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MBL Methods in Computational Neuroscience Course: Applications due March 7

by Mark Steven Goldman

Applications are open for the Methods in Computational Neuroscience course at the Marine Biology Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA. The course will run from July 27 to August 24, 2016, and the online application form can be found at: https://ws2.mbl.edu/studentapp/studentapp.asp?courseid=MCN The course application deadline is *March 7*. The course covers a range of topics in computational neuroscience including neuronal biophysics, neural coding & information processing, circuit dynamics, learning & memory, motor control, and cognitive processing & disease. In addition, numerous tutorials and problem sets will cover a broad range of computational and mathematical modeling methods. The course strongly emphasizes the collaboration between theory and experiment in solving neuroscience problems, and lectures will be given by a mixture of theorists and experimentalists. The Final weeks of the course are primarily reserved for work on projects that students design in collaboration with the resident faculty. Further information can be found on the MCN website: http://www.mbl.edu/mcn/ 2016 Course Directors: Michale Fee, MIT Mark Goldman, UC Davis 2016 Confirmed Faculty: Larry Abbott, Columbia University Steve Baccus, Stanford University Carlos Brody, Princeton University Emery Brown, MIT Dmitri Chklovskii, Simons Foundation Peter Dayan, University College London Sophie Deneve, Ecole Normale Superieure Uri Eden, Boston University Bard Ermentrout, University of Pittsburgh Adrienne Fairhall, University of Washington Ila Fiete, UT Austin Loren Frank, UCSF Jack Gallant, UC Berkeley Surya Ganguli, Stanford University Maria Geffen, University of Pennsylvania John Huguenard, Stanford University Nancy Kopell, Boston University Eve Marder, Brandeis University Bartlett Mel, University of Southern California Ken Miller, Columbia University Terry Sejnowski, Salk Institute Sara Solla, Northwestern University Haim Sompolinsky, Hebrew University Michael Stryker, UCSF Josh Tenenbaum, MIT Daniel Wolpert, Cambridge University

Feb. 20, 2016

Deadline Extension: GreeNets 2016 - June 27-29, 2016 - Valencia, Spain

by Sandra Sendra

==================================================================================== 3rd EAI International Conference on Green Communications and Networking - GreeNets 2016 June 27-29, 2016 Valencia, Spain http://greenets.org/2016/show/home ==================================================================================== HIGHLIGHTS - Submission Deadline: March 31, 2016 - The event is endorsed by the European Alliance for Innovation, a leading community-based organisation devoted to the advancement of innovation in the field of ICT. - Proceedings are submitted for inclusion to the leading indexing services: DBLP, Google Scholar, Thomson Scientific ISI Proceedings, EI Elsevier Engineering Index, CrossRef, Scopus, as well as ICST's own EU Digital Library (EUDL). - Selected papers will be invited to publish in the EAI Endorsed Transactions on Energy Web and in the special issue of EAI Transactions on Intelligent Communication Protocols and Algorithms. - All accepted papers will be published by Springer and made available through SpringerLink Digital Library, one of the world's largest scientific libraries CALL FOR PAPERS [Scope] Global warming and climate change have been a growing worldwide concern. Six sources, i.e., transportation, power, buildings, industry, agriculture and forestry, and land use, have been identified as major contributors to the rise of global carbon dioxide (CO2). The mobile industry is seen as a potential enabler to reduce greenhouse gases contributed by these six sources provided that appropriate measures are implemented. On the other hand, the mobile industry itself will also contribute to CO2 emission through network operations, mobile equipments, etc. To meet the requirement of low-carbon economy development, it is necessary to reduce the operation expenditure or energy consumption of mobile networks, while maintaining acceptable quality of service. This conference will explore and explain the scope and challenges of designing, building, and deploying GreeNets. In this regard, the conference aims to establish a forum to bring together research professionals from diverse f! ields including green mobile networ ks, system architectures, networking & communication protocols, applications, test-bed and prototype, traffic balance and energy-efficient cooperation transmission, system and application issues related to GreeNets. [Topics] The conference invites original technical papers that were not previously published and are not currently under review for publication elsewhere. Topics include, but are not limited to: - Communications and Networking: Communication techniques and protocols for GreeNets Energy-efficient transmission technologies based on the cooperation communication Scalable and flexible energy efficiency mobile network architectures, deployments, and applications - Energy-efficient network architecture & protocols: Scalability and mobility issues in energy efficiency cross-layer design MAC Protocols and QoS Designing for mobile networks - Systems and Technology: Transactions and workflows in green mobile networks Adaptability and stability of green mobile networks Mobile and multimedia supported green mobile networks Experimental and test bed studies for energy efficiency mobile networks, simulation tools - Energy-efficient management: Energy-efficient traffic balance, cooperation and management Distributed energy efficiency resource management techniques Protocols for cooperative management and control [Publications] Accepted papers will be published in Springer's LNICST series and will appear in the SpringerLink, one of the largest digital libraries online that covers a variety of scientific disciplines, as well as in the ICST's own EU Digital Library (EUDL). LNICST volumes are submitted for inclusion to leading indexing services, including DBLP, Google Scholar, ACM Digital Library, ISI Proceedings, EI Engineering Index, CrossRef, Scopus. Selected papers will be invited to a Special Issue on Green Communications and Networking 2016 in: - International Journal ACM/Springer Mobile Networks & Applications (MONET): http://www.springer.com/engineering/signals/journal/11036 - EAI Transactions on Energy Web http://eai.eu/transaction/energy-web - EAI Transactions on Intelligent Communication Protocols and Algorithms http://eai.eu/transaction/intelligent-communication-protocols-and-algorithms [Paper submission] All the papers formatted according with the instructions have to be submitted through the conference online system at: http://greenets.org/2016/show/initial-submission [Important dates] Full Paper Submission deadline: 31 March 2016 Notification and Registration opens: 25 April 2016 Camera-ready deadline: 22 May 2016 [Conference organising committees] General Chair: Jaime Lloret, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Spain TPC Chair: Javier Aguiar, University of Valladolid, Spain Publicity and Social Media Chair / Co-Chairs: Kayhan Zrar Ghafoor, Koya University, Iraq Workshops Chair: Sabu M. Thampi, Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management- Kerala (IIITM-K), India Sponsorship & Exhibits Chair: Raquel Lacuesta, University of Zaragoza Publications Chair: Jose Miguel Jimenez, Integrated Management Coastal Research Institute, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia,Spain Lorena Parra, Integrated Management Coastal Research Institute, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia,Spain Panels Chair: Milos Stojmenovic, Singidunum University,Belgrade, Serbia Tutorials Chair: Jose Maria Alcaraz, University of the West of Scotland, Scotland,UK Demos, Posters and PhD Track Chair: Gregorio Martinez, University of Murcia, Spain Local Chair: Sandra Sendra, Integrated Management Coastal Research Institute, Universidad Polit�cnica de Valencia, Spain Web Chair: Alejandro Canovas, Integrated Management Coastal Research Institute, Universidad Polit�cnica de Valencia,Spain ABOUT EAI The European Alliance for Innovation is a dynamic eco-system for fostering ICT enabled innovation to improve European competitiveness and to benefit society. EAI uses open e-platforms to inspire grassroots collaboration among all relevant actors, from organizations to individuals, to stimulate community driven innovation to its institutional and individual members worldwide. Through EAI, organizations find ideas and talent, and individual innovators find organizations for their ingenuity and craft. Join the innovation community at www.eai.eu

Feb. 19, 2016

2016 NEURON Summer Course

by Ted Carnevale

The 2016 NEURON Summer Course, which will be held at the HHMI|Janelia Research Campus in Ashburn, Virginia, is now open for registration. The course has two components, which can be taken individually or together depending on your needs and experience with NEURON. NEURON Fundamentals runs from June 20-24. This component presents a thorough introduction to computational modeling of neurons and networks of neurons with NEURON, and introduces parallel simulation. It is suitable for individuals at all levels of expertise. Parallel Simulation with NEURON runs from June 25-27. This component focuses on the needs of experienced NEURON users who want to create models that will run on parallel hardware, and presumes knowledge of how to write hoc or Python code for NEURON. You may apply for one or both components, but registration is subject to approval by the course's faculty. Space is limited, and applications will be considered in the order received. The application deadline is Friday, May 20, 2016. No applications will be accepted after that date, and there will be no on-site registration. For more information and the on-line application form, see http://www.neuron.yale.edu/neuron/static/courses/summer2016/summer2016.html --Ted

Feb. 19, 2016

call for papers: PRNI 2016 submission now open

by Jo Etzel

******* please accept our apologies for cross-posting ******* ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SECOND CALL FOR PAPERS: SUBMISSION NOW OPEN PRNI 2016 6th International Workshop on Pattern Recognition in Neuroimaging 22-24 June 2016 Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK), Trento, Italy www.prni.org - @PRNI2016 - www.facebook.com/PRNI2016/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Paper submission opens: 18 February 2016 Paper submission deadline: 18 March 2016, 11:59 pm PST Acceptance notification: 22 April 2016 Camera-ready paper deadline: 7 May 2016 Oral and poster sessions: 22-24 June 2016 Pattern recognition techniques have become an important tool for neuroimaging data analysis. These techniques are helping to elucidate normal and abnormal brain function, cognition and perception, anatomical and functional brain architecture, biomarkers for diagnosis and personalized medicine, and as a scientific tool to decipher neural mechanisms underlying human cognition. The International Workshop on Pattern Recognition in Neuroimaging (PRNI) aims to: (1) foster dialogue between developers and users of cutting-edge analysis techniques in order to find matches between analysis techniques and neuroscientific questions; (2) showcase recent methodological advances in pattern recognition algorithms for neuroimaging analysis; and (3) identify challenging neuroscientific questions in need of new analysis approaches. PRNI welcomes submissions on topics including, but not limited to: * Learning from neuroimaging data - Algorithms for brain-state decoding or encoding - Optimization and regularization - Bayesian analysis of neuroimaging data - Causal inference and time delay techniques - Network and connectivity models (the connectome) - Dynamic and time-varying models - Dynamical systems and simulations - Empirical mode decomposition, multiscale decompositions - Combination of different data modalities - Efficient algorithms for large-scale data analysis * Interpretability of models and results - High-dimensional data visualization - Multivariate and multiple hypothesis testing - Summarization and presentation of inference results * Applications - Disease diagnosis and prognosis - Real-time decoding of brain states - Analysis of resting-state and task-based data - MEG, EEG, structural MRI, fMRI, diffusion MRI, ECoG, NIRS Authors should prepare full papers with a maximum length of 4 pages (two column IEEE style) for double-blind review. Manuscript submission is now open, and ends 18 March 2016. Accepted manuscripts will be assigned either to an oral or poster sessions; all accepted manuscripts will be included in the workshop proceedings.

Feb. 19, 2016

Cajal Course in Computational Neuroscience 2016

by Máté Lengyel

CAJAL COURSE IN COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE 7-27 August 2016, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal + pre-school 2-5 August 2016 http://www.cccn.pt Applications deadline: 28 March 2016 DIRECTORS * Gilles Laurent (Max Plank Institute for Brain Research, Germany) * Máté Lengyel (University of Cambridge, UK) * Christian Machens (Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Portugal) This three-weeks school teaches the central ideas, methods, and practice of modern computational neuroscience through a combination of lectures and hands-on project work. Each morning will be devoted to lectures given by distinguished international faculty on topics across the breadth of experimental and computational neuroscience. During the rest of the day, students will work on research projects in teams of 2-3 people under the close supervision of expert tutors and faculty. Research projects will be proposed by faculty before the course, and will include the modeling of neurons, neural systems, behavior, the analysis of state-of-the-art neural data (behavioral data, multi-electrode recordings, calcium imaging data, connectomics data, etc.), and the development of theories to explain experimental observations. The course is designed for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows from a variety of disciplines, including neuroscience, physics, electrical engineering, computer science, mathematics and psychology. Students are expected to have a keen interest and basic background in neurobiology, a solid foundation in mathematics, as well as some computer experience. An optional four-day pre-school in mathematics and programming is available to students who want to catch up on or fine-tune their math and programming skills. Essential details: * Course size: 24 students maximum * Fee (which covers tuition, lodging, and meals): 2500 EUR (+ 300 EUR for optional pre-school) * Scholarships and travel stipends are available. * Application deadline: 28 March 2015 * Notification of results: April 2015 Information and application http://www.cccn.pt Contact address: Tânia Li Chen <tania.chen(a)neuro.fchampalimaud.org> FACULTY * Alberto Bernacchia (Cambridge University, UK) * Matthias Bethge (Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Germany) * Dmitri (Mitya) Chklovskii (Simons Center for Data Analysis, USA) * Claudia Clopath (Imperial College London, UK) * Peter Dayan (Gatsby Computational Neuroscience, UCL, UK) * Sophie Denève (Institut d'Etudes de la Cognition (IEC), France) * Alain Destexhe (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), France) * David Fitzpatrick (Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, USA) * Michael Hausser (Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, UCL, UK) * Moritz Helmstaedter (Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Germany) * Guillaume Hennequin (Cambridge University, UK) * Karel Ježek (Charles University, Czech Republic) * Matthias Kaschube (Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, Germany) * Gilles Laurent (MPI Brain Research, Germany) * Peter Latham (Gatsby Computational Neuroscience, UCL, UK) * Simon Laughlin (University of Cambridge, UK) * Máté Lengyel (University of Cambridge, UK) * Zhaoping Li (University College London, UK) * Jennifer Linden (Ear Institute, UCL, UK) * Christian Machens (Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Portugal) * Jakob Macke (Center of Advanced European Studies and Research, Germany) * Tom Mrsic-Flogel (University of Basel, Switzerland) * Yael Niv (Princeton Neuroscience Institute, USA) * Maneesh Sahani (Gatsby Computational Neuroscience, UCL, UK) * Andreas Tolias (Baylor College of Medicine, USA) * Alessandro Treves (International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Italy) * Daniel Wolpert (Cambridge University, UK)

Feb. 18, 2016

Postdoc in Computational Neuroscience, Cambridge

by Máté Lengyel

We are seeking a highly creative and motivated postdoctoral fellow to work jointly in the Lengyel and Wolpert groups in the Computational and Biological Learning Lab, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge. Our groups study learning, perception and motor control using theory-driven approaches. The jointly led project will combine human psychophysical experiments and advanced theoretical methods to analyse and model the data. Areas of interest include decision making, active learning, cognitive representations, reinforcement learning. The successful candidate will have - a strong quantitative background - demonstrable interest in theoretical neuroscience as well as carrying out human psychophysical experiments - obtained (or be close to the completion of) a PhD or equivalent in computational neuroscience, physics, mathematics, computer science, machine learning or a related field Preference will be given to candidates with - previous experience in computational and / or behavioural neuroscience - sufficient programming skills to run numerical simulations (eg. in C, Python, or MatLab) - expertise with advanced data analysis and Bayesian techniques Salary: £28,982 - £37,768 pa. The funds for this post are available for two years in the first instance. For informal queries, please contact Máté Lengyel <m.lengyel(a)eng.cam.ac.uk> or Daniel Wolpert <wolpert(a)eng.cam.ac.uk>. Máté Lengyel will also be attending the COSYNE 2016 meeting in Salt Lake City between 25 Feb - 1 Mar where he will be happy to discuss details with potential applicants. -- Mate Lengyel, PhD Computational and Biological Learning Lab Cambridge University Engineering Department Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UK tel: +44 (0)1223 748 532, fax: +44 (0)1223 765 587 email: m.lengyel(a)eng.cam.ac.uk web: www.eng.cam.ac.uk/~m.lengyel

