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Second Call for Papers: LDAB@CIBB2014
by Andrea Bracciali April 16, 2014

April 16, 2014

[We apologize if you have received multiple copies of this message] ==================================================== Second Call for Papers Large-scale and HPC data analysis in bioinformatics: Intelligent methods for computational, systems and synthetic biology. 26-28 June 2014 University of Cambridge, UK http://www.cussb.unisr.it/cibb2014/ss.html#LSAHDAIB Special Session of CIBB 2014: Eleventh International Meeting on Computational Intelligence Methods for Bioinformatics and Biostatistics http://www.cussb.unisr.it/cibb2014/index.html *** Submission deadline: 5th May 2014 *** ==================================================== AIMS and SCOPE Biomedical research is currently facing the Big Data wave created by the huge amount of experiments performed every day in omics sciences. This new situation demands appropriate IT-infrastructures and scalable software to analyse data within an acceptable timespan. Massive parallel clusters, distributed technologies, on-Chip solutions such as GPGPU and Xeon Phi must be exploited with adequate algorithmic solutions to reach their full potential. The aim of this special session is to bring together researchers interested in cutting-edge methods to address the challenges posed by the huge amount of data produced in omics science. The idea is to present the latest advancements concerning High Performance Computing solutions required to treat multi-omics data and the related Big Data paradigms that are needed to manage the large-scale challenges of current computational biology. Examples of relevant areas of interest within this context include - but are not limited to - - Next-Generation Sequencing data analysis and interpretation, - Genomics patterns identification and mining, - Transcriptomics and Proteomics data integration, - Systems Biology models simulation and optimization, - Structural Biology and Molecular Dynamics, - Synthetic Biology circuits design and simulation. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES http://www.cussb.unisr.it/cibb2014/calls.html#submissions Papers should be submitted in PDF format on the Easy Chair conference system. Paper length should be at least 4 pages and should not exceed 6 pages. Papers are required to be structured according to the following five sections: • 1. Scientific background • 2. Material and methods • 3. Results • 4. Conclusion • 5. References (no more than 10) (Please refer to the latex template on the web page for more accurate instructions). Please note that only PDF versions of papers can be accepted, as the proceedings of CIBB will be produced starting from them. A correct submission requires selecting this special session in the submission system. PUBLICATION Each paper will be peer-reviewed and the resulting scores used to determine invitations for oral or poster presentations. Following the conference, an extended version of the presented contributions (12 page format) will be considered for publication in the Springer’s Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics (LNBI) series. Moreover, a selection of the best papers will be considered for pu blication in a special issue of BMC Bioinformatics dedicated to CIBB2014. IMPORTANT DATES Paper submission: 5th May 2014 Acceptance notification: 10th May 2014 Camera ready due: 30th May 2014 Conference: 26th - 28th June 2014 ORGANISERS Andrea Bracciali, University of Stirling, UK Ivan Merelli, CNR-ITB, Italy CONTACTS Andrea Bracciali, University of Stirling, UK Computing Science and Mathematics School of Natural Sciences Stirling University abb(a)cs.stir.ac.uk +44 (0)1786 467446 Ivan Merelli, CNR-ITB, Italy Institute for Biomedical Technologies Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche ivan.merelli(a)itb.cnr.it +39 02 26422600

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Post-doctoral position - Boston University
by Michael Hasselmo April 16, 2014

April 16, 2014

Post-doctoral position – Boston University The Hasselmo laboratory in the Center for Memory and Brain at Boston University is looking for a post-doctoral fellow to work on a multi-disciplinary university research initiative (MURI) project in collaboration with the Leonard and Roy labs at MIT and the Milford lab at QUT. Applicants should have experience in the area of robotics with an emphasis on spatial navigation and computational neuroscience. This background should include a degree in electrical engineering, computer science, computational neuroscience or mechanical engineering. The successful candidate will extend current research on goal directed spatial behavior, including work on modeling navigation in robots guided by models of neurophysiological circuits. He/she will also implement previously developed computational models in 3D simulation environments and robotic hardware. The ideal candidate will have experience in path planning, autonomous navigation, computational modeling, neural networks, AI and/or computer vision. Excellent programming skills in MATLAB, Python and/or C++ are a must. Experience in implementing computational models on hardware platforms is a plus. Requirements: - A degree in one of the following areas: electrical engineering, computer science, computational neuroscience, mechanical engineering. - Experience in robotics, mathematical modeling, autonomous navigation, and/or neural networks. - Excellent coding skills in MATLAB, C++ and/or Python. -- Prof. Michael Hasselmo Center for Memory and Brain, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Graduate Program for Neuroscience, Principal Investigator, ONR Multi-disciplinary University Research Initiative on Grid cells and Autonomous Systems, Boston University, 2 Cummington St., Boston, MA, 02215, USA Tel: (617) 353-1397, e-mail: hasselmo(a)bu.edu, http://www.bu.edu/hasselmo

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Recruitment for Post-doctoral Position: Sinapse, Singapore
by Wong Kian Foong April 16, 2014

April 16, 2014

Postdoctoral Research in Neuroimaging Data Processing and Analysis National University of Singapore – Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology (Cognitive Engineering Group) A postdoctoral appointment is available in the Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology (SINAPSE) (http://sinapseinstitute.org/) at National University of Singapore. The post-holder will be a member Professor Anastasios Bezerianos’s group focused on Neuroimaging data processing and analysis. Professor Bezerianos’s group makes use of concurrent EEG and fMRI recording to study the mechanisms of brain under various mental states. We are looking for a research fellow who is interested in developing and employing advanced signal processing techniques for analysis of neuroimaging data and developing pattern recognition approaches to classify different brain states. The candidate has to have expertise in design and running of fMRI experiments, management of fMRI data and knwoledge of existing tools for fMRI image analaysis The ideal candidate should have a strong background in Neuroimaging data processing and (or) machine learning techniques. Previous experience on multimodal neuroimaging signal processing techniques is preferable but not necessary. Previous research experience with concurrent EEG/fMRI techniques would be an advantage. You will have the ability to manage the day-to-day running of research project including assisting junior researchers, and good communication and writing skills. You will have to and should be able to work independently as well as in a team. You will have the ability to deliver results to the required standard and schedule. The position is full-time fixed-term for minimum 1 year in the first instance with potential 2 year extension. Competitive salaries according to the NUS standards. Interested applicants will be required to send you CV and supporting documents to: Prof. Anastasios Bezerianos Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology National University of Singapore Email: tassos.bezerianos(a)nus.edu.sg

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Applications open for INCF two-day course "Introduction to neuroinformatics"
by Malin Sandström April 16, 2014

April 16, 2014

Dear all, Application is now open for our two-day course "Introduction to Neuroinformatics" in Leiden in August. The course aim is to give researchers and advanced students an introduction to the field, with lectures given by carefully selected world experts. The content is suitable for both neuroscience and informatics backgrounds. Please help us spread the word to fellow researchers and students in your department! There is no course fee, and we have some travel support available. The application deadline is May 20th. More info: http://www.incf.org/community/events/incf-short-course-2014 Download course poster: http://www.incf.org/community/events/incf-short-course-2014/at_download/eve… In case of questions, please contact Mathew Abrams on course-admin(a)incf.org Best regards, Malin -- Malin Sandström, PhD Community Engagement Officer malin.sandstrom(a)incf.org International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility Karolinska Institutet Nobels väg 15 A SE-171 77 Stockholm Sweden http://www.incf.org

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BCF/NWG course "Analysis and Models in Neurophysiology" 2014 at the Bernstein Center Freiburg, Germany
by Birgit Ahrens April 16, 2014

