- Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

CARLsim 6.1 Spiking Neural Network Simulator Release Introduces Axonal Plasticity

by Jeffrey L Krichmar

Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce the 6.1 release of CARLsim. CARLsim is an efficient, easy-to-use, GPU-accelerated library for simulating large-scale spiking neural network (SNN) models with a high degree of biological detail. CARLsim allows execution of networks of Izhikevich spiking neurons with realistic synaptic dynamics on both generic x86 CPUs and standard off-the-shelf GPUs. The simulator provides a PyNN-like programming interface in C/C++, which allows for details and parameters to be specified at the synapse, neuron, and network level. CARLsim, which is in its 6th major iteration, is open-source and publicly available. With the release of CARLsim 6.1, we introduce axonal plasticity to simulate the biological phenomenon of experience dependent plasticity to the conductance velocity of axonal signaling. Axonal plasticity appears to be important for synchronization, skill learning, and many other potential applications. More information about the implementation and an example application can be found in our recent IJCNN paper, "Experience-Dependent Axonal Plasticity in Large-Scale Spiking Neural Network Simulations", which can be found at: https://www.socsci.uci.edu/~jkrichma/CARLsim61-IJCNN2023.pdf CARLsim 6.1 is available on GitHub: https://github.com/UCI-CARL/CARLsim6 Best regards, 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://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/716394/neurorobotics-by-tiffany-j-…

July 13, 2023

Call for Applications: Join the PLOS Complex Systems Editorial Board

by Hocine Cherifi

View this email in your browser <https://view.e.plos.org/?qs=6649e38711d4711c96cd7e869e54766a9daa683b66a5c2a…> [image: PLOS Complex Systems] <https://click.e.plos.org/?qs=579dc46496e4bc9e96d4e5d02cfb8efd0a166171d7b75d…> *Introducing our new journal **PLOS Complex Systems* *Learn more <https://click.e.plos.org/?qs=e2b3e6764225066938b02c620482dfff92f76aa0ce26be…>* *PLOS Complex Systems* will publish research of broad significance that untangles the complex systems at the heart of the world we live in. Open Science options at every stage of research communication facilitate new connections that inspire ideas and accelerate progress across disciplines while cross-fertilizing knowledge that enable solutions to fundamental challenges facing our society today. *Explore now* <https://click.e.plos.org/?qs=e2b3e6764225066938b02c620482dfff92f76aa0ce26be…> *Interested in joining the PLOS Complex Systems Editorial Board?* Are you a researcher who believes in breaking boundaries to advance science communication? That research should be open, transparent and fair? If so, you might be a fit for our Editorial Board. *Find out more <https://click.e.plos.org/?qs=e2b3e6764225066957c8972275e7a4bc811c051fda1c66…>* *Meet the Editor-in-Chief* [image: Hocine Cherifi] *Hocine Cherifi* Hocine Cherifi is a distinguished Full Professor of Computer Science at the University of Burgundy in Dijon, France. His primary research interests lie in the fields of Computer Vision Data Science and Complex Networks, and he has made significant contributions to his areas of expertise: as an author of over 250 scientific papers and conference proceedings, assuming leadership roles in more than 20 international conference organizations, and having served on over 100 program committees. *0000-0001-9124-4921* <https://click.e.plos.org/?qs=e2b3e67642250669054c3c2f989934906bf6ecbd83a2a3…> *Stay up-to-date* *Receive regular PLOS Complex Systems news and updates by signing up to our email list.* *Get updates <https://click.e.plos.org/?qs=e2b3e67642250669178bc3cc94ee091d549c4486538890…>*

July 13, 2023

Deadline approaching - Bernstein Conference 2023 in Berlin

by Alexander Lammers

***Deadline approaching - Bernstein Conference 2023 in Berlin*** ___ The Bernstein Conference Each year the Bernstein Network invites the international computational neuroscience community to the annual Bernstein Conference for intensive scientific exchange. It has established itself as one of the most renowned conferences worldwide in this field, attracting students, postdocs, and PIs from around the world to meet and discuss new scientific discoveries. www.bernstein-conference.de<http://www.bernstein-conference.de> ___ Important Dates * Abstract submission for posters: July 19, 2023, 15:00 CEST * Travel grant applications: July 19, 2023 * Early registration: July 19, 2023 * Bernstein Conference: September 26 - 29, 2023 ___ Registration Registration for the Bernstein Conference is open now. Register until July 19, 2023, and profit from reduced conference fees. All information: https://bernstein-network.de/bernstein-conference/registration/ ___ Abstract Submission We invite the computational neuroscience community to submit their abstracts. The abstract submission for posters is open until July 19, 2023, 15:00 CEST. All accepted abstracts will be published online and will be citable via Digital Object Identifiers (DOI). Abstract submission: https://bernstein-network.de/bernstein-conference/abstract-submission/ ___ Travel Grants Students, PhD candidates, and postdocs can apply for travel grants. Travel grant application: https://bernstein-network.de/bernstein-conference/early-career-scientists/t… ___ Invited Speaker Opening Lecture Marlene Cohen (University of Chicago, USA) Invited Talks Tiago Branco (Sainsbury Wellcome Center, UK) Stefano Fusi (Columbia University, USA) Ann Kennedy (Northwestern University, USA) Julija Krupic (University of Cambridge, UK) Wiktor Mlynarski (LMU Munich, Germany / Institute of Science and Technology, Austria) Adrien Peyrache (McGill University, Canada) Kanaka Rajan (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA) Christopher Summerfield (University of Oxford and Deepmind, UK) Julia Veit (Albert-Ludwigs-Univesität Freiburg, Germany) ___ Conference Committee Robert Gütig (Conference Chair) Tatjana Tchumatchenko (Program Chair) Srdjan Ostojic (Program Vice Chair) Anna Levina (Workshop Chair) Maria Eckstein (Workshop Vice Chair) & Athena Akrami, Ann Hermundstad, Mehrdad Jazayeri, Christian Leibold, Ashok Litwin-Kumar, Ida Momennejad, Nicole Rust, Andrew Saxe, Daniela Vallentin, Friedemann Zenke. ___ Contact For any further questions, please contact: bernstein.conference(a)fz-juelich.de<mailto:bernstein.conference@fz-juelich.de> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH 52425 Juelich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Juelich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Dueren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Stefan Müller Geschaeftsfuehrung: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Marquardt (Vorsitzender), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Dr. Ir. Pieter Jansens, Prof. Dr. Astrid Lambrecht, Prof. Dr. Frauke Melchior ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