Feb. 18, 2016

NEURAL COMPUTATION - March 1, 2016

by Terry Sejnowski

Neural Computation - Volume 28, Number 3 - March 1, 2016 Available online for download now: http://www.mitpressjournals.org/toc/neco/28/3 ----- Article Orthogonal Connectivity Factorization: Interpretable Decomposition of Variability in Correlation Matrices Aapo Hyvarinen, Jun-ichiro Hirayama, Vesa Kiviniemi, and Motoaki Kawanabe Note A Block Successive Lower-Bound Maximization Algorithm for the Maximum Pseudolikelihood Estimation of Fully Visible Boltzmann Machines Hien D Nguyen, Ian A Wood Letters Microdomain [Ca2+] Fluctuations Alter Temporal Dynamics in Models of Ca2+-dependent Signaling Cascades and Synaptic Vesicle Release Seth H Weinberg Kernelized Elastic Net Regularization: Generalization Bounds and Sparse Recovery Yunlong Feng, Shao-Gao Lv, Hanyuan Hang, and Johan A.K. Suykens An Online Policy Gradient Algorithm for Markov Decision Processes With Continuous States and Actions Yao Ma, Tingting Zhao, Kohei Hatano, and Masashi Sugiyama The Development of an Information Criterion for Change-Point Analysis Colin H LaMont, Paul A. Wiggins ------------ ON-LINE -- http://www.mitpressjournals.org/neuralcomp SUBSCRIPTIONS - 2016 - VOLUME 28 - 12 ISSUES Student/Retired $78 Individual $138 Institution $1,108 MIT Press Journals, One Rogers Street, Cambridge, MA 02142-1209 Tel: (617) 253-2889 FAX: (617) 577-1545 journals-cs(a)mit.edu ------------

Feb. 18, 2016

Call for papers on Biological Applications of Information Theory, a special issue in honor of Claude Shannon's centennial

by Dimitrov, Alexander

In honor of Claude Shannon’s centennial: We are pleased to announce a Special issue of the IEEE Transactions on Molecular, Biological, and Multi-Scale Communications on Biological Applications of Information Theory Submission deadline April 30, 2016 Claude Shannon, born April 30, 1916, pioneered the mathematical theory of communication in his 1948 paper in the Bell System Technical Journal. Information theory has since provided the foundation for the digital revolution in communications technology. In addition, it has provided a powerful framework for investigating the fundamental limitations of naturally occurring communications, particularly in biological systems. Early applications included consideration of redundancy reduction in sensory pathways (Attneave 1954, Barlow 1961), ionizing radiation and mutagenesis (Yockey 1958), efficiency of metabolic processes (Johnson and Knudsen 1965), and analysis of reliable computation in the presence of noise (Cowan and Winograd 1963). Modern developments have accelerated in recent years as a result of advances in MEMS/NEMS and systems biology, the emergence of synthetic bacteria and lab/process-on-a-chip techniques, and collection of large data sets in both electrophysiology and cell biology. It is now possible to design chemical “circuits”, custom organisms, micro/nanoscale swarms of devices, and a host of other new systems at small length scales, and across multiple scales (e.g., micro to macro). This success opens up a new frontier for interdisciplinary communications techniques using chemistry, biology, and other principles that have not been considered in the communications literature, as well as creating new ways of understanding the principles underlying communication in biological systems at many scales. The special issue will celebrate Shannon’s centennial by highlighting success stories and current progress in biological and bio-inspired information theory. In particular, we hereby solicit both invited and submitted papers in three interrelated areas: 1. Information theory and cellular/molecular biology/biochemistry (including information theory and intercellular communication); 2. Information theory and neuroscience; and 3. Information-theoretic analysis of biologically inspired communication systems (including nanonetworking and design of biologically implemented information processing networks). Contributions from researchers beyond the IEEE’s typical audience are encouraged. Submission Instructions Submissions will be collected via Manuscript Central, http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/tmbmc/ . In your cover letter, state: “This paper is a submission for the Shannon Centennial special issue". For further information, please contact the corresponding guest editor, Prof. Peter Thomas (pjthomas__at__case.edu) Special Issue Guest Editors Prof. Alexander G. Dimitrov Department of Mathematics and Statistics Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience Washington State University, Vancouver, Washington, USA Prof. Faramarz Fekri Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA Prof. Aurel Lazar Department of Electrical Engineering Columbia University, New York, New York, USA Prof. Stefan M. Moser Signal and Information Processing Lab (ISI) ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering National Chiao Tung University (NCTU), Hsinchu, Taiwan Prof. Peter J. Thomas* Department of Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, and Statistics Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department of Biology Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA *corresponding guest editor -- Alexander Dimitrov Department of Mathematics and Statistics Washington State University 14204 NE Salmon Creek Ave Vancouver WA 98686 alex.dimitrov(a)wsu.edu http://directory.vancouver.wsu.edu/people/alexander-dimitrov

Feb. 18, 2016

Call for applications: SMART START - a joint training progamm in Computational Neuroscience for young researchers

by Mareike Kardinal

*Call for applications* Ready for a *SMART*/START/ into Computational Neuroscience? We invite first and second-year Master students with a background in related fields to apply to our joint training program *SMART*/START/. The program aims at complementing previous studies with concepts, theories and techniques of Computational Neuroscience. *SMART*/START /consists of two programs. Both of them last one year each and take place at numerous locations of the Bernstein Network and further locations throughout Germany. *SMART*/START /1 provides financial support to then second-year Master students, allowing them to attend supplementary courses and training visits at participating institutions. Students will receive an experienced faculty mentor who will advise and guide them at this educational stage. *SMART*/START /2 provides fully funded positions for pre-PhD students. At the start of the program, these students will have already obtained their Master´s degree and are in the process of selecting a PhD project. *SMART*/START /2 allows them to elaborate their own PhD proposal as a collaborative project between two labs. This comprises exchange visits as well as voluntary attendance of lectures and courses offered by participating institutions. Both *SMART*/START/ programs will commence in the winter term 2016/17. _Deadline for application is Monday, Feb 29, 2016._ More information can be found on our website: www.smartstart-compneuro.de Best regards, Mareike Kardinal -- Dr. Mareike Kardinal Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience Press & Public Relations Officer, Bernstein Coordination Site (BCOS) Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg Hansastr. 9A 79104 Freiburg, Germany phone: +49-761-203-9593 mareike.kardinal(a)bcos.uni-freiburg.de www.nncn.de Twitter: NNCN_Germany YouTube: Bernstein TV Facebook: Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience, Germany LinkedIn: Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience, Germany

Feb. 18, 2016

Mediterranean Neuroscience 2017 - Call for Symposia

by Demian Battaglia

Mediterranean Neuroscience 2017 - Call for Symposia ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The next Conference of the Mediterranean Neuroscience Society (MNS, http://www.mnsociety.net/) will be held in Malta in June 9-12th 2017. The MNS has been created to support and help strengthen all initiatives that bring together neuroscientists from European, Mediterranean and MENA region countries. It is a member society of IBRO (http://ibro.info) belonging to both European and African chapters of the international organization. The MNS works towards three main objectives: 1) Strengthen exchanges between mediterranean neuroscientists 2) Promote education in the neurosciences and increase public awareness of progress made (organizing e.g. Euro-mediterranean master programs) 3) Sustain the Mediterranean Neuroscience Conference, as an open forum for neuroscience discussions and team-building across the North-South shores of the Mediterranean The last Mediterranean Conference of Neuroscience was organized in June 2015 in Sardinia (Italy). The call for symposia for the next MNS conference is now open Symposia dealing with all areas of neuroscience research, including computational and systems neuroscience or neuroimaging are invited. The symposium organizer should submit a proposal in the following format: - Title of the symposium - Name(s) and address(s) of the organizer(s) - General abstract of the symposium describing the aims of the symposium (no more than 500 words) - Name, address, e-mail, Country and title of the presentation of each speaker (no abstracts are requested at this stage) - Use Times New Roman in 12 point and 1.5 spacing, with the title underlined. A typical symposium gathers 4-5 speakers, each addressing the general topic from a different perspective. Total allocated time is 2 hours. The conference language will be English. The participation of scientists from MENA countries, whether as organizers of symposia or as speakers, is highly encouraged. The gender ratio within each proposal will also be taken into account to reach a decision. MNS has limited funding for conferences and does not reimburse speakers expenses. We will offer however a common location, logistic support, allowing a larger visibility for the proposed initiatives. The MNS and its partners will also provide a limited number of stipends for qualified young candidates. Deadline for submitting a proposal is May 15th, 2016. Proposal can be submitted at the website: http://www.mnsociety.net/call-for-symposia/ For informations you can contact: Demian Battaglia (demian.battaglia(a)univ-amu.fr) or Marc Landry (marc.landry(a)u-bordeaux.fr) ----> If you want a mediterranean FENS... propose your symposium and make this Mediterranean Neuroscience conference alive! PS: follow us on Twitter, https://twitter.com/MnSociety

Feb. 18, 2016

Valentino Braitenberg Award for Computational Neuroscience - Call for Nominations

by Kerstin Schwarzwaelder

Dear Colleagues, The Bernstein Association for Computational Neuroscience <http://www.nncn.de/en/bernstein-association> invites nominations for the *V**alentino Braitenberg Award for Computational Neuroscience.* The award is biannually presented by the Bernstein Association to a scientist in recognition of outstanding research that contributes to our understanding of the functioning of the brain. The major criterion for the award is the impact or potential impact of the recipient's research on the field of brain science. In the spirit of Valentino Braitenberg's research, special emphasis is given to theoretical studies elucidating the functional implications of brain structures and their neuronal network dynamics. The awardee receives a €5.000 prize donated by the Autonome Provinz Bozen Südtirol as well as complimentary participation (registration, travel, and hotel accomodation) in the Bernstein Conference 2016. Here, the prize is awarded together with a Golden Neuron pin badge in a special ceremony that includes the Valentino Braitenberg lecture given by the awardee. Nominations may be submitted by scientists working in the field of Computational Neuroscience and should include the following documents: - One-page laudation, in which the scientific work of the candidate is honored with regard to the award's criteria - CV and list of publications *Deadline for nominations is **April 30, 2016 *by e-mail to an.huber(a)fz-juelich.de The call for nominations can be found under the followingn URL: www.nncn.de/en/bernstein-association/valentino-braitenberg-award-for-comput… For inquiries please contact an.huber(a)fz-juelich.de Best regards, Andrea Huber Brösamle -- Dr. Kerstin Schwarzwälder Bernstein Coordination Site of the National Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg Hansastr. 9A 79104 Freiburg Germany phone: +49 761 203 9594 schwarzwaelder(a)bcos.uni-freiburg.de www.nncn.de

Feb. 17, 2016

Openings for postdocs in Geneva

by Jolivet, Renaud

(Apologies for cross-posting) I am looking for postdocs to expand my lab and contribute to medical physics activities in our department. My lab is shared between the Département de Physique Nucléaire et Corpusculaire at the University of Geneva (http://dpnc.unige.ch/) and the Experimental Physics Department of CERN (http://home.cern/) with access to a brand new wet lab for experiments at Geneva University Hospitals (http://www.hug-ge.ch/) This is a unique opportunity to work at the interface between physics, biology and medicine with a focus in neuroscience, and to build a vast scientific network in a truly multidisciplinary and international environment. I am particularly interested by candidates with a profile in neuroscience (computational or experimental) to work on two distinct projects. The first (computational) project will build on recent papers investigating [i] the compartmentalisation of energy metabolism in the brain (http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004036; http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0415-11.2011; http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/neuro.14.004.2009) and [ii] how energetic constraints shape information processing in neural networks (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2015.10.063; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2012.08.019) The second project will build on yet unpublished data (paper in revision) and investigate the physiology and pathophysiology of microglia in vivo using multiphoton microscopy. Other research directions are possible and can be discussed. It is anticipated that the candidates will apply for their own funding, for instance a Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship (or equivalent; see here http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/h…) If eligible, candidates could also consider an Ambizione fellowship from the Swiss National Science Foundation as a path to independence (http://www.snf.ch/en/funding/careers/ambizione/Pages/default.aspx) If you are interested, please contact me at renaud.jolivet(a)unige.ch and send me a CV, list of publications, the names of three references and a brief description of your research interests. More information about life in Geneva can be found here https://www.lonelyplanet.com/switzerland/geneva and here http://www.ville-geneve.ch/welcome-geneva/. The University of Geneva ranks 33 for science worldwide (http://www.shanghairanking.com/FieldSCI2015.html) — Prof. Renaud Jolivet CERN, Experimental Physics Department & University of Geneva, Physics Section +41 22 767 24 70 (CERN) +41 22 379 62 75 (UNIGE) +41 79 830 21 29 (mobile) renaud.blaise.jolivet(a)cern.ch<mailto:renaud.blaise.jolivet@cern.ch> https://sites.google.com/site/renaudjolivet/

Feb. 17, 2016

Workshop on neuronal data analyses, June 1-10, 2016

by Artur Luczak

Campus Alberta Neuroscience is pleased to announce the third annual Introductory Workshop on Computational Methods in Neuroscience. This ten-day workshop is comprised of lectures and hands-on Matlab exercises to introduce students to neuronal data analysis methods. The workshop is aimed at graduate students with little prior experience in quantitative methods who want to learn more about Matlab and its application for data analyses. Most costs including registration fees, travel to Lethbridge, accommodation, and most meals will be covered for Alberta trainees. Individuals from outside of Alberta are encouraged to apply, but must cover their own costs. These costs are estimated to be around $1300 (excluding travel). Registration for the workshop is now open; complete applications must be received by March 11, 2016. The workshop will take place at the University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, June 1 - 10, 2016, and will be followed by an optional online component with more in depth topics. The course Director is Dr. Bruce McNaughton and course instructors include Drs David Euston, Aaron Gruber, Artur Luczak, Masami Tatsuno and Majid Mohajerani. Further information and application details are available at: http://www.albertaneuro.ca/content/computational For any questions please contact: albertaneuro(a)uleth.ca Cheers, Artur ------------------------------------------------ Artur Luczak, Ph.D., Assoc. Professor Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4, Canada tel.: (403) 394-3974; fax: (403) 329-2775 http://lethbridgebraindynamics.com/artur_luczak

