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Pearson Fellowship in Applied Mathematics
by Eric Shea-Brown Dec. 12, 2025

Dec. 12, 2025

Warmly inviting those in the comp-neuro community interested in mathematical neuroscience research and teaching broadly in applied math to apply to the Pearson Fellowship at the University of Washington, Seattle Department of Applied Mathematics, by Jan. 1! Please see more details here, and -- thank you very much!! https://apply.interfolio.com/172527 <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://apply.interfolio.com/172527__;!!K-Hz7m0…> Yours, Eric

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Fully funded Postdoc + PhD positions Simons Collaboration on Ecological Neuroscience (SCENE) and ERC ACTOR
by Constantin Rothkopf Dec. 11, 2025

Dec. 11, 2025

The lab of Constantin Rothkopf (https://www.pip.tu-darmstadt.de/) at the Centre for Cognitive Science @ TU Darmstadt has several open positions at the PhD and Postdoc levels. Research in the laboratory focuses on explaining human sequential visuomotor decisions and behavior under the influence of the world's uncertainties and ambiguities through computational modeling. Using the reverse-engineering approach, we devise algorithms for inferring individuals' internal models of the world, tracking their subjective beliefs over time during behavior and learning, as well as their internal subjective costs and benefits, including effort. We investigate naturalistic sequential tasks, including navigation and object manipulation, active learning and active sensing, sequential decision-making under uncertainty, and intuitive physics. The lab has state-of-the-art equipment for eye and body tracking, VR, naturalistic task monitoring, psychophysics, and access to one of the most generous computing infrastructures in Germany. A large-scale tracking lab will be available in 2026. The Simons Collaboration on Ecological Neuroscience (SCENE) (https://www.simonsfoundation.org/neuroscience/simons-collaboration-on-ecolo…) is an exciting 10-year initiative spanning a powerful international network of labs working across species and disciplines - uniting experimental and computational cognitive science, neuroscience, machine learning, and Al to understand real-world behavior and how it shapes neural representations. The ERC ACTOR aims to utilize both human behavioral experiments and computational modeling to understand human sequential behavior in tasks, including continuous psychophysics, sensorimotor control involving intuitive physics, navigation, and food preparation, in the framework of sequential decision-making/planning/optimal control/RL. Our group is part of the Centre for Cognitive Science and the AI Center at TU Darmstadt, which are home to an internationally outstanding group of PIs and junior researchers working in the areas of computational cognitive science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. We are part of the two Excellence Clusters, “The Adaptive Mind” and “Reasonable AI”, and engage in multiple fruitful research collaborations. Our lab fosters an inclusive, supportive, and collaborative environment driven by scientific curiosity and mutual respect. We maintain close interactions with other research groups, including joint lab meetings. For informal inquiries, please reach out to constantin.rothkopf(a)tu-darmstadt.de. Please apply through the central application portal at https://www.career.tu-darmstadt.de/tu-darmstadt/jobs. The Frankfurt-Darmstadt metropolitan area is located in the heart of Europe and is one of the most international regions in Germany, with a diverse community and rich culture, repeatedly earning high rankings in worldwide surveys of quality of living. Frankfurt has recently achieved a top worldwide ranking of attractiveness according to The Economist, and Darmstadt has consistently ranked among the top innovation-driving cities in Germany. Finally, to get a better idea about some of our work, here are some publications by our group: - Kessler, F., Frankenstein, J., & Rothkopf, C. A. (2024). Human navigation strategies and their errors result from dynamic interactions of spatial uncertainties. Nature Communications, 15(1), 5677. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-49722-y - Straub, D., Niehues, T. F., Peters, J., & Rothkopf, C. A. (2025). Inverse decision-making using neural amortized Bayesian actors. In The Thirteenth International Conference on Learning Representations (ICLR). https://openreview.net/forum?id=zxO4WuVGns - Straub, D., Schultheis, M., Koeppl, H., & Rothkopf, C. A. (2023). Probabilistic inverse optimal control for non-linear partially observable systems disentangles perceptual uncertainty and behavioral costs. Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems 36 (NeurIPS): 7065-7092. https://proceedings.neurips.cc/paper_files/paper/2023/hash/16347f6e665376fd… - Schultheis, M., Straub, D., & Rothkopf, C. A. (2021). Inverse optimal control adapted to the noise characteristics of the human sensorimotor system. Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems 34 (NeurIPS), 9429-9442. https://proceedings.neurips.cc/paper/2021/hash/4e55139e019a58e0084f194f758f… - Straub, D., & Rothkopf, C. A. (2022). Putting perception into action with inverse optimal control for continuous psychophysics, eLife 11, e76635. https://elifesciences.org/articles/76635 - Hoppe, D., & Rothkopf, C. A. (2019). Multi-step planning of eye movements in visual search. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-37536-0 - Hoppe, D., & Rothkopf, C. A. (2016). Learning rational temporal eye movement strategies. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(29), 8332-8337. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1601305113 -- Prof. Constantin A. Rothkopf, PhD Technical University of Darmstadt, Alexanderstr. 10, 64283 Darmstadt phone: +49 6151 16-23367 https://tu-darmstadt.zoom-x.de/my/crothkopf Psychology of Information Processing Group https://www.pip.tu-darmstadt.de/ Centre for Cognitive Science http://www.cogsci.tu-darmstadt.de/ Hessian Center for Artificial Intelligence https://hessian.ai/ Institute of Psychology https://www.psychologie.tu-darmstadt.de/

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PhD opportunity in affective neuroscience and reinforcement learning at ETIS lab, CY Cergy Paris University
by Elisa MASSI Dec. 10, 2025

Dec. 10, 2025

Dear comp-neuro community, as part of the Paris Region (Île-de-France) DIM C-BRAINS 2025-2026 International PhD studentship program, we are looking for excellent international candidates who would wish to work on the following topic: Stress-Based Modulation of Hippocampal Replay-Inspired Techniques in Reinforcement Learning (SMaRT-RL) Supervisors: Elisa Massi (elisa.massi [@] cyu.fr, https://www.etis-lab.fr/2024/01/11/massi-elisa/ ) and Lola Cañamero (lola.canamero [@] cyu.fr, www.etis-lab.fr/canamero-lola/ ), ETIS Lab UMR8051, CY Cergy Paris University, France Summary of the PhD project : ====================== Animals and humans process vast amounts of information but retain only the most relevant experiences, with emotions playing a key role in memory consolidation. Emotions, particularly stress, enhancing attention and arousal, influence brain regions like the hippocampus. In neuroscience, it is known that hippocampal reactivations help recall and consolidate experiences. In artificial intelligence (AI), strategies inspired by these reactivations, especially in reinforcement learning, have been shown to accelerate learning. When it comes to emotionally charged circumstances, the relationship between stress, its most prominent hormone, cortisol, and memory functions in the hippocampus, is complex. This project aims to explore the link between stress and hippocampal reactivations via a computational model, and test it in artificial agents. This bio-inspired approach could (a) reveal new insights into the generation of hippocampal replay mechanisms and (b) improve AI's learning efficiency. Keywords : stress modelling, reinforcement learning, hippocampal replay, computational modeling, cognitive and affective neuroscience For a detailed description of the project, please visit: https://dim-cbrains.fr/en/phd-program/dim-cbrains?search=lola+canamero Further information: =============== - Eligibility criteria: https://dim-cbrains.fr/api/1.0/editorjs/7c5b1e85-a681-4eff-9382-dcb70bed681… - About the DIM C-BRAIN International PhD studentship program: https://dim-cbrains.fr/api/1.0/editorjs/c035c5d8-3f2b-4745-86c2-dadf9077141… - TO APPLY: https://dim-cbrains.fr/en/platform/login Applications close on the 30th of January 2026. Best regards, -- Elisa MASSI Assistant professor ETIS Lab -- CY Cergy Paris Université, France

