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[jobs] Ph.D. positions in Neuromorphic Hardware and Robotics at KTH Stockholm

by Jörg Conradt

Here a call for open Ph.D. positions in Neuromorphic Hardware and Robotics (algorithms and systems), exact project flexible. Application deadline September 26. https://www.kth.se/en/om/work-at-kth/lediga-jobb/what:job/jobID:287447 Would you know of anyone interested? Please forward. Any information needed? Please inquire informally by brief email. Information on our work here (“old and somewhat outdated” pages from my former group): http://tum.neurocomputing.systems/en/research/index.html Thank you! I am very much looking forward to increasing the group at KTH. Jörg Jörg Conradt Prof. Dr. KTH Royal Institute of Technology Computational Science and Technology School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Lindstedtsvägen 5, SE-114 28 Stockholm, Sweden Phone: +46-8-790 6231 Email: conr(a)kth.se<mailto:conr@kth.se>, Web: www.kth.se<http://www.kth.se/>

Sept. 16, 2019

Job opening in computational neuroscience in Juelich, Germany: Scientific Writer (user-level documentation of NEST)

by Martina Reske

The Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM) at Research Center Jülich, Germany, investigates the structure and function of the human brain on different spatial and temporal scales within the research program “Decoding the Human Brain”. The Supercomputing Centre is home of one of the most powerful machines and has a leading role in the European exascale strategy. Basic neuroscience connects the two research areas as it heavily relies on modeling and simulation, which are necessary to approach the brain’s immense complexity, manage the huge amount of resulting data, and develop reliable control techniques. The department INM-6, Computational and Systems Neuroscience (www.csn.fz-juelich.de<http://www.csn.fz-juelich.de>), develops mathematical models of neuronal dynamics and function. Model-driven analyses of brain activity and structure as well as simulation of biologically realistic models form the core of our work. Among others, the INM-6/IAS-6 is actively involved in the EU flagship project „Human Brain Project“ (HBP, https://www.humanbrainproject.eu/) Together with its partners, INM-6 develops analysis tools and the leading simulation code (NEST) for brain scale networks with cellular resolution in an open source approach (http://www.nest-initiative.org/) NEST has been under continuous development for 20 years and is serving a worldwide community. We are looking to recruit a Scientific Writer Your Job: * Production and maintenance of the user-level documentation of NEST in English, in dialog with software developers and neuroscientists. Depending on the agreed upon working hours, the task extends to a second software tool (Elephant). * Production of short videos supporting the documentation * Production of scientific texts, especially in English, for the institute’s website or institute reports in close collaboration with scientists and the heads of the institute * PR activities: Supporting the creation of PR material in English (e.g. flyer, brochures) * Communication with the internal communications department * Close collaboration with heads of the institute and project partners, especially within the Human Brain Project * Regular organization of and attendance of project meetings and videoconferences together with or substituting the task or workpackage leader Your Profile: * Completed study in natural sciences, ideally with PhD * Experience in neuroscience, physics, or computer science * Skilled in text processing software (Latex, Word) * Good knowledge of C++ * Excellent competence in German and English, especially with regard to drafting technical and administrative texts * Excellent communication skills and ability to work in a team * High ability to work in an interdisciplinary, international team * Proactive attitude * Willingness to travel Beneficial: * Work experience abroad * Expertise in Computational Neuroscience * Professional experience in above-mentioned areas of responsibility Our Offer: * International, interdisciplinary working environment on a green integrated campus located in the triangle of 3 major university cities Cologne-Duesseldorf-Aachen * High visibility through participation in an Open Source community project and work on key technologies of the European Human Brain Project * Responsibility in world-class science environment at the interface between neuroscience and technology on the most complex known systems * A comprehensive further training programme * Flexible working hours and various opportunities to reconcile work and private life * Limited until 30.04.2021 with possible longer-term prospects * Possibility, to apply for the desired level of working hours from 50% to a full position * Salary and social benefits in conformity with the provisions of the Collective Agreement for the Civil Service (TVöD) Forschungszentrum Jülich aims to employ more women in this area and therefore particularly welcomes applications from women. We also welcome applications from disabled persons. We look forward to receiving your application, preferably online<https://www.hrecruiting.de/obf2/bewerbermanagement.php?kunden_nr=t5ChjatkIf…> via our online recruitment system on our career site until 06.10.2019, quoting the reference number 2019-335. Questions about the vacancy? Contact us by mentioning the reference number 2019-335: career(a)fz-juelich.de<mailto:career@fz-juelich.de?Subject=Questions%20about%20the%20vacancy%202019-335&body=You%20can%20use%20this%20field%20to%20send%20us%20questions%20about%20the%20job%20advertisement%20you%20have%20selected.%20If%20you%20would%20like%20to%20apply%20for%20the%20position%2C%20please%20note%20that%20this%20is%20only%20possible%20via%20our%20online%20application%20portal.> Please note that for technical reasons we cannot accept applications via email. -- Dr. Martina Reske Scientific Coordinator Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-6) Computational and Systems Neuroscience & Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS-6) Theoretical Neuroscience Jülich Research Centre and JARA Jülich, Germany Work +49.2461.611916 Work Cell +49.151.26156918 Fax +49.2461.619460 www.csn.fz-juelich.de<http://www.csn.fz-juelich.de> Office hours: TU & FR 9.00-17, WE & TH 9.00-13 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH 52425 Juelich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Juelich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Dueren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Volker Rieke Geschaeftsfuehrung: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Marquardt (Vorsitzender), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Harald Bolt, Prof. Dr. Sebastian M. Schmidt ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sept. 13, 2019

