- Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

Postdoc and PhD positions in the area of predictive coding

by Christopher Laurie Buckley

Hi all, We are looking to recruit PhDs and a postdoc in the area of predictive coding. We are recruiting for the specific project below but there are various other sources of funding too. A postdoc and a PhD position are available at the University of Sussex between my own group and the group of Prof. Anil K Seth (Department of Informatics and Centre for Consciousness Science) on the EU-funded project entitled “A metapredictive model of synthetic awareness for enabling tool invention”. The project is a ground-breaking international and multidisciplinary project that aims at developing a novel computational model of cognition based on the predictive processing of metacognition and validating its utility in real robots in the context of conditional sequential tasks, operationalised by tool use, as well as by the novel challenge of tool creation. This will suit those interested in predictive processing and generally work at the intersection of cognitive science and ML. To apply for the postdoc please see, https://www.sussex.ac.uk/about/jobs/research-fel-in-computational-cognitiv-… The closing date is 9th December 2022. For the PhD positions, and all informal inquiries. please contact c.l.buckley(a)sussex.ac.uk <mailto:c.l.buckley@sussex.ac.uk>.

Nov. 25, 2022

2 year Post-Doc in Brain Criticality at the University of Padova

by Samir Suweis

2 year Post-Doc in Brain Criticality at the University of Padova The groups of Judit Gervain <https://sites.google.com/site/juditgervain/?pli=1> and Samir Suweis <http://www.liphlab.com/> are recruiting a talented young postdoctoral researcher to participate in a project that is at the intersection of mathematics, physics, and neuroscience in the general area of brain criticality. In particular, the project will investigate how efficient learning during critical or sensitive periods early in life may be modelled. It will combine the theory of criticality in statistical physics with developmental cognitive neuroscience to offer a new model of perceptual attunement to the native language during the first year of life. The ideal candidate will have a quantitative background (e.g. PhD in mathematics, physics, computer science) along with (preferable but not mandatory) experience in applying this background to neuroscience. The post doc will join the Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, The Department of Physics and the Padova Neuroscience Center and live in highly active, stimulating interdisciplinary environment at the University of Padova, one of the most prestigious universities in Italy. The position is open immediately with primary location in Padova, a nice small university town near Venice. Ideally, the starting date is between January-April 2023, unless otherwise agreed. The position is funded for two years. Interested candidates should contact Prof. Samir Suweis (samir.suweis(a)unipd.it <mailto:samir.suweis@unipd.it>) and Prof Judit Gervain (judit.gervain(a)unipd.it <mailto:judit.gervain@unipd.it>).We strive for a diverse and inclusive environment, and encourage applications from members of any identity. Sorry for cross posting, please forward to who may be interested. Best Samir - - - - - - - - Associate Professor, LIPh Lab - www.liphlab.com <http://www.liphlab.com/>, Physics & Astronomy Dept. Padova Neuroscience Center University of Padova Tel: +39 049 827 71 74 @SamirSuweis https://suweis.github.io/ <https://suweis.github.io/> Why don't you join the next generation publishing experiment with "Peer Community In" - publish and read at no cost and inject more money into research! Check us out @ https://peercommunityin.org <https://peercommunityin.org/> https://youtu.be/4PZhpnc8wwo <https://youtu.be/4PZhpnc8wwo> @PeerCommunityIn

Nov. 25, 2022

4-year postdoc in “Insect-Inspired depth perception” at Edinburgh

by Barbara Webb

A postdoctoral research associate position is available to undertake computational and physical modelling studies to translate insect visual depth perception to robot systems, under the direction of Professor Barbara Webb, in the School of Informatics at the University of Edinburgh. The project will focus on newly discovered forms of retinal and receptor motion in the insect compound eye that could enable near-field high-resolution stereo vision. The key outcome would be the design of a compact, low power visual sensor, and associated processing algorithms, which is particularly suited to distinguish the 3D shape of small nearby objects. The work will be carried out in close collaboration with neurobiologists at the University of Sheffield. The position is available for 48 months starting in February 2023, and has a salary range of £35,333 - £42,155 per annum. Candidates are expected to have a PhD in a relevant area and a strong background in computational modelling, ideally of neural circuits for perception, with a track record of good journal publications. The candidate is also expected to have good system engineering skills, including experience in design, construction and testing of hardware systems. Informal enquiries can be directed to: Professor Barbara Webb (B.Webb(a)ed.ac.uk) Further information and application details are available here: https://edin.ac/3VGuxmX The closing date for applications is 21 December 2022 The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336. Is e buidheann carthannais a th’ ann an Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann, clàraichte an Alba, àireamh clàraidh SC005336.