Feb. 16, 2016

Open position in Juelich, Germany: Coordinator Software Development

by Martina Reske

The Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM) at Research Center Juelich, Germany, investigates the structure and function of the human brain on different spatial and temporal scales within the research program “Decoding the Human Brain”. The Juelich Supercomputing Centre is home of one of the most powerful machines and has a leading role in the European exascale strategy. Basic neuroscience connects the two research areas as it heavily relies on modeling and simulation, which are necessary to approach the brain’s immense complexity, manage the huge amount of resulting data, and develop reliable control techniques. Acquired knowledge allows for the translation of basic findings into clinical applications to better understand neurological and psychiatric disorders, to refine diagnostic processes, and to develop therapy strategies – crucial tasks we have to face in ageing societies. Additionally, the research lays foundations for novel computer architectures and their operation. The department INM-6, Computational and Systems Neuroscience, develops mathematical models of neuronal dynamics and function. Model-driven analyses of brain activity and structure as well as simulation of biologically realistic models form the core of our work. Together with its partners, INM-6 develops analysis tools and the leading simulation code (NEST) for brain scale networks with cellular resolution in an open source approach. NEST has been under continuous development for 20 years and is serving a world-wide community. The INM-6 hosts also the Coordination Site (BCOS) of the national Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience. The development of corresponding simulation technologies and analysis tools is a major component of our research. The advertised position has a key role in this endeavor. We are looking to recruit a Coordinator Software Development Your Job: * Coordinating the roadmap and releases of NEST, the neural simulation tool * Regular preparation of and participation in coordination meetings and video conferences together with or as substitute for the institute directors * Direct support of scientists and PhD students with respect to software development * Composing research grants and project reports in the field of simulation technology as well as proposals for computing time * Representing the simulation software at international meetings and conferences * Participation in the advancement of programs for the analysis of massively parallel neuronal data * Substituting for the coordinator scientific computing Your Profile: * University degree in the field of computer science, mathematics or physics * Substantial expertise in C, C++ and Python, parallel and distributed computing * Substantial experience in developing complex software * Ability and willingness to work independently and on one’s own responsibility * Experience in leading project teams * Ability and willingness to compose project reports * Expertise in project management and quality assurance * Beneficial: basic knowledge of neuroscience concepts, especially in neuronal dynamics * Confident appearance and ability to work cooperatively in an interdisciplinary environment * Good interpersonal and communication skills * Ability to work in teams * Willingness to travel * Structured and systematic working style * Fluent in English (spoken and written), beneficial: fluent in German Our Offer: * A creative team with an international perspective * Access to world-leading supercomputers and neuromorphic hardware * Possibility to co-determine shape design decisions in a complex software project * close collaboration with the Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC) and its exascale strategy, especially with the Simulation Laboratory Neuroscience * high visibility through participation in and substitution for institute directors at international project meetings, e.g. for the Human Brain Project * Participation in publications in state-of-the-art research in simulation technology * Job in world class science environment at the interface between neuroscience and technology on the most complex known systems * international, interdisciplinary working environment on an attractive research campus, ideally situated between the cities of Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Aachen * limited for 2 years with possible longer-term prospects * Salary and social benefits in conformity with the provisions of the Collective Agreement for the Civil Service (TVöD). We look forward to receiving your application, preferably online via our online recuirting system (www.fz-juelich.de/SharedDocs/Stellenangebote/_common/dna/2016-018-EN-INM-6.…<http://www.fz-juelich.de/SharedDocs/Stellenangebote/_common/dna/2016-018-EN…>) until 14.03.2016, quoting the reference number 2016-018. Martina Reske -- Dr. Martina Reske Scientific Coordinator Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-6) Computational and Systems Neuroscience & Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS-6) Theoretical Neuroscience Jülich Research Centre and JARA Jülich, Germany Work +49.2461.611916 Work Cell +49.151.26156918 Fax +49.2461.619460 www.csn.fz-juelich.de<http://www.csn.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 Dr. Karl Eugen Huthmacher Geschaeftsfuehrung: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Marquardt (Vorsitzender), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Harald Bolt, Prof. Dr. Sebastian M. Schmidt ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Feb. 16, 2016

Postdoc research position on diversity of synapses: from biology to network function

by Wolfgang Maass

We are inviting applications for a postdoc position (for at least 2 years, earliest starting date: april 1, 2016). The task of this postdoc is to integrate biological data on synaptic function and synaptic plasticity --including new data on diverse types of synapses-- and to explore possible functional consequences of different types of synapses and plasticity rules in networks of neurons through new theory and models. The need for new theory and models for network plasticity is highlighted for example by the recent review Larsen, R. S., & Sjöström, P. J. (2015). Synapse-type-specific plasticity in local circuits. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 35, 127-135. This postdoc will receive generous travel funds in order to be able to visit and interact with research groups inside and outside the Human Brain Project that study synaptic function and synaptic plasticity from the perspective of molecular biology, neuroscience, and network simulations. New theoretical paradigms for network plasticity will be explored in collaboration with our research team in Graz. Strong research interest and accomplishments, very good communication skills, broad knowledge in neuroscience and/or molecular biology, as well as interest and experience in computer modelling and theory are expected. Please send your CV, publication list, and motivation letter by february 28 to my assistant Daniela Potzinger daniela.potzinger(a)igi.tugraz.at -Wolfgang Maass -- Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Maass Institut fuer Grundlagen der Informationsverarbeitung Technische Universitaet Graz Inffeldgasse 16b , A-8010 Graz, Austria Tel.: ++43/316/873-5822 Fax ++43/316/873-5805 http://www.igi.tugraz.at/maass/Welcome.html

Feb. 15, 2016

Second call for posters/registration: Sixth International Symposium on Biology of Decision-Making (SBDM), 25-27 May 2016 @ Paris, France

by Mehdi Khamassi

[Please accept our apologies if you get multiple copies of this message] Dear colleagues, Registration is now open for the Sixth International Symposium on Biology of Decision Making (SBDM), which will take place in Paris on May 25-27th 2016. The nearly final program can be seen here: http://sbdm2016.isir.upmc.fr/view.php/SBDM2016_Program_Titles.pdf If you want to attend SBDM 2016, please fill the registration form at http://sbdm2016.isir.upmc.fr and then follow the instructions received by email. The deadline for poster submission is: April 30th 2016. The deadline for registration is: May 15th 2016. Registration fees (170 euros) include lunches, coffee breaks and social event. Please circulate widely and encourage your colleagues and team members to attend. Best regards The SBDM organizing committee ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SIXTH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON BIOLOGY OF DECISION MAKING (SBDM 2016) May 25-27, 2016, Paris, France Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Epinière, Hôpital La Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France. & Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France. & Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France. http://sbdm2016.isir.upmc.fr ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PRESENTATION: The Sixth International Symposium on Biology of Decision Making will take place on May 25-27, 2016 at the Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Epinière, Paris, France, with a satellite day at Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France. The objective of this three day symposium is to gather people from different research fields with different approaches (economics, ethology, psychiatry, neural and computational approaches) to decision-making. The symposium will be a single-track, will last for 3 days and will include 6 sessions: (#1) Cost of control, fatigue and decision-making; (#2) Emotion, stress and decision-making; (#3) Dynamics of decision-making; (#4) Decision-making across primates; (#5) Confidence, mood and decision-making; (#6) Learning, memory and decision-making. CONFIRMED SPEAKERS: Sébastien Bouret (CNRS - ICM, France) Michael Chee (Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore) Anastasia Christakou (University of Reading, UK) Anne Churchland (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, USA) Stanislas Dehaene (Collège de France - INSERM - CEA, France) Adele Diederich (Jacobs University, Germany) Tobias H. Donner (University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands) Valérie Dufour (CNRS, France) Shelly Flagel (University of Michigan, USA) Steve Fleming (University College London, UK) Birte U. Forstmann (University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands) Julie Grèzes (CNRS - Ecole Normale Supérieure, France) Cendri Hutcherson (University of Toronto, Canada) Veronika Job (University of Zurich, Switzerland) Mehdi Khamassi (CNRS - Université Pierre et Marie Curie, France) Pascal Mamassian (Ecole Normale Supérieure - CNRS, France) Florent Meyniel (Collège de France - INSERM - CEA, France) Randall O'Reilly (University of Colorado Boulder, USA) Mathias Pessiglione (INSERM - ICM, France) Jonathan Pillow (Princeton University, USA) Timothy J. Pleskac (Max Planck Institute, Germany) Alexandra G. Rosati (Harvard University, USA) Robb Rutledge (University College London, UK) Jérôme Sallet (University of Oxford, UK) Carmen Sandi (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland) Daniela Schiller (Mount Sinaï University, USA) Amitai Shenhav (Princeton University, USA) Mark Sheskin (Yale University, USA) Hiromu Tanimoto (Tohoku University, Japan) Angela J. Yu (University of California San Diego, USA) Alexandre Zenon (Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium) IMPORTANT DATES: April 30, 2016 Deadline for Poster Submission May 7, 2016 Notification of Poster Acceptance May 15, 2016 Deadline for Registration May 25-27, 2016 Symposium Venue ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: Thomas Boraud (CNRS - IMN, Bordeaux, France) Kenji Doya (OIST, Okinawa, Japan) Mehdi Khamassi (CNRS - UPMC, Paris, France) Etienne Koechlin (CNRS - ENS, Paris, France) Mathias Pessiglione (ICM - INSERM, Paris, France) CONTACT INFORMATION : Website, registration, poster submission and detailed program: http://sbdm2016.isir.upmc.fr Contact: sbdm2016 [ at ] isir.upmc.fr / sbdm2016-registration [ at ] isir.upmc.fr -- Mehdi Khamassi, PhD Tenured research scientist (CR1 CNRS) Institute of Intelligent Systems and Robotics Université Pierre et Marie Curie - BC 173 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France tel: + 33 1 44 27 28 85 fax: +33 1 44 27 51 45 cell: +33 6 50 76 44 92 email: mehdi.khamassi(a)upmc.fr http://people.isir.upmc.fr/khamassi

Feb. 15, 2016

CFP 4th International Congress on Neurotechnology, Electronics and Informatics - NEUROTECHNIX 2016

by Calendar Sites

CALL FOR PAPERS 4th International Congress on Neurotechnology, Electronics and Informatics NEUROTECHNIX 2016 Website: www.neurotechnix.org November 7 8, 2016 Porto, Portugal <http://icete.org/Glossary.aspx#11> <http://icete.org/Glossary.aspx#11> Complete Papers Paper Submission: May 26, 2016 Authors Notification: July 22, 2016 Camera Ready and Registration: September 5, 2016 <http://icete.org/Glossary.aspx#12> <http://icete.org/Glossary.aspx#12> Extended Abstracts Paper Submission: July 4, 2016 Authors Notification: September 8, 2016 Camera Ready and Registration: September 22, 2016 <http://icete.org/Glossary.aspx#41> Workshops Workshop Proposal: August 22, 2016 <http://icete.org/Glossary.aspx#46> Special Sessions Special Session Proposal: August 22, 2016 Tutorials Tutorial Proposal: September 23, 2016 Demos Demo Proposal: September 23, 2016 Panels Panel Proposal: September 23, 2016 Open Communications Paper Submission: September 8, 2016 Authors Notification: September 16, 2016 Camera Ready and Registration: September 28, 2016 Sponsored by: INSTICC Institute for Systems and Technologies of Information, Control and Communication Logistics Partner: SCITEVENTS Science and Technology Events Scope: The first research works on neurotechnology can be dated back nearly half a century, but it is in the XXI century that most significant advances are being witnessed. Neurotechnology shows a very high potential of enhancing human activities, involving technologies such as neural rehabilitation, neural prosthesis, neuromodulation, neurosensing and diagnosis, and other combinations of neurological and biomedical knowledge with engineering technologies. NEUROTECHNIX 2016 will be held in conjunction with icSPORTS 2016. PUBLICATIONS All accepted Extended Abstracts will be published in the Book of Abstracts of the congress and on CD-ROM support, without ISBN. All accepted Complete Papers (full and short) will be published in the Congress Proceedings, under an ISBN reference, on paper and on CD-ROM support. All papers presented at the congress venue will also be available at the SCITEPRESS Digital Library. SCITEPRESS is a member of CrossRef and every paper is given a DOI (Digital Object Identifier). The Congress Proceedings will be submitted to appropriate indexes for indexation. AWARDS The awards will be announced and bestowed at the congress closing session. Please check the website for further information: www.neurotechnix.org KEYNOTE LECTURES NEUROTECHNIX 2016 will have several invited keynote speakers, who are internationally recognized experts in their areas. Their names are not yet confirmed. CONGRESS CHAIR Aldo Faisal, Imperial College London, United Kingdom CONGRESS AREAS Each of these topic areas is expanded below but the sub-topics list is not exhaustive. Papers may address one or more of the listed sub-topics, although authors should not feel limited by them. Unlisted but related sub-topics are also acceptable, provided they fit in one of the following main topic areas: 1. NEUROMODULATION AND NEURAL PROSTHESIS 2. NEURAL REHABILITATION 3. NEUROSENSING AND DIAGNOSIS 4. NEUROCOMPUTING AREA 1: NEUROMODULATION AND NEURAL PROSTHESIS * Electrical Stimulation * Deep Brain Stimulation * Optogenetics * Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation * Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) * Biochips and Nanotechnology * Biotechnology * Neuro-interface Prosthetic Devices * Cochlear implants * Bionic Vision * Cybernetics AREA 2: NEURAL REHABILITATION * Brain/Neural Computer Interfaces * Virtual Reality Tools * Stimulation Systems * Robotic Assisted Therapy * Biofeedback Therapy * Assistive Technologies * Mobile Technologies * Telerehabilitation * Applications to Complex Communication Needs * Augmentative and Alternative Communication * Clinical and Social Impact of Neurotechnology * Privacy, Security and Neuroethics * Outcome Measures * Users Perception and Experience on Technologies * Case Studies AREA 3: NEUROSENSING AND DIAGNOSIS * Brain/Neural Computer Interfaces * Virtual Reality Tools * Stimulation Systems * Robotic Assisted Therapy * Biofeedback Therapy * Assistive Technologies * Mobile Technologies * Telerehabilitation * Applications to Complex Communication Needs * Augmentative and Alternative Communication * Clinical and Social Impact of Neurotechnology * Privacy, Security and Neuroethics * Outcome Measures * Users Perception and Experience on Technologies * Case Studies AREA 4: NEUROCOMPUTING * (Artificial) Neural Networks * Brain Models and Functions * Learning Systems and Memory * Self-organization and Evolution * Pattern Recognition * Reverse Engineering the Brain * Information Processing * Simulation Models * Neurobiology * Artificial Life * Cognitive Science and Psychology PROGRAM COMMITTEE www.neurotechnix.org/ProgramCommittee.aspx NEUROTECHNIX Secretariat Address: Av. D. Manuel I, 27A, 2º esq. 2910-595 Setúbal - Portugal Tel.: +351 265 100 033 Fax: +351 265 520 186 e-mail: neurotechnix.secretariat(a)insticc.org Please check further details at the congress website: www.neurotechnix.org

Feb. 15, 2016

post-doc position available at HLP/Jaeger lab (Brain and Cognitive Science, University of Rochester)

by Dick Aslin

Kindly post this ad on behalf of my colleague Florian Jaeger: The Human Language Processing Lab (https://www.hlp.rochester.edu/people/) headed by Florian Jaeger at the University of Rochester is searching for an*outstanding post-doctoral researcher* to join our project on *inference and learning during speech perception and adaptation. **Applicants from any fields in the cognitive and language sciences are welcome.** *** *About the position: *We are particularly interested in researchers with a _strong computational background_**(ideally, including Bayesian inference, sampling, etc. though that is not necessary). Expertise in phonetics or speech perception are preferred, but expertise in the relevant inference processes in another perceptual domain (combined with the willingness to acquire expertise in speech) might make for a great fit, too. The core of our research project is behavioral and computational, but expertise in fMRI and, specifically, MVPA and related methods are an additional plus, as there is the potential to collaborate across labs on the neural foundations of speech adaptation (w/ Raj Raizada). The most important thing though is the drive to dig beyond the surface with an interest in understanding the nature of the implicit adaptive processes (and the structure of the representations that support them) that allow robust language understanding (... whether in speech perception or higher levels of language processing). The position will provide NIH-level post-doctoral salaries and travel funding. Start dates could be as early as /now/ or as late as 9/2016. If there is a great fit between the candidate and the project, we can wait. *Interested candidates should contact *HLP lab manager Olga Nikolayeva (onikolay(a)u.rochester.edu) along with a CV and a brief statement of /primary/ research interests (no full research statement necessary, but if there is one we'd be happy to read it). Recommendations are will be elicited after initial review of applications, but applicants are welcome to include them in the initial application. *Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis starting 3/1. *(if you're wondering whether it makes sense to apply, please contact Florian Jaeger at fjaeger(a)bcs.rochester.edu) *About the project: *The project includes research on _lack of invariance, learning in non-stationary environments, inference under uncertainty, causal attribution, and the relation between linguistics and social perception_. Our main goals are 1) to investigate the organization of the implicit probabilistic beliefs that underlie speech perception, such as implicit knowledge about the covariance of socio-indexical features (such as gender, age, dialects, etc.) and phonetic properties 2) to understand how these beliefs are acquired, adapted, and employed in inferences during online language understanding, including drawing on previous experience with talkers and the ability to generalize to similar talkers. For an overview, of our research program and goals, see Kleinschmidt and Jaeger (2015-PsychRev): https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259571827_Robust_Speech_Perception… * **About the team / HLP Lab: *HLP lab is part of the Brain and Cognitive Sciences and the Center of Language Sciences. The team currently consists of one post-doctoral fellow and four graduate students (plus other lab members working on other questions). Related projects include work on accent and dialect adaptation (incl. a large project involving researchers in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK), pedagogical use of adaptation in the class room, and L2/Ln learning/teaching (in collaboration with researchers in Hong Kong; see also Pajak et al., 2016-LangLearn). We also investigate similar processes in speech production and in language processing at higher levels of representations (see Fine et al., 2013-PLoS One; Fine and Jaeger, 2016-JEP:LMC; Jaeger & Snider, 2013-Cognition; Yildirim et al., 2015-JML) and language production (e.g., Buz et al., 2015-JML; Seyfarth et al., 2016-JASA; Weatherholtz et al., 2014-LVC). Most recent papers are available via https://www.researchgate.net/profile/T_Florian_Jaeger/contribution.