Multiple Postdoctoral Positions at Indiana University

by Franco Pestilli

Post-doctoral fellow position(s) to the study of the natural visual environments of infants and young children and their implications for visual, cognitive and language development and machine learning at Indiana University. The larger collaborative project involves analyses of the properties of a very large corpus of head camera images (500 million) collected by infants 1 to 24 months of age with respect to low, mid and higher level properties, the examination of the statistical structure of early learned visual categories (and their in-home naming by parents), the design and implementation of computational experiments using machine learning and computer vision models, as well as experiments with infants testing novel predictions from these analyses and models. The post-doctoral fellow(s) will take part in the intellectually rich cognitive science, computational neuroscience, vision, developmental, and computer science communities at Indiana University under the Emerging Areas of Research Initiative titled Learning: Brains, Machines and Children. Collaborators on the larger project include Linda Smith, David Crandall, Franco Pestilli, Rowan Candy, Jason Gold, and Chen Yu. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals with past training in one or more of the following: infant statistical learning, infant visual development (including face and object perception), visual neuroscience, adult vision, computer vision. Other areas of training with computational and/or experimental backgrounds will be considered. Please apply to Linda Smith, smith4(a)indiana.edu <mailto:smith4@indiana.edu>, with Visual Environments in the subject heading by sending a cover letter stating your interest in this project, your cv, and a research statement. References will be requested after initial contact. The filling of these position(s) are open in their timing; although we hope to appoint one position this fall, January or this spring are also possible start dates. Linda B. Smith Distinguished Professor Psychological and Brain Sciences www.iub.edu/~cogdev <http://www.iub.edu/~cogdev> Franco Pestilli, PhD Associate Professor Psychology <http://psych.indiana.edu/>, Neuroscience <http://www.indiana.edu/~neurosci/> and Cognitive Science <http://www.cogs.indiana.edu/> Engineering <https://www.engineering.indiana.edu/people/profile.html?profile_id=528>, Computer Science <https://www.cs.indiana.edu/>, and Optometry <http://optometry.iu.edu/> by courtesy Midwest Big Data Hub <http://midwestbigdatahub.org/> | brainlife.io <http://www.brain-life.org/>

Sept. 12, 2019

Postdoc position: Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin

by Sprekeler, Henning

A postdoc position is now available in the lab of Henning Sprekeler at TU Berlin. If you’re interested in modeling neural circuits, their computational functions and their plasticity, please apply. The position is fully funded for 5 years. Salary is commensurate with experience, but should allow a comfortable life in Berlin. Starting date asap. Applications will be considered until the position is filled. For more information about the lab and on how to apply, check out our website: http://www.sprekelerlab.org. I’ll be at the Bernstein Conference next week, so if you’re around and interested, please talk to me. Best wishes, Henning --- Henning Sprekeler Technische Universität Berlin & Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin Email: h.sprekeler(a)tu-berlin.de<mailto:h.sprekeler@tu-berlin.de>

Sept. 12, 2019

Tenure Track Professorship in Machine Learning

by Robert Legenstein

The Department of Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering at Graz University of Technology is offering a tenure track professorship in Machine Learning. We are looking for outstanding candidates with a research focus in the field of Machine Learning methods. Specific research topics include, but are not restricted to, the development and analysis of machine learning algorithms and the development of neuromorphic learning algorithms. The professorship will be part of the Institute of Theoretical Computer Science. The institute is an internationally renowned research environment engaged in fundamental research at the intersection of the fields of Computational Neuroscience and Machine Learning with an emphasis on brain-inspired principles of computation and learning. The successfully candidate will complement the existing strengths at the institute with his/her own expertise and build an internationally visible group. He/she will be an engaged teacher in the Computer Science programs at the Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD level and will actively participate in academic self-administration. Application deadline is 26 November 2019. For details see: https://www.tugraz.at/fakultaeten/infbio/news/jobs-grants-calls/tenure-trac… -- Dr. Robert Legenstein Associate Professor Institute for Theoretical Computer Science Graz University of Technology Inffeldgasse 16b/I, 8010 Graz, Austria http://www.igi.tugraz.at/legi/ Follow @CompLegenstein on Twitter. ++43/316/873-5824 ----------------------------------

Sept. 12, 2019

HFSP-funded post-doc position

by Gergo Orban

A postdoctoral position is available at the Computational Systems Neuroscience Lab (Department of Computational Sciences, Wigner Research Center for Physics, Budapest Hungary) to work on a project focussing on integrating prior information with current evidence in early vision. The project is an HFSP-funded collaboration between four labs: Peyman Golshani's (UCLA, mouse electrophysiology and imaging), Máté Lengyel’s University of Cambridge, theory), and Wolf Singer’s Lab (ESI, Frankfurt, monkey electrophysiology). The focus of the research project is how acquired knowledge can be integrated with incoming information during visual perception. Joining team members will work on novel population analysis techniques and/or develop computational theories of hierarchical computations. The position offers a chance to work actively with state-of-the-art machine learning techniques, to access advanced computing architectures and to get involved in cool experiments right from design of experiments, to develop predictions, and analysis of data. The ideal candidate has a strong mathematical background, preferably with a PhD in physics, computer science, or mathematics or other quantitative disciplines. Besides mathematical skills, the position requires competence in programming (e.g. matlab, R, python, or C++). Candidates with training or research experience in statistics, machine learning, computational modelling, dynamical systems, systems neuroscience are especially encouraged to apply. Training in neuroscience is not required but the applicant has to demonstrate his/her willingness to acquire the necessary background for the project. For informal inquiries please contact me by mail (orban.gergo(a)wigner.mta.hu <mailto:orban.gergo@wigner.mta.hu>) or by arranging a meeting at CCN19 in Berlin (our posters are PS-1B.35, PS-2A.19, PS-2A.40, PS-2B.44). Please send applications, including CV, a research statement and contact information of two references by email to Gergo Orban before 20 October. For more information about the lab visit our home page: http://golab.wigner.mta.hu <http://golab.wigner.mta.hu/> or sample our recent papers: Gáspár ME, Polack P-O, Golshani P, Lengyel M, Orbán G (2019) Representational untangling by the firing rate nonlinearity in V1 simple cells eLife, 8:e43625 doi: 10.7554/eLife.43625 Bányai M, Lazar A, Klein L, Klon-Lipok J, Stippinger M, Singer W, Orbán G (2019) Stimulus complexity shapes response correlations in primary visual cortex Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 10.1073/pnas.1816766116. Orbán G, Berkes P, Fiser J, Lengyel M (2016) Neural variability and sampling-based  probabilistic representations in the visual cortex. Neuron, 92:530–543 ______________ Gergo Orban, PhD Computational Systems Neuroscience Lab MTA Wigner Research Centre for Physics 13-106, 29-33 Konkoly-Thege St Budapest, 1121, HU T: +36 1 392 2732 E: orban.gergo(a)wigner.mta.hu <mailto:orban.gergo@wigner.mta.hu> W: http://golab.wigner.mta.hu <http://golab.wigner.mta.hu/>

