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BioSystems - Special Issue on Neural Coding 2016 (Vol. 161, November 2017)

by Lubomir Kostal

Dear Colleagues, We would like to announce a BioSystems Special Issue on Neural Coding: BioSystems -- Volume 161 - November 2017 Available online for download now from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03032647/161/supp/C?sdc=1 The Table of Contents of this special issue can be seen at the end of this email. Best wishes for a happy new year, Guest Editors Chris Christodoulou, Lubomir Kostal and Angar Büschges ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------ BioSystems - Contents -- Volume 161 - November 2017 Special Issue: Neural Coding 2016 (Selected papers presented at the Twelventh International Workshop on Neural Coding, Cologne, Germany, 2016) Available online for download now from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03032647/161/supp/C?sdc=1 Editorial Chris Christodoulou, Lubomir Kostal and Angar Büschges To swim or not to swim: A population-level model of Xenopus tadpole decision making and locomotor behaviour Roman Borisyuk, Robert Merrison-Hort, Steve R. Soffe, Stella Koutsikou, Wen-Chang Li Linked Gauss-Diffusion processes for modeling a finite-size neuronal network M. F. Carfora, E. Pirozzi Information reduction in a reverberatory neuronal network through convergence to complex oscillatory firing patterns A. Vidybida, O. Shchur Efficiency of rate and latency coding with respect to metabolic cost and time Marie Levakova A single spike deteriorates synaptic conductance estimation Ryota Kobayashi, Hiroshi Nishimaru, Hisao Nishijo, Petr Lansky Synchrony measure for a neuron driven by excitatory and inhibitory inputs and its adaptation to experimentally-recorded data Christina Zavou, Antria Kkoushi, Achilleas Koutsou, Chris Christodoulou Dynamical properties of LFPs from mice with unilateral injection of TeNT Eleonora Vannini, Matteo Caleo, Santi Chillemi, Angelo Di Garbo Functional data analysis of single-trial auditory evoked potentials recorded in the awake rat Ondřej Pokora, Jan Koláček, Tzai-Wen Chiu, Wei Qiu Upozorneni: Neni-li v teto zprave vyslovne uvedeno jinak, ma tato E-mailova zprava nebo jeji prilohy pouze informativni charakter. Tato zprava ani jeji prilohy v zadnem ohledu ustavy AV CR, v.v.i. k nicemu nezavazuji. Text teto zpravy nebo jejich priloh neni navrhem na uzavreni smlouvy, ani prijetim pripadneho navrhu na uzavreni smlouvy, ani jinym pravnim jednanim smerujicim k uzavreni jakekoliv smlouvy a nezaklada predsmluvni odpovednost ustavu AV CR, v.v.i. Disclaimer: If not expressly stated otherwise, this e-mail message (including any attached files) is intended purely for informational purposes and does not represent a binding agreement on the part of Institutes of CAS. The text of this message and its attachments cannot be considered as a proposal to conclude a contract, neither the acceptance of a proposal to conclude a contract, nor any other legal act leading to concluding any contract; nor does it create any pre-contractual liability on the part of Institutes of CAS.

Dec. 31, 2017

Postdoctoral position in quantitative biological modeling

by William L. Kath

We are looking to fill a postdoctoral position in our department through an NSF-funded Research Training Program in Quantitative Biological Modeling. Could you please be so kind as to pass this information along to anyone who would be interested or might know of suitable candidates? Note that NSF requires postdoctoral fellows to be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. More details about the positions and the program are listed below. I've also linked a flyer suitable for printing and posting at http://people.esam.northwestern.edu/~kath/rtg_advertisement_2018.pdf Best regards, - Bill Kath ------------------------------------------------- Postdoctoral Fellowships in Quantitative Biological Modeling Department of Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University Overview: The Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics is soliciting applications for a postdoctoral fellowship in quantitative biological modeling that will be available starting September 1, 2018. This position is part of a National Science Foundation Research Training Grant (NSF-RTG). Duties: The postdoctoral fellow will conduct research on the quantitative modeling of biological systems and will teach three quarter courses per year in the department. The position will typically be for three years. The postdoctoral fellow will additionally participate in RTG-related training and career development activities. Environment: The postdoctoral fellow will be part of an interdisciplinary environment focusing on current problems in experimental and computational biology. The fellow will gain experience from training in mathematical modeling, numerical methods, and modern data analysis/statistical tools relevant to biological problems. Research internships outside of Northwestern will broaden the fellow's perspectives. The fellow's research will be mentored by faculty from both applied mathematics and a biological discipline. Ongoing collaborations exist with faculty in Neurobiology, Molecular Biosciences, Environmental Engineering and Preventive Medicine, and additional areas of interest are welcome. An overall goal of the program is to broaden computational biological modeling in the department and at Northwestern. Requirements: Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Interested candidates should submit a curriculum vitae, three reference letters (one addressing teaching qualifications) and brief research and teaching statements online at the URL: https://openposition.mccormick.northwestern.edu/apply/index/NjY= If desired, one or two representative publications may also be submitted. For full consideration applications should be received by January 15, 2018. Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Inquiries about the position may be directed to: Hermann Riecke Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics Northwestern University 2145 Sheridan Road Evanston, IL 60208-3125 Phone: (847) 491-3345 Email:h-riecke@northwestern.edu http://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/applied-math/ -- William L. Kath, Professor Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208-3125 Phone: 847-491-8784 Fax: 847-491-2178

Dec. 30, 2017

Direct PhD Track - Brain Sciences: Computational and Information Processing

by Nili Vershov

*Direct PhD Track* *Brain Sciences: Computation and Information Processing* Now Accepting Applications from International Students! *Submission Deadline: February 1st, 2018* *For more information:* https://elsc.huji.ac.il/phd-program-computational-neuroscience -- *Nili Vershov* *Ph.D Program C**oordinator * *Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences* *The Hebrew University of Jerusalem* *Tel: +972-26584899 <+972%202-658-4899>* *Cell: +972-507858847 <+972%2050-785-8847>* ------------------------------ This message contains information which may be confidential and privileged. Unless you are the intended addressee (or authorized to receive for the intended addressee), you may not use, copy or disclose to anyone the message or any information contained in the message. If you have received the message in error, please advise the sender by reply and delete the message . To the extent contractual confidentiality obligations exist, this message and all information transmitted with it are designated "Confidential".

