- Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

Postdoctoral Position: Modeling of aging cortical networks

by Christina M. Weaver

Postdoctoral Position: Modeling of aging cortical networks A postdoctoral research fellowship in computational neuroscience is available to work with Christina Weaver (Dept. of Mathematics, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA). The postdoctoral fellow will be a vital member of the interdisciplinary research team led jointly by Dr. Weaver, Dr. Jennifer Luebke (Dept of Anatomy & Physiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston MA), and Dr. Patrick Hof (Dept. of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY). The research will explore structural and functional abnormalities of cortical neurons in middle-aged rhesus monkeys, and the extent to which intervention with a powerful antioxidant affects age-related dysfunction. The new postdoctoral fellow will build computational models of small cortical networks, constrained by our recent computational results and empirical studies in the Luebke and Hof laboratories. Our joint publications include: Amatrudo et al., J. Neurosci.(2012), PMID 23035077; Luebke et al., Cerebral Cortex (2015), PMID 24323499 and Rumbell et al., J. Comput. Neuro. (2016), PMID 27106692. The postdoc will travel occasionally to Boston and/or New York City as part of this collaboration. The postdoc will also have funds to support conference travel, professional development, and full access to campus services including F&M's Faculty Center. Applicants should have a strong background or interest in computational neuroscience and have a keen interest in interdisciplinary approaches that integrate modeling, imaging, and physiological experiments in neuroscience research. Initial appointment for this position is for one year, and may be extended contingent upon funding. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Requirements: - PhD or equivalent in computational neuroscience, applied mathematics, or a related field from an accredited institution is required. - Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required. - Experience with differential equations-based mathematical models or automated parameter optimization is required. - Experience with conductance-based modeling of single neurons, or small networks, and/or NEURON compartmental modeling software is preferred. An extended job posting and link to apply is available at https://fandm.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=79194

Nov. 30, 2016

Research Fellow Position in Neuroinformatics

by Leon French

The Computational Neurobiology Laboratory at CAMH seeks a postdoctoral fellow to join our efforts to understand brain disease. We focus on mining datasets of connectivity, gene expression and epigenetics across the genome and the brain. We employ multifaceted approaches that gain information by using data that crosses scales, modalities, and species. We seek one postdoctoral fellow interested in bioinformatics and neuroscience. The primary project will be to create, explore, and test methods for mapping many genes across neuroanatomy and brain development. Given the polygenic complexity of mental illness, there are many exciting applications for these methods. Our current applications use genes associated with Parkinson’s disease, aging (collaboration with Dr. Etienne Sibille) and intellectual disability (with Dr. John B. Vincent). In addition to this project, there would be opportunities to pursue other research interests. Some of our frequently used keywords give a good description of our work: neuroinformatics, molecular neuroanatomy, genetics, epigenomics, population neuroscience, transcriptomics, machine learning, text mining, neuroimaging, software development, and connectomics. The ideal candidate should have a PhD in computational biology, bioinformatics, computer science or related field with extensive knowledge in genome-wide data integration. Significant interest in neuroscience and experience working with large datasets are requested. Writing manuscripts and applying for independent grants and fellowships will be strongly encouraged. Highly motivated individuals (Ph.D. and/or M.D.) should submit a curriculum vitae, names of 3 references and a cover letter explaining their interest, and a brief description of research experience. Send information to Leon French at leonfrench+recruit(a)gmail.com You will support a healthy workplace that embraces diversity, encourages teamwork and complies with all applicable and regulatory requirements. This position will be located at 250 College Street, Toronto.