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2y postdoc in whole brain modelling of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Paris, France
by Dmitrii Todorov Dec. 10, 2025

Dec. 10, 2025

Hello everyone, We are seeking a two-year postdoc position in whole brain modelling (The Virtual Brain) of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, starting in May 2026 at The Biomedical Imaging Laboratory (LIB). The successful candidate will be based in the centre of Paris, working in collaboration with clinicians who have collected a large dataset of multimodal data from ALS patients. The Virtual Brain (TVB) models will be fitted to the data from ALS patients and controls and subsequently used for patient stratification. The project’s focus is not on the development of new parts of TVB, but rather the use of the existing tools in a new applied setting (ALS). This requires working directly with human neuroimaging data (MRI, DTI, fMRI, EEG). A high level of autonomy is expected. The main PI is an expert in computational neuroscience, and the wider supervising team will include an ALS expert in Paris and a TVB expert in Marseille. If you are interested (or know someone else who might be), the details can be found here https://sdrive.cnrs.fr/s/Lcp3L3Xb2ZQ2xpm Best regards, Dmitrii Todorov, PhD Junior Professor Chair (assistant professor) Neural Connectivity and Plasticity team Biomedical Imaging Laboratory ( INSERM U1146 / CNRS UMR 7371 / Sorbonne University ) 15 rue de l'École de Médecine 75006 Paris

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Assistant/Associate Professor of Data Science/Mathematics/Computer Science
by Erin Munro Krull Dec. 9, 2025

Dec. 9, 2025

Dear colleagues, Our department is now doing a faculty search for someone who specializes in Data Science: "The Department of Mathematical and Computing Sciences at Ripon College is seeking qualified applicants for a full-time position as tenure-track Associate Professor or Assistant Professor, or as non-tenure-track Professor of Practice in the areas of Data Science, Mathematics, or Computer Science, with preference for specialties or strong interest in A.I. or cybersecurity. The candidate must be willing to lead the development of a Data Science major. The initial term of the position begins in August 2026.” Further information can be found at Mathjobs.org <http://mathjobs.org/>. Currently, our department has one computational neuroscientist with a background in dynamical systems and some data analysis (myself), a mathematician who specialized in discrete math and mathematics education, and a computer scientist who specialized in education but also has some background in data analysis. We would love to have applicants who can complement our offerings! Best, Erin -- Erin Munro Krull Associate Professor of Mathematics and the Mark and Janice Franzen Professor in Applied Mathematics Ripon College 300 W. Seward St. Ripon, WI 54971 (p) 920-748-8368 Visit us at ripon.edu <http://ripon.edu/>

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Funded PhD Studentship on motor cortex control of arm movements
by Mark Humphries (staff) Dec. 9, 2025

Dec. 9, 2025

We seek applicants for a fully-funded MRC PhD studentship project "Leveraging population activity trajectories to optimise Brain-computer interfaces for arm movement" with Mark Humphries (Nottingham) and Katja Kornysheva (Birmingham) for October 2026 start This project will develop a new approach to brain-computer interfaces, by leveraging our new understanding<https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1777-23.2024> of how the neural activity in the motor cortex encodes an intended arm movement. We will test this theory in multiple datasets of cortical recordings during arm movements, and we will develop new brain-computer interfaces that directly translate the encodings of motor cortex into intended movements. Application deadline: Jan 9th 2026, midday (GMT) How to apply for this project: https://more.bham.ac.uk/mrc-aim/phd-opportunities/ Submit your application to: mrc-aim-dtp(a)nottingham.ac.uk<mailto:mrc-aim-dtp@nottingham.ac.uk> Professor Mark Humphries | Professor of Computational Neuroscience Office hours: Calendar<https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=a2twY2xkYXNvazVnYnA3ODM2bmFwZ2…> Lab: humphries-lab.org<https://www.humphries-lab.org/> Connect: Bluesky<https://bsky.app/profile/markdhumphries.bsky.social> / LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-humphries-65a460212/> / X<https://x.com/markdhumphries> Essays on the brain and science: drmdhumphries.medium.com<https://drmdhumphries.medium.com/> Book: "The Spike: An Epic Journey Through the Brain in 2.1 Seconds" (Princeton UP) in hardback<https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691195889/the-spike?_gl=1*h…..>, paperback<https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691241487/the-spike>, ebook<https://press.princeton.edu/books/ebook/9780691213514/the-spike-0?_gl=1*1uf…..> & audiobook<https://press.princeton.edu/books/audio/9780691224091/the-spike?_gl=1*37xz7…..> <https://press.princeton.edu/books/audio/9780691224091/the-spike?_gl=1*37xz7…..> read by Anand Jagatia This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender and delete the email and attachment. Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham. Email communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored where permitted by law.

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1st Call for Papers: RaPID-6@MENTAL.ai @ LREC-2026
by Dim X Dec. 8, 2025

Dec. 8, 2025

************************************************************************************ The 6th workshop on: "*Resources and ProcessIng of linguistic, para-linguistic and extra-linguistic Data from **people with various forms of cognitive/psychiatric/developme**ntal impairments*" *in collaboration with the MENTAL.ai -consortium* *Workshop*: co-located with LREC 2026 | Palma de Mallorca, Spain | *May 12th, 2026* *RaPID-6(a)MENTAL.ai *serves as an interdisciplinary platform for researchers to exchange insights, methods, and experiences related to collecting and processing data from individuals with *mental, cognitive, neuropsychiatric, or neurodegenerative impairments*. The workshop focuses on creating, processing, and applying such data resources from individuals at different stages and severity levels of these impairments. The ultimate goal of RaPID-6(a)MENTAL.ai is to facilitate the study of relationships among linguistic, paralinguistic, and extra-linguistic observations, with applications ranging from aiding diagnosis to enhancing monitoring and predicting individuals at higher risk, ultimately promoting multidisciplinary collaboration across clinical/medical, language technology, computational linguistics, and computer science communities. *Workshop date: *Tue., 12th of May 2026 *Submission deadlin**e*: Sun., 22nd of February, 2026 (anywhere on earth) *Paper submission*: <SOFTCONF-TBA> *Invited Speakers: *Prof. *Brian MacWhinney*, Carnegie Mellon University, USA; and Assoc Prof, MD, *Sunny X. Tan*g, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, USA. *Website and details*: https://spraakbanken.gu.se/en/rapid-2026 *Contact*: Dimitrios Kokkinakis *Contact email*: dimitrios.kokkinakis(a)gu.se *Organizing committee*: - Dimitrios Kokkinakis, University of Gothenburg, Sweden - Charalambos Themistocleous, University of Oslo, Norway - Gaël Dias, University of Caen Normandie, France - Kathleen C. Fraser, University of Ottawa, Canada - Fredrik Öhman, University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden - Sebastião Pais, University of Beira Interior, Portugal **************************************************************************************