Dec. 27, 2017

Call for papers & tutorials: PRNI (Pattern Recognition in Neuroimaging) 2018

by Yuvaraj Rajamanickam (Dr)

******* please accept our apologies for cross-posting ******* -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST CALL FOR PAPERS AND TUTORIALS PRNI 2018: 8th International Workshop on Pattern Recognition in Neuroimaging to be held 12-14 June 2018 at the National University of Singapore, Singapore www.prni.org<https://webmail.ntu.edu.sg/owa/redir.aspx?C=zAsK2tVRfU-VqajW2fbnHXBsaTVlUtU…> - @PRNIworkshop - www.facebook.com/PRNIworkshop/<https://webmail.ntu.edu.sg/owa/redir.aspx?C=zAsK2tVRfU-VqajW2fbnHXBsaTVlUtU…> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 8th International Workshop on Pattern Recognition in Neuroimaging (PRNI) will be held at the Centre for Life Sciences Auditorium, National University of Singapore, Singapore on June 12-14, 2018.Pattern recognition techniques are an important tool for neuroimaging data analysis. These techniques are helping to elucidate normal and abnormal brain function, cognition and perception, anatomical and functional brain architecture, biomarkers for diagnosis and personalized medicine, and as a scientific tool to decipher neural mechanisms underlying human cognition. The International Workshop on Pattern Recognition in Neuroimaging (PRNI) aims to: (1) foster dialogue between developers and users of cutting-edge analysis techniques in order to find matches between analysis techniques and neuroscientific questions; (2) showcase recent methodological advances in pattern recognition algorithms for neuroimaging analysis; and (3) identify challenging neuroscientific questions in need of new analysis approaches. Authors should prepare full papers with a maximum length of 4 pages (two column IEEE style) for double-blind review. The manuscript submission deadline is 04 April 2018, 11:59 pm SGT. Accepted manuscripts will be assigned either to an oral or poster sessions; all accepted manuscripts will be included in the workshop proceedings. Similarly to previous years, in addition to full length papers PRNI will also accept short abstracts (500 words excluding the title, abstract, tables, figure and data legends, and references) for poster presentation. Finally, this year PRNI has an open call for tutorial proposals. A tutorial can take a form of 2h, 4h or whole day event aimed at demonstrating a computational technique, software tool, or specific concept. Tutorial proposals featuring hands on demonstrations and promoting diversity (e.g. gender, background, institution) will be preferred. PRNI will cover conference registration fees for up to two tutors per accepted program. The submission deadline is also 04 April 2018, 11:59 pm SGT. Please see www.prni.org<https://webmail.ntu.edu.sg/owa/redir.aspx?C=zAsK2tVRfU-VqajW2fbnHXBsaTVlUtU…> and follow @PRNIworkshop and www.facebook.com/PRNIworkshop/<https://webmail.ntu.edu.sg/owa/redir.aspx?C=zAsK2tVRfU-VqajW2fbnHXBsaTVlUtU…> for news and details. ________________________________ CONFIDENTIALITY: This email is intended solely for the person(s) named and may be confidential and/or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete it, notify us and do not copy, use, or disclose its contents. Towards a sustainable earth: Print only when necessary. Thank you.

Dec. 27, 2017

Columbia Workshop on Brain Circuits, Memory and Computation 2018

by Aurel A. Lazar

Columbia Workshop on Brain Circuits, Memory and Computation 2018 <http://www.bionet.ee.columbia.edu/workshops/bcmc/2018> BCMC 2018 March 15-16, 2018 Center for Neural Engineering and Computation <http://cnec.columbia.edu/> Columbia University, New York, NY, USA Overview The goal of the workshop is to bring together researchers interested in developing executable models of neural computation/processing of the brain of model organisms. Of interest are models of computation that consist of elementary units of processing using brain circuits and memory elements. Elementary units of computation/processing include population encoding/decoding circuits with biophysically-grounded neuron models, non-linear dendritic processors for motion detection/direction selectivity, spike processing and pattern recognition neural circuits, movement control and decision-making circuits, etc. Memory units include models of spatio-temporal memory circuits, circuit models for memory access and storage, etc. A major aim of the workshop is to explore the integration of various sensory and control circuits in higher brain centers. A Fruit Fly Brain Hackathon <http://www.bionet.ee.columbia.edu/hackathons/ffbh/2018> is being conducted in conjunction with the workshop. Workshop participants are welcome to attend the hackathon. Registration Registration is free but all participants have to register <https://bcmc2018.eventbrite.com/>. Thank you! Organizer and Program Chair Aurel A. Lazar <http://www.ee.columbia.edu/~aurel>, Department of Electrical Engineering, Columbia University. Program Overview (Confirmed Speakers) Misha B. Ahrens <https://www.janelia.org/lab/ahrens-lab>, Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA. Davi Bock <https://www.janelia.org/lab/bock-lab>, Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA. Claude Desplan <https://wp.nyu.edu/desplanlab/>, Department of Biology, New York University. Mark A. Frye <http://www.fryelab.net/>, Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles. C. Giovanni Galizia <http://neuro.uni-konstanz.de/03team/content/galizia.html>, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz. Maria N. Geffen <https://geffenlab.weebly.com/maria.html>, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania. Hokto Kazama <http://kazama.brain.riken.jp/index.php>, Riken Brain Science Institute, Tokyo. Donggen Luo <http://mgv.pku.edu.cn/?co=posts&ac=faculty&catalog=enpiintro&pname=en_Dongg…>, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing. Thomas Nowotny <http://www.sussex.ac.uk/profiles/206151>, Department of Informatics, University of Sussex. Pavan Ramdya <https://ramdya-lab.epfl.ch/home>, Brain Mind Institute, EPFL, Lausanne. Aravinthan D.T. Samuel <https://scholar.harvard.edu/aravisamuel/home>, Department of Physics and center for Brain Science, Harvard University. Simon G. Sprecher <http://www.sprecherlab.com/simon-sprecher/>, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg. Seth Tomchik <http://www.scripps.edu/tomchik/>, The Scripps Research Institute Florida. Joshua T. Vogelstein <http://jovo.me/>, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Computational Medicine, Johns Hopkins University. Scott Waddell <https://www.dpag.ox.ac.uk/research/waddell-group>, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford. Anthony M. Zador <http://zadorlab.cshl.edu/>, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Aurel http://www.bionet.ee.columbia.edu