Sept. 12, 2019

COSYNE 2020: Meeting announcement and Call for workshop proposals

by Tomas Hromadka

==================================================== Computational and Systems Neuroscience 2020 (Cosyne) MAIN MEETING 27 February - 01 March 2020 Denver, Colorado WORKSHOPS 02 March - 03 March 2020 Breckenridge, Colorado www.cosyne.org ==================================================== ---------------------------------------------------- MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT ---------------------------------------------------- The annual Cosyne meeting provides an inclusive forum for the exchange of empirical and theoretical approaches to problems in systems neuroscience, in order to understand how neural systems function. The MAIN MEETING is single-track. A set of invited talks is selected by the Executive Committee, and additional talks and posters are selected by the Program Committee, based on submitted abstracts. The WORKSHOPS feature in-depth discussion of current topics of interest, in a small group setting. For details on workshop proposals please see below or visit Cosyne.org -> Workshops. Cosyne topics include but are not limited to: neural basis of behavior, sensory and motor systems, circuitry, learning, neural coding, natural scene statistics, dendritic computation, neural basis of persistent activity, nonlinear receptive field mapping, representations of time and sequence, reward systems, decision-making, synaptic plasticity, map formation and plasticity, population coding, attention, and computation with spiking networks. This year we would like to foster increased participation from experimental groups as well as computational ones. Please circulate widely and encourage your students and postdocs to apply. IMPORTANT DATES Workshop pre-proposal deadline: 06 October 2019 Workshop proposal deadline: 10 November 2019 Abstract submission opens: 01 October 2019 Abstract submission deadline: 31 October 2019 COSYNE INVITED SPEAKERS Matthew Botvinick (Deepmind/Princeton) Megan Carey (Champalimaud) John Cunningham (Columbia) Gul Dolen (Hopkins) Rainer Friedrich (FMI Basel) Sam Gershman (Harvard) Lisa Giocomo (Stanford) Christopher Harvey (Harvard) Mehrdad Jazayeri (MIT) Wei Ji Ma, (NYU) Hendrikje Nienborg (Tuebingen/NIH) Linda Wilbrecht (Berkeley) Marta Zlatic (Janelia) When preparing an abstract, authors should be aware that not all abstracts can be accepted for the meeting, due to space constraints. Abstracts will be selected based on the clarity with which they convey the substance, significance, and originality of the work to be presented. ORGANIZING COMMITTEE General Chairs: Eugenia Chiappe (Champalimaud) and Christian Machens (Champalimaud) Program Chairs: Anne-Marie Oswald (U Pittsburgh) and Srdjan Ostojic (Ecole Normale Superieure Paris) Workshop Chairs: Catherine Hartley (NYU) and Blake Richards (McGill) Undergraduate Travel Chairs: Angela Langdon (Princeton) and Robert Wilson (U Arizona) Diversity Chairs: Eva Dyer (Georgia Tech, Emory) and Eric Shea-Brown (U Washington) Publicity Chair: Adam Calhoun (Princeton) Development Chair: Michael Long (NYU) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Stephanie Palmer (U Chicago) Zachary Mainen (Champalimaud) Alexandre Pouget (U Geneva) Anthony Zador (CSHL) CONTACT meeting [at] cosyne.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------- CALL FOR WORKSHOP PROPOSALS ----------------------------------------------------------------------- PRE-PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 06 October 2019 FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 10 November 2019 A series of workshops will be held after the main Cosyne meeting. The goal is to provide an informal forum for the discussion of important research questions and challenges. Controversial issues, open problems, comparisons of competing approaches, and alternative viewpoints are encouraged. The overarching goal of all workshops should be the integration of empirical and theoretical approaches, in an environment that fosters collegial discussion and debate. - There will be 4-8 workshops/day, running in parallel. - Each workshop is expected to draw between 15 and 80 people. - The workshops will be split into morning (8.00-11.00 AM) and afternoon (4.30-7.30 PM) sessions. - Workshops will be held in Breckenridge, CO, a ski village 80 miles west of Denver. Buses from the main conference will be provided. - Workshop speakers do *not* receive free registration, travel expenses, or accommodation for either the main meeting or the workshop sessions. Organizers should let invited speakers know that they are expected to pay for workshop registration fees Workshop organizer responsibilities include coordinating workshop participation and content, scheduling all speakers, submitting a final schedule for the workshop program, and moderating the discussion. Organizers can, but need not, be speakers. One complimentary (free) organizer registration is provided per workshop. For workshops with two organizers, the free registration can be given to one of the organizers or split evenly between them. Any required multimedia resources beyond a projector, screen, and microphones will be the responsibility of the workshop organizers to coordinate with Cosyne and Breckenridge staff. EVALUATION CRITERIA As stated above, the goal of Cosyne workshops is to provide an interactive, informal forum for discussions. Relevant topics include, but are not limited to: sensory processing; motor planning and control; functional neural circuits; motivation, reward and decision making; learning and memory; adaptation and plasticity; neural coding; neural circuitry and network models; and methods in computational or systems neuroscience. Workshop proposals will be evaluated by the Cosyne Workshop Chairs, and a subset of the proposals will be selected. The proposals will be evaluated according to the following six metrics (which will be weighted equally): 1. Relevance to the Cosyne community 2. Integration of experimental and theoretical issues 3. Current interest in the topic in the scientific community 4. Potential for new research directions and interactions to emerge 5. Distinctive scope/approach compared to other workshops (including previous years’) 6. Diversity and equity in the proposed speakers PRE-PROPOSALS In an effort to coordinate submissions, workshop organizers are *strongly encouraged* to submit a pre-proposal by *06 October 2019.* Submission instructions for workshop (pre)-proposals are available at Cosyne.org -> Workshops. Pre-proposals may be shared among submitters to reduce topical overlap or facilitate merging of workshops. Pre-proposals are not mandatory, but workshops with a pre-proposal will have priority. In order to foster discussion within Workshops and reduce overlap between workshops, organizers should inform invited speakers that a speaker can take part in no more than two Workshops. PRE-PROPOSALS should include: - Name(s) and email address(es) of the organizers (no more than 2 organizers per session, please). A primary contact should be designated. - A title. - A brief description of 1) what the workshop will address and accomplish, 2) why the topic is of interest, 3) who is the targeted group of participants. - Names of potential invitees, with indication of confirmed speakers. Preference will be given to workshops with confirmed speakers. - Proposed workshop length (1 or 2 days). Most workshops will be limited to a single day. If you think your workshop needs two days, please explain why. - A brief resume of the workshop organizer(s) along with a short list of workshop-relevant publications (about half a page total). Experience has shown that the best discussions during a workshop are those that arise spontaneously. A good way to foster these is to have short talks and long question periods (e.g. 30+15 minutes), and have plenty of breaks. We recommend keeping the number of talks small (i.e., fewer than 10 talks per day). FULL PROPOSALS should include the list of confirmed speakers in addition to components required for a pre-proposal. WORKSHOP COSTS Detailed registration costs, etc, will be available at www.cosyne.org. Please note: Cosyne does NOT provide travel funding for workshop speakers. Organizers should let invited speakers know that they are expected to pay for workshop registration fees. Participants are encouraged to register early, in order to qualify for discounted registration rates. One complimentary (free) organizer registration is provided per workshop. For workshops with 2 organizers, the free registration can be given to one of the organizers or split evenly between them. COSYNE 2020 WORKSHOP CHAIRS Catherine Hartley (NYU) and Blake Richards (McGill) QUESTIONS email: workshops [at] cosyne.org COSYNE MAILING LISTS Please consider adding yourself to Cosyne mailing lists (groups) to receive email updates with various Cosyne-related information and join in helpful discussions. See Cosyne.org -> Mailing lists for details.

