- Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

2015 ACT-R Summer School

by db30＠andrew.cmu.edu

2015 ACT-R Summer School and Master Class Carnegie Mellon University July 13-16, 2015 ACT-R is a cognitive architecture, and it is realized in a software system which can be used to develop cognitive models. It has been used for modeling tasks that range from experimental tasks like simple reaction time and list learning, to real world tasks like driving a car and air traffic control. The 2015 ACT-R Summer School will take place from July 13-16, just before the 22nd annual ACT-R Workshop which will also be held at Carnegie Mellon University. The Summer School will train researchers in the use of ACT-R for cognitive modeling using the ACT-R tutorial. The tutorial consists of eight units, six of which will be covered during the four days of the Summer School. Each day will consist of a morning theory lecture covering one or two tutorial units, an afternoon discussion session on the topics of the day, and modeling assignments which participants are expected to complete during the day and evening. The Master Class is organized in parallel with the Summer School. The Master Class offers the opportunity for ACT-R modelers to work on their own projects with guidance from experienced ACT-R researchers. There is no curriculum for the Master Class, but Master Class students are welcome to attend the Summer School lectures and discussion sessions. To provide an optimal learning environment, admission to the Summer School and Master Class will be limited. To apply for the Summer School, please email a curriculum vitae and a statement of purpose to db30(a)andrew.cmu.edu. Demonstrated experience with a modeling formalism similar to ACT-R will strengthen a Summer School application. To apply for the Master Class please email a curriculum vitae along with some information about your level of experience with ACT-R and some details on the project you expect to work on during the Master Class. Applications are due by April 13th and applicants will be notified of admission by April 30. Admission to the Summer School and Master Class is free. In addition, the registration fee for the ACT-R Workshop will be waived for Summer School Students, but not for students of the Master Class. Housing will be available in the CMU dormitories for approximately $60/day (single) or $40/day (shared), and will be available through the end of the workshop. More information about ACT-R, including papers published by the ACT-R community, can be found on the ACT-R web site: <http://act-r.psy.cmu.edu/>. For more information on the Summer School and Master Class you can email Dan Bothell at db30(a)andrew.cmu.edu.

March 27, 2015

call for papers - 2015 IEEE International Workshop on Machine Learning, for Signal Processing (MLSP)

by 2015 IEEE International Workshop on Machine Learning fo Signal Processing

call for papers - 2015 IEEE International Workshop on Machine Learning for Signal Processing (MLSP) September 17-20, 2015 Boston, Massachusetts, USA http://mlsp2015.conwiz.dk CALL FOR PAPERS The 25th MLSP workshop in the series of workshops organized by the IEEE Signal Processing Society MLSP Technical Committee will present the most recent and exciting advances in machine learning for signal processing through keynote talks, tutorials, as well as special and regular single-track sessions. Prospective authors are invited to submit papers on relevant algorithms and applications including, but not limited to: - Learning theory and techniques - Graphical models and kernel methods - Data-driven adaptive systems and models - Pattern recognition and classification - Distributed, Bayesian, subspace/manifold/sparsity-aware learning - Multiset data analysis and multimodal data fusion - Perceptual signal processing in audio, image and video - Cognitive information processing - Multichannel adaptive and nonlinear signal processing - Applications, including: speech & audio, image & video, music, biomedical signals & images, communications, bioinformatics, biometrics, computational intelligence, genomic signals & sequences, social networks, games, smart grid, security & privacy DATA ANALYSIS AND SIGNAL PROCESSING COMPETITION The competition is organized in conjunction with the workshop. The goal of the competition is to advance the current state-of-the-art in theoretical and practical aspects of signal processing domains. SPECIAL SESSIONS MLSP 2015 seeks proposals for Special Sessions that will address research in emerging or interdisciplinary areas of particular interest, not covered already by traditional MLSP sessions. Please submit proposals to the Special Session Chair. BEST STUDENT AWARD The MLSP Best Student Paper Award will be granted to the best paper for which a student is the principal author and presenter. PAPER SUBMISSION Prospective authors are invited to submit a double column paper of up to six pages using the electronic submission procedure at http://mlsp2015.conwiz.dk. Accepted papers will be published on a password-protected website that will be available during the workshop. The presented papers will be published in and indexed by IEEE Xplore. IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES: Special session proposals: April 12, 2015 Paper submissions: May 17, 2015 Decision notifications: June 21, 2015 Camera-ready papers due: June 28, 2015 Advance registration: August 2, 2015 ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: General Chair: Deniz Erdoğmuş, Northeastern University Program Chairs: Murat Akçakaya, University of Pittsburgh Serdar Kozat, Bilkent University Competition Chair: Vince Calhoun, University of New Mexico Special Session Chair: Catherine Huang, Intel Labs Publicity Chairs: Kostas Diamantaras, TEI of Thessaloniki Marc Van Hulle, KU Leuven Publication Chair: Jan Larsen, Technical University of Denmark

March 27, 2015

Graduate Researcher / Postdoc position available at the SimLab Neuroscience, Juelich Research Centre

by Abigail Morrison

Dear colleagues, we have a position available in the SImLab Neuroscience, Juelich Research Centre, Germany, at the graduate or postdoc level. We are looking for candidates with a proven track record in developing scientific software, especially with an HPC focus, and an interest in Neuroscience. For a full description and details of how to apply, please see the announcement on our website: http://www.fz-juelich.de/SharedDocs/Stellenangebote/_common/dna/2015-062-EN… All the best, Abigail Morrison -- Prof. Dr. Abigail Morrison IAS-6 & INM-6 / SimLab Neuroscience Jülich Research Center http://www.fz-juelich.de/inm/inm-6/ http://www.fz-juelich.de/ias/jsc/EN/Expertise/SimLab/slns/_node.html Office: +49 2461 61-9805 Fax # : +49 2461 61-9460 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

March 27, 2015

2nd Model-based Neuroscience Summer School Amsterdam June 1-5

by Jane Neumann

Dear colleagues, *June 1-5 2015* will see the second *Model-based Neuroscience Summer School*, hosted at the *University of Amsterdam*. The school will provide students with hands-on experience in both cognitive modeling using diffusion and accumulator models and simple neuroscience methods. In addition, the program includes a debate between the two most prominent perspectives on the model-based neuroscience of perceptual decision-making. These perspectives place a different primary focus on either behavior (Ratcliff) or neural dynamics (Logan). Consequently, they bring different insights to the combined research agenda. The summer school is aimed at PhD students and early PostDocs who wish to combine cognitive modelling with experimental and theoretical neuroscience research. Students should be familiar with general programming concepts and state in their application which programming languages and software packages they typically use. The summer school is only 100 euro, however, we ask that students make their own housing arrangements. Space is limited, therefore we ask that you provide a statement of interest. We will base selection of students based on the relevance of the summer school to their research. More information about the teachers, preliminary programme, and application can be found at www.modelbasedneuroscience.com <http://www.modelbasedneuroscience.com/> We are looking forward to welcoming you in Amsterdam! Organization: Birte Forstmann, University of Amsterdam Jane Neumann, University Medical Center Leipzig and MPI for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Roger Ratcliff, Ohio State University Leendert van Maanen, University of Amsterdam

March 27, 2015

Call for Abstracts: Bernstein Conference 2015

by Seeger, Simone

Call for Abstracts: Bernstein Conference 2015 Deadline of Abstract Submission: May 15, 2015 ************************************************************** Satellite Workshops September 14, 2015 Main Conference September 15-17, 2015 ************************************************************** The Bernstein Conference has become the largest annual Computational Neuroscience Conference in Europe and now regularly attracts more than 500 international participants. This year, the Conference is organized by the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Heidelberg-Mannheim and will take place on September 15-17, 2015, in Heidelberg. In addition, there will be a series of pre-conference satellite workshops on September 14, 2015. The Bernstein Conference is a single-track conference, covering all aspects of Computational Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, and sessions for poster presentations are an integral part of the conference. We now invite the submission of abstracts for poster presentations from all relevant areas. Accepted abstracts will be published online and will be citable via Digital Object Identifiers (DOI). Additionally, a small number of abstracts will be selected for contributed talks. DETAILS FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSION: For abstract submission visit: http://www.nncn.de/de/bernstein-conference/2015/abstracts Please note that the submission of an abstract does not replace the conference registration! Conference registration starts on April 27. Abstract submission deadline: May 15, 2015 CONFERENCE DETAILS: Venue: Satellite Workshops and Main Conference, "Neue Universität", Grabengasse 3-5 ("Universitätsplatz"), 69117 Heidelberg, Germany Registration: Conference Registration starts on April 27, 2015 Early registration deadline: July 21, 2015 For more information on the conference, please visit the website: http://www.bernstein-conference.de PUBLIC PHD STUDENT EVENT: September 17-18, 2015 PUBLIC LECTURE: September 15, 2015 FOR THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: Peter Bastian We look forward to seeing you in Heidelberg in September! *** Simone Seeger, M.A. Administration Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit Postfach 12 21 20, 68072 Mannheim J5, 68159 Mannheim Telefon: 0621/1703-1326 oder 06221/54-8310 Fax: 0621/1703-2915 E-Mail: Simone.Seeger(a)zi-mannheim.de<mailto:Simone.Seeger@zi-mannheim.de> Internet: http://www.bccn-heidelberg-mannheim.de<http://www.bccn-heidelberg-mannheim.de/>

March 27, 2015

Radboud Summer School Neural Metrics 2.0 : Connectomics & Large-Scale Methods

by Marcel van Gerven

Neural Metrics 2.0 : Connectomics & Large-Scale Methods Second call The Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour/Radboud University is organizing a summer school on neural metrics with the aim to get participants acquainted with the quantitative analysis of neural organisation and function. In Neural Metrics 2.0 we will build on the success from the previous year, focussing on methods for understanding brain networks such as connectomics as well as large scale and Bayesian methods, with world class speakers, hands-on tutorials, student projects and an interactive debate. The topics covered range from cellular connectomics to human functional connectomics. The course is designed for PhD students and starting postdoctoral researchers working at the interface between cognitive neuroscience and the application of advanced methods. Please consult the Radboud Summer school website (http://www.ru.nl/radboudsummerschool/ <http://www.ru.nl/radboudsummerschool/>) for details on the program, social events and registration. Further details for the Neural Metrics Summer School can be found below and on the website (http://www.ru.nl/radboudsummerschool/courses/brain-behaviour/@972443/neural… <http://www.ru.nl/radboudsummerschool/courses/brain-behaviour/@972443/neural…>). Dates : Monday 10 August - Friday 14 August 2015 (1 week) Application Deadline : 15 June 2015 Course leaders : Bernhard Englitz, Marcel van Gerven, Fleur Zeldenrust, Tansu Celikel Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour & Radboud University Participant profile : This course was developed for PhD students and early postdoctoral researchers working at the interface between cellular and cognitive neuroscience requiring advanced methods of analysis. This includes research in the field of Neuroscience with an MSc in Biology, Computer Science, Psychology, Physics, Al, Mathematics, Engineering or a similar major. Admission requirements : As part of the admission procedure, we ask you to send us your CV and a brief motivation letter in which you explain your interest in our course. Course fee : 600 Euros The course fee includes the registration fee, course materials, access to library and IT facilities, coffee/tea, lunch, and a number of social activities. Accommodation is available for the course participants (additional charges apply). For details please see http://www.ru.nl/radboudsummerschool/practical-matters/housing/ <http://www.ru.nl/radboudsummerschool/practical-matters/housing/> Discounts : • 15% discount for students and PhD candidates from Radboud University and partner universities, • 10% Early bird discount deadline: 1 April 2015

