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post-doc position at the center for sleep and consciousness in the integrated information theory (IIT) group (Prof. Giulio Tononi)
by Larissa Albantakis Dec. 9, 2015

Dec. 9, 2015

*Post-doc position(s) at the Center for Sleep and Consciousness * Prof. Giulio Tononi, University of Wisconsin, Madison Several postdoctoral positions are available at the center for sleep and consciousness science in the laboratory of Prof. Giulio Tononi (University of Wisconsin, Madison, http://integratedinformationtheory.org/) to study information and causation within the framework of the integrated information theory. Immediate funding is available for a range of projects on foundational questions regarding information, causation, emergence, adaptation, evolution and complexity, especially in the context of neural networks. Candidates are expected to have strong training in an analytically rigorous discipline such as theoretical biology/neuroscience, physics, mathematics, computer science, or engineering. We explicitly encourage mathematicians to apply. Experience in information theory, complex systems, and an interest in the philosophy of causation are a plus. Programming experience is required (knowledge of MATLAB, Python, and/or C++ is of advantage). Appointments are renewable from year to year for up to 3 years, starting as soon as possible or until the positions are filled. Post-doc salaries correspond to the National Institutes of Health National Research Service Award (NRSA) stipend schedule for postdoc trainees, based on number of years of postdoctoral experience. Candidates should send a CV, brief statement of previous research and future research interests, and email addresses and phone numbers of three references to: Giulio Tononi, gtononi(a)wisc.edu. For more information contact Larissa Albantakis (albantakis(a)wisc.edu) or William Marshall (wmarshall3(a)wisc.edu) Albantakis L, Hintze A, Koch C, Adami C, Tononi G (2014) Evoluation of Integrated Causal Structures in Animats Exposed to Environments of Increasing Complexity. PLoS Comput Biol 10(12):e1003966 Oizumi M, Albantakis L, Tononi G (2014) From the Phenomenology to the Mechanisms of Consciousness: Integrated Information Theory 3.0. PLoS Comput Biol 10(5):e1003588 Hoel EP, Albantakis L, Tononi G (2013) Quantifying causal emergence shows that macro can beat micro. PNAS, 110(49), 19790–19795. Albantakis L, Tononi G (2015) The Intrinsic Cause-Effect Power of Discrete Dynamical Systems—From Elementary Cellular Automata to Adapting Animats. Entropy 17.8 (2015): 5472-5502. -- Larissa Albantakis, PhD Department of Psychiatry University of Wisconsin 6001 Research Park Blvd Madison, WI 53719

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Announcement: Groningen Spring School on Cognitive Modeling
by Jelmer Borst Dec. 9, 2015

Dec. 9, 2015

Groningen Spring School on Cognitive Modeling – ACT-R, Nengo, PRIMs, & Accumulator Models – Date: April 4-8, 2016 Location: Groningen, the Netherlands Fee: € 200 (late fee €50 after January 31) Registration: www.ai.rug.nl/springschool <http://www.ai.rug.nl/springschool> The Groningen Spring School on Cognitive Modeling 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. Each day will consist of four theory lectures, one on each paradigm. Each modeling paradigm also includes hands-on assignments. Although students are free to chose the number of lectures they attend, we recommend students to sign up for lectures on two of the modeling 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. Admission is limited, so register soon! ACT-R Teachers: Jelmer Borst, Hedderik van Rijn, Niels Taatgen (University of Groningen) Website: http://act-r.psy.cmu.edu <http://act-r.psy.cmu.edu/>. ACT-R is a high-level cognitive theory and simulation system for developing cognitive models for tasks that vary from simple reaction time experiments to driving a car, learning algebra, and air traffic control. ACT-R can be used to develop process models of a task at a symbolic level. Participants will follow a compressed five-day version of the traditional summer school curriculum. We will also cover the connection between ACT-R and fMRI, and the timing extension to ACT-R. Nengo Teacher: Terry Stewart (University of Waterloo) Website: http://www.nengo.ca <http://www.nengo.ca/> Nengo is a toolkit for converting high-level cognitive theories into low-level spiking neuron implementations. In this way, aspects of model performance such as response accuracy and reaction times emerge as a consequence of neural parameters such as the neurotransmitter time constants. It has been used to model adaptive motor control, visual attention, serial list memory, reinforcement learning, Tower of Hanoi, and fluid intelligence. Participants will learn to construct these kinds of models, starting with generic tasks like representing values and positions, and ending with full production-like systems. There will also be special emphasis on extracting various forms of data out of a model, such that it can be compared to experimental data. PRIMs Teacher: Niels Taatgen (University of Groningen) Website: http://www.ai.rug.nl/~niels/actransfer.html <http://www.ai.rug.nl/~niels/actransfer.html> How do people handle and prioritize multiple tasks? How can we learn something in the context of one task, and partially benefit from it in another task? The goal of PRIMs is to cross the artificial boundary that most cognitive architectures have imposed on themselves by studying single tasks. It has mechanisms to model transfer of cognitive skills, and the competition between multiple goals. In the tutorial we will look at how PRIMs can model phenomena of cognitive transfer and cognitive training, and how multiple goals compete for priority in models of distraction. Accumulator Models Teacher: Marieke van Vugt (University of Groningen) Decisions can be described in terms of a process of evidence accumulation, modeled with a drift diffusion mechanism. The advantage of redescribing the behavioral data with an accumulator model is that those can be decomposed into more easily-interpretable cognitive mechanisms such as speed-accuracy trade-off or quality of attention. In this course, you will learn about the basic mechanisms of drift diffusion models and apply it to your own dataset (if you bring one). You will also see some applications of accumulator models in the context of neuroscience and individual differences.

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PhD studentship in visual decision making
by Ronald van den Berg Dec. 9, 2015

Dec. 9, 2015

Applications are invited for a 4-year PhD student position on visual decision making at the department of Psychology at Uppsala University. The project investigates how humans make decisions under multiple simultaneous sources of uncertainty, by means of computational and psychophysical methods. Applicants should have a master’s degree in psychology or a related field. Experience with statistical models and computer programming is highly desirable but not necessary. More information about the position and the application procedure can be found at http://www.uu.se/en/about-uu/join-us/details/?positionId=82654. The deadline for application is 4 January 2016. Informal inquiries are welcome at ronald.vandenberg(a)psyk.uu.se.

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Postdoctoral position in Computational Neuroscience at the Italian Institute of Technology to study origin and function of slow cortical oscillations
by Stefano Panzeri Dec. 9, 2015

