- Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

Effort and time trade-offs during foraging : PhDD position.
by Ahmed El Hady Jan. 16, 2024

Jan. 16, 2024

Imagine that you need to catch a bus to return home after work. Will you decide to run as fast as possible to catch the first incoming bus? Or will you walk slowly to save your energy after an exhausting day, at the risk of missing this first bus and arriving late at home? Foraging tasks are emerging as crucial models for naturalistic decision making in rodents . On mechanistic level, those tasks give us the opportunity to understand how individual sensitivities to time and effort drive variability in the strategy of rodents facing an explore vs exploit dilemma. If those questions are of interest to you , there is an opening for a PhD position at the Centuri Turing Center for living systems in Marseille where the project is advised by David Robbe ( INMED, Marseille) , Eloy Christophe ( IRPHE, Marseille) and Ahmed El Hady ( Cluster for Advanced Study of Collective Behavior, Konstanz ). The project will combine theoretical and experimental approaches to understand how foraging strategies vary in terms of their sensitivities to time and effort during a variety of experimental conditions. We are looking for a candidate with a strong quantitative background, capable to developing numerical simulation/model (i.e. strong programing skills) and with a strong taste for animal behavior and cognition For more details and application procedure , please check the website : https://centuri-livingsystems.org/phd2024-19/ Please do not hesitate to get in touch in case you have any questions, Ahmed El hady Dr. Ahmed El Hady Group Leader Cluster for Advanced Study of Collective Behavior Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Universitätsstraße 10, 78464 Konstanz Room ZT 907 Postbox 687 Tel.: +49 7531 88-4742

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Postdoc position in Montreal (McGill)
by Becket Ebitz Jan. 16, 2024

Jan. 16, 2024

Do you want to know what mice think about when they are on mushrooms? Are you interested in using computational models to compare how mice and humans think? The Behavioural Neurogenomics Lab (https://www.bagotlab.org) at McGill University is looking for a highly motivated computational neuroscience postdoc to lead a newly funded collaboration examining the neural bases of effects of stress and psychedelics on reward processing in mice and humans. This is a fully funded position intersecting computational modeling, neural circuit interrogation and robust behavioural paradigms. Based in Montreal, the candidate will work closely with the Noise Lab at Universite de Montreal (https://ebitzlab.com/) and the Mayo Lab ( https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/leah-mayo) at University of Calgary to develop new approaches for the comparative study of the neural processing of reward. The candidate must have a PhD in computational neuroscience, psychology, cognitive science or a quantitative discipline as well as fluency in Matlab or Python and experience in statistical data analysis and an interest in translational or comparative research. Ideally, the candidate would have some background in cognitive and/or reinforcement learning models, generalized linear models, hidden Markov models or probabilistic graphical models. Anticipated start date April 1, 2024 for an initial term of 1 year with the possibility of renewal. Come join an exciting, diverse team in a unique city with a supportive, and highly collaborative environment! To apply, please send a PDF of your CV to rosemary.bagot(a)mcgill.ca with a list of three potential references to contact. In your email, please describe 1) why you are interested in the position and 2) how your prior experience relates to this research opportunity.

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Overlapping versus non-overlapping community models
by Greg Rosenbaum Jan. 16, 2024

Jan. 16, 2024

I’ve been reading a lot about network community structure, in the context of large-scale brain networks. One of my favorite papers on the subject was Betzel and Bassett (2016) <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811916306152>. However, most papers I’ve read, including Betzel and Bassett (2016), partition a network into disjoint communities. I’ve also encountered some publications that use overlapping communities instead, such as Najafi et al. (2016) <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1053811916300957.>. This seems like an important choice. I think I agree with Najafi et al. (2016) that overlapping communities can reveal more about brain structure. For example, consider a case of two overlapping communities. They will share a common core – their intersection. Due to how communities are generated, the intersection would necessarily be highly coherent and form a community in its own right at a different resolution. In other words, we’d have two systems that share the same structure, reusing it for different purposes. This kind of reuse is a core principle in system architecture. It makes sense to see it in the brain. However, the two papers I’ve cited are pretty old at this point. Has there developed a consensus about what kind of community model is best suited for studying the brain?

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[Meetings] Deadline reminder: 2024 Nengo Summer School Call For Applications
by Michael Furlong Jan. 15, 2024

Jan. 15, 2024

Dear colleagues, Please note that the deadline for application submission to the Nengo Summer School, February 1st, 2024, is approaching. [All details about this school can be found online at https://www.nengo.ai/summer-school] The Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience at the University of Waterloo is excited to announce our 9th annual Nengo summer school on large-scale brain modelling and neuromorphic computing. This two-week school will teach participants to use the Nengo simulation package to build state-of-the-art cognitive and neural models to run both in simulation and on neuromorphic hardware. Summer school participants will be given on-site access to neuromorphic hardware and will learn to run high-level applications using Nengo! More generally, Nengo provides users with a versatile and powerful environment for designing cognitive and neural systems and has been used to build what is currently the world's largest functional brain model, Spaun, which includes spiking deep learning, reinforcement learning, adaptive motor control, and cognitive control networks. For a look at the last in-person summer school, check out this short video: https://youtu.be/vRcN5-0wdQE We welcome applications from all interested graduate students, postdocs, professors, and industry professionals with a relevant background. ***Application Deadline: February 1, 2024*** Format: A combination of tutorials and project-based work. Participants are encouraged to bring their own ideas for projects, which may focus on testing hypotheses, modelling neural or cognitive data, implementing specific behavioural functions with neurons, expanding past models, or providing a proof-of-concept of various neural mechanisms. Hands-on tutorials, work on individual or group projects, and talks from invited faculty members will make up the bulk of day-to-day activities. A project demonstration event will be held on the last day of the school, with prizes for strong projects! Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to: * interface Nengo with various kinds of neuromorphic hardware (e.g. BrainDrop, SpiNNaker) * build perceptual, motor, and sophisticated cognitive models using spiking neurons * model anatomical, electrophysiological, cognitive, and behavioural data * use a variety of single cell models within a large-scale model  * integrate machine learning methods into biologically oriented models * interface Nengo with cameras and robotic systems * implement modern nonlinear control methods in neural models * and much more… Date and Location: June 2nd to June 14th, 2024 at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Applications: Please visit http://www.nengo.ai/summer-school, where you can find more information regarding costs, travel, lodging, along with an application form listing required materials. If you have any questions about the school or the application process, please contact Michael Furlong (michael.furlong(a)uwaterloo.ca) The school is partly supported by ABR, Inc. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Postdoc in neural data analysis at the University of Edinburgh
by Angus Chadwick Jan. 15, 2024