July 13, 2023

CFP FRCCS 2024 Montpellier, France May 29 – 31, 2024

by Hocine Cherifi

Fourth* F*rench* R*egional* C*onference on* C*omplex* S*ystems May 29 – 31, 2024 Montpellier, France *FRCCS 2024* <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/> After successfully hosting the conference in Dijon in 2021, Paris in 2022, and Le Havre in 2023, the fourth edition of the French Regional Conference on Complex Systems (FRCCS 2024) will be held in Montpellier, France. This international conference organized by CSS France <https://www.cssfrance.org/> serves as a platform to foster interdisciplinary exchanges among researchers from various scientific disciplines and diverse backgrounds, including sociology, economics, history, management, archaeology, geography, linguistics, statistics, mathematics, and computer science. FRCCS 2024 provides a valuable opportunity for participants to meet in France, exchange and promote ideas, facilitating the cross-fertilization of recent research work, industrial advancements, and original applications. Moreover, the conference emphasizes research topics with a high societal impact, showcasing the significance of complexity science in addressing complex societal challenges. Join us in Montpellier as we collectively strive to better understand complexity and its implications for society. You are cordially invited to submit your contribution until *February 21, 2024.* Finalized work (published or unpublished) and work in progress are welcome. Two types of contributions are accepted: · *Papers* about *original research* (up to 12 pages) · *Extended Abstract* about published or unpublished research (3 to 4 pages). *Publication* o Contributions will be included in the conference proceedings (With ISBN) o *Selected submissions of unpublished work will be invited for publication in special issues (fast track procedure) **of the journals:* o Applied Network Science, <https://appliednetsci.springeropen.com/> edited by Springer o Complexity, <https://www.hindawi.com/journals/complexity/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=c…> edited by Hindawi *Topics include, but are not limited to: * · *Foundations of complex systems * - Self-organization, non-linear dynamics, statistical physics, mathematical modeling and simulation, conceptual frameworks, ways of thinking, methodologies and methods, philosophy of complexity, knowledge systems, Complexity and information, Dynamics and self-organization, structure and dynamics at several scales, self-similarity, fractals - *Complex Networks * - Structure & Dynamics, Multilayer and Multiplex Networks, Adaptive Networks, Temporal Networks, Centrality, Patterns, Cliques, Communities, Epidemics, Rumors, Control, Synchronization, Reputation, Influence, Viral Marketing, Link Prediction, Network Visualization, Network Digging, Network Embedding & Learning. - *Neuroscience, **Linguistics* - Evolution of language, social consensus, artificial intelligence, cognitive processes & education, Narrative complexity - *Economics & Finance* - Game Theory, Stock Markets and Crises, Financial Systems, Risk Management, Globalization, Economics and Markets, Blockchain, Bitcoins, Markets and Employment - *Infrastructure, planning, and environment * - critical infrastructure, urban planning, mobility, transport and energy, smart cities, urban development, urban sciences - *Biological and (bio)medical complexity * - biological networks, systems biology, evolution, natural sciences, medicine and physiology, dynamics of biological coordination, aging - *Social complexity* o social networks, computational social sciences, socio-ecological systems, social groups, processes of change, social evolution, self-organization and democracy, socio-technical systems, collective intelligence, corporate and social structures and dynamics, organizational behavior and management, military and defense systems, social unrest, political networks, interactions between human and natural systems, diffusion/circulation of knowledge, diffusion of innovation - *Socio-Ecological Systems* - Global environmental change, green growth, sustainability & resilience, and culture - *Organisms and populations * - Population biology, collective behavior of animals, ecosystems, ecology, ecological networks, microbiome, speciation, evolution - *Engineering systems and systems of systems* - bioengineering, modified and hybrid biological organisms, multi-agent systems, artificial life, artificial intelligence, robots, communication networks, Internet, traffic systems, distributed control, resilience, artificial resilient systems, complex systems engineering, biologically inspired engineering, synthetic biology - *Complexity in physics and chemistry* - quantum computing, quantum synchronization, quantum chaos, random matrix theory) *GENERAL CHAIRS* Roberto Interdonato CIRAD, UMR TETIS, Montpellier Bruno Pinaud LABRI University of Bordeaux

July 12, 2023

CNS 2023 Workshop on Low-dimensional manifolds of neural dynamics

by Richard Gast

Dear members of the computational neuroscience community, If you are attending CNS 2023 this year and are interested in recent experimental and computational results on the relationship between behavior, neural computations, and low-dimensional neural dynamics, consider joining our workshop on "*Low-dimensional manifolds of neural dynamics and their role in brain function*" at the last day of the conference! Our line-up: - Juan Alvaro Gallego - Lea Duncker - Brian DePasquale - Bill Podlaski - Adrian Valente - Ann Kennedy More information can be found here: https://cns2023.sched.com/event/1Kd7M/w13-low-dimensional-manifolds-of-neur… We are looking forward to seeing you in Leipzig, Richard Gast and Helmut Schmidt -- *Richard Gast, PhD* Research associate at the Laboratory for Theoretical Neuroscience and Behavior Morton 5-630 Department of Neuroscience Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern University phone: +18728026786 mail: richard.gast(a)northwestern.edu twitter: @rich_gast website: www.richardgast.me