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Postdoc Position at Inria Lyon – Computational Neuroscience / Neural Learning
by Elif Köksal Dec. 8, 2025

Dec. 8, 2025

Dear all, We are hiring a post-doctoral researcher within the COPHY (Computation, Cognition & Neurophysiology) team at the Lyon Neuroscience Research Centre (CRNL), an excellent environment for scientists eager to access state-of-the-art facilities and a vibrant interdisciplinary community. The position is part of the LENGA project on Neural Gain and Adaptive Learning. *Project overview* The postdoc will develop and analyze computational models explaining how the brain rapidly adapts its learning mechanisms. This includes work with recurrent neural networks (rate-based or spiking), numerical simulations, and analysis of behavioral or electrophysiological data. *Candidate profile* • Strong background in recurrent neural networks, learning, and dynamical systems • Solid programming skills in Python and relevant scientific libraries; experience with experimental data is a plus *Conditions* • 2-year fixed-term contract starting in April 2026 • Competitive salary and benefits (subsidized meals, transport reimbursement, teleworking options, generous vacation policy) *Application deadline:* January 31, 2026 Full details and application portal: https://recrutement.inria.fr/public/classic/fr/offres/2025-09545 <https://recrutement.inria.fr/public/classic/fr/offres/2025-09545?utm_source…> Best regards, Elif Köksal-Ersöz *Elif Köksal-Ersöz* Scientific researcher https://elifkoksal.github.io/ Centre Inria de Lyon & CRNL CH Le Vinatier Bâtiment 452 95 boulevard Pinel 69500 Bron, France

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World wide VVTNS series (6th season): Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 11:00 am ET - Markus Diesman | Jülich Research Center
by David Hansel Dec. 7, 2025

Dec. 7, 2025

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online <https://streaklinks.com/A9c7PbbpKY7PxB6PaAJWGD3-/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the lecture Markus Diesman Jülich Research Center on the topic of *Building on cortical models* The lecture will be held on zoom on December 10, 2025, at *11:00 am ET * > To receive the link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page > > *Abstract: *Over the past decade our community has made substantial progress in the construction of anatomically detailed network models of the cortical tissue. Thanks to advances in computer hardware and simulation technology, researchers can now routinely work with these models at the natural density of neurons and synapses. Moreover, the availability of cloud services means that such investigations can be carried out without having to install either the model or the simulation software. A recent workshop analyzed the impact of a specific model of the cortical microcircuit, published ten years ago . The model has been reused in multiple contexts: for reproduction studies, validation of mean-field approaches, exploration of methods of model sharing, and as a building block for larger models. Although the model was less successful in inspiring further neuroscientific studies than the authors of the original work had hoped, it became a de facto benchmark for neuromorphic computing systems. It sparked a constructive race for ever shorter simulation times and lower energy consumption. The quantitative comparison of different platforms reveals qualitative differences between conventional and neuromorphic hardware and limits of speed-up. The structure of the model is based on light microscopy because these were the data available at the time. Guided by simulation results and physiological evidence, the original publication hypothesized a preference of excitatory neurons for inhibitory targets. Modern electron microscopy data of cortical volumes combined with AI based reconstruction techniques is capable of resolving individual synaptic connections. This advances the concept of digital twins of the cortical network to a new level of precision, and has already enabled us to confirm the assumption of target type specificity underlying earlier models. Maybe with the progress sketched here, our community is at a transition point where it becomes easier to cooperatively and incrementally work on models with a larger explanatory scope. *About VVTNS : Launched as the World Wide Theoretical Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), Speakers have the occasion to talk about theoretical aspects of their work which cannot be discussed in a setting where the majority of the audience consists of experimentalists. The seminars, **held on Wednesdays at 11 am ET,** are 45-50 min long followed by a discussion. The talks are recorded with authorization of the speaker and are available to everybody on our YouTube channel.* ᐧ

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MODVIS 2026 - Call for Papers
by Tim Oleskiw Dec. 6, 2025

Dec. 6, 2025

The 2026 VSS satellite workshop on computational and mathematical models in vision (MODVIS) will be held May 13-14 in St. Pete Beach, FL, the two days immediately preceding the main meeting of the Vision Sciences Society (VSS). This year marks a departure for MODVIS: VSS will replace Purdue University in administering the workshop. MODVIS registration will be conducted through the VSS website, and the registration deadlines will align with those of VSS. The program consists of contributed oral presentations, which are longer and more interactive than a regular VSS talk, and the schedule is designed to provide many opportunities for discussions during coffee breaks and a generous lunch break. The workshop will conclude on Thursday with a keynote lecture by Jonathan Victor (Weill Cornell Medical College). As in the past, submission deadlines will be later than those for VSS, and post-deadline submissions will be accepted on a space-available basis. Abstract submissions will be made through the VSS website, with submissions opening in the coming weeks. MODVIS welcomes submissions covering the modelling of any area of vision. More information can be found on the (new) MODVIS website: https://www.modvis.org. On behalf of the MODVIS organizing committee, -Tim Oleskiw Assistant Professor University of Regina

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AREADNE 2026 Call for Abstracts
by John Pezaris Dec. 5, 2025

Dec. 5, 2025

****** CALL FOR ABSTRACTS ****** AREADNE 2026 Research in Encoding and Decoding of Neural Ensembles 23-27 June 2026 Eliopoulos Conference Center Milos, Greece Celebrating 20 Years of AREADNE Conferences http://areadne.org info(a)areadne.org INTRODUCTION A fundamental problem in neuroscience is to understand how the activation of neuronal populations gives rise to higher order functions including learning, memory, cognition, perception, action and ultimately conscious awareness. Electrophysiological recordings have revealed considerable information about the firing patterns of single neurons, but it remains largely a mystery how collections of individual neurons interact to perform these functions. Understanding ensemble activity is critical to understanding the brain. CONFERENCE MISSION The AREADNE Conferences have been created to gather global scientific leaders who work on neural ensembles and establish a touch-point for the widely disparate and hybrid field. With a beautiful setting on Milos, the conferences have been carefully planned to foster discussion and interaction between attendees to encourage the establishment of lasting professional relationships. The meetings continue our efforts to promote systems neuroscience in Greece through creating a world-class forum for cutting-edge research. For 2026, we will be Celebrating Twenty Years of AREADNE Conferences! FORMAT AND SPEAKERS The conference will span four days, in morning and early evening sessions. Confirmed speakers include experts in the field of multi-neuron experiment, theory, and analysis (in alphabetic order): Jaideep Bains Farran Briggs Mark Cembrowski SueYeon Chung Brent Doiron Manolis Froudarakis Julijana Gjiorgjieva Michael Hauser Michele Insanally Viren Jain Mehrdad Jazayeri Sheena Josselyn Caleb Kemere Jennifer Linden Atila Losonczy Mackenzie Mathis Nina Miolane Bence Olveczky Stephanie Palmer Kanaka Rajan Jennifer Raymond CALL FOR ABSTRACTS We are currently soliciting abstracts for poster presentation. Submissions will be accepted electronically, and must be received by 30 January 2026. Automated email acknowledgment of submission will be provided, and manual verification will be made a few days after submission. Notification of acceptance will be provided by 3 March 2026. Please see our Call for Abstracts page for additional details and submission templates: http://areadne.org/call-for-abstracts ORGANIZING COMMITTEE Dora Angelaki Kenny Blum Nicholas Hatsopoulos, co-chair John Pezaris, co-chair Panayiota Poirazi Thanos Siapas Jiannis Taxidis Andreas Tolias FURTHER INFORMATION For further information on AREADNE 2026 please see the conference web site http://areadne.org or send email to info(a)areadne.org. -- Dr. J. S. Pezaris AREADNE 2026 Co-Chair Harvard Medical School Massachusetts General Hospital 55 Fruit Street Boston, MA 02114, USA john(a)areadne.org