April 16, 2014

BCF/NWG-Course "Analysis and Models in Neurophysiology" /Sunday, October 5 - Friday, October 10, 2014 / /Bernstein Center Freiburg, Hansastraße 9a, 79104 Freiburg, Germany/ *Aim of the course:* The course is intended to provide advanced Diploma/Masters and PhD students, as well as young researchers from the neurosciences with approaches for the analysis of electrophysiological data and the theoretical concepts behind them. *The course includes various topics such as*: * Neuron models and spike train statistics * Point processes and correlation measures * Systems and signals * Local field potentials The course will consist of lectures in the morning and and matching exercises using Matlab and Mathematica in the afternoon. Experience with these software packages will be helpful but is not required for registration. The participants should have a basic understanding of scientific programming. This course is designated especially for advanced diploma/master-students and PhD-students (preferentially in their first year). *Application:* Please apply by sending one pdf document containing your CV and a meaningful letter of motivation to nwg-course(a)bcf.uni-freiburg.de. The letter of motivation should refer to the following points: * Reasons for wanting to take this course * Background in mathematics * Experience using Matlab/Python/Mathematika * Background in neuroscience The course is limited to 20 participants. *Course fees:* NWG members - 50EUR, others - 125EUR *Application deadline: *June 30, 2014 *More information: *http://www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de/events/conferences-workshops/20141005-nwgcourse *-- Dr. Birgit Ahrens --* Teaching & Training Coordinator Bernstein Center Freiburg University of Freiburg Hansastr. 9a D - 79104 Freiburg Germany Phone: +49 (0) 761 203-9575 Fax: +49 (0) 761 203-9559

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Research Fellowship Opportunity in Cognitive Neuroscience
by Naotsugu Tsuchiya April 16, 2014

April 16, 2014

Dear All, The School of Psychological Sciences is pleased to announce the opening of a call for a *Research Fellow in Cognitive Neuroscience*. Expressions of interest from suitably qualified applicants are sought and appointments may be made at the level of Research Fellow, Senior Research Fellow or Principal Research Fellow, depending upon experience. Salary and research support are available for 4 years. Domestic and international applicants are welcome to apply. Please see the attached document or follow the link below for further information regarding this outstanding career opportunity. http://jobs.monash.edu.au/jobDetails.asp?sJobIDs=523427&lWorkTypeID=&lLocat… Best wishes Mark Bellgrove and Kim Cornish -- Professor Mark Bellgrove Research Chair School of Psychological Sciences Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Monash University, Clayton Campus Room 533, Building 17 Victoria, 3800 AUSTRALIA Tel +61 3 990 24200 Fax +61 3 99053948 Monash Provider No. 00008C www.med.monash.edu.au/psych/research -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nao (Naotsugu) Tsuchiya, Ph.D. 1. Associate Professor School of Psychological Sciences Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University 2. ARC Future Fellow homepage: http://users.monash.edu.au/~naotsugt/Tsuchiya_Labs_Homepage/Main.html

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Deadline Extension: AAAI Workshop on Incentives and Trust in Electronic Communities (WIT-EC) 2014
by Jay Zhang April 16, 2014

April 16, 2014

Sorry for multiple copies. The submission deadline of the AAAI WIT-EC 2014 has been extended to April 25, 2014. CALL FOR PAPER AAAI 2014 WORKSHOP ON INCENTIVE AND TRUST IN E-COMMUITIES (WIT-EC'14) http://trust.sce.ntu.edu.sg/wit-ec14/ The 3nd WIT-EC workshop will be held together with the Twenty-Eighth AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence (AAAI'14), July 27-31, 2014, in Quebec, Canada. Trust and incentive have bidirectional relationships. As trustworthiness measures are used as part of incentive mechanisms to promote honesty in electronic communities, incentive mechanisms motivate participants to contribute their truthful opinions that are useful for trust modeling. Hence, trust and reputation systems should not only provide a means to detect and prevent malicious activities but also design a mechanism to discourage dishonesty attitudes amongst participants. The evidential success of combining these two concepts inspires and encourages researchers in the trust community to enhance the efficacy and performance of trust modeling approaches by adopting various incentive mechanisms. The main objective of this workshop is to bring together researchers and practitioners of both fields, to foster an exchange of information and ideas, and to facilitate a discussion of current and emerging topics relevant to building effective trust, reputation and incentive mechanisms for electronic communities. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: - Social, cognitive trust, reputation - Computational trust, reputation - Incentive Mechanisms - Cross-cultural approaches - Components and dimensions of sociotechnical trust - Game theoretic approaches to trust and reputation - Game theory and trusting behaviours - Risk management and trust-based decision making - Trust management dynamics - Trust, regret, and forgiveness - Economic drivers for trustworthy systems - Trust and economic models - Trust metrics assessment and threat analysis - Context-aware trust assessments - Trust-aware recommender systems - Evolution of trust - Trust-based incentive mechanisms - Robustness of trust and reputation systems - Trust metrics assessment and threat analysis - Robustness of incentive mechanisms - Deception and fraud, and its detection and prevention - Attacks on, and defences for, trust, reputation and incentive mechanisms - Testbeds and framework of trust - User interfaces to incentive mechanisms - Real-world applications for virtual communities (e.g. e-commerce, social network, e-health, e-learning, blog, online tutoring systems) Previous Workshops: Reacting to the strong needs and trend, the first Workshop on Incentives and Trust in E-Commerce (WIT-EC'12) was organized with the 13th ACM Conference on Electronic Commerce (EC'12), on June 4-8, 2012, in Valencia, Spain, to bring together researchers in both the area of game theory for designing incentive mechanisms and the area of trust and reputation modeling, towards the design of more effective trust, reputation and incentive mechanisms for creating safe e-marketplace environments. The second Workshop on Incentive and Trust in E-commerce has been held together with the 23rd International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI'13), on August 3-9, 2013, in Beijing, China. Following up the success of the WIT-EC'12 workshop, we invite eight accepted papers to the special issue of Computational Intelligence on Incentives and Trust in E-Commerce ( http://www.ntu.edu.sg/home/zhangj/doc/cfp-ci-si-trust.pdf ) aiming to further elicit articles in a more comprehensive and extended form that contribute to the resolving of the above mentioned challenges. Workshop Co-Chairs Stephen Marsh, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Canada Jie Zhang, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Christian Jensen, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark Zeinab Noorian, University of Saskatchewan, Canada Program Committee Sviatoslav Braynov, University of Illinois at Springfield, USA Chris Burnett, University of Aberdeen, UK Robin Cohen, University of Waterloo, Canada Babak Esfandiari, Carleton University, Canada Rino Falcone, Institute of Cognitive Science and Technologies, CNR, Italy Carol Fung, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA Audun Josang, University of Oslo, Norway Sama Khosravifar, University of Tehran, Iran Siyuan Liu, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Tim Muller, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Masakatsu Nishigaki, Shizouka University, Japan Thanasis Papaioannou, EPFL, Switzerland Sarvapali Ramchurn, University of Southampton, UK Thomas Tran, University of Ottawa, Canada Kewen Wu, University of Saskatchewan, Canada Contact Info Zeinab Noorian z.noorian(a)unb.ca Important Dates Paper Submission Deadline : April 25, 2014 Notification of Acceptance: May 1, 2014 Camera-ready Paper: May 15, 2014 Workshop Date: July 27, 2014 Submission and Proceedings Papers must be formatted according to the AAAI 2014 style guide. We solicit short and long papers as well as research demos. Long papers (6 pages) present original research work; short papers (4 pages) report on work in progress or describe demo systems. All the selected papers will be published in an AAAI technical report volume. Submissions will be reviewed for relevance, originality, significance, validity and clarity. All articles selected for publication will be reviewed by at least two reviewers with expertise in the area. As previous years, we plan to invite the best papers for a journal special issue.