Dec. 9, 2015

*Postdoctoral position in Computational Neuroscience at the Italian Institute of Technology to study origin and function of slow cortical oscillations* We are soliciting applications a new postdoctoral position in computational neuroscience in the newly established and highly interdisciplinary Neural Coding Laboratory at the IIT. This laboratory, jointly supervised by Stefano Panzeri and Tommaso Fellin, aims at combining experiments and mathematics to crack the neural code. The successful candidate will develop and use tools for the analysis of joint recordings of field potentials and single-neuron activity from genetically identified cell types in the cortex to understand the causal contribution of specific cellular subpopulations to the generation of slow oscillations. The project will also require the development of computational models that may explain the contribution of specific cell types to slow oscillations. The laboratory offers a range of strongly interdisciplinary and highly complementary expertise including computational neuroscience, electrophysiology and optogenetics. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to analyze experimental data and to suggest causal manipulations based on the predictions that arise from the theoretical work. The applicants should have a strong background in numerate sciences, be highly independent and have a strong propensity for interdisciplinary research. Experience in or understanding of experimental neuroscience is desirable, but not necessary. Candidates must hold a PhD in computational neuroscience, (bio)-physics, (bio)-engineering or a related discipline and be highly motivated and creative individuals who want to work in a dynamic, multi-disciplinary research environment and who are willing to interact with both experimental and theoretical neuroscientists. For reference to recent work of the PIs please see Zuo et al. Cur. Biol. 2015; Panzeri et al. Trends Cogn. Neurosci. 2015; Bovetti and Fellin, J. Neurosci. Methods 2015; Einevoll et al. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 2013; Beltramo et al., Nat. Neurosci. 2013. Applications (full CV, two recommendation letters and statement of research interest) should be sent by email to Dr. Stefano Panzeri ( stefano.panzeri(a)iit.it <https://mail.iit.it/owa/redir.aspx?C=oajclq8rPE6FcMCJ-lI1Hsu55NFH69II9YBluB…>) and Dr. Tommaso Fellin (tommaso.fellin(a)iit.it <https://mail.iit.it/owa/redir.aspx?C=oajclq8rPE6FcMCJ-lI1Hsu55NFH69II9YBluB…> ).

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fully funded 4-year phd studentship - functional network analysis of EEG (application deadline next monday - 14th December!
by Allan, Dr Kevin Dec. 8, 2015

Dec. 8, 2015

A fully-funded 4-year phd studentship (start date: October 2016) is available at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, to work in the School of Psychology EEG Laboratory with Dr Kevin Allan and Professor Bjoern Schelter. Please note the tight deadline for applications: Monday, 14th December! The position is open to UK/EU nationals only. More details below (or see http://www.abdn.ac.uk/clsm/graduate/research/psychological-states-1135.php) If you are interested, and want to find out more, please get in touch with me (Kevin Allan, k.allan(a)abdn.ac.uk) Title: Investigating functional brain networks and psychological states in real-time We are looking for a highly numerate individual, ideally one experienced with EEGlab, matlab, mathematica or R, to help us implement a novel EEG network analysis tool, and then test it in a series of studies examining encoding and retrieval networks involved in episodic memory. The project is a cross-disciplinary collaboration between Dr Allan, a cognitive neuroscientist based in the Aberdeen School of Psychology, and Prof. Schelter, a physicist based in the Aberdeen Institute for Complex Systems and Mathematical Biology. The project also has the backing of an industrial partner, Tau-Rx, a University of Aberdeen spinout company working on pharmacological treatments for dementia, and the student will be offered a substantial placement with Tau-Rx during their PhD where the opportunity will be given to apply skills learned to estimate functional network structure in patients and healthy controls from clinical EEG data. A key element of the project is to optimise and implement a new, highly efficient network analysis tool to perform Granger causality analysis upon data as it is being collected, and to display the outputs of the model within a bespoke visualisation tool. This will require training in the matlab and mathematica software packages, EEG data collection hardware and software, as well as the mathematical basis of the analysis, all of which will be provided by Dr Allan, Prof. Schelter and their post-docs. The EEG Lab in the School of Psychology contains all the necessary EEG recording hardware, software and expertise to support the project. In years 2 - 4 the student will receive further scientific and business-related training during a placement with the industrial partner, Tau-Rx. During their placement the student will be given the opportunity to work with a team of researchers involved in the analysis of EEG data from clinical trials of drug therapies for Alzheimer's and fronto-temporal dementia. The University of Aberdeen is a charity registered in Scotland, No SC013683. Tha Oilthigh Obar Dheathain na charthannas clàraichte ann an Alba, Àir. SC013683.

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PhD position in computational neuroscience available for project "Learning to hear with plasticity across multiple timescales" at Imperial College London
by Dan Goodman Dec. 8, 2015

Dec. 8, 2015

A PhD position is available as part of the Neurotechnology centre for doctoral training at Imperial College London, jointly supervised by Dan Goodman, Paul Chadderton, Claudia Clopath and in collaboration with Agnes Leger: - http://neural-reckoning.org/ - http://www.bg.ic.ac.uk/research/p.chadderton/ChaddertonLab/Home.html - http://www.bg.ic.ac.uk/research/c.clopath/ - http://www.psych-sci.manchester.ac.uk/staff/Agnes.Leger The title of the project is "Learning to hear with plasticity across multiple timescales", and it aims at understanding how the brain adapts and learns to cope with difficult listening situations (e.g. a crowded pub or restaurant), and applying this to developing new technology (e.g. for speech recognition). It will involve (1) developing mathematical and computational models of hearing and neural adaptation and plasticity, (2) experimental testing (including animal electrophysiology and human psychoacoustics), and (3) technology development for speech recognition, hearing aids and cochlear implants. The candidate should be willing to learn experimental techniques (animal electrophysiology and/or human psychophysics), but is not required to have any previous experience. The PhD programme is fully funded for four years, of which the first year is a taught MRes course. In addition to working within the centre, studying at Imperial College provides excellent opportunities for interacting with other theoretical and experimental researchers, both at Imperial (recently ranked 8th in the world in the QS world university rankings) and in the many neuroscience groups in London. Note that unfortunately funding for non-UK/EU residents is quite limited and there will therefore be stronger competition for these places. For more details on this project, the centre, and how to apply: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/neurotechnology/cdt/projects/hear_with_plasticity/ Dan Goodman

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IBM Journal of R&D, Special Issue on "Computational Neuroscience"
by James R Kozloski Dec. 8, 2015

Dec. 8, 2015

Call for Papers IBM Journal of Research and Development Special Issue on "Computational Neuroscience" Overview Understanding the brain's dynamics is of central importance to neuroscience. Our ability to observe, model, and infer from neuroscientific data the principles and mechanisms of brain dynamics will determine our ability to understand the brain's unusual cognitive and behavioral capabilities. In the nearer term, analysis and prediction of changes to these dynamics, observed in vast new datasets and rendered in large scale simulations, are beginning to facilitate applications in important societal areas such as education, aging, assistive technology, and the treatment of disease. The explosion in new data about brain and neural tissue dynamics and development leads us to propose this special issue of the IBM Journal of Research and Development, which will emphasize new solutions, models, capabilities, and other technologies that advance the analysis of neuroscientific data and the application of predictive models to anticipate changes in brain function, cognition, and behavior. We solicit Abstracts (paper proposals) in the following areas: Potential Focus Areas for Papers Applications of machine learning algorithms to prediction in neuroscience Analysis of behavioral dynamics Analysis of brain and neural circuit image and time-series data Analysis of physiological data Models and computational simulations of brain and neural circuit dynamics Applications of models for better understanding of mental health, real-world behaviors, and perceptual and cognitive states The development of assistive technologies based on cognitive or brain-inspired models IBM Journal Manuscript Preparation Guidelines The Journal is peer reviewed -- all papers will be sent to several experts to be reviewed before a final publication decision is made. All papers must place the described research and results in perspective by carefully citing relevant related scientific work. Contact Cliff Pickover (cliffp(a)us.ibm.com ), or visit the journal web site, for the manuscript preparation template: http://www.research.ibm.com/journal/rdauth.html Contact Information Guest editors for the issue are James Kozloski and Guillermo Cecchi. Authors should indicate their interest in submitting a paper by sending a preliminary abstract to journal Editor-in-Chief Cliff Pickover ( cliffp(a)us.ibm.com) copying co-guest editor James Kozloski ( kozloski(a)us.ibm.com) -- by January 15, 2016. You must submit an abstract to be considered for this issue, and we will notify you when your abstract is accepted. Important Deadlines and Schedule - January 15, 2016: Preliminary Abstracts Due (tentative article title, author names/affiliations, 1 paragraph description) - May 15, 2016: Final Paper Draft Due (if your abstract is accepted) - March, 2017: Special Issue Published (every paper will be on-line by this date) ____________________________________________ James Kozloski Research Staff Member Master Inventor T.J. Watson Research Center 1101 Kitchawan Rd., 13-132E Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 Tel +1 914 945 3982 Mobile +1 203 231 6187 ibm.co/kozloski

