- Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

PhD Studentship in Computer Science: Understanding and modelling emergent functionality in small biological neural systems

by Peter Andras

PhD Studentship in Computer Science Understanding and modelling emergent functionality in small biological neural systems Reference Number: EPSAM2014-1 Application Deadline: 15th September 2014 Supervisor: Professor Peter Andras, School of Computing and Mathematics, Keele University Project description: The functionality of biological neural systems emerges through the interaction of neurons. Recent technological advances allow the recording and analysis of many neurons individually, making possible the understanding and modelling the emergence of system level functionality in biological neural circuits. This project will use as model system the stomatogastric ganglion (STG) of brown crabs. The focus will be on the understanding how the roles of neurons may change in response to neuromodulation in the context of changing functional behaviour of the pyloric rhythm neural circuit within the STG. We will use fast voltage-sensitive dye imaging to collect the data about the activity of neurons and computational modelling of these neurons and the impact of neuromodulators on them in order to model and explain the observed activity of the STG. We aim to analyse the roles of apparently functionally equivalent neurons (e.g. two PD neurons, five PY neurons) and model computationally the changes in their functional roles in response to neuromodulation. The successful candidate will be expected to learn the relevant biological experimental techniques, perform biological experiments, learn the relevant computational modelling techniques, and build and analyse computational models of neurons and neural circuits. The stipend is £13,863 (2014/15) per year. The studentship is not available for candidates from outside of the EU. Person specification: You should have either a First class honours degree in Computing Science, Mathematics, Physics, Biology or other relevant science or engineering subject, or a or 2.1 in Computing Science, Mathematics, Physics, Biology or other relevant science or engineering subject and a distinction level Masters degree in a related subject. Equivalent experience will also be considered. Application procedure: You must apply through the Universitys online postgraduate application website (http://www.keele.ac.uk/pgresearch/howtoapply/) specifying the reference number EPSAM2014-1 and selecting PhD in Computer Science, as the programme of study. Only mandatory fields need to be completed and a personal statement, CV and (if English is not your first language) a copy of your English language qualifications must be attached. The personal statement must state the title of the studentship, quote the reference number EPSAM2014-1 and describe how your research interests fit with the topic of the research projected outlined in the advertisement (max. 2 pages). If you already have published research papers a list of these providing bibliographic details should be included in the covering letter. You should also send your personal statement and CV by e-mail to Professor Peter Andras, ( <mailto:p.andras@keele.ac.uk> p.andras(a)keele.ac.uk) Further information: For further details, please contact Professor Peter Andras ( <mailto:%20p.andras@keele.ac.uk> p.andras(a)keele.ac.uk) 01782 733412 For general enquiries contact: http://www.keele.ac.uk/pgresearch/howtoapply --- Professor Peter Andras Professor of Computer Science and Informatics Head of Computing Division School of Computing and Mathematics Keele University Keele, Staffordshire ST5 5BG UK Tel. +44-1782-733412 Fax. +44-1782-734268 E-mail: p.andras(a)keele.ac.uk Web: www.scm.keele.ac.uk/staff/p_andras/

Aug. 29, 2014

New book: Growing Adaptive Machines

by Nicolas Bredeche

<We are sorry if you have received multiple copies of this email> Dear all, Some of you will be interested in our recent book, Growing Adaptive Machines: Combining Development and Learning in Artificial Neural Networks. The topic is the generation of low-level neural network architectures using bio-inspired models and simulations. By emulating the biological process of development, we can incorporate desirable characteristics of natural neural systems into engineered designs and thus move closer towards the creation of brain-like systems. The book includes two broad reviews, summaries of research portfolios from established researchers, and new research contributions. We believe it will form a valuable reference for advanced students and practitioners. See below for the table of contents. http://www.springer.com/engineering/computational+intelligence+and+complexi… http://www.amazon.com/Growing-Adaptive-Machines-Computational-Intelligence/… Best regards, Taras Kowaliw, Nicolas Bredeche, René Doursat (Editors) =-=-=-=-= Table of Contents Artificial Neurogenesis: An Introduction and Selective Review. T. Kowaliw, N. Bredeche, S. Chevallier and R. Doursat A Brief Introduction to Probabilistic Machine Learning and Its Relation to Neuroscience. T. Trappenberg Evolving Culture Versus Local Minima. Y. Bengio Learning Sparse Features with an Auto-Associator. S. Rebecchi, H. Paugam-Moisy and M. Sebag HyperNEAT: The First Five Years. D. D’Ambrosio, J. Gauci and K. Stanley Using the Genetic Regulatory Evolving Artificial Networks (GReaNs) Platform for Signal Processing, Animat Control, and Artificial Multicellular Development. B. Wróbel and M. Joachimczak Constructing Complex Systems Via Activity-Driven Unsupervised Hebbian Self-Organization J. Bednar Neuro-Centric and Holocentric Approaches to the Evolution of Developmental Neural Networks. J. Miller Artificial Evolution of Plastic Neural Networks: A Few Key Concepts. J.-B. Mouret and P. Tonelli

Aug. 29, 2014

Director of Robotics Institute at HKUST

by Bert Shi

Professor Position cum Director of Robotics Institute Applications and nominations are invited for the joint faculty position as Professor cum Director of Robotics Institute in the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The successful candidate will hold a joint appointment as a full Professor in two or more of the following departments: Electronic and Computer Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Logistics Management, and Mathematics. HKUST Robotics Institute is a newly established research institute. Its mission is to (i) conduct fundamental and cutting-edge research in the area of robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), manufacturing automation, autonomous systems, and medical robotics; (ii) provide a world class educational platform for robotics teaching and learning; (iii) transfer knowledge related to robotic technology to the community, industry and government; and (iv) create an entrepreneurial environment for students and faculty. Major stakeholders of the Institute include faculty, staff and students of various departments. Applicants/nominees for the position should have a PhD degree, demonstrated leadership abilities, extensive teaching and research experience as well as an ability to interact effectively with students, faculty, industry and the Government. Salary will be highly competitive with generous fringe benefits. Appointment of professorship will be made on substantive terms of service. Fringe benefits including housing, annual leave, medical and dental benefits will be provided where applicable. HKUST is committed to increasing the diversity of its faculty and has a range of family-friendly policies in place. More information about the School of Engineering is available at: www.seng.ust.hk<http://www.seng.ust.hk/> Applications/Nominations, together with a full curriculum vitae, list of publications, names and contacts of five referees, should be addressed to Professor Amine Bermak, Chair of the Search Committee by email to: drisearch(a)ust.hk<mailto:drisearch@ust.hk> on or before 15 November 2014<x-apple-data-detectors://2>. Review of applications/nominations will start immediately, and will continue until the position is filled. (Information provided by applicants will be used for recruitment and other employment-related purposes.)