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Computational Modeling of Cognition-Emotion Interactions - Quebec City - July 23, 2014
by Jean-Marc April 15, 2014

April 15, 2014

CFP: Workshop on ***"Computational Modeling of Cognition-Emotion Interactions: Relevance to Mechanisms of Affective Disorders and Psychotherapeutic Action"*** To be held at the 36^th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society July 23, 2014 Quebec City, Quebec, Canada Recent years have witnessed an increasing interest in developing computational models of emotion and emotion-cognition interaction, within the emerging area of computational affective science.At the same time, emotion theorists and clinical psychologists have been recognizing the importance of moving beyond descriptive characterizations of affective disorders, and identifying the underlying mechanisms that mediate both psychopathology and psychotherapeutic action. Computational models of cognition-emotion interactions have the potential to facilitate more accurate assessment and diagnosis of affective disorders, and to provide a basis for more efficient and targeted approaches to treatment, through an improved understanding of the mechanisms of therapeutic action. In spite of the significant synergy that could result from a dialogue among researchers and practitioners in affective modeling, emotion research and clinical psychology, limited interaction exists among these communities. The goal of this workshop is to provide a forum for interdisciplinary dialog among the members of these research communities, and explore how computational models of emotion-cognition interaction can help elucidate the mechanisms mediating affective disorders, as well as the mechanisms of therapeutic action. Workshop Format To facilitate cross-disciplinary discussions and interaction, the workshop format will emphasize moderated panels, small working groups, and open discussion, in addition to the traditional paper sessions. To this end, we encourage submissions of proposals for discussion topics, panels and small working groups. Keynote address:Keith Oatley, University of Toronto-- "The cognitive bases of emotions, emotional disorders and psychotherapy." *Submission Guidelines* Interested participants should submit extended abstracts (1-3 pages), discussion and working group topics (1 page), or panel proposals (1-2 pages) to hudlicka(a)cs.umass.edu <mailto:Hudlicka@ieee.org> by *June 1*.Relevant topics include: ·Which processes mediating cognition-emotion interactions are sufficiently well understood to support computational modeling (e.g., affective biases on attention & perception; emotion regulation; cognitive appraisal)? ·How can models of these processes contribute to an understanding of the mechanisms of therapeutic action, across different types of psychotherapies (e.g., cognitive, psychodynamic, emotion-focused)? ·What are the relative benefits and drawbacks of the dominant theoretical perspectives on emotion with respect to computational models of emotion-cognition interaction and therapeutic action (e.g., discrete / categorical models, dimensional models (PAD), componential models)? ·What are the best representational and reasoning approaches for modeling cognitive-affective schemas and their transformation during therapy?Can we characterize the differences in these transformations across distinct therapeutic approaches (e.g., cognitive, metacognitive, emotion-focused, motivational interviewing, psychodynamic)? ·What are the most appropriate computational methods for modeling the distinct modalities of affective processes (e.g., physiological / somatic, expressive /behavioral, cognitive)? ·How can we model intermodal interactions across processes operating at different time scales? ·What types of data are necessary to develop these models, and how can these be obtained? ·For a given affective process and modality, what criteria determine the best level of model resolution (e.g., models of lower-level processes via connectionist methods vs. higher-level symbolic models)? ·How can we validate computational models of cognition-emotion interactions and therapeutic action, and what are the limits of this validation (e.g., validation of detailed symbolic models hypothesizing specific internal mental constructs, such as goals or plans, may not be possible with current technologies). Addressing these questions from a multi-disciplinary perspective will provide the context within which concrete gaps in both theoretical knowledge and methodologies can be identified, and research priorities established. Submitters will receive notification of acceptance/rejection by *June 15.* For more information see: https://people.cs.umass.edu/~hudlicka/cogsci2014-cog-em.html Post-Workshop Publication The workshop papers will be published as a separate report, and both the papers and the presentations will be made available on the workshop web site. The workshop organizers will also pursue the possibility of a special issue of a relevant journal (TBD) and/or an edited volume in the Affective Science Series published by Oxford University Press. Program Committee Eva Hudlicka, Chair, Psychometrix Associates & University of Massachusetts-Amherst Michael Arbib, University of Southern California Jorge Armony, McGill University Luc Beaudoin, Simon Fraser University Jean-Marc Fellous, University of Arizona Ian Horswill, Northwestern University Richard Lane, University of Arizona

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Poster submission deadline extended to the Fourth International Symposium on Biology of Decision-Making, 26-28 May 2014 @ Paris, France
by Mehdi Khamassi April 15, 2014

April 15, 2014

[Please accept our apologies if you get multiple copies of this message] Dear colleagues, The deadline for poster submission is extended to April 30 for the Fourth Symposium on Biology of Decision Making which will take place in Paris, France, on May, 26-28th 2014. Poster submission and online registration can be done on the dedicated website: http://sbdm2014.isir.upmc.fr Please circulate widely and encourage your colleagues to attend. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FOURTH SYMPOSIUM ON BIOLOGY OF DECISION MAKING (SBDM 2014) May 26-28, 2014, Paris, France Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle, Hôpital La Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France. & Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France. & Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France. http://sbdm2014.isir.upmc.fr ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PRESENTATION: The Fourth Symposium on Biology of Decision Making will take place on May 26-28, 2014 at the Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle, Paris, France, with a satellite day at Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France. The objective of this three day symposium is to gather people from different research fields with different approaches (economics, ethology, psychiatry, neural and computational approaches) to decision-making. The symposium will be a single-track, will last for 3 days and will include 6 sessions: (#1) Who is making decisions? Cortex or basal ganglia; (#2) New computational approaches to decision-making; (#3) A new player in decision-making: the hippocampus; (#4) Neuromodulation of decision-making; (#5) Maladaptive decisions in clinical conditions; (#6) Who is more rational? Decision making across species. CONFIRMED SPEAKERS: Elsa Addessi (ISTC-CNR, Italy) Bernard Balleine (Sydney University, Australia) Karim Benchenane (CNRS-ESPCI, France) Roland Benoit (Harvard, USA) Matthew Botvinick (Princeton University, USA) Anne Collins (Brown University, USA) Roshan Cools (Radboud Univ. Nijmegen, The Netherlands) Molly Crockett (UCL, UK) Jean Daunizeau (INSERM-ICM, France) Nathaniel Daw (NYU, USA) Kenji Doya (OIST, Japan) Philippe Faure (CNRS-UPMC, France) Lesley Fellows (McGill University, Canada) Aldo Genovesio (Universita La Sapienza, Italy) Ben Hayden (University of Rochester, USA) Tobias Kalenscher (Universität Düsseldorf, Germany) Etienne Koechlin (CNRS-ENS, France) James Marshall (Sheffield University, UK) Genela Morris (Haifa University, Israel) Camillo Padoa-Schioppa (Washington Univ. St Louis, USA) Alex Pouget (Rochester University, USA) Pete Redgrave (Sheffield University, UK) Jonathan Roiser (UCL, UK) Masamichi Sakagami (Tamagawa University, Japan) Daphna Shohamy (Columbia University, USA) Klaas Stephan (Univ. Zurich & ETH Zurich, Switzerland) IMPORTANT DATES: April 30, 2014 Deadline for Poster Submission (extended deadline) May 1, 2014 Deadline for Registration May 26-28, 2014 Symposium Venue ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: Thomas Boraud (CNRS, Bordeaux, France) Sacha Bourgeois-Gironde (La Sorbonne, Paris, France) Kenji Doya (OIST, Okinawa, Japan) Mehdi Khamassi (CNRS - UPMC, Paris, France) Etienne Koechlin (CNRS - ENS, Paris, France) Mathias Pessiglione (ICM - INSERM, Paris, France) CONTACT INFORMATION : Website, registration, poster submission and detailed program: http://sbdm2014.isir.upmc.fr Contact: sbdm2014 [ at ] isir.upmc.fr Questions about registration: sbdm2014-registration [ at ] isir.upmc.fr -- Mehdi Khamassi, PhD Researcher (CNRS) Institut des Systèmes Intelligents et de Robotique (UMR7222) CNRS - Université Pierre et Marie Curie Pyramide, Tour 55 - Boîte courrier 173 4 place Jussieu, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France tel: + 33 1 44 27 28 85 fax: +33 1 44 27 51 45 cell: +33 6 50 76 44 92 http://people.isir.upmc.fr/khamassi

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Neuroimaging and Modelling Research Associate Posts at the University of Ulster
by Wong-Lin, Kongfatt April 14, 2014