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IBM Research, Postdoctoral Entry Research Position
by James R Kozloski Dec. 7, 2015

Dec. 7, 2015

IBM Research is undertaking a project to characterize and implement models of the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical system. This work will develop and implement models of systems in the normal and diseased brain, including portions of cerebral cortex, thalamus, basal ganglia, and dopaminergic nuclei, as point neuron network and then neural tissue simulations. The models will serve as a test bed for simulation studies in subsequent projects. Using these models, candidate system-level failure modes consistent with disease states will be identified and analyzed. Simulations will provide a tool for quantifying brain system homeostasis, evaluating risk, and developing potential strategies to mitigate the effects of disease. Categorization of simulated brain states and of key measurements from these states will be directed towards helping test several core hypotheses along with experimental collaborators. IBM is seeking a Post Doctoral Researcher with a degree in bioengineering, neuroscience, computer science, mathematics, physics or similar field. Candidates should have a proven neuroscience background, experience analyzing neural systems data, and the modeling and simulation of neural circuits, including neuroplasticity and conductance-based models. Preferred Candidates will have: Experience in computational neuroscience or data analytics Experience in neuroscience Basic knowledge in models of Neural Plasticity and Calcium Dynamics Experience in programming (C++, Matlab, Python) Please apply at the following IBM Careers - Job details link: https://krb-sjobs.brassring.com/tgwebhost/jobdetails.aspx?jobId=23341&Partn…

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Computational Neuroscience Graduate Positions available at the University of Minnesota
by David Redish Dec. 7, 2015

Dec. 7, 2015

*The Neuroengineering IGERT Training Program at the University of Minnesota, funded by the National Science Foundation, is inviting outstanding students to apply through the Graduate Program in Neuroscience or the Biomedical Engineering Program. The IGERT program is aimed at training the next generation of scientific and technical leaders in the interface of engineering and systems neurosciences, as broadly defined. The training themes include: * 1) Neural decoding - Computational and theoretical neuroscience and neuroengineering studies on decoding theory, methods, as pursued via animal models or human studies. Neuroimaging is also pursued as means of brain decoding. 2) Neural modulation - Mechanisms of neuromodulation in brains for both deep brain stimulation and transcranial stimulations. 3) Neural interfacing - Mechanisms of motor control and learning as applied to brain-machine interface, as pursued in animal models and humans. Outstanding training opportunities include mentoring by co-advisors from over 40 faculty across engineering and brain sciences, a new neuroengineering minor curriculum, industrial and international internships, and general stipend and tuition coverage. Visit the IGERT program website to find out more: http://www.igert-ne.umn.edu/ *==========================================================More information:Become the future of systems neuroengineering.* The University of Minnesota is home to an Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship *(IGERT) program in Systems Neuroengineering*, sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Bright, high-achieving students who are admitted to a University of Minnesota’s Ph.D. program in Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Neuroscience are eligible for this prestigious training program. The program provides a generous stipend and tuition coverage as well as access to cutting-edge research in neuroengineering. Minnesota is also home to the largest collection of medical device manufacturers in the world and our program provides opportunities for IGERT trainees to gain practical experience working with these companies. Through our education and research-training model, students in our program learn to develop the skills to revolutionize neurotechnologies and advance our understanding of neuroscience processes underlying these technologies. *Program Faculty* The Systems Neuroengineering IGERT Program has over 40 outstanding faculty members who have made significant contributions to neural decoding, neuromodulation, neural interfacing, and neuroimaging research, and who are committed to graduate training. Many of them are world class leaders who have shaped where the field is in cutting-edge research, including noninvasive brain-computer interface controlling quadcopter, deep-brain stimulation, high field MRI imaging, and dynamic brain mapping. *Key Program Features* - Choice of research advisors from over 40 participating training faculty across engineering and brain sciences - Joint faculty mentoring and team advising of research - Tailored neuroengineering graduate curriculum - Lab rotations in engineering and basic/clinical brain sciences - Industrial internship rotations - Generous stipend ($30,000/year for up to two years on IGERT program) and tuition coverage *Eligibility Requirements* Trainees must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents who have been admitted to one of the four participating University of Minnesota doctoral programs: *Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering,* and *Neuroscience.* For more information on this highly selective training program and how to apply, please visit our website at http://www.igert-ne.umn.edu/, or contact us at igert-ne(a)umn.edu.

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PhD in computational neuroscience at Oxford
by Rafal Bogacz Dec. 7, 2015

Dec. 7, 2015

Dear Colleagues, We are looking for a highly motivated and creative candidate for doctoral studies in computational neuroscience, to start in October 2016. The research project will employ computational methods to investigate how to best control neural circuits affected by Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor with different forms of electrical stimulation, such as "deep brain stimulation" or transcranial electric current stimulation. The work will involve building statistical or dynamical models that can predict responses to stimulation and inform on optimal stimulation protocols. This Ph.D. (D.Phil.) studentship is funded by the Medical Research Council and will cover Oxford University and College fees at the home/EU rate as well as providing a stipend at the current RCUK rates (£14,057 p.a.) for 3 years. The project will be supervised by Rafal Bogacz and will be carried out within the interdisciplinary team of the MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit. The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on Friday 8th January 2016. More details can be found at: http://www.mrcbndu.ox.ac.uk/vacancies/phd-studentship-computational-neurosc… Best wishes, Rafal

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PhD Studentships in Computational Neuroscience at the University of Hertfordshire
by Torben-Nielsen, Benjamin Dec. 5, 2015

Dec. 5, 2015

PhD Studentships in Computational Neuroscience We welcome applications for a funded PhD position in the Biocomputation Research Group at the University of Hertfordshire. The successful applicant will work on a project related to modeling the structure and physiological function of the inferior olive. The inferior olive is an important part of the olivo-cerebellar circuitry as its axons, the climbing fibers, play a central role in all theories of cerebellar learning. Further, the inferior olive has been postulated to act as a clock for the brain. In this project, we aim to use an accurate structural model of the inferior olive to investigate, in silico, recent hypotheses related to the generation and maintenance of timing signals. An integral part of this project involves the further development of the NeuroMac software to generate structural models of the inferior olive. Please refer to the publication list of the Biocomputation Group website (http://biocomputation.herts.ac.uk/) for recent publications. Who are we looking for? - Candidates should have excellent programming skills (preferably also in Python) and familiarity with parallel and high-performance computing and visualization toolkits (such as VTK) is appreciated. - Candidates should possess great curiosity. - Candidates should be able to formulate their own questions about the circuitry and dynamics in the olivo-cerebellar system to direct their research efforts. Knowledge of neuroscience is a plus but the eagerness to learn about the brain and how to use scientific approaches (such as computational neuroscience and neuroinformatics) is considered pivotal. Successful candidates are eligible for a research studentship award from the University (approximately GBP 13,800 per annum bursary plus the payment of the standard UK student fees). Applicants from outside the UK or EU are eligible, but will have to pay half of the overseas fees out of their bursary. Research in Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire has been recognized as excellent by the latest Research Excellent Framework Assessment, with 50% of the research submitted being rated as world leading or internationally excellent.The Science and Technology Research Institute provides a very stimulating environment, offering a large number of specialized and interdisciplinary seminars as well as general training and researcher development opportunities. The University of Hertfordshire is situated in Hatfield, in the green belt just north of London. The student will be supervised by Drs. Ben Torben-Nielsen (b.torben-nielsen(a)herts.ac.uk) and Volker Steuber (v.steuber(a)herts.ac.uk) to whom informal enquiries can be sent. Application forms can be obtained from Mrs Lorraine Nicholls, Research Student Administrator, STRI, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, Hatfield, Herts, AL10 9AB, Tel: 01707 286083, l.nicholls @ herts.ac.uk. The short-listing process will begin on 28 December 2015. Dr. Ben Torben-Nielsen Senior Lecturer (Assistant professor) Biocompution Group University of Hertfordshire, UK

