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Two postdoctoral positions at Harvard
by Cengiz Pehlevan Nov. 11, 2021

Nov. 11, 2021

Dear colleagues, We have two postdoctoral positions at Harvard that may be of interest. 1) The George F. Carrier Postdoctoral Fellowship. This prestigious independent position at Applied Mathematics is open to candidates with a wide range of interests, including neuroscience and machine learning. Even though the listed deadline has passed, we are still accepting applications. Details are here: https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/10697 <https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/10697> 2) Postdoctoral Fellow in the Theory of Representation Learning in Artificial and Natural Systems. We are looking for exceptional junior scientists to work collaboratively with a group of faculty from Computer Science (Boaz Barak), Statistics (Lucas Janson), Electrical Engineering (Demba Ba) and Applied Mathematics (Cengiz Pehlevan) towards a theory of representations in artificial and natural systems. Details are here (towards the bottom of the page): https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/10730 <https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/10730> Best wishes, Cengiz

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Postdoctoral fellowships at the Neuromathematics Center in Sao Paulo State, Brazil
by Antonio Roque Nov. 11, 2021

Nov. 11, 2021

*Postdoctoral Fellowships inAcquisition, processing and quantitative analysis of neurobiological data* The Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center for Neuromathematics (NeuroMat), hosted by the University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil, and funded by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), is offering three post-doctoral fellowships for recent PhDs with outstanding research potential. The fellowship will involve collaborations with research teams and laboratories associated with NeuroMat. The research to be developed by the post-doc fellows shall be strictly related to ongoing research lines developed by the NeuroMat team. The project may be developed at USP (São Paulo or Ribeirão Preto) or at UNICAMP (Campinas). We seek candidates capable of developing independent research in one of the research lines below. 1. Stochastic modeling of neurobiological data. 2. Acquisition, processing and quantitative analysis of neurobiological data. Candidates to the first research line are required to have a strong background in probability theory with emphasis on stochastic processes. Candidates to the second research line are required to have a strong background in neuroscience with previous experience in neurophysiological data acquisition, processing and analysis, and knowledge of computer programming. The initial appointment is for one year, with a possible extension to up to three years, conditional on research progress. The fellowship is competitive at an international level, and fellows benefit from extra funds for travel and research expenses plus limited support for relocation expenses. Application Instructions: Applicants should complete and submit the application form. The following documents and information are requested (please see the form for further details): - Summary of the CV, in the format required by FAPESP (see fapesp.br/en/6351 for instructions); - List of publications, with links to those available online. - A summary of the research plan for the next year, up to 5 pages in length. This document must explicitly state for which of the two aforementioned profiles the candidate has applied. It should also address how this research plan fits within the framework of the NeuroMat research program. Timetable: Candidates are encouraged to apply at their earliest convenience until December 12, 2021. Appointments are expected to start by February or March 2022. The initial period of the position lasts for 12 months, with possible renewals for up to three years. This opportunity is open to candidates of any nationality. The selected candidates will be awarded FAPESP Postdoctoral fellowships in the amount of BR 7,373 monthly and a research contingency fund, equivalent to 15% of the annual value of the fellowship, which should be spent on items directly related to the research activity. More details on FAPESP's postdoctoral fellowships are available at http://www.fapesp.br/en/5427. -- Dr. Antonio C. Roque Professor Associado Departamento de Fisica FFCLRP, Universidade de Sao Paulo 14040-901 Ribeirao Preto-SP Brazil - Brasil E-mails: antonior(a)usp.br <antonior(a)ffclrp.usp.br> aroquesilva(a)gmail.com URL: www.sisne.org Tels: +55 16 3315-3768 <+55%2016%203315-3768> (sala/office); +55 16 3315-3859 <+55%2016%203315-3859> (lab) FAX: +55 16 3315-4887 <+55%2016%203315-4887>

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ERC-funded Postdoc position in computational neuroscience and modelling of salamander locomotor circuits, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
by Auke Ijspeert Nov. 11, 2021