March 27, 2015

Kosice Neuroscience Workshop April 20-24

by Norbert Kopco

The Second Workshop and Lecture Series on */"Cognitive neuroscience of auditory and cross-modal perception"/* 20 - 24 April 2015 Kosice, Slovakia http://pcl.upjs.sk/ *Objectives:* This workshop and lecture series will include introductory lectures and advanced research talks on a range of topics related to the */neural processes of auditory, visual and cross-modal perception/*. The talks will illustrate the */multidisciplinary character of cognitive neuroscience research/*, covering behavioral, neuroimaging, and modeling approaches, as well as applications of the research in auditory prosthetic devices. The workshop is aimed at */early-stage and advanced students and young researchers/*, and it will provide ample opportunities for direct interactions between the lecturers and the attendees. Themes Spatial hearing, vision and crossmodal perception, neural modeling, methods in cognitive neuroscience: behavioral experiments, EEG and fMRI imaging, modeling, applications: cochlear implants, hearing aids. *Format* Lectures 20 - 22 April, Consultations 23 – 24 April *Venue* Historicka aula, P. J. Safarik University, Srobarova 2, 040 11 Kosice, Slovakia *Organizers* Norbert Kopco, PhD. (norbert.kopco(a)upjs.sk <mailto:norbert.kopco@upjs.sk>) Frederick Gallun, PhD. (Frederick.Gallun(a)va.gov <mailto:Frederick.Gallun@va.gov>) *Organizing team and contact* Beata Tomoriova, Lubos Hladek, Perception and Cognition Lab <http://pcl.upjs.sk>,**kogneuro(a)gmail.com <mailto:kogneuro@gmail.com> Program overview Lectures, talks, posters: Mon, Tue, Wed: 8:30 – 12:00, 13:30 – 16:05 expert lectures, 16:05 – 17:00: contributed posters & presentations Plenary lecture and panel discussion: Wed: 17:30-19:00 in Zlaty Dukat hotel Consultations: * Thu: 8:30 – 11:30 Individual consultations with experts (by appointment) and work on assignments, 12:00 – 17:00 individual work on assignments (8:30 – 11:30 alternatively, interested participants can attend the Symposium on university spin-offs and start-up companies <http://pcl.ics.upjs.sk/symposium2015/>) * Fri: 8:30 – 11:30 Individual consultations with experts (by appointment) and work on assignments Plenary lecture and panel discussion *Virginia Best, Frederick Gallun, and Norbert Kopco*“Audibility and spatial hearing” Speakers and lecture topics *Simon Carlile*(University of Sydney) Lecture 1: Active listening: Speech intelligibility in cocktail party listening. Lecture 2: Listening in motion *Pierre Divenyi*(Stanford University) Lecture 1: Toward an evolutionary theory of speech: how and why did it develop the way it did. Lecture 2: What is the cost of simultaneously listening to the “what” and the “when” in speech? ** *Christopher Stecker *(Vanderbilt University) Lecture 1: RESTART theory: discrete sampling of binaural information during envelope fluctuations is a fundamental constraint on binaural processing. Lecture 2: Neuroimaging of task-dependent spatial processing in human auditory cortex. Assignment 1: Psychophysical exploration of binaural cues synchronized to envelope fluctuations: testing the RESTART theory with synthetic and naturalistic sounds. (hackathon type assignment) Assignment 2: Analysis of an fMRI data set combining task and binaural manipulations in a factorial manner. ** *Bernhard Laback*(Austrian Academy of Sciences) Lecture 1: Sound Localization Cues and Perceptual Grouping in Electric Hearing Lecture 2: Temporal effects in the perception of interaural time differences: Data and model predictions Assignment: Acoustic simulation of cochlear implant perception with low-frequency residual hearing ** *Volker Hohmann *(University of Oldenburg) Lecture 1: Modeling Auditory Scene Analysis by multidimensional statistical filtering Lecture 2: Modeling Cocktail Party Processing in a Multitalker Mixture using Harmonicity and Binaural Features Assignment: Implementation of a statistical estimator (particle filter) that tracks a (simulated) pitch track partially masked by noise. ** *Arash Yazdanbakhsh*(Boston University) Lecture 1: Pursuit eye movements and perceived object velocity, potential clinical applications. Lecture 2: Visuospatial memory and where eyes look when the percept changes. Assignment: A simulation assignment to replicate the gain of eye pursuit in following a target. ** *Aaron Seitz*(University of California, Riverside) Lecture 1: Perceptual Learning; specificity, transfer and how learning is a distributed process Lecture 2: Brain Training; How to train cognition to yield transfer to real world contexts ** *Frederick (Erick) Gallun *(US Dept. of Veterans Affairs and Oregon Health & Science University) Lecture 1: Learning From Nature’s Experiments: What Clinical Research Can Mean for Sensory Scientists Lecture 2: Auditory Processing After mild Traumatic Brain Injury: New Findings and Next Steps Assignment: Establishing normative ranges of performance using non-linear functions ** *Istvan Winkler*(Hungarian Academy of Science) Lecture 1: Auditory processing capabilities supporting communication in preverbal infants Lecture 2: Modeling auditory stream segregation by predictive processes ** *Virginia Best*(Boston University) Lecture 1: Spatial Hearing: Effect of hearing loss and hearing aids. Assignment: MATLAB assignment: simulating the effect of hearing loss on spatial cues ** *Petr Maršálek*(Charles University in Prague) Lecture 1: Coincidence detection in the MSO – computational approaches Lecture 2: On the single neuron computation Travel, accommodation, visitor information /Travel: /The Kosice Airport <http://www.airportkosice.sk/en/>is served by Austrian Airlines <http://www.austrian.com/>and Czech Airlines <http://www.csa.cz>(via Vienna, Prague, Bratislava) and by low-cost airline Wizzair <http://wizzair.com/en-GB/Search>(London Luton Airport). Alternatively you can fly to Budapest and take a 3.5-hr shuttle bus to Kosice (for example, using the cassoviaexpres <http://cassoviaexpres.sk/en/>shuttle bus company). From Krakow you can take the 4-hr shuttle bus operated by Airtrans.sk <http://airtrans.sk/en/>. More information about how to get to Kosice (also by train or bus) can be found here <http://www.visitkosice.eu/en/to-get-there/arriving-to-the-city>.// /Accommodation:/A conference rate of 50EUR/night+(1.5e local tax) has been negotiated with the Zlaty dukat <http://www.zlatydukat.sk/index.php?lang=en>hotel. Please, make your reservation by contacting the hotel directly, either through their website or by emailing the hotel at hotel(a)hotelzlatydukat.sk and mention the “Cognitive Neuroscience Workshop” to get the rate. Otherwise, there are several hotels close to the workshop venue, for example Hotel Teledom <http://www.hotelteledom.sk>, Villa Regia <http://villaregia.sk/en/>, Doubletree by Hilton <http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hotels/slovak-republic/doubletree-by-hilto…>, Hotel Yasmin <http://www.hotel-yasmin.sk/>, Hotel Maraton <http://www.hotelmaraton.sk/>(for more hotel options please see http://www.booking.com, http://www.hotels.com, for hostels see: http://www.hostels.com, http://www.hostelworld.com) // /Visitor information and current events:/Košice was one of the European Capitals of Culture in 2013 <http://www.visitkosice.eu/en/things-to-see-and-do/sightseeing-in-kosice/tra…>. For the list of new cultural venues and current events there, see http://k13.sk/(in Slovak). For all events and trip ideas see http://www.visitkosice.eu/, http://www.slovaktours.eu/, http://www.mickosice.sk/ <http://www.mickosice.sk/index.php?lang=eng>, http://slovakia.travel/, or http://www.slovakia.com/ // Registration The workshop is open to all interested students/scientists. Registration is free of charge but required (mostly for organizational reasons). In order to register, please send an email to kogneuro(a)gmail.com stating your name and affiliation, dates on which you are planning to attend. In case you would like to have a presentation please send us an abstract (up to 200 words) and an indication whether you prefer poster or oral presentation no later than April 10, 2015. Related event Workshop attendees might also be interested in an independent Symposium on university spin-offs and start-up companies <http://pcl.ics.upjs.sk/symposium2015/>that will take place on 23 April 2015. Last year’s website http://pcl.upjs.sk/workshop2014/ Funding This workshop / lecture series is organized within the Project implementation: SOFOS – knowledge and skill development of the academic staff and students at the University of Pavol Jozef Safarik in Kosice with emphasis on interdisciplinary competencies and integration into international research centres, ITMS: 26110230088, supported by the Research & Development Operational Programme funded by the ESF. Modern education for knowledge society / This project is being co-financed by the European Union -- doc. Norbert Kopco, Ph.D. Assoc Professor / Senior Researcher: Inst of Computer Sci, Faculty of Science, Safarik Univ, Kosice, Slovakia Adjunct: Ctr for Computational Neurosci (CompNet), Boston University & Martinos Ctr for Biomed Imaging, Harvard Med School - Mass Gen Hospital P: +16175759556 F: +14847279884, kopco(a)bu.edu, http://cns.bu.edu/~kopco

March 26, 2015

One week left to apply for an independent postdoc at SISSA

by Alessandro Treves

The Neuroscience Area of SISSA has opened a new postdoctoral position. The fellowship awardee may join any of the available research groups, see http://www.sissa.it/announcement/neuroscience-area-new-postdoc-position or may choose to work independently. Candidates with a potential to bring extra diversity are particularly encouraged to apply. Deadline April 3rd! -- 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/

March 26, 2015

PhD position - Coding of retinal ganglion cells - Multi-electrode array - Oldenburg, Germany

by Jutta Kretzberg

The Visual Neuroscience group at the University of Oldenburg, Germany is offering a PhD position (TV-L E13 50%) in population coding of retinal ganglion cells starting in May 2015. The position is initially funded until March 31 2018. The goal of our research is to understand how visual signals are transmitted from the retina to the brain. We study how populations of neurons encode information using large-scale multi-electrode arrays, which are able to record the responses of around a thousand neurons of various cell-types simultaneously for several hours. The visual stimulus is transduced into electrical signals by the photoreceptors of the retina, processed by many types of interneurons, and conveyed to the brain by the ganglion cells along their axons that form the optic nerve. All visual information is encoded in temporal patterns of electrical impulses of the ganglion cells. We know from morphological studies that over 20 types of ganglion cells exist. Each type carries a specialized and distinct representation of the visual environment to different targets in the brain. We do not know the response properties of many types, especially in natural viewing conditions, nor do we fully understand how the diverse information sent by the different cell types collectively determines visual perception and behavior. For more information please visit www.uni-oldenburg.de/retina. We seek a highly motivated PhD student with an academic university degree (Master or Diploma) in Biology, Physics, Informatics or related fields. Applicants should have strong computing skills, experience or training in neuroscience and interest in vision research. Electrophysiological experience is an advantage. The Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg is dedicated to increasing the percentage of women in science. Therefore, equally qualified female candidates will be given preference. Applicants with disabilities will be preferentially considered in case of equal qualification. Please submit your application (in English or German) including a motivation letter with a description of your scientific interest, a CV, degree certificates, and contact information of two references to Prof. Dr. Martin Greschner (martin.greschner(a)uni-oldenburg.de) preferably by email, as a single pdf-file or by mail to the Universität Oldenburg, Fakultät VI, Visual Neuroscience, 26111 Oldenburg. Applications will be considered until April 20th.

March 26, 2015

BIH @ Imprial College London: Bring the HUMAN BRAIN PROJETCS OF THE WORLD TO ONE PLACE

by Caroline Li

Co-Chaired by Prof Karl Friston & Prof Yike Guo @ Imperial College London (Aug 31 - Sep2, 2015), BIH'15 crosses the disciplines of neuroscience, cognitive science, computer science, signal processing, and neuroimaging. It also draws special attention to informatics for brain science, human behaviour and health. It involves leaders from three of the biggest brain initiatives in the world. BIH'15 accepts full paper submission or abstract only submission. Please allow me to send call for paper here: Keynote Speakers * Allan Jones, CEO, Allen Institute for Brain Science, USA; * Henry Markram, Director, Blue Brain Project; Coordinator, Human Brain Project, EPFL, Switzerland; * David Van Essen, PI, Human Connectome Project, Washington University School of Medicine, USA; Feature Speakers * Giorgio Ascoli, (Founding Director, Center for Neural Informatics, George Mason University, USA); * Henry Kennedy, (Director of Research, Stem-cell and Brain Research Institute, France); * Barbara Sahakian, (University of Cambridge, UK); * Nelson Spruston, (Scientific Program Director, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), USA); * Paul Verschure, (Director, the Lab of SPECS at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Spain); ===================================================== General Chairs: * Karl Friston, (Scientific Director, Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, University College London, UK); * Yike Guo, (Director of Data Science Institute, Imperial College London, UK); Program Chairs: * Aldo Faisal, Imperial College London & MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, UK, * Sean Hill, EPFL, Switzerland, * Hanchuan Peng, Allen Institute for Brain Science, USA; Workshop/Special-Session Chairs: * Andreas Holzinger, Medical University Graz & Graz University of Technology, Austria; Zhisheng Huang, Vrije University of Amsterdam, Netherlands, David Powers, Flinders University of South Australia, Australia; Publicity Chairs: * Jessica Turner, Georgia State University, USA; Juan D. Velasquez, University of Chile, Chile; Yi Zeng, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China; Local Organizing Chairs: * Thomas Henis, Imperial College London, UK; Kai Sun, Imperial College London, UK; Chao Wu, Imperial College London, UK; Exhibition/Sponsorship Chair: * Caroline Li, University Kent, UK; Steering Committee Co-Chairs: * Ning Zhong, Maebashi Institute of Technology, Japan; Jiming Liu, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong. ***************** Conference Theme: Brain informatics has emerged as a distinct field of research. It crosses the disciplines of neuroscience, cognitive science, computer science, signal processing, and neuroimaging technologies. The data driven nature of brain research made brain informatics an important field of data science. Following the success of past conferences in this series, BIH'15 will take place at Imperial College London, in UK. For the first time, BIH gathers the researchers from major international brain research projects to form a forum for reviewing the progress of brain informatics research and its applications to human health and building up international collaboration. The conference will also organise an exhibition from industrial and research community. BIH'15 draws special attention to informatics for brain science, human behaviour and health. BIH'15 will address informatics approaches to both the brain and behaviour research with a strong emphasis on emerging trends of big data analysis and management technology for brain research, behaviour learning, and real-world applications of brain science in human health and wellbeing. BIH'15 welcomes paper submissions (full paper), abstract only submissions. Both research and application papers are solicited. All submitted papers will be reviewed on the basis of technical quality, relevance, significance and clarity. Accepted full papers will be included in the proceedings by Springer LNCS/LNAI. Tutorial, Satellite symposium (workshop) and Special-Session proposals and Industry/Demo-Track papers are also welcome. ***************** IMPORTANT DATES: ***************** Satellite symposium proposal submission: March 15, 2015/ Notification of satellite symposium acceptance: March 30, 2015/ Submission of full papers: April 19, 2015/ Submission of abstracts: May 20, 2015/ Submission of satellite symposium papers: May 20, 2015/ Notification of full paper acceptance: May 25, 2015/ Notification of abstract acceptance: June 10, 2015/ Notification of satellite symposium paper acceptance: June 10, 2015/ Tutorial proposal submission: May 15, 2015/ Satellite symposiums: August 30, 2015/ ================================= PAPER SUBMISSIONS & PUBLICATIONS: TYPE-I (Full Paper Submissions; Submission Deadline: April 5, 2015): We accept full paper submissions with a maximum paper length of up to 10 pages, in Springer LNCS format: http://www.springer.com/computer/lncs?SGWID=0-164-6-793341-0. All full length papers accepted (and all special sessions' full length papers) will be published by Springer as a volume of the series of LNCS/LNAI. TYPE-II (Abstract Submissions; Submission Deadline: May 20, 2015): Each abstract is limited to 500 words. Experimental research is particularly welcome. Accepted abstract submissions will be included in the conference program, and will be published as a single, collective proceedings volume. Title: Include in the title of the abstract all words critical for a subject index. Write your title in sentence case (first letter is capitalized; remaining letters are lower case). Do not bold or italicize your full title. Author: List all authors who contributed to the work discussed in the abstract. The presenting author must be listed in the first author slot of the list. Be prepared to submit contact information as well as conflict of interest information for each author listed. Abstract: Enter the body of the abstract and attach any applicable graphic files or tables here. Do not re-enter the title, author, support, or other information that is collected in other steps of the submission form. Presentation Preference: Authors may select from three presentation formats when submitting an abstract: "poster only,", "talk preferred" or "no preference." The "talk preferred" selection indicates that you would like to give a talk, but will accept a poster format if necessary. Marking "poster only" indicates that you would not like to be considered for an oral-presentation session. Selecting "no preference" indicates the author's willingness to be placed in the best format for the program. Each paper or abstract requires one sponsoring attendee (i.e. someone who registered and is attending the conference). A single attendee can not sponsor more than two abstracts or papers. Oral presentations will be selected from both full length papers and abstracts. *** Post-Conference Journal Publication *** The BIH conferences have the formal ties with Brain Informatics journal (Springer, http://www.springer.com/40708) Accepted papers from the conference, including their Best Paper Award papers, will be expended and revised for possible inclusion in the Brain Informatics journal each year. It is fully sponsored and no any article-processing fee charged for BIH authors. Selected submissions will be considered for publication in special issues of international journals after their papers are extended to a full-length paper and pass a review process. More information can be found at http://www.bih-amt.com/publications/ *** Topics and Areas *** Please find the topics and areas of interest of the 2015 International Conference on Brain Informatics and Health (BIH'15) at http://www.bih-amt.com/call-for-papers/topics/ *** AMT'15 Session *** The advance of wearable sensor technology makes the monitoring of human behavior and life style becomes feasible. This development gives the active media technology a new dimension which is more closely related to the healthcare and cognitive studies. Following the success of past conferences in this series, AMT'15 will be jointly held with BIH'15 as a special session. *** Contact Information *** Chao Wu, Imperial College London, UK <c.wu09(a)imperial.ac.uk<mailto:c.wu09@imperial.ac.uk>> Aldo Faisal, Imperial College London, UK <a.faisal(a)imperial.ac.uk<mailto:a.faisal@imperial.ac.uk>> For sponsorship, please contact: Caroline Li (Ph.D)|Tel: +44(0)1634 202987 | E-Mail : c.li(a)kent.ac.uk<mailto:c.li@kent.ac.uk> ====================================================================================