Dec. 26, 2017

Announcing Okinawa/OIST Computational Neuroscience Course 2018

by Erik De Schutter

OKINAWA/OIST COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE COURSE 2018 Methods, Neurons, Networks and Behaviors June 25 to July 12, 2018 Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Japan https://groups.oist.jp/ocnc The aim of the Okinawa/OIST Computational Neuroscience Course is to provide opportunities for young researchers with theoretical backgrounds to learn the latest advances in neuroscience, and for those with experimental backgrounds to have hands-on experience in computational modeling. We invite graduate students and postgraduate researchers to participate in the course, held from June 25th through July 12th, 2018 at an oceanfront seminar house of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University. Applications are through the course web page (https://groups.oist.jp/ocnc) only; January 1 - February 3, 2018. Applicants will receive confirmation of acceptance in March. Like in preceding years, the 15th OCNC will be a comprehensive three-week course covering single neurons, networks, and behaviors with ample time for student projects. The first week will focus exclusively on methods with hands-on tutorials during the afternoons, while the second and third weeks will have lectures by international experts. The course has a strong hands-on component based on student proposed modeling or data analysis projects, which are further refined with the help of a dedicated tutor. Applicants are required to propose their project at the time of application. There is no tuition fee. The sponsor will provide lodging and meals during the course and provides partial travel support. We hope that this course will be a good opportunity for theoretical and experimental neuroscientists to meet each other and to explore the attractive nature and culture of Okinawa, the southernmost island prefecture of Japan. Invited faculty: • Maxim Bazhenov (University of California San Diego, USA) • Michael Brecht (Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Germany) • Erik De Schutter (OIST) • Kenji Doya (OIST) • Shaul Druckmann (Janelia Research Campus, USA) • Karl Friston (Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL, UK) • Wulfram Gerstner (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland) • Michele Giugliano (University of Antwerp, Belgium) • Mitsuo Kawato (ATR, Japan) • Bernd Kuhn (OIST) • Kazuhisa Shibata (Nagoya University, Japan) • Olaf Sporns (Indiana University, USA) • Greg Stephens (OIST) • Tatjana Tchumatchenko (MPI for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany) • Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova (University of Exeter, UK) • Yoko Yazaki-Sugiyama (OIST)

Dec. 25, 2017

COSYNE 2018: Cosyne tutorial session, Travel grants, Registration

by Tomas Hromadka

==================================================== Computational and Systems Neuroscience 2018 (Cosyne) MAIN MEETING 01 - 04 March 2018 Denver, Colorado WORKSHOPS 05 - 06 March 2018 Breckenridge, Colorado www.cosyne.org ==================================================== IMPORTANT DATES Online registration is now open. Travel grant submission is now open. Hotel booking is currently open. Travel grant application deadlines Dec 31, 2017, 11.59PM PST (*Undergraduate* Travel Grant) Jan 17, 2018, 11.59PM PST (Other travel grants) ---------------------------------------------------- COSYNE ---------------------------------------------------- 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 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. 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. ---------------------------------------------------- COSYNE TUTORIAL SESSION ---------------------------------------------------- This year, Cosyne is hosting its first tutorial session. The tutorial on "Statistical models for neural data: from GLMs to latent variables" will be given by Jonathan Pillow on 01 March, before the main meeting starts. Space is limited. You can register for the tutorial when registering for the main meeting. For details on the tutorial and registration, see Cosyne.org -> Tutorial and Cosyne.org -> Registration. ----------------------------------------------- TRAVEL GRANTS ----------------------------------------------- Applications are now open for travel grants to attend the conference. Each awardee will receive at least $500 to help offset the costs of travel, registration, and accommodations. Larger grants may be available to those traveling from outside North America. Special consideration is given to scientists who have not previously attended the meeting, under-represented minorities, students who are attending the meeting together with a mentor, undergraduate students, and authors of submitted Cosyne abstracts. We currently offer five travel grant programs for New Attendees, Presenters, Mentors, Undergraduates, and Childcare travel grants. For details on applying, see Cosyne.org -> Travel grants. COSYNE SPEAKERS Tim Behrens (Oxford) Josh Berke (UCSF) Tiago Branco (UCL) Jessica Cardin (Yale) Claudia Clopath (Imperial) Marlene Cohen (Pittsburgh) Iain Couzin (Max-Planck) Carina Curto (Penn State) Ann Graybiel (MIT) Vivek Jayaraman (Janelia) Mate Lengyel (Cambridge) Joni Wallis (Berkeley) Byron Yu (CMU) ORGANIZING COMMITTEE General Chairs: Ilana Witten (Princeton) and Eric Shea-Brown (U Washington) Program Chairs: Linda Wilbrecht (Berkeley) and Brent Doiron (U Pittsburgh) Workshop Chairs: Laura Busse (LMU) and Ralf Haefner (U Rochester) Undergraduate Travel Chairs: Angela Langdon (Princeton) and Robert Wilson (U Arizona) Publicity Chair: Il Memming Park (Stony Brook) 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 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.

Dec. 23, 2017

EPSRC funded PhD in Computational/Mathematical Neuroscience (funded for UK students)

by James Rankin

*3 EPSRC funded PhD positions in Computational & Mathematical Neuroscience* UK students (or students who have spent last 3 years in UK) fully funded (fees and stipend) EU students partially funded (fees but no stipend) International students not eligible *Application deadline: 10th January 2018* Starting: September 2018 The studentships will provide funding for a stipend which is currently £14,553 per annum for 2017-2018. It will provide research costs and UK/EU tuition fees at Research Council UK rates for 42 months (3.5 years) for full-time students, pro rata for part-time students. * Cortical network models to understand differential input response properties during active and silent states* Supervisors: Dr James Rankin and Dr Mick Craig (Medical School, Exeter) http://www.exeter.ac.uk/studying/funding/award/?id=2903 * Determination of parameter dependencies across diverse populations of neuronal and excitable cells* Supervisors: Dr James Rankin and Dr Joel Tabak (Medical School, Exeter) http://www.exeter.ac.uk/studying/funding/award/?id=2932 *The neural circuitry mediating multisensory integration in Platynereis larvae* Supervisors: Dr James Rankin and Prof Gáspár Jékely (Living Systems Institute, Exeter) http://www.exeter.ac.uk/studying/funding/award/?id=2901 Apply through links above or contact pgrenquiries(a)exeter.ac.uk or j.a.rankin(a)exeter.ac.uk directly with any questions. -- http://emps.exeter.ac.uk/mathematics/staff/jar226

