- Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

PhD position in computational neuroscience at IIT - deadline May 15th
by Stefano Panzeri April 27, 2019

April 27, 2019

*Fully funded PhD Position at IIT - Computational approaches to study the neural code* I am are seeking candidates for a fully funded PhD position at the Italian Institute of Technology’s in the lab directed by Stefano Panzeri ( https://www.iit.it/people/stefano-panzeri ). IIT collaborates with University of Bologna and finances the positions at the PhD course in Data Science and Computation. Although formally enrolled at the University of Bologna, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to conduct research either at the IIT center in Rovereto (Italy), or at the IIT headquarters in Genova, (Italy). The PhD project can focus on any of the research topics about neural information processing that are of interest to both the candidate and my lab, including: developing mathematical analysis methods and neural network models for studying large scale neural population coding during cognitive tasks, for studying the neural bases of sensory perception and decision making, for linking functional to anatomical connectivity with cellular resolution at the neural population level, and for determining the best theoretical framework to combine recording of neural activity (calcium imaging, electrophysiology, EEG) and intervention on it (optogenetics, TMS). My computational neuroscience lab has developed long-term collaboration with many experimental laboratories including Christopher Harvey and Wei Lee (Harvard Medical School), Nikos Logothetis (Tuebingen), Tommaso Fellin (IIT), Mathew Diamond and Davide Zoccolan (SISSA), Alex Thiele (Newcastle), Cristina Becchio (IIT) and others. The PhD project will likely involve collaborations with one or more experimental lab. For recent representative publications please see: van Vugt B, et al, (2018) Science: in press. DOI: 10.1126/science.aar7186 Zaldivar, D., et al, (2018) Current Biology 28: 224-235 Runyan C. A., et al (2017) Nature: 548: 92-96 Panzeri, S, et al (2017) Neuron 93: 491-507 Safaai, H. et al (2015) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 112(41): 12834–12839 Fasoli, D. et al (2016) PLoS Computational Biology, 12(8): e1004992. Panzeri, S., et al (2015) Trends in Cognitive Sciences 19: 162-172 Einevoll, G., et al (2013) Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 14, 770-785 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 15thst 2019*, but interested candidates are invited me to contact me informally by email ( stefano.panzeri(a)iit.it) *as soon as possible,* and no later than May 8th 2019, by attaching their CV and briefly explaining their interest in this position, to initiate discussion about potential PhD projects of interest. In order to formally apply to the PhD Position, candidates will then need to refer to the call published by Università degli Studi di Bologna ( https://www.unibo.it/en/teaching/phd/2019-2020/data-science-and-computation) The PhD position available for projects under my supervision is one of those financed by IIT. Candidates that are wishing to apply will be able to rely on my advice and feedback to understand how to complete the application. Yours truly, Stefano Panzeri

1 0

postdocship on computational modeling of reading
by Meeter, M. April 27, 2019

April 27, 2019

Postdoctoral fellowship: Computational modeling of reading Right now you are reading. It does not cost you much effort because it is a highly automated process, but you are simultaneously decoding letters, moving visual attention, programming eye movements, recognizing words, stringing them together in a coherent syntactic and semantic representation, and adducing the intentions of the writer. We understand these individual processes in reading, but not how our brain can perform them simultaneously at the phenomenal speed of about 200 ms per word. Recently, a group of researchers in Marseille and Amsterdam has collaborated on the ambitious goal to create one computational model that describes all processes involved in reading, from the single letter up to understanding a sentence. Within this collaboration, there is an opening for a two-year postdoctoral fellowship to work on computational modelling. The candidate will work on extending the already published OB-1 model (Psychological Review<https://research.vu.nl/en/publications/ob1-reader-a-model-of-word-recogniti…>, 2018). While the exact direction taken may depend on the interests of the candidate, this will include improving word recognition processes and accounting for EEG responses recorded during reading. Practicalities The postdoc will work in Amsterdam in the group of Martijn Meeter, but also be expected to regularly visit the Marseille group of Jonathan Grainger. The two-year position is potentially renewable for a third year. Official employer will be Université Aix-Marseille, including a one-year trial period. A postdoc salary in France is about €2606 a month; travel costs will be covered. Starting date is preferably 1 September 2019, but other dates can be discussed. Required skills are: * Experience with computational modelling * Good to excellent programming skills, notably in Python * An interest in language as field of research The positions are part of an ERC grant to Jonathan Grainger. More information can be requested at i.jonathan.grainger(a)gmail.com<mailto:i.jonathan.grainger@gmail.com> or m(a)meeter.nl<mailto:m@meeter.nl>. To apply, please send an email before 1 June with as title “Postdoc computational model”to m(a)meeter.nl<mailto:m@meeter.nl> , with as attachments: * a letter of application, * your resume * names of two references (will only be contacted with your permission), Best, Martijn Meeter ------------------------------- Prof. dr. M. Meeter Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Dept. of Education Science http://www.meeter.nl/m<https://webmail.login.vu.nl/OWA/redir.aspx?SURL=l3I3NtaZYJte9nu-0v--nYrWbGa…> --------------------------------