March 26, 2015

Postdoctoral position in Paris

by Thomas Watson

A full-time post-doctoral position is available in the Cerebellum, Navigation and Memory Team at the UPMC in Paris under the direction of Dr Laure Rondi-Reig. *http://www.ibps.upmc.fr/en/research/neuroscience/cezame <http://www.ibps.upmc.fr/en/research/neuroscience/cezame>* We investigate interactions between the cerebellum (the largest sensorimotor structure in the brain) and hippocampus (a well described navigation structure). Convergent evidence points towards an anatomo-functional link between these two structures in different species, including rodents and humans. However, the physiological substrate of this communication remains unknown. In our quest to identify this missing link, we employ a range of in vivo electrophysiological (single cell and local field potential) recording, anatomical tracing, optogenetic and behavioural experiments to decipher how these two disparate brain structures communicate during navigation tasks. In particular, we are currently comparing interaction dynamics between the two regions during virtual reality and similar real-world experiments in wild type and cerebellar mutant mice utilizing advanced dual-recording electrophysiology techniques. These experiments generate vast quantities of behavioral and physiological data. Therefore, we are seeking a highly motivated post-doctoral researcher with a strong background in signal processing to join us on this exciting project. Candidates must be willing to work as part of a team to help developing both analysis and experimental methods. For further information please contact Dr Laure Rondi-Reig ( laure.rondi-reig(a)upmc.fr) *Job Information:* Contract length:1 year-possibility to renew Institution:CNRS-UPMC Department:Neurosciences Paris Seine *Contact Information:* Laure Rondi-Reig Institut Biologie Paris Seine (IBPS) Neurosiences Paris Seine (CNRS-Inserm-UPMC) UPMC 9 quai saint Bernard Paris

March 25, 2015

Brain Connectivity Workshop 2015 - San Diego

by Jorge Riera Diaz

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14th International Workshop on Brain Connectivity The International Workshop on Brain Connectivity (WBC), to be held at the University of California San Diego (June 10-12, 2015), will focus for the first time primarily on the role of electrophysiological data in understanding the fine temporal scale underlying brain network dynamics as well as the mechanisms by which emergent dynamics originate from multi-scale interactions between brain areas, brain activity frequencies and timescales, and between brain activity and behavior. The first day will be dedicated to Educational Course lectures, followed by two days of half-day workshop sessions. The WBC will bring together leading investigators in the fields of neuroimaging, cognitive and computational neuroscience to discuss current and forthcoming challenges for brain connectivity research based on electrophysiological data. Its goals are to stimulate research students and scientists from diverse backgrounds for research in topics related to electrophysiology and brain connectivity, to promote larger international collaborations in these fields, and to inform the neuroscience community about emerging methods, and comprehensive theory and models for brain connectivity analysis, in particular from electrophysiological recordings. For more information and registration, visit http://sccn.ucsd.edu/BrainConnectivityWorkshop2015<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__sccn.ucsd.edu_BrainConn…> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

March 24, 2015

Symposium on computational approaches to vocal communication in Atlanta on May 20, 2015

by Liu, Robert C

Please excuse multiple postings. We would like to draw your attention to the following symposium in Atlanta, GA on May 20, 2015. LEARNING ABOUT THE VOCAL WORLD: Deciphering the Statistics of Communication MAY 20, 2015 Emory Conference Center Hotel Register in advance for limited seating at this free conference! Abstracts for the poster session should be submitted by April 27, 2015 for consideration. Complete event details are available at http://quantitative.emory.edu/events/ This interdsciplinary symposium will bring together Emory faculty and internationally-recognized scholars from around the country, spanning fields as diverse as psychology, neuroscience, physics, and medicine, to share with post-doctoral fellows and students how they are making use of computational and quantitative methods to study the production and perception of vocal communication signals. The day's schedule will consist of the main conference discussions followed by lunch time round-tables and conclude with a poster session. The all-day event will be held on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM EST at the Emory Conference Center in Atlanta, GA. Speakers include: Morten Christiansen (Cornell) Ofer Tchernichovski (CUNY) Eugene Buder (University of Memphis) Sam Sober (Emory) Edward Chang (UCSF) Sarah M. N. Woolley (Columbia) Maria Geffen (University of Pennsylvania) Katrin Schenk (Randolph College) Jeff Wenstrup (Northeast Ohio Medical University) The event is sponsored by Emory Conference Subvention Fund, the Institute for Quantitative Theory and Methods, and the Center for Mind, Brain and Culture. Co-organizers for this event are Samuel Sober and Robert Liu. Registration link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1yrUG6EvibBfFI8AFa_2SLlUFHY5tFoP446lqbSj8Ps… Robert C. Liu, PhD Associate Professor Winship Distinguished Research Professor Emory University Department of Biology Rollins Research Center 1510 Clifton Road NE, Room 2131 Atlanta, GA 30322 Phone: (404) 727-5274 Fax: (404) 727-2880 Email: robert.liu at emory.edu Website: http://www.biology.emory.edu/research/Liu/html/index.php This e-mail message (including any attachments) is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this message (including any attachments) is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender by reply e-mail message and destroy all copies of the original message (including attachments).

March 23, 2015

NeuroHAM conference, Boston University, June 10-12, 2015

by Ritt, Jason T

Announcing NeuroHAM 2015 A conference exploring neural processing in humans, animals, and machines, from basic science to emerging neural technologies. June 10th - 12th, 2015 Boston University Boston, MA, USA http://neuroham.bu.edu/ (please note: Abstracts for poster presentations due by Friday, March 27) The NeuroHAM conference will be held June 10–12, 2015 at Boston University as a celebration of the Center of Excellence for Learning in Education, Science, and Technology (CELEST), a National Science Foundation Science of Learning Center. The conference will be co-sponsored by CELEST and the Boston University Center for Computational Neuroscience and Neural Technology (CompNet). We anticipate 100–150 attendees. NeuroHAM will run from midday on June 10 through midday on June 12. The conference will explore different aspects of neural processing in humans, animals, and machines from basic science to emerging neural technologies. The event will be organized into seven scientific sessions, each consisting of talks from three preeminent scientists. For a complete list of confirmed speakers, please see the meeting schedule at: http://neuroham.bu.edu/schedule/. A poster session / cocktail reception will be held on the evening of June 10. Call for Abstracts: We are soliciting presentations for a poster session on the evening of Wednesday, June 10. Abstracts for poster presentations must be received by Friday, March 27, 2015. Email notification of acceptance will be provided by Friday, April 17. All abstracts must be submitted through the conference website and must not exceed the 250 word limit. A meeting registration fee must accompany each abstract submission. The fee will be refunded if the abstract is not accepted for presentation. Please see: http://neuroham.bu.edu/call-for-abstracts/ for complete abstract submission instructions. Call for Registrations: All attendees must register, and online registration in advance of the conference is strongly encouraged. To register, please visit: http://neuroham.bu.edu/register/. The conference registration fee is $150. (CELEST and CompNet members: Please note the web page information addressing partial reimbursement of your registration fee after the conference has concluded.) List of Confirmed Speakers: Dennis Barbour, Washington University in St. Louis Vince Calhoun, University of New Mexico Marisa Carrasco, New York University Adam Cohen, Harvard University Tracy Cui, University of Pittsburgh Eugenio Culurciello, Purdue University Maysam Ghovanloo, Georgia Institute of Technology Jennifer Hasler, Georgia Institute of Technology Lori Holt, Carnegie Mellon University Kate Jeffery, University College London Sabine Kastner, Princeton University Peter Kochunov, University of Maryland Nikolaus Kriegeskorte, MRC, Cambridge Anthony Lewis, Qualcomm Inc. Mayank Mehta, University of California Los Angeles Lee Miller, Northwestern University Cynthia Moss, Johns Hopkins University Marc Pomplun, University of Massachusetts Boston Tony Prescott, The University of Sheffield Josh Tenenbaum, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Walter Voit, University of Texas at Dallas Meeting Organizers: Chair: Barbara Shinn-Cunningham Co-Chair: Heather Ames Program Committee: Jason Bohland, Tim Gardner, Anatoly Gorshechnikov, Jason Ritt, Cara Stepp, Max Versace, Arash Yazdanbakhsh, and Vasileios Zikopoulos Meeting Administrator: Carol Jefferson Contacts: Please see http://neuroham.bu.edu/contacts/.

March 23, 2015

Brown University Computational Neuroscience Postdoctoral Opportunity

by Stephanie Jones

Brown University: Computational Neuroscience Post-Doctoral Opportunity A NIH funded post-doctoral position is available to work with Dr. Stephanie Jones at Brown University and Dr. Matti Hamalainen at Mass. General Hospital on developing and analyzing biophysically principled computational neural models to study human MEG/EEG measured brain activity in health and disease. The post-doc hired will work among a team of researcher at Brown University, Mass. General Hospital in Boston, and Rhode Island Hospital who are advancing methods to image and interpret non-invasively measured human brain activity. Our group is integrating computational modeling, MEG/EEG, and invasive intra-operative recordings in humans to advancing methods to image and interpret non-invasively measured human brain activity in the context of sensorimotor function. Areas of study in our group include attention, perception, motor function, Parkinson’s Disease and Essential Tremor. Interested candidates should have experience in computational modeling methods and a strong quantitative and coding background. Please send a CV, statement of research interests, and three letters of recommendation to Stephanie_Jones(a)Brown.edu.