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Master 2 computational neurosciences, Lyon (France)
by DI VOLO MATTEO Dec. 5, 2025

Dec. 5, 2025

Dear colleagues, Applications for non-EU students are now open for the Master 2 in Computational Neuroscineces (CNS) at the University of Lyon (France). See our website for more details: https://masterneuro.univ-lyon1.fr/m2-cns/ The Lyon neurograduate school also offers fully funded scholarships to enrol in the CNS program or in other neurosciences training paths. Deadline : 23/01/2026, more information here : https://neurograduate.univ-lyon1.fr/fellowships/ The CNS program in Lyon trains students in modern computational and analytical methods to study the brain: from the electrical activity of single neurons to neural networks, interacting brain regions, and animal behavior. Students learn the principles of brain function by applying statistics, signal processing, and computational modeling to real neuroscientific datasets, gaining extensive hands-on experience through practical Python-based work. The main objective of CNS is to equip students with the skills and critical perspective needed to design, conduct, and interpret analyses of electrophysiological and behavioral data from a mechanistic point of view. Contact info: Matteo Di Volo (matteo.di-volo(a)univ-lyon1.fr<mailto:matteo.di-volo@univ-lyon1.fr>) and Jeremie Mattout (jeremie.mattout(a)inserm.fr<mailto:jeremie.mattout@inserm.fr>)

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Postdoc and PhD positions in Theoretical Neuroscience and Reinforcement Learning
by Ruben Moreno Bote Dec. 4, 2025

Dec. 4, 2025

Moreno-Bote Lab is ooking for talented PhD students and Postdocs. Project: the foundations of behavior and intelligence. Come to our Comp Neuro lab in Barcelona to study natural and artificial Intelligence. Recent, related articles of the lab: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-49711-1 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-50214-2 https://openreview.net/forum?id=OcHrsQox0Z https://proceedings.neurips.cc/paper_files/paper/2024/hash/df0e4ffa41062ca0… Center for Brain and Cognition, University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain 1 fully funded PhD position and 1 fully funded Postdoc position are available in the group of Theoretical and Cognitive Neuroscience of Ruben Moreno-Bote in the Center for Brain and Cognition at the University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain. We are looking for excellent candidates with Physics, Mathematics or Machine Learning background interested in developing theory for the brain and mind. Knowledge of Computational Neuroscience or Neuroscience would be ideal, but it is not necessary. The candidate will develop state of the art theory and models of cognition and intelligence by using neural networks, reinforcement learning, machine learning, data analysis and multielectrode neural data. The main research topic of our lab is decision-making, from a multidisciplinary angle. The candidate will benefit from the stimulating environment of the Barcelona area in Theoretical and Systems Neuroscience and will have the opportunity of enjoying a lively city. Our lab (https://www.upf.edu/web/tcn) forms part of a larger network of neuroscience labs in Barcelona. APPLICATION: A full CV in pdf format and an extract of grades for degree and master studies should be sent to the following address: ruben.moreno(a)upf.edu DEADLINE: until the position is filled STARTING DATE: flexible -- Rubén Moreno Bote Serra Húnter Full Professor and ICREA Academia Director of the Theoretical and Cognitive Neuroscience Group Center for Brain and Cognition & Dept. of Engineering University Pompeu Fabra Campus Ciutadella c\ Ramon Trias Fargas, 25-27 Mercè Rodoreda building, 3th floor (room 24.331) 08005 Barcelona, Spain https://sites.google.com/view/morenobotecompneuro https://twitter.com/morenobote <https://twitter.com/morenobote?lang=ca> -- Rubén Moreno Bote Serra Húnter Full Professor and ICREA Academia Director of the Theoretical and Cognitive Neuroscience Group Center for Brain and Cognition & Dept. of Engineering University Pompeu Fabra Campus Ciutadella c\ Ramon Trias Fargas, 25-27 Mercè Rodoreda building, 3th floor (room 24.331) 08005 Barcelona, Spain https://sites.google.com/view/morenobotecompneuro https://twitter.com/morenobote <https://twitter.com/morenobote?lang=ca>

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Neuroinformatics Unit Open Software Summer School, August 2026 in London
by Nikoloz Sirmpilatze Dec. 4, 2025

Dec. 4, 2025

Applications are now open for the second Neuroinformatics Unit Open Software Summer School (OSSS) <https://neuroinformatics.dev/open-software-summer-school/index.html>, August 17-28 2026 in London, U.K. Join us for one or two of the following tracks: Animals in Motion (analysing video behavioural data) Large Array Data (how to handle large data in Python) BrainGlobe (species-agnostic computational neuroanatomy) Extracellular Electrophysiology (using SpikeInterface to process probe data) Each week starts with a symposium on the Monday afternoon, followed by 3 days of hands-on training, then 2 days of collaborative hacking, bringing together researchers and engineers to use, and improve neuroscience open source software. Please share with anyone who may be interested! Financial support is available. Apply now: https://neuroinformatics.dev/open-software-summer-school Kind regards, Niko Sirmpilatze NIKOLOZ SIRMPILATZE MD PhD Senior Research Software Engineer Neuroinformatics Unit Sainsbury Wellcome Centre & Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit University College London nikosirmpilatze.com

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Postdoc position for biophysical modeling and measurement of TMS effects
by Thomas Knoesche Dec. 4, 2025