April 14, 2014

The School of Computing and Intelligent Systems at the University of Ulster has two available 2-year fixed term research associate posts. One of the posts will involve research in the general area of neuroimaging using magnetoencephalography (MEG), particularly in mild cognitive impairment. The other post will involve research in the general area of computational modelling of neuromodulatory effects on MEG signals. Interested applicants are welcomed to apply at: http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/AIJ303/research-associate/ http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/AIJ301/research-associate<http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/AIJ301/research-associate/>/ Note that the closing date is on 28 April 2014. Successful applicants will be based primarily at the Functional Brain Mapping facility at the Intelligent Systems Research Centre (ISRC) with opportunities to interact with other related research teams at the ISRC (e.g. Brain-Computer Interface and Assistive Technologies, Computational Neuroscience, Bio-Inspired and Neuro-Engineering, and Cognitive Robotics), research groups from the (5* research rating) Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, and the recently developed Centre for Stratified Medicine. ------ Dr. KongFatt Wong-Lin Computational Neuroscience Research Team Intelligent Systems Research Centre School of Computing and Intelligent Systems University of Ulster ________________________________ 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 the University of Ulster. 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. The University of Ulster 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 University of Ulster was founded by Royal Charter in 1984 and is registered with company number RC000726 and VAT registered number GB672390524.The primary contact address for the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland is,Cromore Road, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry BT52 1SA

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2nd call for papers: NCPW14 - 14th Neural Computation and Psychology Workshop, Lancaster UK
by Gert Westermann April 14, 2014

April 14, 2014

2nd call for papers: NCPW14 - 14th Neural Computation and Psychology Workshop, Lancaster UK * Apologies for cross-posting * Dear colleague, We cordially invite you to participate in NCPW14, the 14th Neural Computation and Psychology Workshop, to be held at Lancaster University, UK, from August 21-23, 2014: http://www.psych.lancs.ac.uk/ncpw14 This well-established and lively workshop aims at bringing together researchers from different disciplines such as artificial intelligence, cognitive science, computer science, neurobiology, philosophy and psychology to discuss their work on models of cognitive processes. Often this workshop has had a theme, and this time it is ‘Development across the lifespan’, but also submissions that do not fall under this theme are welcome. Papers must be about emergent models - frequently, but not necessarily - of the connectionist/neural network kind, applied to cognition. The NCPW workshops have always been characterized by their limited size, high quality papers, the absence of parallel talk sessions, and a schedule that is explicitly designed to encourage interaction among the researchers present in an informal setting. NCPW14 is no exception. The scientific program will consist of keynote lectures, oral sessions and poster sessions. Furthermore, this workshop will feature a unique set of invited speakers: James McClelland, Stanford University. Bob McMurray, University of Iowa. Michael Thomas, Birkbeck College, London. Abstract submission Please submit one-page abstracts (pdf) by email to ncpw14conf(a)gmail.com, stating whether you want to present as a talk, poster, or talk/poster. Please also indicate whether you would like to be considered for a Rumelhart Memorial Travel Award (see below). Rumelhart Memorial Travel Awards The Rumelhart Memorial Travel awards, generously funded by Professor Jay McClelland, will provide funding to support travel costs for students/post docs presenting at the conference. Awards of US$250 are available to students or post docs from Western European countries, and US$750 for students or post docs from elsewhere. Decisions will be based on the quality of the submission. Eligibility criteria: The first author of the submission is a student or Post-doctoral fellow who will attend the meeting and will present the submission if chosen to receive a travel award. Location Lancaster is situated in the north west of England, approximately one hour from Manchester and Liverpool airports. Lancaster is surrounded by spectacular scenery, hiking and climbing country. The Yorkshire Dales national park is 10 miles away. The Lake District national park is 20 miles away, http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk. The stagecoach 555 bus (http://www.stagecoachbus.com) takes you directly from Lancaster through the heart of the Lakes. The Trough of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is 2 miles away. Important dates to remember Abstract deadline: 15 May Notification of abstract acceptance: 7 June Early registration deadline: tbc Online registration deadline: tbc Conference dates: 21-23 August, 2014 Looking forward to your participation! Organizing Committee Gert Westermann, Lancaster University Padraic Monaghan, Lancaster University Katherine E. Twomey, Liverpool University Alastair C. Smith, MPI Nijmegen -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prof. Gert Westermann Department of Psychology Lancaster University Lancaster LA1 4YF Phone: +44 (0)1524 592 942 Fax: +44 (0)1524 593 744 g.westermann(a)lancaster.ac.uk http://www.psych.lancs.ac.uk/people/gert-westermann -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prof. Gert Westermann Department of Psychology Lancaster University Lancaster LA1 4YF Phone: +44 (0)1524 592 942 Fax: +44 (0)1524 593 744 g.westermann(a)lancaster.ac.uk http://www.psych.lancs.ac.uk/people/Gert-Westermann.html

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Wellcome Trust 4-year PhD programme 'Systems Neuroscience: From Networks to Behaviour' (second round)
by Marcus Kaiser April 14, 2014

April 14, 2014

Dear all, our Wellcome Trust 4-year PhD programme in systems neuroscience, aimed at applicants from the physical sciences (physics, engineering, mathematics, or computer science), is now accepting applications for studentships starting in September 2014 (see below). Research areas include Neuroinformatics, Computational Neuroscience, Neuroimaging (fMRI, DTI, EEG, ECoG in rodents, non-human primates, and humans), Brain Connectivity, Clinical Neuroscience, Behaviour and Evolution, and Brain Dynamics (simulations and time series analysis). Strong interactions between clinical, experimental, and computational researchers are a key component of this programme. Best, Marcus *Wellcome Trust 4-year PhD programme 'Systems Neuroscience: From Networks to Behaviour'* Programme Directors: Prof. Stuart Baker, Prof. Tim Griffiths, and Dr Marcus Kaiser The Institute of Neuroscience at Newcastle University integrates more than 100 principal investigators across medicine, psychology, computer science, and engineering. Research in systems, cellular, computational, and behavioural neuroscience. Laboratory facilities include auditory and visual psychophysics; rodent, monkey, and human neuroimaging (EEG, fMRI, PET); TMS; optical recording, multi-electrode neurophysiology, confocal and fluorescence imaging, high-throughput computing and e-science, artificial sensory-motor devices, clinical testing, and the only brain bank for molecular changes in human brain development. The Wellcome Trust's Four-year PhD Programmes are a flagship scheme aimed at supporting the most promising students to undertake in-depth postgraduate research training. The first year combines taught courses with three laboratory rotations to broaden students' knowledge of the subject area. At the end of the first year, students will make an informed choice of their three-year PhD research project. This programme is based at Newcastle University and is aimed to provide specialised training for physical and computational scientists (e.g. physics, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, and computer science) wishing to apply their skills to a research neuroscience career. Eligibility/Person Specification: Applicants should have, or expect to obtain, a 1st or 2:1 degree, or equivalent, in a physical sciences, engineering, mathematics or computing degree. Value of the award: Support includes a stipend for 4 years (£20k/yr tax-free), PhD registration fees at UK/EU student rate, research expenses, general training funds and some travel costs. Applications will be accepted and considered upon receipt until the deadline of the 30 of May 2014 or until a suitable candidate has been appointed. You must apply through the University's online postgraduate application form (*http://www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding/search/list/in065 <http://www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding/search/list/in065>* ) inserting the reference number IN065 and selecting 'Master of Research/Doctor of Philosophy (Medical Sciences) - Neuroscience' as the programme of study. You should also send your covering letter and CV to Helen Stewart, Postgraduate Secretary, Institute of Neuroscience, Henry Wellcome Building, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, or by email to *ion-postgrad-enq(a)ncl.ac.uk <ion-postgrad-enq(a)ncl.ac.uk>* . For more information, see *http://www.ncl.ac.uk/ion/study/wellcome/ <http://www.ncl.ac.uk/ion/study/wellcome/>* -- Marcus Kaiser, Ph.D. Associate Professor (Reader) in Neuroinformatics School of Computing Science Newcastle University Claremont Tower Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK Lab website: http://www.biological-networks.org/ Neuroinformatics@Newcastle: http://research.ncl.ac.uk/neuroinformatics/