Sept. 11, 2019

PostDoc position: Indianapolis-Paris

by Alexey Kuznetsov

*POSTDOCTORAL POSITION* *Indianapolis, Indiana, United States; Paris, France* A one-year postdoctoral position is available for a project on computational modeling of the influence of alcohol on the cortico-striatal signaling. The post-doc will design a biophysical model of the cortico-striatal brain circuitry affected by alcohol. The position is available beginning December 2019 for one years. The post-doc will work with Prof. Kuznetsov (Mathematics Dept. IUPUI) and collaborate with experimentalists Prof. Atwood (IUSM) and Prof. Lapish (Psycology Dept. IUPUI). For the first part of the project the fellow will have the opportunity for an extended stay in Paris France together with the PI to collaborate with Prof. Gutkin (ENS Paris). The locations provide an excellent environment for collaborative research in quantitative biosciences. *Qualifications*: Applicants should have a Ph.D. in Mathematics, Physics, or a related field, a background in Dynamical Systems, programming experience and working knowledge in Computational Neuroscience. *How to Apply:* Send your CV, list of publications, research statement, and contact information for three references to Prof. Alexey Kuznetsov via e-mail: askuznet(a)iupui.edu, or by regular mail: 402 N. Blackford Street, LD 270, Indianapolis, IN 46202. IUPUI is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. Individuals who require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application process must notify Cindy Ritchie at 402 N. Blackford Street, LD 270, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202 or call (317) 274-6920, a reasonable time in advance. IUPUI strongly encourages applications from women and underrepresented minorities. Additional information about IUPUI and the Department is available at www.iupui.edu and www.math.iupui.edu. -- Alexey Kuznetsov Associate Professor Dept. of Mathematical Sciences, IUPUI Science Building, LD 270, 402 N. Blackford St., Indianapolis, IN

Sept. 11, 2019

Two PhD Positions in Machine Learning/Neuroimaging at Charité Berlin

by Stefan Haufe

Dear all, The Brain and Data Science Lab of Stefan Haufe at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin is looking to recruit two highly motivated PhD students. Appointments can be made for four years starting immediately. 1. Theory and practice of interpreting machine learning models Machine learning systems have recently set new standards for solving a wide range of problems by leveraging vast amounts of training data. But they have remained “black boxes” whose internal workings are too complex to be comprehensible by a human. Especially in the health domain, it is desirable to explain and visualize the decisions of ML models. Recently, it has been shown that many existing explanation methods can be misleading even when using simple linear ML models [Haufe et al., 2014; Kindermans et al., 2018]. In this PhD project, a bottom-up approach will be performed, in which correct interpretation will be defined axiomatically. The resulting definition will be used to benchmark novel and existing explanation methods using synthetic ground-truth data. The resulting methodology will also be applied to clinical use cases. 2. Estimating and characterizing EEG/MEG functional connectomes in aging and dementia The study of functional brain interactions promises to greatly enhance our understanding of mental diseases. EEG and MEG make it possible to brain dynamics at high temporal scales but suffer from low spatial resolution, which often leads to false detections of brain connectivity. While the problem has been overcome for linear connectivity metrics [Nolte et al., 2004; Haufe et al., 2013] it still persists for non-linear interactions such as phase-amplitude and amplitude-amplitude coupling, which have been postulated as possible mechanisms of brain communication. This PhD project will establish a best practice to reconstruct non-linear connectivity from EEG/MEG data. The developed pipeline will be applied to study brain connectivity in aging and neurological conditions (dementia) using big EEG/MEG datasets. Interpretable machine learning will further be used to relate functional connectomes to behavior and relevant clinical variables. The Brain and Data Science Group at Charité develops machine learning and signal processing methods for the analysis of non-invasive brain signals in health and disease. We are located at the Berlin Center for Advanced Neuroimaging (BCAN) on the beautiful historic Charité Campus Mitte in the center of Berlin, and are embedded in a stimulating inter-disciplinary research environment. The group is funded by an ERC starting grant of the European Union. Requirements: Candidates are expected to hold a very good MSc or equivalent degree preferably in a technical field (machine learning, computer science, statistics, mathematics, computational (neuro) science, data science, physics, electrical/biomedical engineering, etc.). All positions require a solid math/statistics background, proficiency in written English, and good coding skills (e.g., Matlab, Python, C++, Java). Prior experience with functional neuroimaging data is a plus. Applications should include a letter of motivation, a CV, transcripts and degree certificates, as well as (if available) references, an English-language writing sample, and a coding sample (e.g. link to a github project). Applications should be sent to stefan.haufe(a)charite.de until Oct 15th 2019. All attached documents should be contained in a single pdf. See braindata.charite.de for further information on the positions and our group. With best wishes, Stefan Haufe -- Stefan Haufe ERC Research Group Leader Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin Berlin Center for Advanced Neuroimaging (BCAN) Charitéplatz 1 Sauerbruchweg 4 10117 Berlin Tel: +49 30 450 639 639 Fax: +49 30 450 539 951 Web: braindata.charite.de

Sept. 11, 2019

post-doc position at the University of Bern

by Jean-Pascal Pfister

The Department of Physiology, University of Bern, is looking to hire a theoretical and/or computational neuroscientist at the postdoctoral level. A PhD in computational/theoretical neuroscience or a closely related field, along with a desire to work tightly with experimentalists would be strongly recommended. The aim of the project is to (a) propose an experimentally testable theory of predictive coding, (b) derive specific testable predictions at the single cell resolution, (c) test them by analyzing existing experimental data obtained in the Department and (d) propose new experiments than can be conducted in the Department. The specificity of the project is the closed-loop interactions between theory and experiments. The candidate will have access to experimental data acquired within the research groups of Thomas Nevian, Shankar Sachidhanandam and Stéphane Ciocchi. These groups focus on cortical function, ranging from sensory perception and predictive processing to emotional state transitions and memory formation in head-fixed and freely moving mice. Supervision will be provided by Prof. Jean-Pascal Pfister of the Theoretical Neuroscience Group, along with close collaboration with the experimental groups. The candidate can further benefit from interactions with members of the computational neuroscience group of Walter Senn specializing in deep learning. Interested candidates can send their application and inquiries via email to pfister(a)pyl.unibe.ch <mailto:pfister@pyl.unibe.ch>. The application should include the following as one pdf document: letter of motivation, CV, contact details of 2 references, 1 page research statement covering future research goals and project interests. Deadline for application is the 31st of October 2019 or until the position is filled. --------------------------------- Prof. Jean-Pascal Pfister Department of Physiology University of Bern Bühlplatz 5 3012 Bern, Switzerland and Theoretical Neuroscience Group Institute of Neuroinformatics University of Zurich and ETH Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190 8057 Zurich, Switzerland www.ini.uzh.ch/~jpfister <http://www.ini.uzh.ch/~jpfister> Tel: ++ 41 31 631 87 78