Dec. 4, 2025

The Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (MPI CBS) in Leipzig, Germany, is an internationally recognized research institute of the Max Planck Society and is dedicated to the study of human cognitive abilities and brain processes as well as the development of neuroimaging methods. The Brain Networks Group led by Professor Thomas Knösche offers a Postdoc position (m/f/d) for 3 years. The successful candidate will work on a DFG funded project that is dedicated to the investigation of the working mechanisms underlying the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the human motor cortex using advanced electrophysiological measurement techniques combined with biophysical modeling. The project will be carried out in cooperation between the Leipzig University of Applied Sciences, the Czech Academy of Sciences, and the MPI-CBS. Candidates should hold a PhD degree and have a background in engineering, computer science, neuroscience, physics, or similar, as well as a keen interest in neuroscience. Good computer programming skills (e.g., C++, Matlab, Python) are necessary. The ideal candidate would have experience in EEG or MEG (or similar) experimenting, data analysis, and modeling. Prior exposure to volume conduction modeling and/or source analysis would be beneficial. The Institute offers a world-leading research environment with outstanding facilities and research infrastructure (five MR scanners, including a 3T Connectom and 7T Terra.X; MEG; EEG; TMS). The Brain Networks group is dedicated to the development of methods to investigate, model, and understand brain networks and how they give rise to human behavior and cognition. Current projects are centered around non-invasive brain stimulation of the motor system, sensory perception, the relation between human cognition and machine learning, and others. The position is offered for three years. Starting date is in principle flexible, while we aim to get started as soon as possible. The salary is fixed in accordance with the collective agreement for the public sector: TVöD E13. We look forward to receiving your complete online application (reference number “PostDoc 16/25”). Please submit through the online application system on the MPI-CBS website: (1) a statement describing your research interest and motivation to apply for this position as well as your relevant qualifications (max. 2 pages), (2) a full CV, (3) transcript of records for the master and bachelor degrees, and (4) names and contact details of up to two potential referees. There is no formal closing date for the application – it will remain open until filled. Please feel free to contact Prof. Dr. Thomas R. Knösche (knoesche(a)cbs.mpg.de) for informal enquires about the position. The Max Planck Society seeks to employ more people with disabilities and strongly encourages them to apply. Furthermore, we actively support the compatibility of work and family life. The Max Planck Society strives for gender equality and diversity. -- Prof. Dr. Thomas R. Knösche Brain Networks (@brainnetleipzig) Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Stephanstraße 1A 04103 Leipzig Germany Tel +49 341 9940 2619 Fax +49 341 9940 2624 knoesche(a)cbs.mpg.de http://www.cbs.mpg.de/~knoesche

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Konstanz School of Collective Behavior 2026 ( Deadline: March 15th, 2026)
by Ahmed El Hady Dec. 2, 2025

Dec. 2, 2025

*Konstanz School of Collective Behaviour 2026* *Konstanz, Germany * *20th July 2026 – 7th August 2026 *** *Deadline to apply: March 15th, 2026* The Konstanz School of Collective Behaviour (KSCB) <https://www.exc.uni-konstanz.de/kscb/about/> will take place between 20th July – 7th August 2026 at the Cluster of Excellence Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour (CASCB) at the University of Konstanz <https://www.uni-konstanz.de/en/>. Konstanz <https://www.konstanz.de/start> is a vibrant, small city located on the border between Germany and Switzerland, on the shores of the Bodensee (Lake Constance). Over three weeks, students will delve deeply into the topic of collective behaviour with lectures, hands-on tutorials, and projects, making it a unique and unforgettable experience. The school faculty will cover collective behaviours across a variety of species from cells, worms, drosophila, fish to non – human primates and human. A set of tutorials delving into state-of-the-art quantitative methods used to study collective behaviour will complement the lectures. At the end of the school, students will work on independent projects guided by our resident faculty and tutors. The Konstanz School of Collective Behaviour is intended for graduate students, doctoral researchers, and early postdoctoral researchers. We consider applicants with strong quantitative background including but not limited to physics, computer science, mathematics and engineering. Applicants with biological and experimental background will be considered if they demonstrate in their application extensive quantitative and mathematical background as the focus of the school is quantitative study of collective behaviours. Accommodation will be provided and paid by the organizers. A limited number of travel support will be provided and a registration fee will be due (500 Euros) once the student is admitted to the Konstanz School of Collective Behaviour. The registration fee will be waived to those coming from underrepresented minorities and those in need of financial support. The submission of applications for the fourth Konstanz School of Collective Behaviour is currently open until March 15, 2026. We will inform the applicants during the month of April whether their application was successful For further information about the school and the application procedure , visit our website: _https://www.exc.uni-konstanz.de/kscb/application-procedure/ _ *KSCB 2026 faculty : * ·Anastasia Bizyaeva ( Cornell University, USA) ·Iain Couzin ( University of Konstanz / Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior) ·Einat Couzin-fuchs ( University of Konstanz ) ·David Garcia ( University of Konstanz ) ·Dan Gorbonos ( Holon Institute of Technology, Israel and Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior) ·Stefan Krapitscka ( University of Konstanz ) ·Zachary Kilpatrick ( University of Colorado Boulder, USA) ·Liang Li ( Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior) ·Yonatan Loewenstein ( Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel) ·Ran Nathan ( Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel ) ·Mor Nitzan ( Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel) ·Britta Renner ( University of Konstanz ) ·Allyson Sgro ( Janelia Farm Research Campus, Virginia, USA) ·Joshua Shaevitz ( Princeton University, USA) ·Ariana Strandburg-Peshkin ( Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior) ·Katrin Vogt ( University of Konstanz ) *In case you have any questions, please contact: **ahmed.el-hady(a)uni-konstanz.de <mailto:ahmed.el-hady@uni-konstanz.de>** * All the best regards, Ahmed El Hady On behalf of the KSCB organizational committee Dr. Ahmed El Hady Principal Investigator Cluster for Advanced Study of Collective Behavior, University of Konstanz Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Universitätsstraße 10, 78464 Konstanz Room ZT 907 Postbox 687 Tel.: +49 7531 88-4742

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Research Fellow / Postdoc positions in TMS modeling - ICS CAS (Czechia)
by Vincent Chien Dec. 2, 2025

Dec. 2, 2025

* Research Fellow / Postdoc positions in TMS modeling There is an open position for a Research Fellow / Postdoctoral position in Computational Neuroscience within the TMSmodel project, jointly led by Konstantin Weise (HTWK, Leipzig), Thomas R. Knösche (MPI-CBS, Leipzig), and Vincent S.C. Chien (CAS, Prague). The goal of the project is to develop a comprehensive biophysical model that explains the dependence of motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) recorded from hand muscles, as well as D-I-waves measured from the spinal cord, on the parameters of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). The successful candidate will join the Complex Networks and Brain Dynamics group and will focus on (1) transmission of action potential volleys along spinal and peripheral axon bundles, (2) modeling the spinal cord circuitry and muscle activation, and (3) fitting and evaluating the model against electric recordings. * Research Teams COBRA Lab (Czech Academy of Sciences): https://cobra.cs.cas.cz/ Brain Networks Group (Max Planck Institute): https://www.cbs.mpg.de/methods-and-development-groups/brain-networks * Job Details & Application Link https://www.cs.cas.cz/job-offer/Research-fellow-postdoctoral-positions-Chie… Sincerely, Vincent Chien, Ph.D. Department of Complex Systems, Institute of Computer Science, Czech Academy of Sciences

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Fully-funded PhD positions in Human & Machine Intelligence (Neuro & AI) at Boston College
by Momchil Tomov Nov. 30, 2025