March 23, 2015

Postdoctoral position in network modeling

by Erik De Schutter

A postdoctoral researcher position to model (cerebellar) networks is available in the Computational Neuroscience Unit (https://groups.oist.jp/cnu) of Prof. Erik De Schutter at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University. Depending on previous experience research emphasis can be on analyzing population activity in network models of the olivocerebellum or on further development of XML-based methods for network model description and simulation, or a combination of both. Candidates should have experience in network modeling, preferentially using the parallel NEURON environment or NEST. Prior knowledge of cerebellar anatomy and physiology is a plus but not required. The postdoc will interact with other researchers and students in the lab who are working on cerebellar modeling projects or analyzing cerebellar recordings. We offer attractive financial and working conditions in an English language graduate university that emphasizes interdisciplinary research, located on the beautiful subtropical island Okinawa. Send curriculum vitae, a summary of research interests and experience, and the names of three referees to Prof. Erik De Schutter at erik(a)oist.jp

March 23, 2015

15 PhD Fellowships - “Complex Oscillatory Systems: Modeling and Analysis (COSMOS)”

by Thomas Kreuz

European Joint Doctorates Programme “Complex Oscillatory Systems: Modeling and Analysis(COSMOS) <http://www.cosmos-itn.org>” announces 15 PhD Fellowships. COSMOS is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action Innovative Training Network (MSCA-ITN-2014-EJD 642563) aiming at an understanding of the general properties of collective dynamics and synchronization of complex systems composed of oscillatory elements. It includes both theoretical projects where such systems are studied with the methods of nonlinear dynamics and statistical physics, as well as applied ones related to the analysis of experimental multivariate time series, such as physiological and neural data. The COSMOS network is highly interdisciplinary, and fellows will benefit from interactions with world-leading researchers in a broad range of disciplines. ESR positions are available at following universities: University of Potsdam, University of Aberdeen, Lancaster University, University of Florence, University Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona), VU University Amsterdam, Faculty of Information studies in Novo Mesto (Slovenia), and Medical University of Graz. All fellows will be jointly supervised by two partner universities and will receive a PhD degree from each of them. Most of the fellows are expected to be hired in July 2015, but later starting dates can potentially be accepted. Marie Skłodowska-Curie 36-months PhD fellowships offer an attractive remuneration package including salary, mobility, and family allowances, and are subject to eligibility and mobility conditions. For further information, an overview of the projects, and a detailed description of open positions visit www.cosmos-itn.org Positions will be filled starting May 1st, 2015. Applications prior to April 15 will be given full consideration. -- Thomas Kreuz Institute for complex systems, CNR Via Madonna del Piano 10 50119 Sesto Fiorentino (Italy) Tel: +39-349-0748506 Email: thomas.kreuz(a)cnr.it Webpage: http://www.fi.isc.cnr.it/users/thomas.kreuz/

March 22, 2015

Second announcement of Net-works 2015

by jtorres

Dear Colleagues This is the second announcement for participation in the 7th International conference on Complex Networks and their Interdisciplinary Applications, Net-works 2015, which will be held in Granada (Spain) from September 16th to September 18th 2015 (Please follow the link below for further information, including travel grants, call for contributions, hotel reservation and conference registration) http://ergodic.ugr.es/networks2015/ As in previous editions, this conference is devoted to present and exchange the latest results concerning the theory and application of complex networks in different aspects of nature, society and technology. As organizers of Net-works 2015 international conference, we are welcome to receive research contributions to the conference from different fields and, in particular from the computational neuroscience community, where during the last years there was an increasing interest in the study of the features of the complex networks underlying the structure of actual neural systems, and how these features influence their emergent behavior. The program of Net-Works 2015 includes plenary talks from the key-note speakers: Ginestra Bianconi School of Mathematics. Queen Mary University of London, UK Stefano Boccaletti Institute for Complex Systems, CNR, Italy Shlomo Havlin Bar-Ilan University, Israel Jurgen Kurths Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Germany Miguel A. Munoz Institute "Carlos I" for Theoretical and Computational Physics, U. Granada, Spain a number to be determined of talks selected from the received abstracts and one or two poster sessions. Important dates for abstract submission and registration follows: Abstract submission: May 22th 2015 Contribution acceptance: June 15th 2015 Early registration (with a reduction of the registration fee): before September 15th, 2015. Abstracts (with a maximum of 250 words) must be submitted to the e-mail address below: abstracts(a)eurocongres.es If you are planning to attend and participate in Net-works 2015, please book your hotel in Granada well in advance because the conference will take place during the Granada peak tourist season. We look forward to seeing you in Granada! Joaquin J. Torres General Chair Net-Works 2015 International Conference

March 22, 2015

Special Issue in Journal of Physics A on Modeling and Inference of Dynamics

by Yasser Roudi

We invite contributions to Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical dedicated, special issue on "Modelling and inference in the dynamics of complex interaction networks: advance approximation techniques" Guest Editors: Manfred Opper, Yasser Roudi and Peter Sollich There is a close relationship between statistical inference and the statistical physics of “disordered systems”, which can be characterized as large systems of simple units linked by a complex network of interactions. While this relationship is by now well established, there has in the past few years been significant new work on the development of methods for statistical inference using concepts and approximations that have their roots in statistical mechanics. One of the main reasons for this wave of interest lies in the recent and ongoing developments in many areas of experimental biology, finance and other areas, where very large data sets are becoming available but there is a shortage of modern theoretical techniques for analysing them. In the past, as well as the initial years of the current wave, the main interaction between statistical physics and statistical inference has been in the area of developing equilibrium tools and analysing data sets in an equilibrium framework. This means coming up with efficient methods for building stationary and equilibrium probability distributions over the state of the system under investigation, on the basis of recorded experimental or other empirical data, and to analyse such distributions for gaining insight into the system. However, more recently, the interest in the community has shifted more towards dynamic models. The purpose of the proposed special issue is to gather original research articles as well as pedagogical review articles both on the theoretical aspects of the interface between statistical inference and the physics of non-equilibrium disordered and complex systems, and on applications to real data. Editorial Policy All contributions will be refereed and processed according to the usual procedures of the journal. Guidelines for preparation of contributions The issue will be open for submissions from 1st March 2015 to 1st September 2015 and articles will appear in regular issues of the journal and in an online collection. There is no strict regulation on article size, but as a guide the preferable size is 15–30 pages for contributed papers and 40–60 pages for reviews. Further advice on publishing your work in Journal of Physics A may be found at iopscience.iop.org/jphysa <http://iopscience.iop.org/jphysa>. Contributions to the special issue should be submitted by web upload via ScholarOne Manuscripts https://mc04.manuscriptcentral.com/jphysa-iop <https://mc04.manuscriptcentral.com/jphysa-iop> as manuscript type ‘special issue article’ for the issue ‘Modelling and inference in the dynamics of complex interaction networks’. Please see the website for further information on electronic submissions.

March 21, 2015

Postdoctoral Researcher Positions @ IBM Research

by James R Kozloski

Please see the IBM recruitment cloud posting here: https://jobs3.netmedia1.com/cp/faces/job_summary?job_id=RES-0724564 _________________________________________________________ James Kozloski, PhD Research Staff Member T.J. Watson Research Office 914 945 3982 Center Mobile 203 231 6187 Computational Biology ibm.co/kozloski 1101 Kitchawan Rd., 13-132E Yorktown Heights, NY 10598

March 20, 2015

Open PhD / Postdoc position at Ulm University

by Dr. Schwenker

In the *Institute of Neural Information Processing at Ulm University, Germany,* we can offer a *PhD-student or postdoc position* from June or July 2015 until the end of 2016 with some potential of prolongation. We are working on artificial neural networks and learning systems for pattern recognition, in particular on the use of affective information in human-computer-interaction and companion systems. The particular research focus of this position is on the combination of methods and observations from sensor-based pattern recognition with methods and information from relational knowledge representation and/or the handling of uncertainty in this kind of neuro-symbolic integration. The research topic is part of a collaborative interdisciplinary research project (SFB-TR 62) on “A companion technology for cognitive technical systems”, see http://www.uni-ulm.de/en/in/sfb-transregio-62.html?no_cache=1 If you are interested and already have some experience in some of these areas, please send us your CV, a statement of your current research interest and a list of your publications. For further information, please contact me by email or phone (see below). --------------------- Prof. Dr. Guenther Palm Director of the Institute of Neural Information Processing University of Ulm 89069 Ulm Germany phone: ++49 731 50 24150 fax: ++49 731 50 24156 email: guenther.palm(a)uni-ulm.de

March 20, 2015

CfP : Barcelona Cognition, Brain and Technology Summer School 2015

by BCBT, Bústia Compartida

*Barcelona Cognition, Brain and Technology Summer School (BCBT2015)* University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain. August 31st to September 11th, 2015 http://bcbt.upf.edu/bcbt15 <http://bcbt.upf.edu/bcbt15/home> Join us for the annual *"Barcelona Cognition, Brain and Technology summer school - BCBT2015 *" (see* http://bcbt.upf.edu/bcbt15/home <http://bcbt.upf.edu/bcbt15/home>*) to be held from August 31st to September 11th, 2015 in Barcelona Spain. The BCBT summer school is part of a series of events organized by the Convergent Science Network of Biomimetics and Neurotechnology ( http://csnetwork.eu/) and is positioned at the interface between biology and future and emerging technologies with an emphasis on the principles underlying brains and their translation to avant-garde technologies. BCBT promotes a shared systems-level understanding of the functional architecture of the brain and its possible emulation in artificial systems. This is the 8th year of BCBT, which has ran with great success in previous years thanks to an excellent line-up of outstanding speakers (see bcbt.upf.edu for previous editions of the school). BCBT lectures are available online (see http://csnetwork.eu/) as well as the CSN *Podcast interviews *with many of the BCBT speakers. BCBT caters to students and researchers involved in projects that are in the ambit of “BIO-ICT convergence”, "Brain Inspired ICT", “Cognitive systems-robotics”. BCBT will offer up to 30 student slots for the practical workshops while as many researchers can register to attend the presentations and discussion sessions, as they are interested. The atmosphere of the BCBT summer school is informal with the goal to stimulate in-depth discussion. There are presentations in the morning, usually 2, with the afternoons reserved for tutorials and projects for student participants and road-mapping workshops or further discussion for senior scientists. For the 2015 edition we plan a *1st week* of the school addressing *Evolutionary and Developmental aspects of nervous systems and behavior *while the *2nd week* will include presentations aimed at the investigation of *Decision making*. Friday 11 is reserved for the presentation of the student projects to which everybody is invited. *Application deadline: July 27th, 2015* For more information on to apply, please go to http://bcbt.upf.edu/bcbt15/participate <http://bcbt.upf.edu/bcbt14/home>BCBT2015 is supported by the Convergent Science Network of Biomimetics and Neurotechnology (http://csnetwork.eu/) and is co-organized by Paul Verschure (BCBT Chair), ICREA and University Pompeu Fabra Barcelona, ES Tony Prescott (BCBT Co-Chair) University of Sheffield, UK Anna Mura (BCBT Co-Chair), University Pompeu Fabra Barcelona, ES In collaboration with Leah Krubizer (BCBT Co-Chair) UC Davis, CA, USA Gustavo Deco (BCBT Co-Chair), ICREA and University Pompeu Fabra Barcelona, ES

March 20, 2015

available grants: Systems Neuroscience - a study abroad summer program in Budapest

by Érdi Péter

BSCS grants are available for our Systems Neuroscience: a study abroad summer program in Budapest. For students with European passports we are proud to announce a limited number of grants by Eötvös University is available! The tuition fee AND accommodation is a dramatically reduced 1000 euro. Program start/end dates June 8th- Aug 7th, 2015 The BSCS Systems Neuroscience Program takes place at and academically supervised by the Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University Medical School, Budapest **************************************** Applications should be sent to ALL of these addresses by April 15th. However, they will be reviewed on rolling base! Péter Érdi (SysNeuro Director; BSCS Co-Director), perdi(a)kzoo.edu László Négyessy SysNeuro Co-Director <negyessy(a)gmail.com> bscs(a)bscs-us.org

March 20, 2015

NEURAL COMPUTATION - April 1, 2015

by Terry Sejnowski

NEURAL COMPUTATION - April 1, 2015 Neural Computation - Volume 27, Number 4 - April 1, 2015 Available online for download now: http://www.mitpressjournals.org/toc/neco/27/4 ----- Articles Spontaneous Action Potentials and Neural Coding in Un-myelinated Axons Cian O'Donnell, Mark C.W. van Rossum Accurate Connection Strength Estimation Based on Variational Bayes for Detecting Synaptic Plasticity Takuya Isomura, Yutaro Ogawa, Kiyoshi Kotani, and Yasuhiko Jimbo Letters Hardware-Amenable Structural Learning for Spike-based Pattern Classification Using a Simple Model of Active Dendrites Shaista Hussain, Shih-Chii Liu, and Arindam Basu Neuronal Calcium Wave Propagation Varies With Changes in Endoplasmic Reticulum Parameters: A Computer Model Samuel A Neymotin, Robert A McDougal, Mohamed A Sherif, Christopher P Fall, Michael L. Hines, and William W Lytton Visual Tracking Using Neuromorphic Asynchronous Event-based Cameras Zhenjiang Ni, Sio-Hoi Ieng, Christoph Posch, Stephane Regnier, and Ryad Benosman The Benefits of Modelling Slack Variables in SVMs Fengzhen Tang, Peter Tino, Pedro Antonio Gutierrez, and Huanhuan Chen A Study on the Optimal Double-Parameters for Steepest Descent With Momentum Naimin Zhang ------------ ON-LINE -- http://www.mitpressjournals.org/neuralcomp SUBSCRIPTIONS - 2015 - VOLUME 27 - 12 ISSUES Student/Retired $75 Individual $134 Institution $1,075 MIT Press Journals, One Rogers Street, Cambridge, MA 02142-1209 Tel: (617) 253-2889 FAX: (617) 577-1545 journals-cs(a)mit.edu ------------