Sept. 11, 2019

Registration is open for NeuroEng 2019: The 12th Australasian Workshop on Computational Neuroscience & Neural Engineering (November 29-30)

by Steven Wiederman

Bringing together computational neuroscientists and researchers at the interface between neuroscience and engineering (neuroeng.org.au<http://neuroeng.org.au/phpList/lt.php?id=fE0DA1oeU1VLVAgO>) NeuroEng 2019 will be hosted at The University of Adelaide, South Australia. Please feel free to distribute the NeuroEng poster available here.<http://neuroeng.org.au/phpList/lt.php?id=fE0DA1seU1VLVAgO> Keynote speakers: Professor Barbara Webb (University of Edinburgh) & Professor Yves De Koninck (Univeriste Laval) • Theoretical, Mathematical & Computational Neuroscience • Neuroprosthetics & Brain Machine Interfaces • Neural Modelling & Engineering • Neuromorphic Engineering • EEG Analysis • Neural Information Processing • Neuroinformatics • Cognitive Modelling • Neuroimaging & Connectomics • Brain Dynamics & Neurophysics The Abstract Template is available here<http://neuroeng.org.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/NeuroEng2019_Ab…> Please email 1 page abstracts to admin(a)neuroeng.org.au<mailto:admin@neuroeng.org.au> (deadline, 20th September). In your email submission, please provide a preference for oral or poster presentation. Registration is now open at this link.<http://www.conferenceonline.com/conference_invitation/22847/?key=4FB9B222-4…> Early bird pricing (ends 20th September). Students $220 (ex GST), General $360 (ex GST). Registration includes Welcome Reception (drinks & canapes) and Workshop Dinner. The Welcome Reception will be held Thursday evening (November 28th). The Workshop dinner will be held at Jolley’s Boathouse (November 29th). This meeting will be held as a satellite of the Australasian Neuroscience Society (ANS) conference (Dec 2-5), so please consider scheduling your time for both events. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me Dr Steven Wiederman +61 403 079 575, steven.wiederman(a)adelaide.edu.au<mailto:steven.wiederman@adelaide.edu.au> regards, Steve --- Dr Steven Wiederman<mailto:steven.wiederman@adelaide.edu.au> +61 403 079 575 ARC Future Fellow, Visual Physiology & Neurobotics Laboratory Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide

Sept. 10, 2019

Reminder: Special Entropy Issue "Information Theory in Computational Neuroscience"

by Dimitrije Markovic

Dear Colleagues, You are cordially invited to submit a manuscript to Special Entropy Issue "Information Theory in Computational Neuroscience" https://www.mdpi.com/journal/entropy/special_issues/Computational_Neuroscie… Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2020 With best regards, Claudius Gros and Dimitrije Markovic Abstract ====== Brains empower living organisms with extraordinary information processing capabilities. Complex spatio-temporal dependencies present in their environments may be learned, long- and short-term memories of experiences and plans regarding the future. Importantly, information processing in the brain happens over multiple spatio-temporal scales, from single synapses and synaptic terminals to dendritic trees and neuronal bodies, all the way up to neuronal networks and large brain areas. Hence, it is not surprising that information theory has led to many exciting developments in computational neuroscience, providing tools essential for our modern understanding of the computational principles that govern the development, structure, physiology, and dynamics of the nervous system. In this Special Issue, we aim to bring together neuronal models and neuronal plasticity mechanisms that are grounded in information theory principles, modern inference, and learning algorithms. We welcome submissions that use information theory as the basis for defining generative principles of neuronal dynamics over multiple spatio-temporal scales, which informs our understanding of information processing in the brain. ============================= Dr. Dimitrije Markovic Post-Doc at Technische Universität Dresden, Department of Psychology, Dresden, Germany Lab website: https://tu-dresden.de/mn/psychologie/ifap/ni Phone: +49-351-463-43146 Personal website: http://dimarkov.github.io/ =============================

Sept. 10, 2019

PostDoc position University of Minnesota

by Alexander Opitz

A postdoc position funded by the NIH Brain Initiative is available in the lab of Alexander Opitz in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Minnesota. The lab works in the field of noninvasive brain stimulation across multiple levels of investigation. The candidate will develop and extend existing computational models to bridge physical and physiological effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The candidate will further contribute to analyzing invasive electrophysiological data from NHPs stimulated with TMS. Access to computing resources from the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute are available. The Opitz lab is committed to the career advancement of its members. We offer a diverseand inclusive environment with numerous opportunities for members to develop their own projects and support for fellowships and career development awards. The funded project involves collaborators in New York and Germany and research exchanges will be part of the project. Experienced candidates can be hired at the research associate level. *Qualifications* Required Qualifications: ·Ph.D. in Engineering, Neuroscience, Physics, Applied Mathematics or similarly related field. ·Strong record of technical capabilities in research. ·Expertise in Python/Matlab or other programing languages Preferred Qualifications: ·Experience in computational neuroscience ·Background in computational modeling/analysis of neural data Informal inquiries can be made to aopitz(a)umn.edu. Further details can be found at http://opitzlab.umn.edu/join_us

Sept. 9, 2019

NEURON course at SFN 2019 meeting

by Carnevale, Nicholas

Space is still available for the NEURON course at this year's meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, but you'll have to act quickly because the registration deadline is Friday, October 4--less than a month from today. This one-day course is for you, whether you're a PI trying to decide whether to add computational modeling to your research program, a grad student or postdoc just getting started in modeling, or an established NEURON user who wants to find out what the latest advances are. It starts with a practical introduction that reviews basic concepts and presents a workflow for building and working with models of cells and networks, and moves on to topics that include using Python with NEURON, modeling reactive diffusion with the RxD class, and running simulations on parallel hardware from multicore Macs and PCs to massively parallel supercomputers. For more information and the registration form, see https://neuron.yale.edu/neuron/static/courses/chi2019/chi2019.html