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Reminder: Call for applications: Brains for Brains Young Researchers' Computational Neuroscience Award 2014
by Kerstin Schwarzwälder April 14, 2014

April 14, 2014

Dear colleagues, Please let me remind you that, for the fifth time, the Bernstein Association for Computational Neuroscience is announcing the "Brains for Brains Young Researchers' Computational Neuroscience Award". The call is open for researchers of any nationality who have contributed to a peer reviewed publication (as coauthor) or peer reviewed conference abstract (as first author) that was submitted before starting their doctoral studies, is written in English and was accepted or published in 2013 or 2014. The award comprises 500 € prize money, plus a travel grant of up to 2.000 € to cover a trip to Germany, including participation in the Bernstein Conference 2014 in Göttingen (www.bernstein-conference.de) and an individually planned visit to up to two German research institutions in Computational Neuroscience. Deadline for application is April 25, 2014. Detailed information about the application procedure can be found under: www.nncn.de/en/bernstein-association/brains-for-brains-2014 For inquiries please contact info(a)bcos.uni-freiburg.de Best regards, Kerstin Schwarzwälder -- Dr. Kerstin Schwarzwälder Bernstein Coordination Site of the National Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg Hansastr. 9A 79104 Freiburg Germany phone: +49 761 203 9594 fax: +49 761 203 9585 schwarzwaelder(a)bcos.uni-freiburg.de www.nncn.de Twitter: NNCN_Germany <http://twitter.com/NNCN_Germany> YouTube: Bernstein TV <http://www.youtube.com/user/BernsteinNetwork> Facebook: Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience, Germany <https://www.facebook.com/BernsteinNetwork> LinkedIn: Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience, Germany <http://www.linkedin.com/company/bernstein-network-computational-neuroscienc…>

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early registration discounts for NEURON Summer Course
by Ted Carnevale April 14, 2014

April 14, 2014

Good news for all who are interested in the NEURON Summer Course! Applicants who sign up by Friday, May 9, are now eligible for early registration discounts that range from $100 to $200 depending on which course components they request. NEURON Fundamentals June 21-24 This addresses all aspects of using NEURON to model individual neurons, and also introduces parallel simulation and the fundamentals of modeling networks. Parallel Simulation with NEURON June 25-26 This is for users who are already familiar with NEURON and need to create models that will run on parallel hardware. After Course Early May 9 ====== ===== ===== Fundamentals $1050 $1200 Parallel 650 750 Both 1600 1800 Registration is limited, and the registration deadline is Friday, May 30, 2014. For more information regarding NEURON courses see http://www.neuron.yale.edu/neuron/courses --Ted

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Conference on meditation and science
by Pedro Resende April 13, 2014

April 13, 2014

CONFERENCE ON MEDITATION AND SCIENCE TIME AND PLACE: Monday, May 5, 2014, from 18:30 to 20:30, at Auditorium of Biblioteca Almeida Garrett, Porto, Portugal SPEAKER: Matthieu Ricard (PhD, Buddhist Monk - http://www.matthieuricard.org) PANEL DISCUSSION: - Alexandre Castro Caldas (Director of Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Univ. Católica, Portugal) - João Relvas (Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Univ. Porto, Portugal) - João Forjaz de Lacerda (Faculdade de Medicina, Univ. Lisboa, Portugal), moderator DESCRIPTION: During the past 20 years, neuroscientists have learned that the plasticity of the human brain is greater than previously known, and that it can be modified by both internal and external factors via the exposition to new events and training processes. In this conference, Matthieu Ricard will present the benefits of meditation - mind training - for overcoming the power that obsessive thoughts and negative emotions have over our minds, a power which undermines our well being and ultimately is the deep cause of suffering. He will describe work carried out by neuroscientists at prestigious research centers in the USA, such as Madison, Princeton, and Berkeley, and in Europe, such as the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig, among others, and results showing that mind training can bring deep changes to our personalities. The talk will be followed by a panel discussion with Prof. Alexandre Castro Caldas (Univ. Católica), Dr. João Relvas (Univ. Porto), and Prof. João Forjaz de Almeida (Univ. Lisboa) as moderator. REGISTRATION (SCIENTIFIC ATTENDEES): If you would like to attend please send an email to office(a)krfportugal.org containing your name, scientific affiliation, and email address. The available space is limited, and seats will be assigned on a first come first served basis. There is no registration fee. REGISTRATION (GENERAL PUBLIC): Seats will also be available to non-scientific attendees, and tickets can be purchased from http://ticketline.sapo.pt/evento/meditacao-e-ciencia-8546. ORGANIZATION: Fundação Kangyur Rinpoche, Songtsen INFORMATION: office(a)krfportugal.org, (+351) 936 812 484 SUPPORT: Centro de Apoio ao Sem Abrigo (CASA, IPSS), Multicare, Câmara Municipal do Porto Any profits resulting from this event will be donated to CASA.

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Fully-funded PhD Studentship in Computational Neuroscience and Biophysics, Imperial College London
by Tobias Reichenbach April 13, 2014

April 13, 2014

EEG assessment of central auditory disorder in patients with brain injury The Group for Biophysics of Hearing and Sensory Neuroscience (http://www.bg.ic.ac.uk/research/reichenbach/) at the Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, is looking for a highly motivated PhD student. The PhD project is embedded in the new EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Neurotechnology for Life and Health at Imperial College London (http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/neurotechnology/cdt) Our auditory environment is highly complex: different speakers often talk at the same time, music plays in the background, cars drive by. Our central nervous system is highly effective in analyzing such an auditory scene; for example, we can easily understand a speaker despite background noise. A range of neurological disorders can, however, impair the cognitive processes necessary to parse an acoustic scene and hence significantly impair a person's life. Both the brain's auditory processing as well as the associated disorder remain poorly understood. The graduate project will develop methods to assess the brain’s processing of complex auditory signals such as speech and music through noninvasive electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings. The methods will be used to diagnose patients with brain injury whose auditory processing is impaired. As an example, the project will study patients with aphasic stroke that affects brain regions for communication and language. The research will help to better understand the neurological basis of such disorder and help to develop novel rehabilitation strategies. The project will involve EEG data acquisition, advanced data analysis, machine learning, computational modeling and collaboration with clinical researchers. Candidates should have a degree in mathematics, physics, engineering, or computer science, solid quantitative and computational abilities, and a strong interest in working on biomedical problems. Eligible candidates must be EU nationals. Applicants should send their CV and a cover letter together with a copy of transcripts to Tobias Reichenbach (reichenbach(a)imperial.ac.uk) Applicants should also arrange for two letters of recommendation to be sent to Tobias Reichenbach. Closing date is 02 May 2014. The Department of Bioengineering at Imperial College London is performing internationally-leading, multi-disciplinary research in biomechanics, neurobiology, neurotechnology, and further related areas. More information about the department and about Imperial College can be found online (http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/bioengineering/about and http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/aboutimperial) ------------------------------------------- Tobias Reichenbach Lecturer Department of Bioengineering Imperial College London http://www.bg.ic.ac.uk/research/reichenbach/

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Second Announcement: International workshop on Neurodynamics (NDy14)
by Roberto Barrio April 11, 2014