March 19, 2015

postdoc in Neuroscience / Neural Engineering position available

by Sergiy Yakovenko

POSTDOC: We have funding from NIH to support a Postdoctoral Fellow position in Neuroscience / Neural Engineering The West Virginia University Research Corporation (WVURC) seeks to hire a Postdoctoral Fellow – Neuroscience/Neural Engineering in the Department of Human Performance at West Virginia University. This position will support the research of corticospinal reorganization after CNS injury using micro-electrode array technology for the interaction with the disrupted CNS, and will work on the development of neuroprosthetics with animal models of neurological conditions. A PhD in physiology, neuroscience, or highly-related areas, experience in Matlab, and a demonstrated record of strong scientific publications in the field of neuroscience, particularly on the topic of systems motor control are required. A PhD in neuroscience, biomedical engineering, neurophysiology, or highly-related fields is preferred. Competitive salary and benefits package offered. For a complete job description and to apply for this position, please visit http://hr.research.wvu.edu <http://hr.research.wvu.edu/> and click on the “WVURC Employment Opportunities” link. AA/EOE/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disability/E-verify compliant employer DETAILS: West Virginia University Research Corporation Postdoctoral Fellow Position Description Working Title Postdoctoral Fellow – Neuroscience/Neural Engineering (EXERPH 15-0027) Department HSC/Exercise Physiology Minimum Salary Requirements FY 2015 Postdoctoral Fellow NIH range: 0 years of experience – $42,840/year 1 year of experience – $44,556/year 2 years of experience – $46,344/year 3 years of experience – $48,192/year Position Location Morgantown/Monongalia County Position Terms Full-time (40hpw), benefits eligible FLSA Status Exempt WVURC Position Type Specialist/Lead WVURC Functional Group Technology & Engineering EEO Reporting Category Professionals Standard Occupation Code 17-2031 SR WC Code/Rate 4511/.58 Prepared By Carla Davis Prepared Date February 25, 2015 Approved By Dr. Sergiy Yakovenko Posting Date March 13, 2015 Purpose This position supports the research of corticospinal reorganization after CNS injury using micro-electrode array technology for the interaction with the disrupted CNS. It works on the development of neuroprosthetics with animal models of neurological conditions. The incumbent serves as a resource contact relative to the research project. Depth skills, knowledge, and interpretive abilities, as well as some creativity, are required to successfully perform duties. Independently uses professional concepts and organizational policies to solve a wide range of moderate to complex problems in imaginative and practical ways. Work effort often addresses non-routine matters within established protocol, guidelines, and/or policies. Work effort has significant impact on client services and operations, producing moderate to major organizational, legal and financial results and/or liabilities. Position duties require oversight of projects. Duties & Responsibilities Responsibilities are functional in nature, and performed under limited supervision. Specific tasks include, but are not limited to: Perform the leadership role in rodent surgeries, stimulation – recording sessions, dataset analysis, and paper publication, with support from faculty investigators and a laboratory technician. Attend research conferences and read scientific literature to keep abreast of technological advances and current research findings. Identify and assist with acquisition of funding from public, private, and governmental sources. Assist with development of novel research proposals for sponsor submission. Write proposals, papers, and abstracts to attract research funds. Search scientific literature to select and modify methods and procedures most appropriate for research goals. Perform laboratory and field experiment activities according to protocol. Independent experimental data analysis. Maintain detailed logs of work related activities, including accurate laboratory records and data on research methods, procedures, and results. Oversee research facilities and personnel Assure compliance with research protocols and safety requirements. Oversee and direct undergraduate and graduate researchers in the completion of experiments. Maintain lab equipment; keep accurate inventory of lab assets; monitor and assure proper use and conditions of lab equipment. Write and present research/study status reports for review and use of the Principal Investigator. Prepare results of experimental findings for presentation to colleagues and the sponsor; at professional/technical conferences; and/or, for publication in scientific journals, as directed. Supervisory/Lead Role This position reports to the Principal Investigator. It normally receives no instructions on routine work, but will receive instructions/advice when starting a new project or when a difficulty arises in the current project. Typically determines methods or procedures and consults with the supervisor on new assignments. General sharing of knowledge and team participation is expected in the role. Guidance or supervision of others may be required. Physical Demands Requires physical abilities to perform laboratory research, including manual dexterity and abilities to see, hear, walk, talk, and feel. Individual is required to lift and carry items of 25 lbs or less or transport such items by cart. Walking and stair climbing occur on a daily basis. Work Environment Work will be performed in a standard laboratory environment, using computers and laboratory equipment with electrical connections. The incumbent must comply with all laboratory safety procedures and clothing/equipment requirements. There will be exposure to laboratory chemicals, electrical supplies, but protective measures will be provided. Requisite Qualifications Education and/or Experience PhD in physiology, neuroscience, or highly-related areas; Experience in Matlab, and a demonstrated record of strong scientific publications in the field of neuroscience, particularly on the topic of systems motor control. Skills, Knowledge, Abilities Skilled at communicating effectively, both orally, and in writing, in English. Skilled at using scientific rules and methods to solve problems. Skilled at identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. Ability to document and present the results of research. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format as well as use original or innovative techniques or style due to the nature of the scientific content of the material being presented. Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to technical and non-technical audiences Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems. Ability to deal with nonverbal symbolism (formulas, scientific equations, graphs, etc.). Ability to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions. Ability to meet deadlines, as well as prepare, present and report results effectively. Ability to collaborate effectively with a multidisciplinary team of co-investigators from diverse disciplines, orientations, and organizations. Ability to do strategic planning for program development. Behavioral Competencies Technical skills – Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; pursues training and development opportunities; assess strengths, weaknesses, and shares expertise with others. Problem solving – Gathers and analyzes information, identifies problems, develops alternatives, uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics and works well in groups and resolves matters timely. Interpersonal Interactions in the Workplace – Manages difficult or emotional matters with objectivity and openness; responds promptly to needs and requests for service and assistance; meets commitments and dates, notifies others if change occurs; provides, solicits and applies feedback; and builds goodwill through balanced contributions, positive approach, respect and support of others. Communications – Demonstrates group presentation skills, participates in meetings, listens and gets clarification, is responsive and speaks clearly and persuasively in positive and negative situations. Writes and edits clearly and informatively, varies style to meet needs, presents numerical data effectively, and able to read and interpret written information. Organizational Support – Aligns work and develops strategies to meet organizational goals; seeks to improve and promote quality; demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; and upholds organizational expectations and values. Self-Management – Responds to management direction; resourcefully adapts to changes in work environment and circumstances; responds well under pressure and manages competing demands; takes calculated risks, asks for and offers help when needed; exercise discretion and sound judgment; is tactful and responsible for own actions. Adheres to work schedule and complies with leave management responsibilities. Preferred Qualifications & Credentials Education and/or Experience PhD in neuroscience, biomedical engineering, neurophysiology, or highly-related fields. Cheers, Sergiy -- Sergiy Yakovenko, Ph.D. Assistant Professor WVU Neural Engineering Laboratory http://sites.google.com/site/sergiyyakovenko/ <http://sites.google.com/site/sergiyyakovenko/>

March 19, 2015

registration for RLDM2015 is now open (early registration deadline: April 21st)

by Yael Niv

The 2nd Multidisciplinary Conference on Reinforcement Learning and Decision Making (RLDM2015) www.rldm.org June 7-10, The University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada ====================================================== Registration for RLDM2015 is now open at http://rldm.org/rldm2015/registration/ Early registration fees for the meeting and tutorials are $250 CAD for predoc/postdoc, $480 CAD for regular registration, and $590 CAD for industry. Main meeting only is somewhat cheaper, but you miss out on the wonderful tutorials (http://rldm.org/rldm2015/tutorials/) Registration fees include three light breakfasts, all coffee breaks, two lunches, and one banquet dinner. ** Early registration ends April 21st ** We are excited to announce that RLDM2015 attracted 127 submissions. Accept/reject notifications will be sent by March 28. The list of invites speakers is already available at http://rldm.org/rldm2015/invited-speakers2015/ We look forward to seeing you in Alberta! The RLDM2015 organizing committee -------- To ensure that you receive future announcements about RLDM2015 please join our mailing list at http://tinyurl.com/RLDMlist (you must log in to google to see the "join list" button, and choose 'all emails' in the options).

March 19, 2015

Post-doc in MEG- EEG based neuroimaging and/or real-tierm EEG

by Alex Ossadtchi

Higher School of Economics is pleased to announce new CAS-funded post-doctoral posts at the Neuroimaging and BCI Group <http://www.hse.ru/en/cdm-centre/Methods>. Research topics include: novel methods for solving EEG and MEG inverse problem, source space analysis of synchrony, techniques for improvement of neurofeedback efficacy and motor imagery BCI. The laboratory is a structural part of the HSE’s Centre for Cognition & Decision Making <http://www.hse.ru/en/cdm-centre> with ample collaboration opportunities within the Centre as well as with other research groups at HSE, within Russia, and internationally. Research facilities include multi-channel EEG, navigated TMS-EEG, behavioral, and eye-tracking equipment. The Center also provides access to MEG, fMRI and a range of neurological populations. This new international group collaborates with a number of leading researchers around the world including Richard Leahy(University of Southern California), Sylvain Baillet, Karim Jerbi (McGill University), Judson Brewer (University of Massachusetts at Amherst), Mark Pflieger (Cortech Solutions, USA), Dirk de Ridder (University of Otago). The post holders will have an advantage of being able to further define and expand the group’s research programme. Further to working on the group's current research strands, the successful candidates will also be encouraged to pursue their own research program. The job involves: - working under the direct supervision of Prof. Alexei Ossadtchi <http://www.hse.ru/en/org/persons/96086377> - participants are encouraged to pursue their own research in source analysis using EEG and MEG measurements, source space analysis of synchrony, developing techniques for improvement of neurofeedback efficacy and motor imagery BCI. - writing research papers for international peer-reviewed journals in co-authorship with the members of the Lab - some teaching as well as public presentations of candidate’s own research are also encouraged - participation in organization of the events and other contribution to the Lab’s development Requirements: - Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics or related discipline - Demonstrated skills in signal processing and analysis of multidimensional real life data - Familiarity with Matlab and Ptython - Fluent English (knowledge of Russian is not required) - Demonstrated ability and high motivation to conduct high-quality research publishable in quality international peer-reviewed journals General conditions for Post-Doctoral Research positions can be found here <http://cas.hse.ru/general_postdoc>. Appointments will be normally made for one year. Please apply via online application form <http://cas.hse.ru/en/expresspolls/poll/144697605.html> and attach you CV and research statement. Two letters of recommendations should be sent directly to fellowship(a)hse.ru <https://mail2.hse.ru/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=rCOCfgIWdO7CcYm5xF0qVx2XV9ZQ4EG2j8…> by April 1, 2015. The HSE <http://hse.ru/en> is a young, dynamic, fast-growing Russian research university providing unique research opportunities.

March 18, 2015

postdoc position available

by Dick Aslin

POSTDOC: Harvard/Rochester project on cognitive neuroscience (EEG and fNIRS) in human infants Funding from NSF is expected for a 1.5-year postdoc to collect and analyze datasets gathered from human infants while they view visual stimuli or listen to language stimuli. This is a joint project between the Rochester Babylab (Richard Aslin, PI) and the Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience lab at Harvard (Charles Nelson, PI). Rochester lab: http://babylab.bcs.rochester.edu/ Boston lab: http://www.childrenshospital.org/research-and-innovation/research/labs/nels… The goal of the project is to gather EEG and fNIRS data from 3- to 12-month-olds and merge these datasets, within-subjects at each age, using multivariate pattern classification and representational similarity analysis methods. The successful candidate could reside either in Rochester, NY or Boston, MA, with some travel expected between both sites. The preferred skill set consists of one or more of the following: experience with the testing of human infants, collection and analysis of EEG data, collection and analysis of fNIRS or fMRI data, use of machine learning techniques such as MVPA, fluency in Matlab. A machine learning consultant on the grant (Radislaw Cichy) will provide guidance for many of the analyses. Candidate must have a PhD (or firm plans to defend their dissertation no later than August of 2015). Preferred start date is July 1, 2015. Interested applicants should forward a cover letter, CV, and the names of three references to Richard Aslin: aslin(a)mail.cvs.rochester.edu. Review of application materials will begin on May 1 and continue until a candidate has been chosen. -- NOTE: new email address is aslin(a)mail.cvs.rochester.edu Richard N. Aslin William R. Kenan Professor Brain and Cognitive Sciences University of Rochester http://www.bcs.rochester.edu/people/faculty/aslin_richard/

March 18, 2015

on behalf of Boris Gutkin - postdoc position Moscow

by Reinoud Maex

Please reply to boris.gutkin(a)gmail.com. Theoretical Neuroscience Group Postdoctoral research positions. Deadline: April 1, 2015 Theoretical Neuroscience — computational and mathematical approaches to understanding neural function and cognition. Research interests of the Theoretical Neuroscience Group at the Centre for Cognition and Decision Making are wide ranging, carried out in collaboration with the experimental labs at the research center and the faculty of applied mathematics. Research themes include models of social decision-making, computational neuroeconomics, information processing in neurons and circuits as well as computational approaches to drug addiction and role of oscillations in cognition. The group is linked with the Group for Neural Theory at the Ecole Normale Superior in Paris, where research internships and visiting positions can be made available. We are seeking highly qualified and motivated candidate with backgrounds in quantitative disciplines: applied mathematics, physics, computer science or engineering. Programming skills and ability to carry put interdisciplinary projects are required. Ability to work with data is recommended. Candidates will be trained in model building, analysis and will be offered advanced training in neuroscience and cognitive psychology. Candidates will be expected to develop independent research projects and collaborations under the direction of the group leading scientists. Publications in international peers reviewed venues are expected as tangible out outcomes of the research. Group leader — Boris Gutkin. General conditions for Post-Doctoral Research positions can be found here. Appointments will be normally made for one year. Please apply via online application form and attach you CV and research statement. Two letters of recommendations should be sent directly to fellowship(a)hse.ru by April 1, 2015. The HSE is a young, dynamic, fast-growing Russian research university providing unique research opportunities.