Jan. 15, 2024

Dear all, We invite applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work on an exciting project developing novel methodologies for analysis of large-scale neural recordings over learning. This project is part of an international collaboration between the labs of Dr Angus Chadwick (University of Edinburgh), Prof Alex Cayco-Gajic (École Normalé Supérieure) and Prof Matthew Perich (Université de Montréal). The successful candidate will build upon a method recently developed by the host lab (Dr Chadwick) together with collaborator Prof Cayco-Gajic (Pellegrino, Cayco-Gajic* and Chadwick*, NeurIPS 2023). The project involves development of novel data-analytic methodologies and application to cutting-edge neural datasets collected during motor and perceptual learning tasks. In particular, the candidate will build upon the recent line of work by the supervisory team: https://arxiv.org/abs/2308.11567 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0896627322009059 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959438823000843 The role is based primarily at the Institute for Adaptive and Neural Computation at the University of Edinburgh. Funding is available to undertake extended research visits to the labs of international collaborators at École Normale Supérieure and Université de Montréal. This is a full-time position, with an initial appointment of 18 months, and available to start immediately. There full job ad can be viewed here: https://elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1… To apply, please email Dr Angus Chadwick at angus dot chadwick at ed.ac.uk with a CV and contact details for two references. Informal inquiries are also encouraged. Applications will be considered until the position is filled, with priority for those submitted before 9th February 2024. Best wishes, Angus Chadwick The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336. Is e buidheann carthannais a th' ann an Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann, clàraichte an Alba, àireamh clàraidh SC005336.

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Call for Cosyne workshop contributed short talks
by Cristina Savin Jan. 15, 2024

Jan. 15, 2024

Hello all We invite the community to submit short abstracts on relevant recent results documenting limitations of current tools, unexpected negative results and/or potential new ideas to overcome them. We will select a small number of contributed talks from these submissions as part of our Cosyne “I can't believe it's not better!” workshop. Submissions from junior researchers are particularly welcome. Deadline: January 31st Details about the workshop and the abstract submission process can be found on our workshop webpage: https://cosyne2024-icbinb.github.io/ We look forward to seeing many of you in Cascais! Cristina Savin and Alex Williams

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Professorship in Tübingen: ML for Science
by Philipp Berens Jan. 15, 2024

Jan. 15, 2024

Dear all, we have a faculty position for machine learning for science to fill: https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/university/careers/newsfullview-job-advertiseme… The professorship is part of the Cluster of Excellence “Machine Learning: New Perspectives for Science“. A successful candidate is expected to carry out internationally competitive research in the field of machine learning in science. Possible research directions could be (but are not limited to) the following ones: Theory of machine learning for science Large language models for science Causal inference in machine learning for science Lifelong and continual learning The deadline is 23 of February. Looking forward to your applications. Philipp Berens -- Professor of Data Science, Director Hertie Institute for AI in Brain Health Medical Faculty of the University of Tübingen www.hertie.ai

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PhD positions in brain-like computing and computational neuroscience at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm
by Pawel Herman Jan. 14, 2024

Jan. 14, 2024

Dear Colleagues I am writing to draw your attention to two PhD positions in Computational Cognitive Brain Science lab in the Division of Computational Science and Technology at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm: 1) PhD position in brain-like computing (https://www.kth.se/lediga-jobb/681902?l=en) It is linked to the EU-project EXTRA-BRAIN Explainable Trustworthy AI for Data Intensive Applications, which just started in the beginning of the year. One of the key goals of the project is to develop and study brain-like neural network architectures and biologically inspired learning for semi-supervised and unsupervised learning problems. 2) PhD position in cognitive computational neuroscience (https://www.kth.se/lediga-jobb/682809?l=en) The goal of the project is to develop large-scale network-of-networks models to study neural interactions between different cortical and sub-cortical systems orchestrating control of goal-directed behaviour. The project will be conducted in the vibrant interdisciplinary environment including the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet and the Department of Psychology at Stockholm University. Application deadline: Feb 5, 2024. Please contact me if you have any questions! Best Pawel Herman ------------------------------------ [cid:image001.jpg@01DA46AE.54130F40] Paweł Herman Associate Professor, PhD, Docent KTH Royal Institute of Technology School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) Division of Computational Science and Technology (CST) Lindstedtsvägen 5 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden room 4442 (4th floor, D-building) tel. +46 8 790 6513

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AREADNE 2024 Abstract Submission Open
by John Pezaris Jan. 12, 2024