Nov. 30, 2016

Poostdoctoral Position - Jorge Riera on Behalf of Dr. Zachary Danziger) (Applied Neural Interfaces)

by Jorge Riera Diaz

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE POSITION A postdoctoral research position is available to develop validation systems and decoding algorithms for brain-computer interface applications. Investigations will take place at the Applied Neural Interfaces Laboratory in Florida International University's Department of Biomedical Engineering, which is housed in the College of Engineering and Computing. The position entails software development, conducting human behavioral studies, and algorithm design with the goal of advancing the frontiers of brain-computer interface research and understanding the relationship between human users and adaptive controllers. The postdoctoral scholar will be expected to lead experiment design and data analysis efforts as well as participate in guiding the overall intellectual direction of the project. The position will allow the postdoctoral researcher the opportunity to creatively develop new solutions to challenging problems related to the neuroscience of braincomputer interfaces using state-of-the-art algorithms, advanced computing equipment, and virtual reality hardware. Applicants should have a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering, neuroscience, or a related field and have experience with MATLAB. For information about related projects see: https://anil.fiu.edu/ Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply to Job Opening ID 512642 at facultycareers.fiu.edu or directly to the Principal Investigator, Dr. Zachary Danziger (Zachary.Danziger(a)fiu.edu) with a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information for at least 3 references. To receive full consideration, applications and required materials should be received by December 30th. Review will continue until position is filled. FIU is a member of the State University System of Florida and an Equal Opportunity, Equal Access Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Florida International University is classified by Carnegie as a R1: Doctoral Universities - Highest Research Activity and recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offers 196 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, computer science, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes almost $9 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded more than 220,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU's Medina Aquarius Program houses the Aquarius Reef Base, a unique underwater research facility in the Florida Keys. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has more than 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/. Jorge Riera, PhD Associate Professor Dept. Biomedical Engineering Florida International University Miami, FL 33174 Tel. 305 348 4948 Email. jrieradi(a)fiu.edu<mailto:jrieradi@fiu.edu>

Nov. 30, 2016

Workshop on Tactile coding and neuroprostheses

by Alberto Mazzoni

Dear all, the workshop on tactile coding taking place in the The Biorobotics Institute of the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in the next two days (see below) will be available for streaming on the Facebook page of the Institute https://www.facebook.com/istitutobioroticascuolasuperioresantanna/ the full program is now available in .pdf form here sssa.bioroboticsinstitute.it/events/TFN2016 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Workshop on Tactile coding and neuroprostheses * *December 1-2 2016, Pontedera (Pisa) - Italy * *@ The Biorobotics Institute of the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna* *ABSTRACT* Neurophysiology of touch and development of artificial tactile sensation are two fields of research with an ever-increasing interchange. Advanced neuroprostheses are progressively focusing on reproducing the naturalistic processing of tactile sensations in the peripheral and central nervous system. In turn, biomimetic tactile sensors and behavioral studies on patient implanted with tactile neuroprostheses can contribute to the understanding of tactile coding. This workshop aims at fostering the integration of neurophysiological, computational and robotics studies on touch with contribution of leading experts in the different fields. *WORKSHOP SESSIONS* *Neurophysiology of touch *- keynote speaker *Roland S Johannson* (Umea University, Sweden) *Touch perception and tactile coding *- keynote speaker *Vincent Hayward* (Institut des Systèmes Intelligents et de Robotique, Paris, France) *Touch restoration, neuroprostheses and biorobotics *- keynote speaker *Sliman Bensmaia* (University of Chicago, USA) *DETAILS* The workshop takes place on the premises of The Biorobotics Institute of Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, viale Rinaldo Piaggio 24, in Pontedera (15 mins by train from Pisa, 50 mins from Florence). The event is free, but registration is compulsory. *To register, please write to local organizer Alberto Mazzoni (a.mazzoni(a)sssup.it <a.mazzoni(a)sssup.it>)* *ORGANIZERS* Silvestro Micera (Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy / École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland) Henrik Jorntell (Lund University, Sweden) Calogero Oddo (Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy) Alberto Mazzoni (Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy) *ACKNOWLEDGMENTS* Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Directorate General for Country Promotion (Economy, Culture and Science)—Unit for Scientific and Technological Cooperation, via the Italy-Sweden bilateral research project on "Brain network mechanisms for integration of natural tactile input patterns", NEBIAS European project (EUFP7-ICT-611687) and Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna fund IEXERC14AM.