Sept. 9, 2019

Recruiting two postdocs (UCL, London, UK)

by Love, Bradley

Hello, My lab (bradlove.org<http://bradlove.org>) is searching for two postdocs in computational cognitive neuroscience to work at UCL in London, UK. We are open and supportive of people coming from either the psych/neuro or the computer science side. One push is making deep learning more human-like using brain and behavioral data. Please apply here by 4-October, https://t.co/XcKISJVhp8?amp=1 ******************************** Bradley C. Love University College London b.love(a)ucl.ac.uk<mailto:b.love@ucl.ac.uk> http://bradlove.org<http://bradlove.org/> ********************************

Sept. 7, 2019

CFP: FLAIRS 2020, N Miami Beach, Neural Network and Data Mining Special Tracks

by David B

CALL FOR PAPERS FLAIRS 2020, Florida Artificial Intelligence Research Symposium Special Tracks on Neural Networks and Data Mining North Miami Beach, FL https://www.flairs-33.info/ May 17 - 20, 2020 Paper submission deadline: November 18, 2019. Notifications: January 20, 2020. Camera ready version due: February 24, 2020. FLAIRS is a medium-sized interdisciplinary AI conference which especially encourages novel ideas. It features a strong international following, a double-blind review process, free tutorials, and a great venue. Neural Network Track: The special track will be devoted to Neural Networks with the aim of presenting new and important contributions in this area. The areas include, but are not limited to, the following: applications such as Pattern Recognition, Control and Process Monitoring, Biomedical Applications, Robotics, Text Mining, Diagnostic Problems, Telecommunications, Power Systems, Signal Processing; algorithms such as new developments in Back Propagation, RBF, SVM, Deep Learning, Ensemble Methods, Kernel Approaches; hybrid approaches such as Neural Networks/Genetic Algorithms, Neural Network/Expert Systems, Causal Nets trained with Backpropagation, and Neural Network/Fuzzy Logic; pre- or post-processing techniques such as feature extraction; or any other area of Neural Network research which is related to artificial intelligence. Papers dealing with tool suites are also encouraged. Data Mining Track This special track will be devoted to data mining with the aim of presenting new and important contributions in this area. Papers and contributions are encouraged for any work related to Data Mining. Topics of interest may include (but are in no way limited to): 1. Applications such as Intelligence analysis, medical and health applications, text, video, and multi-media mining, E-commerce and web data, financial data analysis, cyber security, remote sensing, earth sciences, bioinformatics, and astronomy. 2. Modeling algorithms such as hidden Markov models, decision trees, neural networks, statistical methods, or probabilistic methods; case studies in areas of application, or over different algorithms and approaches. 3. Feature extraction and selection. 4. Post-processing techniques such as visualization, summarization, or trending. 5. Preprocessing and data reduction. 6. Knowledge engineering or warehousing. Papers dealing with Cloud-based unstructured data or Cloud-based tool suites are also encouraged. Note: We invite original papers (i.e. work not previously submitted, in submission, or to be submitted to another conference during the reviewing process). Submission Guidelines Interested authors should format their papers according to AAAI formatting guidelines. The papers should be original work (i.e., not submitted, in submission, or submitted to another conference while in review). Papers should not exceed 6 pages (or 4 pages for short paper, to be presented as a poster) and are due by November 18. FLAIRS uses a double blind reviewing process. Author names and affiliations should be X’d out on submitted papers. Papers must be submitted as PDF through the EasyChair conference system, which can be accessed through the main conference web site (https://www.flairs-33.info/) Note: do not use a fake name for your EasyChair login - your EasyChair account information is hidden from reviewers. Authors should indicate which special track they are submitting to. The proceedings of FLAIRS will be published by the AAAI. Authors of accepted papers will be required to sign a form transferring copyright of their contribution to AAAI. FLAIRS requires that there be at least one full author registration per paper.

Sept. 6, 2019

AICAS2020 - Call for Tutorial Proposals

by Elisa Donati

AICAS 2020 - CALL FOR TUTORIAL PROPOSALS 2nd IEEE Conf. on Artificial Intelligence Circuits and Systems 23th-25th March, 2020, Genova, Italy www.aicas2020.eu <http://www.aicas2020.eu/> Deadline for proposals: November 10th, 2019 https://aicas2020.eu/submissions <https://aicas2020.eu/submissions> The objective of the AICAS 2020 Tutorial Program is to provide participants with an inspiring and informative selection of tutorials that reflect current topics in AI circuits and systems related research and development. Tutorials will cover a one to three-hour period with ten minutes at the end for questions. They will be held in the morning before the technical sessions. We encourage submissions of tutorial proposals on the topics including but not limited to: Circuits and systems for AI Deep learning/machine learning/AI algorithms Tools/Platforms for AI Architecture for AI computing Edge and cloud AI computing platforms Hardware accelerators Neuromorphic processors and computing Hardware/software co-design and design automation for AI systems Advanced neural network design Emerging applications: Deep learning for Internet-of-Things Emerging applications of AI: Medical AI Emerging applications of AI: Autonomous Vehicle Emerging applications of AI: Smart Factory and Environment Emerging applications of AI: Robotics Prospective organizers of tutorial program should submit proposals to the Tutorial Chair indicating: Title of the tutorial, Area of the tutorial (refer to the above topics), Presenter(s) and their CV, Target audience and prerequisite knowledge of audience, 300 words abstract (for inclusion on webpage and in registration materials), Full description (1-2 pages to be used for evaluation),Keywords, Detailed contact information of all presenters (and indication of the main contact person). Contact tutorial chair, email: tutorials(a)aicas2020.eu <mailto:tutorials@aicas2020.eu> PhD. Elisa Donati Institute of Neuroinformatics University and ETH Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich E-mail: elisa(a)ini.uzh.ch Phone: +41 0446353061