March 18, 2015

Workshop on Nonlinear Dynamics in Computational Neuroscience: from Physics and Biology to ICT

by Alessandro Torcini

Here is the First Announcement of the 10th SICC International Tutorial Workshop on "Topics in nonlinear dynamics" <<Nonlinear Dynamics in Computational Neuroscience: from Physics and Biology to ICT>> to be held on September 07-09, 2015 in Turin, Italy Organizers: Fernando Corinto (Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy) Alessandro Torcini (ISC-CNR, Florence, Italy) This workshop "Nonlinear Dynamics in Computational Neuroscience: from Physics and Biology to ICT” offers an unique opportunity to meet researchers working across (and between) disciplines linked to Computational Neuroscience. In particular, computational neuroscients, neurophysiologists and neural engineers will have the opportunity to present their most recent results to a young audience, constituted mainly by PhD students, and to interact directly among them. The program ranges from nonlinear dynamical approaches to the understanding of neural computation to physiology, from the simulations of brain circuits to the development of engineering devices and platforms for neuromorphic computation. The speakers will be specifically advised to perform didactic presentations of their results in order to allow the active participation to the discussion of young PhD students from different disciplines as well as to researchers interested in the field of Computational Neuroscience. Specific poster sessions will be organized with the purpose on one side to allow the young participants to present their latest results and on the other side to increase the opportunity of networking among the participants and renowed experts of the discipline. This workshop represents the 10th of a series of tutorial workshops annually organized by the Italian Society of Chaos and Complexity (SICC) to explore the emergence of new research fields, where nonlinear dynamics and control theory can play a relevant role. These workshops have been traditionally devoted to an audience mainly constituted by PhD students or young researchers working in complex systems. A poster session will be running during all the event and aimed to let all the participants to present their recent results. More information on the workshop can be found in the web page: http://www.neuro-eng-comp.polito.it/workshop/ Confirmed invited speakers include Cristina Becchio (University of Turin, Italy) Ruben Moreno Bote (CIBERSAM - Barcelona, Spain) George Bourianov (Intel/University of Texas at Austin, USA) Emilio Carbone (University of Turin, Italy) Stephen Coombes (University of Nottingham, UK) Steve Furber (The University of Manchester, UK) Julius Georgiou (University of Cyprus, Cyprus) Viktor Jirsa (INSERM - Marseille, France) Luke P. Lee (UC Berkeley, USA) Stefano Luccioli (ISC CNR - Florence, Italy) Maurizio Mattia (ISS - Roma, Italy) Benedetto Sacchetti (University of Turin, Italy) Maria Sanchez-Vives (IDIBAPS - Barcelona, Spain) Ronald Tetzlaff (TU Dresden, Germany) The workshop is kindly supported by the: SICC - Italian Society for Chaos and Complexity, IEEE Circuits and Systems Society - CASS Surplus Funds CRT Foundation, Marie Curie Initial Training project NETT - Neural Engineering Transformative Technologies, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Italy)

March 18, 2015

joint experiment & theory postdoc position

by Mark Goldman

A postdoctoral position that combines experimental & theoretical investigation of neural networks (see position description below) is available jointly between the laboratories of Drs. Mark Goldman and Kim McAllister at the University of California at Davis. UC Davis is a top-ten public research university (US News & World Report) located 1 hour east from the San Francisco Bay Area and 20 minutes from the state capital of Sacramento. Candidates are expected to have training in both performing experiments and background in an analytically rigorous discipline such as computational neuroscience, physics, mathematics, computer science, or engineering. Interested candidates should send a CV, brief statement of previous research and future research interests, and contact information for three references to: Mark Goldman, msgoldman(a)ucdavis.edu and Kim McAllister, kmcallister(a)ucdavis.edu. * Development, dynamics, and plasticity of neural networks: *We are seeking to understand the learning rules underlying development and learning in neural networks. We will use cutting-edge technology in patterned substrates, optogenetics, and uncaging in a novel long-term imaging assay for synapse dynamics that allows recording and single synapse or single cell manipulation of neuronal and network activity. These cultured networks will be used to directly test central tenets of Hebbian, spike-timing dependent, and homeostatic learning. The applicant will perform these imaging experiments as well as apply theoretical models to better understand and predict experimental findings.

March 17, 2015

Postdoctoral positions available in group for neural theory, Paris

by Sophie Deneve

Two postdoctoral positions are available in the group of Sophie Deneve, Ecole Normale supérieure, Paris. Positions are for two years, and comes with competitive salary and generous equipment and travel funds. The team is part of the “Group for neural theory” ( http://iec-lnc.ens.fr/group-for-neural-theory/) and surrounded by top-level theoretical and experimental labs. Candidates are expected to have a solid training in the field of computational neuroscience, proven quantitative and programming skills and a strong interest in integrative neuroscience. Starting dates are flexible, but should preferentially occur before September 2015. Candidates should send their application to sophie.deneve(a)ens.fr by *March 31, 2015*. Please mention “postdoctoral candidate” in the subject of the email. Application should take the form of a single PDF file, containing a CV, motivation letter, names and email addresses of 2 to 3 referees. No official letter of recommendations are required, as the referees will be contacted directly. Main research directions in the lab are: Efficient coding in spiking networks (theory and data analyses). Probabilistic approaches to sensory processing (theory and data analyses). Hierarchical inference and learning in neural networks, application to schizophrenia (psychophysics experiment and theory) Candidates should send their application to sophie.deneve(a)ens.fr by *March 31, 2015*. Please mention “postdoctoral candidate” in the subject of the email. Application should take the form of a single PDF file, containing a CV, motivation letter, names and email addresses of 2 to 3 referees. No official letter of recommendations are required, as the referee will be contacted directly. -- Dr Sophie Deneve Group for Neural Theory Laboratoire de Neurosciences cognitives ENS-INSERM 29, rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris, France Tel. (+33) (0)1 44 32 26 35

March 17, 2015

BCF/NWG Course "Analysis and Models in Neurophysiology" 2015 at the Bernstein Center Freiburg, Germany

by Birgit Ahrens

*BCF/NWG Course*** *"Analysis and Models in Neurophysiology"*** /Sunday, October 4 - Friday, October 9, 2015 / /Bernstein Center Freiburg, Hansastraße 9a, 79104 Freiburg, Germany/ *Aim of the course:* The course is intended to provide advanced Diploma/Masters and PhD students, as well as young researchers from the neurosciences with approaches for the analysis of electrophysiological data and the theoretical concepts behind them. *The course includes various topics such as*: * Neuron Models and Point Processes (Prof. Stefan Rotter) * Local field potentials (Prof. Ulrich Egert) * Neural Coding (Dr. Robert Schmidt) * Neural Decoding (Prof. Carsten Mehring) The course will consist of lectures in the morning and matching exercises using Matlab and Mathematica in the afternoon. The participants should have a basic understanding of scientific programming. This course is designated especially for advanced diploma/master students and PhD students (preferentially in their first year). *Application:* Please apply by sending *one pdf document* containing your CV and a meaningful letter of motivation to nwg-course(a)bcf.uni-freiburg.de <mailto:nwg-course@bcf.uni-freiburg.de>. The letter of motivation should refer to the following points: * Reasons for wanting to take this course * Background in mathematics * Background in scientific programming * Experience in using Matlab and Mathematica * Background in neuroscience The course is limited to 20 participants. *Course fees:*NWG members - 50€, others - 125€ *Application deadline: *June 30, 2015 *More information: *http://www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de/events/conferences-workshops/20151004-nwgcourse <http://www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de/events/conferences-workshops/20141005-nwgcou…> *-- Dr. Birgit Ahrens --* Teaching & Training Coordinator Bernstein Center Freiburg University of Freiburg Hansastr. 9a D - 79104 Freiburg Germany Phone: +49 (0) 761 203-9575 Fax: +49 (0) 761 203-9559

March 17, 2015

Postdoctoral position in computational neuroscience at University of Pennsylvania

by Maria Geffen

A postdoctoral position in computational neuroscience is available at the Laboratory of Auditory Coding at the University of Pennsylvania under direction of Dr. Maria Neimark Geffen. We are looking for a talented, energetic, ambitious and creative scientist to join our team in studying the neuronal mechanisms of auditory perception and learning. For more details, go to http://www.med.upenn.edu/hearing <http://www.med.upenn.edu/hearing> Requirements: A doctoral degree in quantitative science (physics/chemistry/computational biology/neuroscience etc.), math/applied math or computer science (can be expected); proficiency in computer programming; excellent mathematical skills. Recommended: Coursework or experience in systems neuroscience, computational neuroscience, and/or linguistics. To apply, please email a short paragraph with your research interests, a CV and copies of your publications or pre-prints to mgeffen(a)med.upenn.edu _________________________________ Maria Neimark Geffen, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery Department of Neuroscience Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania 5 Ravdin 3400 Spruce St. Philadelphia PA 19104 Tel.: 215.898.0782 Fax: 215.898.9994 mgeffen(a)med.upenn.edu http://www.med.upenn.edu/hearing

March 16, 2015

Deadline Approaching: 2015 Telluride Neuromorphic Cognition Engineering Workshop- Call For Applicants

by Ralph Etienne-Cummings

> > > *-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > **Telluride Neuromorphic Cognition Engineering Workshop* > > > > *2015 Neuromorphic Cognition Engineering Workshop* > > *Telluride, Colorado, June 28th - July 18th, 2015* > > > > CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Deadline is April 2nd, 2015 > > NEUROMORPHIC COGNITION ENGINEERING WORKSHOP > > www.ine-web.org > > > > Sunday June 28th - Saturday July 18th, 2015, Telluride, Colorado > > > > ine-web.org/workshops/workshops-overview/index.html and the workshop wiki > is at https://neuromorphs.net/ > > > > GOALS: > > Neuromorphic engineers design and fabricate artificial neural systems > whose organizing principles are based on those of biological nervous > systems. Over the past 18 years, this research community has focused on the > understanding of low-level sensory processing and systems infrastructure; > efforts are now expanding to apply this knowledge and infrastructure to > addressing higher-level problems in perception, cognition, and learning. In > this 3-week intensive workshop and through the Institute for Neuromorphic > Engineering (INE), the mission is to promote interaction between senior and > junior researchers; to educate new members of the community; to introduce > new enabling fields and applications to the community; to promote on-going > collaborative activities emerging from the Workshop, and to promote a > self-sustaining research field. > > > > FORMAT: > > The three week summer workshop will include background lectures on systems > and cognitive neuroscience (in particular sensory processing, learning and > memory, motor systems and attention), practical tutorials on emerging > hardware design, mobile robots, hands-on projects, and special interest > groups. Participants are required to take part and possibly complete at > least one of the projects proposed. They are furthermore encouraged to > become involved in as many of the other activities proposed as interest and > time allow. There will be two lectures in the morning that cover issues > that are important to the community in general. Because of the diverse > range of backgrounds among the participants, some of these lectures will be > tutorials, rather than detailed reports of current research. These lectures > will be given by invited speakers. Projects and interest groups meet in the > late afternoons, and after dinner. In the early afternoon there will be > tutorials on a wide spectrum of topics, including analog VLSI, mobile > robotics, vision and auditory systems, central-pattern-generators, > selective attention mechanisms, cognitive systems, etc. > > > > *2015 TOPIC AREAS:* > > > > *Human Auditory Cognition: Communicating with EEG and Virtual Reality > Links (The Matrix)*: Shihab Shamma (UM-College Park), Malcolm Slaney > (Microsoft), Edward Lalor (Trinity College, Dublin), and Alain de Cheveigne > (UPMC, France) > > > > *Manipulation Actions: Movements, Forces and Affordances: *Cornelia > Fermüller (UMCP), Michael Pfeiffer (INI-UZH), Ryad Benosman (UPMC, Paris), > and Andreas Andreou (JHU) > > > > *Neuromorphic Natural Language Processing:* John Harris (UFL, > Gainesville) and Chris Huyck (Middlesex University) > > > > *Spike-Based Cognitive Computing: Seeing, Hearing, and Thinking with > Spikes: *Arindam Basu (NTU, Singapore) and John Arthur (IBM Research > Almaden) > > > > *Computational Neuroscience (invitational mini-workshop)* : Terry > Sejnowski (Salk Institute) > > > > LOCATION AND ARRANGEMENTS: > > The summer school will take place in the small town of Telluride, 9000 > feet high in southwest Colorado, about 6 hours drive away from Denver (350 > miles). Great Lakes Aviation and America West Express airlines provide > daily flights directly into Telluride. All facilities within the > beautifully renovated public school building are fully accessible to > participants with disabilities. Participants will be housed in ski > condominiums, within walking distance of the school. Participants are > expected to share condominiums. > > > > The workshop is intended to be very informal and hands-on. Participants > are not required to have had previous experience in analog VLSI circuit > design, computational or machine vision, systems level neurophysiology or > modeling the brain at the systems level. However, we strongly encourage > active researchers with relevant backgrounds from academia, industry and > national laboratories to apply, in particular if they are prepared to work > on specific projects, talk about their own work or bring demonstrations to > Telluride (e.g. robots, chips, software). Wireless internet access will be > provided. Technical staff present throughout the workshops will assist with > software and hardware issues. We will have a network of PCs running LINUX > and Microsoft Windows for the workshop projects. We encourage participants > to bring along their personal laptop. > > > > No cars are required. Given the small size of the town, we recommend that > you do not rent a car. Bring hiking boots, warm clothes, rain gear, and a > backpack, since Telluride is surrounded by beautiful mountains. > > > > Unless otherwise arranged with one of the organizers, we expect > participants to stay for the entire duration of this three week workshop. > > > > FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS: > > Notification of acceptances will be mailed out around the April 15th, > 2015. The Workshop covers all your accommodations and facilities costs for > the 3 weeks duration. You are responsible for your own travel to the > Workshop, however, sponsored fellowships will be available as described > below to further subsidize your cost. > > > > Registration Fees: For expenses not covered by federal funds, a Workshop > registration fee is required. The fee is TBD per participant for the 3-week > Workshop. This is expected from all participants at the time of acceptance. > > Accommodations: The cost of a shared condominium, typically a bedroom in a > shared condo for senior participants or a shared room for students, will be > covered for all academic participants. Upgrades to a private rooms or > condos will cost extra. Participants from National Laboratories and > Industry are expected to pay for these condominiums. > > > > Fellowships: This year we will offer one Fellowship program to subsidize > your costs: > > The EU-CSNII Fellowship (http://csnetwork.eu/) which is funded by the 7th > Research Framework Program FP7-ICT-CSNII-601167. The top 8 EU applicants > will be reimbursed for their registration fees ($1250), subsistence/travel > subsidy (up to Euro 2000) and accommodations cost ($1500). The registration > and accommodation costs will go directly to the INE (the INE will reimburse > them). > > > > We invite applications for a three-week summer workshop that will be held > in Telluride, Colorado. Sunday June 28th - Saturday July 18th, 2015. The > application deadline is Wednesday, April 2nd and application instructions > are described at the bottom of this document. > > > > The 2015 Workshop and Summer School on Neuromorphic Engineering is > sponsored by the National Science Foundation, Institute of Neuromorphic > Engineering, DARPA, Office of Naval Research, The EU-Collaborative > Convergent Science Network (CNS-II), University of Maryland - College Park, > Institute for Neuroinformatics – University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, > Georgia Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University, Boston > University, University of Western Sydney and the Salk Institute. > > > > Directors: > > Cornelia Fermuller, University of Maryland, College Park > > Ralph Etienne-Cummings, Johns Hopkins University > > Shih-Chii Liu, Institute of Neuroinformatics, UNI/ETH Zurich, Switzerland > > Timothy Horiuchi, University of Maryland, College Park > > > > Workshop Advisory Board: > > Andreas Andreou, Johns Hopkins University > > Andre van Schaik, University Western Sydney, Australia > > Avis Cohen, University of Maryland > > Barbara Shinn-Cunningham, Boston University > > Giacomo Indiveri, Institute of Neuroinformatics, Uni/Eth Zurich, > Switzerland > > Jonathan Tapson, University Western Sydney, Australia > > Malcolm Slaney, Microsoft Research > > Jennifer Hasler, Georgia Institute of Technology > > Rodney Douglas, Institute of Neuroinformatics, Uni/Eth Zurich, Switzerland > > Shihab Shamma, University of Maryland > > Tobi Delbruck, Institute of Neuroinformatics, Uni/Eth Zurich, Switzerland > > > > Previous year workshop can be found at: > <http://ine-web.org/workshops/workshops-overview/index.html> participant’s > registration fees after receipt from CSNII), while the subsistence/travel > reimbursement will be provided directly to the participants by the CSNII at > the University of Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain. > > HOW TO APPLY: > > Applicants should be at the level of graduate students or above (i.e. > postdoctoral fellows, faculty, research and engineering staff and the > equivalent positions in industry and national laboratories). We actively > encourage women and minority candidates to apply. > > > > Anyone interested in proposing or discussing specific projects should > contact the appropriate topic leaders directly. > > > > The application website is (after February 23rd, 2015): > > ine-web.org/telluride-conference-2015/apply-info > > > > Application information needed: > > Contact email address. > > First name, Last name, Affiliation, valid e-mail address. > > Curriculum Vitae (a short version, please). > > One page summary of background and interests relevant to the workshop, > including possible ideas for workshop projects. Please indicate which topic > areas you would most likely join. > > Two letters of recommendation (uploaded directly by references). > > Applicants will be notified by e-mail. > > 23rd February, 2015 - Applications accepted on website > > 2nd April, 2015 - Applications Due > > 15th April, 2015 - Notification of Acceptance > > > > -- > Ralph Etienne-Cummings, PhD, FIEEE > Professor and Chairman > Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering > Computational Sensor Motor Systems Lab > Laboratory for Computational Sensing and Robotics > The Johns Hopkins University > Baltimore, MD > [image: cid:image001.png@01CFC064.B58B46A0] > > -- Ralph Etienne-Cummings, PhD, FIEEE Professor and Chairman Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Computational Sensor Motor Systems Lab Laboratory for Computational Sensing and Robotics The Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD [image: cid:image001.png@01CFC064.B58B46A0]