Nov. 11, 2021

The Biorobotics laboratory (Biorob, https://www.epfl.ch/labs/biorob/) at EPFL (Lausanne, Switzerland) has one open postdoc position in computational neuroscience and modeling of salamander locomotor circuits. The position is part of the Salamandra project, a Synergy grant funded by the ERC that started in September 2021, together with Prof. Andras Simon (Karolinska Institute, Sweden) and Prof. Dimitri Ryczko (U. Sherbrooke, Canada). See some info here: https://actu.epfl.ch/news/salamanders-provide-a-model-for-spinal-cord-rege-… The goals of the position are (i) to develop numerical models and simulations of the locomotor circuits in the spinal cord of the salamander, (ii) to analyze their dynamics when coupled to a simulated mechanical model of the body (interactions between central and peripheral mechanisms), and (iii) to investigate their regenerative properties after spinal cord lesions. The models will likely be based on integrate-and-fire neuron models, but other models could also be investigated (e.g. rate-based). The position is fully funded for 2 years (and can be extended to 4 years in total). EPFL is one of the leading Institutes of Technology in Europe and offers extremely competitive salaries and research infrastructure. *Requirements:* Candidates should have a Ph.D. and a strong publication record in computational neuroscience. An ideal candidate would have prior experience in: * Numerical models of oscillatory (spinal) circuits * Movement and locomotion control * Integrate-and-fire neural models (or similar neuron models) * Good management skills are a plus. Fluency in oral and written English is required. *How to apply for the position:* Postdoctoral applications should consist of a motivation letter (explaining why you are interested in the project, and why you feel qualified for it), a full CV, two or three relevant publications, and the email addresses of two or more referees. PDF files are preferred. Please send your application and any inquiry by email to auke.ijspeert(a)epfl.ch. Information concerning the type of research carried out by the lab can be found at https://www.epfl.ch/labs/biorob/ . *Deadline and starting date:* Applications are requested starting from now**, and will then be processed as they arrive until the position is closed. The ideal starting date is *early 2022* (with some flexibility). *Contact:* Information concerning the type of research carried out by the lab can be found at https://www.epfl.ch/labs/biorob/ . You should send your application and any inquiry by email to auke.ijspeert(a)epfl.ch -- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Prof Auke Jan Ijspeert Biorobotics Laboratory EPFL-STI-IBI-BIOROB, ME D1 1226, Station 9 EPFL, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne CH 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland Office: ME D1 1226 Tel: +41 21 693 2658 Fax: +41 21 693 3705 www:http://biorob.epfl.ch Email:Auke.Ijspeert@epfl.ch -----------------------------------------------------------------

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Dec 13, 14 Workshop: The free energy principle of the brain: experiments and verification
by Hideaki Shimazaki Nov. 11, 2021

Nov. 11, 2021

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to invite you to *an online two-day workshop on the free energy principle and active inference, focusing on its experimental verification and biological implementation*. The time is set for EU/UK and East Asia. Please visit our website for registration (free): https://sites.google.com/view/free-energy-workshop Workshop title: *The free energy principle of the brain: Experiments and verification* Date: 2021 Dec 13 (Mon) and 14 (Tue) Place: Online (Registration required) Invited Speakers and Titles: *Takuya Isomura* (RIKEN CBS) Active inference and the emergence of sentient behaviour *Hitoshi Okamoto* (RIKEN CBS) Zebrafish as a model animal for studying active inference *Beren Millidge *(U Oxford) The FEP, Predictive Coding, and Backpropagation in the Brain *Rafal Bogacz* (U Oxford) Dopamine: precision of action selection or prediction error *Naoki Honda* (Hiroshima U) Decoding reward-curiosity conflict in probabilistic bandit task *Miguel Aguilera* (Sussex U) When can we interpret organisms as performing Bayesian inference? *Jun Tani *(OIST) Cognitive Neurorobotics Study Using the Free Energy Principle *Ken-ichi Amemori *(Kyoto U) Neuroscientific and computational basis of anxiety in primates: conflict decision and risk aversion *Rosalyn Moran* (King's Colledge London) Active Inference from Neurobiology to Blackjack We are looking forward to your active participation! Sincerely, Hideaki on behalf of organizers Hideaki Shimazaki, CHAIN Hokkaido University Masatoshi Yasuda, CHAIN Hokkaido University Mark Miller, CHAIN Hokkaido University Takuya Isomura, RIKEN CBS Naoki Honda, Hiroshima U Christopher Buckley, Sussex U --- Hideaki Shimazaki, Ph.D Center for Human Nature, Artificial Intelligence, and Neuroscience (CHAIN) Hokkaido University https://www.neuralengine.org