Dec. 21, 2017

Groningen Spring School on Cognitive Modeling 2018

by Jelmer Borst

Third Groningen Spring School on Cognitive Modeling – ACT-R, Nengo, PRIMs, & Accumulator Models – Date: April 9-13, 2018 Location: Groningen, the Netherlands Fee: € 250 (late fee after January 31 will be € 300) More information and registration: www.cognitive-modeling.com/springschool <http://www.cognitive-modeling.com/springschool> We are happy to announce the third Groningen Spring School on Cognitive Modeling (April 9-13, 2018). As in previous years, it will cover four different modeling paradigms: ACT-R, Nengo, PRIMs, and Accumulator models. It thereby offers a unique opportunity to learn the relative strengths and weaknesses of these approaches. See the attached flyer for more information about the paradigms. Each day will consist of four theory lectures, one on each modeling paradigm. Each paradigm also includes hands-on assignments. Although students are free to choose the number of lectures they attend, we recommend students to sign up for lectures on two of the paradigms, and complete the tutorial units for one of the paradigms. At the end of each day there will be a plenary research talk, to show how these different approaches to modeling are applied. The Spring School will be concluded with a keynote lecture and a conference dinner. This year we also offer the opportunity for project students to attend. The idea is that you have attended the spring school in an earlier year and now come back in the week of the spring school to work on your own modeling project under our supervision. Admission is limited, so register soon! We are looking forward to seeing you in Groningen! Niels Taatgen Jelmer Borst Marieke van Vugt Terry Stewart & Katja Mehlhorn

Dec. 20, 2017

Postdoctoral Swartz Fellowship Positions in Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience at Yale University

by Murray, John

The Swartz Center in Theoretical Neurobiology at Yale University invites applications for up to two postdoctoral positions in Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience, with start date mid or late 2018. Competitive candidates include those with a strong quantitative background who wish to gain neuroscience research experience. We especially encourage candidates with an interest in collaborating directly with experimental neuroscientists. The candidates will be expected to perform theoretical/computational studies relevant to one or more laboratories of the Yale Swartz Center (https://medicine.yale.edu/neuroscience/swartz/corelabs.aspx) and will be encouraged to participate in an expanding quantitative biology environment. Candidates must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent degree. Please send a Curriculum Vitae, selected reprints, names of those whom we can contact for a reference, and a statement of research plans including the laboratories of interest. All application materials should be sent electronically to the following e-mail address: john.murray at yale.edu <mailto:john.murray at yale.edu>. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, but priority will be given to those received on or before January 20th 2018. For any questions, please contact John Murray <mailto:john.murray at yale.edu>. Yale University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Yale values diversity in its faculty, students, and staff and especially welcomes applications from women and underrepresented minorities. http://neurojobs.sfn.org/jobs/10584092/ John D. Murray ----------------------------------------------- Assistant Professor Department of Psychiatry Yale University School of Medicine murraylab.yale.edu<http://murraylab.yale.edu/> -----------------------------------------------

Dec. 20, 2017

Assoc Prof and lectureships in Data Science and Predictive Modelling

by Bruce Graham

Dear all, We have 3 new posts at the University of Stirling in Scotland (in addition to 3 posts in Cyber-security, advertised recently and still open for applications). The new posts are an Associate Professor and 2 lecturers in Data Science and Predictive Modelling and are part of an exciting new University of Stirling initiative to strengthen our Computing Science and Mathematics capabilities and collaborations between our Data Science and Biological Modelling research groups and strengthen our related research and teaching. Mathematicians, as well as computer scientists or related disciplines, are particularly encouraged to apply. Computational neuroscience, machine learning, neural networks and other topics of interest to this mailing list fall within the remit of these posts. For complete details and how to apply, please see: https://www.stir.ac.uk/about/jobs/ Closing date is 21st January 2018. For informal enquiries, please email me directly. Best regards, Bruce Graham -- Prof. Bruce Graham (b.graham(a)cs.stir.ac.uk) Professor of Computing Science and Research Director Computing Science and Mathematics Faculty of Natural Sciences University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA phone: +44 1786 467 432 fax: +44 1786 464 551 Coauthor of "Principles of Computational Modelling in Neuroscience", CUP 2011. Editorial Board of Journal of Biological Dynamics.

Dec. 19, 2017

Post-doctoral research associate post in Computational Neuroscience, and PhD studentship in Computational Neuroimaging available

by Wong-Lin, Kongfatt

1. A BBSRC funded post-doctoral research associate post in Computational Neuroscience is available at Ulster University, UK. The research project, in collaboration with The University of Oxford, is focused on analyzing and modelling serotonin and related brain systems. For more info, please see: <https://lnkd.in/eDsv3_i> https://atsv7.wcn.co.uk/search_engine/jobs.cgi?SID=amNvZGU9MTcwMzk4MyZ2dF90… 2. A fully funded Ph.D. studentship in Computational Neuroimaging of Dementia is available at Ulster University. The research project involves close collaboration with academics, clinicians and industrial partners. For more info, please see: <https://lnkd.in/e3scQ_H> https://www.ulster.ac.uk/doctoralcollege/find-a-phd/238180 Please contact me for more information if interested in the post/studentship. Best KongFatt Wong-Lin -------------------------------- E-mail: k.wong-lin(a)ulster.ac.uk https://www.ulster.ac.uk/staff/k-wong-lin This email and any attachments are confidential and intended solely for the use of the addressee and may contain information which is covered by legal, professional or other privilege. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager at postmaster(a)ulster.ac.uk and delete this email immediately. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ulster University. The University's computer systems may be monitored and communications carried out on them may be recorded to secure the effective operation of the system and for other lawful purposes. Ulster University does not guarantee that this email or any attachments are free from viruses or 100% secure. Unless expressly stated in the body of a separate attachment, the text of email is not intended to form a binding contract. Correspondence to and from the University may be subject to requests for disclosure by 3rd parties under relevant legislation. The Ulster University was founded by Royal Charter in 1984 and is registered with company number RC000726 and VAT registered number GB672390524.The primary contact address for Ulster University in Northern Ireland is Cromore Road, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry BT52 1SA

Dec. 19, 2017

Python Exercises and Online textbook: Neuronal Dynamics

by Wulfram Gerstner

We have now finished a series of Python exercises for the book 'Neuronal Dynamics - from single neurons to populations and Models of Cognition' by Gerstner-Kistler-Naud-Paninski (Cambridge Univ. Press) To go directly to the exercises, click here http://neuronaldynamics.epfl.ch/exercises.html An html online version of the book for students (as well as some teaching material for lecturers) is available here: http://neuronaldynamics.epfl.ch <http://neuronaldynamics.epfl.ch/index.html> The pdf of the e-book and printed versions of the book are available via Amazon or Cambridge Univ. Press. The series of exercises has been tested in classes at the EPFL, but we thought that they might be also useful for students at other places, best regards Wulfram Gerstner, Alex Seeholzer, Marco Lehmann EPFL, Switzerland