1 0

US Air Force Young Investigator Research Program (YIP)
by GREENWALD, HAL S DR-04 USAF AFMC AFOSR/RTA April 26, 2019

April 26, 2019

The Air Force's annual Young Investigator Research Program (YIP) is an excellent way for new principal investigators in the US to accelerate their careers in basic research with three years of funding at up to $150,000 per year. Each year, every AFOSR portfolio can nominate one YIP awardee. Especially since the Cognitive & Computational Neuroscience portfolio is new this year, I wanted to make the neuroscience community aware of this opportunity (and also of the new portfolio). Unlike most of AFOSR's research grants that are open to researchers worldwide, YIP awards are limited to US persons (citizens, nationals, or permanent residents) with full-time, permanent positions at US institutions who received their doctorates no later than April 1, 2012. The application deadline for Fiscal Year 2020 awards is June 3, 2019. Program Description: The Air Force YIP supports scientists and engineers who have received Ph.D. or equivalent degrees within the last seven years and show exceptional ability and promise for conducting basic research. The objectives of this program are: 1. to foster creative basic research in science and engineering; 2. enhance early career development of outstanding young investigators; 3. and increase opportunities for the young investigator to recognize the Air Force mission and related challenges in science and engineering. Eligibility: Individual awards are made to U.S. institutions of higher education, industrial laboratories, or non-profit research organizations where the principal investigator (PI) is employed on a full-time basis and holds a regular position. YIP PIs must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident. Researchers working at a Federally Funded Research and Development Center or DoD Laboratory are not eligible for this competition. Research proposals must address Research Interests of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, FA9550-19-S-0003, found at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=314753. Most YIP awards are funded up to $150,000 per year for three years, for a total of $450,000. Exceptional proposals will be considered individually for higher funding levels and/or longer duration. For more information about this funding opportunity, please see https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=313523. Questions about YIP may be sent to afosryip(a)us.af.mil <mailto:afosryip@us.af.mil> . Sincerely, Hal Greenwald Hal S. Greenwald, Ph.D. Program Officer, Cognitive & Computational Neuroscience Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR/RTA) 875 N. Randolph St. Arlington, VA 22203-1768 (703) 588-8441

1 0

Postdoctoral fellowships at the Neuromathematics Center in Sao Paulo State, Brazil
by Antonio Roque April 24, 2019