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A Dendrites Virtual Workshop hosted at Emory University Dec. 7.
by Jaeger, Dieter Nov. 10, 2021

Nov. 10, 2021

Dear Colleagues: We are pleased to invite you to our virtual workshop entitled "Are dendrites necessary for cortical computation?” to be held on Tuesday, December 7, 10:00am - 1:00 pm EST. This workshop is in the series of Emory University Initiative in Theory And Modeling of Living Systems (TMLS, http://livingtheory.emory.edu) virtual workshops, exploring provocative questions on the interface of biology and physical sciences. See https://www.youtube.com/c/EmoryTMLS for recordings of previous workshops in the program. Abstract: Many network models for modeling cortical function are built with single compartment units using a variety of more or less simple integrate and fire dynamics. On the other hand, many biologically oriented research groups place great emphasis on the complex and detailed properties of active processing in pyramidal neuron dendrites. The question to be addressed in this workshop is whether essential computational properties of biological cortical networks rely on dendritic processing, and if so, which? Finally, could such properties be formalized in simpler ways than using full biophysical detail and substantially add to the function of more abstract network modeling? Six exciting speakers will present their thoughts on the matter, and the audience will be able to interact with them in real time, asking questions through the YouTube comments interface. Free registration is requested at: https://forms.gle/9HzNgrYbJPYBUfSw9<https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.gle…> We expect to stream the workshop live at the TMLS YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/EmoryTMLS and we will send information, updates/changes to all registered participants before the workshop begins. Confirmed Speakers and Titles: Dieter Jaeger, Emory University, Introduction Claudia Clopath, Imperial College London Brent Doiron, University of Chicago “Cell specific inhibitory plasticity in assembly formation” Bartlett Mel, University of Southern California "How to optimize a dendrite for binary subunit pooling” Yiota Poirazi, IMBB-FORTH Crete “Dendritic solutions to logical operations in models of human neurons” Andreas Stöckel, University of Waterloo. “Passive Dendrites as a Computational Resource in the Neural Engineering Framework” Xiao-Jing Wang, New York University “Dendritic gating in the whole neocortex” Please feel free to forward this announcement to anyone that you think might be interested. Hope to see you there! Thank you, Dieter Jaeger (workshop organizer) Dieter Jaeger Professor, Department of Biology Emory University djaeger(a)emory.edu<mailto:djaeger@emory.edu> https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/jaegerlab/

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Second session of the Brains Through Time Reading Club
by manuel molano Nov. 10, 2021

Nov. 10, 2021

Dear all, We would like to bring to your attention the second session of the Brains Through Time Reading Club<https://sites.google.com/view/bbtreadingclub/home>! It will be on the first of December (6pm CEST / 12 EST) and will include the participation of Maria Tosches<https://www.biology.columbia.edu/people/tosches>, Luis Puelles<https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=nIoLKVAAAAAJ&hl=en> and Paul Cisek<https://cisek.org/pavel/>. We will dedicate ~2 hours to present and discuss the main ideas of the second chapter of the book: The Origin of Vertebrates: Invertebrate Chordates and Cyclostomes. You can register HERE<https://www.crowdcast.io/e/brains-through-time-2>. In case you missed the first session, you can watch it HERE<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cErEJTa2GUc&ab_channel=TheBrainingClub> or read a quick summary of the first chapter HERE<https://twitter.com/TheBrainingClub/status/1445105424722767877>. See you there! The Braining Club About the BTT reading club: As the name implies, the idea is to review the book Brains Through Time<https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/oso/978019512568…>, by Georg Striedter<https://www.faculty.uci.edu/profile.cfm?faculty_id=3006> and Glenn Northcutt<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Northcutt>. Brains Through Time is a masterful synthesis of much of what is known about brain evolution, and offers great insights to anyone interested in a broad understanding of how the brain produces behavior.