July 12, 2023

CNS 2023 Tutorial on Dynamical Systems Methods in Neuroscience

by Richard Gast

Dear members of the computational neuroscience community, I would like to draw your attention to a tutorial that Hil G.E. Meijer, Bastian Pietras, and I will offer at the first day of CNS 2023: "T09 - Applied Dynamical Systems Methods in Neuroscience''. In this tutorial, we will explain basic dynamical systems concepts and analysis methods at the example of single neurons, neural networks, and mean-field equations of neural networks. The main goals of the tutorial are (i) to provide the audience with an intuition of how neural systems can be studied via mathematical models and dynamical systems concepts, (ii) to explain how we can analyze parameter dependencies of these mathematical models via parameter continuation and bifurcation analysis, and (iii) to provide numerical recipes, and software solutions to carry out these analysis methods. For more details on the tutorial, have a look at our website: https://cns2023.sched.com/event/cbd810bd0ffd6a59869a5f89fbf17b58 If you are planning to participate in the hands-on sessions, I advise you to follow the preparation instructions on that website! See you in Leipzig, -- *Richard Gast, PhD* Research associate at the Laboratory for Theoretical Neuroscience and Behavior Morton 5-630 Department of Neuroscience Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern University phone: +18728026786 mail: richard.gast(a)northwestern.edu twitter: @rich_gast website: www.richardgast.me

July 12, 2023

CNS*2023 Tutorial: "Modeling astrocytes and neuron-astrocyte interactions"

by Giulio Bonifazi

Dear Colleagues, We are delighted to announce a full-day tutorial session on “Modeling astrocytes and neuron-astrocyte interactions" at the upcoming CNS*2023 meeting in Leipzig, Germany. This tutorial will cover a range of topics related to astrocyte modelling including calcium signaling, volume control, synaptic activity, and network-level interactions with neurons. Here are the details of our tutorial session: Title: "Modeling astrocytes and neuron-astrocyte interactions”. Date: Saturday, July 15th. Location: Schumann Room (Kongresshalle am Zoo). For more information about the speakers, sessions, and the exact schedule, please visit our tutorial website at https://sites.google.com/view/astrotutorial. If you plan to attend, please remember to select our tutorial from the virtual program guide on Sched at https://sched.co/1Kd3X (Tutorial session T04). Thank you for your attention, and we hope to see you in Leipzig! Best regards, Giulio Bonifazi Ph.D. Student University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) gbonifazi001(a)ikasle.ehu.eus <mailto:gbonifazi001@ikasle.ehu.eus>

July 12, 2023

2023 SPARC FAIR Codeathon: apply and choose a project!

by Elisabetta Iavarone

Dear all, The Common Fund SPARC program, has an upcoming Codeathon that may be of interest for the comp-neuro community. The third annual virtual SPARC Codeathon will take place from *August 5-7*. This global prize competition is currently recruiting participants to make SPARC data and resources <https://sparc.science/> more Findable, Interoperable, Accessible, and Reusable (FAIR). Any interested participant can join projects spanning data visualization, simulation tool development, python workflow creation, and more to compete for $50,000 in prizes. Follow this link to learn more and sign up today! https://bit.ly/Codeathon-SPARC Elisabetta Iavarone, On behalf of the SPARC FAIR Codeathon team

July 12, 2023

Applications open: 2023 SPARC FAIR Codeathon

by INCF

2023 SPARC FAIR Codeathon When: 05/08/2023 to 07/08/2023 Where: Virtual Join the third global SPARC “FAIR” Codeathon <https://sparc.science/news-and-events/events/2023sparc-codeathon>, a three-day virtual event this August 5th-7th! The SPARC Data and Resource Center, with funding from the National Institutes of Health, will host a 3-day in-the-cloud Codeathon. It is free to enter and has a total prize pool of US$50,000 (including cash prizes and manuscript publication fees). Competitors from the United States and abroad are eligible. We encourage researchers and data scientists at any stage of their scientific journey to apply. Before the event we will create up to 30 teams of five to six individuals, each with various backgrounds and expertise, led by an experienced leader. The teams will greatly benefit from anyone with the following skills: - Understanding of neuroscience and/or neurostimulation - Data visualization - Data mining, image and text analysis - Working knowledge of scripting languages (eg., Shell, Python, R) - Familiarity with methods of manipulating and/or analyzing large datasets ( AI/ML, computational modeling, etc.) - Developing bioinformatics code, pipelines or tools - Knowledge graphs - Web development Applications are due 20/07/2023. More info here <https://sparc.science/news-and-events/events/2023sparc-codeathon>. Questions? Contact fair-codeathon-support(a)sparc.science What is SPARC? The Stimulating Peripheral Activity to Relieve Conditions (SPARC) <https://commonfund.nih.gov/sparc> program is supported by the NIH Common Fund <https://commonfund.nih.gov/> to provide a scientific and technological foundation for future bioelectronic medicine devices and protocols. The goal of the SPARC program is to identify neural targets and accelerate the development of therapeutic devices that modulate electrical activity in the vagus and other nerves to help treat diseases and conditions, such as hypertension and gastrointestinal disorders, by precisely adjusting organ function.

July 12, 2023

Postdoc position in Computational Neuroimaging of the Cerebellum (Western University, Canada)

by Jorn Diedrichsen

The Diedrichsen Lab<http://www.diedrichsenlab.org/> is looking to recruit a new postdoctoral associate with interest in studying the human cerebellum. The successful candidate will join an inter-disciplinary research group that uses behavioral, neuroimaging, and computational approaches to investigate the role of the cerebellum in motor control, cognition, and language<https://www.diedrichsenlab.org/res_cerebellarfunction.htm>. Our approach is to use Big Data and Machine Learning to gain insight about the overall functional organization of the cerebellum, which then informs targeted imaging and behavioural experiments. The enthusiastic and supportive environment will enable the candidate to develop their own research program. The lab is located in the Western Institute of Neuroscience in London, Ontario, Canada, and is part of the Sensorymotor Superlab<https://superlab.ca/about/> and the Computational Brain Sciences group<https://www.uwo.ca/bmi/cbs/> at Western. Systems and cognitive neuroscience is a key area of research strength at Western University, with more than 70 Principal Investigators and 200 trainees. High-resolution imaging at 9.5T, 7T, and 3T is available in-house. Full application details can be found here<http://www.diedrichsenlab.org/open_postdoc_cerebellum.htm>. Candidates are encourage to contact us early to arrange a meeting to discuss possible research projects. The deadline for applications is September 4th, 2023. Jörn Diedrichsen Western Research Chair Brain Mind Institute Department of Computer Science Department of Statistical and Actuarial Sciences Email: jdiedric(a)uwo.ca<mailto:jdiedric@uwo.ca> Tel: 1-519-661-2111 x86994