Feb. 14, 2016

Joint Call for Workshop Proposals of SASO 2016 and ICCAC 2016 (FAS*W)

by Jan-Philipp Steghöfer

************************************************************************* FAS*W 2016 (SASO and ICCAC) Call For Workshop Proposals International Workshops on Foundations and Applications of Self-* Systems (FAS*W) Augsburg, Germany, September 12 & 16, 2016 http://fasstar2016.informatik.uni-augsburg.de/ http://iccac2016.se.rit.edu/ http://uni-augsburg.de/saso2016 @SASO2016Conf ************************************************************************* The FAS* 2016 Steering Committee invites proposals for the Workshop Program to be held along with the technical conferences SASO 2016 and ICCAC 2016. FAS*W workshops will provide a meeting for presenting novel ideas in a less formal and possibly more focused way than the conferences themselves. Their aim is to stimulate and facilitate active exchange, interaction, and comparison of approaches, methods, and ideas related to specific topics, both theoretical and applied, in the general area of Self-Adaptive and Self-Organizing Systems as well as Cloud and Autonomic Computing. To motivate the discussion and participation of all the workshop attendants, we encourage organizers to get away of the typical "mini-conference" format of a workshop, and include more discussion sessions, panels, etc. Members from all areas of the SASO and ICCAC communities are invited to submit workshop proposals for review. Workshops on global challenges, applications or on new and emerging topics are particularly encouraged. Workshops can vary in length, but most will be one full day in duration. Optionally, if desired by the organizers, workshop proceedings can be published through IEEE. Attendance of workshops will be included in the registration fee for the main SASO/ICCAC conference. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Important Dates ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Workshop proposal submission deadline: April 4, 2016* - Workshop acceptance notification: April 11, 2016* - CfP submission deadline: April 20, 2016 - Workshop paper submission deadline: July 4, 2016 - Workshop paper acceptance notification: July 17, 2016 - Early registration Deadline: TBD - Camera-ready papers due: July 22, 2016 - Workshop notes submission to WS chairs: July 26, 2016 - Workshops dates: September 12 & 16, 2016 * Please submit your workshop proposals as soon as possible (i.e. before April 4)! We will try to decide earlier on workshop acceptance in order to give the organizers more time to solicit papers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- FAS*W 2016 Workshops - Requirements for Submission ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proposals for workshops should be separated in two parts. The first part should be organized as preliminary call for papers or call for participation, depending on the intended format of the workshop, with a maximum of two pages and contain the following information: - Title of the workshop. - A brief technical description of the workshop, specifying the workshop goals, the technical issues that it will address, and the relevance of the workshop to the main conferences. Please specify which of the two main conferences the workshop is assigned to (if any)! - Description of paper review process (if any) and acceptance standards in order to keep the workshop high in quality. Note that papers must be in the same format as the conference proceedings and may not be more than 6 pages in length. - The names, affiliations, postal addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of the proposed workshop organizing committee. This committee should consist of three or four people knowledgeable about the technical issues to be addressed. The organizing committee should include individuals from multiple institutions. - The primary email address for contacting the organizing committee. - Expected duration of the workshop (half or full day). - A brief description of the workshop format. - List of potential program committee members (if applicable), including their title and affiliations. - List of potential invited speakers, panelists, or disputants (if applicable). The second part with a maximum of three pages should contain additional information not suitable for a Call for Papers, including: - A discussion of why and to whom the workshop is of interest. - A list of related workshops held within the last three years, if any, and their relation to the proposed workshop. - Information about previous offerings of the proposed workshop: when and where it has been offered in the past, organizers names and affiliations, number of submissions, acceptances and registered attendees. - An indication of the envisaged acceptance rate (if applicable). - A description of the qualifications of the individual committee members with respect to organizing a SASO or ICCAC workshop, including a list of workshops previously arranged by any members of the proposed organizing committee, if any. - A list of places (distribution lists, web sites, journals, etc.) where the workshop is planned to be advertised. All proposals should be submitted in plain ASCII text or PDF format by electronic mail to the FAS*W 2016 Workshop Chairs, via Monika Lorenz, as described below. The selection of the workshops to be included in the final FAS* 2016 Workshop program will be based upon multiple factors, including: - the scientific/technical interest of the topics, - the quality of the proposal, - complementarity with the conference topics, - balance and distinctness of workshop topics, and - the capacity of the conference workshop program. Note that authors of proposals addressing similar and/or overlapping content areas and/or audiences may be requested to merge their proposals. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Responsibilities of FAS* 2016 Workshop Organizers ------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all accepted proposals, FAS* 2016 will be responsible for: - Providing publicity for the workshop series as a whole. - Providing logistical support and a meeting place for the workshops. - Together with the organizers, determining the workshop date and time. - Liaising and coordinating between the workshop chairs,the finance chair, publicity chair, and web chair for FAS*. - Arranging for publication of proceedings. Workshop organizers will be responsible for the following: - Setting up a web site for the workshop. - Advertising the workshop (and the main FAS* conferences), and issuing a call for papers and a call for participation. - Collecting and evaluating submissions, notifying authors of acceptance or rejection on a timely basis, and ensuring a transparent and fair selection process. All workshop organizers commit themselves to adopt the deadlines set by the committee. - Making the pdf of the whole workshop notes available to the workshop chair, as well as a list of audio-visual requirements and any special room requirements. - Writing a 1-page organizers’ introduction for the workshop proceedings. - Ensuring that the workshop organizers and the participants register for the workshop and/or the main conference (at least one author must register for the paper to appear in the proceedings). FAS* reserves the right to cancel any workshop if the above responsibilities are not fulfilled, or if too few attendees register for the workshop to support its running costs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Submissions and Inquiries ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please send proposals (as a PDF document) and inquiries to: Monika Lorenz lorenz(a)sra.uni-hannover.de ____________________________________________________________ FAS*W Workshop Chairs Sameh Elnikety Microsoft Research, USA E-Mail: samehe(a)microsoft.com Peter Lewis School of Engineering and Applied Science, Aston University, UK E-Mail: p.lewis(a)aston.ac.uk Christian Müller-Schloer Institute for Systems Engineering, Leibniz University Hannover, DE E-Mail: cms(a)sra.uni-hannover.de ____________________________________________________________

Feb. 12, 2016

2016 Volga Neuroscience Meeting

by Andrey Shilnikov

Hello Comp-Neuro, I would like to distribute the information about the forthcoming meeting and its two workshops: Dynamics in Life Sciences, Neuroscince Applications Computational Neuroscience as a part of 2016 Volga Neuroscience Meeting http://conf.neuro.unn.ru/vnm-2016/ Dates July 24th, 2016 to July 30th, 2016 Venue Saint Petersburg – Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation Let me know if you need further information. Thank you. With best regards, Andrey Andrey Shilnikov, PhD Professor Neuroscience Institute Department of Mathematics & Statistics Georgia State University 100 Piedmont Ave Atlanta GA 30303 tel 404.413.6423 e-mail: ashilnikov(a)gsu.edu<mailto:ashilnikov@gsu.edu> http://www.ni.gsu.edu/~ashilnikov

Feb. 12, 2016

New Trieste Encounters in Cognitive Science (TEX) - Language Learning

by Alessandro Treves

We are proud to announce the new Trieste Encounters in Cognitive Science. TEX2016 combines a summer school with an extended symposium, to bring together scientists to discuss Language Learning and share the sun, the sea, what they do not know, the food, the wine, at SISSA and beyond. Language learning is intended to include neuroscience, linguistic theory, cognitive psychology and computational modelling. Classes will be given every morning, July 7-15, by Alex Cristia (Paris), Colin Davis (Bristol), Edmund Rolls (Warwick), Gareth Gaskell (York), Kathy Rastle (London - Royal Holloway), Max Louwerse (Tilburg), Na'ama Friedmann (Tel Aviv), Pino Longobardi (York), Scott Johnson (UCLA), and Vito Pirrelli (Pisa). Tim Shallice, father of cognitive science at SISSA, will also be with us, and with your freely contributed talks, posters, discussion, swimming, doubts and libation, afternoons will stretch into an unmarked inflection. Students are invited to apply to the school, before April 15, 2016, and everybody is invited to join TEX2016 any time. More information at http://indico.sissa.it/e/tex2016 -- Alessandro Treves http://people.sissa.it/~ale/limbo.html SISSA - Cognitive Neuroscience, via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy and Master in Complex Actions http://www.mca.sissa.it/

Feb. 11, 2016

Postdoctoral Position in Robust Intelligence / Theoretical Neuroscience

by Stepanyants, Armen

The Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Complex Systems and the Department of Physics at Northeastern University, Boston, invite applicants for a postdoctoral position in Robust Intelligence / Theoretical Neuroscience available immediately. The successful candidate will work on NSF and AIR FORCE sponsored projects aimed at creating a theoretical framework for the analysis of the effects of learning and robust memory storage on synaptic connectivity in local cortical circuits. Applicants should have a Ph.D. in computational neuroscience, physics, mathematics, or related quantitative disciplines. Track record of experience in computational neuroscience, as well as excellent theoretical and computational skills are required. Knowledge of statistical physics, machine learning, cortical neuroanatomy and connectivity is preferred. To apply, please send (1) a CV, including a list of publications, (2) a summary of prior research accomplishments, and (3) names and contact information of three reference providers by email to Prof. Armen Stepanyants, a.stepanyants(a)neu.edu<mailto:a.stepanyants@neu.edu>. The position is available immediately, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. We offer competitive starting salary, $45-55K/year, and comprehensive benefits package. The initial appointment is for one year with the possibility of renewal on a yearly basis. Northeastern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Educational Institution and Employer, Title IX University. More information can be found on the Neurogeometry Lab website, www.neurogeometry.net<http://www.neurogeometry.net>. Armen Stepanyants Associate Professor Department of Physics and Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Complex Systems Northeastern University 110 Forsyth St., Boston, MA 02115 Phone: (617) 373-2944 Fax: (617) 373-2943 http://www.neurogeometry.net/

Feb. 11, 2016

FINAL CALL FOR WORKSHOP PROPOSALS: VECPAR 2016 - High Performance Computing for Computational Science

by Carlos Ferreira

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CALL FOR WORKSHOP PROPOSALS 12th International Meeting on High-Performance Computing for Computational Science (VECPAR 2016) University of Porto, Porto, Portugal June 27 - 30, 2016 http://vecpar.fe.up.pt/2016/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As part of the 12th VECPAR International Meeting on High Performance Computing for Computational Science, we are seeking proposals for affiliated workshops. The workshops should be focused in fresh topics related to parallel and distributed computational science, from theory to practice, where new ideas, subjects, open problems and works on progress can be discussed and explored. The accepted workshops will be held on 1st of July 2016 and may be organized as half- or full-day. IMPORTANT DATES Deadline for workshop proposals: February 15th, 2016 Notification of acceptance: February 19th, 2016 Deadline for paper submission: To be defined by the chairs Author notification: To be defined by the chairs Camera-ready version of papers: May 15th, 2016 PROPOSALS GUIDELINES Workshop title and acronym; Workshop description (150-200 words) to be included in the VECPAR website; Name and short bio of the workshop proponents; A list of the tentative program committee. Responsibilities of the Workshop Chairs: Prepare a dedicated call for papers; Maintain the workshop website; Define the workshop program committee; Select the papers by a peer review process. PROCEEDINGS The papers of the workshops will be published under the Springer LNCS series. The authors may be asked to revise the paper after the conference in order to meet the series requirements. BUDGET VECPAR 2016 will not pay for travel or other arrangements for workshop organizers or any of their invited guests. HOW TO SUBMIT The workshop proposals should be sent by email to the Workshops Chair: João Manuel R. S. Tavares Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, Portugal tavares(a)fe.up.pt Carlos Ferreira [http://www2.isep.ipp.pt/assinatura_email/EMAIL_ISEP.png] ISEP | Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 431 4249-015 Porto - PORTUGAL tel. +351 228 340 500 | fax +351 228 321 159 mail(a)isep.ipp.pt | www.isep.ipp.pt<http://www.isep.ipp.pt>

Feb. 10, 2016

REMINDER: Call for Workshops - Bernstein Conference 2016

by Philipp Hoevel

The Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience and the Bernstein Center Berlin invite proposals for Satellite Workshops directly preceding the Bernstein Conference 2016 in Berlin. ********************************************************************************** Call for Workshop proposals: Workshops: September 20-21, 2016 Main Bernstein Conference: September 21-23, 2016 Deadline for proposal submission: March 18, 2016 Notification of acceptance: April 22, 2016 Conference Registration starts: May 2, 2016 Early Registration Deadline: July 24, 2016 ********************************************************************************** The Bernstein Conference started out as the annual meeting of the Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience and has become the largest annual single-track Computational Neuroscience conference in Europe in recent years. Since 2013, the Bernstein Conference hosts pre-conference workshops, which have developed swiftly into a well-attended event. They supply a stage to debate topical research questions and challenges in Computational Neuroscience and related fields, different points of view and scientific approaches in an informal setting. Workshops addressing controversial issues, open problems, and comparisons of competing approaches are encouraged, and formats are expected that foster debate beyond a mere series of talks. SCHEDULE: September 20, 2016, 14:00 - 18:30. September 21, 2016, 9:00 - 12:30. You may apply for either half-day or full-day workshops. WORKSHOP COSTS: The Bernstein Conference does not provide financial support, but workshop organizers and speakers are offered free workshop registration. Organizers get a waiver for the main conference fee. For further information about the conference, please visit the conference website<http://www.bernstein-conference.de>. DETAILS FOR WORKSHOP PROPOSALS: The Workshop Proposal form can be downloaded here: <http://www.nncn.de/de/bernstein-conference/2016/satellite-workshops>. Deadline for submission of Workshop Proposals: March 18, 2016 CONTACT: <bc16_ws(at)bccn-berlin.de> We are looking forward to welcoming you in Berlin! The program committee ------------------------------- Michael Brecht Gustavo Deco Alain Destexhe Sophie Deneve Udo Ernst Adrienne Fairhall Sonja Grün John-Dylan Haynes Andreas Herz Philipp Hövel Richard Kempter Klaus Obermayer Stefan Rotter Susanne Schreiber Henning Sprekeler

Feb. 10, 2016

Feb. 15 Application Deadline - 2016 Nengo Summer School

by Peter Blouw

[All details about this school can be found online at http://www.nengo.ca/ summerschool] The Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience at the University of Waterloo is inviting applications for our 3rd annual summer school on large-scale brain modeling. This two-week school will teach participants how to use the Nengo software package to build state-of-the-art cognitive and neural models to run in simulation and on neuromorphic hardware. Nengo has been used to build what is currently the world's largest functional brain model, Spaun [1], and provides users with a versatile and powerful environment for designing cognitive and neural systems to run in simulated and real environments. We welcome applications from all interested graduate students, research associates, postdocs, professors, and industry professionals. No specific training in the use of modeling software is required, but we encourage applications from active researchers with a relevant background in psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, robotics, neuromorphic engineering, computer science, or a related field. For a look at last year's summer school, check out this short video: https://goo.gl/wy4dNC [1] Eliasmith, C., Stewart T. C., Choo X., Bekolay T., DeWolf T., Tang Y., Rasmussen, D. (2012). A large-scale model of the functioning brain. Science. Vol. 338 no. 6111 pp. 1202-1205. DOI: 10.1126/science.1225266. [ http://nengo.ca/publications/spaunsciencepaper] ****Application Deadline: February 15, 2016**** *Format*: A combination of tutorials and project-based work. Participants are encouraged to bring their own ideas for projects, which may focus on testing hypotheses, modeling neural or cognitive data, implementing specific behavioural functions with neurons, expanding past models, or providing a proof-of-concept of various neural mechanisms. Hands-on tutorials, work on individual or group projects, and talks from invited faculty members will make up the bulk of day-to-day activities. A project demonstration event will be held on the last day of the school, with prizes for strong projects! *Topics Covered*: Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to: - build perceptual, motor, and sophisticated cognitive models using spiking neurons - model anatomical, electrophysiological, cognitive, and behavioural data - use a variety of single cell models within a large-scale model - integrate machine learning methods into biologically oriented models - interface Nengo with various kinds of neuromorphic hardware (e.g. SpiNNaker) - interface Nengo with cameras and robotic systems - implement modern nonlinear control methods in neural models - and much more… *Date and Location*: June 5th to June 17th, 2016 at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. *Applications*: Please visit http://www.nengo.ca/summerschool, where you can find more information regarding costs, travel, lodging, along with an application form listing required materials. If you have any questions about the school or the application process, please contact Peter Blouw (pblouw(a)uwaterloo.ca) We look forward to hearing from you!