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CFP: 18th AAMAS International Workshop on Trust in Agent Societies (TRUST 2016)
by AAMAS TRUST 2016 Dec. 4, 2015

Dec. 4, 2015

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 18th International Workshop on Trust in Agent Societies http://ntu.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=07e4000aa14279005e8843364&id=… Co-located with AAMAS 2016 (http://ntu.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=07e4000aa14279005e8843364&id=…) May 9-13, 2016, Singapore (Workshop will be held either May 9 or May 10) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Trust is important in many kinds of interactions, including direct or computer- mediated human interaction, human-computer interaction and among social agents; it characterizes those elements that are essential in social reliability. It also informs the selection of partners for successful multiagent coordination (for example, in robotics applications). Trust is more than communication that is robust against repudiation or interference. The reliability of information about the status of a trade partner, for example, is only partly dependent on secure communication. With the growing prevalance of social interaction through electronic means, trust, reputation, privacy and identity become more and more important. Trust is not just a simple, monolithic concept; it is multi-faceted, operating at many levels of interaction, and playing many roles. Another growing trend is the use of reputation mechanisms, and in particular the interesting link between trust and reputation. Many computational and theoretical models and approaches to reputation have been developed in recent years (for ecommerce, social networks, blogs, etc.). Further, identity and associated trustworthiness must be ascertained for reliable interactions and transactions. Trust is foundational for the notion of agency and for its defining relation of acting "on behalf of". It is also critical for modeling and supporting groups and teams, for both organization and coordination, with the related trade-off between individual utility and collective interest. The electronic medium seems to weaken the usual bonds of social control and the disposition to cheat grows stronger: this is yet another context where trust modeling is critical. The aim of the workshop is to bring together researchers (ideally from different disciplines) who can contribute to a better understanding of trust and reputation in agent societies. We welcome submissions of high-quality research addressing issues that are clearly relevant to trust, deception, privacy, reputation, security and control in agent-based systems, from theoretical, applied and interdisciplinary perspectives. Submitted contributions should be original and not submitted elsewhere. Papers accepted for presentation must be relevant to the workshop, and to demonstrate clear exposition, offering new ideas in suitable depth and detail. The scope of the workshop includes (but is not limited to): o Trust and risk-aware decision making o Game-theoretic models of trust o Deception and fraud, and its detection and prevention o Intrusion resilience in trusted computing o Reputation mechanisms o Trust in the socio-technical system o Trust in partners and in authorities o Trust during coordination and negotiation of agents o Privacy and access control in multi-agent systems o Detecting and preventing collusion o Trust in human-agent interaction o Trust and information provenance o Trust and identity o Trust within organizations o Trust, security and privacy in social networks o Trustworthy infrastructure and services o Trust modeling for real-world applications -------------------------------------------------------------- Important Dates (Firm Deadlines) o Submission deadline: February 15, 2016 o Notification: March 5, 2016 o Camera-ready deadline: March 10, 2016 ------------------------------------------------------------- Organising Committee o Jie Zhang, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore o Robin Cohen, University of Waterloo, Canada o Murat Sensoy, Ozyegin University, Turkey ------------------------------------------------------------- Steering Committee o Rino Falcone, ISTC-CNR, Roma, Italy (Chair) o Robin Cohen, University of Waterloo, Canada o Timothy Norman, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK o Munindar Singh, North Carolina State University, USA (Emeriti) o Suzanne Barber, University of Texas, USA (Emeriti) ------------------------------------------------------------- Programme Committee o Suzanne Barber, University of Texas, USA o Cristiano Castelfranchi, ISTC-CNR, Roma, Italy o Robert Demolombe, IRIT, Toulouse, France o Rino Falcone, ISTC-CNR, Roma, Italy o Hui Fang, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, China o Siwei Jiang, Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology, Singapore o Catholijn Jonker, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands o Audun Jøsang, University of Oslo, Norway o Yung-Ming Li, National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan o Churn-Jung Liau, Academia Sinica, Taiwan o Xin Liu, Institute for Infocomm Research, Singapore o Emiliano Lorini, IRIT, Toulouse, France o Tony T. Luo, Institute for Infocomm Research, Singapore o Stephen Marsh, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Canada o Tim Muller, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore o Yuko Murayama, Iwate Prefectural University, Japan o Nir Oren, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK o Jordi Sabater-Mir, IIIA-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain o Chris Snijders, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands o Thomas Tran, University of Ottawa, Canada --------------------------------------------------------------- Invited Talk Title: Computational Trust with Subjective Logic Speaker: Professor Audun Jøsang, University of Oslo, Norway He is co-author of one of the first trust modeling systems, BRS. --------------------------------------------------------------- Submission and Publication Authors should submit original papers (maximum length 12 single-columned pages) in PDF through the Easychair system: http://ntu.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=07e4000aa14279005e8843364&id=… Formal proceedings of the workshop will be published through CEUR-WS.org. CEUR.org is a green open-access publisher. Authors of papers published in the proceedings retain copyright of their material. To enable us to produce this publication, authors are expected to use the LaTeX template provided on the workshop website. http://ntu.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=07e4000aa14279005e8843364&id=… The most "visionary paper" will be published by Springer in a book under the Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence (LNAI) - Hot Topics series. The book will be a compilation of the most visionary papers of the AAMAS-2016 Workshops, where one paper will be selected from each AAMAS-2016 workshop. Additionally, the "best paper" will be published by Springer in a book under the Communications in Computer and Information Science (CCIS) series. The book will be a compilation of the best papers of the AAMAS-2016 Workshops, where one paper will be selected from each AAMAS-2016 workshop. Authors of the selected most visionary paper and the best paper are expected to provide their latex files promptly upon request. We also plan to invite some of the best papers from our workshop to be extended for a special issue in Journal of Trust Management (www.journaloftrustmanagement.com) ============================================== You are kindly recommended as researchers in the area of incentive and trust in e-communities. Unsubscribe comp-neuro(a)neuroinf.org from this list: http://ntu.us11.list-manage1.com/unsubscribe?u=07e4000aa14279005e8843364&id… Our mailing address is: NTU Nanyang Technological University 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798 Shenyang, 21 110000 China Our telephone: Forward this email to a friend: http://us11.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=07e4000aa14279005e8843364&id=92… Update your profile: http://ntu.us11.list-manage.com/profile?u=07e4000aa14279005e8843364&id=73d1…

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PhD in Mathematical modelling of neuronal activity in the nucleus reuniens: a thalamic region contributing to mammalian cognitive processing.
by Tsaneva-Atanasova, Krasimira Dec. 4, 2015