April 24, 2019

Positions for Postdoctoral Researchers The Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center for Neuromathematics ( NeuroMat <https://neuromat.numec.prp.usp.br/>), hosted by the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and funded by the Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP <http://www.fapesp.br/en/>), is offering several postdoctoral fellowships for recent PhDs with outstanding research potential. The research will involve collaborations with experimental and theoretical groups and laboratories associated to NeuroMat. The research to be developed by the postdoc fellows shall be strictly related to ongoing research lines developed by the NeuroMat team. The project may be developed at USP Sao Paulo, USP Ribeirao Preto or Unicamp. We seek candidates capable to develop independent research in one of the research lines below. 1. Stochastic and/or computational modeling of the brain functioning. 2. Acquisition, processing and quantitative analysis of electrophysiological data. 3. Biomedical devices for neuroscience research. Candidates to the first research line are required to have at least one of the profiles below: · A strong background in probability theory with emphasis on stochastic processes. Previous knowledge of rigorous statistical mechanics or random graphs will be favorably considered. · A strong mathematical and/or computational background and experience with computers and programming. Previous experience with development and/or simulation of neural brain models, complex networks and parallel computing will be favorably considered. Candidates to the second research line are required to have at least one of the profiles below: · A strong background in neuroscience with previous experience in neurophysiological data acquisition, processing and analysis, and knowledge of computer programming. · A strong background in computer science with experience in the development of algorithms, software tools and data bases. Previous research experience in neuroscience or related areas will be favorably considered. Candidates to the third research line are required to have at least one of the profiles below: · A strong background in electromagnetism and biomedical engineering. Previous knowledge of transcranial magnetic stimulation or magnetic/electric field simulation will be favorably considered. · A strong background in computer science and control software development expertise. Previous experience with neuroscience and neuronavigation systems will be favorably considered. Previous experience with multidisciplinary research teams is welcome for all the above research lines. The initial appointment is for one year, with a possible extension to up to four years, conditional on research progress. The fellowship is competitive at international level, and fellows benefit from extra funds for travel and research expenses plus limited support for relocation expenses. Application Instructions Applicants should complete and submit the application form <https://neuromat.numec.prp.usp.br/postdoc/new>. The following documents and information are requested (please see the form for further details): · Summary of the CV, in the FAPESP format (see www.fapesp.br/en/6351 for instructions.) · List of publications, with links to those available online. · A summary of the research plan for the next year, up to 5 pages length. It should explicitly state for which of the three above profiles the candidate is applying. It should also address its place within the framework of the NeuroMat research program <https://neuromat.numec.prp.usp.br/scientific-project>. · Pointers to other research related output, such as software, web pages, and so forth. Candidates should be willing to send copies of publications, if requested. · Any further information deemed relevant to the application. In addition to the above, we require at least 2 recommendation letters. Those should be mailed by the recommenders directly to postdoc-appl(a)numec.prp.usp.br. Candidates are encouraged to apply at their earliest convenience until June 3rd, 2019. Appointments are expected to start by September 1st, 2019. The initial period of the position lasts for 12 months, with possible renovations for up to four years. This opportunity is open to candidates of any nationality. The selected candidates will be awarded FAPESP Post-Doctoral fellowships in the amount of BRL 7,372.40 monthly and a research contingency fund, equivalent to 15% of the annual value of the fellowship, which should be spent in items directly related to the research activity. More information about the fellowship is at: www.fapesp.br/en/5427. -- Dr. Antonio C. Roque Professor Associado Departamento de Fisica FFCLRP, Universidade de Sao Paulo 14040-901 Ribeirao Preto-SP Brazil - Brasil E-mails: antonior(a)usp.br <antonior(a)ffclrp.usp.br> aroquesilva(a)gmail.com URL: www.sisne.org Tels: +55 16 3315-3768 <+55%2016%203315-3768> (sala/office); +55 16 3315-3859 <+55%2016%203315-3859> (lab) FAX: +55 16 3315-4887 <+55%2016%203315-4887>

1 0

Post-doc @ Univ of Toronto: bioinformatics, neuron modeling, and machine learning
by Shreejoy Tripathy April 24, 2019

April 24, 2019

Post-doctoral fellowship in multi-scale bioinformatics and neuroscience – Tripathy laboratory, CAMH, University of Toronto Job Description: We are looking for a post-doctoral fellow with a background in bioinformatics, computational biology, or neuroinformatics. The position is in the Laboratory for Computational Genomics, under the supervision of Dr. Shreejoy Tripathy (https://triplab.org/) . The post-doc will contribute to a growing team at the new Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, based at CAMH and the University of Toronto. Project Description: The candidate will lead a multi-disciplinary dry-lab project in multi-omics and cellular neuroscience. The project’s goal is to identify cross-modal relationships between: 1) human genotypes; 2) tissue- and cell type-specific gene expression; and 3) neuronal and circuit phenotypes, including electrophysiology, morphology, and synaptic physiology. The candidate will develop and apply machine learning and statistical methods to translate information across these data types. The project will make use of publicly-accessible datasets (e.g., PGC, PsychEncode, Allen Institute) as well as private datasets provided by collaborators. The post-doc will interface with a team of experimentalists and computational modelers to directly test their predictions and work with clinician-scientists to use these approaches for patient stratification. The ideal candidate is someone who is passionate about using basic research in genomics and neuroscience to improve the understanding and treatment of psychiatric disorders. Position details: The position is for a duration of up to 3 years, renewed yearly. Compensation, including benefits, is competitive and will be based on experience and established pay-scales. The candidate will support a healthy workplace that embraces diversity, encourages teamwork, and complies with all applicable and regulatory requirements. Qualifications: A recent PhD in bioinformatics, neuroscience, or statistics (or equivalent computational discipline) Considerable experience programming, scripting, and analyzing data in a high-level language (e.g., R, Python, or MATLAB) Experience analyzing and quality-controlling multi-omics datasets, including genotyping, transcriptomics, and cellular characteristics A track record for independent research that demonstrates creativity Excellent communication skills and experience working in a collaborative and multi-disciplinary environment How to apply: A complete application should include a brief cover letter, a curriculum vitae, and the contact information for 2-3 references. Submit applications to Shreejoy Tripathy (shreejoy.tripathy(a)utoronto.ca) with the title: “Post-doc in multi-scale bioinformatics and neuroscience” in the subject line. In the cover letter, please highlight one or two publications or preprints the candidate feels is their best work. Applications will be reviewed in an ongoing manner and the position will remain open until filled. About the Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics: In 2017, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) established its new $15-million Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics to leverage the largest mental health patient database in Canada and combine world-leading talent specializing in computational approaches to brain science, a robust data integration platform, and analytical tools to accelerate and revolutionize the world’s understanding of the brain and brain-based illnesses. The Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics positions CAMH as a leader in brain science using the power of big data analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and multi-scale brain modelling in order to bridge the levels of the structure and function of the brain – from genes to circuits to behavior.