Aug. 28, 2014

PhD position in computational neuroimaging

by Igor Yakushev

A PhD position is open in the research group Multimodal Imaging in Normal and Pathological Cognition (Head: Dr. Igor Yakushev) at the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Technische Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany. The project is dedicated to modeling/reconstruction of cerebral networks on the basis of brain images, as obtained using PET, DTI, and fMRI. Disease-related changes in patterns of cerebral connectivity should be quantified in patients with cognitive impairment and subjects at risk. The research group is integrated into the TUM Neuroimaging Center, which possesses a broad methodological and thematic expertise: http://www.tumnic.mri.tum.de/tumnic/index.html The PhD student will be enrolled at the TUM graduate school, which offers a structured curriculum of courses and seminars (in English) and supports participation in conferences and international exchange: http://www.gs.tum.de/en/home/ The Dept. of Nuclear Medicine offers exciting opportunities for neuroimaging research, in an interdisciplinary environment consisting of medical physicists, radiopharmacists and clinicians, and access to state-of-the-art technology including a hybrid PET/MR scanner (Siemens Biograph mMR). Eligible candidates should have a background in applied mathematics, computer science, image analysis or related disciplines. Prior experience with image analysis, Matlab programming and good statistical skills are required. A co-authorship in a scientific paper (at least in submission) is advantageous. The student will be co-supervised by a partner department of the TUM (e.g., Informatics), depending on his/her academic background. The salary/stipend is 1500-2000 EUR net / month, depending on performance of the student and availability of funds. There is no tuition fee at the TUM. The position can commence immediately, by 1.2015 at the latest. Interested researchers should submit their applications including CV, two recommendation letters (or names and contact details of personal references), and a brief letter of motivation to Dr. Yakushev at igor.yakushev(a)lrz.tum.de Applications will be considered until the position has been filled.

Aug. 27, 2014

AES Seizure Prediction Challenge

by Levin Kuhlmann

Posted by Levin Kuhlmann on behalf of Ben Brinkmann Dear Colleagues, We had a phenomenal response to the Seizure Detection challenge (hosted through Kaggle.com<http://kaggle.com/>), which closed last week with 205 teams participating. We would like to call to your attention the AES Seizure Prediction challenge on Kaggle, which is now open to competitors at https://www.kaggle.com/c/seizure-prediction/. There is $USD 20,000 in prize money up for grabs! Sincerely, Ben =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Benjamin H. Brinkmann, PhD Mayo Systems Electrophysiology Lab Alfred 9-441C, SMH 1216 Second St. SW Rochester, MN 55902 (507)538-5719 http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ax95gtwAAAAJ&hl=en ________________________________

Aug. 27, 2014

Re: [Comp-neuro] New Purkinje Neuron Paper

by MICHAEL FORREST

This very recent paper may be of interest to the readership. It investigates and demonstrates the computational power of just a single neuron: the cerebellar Purkinje neuron. Furthermore, it suggests that the sodium-potassium pump is not simply a homeostatic, "housekeeping" molecule - but that it can be a computational element, utilised by the brain for information processing. Forrest MD (2014) Intracellular calcium dynamics permit a Purkinje neuron model to perform toggle and gain computations upon its inputs. Front. Comput. Neurosci. 8:86. Web link to this article at Frontiers (article is free): http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fncom.2014.00086/full Date: Sat, 9 Aug 2014 19:54:33 +0200 From: hugues.berry(a)inria.fr To: comp-neuro(a)neuroinf.org CC: mauriziodepitta(a)gmail.com Subject: [Comp-neuro] A mailing list for Computational Glioscience Dear colleagues, A spinoff of the recent OCNS workshop on the modelling of glia-neuron interactions, we have started a new mailing list. It is intended to share items of interest (new results, papers, events, trainings, jobs...) to the computational glioscience community, i.e. researchers implicated in the modelling and simulation of glial cells at large (astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes, Schwann cells...) and their interactions with neurons. To subscribe, send an email to : sympa(a)inria.fr with the following Subject: subscribe comput-gliosci your_name Sincerely yours Maurizio De Pitta' Hugues Berry-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maurizio De Pitta' - https://sites.google.com/site/mauriziodepitta Hugues Berry - http://www.inrialpes.fr/Berry -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Project-Team BEAGLE INRIA Rhone-Alpes Université de Lyon LIRIS UMR5205 Antenne INRIA de La Doua Batiment CEI-1 66 Blvd Niels Bohr CS 52132 69603 Villeurbanne cedex France _______________________________________________ Comp-neuro mailing list Comp-neuro(a)neuroinf.org http://www.neuroinf.org/mailman/listinfo/comp-neuro

Aug. 26, 2014

Neural Circuits and Behavior Faculty Position

by Olaf Sporns

NEURAL CIRCUITS AND BEHAVIOR FACULTY POSITION, INDIANA UNIVERSITY: The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Indiana University -- Bloomington seeks to fill a faculty position at the level of Assistant Professor (tenure-track) to begin August 2015. Applicants for this position must have a doctorate, a strong record of publication, and the potential for research funding. The applicant's research should focus on using innovative experimental techniques in animal models to understand mechanisms and causal relationships between neural circuit activity and ethologically relevant behavior. We seek cutting-edge integration between new and emerging capabilities for large scale recording and/or manipulation of circuits combined with sophisticated analysis of large-scale data. Examples of behaviors of interest include those related to learning and memory, perception, decision making, reward, timing, pain, adaptation to stress, and developmental processes. Experimental techniques include various methods for recording and manipulating neural circuits at single-cell resolution, including multi-electrode recordings, imaging of circuit activity, and optogenetics. Candidates using circuit-based approaches to study preclinical models of schizophrenia, autism, and other difficult to treat psychiatric diseases are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate is expected to assemble a vibrant, externally-funded research program and to achieve excellence in both undergraduate and graduate education. Indiana University is in the midst of a multi-year initiative to build excellence in network science, and it is anticipated that the candidate's research will both benefit from, and contribute to the initiative's computational neuroscience components. To apply, please include a curriculum vita, copies of representative publications, statements of research and teaching interests, and three (3) letters of recommendation. Interested candidates should review the application requirements and submit their application at: https://indiana.peopleadmin.com. Questions regarding the position or application process can be directed to: William P. Hetrick, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences, 1101 E. 10th St., Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405 or via email at whetrick(a)indiana.edu <mailto:whetrick@indiana.edu>. Review of all applications will begin on November 1, 2014 and will continue until the position is filled. Indiana University is an equal opportunity employment and affirmative action employer and a provider of ADA services. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ethnicity, color, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status. Information about the department and the university is available at *http://psych.indiana.edu/faculty/opportunities.asp * * * -- Olaf Sporns -- @spornslab Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences Programs in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Indiana University Bloomington, IN 47405