March 16, 2015

Senior lectureship in computer science (machine learning / biocomputation)

by Steuber, Volker

Senior Lecturer in Computer Science School of Computer Science University of Hertfordshire Hatfield, Hertfordshire UK Salary: £37,394 to £47,328 per annum depending on skills and experience FTE: Full time position Duration of contract: Permanent Closing date: 26 March 2015 Applications are invited for two posts of Senior Lecturer in the School of Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the School's teaching and curriculum development activities, and to strengthen its research activities. We are looking to recruit specifically computer scientists with specialist interests in machine learning related to biocomputation (including computational neuroscience), with the flexibility to teach across mainstream topics in computer science. The School has an international reputation for teaching and research, with 58 academic staff, 20 adjunct lecturer staff, and 65 research students and postdoctoral research staff. With a history going back to 1958, the School teaches one of the largest cohorts of undergraduate students in the UK, and also delivers a thriving online computer science degree programme. The University of Hertfordshire is situated in Hatfield, in the green belt just north of London. The person appointed will be expected to contribute to learning and teaching relevant to core computer science topics, participate in curriculum review and development, design and develop new modules, and supervise student projects at all levels. The appointee will strengthen the research culture in the School by pursuing research as part of a larger research team, seeking external funding, publishing papers, supervising research students, and participating in commercial activity as appropriate. Preference will be given to candidates who can contribute to teaching and research in databases or machine learning. You must hold a PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant subject, possess excellent communication skills in English and the ability to teach at undergraduate and postgraduate level. It is desirable that candidates have a track record of publication, external research funding, collaboration across disciplines, experience of different types of assessment and higher education quality assurance. They should also have the ability to play a role in the routine running of the School of Computer Science. The University is required to meet UKVI visa regulations. Applicants who do not currently have the right to work in the UK will have to satisfy UKVI regulations before they can be appointed. Application should be made through http://www.herts.ac.uk/contact-us/jobs-and-vacancies/academic-vacancies (reference 012476). For informal enquiries contact Prof William Clocksin (Dean of School, w.clocksin(a)herts.ac.uk) or Dr Volker Steuber (Head of the Biocomputation Research Group, v.steuber(a)herts.ac.uk)

March 13, 2015

RTXI-2015 - real-time electrophysiology

by Butera, Robert J

Dear Colleagues: I am writing to invite you to attend RTXI-2015, May 7-8, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. This two-day meeting focuses on the application of real-time computing methods to scientific and clinical applications in neuroscience and other application areas. While targeting users of our RTXI software (http://www.rtxi.org) participation by anyone working in the topic areas is welcome. For those of you who recall the “GTReal” meeting in 2005 and "BUReal" meeting in 2006, this is a successor to that meeting. What has changed in 10 years? In short, our ability to sense and measure with newer modalities, and applications moving from the scale of intracellular studies (e.g., dynamic clamp) to multichannel scientific and clinical applications with closed loop devices. Invited speakers: Chuck Dorval, University of Utah: Closed-loop neuromodulation - exposing pitfall and promises of preclinical trials via RTXI Scott Stanslinski, Medtronic: Challenges in clinical neuromodulation: transitioning from open-loop to active-sensing and closed-loop methods Flavio Frolich, University of North Carolina: Rational design of non-invasive (feedback) brain stimulation Astrid Prinz, Emory University: Synaptic feedback strategies that minimize neuronal oscillator variability Dieter Jaeger, Emory University: Real-time interactions with the mouse motor thalamus in vitro and in vivo Topics include: - Dynamic clamp and similar methods - Closed-loop neural stimulation - Cardiac dynamics and control - Applications to neurological disease (Parkinson's, epilepsy, etc.) - Open-source software development The meeting is in small setting (max. 200 attendees) with a single talk track, workshops for those new and experienced using RTXI, and posters. Registration is $75 for students and $125 for all others, and includes breakfast and lunch on both days. Fee waivers are also available. The venue is the Georgia Academy of Medicine, located 2 blocks south of the Midtown MARTA station. See http://rtxi.org/conference for more information about the meeting, invited speakers, and registration information. Supported by NIH via the RTXI project and the Neural Engineering Center at Georgia Tech. -- Robert Butera, PhD, PE Professor, School of ECE and Wallace H. Coulter Dept. of BME Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA USA ph: 404-894-2935 FAX: 404-385-5044 admin: 404-894-1359

March 13, 2015

CFP 3rd International Congress on Neurotechnology, Electronics and Informatics - NEUROTECHNIX 2015

by Calendar Sites

CALL FOR PAPERS 3rd International Congress on Neurotechnology, Electronics and Informatics NEUROTECHNIX 2015 Website: http://www.neurotechnix.org November 16 17, 2015 Lisbon, Portugal Complete Papers Paper Submission: June 30, 2015 Authors Notification: September 1, 2015 Camera Ready and Registration: September 14, 2015 Extended Abstracts Paper Submission: September 2, 2015 Authors Notification: October 6, 2015 Camera Ready and Registration: October 13, 2015 Sponsored by: INSTICC-Institute for Systems and Technologies of Information, Control and Communication In Cooperation with: APEEGNC Associação Portugues de EEG e Neurofisiologia Clínica NN Neurotech Network INNS The International Neural Network Society NNN Nansen Neuroscience Network WFNR World Federation for NeuroRehabilitation Logistics Partner: SCITEVENTS Science and Technology Events 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. PUBLICATIONS All accepted papers will be published in the conference proceedings, under an ISBN reference, on paper and on CD-ROM support. SCITEPRESS is member of CrossRef ( <http://www.crossref.org/> http://www.crossref.org/) All papers presented at the conference venue will be available at the <http://www.scitepress.org/DigitalLibrary/Default.aspx> SCITEPRESS Digital Library. The proceedings will be submitted for indexation by Thomson Reuters Conference Proceedings Citation Index (ISI), INSPEC, DBLP, EI (Elsevier Index) and Scopus. AWARDS The awards will be announced and bestowed at the conference closing session. 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. NEURAL REHABILITATION 2. NEUROSENSING AND DIAGNOSIS 3. NEUROCOMPUTING 4. NEUROMODULATION AND NEURAL PROSTHESIS AREA 1: 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 2: NEUROSENSING AND DIAGNOSIS * Neural Signal Processing * Real Time Monitoringof Neuromuscular and Neural Activity * EEG and EMG Signal Processing and Applications * Brain imaging * Magnetic Resonance Imaging * Electrical and Magnetic Recordings * Positron Emission Tomography * Optical Imaging Techniques * Neuroimaging * Mobile and Embedded Devices * Monitoring Systems and Techniques * Remote Neurosensing * Diagnostic Sensors * Sleep Analysis * Intelligent Diagnosis Systems AREA 3: 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 AREA 4: 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 KEYNOTE LECTURE Thomas Stieglitz, University of Freiburg, Germany CONGRESS CHAIR Aldo Faisal, Imperial College London, United Kingdom PROGRAM CO-CHAIRS Hermano Igo Krebs, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States Antonio Pedotti, Politecnico di Milano, Italy PROGRAM COMMITTEE <http://www.neurotechnix.org/ProgramCommittee.aspx> http://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: +44 203 014 8813 e-mail: <mailto:neurotec.secretariat@insticc.org> neurotechnix.secretariat(a)insticc.org Please check further details at the conference website ( <http://www.neurotechnix.org> http://www.neurotechnix.org) --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. http://www.avast.com

March 13, 2015

Bernstein Conference: Call for Workshops ends on Sunday!

by Seeger, Simone

The National Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience invites proposals for Satellite Workshops directly preceding the Bernstein Conference 2015 in Heidelberg ********************************************************************************** Call for Workshop proposals: Workshops: September 14, 2015 (Main Bernstein Conference: September 15-17, 2015) Deadline of proposal submission: March 15, 2015 Notification of acceptance: April 20, 2015 Conference Registration starts: April 27, 2015 Early Registration Deadline: July 21, 2015 ********************************************************************************** The Bernstein Conference started out as the annual meeting of the National Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience and has become the largest 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. SCHEDULE: September 14, 2015, 9:00 – 18:30. 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 and reduced fees for the main conference. 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/2015/satellite-workshops/worksho…>. Deadline for submission of Workshop Proposals: March 15, 2015 We are looking forward to meeting you in Heidelberg! THE WORKSHOP PROGRAM COMMITTEE Matthias Bethge (Bernstein Center Tübingen) Upinder Bhalla (NCBS, Bangalore) Carlos Brody (Princeton University) Gustavo Deco (University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona) Andreas Draguhn (Bernstein Center Heidelberg-Mannheim) Daniel Durstewitz (Bernstein Center Heidelberg-Mannheim) Gaute Einevoll (Norvegian University of Life Sciences, Aas) Andreas Herz (Bernstein Center Munich) Peter Kirsch (Bernstein Center Heidelberg-Mannheim) Sara Solla (Northwestern University, Evanston)