Jan. 12, 2024

AREADNE 2024 Research in Encoding and Decoding of Neural Ensembles Eliopoulos Conference Center, Milos, Greece 25-29 June 2024 http://areadne.org info(a)areadne.org Dear Colleague, We are pleased to announce that abstract submission is now open for poster presentation at AREADNE 2024, 25-29 June 2024, our tenth meeting, to be held at the Eliopoulos Conference Centre in Milos, Greece. Note that this is a change in location from previous meetings. Continuing with the same highly successful format, AREADNE 2024 will bring scientific leaders from around the world to present their theoretical and experimental work on the functioning of neuronal ensembles. The meeting will provide an informal and beautiful setting in which attendees can discuss their recent ideas and discoveries, with a relaxed pace that emphasizes interaction. Please see the Call for Abstracts for additional details, including links for templates, at http://areadne.org/call-for-abstracts Submissions of abstracts for poster presentations are due by 26 Jan 2024; notifications will be provided by late February 2024. We strongly encourage potential attendees to submit an abstract as presenters have registration priority. For information about the conference, please refer to the main web page http://areadne.org or send email to us at info(a)areadne.org . We hope to see you at AREADNE 2024! Best, - J. --- John S. Pezaris, Ph.D. AREADNE 2024 Co-Chair Harvard Medical School Massachusetts General Hospital 55 Fruit Street Boston, MA 02114, USA info(a)areadne.org

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ICMNS 2024 - abstract submission deadline reminder
by Áine Byrne Jan. 12, 2024

Jan. 12, 2024

Dear all, A quick reminder that the call for contributed talks and posters at ICMNS 2024 closes on Tuesday (January 16) at 23:59 (GMT). ICMNS 2024 will take place at University College Dublin on the June 12-14 2024. This is the final deadline for submissions. Following a review process, successful submission will be offered a contributed talk or poster, with the top submission(s) being offered a slot in one of our plenary sessions. You can submit your contribution and read more about the conference at our website https://www.danieleavitabile.com/icmns24/ We look forward to welcoming you to Dublin in June. Best wishes, Daniele Avitabile, Áine Byrne, and Jonathan Rubin

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Call for participants -- WasON study
by Davide Coraci Jan. 12, 2024

Jan. 12, 2024

*apologies for cross posting* Dear list members, I'm Davide Coraci from the IMT School Lucca (Italy) <https://www.imtlucca.it/en> (Italy) and I'd like to share with you the *WasON** survey*, a study developed by the SANe <https://momilab.imtlucca.it/research/sane> and the MInD <https://momilab.imtlucca.it/research/mind> units (MoMiLab <https://momilab.imtlucca.it/> research group). We are recruiting participants worldwide and it would be fantastic if you could take part in the study by completing the questionnaire you can find here: https://www.sane-elab.eu/NRIA/welcome.php. The aim of the study is to investigate how *neuroscientists* and researchers (psychologists, cognitive scientists, philosophers, etc.) with some familiarity with neuroimaging techniques draw associations between *cognitive processes* or psychological states and *functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data* observed experimentally. Also, with this brief test, you can assess your ability to predict the task that participants are performing in the scanner by looking at their brain activation. The questionnaire can be completed through PC or smartphone (however, the use of the PC is warmly suggested to visualize the fMRI maps better). Collected data will be completely *anonymous*. Once the questionnaire is finished, you can *check your accuracy* and decide to continue with another set of questions. In this case, please do not close or restart the session, otherwise the system will create another participant ID. We ask you to complete the questionnaire individually. However, after completing the survey you may want to compare your score with one of your lab mates and colleagues. Feel free to forward the link to anyone you think could be interested. If you have any questions or just want to be updated with the results of the study, please do not hesitate to contact me (davide.coraci(a)imtlucca.it) Thank you very much for your availability and your time. All the best, Davide Coraci -- Davide Coraci Phd Student IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca MoMiLab <https://momilab.imtlucca.it> - *Molecular Mind Laboratory* MInD <https://momilab.imtlucca.it/research/mind> - *Models, Inference, and Decisions * https://www.davidecoraci.com/welcome.php

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CFP: IEEE WCCI 2024
by Junichiro Yoshimoto Jan. 12, 2024

Jan. 12, 2024

-- Apologies in advance for multiple postings — IEEE WCCI 2024 Call for Papers June 30 - July 5, 2024 @ Yokohama, Japan https://2024.ieeewcci.org SCOPE IEEE WCCI 2024 is the world’s largest technical event on computational intelligence, featuring the three flagship conferences of the IEEE Computational Intelligence Society (CIS) under one roof: The International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN), the IEEE International Conference on Fuzzy Systems (FUZZ-IEEE) and the IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation (IEEE CEC). IJCNN 2024: The International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN) covers a wide range of topics in the field of neural networks, from biological neural networks to artificial neural computation. IEEE CEC 2024 The IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation (IEEE CEC) covers all topics in evolutionary computation from theory to real-world applications. FUZZ-IEEE 2024 The IEEE International Conference on Fuzzy Systems (FUZZ-IEEE) covers all topics in fuzzy systems from theory to real-world applications. IMPORTANT DATES - 15 January 2024: Paper Submission Deadline - 15 March 2024: Paper Acceptance Notification - 1 May 2024: Final Paper Submission & Early Registration Deadline - 30 June - 5 July 2024: IEEE WCCI 2024 Yokohama, Japan PAPER SUBMISSION Please read the paper submission guidelines (https://2024.ieeewcci.org/submission) before submitting your papers. * Each paper should not reveal author's identities (double-blind review process). * Papers will be checked for plagiarism. The Program Committee reserves the right to desk-reject a paper if it contains elements that are suspected to be plagiarized. * Submissions should be original and not currently under review at another venue. * Each paper is limited to 8 pages, including figures, tables, and references. A maximum of two extra pages per paper is allowed (i.e, up to 10 pages), at an additional charge of $100 per extra page. * All papers must be submitted through the IEEE WCCI 2024 online submission system. * For special session papers, please select the respective special session title under the list of research topics in the submission system. * In order for your papers to be included in the congress program and in the proceedings, final accepted papers must be submitted, and the corresponding registration fees must be paid by May 1, 2024 (11:59 PM Anywhere on Earth). * IEEE WCCI 2024 will present the Best Overall Paper Awards and the Best Student Paper Awards to recognize outstanding papers published in each of the three conference proceedings (IJCNN 2024, FUZZ-IEEE 2024, IEEE CEC 2024). The awards will be judged by an Awards Committee and the recipient of each award will be given a certificate of the award and a cash prize. * It is the policy of WCCI 2024 that new authors cannot be added at the time of submitting final camera ready papers. Please ensure that you are following this guideline to avoid any issues with publication. If you encounter any problems with the submission of your papers, please contact the WCCI 2024 Paper Submission Chairs. PAPER SUBMISSION SYSTEM WCCI 2024 adopts EDAS as the submission system, available at the following link: https://edas.info/N31614