Aug. 26, 2014

CFP: MLINI 2014 - 4th NIPS Workshop on Machine Learning and Interpretation in Neuroimaging: Beyond the Scanner

by Irina Rish

Call for Papers MLINI 2014 - 4th NIPS Workshop on Machine Learning and Interpretation in Neuroimaging: Beyond the Scanner https://sites.google.com/site/mlininips2014/ Friday, December 12, 2014, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Submission deadline: October 10th, 2014 Workshop Overview: ----------------------- MLINI workshop focuses on machine learning approaches in neuroscience, neuroimaging, with an extension to behavioral experiments and psychology. This year, our focus is specifically on "Going Beyond the Scanner", which includes making inferences about mental states of a subject from ''cheaper'' (as opposed to fMRI) behavioral data such as subject's speech and/or text, audio, video, EEG and signals collected from various wearable devices. We believe that machine learning has a prominent role in shaping how questions in neuroscience are framed, and that the machine-learning mind set is now entering modern psychology and behavioral studies. It is also equally important that practical applications in these fields motivate a rapidly evolving line or research in the machine learning community. In parallel, there is an intense interest in learning more about brain function in the context of rich naturalistic environments and scenes. Efforts to go beyond highly specific paradigms that pinpoint a single function, towards schemes for measuring the interaction with natural and more varied scene are made. In this context, many controversies and open questions exist. The goal of the workshop is to pinpoint the most pressing issues and common challenges across the fields, and to sketch future directions and open questions in the light of novel methodology. The proposed workshop is aimed at offering a forum that joins machine learning, neuroscience, and psychology community, and should facilitate formulating and discussing the issues at their interface. Motivated by the previous workshops in this series, MLINI ‘11, MLINI’12, and MLINI’13, we will center this workshop around invited talks and a panel discussion. Triggered by the discussions, this year we plan to adapt the workshop topics to a less traditional scope neuroimaging scope and investigate the role of behavioral models and psychology, including topics such as psycholinguistics. Open questions and possible topics for contribution include, but are not limited to, the following: - How can we move towards more naturalistic stimuli, tasks and paradigms in neuroimaging and neuro-signal analysis? - What kind of mental states can be inferred from cheaper and easier to collect data sources (as an alternative to fMRI), such as text, speech, audio, video, EEG, and wearable devices? - How can we leave the lab when acquiring neuroimaging data, towards exploiting mobile acquisition (EEG and NIRS)? - What type of features should be extracted from naturalistic stimuli such as text, voice, etc., to detect specific mental states and/or mental disorders? - How can we combine traditional neuroimaging with naturalistic data collected from a subject or group of subjects? - In general, can we characterize situations when multivariate predictive analysis (MVPA) and inference methods are better suited for brain imaging analysis than more traditional techniques? - Given recent advances of deep learning in image analysis and other applications, a natural question to ask is whether neuroimaging analysis can benefit from such approaches? - How well can functional networks and dynamical models capture the brain activity, and when using network and dynamics information is superior to standard task-based brain activations? Workshop Format: -------------------------- In this one-day workshop we will explore perspectives and novel methodology at the interface of Machine Learning, Inference, Neuroimaging and Neuroscience. We aim to bring researchers from machine learning and neuroscience community together, in order to discuss open questions, identify the core points for a number of the controversial issues, and eventually propose approaches to solving those issues. Each session will be opened by several invited talks, and an in depth discussion. This will be followed by original contributions. Original contributions will also be presented and discussed during a poster session. The workshop will end with a panel discussion, during which we will address specific questions, and invited speakers will open each segment with a brief presentation of their opinion. Paper Submission: -------------------------- We seek for submission of original (previously unpublished) research papers. The length of the submitted papers should not exceed 8 pages in Springer format, excluding the references (LaTeX2e style files are available on the workshop page). Submission of previously published work is possible as well, but the authors are required to mention this explicitly. Previously published work can be presented at the workshop, but will not be included into the workshop proceedings (which are considered peer-reviewed publications of novel contributions). Moreover, the authors are welcome to present their novel work but choose to opt out of the workshop proceedings in case they have alternative publication plans. Important dates: -------------------------- - October 10, 2014 - paper submission - October 24, 2014 - notification of acceptance/rejection - December 12, 2014 - Workshop at Montreal, Quebec, Canada , following the NIPS conference Organizing Committee: -------------------------- Guillermo Cecchi (IBM T.J. Watson Research Center) Kai-min Kevin Chang (Language Technologies Institute, Carnegie Mellon University) Georg Langs (Medical University of Vienna, CSAIL, MIT) Brian Murphy (Machine Learning Department, Carngie Mellon University) *Irina Rish (IBM T.J. Watson Research Center) - main contact Leila Wehbe (CMU)

Aug. 25, 2014

First release of VERTEX cortical tissue LFP simulator

by Marcus Kaiser

Dear colleagues, Many of you may be interested the first release of our VERTEX simulator for biologically realistic models of *primate* cortical tissue. The Virtual Electrode Recording Tool for EXtracellular potentials (VERTEX) is a Matlab tool for simulating extracellular potential recordings in spiking neural network (SNN) models. As a first application, our model allows us to reproduce temporal and spatial gamma oscillation features of in vitro MEA recordings of macaque cortex using more than 100,000 model neurons. However, adapting the code to other species or tissue types is also possible in the future (see FAQ on our website). VERTEX 1.0 Release Features - VERTEX simulator allows large simulations (> 100 000 neurons) on single computers - *In silico* neuronal network model of an *in vitro* brain slice recording - Realistic local field potential recording with “virtual electrodes” at any 3D point - Direct comparisons between simulated and experimentally observed tissue Software, a two-minute introductory video, tutorials, manuals, and a FAQ can be found at: http://www.vertexsimulator.org/ This release is in conjunction with our publication: Tomsett RJ, Ainsworth M, Thiele A, Sanayei M, Chen X, Gieselmann A, Whittington MA, Cunningham MO, Kaiser M. Virtual Electrode Recording Tool for EXtracellular potentials (VERTEX): Comparing multi-electrode recordings from simulated and biological mammalian cortical tissue. Brain Structure and Function (in press) http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00429–014–0793-x <http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00429-014-0793-x> Best, Marcus -- 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.dynamic-connectome.org/ Neuroinformatics@Newcastle: http://neuroinformatics.ncl.ac.uk/ -- Best, Marcus -- 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. <http://www.biological-networks.org/>dynamic-connectome.org <http://www.dynamic-connectome.org/> Neuroinformatics@Newcastle: http://neuroinformatics.ncl.ac.uk/