Dec. 19, 2017

Open position: Coordinator Scientific Computing at Research Center Juelich, Germany

by Martina Reske

Dear Comp-Neuro community The Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM) investigates the structure and function of the human brain on different spatial and temporal scales within the research program “Decoding the Human Brain”. The brain’s high complexity and plasticity over the lifespan of an individual, as well as changes during neuropsychiatric disorders, requires the use of innovative imaging methods and supercomputing technology. Basic neuroscience research 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. Acquired knowledge allows for the translation of basic findings into clinical applications to better understand neurological and psychiatric disorders, to refine diagnostic processes, and to develop therapy strategies – crucial tasks we have to face in ageing societies. The department INM-6, Computational and Systems Neuroscience, develops mathematical models of neuronal dynamics and function. We are active in neuromorphic computing and develop simulation technologies and analysis tools. We are looking to recruit a Coordinator Scientific Computing Your Job: * Design and continuous advancement of a roadmap for scientific computing with regard to hard- and software * Designing a cloud infrastructure and digitized workflows in theoretical neuroscience * Studying international developments in hard- and software in the fields of simulation and data science in neuroscience * Planning, purchasing, set-up and management of UNIX, Linux, Mac OS and Windows systems, communication systems and software * Support of institute’s databases and online tools (webdav, git, wordpress, website); user management * Further development of simulation and analysis codes with regard to system near aspects * Measurement of energy-to-solution and time-to-solution of simulations and analysis codes for scientific studies * Direct support of scientists * Participation in working group leaders’ meeting * Participation in relevant IT committees at Forschungszentrum Juelich * Participation in educating staff in HPC aspects Your Profile: * Completed study of informatics, mathematics or physics * Substantial expertise in C, C++ and Python * Substantial knowledge of UNIX, Windows and Mac OS * Experience with administration of HPC clusters, file, web and print servers as well as with parallel computing (ideally in neuroscience) * Beneficial: Basic knowledge of neuroscience concepts * Ability and willingness to work independently and proactively * Confident appearance and ability to work cooperatively in an interdisciplinary environment * Good interpersonal and communication skills * Structured and systematic working style * Fluent in English (spoken and written) Our Offer: * International, interdisciplinary working environment on an attractive research campus, ideally situated between the cities of Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Aachen * A comprehensive further training Programme * Flexible working hours and various opportunities to reconcile work and family life * Limited for 2 years with possible longer-term prospects * 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 particulary 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, quoting the reference number 2017-321. Contact Human Resource Development and Recruiting Kristin Lux Tel.:+49 2461 61 9700 -- 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> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH 52425 Juelich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Juelich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Dueren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Dr. Karl Eugen Huthmacher Geschaeftsfuehrung: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Marquardt (Vorsitzender), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Harald Bolt, Prof. Dr. Sebastian M. Schmidt ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dec. 19, 2017

Operations Research in Neuroscience, Special Issue of Annals of Operations Research

by Ruben A. Tikidji-Hamburyan

Dear colleagues, [apologies for any crossposting] I would like to bring your attention to the special issue on applications of *Operations Research in Neuroscience* recently published in* Annals of Operations Research* Volume *258* Number 1 (Springer). ISSN: 0254-5330 (Print) 1572-9338 (Online) The volume is available online: https://link.springer.com/journal/10479/258/1?wt_mc=alerts.TOCjournals Please find the table of contents below. After a positive response from the journal and the publisher, we are planning to announce another special issue (SI) on the same topic in the same journal early next year. Please let me know if you are interested in contributing to this SI. Best Regards, Ruben ---- Ruben Tikidji-Hamburayn, Ph.D. =================================================================================== Preface *Operations research in neuroscience* Erik Kropat, Ruben A. Tikidji-Hamburyan… Pages 1-4 OR in Neuroscience *A bi-objective network design approach for discovering functional modules linking Golgi apparatus fragmentation and neuronal death* Eduardo Álvarez-Miranda, Hesso Farhan, Martin Luipersbeck… Pages 5-30 OR in Neuroscience *Voxel-MARS: a method for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease by classification of structural brain MRI* Alper Çevik, Gerhard-Wilhelm Weber, B. Murat Eyüboğlu… Pages 31-57 OR in Neuroscience *A semi-supervised inattention detection method using biological signal* Yerim Choi, Jonghun Park, Dongmin Shin Pages 59-78 OriginalPaper *Structure preserving integration and model order reduction of skew-gradient reaction–diffusion systems* Bülent Karasözen, Tuğba Küçükseyhan, Murat Uzunca Pages 79-106 OR in Neuroscience *Totally model-free actor-critic recurrent neural-network reinforcement learning in non-Markovian domains* Eiji Mizutani, Stuart Dreyfus Pages 107-131 OR in Neuroscience *A comparative stationarity analysis of EEG signals* V. Rasoulzadeh, E. C. Erkus, T. A. Yogurt, I. Ulusoy… Pages 133-157 OR in Neuroscience *Anti-periodic solutions for state-dependent impulsive recurrent neural networks with time-varying and continuously distributed delays* Mustafa Şaylı, Enes Yılmaz Pages 159-185

Dec. 19, 2017

Postdoc position in Bristol

by Cian O'Donnell

A postdoctoral position is available to work on statistical analysis and computational modelling of large-scale two-photon imaging data of neural population activity from rodent neocortex. This work is part of a Simons Foundation-funded project that seeks to compare the fidelity and stability of neural coding of sensory stimuli between wild-type mice and Fragile-X Syndrome mouse models. The project is a collaboration between the computational neuroscience group of Cian O’Donnell at University of Bristol (http://seis.bris.ac.uk/~co15268) where you will be based, and the experimental neuroscience group of Carlos Portera-Cailliau at University of California, Los Angeles (https://porteralab.neurology.ucla.edu) You will be part of the growing Bristol Computational Neuroscience Unit (http://www.bris.ac.uk/engineering/research/computational-neuroscience; faculty Rui Costa, Conor Houghton, Nathan Lepora, Naoki Masuda, Rosalyn Moran, and Cian O'Donnell). You should ideally have a PhD in Computational Neuroscience or Machine Learning/Statistics, but we will also accept applications from candidates with PhDs in related disciplines such as Neuroscience, Physics, Mathematics, or Engineering. This post is offered on a full time, open-ended contract with funding for up to 18 months in the first instance. You should be able to start on or before April 2018. Please email Cian O’Donnell (cian.odonnell(a)bristol.ac.uk<mailto:cian.odonnell@bristol.ac.uk>) for informal enquires. More application details here: http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/BGN179/research-associate-senior-research-associa….