Nov. 24, 2022

Postdoctoral position at Bern Hospital and University of Geneva

by Timothée Proix

A postdoc position is available under the shared supervision of Prof. Maxime Baud (https://www.neuro-elab.com/) a neurologist and experimental neuroscientist at Inselspital, Bern Switzerland and Dr. Timothée Proix (https://ndlab.ch/) a computational neuroscientist at the University of Geneva, Switzerland who both specialize in quantitative neuroscience research. Together, we are running a three-year clinical trial involving patients with epilepsy who received a minimally invasive EEG device beneath the scalp for the chronic recording (months) of brain signals during wake and sleep. To help with the analysis of massive amounts of EEG data, we are looking to hire a passionate postdoc with desire to build forecasting algorithms aiming at estimating the risk of seizures 24 hours in advance. *Start of project early 2023 **(Quarter 1)*, at the University of Bern. Yearly, renewable contract with Swiss salary in compliance with guidelines of the University. Required qualifications • Applicant should hold a PhD in any engineering field, physics, or neuroscience and have published scientific literature as a first author. • Strong abilities in computer programming (Matlab and/or Python) • Prior experience with machine learning methods, signal analysis and advanced data analysis techniques applied to neural timeseries (EEG > fMRI). • Strong interpersonal communication skills in English and good written English Preferred qualifications • Hands-on experience in human electrophysiology recordings is a significant advantage. • Experience with deep-learning, machine-learning or statistical model development Your tasks • Acquire domain knowledge in epileptology and sleep physiology • The project lies at the interface between machine learning and EEG data analysis. • The *goal of the project* is to develop *machine learning algorithms* to *forecast seizures*. To apply, please send a one-page motivation letter dedicated to this specific project, your up-to-date CV, and contact information for 2-3 references, as well as any other relevant documents to the Prof. Maxime Baud (maxime.baud.neuro (at) gmail.com) as well as Dr. Timothée Proix (timothee.proix (at) unige.ch). Screening of applications will start by November 2022 and will continue until the position is filled.

Nov. 23, 2022

Postdoctoral Positions at the University of Calgary

by Wilten Nicola

*Postdoctoral Position 1* We are currently looking for a postdoctoral researcher for a 2 year position in commercializing spiking neural network/neuromorphic technologies. This is a joint postdoc with Dr. Wilten Nicola and Dr. Aaron Gruber. The ideal postdoctoral researcher will have a strong background in hardware and software engineering, specifically with Field Programmable Gate Arrays or other neuromorphic-like platforms capable of spiking network emulation. Interested candidates should submit their application package including a cover letter, their CV with a list of publications, a brief statement of research interests, and their possible start dates in PDF format to Dr. Wilten Nicola at wilten.nicola(a)ucalgary.ca. Applicants should arrange for at least two letters of reference to be sent as well. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For additional information and informal inquiries, please contact Dr. Nicola. *Postdoctoral Position 2* We are currently looking for a postdoctoral researcher for a 2 year position investigating how networks of neurons can learn to create abstraction and semantic definitions from a few stimuli. In short, how do networks of neurons learn and know how to generalize in a meaningful way? The ideal postdoctoral researcher will have a PhD in mathematics, physics or engineering and will have extensive experience in working with feedforward or recurrent neural networks, either artificial or spiking. Interested candidates should submit their application package including a cover letter, their CV with a list of publications, a brief statement of research interests, and their possible start dates in PDF format to Dr. Wilten Nicola. Applicants should arrange for at least two letters of reference to be sent as well. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until this position is filled. For additional information and informal inquiries, please contact Dr. Nicola at wilten.nicola(a)ucalgary.ca. https://www.nicolacomputationalneurosciencelab.com/ The University of Calgary is a global intellectual hub located in Canada’s most enterprising city. In our spirited, high-quality learning environment, students thrive in programs made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. Our strategy drives us to be recognized as one of Canada’s top five research universities, engaging the communities we both serve and lead. This strategy is called Eyes High, inspired by the university's Gaelic motto, which translates as 'I will lift up my eyes.' For more information, visit ucalgary.ca/eyeshigh.