Nov. 30, 2016

Job Opening: Computational Neuroscience Research Assistant

by Jonathan Nicholas

Hello all, Please see the following ad for a full-time computational neuroscience RA: Computational Neuroscience Research Assistant Position at Stanford University: Stanford University has an opening for a talented research assistant with strong computational and programming skills. This is an exciting opportunity to work with a multidisciplinary research team (http://scsnl.stanford.edu) on a wide range of studies of human brain function and dysfunction. The successful candidate will assist lab members with neuroimaging data analysis and data organization and management. He/She will have opportunities to develop and apply novel multimodal data analysis techniques and to co-author research publications. Experience with Matlab, Python, R, signal and image processing, machine learning, statistics, databases, Linux, and shell scripting is required. Experience in neuroimaging/neural data analysis is desired. Excellent organizational and interpersonal communication skills are required. We are seeking talented and enthusiastic candidates with a strong background in biomedical engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, statistics, computational neuroscience, quantitative psychology, or related subjects. Stanford offers a highly competitive salary with excellent health and retirement benefits. A two-year commitment is required. Please email a CV, a statement of research interests and career goals, and contact information for three references to scsnl.stanford+quantitative(a)gmail.com Thanks, Jonathan

Nov. 29, 2016

Fully-funded four-year PhD studentship in Computational Neuroscience at Imperial College London

by Reichenbach, Johann D T

An exciting PhD project in Computational Neuroscience is available for UK/EU candidates in the group of Tobias Reichenbach (http://www.bg.ic.ac.uk/research/reichenbach/index.html) at Imperial College London. The student will develop state-of-the art neuronal network models to investigate the effects of complex spatio-temporal neurostimulation on speech processing. The model development and results will be linked with ongoing experiments, and will pave the way to a novel rehabilitation from neural impairments with speech comprehension. The PhD position is part of the Center for Neurotechnology (http://www.imperial.ac.uk/neurotechnology/cdt) at Imperial College London. The successful candidate will join an international cohort of PhD students working on cutting-edge topics of computational and experimental neuroscience and engineering. To apply please visit the Centre's project page (http://www.imperial.ac.uk/neurotechnology/cdt/projects/) access the tab "Projects available for Oct 2017" and select the project "Developing a novel type of neurostimulation to foster speech processing and rehabilitation from aphasia". Deadline is the 31st of January 2017. ------------------------------------------- Tobias Reichenbach Lecturer, Biophysics of Hearing Editor, Heliyon Department of Bioengineering Imperial College London South Kensington Campus SW7 2AZ London, UK http://www.bg.ic.ac.uk/research/reichenbach/