Feb. 10, 2016

DENDRITES 2016, June 18-21, Crete: SECOND CALL FOR ABSTRACTS & REDUCED STUDENT FEES

by Yiota Poirazi

Please post this announcement on the comp-neuro list. many thanks! Yiota Poirazi * ---------------------------------- EMBO Workshop on Dendritic Anatomy, Molecules and Function (DENDRITES 2016)* Heraklion, Crete, Greece June 18-21, 2016 http://dendrites2016.gr/ <http://www.dendrites2016.gr/> info(a)dendrites2016.gr <mailto:info@dendrites.gr> _Organizers:_ Yiota Poirazi, IMBB-FORTH Michael Hausser, UCL * * Matthew Larkum, Humboldt University Dear Colleagues, We are happy to announce *reduced registration fees* for students attending DENDRITES 2016: 150 Euro until March 31st. We would also like to remind you that abstracts for poster and oral presentation *are due by* *February 15th, 2016. * Notifications will be provided by February 29th, 2016. We welcome both experimental and theoretical contributions addressing novel findings, methods or databases related to dendrites that fall into one or more of the following domains: * morphological and functional characterizations, * dendritic integration and compartmentalization, * dendritic channel distribution and their functional implications, * molecular pathways and signaling networks, * RNA trafficking and local protein synthesis, * functional or structural plasticity and homeostasis, * the role of dendrites in complex processes, including learning/memory, neural computations etc. Please note that places are limited and subject to availability. Attendees are highly encouraged to submit abstracts for presentations, since presenters will be given priority for registration. Instructions for on-line submission can be found at http://www.dendrites2016.gr/call-for-papers _Invited speakers (scientific talks): _ Claudia Clopath Daniel Dombeck Casper Hoogenraad Arthur Konnerth Attila Losonczy Judit Makara Rishikesh Narayanan Elly Nedivi Jackie Schiller Erin Schuman Idan Segev Nelson Spruston Greg Stuart _Invited speakers (Career Issues in academia):_ Monica Di Luca, FENS President: "Publication issues: right time for a reality check" Camilla Belone, FENS-Kavli Scholar: "Retention of women in high levels of neuroscience - Perspectives" Emre Yaksi, FENS-Kavli Scholar: "Funding opportunities in Neuroscience: how to write a successful grant proposal" Matthew Larkum: "How to write an influential scientific publication" NOTE: The Workshop takes place on the island of Crete and is followed by the AREADNE 2016 meeting <http://areadne.org/> (June 22-26th, 2016), focusing on Research in Encoding And Decoding of Neural Ensembles, on the neighboring island of Sandorini. DENDRITES 2016 participants are encouraged to consider attending both meetings. On behalf of the organizing committee, Yiota Poirazi -- Panayiota Poirazi, Ph.D. Director of Research Computational Biology Laboratory Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB) Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH) Vassilika Vouton, P.O.Box 1385 GR 711 10 Heraklion, Crete, GREECE Tel: +30 2810 391139 <tel:+30%202810%20391139> Fax: +30 2810 391101 <tel:+30%202810%20391101> Εmail: poirazi(a)imbb.forth.gr <mailto:poirazi@imbb.forth.gr> http://www.dendrites.gr Chair http://www.fens.org/Outreach/FENS-Kavli-Network-of-Excellence/ -

Feb. 9, 2016

Postdoc position in multisensory decision making

by Thomas Otto

A *post-doctoral position* is available in the School of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of St Andrews. The position is part of a BBSRC funded research project on *multisensory decision making*, which will be carried out in the lab of Dr Thomas Otto. The research involves psychophysical experiments as well as mathematical modelling. The position includes funding for career development. The initial appointment is for one year, funding is available for *up to 3 years*. Start date is 1st May 2016, or as soon as possible thereafter. *Applicants *should have strong interests in our research (www.lclab.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk) and solid experience with psychophysical experiments or mathematical modelling. Strong candidates will have excellent communication skills in English as well as experience of programming (e.g., MATLAB). A PhD in Psychology, Neuroscience, or in a related field is required. Candidates near to completion may also submit applications, indicating the expected date of completion. A more detailed job description can be found online <https://www.vacancies.st-andrews.ac.uk/ViewVacancy.aspx?enc=mEgrBL4XQK0+ld8…> under Further Particulars. Informal enquiries are encouraged and can be made to Dr Thomas Otto, Email: to7(a)st-andrews.ac.uk. *Closing Date*: 4 March 2016 We encourage applicants to apply online at www.vacancies.st-andrews.ac.uk/welcome.aspx, however if you are unable to do this, please call +44 (0)1334 462571 for an application pack. Please quote ref: AR1745MR Applications are particularly welcome from women who are under-represented in Arts posts at the University. You can find out more about Equality and Diversity at https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk.hr.edi/. The University of St Andrews is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all, which is further demonstrated through its working on the Gender and Race Equality Charters and being awarded the Athena SWAN award for women in science, HR Excellence in Research Award and the LGBT Charter; http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/hr/edi/diversityawards/. The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland (No SC013532). -- Dr. Thomas Otto University of St Andrews School of Psychology and Neuroscience St Mary’s Quad, South Street, St Andrews, KY16 9JP, Scotland Phone: +44 (0)1334 462091 http://lclab.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/

Feb. 9, 2016

post-doctoral position in auditory decision-making

by Yale Cohen

The laboratories of Joshua Gold (http://www.med.upenn.edu/goldlab) and Yale Cohen (http://auditoryresearchlaboratory.weebly.com/) at the University of Pennsylvania are seeking highly motivated post-doctoral fellows to participate in a joint research project that tests the contribution of feedback and feedforward connections to auditory decision-making in non-human primates. Candidates should have a PhD. Those with an MD will be considered but only if the candidates have a strong scientific background. A strong candidate will have experience in systems and computational neuroscience; recording and analysis of single- and multi-unit activity and local-field potentials from awake, behaving animals (in particular non-human primates); analysis of behavioral data and electrophysiological data; computational-analysis and programming skills. We are interested in individuals who have a good personality and can interact well with other members of the laboratories. The positions are funded through a joint ONR grant to Cohen and Gold and are available immediately. Salary will be based on experience and the NIH post-doctoral scale. The University of Pennsylvania has an outstanding environment for systems and computational neuroscience. The environment is further enriched by the PIs' ongoing collaborations with other members of the Penn Neuroscience community. For more information or to apply, contact Joshua Gold (jigold at mail.med.upenn.edu) or Yale Cohen (ycohen at mail.med.upenn.edu) Interested applicants should send a CV; a brief statement of research interests; and names of 2-3 referees. -- Yale E. Cohen, Ph.D. Associate Professor Chair, IACUC Department of Otorhinolaryngology:Head and Neck Surgery University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine 3400 Spruce - 5 Ravdin Philadelphia, PA 19104 Office: B50 John Morgan Building E-mail: ycohen(a)mail.med.upenn.edu <mailto:ycohen@mail.med.upenn.edu> Phone: 215 898 7504 FAX: 215 898 9994 URL: http://auditoryresearchlaboratory.weebly.com/ <http://www.med.upenn.edu/auditoryresearchlab/>

Feb. 8, 2016

CfP - MLUB 2016 - International Workshop on Machine Learning for Understanding the Brain

by Emre Akbas

Please accept our apologies if you receive multiple copies of this call. 1st International Workshop on Machine Learning for Understanding the Brain, MLUB 2016 June 28-29 2016, Ankara, Turkey http://mlani.ceng.metu.edu.tr/ * Call for papers: International Workshop on Machine Learning for Understanding the Brain (MLUB) welcomes original and unpublished work on theory, systems, algorithms and applications related to Machine Learning and understanding techniques for modeling and analysis of brain in various modalities, such as, fMRI, sMRI, EEG, MEG, fNIRS. The workshop focuses on but is not limited to the following topics: - Learning and inference on neuroimaging data - Cognitive state classification - Functional Connectivity - Sparse Techniques - Multimodal Learning - Multi-Subject Learning - Efficient Algorithms for Large-Scale Data - Brain Network Embedding - Cognitive Computing - Software Simulation of the Brain - Pattern and Object Recognition - Cognitive Machine Learning - Modeling - Vision Models of the Brain - Memory Model of the Brain - Neural Models of the Brain - Visualization - High-Dimensional Neuroimaging Data Visualization - Brain Network Visualization - Network Summarization - Applications - Resting-State Data Analysis - Task-Based Data Analysis - Diagnosis of Diseases - Brain Computer Interface We call for paper contributions with a maximum length of 4 pages (double-column, IEEE style, PDF) for review. Accepted submissions will be assigned to one of the oral sessions. Every accepted submission has to be presented at the workshop by one of the paper's authors. All accepted and presented submissions will be included in the workshop proceedings and will be published by IEEE Xplore. * Important dates: Paper submission deadline: February 26, 2016 Notification of acceptance: March 22, 2016 Camera ready Submission: March 29, 2016 Workshop: June 28-29, 2016 * Keynote talks: Tulay Adali (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) Peter Janssen (KU Leuven) * Executive Committee Fatos T. Yarman Vural (Middle East Technical University) Tulay Adali (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) Enis Cetin (Bilkent University) Haluk Bingol (Bogazici University) Huseyin Boyaci (Bilkent University) * Technical Program Chairs Sinan Kalkan (Middle East Technical University) Emre Akbas (Middle East Technical University) Mete Ozay (Tohoku University) * For more information: http://mlub.ceng.metu.edu.tr/ <http://mlani.ceng.metu.edu.tr/>

Feb. 7, 2016

Ph.D. and PostDoctoral positions on High-Performance Brain Simulations

by C. Strydis

Dear all, Please find below new job postings in the field of High-Performance Brain Simulations: Our Computer Engineering group (www.erasmusbrainproject.nl<http://www.erasmusbrainproject.nl>) of the Neuroscience Department of the Erasmus Medical Center, the Netherlands, is conducting research on high-performance, large-scale simulations of the human cerebellum. Depending on the neuronal-network size and the modeling accuracy desired, brain-model simulations can rapidly grow to be become exascale order-of-magnitude applications for HPC platforms. By capitalizing on the long-standing expertise and track record of the Neuroscience Department, the overall objective of the research performed is dual: to re-construct in hardware (‘in silico’) the human cerebellar cortex and – in the process – to develop novel tools for the automatic, seamless and fast simulation of any brain-model ensembles on popular HPC platforms, such as FPGAs, NVidia GP-GPUs, Intel Xeon Phis and Maxeler Dataflow Engines. The selected candidates are expected to work on these topics. This research will be part of the VINEYARD Horizon 2020 EU-funded project (www.vineyard-h2020.eu<http://www.vineyard-h2020.eu>). Erasmus MC is a partner in the HiPEAC European Network of Excellence and an official collaborator in the H2020 Flagship: Human Brain Project (HBP - www.humanbrainproject.eu<http://www.humanbrainproject.eu>). Where HBP works on fully simulating the cerebral cortex, Erasmus MC is adding in accurate simulations of the cerebellar cortex. Collaborative partners are the Delft University of Technology, the Chalmers University of Technology and the National Technical University of Athens. For more details please check the posting here: https://www.hipeac.net/jobs/9011/one-phd-position-and-one-postdoctoral-posi… Kind regards, Christos Strydis -- ============================== Christos Strydis, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Neuroscience Department Erasmus Medical Center Wytemaweg 80 (12th floor) Office Ee1210a 3015 CN Rotterdam Tel: +31 - 10 - 70 - 43294 Fax: +31 - 10 - 70 - 44734 E-mail: C.Strydis(a)erasmusmc.nl<mailto:C.Strydis@erasmusmc.nl> Web: www.erasmusbrainproject.com/index.php/strydis<http://www.erasmusbrainproject.com/index.php/strydis> ==============================

Feb. 6, 2016

Neuro-Inspired Computational Elements Workshop, March 7-9

by Bruno OLSHAUSEN

2016 Neuro-Inspired Computational Elements Workshop March 7-9, 2016 Clark-Kerr Campus, Berkeley, CA http://neuroscience.berkeley.edu/2016-neuro-inspired-computational-elements… *About the meeting* Neuro-inspired Computational Elements (NICE) workshops have been held for the last three years, bringing the very wide ranging scientific disciplines (neuroscience: imaging, theory, algorithms), hardware and applications communities looking for a common ground to accelerate the development of next generation of computing approaches. The key outcome will be the further clarification of the value proposition for neuro-inspired/neuromorphic computing: why and how could these systems deliver the performance and efficiency we seek beyond conventional computing approaches? The concurrent task for the workshop is to identify pathways for building and accelerating the evaluation and development of such systems. *Invited Speakers:* William Dally, NVIDIA Ila Fiete, UT Austin Steve Furber, University of Manchester Surya Ganguli, Stanford Jeff Hawkins, Numenta Bruce Hendrickson, Sandia National Laboratories Giacomo Indiveri, University of Zurich Pentti Kanerva, Redwood Center for Theoretical Neuroscience Amir Khosrowshahi, Nervana Systems David Kirk, Nvidia Christof Koch, Allen Institute for Brain Science Aurel Lazar, Columbia Wolfang Maass, Technische Universität Graz Rajit Manohar, Cornell Dharmendra Modha, IBM Christos Papadimitriou, UC Berkeley Alice Parker, USC Michael Schmuker, University of Sussex Narayan Srinivasa, Intel Winfried Wilcke, IBM *To Register* Please click on the following registration page link https://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1749241 If you are interested in presenting at the workshop, we ask that you submit an extended abstract (1 page max pdf) during registration. There is an opportunity to upload your abstract at the bottom of the "personal information" page. After your information is entered you will be asked to pay. The 3 day event costs $275.00 per person, plus processing fees. *Hotel ** book by Sunday, Feb. 7 *** A block of rooms has been reserved at the Claremont Hotel for $219 per night, plus taxes and fees. Please click on this link to make a reservation in the room block: https://aws.passkey.com/event/14424359/owner/14188480/home --------------------------------------- Bruno A. Olshausen Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute & School of Optometry Director, Redwood Center for Theoretical Neuroscience UC Berkeley 575A Evans hall, MC 3198 Berkeley, CA 94720-3198 (510) 642-7250 / 2-7206 (fax) http://redwood.berkeley.edu/bruno

Feb. 6, 2016

Summer course in Computational Neuroscience: Vision

by Horwitz Lab

*Summer course* COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE: VISION July 11 – July 24, 2016 COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY *Application Deadline: March 31, 2016* Co-organized by Geoff Boynton, Greg Horwitz, and Jonathan Pillow, this course is offered every two years and gives 24 graduate students and postdocs the chance for intensive interchange with a diverse faculty in an intellectually stimulating environment. The goal of the course is to introduce students to the processing of visual information as a model for general issues in systems neuroscience. The emphasis is on approaches with strong theoretical bases. In addition to talks by an international faculty, the course offers ample opportunity to interact with the speakers and to apply the knowledge gained in the course through hands-on projects using Matlab. Please see https://meetings.cshl.edu/courses.aspx?course=C-VISI&year=16 for more information about the course, the faculty, and the application procedure.