Dec. 4, 2015

EPSRC funded PhD in Mathmatics: Mathematical modelling of neuronal activity in the nucleus reuniens: a thalamic region contributing to mammalian cognitive processing. Ref: 2047 About the award This project is one of a number which are funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Doctoral Training Partnership to commence in September, 2016. The studentships will provide funding for a stipend (currently £14,057 per annum for 2015/16), research costs of £3,000 and UK/EU tuition fees at Research Council rates for 3.5 years. Location: Streatham Campus, University of Exeter, EX4 4QJ Primary supervisor: Dr Ozgur Akman<http://emps.exeter.ac.uk/mathematics/staff/oea201> Secondary supervisors: Professor Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova (University of Exeter), Professor Andrew Randall (University of Exeter) The production of action potentials is a defining feature of the functional physiology of all excitable cells. Typically, only after firing a spike will a cell perform its task and, furthermore, the rate, timing and patterns of spike generation have important effects on the nature of the downstream events they trigger, for example neurotransmitter release. Hence, quantifying the characteristic features of action potential production in neurons is crucial in helping us to understand the normal functional physiology of nervous systems, as well as how these are altered during pathological conditions associated with disease. Based within the EPSRC Centre for Predictive Modelling in Healthcare, a £2M initiative bringing together mathematicians, statisticians and clinicians, you will work on a project aiming to develop in silico biophysical models of neural excitability in the mammalian nucleus reuniens (NRe). This area within the thalamus is receiving increased attention from neuroscientists, (including both the 2013 and 2014 Nobel Laureates in Physiology and Medicine; see Xu and Sudhoff (2013), Science 339, 1290-5 and Ito et al. (2015) Nature 522, 50-5). Through its robust connectivity to structures such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, this midline thalamic nucleus is involved in both spatial and cognitive processing. It is also a key site of pathology in Korsakoff’s syndrome (aka amnesic-confabulatory syndrome), a form of dementia. Recent ongoing work in the Randall lab at Exeter has generated a large body of novel electrophysiological data that details the core electrical excitability of neurons in the nucleus reuniens, in both normal adult animals and rodent disease models. These datasets are supported by additional biophysical characterisations of the gating of some of the key underpinning ion channels in NRe neurons. These experimental data will form the basis for the computational models that this project will generate, models that will probe the mechanisms that govern the physiological spiking and bursting dynamics of NRe cells. The ultimate goal is to both better understand normal physiological NRe function, and to identify possible interventional routes through which abnormal NRe activity observed in disease models can be normalised toward the neurophysiological signatures presented by healthy tissue. Mathematical analysis and numerical/computational techniques will be applied to study the behaviour of the system in normal and pathological conditions. The computational component of the project will include the use of multi-objective evolutionary algorithms to optimise the parameters of the model to data, and the use of bifurcation analysis software. Application Criteria Applicants should have or expect to achieve a 2:1 Honours degree, or equivalent, in Mathematics, Physics, Natural Sciences, Medicine or other numerate discipline. The closing date for applications if midnight on 4 January, 2016. Interviews will be held at the University of Exeter mid-late January, 2016. For further information, or an informal discussion about the position, please contact Dr Ozbur Akman, e-mail: O.E.Akman(a)exeter.ac.uk<mailto:O.E.Akman@exeter.ac.uk>. Summary Application deadline: 4th January 2016 Value: £14,057 per annum plus UK/EU fees for eligible students (2015-16 rates) Duration of award: per year Contact: Postgraduate Research Office emps-pgr-ad(a)exeter.ac.uk<mailto:emps-pgr-ad@exeter.ac.uk> How to apply Please visit www.exeter.ac.uk/postgraduate/money/studentships/application/<http://www.exeter.ac.uk/postgraduate/money/studentships/application/> and complete the online web form. You will be asked to submit some personal details and upload a full CV, covering letter and details of two academic referees. Your covering letter should outline your academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to undertake this project. Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova Professor of Mathematics for Healthcare College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences University of Exeter Exeter, Devon, EX4 4QF, UK tel: +44 (0) 1392 723615 email: k.tsaneva-atanasova(a)exeter.ac.uk<mailto:k.tsaneva-atanasova@exeter.ac.uk> web: http://emps.exeter.ac.uk/mathematics/staff/kt298 ALTEREGO - Enhancing Social Interaction with an AlterEgo artificial agent http://www.euromov.eu/alterego/homepage

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Master's degree fellowships in cognitive science at Ecole Normale Supérieure
by Reinoud Maex Dec. 4, 2015

Dec. 4, 2015

The Cognitive Science Departement of Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris (Département d'études cognitives, DEC) aims to recruit advanced undergraduate international students in Cognitive Science and in Linguistics. DEC and Ecole Normale Supérieure (http://www.ens.fr) offer several international fellowships, intended for advanced undergraduate students who will either directly enroll in a master's program (two-year or three-year fellowship) or first complete their last year of undergraduate studies and then enroll in a master's program (three-year fellowship). These fellowships will be attributed on the basis of a national competitive exam, known as the `ENS international selection.' For more details (including about eligibility), please visit: http://www.ens.fr/admission/selection-internationale/?lang=en The fellowships include: - monthly stipend: 1000 euros; - possibility of subsidized housing; - access to subsidized cafeteria (about 4 euros/meal); - minimal tuition fees (about 500 euros/year). How to Apply: More detailed information is available on line: - http://www.cognition.ens.fr/EnseignementFinancementENG - http://www.ens.fr/admission/selection-internationale/article/session-2016?l… Applications Deadline: 1-Feb-2016 Web Address for Applications: http://www1.ens.fr/recrutement-si/ Contact Information: Benjamin Spector benjamin.spector(a)ens.fr Benjamin SPECTOR Institut Jean-Nicod CNRS - EHESS - ENS Ecole Normale Supérieure Pavillon Jardin 29 rue d'Ulm 75005 Paris France Tel: (33) 1 44 32 26 62

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Interdisciplinary Neuroscience PhD program at George Mason University
by Avrama Blackwell Dec. 4, 2015

Dec. 4, 2015

Applicants with a theoretical/quantitative background particularly welcome! Deadline: January 4 We are seeking highly motivated and creative students for the Interdisciplinary PhD program in Neuroscience at George Mason University. This PhD program offers students the opportunity to apply their skills to challenging problems in brain research, while working with faculty with primary appointments in physics, molecular neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and bioinformatics / computational biology. The Theoretical and Computational track within the Neuroscience PhD program aims to train the next generation of neuroscientists with the broad range of computational and analytical skills that are essential to understand the organization and function of complex neural systems. Research approaches of the faculty range from the subcellular and molecular level to the systems and behavioral level. Some of the areas that students will contribute to include: Molecular profiling of drug effects in the brain, cellular signaling underlying memory, the relationship between dendritic morphology and neuronal activity, nonlinear dynamics of neurons and networks of neurons, and fMRI investigations of reasoning, attention and human performance. Applicants should submit the following materials (see http://neuroscience.gmu.edu/prospective/admissions for more information): 1. All undergraduate and graduate transcripts (originals, or attested or notarized copies); 2. GRE scores (use code 5827); 3. Three letters of recommendations; and 4. Goals Statement. Applications should be submitted by January 4 for Fall admission. The deadline is December 15 for degree holders from non-US institutions. Financial assistance is available at competitive levels through graduate research assistantships to outstanding candidates.