July 12, 2023

CALL-FOR-REGISTRATION CNS*2023 Workshop W11: "Multiscale Personalized Brain Network Modeling: Towards Clinical Applications"

by Julie Courtiol

[image: ‎‎‎‎‎CNS*2023_Workshop_banner_EBRAINS.png] Dear comp-neuro community, Only a few days left before the highly anticipated *CNS*2023 conference* in Leipzig, Germany. Have you made up your mind about which workshop to attend? We have one in particular that we believe will ignite your curiosity and expand your horizons. Introducing our captivating workshop:* "Multiscale Personalized Brain Network Modeling: Towards Clinical Applications."* This workshop delves into the fascinating world of personalized brain network modeling and its potential applications in clinical contexts. Join us as we explore the interdisciplinary aspects of computational and clinical neuroscience, digital infrastructure, reproducible research, and ethical considerations surrounding human digital twins. We have carefully curated a program filled with insightful presentations and engaging discussions led by experts in the field. It's an incredible opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about advancing computational neuroscience. *Date: Wednesday, July 19* *Time: Full day* (check the conference program for specific session timings) To learn more about our workshop, please visit our workshop webpage: https://www.brainsimulation.org/bsw/zwei/events/single/12404-32nd-annual-co… If you are interested in attending this workshop, please indicate your interest by ticking the box on this page: https://sched.co/1Kd7G To register for the CNS*2023 event as a whole, please visit the official registration page here: *https://ocns.memberclicks.net/cns-2023 Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to expand your understanding of personalized brain network modeling. Register now for CNS*2023 and secure your spot in our workshop. Space is limited, so make sure to reserve your place as soon as possible. Indicate your interest in attending our workshop by ticking the box on this page: https://sched.co/1Kd7G We look forward to welcoming you and exploring the frontiers of computational neuroscience together at CNS*2023. ---Best regards, *Dr. Julie Courtiol* Scientific Manager, Brain Simulation Section [image: 1644242313315] Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin Berlin Institut of Health Brain Simulation Robert-Kosh-Platz 4 Charitéplatz 1 | 10117 Berlin | Germany julie.courtiol(a)bih-charite.de - www.brainsimulation.org Twitter: @Courtioljulie <https://twitter.com/CourtiolJulie> LinkedIn: juliecourtiol <https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliecourtiol/>

July 11, 2023

IMBIZO APPLICATION DEADLINE IS JULY 18TH

by Tim Vogels

Dear colleagues and friends, Given that SONA (the SfN / FENS conference equivalent in Africa is starting today) and that we have a bit of representation there, we have decided to extend the DEADLINE for the next IMBIZO by one week. Apply now to join us at the most diverse neuroscience summer school at the most beautiful beach in the world! If you know anyone who would benefit from an extraordinary computational neuroscience summer school, please distribute this information to them. All the best, Tim Vogels IBRO-SIMONS COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE IMBIZO #Imbizo2024 7 January - 28 January 2024, Noordhoek Beach, Cape Town, South Africa http://imbizo.africa/ Application deadline: 18th July 2023 The #Imbizo2024 is a southern hemisphere summer school aiming to promote computational neuroscience in Africa. It will bring together international and local students under the tutelage of the world's leading experts in the field. Like its international sister courses, this four-week summer school aims to teach central ideas, methods, and practices of modern computational neuroscience through a combination of lectures and hands-on project work. Mornings will be devoted to lectures on topics across the breadth of computational neuroscience, including experimental underpinnings and machine learning analogues. The rest of the day will be spent working on research projects under the close supervision of expert tutors and faculty. Individual research projects will focus on the modelling of neurons, neural systems, behaviour, the analysis of state-of-the-art neural data, and the development of theories to explain experimental observations. It also includes a week focused on neuroscience-inspired machine learning! Who should apply? This course is aimed at Masters and early-PhD level students though Honours or advanced undergraduates may also apply. Postdoctoral students who can motivate why the course would benefit them are also encouraged to apply, Students should have sufficient quantitative skills, (e.g. a background in mathematics, physics, computer science, statistics, engineering or related field). Some knowledge of neural biology will be useful but not essential. Experimental neuroscience students are encouraged to apply, but should ensure that they have a reasonable level of quantitative proficiency (i.e. at least second-year level mathematics or statistics and have done at least one course in computer programming). Essential details * Fee (which covers tuition, lodging, and meals): 1350 EUR Thanks to our generous sponsors, significant financial assistance is available to reduce and waiver fees for students, particularly for African applicants. We also hope to provide some travel bursaries for international students. If you are in need of financial assistance to attend the Imbizo, please state so clearly in the relevant section of your application. The Imbizo is planned to be hosted in person, with everyone following our COVID policy <https://imbizo.africa/covid-policy/>. If it is unsafe to hold the summer school, we will follow up with further information at the appropriate time. * Application deadline: 18th July 2023 * References submitted: 24th July 2023 * Notification of results: August 2023 Information and application https://imbizo.africa/ Questions? isicn.imbizo(a)gmail.com <mailto:isicn.imbizo@gmail.com> What is an Imbizo? \ɪmˈbiːzɒ\ | Xhosa - Zulu A gathering of the people to share knowledge. Past and future faculty: Adrienne Fairhall - Washington University Alex Pouget - University of Geneva Anne-Marie Oswald - University of Pittsburgh Annik Carson - AI Redefined Arif Hamid - University of Minnesota Medical School Aza Allsop - Yale University Bard Ermentrout - University of Pittsburgh Bianca Jones Marlin - Columbia University Blake Richards - McGill University Brent Doiron - University of Chicago Cengiz Pehlevan - Harvard University Christopher Currin - Institute of Science and Technology Austria & IndabaX South Africa Daniela Vallentin - Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence David Sussillo - Google Demba Ba - Harvard University Dongyan Lin - MILA Evan Schaffer - Columbia University Franck Kalume - University of Washington Grace Lindsay - New York University Guillaume Lajoie - University of Montreal & MILA Henning Sprekeler - Technical University of Berlin Ilenna Jones - Harvard University Joseph Raimondo - University of Cape Town Mackenzie Mathis - EPFL Lausanne Marjorie Xie - Columbia University Mohamed Abdelhack - Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics Nina Kudryashova- University of Edinburgh Peter Latham - University College London Rachael Dangarembizi - University of Cape Town Roy Eyono - MILA Spiros Chavlis - IMBB-FORTH SueYeon Chung - New York University Thomas Tagoe - University of Ghana Tim Vogels - Institute of Science and Technology Austria Timothy Lillicrap - DeepMind Xaq Pitkow - Baylor College of Medicine ORGANISERS Demba Ba (Harvard University) Christopher Currin (Institute of Science and Technology Austria & IndabaX South Africa <https://indabax.co.za/>) Peter Latham (Gatsby Unit for Computational Neuroscience) Joseph Raimondo (University of Cape Town) Emma Vaughan (Imbizo Logistics) Tim Vogels (Institute of Science and Technology Austria) Sponsors The Imbizo is made possible by the generous support from the Simons Foundation <https://www.simonsfoundation.org/>, the International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO) <https://ibro.org/> as well as the Wellcome Trust, Google Deep Mind, Meta and others. Organizational Affiliates University of Cape Town, University College London, Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Harvard University, TReND in Africa <http://trendinafrica.org/>, Neuroscience Institute <http://www.neuroscience.uct.ac.za/>, Gatsby Foundation <http://www.gatsby.org.uk/>, IBRO African Center for Advanced Training in Neurosciences at UCT