Nov. 30, 2025

How does the brain support adaptive decision making in the real world? Recent advances in AI have provided us with models that rival humans on challenging naturalistic tasks and can serve as starting points for tackling this question head-on. At the same time, as frontier AI labs push the limits of scaling laws, many doubt whether more data and compute alone will lead to human-level learning, planning, and generalization. The new *Human & Machine Intelligence Lab* at *Boston College* is recruiting *1-2 PhD students* to work on reverse-engineering naturalistic learning and decision making in the brain. Specifically, we aim to understand: 1. How the human brain *learns* internal models of complex, naturalistic environments. 2. How it uses these models to *plan* toward distant goals. 3. How it *generalizes* this knowledge to new environments. Building on recent work in theory-based RL [1], you will tackle these questions by leveraging state-of-the-art AI models (e.g., DDQN, MuZero, LLMs/VLMs) to analyze behavioral, fMRI, and MEG data from human subjects engaging in rich tasks, such as learning to play new video games. You will also have the opportunity to design and conduct experiments (behavior/fMRI/MEG) to test your hypotheses. The lab is led by *Momchil Tomov* (starting in Fall 2026) and is joint between the *Department of Psychology & Neuroscience* and the *Department of Computer Science*. *Why Boston College?* Boston College is an elite R1 research institution in the heart of the Boston metropolitan area. Greater Boston is a powerhouse of innovation, home to over 35 colleges and universities – including Harvard and MIT – and a thriving ecosystem of AI & biotech startups. As a PhD student, you will be immersed in this vibrant research community while enjoying the benefits of living in a diverse, bustling metropolis. For the outdoors-inclined, New England offers scenic opportunities to escape city life: from sailing on the Charles River, to hiking or skiing in the White Mountains, to surfing off the shores of Rhode Island, to enjoying freshly caught oysters on Cape Cod. *Position Details* - Lab: Human & Machine Intelligence - PI: Momchil Tomov - Website: www.momchiltomov.com - Contact: mtomov+compneuro(a)g.harvard.edu - Stipend: $45,000 / year (fully-funded) - Start date: September, 2026 *Application* - Deadline: *December 15, 2025* - Department of Psychology & Neuroscience: [*APPLY HERE <https://www.bc.edu/content/bc-web/schools/morrissey/departments/psychology-…>* ] - Department of Computer Science: [*APPLY HERE <https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/schools/morrissey/departments/computer-science/ac…>* ] *Requirements* The ideal candidate has experience with state-of-the-art RL models/LLMs/VLMs and/or experience analyzing behavioral/neural data. Experience collecting fMRI/MEG data is a plus. Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions! We also encourage you to forward this to anyone who might be interested. *References* [1] Tomov, M. S., Tsividis, P., Pouncy, T., Tenenbaum, J. B., Gershman, S. J. (2023). “The neural architecture of theory-based reinforcement learning.” *Neuron* 111 (2): 454-469. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2023.01.023

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Call for Registration: Physics and the Self Interdisciplinary Conference at Senate House, London
by Jonathan Emery Nov. 29, 2025

Nov. 29, 2025

Conference theme: “Physics and the Self: Interdisciplinary Perspectives” Dates: Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th December 2025, 09:30-18:00 GMT Venue: Woburn Suite, Ground Floor, Senate House, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HU Host institution: Institute of Philosophy, School of Advanced Study, University of London This interdisciplinary conference will feature presentations from keynote speakers and early career researchers working within neuroscience, physics, and philosophy departments whose work engages with the theme “Physics and the Self: Interdisciplinary Perspectives”. Speakers will pitch their talks at a level accessible to non-specialists, to promote interdisciplinary collaboration. We invite anyone with an interest in our conference theme to attend the two-day event, participate in the Q&As, and meet the speakers and organisers. Registration is required. Please click here for further information including the programme and the registration link: https://www.sas.ac.uk/news-events/events/physics-self-interdisciplinary-per…

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Postdoctoral Positions in Decision Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin
by Konstantinos Tsetsos Nov. 28, 2025

Nov. 28, 2025

The Institute of Neuroscience and the School of Psychology at Trinity College Dublin invite applications for multiple postdoctoral positions based in the Irrationality Lab, led by Prof. Konstantinos Tsetsos. These positions are part of the European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant “The Dynamics of Attribute Weighting in Multiattribute Choice” (DYNATT) awarded to Prof. Tsetsos. The project aims to uncover the neural and computational mechanisms underlying preference variability by asking how the human brain shapes, maintains, and revises preferences for different attributes during decision-making. To achieve the aims of the project, we will combine magnetoencephalography (OPM-MEG), computational modelling, and behavioural paradigms to decode and model multiattribute preferences at high temporal resolution. This approach will provide mechanistic insights on the drivers of preference variability, with potential applications in both clinical and applied behavioural science domains. The successful candidates will design and conduct experiments using MEG, analyse neural and behavioural data, and develop computational models of decision-making. Strong quantitative and programming skills and experience with E/MEG analysis are required. Appointments are available for at least three years, with flexible start dates up to November 2026. Positions will be remunerated according to the IUA salary scales for postdoctoral researchers, commensurate with experience and qualifications. Application deadline: *January 15th 2026*. Informal inquiries are welcome. Information about the lab: https://www.ktsetsoslab.net Further details and how to apply: https://www.ktsetsoslab.net/_files/ugd/01e170_d91c53b13734471d944d528316ea3… >

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PhD opportunity in computational neuroscience at UPC - BarcelonaTech
by Linus Manubens-Gil Nov. 27, 2025

Nov. 27, 2025

Dear All, I am seeking a candidate interested in applying for an *FPU-UPC PhD fellowship *(see last year's call for reference here <https://talenthub.upc.edu/en/jobs/r1/fpu-upc-2025/fpu-upc-2025>) to work on computational neuroscience. The project can be oriented either toward: 1. *Single-neuron biophysical modeling:* ion-channel dynamics, dendritic and axonal morphology, calcium-dependent plasticity, and large-scale simulations of human and mouse neurons. 2. *NeuroAI:* biologically inspired machine-learning models using realistic neuronal network architecture constraints (see: https://biocomsc.upc.edu/en/tfg-and-tfm-with-us/projects/tfe_neuroia_2025-1… ). Candidates should have solid skills in Python and ideally computational neuroscience modeling (NEURON, Arbor, etc.) or AI background (e.g., PyTorch) and a strong motivation for either direction. Interested applicants should send a *CV + brief statement of interest*. Application deadline (early April 2026). Some time may be necessary to arrange documentation and get preliminary acceptance in the PhD program. Start date (October 2026). With best regards, Linus -- Linus Manubens-Gil Investigator BG Jr <https://www.ciencia.gob.es/en/Convocatorias/2024/BeatrizGalindo2024.html> BIOCOM-SC <https://biocomsc.upc.edu/en/> MERIT MSc. Programme <https://epsem.upc.edu/en/graduate/merit> Dept. EMIT <https://emit.upc.edu/en?set_language=en> Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya BarcelonaTech - EPSEM

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Fwd: [seminar.wwtns] New recording on the VVTNS YouTube channel: Flexible analog computation in low-rank balanced spiking networks by Alfonso Renart
by David Hansel Nov. 26, 2025