Nov. 28, 2016

Graduate assistantships in Computational Science at FSU

by Gordon Erlebacher

Florida State University Graduate student assistantships available for Ph.D. and M.S. degree programs in Computational Science The Department of Scientific Computing at Florida State University offers innovative M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs in Computational Science. Graduate teaching and research assistantships are available for qualified, motivated students who are interested in receiving cross-disciplinary training in computational science. Many, if not most interdisciplinary degree programs and schools, including those in computational science, are jointly administered by several departments. Florida State University has created an independent department, the Department of Scientific Computing, that offers truly cross-disciplinary graduate degree programs in computational science. All faculty, postdoctoral associates, and students associated with the Department of Scientific Computing have offices in the same building, leading to a supportive, synergetic, environment in which the varied aspects of research and education in computational science are not only supported, but is a way of life. For more information about the Department of Scientific Computing and its graduate degree programs, please go to http://www.sc.fsu.edu. Over the last few decades, computations have joined theory and experimentation to form the three pillars of scientific discovery and technological design. Computational science can be viewed as residing at the intersection of traditional disciplines such as mathematics, computer science, statistics, engineering, and the sciences. Thus, computational science draws from but is not a subset of any of these disciplines. Due to the cross-disciplinary nature of computational science, it is essential that a computational scientist be trained in a setting that incorporates all the components that make up computational science. The Department of Scientific Computing is uniquely positioned to offer such training because it composed of truly cross-disciplinary faculty with strong computational backgrounds in the fields of biology, computer science, engineering, geophysical science, mathematics, material science, physics, and statistics, with an even broader spectrum of disciplines through collaborations within and outside Florida State. Students enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Computational Science can choose several areas of specialization. In addition to the major track, which trains students interested in the mathematical and computer science aspects of computational algorithms that can be applied to a wide range of disciplines, we offer tracks in atmospheric science, biochemistry, biological science, geological science, materials science, and physics. Soon, we will add a track in computational intelligence. Students following these tracks gain expertise in computational issues specifically related to the chosen field. All students, however, will be involved in truly cross-disciplinary training and research. The Department of Scientific Computing maintains a large and diverse computing infrastructure in support of research and education. Available computing resources include supercomputers, a number of clusters and computational servers, and multi-core workstations with advanced graphics cards available, and other specialized hardware. Florida State University is a national graduate research university which has built a reputation as a strong center for research in the sciences. It is located in Tallahassee, FL which is situated in the Florida panhandle and is near some of the most beautiful, uncrowded beaches in the United States as well as other scenic wonders. Applications are being accepted now for Fall 2017. Assistantships are available for qualified individuals. Minorities and women are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants should hold, by the time of entry into the graduate program, a baccalaureate degree in a natural science, engineering, computer science, mathematics, or statistics. Interested applicants should go to http://www.sc.fsu.edu/graduate/application, where detailed instructions about how to apply are given. Requests for more information and questions about the graduate programs or about the Department of Scientific Computing should be addressed to Dr. Sachin Shanbhag (Graduate Coordinator) at sshanbhag(a)fsu.edu or Gordon Erlebacher (Chair) at gerlebacher(a)fsu.edu. -- Gordon Erlebacher Chair, Department of Scientific Computing

Nov. 28, 2016

Postdoc opening in perceptual/cognitive neuroscience

by Simon Kelly

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral research post in the Cognitive Neural systems lab (https://cogneusys.com/) led by Simon Kelly, to study computational and neural mechanisms of value-biased sensorimotor decision making under time pressure. This position is part of a project funded by Science Foundation Ireland, which involves a combination of psychophysics, computational modelling, non-invasive electrophysiology of human brain and muscle, and analyses of existing single-cell neurophysiological data. Though involvement is expected in all of these aspects, the most critical role of the postdoctoral researcher will be in computational modelling. Candidates must thus have strong analytic and programming skills, and specific experience in the computational modelling of cognitive processes. Candidates must also be highly motivated and have excellent communication skills. Dr. Kelly's electrophysiology/psychophysics lab is situated within the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering in University College Dublin, Ireland, and has strong collaborative links to cognitive and clinical neuroscience research groups both locally (e.g. Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience) and internationally (e.g. City College and Columbia University in New York). The successful applicant will have ample opportunities for wider collaborations and the learning of new skills. Interested candidates should submit a brief research statement and CV including publications through the UCD job vacancies site ( http://www.ucd.ie/hr/jobvacancies/ - search for keyword 'kelly', or job ref 008870). Informal enquiries can be directed to Simon (simon.kelly(a)ucd.edu) Candidates should explain in their statement how their own research interests fit with those of the Kelly lab. The deadline for submitting applications is Jan 8th 2017, and shortlisting and interviews will take place shortly after that. ----------------------------------------------------------- Simon Kelly, Ph.D. Associate Professor School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering University College Dublin t: +353 (1) 716 1803 e: simon.kelly(a)ucd.ie -----------------------------------------------------------