Aug. 25, 2014

Research Scientist Computational Neuroscience Position in Toronto

by Frances Skinner

Computational Neuroscience Research Scientist Position The Toronto Western Research Institute of the University Health Network invites applicants to apply for a Scientist position in the area of Computational Neuroscience. The ideal candidate will have a PhD in a relevant field, have research experience and expertise in mathematical and computational modeling techniques, and research interests that complement those of the Institute in “Degenerative Disorders of Aging”. Candidates whose research interests encompass modeling at multiple levels (molecular, cellular, network, systems), and who have experimental and/or collaborative experimental experience are especially encouraged. The successful candidate will have the ability to establish an independent, well-funded program and will be eligible for appointment at the appropriate level within the University of Toronto. Applications must be emailed by October 19th, 2014 and should include: 1) CV, 2) Statement of research interests, and 3) Contact information (including email) for three referees Reply, by email only, and in confidence to: TWRIrecruitment(a)uhnresearch.ca with subject line: CompNeuro University Health Network thanks all applicants, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. -- Frances Skinner, PhD TWRI/UHN and Univ Toronto www.skinnerlab.org

Aug. 23, 2014

JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE NEUROSCIENCE

by Roman Poznanski

JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE NEUROSCIENCE Volume 13, No.3, September 2014 http://www.worldscinet.com/jin 1. Theoretical predications of the effects of temperature on simulated adaptive processes in human motor nerve axons at 20°C–42°C D. I. Stephanova<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Stephanova%2C+D+I>, M. Daskalova<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Daskalova%2C+M> DOI: 10.1142/S0219635214500162 2. Motor afferents from the cerebellum, zona incerta and substantia nigra to the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus in the rat Safiye Çavdar<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=%C3%87avdar%2C+S>, Merve Özgür<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=%C3%96zg%C3%BCr%2C+M>, Sanem Pınar Uysal<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Uysal%2C+S+P>, Özge Ceren Amuk<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Amuk%2C+%C3%96+C> DOI: 10.1142/S0219635214500198 3. An ERP study of simple addition: The semantics and syntax of arithmetic operation signs Shelley Shaul<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Shaul%2C+S>, Pearla Nesher<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Nesher%2C+P> DOI: 10.1142/S0219635214500186 4. The role of featural processing in other-race face classification advantage: An ERP study Zhenhua Liu<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Liu%2C+Z>, Qinghua Zhang<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Zhang%2C+Q>, Yan Li<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Li%2C+Y>, Yifeng Du<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Du%2C+Y>, Wei Dong<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Dong%2C+W>, Lun Zhao<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Zhao%2C+L> DOI: 10.1142/S0219635214500125 5. fMRI evidence for dissociation between priming and conscious recognition M. S. Korsnes<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Korsnes%2C+M+S>, S. J. Magnussen<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Magnussen%2C+S+J> DOI: 10.1142/S0219635214500149 6. Visual MMN elicited by orientation changes of faces Wei Wang<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Wang%2C+W>, Danmin Miao<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Miao%2C+D>, Lun Zhao<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Zhao%2C+L> DOI: 10.1142/S0219635214500137 7. MEG localization of spike sources in human patients with brain tumors T. Birbilis<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Birbilis%2C+T>, P. Anninos<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Anninos%2C+P>, I. Seimenis<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Seimenis%2C+I>, A. Adamopoulos<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Adamopoulos%2C+A>, A. Kotini<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Kotini%2C+A> DOI: 10.1142/S0219635214500150 8. Effects of temperature on simulated electrotonic potentials and their current kinetics of human motor axons at 20°C–42°C D. I. Stephanova<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Stephanova%2C+D+I>, M. Daskalova<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Daskalova%2C+M> DOI: 10.1142/S0219635214500095 9. Color properties of the motion detectors projecting to the goldfish tectum: I. A color matching study Vadim Maximov<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Maximov%2C+V>, Elena Maximova<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Maximova%2C+E>, Ilija Damjanović<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Damjanovi%C4%87%2C+I>, Paul Maximov<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Maximov%2C+P> DOI: 10.1142/S0219635214500113 10. Neural mechanisms underlying conflict monitoring over risky decision alternatives: Evidence from ERP in a Go/Nogo task Shuzhen Wang<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Wang%2C+S>, Ning Hui<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Hui%2C+N>, Xinsheng Zhou<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Zhou%2C+X>, Kaifeng He<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=He%2C+K>, Yuanyuan Yu<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Yu%2C+Y>, Jing Shuai<http://www.worldscientific.com/action/doSearch?Contrib=Shuai%2C+J> DOI: 10.1142/S0219635214500101 "The only journal that combines mathematical neuroscience and experimental brain research for the advancement of a well-grounded theoretical neuroscience." --Gilbert A. Chauvet, Chief Editor, Journal of Integrative Neuroscience, 2002-2007 Indexed in: Index Medicus MEDLINE PubMed Biosis Previews Biological Abstracts INSPEC Science Citation Index Expanded ------- Roman R. Poznanski Professor Laboratory of Biological Modeling The Rockefeller University 1230 York Avenue New York, NY 10065-6399 Office: (212) 327-7646 E-mail: rpoznanski(a)rockefeller.edu http://romanpoznanski.blogspot.com and Chief-Editor, Journal of Integrative Neuroscience http://www.worldscinet.com/jin/mkt/editorial.shtml

Aug. 23, 2014

MSc program in Neural Systems and Computation - University of Zurich and ETH Zurich

by Michael Pfeiffer

We are inviting applications for the MSc program in Neural Systems and Computation, an interdisciplinary program offered as a Joint Master Program by the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Switzerland. The program offers a theoretical and laboratory training in neural computation and systems neuroscience. It offers hands-on knowledge of data gathering, analysis and scientific presentation. Students join an international and interdisciplinary research community with expertise in neuroinformatics, advanced experimental techniques and neuromorphic engineering. Further information can be found on our homepage http://www.nsc.uzh.ch. We offer a specialized full-time Masters program open to students with a Bachelor’s degree in the following disciplines: neurosciences, information technology, electrical engineering, biology, physics, computer sciences, chemistry, mathematics, and mechanical/chemical/control engineering. The core courses (all offered in English) provide a common foundation for students with different educational backgrounds, and cover the following: 1. Systems Neurosciences 2. Neural Computation and Theoretical Neuroscience 3. Neurotechnologies and Neuromorphic Engineering The application deadline for students starting in Spring Semester 2015 is *September 15th 2014*. Details about the application process and required documents can be found here: http://www.nsc.uzh.ch/?page_id=10 The program is affiliated with the Mathematics and Natural Sciences Faculty (MNF) at the University of Zurich (UZH) and the Information Technology and Electrical Engineering Department (D-ITET) of the ETH Zurich. All applications are handled by the University of Zurich. Application documents should be sent to nsc(a)ini.uzh.ch. Michael Pfeiffer -- ========================================= Dr. Michael Pfeiffer Postdoc, Director of Studies NSC Institute of Neuroinformatics University of Zurich and ETH Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190 CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland Tel. +41 44 635 30 45 Fax +41 44 635 30 53 pfeiffer (at) ini.phys.ethz.ch http://www.ini.uzh.ch/~pfeiffer/ =========================================