July 11, 2023

GDR Neuralnet announcement

by Pierre-Pascal LENCK-SANTINI

Hello, could you share this message to the community please? Best regards PP Lenck-Santini Dear Colleagues, we have the pleasure to invite you to our annual GDR neuralnet that will take place in Marseille, Campus du Pharo. https://neuralnet2023.sciencesconf.org/ The GDR Neuralnet is a group of French research teams that gather to discuss about how collective neuronal activity underpins the functioning of the nervous system. These labs study a range of biological and artificial neural networks using population recording techniques, analytic approaches, and computational modelling. The goal of the GDR NeuralNet annual meeting, on its 12th edition this year, is to develop and promote synergies between researchers, engineers, and other stakeholders engaged in measuring, manipulating, analyzing and interpreting neuronal activity. Venue The conference will take place on October 11-13, 2023 at the Campus Pharo of Aix-Marseille Université, in the beautiful gardens overlooking Marseille harbor. Program We are still finalizing the program but current confirmed speakers are: * Demian Battaglia * Andrea Burgalossi * Hayriye Cagnan * Matteo Carandini * Ann Clemens * Matteo Di Volo * Mark Humphries * Kate Jeffery * Liset Menendez de la Prida * Marta Moita * Martha Nari Havenith * David Robbe * Marieke Schölvinck * German Sumbre There will also be a few selected talks from submitted abstracts; we encourage submissions from young researchers or young PIs. Registration Registration is now open (take advantage of early registration price)! Bear in mind that there will be a limitation to 180 participants to the conference and places will be assigned on a first come first served basis. The deadline for both early registration and abstract submission is July 20. As usual, ahead of the conference (October 9-10th) there will be an optional and free Minischool for those who registered. The Misischool concerns management tools of large datasets, spike sorting and calcium imaging. It will take place at the Inmed in Luminy (parc national des callanques). https://neuralnet2023.sciencesconf.org/resource/page/id/17 For more information visit: https://neuralnet2023.sciencesconf.org/ Pierre-Pascal Lenck-Santini, Ph.D. , (He/him/his) INMED INSERM/Aix-Marseille Université -- UMR 1249 Parc scientifique de Luminy 163 avenue de Luminy BP13 - 13273 Marseille cedex 09 - France - Tel : +33 (4) 91 82 81 66 https://brainsalsa.fr/

July 11, 2023

Announcing SNUFA 2023 workshop: 7-8 November

by Friedemann Zenke

We are happy to announce SNUFA 2023: 7-8 November (online)--your friendly focus meeting on spiking neural networks. Abstract submission is now open! See https://snufa.net/2023 for details. Invited speakers this year: Rodolphe Sepulchre, Melika Payvand, Gabriel Ocker, Jeff Krichmar. As usual, the workshop brings together computational neuroscience, machine learning, and neuromorphic engineering researchers to present their work and discuss how to translate these findings into a better understanding of neural circuits. Topics include artificial and biologically plausible learning algorithms and the dissection of trained spiking circuits toward understanding neural processing. We aim at a manageable number of talks with ample time for discussions. SNUFA 2023 is brought to you by Charlotte Frenkel, Emre Neftci, Dan Goodman, and Friedemann Zenke -- https://snufa.net/2023

