mauricio Araya Webpage Chairs: Cristóbal Nettle, and Patricio Castillo Graphics: Camila Angel Alfaro Best regards from the organizing committee, ---------------------------------------- Dr. Pablo Barros Postdoctoral Researcher - CONTACT Unit Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia – Center for Human Technologies Via Enrico Melen 83, Building B 16152 Genova, Italy email: pablo.alvesdebarros(a)iit.it website: https://www.pablobarros.net<http://www.pablobarros.net><https://www.p> twitter: @PBarros_br

April 28, 2020

Invitation and call for abstracts for VCCA2020 - Computational Audiology

by Yağmur Güçlütürk

Dear List, It is our pleasure to send out this Save the date and call for abstracts for the *first Virtual Conference on Computational Audiology* (VCCA) to be held on *June 19, 2020*! In these times of social distancing, we intend to use the opportunities modern communication technology offers to bring researchers from all over the world together in a virtual conference setting. What better topic than the combination of audiology — the primary sense humans use for communication — and AI/computation — an advanced means by which we try to model and make sense of the world? We have subdivided this broad topic into: - Computational models - Machine learning for audiology - AI for auditory implants - e-Audiology (connected hearing health care) - AI & Music (for hearing impaired people) Our central mission is to improve (access to) hearing healthcare for more than 450 million hearing impaired people worldwide. The target audience for this conference is young researchers that wish to present their work and ideas. We offer a podium to receive feedback from peers and to get mentored by senior researchers. The choice for a virtual conference means: - There will be no participation fee - We can more easily reach out to research groups in AI and Audiology worldwide. There is a *young scientist award* for the best contribution to encourage input from young scientists. *Format* All presentations and discussions will be recorded and together with the submitted abstracts made freely accessible via our website <https://computationalaudiology.com/>. We would like to take advantage of the virtual aspects of this conference by creating sessions that consist of a mixture of different talk and discussion formats and distribute time slots over a 24 hour period. We provide the opportunity for researchers and research groups to submit one-minute videos explaining their work, which will be placed on the conference website. We also offer the opportunity to submit links to research group websites and announcements of webinars to be placed on the conference website. Last but not least, we will encourage social interaction by providing virtual “coffee breaks” and other social activities. *Abstract submission* Abstracts of 300+/- words in length will be accepted online and must include Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions (click this link <https://computationalaudiology.com/ai-speech-recognition-apps-for-hearing-i…>, for an example). Submissions must include an e-mail address for all co-presenters/co-authors, and we strongly recommend the inclusion of a 2-minute ignite style <http://www.ignitetalks.io/> video (here on this page is a 2-minute example <https://computationalaudiology.com/vcca2020-program/> by Prof Barbour). The link to the portal to submit your abstract online will be available at https://computationalaudiology.com/vcca2020-call-for-abstracts/ on May 15, 2020. The deadline for abstract submission is *May 31* (we’ll try to upload abstract starting May 15). Notification of abstract acceptance will be *June 5.* Note: If you forward this message, please add vcca2020(a)computationalaudiology.com in cc, so that we can track who already received our invitation. *Further information* https://computationalaudiology.com/ https://computationalaudiology.com/event/virtual-conference-on-computationa… We will regularly update the conference website with new information. Feel free to send questions or suggestions to vcca2020(a)computationalaudiology.com Kind regards, *the Organizing committee* Yağmur Güçlütürk Peter van Hengel Alex Tichter Jan-Willem Wasmann -- Dr. Yağmur Güçlütürk Assistant Professor at Cognitive Artificial Intelligence Department <https://www.ru.nl/cai/>, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour <http://www.ru.nl/donders>, Radboud University <http://www.ru.nl/english>, Nijmegen, Netherlands Email: y.gucluturk(a)donders.ru.nl Telephone: +310243611175 Postal address: Postbus 9104 6500 HE Nijmegen Netherlands Visiting address: SP B 00.78A Montessorilaan 3 6525 HR Nijmegen Netherlands <https://www.google.nl/maps/place/Spinozagebouw/@51.8192802,5.8579337,17z/da…>

April 28, 2020

[CFP] (Deadline tomorrow on Wednesday, April 29) IEEE RO-MAN 2020 Special Session on Applied Emotion/Mind-Aware Neuroimaging in Real-world Human-Robot

by Ker-Jiun Wang

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

April 27, 2020

Hiring postdoc at Georgia Tech

by Christopher Rozell

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.

April 23, 2020

Complex Spatial Navigation- Special Issue

by Fellous, Jean-Marc - (fellous)