1 0

Tenure Track Faculty Position - Systems and Computational Biology
by Ruben Coen-Cagli April 24, 2019

April 24, 2019

Dear colleagues, our department is recruiting faculty with an emphasis on theoretical, computational and experimental approaches to studying complex biological systems, including computational neuroscience. Details in the ad below. The Albert Einstein College of Medicine, one of the leading medical schools, located in New York City, is seeking to fill multiple tenure track faculty positions in the Department of Systems and Computational Biology. The major goal of the department is to advance our understanding of living systems by developing theoretical, computational and experimental approaches to study complex biological systems. The College has 711 medical students, 160 Ph.D. students and 107 M.D./Ph.D. students, 265 postdoctoral research fellows in training and boasts a strong research faculty covering broad areas of experimental biology. The College of Medicine has more than 1,800 full-time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates. The 200,000 square foot Center for Genetic and Translational Medicine at Einstein locates computational, systems and experimental scientists in physical proximity to foster interdisciplinary communication and collaboration. Highly competitive start-up packages are available. [https://analytics.click2apply.net/v/Y7MBopTB6AyKtRmRu8Xgz] We seek outstanding scientists with broad experience and demonstrated collaborative interactions with experimental or clinical investigators. Candidates should have strength in a physical, mathematical or computational field at the Ph.D. or equivalent level. Experience applying these skills to a biological or biomedical area (demonstrated through publications or support) is also desirable. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: Modeling cellular processes; Evolutionary medicine; Evolution of structure and function; Biological networks analysis; Microbiome; Computational neuroscience; Mathematical and computational modeling of high-dimensional data related to complex traits. Applicants should send a letter of interest, C.V., statement of research and teaching interests, and names of three referees, in electronic format to: Systems and Computational Biology Search Committee Albert Einstein College of Medicine Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus 1300 Morris Park Ave. Price Center, Rm. 153 Bronx, New York 10461 E-mail Address: SysBio(a)einstein.yu.edu<mailto:SysBio@einstein.yu.edu> Subject line should be: SCB Faculty Search The Albert Einstein College of Medicine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information. Ruben Coen Cagli, PhD Department of Systems and Computational Biology, and Dominick Purpura Department of Neuroscience Albert Einstein College of Medicine 1300 Morris Park Ave. Price 353B Bronx, 10461. NY office: +1.718.678.1150 web: https://sites.google.com/site/rubencoencagli/

1 0

postdoctoral positions in computational neuroscience at IIT, Italy
by Stefano Panzeri April 24, 2019

April 24, 2019

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

1 0

First Call for Papers: Neurodegeneration and Language - Special Session on Language Disorders
by Dimitrios Kokkinakis April 24, 2019

April 24, 2019

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

1 0

DeepMath 2019 Call for Contributions
by Ahmed El Hady April 21, 2019

April 21, 2019

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

1 0

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

April 19, 2019

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

1 0

Postdoc in large-scale brain modeling and machine learning
by Jan Fousek April 18, 2019

April 18, 2019

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

1 0

PhD position - Inverse Reinforcement Learning
by Constantin Rothkopf April 18, 2019

April 18, 2019

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

1 0

Postdoctoral position in multivariate connectivity and computational modeling in fMRI
by Joshua Hartshorne April 18, 2019