July 11, 2023

PhD position - Comp. Neuro. - Navigation using episodic memory

by Vinita Samarasinghe

*Doctoral Position in Computational Neuroscience* Are you curious about how the human brain stores memories? Have you wondered how we manage to navigate through space? Our dynamic research group uses diverse computational modeling approaches,includingbiological neural networks, cognitive modeling, and machine learning/artificial intelligence, to study learning and memory. Currently, we are actively seeking a *talented graduate student* to join our team, someone who will expand our computationalmodeling framework Cobel-RL (https://doi.org/10.3389/fninf.2023.1134405)and use it to study how episodic memory might be used to learn to navigate.* * *Your Profile: * Candidates must * have a mastersdegreein neuroscience, physics, computer science, mathematics, psychology,or a related field * be able to work independently * have experience in mathematical modeling * have excellent programming skills, * have excellent communication skills in English, and * work well in a team. We are committed to providing a supportive work environment for female researchers and those with young children. Our university provides mentoring and coaching opportunities specifically aimed at women in research. We have a strong research network with female role models and will provide opportunities to meet with them. Wherever possible, events will be scheduled during regular childcare hours. Special childcare will be arranged if events have to be scheduled outside of regular hours, in case of sickness and during school or daycare closures. Where childcare is not an option parents will be offered a home office solution. The Ruhr University Bochum is home to a vibrant research community in neuroscienceand cognitive science. The Institute for Neural Computation combines different areas of expertise ranging from experimental and theoretical neuroscienceto machine learning androbotics. This position is *65% at TV-L E13*, starts as soon as possible and is funded for *3 years*. Please send your application, including CV, transcripts and research statement electronically, as a single PDF file, to samarasinghe(a)ini.rub.de. In addition, at least two academic references mustbe sent independently to the above email address. The deadline for applications is 20.08.2023. The Ruhr University Bochum is committed to equal opportunity. We strongly encourage applications from qualified women and persons with disabilities. Please feel free to get in touch with me if you have any questions. -- Vinita Samarasinghe M.Sc., M.A. Science Manager Arbeitsgruppe Computational Neuroscience Institut für Neuroinformatik Ruhr-Universität Bochum, NB 3/73 Postfachnummer 110 Universitätstr. 150 44801 Bochum Tel: +49 (0) 234 32 27996 Email:samarasinghe@ini.rub.de

July 10, 2023

Tutorial CNS 2023, T11: Simulation of spiking and BOLD signals using the ANNarchy simulator

by Julien Vitay

Dear colleagues, we would like to draw your attention to the hands-on tutorial entitled "T11: Simulation of spiking and BOLD signals using the ANNarchy simulator” of the upcoming CNS conference held in Leipzig ( https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2023) The tutorial will take place on Saturday, July 15th in the afternoon session. The ANNarchy neuro-simulator targets the efficient simulation of rate-coded and spiking models on shared memory systems (multi-core, GPU). This tutorial will first introduce the definition of spiking neural networks in ANNarchy through its equation-oriented interface. The tutorial can be done on your laptops using the provided Jupyter notebooks or remotely on colab. The second part will demonstrate how to record BOLD signals from a spiking simulation using various balloon models and optimize the underlying hyperparameters. Registration for the tutorials at CNS 2023 is required and can be done at: https://ocns.memberclicks.net/cns-2023-registration The tutorial description can be found here: https://cns2023.sched.com/event/1NDRl Useful links: - Source code: https://github.com/ANNarchy/ANNarchy - Documentation: https://annarchy.github.io/ - White paper of the ANNarchy neural simulator: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fninf.2015.00019/full - BOLD monitoring in ANNarchy: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fninf.2022.790966/full Best regards Fred Hamker, Helge Ülo Dinkelbach, Julien Vitay -- Professur Künstliche Intelligenz Fakultät für Informatik Technische Universität Chemnitz Straße der Nationen 62 09111 Chemnitz Germany

July 10, 2023

T12: Vast parameter space exploration using L2L on EBRAINS

by Michiel van der Vlag

Did you ever wonder how to best go about exploring the parameters space of a dynamic brain model or how you can optimize a task learning network. Or maybe you just want to know how to work with the research infrastructure from the Human Brain Project called EBRAINS and send jobs to a supercomputer from this cloud environment? We cordially invite you to join our tutorial to learn all about EBRAINS and a scalable HPC solution for learning to learn (L2L), discussing machine learning optimization techniques applied on brain simulations. Synopsis: https://cns2023.sched.com/event/1NCef/t12-vast-parameter-space-exploration-… Organizers: Alper Yegenoglu and Michiel van der Vlag. Hope to see you there! Kind regards, -- Michiel Alexander van der Vlag Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS) Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC) SDL Neuroscience 52425 Jülich, Germany phone: +49-2461-61-8911

July 10, 2023

Two postdoc positions in Computational Cognitive Neuroscience / Psychology / Cognitive Neuroscience

by Martin Hebart

Dear all, The Computational Cognitive Neuroscience lab <https://hebartlab.com> of Martin Hebart is looking for two postdocs (initially for two years, with a possibility for an extension), who work in Computational Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychology, Computer Science, or a related field. The positions are part of the LOEWE Start Professorship of Martin Hebart, as well as the ERC Starting Grant COREDIM "Uncovering the core dimensions of visual object representations". Our lab aims at uncovering fundamental principles of visual and semantic processing in the human brain, with a focus on the visual system. To this end, we have access to a wide range of exciting large-scale datasets, including (1) human neuroimaging, human and macaque neurophysiological, and behavioral datasets as part of the THINGS initiative ( https://things-initiative.org) as well as (2) recent densely-sampled ultrahigh field functional and structural MRI data to reveal the relationship between the fine-grained cortical anatomy, the human structural connectome, and brain function in occipitotemporal cortex. The exact implementation of the projects is flexible but should be tied to the overall goals of the projects. The project of postdoc position 1 should be focused on using and ideally integrating the diverse datasets acquired as part of the THINGS initiative, including the possibility of developing or testing computational models of vision and language. The project of postdoc position 2 should be focused either on the functional neuroanatomy of the human visual system or on the relationship between visual and semantic features in occipitotemporal cortex. The positions are located at University of Giessen, with close collaboration with the Max Planck Institute of Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, Germany. Our lab provides a supportive environment that strives towards helping postdocs advance in their career. We provide expertise and state-of-the-art resources for the successful completion of the postdoc positions. University of Giessen offers a vibrant community of vision scientists, and there are close collaborations with Marburg (15min distance by train) and Frankfurt (40min distance). The proximity to Frankfurt provides ideal mobility for national and international candidates. For details, please read the job announcements. Please apply using the online form: Postdoc position 1 <https://www.uni-giessen.de/karriere/stellenangebote/ausschreibungen/wissens…> Postdoc position 2 <https://www.uni-giessen.de/karriere/stellenangebote/ausschreibungen/wissens…> For more information, please reach out to Martin Hebart ( martin.hebart(a)psychiat.med.uni-giessen.de) Best wishes, Martin