Feb. 6, 2016

Position available: Doctoral Student in Auditory Neuroscience

by Vollmer, Maike

The Comprehensive Hearing Center (CHC) at the University Hospital of Wuerzburg offers the position of a Doctoral Student in Auditory Neuroscience. The DFG-funded research project (Priority Program 1608) investigates age-dependent effects of unilateral hearing loss on binaural signal processing and tests for neural plasticity and functional recovery using chronic electric stimulation with cochlear implants. The laboratory uses state-of-the art recording techniques across different auditory brain regions in animal models and computational analyses of neural data. In a collaborative team of investigators, corresponding histological and immunohistochemical analyses and modeling of neuronal data are performed. The CHC provides a rich interdisciplinary training environment within one of Germany's largest cochlear implant centers. Candidates can be integrated into the Ph.D. program of the Graduate School of Life Sciences. Applicants should have a Master's degree (M.Sc. or equivalent) in biology, bioengineering, neuroscience or related disciplines and show an interest in the auditory system and electrophysiology. Experience with Matlab and computational/programming skills are a plus. The position is available from April 2016 for three years. Applications from severely handicapped persons with basically similar qualification will be given priority. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Applicants should submit a CV, one page statement of research interests, and the name of one referee electronically to: Maike Vollmer, MD PhD Vollmer_M(a)klinik.uni-wuerzburg.de Comprehensive Hearing Center Auditory Neuroscience University Hospital Wuerzburg Josef-Schneider-Strasse 11 97080 Wuerzburg Germany

Feb. 5, 2016

PhD student in model-based neuroscience and dynamical systems

by Marieke van Vugt RUG

I am looking for a PhD student to work on a project looking at how computational models of cognition can help to interpret the functional significance of interactions between brain areas. application portal: http://www.rug.nl/about-us/work-with-us/job-opportunities/overview?details=… <http://www.rug.nl/about-us/work-with-us/job-opportunities/overview?details=…> PhD position Model-based neuroscience & dynamical systems (1.0 fte) Organisation Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has enjoyed an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative center of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Balanced study and career paths in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the 30,000 students and researchers to develop their own individual talents. Belonging to the best research universities in Europe and joining forces with prestigious partner universities and networks, the University of Groningen is truly an international place of knowledge. Job Description We invite applications for a fully-funded four-year PhD student position in the Data Science and Systems Complexity research theme of the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. This PhD position is a collaboration between the Cognitive Modeling group (Marieke van Vugt, http://www.ai.rug.nl/~mkvanvugt <http://www.ai.rug.nl/~mkvanvugt>, Jelmer Borst, http://www.jelmerborst.nl <http://www.jelmerborst.nl/> , and Niels Taatgen (http://www.ai.rug.nl/~niels/ <http://www.ai.rug.nl/~niels/>)), the Discrete Technology & Production Automation group (Ming Cao, http://www.rug.nl/staff/m.cao <http://www.rug.nl/staff/m.cao>) and the Software Engineering group (Mircea Lungu, http://www.rug.nl/staff/m.f.lungu/ <http://www.rug.nl/staff/m.f.lungu/> ). The main aim of the project is to understand how brain areas communicate in the service of information processing. To answer this question, we will combine cognitive models of cognition with a dynamical systems analysis of EEG. We have previously shown that cognitive models can be used to help interpret patterns of interaction between brain oscillations in a specific attention task. This project seeks to extend this approach to other tasks, and to link more generally the stable states and state transitions manifesting in EEG to information processing steps predicted by the model. Eventually we hope to develop a general-purpose “brain-activity parser” that can interpret what the interactions between different brain areas may mean. The position is one of the four new PhD positions embedded in the Data Science and System Complexity initiative and thus the student will have ample opportunity to interact with other PhD students and staff who are interested in pursuing interdisciplinary research on large data and complex systems. Qualifications A successful candidate has a Master's degree in Applied Mathematics, Control Engineering, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence or a related field, and solid programming skills. Experience in cognitive neuroscience or EEG analysis is a plus. Good communication skills (both verbal and written) in English are a prerequisite. The candidate should be enthusiastic about research, capable of learning new skills, and happy working both independently and in collaboration with other scientists. Conditions of employment The University of Groningen offers a salary of €2.174 gross per month in the first year up to a maximum of € 2.779 gross per month year (salary scale PhD students Dutch Universities) in the final based on a fulltime position (1.0 fte). The appointment is limited to a period of 4 years, which should be finished with a PhD examination. The first year constitutes a probationary period, with an evaluation of the candidate’s performance after nine months. The objective of this evaluation is to establish whether the candidate will be able to finish a PhD thesis in the remaining 3 years. If the performance evaluation is positive, the candidate’s contract will be extended for a total of 4 years. A training program within the Graduate School of Science is part of the agreement. You and your supervisor will make up a plan for additional education and supervising that is specific to your needs. The conditions of employment are available at the University of Groningen website under Human Resources:http://www.rug.nl/about-us/work-with-us/ <http://www.rug.nl/about-us/work-with-us/> Starting date The candidate starts as soon as possible, preferably March 1st. Application You may apply for this position before February 16th Dutch local time by means of the application form (see http://www.rug.nl/about-us/work-with-us/job-opportunities/overview?details=… <http://www.rug.nl/about-us/work-with-us/job-opportunities/overview?details=…>) Apply with a cover letter (with professional goals and a statement of interest), a curriculum vitae and two letters of recommendation (all PDF format). Information Dr. Marieke van Vugt, m.k.van.vugt(a)rug.nl <mailto:m.k.van.vugt@rug.nl> Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Marieke van Vugt, PhD Assistant Professor, Cognitive Modelling Group University of Groningen Bernoulliborg, room 326 Nijenborgh 9 9747 AG Groningen The Netherlands phone: +31-6-5195-4984 (cell) +31-50-363-9487 (office) http://www.ai.rug.nl/~mkvanvugt <http://www.ai.rug.nl/~mkvanvugt> twitter: @mvugt m.k.van.vugt(a)rug.nl <mailto:m.k.van.vugt@rug.nl> / mkvanvugt(a)gmail.com

Feb. 4, 2016

[2nd call for applications] *Graduate Programs in Computational Neuroscience* in Berlin; MSc and PhD; 7 PhD scholarships; deadline March 15, 2015

by Robert Martin

[Apologies for cross-posting] *Doctoral* and *Master Program* "Computational Neuroscience" at the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin in Berlin, Germany Application deadline: *March 15, 2016* Begin of courses: October 2016 Internet: www.computational-neuroscience-berlin.de _Doctoral Program_ The Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin and the TU Berlin invite applications for *6 fellowships* of the Research Training Group "Sensory Computation in Neural Systems" (GRK 1589/2, https://www.eecs.tu-berlin.de/grk_15891/) The *scientific program* of the research training group combines techniques and concepts from machine learning, computational neuroscience, and systems neurobiology in order to specifically address sensory computation. Doctoral candidates will work on interdisciplinary projects investigating the mechanisms of neural computation, address the processes underlying perception on different scales and different levels of abstraction, and develop new theories of computation hand in hand with well-controlled experiments in order to put functional hypotheses to the test. The training group offers structured supervision complemented by a teaching and training program. Each student will be supervised by two investigators with complementary expertise and will be associated with the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin (https://www.bccn-berlin.de/) a leading research center dedicated to the theoretical study of neural processing. Candidates are expected to hold a Masters degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject (e.g., neuroscience, cognitive science, computer science, physics, mathematics, etc.) and have the required advanced mathematical background. Candidates selected in the first application step will be invited for lab visits and an interview, expected to take place in June 2015. The *fellowships of 1468 €/month* - with additional children allowances if applicable---will be granted for up to three years. _Master's Program_ The tuition-free Master program in Computational Neuroscience offers *15 places* per year, has a duration of 2 years and is fully taught in English. The *curriculum* is subdivided into ten modules, whose content includes theoretical neuroscience, programming, machine learning, cognitive neuroscience, acquisition, modelling, and computational analysis of neural data, with a strong focus on a complementary theoretical and experimental training. Three lab rotations and a Master's thesis are accomplished in the second year. The aim of the program is to provide the students with an interdisciplinary education and an early contact to the neurocomputational research environment. *Requirements* BSc or equivalent degree in a relevant subject (typically in the natural sciences, in an engineering discipline, in cognitive science, or in mathematics), certificate of English proficiency, proof of sufficient mathematical knowledge (at least 24 ECTS credit points). ~~~ _For more information_ ... ... come and visit us at the BCCN Berlin: https://www.bccn-berlin.de/Home/Contact/How_to_reach/ ... or browse: www.computational-neuroscience-berlin.de ... or e-mail: graduateprograms(a)bccn-berlin.de . Best regards, Robert Martin -- Robert Martin, PhD Teaching Coordinator Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin Philippstr. 13 House 6; 10115 Berlin; Germany Phone/Fax +49 (0)30 2093 6773/6771 http://www.computational-neuroscience-berlin.de GRK 1589/1, Sensory Computation in Neural Systems Technische Universitaet Berlin Sekretariat MAR 5-6; Marchstr. 23; 10587 Berlin Phone/Fax +49 (0)30 314 72006/73121 http://www.eecs.tu-berlin.de/grk_15891/

Feb. 3, 2016

CNS*2016

by Sharon Crook

Organization for Computational Neurosciences (OCNS) CNS*2016 25th Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting Jeju Island, South Korea July 2-7, 2016 The main meeting (July 3-5) will be preceded by a day of tutorials (July 2) and followed by two days of workshops (July 6-7). Invited Keynote Speakers: Nicolas Brunel, University of Chicago, USA Mitsuo Kawato, Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute, Japan Tatyana Sharpee, Salk Institute, USA Registration opened on January 13, 2016. Abstract submissions are now being accepted and will close on February 28. Workshop proposals are now being accepted. Note that one of the authors must register as sponsoring author for the main meeting before abstract submission is possible. In case the abstract is not accepted for presentation, the registration fee will be refunded. For up-to-date conference information, please visit http://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2016-jeju ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OCNS is the international member-based society for computational neuroscientists. Become a member to be eligible for travel awards and more. Visit our website for more information: http://www.cnsorg.org

Feb. 2, 2016

Open postdoctoral position in computational neuroscience+machine learning+statistics

by Turaga, Srinivas C

The Turaga Lab is looking for an exceptional postdoctoral researcher, for research at the intersection of machine learning and neuroscience. https://www.janelia.org/lab/turaga-lab —— About the lab —— With recent technological advances in 3d electron microscopy, optogenetics and large-scale chronic in vivo neural imaging, it is now possible to measure and perturb the activity of large populations of neurons, and to map their connectivity. These new data can be used understand how the structure of a neural circuit gives rise to its function. Our lab develops machine learning algorithms to map neural connectivity, and statistical models to characterize neural activity and to relate activity to connectivity. We have pioneered the use of deep-learning based machine learning algorithms to map neural connectivity from 3d electron microscopic images of brain tissue, and we are now working to improve these methods. This involves solving interesting new problems in structured prediction, active learning and unsupervised learning at an unprecedented scale (imagine working with labeled training datasets with 10^9 examples in a 10^6 dimensional feature space and wanting to achieve accuracies of 99.999%!). We are developing novel statistical methods for the analysis of large-scale calcium imaging datasets, and medium-scale connectome datasets, in order to help understand the latent structure of neural activity and neural connectivity. Our ultimate goal is build models combining large-scale activity measurements with structural connectomes in order to relate neural activity to neural connectivity with statistical and mechanistic models. —— About the institute —— HHMI's Janelia Research Campus is a unique, world-class research community near Washington, D.C. dedicated to understanding the function of neural circuits and developing synergistic imaging technology. Our highly collaborative structure is designed to support interdisciplinary work in small lab groups. We seek candidates who are comfortable with risk and are able to think independently to develop novel approaches. —— Applying —— Applicants should have a strong quantitative background with degrees or expertise in machine learning, computational neuroscience, applied mathematics, physics or related discipline. Excellent collaborative programming skills in Python, C/C++, Java or similar languages are essential. To apply, please send me a CV and names and addresses of 2-3 references by email. I will also be attending Cosyne 2016 in Salt Lake City from Feb 25-28 and will be happy to meet you there. Srini Turaga, Group Leader turagas(a)janelia.hhmi.org https://www.janelia.org/lab/turaga-lab Howard Hughes Medical Institute / Janelia Research Campus 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn VA 20147 Office: +1 (571) 209 4131 Fax: +1 (571) 209 4939

Feb. 2, 2016

PhD Position: Modelling Gait in People with Parkinsons Disease, University of Exeter

by Tsaneva-Atanasova, Krasimira

Based within the EPSRC Centre for Predictive Modelling in Healthcare, a £2M initiative bringing together mathematicians, statisticians and clinicians, you will work on a project aiming to develop a data-driven mathematical modeling framework in order to study gait impairments in patients with Parkinson’s under the supervision of Prof Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova. To Apply: Candidates with strong quantitative training (e.g. a BSc or MSc in Physics, Mathematics, Computational Neuroscience, Computer Science, or Engineering) and evidence of scientific achievement are invited to apply. Knowledge of biomechanics and/or neuroscience is a plus. Please apply using the following link: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/studying/funding/award/?id=2057 Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova Professor of Mathematics for Healthcare 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 ALTEREGO - Enhancing Social Interaction with an AlterEgo artificial agent http://www.euromov.eu/alterego/homepage

Feb. 2, 2016

***INDIN 2016 special session: Cognitive computing for Cyber Physical Systems ***

by Evgeny Osipov

Dear colleagues, Sorry for a possible cross-posting Please consider to submit your publication to special session “Biologically-Inspired Cognitive Architectures in Dependable Cyber-Physical Systems” on IEEE INDIN 2016 >> EXTENDED (FINAL) DEADLINE FEBRUARY 29, 2016 << >> LINK FOR SUBMISSION: http://vps.ieee-ies.org/submit-cgi-bin/authorlogin.pl?event=INDIN16 << >> Choose “SS Biologically Inspired Cognitive Architectures in Dependable Cyber-Physical Systems” as Technical Track when submitting your contribution. << IEEE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INDUSTRIAL INFORMATICS INDIN’16 18-21 JULY 2016, FUTUROSCOPE-POITIERS, FRANCE Special Session on “Biologically-Inspired Cognitive Architectures in Dependable Cyber-Physical Systems” Organized by IEEE Industrial Electronic Society. Technical Committee on Industrial Informatics. Sub-Committee on Bio-inspired industrial informatics Principal Organizer: Prof. Evgeny Osipov, Luleå University of Technology ———————————————————— INDIN 2016 (http://ieee-indin2016.sciencesconf.org/) is an IEEE International Conference on Industrial Informatics will be held on 18-23 July 2016, Futuroscope-Poitiers, France. The conference is sponsored by IEEE Industrial Electronics Society and Pprime Institute, Futuroscope-Poitiers, France. The proceedings are indexed by the Web of Science. Note that good quality papers may be considered for publication in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics subject to further rounds of review. ———————————————————— Call for Papers Traditional computing architectures are designed to produce reliable systems with specifiable behaviours and properties. Their major strengths come from easiness of inspection, maintenance, interoperability, and reuse. However, all modern computing systems operate based on strict assumptions about their environments, thus are too inflexible to react to changing demands. In critical environments such as industrial automation, smart grids and dependable cyber-physical systems in general, this inflexibility results in serious in many cases life-critical errors. Alternative computing architectures, which greatly borrow their functionality from the versatility and efficiency of systems developed by nature, are known as biologically-inspired cognitive computing architectures (BICA). Traditionally these architectures find their applications in areas like natural language processing, image and speech processing. Very little attention so far was paid at exploring their applicability in the context of dependable industrial systems. This special session solicits contributions exploring diverse applications of BICA architectures for enriching intelligent functionality of industrial systems. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: • Associative memory based reasoning • Combined machine learning / BICA solutions • Neural networks in cognitive computing architectures • Cognitive architectures for continuous signal processing • Cognitive fault detection and system identification • Cognitive and hybrid automatic control • Cognitive wireless communications • Symbiosis of cognitive and Von-Neumann computing architectures • Novel application areas and use-cases for BICA architectures in CPS and IoT. • BICA empowered software engineering • Spiking Neural Networks interfacing BICA architectures. Industrial usecases. -- Prof. Evgeny Osipov Dependable Communication and Computation Systems Department of Computer Science Electrical and Space Engineering Luleå University of Technology Tel. +46 920 49 15 78 Web. https://sites.google.com/site/evgenyosipov/