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PhD Position: Modelling Gait in People with Parkinson's Disease.
by Tsaneva-Atanasova, Krasimira Dec. 4, 2015

Dec. 4, 2015

EPSRC funded PhD in Modelling Gait in People with Parkinsons Disease. Location: Streatham Campus, University of Exeter, EX4 4QJ Primary supervisor: Prof Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova<http://emps.exeter.ac.uk/mathematics/staff/kt298> Secondary supervisors: Dr Mark Wilson (University of Exeter), Dr Victoria Goodwin (University of Exeter) Based within the EPSRC Centre for Predictive Modelling in Healthcare, a £2M initiative bringing together mathematicians, statisticians and clinicians, you will work on a project aiming to develop a data-driven mathematical modeling framework in order to study gait impairments in patients with Parkinson’s. Parkinson's is a progressive neurological condition that mainly affects people of 50 and over. One person in every 500 has Parkinson's, which equates to about 127,000 people in the UK. There's currently no cure, and the range of symptoms and how quickly they progress are different for everyone. The main symptoms of Parkinson's are tremor, rigidity and slowness of movement. Despite optimal medication therapy, many people with Parkinson’s still experience gait impairments. Gait impairments (e.g., freezing of gait) are associated with falls and fear of falling, and reduced quality of life. This studentship aims to further our understanding of the degenerative nature of the disease by taking a dynamical systems approach to modelling the coordination of locomotion (gait) from an individual perspective. While many studies have examined discrete gait measures (e.g. step length) it is likely that several gait malfunctions will interact and incur a simultaneous deterioration of stepping. A dynamical systems approach is particularly useful in predicting when and if this deterioration may cross a critical threshold; for example, triggering a freeze or a stumble. The first stage of this project will be to develop a model based on gait data we have already collected from 18 people with Parkinson’s. The second stage would be to collect additional data to test model’s predictions and refine and improve the model. This project is one of a number which are funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Doctoral Training Partnership to commence in September 2016. The studentships will provide funding for a stipend (currently £14,057 per annum for 2015/16), research costs of £3,000 and UK/EU tuition fees at Research Council rates for 3.5 years. Application Criteria Applicants should have or expect to achieve at least a 2:1 Honours degree, or equivalent, in Maths, Physics, Medicine, Natural Sciences or other numerate discipline. The closing date for applications is midnight on Monday 4 January 2016. Interview will be held at the University of Exeter is mid-late January 2016. For further information, or informal discussion about the position, please contact Prof Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova, e-mail: K.Tsaneva-Atanasova(a)exeter.ac.uk<mailto:K.Tsaneva-Atanasova@exeter.ac.uk>. Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova Professor of Mathematics for Healthcare College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences University of Exeter Exeter, Devon, EX4 4QF, UK tel: +44 (0) 1392 723615 email: k.tsaneva-atanasova(a)exeter.ac.uk<mailto:k.tsaneva-atanasova@exeter.ac.uk> web: http://emps.exeter.ac.uk/mathematics/staff/kt298 ALTEREGO - Enhancing Social Interaction with an AlterEgo artificial agent http://www.euromov.eu/alterego/homepage

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Postdoc position in Phone/wearable based diagnostics
by Konrad Kording Dec. 3, 2015

Dec. 3, 2015

A postdoc position to apply machine learning to use data from phones and wearables to make clinical progress is available in collaboration between Konrad Kording and Arun Jayaraman. Learn machine learning. Capture clinical knowledge. The position is supported by NIH and NIDRR and is at the rehabilitation institute of chicago/ Northwestern University in downtown Chicago. A successful candidate should have a real interest in clinical problems while also having computational skills. The candidate will be expected to use state of the art machine learning algorithms while developing interesting analyses. The candidate will also shape clinical decision making and conceptually help structuring the research. A certain level of independence is highly encouraged. Interested individuals should send a c.v. and the names of three references to Dr. Konrad Kording ( kk(a)northwestern.edu) The position is available immediately, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

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Postdoctoral openings in modeling, analysis of brain network dynamics
by ShiNung Ching Dec. 3, 2015

Dec. 3, 2015

Postdoctoral positions are available in the Brain Dynamics and Control Group at Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO, USA), in two areas of interest: (i) Modeling macro-scale network dynamics in states of reduced arousal, including coma. The research goals include developing tractable dynamical systems models for network dynamics associated with severe brain injuries resulting in coma. The developed models will be analyzed in order to study mechanisms and their link to behavior. This position, which carries an affiliation with the Department of Neurology at the Washington University School of Medicine, will involve close collaboration with clinical researchers and will require analysis of multimodal neural data. (ii) Relating systems-theoretic properties to information processing in neural circuits. The goals include reconciling systems-level properties (reachability, controllability etc.) with overt information objectives in dynamical neuronal network models, and to explore the conservation of these network input-output relationships across scales. Candidates should have a background in some combination of dynamical systems theory, network science or systems science/control engineering. Prior experience in clinical research and basic neural data analysis is a substantial asset. Positions are for two years, with review after Year 1. Interested applicants should send a CV and brief description of interests and goals to ShiNung Ching (shinung(a)wustl.edu) ideally by January 5, 2016. The starting date is flexible, but the position is expected to begin no later that the Summer of 2016. Salary will be determined according to experience and the institutional scale at Washington University in St. Louis. For more information, please visit: http://braindynamics.engineering.wustl.edu

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Workshop announcement: HBP CodeJam
by Andrew Davison Dec. 3, 2015

Dec. 3, 2015

================================ HBP CodeJam Workshop #7 11th-14th January 2016, Manchester, UK ================================ You are cordially invited to join us at the 7th CodeJam workshop, sponsored this year by the Human Brain Project. http://neuralensemble.org/meetings/CodeJam7/ The goal of the CodeJam workshops is to catalyze open-source, collaborative software development in computational and systems neuroscience and neuroinformatics, by bringing together researchers, students and engineers to share ideas, present their work, and write code together. Mornings will be dedicated to invited and contributed talks, leaving the afternoons free for discussions, tutorials and code sprints. If you would like to give a lightning talk or have an idea for a code sprint, please let us know when you register. The CodeJam is open to all scientists, engineers and students who use or write software as part of their neuroscience research. Confirmed speakers include Michael Hines (NEURON simulation environment), Eilif Muller (Blue Brain Project), Matteo Cantarelli (OpenWorm), Catherine Zwahlen (Human Brain Project), Padraig Gleeson (NeuroML and OpenSourceBrain) and David Lester (SpiNNaker). Registration is open until 16th December at http://neuralensemble.org/meetings/CodeJam7/ and is limited to 50 participants. The meeting will take place at Shrigley Hall Hotel, a 19th Century four-star country house hotel in Cheshire, UK, close to Manchester International Airport and perfectly located for exploring the Peak District. Andrew Davison (CNRS) David Lester (University of Manchester) Eilif Muller (EPFL) Abigail Morrison (Forschungszentrum Jülich) Jeffrey Muller (EPFL)

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Postdoctoral Position at The Rockefeller University
by George Reeke Dec. 2, 2015

Dec. 2, 2015

Postdoctoral position in Computational Neuroscience A postdoctoral position supported by the BRAIN initiative is available at The Rockefeller University under the guidance of George Reeke in collaboration with Charles Gilbert and Winrich Freiwald. The overall project will study cortical mechanisms of object recognition and more specifically the influence of top-down task-and attentional influences on cortical dynamics and perceptual learning in areas of the visual cortical pathway. The computational work will involve developing and running large-scale spiking models of cortical regions studied in the overall project, with the goal of developing an accurate theoretical understanding of the phenomena observed in the experimental research. The successful candidate should, ideally, have a Ph.D. in a relevant area of neuroscience with a strong knowledge of mammalian visual systems and neuronal systems modeling. The candidate will be expected to develop suitable software to supplement the available tools as needed and will be able to work both independently and as part of a team. Interested individuals should send a c.v. and the names of three references to Dr. George Reeke (reeke(a)rockefeller.edu) with a subject line "Computational Neuroscience postdoc position". The position is available immediately, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. The Rockefeller University is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Minorities/Women/Disabled/Veterans.