Nov. 25, 2016

PhD positions at the University of Exeter: Developing gaze training for skilled upper-limb prosthetic use Ref: 2407

by Tsaneva-Atanasova, Krasimira

About the award This project is one of a number which are funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Doctoral Training Partnership to commence in September 2017. This project is part of a competition for funding. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be awarded the funding. The studentships will provide funding for a stipend which, is currently £14,296 per annum for 2016-2017, research costs and UK/EU tuition fees at Research Council UK rates for 42 months (3.5 years) for full-time students, pro rata for part-time students. Please note that of the 56 projects advertised we expect that up to 20 posts will be filled. Location: University of Exeter, Streatham Campus, Exeter, Devon Supervisors: Main supervisor: Prof Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova<http://emps.exeter.ac.uk/mathematics/staff/kt298> (University of Exeter) Co-supervisor: Dr Gavin Buckingham<http://sshs.exeter.ac.uk/staff/index.php?web_id=Gavin_Buckingham> (University of Exeter) Co-supervisor: Dr Sam Vine<http://sshs.exeter.ac.uk/staff/index.php?web_id=Samuel_Vine> (University of Exeter) Co-supervisor: Dr Greg Wood<http://www.cheshire.mmu.ac.uk/exspsci/ourstaff/profile/index.php?profile_id…> (Manchester Metropolitan University) Co-supervisor: Dr Mark Wilson<http://sshs.exeter.ac.uk/staff/index.php?web_id=Mark_Wilson> (University of Exeter) Project Description: Learning to use a prosthetic limb is inherently difficult and requires a huge amount of concentration. Like learning how to wield a new tool for the first time, amputees need to acquire the confidence and dexterity required for skilled action. In order to produce accurate goal-directed movements the motor system requires accurate and timely visual information making the timing and location of the person’s gaze, with relation to the movement of their limbs, critical for skilled behaviour. There is, however, no structured training protocol for use with prosthetic hands. We aim to develop a novel gaze training regime to facilitate the use of a prosthetic hand to skilfully interact with objects. In the first part of the project, the student will undertake an observational study to determine what factors lead some individuals to become skilled with a prosthesis faster than others. We will test large numbers of intact (i.e., without amputation) participants learning to use a state-of-the-art myoelectric prosthetic arm simulator, which is controlled by muscle feedback but ergonomically designed to fit over the wrist of an intact hand. Participants will move objects of different of sizes and weights from one location to another with a range of precision requirements and in the presence of a range of obstacles. Over multiple sessions we will measure hand and object kinematics, fingertip forces, and eye path with a head-mounted eye tracker. We will then develop a data-driven mathematical model of the eye tracking and biomechanical performance data. Statistical analysis of the patterns of eye movement will provide new insights into the ‘signature’ of good performance using the prosthetic arm. The second phase will use the data from Project 1 to develop a training protocol that will adopt the ‘expert signatures’ from project work 1 as a prototype for a trainee to follow. We will focus predominantly on the signature of expertise derived from the gaze behaviour measures and implement a gaze training protocol. We will then test the efficacy of this novel training with new set of intact participants using the prosthetic simulator, tracking their performance in comparison to individuals who will receive a sham training protocol. In the final stage of the project work, the gaze training protocol will be used in a sample of upper-limb-amputees as they learn how to use their new prosthesis. As this state of the project will not be limited to