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PhD in NeuroAI
by O'Donnell, Cian Jan. 11, 2024

Jan. 11, 2024

We are looking for a computational neuroscience PhD student for a project on “NeuroAI approaches to understanding inter-individual differences in cognition and psychiatric disorders.” The goal is to use populations of deep neural networks as a simple model for populations of human brains, combined with models from evolutionary genetics, to understand the principles underlying the mapping from genotypes to cognitive phenotypes. More details including reading material here: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/doctoralcollege/find-a-phd/1577672. This is a collaborative project with Prof Liam McDaid and Dr Bryan Gardiner at Ulster University, and Dr Kevin Mitchell at Trinity College Dublin. You will join our research group which uses computational tools to do research on synaptic plasticity, learning and memory, autism, and neural data analysis methods: https://odonnellgroup.github.io. You will also be a member of the CNET team in the Intelligent Systems Research Centre (http://isrc.ulster.ac.uk) a community of researchers working across computational and cognitive neuroscience, neurotechnology, neuromorphic engineering, machine learning, robotics and related fields. We are based in the Derry campus of Ulster University. Derry a lively city of ~100K people on the River Foyle in Northern Ireland, UK. It has a highly affordable cost of living, thriving cultural scene, and access to spectacular coastal scenery and the great outdoors in Donegal and the north coast of Northern Ireland. To be eligible for funding, UK-based applicants should have or expect to obtain an upper second or first-class undergraduate or masters degree. International applicants should have a masters degree. Application deadline is 26th February 2024, for a Sept 2024 start. Application info here: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/doctoralcollege/find-a-phd/1577672. Please contact Cian (c.odonnell2(a)ulster.ac.uk<mailto:c.odonnell2@ulster.ac.uk>) if you are interested or have questions. -- Cian O’Donnell Lecturer in Data Analytics School of Computing, Engineering and Intelligent Systems Ulster University https://odonnellgroup.github.io This email and any attachments are confidential and intended solely for the use of the addressee and may contain information which is covered by legal, professional or other privilege. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager at postmaster(a)ulster.ac.uk and delete this email immediately. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ulster University. The University's computer systems may be monitored and communications carried out on them may be recorded to secure the effective operation of the system and for other lawful purposes. Ulster University does not guarantee that this email or any attachments are free from viruses or 100% secure. Unless expressly stated in the body of a separate attachment, the text of email is not intended to form a binding contract. Correspondence to and from the University may be subject to requests for disclosure by 3rd parties under relevant legislation. The Ulster University was founded by Royal Charter in 1984 and is registered with company number RC000726 and VAT registered number GB672390524.The primary contact address for Ulster University in Northern Ireland is Cromore Road, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry BT52 1SA

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Postdoc on Curiosity in Göttingen
by Ecker, Alexander Jan. 11, 2024

Jan. 11, 2024

We have a postdoc position at the interface of machine learning, cognitive science and neuroscience within a new collaborative center on “Curiosity” (12 PIs, 14 open positions overall) in Göttingen. Here is the call: https://s.gwdg.de/lM9qZr Starting summer 2024, we will investigate curiosity jointly from the perspective of computational neuroscience, psychology, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence: https://www.uni-goettingen.de/de/681631.html The postdoc position comes with a lot of independence, the opportunity to help shape the research agenda of the center, co-supervise PhD students and is an excellent springboard to an academic career in Europe and beyond. Application deadline is January 15, but we can also accept late applications for a few more days. It helps if you let us know if you’re planning to apply and cannot meet the deadline. PIs are: Nivedita Mani (speaker), Alexander Ecker, Claudia Fichtel, Julia Fischer, Julia Ostner, Viola Priesemann, Hannes Rakoczy, Anne Schacht, Sascha Schroeder, Caspar Schwiedrzik, Oliver Schuelke, Fabian Sinz, Michael Wibral, Florentin Woergoetter A list of all open positions can be found here: https://www.uni-goettingen.de/de/open+positions/681638.html

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Postdoc in visual/computational neuroscience (NeuroAI) at UCSB
by Michael Beyeler Jan. 10, 2024