Nov. 23, 2022

[jobs] Lecturer / Senior Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

by Di Nuovo, Alessandro

The Computing Department as Sheffield Hallam is seeking an outstanding individual who can make a strong academic contribution to the area of artificial intelligence and robotics. Lecturer / Senior Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics at Sheffield Hallam University (jobs.ac.uk)<https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/CUW183/lecturer-senior-lecturer-in-artificial-in…> You will join a large Computing Department that is engaged in both teaching and research. Within the Department, there is a group of colleagues who are dedicated to the teaching and research of artificial intelligence and robotics. You will join this group and be expected to play a key role in delivering both teaching and research. The Department has recently approved a new masters course in artificial intelligence (MSc AI) and you will be directly involved in the teaching of this. MSc AI forms the foundation of the teaching within the artificial intelligence group, and it has been designed to cover a wide spectrum of artificial intelligence topics. Prior teaching experience is essential, and you will be expected to develop exciting and engaging teaching materials, deliver lectures and tutorials in a vibrant manner and assess students. In addition, you will join the Smart Interactive Technologies (SIT) research laboratory, a vibrant interdisciplinary group, led by Prof. Alessandro Di Nuovo, that has a focus on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. The laboratory hosts several prestigious research projects worth over £1 million funding from the European Union, for the European Training Network on PErsonalized Robotics as SErvice Oriented applications, and the EPSRC, for the projects ALDENS: Autonomous Learning and Development in Embodied Neuromorphic Systems, on embodied neuromorphic artificial intelligence, I'M-ACTIVE Intelligent Multimodal Assessment and Coaching Through Identification of Vulnerabilities in older people and the NetworkPlus EMERGENCE: Tackling Frailty - Facilitating the Emergence of Healthcare Robots from Labs into Service. The research laboratory is partner of Sheffield Robotics, a collaboration between the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University, which is one of the leading international groups in intelligent systems and robotics and which has received considerable investment in equipment as well as in facilities and staff at both Universities, including state-of-the-art robotics equipment such as the iCub, the Care-o-bot 4, and the Fetch Mobile Manipulator, plus many other robotic platforms like the humanoids Tiago, Pepper and NAO. You must hold a PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant subject; possess excellent communication skills, and an excellent research record and reputation, including publications of the highest quality suitable for submission to the REF (UK Research Excellence Framework). Experience of managing large research projects and contributing to external funding applications would be desirable. We welcome applications from people with strong backgrounds in artificial intelligence and robotics, and experience of programming in Python, C++, and ROS. Alessandro Di Nuovo, PhD Professor of Machine Intelligence Leader of Technological and Digital Innovations, Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre College of Business, Technology and Engineering Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom Email: a.dinuovo(a)shu.ac.uk<mailto:a.dinuovo@shu.ac.uk>

Nov. 22, 2022

PhD Program in Brain & Cognitive Science at the University of Rochester

by Haefner, Ralf

The Department for Brain & Cognitive Sciences at the University of Rochester is inviting applications for its PhD program. We seek exceptional students from a broad range of backgrounds with a strong interest in understanding the neural and computational basis of perception, cognition and action using experimental and theoretical approaches. Application Deadline: December 4, 2022, strongly encouraged but late applications accepted Start Date: July or September 2023. Application Details & Link: http://www.sas.rochester.edu/bcs/graduate/admission.html Program Info: http://www.sas.rochester.edu/bcs/graduate/curriculum.html. We especially encourage applications from minority and/or underrepresented students. The BCS department<http://www.sas.rochester.edu/bcs/> is one of the leading places of research in Brain & Cognitive Sciences and at the center of a vibrant and supportive scientific community. It has particularly strong ties to the Center of Visual Science<https://www.cvs.rochester.edu>, the Department for Neuroscience<https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience.aspx>, the Department for Computer Science<https://www.cs.rochester.edu>, the Department for Linguistics<http://www.sas.rochester.edu/lin/>, and the Data Science Institute<https://www.sas.rochester.edu/dsc/>. PhD students with interdisciplinary research programs are eligible for joint PhD degrees with several departments. Every admitted PhD student is guaranteed 5 years of funding at currently ~$31.5k/yr (currently equivalent to ~120% NIH rate) which affords a good standard of living in an inexpensive city. We also provide a single plan UR health insurance, full tuition scholarship, paid family leave, and enduring NY State social protections. Both University and city are exceptionally LGBTQIA+ friendly. We believe that being a successful scientist requires not just dedication and supportive mentorship, but also a good work/life balance and the ability to explore one's passions both within and outside the lab. There are lots of ways to enjoy your time here: world-class symphony, museums, and a wide range of outdoor activities: several parks within cycling distance, 20 min by car to sandy beaches on Lake Ontario, 1h to Finger Lakes / wine country / skiing, 3h to great hiking in the Adirondacks. We also have a balanced 4 season climate with weather for every occasion: Lilac Festival in the spring, beautiful sunny summers (<10 days above 90 degrees), gorgeous fall foliage, and guaranteed snow in the winter. More info here: https://www.visitrochester.com. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our beloved program administrator Kathy Corser<mailto:kcorser@ur.rochester.edu> or to any of our PIs directly.