Aug. 22, 2014

PhD position available at VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam

by Andre Marquand

Please see below for a PhD Vacancy at the VU University Medical Centre in Amsterdam for employing pattern recognition methods for neuroimaging data analysis. ----------------------------------------------------------- The project The focus of the proposed PhD project is two-fold; First, the PhD student will will employ advanced computational and statistical methods to evaluate the prognostic value of neuroimaging modalities, biomarker, genetic, environmental and clinical characteristics and their combination to classify the course of depression and anxiety. A second part of the project focuses on employing these methods to disentangle phenotypic heterogeneity of depression by identifying different subtypes based on a rich set of neuroimaging and clinical data and biological protein information, and by exploring the genetic basis of different subtypes and their association with course of depression and treatment response. For these purposes, you will work with data from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (www.nesda.nl) in which an extensive battery of detailed longitudinal clinical, biomarker, neuroimaging and genetic data have been collected in a large cohort. You will also work with similar data from other international cohorts, and with data from the MOTAR study (www.motar.nl) in which the effects of antidepressant and running treatments are examined. This project will integrate across these data-sources using a variety of methods, including the application of supervised and unsupervised machine learning techniques. You will be involved in the processing of neuroimaging data (structural MRI, functional MRI), associating these data with biomarker, clinical and genetics information and using machine learning methods to classify the patients. You will be working in a multidisciplinary team with young and enthusiastic researchers, who have expertise in psychiatry, genetics, neuroimaging, statistics/engineering and epidemiology. Your challenge As a PhD Student your main tasks and responsibilites are: • Help examine predictors of the naturalistic course and treatment response in depression and anxiety; • Identifying subtypes of depression and anxiety based on multimodal data sources; • Apply unsupervised and supervised machine learning methods, such as Support Vector Machine and/or probabilistic methods, to genetic, multi-modal neuroimaging, clinical and environmental data from the NESDA study, the MOTAR study and other international cohorts; • Write various scientific papers on the above topics, and complete your research with a PhD thesis. Your profile We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic researcher with a strong interest in psychopathology who has the following background and experience: • A strong numerate background (i.e. a Master's degree in computer science, mathematics, engineering, medical image analysis or related discipline), preferably with emphasis on machine learning, pattern classification, and/or multivariate image analysis; • Experience with neuroimage analysis or with (bio) statistics is desirable; • You have excellent statistical and strong computer programming skills (good command of LINUX, scripting, and Matlab); • You have excellent communications skills in English, both written and verbal; • Having experience in writing (international) publication(s) is a plus. Benefits Salary Scale: OIO (EUR 2.200 in the first year that increases to EUR 2.818 gross per month in the fourth year, based on 36 hours per week). We also offer a set 8.3% end-of-year bonus and 8% holiday pay. For more information about our fringe benefits, please visit http://www.werkenbijvumc.nl/vumc/arbeidsvoorwaarden/ (Dutch version). The PhD position is for four years, you will start with a contract for 12 months. Additional information The Department of Psychiatry of the VU University Medical Center (VUMC) and GGZ inGeest collaborately conduct research, education and academic patient care. The main focus is on depression and anxiety disorders, two common psychiatric disorders with high public health impact. Psychiatric research is embedded in two VU research institutes: EMGO+ and Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam. In this research area more than 150 persons from different disciplines (e.g. psychiatry, psychology, health science) collaborate. Interested? For more information you can contact dr. Lianne Schmaal, via telephone number: +31(0)20 – 788 4592. For more information about the application procedure you can contact mr. Wessel Haytink, recruiter, via telephone number: +31(0)6 – 1066 7718. Please submit your candidacy by latest September 7, 2014 with reference number D2.2014.00077WH via the following link: http://bit.ly/PhDMachineLearning

Aug. 21, 2014

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Computational Brain Modeling and Neural Engineering

by Mark Kramer

A multi-year postdoctoral researcher position in computational neuroscience is available immediately through a collaboration of Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston University. The fellow will be tasked to build neural models capable of simulating and predicting human neural dynamics within and among a network of cortical and subcortical areas. These models will inform the design of adaptive “closed loop” stimulation to treat psychiatric disorders. The researcher will work with an interdisciplinary team of clinical and computational researchers at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Boston University to focus on three central aims: 1) Develop a mean-field computational model of human cortical and subcortical regions, 2) Simulate the impact of electrical stimulation on the model dynamics, 3) Implement data assimilation procedures to link in vivo brain voltage recordings from individual patients to the computational model variables and parameters. Experience in statistics (e.g., parameter estimation, Kalman filtering, particle filtering) and computer programming in MATLAB and C-like languages are required. Knowledge of neuroscience and models of neural population activity are preferred, and we will preferentially interview candidates with prior work in neural simulation or experimental neuroscience. This opportunity is available immediately, and candidates currently available to begin work will be preferred. However, we are happy to negotiate start terms for outstanding candidates. To apply, or for more information about the position, please send an email to Drs. Mark Kramer (mak(a)bu.edu) and Alik Widge (awidge(a)partners.org) Please include an updated CV, names and contact information of three references, and a brief statement of your interest in the position and relevant qualifications. Applications from women and representatives of minority groups are encouraged. See also: http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/science/jobs/446865-postdoctoral-research-… -------- Mark A. Kramer Prof. Math & Stats, BU http://math.bu.edu/people/mak/