April 11, 2014

We are pleased to send you the Second announcement of the --------------------------------------------------------------------- INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON NEURODYNAMICS (NDy14) July 14-17, 2014 Castro-Urdiales, Spain http://cody.unizar.es/events/neurodynamics14 http://www.ciem.unican.es/international-workshop-neurodynamics *** Scientific committee *** R. Barrio (University of Zaragoza) Spain S. Coombes (University of Nottingham) UK A. Guillamon (Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya - Barcelona Tech) Spain M. Wechselberger (University of Sydney) Australia A. Shilnikov (Georgia State University) USA Neuroscience is nowadays one of the most collaborative and active scientific research fields as it has been increasingly involving the participation of experts from other disciplines. In particular, computational and mathematical aspects of neuroscience are currently playing an important role both in modeling and replicating experimental findings and in explaining the underlying mechanisms of neurophysiological or cognitive processes. Differential equations are ubiquitous in the modeling of such phenomena and, consequently, nonlinear dynamics and dynamical systems techniques become fundamental sources of new mathematical and computational tools to study neuroscience models. The aim of this Workshop on Neurodynamics (NDy'14) is to present an overview of successful achievements in this rapidly developing collaborative field by putting together different types of applications of nonlinear dynamics (geometrical tools in dynamical systems, numerical methods, computational schemes, dynamical measures,...) to different problems in neuroscience (mononeuronal dynamics, network activity, cognitive problems,...). Additional emphasis will be put on experimental findings seeking for theoretical explanations, and therefore this meeting is focussed on using mathematics as the primary tool for elucidating the fundamental mechanisms responsible for experimentally observed behavior in the applied neurosciences. Importantly, it will draw attention to, those pieces of mathematical theory which are likely to be relevant to future studies of the brain. The final goal is spreading together mathematical methodology and neuroscience challenges and stimulating future cross-collaborations among participants, being Mathematical Neuroscience the generic topic for NDy'14. The workshop length will be 4 days, distributed in special sessions and talks, with several round tables on different topics. --------------------------------------------------------------------- *** IMPORTANT DATES *** Extended Abstract Submission Deadline Short abstract/Title submission deadline 30th April 2014 Payment deadline (reduced fee, 200 Euros) 15th May 2014 Payment deadline (complete fee, 250 Euros) 31st May 2014 The registration includes the coffee-breaks, lunches and social dinner. ---------------------------------------------------------------------

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PhD opportunities at Imperial College London in the Clopath lab
by Claudia Clopath April 10, 2014

April 10, 2014

PhD opportunities in Computational Neuroscience. Computational Neuroscience Laboratory Headed by Dr. Claudia Clopath Department of Bioengineering Imperial College London -----------------Requirements:----------------- The Computational Neuroscience Laboratory, headed by Dr. Claudia Clopath, is looking for a talented PhD student, interested in working in the field of computational neuroscience, specifically addressing questions of learning and memory. The PhD position is fully funded, and has a flexible starting date. The perfect candidate has a strong mathematical, physical or engineering background (or equivalent), and a keen interest in biological and neural systems. Demonstrated programming skills are a plus. This position is restricted to EU citizens. More information can be found at: http://www.bg.ic.ac.uk/research/c.clopath/ -----------------Research topic:----------------- Learning and memory are among the most fascinating topic of neuroscience, yet our understanding of it is only at the beginning. Learning is thought to change the connections between the neurons in the brain, a process called synaptic plasticity. Using mathematical and computational tools, it is possible to model synaptic plasticity across different time scales, which helps understand how different types of memory are formed. The PhD candidate will be working to build those models of synaptic plasticity, and study the functional role of synaptic plasticity in artificial neural networks. They will have the opportunity to collaborate with experimental laboratories, which study connectivity changes and behavioural learning. -----------------The lab:----------------- The Computational Neuroscience Laboratory is very young and dynamic, and publishes in prestigious journals, such as Nature and Science. It is part of the Department of Bioengineering, which conducts state-of-the-art multidisciplinary research in biomechanics, neuroscience and neurotechnology. The lab is at Imperial College London, the 3rd ranked university in Europe, and is located in the city centre of London. -----------------How to apply:----------------- Candidates should send a single pdf file, consisting of a 1-page motivation letter, CV, and names and contact information of two references, to clopathlab.imperial(a)gmail.com, with the subject containing 'PHD2014'. The position remains open until filled, but applications received first will be first considered.

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Postdoc opportunities at the Queensland Brain Institute
by Geoffrey Goodhill April 9, 2014

April 9, 2014

The University of Queensland is currently offering generous postdoctoral fellowships, some targeted specifically at women, which can be held at the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI, www.qbi.uq.edu.au) a state-of-the-art facility located on The University of Queensland’s (UQ) St Lucia campus, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Established in 2003, the QBI's multidisciplinary environment is home to more than 300 staff and approximately 100 PhD students. Key areas of interest include computation and neuronal circuits, cognition and behaviour, neurogenesis and neuronal survival, genetics and epigenetics, neuronal development and connectivity, sensory systems, and synaptic function. QBI researchers have published almost 500 papers in the past two years, including 2 in Science, 4 in Nature, 2 in Neuron, 3 in Nature Neuroscience, 8 in Nature Genetics, 8 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, and 18 in Journal of Neuroscience. The period of appointment will be for three years and appointees are expected to commence in early 2015. The salary range is AU$71,528.60 – AU$79,708.50 (currently 1 AU$ = 0.94 US$). Each appointee will be entitled to maintenance funds of AU$20,000 over the term of the Fellowship to support research costs. Appointees relocating from interstate or overseas will be entitled to reimbursement of travel and relocation costs. For more details see http://www.uq.edu.au/research/research-management/uq-postdoctoral-research-… http://www.uq.edu.au/research/research-management/uq-postdoctoral-research-… and then contact the group leader at QBI with whom you are interested in working: http://qbi.uq.edu.au/group-leaders Note these fellowships are highly competitive and a strong publication record is an essential requirement. Professor Geoffrey J Goodhill Queensland Brain Institute and School of Mathematics & Physics University of Queensland St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia Phone: +61 7 3346 6431 Fax: +61 7 3346 6301 Email: g.goodhill(a)uq.edu.au http://www.qbi.uq.edu.au/professor-geoffrey-goodhill

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Open post-doc position in Nano-Electronics Design for Embedded NVM-based Cognitive Computing
by BICHLER Olivier April 9, 2014