Nov. 22, 2022

Open Rank Faculty Position at the Gatsby Unit, UCL

by Lin, I-Chun

Open Rank Faculty Position in Theoretical Neuroscience or Machine Learning at the Gatsby Unit Closing date: 6 December 2022 The Gatsby Unit seeks to appoint a new principal investigator with an outstanding record of research achievement and an innovative research programme in theoretical neuroscience or machine learning at any academic rank. In theoretical neuroscience, we are particularly interested in candidates who focus on the mathematical underpinnings of adaptive intelligent behaviour in animals, or develop mathematical tools and models to understand how neural circuits and systems function. In machine learning, we seek candidates who focus on the mathematical foundations of learning from data and experience, addressing fundamental questions in probabilistic or statistical machine learning and understanding; areas of particular interest include generative or probabilistic modelling, causal discovery, reinforcement learning, theory of deep learning, and links between these areas and neuroscience or cognitive science. The unit offers internationally competitive salaries and an award-winning work environment. Our staff are entitled to UCL's wide range of staff benefits, including family-friendly policies. We particularly encourage applications from candidates from groups, including women and those from an ethnic minority background, who are likely to be under-represented in UCL’s workforce in this type of role. For more information on the role and how to apply, please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/gatsby/vacancies About the unit: Established in 1998 through a generous grant from the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, the Gatsby Unit has been a pioneering centre for both theoretical neuroscience and machine learning. We share a purpose-built home with the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour (SWC). Our close connection with the SWC offers an unparalleled opportunity for theorists and experimentalists to work together towards understanding computation in neural systems. -- I-Chun Lin, PhD Scientific Programme Manager Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, UCL www.ucl.ac.uk/gatsby | @GatsbyUCL

Nov. 22, 2022

Lab Manager position (Tübingen - Germany) [Deadline 11 Dec 2023]