July 10, 2023

Re: Endowed Professorship "Machine Learning for Clinical Neuroscience"

by Philipp Berens

Dear all, the application deadline for the Endowed professorship "Machine Learning for Clinical Neuroscience" (https://www.academics.com/jobs/w3-stiftungsprofessur-fuer-maschinelles-lern…) at the University of Tübingen is approaching. We are looking forward to your application until July 20th! Best Philipp Am 22/06/2023 um 09:51 schrieb Philipp Berens: > Dear all, > > we are currently advertising an Endowed professorship "Machine Learning > for Clinical Neuroscience" > (https://www.academics.com/jobs/w3-stiftungsprofessur-fuer-maschinelles-lern…) at the University of Tübingen. > > We are looking for candidates that perform innovative research on the > application and development of new machine learning methods in clinical > neuroscience, in particular for early detection and prediction of > disease progression. This can include work on topics such as > explainability, safety and robustness of machine learning methods in > clinical settings. It would be great if candidates had worked with > multimodal data with clinical relevance (e. g. MRI, fMRI, EEG, > electrophysiology, omics data, data from sensors of wearables) as well > as cohort data (UKBiobank, NAKO, etc.). > > Tübingen offers a first-rate environment at the intersection of > neuroscience and AI/ML research with the Excellence Cluster for Machine > Learning in Science, the Tübingen AI Center, the Max Planck Institutes > for Intelligent Systems and Biological Cybernetics, the Hertie Institute > for Clinical Brain Research and many other institutions! > > We are looking forward to your application by July 20th. > > Best > Philipp -- Professor of Data Science, Director Hertie Institute for AI in Brain Health Medical Faculty of the University of Tübingen www.berenslab.org

July 10, 2023

Workshop on Neuro-Inspired Topology and Machine Learning at CNS 2023

by Neymotin, Samuel (NKI)

We invite the computational neuroscience community to join us at our workshop on Neuro-inspired topology and machine learning at CNS 2023, on July 19th, 2023 in Leipzig, Germany. Workshop Description: Mathematics, machine learning, and computational neuroscience have long been intertwined. Mathematical tools such as graph theory, information theory and dynamical systems have been used to model neural activity. Similarly, modern machine learning approaches have been inspired by neuroscience and have been used to better understand brain connectivity and dynamics. These three research facets play off of each other to advance each field individually and concurrently. The goal of this workshop is to bring computational neuroscientists, mathematicians, and computer scientists together to communicate research around their expertise. Additionally, it will serve as a venue to discuss avenues of future research impacting computational neuroscience and mathematics while advancing machine learning and artificial intelligence methods. Speakers include: Max Bazhenov, Vasileios Christopoulos, Claudia Clopath, Salvador Dura-Burnal, Daniela Egas-Santander, Celia Hacker, Erik Hermansen, Bill Lytton, Robert McDougal, Aitor Morales-Gregorio, Manish Saggar, Brittany Story, and Nick Tolley Full details including schedule are available here: https://sites.google.com/view/nitmlcns2023/home The organizers, Brittany Story, Vasileios Maroulas, Sam Neymotin ________________________________ IMPORTANT NOTICE: This e-mail is meant only for the use of the intended recipient. It may contain confidential information which is legally privileged or otherwise protected by law. If you received this e-mail in error or from someone who was not authorized to send it to you, you are strictly prohibited from reviewing, using, disseminating, distributing or copying the e-mail. PLEASE NOTIFY US IMMEDIATELY OF THE ERROR BY RETURN E-MAIL AND DELETE THIS MESSAGE FROM YOUR SYSTEM. Thank you for your cooperation.

July 8, 2023

Comp. Neurosci. postdoc - NY

by Neymotin, Samuel (NKI)

Postdoctoral scientist positions are available at the Nathan Kline Institute (NKI) for Psychiatric Research (https://www.nki.rfmh.org/) to work on computational neuroscience research funded by NIH and DoD grants. Applicants should have a PhD in computational neuroscience (or a related field), strong background in multiscale modeling using NEURON/NetPyNE, Python software development, neural/electrophysiology data analysis, machine learning, and writing/presenting research. Applicants should send the following information to the computational neuroscience lab PI (Sam Neymotin; samuel.neymotin(a)nki.rfmh.org) 1. Curriculum vitae (.pdf, required) 2. Cover letter describing your research interests, relevant experience, and career goals 3. At least one academic writing sample 4. Referrer's Contact Information/Recommendation Letter Applications will be considered and interviews offered (for qualified applicants) as they are received. ________________________________ IMPORTANT NOTICE: This e-mail is meant only for the use of the intended recipient. It may contain confidential information which is legally privileged or otherwise protected by law. If you received this e-mail in error or from someone who was not authorized to send it to you, you are strictly prohibited from reviewing, using, disseminating, distributing or copying the e-mail. PLEASE NOTIFY US IMMEDIATELY OF THE ERROR BY RETURN E-MAIL AND DELETE THIS MESSAGE FROM YOUR SYSTEM. Thank you for your cooperation.