Jan. 10, 2024

We are excited to invite a self-driven and enthusiastic postdoctoral researcher to our team at the Bionic Vision Lab <https://bionicvisionlab.org>, University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), led by Assistant Professor Michael Beyeler. This NeuroAI project at the exciting crossroads of visual and computational neuroscience, is part of the NIH BRAIN Initiative that seeks to elucidate how the mouse brain processes visual information during active exploration to support visual navigation. Our recent NeurIPS paper <https://bionicvisionlab.org/publications/2023-12-v1-mouse/> highlighted how a multimodal recurrent net can integrate gaze-contingent visual input with behavioral and temporal dynamics to explain V1 activity in freely moving mice. We are now seeking to extend this work to higher-order visual areas (HVAs) in collaboration with the labs of Spencer Smith (UCSB), Michael Goard (UCSB), and Cris Niell (University of Oregon). What we offer: - A welcoming, inclusive, and collaborative environment that combines expertise in neuroscience, computer science, and cognitive sciences. - A fully funded, unionized position, offering a competitive salary and excellent benefits, for a minimum 2-year commitment. - An opportunity to work with diverse experts and engage with unique neural activity data sets, collected using state-of-the-art techniques. We are looking for: - A passionate individual with a solid foundation in visual and computational neuroscience. - A PhD in (computational) neuroscience, computer science, cognitive sciences, statistics, or a related field - Strong communication and teamwork skills, with proficiency in programming and statistical analysis To apply, please email your CV and contacts for 2-3 references to mbeyeler(a)ucsb.edu. -- Michael Beyeler (he/him/his) Assistant Professor Department of Computer Science Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences bionicvisionlab.org [image: UC Santa Barbara]

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Postdoc Opportunity in Computational Modeling of Theory of Mind (Hamburg, Germany)
by Jan Gläscher Jan. 8, 2024

Jan. 8, 2024

Postdoc position in Cognitive Computational Neuroscience for a project on “Recursive Theory of Mind during cooperative and competitive interactions” This project is part of the recently DFG-funded Collaborative Research Center (SFB) 1528 “Cognition of Interaction” primarily located at the University of Göttingen and will be conducted in the lab of Dr. Jan Gläscher <http://www.glascherlab.org/> (research group “Valuation and Social Decision-Making”) at the Institute for Systems Neuroscience <https://www.uke.de/english/departments-institutes/institutes/systems-neuros…> of the UKE (headed by Prof. Christian Büchel) in Hamburg, Germany. Research Project Theory of Mind describes a set of abilities that enables humans to think about the others and their actions, goals, and beliefs. In essence, it describes the ability to construct a mental model of others that can be used to make predictions about their next actions. However, these models can include models that the others build of ourselves at which point they become recursive (“I think that you think that I will do X.”). We are investigating the construction of such recursive mental models in the context of a cooperative and competitive social foraging task. We will employ computational modeling of behavior and model-informed analyses of EEG data to identify the neural representation of mental models and RSA and other hyperscanning analyses to detect and characterize within- and between brain connectivity during cooperative and competitive play. Available position A postdoc position for 2 years (until the end of 2025) is available to carry out this ambitious research project under the supervision of myself together with a PhD student working already on the project and in collaboration with other projects of the CRC 1528 in Göttingen. Salary depends on experience and is based on German regulations TVöD-VKA-13 with a factor of 100%. Start date: March 2024 or a 1-3 months later Research environment The CRC 1528 “Cognition of Interaction” <https://uni-goettingen.de/de/652672.html> chaired by Prof. Alexander Gail and consists of PIs Behavioral Biology, Cognitive Psychology, Computational Neuroscience, and Systems Neuroscience. The unit integrates world-class experts in computational modeling and cutting-edge neuroscience research in humans and primates. All projects work on related questions with a lot of opportunities to work and interact with other groups in Göttingen. The “Valuation and Social Decision-Making” <https://glascherlab.org/> group is one of currently 11 research groups <https://www.uke.de/english/departments-institutes/institutes/systems-neuros…> at the Institute for Systems Neuroscience at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Germany. The institute provides a vibrant, multidisciplinary, and highly international research environment with many interactions between its members and several regular common events (e.g. methods meetings, lecture series). Our graduate school <https://www.uke.de/kliniken-institute/institute/systemische-neurowissenscha…> is a member of the Hamburg Brain School <https://hamburgbrainschool.de/> and the Network of European Neuroscience Schools (NENS) <https://www.fens.org/careers/networks/nens>. The lab language is English. The institute hosts a 3T PRISMA MRI scanner, an EEG hyperscanning and eye-tracking lab, TMS, virtual reality and behavioral labs that allow us to easily and quickly acquire data from a variety of complementing modalities. Requirements for the position - Strong motivation and diligence to carry out a challenging and complex, but also exciting research project. - Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience or a related field. - Strong experience in programming (MATLAB, R, Python) - Some prior experience in computational cognitive modeling and neuroimaging analyses Application Applications are accepted until the position is filled. If you are interested, please send a single PDF document including your CV, a brief statement of research interest and research experience (including your modeling experience), and the contact details of two academic references to Jan Gläscher (glaescher(a)uke.de) Informal inquiries are welcome. -- _____________________________________________________________________ Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf; Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts; Gerichtsstand: Hamburg | www.uke.de Vorstandsmitglieder: Prof. Dr. Christian Gerloff (Vorsitzender), Joachim Prölß, Prof. Dr. Blanche Schwappach-Pignataro, Matthias Waldmann (komm.) _____________________________________________________________________ SAVE PAPER - THINK BEFORE PRINTING

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Open Graduate and Postdoctoral Positions at the NEW Rich Lab at UConn
by Scott Rich Jan. 8, 2024

Jan. 8, 2024

Dear Comp-Neuro Listserv, As 2024 has officially begun, my new lab at the University of Connecticut’s Department of Physiology and Neurobiology (PNB) has officially opened. This new computational neuroscience lab will use a wide range of computational techniques, from detailed single-cell modeling to biophysically-motivated neuronal circuits to abstract models of large populations, towards a better understanding of how neuronal heterogeneity drives physiological brain function. To learn more, please peruse my personal website <https://scottrich.mystrikingly.com/> or my profile page on the PNB webpage <https://pnb.uconn.edu/person/scott-rich/> (lab website under construction!). I am recruiting trainees at all levels to build the lab. The official posting for the open Postdoctoral position in my lab is available here <https://jobs.hr.uconn.edu/cw/en-us/job/498073/postdoctoral-research-associa…>. If you are interested in joining the lab as a graduate student, you can still apply to the department following the guidelines outlined here <https://pnb.uconn.edu/graduate/graduate-application-and-admission-informati…>. In addition, if you're applying to either position, or just want to express your interest to “stay in the loop” for further updates, please fill out this Google Form <https://forms.gle/r4m5VNZQJDAjKgcM8>. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you might have. Sincerely, Scott Rich ___________ Sincerely, Scott Rich, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, University of Connecticut Department of Physiology and Neurobiology pnb.uconn.edu/person/scott-rich/ <http://pnb.uconn.edu/person/scott-rich/>scottrich.mystrikingly.com <http://scottrich.mystrikingly.com/>