Dec. 18, 2017

Open letter: A commitment to open source in neuroscience

by Andrew Davison

Dear colleagues, We would like to point the members of this list to an initiative which resulted from a workshop on collaborative model development <https://www.janelia.org/you-janelia/conferences/collaborative-development-d…> at Janelia Research Campus. A number of participants agreed to sign an open letter committing to releasing as open source all the software they develop for data analysis and modelling in their publications (whether or not the article is specifically about the software). The letter and current signatories can be found here: http://opensourceforneuroscience.org/ <http://opensourceforneuroscience.org/> A NeuroView article describing this initiative has just been published in Neuron: A Commitment to Open Source in Neuroscience <http://www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(17)30981-9>. While many on this list are already sold on the idea of making their own code publicly available, there is another significant statement in the open letter: "If and when asked to serve as peer-reviewers, we will henceforth ask authors about the availability of any code they have developed for data analysis and modelling which is essential to reproducing the results of their paper and require that this be shared publicly upon acceptance." We hope that this public commitment will make it clear to the wider neuroscience community that trying to publish work on the assumption that they will not have to release their code will become more and more difficult, and that the sooner they plan to make it available the better for them and for the wider field. Regards, Padraig Gleeson Andrew P. Davison R. Angus Silver Giorgio A. Ascoli

Dec. 18, 2017

Open position at Institute of Neuroinformatics (Zürich) / Institute of Neuroscience Paris Saclay (Orsay)

by Nicolas Giret

*PhD or Post-Doc for neuroscientist or engineer: neural population activity associated with a complex learned behavior* Dear all, We have an open position for a PhD student or Post-Doc at the interface of engineering and neuroscience. This is a collaborative effort between the Institute of Neuroinformatics (ETH Zurich, University of Zurich) and the Neuroscience Paris Saclay Institute (CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris Saclay). The goal of our collaboration is to study the principles of vocal learning and communication in songbirds. We combine diverse experimental and theoretical approaches to gain new insights into higher cognitive functions associated with complex vocal behaviors such as song learning. We are interested in decoding neural activity associated with song production and song learning in songbirds. We have recently developed a system for simultaneously recording from many neurons in freely behaving animals. Our miniature lightweight motorized 32-channel recording device incorporates novel carbon fiber electrodes, as described in (Guitchounts, Markowitz, Liberti, & Gardner, 2013). The project is to refine and put this technology to use to study the mysteries of neural population codes and to advance our understanding of how individual neurons contribute to forming a representation of motor plans and of sensory feedback. The engineering part of the work will be done in Zürich, Switzerland (~1/3) and the testing will be done in Orsay, France (~2/3). We are looking either for a PhD student (CHF 47040 starting salary, ~40 200€) or a Post-doc (CHF 80000 starting salary 100%, ~68 500€). Depending on the required training of the post-doc, the employment percentage is reduced to a value between 70 and 90%. Your Profile: You have a MSc degree in neuroscience, electrical engineering, physics, mathematics, biology, or computer science or you have a PhD in neuroscience or engineering. You are strongly interested in neuroscience. You have expertise in signal processing and machine learning. You like to collaborate with biologists and engineers in a nurturing environment. You can work independently and want to be part of a team that fosters flexibility and innovation. The ETH is an equal opportunity employer, we believe in people and their ability to innovate. If you want to apply for this position, feel inspired to send your application material to Prof. Richard Hahnloser (rich(a)ini.ethz.ch <mailto:rich@ini.ethz.ch>) and to Dr Nicolas Giret (nicolas.giret(a)u-psud.fr <mailto:nicolas.giret@u-psud.fr>). It would be great if you could circulate it around in your institute. Best regards, -Nicolas Giret- -- *Chargé de Recherche CNRS* Institut des Neurosciences Paris Saclay, UMR9197 <http://neuro-psi.cnrs.fr/> Université Paris Sud, Univ. Paris Saclay, bât. 446 Rue Claude Bernard 91405 Orsay cedex France 00331.69.15.49.75 Personal website <https://sites.google.com/site/nicolasgiret/>

Dec. 18, 2017

CFP, Special session - Hybrid Life: Approaches to integrate biological, artificial and cognitive systems, ALife 2018

by Manuel Baltieri

[Apologies for cross-posting] ********** Call for Papers ********** Special session - Hybrid Life: Approaches to integrate biological, artificial and cognitive systems https://sites.google.com/view/hybrid-life/ <https://sites.google.com/view/hybrid-life/> 2018 Artificial Life conference (ALife) Tokyo, JAPAN, 23-27 July 2018 - http://2018.alife.org/ <http://2018.alife.org/> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DESCRIPTION: The main focus of ALife research is the study of natural systems with the goal of understanding what life is. More concretely, ALife defines ways to investigate processes that contribute to the formation and proliferation of living organisms. In this session we focus on three common approaches to tackle this investigation, proposing ways to integrate, extend and possibly improve them. More specifically we refer to: 1) the formalisation of the necessary properties for the definition of life, 2) the implementation of artificial agents, and 3) the study of the relation between life and cognition. For this special session we propose to start from these well-established Alife methodologies, and extend them through: a unified formal language for the description and modelling of living, as well as artificial and cognitive systems, e.g. control theory, Bayesian inference, dynamical systems theory, etc., the exploration of biological creatures enhanced by artificial systems (or artificial systems augmented with organic parts) in order to investigate the boundaries between living and nonliving organisms, and the evaluation of coupled biological-artificial systems that could shed light on the importance of interactions among systems for the study of living and cognitive organisms. This special sessions aims to invite contributions from the fields of psychology, computational neuroscience, HCI, theoretical biology, artificial intelligence, robotics and cognitive science to discuss current research on the formalisation, combination and interaction of artificial/living/cognitive systems from theoretical, modelling and implementational perspectives. Potential topics include, but are not limited to: Formalisation of life and cognition (e.g. dynamical systems theory, stochastic optimal control, Bayesian inference, etc.) Cognitive robotics Autopoiesis Life-mind continuity thesis Systems biology Origins-of-life theories with relationships to artificial and cognitive systems Animal-robot interaction Bio-inspired robotics Bio-integrated robotics Human-machine interaction Augmented cognition Sensory substitution Interactive evolutionary computation Artificial perception Important Dates 19th March 2018 – Paper submission deadline 23rd April 2018 – Paper acceptance notification 21st May 2018 – Camera-ready version 23-27th July 2018 – Artificial Life conference (ALife), Tokyo, Japan Paper Submission Papers and abstracts submitted to this special sessions will be reviewed by a selected group of experts from the a-life community as well as from other areas key to our proposal, specifically chosen for this review process. If you are submitting to a special session you will be given the opportunity to select it during the submission process. Submissions to special sessions follow the same format, instructions and deadlines of regular ALife papers. Organizers Manuel Baltieri, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK. m.baltieri(a)sussex.ac.uk <mailto:m.baltieri@sussex.ac.uk> Keisuke Suzuki, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK. k.suzuki(a)sussex.ac.uk <mailto:filippo.m.bianchi@uit.no> Hiryuki IIzuka, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan hiroyukiiizuka(a)gmail.com <mailto:hiroyukiiizuka@gmail.com> Contacts For questions, enquiries and more information please check our website https://sites.google.com/view/hybrid-life/ <https://sites.google.com/view/hybrid-life/> or get in touch with m.baltieri(a)sussex.ac.uk <mailto:m.baltieri@sussex.ac.uk>. All the best, -- Manuel Baltieri, EASy group Department of Informatics, University of Sussex, UK Twitter: @manuelbaltieri