July 7, 2023

Workshop on neuronal optimality and trade-offs at CNS*2023

by Jedlicka, Peter

Dear all, Join us at CNS*2023 in Leipzig on July 18th and 19th for the workshop W06: Optimality, evolutionary trade-offs, Pareto theory and degeneracy in neuronal modelling<https://www.treestoolbox.org/CNS2023_pareto_workshop/program.html>. Nervous systems, like any evolved structure, encounter unavoidable trade-offs between multiple tasks. They must fulfil their fundamental computational functions whilst consuming as little energy as possible and remaining robust to potential environmental changes. These tasks are often in direct opposition to one another, and a general quantification of the relative importance of individual optimisation targets is non-trivial. The problem is complicated by the degeneracy seen across neurons and circuits, where multiple different combinations of components can lead to similar functional behaviours. Pareto optimality might provide a useful framework to analyse neurobiological systems from biophysically detailed cells to large-scale network structures that combine high-dimensional parameter spaces with high-dimensional objective spaces. Pareto, or multi-objective, optimality can, for example, help to identify geometrically simple subspaces of neuronal models that cannot be improved upon for all relevant objectives. This workshop aims to discuss applications of Pareto optimality to the trade-offs encountered by diverse nervous systems. The talks and discussions will also address the trade-off between functional effectiveness and energetic efficiency and the concept of metabolically efficient information processing. Registration for the workshops at CNS 2023 is required and can be done at: https://ocns.memberclicks.net/cns-2023-registration Speakers include: Astrid Prinz, Anna Levina, Timothy O'Leary, Marcel Oberländer, Arnd Roth, Rishikesh Narayanan, Suhita Nadkarni, Albert Gidon, Zahid Padamsey, Wiktor Mlynarski, Dylan Festa Full details are available at: https://www.treestoolbox.org/CNS2023_pareto_workshop/index.html and https://cns2023.sched.com/event/1O0MO/w06-optimality-evolutionary-trade-off… Hope to see you there! Alex Bird, Philipp Norton, Peter Jedlicka, and Susanne Schreiber -- Prof. Dr. Peter Jedlicka Computer-Based Modelling in the field of 3R Animal Protection Faculty of Medicine Justus Liebig University Giessen Rudolf-Buchheim-Straße 6 35392 Gießen Phone: ++49 (0)641 9941387 Fax: ++49 (0) 641 9941359 Email: Peter.Jedlicka(a)informatik.med.uni-giessen.de 3R Centre of Justus Liebig University Giessen Interdisciplinary Centre for 3Rs in Animal Research (ICAR3R) Frankfurter Straße 104 35392 Giessen (Germany) www.ICAR.de<https://www.uni-giessen.de/de/fbz/fb11/institute/computerbasiertes-modellin…>

July 7, 2023

2 Fully funded PhD positions in testing of AI-based systems at Università della Svizzera italiana (Switzerland)

by Nargiz Humbatova

Dear All, The TAU (Testing AUtomated) research group at the Software Institute <https://www.si.usi.ch/> of Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) <https://www.usi.ch/> investigates novel testing techniques to improve the robustness and security of systems based on deep learning. We offer two PhD positions in the following topics: 1. Search-based test case generation for vulnerability exposure in deep learning based systems and creation of a robustness assessment benchmark. The position is funded by the Horizon <https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/…> European project Sec4AI4Sec <https://search.usi.ch/en/projects/3018/cybersecurity-for-ai-augmented-syste…> which aims to support security testing of AI-based systems; 2. Automated partition of a complex input space into a topographical map consisting of regions that maximise the likelihood of fault exposure when test cases are sampled from unexplored or boundary map regions. This position is funded by the SNSF <https://snf.ch/en> project TopoScope <https://search.usi.ch/en/projects/3030/toposcope-a-topographical-approach-t…>, aiming at redefining the testing activities as the exploration of a topographical map of the input space. We are scouting excellent applicants for these two PhD positions. Successful candidates will work at the Software Institute of Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) in Lugano, Switzerland, under the supervision of Prof. Paolo Tonella <http://inf.usi.ch/faculty/tonella> and the co-supervision of Dr. Nargiz Humbatova <http://usi.to/pio> and Dr. Jinhan Kim. At USI, PhD salaries are highly competitive (around 50 kCHF), in accordance with the Swiss standards. Ideally, the selected candidates are expected to start on October 1st, 2023, but later starts can also be considered. The duration of the PhD contract will be 4 years. How to apply? Applications for PhD positions should include a curriculum vitae and the exam transcripts. PhD candidates should hold an MSc degree in Computer Science by Fall 2023. Applications can be sent to paolo.tonella(a)usi.com. The call will remain open until all positions are filled, but *priority will be given to earlier applications*. Best Regards, Nargiz

July 7, 2023

Master of Science "Modeling for Neuronal and Cognitive Systems" at Université Côte d'Azur - Apply until the 20th of July!

by Chloe Bourgeois

The M.Sc. program "Modeling for Neuronal and Cognitive Systems" at Université Côte d'Azur is still recruiting its new students! This international Master of science is interdisciplinary and related to computational approaches in neuroscience/cognitive science. Check our website for eligibility criteria and more info about the program: https://univ-cotedazur.eu/msc/modeling-for-neuronal-and-cognitive-systems Applications must be submitted via the online platform ecandidat<https://ecandidat-uca1.univ-cotedazur.fr/#!accueilView>, until the 20th of July 2023. Thanks for sharing this announcement as widely as possible. Contact: msc-mod4neucog(a)univ-cotedazur.fr<mailto:msc-mod4neucog@univ-cotedazur.fr> Kind regards, -- Chloé Bourgeois Responsable Administrative Institut NeuroMod<https://neuromod.univ-cotedazur.eu/> 2004 Route des Lucioles 06902 Sophia-Antipolis Tel. : +33 (0)4 89 73 24 99

July 7, 2023

CNS 2023 Tutorial on Dynamical Systems Methods

by Richard Gast

Dear members of the computational neuroscience community, I would like to draw your attention to a tutorial that Hil G.E. Meijer, Bastian Pietras, and I will offer at the first day of CNS 2023: "Applied Dynamical Systems Methods in Neuroscience''. In this tutorial, we will explain basic dynamical systems concepts and analysis methods at the example of single neurons, neural networks, and mean-field equations of neural networks. The main goals of the tutorial are (i) to provide the audience with an intuition of how neural systems can be studied via mathematical models, (ii) to explain how we can analyze parameter dependencies of these mathematical models, and (iii) to provide numerical recipes, and software solutions to carry out these analysis methods. For more details on the tutorial, have a look at our website: https://cns2023.sched.com/event/cbd810bd0ffd6a59869a5f89fbf17b58 If you are planning to participate in the hands-on sessions, I advise you to follow the preparation instructions on that website! See you in Leipzig, Richard Gast

July 6, 2023