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[job opening] Postdoc in Modeling Decision Making and Memory for Human-Robot Interaction @Delft University of Technology
by Arkady Zgonnikov Jan. 8, 2024

Jan. 8, 2024

[apologies for cross-posting] Postdoc Modeling the Dynamics of Decision making and its Interplay with Memory Robots in interactions with humans need to predict their behavior and safely navigate around them. Such predictions can be especially hard when humans exhibit sudden shifts in behavior, often under stress and time pressure. For instance, a pedestrian can decide not to cross the road in front of an autonomous vehicle but then change their mind. Such sudden choice reversals could have particularly strong impact in high-stakes scenarios such as human-robot interactions in traffic. What are the cognitive mechanisms of humans’ changes-of-mind in dynamic tasks under time pressure? How do our past experiences affect such decisions? How can we model the ‘stress factor’ mathematically? In this project, your aim will be to 1) develop a neurally plausible cognitive model to explain changes-of-mind in dynamic decision-making and its interplay with memory, and 2) collect a large-scale online dataset on dynamic decision-making to evaluate the model. This proof-of-concept study will break through the fundamental limitations of the current models and will establish the basis for real-life applications of neurally plausible decision-making models. In this project, you will be able to develop your skills in mathematical modeling and numerical simulation. You will work at TU Delft in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering jointly at the Department of Cognitive Robotics and the Delft Center for Systems and Control, supervised by Dr. Matin Jafarian and Dr. Arkady Zgonnikov. Requirements * PhD in computational cognitive neuroscience or, alternatively, in applied mathematics or control engineering with motivated interest in human cognition * Strong teamwork skills and interest in highly interdisciplinary research * Affinity with teaching and supervising students * Solid programming skills * Proficiency in verbal and written English * Experience with one or more of the following topics is considered a plus * dynamical systems * stochastic differential equations * decision making * memory Conditions of employment * Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (salary indication: € 4.036 - € 5.090 per month gross). The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. * This postdoc position has a fixed-term contract of 12 months. More details/apply via https://www.tudelft.nl/over-tu-delft/werken-bij-tu-delft/vacatures/details/… until January 15, 2024. Best regards, Arkady Zgonnikov Assistant Professor Human-Robot Interaction Group Department of Cognitive Robotics Delft University of Technology

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PhD positions in Lifelong Reinforcement Learning at Loughborough University
by Andrea Soltoggio Jan. 8, 2024

Jan. 8, 2024

Dear all, I am currently considering applications for fully funded PhD positions in Lifelong Machine (Reinforcement) Learning. The projects aim to advance SoTA lifelong learning AI algorithms towards better knowledge reuse, composability, scalability and transparency. Application areas include Robotics, Cybersecurity and medical data. Some specific projects with application links (more to come soon): * Lifelong Learning for cybersecurity systems: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/compsci/research-degrees/darktrace-stud… * Lifelong machine learning for medical data and personalised medicine https://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/phd-opportuniti… The following recent papers can be helpful to get an overview of our research focus: * Ben-Iwhiwhu, E., Nath, S., Pilly, P. K., Kolouri, S., & Soltoggio, A. (2023). Lifelong reinforcement learning with modulating masks. Transactions on Machine Learning Research https://openreview.net/pdf?id=V7tahqGrOq * Nath, S., Peridis, C., Ben-Iwhiwhu, E., Liu, X., Dora, S., Liu, C., Kolouri, S. and Soltoggio, A., (2023). Sharing Lifelong Reinforcement Learning Knowledge via Modulating Masks. Second Conference on Lifelong Learning Agents (CoLLAs) https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.10997 * Ben-Iwhiwhu, E., Dick, J., Ketz, N. A., Pilly, P. K., & Soltoggio, A. (2022). Context meta-reinforcement learning via neuromodulation. Neural Networks, 152, 70-79. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0893608022001368 * Kudithipudi, Dhireesha, et al. (2022). Biological underpinnings for lifelong learning machines. Nature Machine Intelligence 4.3 (2022): 196-210. The positions will be at Loughborough, UK. Loughborough University is renowned for its strong emphasis on practical innovation and industry collaboration. In REF 2021, 94% of the work submitted was judged to be top-rated as 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent'. The Computer Science Department has a growing research team dedicated to various AI themes and robotics, as well as theoretical Computer Science, cybersecurity and networks. The student will have access to state-of-the-art machine learning servers equipped with A100 GPUs and connected to the Loughborough University high-speed network facilities. Opportunities for exchanges and short visits to world-leading AI laboratories within our extensive collaboration network will be encouraged. The collaborative environment ensures exposure to diverse perspectives and facilitates knowledge exchange. Interested candidates are invited to contact me for further information at a.soltoggio(a)lboro.ac.uk<mailto:a.soltoggio@lboro.ac.uk> Best regards, Andrea -- Dr. Andrea Soltoggio (he/him or they/them) Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Artificial Intelligence Department of Computer Science, School of Science & Intelligent Automation Centre https://www.intelligent-automation.org.uk/about-us/centre-staff & Centre for Information Management https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/sbe/cim/ Haslegrave Building, N.2.03 Loughborough University LE11 3TU, UK Email: a.soltoggio(a)lboro.ac.uk<mailto:a.soltoggio@lboro.ac.uk> Web: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/compsci/staff/dr-andrea-soltoggio.html