Nov. 26, 2025

[image: VVTNS.png] > > <https://84454458.streak-link.com/Cq-mDg07ey98pEfARQH4qidY/https%3A%2F%2Fwww…> > https://www.wwtns.online > <https://streaklinks.com/A9c7PbbpKY7PxB6PaAJWGD3-/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> > - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide - on Youtube > New on the VVTNS YouTube Channel https://www.wwtns.online/past-seminars-2025-2026 *Flexible analog computation in low-rank balanced spiking networks* Lecture delivered on November 26, 2025 by Alfonso Renart Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon *Abstract:* Recurrent networks with balanced excitation-inhibition explain a wide range of neurophysiological observations, but can only implement a limited set of transformations on their input. On the other hand networks of firing-rate units with low-rank connectivity have universal computational capabilities, but do not work with spikes or generate noise self-consistently. Although empirical approaches to merge these two computational frameworks have been constructed, there is no established theory describing their unification. Here we develop such a theory. We study analytically and numerically networks with connectivity comprising random “strong”, and low-rank “weak” components. When the low-rank connectivity is slow, a well-defined notion of instantaneous firing rate emerges which implies universal computation as previously shown. However, the fact that such time-varying rates are the result of E-I balance has important implications. We show that internally or externally generated fluctuations along particular latent modes tend to break the E-I balance. Its maintenance is obtained through the emergence of a spontaneous coupling between the mean and the variance of the membrane potential and the norm of the latent state driving these modes. This leads to several predictions, the most counterintuitive of which is that coherent global fluctuations in subthreshold membrane potential (Vm) should coexist with desynchronized activity at constant firing rates when the dynamics of these modes is excited. To test our theory, we show that the coupling between the average Vm and the latent state adds new non-linear dimensions to the low-dimensional manifold of the network, which lead to a frequency doubling when the input to the network is periodic, a prediction that is borne out in population recordings from mouse V1. Our results unify two prevalent frameworks for cortical computation and clarify the relationship between computation, dynamics and geometry in circuits of spiking neurons. *About VVTNS : Launched as the World Wide Theoretical Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), Speakers have the occasion to talk about theoretical aspects of their work which cannot be discussed in a setting where the majority of the audience consists of experimentalists. The seminars, **held on Wednesdays at 11 am ET,** are 45-50 min long followed by a discussion. The talks are recorded with authorization of the speaker and are available to everybody on our YouTube channel.* ᐧ

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Call for Contributions: Conference on the Simulation of Adaptive Behavior, 19-22 October, at TU Berlin, Germany
by Sprekeler, Henning Nov. 26, 2025

Nov. 26, 2025

From Animals to Animats 18: The 18th International Conference on Simulation of Adaptive Behavior (SAB 2026) Where: TU Berlin, Germany When: 19-22 October 2026 Website: www.sab-conference.org<http://www.sab-conference.org/> Important Dates Submission deadline: 15 May 2026 Notification of acceptance:19 June 2026 Camera-ready paper version due: 17 July 2026 Conference takes place: 19-22 October 2026 Objectives: The interdisciplinary conference on the Simulation of Adaptive Behavior: From Animals to Animats (SAB) 2026 brings together researchers from artificial intelligence, robotics, behavioral biology, psychology, neuroscience, and many other fields. The conference offers a unique opportunity to exchange ideas across disciplinary boundaries. We believe this exchange is necessary to advance our understanding of the mechanisms that enable general and robust behavior in natural animals and artificial agents. The conference focuses on characterizing and comparing organizational principles and architectures underlying adaptive behavior in animals and animats. Animats denote the conceptual connections between animals and synthetic agents. The conference therefore actively seeks submissions that bridge several of the aforementioned disciplines, combining their methodological foundations to arrive at novel insights and approaches. Of particular interest are research projects which connect natural behavior to synthetic agents, including those leveraging modern machine learning and deep learning techniques for behavioral modeling, analysis, and synthesis. Selected papers will be invited to a special issue in the journal Adaptive Behavior and will be published with Springer Nature. SAB accepts submissions in several tracks: * Conference papers are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published in conference proceedings “From Animals to Animats 18: SAB 2026” Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence, Springer Nature. * Conference papers without inclusion in the proceedings. These papers will undergo a light peer-review. Papers will be included on the conference website but they will not be formally published so that your research results can still appear in your disciplinary journals. * Poster abstracts are peer-reviewed for general suitability of the content. Accepted posters will be presented at a poster session and, time permitting, will be able to present a spotlight presentation to the conference attendees. * Position papers are peer reviewed; they offer a novel, visionary perspective on the convergence of different branches of behavior-based research in both artificial and biological systems. These papers are supposed to trigger a lively discussion. * Workshop or Tutorial proposals will be peer reviewed. Workshops and Tutorials will take place on September 20. The event should be relevant to the expected audience of SAB. Topics of interest: * Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Life, and Computational neuroscience * Action selection, behavioral sequencing * Communication and language * Emotion and motivation * Internal models and representations * Reinforcement learning * Sensory-motor coordination, motor control * Software agents and virtual creatures * Philosophical Issues * Consciousness * Ethics * Mind/Body problem * Robotics * Autonomous robotics * Bio-inspired and hybrid robotics * Cognitive robotics * Developmental robotics * Humanoid robotics * Navigation and mapping * Neurorobotics * Self-Organizing Systems * Body and brain co-evolution * Collective and social behavior * Dynamical systems approaches * Evolutionary and co-evolutionary approaches * Self-assembling and self-replication Paper and Abstract Submission: Author Guidelines for All Tracks All submissions must be written in English and formatted in the Springer LNCS style. Please refer to the LNCS Springer style guide<https://www.springer.com/gp/computer-science/lncs/conference-proceedings-gu…> for style templates and formatting instructions. We strongly encourage authors to prepare papers using LaTeX. The LNCS package for LaTeX and the instructions file can be downloaded directly from Springer’s website. Additional Guidelines for Conference and Position Papers All submitted papers (conference papers with and without inclusion in the proceedings, as well as position papers) must not exceed 12 pages, including references. Additional Guidelines for Poster Abstracts All submitted poster abstracts must not exceed 3 pages, including references. How to Submit All submissions will be handled through the CMT (Conference Management Toolkit) system. Authors must create a CMT account before submitting their paper. (For instructions: visit our website<https://sab2026.scioi.de/call-for-contributions/>.) Where to Submit SAB submission website (CMT)<https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/User/Login?ReturnUrl=%2FSAB2026%2FSubmi…> Paper Review & Acceptance: All submitted full papers will be peer-reviewed based on relevance, originality, quality of presentation, and technical quality. The authors of all accepted papers are kindly requested to revise their papers following the reviewers’ comments. Authors of accepted papers will be invited to present their research work either as an oral presentation or as a poster. Workshop Tutorial Proposals: We will consider proposals for workshops and tutorials. Workshops and tutorials will be held on the first day of the conference (19 October 2025) and must be held in-person. Proposals will be reviewed by the Organizing Committee. To submit a workshop or tutorial, please follow the below template and submit here: CMT Portal<https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/SAB2026/Track/6/Submission/Create> Template Similar to paper submissions, please follow the LNCS Springer style guide<https://www.springer.com/gp/computer-science/lncs/conference-proceedings-gu…> for templates and formatting instructions. For your workshop or tutorial proposal, please include the following information, as displayed on our website<https://sab2026.scioi.de/call-for-contributions/>. Publication: All accepted papers (oral and poster presentations) will be published by Springer Nature in the Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence series<https://link.springer.com/conference/sab>. Program Committee: Francisco Javier Bellas Bouza – Universidade da Coruña Maren Bennewitz – Universität Bonn Marcel Brass – Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Lola Cañamero – CY Cergy Paris Université Nikolaus Correll – University of Colorado Boulder Richard José Duro Fernández – Universidade da Coruña Heiko Hamann – Universität Konstanz Alex Kacelnik – University of Oxford Jens Krause – Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Oliver Kroemer – Carnegie Mellon University Poramate Manoonpong – Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology Justus Piater – Universität Innsbruck Tony Prescott – University of Sheffield Pawel Romanczuk – Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Gregor Schöner – Ruhr-Universität Bochum Dylan Shell – Texas A&M University Gaurav Sukhatme – University of Southern California Jochen Triesch – Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies Elio Tuci – Université de Namur Myra Wilson – Aberystwyth University Florentin Wörgötter – Universität Göttingen Program Chairs: Oliver Brock – Technische Universität Berlin Jeff Krichmar – University of California, Irvine The conference will be held at Science of Intelligence<https://www.scienceofintelligence.de/>/TU Berlin and the Universität der Künste (UDK), Berlin, Germany. We look forward to welcoming you at SAB 2026! Best regards, SAB Organizing Committee organisers(a)sab-conference.org<mailto:organisers@sab-conference.org> — Prof. Dr. Henning Sprekeler Modelling of Cognitive Processes Technische Universität Berlin Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience www: https://www.sprekelerlab.org