April 9, 2014

Open Postdoctoral Position in Nano-Electronics Design for Embedded NVM-based Cognitive Computing Novel embedded non-volatile memories, like resistive memory, are a fantastic technology enabler for the low-power chips capable of “cognitive” computing that are necessary for the new Internet of Things. To advance this topic, we are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to join our team in the Nano-Design project of the Campus Paris-Saclay. The goal of the project is to study and design an innovative embedded resistive memory-based neuro-inspired computing architecture, with computer vision as the primary target application. The ability to demonstrate state of the art applicative performance, on a pattern detection or classification problem, with a clear implementation gain, in silicon area or power consumption, is a major challenge for this ambitious project. To this aim, your research will associate high-level computer simulation, HDL modeling and IC design. Your ability to quickly adapt to and master our team simulation frameworks will give you a leading edge in your research. Finally, the realization of a fully integrated hybrid RRAM/CMOS chip demonstrator is a strong objective of the project. You will get to work in interaction with a team of tightly coupled labs of the Campus Paris-Saclay and CEA LETI. Candidates should hold a high-quality PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Applied Physics or a related field, with experience in analog and/or mixed-signal CMOS electronics, Verilog/VHDL-AMS modeling and software engineering (working knowledge of C++ is a requirement). The candidate should be able to perform schematic capture and spice simulation; knowledge of industry standard tools and flows like Cadence Virtuoso or similar tools would be greatly appreciated. Other relevant subjects (not required for the position) are resistive memory (CBRAM, OXRAM), neuromorphic engineering, deep/convolutional/spiking neural network… Starting month: during 2014 18 months contract. Salary provided along CEA standards. About our team: Our team is composed of the Institut d’Electronique Fondamentale (IEF) in Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, the Laboratory of Innovation in Surface Chemistry and Nanosciences (LICSEN) at CEA IRAMIS and the Laboratory for Enhancing Reliability of Embedded Systems (LFSE) at CEA LIST. We are also working in strong interaction with the CEA LETI in Grenoble. Contacts: Olivier Bichler (olivier.bichler(a)cea.fr<mailto:olivier.bichler@cea.fr>) Christian Gamrat (christian.gamrat(a)cea.fr<mailto:christian.gamrat@cea.fr>) Tel: (+33)1.69.08.28.31 Contexte du projet NanoDesign / NanoDesign Project Context (in french) Les processeurs actuels reposent sur un couple technologie/architecture (CMOS / Von Neumann) ayant fait la preuve de sa remarquable efficacité. Toutefois, plusieurs éléments de contexte incitent à développer des recherches exploratoires, non pour remplacer les technologies existantes mais pour les compléter / les enrichir grâce à des briques de circuits dédiés compétitifs sur certaines gammes de tâches. Parmi ces éléments de contexte, on note en particulier: (i) la problématique de la consommation d'énergie qui s'aggrave avec le scaling, (ii) l'augmentation de la variabilité des dispositifs qui s'aggrave également à l'échelle nanométrique, (iii) l'évolution des domaines d'applications des processeurs avec notamment une augmentation de la demande concernant le traitement de données naturelles (sons, images, signaux biologiques...) et le traitement de très grandes quantités de données (notamment issues de l'internet ou de capteurs massivement distribués). Ces traitements consistent essentiellement en des taches de reconnaissance et de classification, qui nécessitent une quantité très importante de mémoire (constituant la connaissance a priori du système) et pour lesquels l’architecture processeur classique Von Neumann, qui sépare fondamentalement mémoire et unités de calcul, est particulièrement inefficace. Dans ce contexte, le cerveau représente un exemple particulièrement intéressant de système capable de traiter les données naturelles avec une efficacité redoutable, notamment en termes de consommation. Ce traitement d'information est réalisé de façon massivement parallèle, asynchrone et impulsionnelle grâce à un large ensemble de neurones interconnectés via des synapses. Le nombre de synapses par neurone étant de l'ordre de 104, l'implémentation matérielle d'une telle architecture suppose notamment une densité d'intégration extrême des synapses, d'où le lien fort avec les nanotechnologies. En particulier, il a été montré récemment qu’une synapse peut être émulée efficacement par une mémoire analogique à deux terminaux (un memristor). Celle-ci a la propriété de pouvoir se programmer dynamiquement, en impulsionnel, à la manière d’une synapse biologique, ce qui ouvre la voie à l’implémentation de mécanismes d’apprentissage performants et présents dans le vivant, tels que la plasticité synaptique de type STDP (Spike timing-dependent plasticity) [Poo04]. Les équipes du CEA LIST, du CEA IRAMIS et de l’IEF, impliquées dans le projet NanoDesign support de ce post-doc ont travaillé ensemble et séparément sur différents aspects de cette problématique. En particulier, le CEA LIST, dans lequel sera affecté le post-doc, a développé des architectures de circuits adaptées à différentes technologies mémoires (PCM [Bic12a], RRAM [Sur13], mémoires organiques [Bic12b]…) pour réaliser des fonctions de traitement de données neuro-inspirées. Il s’est doté d’une plateforme de simulation, Xnet [Bic13], dédiée à l’étude de ces architectures, intégrant des modèles fonctionnels ou semi-physiques de dispositifs et des méthodes d’apprentissage [Bic12c] (supervisées et non supervisées). Celle-ci a déjà permis de réaliser un certain nombre d’études, dans le cadre de thèses, notamment sur la robustesse de ces circuits vis-à-vis de la variabilité ainsi que sur la co-intégration nano/CMOS [Que13]. Ainsi, avec ce post-doc, dans ce projet, nous proposons notamment : ● De réaliser des assemblées de dispositifs à une échelle suffisante pour la réalisation d’une fonction cognitive de haut niveau (de type détection/classification visuelle). Ceci, dans un schéma d'interconnexion adapté à cette fonction. ● De poursuivre l’étude des modes de codages de l'information impulsionnels et les règles d'apprentissage et/ou de programmation adaptées aux applications et aux dispositifs étudiés. ● De poursuivre le développement de simulations au niveau circuit afin d'évaluer a priori les architectures et d'en comparer les mérites à d'autres formes de traitements des données. ● De réaliser des prototypes de circuits mixtes intégrant des technologies RRAM et des neurones réalisés en électronique conventionnelle. ● De combiner l'ensemble des avancées du projet pour la réalisation d’une fonction cognitive intégrée, de type détection/classification, pour une application réelle de traitement de données visuelles, avec l’ambition de démontrer la viabilité de notre approche à l’échelle d’un prototype pouvant se comparer aux solutions alternatives classiques sur des métriques concrètes (coût, consommation, fiabilité…). References [Bic12a] Bichler, O.; Suri, M.; Querlioz, D.; Gamrat et al., 'Visual Pattern Extraction Using Energy-Efficient ‘2-PCM Synapse’ Neuromorphic Architecture', IEEE Trans on Elec Devices 8, 2206-2214, 2012. [Bic12b] O. Bichler, W. Zhao, F. Alibart, S. Pleutin, S. Lenfant, D. Vuillaume, C. Gamrat, ‘Pavlov's Dog Associative Learning Demonstrated on Synaptic-Like Organic Transistors’, Neural Computation 25(2):549-566, 2012. [Bic12c] O. Bichler, D. Querlioz, S.J. Thorpe, J.-P. Bourgoin, C. Gamrat, ‘Extraction of temporally correlated features from dynamic vision sensors with spike-timing-dependent plasticity’, Neural Networks, 32:339-348, 2012. [Poo04] Y. Dan and M. Ming Poo. ‘Spike timing-dependent plasticity of neural circuits’. Neuron, 44(1):23–30, 2004. [Bic13] O. Bichler, D. Roclin, C. Gamrat, D. Querlioz, ‘Design Exploration Methodology for Memristor-Based Spiking Neuromorphic Architectures with the Xnet Event-Driven Simulator’, Nanoscale Architectures (NANOARCH), 2013 IEEE/ACM International Symposium on, 2013. [Que13] D. Querlioz, O. Bichler, P. Dollfus, C. Gamrat, ‘Immunity to Device Variations in a Spiking Neural Network with Memristive Nanodevices’, Nanotechnology, IEEE Transactions on, 12(3):288-295, 2013. [Sur13] M. Suri, D. Querlioz, O. Bichler, G. Palma, E. Vianello, D. Vuillaume, C. Gamrat, B. DeSalvo, ‘Bio-Inspired Stochastic Computing Using Binary CBRAM Synapses’, Electron Devices, IEEE Transactions on, 60(7):2402-2409, 2013. -- Olivier Bichler CEA, LIST, Laboratory for Enhancing Reliability of Embedded Systems F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France Ph: (+33)1.69.08.28.31 Fax: (+33)1.69.08.83.95

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New Job Posting for Comp-neuro (F9804z)
by Neil Paz-Cruzat April 9, 2014

April 9, 2014

*George Mason University Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Molecular Neuroscience/Computational Neuroscience* The George Mason University, Krasnow Institute seeks a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to develop and use multiscale spatiotemporal models of cardiac mitochondria to understand how mitochondrial structure and function are related. *Qualifications:* The ideal candidate is expected to have expertise in biological modeling, computer programming, and related numerical methods. Programming on parallel architectures is also desirable, as is knowledge of mitochondrial modeling. This project involves close collaboration with experimental collaborators. The duration of the position is subject to available research funding. For full consideration, applicants must apply for position number F9804z at http://jobs.gmu.edu/; complete and submit the online application; and upload a CV, a list of three references with contact information, and a description of research accomplishments.*These three required documents will need to be uploaded to the Other Doc category as a single (multipaged) document.*Questions may be addressed to*sjafri(a)gmu.edu*. AA/EOE

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Postdoctoral positions in neuroimaging and rapid decision making
by Paul Sajda April 8, 2014