Feb. 2, 2016

Ph.D. and PostDoctoral positions on High-Performance Brain Simulations

by C. Strydis

Dear all, Please find below new job postings in the field of High-Performance Brain Simulations https://www.hipeac.net/jobs/9011/one-phd-position-and-one-postdoctoral-posi… Please direct all queries and applications to: c.strydis(a)erasmusmc.nl Lab job listings at: www.erasmusbrainproject.com/index.php/workopen/positions Kind regards, Christos Strydis -- ============================== Christos Strydis, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Neuroscience Department Erasmus Medical Center Wytemaweg 80 (12th floor) Office Ee1210a 3015 CN Rotterdam Tel: +31 - 10 - 70 - 43294 Fax: +31 - 10 - 70 - 44734 E-mail: C.Strydis(a)erasmusmc.nl Web: www.erasmusbrainproject.com/index.php/strydis ==============================

Feb. 2, 2016

Postdoctoral position in computational neuroscience in New York

by Ruben Coen Cagli

Postdoctoral position in the Coen-Cagli Laboratory Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY Start date August 2016 or later We are looking for a highly creative and motivated postdoctoral fellow to work in the field of computational and systems neuroscience in the laboratory of Ruben Coen-Cagli - Department of Systems and Computational Biology and Department of Neuroscience at Albert Einstein College of Medicine (AECOM) in New York City (https://sites.google.com/site/rubencoencagli/<https://sites.google.com/site/rubencoencagli/>). Our lab studies how biological sensory systems interpret the surrounding environment. Topics include probabilistic representations of natural images; models of selectivity and variability in large cortical populations; the behavioral consequences of neuronal variability; and uncertainty in visual and auditory perception. We combine theories of probabilistic neural coding, tools from computer vision and machine learning, eye-tracking experiments, and neurophysiology through collaborations. The candidate is expected to perform research related to these topics. The lab features state of the art computing and eye-tracking facilities. Close interaction and collaboration with other members of the department is anticipated. Applicants must have a Ph.D. in a relevant discipline, with an academic record of scientific excellence and independent research. Prior experience should include areas such as computational neuroscience, machine learning, computer vision, or statistics. Applicants should have a keen interest in interdisciplinary approaches to biological and neural systems. AECOM offers a vibrant interdisciplinary environment, with a growing systems and computational contingent. It is located in a quiet neighborhood of New York, only a short subway ride from Manhattan. Information about working at the AECOM, including benefits and housing for postdocs, can be found at https://www.einstein.yu.edu/research/belfer-institute/ The position starts in or after August 2016, and is funded for several years, with an initial one year appointment and expectation of extension given satisfactory performance. Salary is competitive and will be commensurate with experience. Candidates should send a single pdf file, consisting of a 1-page motivation letter, CV, and publication list to ruben.coencagli(a)gmail.com. Furthermore, candidates should organize two letters of reference, to be sent to the same e-mail address. The position is open until filled. Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. ----------------- Ruben Coen-Cagli will be available at Cosyne to meet with candidates.

Feb. 1, 2016

Postdoctoral position in Computational Neuroscience at NYU-Shanghai

by Sukbin Lim

Multiple postdoctoral positions are available in Sukbin Lim's lab at NYU-Shanghai as part of NYU’s global network and the NYU-ECNU Institute of Brain and Cognitive Science (https://shanghai.nyu.edu/research/brain) The overarching goal of our lab is to understand network interactions and dynamics in neuronal systems. In particular, our work is focused on investigating network mechanisms and synaptic plasticity for higher cognitive functions such as learning and memory. More information on the research can be found at http://shanghai.nyu.edu/research/brain/faculty/Sukbin-Lim. Environment: Institute of Brain and Cognitive Science at NYU-Shanghai is a multidisciplinary and collaborative research environment. Candidates will be encouraged to collaborate with experimental and computational groups at NYU and NYU-Shanghai, and will have the opportunities to spend time at NYU in New York in case of a collaboration between Shanghai and New York. The initial appointment is for 1 year, renewable up to 3 years subject to progress and globally competitive compensations will be provided. To Apply: Qualified applicants are expected to hold a PhD by the start date of the position in computational and theoretical neuroscience, or related discipline with a strong quantitative training in Mathematics, Physics, Computer Sciences and Engineering. Strong programming skills (e.g., Python, MATLAB or C/C++) and experience in modeling networks/complex systems will be highly valued. Knowledge of Neuroscience would be a plus. Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled. To be considered, please send a curriculum vitae, short research statement and the names and contact information of two references to *sukbin.lim(a)**nyu.edu <xinying.cai(a)nyu.edu>*.

Feb. 1, 2016

CfP: SASO 2016 - IEEE International Conference on Self-Adaptive and Self-Organizing Systems, September 12-16, Augsburg, Germany

by newsletter

************************************************************************* CALL FOR PAPERS Tenth IEEE International Conference on Self-Adaptive and Self-Organizing Systems (SASO 2016) Augsburg, Germany; 12-16 September 2016 http://uni-augsburg.de/saso2016 @SASO2016Conf ************************************************************************* Part of FAS* - Foundation and Applications of Self* Computing Conferences Co-located with: The International Conference on Cloud and Autonomic Computing (ICCAC 2016) http://iccac2016.se.rit.edu ------------------- Aims and Scope ------------------- The aim of the Self-Adaptive and Self-Organizing systems conference series (SASO) is to provide a forum for the foundations of a principled approach to engineering systems, networks, and services based on self-adaptation and self-organization. The complexity of current and emerging networks, software, and services, especially when dealing with dynamics in the environment and problem domain, has led the software engineering, distributed systems, and management communities to look for inspiration in diverse fields (e.g., complex systems, control theory, artificial intelligence, sociology, and biology) to find new ways of designing and managing such computing systems. In this endeavor, self-organization and self-adaptation have emerged as two promising interrelated approaches. They form the basis for many other self-* properties, such as self-configuration, self-healing, or self-optimization. Systems exhibiting such properties are often referred to as self-* systems. The tenth edition of the SASO conference embraces the inter-disciplinary nature and the scientific, empirical, and application dimensions of self-* systems and welcomes novel results on both self-adaptive and self-organizing systems research. The topics of interest include, but are not limited to: - Systems theory: theoretical frameworks and models; biologically- and socially-inspired paradigms; inter-operation of self-* mechanisms; - Systems techniques: techniques to specify and analyze self-* systems, like statistical physics, machine learning, multi-agent systems, or other novel techniques; - Systems engineering: reusable mechanisms, design patterns, architectures, methodologies; software and middleware development frameworks and methods, platforms and toolkits; hardware; self-* materials; governance of self-* systems, emergent behavior in self-* systems; - System properties: robustness, resilience, and stability; emergence; computational awareness and self-awareness; reflection; anti-fragility; - Cyber-physical and socio-technical systems: human factors and visualization; self-* social computers; crowdsourcing and collective awareness; human-in-the-loop; - Data-driven approaches: data mining; machine learning; data science and other statistical techniques to analyze, understand, and manage behavior of complex systems; - Education: experience reports; curricula; innovative course concepts; methodological aspects of self-* systems education; - Ethics and Humanities in self-* systems; - Applications and experiences with self-* systems in any of the following domains: + Smart-*: application of self-* principles to smart-grids, smart-cities, smart-environments, smart-vehicles + Industrial automation: embedded self-* systems, adaptive industrial plants, smart industries (Industry 4.0) + Transportation: autonomous vehicles, coordination between vehicles, pedestrians, and infrastructure, and traffic optimization + Unmanned systems: aerial vehicles, undersea vehicles, other robotic platforms + Internet of Things: challenges, applications, and benefits; self-* for network management, self-* applied to Cybersecurity We are looking for contributions that present novel theoretical or experimental results, novel design patterns, mechanisms, system architectures, frameworks or tools, or practical approaches and experiences in building or deploying real-world systems and applications. Contributions contrasting different approaches for engineering a given family of systems, or demonstrating the applicability of a certain approach for different systems, are equally encouraged. Likewise, papers describing substantial innovation or insights in the use and communication of self-* systems in the classroom are welcome. Where relevant and appropriate, accepted papers will also be encouraged to participate in the Demo or Poster Sessions. -------------------- Important Dates -------------------- Abstract submission: May 2, 2016 Paper submission: May 9, 2016 Rebuttal phase: June 16-20, 2016 Notification: June 23, 2016 Camera ready copy due: July 5, 2016 Conference: September 12-16, 2016 ---------------------------- Submission Instructions ---------------------------- Submissions can be up to 10 pages, formatted according to the standard IEEE Computer Society Press proceedings style guide, and submitted electronically in PDF format. Please register as authors and submit your papers using the SASO 2016 conference management system https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=saso2016. The proceedings will be published by IEEE Computer Society Press, and made available as a part of the IEEE Digital Library. Note that a separate Call for Poster and Demo Submissions will also be issued. As per the standard IEEE policies, all submissions should be original, i.e., they should not have been previously published in any conference proceedings, book, or journal and should not currently be under review for another archival conference. We also highlight IEEE’s policies regarding plagiarism and self-plagiarism (http://www.ieee.org/publications_standards/publications/rights/ID_Plagiaris…) --------------------- Review Criteria --------------------- Papers should present novel ideas in the cross-disciplinary research context described in this call, motivated by problems from current practice or applied research. Both theoretical and empirical contributions should be highlighted, substantiated by formal analysis, simulation, experimental evaluations, comparative studies, and so on. Appropriate references must be made to related work. Because SASO is a cross-disciplinary conference, we encourage papers to be intelligible and relevant to researchers who are not members of the same specialized sub-field. Authors are also encouraged to submit papers describing applications. Application papers should provide an indication of the real world relevance of the problem that is solved, including a description of the deployment domain, and some form of evaluation of performance, usability, or comparison to alternative approaches. Experience papers are also welcome, especially if they highlight insights into any aspect of design, implementation or management of self-* systems that would be of benefit to practitioners and the SASO community. All submissions will be rigorously peer reviewed and evaluated on the basis of the quality of their technical contribution, originality, soundness, significance, presentation, understanding of the state of the art, and overall quality. ------------------------------- Conference General Chair ------------------------------- Wolfgang Reif University of Augsburg, DE -------------------- Program Chairs -------------------- Giacomo Cabri, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, IT Gauthier Picard, École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Saint-Étienne, FR Niranjan Suri, Florida Institute of Human and Machine Cognition, FL, USA

Jan. 31, 2016

Postdoc position in large-scale neural modeling -- Eliasmith lab

by Peter Blouw

In brief, the Eliasmith lab at the Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience has a position available for a 2-year postdoc. The focus is on large-scale spiking neural models that exhibit interesting behaviors and run on supercomputing infrastructure. "Interesting behaviour" is broadly defined, including vision, motor control, decision making, any variety of learning, audition, language processing, and so on. Full details below: *SOSCIP/IBM Canada Post-Doctoral Fellow (PDF) Research Scientist* Launched in 2012, SOSCIP was founded by seven Ontario universities and IBM Canada Limited as a collaborative research consortium, with a mandate to bring together academic researchers and small- and medium-sized companies to drive innovation using state-of-the-art advanced computing and big data analytics technologies, commercial outcomes for social and economic development in Ontario. New investments from IBM Canada and other stakeholders have enabled SOSCIP to expand its computing platforms and resources to increase capacity and add new members. With the addition of our three new academic partners, membership in the consortium has more than doubled over the last two years to 16 organizations. The IBM Canada Research & Development Centre is expanding, and we are seeking a post-doctoral fellow who has a PhD in Theoretical or Computational Neuroscience or a related field, with strong programming skills and experience in high-performance computing environments. This role will support a research project led by Dr. Chris Eliasmith in the Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience at the University of Waterloo. Dr. Eliasmith's lab constructs state-of-the-art, large-scale, neuron-level models of a wide variety of behaviours, recently publishing what remains the world's largest functional brain model, Spaun, in Science. These models are simulated in the software Nengo, which is able to run models on a wide variety of hardware platforms, or 'backends', including neuromorphic hardware. Recently, a backend for BlueGene/Q has been developed, allowing Nengo models, including Spaun, to run on the supercomputers housed at SOSCIP. The successful candidate will focus on scaling up models, including Spaun, to take full advantage of these hardware resources. Scaling will include developing theory and implementation of new behaviours, as well as increasing the biological fidelity of Nengo models. A strong publication record, with demonstrated applications of neural-level models to behaviour (e.g. vision, motor control, memory, decision making, etc.), neuron-level compartmental modeling, various applications of learning (deep learning, reinforcement learning, STDP, etc.), and large-scale modeling are greatly desired. Familiarity with Python, MPI, and Javascript would be beneficial. Education and Experience - PhD in Theoretical or Computational Neuroscience, or a related field - strong programming skills and experience in high-performance computing environments - experience working as part of a research team Work Location: Waterloo, Ontario Term of Contract: 2-years maximum IBM is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Jan. 31, 2016

Okinawa/OIST Computational Neuroscience Course 2016: one week left to apply

by Erik De Schutter

OKINAWA/OIST COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE COURSE 2016 Methods, Neurons, Networks and Behaviors June 13 - June 30, 2016 Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Japan https://groups.oist.jp/ocnc The aim of the Okinawa/OIST Computational Neuroscience Course is to provide opportunities for young researchers with theoretical backgrounds to learn the latest advances in neuroscience, and for those with experimental backgrounds to have hands-on experience in computational modeling. We invite graduate students and postgraduate researchers to participate in the course, held from June 13th through June 30th, 2016 at an oceanfront seminar house of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University. Applications are through the course web page (https://groups.oist.jp/ocnc) only; January 4 - February 5, 2016. Applicants will receive confirmation of acceptance in March. Like in preceding years, OCNC will be a comprehensive three-week course covering single neurons, networks, and behaviors with ample time for student projects. The first week will focus exclusively on methods with hands-on tutorials during the afternoons, while the second and third weeks will have lectures by international experts. The course has a strong hands-on component based on student proposed modeling or data analysis projects, which are further refined with the help of a dedicated tutor. Applicants are required to propose their project at the time of application. There is no tuition fee. The sponsor will provide lodging and meals during the course and may support travel for those without funding. We hope that this course will be a good opportunity for theoretical and experimental neuroscientists to meet each other and to explore the attractive nature and culture of Okinawa, the southernmost island prefecture of Japan. Invited faculty: • Erik De Schutter (OIST) • Sophie Deneve (École Normale Supérieure, France) • Kenji Doya (OIST) • Chris Eliasmith (University of Waterloo, Canada) • Tomoki Fukai (RIKEN BSI, Japan) • Michael Häusser (University College London, UK) • Yukiyasu Kamitani (ATR & Kyoto University, Japan) • Etienne Koechlin (École Normale Supérieure, France) • Bernd Kuhn (OIST) • Stefan Mihalas (Allen Institute for Brain Science, USA) • Partha Mitra (Cold Spring Harbor, USA) • Astrid Prinz (Emory University, USA) • John Rinzel (New York University, USA) • Yoko Yazaki-Sugiyama (OIST)