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Three fully funded PhD Studentships at Sussex AI
by Thomas Nowotny Jan. 8, 2024

Jan. 8, 2024

Dear all, We have three fully-funded (internationals included) PhD studentships available within Sussex AI<https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/centres/ai-research-group/#SussexAI>, starting in September 2024! This is a great opportunity for doctoral research in our interdisciplinary Centre of Excellence based at the University of Sussex<https://www.sussex.ac.uk/>, where we are the focal point for research in AI methods and applications. We encourage prospective students to submit innovative proposals that either: - Engage with theoretical challenges in Artificial Intelligence. - Develop new Artificial Intelligence methods that have the potential to enable novel applications. - Address complex problems requiring research at the intersection of traditional disciplinary boundaries. To find out more information, check out the full advert https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/phd-funding/view/1686-Sussex-AI… Best regards, Thomas (co-director of Sussex AI) -- Prof. Thomas Nowotny Head of AI Research Group CCNR, Sussex Neuroscience Phone: +44-1273-678593 Engineering and Informatics, Fax: +44-1273-877873 University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QJ sussex.ac.uk/informatics/tnowotny<http://sussex.ac.uk/informatics/tnowotny> <../../owa/redir.aspx?C=9e11bb0e527242938402b42d9b5498ea&URL=http%3a%2f%2fsussex.ac.uk%2finformatics%2ftnowotny>

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PhD & postdoc position in computational resilience research
by Janina Hesse Jan. 8, 2024

Jan. 8, 2024

The Computational Resilience Research group at the LIR (Mainz, Germany) is hiring PhD students and PostDocs for theoretical projects. By advanced data analysis and the development of dynamical models, we unravel the complex processes that prevent or enable resilience. To that end, we work in close collaboration with our experimental colleagues, using extensive mouse and human data sets from molecular to behavioral. We strive for a diverse, supportive, and collaborative work atmosphere. The position offers excellent interdisciplinary training possibilities at the intersection of modelling, machine learning, and medicine, with ample opportunities for interactions within the Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biosciences (IQCB) of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz. A typical background would be a Master's/PhD in the life sciences, physics, computer sciences, mathematics, or another quantitative field. For information on how to apply see https://lir-mainz.de/assets/lir_84_doctoral-candidate-or-postdoc_eng-170193… At the Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR) in Mainz, Germany, we study resilience - the maintenance or restoration of mental health during or following stressful life events or life circumstances. The LIR is the first center of its kind in Europe, and its main objectives are to understand resilience mechanisms from a neuroscientific point of view, to develop and provide appropriate interventions to strengthen resilience, as well as to promote resilience in living and working environments. Leibniz-Institut für Resilienzforschung (LIR) gGmbH Jun.-Prof. Dr. Janina Hesse Group leader Computational Resilience Research janina.hesse(a)lir-mainz.de Wallstraße 7 55122 Mainz https://www.lir-mainz.de   [Icon Description automatically generated with low confidence] Aufsichtsratsvorsitzender: Dr. Frank-Dieter Kuchta Geschaeftsfuehrer: Prof. Dr. Klaus Lieb, Prof. Dr. Beat Lutz (wissenschaftlich), Dr. Thorsten Mundi (kaufmaennisch). HRB 48032, Amtsgericht Mainz Diese E-Mail enthaelt vertrauliche und/oder rechtlich geschuetzte Informationen. Wenn Sie nicht der richtige Adressat sind oder diese E-Mail irrtuemlich erhalten haben, informieren Sie bitte sofort den Absender und loeschen Sie diese E-Mail. Das Kopieren sowie die Weitergabe dieser E-Mail und der darin enthaltenen Informationen ist nicht gestattet. This email may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient (or have received this email in error) please notify the sender immediately and delete this e-mail. Any unauthorized copying, disclosure or distribution of the material in this email is strictly forbidden. Unsere Hinweise zum Datenschutz finden Sie hier: https://lir-mainz.de/datenschutz

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Retraction of a fraudulent publication
by Michael Biehl Jan. 8, 2024

Jan. 8, 2024

Dear All. It is my pleasure to announce that a fraudulent and blatantly plagiarized publication from July 2023, (allegedly) about the training of layered neural networks in time-dependent envrionments, has been retracted by the Editorial Office of *MDPI Applied Sciences*, at last. The retraction process took very long and communication was quite unpleasant. *Please see * *https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/2/476* <https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/2/476> *for details and links to the plagiarized original pieces of work. * Note that the term "overlap" in the retraction notice is way too polite in view of the brazen "cut-and-paste" approach of the "authors". They literally copy/pasted essentially all figures and equations from other sources. The text consists of non-sensical gibberish and contains no original results whatsoever. Four referees apparently failed to note the gobbledygook and recognize the plagiarism. Best wishes, Michael Biehl -- --------------------------------------------------- Prof. Dr. Michael Biehl Bernoulli Institute for Mathematics, Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence P.O. Box 407, 9700 AK Groningen, NL https://www.cs.rug.nl/~biehl m.biehl(a)rug.nl

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Modellers Workshop for the Brain Dynamics Toolbox
by Stewart Heitmann Jan. 7, 2024

Jan. 7, 2024

Enrolments are now open for the Modellers Workshop for the Brain Dynamics Toolbox. This is an online course for researchers who wish to build custom dynamical models using the Brain Dynamics Toolbox. The course focuses on practical programming techniques for the major classes of differential equations (ordinary, partial, delay, stochastic) that arise in computational neuroscience. Example code is provided in all cases. Upon completion, students will be able to turn custom differential equations into working simulations. Study time is 8 hours. Course Website https://bdtoolbox.teachable.com/p/modellers-workshop Toolbox Website https://bdtoolbox.org Important Dates Enrolments close 31st Jan 2024. Disclaimer The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. This email has been scanned for viruses and malware, and may have been automatically archived by Mimecast Ltd, an innovator in Software as a Service (SaaS) for business. Providing a safer and more useful place for your human generated data. Specializing in; Security, archiving and compliance. To find out more visit the Mimecast website.