Dear Colleagues, I am writing to let you know of the upcoming special issue of Biological Cybernetics entitled 'Complex spatial navigation in animals, computational models and neuro-inspired robots'. All articles are now available online. Apologies for any duplications. * Editorial: Complex spatial navigation in animals, computational models and neuro-inspired robots. Jean-Marc Fellous, Peter F. Dominey and Alfredo Weitzenfeld. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00422-020-00832-y * From spatial navigation via visual construction to episodic memory and imagination. Michael A. Arbib. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00422-020-00829-7 * A neural model of schemas and memory encoding. Tiffany Hwu and Jeffrey L. Krichmar. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00422-019-00808-7 * A computational model for spatial cognition combining dorsal and ventral hippocampal place field maps: multi-scale navigation. Pablo Scleidorovich, Martin Llofriu, Jean-Marc Fellous and Alfredo Weitzenfeld. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00422-019-00812-x * Bio-inspired multi-scale fusion. Stephen Hausler, Zetao Chen, Michael E. Hasselmo and Michael Milford. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00422-020-00831-z * Modeling awake hippocampal reactivations with model-based bidirectional search. Mehdi Khamassi and Benoit Girard. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00422-020-00817-x * Real-time sensory-motor integration of hippocampal place cell replay and prefrontal sequence learning in simulated and physical rat robots for novel path optimization. Nicolas Cazin, Pablo Scleidorovich, Alfredo Weitzenfeld and Peter F. Dominey. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00422-020-00820-2 * Cognitive swarming in complex environments with attractor dynamics and oscillatory computing. Joseph D. Monaco, Grace M. Hwang, Kevin M. Schultz and Kechen Zhang. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00422-020-00823-z * Conjunctive reward-place coding properties of dorsal distal CA1 hippocampus cells. Zhuocheng Xiao, Kevin Lin and Jean-Marc Fellous. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00422-020-00830-0 * A model of path integration and representation of spatial context in the retrosplenial cortex. Mingda Ju and Philippe Gaussier. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00422-020-00833-x Jean-Marc Fellous Peter Dominey Alfredo Weitzenfeld

April 23, 2020

Bernstein Conference 2020 goes online

by a.dorrn＠fz-juelich.de

NEWS · Bernstein Conference 2020 goes online, scheduled from Sept 29 – Oct 1 · Program<https://www.bernstein-network.de/de/bernstein-conference/2020/program-online> will be adjusted in a timezone-friendly manner · Deadline for workshop proposals<https://www.bernstein-network.de/de/bernstein-conference/2020/copy_of_satel…> extended until May 15 · Detailed information on abstract submission will follow soon In the light of current developments regarding COVID-19 and the dynamics this entails, we decided to hold this year’s Bernstein Conference entirely online for the first time, keeping scientific exchange alive and fruitful. Going online is not only an emergency reaction to the current pandemic, but also a chance to seek new possibilities in order to keep scientific meetings climate-friendly and allow unrestricted participance from scientists who are challenged by traveling. We will adjust schedules and formats to allow participance from around the world while fostering the interaction, scientific debate and excellence that we all appreciate at our Bernstein Conference. <mailto:bernstein.conference@fz-juelich.de> We are excited to exploring this new format together with our community. We will inform you regularly about updates on our website www.bernstein-conference.de<https://bit.ly/BC_online> and via Twitter<https://twitter.com/NNCN_Germany>: #BernsteinConference<https://twitter.com/hashtag/BernsteinConference?src=hashtag_click&f=live>. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further questions: bernstein.conference(a)fz-juelich.de<mailto:bernstein.conference@fz-juelich.de> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH 52425 Juelich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Juelich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Dueren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Volker Rieke Geschaeftsfuehrung: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Marquardt (Vorsitzender), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Harald Bolt ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 23, 2020

Postdoctoral Position in Human Single Unit and Intracranial EEG to Study Human Memory

by Zaghloul, Kareem (NIH/NINDS) [E]

Hi, I would like to post the following advertisement for an available post-doc position to the comp-neuro listserv. If you could help me with that, I would appreciate it. Please let me know if you need any more information. Thank you for your help, Kareem Kareem A. Zaghloul, MD, PhD Surgical Neurology Branch National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH Bldg 10, Rm. 3D20 10 Center Drive Bethesda, MD 20892-1414 O: 301-594-8114 F: 301-402-0380 The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke is seeking a full-time post-doctoral position focused on understanding the neural correlates of human memory. This position involves studies focused on analyzing and manipulating human intracranial electrophysiological signals, including single-unit activity, local field potentials, and electrocorticography (ECoG), captured from patients with medically refractory epilepsy and from patients receiving deep brain stimulation surgery. Post-doctoral fellows will join a laboratory aimed at understanding the neural mechanisms that underlie human episodic memory formation and decision making and at developing novel and innovative techniques to directly communicate with those circuits. We are seeking candidates that are highly creative, motivated, and independent with a Ph.D. in neuroscience, biomedical engineering, or a related field. Candidates must have a strong research background, with a record of relevant publications. Candidates will be encouraged and expected to participate in independent laboratory research, and will be expected to write scholarly manuscripts. Candidates must be able to lead and work well in a team. Candidates should have strong computational, quantitative, and/or engineering skills, with proficiency in developing custom code (Matlab, Python, etc.) for data analysis preferred. Past medical research is not required, but candidates must be willing to perform experiments in a clinical setting. Candidates will interact with clinical staff, graduate students, research fellows, and must have excellent spoken and written English skills. Applicants should submit a brief statement of research activities and interests, a current CV, and names and contact information of at least three references. Salary will be commensurate with experience and accomplishments. To arrange a meeting with the PI and to send materials required for consideration for this appointment please contact Dr. Zaghloul at: zaghloulka(a)mail.nih.gov<mailto:zaghloulka@mail.nih.gov> NIH, an agency of DHHS, is an equal opportunity employer. All employees are subject to background investigation.

April 22, 2020