myoelectric prosthetic users, this will also allow us to test the generalizability of our training protocol. The students will be involved in these experiments by running model simulations and data analysis to provide quantitative information for the training protocol as well as focussing on completing the write-up of their PhD thesis. Entry requirements: Applicants should have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK. Applicants with a Lower Second Class degree will be considered if they also have Master’s degree. Applicants with a minimum of Upper Second Class degree and significant relevant non-academic experience are encouraged to apply. All applicants would need to meet our English language requirements by the start of the project http://www.exeter.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/english/. The majority of the studentships are available for applicants who are ordinarily resident in the UK and are classed as UK/EU for tuition fee purposes. If you have not resided in the UK for at least 3 years prior to the start of the studentship, you are not eligible for a maintenance allowance so you would need an alternative source of funding for living costs.To be eligible for fees only funding you must be ordinarily resident in a member state of the EU Applicants who are classed as International for tuition fee purposes are not eligible for funding. Summary Application deadline: 11th January 2017 Number of awards: 1 Value: 3.5 year studentship: UK/EU tuition fees and an annual maintenance allowance at current Research Council rate. Current rate of £14,296 per year Duration of award: per year Contact: Doctoral College Doctoral.College(a)exeter.ac.uk<mailto:Doctoral.College@exeter.ac.uk> How to apply Click here to apply<http://www.exeter.ac.uk/postgraduate/money/funding/application/> Please be aware you will be asked to upload the following documents: • CV • Letter of application outlining your academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to undertake the project. • Transcript(s) giving full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained. This should be an interim transcript if you are still studying. • If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country you will need to submit evidence of your current proficiency in English. For further details of the University’s English language requirements please see http://www.exeter.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/english/. The closing date for applications is midnight on 11 January 2017. Interviews will be held at the University of Exeter between 13 February and 17 February 2017. If you have any general enquiries about the application process please email Doctoral.College(a)exeter.ac.uk<mailto:Doctoral.College@exeter.ac.uk> or phone +44 (0)1392 722311. Project-specific queries should be directed to the supervisor. During the application process, the University may need to make certain disclosures of your personal data to third parties to be able to administer your application, carry out interviews and select candidates. These are not limited to, but may include disclosures to: • the selection panel and/or management board or equivalent of the relevant programme, which is likely to include staff from one or more other HEIs; • administrative staff at one or more other HEIs participating in the relevant programme. Such disclosures will always be kept to the minimum amount of personal data required for the specific purpose. Your sensitive personal data (relating to disability and race/ethnicity) will not be disclosed without your explicit consent. Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova Professor of Mathematics for Healthcare Department of Mathematics College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences University of Exeter Exeter, Devon, EX4 4QF, UK tel: +44 (0) 1392 723615 email: k.tsaneva-atanasova(a)exeter.ac.uk<mailto:k.tsaneva-atanasova@exeter.ac.uk> web: http://emps.exeter.ac.uk/mathematics/staff/kt298