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23 RTAIM: "Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Traits of Integrated Psychopathy: a Comparative Analysis"
by steven gouveia Nov. 24, 2025

Nov. 24, 2025

rTAIM (Rebuilding Trust in AI Medicine) Monthly Seminars Seminar #23 Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Traits of Integrated Psychopathy: a Comparative Analysis | Mariana Olezza (University of Buenos Aires, Argentina) We are happy to announce the forthcoming 23rd rTAIM Online Seminar, with the participation of Mariana Olezza (University of Buenos Aires, Argentina) on the 25th November 2025, 19h00-20h30 (Lisbon Time Zone), via Microsoft Teams. ONLINE | Link Microsoft Teams<https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/32764207191669?p=CoVDpglNlFU2nuv7PD> #Seminar 23: This talk will address the issues raised in the following structure: Chekley., (1988); Lilienfeld et al., (2015); Mathieu et al., (2014); Persson & Lilienfeld., (2019); Rahman., (2012) argue that some people might have psychopathic traits and still function in society as part of a normal life—that is, the “integrated psychopath.” This is paralleled in Large Language Models (LLMs) (Vaswani et al., 2017) and Reinforcement Learning (RL)–based recommendation systems (Nie, 2025). The behavior has its distinct set of attributes: 1) Promising users all the goods but not living up to any of them—similar to hallucinations in RL–based LLMs (Huang et al., 2023)—Users were cheered up by “flattery” (one type of hallucination). 2) These systems seem devoid of any emotions, but they mimic emotional reactions, especially positive social emotions, similarly to the way human scammers do (Wang et al., 2021), in the absence of guilt and shame 3) Chekley also includes the notion of “semantic aphasia” in this regard, or fluent speech but with no real semantic comprehension—a feature which can still be inferred in LLMs on a deeper level, although inasmuch as they have no consciousness, no moral consciousness can be inferred. Short bio: Mariana Olezza is an Argentinian Computer Engineer (National University of Córdoba), pursuing a PhD in Philosophy (University of Buenos Aires). Some research areas of interest: philosophy of AI/Mind/Psychiatry/Abduction. She recently worked at Infosys in the field of “Semantic entropy and hallucinations in LLMs” theoretically and practically. rTAIM (Rebuilding Trust in AI Medicine) Monthly Seminars are online seminars open to anyone in the world that would like to present her/his current research on topics associated with the main theme of the project. rTAIM Seminars: https://ifilosofia.up.pt/activities/rtaim-seminars https://trustaimedicine.weebly.com/rtaim-seminars.html Organisation: Steven S. Gouveia (MLAG/IF) Mind, Language and Action Group (MLAG) Instituto de Filosofia da Universidade do Porto – UID/00502/2025 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) ____________________________________________ Instituto de Filosofia (UI&D 502) Faculdade de Letras da Universidade do Porto Via Panorâmica s/n 4150-564 Porto Tel. 22 607 71 80 E-mail: ifilosofia(a)letras.up.pt<mailto:ifilosofia@letras.up.pt> http://ifilosofia.up.pt/

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PhD Positions in NeuroAI at the University of Birmingham
by Jian Liu Nov. 24, 2025

Nov. 24, 2025

The lab of Dr Jian Liu invites applications for several PhD positions at the interface of computational neuroscience and machine learning, at the School of Computer Science and Centre for Human Brain Health at the University of Birmingham. Candidates with a quantitative background are welcome to apply. We are seeking highly motivated candidates with a spirit of intellectual curiosity. The positions will come with competitive work conditions. Generous traveling budgets are available. The following application is approaching the deadline, while other funded projects are open for applicants. Towards a functional model for motor sequence planning Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Katja Kornysheva <https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/mibtp/phd/supervisors/kkornysheva> University of Registration: University of Birmingham BBSRC Research Themes: Understanding the Rules of Life (Neuroscience and Behaviour <https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/mibtp/phd/understanding_the_rules_of_li…> ) *DDL: 27/11/2025* Project Outline Motor planning, the cognitive process that precedes voluntary movement, is essential for executing skilled actions. Uncovering the neural mechanisms behind motor planning is key to understanding how the brain coordinates complex, sequential behaviours. This research will investigate the neural dynamics involved in motor planning, with an emphasis on how the brain organizes and prepares motor sequences. Previous studies suggest that neural competitive queuing of ordinal structures plays a central role in skilled sequential actions [1], allowing the brain to resolve competition between movements. Furthermore, recent research highlights the use of expansive null-space representations in motor cortex of non-human primate, which prepare movements while preventing premature execution [2]. Building on these insights, this project will explore how neural networks within the brain coordinate motor planning, focusing on exploring neural dynamics in different parts of brain areas. Human recordings conducted at the CHBH provide a rich foundation of experimental data for this study. The data, gathered through different modalities, will inform the development of a theoretical model that is consistent with both these new datasets and previously published results. The project will also involve designing new experiments based on the model’s theoretical predictions to validate or refine the proposed framework. By integrating advanced neural network models, we aim to build a comprehensive modelling framework of motor sequence planning that aligns with experimental findings. These models will provide valuable insights into human motor sequence planning, offering a deeper understanding beyond current non-human primate studies. [1] Kornysheva, et al. Neural competitive queuing of ordinal structure underlies skilled sequential action. Neuron 101, 11-15 (2019) [2] Churchland and Shenoy, Preparatory activity and the expansive null-space. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 25 (4), 213-236 (2024) *To Apply:* https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/mibtp/phd/supervisors/jliu The School of Computer Science at the University of Birmingham is one of the leading UK institutions for research and teaching in computer science. Our research is ranked 3rd across all UK universities according to the latest UK-wide Research Excellence Framework. Education is ranked 7th in the UK for computer science, according to 2023 tables. While pursuing excellence in research and education, we also aim to optimize our positive impact on society—examples include collaborations with industry partners and charities, commercialisation activities and an extensive wider participation programme. The University of Birmingham is committed to providing equal opportunities for all and offers a range of family friendly policies. We are committed to being an inclusive workplace that values all staff, and we are happy to consider job share applications and requests for flexible working arrangements from our employees. If female candidates are selected, the maternity leave will be fully guaranteed and the children care responsibilities will be satisfied (e.g. working in part time). We will also actively promote gender equality in education and employment opportunities through workshops, seminars, webinars, and university open days.

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