Sept. 6, 2019

Call for Papers: AICAS2020 IEEE International Conference on Artificial Intelligence Circuits and Systems

by Elisa Donati

******************************************************************************************************************************************************************** Call for Papers: AICAS2020 IEEE International Conference on Artificial Intelligence Circuits and Systems Conference website: www.aicas2020.eu <http://www.aicas2020.eu/> Submission deadline: September 30, 23:59 (GMT -0700) Submit at: https://epapers.org/aicas2020/ESR/login.php <https://epapers.org/aicas2020/ESR/login.php> Contact: info(a)aicas2020.eu <mailto:info@aicas2020.eu> The theme of AICAS2020 is “Circuits and systems for efficient embedded AI”, revolving around the development of hardware and computational strategies towards an increase in system efficiency that supports efficient, embedded, smart applications (such as mobile, robotics, automotive). Potential topics include but are not limited to: Emerging devices and materials for AI Mixed-signal and in-memory hardware accelerators Digital hardware accelerators Edge AI computing platforms and systems Cloud AI computing platforms and systems Neuromorphic/bioinspired circuits, processors and systems and their applications Hardware/software co-design and design automation for AI systems Deep learning/machine learning/AI algorithms Smart sensors and actuators AICAS in IoT, HCI, healthcare, autonomous systems, homes/factories/cities/nature Tools, libraries, benchmarking for AI Other areas in AI circuits and systems Live demos (1 page papers) Special sessions (invited papers) We invite you to submit papers in the AICAS2020 format. Online submissions will be accepted via ePapers in PDF format (https://epapers.org/aicas2020/ESR/login.php <https://epapers.org/aicas2020/ESR/login.php>). Regular and Special Session Papers length is maximum 4 pages, plus up to 1 page for references (ONLY) or maximum 1 page for Live demos. Please refer to the detailed information for authors. Papers will comply with IEEE conference template and camera ready manuscripts will be checked for IEEExplore compliance. The review process is double-blind. Authors of selected best papers will be invited to submit extended versions of their work for publication in IEEE JETCAS special issue. On Behalf of the Conference Organizing Committee, Chiara Bartolozzi - Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (Italy), Shih-Chii Liu - University of Zurich and ETH (Switzerland), Tobi Delbruck - University of Zurich and ETH (Switzerland), Marian Verhelst - KU Leuven (Belgium) and Maurizio Valle - University of Genova (Italy) PhD. Elisa Donati Institute of Neuroinformatics University and ETH Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich E-mail: elisa(a)ini.uzh.ch Phone: +41 0446353061

Sept. 6, 2019

CFP: 10th IEEE International Conference on Development and Learning (ICDL)

by nagai.yukie＠mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp

CALL FOR PAPERS: 10th IEEE International Conference on Development and Learning (ICDL) 7th-10th September 2020, Valparaiso, Chile Web page: https://cdstc.gitlab.io/icdl-2020/ An IEEE Computational Society-sponsored conference ==== Important Dates ==== Submission deadline: 15th March 2020 Author notification: 15th May 2020 Camera ready due: 1st July 2020 Conference: 7th-10th September 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/ ==== 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, — Yukie Nagai, Ph.D. Project Professor, The University of Tokyo nagai.yukie(a)mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp | http://developmental-robotics.jp CREST Cognitive Mirroring: http://cognitive-mirroring.org

Sept. 6, 2019

Open rank faculty position in Psychology at American University with a specialization in human neuroscience

by Laurie Bayet

Dear colleagues, Please see the following link for an Open rank faculty position in Psychology at American University with a specialization in human neuroscience: http://apply.interfolio.com/67455. To ensure full consideration, application materials should be received by October 31, 2019. Please contact Catherine Stoodley, Search Committee Chair, at stoodley(a)american.edu with any questions or inquiries. All the best, Laurie Bayet -- Laurie Bayet, PhD Assistant Professor of Psychology, American University (202) 885-1719

Sept. 5, 2019

Fwd: Postdoctoral position in Computational Neuroscience of Social Decision-Making

by Kagan, Igor

A postdoctoral position is immediately available in the Social Neuroscience Team, an innovative collaborative project between groups of Fred Wolf (Bernstein Centre for Computational Neuroscience and Campus Institute Dynamics of Biological Networks) and Alex Gail, Igor Kagan and Stefan Treue (Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, German Primate Center, http://www.dpz.eu/cnl) in Goettingen, Germany. The focus of the research is on theoretical foundations, computational modeling and analysis of behavioral and neurophysiological signals underlying social decision-making in humans and nonhuman primates (e.g. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/314500v4) The scientist will collaborate closely with the experimentalists, who work on elucidating the neural basis supporting primate interactions in dynamic sensorimotor settings. Further scientific exhange within the Leibniz ScienceCampus Primate Cognition (https://www.primate-cognition.eu) will ensure a broad interdisciplinary framework for networking and cooperation. Candidates with a Ph.D. in Computational Neuroscience, Physics, Mathematics, Data Science or Engineering, an excellent research record, and a drive to work independently and collaboratively to solve conceptual and computational challenges, are encouraged to apply. A strong quantitative and theoretical skillset is a must, prior experience in cognitive sciences or neuroscience, and a background in relevant modeling and analysis of behavioral or neurophysiological data are a plus. Please send applications (letter of interest, CV and the names and contact information of two referees), or request for additional information, to compneuro-postdoc(a)dpz.eu -- Dr. Igor Kagan Head of Decision and Awareness Group, German Primate Center (DPZ) Kellnerweg 4, Goettingen 37077, Germany http://www.dpz.eu/dag

Sept. 5, 2019

Big models and big data workshop at SFN 2019

by Carnevale, Nicholas

*NSG and HPAC – Large Scale Simulations and Data Processing* **** **A workshop on big models and big data in neuroscience, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019 from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM at a downtown Chicago location. *Summary* This workshop is intended for neuroscientists who need to use high performance computing (HPC) resources for computationally intensive tasks such as large modeling projects or analysis of neuroimaging data. It will examine resources offered by the Neuroscience Gateway Portal (NSG https://www.nsgportal.org/) and The Human Brain Project's High Performance Analytics and Computing Platform (HPAC https://hbp-hpc-platform.fz-juelich.de/) The workshop will combine hands-on instruction on how to use NSG, didactic presentations by NSG and HPAC developers, and discussions with experienced users of these resources. The registration deadline for this workshop is Friday, October 10, but you should sign up early because space is limited. See https://neuron.yale.edu/neuron/static/courses/nsg2019/nsg2019.html for more information and a link to the registration form. *Overview of NSG and HPAC* NSG eliminates most administrative and technical barriers, providing free CPU time to users, and easy access to widely used software that currently includes BluePyOpt, The Brain Modeling Toolkit (BMTK), Brian, CARLsim, DynaSim, EEGLAB, Freesurfer, Human Neocortical Neurosolver (HNN), Large Scale Neural Modeling Simulator (LSNM), MATLAB, MOOSE, NEST, NetPyNE, NEURON, Octave, PGENESIS, PyNN, Python, R, TensorFlow, and the Virtual Personalized Multimodal Connection Pipeline. NSG's web-based interface simplifies the tasks of uploading models or data, specifying job parameters, monitoring job status, and storing and retrieving output data. HPAC provides extensive HPC support for the HBP community. This includes developing and providing the hardware and software infrastructure required for large scale simulations, data management and analysis, visualization, and managing the complex workflows involved in performing these tasks.