Nov. 19, 2016

PhD positions at the University of Exeter: Controlling noise effects in models of excitable cells

by Tsaneva-Atanasova, Krasimira

About the award This project is one of a number which are funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Doctoral Training Partnership to commence in September 2017. The studentships will provide funding for a stipend which, is currently £14,296 per annum for 2016-2017, research costs and UK/EU tuition fees at Research Council UK rates for 42 months (3.5 years) for full-time students, pro rata for part-time students. Supervisors: Main supervisor: Prof Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova<http://emps.exeter.ac.uk/mathematics/staff/kt298> (University of Exeter) Co-supervisor: Dr Jan Sieber<http://emps.exeter.ac.uk/mathematics/staff/js543> (University of Exeter) Co-supervisor: Dr Joël Tabak<http://medicine.exeter.ac.uk/about/profiles/index.php?web_id=Joel_Tabak-Szn…> (University of Exeter) Location: University of Exeter, Streatham Campus, Exeter, Devon Project Description: This is a project that combines biological modelling and general mathematical analysis of the influence of noise on multiple-timescale systems. It will give the student the opportunity to work on open mathematical questions and see their results applied in experiments on living cells. Many types of cells such as neurons, heart and hormone-releasing cells generate impulses of electrical activity, organized as single spikes or bursts of impulses. In cells of the pituitary gland – the master hormonal gland of the body – the features of electrical activity patterns determine how much hormone is released into the circulation. Hence, understanding how the characteristic features of electrical activity arise is crucial to understanding how these cells function, and how they may malfunction in disease. Mathematical modelling and analysis techniques have proven very successful in helping unravel fundamental mechanisms controlling the behaviour of excitable cells. Electrical activity is driven by the interactions between ion channels of the cell membrane, which produce noisy electrical currents. The mathematical models of electrical activity thus contain random and deterministic parts, which typically appear as separate terms (e.g., the deterministic drift and the Brownian-motion induced diffusion in stochastic differential equations). In experimental practice this distinction is not as clear. For example, ion channels in cells with electrical activity generate noisy signals, driving systematically the electrical and chemical activity in the cell, which operate also on several time scales. It is still unclear how this randomness influences electrical activity in real cells. This PhD project will investigate how one can use control to identify the systematic (deterministic) component of trajectories in dynamical systems with random inputs (such as ion channel noise) that operate on two or three different time scales (such as spiking or bursting cells). A first goal to separate a systematic, approximately periodic, signal without knowledge of the period using control and geometric methods in a reconstructed phase space. Preliminary investigations with noise on a single time scale interacting with a two-timescale oscillation (spiking) have shown that this is in principle possible. It is an open question how this can be generalized to periodic behaviours with a more complicated geometry (such as bursting), interacting with noise effects that occur on two time scales. Another open question is how the geometric control and noise identification is related to extended time-delayed feedback, which creates a reference signal from a geometric time series of past outputs. Entry requirements: Applicants should have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK. Applicants with a Lower Second Class degree will be considered if they also have Master’s degree. Applicants with a minimum of Upper Second Class degree and significant relevant non-academic experience are encouraged to apply. All applicants would need to meet our English language requirements by the start of the project http://www.exeter.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/english/. The majority of the studentships are available for applicants who are ordinarily resident in the UK and are classed as UK/EU for tuition fee purposes; however up to 9 fully-funded studentships across the DTP are available for EU/EEA applicants not ordinarily resident in the UK. Applicants who are classed as International for tuition fee purposes are not eligible for funding. Summary Application deadline: 11th January 2017 Value: 3.5 year studentship: UK/EU tuition fees and an annual maintenance allowance at current Research Council rate. Current rate of £14,296 per year. Duration of award: per year Contact: Doctoral College: 01392 722737 doctoral.college(a)exeter.ac.uk<mailto:doctoral.college@exeter.ac.uk> How to apply Click here to apply<http://www.exeter.ac.uk/postgraduate/money/funding/application/> Please be aware you will be asked to upload the following documents: • CV • Letter of application outlining your academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to undertake the project. • Transcript(s) giving full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained. This should be an interim transcript if you are still studying. • If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country you will need to submit evidence of your current proficiency in English. For further details of the University’s English language requirements please see http://www.exeter.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/english/. The closing date for applications is midnight on 11 January 2017. Interviews will be held at the University of Exeter between 13 February and 17 February 2017. If you have any general enquiries about the application process please email Doctoral.College(a)exeter.ac.uk<mailto:Doctoral.College@exeter.ac.uk> or phone +44 (0)1392 722311. Project-specific queries should be directed to the supervisor. During the application process, the University may need to make certain disclosures of your personal data to third parties to be able to administer your application, carry out interviews and select candidates. These are not limited to, but may include disclosures to: • the selection panel and/or management board or equivalent of the relevant programme, which is likely to include staff from one or more other HEIs; • administrative staff at one or more other HEIs participating in the relevant programme. Such disclosures will always be kept to the minimum amount of personal data required for the specific purpose. Your sensitive personal data (relating to disability and race/ethnicity) will not be disclosed without your explicit consent. Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova Professor of Mathematics for Healthcare Department of Mathematics College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences University of Exeter Exeter, Devon, EX4 4QF, UK tel: +44 (0) 1392 723615 email: k.tsaneva-atanasova(a)exeter.ac.uk<mailto:k.tsaneva-atanasova@exeter.ac.uk> web: http://emps.exeter.ac.uk/mathematics/staff/kt298

Nov. 19, 2016