April 18, 2019

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

1 0

Dopaminergic Signaling Workshop at OCNS meeting in Barcelona July 16-17
by Canavier, Carmen C. April 17, 2019

April 17, 2019

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

1 0

Postdoc positions on decision-making in Hamburg
by Bharath Chandra Talluri April 17, 2019

April 17, 2019

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

1 0

Summer internship. Role of the thalamus in sleep oscillatory dynamics underlying memory consolidation
by Carmen Varela April 16, 2019

April 16, 2019

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

1 0

Athens International MSc in Neurosciences -- now accepting 2019-20 applications
by Vassilis Cutsuridis April 16, 2019

April 16, 2019

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

1 0

Job opening: Visiting Professorship in Machine Learning at Jacobs University
by Herbert Jaeger April 16, 2019

April 16, 2019

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

1 0

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

April 15, 2019

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

1 0

Fourth International Workshop on Intrinsically-Motivated Open-endedLearning (IMOL2019)
by Jochen Triesch April 15, 2019

April 15, 2019

Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce the “Fourth International Workshop on Intrinsically-Motivated Open-endedLearning (IMOL2019)”, which will be held at Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS) in Frankfurt (Germany) on 1-2-3 July 2019. The organizers of IMOL 2019 will be - Vieri Giuliano Santucci (ISTC – CNR, Rome) - Kathryn Merrick (University of New South Wales, Canberra) - Jochen Triesch (FIAS, Frankfurt) - Gianluca Baldassarre (ISTC – CNR, Rome) Following three previous editions, the highly focused “Fourth International Workshop on Intrinsically-Motivated Open-ended Learning (IMOL2019)” aims to further explore the promise of intrinsically motivated open-ended lifelong learning. The workshop aims to be a highly interactive event with high-profile keynote presentations (see list of confirmed invited speakers at the end of this message). It will foster close interaction among the participants by discussions, poster sessions, and collective round tables directed toward specific objectives. Participation in the workshop is free of charge but limited to a restricted number of participants. Prospective attendees should express their interest by submitting a brief statement on their motivations to participate, their research interests, and their willingness (or not) to contribute with a poster. The submission should be made by following the instructions at http://www.imol-conf.org/ before the deadline of May, 17th. Both senior and early career researchers, including PhD students, are encouraged to submit to ensure a full representation of the community. Topics of interest involve open-ended lifelong learning in autonomous agents and robots, for example: - Autonomous robots lifelong learning - Multi-task reinforcement learning - Deep reinforcement learning - Intrinsic motivations - Curriculum learning - Goal self-generation - Multiple task solution and parameterized skills - Neural/probabilistic representations and abstractions - Architectures for open-ended learning - Goal-based skill learning - Knowledge transfer and avoidance of catastrophic forgetting - Compositionality and chunking - Hierarchies of goals and skills - Mitigating risks of real-world deployment of open-ended learning systems List of confirmed invited speakers - Luc Berthouze - Marc Bellemare - Bruno Castro da Silva - Stephane Doncieux - Kenji Doya - Richard Duro - Verena Hafner - Matej Hoffman - Petar Kormushev - Georg Martius - Yukie Nagai - Nicolás Navarro-Guerrero - Kevin O'Regan - Matthias Rolf - Elmar Rueckert - Bertram E. Shi - Olivier Sigaud - Jochen Steil - Freek Stulp - Céline Teulière - Emre Ugur (more TBC) -- Prof. Dr. Jochen Triesch Johanna Quandt Research Professor Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies http://fias.uni-frankfurt.de/~triesch/ Tel: +49 (0)69 798-47531 Fax: +49 (0)69 798-47611

1 0

CFP: The 2nd International Workshop on Machine Learning in Clinical Neuroimaging (MLCN 2019): ENTERING THE ERA OF BIG DATA VIA TRANSFER LEARNING AND DATA HARMONIZATION
by MLCN Workshop April 15, 2019

April 15, 2019

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

1 0

post-doctoral positions: Neuroscience and Philosophy of Free Will
by Schurger Lab April 13, 2019

April 13, 2019

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

1 0

Computational Neuroscience Modeler for Neurodegeneration Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Project at Certara
by Hugo-Geerts＠In-Silico-Biosciences.com April 13, 2019

April 13, 2019

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

1 0

Postdoc position in the Dutch Research Consortium 'Language in Interaction' (1.0 FTE)
by Verhoef, J.P. (Julia) April 12, 2019

April 12, 2019

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

1 0

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

April 12, 2019

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

1 0