Sept. 5, 2019

Postdoc on modeling the action potential of a swimming neuron

by Romain Brette

A postdoc position is available in the group of Romain Brette in the Vision Institute, Paris, France, in collaboration with Alexis Prevost and Laetitia Pontani from Laboratoire Jean Perrin, to work on the development of a model of the action potential of Paramecium, a “swimming neuron”. More details here: http://romainbrette.fr/postdoc-offer-modeling-the-action-potential-of-a-swi… Paramecium is a large unicellular eukaryote organism which swims in fresh water using its cilia. When it hits an obstacle, mechanosensitive channels open, depolarize the membrane and trigger a calcium-based action potential. In turn, the action potential triggers a reversal of the swimming direction, followed by a change of direction. This is called the “avoiding reaction”, and it is the basis of most Paramecium behavior. The goal of the global project is to develop an integrative model of Paramecium, that includes: sensory transduction, excitability and motility. In other words, a model of the behaving Paramecium in an environment. The specific project for this postdoc is to develop a Hodgkin-Huxley type model of the action potential of Paramecium, together with a phenomenological model of electro-motor coupling, that is, the relation between membrane potential and cilia beating. Technically, the work will involve performing appropriate electrophysiological measurements and then developing and fitting models. The funding is for 12 months (possibly more depending on grant results). Although this may seem short, the project is already well advanced, as we have developed simple reliable ways to do electrophysiological recordings on Paramecium and already collected a number of recordings. Prior experience in electrophysiological recording is not a requirement as it can be learned. Be aware, however, that the work does involve a fair amount of experimental work (but on a model organism that is simple to handle). Conversely, we are also welcoming applications from electrophysiologists with little experience in modeling. To apply, please send a CV and emails of two references to romain.brette(a)inserm.fr <mailto:romain.brette@inserm.fr>. Do not hesitate to ask for more information. Applications will be considered until the position is filled.

Sept. 4, 2019

postdoctoral positions in the Rinberg lab at NYU Neuroscience Insititute

by Dmitry Rinberg

The Rinberg lab at NYU Neuroscience Institute (www.rinberglab.com) is seeking to fill multiple postdoctoral positions at the interface of computational systems neuroscience and advanced neurotechnology. We study how olfactory information is represented and processed in neural activity patterns, and how the brain extracts information relevant for behavior. <>We are using wide-field and two-photon imaging, multiunit electrophysiology and behavioral experiments, in combination with theoretical approaches, to study how odors are represented at different stages of neural processing. To understand how spatiotemporal neural codes are read by the brain and evoke behavior, we are developing optogenetic pattern stimulation techniques, including 2P holography. Most of the projects are deeply rooted in theoretical approaches and statistical modeling. In addition, as an applied direction, we are developing bio-electronic nose, a universal, versatile, and sensitive chemical detector based on the mouse olfactory system. The lab has established strong collaborative links with multiple leading labs in theory, statistical methods, technology development, and genetics. <>This is an excellent opportunity for computationally and technologically inclined candidates to find their niche in-between developing cutting edge technologies and applying the technologies to fundamental scientific questions. An ideal candidate should have a background in neuroscience, physics/engineering and math. Knowledge and experience in optics, imaging, multi-neuron physiology and computational methods are a big plus. Interested applicants should send a cover letter, CV to be e-mailed to rinberg(a)nyu.edu

Sept. 3, 2019

OPEN FACULTY POSITIONS (Computational neuroscience), RIKEN Center for Brain Science

by Taro Toyoizumi

The RIKEN Center for Brain Science (CBS) was launched in April 2018 following the strong 20-year foundation of its predecessor, the Brain Science Institute (BSI). CBS aims to meet society’s ever-growing expectations for brain research. We are seeking outstanding computational neuroscientists for Team Leader positions (equivalent to U.S. Assistant or Associate Professors). Exceptional applications from internationally established neuroscientists may be considered for indefinite-term Team Leader positions (equivalent to U.S. Full Professors). If candidates have the potential to be outstanding computational researchers, they will be hired as independent Unit Leaders (equivalent to U.S. Assistant Professors), provided that you have a doctoral degree by the date of employment, even if you are still enrolled in a postgraduate doctoral program. Researchers who wish to convert their expertise from other fields (e.g. physics, mathematics, engineering, information science) to computational brain science are also eligible to apply. We will comprehensively evaluate the applicant's scientific achievements and research proposals, etc., and will hire any candidates who match the aims of CBS (please see CBS web page：https://cbs.riken.jp/en/). Since CBS also promotes experimental research, research proposals are expected to aim for collaborative projects in the near future. This is our second round of faculty recruitment at CBS, which follows the successful recruitment of several outstanding candidates as Team Leaders from Japan and abroad in the first round in 2018. [For details, see our home page： https://cbs.riken.jp/en/careers/20190902_w19120_pi_c.html ] Calls for Team Leader positions in other major topics at CBS are currently open to the public (please see https://cbs.riken.jp/career-general/) At RIKEN CBS, research leaders (team and unit leaders) have full intellectual independence, generous internal funds including a highly competitive start-up package and access to ample communal facilities in a collaborative environment. Successful candidates for the Team Leader positions must have demonstrated the ability to develop an original, independent and internationally competitive research program. Applications should be submitted by the end of November 2019. Applicants should specify Team leader or Unit Leader positions, should submit the electronic files of a cover letter with a brief summary of their research program and plan, curriculum vitae, list of research achievements and publications, list of acquired research funding, current research and achievements to date, future research plans, reprints of five major publications maximum, and the names and contact details (e-mail address) of three referees, through the application form. If possible, one of the three referees should be the current supervisor, and the letters should be signed and addressed to Dr. Hiroshi Matsumoto, President of RIKEN. All files and recommendation letters should be written in English. RIKEN CBS is located just outside of the international metropolis of Tokyo. English is the primary language used in activities at CBS, including seminars and administration. Institutional support is available to help non-Japanese speaking scientists, whom we particularly encourage to apply. RIKEN Center for Brain Science is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women are strongly encouraged to apply. For further inquiries please contact the RIKEN CBS Search Committee. Email: cbs-search(a)ml.riken.jp Search Committee, RIKEN Center for Brain Science 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan Fax: +81-48-462-4914, *Applications are not accepted from this e-mail address.

Sept. 3, 2019