by Susan Fischer

(Apologies for cross-posting) The newly established W3 professorship “Computational Psychiatry” at the Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Tübingen is offering a position for a Lab Manager (m/f/d; 50-100%, 1+ years) starting in January 2023 or at earliest convenience. The position is initially limited to 1 year with the possibility of a further extension. Background: The newly established W3 professorship “Computational Psychiatry” focuses on understanding the neural and computational mechanisms underlying psychiatric disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, and predicting disorder trajectories using computational modelling, neuroimaging, pharmacology and smartphone-based data collection in clinical and non-clinical populations. This position is suited for aspiring researchers with an MSc in psychology, cognitive science, or similar and is ideal for an ambitious person that wants to gain experience in cognitive neuroscience and computational psychiatry research. This position will allow the candidate to gain experience with conducting research with vulnerable populations and using cutting-edge computational psychiatry methods. Responsibilities: Involvement in the day-to-day running of the lab Assistance with conducting studies, e.g. piloting of studies, equipment setup and maintenance, and data collection (behavioural, neuroimaging, smartphone-based) Assistance with patient recruitment and support for clinical studies Assistance with coding experiments and analyses pipelines Support professor with administrative tasks and lab management: Support with Ethics applications Implementation and communication of general lab and safety regulations File and document management (e.g., preparatory work for the reimbursement of travel expenses) Organisation of higher-level laboratory management tasks (e.g. purchasing of equipment, inventory) Qualifications: Essential: This position is suited for aspiring researchers with an MSc in psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, or similar Good organization skills and self-motivation Experience with conducting cognitive (neuro-)science / psychological research with human participants A strong interest in cognitive neuroscience and computational psychiatry and good understanding of the relevant literature Good command of the German language Desirable: Experience with conducting research in vulnerable populations, such as children and/or psychiatric patients Solid programming skills (Matlab, Python) Experience with neuroimaging and/or computational modelling would be ideal What we offer: We offer a unique lab manager position based at the Dept. for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Tübingen. The position is funded by an Alexander-von-Humboldt-Professorship award. We offer remuneration in accordance with TV-L (collective wage agreement for the Public Service of the German Federal States) in addition to all the customary benefits granted to employees working in Public Services. The candidate will gain insight into the process of academic research, and it will be a great stepping stone towards an independent research career. The position will be linked to the new German Centre for Mental Health and there is ample opportunity for interacting with collaborators locally, nationally and internationally. About Tübingen: Tübingen is a scenic university town on the Neckar River in South-Western Germany. The quality of life is exceptionally high and the atmosphere is diverse, inclusive, and most locals speak English. Tübingen offers excellent research opportunities due to the University, four Max Planck Institutes, the University Hospital, and Europe’s largest AI research consortium. You can find out more about Tübingen here: https://www.tuebingen.de/en/ How to apply: If you are interested in the position, please get in touch with Susan Fischer via email (susan.fischer(a)tue.mpg.de) enclosing your CV. For formal applications, please send a motivation letter, your CV, and the contact information of two referees as a single PDF to Susan Fischer. The University of Tübingen is an equal opportunities employer. Severely handicapped persons with equal qualifications are given preferential consideration. Applications of qualified women academics are thus especially encouraged; applications of disabled persons will be given preferential treatment to those of other candidates with equal qualifications. Please note the applicable vaccination regulations. The employment will be arranged by the central administration of the University of Tübingen. Preference will be given to applications received by 11 December, 2022, but applications might be considered thereafter until the position is filled. ************************************************ Susan Fischer Coordinator Alexander von Humboldt Professorship Prof Peter Dayan Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen & Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics AI Research Building R 20-7/A21 Maria-von-Linden-Str. 6 72076 Tübingen Germany susan.fischer(a)tue.mpg.de ************************************************

Nov. 21, 2022

PhD student position in computational neuromechanical modeling, at EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland

by Auke Ijspeert

*PhD student position in computational neuromechanical modeling * The Biorobotics laboratory (Biorob, https://www.epfl.ch/labs/biorob/) at EPFL (Lausanne, Switzerland) has one open *PhD student position* in *computational neuromechanical modeling*. The position is part of the ERC Synergy Salamandra project that started in September 2021, together with Prof. Andras Simon (KI 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 of the musculoskeletal system of the salamander (and other related animals), (ii) to develop models of the physical interactions of the simulated bodies with water and ground environments, and (iii) to simulate neurons that relay proprio- and exteroception to locomotor circuits (together with computational neuroscientists in the team). The positions are fully funded for 4 years. EPFL is one of the leading Institutes of Technology in Europe and offers extremely competitive salaries and research infrastructure. *Requirements:* Candidates need to have a Master degree in a field related to computational modeling and physics-based simulations, e.g. in computer science, mechanical engineering, or physics. The ideal candidate for this position should have a strong numerical modeling background, good programming skills, good math background (e.g. in dynamical systems), and interest in animal and robot locomotion. *How to apply for the position:* Step 1: The position is only open to applicants who have been accepted by the EPFL doctoral school (see http://phd.epfl.ch/) The first step is therefore to fill the applications for one of the relevant EPFL doctoral programs (e.g. robotics or computer science). Step 2: In parallel to step 1, or once accepted by one of the doctoral programs (please specify which doctoral program and the date of acceptance), the application to the position should be sent by email to Prof. Auke Ijspeert and consist of a motivation letter (explaining why you are interested in the project, and why you feel qualified for it) and a copy of the doctoral program application. Informal inquiries about the relevance of an application can be sent to auke.ijspeert(a)epfl.ch (e.g. before or while submitting an application to the doctoral school), but responses can be slow because of a heavy schedule and a filled mail box. *Deadline and starting date: **The ideal starting date is September 2023* (with some flexibility). Applications will be considered starting *from December 2022*, and then continuously until the positions are filled. *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 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Nov. 20, 2022