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Tenure Track position in Computational Neuroscience, NIDA-IRP
by Brian Sadacca Dec. 2, 2015

Dec. 2, 2015

*Tenure-Track, Tenure-Eligible Investigator in **Computational Modeling, * *National Institute on Drug Abuse - Intramural Research Program* *Baltimore, MD * *(Review of Applications Begins: December 28)* The Intramural Research Program (IRP), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a research component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), is seeking an outstanding tenure-eligible or tenure-track scientist to develop a research program to use computational models and other tools (e.g. human functional imaging) to complement and expand existing research programs at the NIDA IRP. The successful candidate must possess a doctoral degree in neuroscience, physiology, economics or another relevant field with additional training and emphasis on computational neuroscience, learning and decision-making. Expertise in computational modeling and state of the art imaging techniques and a strong publication record highlighting his/her contributions to elucidating the computational mechanisms underlying brain systems involved in reward learning, cognitive control and decision making is highly desirable. Preference will be given to those with interest in applying computational models to the study of the neurobiology of addiction. In view of the required integrative approach, the successful candidate will be expected to collaborate with other research groups within NIDA - a proven ability to establish and sustain collaborative work is desired. Candidates must submit a CV, a statement of proposed research objectives and goals (3 pages or less), and contact information for 3 potential references to: Joshua Kysiak, Intramural Program Specialist, NIDA IRP, 251 Bayview Boulevard, Suite 200, Room 04A314, Baltimore, Maryland 21224. Telephone 443-740-2465, FAX 443-740-2865, Email: kysiakjo(a)nida.nih.gov <https://mail.nih.gov/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=1n7m_YTJ84moYRtNCS2AiK5V49da0Ff6C4…>. Review of applications will begin on or about December 28, 2015, but applications will be accepted until the position is filled. DHHS and NIH are equal opportunity employers.

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CFP: SCIS&ISIS 2016, Hokkaido, Japan, August 25-28, 2016
by Yusuke NOJIMA Dec. 2, 2015

Dec. 2, 2015

<Apologies for multiple postings> =================================================== SCIS&ISIS 2016 Call for Papers and OS Proposals =================================================== Joint 8th Int. Conf. on Soft Computing and Intelligent Systems ＆ 17th Int. Symp. on Advanced Intelligent Systems August 25-28, 2016, Sapporo, Japan http://scis2016.j-soft.org =================================================== Dear colleagues, On behalf of the organizing committee, we would like to announce Joint 8th International Conference on Soft Computing and Intelligent Systems and 17th International Symposium on Advanced Intelligent Systems (SCIS&ISIS 2016) to be held in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan on August 25-28, 2016. SICS&ISIS 2016 is the flagship international conference of Soft Computing in Asia, that attracts several hundred participants all over the world. We strive to foster an open and lively scientific forum by bringing together researchers, engineers and practitioners with diversified backgrounds to discuss and disseminate the latest state-of-the-art achievements, thought provoking challenges and potential future directions in many different aspects. Conference webpage: http://scis2016.j-soft.org < Call for Papers > We would like to cordially invite you to submit your papers to SCIS&ISIS 2016. There are two categories: full paper submissions (4-6 pages) and short paper submissions (2-4 pages) in IEEE style. < Call for Organized Session Proposals > We would also like to invite you to submit your organized session proposals. Interested organizers should prepare a proposal which includes: 1. Session title. 2. Organizer(s) (name, affiliation and E-mail address). 3. List of at least three (3) papers (tentative titles and their authors). 4. Presentation mode: oral or poster. Please send it to scisisis2016+OS(a)gmail.com. < Important Dates > Organized Session Proposal: December 15, 2015 Paper Submission: February 15, 2016 Notification of Acceptance: May 1, 2016 Conference: August 25-28, 2016 For general inquiries regarding the conference, please contact the general affairs. SCIS&ISIS2016 General Affairs: scisisis2016+info(a)gmail.com

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Ph.D. and Master positions in theoretical neuroscience at the MPI for Brain Research
by Tatjana Tchumatchenko Dec. 2, 2015

Dec. 2, 2015

Ph.D. and Master positions in theoretical neuroscience at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research We are seeking undergraduate students interested in writing a Master thesis and have open positions for Ph.D. Students to join our group "Theory of neural dynamics" at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research lead by Dr. Tatjana Tchumatchenko. Our group studies how networks of neurons encode and decode sensory stimuli and how these functions are related to computations that underlie cognitive functions and behavior. We develop models to address linear and non-linear properties of neuronal networks and have ongoing collaborations with experimental labs where we analyze in vitro as well as in vivo data and develop appropriate models to explain the observed phenomena. Successful applicants should have a strong background in a quantitative field such as physics, mathematics or computer science and should be interested in an interdisciplinary exchange with other disciplines such as biology or medicine. Life science majors interested in quantitative modeling work are also encouraged to apply, particularly if they would like to combine experiments and theory in their Master or Ph.D. thesis work. We are looking for candidates with strong English skills and prior programming experience. In order to make teamwork in our group enjoyable and fun, the ideal candidate should have a strong work ethic and have demonstrated consistent self-motivation skills. Female students are particularly encouraged to apply. Prospective students should apply by sending an email to theoryneuraldynamics(a)gmail.com which includes * a letter of motivation, * CV, * and a copy of the current academic transcripts To make your motivation letter easier to write for you and more informative for us, please check the list of questions to be answered in your motivation letter at http://www.tchumatchenko.de/Opportunities.html Let me note, that our institute is hosting the IMPRS graduate school "Neural circuits". It's open call for applications can be found here: http://brain.mpg.de/graduate-studies/call.html Looking forward to your applications! Tatjana Tchumatchenko -- Dr. Tatjana Tchumatchenko Research group leader Theory of Neural Dynamics Max Planck Institute for Brain Research Max-von-Laue-Str 4 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany www.tchumatchenko.de

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Update 3: 2016 IEEE World Congress on Computational Intelligence (IEEE WCCI 2016)
by IEEE WCCI 2016 Dec. 2, 2015