April 8, 2014

The Laboratory for Intelligent Imaging and Neural Computing (LIINC) at Columbia University has immediate openings for several Postdoctoral Research Scientists. Specifically these positions will contribute to our research program focusing on understanding the neural basis for rapid decision making in the human brain and using this understanding to build brain computer interfaces (BCI) for next-generation human-machine interaction. Our approach leverages multi-modal neuroimaging, including a custom designed simultaneous EEG/fMRI system, to identify spatio-temporal cortical and subcortical networks underlying rapid decision making. Our analysis methods are deeply rooted in machine learning techniques, with a focus on using such techniques to enable single-trial analysis for correlating with decision variables. Applicants should have a background in one, and preferably several, of the following area: machine learning, neural signal processing, neuroimaging (EEG and/or fMRI), decision making, cognitive neuroscience and/or BCI. A Ph.D. in Engineering, Computer Science or Neuroscience is preferred. LIINC (liinc.bme.columbia.edu) is in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University and interacts closely with other departments at Columbia, including Electrical Engineering, Biological Sciences, Computer Science and Neuroscience. We are also a member lab of the newly formed Center for Neural Engineering and Computation (CNEC) at Columbia University (cnec.columbia.edu) as well as the Institute for Data Sciences and Engineering (idse.columbia.edu) Additionally, we are a member of the Cognition and Neuroergonomics Collaborative Technology Alliance (CaN CTA) which a collaborative research effort between the Army Research Labs, Academia and Industry. Postdoctoral Research Scientists will thus have the opportunity to broadly collaborate will other scientists in academia, industry and government, being part of one of the largest collaborative programs in real-world neuroimaging and brain computer interfaces. Interested candidates should send via email their CV, three representative papers, the names of three references, and cover letter to Prof. Paul Sajda (psajda(a)columbia.edu) Applications will be considered until the positions are filled. The position is for one year, with the option to renew for 2-3 years, given satisfactory performance and available funding. Paul Sajda, Ph.D. Professor Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Radiology Columbia University 351 Engineering Terrace Building, Mail Code 8904 1210 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10027 tel: (212) 854-5279 fax: (212) 854-8725 email: ps629(a)columbia.edu http://liinc.bme.columbia.edu Editor-in-Chief IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering email: editortnsre(a)gmail.com http://tnsre.bme.columbia.edu

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Bernstein Conference 2014 - Registration is now open
by Kerstin Mosch April 7, 2014

April 7, 2014

*BERNSTEIN CONFERENCE 2014 in Göttingen* Registration is open now! Please register here <http://www.nncn.de/en/bernstein-conference/2014/registration>. Early registration deadline: July 7, 2014 **************************************************************************** Satellite Workshops <http://www.nncn.de/en/bernstein-conference/2014/workshops> September 02-03, 2014 Main Conference <http://www.nncn.de/en/bernstein-conference/2014/program-1> September 03-05, 2014 **************************************************************************** The Bernstein Conference has become the largest annual Computational Neuroscience Conference in Europe and now regularly attracts more than 500 international participants. This year, the Conference is organized by the Bernstein Focus Neurotechnology Goettingen and will take place September 03-05, 2014. In addition, there will be a series of pre-conference satellite workshops on September 02-03, 2014. The Bernstein Conference is a single-track conference, covering all aspects of Computational Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, and sessions for poster presentations are an integral part of the conference. The Bernstein conference will also feature a series of satellite workshops on September 02-03, 2014. The goal is to provide an informal forum for the discussion of timely research questions and challenges. For more information on the conference, please visit: http://www.bernstein-conference.de CONFERENCE DATE AND VENUE: Satellite Workshops September 02-03, 2014 Main Conference September 03-05, 2014 Venue: Central Lecture Hall (ZHG), Platz der Goettinger Sieben 5, 37073 Göttingen, Germany PUBLIC PHD STUDENT EVENT: September 02, 2014 PROGRAM COMMITTEE: Ilka Diester, Daniel Durstewitz, Thomas Euler, Alexander Gail, Matthias Kaschube, Jason Kerr, Roland Schaette, Fred Wolf, Florentin Wörgötter, ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: Florentin Wörgötter, Kerstin Mosch, Yvonne Reimann We look forward to seeing you in Goettingen in September! -- Dr. Kerstin Mosch Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience (BCCN) Goettingen Bernstein Focus Neurotechnology (BFNT) Goettingen Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization Am Fassberg 17 D-37077 Goettingen Germany T: +49 (0) 551 5176 - 425 E: kerstin(a)nld.ds.mpg.de I: www.bccn-goettingen.de I: www.bfnt-goettingen.de

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School J. A. Balseiro 2014: Modeling in Neuroscience
by German Mato April 7, 2014

April 7, 2014

****************************************************************************************** We're pleased to announce the "School J. A. Balseiro 2014: Modeling in Neuroscience" which will take place in Bariloche, Argentina from the 6th to the 31st of October. Additional information in: http://fisica.cab.cnea.gov.ar/escuelaib2014-neurociencias ******************************************************************************************

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ANNPR 2014: Call for papers
by Dr. Schwenker April 6, 2014

April 6, 2014

Please note the extended deadlines. Sixth IAPR TC3 International Workshop on Artificial Neural Networks in Pattern Recognition October 6-8, 2014 Concordia University, Montreal, Canada ANNPR 2014 invites papers that present original work in areas of neural networks, machine learning and pattern recognition, focusing on both theoretical and applied aspects. Topics of interest include, but not limited to: Methodological Issues - Supervised learning - Unsupervised learning - Combination of supervised and unsupervised learning - Feed-forward, recurrent, and competitive neural nets - Kernel machines - Hierarchical modular architectures and hybrid systems - Combination of neural networks and Hidden Markov models - Multiple classifier systems and ensemble methods - Probabilistic graphical models - Kernel methods - Deep architectures Applications in Pattern Recognition - Image processing and segmentation - Handwritten recognition and Document analysis - Sensor-fusion and multi-modal processing - Feature extraction, dimension reduction - Clustering and vector quantization - Speech and speaker recognition - Data, text, and web mining - Bioinformatics/Cheminformatics Note: A PDF of the Call for Papers may be downloaded at: http://users.encs.concordia.ca/~annpr14/ANNPR2014-CFP.pdf Invited Speakers ANNPR 2014 is proud to announce the following invited speakers: Dr. Yoshua Bengio, Canada Full Professor of the Department of Computer Science and Operations Research, University of Montreal Research Areas: Machine learning (ML), neural computation and adaptive perception, statistical learning algorithms Dr. Zhi-Hua Zhou, China Professor in the Department of Computer Science & Technology, Nanjing University, China Research Areas: Machine learning, data mining, pattern recognition, multimedia information retrieval Dr. Michael Herrmann, U.K. Lecturer at The University of Edinburgh School of Informatics Research Areas: Neurocomputation, neural nets, learning theory in autonomous agents & behavioral neuroscience, ML, dynamics of neural systems More information can be found on our homepage (see below) Special Sessions Fellow scientists wishing to organize a special session should submit a proposal to the ANNPR chairs (annpr2014(a)encs.concordia.ca) Proposals should include the session title, a list of topics covered by the session and a list of 3-6 papers for possible presentation in the session. Proposals must be received by March 15th, 2014. Important Dates Proposals of special sessions: March 15th, 2014 Paper submission: April 28th, 2014 Notification of acceptance: June 30th, 2014 Camera ready due: July 18, 2014 Workshop: October 6-8, 2014 General Chairs Ching Suen, Concordia University Canada Friedhelm Schwenker, Ulm University, Germany Neamat El Gayar, Cairo University, Egypt/Canada For more information, please visit or contact us: Homepage: http://www.annpr2014.com/ PDF CFP: http://users.encs.concordia.ca/~annpr14/ANNPR2014-CFP.pdf email: annpr2014(a)encs.concordia.ca -- Sixth IAPR TC3 International Workshop on Artificial Neural Networks in Pattern Recognition ANNPR 2014 October 6-8, 2014 Concordia University, Montreal, Canada Web: http://www.annpr2014.com/ eMail: annpr14(a)encs.concordia.ca

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