Dec. 18, 2017

[jobs] Postdoctoral Research Fellow position in machine learning / robotics / computational neuroscience at QUT funded by Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development (AOARD)

by Michael Milford

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to continue research at QUT on the Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development (AOARD)-funded research project "An infinitely scalable learning and recognition network". The role involves developing neuroscience-based machine learning systems to create highly compressible and scalable learning and recall systems for autonomous systems. In particular, we are modelling the multi-scale, periodic encoding properties of grid cells found in the mammalian brain to create sub-linear scaling mapping and localization systems, and then expanding these systems into other sensory domains including sound. The project has collaborative partners at Harvard and Uni Notre Dame in neuroscience, computer vision and machine learning. The role requires strong mathematical, machine learning, computer vision and large dataset processing skills, as well as paper writing and oral presentation experience. This appointment will be offered on a fixed- term, full-time basis for 1 (one) year. Pending further funding outcomes, the appointment may be extendable by another year. Apply and Enquiries To express an interest in the role or for any enquiries, please e-mail michael.milford(a)qut.edu.au<mailto:michael.milford@qut.edu.au> with the subject line "infinitemapping" and include: - a one page cover letter detailing your interest in and experience for the role, and the earliest date you could feasibly start, - a detailed resume including details of past research, and - a link to your Google Scholar profile. Applications close January 15th 2018. Best regards, Michael Milford Professor of Robotics, Queensland University of Technology

Dec. 18, 2017

EPFL: faculty position in computational neuroscience

by Wulfram Gerstner

The School of Life Sciences of the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) invites applications for an Assistant Professor (tenure track) position in Computational Neuroscience. In exceptional cases, appointment at the level of associate or full professor may also be considered. for details see: https://professeurs.epfl.ch/page-152604-fr.html Kind regards Wulfram Gerstner E-mail for enquiries regarding this position: bmi-search2(a)epfl.ch <mailto:bmi-search2@epfl.ch>

Dec. 14, 2017

CFP: Special Session on “Neural Models for Behavior IJCNN 2018

by Pablo Barros

Call for papers: special session on “Neural Models for Behavior Recognition” at IJCNN 2018 - http://www.ecomp.poli.br/~wcci2018/ International Joint Conference on Neural Networks, hosted at IEEE World Congress on Computational Intelligence (IEEE WCCI 2018) 8-13 July 2018, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Special Session on Neural Models for Behavior Recognition Organized by: Pablo Barros (Universität Hamburg, Germany), Bruno Fernandes (Universidade de Pernambuco, Brazil) and Stefan Wermter (Universität Hamburg, Germany) Categorizing and, to a certain degree, understanding human behavior is an important skill for autonomous systems. A robot able to identify whether a person needs help, an autonomous car to perceive whether a pedestrian is crossing the road, or a camera to localize someone in danger need a robust and reliable human behavior understanding. Although many different solutions have appeared in the past years, most of them do not take longer contextual information into consideration, usually only relying on instantaneous or short-context scenarios which limits the applicability of such systems in a real-world scenario. The potential of having neural models that take into consideration contextual information is substantial and it would be beneficial to develop this technology further for this field. To have a system which is capable of learning, understanding and generalizing human behavior within a longer contextual scene is a challenging task. With recent neural computing technologies, such as training and understanding deep neural networks, life-long learning and unsupervised approaches, to name a few, we believe that autonomous systems which are capable of learning from long-context human behavior are feasible. This kind of processing would provide contextual information which would be beneficial to understanding and acting in real-world scenarios. We invite papers on both practical and theoretical issues about neural learning for behavior recognition. In particular, topics of interest include, but are not limited to: - Gesture processing, recognition and/or generation - Models for emotional behavior analysis and/or understanding - Speech based sentiment analysis and/or dialog processing - Action recognition and/or generation - Crossmodal human behavior learning - Temporal architectures for human behavior learning - Emotional feedback and modulation in decision-making processes - Life-long learning for human behavior processing Submitted papers will be reviewed according to the IJCNN reviewing process and will be evaluated on their scientific value: originality, correctness, and writing style. More details: http://www.ecomp.poli.br/~wcci2018/submissions/#papersubmission IMPORTANT DATES: Paper submission: 15th January 2018 Paper acceptance: 15th March 2018 Final paper submission: 1st May 2018 Early registration: 1st May 2018 IEEE WCCI 2018 conference: 8-13 July 2018 Dr. rer. nat. Pablo Barros Knowledge Technology Department of Informatics University of Hamburg barros at informatik.uni-hamburg.de https://www.inf.uni-hamburg.de/en/inst/ab/wtm/people/barros.html https://www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/wtm/ -- Dr.rer.nat. Pablo Barros Research Associate Knowledge Technology Department of Informatics University of Hamburg Vogt-Koelln-Str. 30 22527 Hamburg, Germany Phone: +49 40 42883 2535 Fax: +49 40 42883 2515 barros at informatik.uni-hamburg.de https://www.inf.uni-hamburg.de/en/inst/ab/wtm/people/barros.html www.knowledge-technology.info