Aug. 20, 2014

[COSYNE2015] Call for workshop proposals

by Tomas Hromadka

================================================================== Computational and Systems Neuroscience (Cosyne) 2015 MAIN MEETING WORKSHOPS Mar 5 - Mar 8, 2015 Mar 9 - Mar 10, 2015 Salt Lake City, Utah Snowbird Ski Resort, Utah http://www.cosyne.org ================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------ CALL FOR WORKSHOP PROPOSALS ------------------------------------------------------------------ PROPOSAL DEADLINE: November 21, 2014. PRE-PROPOSALS: In an effort to coordinate submissions, the organizers are encouraged to submit a pre-proposal by October 31, 2014. Pre-proposals will be shared among submitters. Pre-proposals are requested but not required. The organizers may submit the full proposal by its deadline. A series of workshops will be held after the main Cosyne meeting (http://www.cosyne.org) The goal is to provide an informal forum for the discussion of important research questions and challenges. Controversial issues, open problems, comparisons of competing approaches, and alternative viewpoints are encouraged. The overarching goal of all workshops should be the integration of empirical and theoretical approaches, in an environment that fosters collegial discussion and debate. Preference will be given to proposals that differ substantially in content, scope, and/or approach from workshops of recent years (examples available at http://www.cosyne.org/c/index.php?title=Workshops) Relevant topics include, but are not limited to: sensory processing; motor planning and control; functional neural circuits; motivation, reward and decision making; learning and memory; adaptation and plasticity; neural coding; neural circuitry and network models; and methods in computational or systems neuroscience. Please note that in an effort to enhance the distinctions between workshops, speakers will be asked to commit to only 1-2 workshops. If need be, workshop chairs will work with overcommitted speakers prior to final workshop acceptances to reduce overlap. WORKSHOP DETAILS: - There will be 4-8 workshops/day, running in parallel. - Each workshop is expected to draw between 15 and 80 people. - The workshops will be split into morning (8:00-11:00 AM) and afternoon (4:30-7:30 PM) sessions. - Workshops will be held at Snowbird, a ski resort located 30 miles (typically less than an hour) from the Salt Lake City airport. Buses from the main conference will be provided. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Deadline for pre-proposals: October 31, 2014 Deadline for proposals: November 21, 2014 Format: plain text only -- please no attachments, email to: cosyne15workshops(a)googlegroups.com (Claudia Clopath, Robert Froemke) PRE-PROPOSALS should include: - Name(s) and email address(es) of the organizers (no more than 2 organizers per session, please). A primary contact should be designated. - A title. - A brief description of 1) what the workshop will address and accomplish, 2) why the topic is of interest, 3) who is the targeted group of participants. - Names of potential invitees, with indication of confirmed speakers. Preference will be given to workshops with the largest fraction of confirmed speakers. - Proposed workshop length (1 or 2 days). Most workshops will be limited to a single day. If you think your workshop needs 2 days, please explain why. - A brief resume of the workshop organizer along with a short list of workshop-relevant publications (about half a page total). PROPOSALS should include the list of confirmed speakers in addition to components required for a pre-proposal. Workshop organizer responsibilities include coordinating workshop participation and content, scheduling all speakers and submitting a final schedule for the workshop program, and moderating the discussion. Organizers can be speakers but need not speak depending on scheduling constraints. SUGGESTIONS: Experience has shown that the best discussions during a workshop are those that arise spontaneously. A good way to foster these is to have short talks and long question periods (e.g. 30+15 minutes), and have plenty of breaks. We recommend fewer than 10 talks. WORKSHOP COSTS: Detailed registration costs, etc., will be available at cosyne.org. Please note: Cosyne does NOT provide travel funding for workshop speakers. All workshop speakers are expected to pay for workshop registration fees. Participants are encouraged to register early, in order to qualify for discounted registration rates. One complementary (free) organizer registration is provided per workshop. For workshops with 2 organizers, the free registration can be given to one of the organizers or split evenly between them. COSYNE 2015 WORKSHOP CHAIRS: Claudia Clopath (Imperial College London) and Robert Froemke (New York University). QUESTIONS: email: cosyne15workshops(a)googlegroups.com

Aug. 20, 2014

Postdoc Position in Sleep and Cognition Lab

by Sara C. Mednick

The Sleep and Cognition (SaC) Lab of the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside has an open position for a postdoc researcher. This researcher will be investigating mechanisms of memory encoding, consolidation, and retrieval by using event-related potential (ERP/EEG) during waking and sleep. Successful candidates should have experience in memory research and EEG methodologies, as well as programming skills. Experience in sleep research is not essential. Position is available immediately. Researchers must possess a doctoral degree. The University of California offers excellent benefits. Salary is based on research experience. The initial appointment is for 1 year with a possibility of extension. Please send your CV, statement of research interests and the names of three references or make inquires to Sara C. Mednick smednick(a)ucr.edu. -- Assistant Professor University of California, Riverside Department of Psychology Sleep and Cognition (SaC) Lab www.saramednick.com www.sleepandcognitionlab.org TEDx Talk <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MklZJprP5F0> Amandla awethu!

Aug. 20, 2014

[meetings] Australasian Conference on Artificial Life and Computational Intelligence (ACALCI 2015)

by Stephan Chalup

CfP: Australasian Conference on Artificial Life and Computational Intelligence (ACALCI 2015), 5-7 February 2015, The University of Newcastle, Australia http://www.newcastle.edu.au/ACALCI2015<http://newcastle.edu.au/ACALCI2015> PAPER DEADLINE: 12 September 2014 (extended) NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE: 15 October 2014 PAPER FORMAT: 6-14 pages in Springer LNAI style PUBLICATION: Springer-Verlag LNAI are indexed by Scopus, Zentralblatt MATH, IO-Port, MathSciNet, ACM Digital Library, dblp, EI Engineering Index (Compendex and Inspec databases), and the ISI Conference Proceedings Citation Index - Science (CPCI-S), included in ISI Web of Science. A special issue in the journal Connection Science will invite authors of some of the best papers to submit extended versions of their articles. CONFERENCE TOPICS: ACALCI 2015 will be organised in broad technical sessions that bring together experts from many different fields related to Artificial Life and Computational Intelligence. The forum also encourages associated applied research in domains as diverse as health, the creative arts and finance (to name a few). In this context ACALCI encourages presentations, demonstrations, performances and discussions on innovative research and interdisciplinary projects. WORKSHOPS, TUTORIALS and PERFORMANCES: If you would like to organise a workshop, tutorial or performance in connection with ACALCI2015 please contact the organisers as soon as possible. CONFERENCE WEBPAGE: http://www.newcastle.edu.au/ACALCI2015<http://newcastle.edu.au/ACALCI2015> ----------------------- Stephan Chalup, PhD http://www.newcastle.edu.au/profile/stephan-chalup

Aug. 19, 2014

Databrary.org seeks web developer for open source data sharing project

by Rick Gilmore

** Web Developer for Databrary.org ** About Databrary Databrary is a first-of-its-kind web-based data library where scientists who collect and analyze video can store and share their data openly with other researchers. The project is based at New York University (NYU) and Penn State. It has grant support from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The overall goal is to accelerate the pace of discovery, improve scientific transparency and accountability, and transform research practices in psychology and developmental science. We are growing a team to design and build new open source solutions for science using the latest technologies. Web Developer position description The Databrary project seeks a motivated and flexible developer to help build a unique web-based data library. You will work with users and a small group of developers to design and build the front end UI and back end tools to enable behavioral researchers to collaborate, store, explore, and access research datasets in ways not possible with any existing tool. The ideal candidate will relish the challenge of building a uniquely powerful set of research tools while working on a small team in a diverse and intellectually stimulating academic environment. Responsibilities - Implement dynamic, modular, and responsive web interfaces to organize, present, and manipulate research materials. - Design, implement, test, and validate JavaScript across browsers and platforms. - Integrate feedback from UI experts and researchers (users) to identify and prioritize new features. - Learn, understand, and reorganize research data as needed for better integration with the site. Qualifications - Background in CS or other relevant field and 3+ years programming experience. - Knowledge of AngularJS or other modern web application frameworks. - Extensive experience with jQuery, JSON, HTML5, and CSS3. - Familiarity with standard UNIX development tools such as git. - Understanding of security and ethical concerns around sensitive data. Preferred - History of contributions to open source projects. - Comfortable with discussing and addressing UX/UI design issues. - Experience using RESTful interfaces for structured data. - Sensitive to performance considerations building big data interfaces. - Basic understanding of scientific practices and research tools, such as Matlab, SPSS, or R. To apply - Send the following to jobs(a)databrary.org: - One page cover letter (PDF). - Resume (PDF). - Links to your open source contributions or other samples of your work.