Dec. 2, 2015

Dear Colleague, Greetings from IEEE WCCI 2016! Below please find some updated information about 2016 IEEE World Congress on Computational Intelligence (IEEE WCCI 2016), which is financially sponsored by the IEEE Computational Intelligence Society (CIS), and jointly sponsored by the International Neural Network Society (INNS), the Evolutionary Programming Society (EPS), and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). 2016 IEEE World Congress on Computational Intelligence Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, Canada 25-29 July 2016 www.wcci2016.org *-----------------------~*******~------------------------* * Paper Submission Deadline: 15 January 2016* *-----------------------~*******~------------------------* IEEE WCCI 2016 paper submission is now OPEN. Please submit your papers through the IEEE WCCI 2016 online paper submission system at: http://www.wcci2016.org/submission.php *------~*******~------* * Tutorial Speakers* *------~*******~------* - Meta-heuristics for Multi-objective Optimization - By Carlos Coello - Applying Evolutionary Computation in Industrial Practice - By Erik D. Goodman - Automatic Algorithm Configuration: Methods, Applications, and Perspectives - By Thomas Stützle - Advances in Particle Swarm Optimization - By Andries Engelbrecht - Search Based Software Engineering: Foundations, Recent Advances, Challenges and Future Research Directions - By Marouane Kessentini - Data Stream Mining - By Leszek Rutkowski - Spiking Neural Networks: The Machine Learning Approach - By Nathan Scott and Nikola Kasabov - Learning from Unstructured Data Streams in Cybersecurity - By Seiichi Ozawa - Learning in Non-Stationary Environments - By Cesare Alippi and Manuel Roveri - Physics of the Mind - By Leonid I. Perlovsky - Passive and Active Control for a Lower-limb Rehabilitation Robot - By Zeng-Guang Hou - Big Data: Technologies and Computational Intelligence Approaches - By Isaac Triguero and Francisco Herrera - Fuzzy Logic and Machine Learning: A Tutorial - By Hamid Tizhoosh - Type-2 Fuzzy Ontology and Fuzzy Markup Language for Real-World Applications - By Chang-Shing Lee - A Sum-of-Squares Framework for Fuzzy Systems Modeling and Control: Beyond Linear Matrix Inequalities - By Kazuo Tanaka - Tutorial on Type-2 Fuzzy Sets and Systems - By Christian Wagner, Jon Garibaldi and Robert John More tutorials will be announced soon. For more information, please visit: http://wcci2016.org/programs.php?id=tutorial?sd=t_info *---~*******~---* * Workshops* *---~*******~---* IEEE WCCI 2016 is pleased to confirm the following Workshops: - “Computational Energy Management in Smart Grids” - Organized by Stefano Squartini, Derong Liu, Francesco Piazza, Dongbin Zhao and Haibo He - “Neuromorphic Computing and Cyborg Intelligence” - Organized by Huajin Tang, Gang Pan, Arindam Basu and Luping Shi For more information about the workshops, please visit: http://wcci2016.org/programs.php?id=workshop?sd=w_ijcnn *------~****~------* * Panel Sessions* *------~****~------* IEEE WCCI 2016 is pleased to confirm a Panel Session on “How to Publish Your Research Papers in IEEE CIS Transactions?” Members of the panel session include, - Derong Liu: Editor-in-Chief, IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems - Chin-Teng Lin: Editor-in-Chief, IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems - Kay Chen Tan: Editor-in-Chief, IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation - Graham Kendall: Editor-in-Chief, IEEE Transactions on Computational Intelligence and AI in Games - Angelo Cangelosi: Editor-in-Chief, IEEE Transactions on Autonomous Mental Development - Hisao Ishibuchi: Editor-in-Chief, IEEE Computational Intelligence Magazine - David B. Fogel: Editor-in-Chief, IEEE CIS Book Series - Jacek M. Zurada: IEEE Life Fellow, Past IEEE VP-Technical Activities - Witold Pedrycz: IEEE Fellow - Nikhil R. Pal (Moderator): IEEE CIS Vice-President for Publications *-------------~****~----------------* * Sponsorship Opportunities* *-------------~****~----------------* We invite you to be a sponsor of the IEEE WCCI 2016, and thus play an essential role for the success of the flagship event of the IEEE Computational Intelligence Society in 2016. A rich scientific program that covers all the areas of computational intelligence - tutorials by leading researchers in the field, a number of specialized workshops, exhibition of products, companies and research centers - will make IEEE WCCI 2016 one of the most influential conferences in the field of computational intelligence and a key scientific and technological event in IT. There are different ways you may provide support to IEEE WCCI 2016. For further information, please contact: wcci2016(a)gmail.com or visit: http://www.wcci2016.org/sponsors.php *-----------~****~--------------* * Exhibits Opportunities* *-----------~****~--------------* The IEEE WCCI 2016 cordially invites industry representatives and publishers to showcase innovative technologies in the area of computational intelligence at the IEEE WCCI 2016 and support the Congress with your active participation. The IEEE WCCI 2016 exhibits program is an opportunity for your organization to showcase its offerings to the broadest professional community of Computational Intelligence (CI) practitioners and researchers. The Congress is advertised extensively through international promotion activities that include: the Congress and other websites, electronic and printed announcement brochures, scientific and technical journals and magazines, professional and other networks. Your participation in this prestigious event will be very beneficial to the delegates attending and to bring your business focuses at an international level. For further information, please contact: wcci2016(a)gmail.com or visit: http://www.wcci2016.org/sponsors.php *-------------------------~*******~-------------------------* * Special Sessions Proposal by 15 November 2015* *-------------------------~*******~-------------------------* Special session proposals are invited to the IEEE WCCI 2016. The special session proposals submission deadline is 15 November 2015. Special session proposals should include the title, aim and scope (including a list of main topics), and the names of the organizers of the special session, together with a short biography of all organizers. For more information about provisionally accepted IEEE WCCI 2016 special sessions, please visit: http://www.wcci2016.org/spsessions.php *--------~****~--------* * Important Dates* *--------~****~--------* - Special Session & Workshop Proposals Deadline: 15 November 2015 - Competition & Tutorial Proposals Deadline: 15 December 2015 - *Paper Submission Deadline: 15 January 2016* - Paper Acceptance Notification Date: 15 March 2016 - Final Paper Submission & Early Registration Deadline: 15 April 2016 - IEEE WCCI 2016: 25-29 July 2016 *For more information on the Congress, please visit: www.wcci2016.org <http://www.wcci2016.org>* *Alternatively we can also be reached on the following social media platforms,* - https://www.facebook.com/wcci2016 - https://twitter.com/wcci2016 - http://www.weibo.com/wcci2016 - http://t.qq.com/wcci2016 We look forward to welcoming you in Vancouver next year! Best wishes, Kay Chen Tan and Gary G. Yen 2016 IEEE WCCI General Co-Chairs

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IEEE Transactions on Haptics: Special Issue on Haptics in Neuroscience
by Sliman Bensmaia Dec. 1, 2015

Dec. 1, 2015

This special issue calls for papers related to the study of the neural basis of haptic perception and to technologies designed for haptic interaction. In particular, topics will include: • The psychophysics of touch and its physiological basis in the peripheral and central nervous systems • Computational models of the skin, the peripheral nerve, and/or central processing of somatosensory information • Approaches to convey somatosensory feedback through neural interfaces • Haptic devices that generate well-controlled tactile and kinesthetic stimuli for use in psychophysical, neuroimaging and neurophysiological studies • Devices and experimental studies that measure the skin response during haptic interactions • Haptic interfaces, sensors and devices that are inspired by the biology of touch Timeline December 31, 2015 Deadline for paper submissions February 1, 2016 First decisions to authors May 1, 2016 Second decisions to authors August 1, 2016 Final publication materials due from authors November 1, 2016 Special issue publication Submission Process Visit http://www.computer.org/toh to view formatting requirements, and submit your paper at https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/th-cs. When uploading your paper please select the appropriate special issue under the category “Manuscript Type.” Guest Editors Dr. Sliman Bensmaia, University of Chicago (sliman(a)uchicago.edu) Dr. Ingvars Birznieks, University of New South Wales, (i.birznieks(a)unsw.edu.au) Dr. Gregory Gerling, University of Virginia (gg7h(a)virginia.edu) Dr. Fabrizio Sergi, University of Delaware (fabs(a)udel.edu) -- ________________________________________________________ Sliman Bensmaia Associate Professor Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy University of Chicago 773.834.5203 http://bensmaialab.org ________________________________________________________

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