Dec. 14, 2017

PhD studentship in Biocomputation Research Group, Centre for Computer Science and Informatics Research, University of Hertfordshire

by Shabnam Kadir

Applications are invited for a *PhD studentship* on *Computational frameworks for high-dimensional neural data* with *Dr. Shabnam Kadir *in the *Biocomputation Research Group* in the Centre for Computer Science and Informatics Research, University of Hertfordshire, U.K. *Project Description* New developments in experimental technology have led to petabytes of raw data being produced by experimental neuroscientists, which are increasingly publicly available, e.g. Allen Institute data http://www.brain-map.org/. In particular, we are in the realm where population recordings of tens of thousands of neurons are feasible thanks to, e.g. a new generation of large dense probes for electrophysiological recordings, imaging using 2-photon microscopy coupled with calcium fluorescent sensors. Large scale neuronal recordings require novel approaches for both processing and quantitative analysis. As well as using techniques from high-dimensional statistics, machine learning, information theory, we aim to explore new approaches from mathematical fields outside statistics, such as algebraic topology. The study of networks is a particularly important topic in neuroscience: neurons communicate with each other electrically via synapses, forming intricate networks. These networks can be studied using techniques from computational topology (e.g. persistent homology, clique topology). These could be used to extract information about subnetworks and assemblies, both from large scale recordings, and via connectomics derived from simulations (Blue Brain Project). We aim in this project to go beyond spike sorting and develop new tools and computational frameworks which would help interpret high dimensional data and interrogate how information is being processed by the brain, e.g. How are sensory stimuli (location in environment, visual and auditory stimuli) encoded? How can we characterise the neural activity associated with memory, attention, decision making and motor control? We shall be collaborating with labs at Imperial, Pennsylvania State University and UCL. More information can be found here: http://www.herts.ac.uk/_ _data/assets/pdf_file/0003/187455/Dec2017-computational-frameworks-for-high- dimensional-neural-data.pdf *Requirements * We are looking for candidates with the following profile: - Strong first degree in a quantitative field such as mathematics, physics, computer science, engineering, computational neuroscience. - Strong programming skills (e.g. Python, MATLAB, C++). - Interest in neuroscience and biology would be helpful. A studentship from the PhD Programme in Computer Science provides approximately £14,550 per annum bursary plus the payment of student fees. Applicants from outside the UK or EU are eligible. Research in Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire has been recognised as excellent in the latest Research Excellence Framework Assessment, with 50% of the research submitted rated as internationally excellent or world-leading. The Centre for Computer Science and Informatics Research provides a very stimulating environment, offering a large number of specialised and interdisciplinary seminars as well as general training and researcher development opportunities. The University is situated in Hatfield, in the green belt just north of London. Please contact *Dr Shabnam Kadir* (shabnam.kadir(a)imperial.ac.uk) for informal enquiries. Application forms are available under http://www.herts.ac.uk/apply/schools-of-study/computer-science/our-research/ the-phd-programme-in-computer-science and should be returned to Mrs Lorraine Nicholls and Mrs Emma Thorogood, Research Student Administrators, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, Hatfield, Herts, AL10 9AB, Tel: 01707 286083, doctoralcollegeadmissions(a)herts.ac.uk. The short-listing process will begin on 8 January 2018. The earliest start date will be mid-April 2018. -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Shabnam Kadir Department of Bioengineering Imperial College London Royal School of Mines Exhibition Road London, SW7 2AZ United Kingdom ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dec. 14, 2017

Connectome to Behaviour Discussion Meeting, London January 29th-31st 2018

by Stephen Larson

Hi all, The Royal Society is hosting a 2-day discussion meeting on the topic of *Connectome to behaviour: modelling C. elegans at cellular resolution*. The meeting is an interdisciplinary look at the future of data collection for and simulation of the only complete adult nervous system that has been mapped at EM resolution. Free registration is available on the website: https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2018/01/mind-of-a-worm/ Additional events related to the OpenWorm Foundation (http://openworm.org) will occur the day following the discussion meeting, also in London. More details available here: http://blog.openworm.org/post/168271424220/royal-society-meeting-open-house… Please register for any events you plan to attend so we can get a good head count. I hope to see you in London! Best, Stephen -- Stephen D. Larson, Ph.D OpenWorm Project Director http://openworm.org

Dec. 13, 2017

Complex Oscillatory Systems conference AMCOS, Barcelona March 2018 - 1 week until abstract submission deadline!

by AMCOS Conference

*ONLY 1 WEEK UNTIL ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE* *AMCOS – ANALYSIS AND MODELING OF COMPLEX OSCILLATORY SYSTEMS* March 19-23, 2018 Barcelona, Spain The *AMCOS conference* aims at bringing together renowned experts and young researchers who work on the modeling of complex systems and the emergence of collective phenomena, as well as on the analysis of complex data sets in order to infer structure and functionality of networks. Accompanying TUTORIALS by leading experts will interactively introduce the different conference themes. Do you want to present your work? *Abstract submission deadline is in 1 week**.* More info at amcosconference.com. *DATE AND VENUE* March 19, 2018 March 20 - 23, 2018 PRBB <http://www.prbb.org/>, Biomedical Research Park of Barcelona *KEYNOTE SPEAKERS* - Leon Glass, - Damian H. Zanette. *LIST OF SPEAKERS (*TBC)* - Peter Ashwin, - Ernest Barreto, - Ginestra Bianconi*, - Raffaella Burioni, - Dante R. Chialvo, - Gustavo Deco, - Albert Díaz-Guilera, - Jordi Garcia-Ojalvo, - Wulfram Gerstner*, - Sonja Grün, - Cristina Masoller, - Yamir Moreno, - Florian Mormann, - Hiroya Nakao, - Diego Pazó , - Juan G. Restrepo , - Alex Roxin, - Tilo Schwalger. *TOPICS COVERED* synchronization and nonlinear dynamics - dynamics on networks - connectivity and network inference - data analysis in neuroscience - critical phenomena - neural field models - computational neuroscience - complex oscillatory behaviour in physiology *TUTORIALS* Leading experts in the field will introduce the different conference themes interactively in tutorials on the first day of the conference week. The speakers are: - Ralph G. Andrzejak, - Arkady Pikovsky, - Michael Rosenblum, - Aneta Stefanovska. A (tentative) list of topics comprises basic theory of synchronization, synchronization approach to data analysis, basic concepts of nonlinear time series analysis, and time series analysis of non-autonomous dynamics. The participants are required to bring laptops installed with MATLAB/Octave if they want to take part in the practical activities. ORGANIZERS The doctoral students (Early Stage Researchers <http://www.uni-potsdam.de/cosmos-itn/people/early-stage-researchers-esrs/>) of the H2020 Marie Curie project COSMOS <http://www.uni-potsdam.de/cosmos-itn/>. For further information see amcosconference.com or contact us via e-mail <amcosconference(a)upf.edu>. Please forward to anyone interested. Follow us on social media. Twitter: @amcosconference <https://twitter.com/amcosconference> Facebook: amcosconference <https://www.facebook.com/amcosconference/>

Dec. 13, 2017