Aug. 19, 2014

IU Cognitive Science Faculty Search

by Olaf Sporns

Assistant Professor - Embodied Cognitive Science Cognitive Science Program Indiana University The Cognitive Science Program at Indiana University seeks a tenure track junior level appointment in the area of embodied cognitive science. Successful applicants will take a leadership role in the ongoing development of embodied cognition as a research and teaching focus of the program. Indiana University has a strong history in this area, ranging from theoretical foundations to computational and robotics modeling, to experimental approaches in developmental psychology and neuroscience. Although the emphasis of the position is on computational and/or robotic modeling approaches to problems in embodied cognition, candidates are expected to engage with the breadth of experimental programs and philosophical discussion that make up this interdisciplinary research area. Applicants should have a Ph.D. in Cognitive Science, Computer Science or a closely related field and will join the faculty of a department or school on the Bloomington campus appropriate to their specific background. Applicants are expected to have a record that demonstrates an excellent potential in the areas of research and teaching. Interested candidates should review the application requirements and submit their applications athttps://indiana.peopleadmin.com/postings/1006. Questions regarding the position or application process can be directed to Randall Beer, Cognitive Science Search Committee, 819 Eigenmann, 1900 E. 10th St., Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47406-7512 orcogsrch(a)indiana.edu. Review of applications will begin on November 1, 2014 and will continue until the position is filled. Indiana University is an equal employment and affirmative action employer and a provider of ADA services. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ethnicity, color, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status. Applications from women and minority group members are especially encouraged. Information about the program and the university is available athttp://www.cogs.indiana.edu/. -- Olaf Sporns -- @spornslab Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences Programs in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Indiana University Bloomington, IN 47405

Aug. 19, 2014

Tenure-track faculty position in computational neuroscience

by Adam Kohn

The Albert Einstein College of Medicine, one of the leading medical schools in New York City, is seeking to fill multiple tenure track faculty positions in the newly formed Department of Systems and Computational Biology. Established in April 2008, the main goal of the new department is to advance our understanding of living systems by developing theoretical, computational and experimental approaches to study complex biological systems. The Albert Einstein College of Medicine, has 750 medical students, 325 graduate students and 360 post-doctoral fellows in training and boasts a strong research faculty covering broad areas of experimental biology, offering outstanding opportunities for collaborative interactions. The 200,000 square foot Price Center for Genetic and Translational Medicine at Einstein, which opened in late 2007, locates computational, systems, and experimental scientists in physical proximity to foster interdisciplinary communication and collaboration. Highly competitive start-up packages are available. We seek outstanding scientists with broad experience and demonstrated collaborative interactions with experimental or clinical investigators. Candidates should have strength in a physical, mathematical or computational field at the Ph.D. or equivalent level. Experience applying these skills to a biological or biomedical area (demonstrated through publications or support) is also required. Areas of interest that would be advantageous, but not required, are: Systems and Computational Neuroscience — visual processing, cortical computation, or population coding; Systems Evolutionary Biology; and Mathematical and Computational Modeling of Complex Traits. Applicants should send a letter of interest, C.V., statement of research and teaching interests, and names of three referees, in electronic format to: Systems and Computational Biology Search Committee Albert Einstein College of Medicine Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus 1300 Morris Park Ave. Price Center, Rm. 153 Bronx, New York 10461 E-mail Address: sysbio(a)einstein.yu.edu Subject line should be: SCB Faculty Search Yeshiva University is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.

Aug. 19, 2014

2nd Call for Abstracts for the 7th Int'l Workshop on Guided Self-Organisation (Freiburg, Dec 16-18, 2014)

by Joschka Boedecker

<apologies for possible cross-posting> Dear colleagues, This is the 2nd Call for Abstracts for the Seventh International Workshop on Guided Self-Organisation (GSO-2014) to be held from December 16-18, 2014 in Freiburg, Germany. http://ml.informatik.uni-freiburg.de/events/gso14/index The workshop will bring together researchers from a richly diverse background who share interest in understanding and designing self-organising systems. Of particular interest are well-founded, but general methods for characterizing such systems in a principled way with the view of ultimately allowing them to be guided toward prespecified goals. Information theory, nonlinear dynamics and graph theory are core to many of these methods, and quantifying complexity and its sources is a common theme. This year, the workshop is organised in collaboration with the BrainLinks-BrainTools cluster of excellence at University of Freiburg ( https://www.brainlinks-braintools.uni-freiburg.de/ ), and one focus theme will be guided self-organisation in neural systems. Submissions to the workshop are extended abstracts (one-two pages). If interested in participating, send an extended abstract (by September 7th, 2014) by email to: jboedeck at informatik dot uni-freiburg dot de The notifications are expected by September 21st, 2014. Authors of accepted submissions will present the content to the workshop (scheduled 30 minutes presentation). It is expected that post-workshop publication of selected papers will follow in a special journal issue (as has been the case for previous GSO workshops). Please consult the website above and also http://guided-self.org/ for more information. Best wishes, Joschka Boedecker Mikhail Prokopenko Martin Riedmiller