Jan. 29, 2016

Conference announcement: "The neuroscience of decision-making"

by Paul Cisek

38th International Symposium of the GRSNC The neuroscience of decision-making May 2-3, 2016 Université de Montréal WEBSITE: <http://www.grsnc.umontreal.ca/38s/> http://www.grsnc.umontreal.ca/38s/ PROGRAM: <http://www.grsnc.umontreal.ca/38s/prog_e.html> http://www.grsnc.umontreal.ca/38s/prog_e.html REGISTRATION: <http://appl.grsnc.umontreal.ca/en/symposium/38s/registration.cfm> http://appl.grsnc.umontreal.ca/en/symposium/38s/registration.cfm POSTER: <http://www.grsnc.umontreal.ca/38s/38s_poster.pdf> http://www.grsnc.umontreal.ca/38s/38s_poster.pdf We are pleased to announce the 38th symposium of the Groupe de Recherche sur le Système Nerveux Central (GRSNC) which is entitled "The neurosciences of decision-making". This symposium will be held on May 2-3, 2016 at the Université de Montréal, Pavillon 3200 Jean-Brillant, room B-2245 and the organizers are Drs Paul Cisek (UdeM), Alain Dagher (McGill), Lesley Fellows (McGill), John Kalaska (UdeM) et Peter Shizgal (Concordia). Research on the neural bases of decision-making has experienced a rapid growth in the last 20 years. It addresses a great diversity of questions, ranging from how animals weigh the costs and benefits of different actions to what goes wrong when humans exhibit maladaptive behavior, such as in addiction. In this symposium, we will discuss cutting-edge research on this topic, reviewing the progress that has been made and addressing the central open questions facing this rapidly developing field. In planning the sessions, we have paid particular attention to issues that stretch from the most basic neuroscience all the way to clinical applications. We will highlight converging evidence from the full range of neuroscientific methods applied in this field, considered within a diversity of conceptual frameworks. There will be four sessions of presentations by invited speakers from around the world as well as two contributed poster sessions. The presentations are regrouped in for sessions: * Brain representations of value: Common or multiple (Chairperson: Peter Shizgal) * Encoding and learning values: Neural and computational mechanisms (Chairperson: Alain Dagher) * Decision in the wild (Chairperson: John Kalaska) * Diseases and deviances (Chairperson: Lesley Fellows) Lecturers: Joshua D. Berke, Thomas Boraud, Paul Cisek, Alain Dagher, Peter Dayan, Nathaniel Daw, Lesley Fellows, J. Randall Flanagan, Michael J. Frank, Karl Friston, Hugh Garavan, Paul W. Glimcher, Joseph Kable, Elizabeth A. Murray, Michael L. Platt, David Redish, Michael N. Shadlen, Peter Shizgal, Daphna Shohamy and Jonathan D. Wallis. Submissions are invited for poster presentations. The deadline for submission is March 31, 2016 We would appreciate if you could forward this message to colleagues and students. Manon Dumas for the organizing committee Groupe de recherche sur le système nerveux central (GRSNC) Université de Montréal Département de neurosciences Pavillon Paul-G.-Desmarais, bureau 4115 Courriel: <mailto:m.dumas@umontreal.ca> m.dumas(a)umontreal.ca Téléphone: (514) 343-6366 Télécopieur: (514) 343-6113

Jan. 28, 2016

Research Internship position at Numenta

by Subutai Ahmad

RESEARCH INTERNSHIP POSITION IN COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING NUMENTA, Inc. About Numenta: Numenta was founded in 2005 and is a leader in the emerging field of machine intelligence. Its biologically inspired technology is based on a detailed and evolving theory of the neocortex first described in co-founder Jeff Hawkins’ book, On Intelligence. The current technology can be applied to anomaly detection in servers and applications, human behavior, and geo-spatial tracking data. Numenta is focused on understanding the computational principles behind the cortex in detail, and implementing practical systems that operate on those principles. NuPIC, Numenta's open source code base, is one of the top three most active machine learning projects on Github. For more details, please see www.numenta.com Job description: The Research Group at Numenta is looking for outstanding MS or PhD students or other research scientists for a paid internship during the Spring, Summer or Fall 2016. We are looking for candidates with expertise in Machine Learning, Computational Neuroscience and/or Natural Language Processing. Preference given to candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas: sequence learning, natural language processing, neuron modeling, and computational models of cortex. Numenta's interns will get exposure to all aspects of Hierarchical Temporal Memory (HTM) learning algorithms, participate in leading edge research in computational neuroscience, and get full clearance to publish their work and research source code. The internship commitment is for 3 to 4 months full time (longer appointments up to one year may be possible). We are located in Silicon Valley (Redwood City, CA). What you can expect to learn and how you might contribute: - The challenges of designing and implementing detailed models of cortical function that can be applied to real-world problems - Gain experience solving hard problems in domains such as natural language processing, streaming analytics, sensorimotor inference, and/or reinforcement learning - Participate in designing functional models of Layers 2/3, 4, 5, and 6, thalamocortical circuits, feedback circuits, and sensorimotor processing - Learn how to contribute to a top open source project, and improve your software engineering skills - Obtain a detailed understanding of Hierarchical Temporal Memory Desired qualifications: - Currently enrolled in a PhD program, or a recent PhD graduate, or equivalent research experience - Strong research background in machine learning or machine intelligence - Strong research background in computational neuroscience - Excellent algorithmic problem solving skills, and the ability to implement solutions in Python, C/C++, Java, etc. - Established track record of publications in leading peer reviewed conferences and journals - Excellent programming skills - Working knowledge of HTM algorithms a plus - Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to work in a team oriented environment - A belief that the best way to build intelligent machines is to understand the cortex How to apply: Qualified applicants should send the following to interns(a)numenta.com: - Cover letter describing their specific interest in Numenta. Please include any relevant experience with HTM algorithms or NuPIC. - Resume or CV, including list of relevant courses and published papers. Numenta is an equal opportunity employer supporting workforce diversity. IMPORTANT NOTE: Numenta is unable to consider internship applications from international researchers unless they are US Citizens, hold a Green Card, or are currently enrolled in a US University and eligible for OPT.

Jan. 28, 2016

Re: [Comp-neuro] Postdocs integrated into the Human brain Project – specifically data-driven modeling at the subcellular or network levels, or tool development/support

by Prof. Dr. Jordi Vallverdú

*CFP* Call for Chapters, for the book *“Blended Cognition. The Robotic Challenge”,* edited by Jordi Vallverdú and Vincent C. Müller, and published by *Springer Verlag*. To be released in January 2017. *Main aims of the book:* This book introduces a new concept into cognitive sciences research, which will contribute to the design of more realistic and efficient robots: *blended cognition*. Looking at human daily decision-making, we can observe a mixture of methods, as well as lots of intuition-driven actions that are not properly decision-taking at all. Humans blend and combine several kinds of heuristics, consciously or not, at symbolic and sensory-motor levels. The blending can be parallel or sequential, or both. Human beings use a large array of methods and techniques in order to decide a broad range of actions. It can be considered an integrated multi-heuristic activity that runs at several formal as well as informal and even unconscious levels. Our aim is to join re-searchers who are trying to integrate multitask skills into robotic and cognitive systems and to analyze the possible connections of a subsumptioned architecture, with bio-inspired as well as artificial approaches working together. Between classic top down and bottom-up approaches to cognitive processing, we look for the creation of a space for cognitive systems experts that makes possible to select the best and optimal strategy for each decision situation. Blended cognition is, thus, the study of how an intelligent system can use or even partially combine several methods to decide among possible action outputs or data evaluation and storage. A combination of possible data- and task-demands: Semantics-Body-Mind. By ‘semantics’ we mean the value of information at a specific moment for the agent; by ‘body’ we mean the bodily requirements and possibilities (DOF, flexibility, impact absorption, …) that the agent exhibits; and by ‘mind’ we refer to the heuristic mechanisms designed to give answers to the data flows. The importance of blended cognition is that there is no pre-established and rigid hierarchy of control among these possible main layers, as well as for their sub-layers. There are optimized functional strategies of agreement and combination but the key point here is the *flexibility* and *adaptability *of the system. *Suggested Topics:* § A-modal and Modal approaches to decision § Abductive reasoning § Automated discovery § Autonomous robots § Bayesian analysis § Bio-inspired computing § Bounded rationality § Computational Creativity § Data Integration § Embodied cognition § Emotional Architectures § Epigenetic robotics § Extended cognition § Genetic algorithms § Grounded cognition § Heuristics § Incremental active learning § Meta-heuristics § Morphological computing § Multi-heuristics § Non-monotonic logic § Procedural reasoning § Statistical processing § Subsumption architectures § Swarm intelligence *Deadlines :* I. CFP: January, 2016. II. Paper proposals: May 4th, 2016. III. Editors acceptance: May 2nd, 2016. IV. Full materials August 25th, 2016. V. Last reviews: October 24th, 2016. VI. Camera-Ready: November 28th, 2016. VII. Releasement: January, 2017. *Guidelines for manuscript preparation:* https://www.springer.com/gp/authors-editors/book-authors-editors/manuscript… Please, take into account that all submissions have abstracts, keywords, and a completed and signed consent to publish form. *Send proposals to jordi.vallverdu(a)uab.cat <jordi.vallverdu(a)uab.cat>. All e-mails will be answered in order to check deliveries! * Prof. Dr. Jordi Vallverdú, B. Phil, B. Mus, M.Sci, Ph.D. Room B7/104, Philosophy Dept. UAB 08193 Bellaterra (BCN) CATALONIA ------------------- FULL CV/Publications: https://uab.academia.edu/JordiVallverdu <https://uab.academia.edu/JordiVallverd%C3%BA> ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9975-7780 ResearcherID: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/K-5536-2014 Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jordi_Vallverdu 2016-01-23 15:12 GMT+01:00 Jeanette Hällgren Kotaleski <jeanette(a)csc.kth.se> : > Dear Colleagues, dear all, > > > KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, is currently recruiting > postdocs to be working within the Human Brain Project. > > 1) Postdoc/application expert – specifically development of brain modeling > tools: > > Specifically for the current position software applications providing > user-friendly interface to cellular-level modelling tools will be > developed, supported and used. These will include an optimization framework > (for fitting electrical models of neurons to their observed electrical > behaviour) and also a morphology pipeline (the tool used to analyse and > validate neuron morphologies). > More info and how to apply at: > https://intra.kth.se/en/anstallning/karriar/karriar-och-kompetensutveckling… > > > > 2) Postdoc in computational systems (neuro)biology – specifically synaptic > plasticity and neuromodulation: > > Specifically for the above position data-driven modeling of receptor > induced cascades such as GPCR dependent cascades involved in > neuromodulation and synaptic signaling will be done. > More info and how to apply at: > https://intra.kth.se/en/anstallning/karriar/karriar-och-kompetensutveckling… > > > > 3) Postdoc in brain simulations - specifically motor control and selection > of behaviour: > > Specifically for the position, modeling of motor control and learning with > basal ganglia as important components will be done. The modeling tools are > mainly Nest and Neuron. > More info and how to apply at: > https://intra.kth.se/en/anstallning/karriar/karriar-och-kompetensutveckling… > > > > All the best, > Jeanette Hellgren Kotaleski > Prof, School of Computer Science and Communication, > KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm > > > > _______________________________________________ > Comp-neuro mailing list > Comp-neuro(a)neuroinf.org > http://www.neuroinf.org/mailman/listinfo/comp-neuro > >

Jan. 28, 2016

Master in Brain and Cognition focus on Computational Neuroscience

by Ruben Moreno Bote

Master in Brain and Cognition focus on Computational Neuroscience, Barcelona, Spain. Call for applicants. The Master in Brain and Cognition being offered at Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), Barcelona Spain (http://www.upf.edu/mbc/) opens the rolling application period (deadline is 26th of June 2016). The core of the master's programme is composed of the research groups at UPF's Center for Brain and Cognition (http://cbc.upf.edu) In this email, we emphasize the possibility of participation of outstanding candidates with strong quantitative background, such as physics, mathematics or machine learning eager to learn about computational neuroscience. Candidates with these backgrounds could perform research activity with the following experts in computational neuroscience: Gustavo Deco (http://cns.upf.edu/) Albert Compte (http://complab.fcrb.es/complab/pres) Rubén Moreno-Bote (https://portal.upf.edu/web/ruben-moreno-bote) Overall, the groups participating at the Master are directed by renowned scientists in areas such as computational neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, psycholinguistics, vision, multisensory perception, human development and comparative cognition https://www.upf.edu/mbc/who_are_we2.html . Students will be exposed to the ongoing research projects at the Center for Brain and Cognition and will be integrated in one of its main research lines, where they will conduct original research for their final project. Please visit the Master’s web page or contact mbc(a)upf.edu for further information. Scientific-related questions such as fit of quantitative backgrounds can be consulted to Rubén Moreno-Bote, ruben.moreno(a)upf.edu -- Rubén Moreno Bote Serra Húnter Professor Dept. of Information and Communication Technologies University Pompeu Fabra La Nau building, office 51017 08018 Barcelona, Spain http://www.upf.edu/pdi/ruben-moreno-bote

Jan. 28, 2016

Computational & Cognitive Neuroscience Summer School, in Shanghai

by Murray, John

We are pleased to announce the 6th Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience (CCN) Summer School which will take place July 9-27, 2016, on the campus of NYU-Shanghai in Shanghai, China. Designed to emphasize higher cognitive functions and their underlying neural circuit mechanisms, the course aims at training talented and highly motivated students and postdoctoral fellows from Asia and other countries in the world. Applicants with quantitative (including Physics, Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Science) or experimental background are welcomed. The lectures will introduce the basic concepts and methods, as well as cutting-edge research on higher brain functions such as decision-making, attention, learning and memory. Modeling will be taught at multiple levels, ranging from single neuron computation, microcircuits and large-scale systems, to normative theoretical approach. Python-based programming labs coordinated with the lectures will provide practical training in important computational methods. Course information is available on the CCN official website: www.ccnss.org<http://www.ccnss.org> Applications are being accepted now through the Cold Spring Harbor Asia website: http://www.csh-asia.org/2016meetings/s-cosyne16.html The application deadline is March 15. Organizers: - Xiao-Jing Wang (New York University) - Zach Mainen (Champalimaud Neuroscience Program) - Si Wu (Beijing Normal University) - Eric DeWitt (Champalimaud Neuroscience Program) - John D. Murray (Yale University) Lecturers: - Yang Dan (University of California, Berkeley) - Gustavo Deco (Universitat Pompeu Fabra) - Stanislas Dehaene (College de France) - Bob Desimone (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) - Michael Hausser (University College London) - Quentin Huys (University of Zurich) - Razvan Pascanu (Google) - Philip Sabes (University of California, San Francisco) - Mariano Sigman (Universidad Torcuato Di Tella) - Mike Shadlen (Columbia University) - Misha Tsodyks (Weizmann Institute) - Daniel Yamins (Stanford University) Feel free to direct any questions to: john.murray(a)yale.edu<mailto:john.murray@yale.edu>

Jan. 28, 2016