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PhD positions in Math Biology & Computational Neuroscience at NJIT
by Victor Matveev Nov. 9, 2021

Nov. 9, 2021

Dear all, The Department of Mathematical Sciences at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) invites candidates to apply for one of our doctoral program tracks: (1) Applied Mathematics or (2) Applied Probability & Statistics. The Department's research focus spans Mathematical Biology and Computational Neuroscience, Scientific Computing, Fluid Dynamics, Materials Science, Wave Propagation, Applied Analysis, and Applied Probability and Statistics, including Biostatistics and Data Science. We offer teaching and research assistantships, which include a tuition waiver, a competitive stipend starting at $25,000 per academic year and, pending funding availability, at least $3,500 in summer support. The application target date is December 15, 2021, but review will be ongoing until all available positions are filled. New Jersey Institute of Technology is a "Research I" University by Carnegie Classification, with a campus in the city of Newark. NJIT is conveniently located in close vicinity to many other centers of research in mathematical biology and neuroscience, across the street from Rutgers-Newark, and within about 40 min of New York City by public transportation. To apply, go to: https://www.njit.edu/graduatestudies/department-mathematical-sciences/ For more information, please email us (math(a)njit.edu, CC to: shahriar.afkhami(a)njit.edu) Program flyer is posted here: https://web.njit.edu/~matveev/NJIT_DMS_PhD_flyer.pdf Sincerely --Victor Matveev (on behalf of the Admissions Committee ) -- _____________________________________________ Victor Matveev, Professor Applied Math, Biophysics, Neuroscience Department of Mathematical Sciences Graduate Faculty, Dept of Biological Sciences New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJ 07102-1982 Office: Cullimore Hall 616 E-mail:matveev@njit.edu http://web.njit.edu/~matveev/

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Announcing DENDRITES 2022
by Yiota Poirazi Nov. 8, 2021

Nov. 8, 2021

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce that after the cancellation of our 2020 meeting because of the covid-19 pandemic, DENDRITES 2022 will take place in Heraklion, Crete on 23-26 May 2022. This is the 4th of a very successful series of meetings on the island of Crete that is dedicated to dendrites. The meeting will bring together scientific leaders from around the globe to present their theoretical and experimental work on dendrites. The meeting program is designed to facilitate discussions of new ideas and discoveries, in a relaxed atmosphere that emphasizes interaction. DENDRITES 2022 EMBO Workshop on Dendritic Anatomy, Molecules and Function Heraklion, Crete, Greece 23-26 May 2022 http://meetings.embo.org/event/20-dendrites *Organizing committee:* Yiota Poirazi, IMBB-FORTH, GR Kristen Harris, University of Texas-Austin, US Michael Häusser, University College London, GB Matthew Larkum, Humboldt University of Berlin, DE *Registration and abstract submission will open soon at:* http://meetings.embo.org/event/20-dendrites Submissions of abstracts are due by *February 1st, **2022.* Notifications will be provided by February 28th, 2022. Potential attendees are strongly encouraged to submit an abstract as presenters will have registration priority. For more information about the conference, please refer to our web site or send email to info(a)mitos.com.gr We look forward to seeing you at DENDRITES 2022! on behalf of the organizers, Yiota Poirazi -- Panayiota Poirazi, Ph.D. Research Director Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB) Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH) Vassilika Vouton, P.O.Box 1385, GR 70013, Heraklion, Crete GREECE Tel: +30 2810 391139 Fax: +30 2810 391101 Εmail: poirazi(a)imbb.forth.gr Lab site: www.dendrites.gr

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hybrid IEEE WIE ILS on December 2nd and 3rd, 2021
by Marianna Semprini Nov. 8, 2021