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From Animals to Animats: 17th International Conference on the Simulation of Adaptive Behavior (SAB 2024) - Conference Announcement and Call For Papers
by Jeffrey L Krichmar Jan. 7, 2024

Jan. 7, 2024

Happy New Year! On September 9-12, 2024, UC Irvine will be hosting this year’s From Animals to Animats: 17th International Conference on the Simulation of Adaptive Behavior (SAB 2024). The Simulation of Adaptive Behavior (SAB) interdisciplinary conference brings together researchers in artificial intelligence, artificial life, computer science, cybernetics, ethology, evolutionary biology, neuroscience, robotics, and many other fields, to further our understanding of the behaviors and underlying mechanisms that allow natural animals and artificial agents to adapt and survive in complex, dynamic and uncertain environments. Animats denote the connection between animals and synthetic agents. The conference focuses on models and experiments designed to help characterize and compare various organizational principles and architectures underlying adaptive behavior in real animals and in animats. SAB 2024 solicits contributions dealing with any aspect of adaptive behavior. We especially invite submissions from researchers who connect biology and natural behavior to synthetic agents. Conference papers are peer-reviewed and accepted papers will be published in “From Animals to Animats 17. SAB 2024.” Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence, Springer Nature. We have a great lineup of confirmed speakers: Oliver Brock – Technische Universitat Berlin Lola Canamero – CY Cergy Paris University Kris Carlson – BrainChip Jeff Clune – The University of British Columbia Jens Krause – Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries Maja Mataric – University of Southern California Praveen Pilly – Intelligent Systems Laboratory at HRL Laboratories Jun Tani – Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Janet Wiles – University of Queensland More conference information is available at: https://sites.uci.edu/sab2024/ Venue -------- CalIT2 Auditorium University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA 92697 USA CALL FOR PAPERS - SAB 2024 (April 1, 2024 Deadline) ————————————————————— More details can be found at: https://sab2024.socsci.uci.edu/call-for-papers Important Dates ---------------------- April 1, 2024: Deadline for paper submission April 15, 2024: Deadline for Workshop and tutorial proposals June15, 2024: Notice of acceptance June 30, 2024: Camera-ready papers September 9-12: Conference dates Hope to see you in September! Jeff Krichmar Department of Cognitive Sciences 2328 Social & Behavioral Sciences Gateway University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA 92697-5100 jkrichma(a)uci.edu http://www.socsci.uci.edu/~jkrichma https://sites.uci.edu/sab2024/

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PhD and postdoc position at Jülich Research Center
by Sacha van Albada Jan. 4, 2024

Jan. 4, 2024

PhD and postdoc position in large-scale brain modeling and simulation at Jülich Research Center PhD and postdoc opportunities with a focus on the simulation of large-scale biological neural networks are available in the Theoretical Neuroanatomy group at Jülich Research Center, Germany (https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/inm/inm-6/forschung/theoretical-neuroanatomy) The projects will advance a research program that centers on the full-scale simulation of thalamocortical networks using the simulator NEST. The postdoc position is available in the context of the Henriette Herz Scouting Program of the Humboldt Foundation, and will be offered to a female candidate. The program is particularly aimed at candidates from countries underrepresented in the Humboldt Foundation. We will jointly define a research project and the selected candidate will receive a Humboldt Research Fellowship (https://www.humboldt-foundation.de/en/apply/sponsorship-programmes/humboldt…) The position is available for 24 months for postdocs up to 4 years after the PhD defense and for 18 months for experienced researchers 4-12 years after the PhD defense. The PhD defense should not be more than 12 years ago, and candidates should not have previous or existing links to Germany in terms of study, research stays, or citizenship. Due consideration will be given to any gaps in the CV due to family care or other personal circumstances. The PhD position is open to candidates regardless of gender. The candidate should have a background in physics, mathematics, computer science, biology (or specifically neuroscience), or engineering. Excellent quantitative and analytical skills are highly valued. We offer a structured program guiding doctoral researchers through the PhD work and plenty of opportunities for local and international collaboration. The researchers will be embedded in a vibrant research institute (https://<https://www.csn.fz-juelich.de/>www.csn.fz-juelich.de<https://www.csn.fz-juelich.de/>). Links also exist to the University of Cologne, so that candidates can gain teaching/tutoring experience. To apply, please send a motivation letter, CV, and university transcripts and certificates to s.van.albada(a)fz-juelich.de<mailto:s.van.albada@fz-juelich.de> and to our scientific coordinator Martina Reske (m.reske(a)fz-juelich.de<mailto:m.reske@fz-juelich.de>). -- Prof. Sacha Jennifer van Albada Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-6) Tel. +49 2461 61-96808 Computational and Systems Neuroscience & Fax +49 2461 61-9460 Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS-6) Theoretical Neuroscience & JARA-Institut Brain Structure-Function Relationships (INM-10) Jülich Research Centre Jülich, Germany Computational Neuroanatomy Tel. +49-221-470-3829 Institute of Zoology Fax +49-221-470-4889 University of Cologne Cologne, Germany ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52425 Jülich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Jülich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Düren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Stefan Müller Geschäftsführung: Prof. Dr. Astrid Lambrecht (Vorsitzende), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Dr. Ir. Pieter Jansens ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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