Aug. 19, 2014

PhD Positions Combining Robotics and Neuroscience at the Queensland University of Technology

by Michael Milford

Several PhD positions are available to work on a challenging interdisciplinary research project spanning neuroscience, robotics and computer vision. Project summary: Current robotic and personal navigation systems leave much to be desired; GPS only works in open outdoor areas, lasers are expensive and cameras are highly sensitive to changing environmental conditions. In contrast, nature has evolved superb navigation systems. This project will solve the challenging problem of place recognition, a key component of navigation, by modelling the visual recognition skills of humans and the rodent spatial memory system. This approach combines the best understood and most capable components of place recognition in nature to create a whole more capable than its parts. The project will produce advances in robotic and personal navigation technology and lead to breakthroughs in our understanding of the brain. This project is a strongly interdisciplinary one spanning neuroscience, robotics and computer vision and candidates will require experience or a skill set that facilitates this interdisciplinary approach - such as a strong background in computer science with an interest in neuroscience, or a neuroscientist / biologist with strong math and coding skills. PhD candidates will have the very challenging but rewarding task of achieving research breakthroughs that impact multiple disciplines simultaneously, as well as producing innovative technologies based on these breakthroughs. Project Collaborators and Support The project will involve collaboration with leading neuroscientists, roboticists, biologists and computer vision researchers at top international universities including Harvard University and Boston University, as well as local collaborators including The University of Queensland. PhD candidates will pursue an independent interdisciplinary research agenda but will have access to researchers from several major robotics and computer vision initiatives based at QUT, including the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Robotic Vision. How to Apply To apply please go to: https://wiki.qut.edu.au/display/cyphy/Applications+Milford. Scholarships and top-ups are available for high quality applicants. Or contact: Dr Michael Milford: https://wiki.qut.edu.au/display/cyphy/Michael+Milford School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Queensland University of Technology Phone: +61 7 3138 9969 | E-mail: michael DOT milford(a)qut.edu.au Michael Milford |ARC Future Fellow | Microsoft Faculty Fellow | Senior Lecturer | Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Science and Engineering Faculty | Queensland University of Technology S Block, Room S1110, Gardens Point Campus ph 3138 9969 | email michael.milford(a)qut.edu.au<mailto:c.degroot@qut.edu.au> CRICOS No 00213J * Recent Publications * * Visual Place Recognition Under Extreme Perceptual Change - "SeqSLAM: Visual route-based navigation for sunny summer days and stormy winter nights", International Conference on Robotics and Automation, link http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=6224623 * Navigating without GPS, using only a web camera - "Mapping a Suburb with a Single Camera using a Biologically Inspired SLAM System", IEEE Transactions on Robotics, link http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=4627450 * Continual mapping and navigation over a 2 week office delivery robot experiment - "Persistent Navigation and Mapping using a Biologically Inspired SLAM System", International Journal of Robotics Research, http://ijr.sagepub.com/content/29/9/1131.abstract * Combining robotics, neuroscience and animal navigation to manage uncertainty when navigating - "Solving Navigational Uncertainty Using Grid Cells on Robots", PLoS Computational Biology, http://www.ploscompbiol.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000995 More information available at: https://wiki.qut.edu.au/display/cyphy/Michael+Milford Google Scholar Profile: http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=TDSmCKgAAAAJ&hl=en

Aug. 19, 2014

Neurocomputing special issue CFP

by Zhijun Yang

Dear Colleagues, Sorry for any possible cross communications. May we draw your attention to a Neurocomputing special issue CFP: Advances on Biological Rhythmic Pattern Generation: Experiments, Algorithms and Application. The full announcement can be found as an internet link below. http://www.journals.elsevier.com/neurocomputing/call-for-papers/special-iss… Instructions for submission: • The submission website for Neurocomputing is located at: http://ees.elsevier.com/neucom/default.asp • To ensure that all relevant manuscripts are correctly identified for inclusion into this special issue, it is important that authors select SI: Creating Biology Rhythm when reaching the “Article Type” step in the submission process. We look forward to receiving your contributions to what promises to be an exciting special issue. Best regards, Zhijun Yang -- Zhijun Yang, BEng, MSc, PhD, Lecturer in Design Engineering Department of Design Engineering and Mathematics School of Science and Technology Middlesex University, London NW4 4BT, UK Voice: +44 (0)7882681333

Aug. 16, 2014

Bernstein Conference 2014 - online registration ends August 24

by Kerstin Mosch

Aug. 14, 2014

Graduate studies in the neuroscience of decision-making

by Paul Cisek

Graduate studies in the neuroscience of decision-making Department of neuroscience, laboratory of Paul Cisek Applications are invited for a master's or doctoral studentship in cognitive neuroscience. The successful applicant will join a research group studying the neural mechanisms of decision-making in humans and non-human primates using a combination of computational and experimental techniques. Research in our laboratory involves computational models of the nervous system as well as behavioral experiments, transcranial magnetic stimulation, functional magnetic resonance imaging, and multi-electrode recording from the cerebral cortex and subcortical regions. Depending on the applicant's qualifications and interests, they will help to design and conduct behavioral and neurophysiological experiments, analyze data, develop theoretical models of neural systems, prepare manuscripts for publication, and participate in international conferences. See www.cisek.org/pavel for information on current projects and a list of sample publications. While students with a strong background in mathematics, computer science, or biological sciences are particularly encouraged to apply, all motivated students with an interest in understanding the brain will be considered. The successful applicant will receive a competitive salary in accordance with university guidelines. For further information, please contact Dr. Paul Cisek (paul.cisek(a)umontreal.ca) Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter, curriculum vita, copies of academic transcripts, and the names and contact information of 2 references, to: Dr. Paul Cisek Department of neuroscience University of Montréal C.P. 6128 Succursale Centre-ville Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, CANADA Phone: 514-343-6111 x4355 Web: www.cisek.org/pavel email: paul.cisek(a)umontreal.ca Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but preference will be given to applications received before August 31, 2014. Interviews may be possible at the Bernstein conference (Göttingen, Sept 2-5, 2014, http://www.bernstein-conference.de/) the INT neuroscience conference (Marseille, Oct 2-3, 2014, http://www.int.univ-amu.fr/2nd-colloque-de-l-INT) or the Society for Neuroscience meeting (Washington DC, November 15-19, 2014, http://www.sfn.org/annual-meeting/neuroscience-2014) Montréal is consistently rated as one of the world's most livable cities and has been called "Canada's Cultural Capital". It has the highest number of university students per capita in the continent, with more than 17,000 foreign students from 150 countries and among the lowest tuition fees in North America. Montréal's vibrant neuroscience community spans four major universities (University of Montréal, McGill University, Concordia University, and the University of Québec at Montréal) and the Montréal Neurological Institute. The University of Montréal is the largest university in Québec and the second largest in Canada, with over 55,000 students and 10,000 employees. Deeply rooted in Montréal and dedicated to its international mission, the Université de Montréal is one of the top universities in the French-speaking world. The University of Montréal is a French-speaking institution, and most coursework is in French. However, the master's or PhD thesis can be written in French or English. ----------------------------------------------- Paul Cisek, Ph.D. Groupe de recherche sur le système nerveux central Département de neuroscience, local 4117 Université de Montréal C.P. 6128 Succursale Centre-ville Montréal QC H3C 3J7 Canada Tél: 514-343-6111 x4355 Fax: 514-343-2111 e-mail: paul.cisek(a)umontreal.ca -----------------------------------------------

Aug. 13, 2014