Nov. 8, 2021

Dear all, We are pleased to announce the IEEE Women in Engineering International Leadership Summit as a hybrid event to be held on December 2nd and 3rd, 2021 both online and in person in Genova, Italy (limited seats available, green pass required). Information and registration form can be found here: https://wieils-italy.eu/ The IEEE WIE ILS is an internationally acclaimed program of IEEE Women in Engineering, which is one of the world's largest technical communities working towards shaping the scenario of underrepresentation of Women in Engineering and Technology. IEEE WIE ILS started in 2015 was organized in Chennai with the theme "Beyond Yourself - Leveraging your strengths and breaking barriers". The summit drew more than 200 participants which paved the way for more such summits all over the globe. Now every year ten such summits are organized across the globe. In 2020 we were selected to host an ILS event for the first time in Italy. Due to the pandemic, the 2020 ILS was only virtual (see the "past editions" tab). This year we are going to have a hybrid event with participation both online and in-person! We have planned sessions on empowering, entrepreneurship, mentoring, and also parenting! The event is open to anyone, especially to women and minorities in the STEM area. Join us (either in person or online) for two days of panel discussions, keynote presentations, round table discussions, and networking! Marianna Semprini, PhD (she/her) Rehab Technologies Lab Phone : 010 71781 212 ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIA Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova Site: www.iit.it

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Theoretical Sciences Visiting Program 2022 at OIST (Application by Nov. 30, 2021)
by Kenji Doya Nov. 7, 2021

Nov. 7, 2021

We are pleased to call for Long-Term Visiting Scholars in Theoretical Sciences at OIST as below. **** As part of an initiative to develop a vibrant program in theoretical sciences, OIST invites applications for Visiting Scholars in the Theoretical Sciences. The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) is a research institution with a Ph.D. program. Outstanding graduate students and faculty are being attracted internationally. Applicants should have a Ph.D. in a relevant field and be independent researchers, i.e., should have an academic standing equivalent to senior postdoc, junior group leader, or faculty member at a research-intensive institution. The position has a flexible term of 2 to 12 months taken continuously starting between April 2022 and March 2023 with a preference for longer-term visitors. Visitors through this program are encouraged to collaborate with one or more research units in OIST during their stay. The appointment may be taken while on leave or sabbatical from another university and comes with housing, research funds, and moving allowance. This program can provide a per diem as per OIST rules. In exceptional situations where the applicant does not receive any salary from grants or their institution at the time of their visit to OIST, successful candidates may be able to apply for support with salary, where this is necessary to facilitate the visit, and they can provide evidence of their need. No teaching duties come with the position. However, candidates are strongly encouraged to give a short series of lectures to students and researchers in the OIST community on a topic of their choosing, and we ask that they include details of this in their cover letter. OIST is an institution with no departments, aiming to eliminate barriers between people working in different fields. It provides a family-friendly working environment including the multilingual Child Development Center and has proactive policies designed to promote a culture of diversity. OIST is an equal opportunity, affirmative action educator, and employer. Further details can be found at https://www.oist.jp/. Qualifications Applicants should have a Ph.D. in a relevant field and be independent researchers, i.e., should have an academic standing equivalent to senior postdoc, junior group leader, or faculty member at a research-intensive institution. Application Instructions To apply, please go to our Interfolio page: https://apply.interfolio.com/96304 Applicants should submit a CV including a list of publications (limit 10 pages), and provide a brief description of their research to date and proposed research while visiting OIST (limit 2 pages). In your proposal, please explicitly mention OIST units you wish to collaborate with, and include your intended start date and length of stay in your proposal (date range is acceptable). All visits are subject to the availability of funding. To be considered for this year’s funding the applicant’s intended stay should start no later than March 2023. Applications received by November 30th 2021, are guaranteed full consideration. If you have any questions, please contact the Faculty Affairs Office at tsvp(a)oist.jp ---- Kenji Doya <doya(a)oist.jp> Neural Computation Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan Phone: +81-98-966-8594; Fax: +81-98-966-2891 https://groups.oist.jp/ncu

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