March 13, 2015

Swinburne Brain Imaging Symposium 2015: Principles and Applications of Magnetoencephalography

by David Liley

Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia, is hosting a workshop to promote the unique capabilities of magnetoencephalography for basic and clinical research and clinical decision making. Running over two days from 29 to 30 July 2015 it will feature invited talks from some of the fields most important research leaders and a MEG data analysis hands-on computer workshop. Invited Speakers: Mark Woolrich (Oxford) Krish Singh (Cardiff) Vladimir Litvak (UCL) Suresh Muthukumaraswamy (Auckland) Blake Johnson (Macquarie) In addition to the keynote speakers and computer workshop there will also be an open poster session for registrants to present their work in any of the following or related thematic areas: magnetoencephalography, electroencephalography, clinical monitoring, neuroimaging, TMS, tDCS, tACS or brain-computer interfaces Poster abstract submission deadline: 15th May 2015. Notification of acceptance: 29th May 2015. Invited Symposia & Cocktail Poster Session – 29-30 July 2015: Early bird registration: full: AU$300; Student/Post-docs: AU$80. Early bird registration deadline: 26th June 2015. Standard registration: full: AU$450; Student/Early Career Researcher: AU$120. Hands-on MEG Data analysis workshop (spaces limited to 30) – 30 July afternoon: Early bird registration: full: AU$100; Student/Post-docs: AU$40. Early bird registration deadline: 26th June 2015. Standard registration: full: AU$150; Student/Early Career Researcher: AU$60. For further information on the invited speakers as well as the preliminary workshop program, and how to submit abstracts and register visit: http://www.research.swinburne.edu.au/our-research/events/neuroimaging-sympo… We’d also like to draw your attention to the meeting “IWSP7: Epilepsy Mechanisms, Models, Prediction & Control” which will be held in Melbourne Australia from August 3-6 2015. For details visit http://www.iwsp7.org<http://www.iwsp7.org/> Please forward this notice to anyone that you think might be interested. On behalf of the organizing committee David Liley, MBChB, PhD Brian Cornwell, PhD Email: megsymposium(a)swin.edu.au<mailto:megsymposium@swin.edu.au>

March 12, 2015

Brain, Minds and Machines Summer Course 2015 (Deadline = March 16th)

by Kreiman, Gabriel

Brains, Minds and Machines Summer Course 2015 http://www.mbl.edu/education/special-topics-courses/brains-minds-and-machin… When: August 13 – September 3, 2015 Where: Woods Hole, Massachusetts (MBL) Directors: Gabriel Kreiman, Tomaso Poggio (L. Mahadevan, honorary director) Application deadline: March 16, 2015 This intensive three-week course will give advanced students a “deep end” introduction to the problem of intelligence – how the brain produces intelligent behavior and how we may be able to replicate intelligence in machines. Today’s AI technologies, such as Watson and Siri and Deep Learning, are impressive, but their domain specificity and reliance on vast numbers of labeled examples are obvious limitations; few view this as brain-like or human intelligence. The synergistic combination of cognitive science, neurobiology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science holds the promise to build much more robust and sophisticated algorithms implemented in intelligent machines *and* to begin understanding how the brain produces the mind. The goal of this course is to help produce a community of leaders that is equally knowledgeable in neuroscience, cognitive science, and computer science. The first half of the course will focus on the intersection between biological and computational aspects of learning and vision. The second half will focus on high-level social cognition and artificial intelligence, as well as audition, speech and language processing. Throughout the course, students will participate in tutorials to gain hands on experience with these topics. The course will include presentations by world leaders in the field, discussions with relevant industrial companies interested in AI, hands-on tutorials, evening debates and discussions. Additionally, students will be working on cutting-edge research projects directly guided and mentored by the faculty. This course is organized by the Center for Minds, Brains and Machines: https://cbmm.mit.edu/ Course instructors will include: Tomaso Poggio Gabriel Kreiman Nancy Kanwisher Winrich Freiwald Matt Wilson Josh Tenenbaum Liz Spelke Boris Katz L Mahadevan Jim DiCarlo Aude Oliva Josh McDermott Projects will be cross-disciplinary and include access to the iCub humanoid robot and Google Glass. We will also be hosting an Evening Lecture Series, including speakers from both industry and academia, in the fields of neuroscience, computer science, and cognitive science. Speakers include: Larry Abbott Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Dorin Comaniciu, Siemens Corporate Technology Ammon Shashua, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mobileye, OrCam Eero Simoncelli, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York University Gabriel Kreiman klab.tch.harvard.edu Use "9265358979" anywhere in the message body to ensure that your message navigates through anti spam filters

March 12, 2015

3 Research Assistants at the Institute of Cognitive Scinece

by Peter König

The Neurobiopsychology Research Group (Prof. Dr. Peter König) of the Institute of Cognitive Science invites applications for *3 Research Assistants *** *(Salary level E 13 TV-L, 50 %)* ** to be filled as soon as possible for a period of 3 years. *Description of Responsibilities:* The positions involve participation in the research activities within the European Community funded research project /Socialising Sensori-Motor Contingencies./ This project investigates processing multimodal information and sensorimotor integration under natural conditions and utilizes a variety of methods. They include behavioral studies, psychophysical methods, physiological measurements (EEG, MEG, TMS), methods of sensory augmentation, mathematical modelling, computer simulations and brain-computer interfaces. *Required Qualifications:* Applicants are expected to have an excellent academic degree (Master, Diploma or PhD), experience in several of the domains listed above, a good record in statistical methods including multivariate analyses and Bayesian technics, good programming skills as well as a good command of the English language. As a certified family-friendly institution, Osnabrück University is committed to furthering the compatibility between work/studies and family life. As an employer, Osnabrück University is particularly concerned with creating equality opportunities for women and men. Woman with relevant qualifications are therefore strongly encouraged to apply for the positions. Preference will be given to women with equal qualifications. Qualified applicants with disabilities will be favored. Applications with the usual documentation should be submitted by e-mail in a *_single_* PDF-file to Prof. Dr. Peter König (pkoenig(a)uni-osnabrueck.de <mailto:pkoenig@uni-osnabrueck.de>) with a cc to office(a)ikw.uni-osnabrueck.de <mailto:office@ikw.uni-osnabrueck.de>no later than *March 31, 2015*. Further information can be obtained from Prof. Dr. Peter König (pkoenig(a)uni-osnabrueck.de) -- *http://www.facebook.com/CognitiveScienceOsnabruck* Prof. Dr. Peter König Institute of Cognitive Science University Osnabrück Albrechtstr. 28 49076 Osnabrück +49 541 969 2399 http://cogsci.uni-osnabrueck.de/~NBP/

March 12, 2015

One Postdoc and one PhD position in computational neuroimaging/neuroscience

by s.ghebreab＠uva.nl

One Postdoc position available in Computational neuroimaging with deep learning and one PhD position in Visual computational neuroscience. Both positions are part of research that bridges state-of-the-art vision technology of the Intelligent Systems Lab Amsterdam (ISLA, Science Faculty), with the state-of-the-art in brain imaging offered by the Cognitive Neuroscience Group Amsterdam (CNGA, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences). Both groups are part of the University of Amsterdam and enjoy a world-class reputation, ISLA for computer vision and search engine technology (discovering concepts in images and video) and CNGA for the neural basis of visual perception.. For position and application details see: - Postdoc Position 1: http://www.uva.nl/over-de-uva/werken-bij-de-uva/vacatures/item/15-050.html - PhD Position 2: http://www.uva.nl/over-de-uva/werken-bij-de-uva/vacatures/item/15-077.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Dr. Sennay Ghebreab Head of Studies Social Sciences, Amsterdam University College Associate professor (adjunct), Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam Tel: +31-20-5258844, Email: s.ghebreab(a)uva.nl, http://www.sennay.net <http://www.sennay.net/> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------

March 12, 2015

NEST User and Developer Workshop, 20-22 April 2015, Geneva

by Hans Ekkehard Plesser

Dear Colleagues! The NEST simulator is used by a growing number of neuroscientist. To strengthen the growing NEST community and foster the dialog between NEST users across a broad spectrum of modelling approaches, as well as between users and developers, we would like to invite you to the First NEST User Workshop, Monday 20 April (evening) til Wednesday 22 April (late afternoon) at Campus Biotech in Geneva, Switzerland. The workshop is primarily intended for users and developers of NEST and you will benefit most if you already have practical experience with NEST. However, if you are interested in using NEST in the future, this workshop will also be useful for you. We will present the new NEST Git Repository and Code Review Platform as part of the workshop. For a limited number of participants, we offer the possibility to present your scientific work done with NEST. If you are interested in presenting, please contact the workshop organizers Hans Ekkehard Plesser (hans.ekkehard.plesser(a)nmbu.no) Marc-Oliver Gewaltig (marc-oliver.gewaltig(a)epfl.ch) For more information and registration, please go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nest-user-workshop-tickets-15974979594 Registration is free, but limited. Registration deadline: 11 April 2015 We can offer (very) limited travel support to younger participants, kindly provided by the HBP Education Program. This workshop is organized in collaboration between the NEST Initiative and the HBP Education Program. We are looking forward to seeing you in Geneva! Hans E Plesser Marc-Oliver Gewaltig http://www.nest-initiative.org http://humanbrainproject.eu — Dr. Hans Ekkehard Plesser, Associate Professor Acting section Head Dept. of Mathematical Sciences and Technology Norwegian University of Life Sciences PO Box 5003, 1432 Aas, Norway Phone +47 6723 1560 Email hans.ekkehard.plesser(a)nmbu.no Home http://arken.umb.no/~plesser

March 12, 2015

Students: spend the summer improving brain research software tools in Google Summer of Code

by Malin Sandström

Hi all, (apologies for cross-posting) are you a student interested in brain research and software development? Or do you know one? This year again, INCF is participating as mentoring organization in the Google Summer of Code, a global program that offers students stipends to spend the summer writing code for open source projects. INCF has 27 project proposals offered by mentors from the international research community, many of them with a computational neuroscience slant. All projects deal with development and/or improvement of open source tools that are used in the neuroscience community. You can see our full list of projects here: https://incf.org/gsoc/2015/proposals To be eligible, students must fulfill the Google definition of 'student': an individual enrolled in or accepted into an accredited institution including (but not necessarily limited to) colleges, universities, masters programs, PhD programs and undergraduate programs. Student applications open on *Monday, March 16.* <https://incf.org/gsoc/2015/proposals> Please forward to anyone you think might be interested! Best regards, Malin Sandström (INCF org admin for GSoC) GSoC questions welcome to: gsoc(a)incf.org -- Malin Sandström, PhD Community Engagement Officer malin.sandstrom(a)incf.org International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility Karolinska Institutet Nobels väg 15 A SE-171 77 Stockholm Sweden http://www.incf.org

March 12, 2015

What is the precision of synaptic plasticity?

by Terry Sejnowski

http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2015/03/11/016329 Hippocampal Spine Head Sizes are Highly Precise Thomas M Bartol, Cailey Bromer, Justin P Kinney, Michael A Chirillo, Jennifer N Bourne, Kristen M Harris, Terrence J Sejnowski The size of an EPSP is highly correlated with the the spine head volume for excitatory synapses on pyramidal cells. Spine heads on a dendrite originating from the same axon had the same volume, regardless of whether they were large or small. This has implications for the precision of the mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity. Terry -----

March 12, 2015

[meetings] Living Machines IV: Final Call for Papers, Satellite Events and Sponsors

by Nathan F Lepora

______________________________________________________________ Final Call for Papers, Satellite Events and Sponsors Living Machines IV: The 4th International Conference on Biomimetic and Biohybrid Systems 28th to 31st July 2015 http://csnetwork.eu/livingmachines To be hosted at the La Pedrera Barcelona, Spain In association with the Universitat Pompeu Fabra Accepted papers will be published in Springer Lecturer Notes in Artificial Intelligence Submission deadline March 16th, 2015 ______________________________________________________________ ABOUT LIVING MACHINES 2015 The development of future real-world technologies will depend strongly on our understanding and harnessing of the principles underlying living systems and the flow of communication signals between living and artificial systems. Biomimetics is the development of novel technologies through the distillation of principles from the study of biological systems. The investigation of biomimetic systems can serve two complementary goals. First, a suitably designed and configured biomimetic artefact can be used to test theories about the natural system of interest. Second, biomimetic technologies can provide useful, elegant and efficient solutions to unsolved challenges in science and engineering. Biohybrid systems are formed by combining at least one biological component—an existing living system—and at least one artificial, newly-engineered component. By passing information in one or both directions, such a system forms a new hybrid bio-artificial entity. The following are some examples: • Biomimetic robots and their component technologies (sensors, actuators, processors) that can intelligently interact with their environments. • Active biomimetic materials and structures that self-organize and self-repair. • Biomimetic computers—neuromimetic emulations of the physiological basis for intelligent behaviour. • Biohybrid brain-machine interfaces and neural implants. • Artificial organs and body-parts including sensory organ-chip hybrids and intelligent prostheses. • Organism-level biohybrids such as robot-animal or robot-human systems. ACTIVITIES The main conference will take the form of a three-day single-track oral and poster presentation programme, 29th to 31st July 2015, hosted at the La Pedrera, Barcelona, Spain. The conference programme will include five plenary lectures from leading international researchers in biomimetic and biohybrid systems, and the demonstrations of state-of-the-art living machine technologies. Agreed speakers are: Roger Quinn, Robots Insect Locomotion (Case Western Reserve University) Ryad Benosman, Neuromorphic. Event-based time oriented vision (Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, France) Barbara Mazzolai, Biomimetic Robots (IIT@SSSA, Italy) Robert Richardson, Exploration Robotics (Leeds University, UK) Jose Halloy, Collective intelligence in natural and artificial systems (Université Paris Diderot LIED) Also a special talk on Biomimetics in Design Nimish Biloria, Bio-inspired performative design (TU Delf University of Technology, The Netherlands) The full conference will be preceded by a day of Satellite Events hosted by the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona. SUBMITTING TO LIVING MACHINES 2015 We invite both full papers and short papers in areas related to the conference themes. All contributions will be refereed and accepted papers will appear in the Living Machines 2015 proceedings which we expect to be published in the Springer-Verlag LNAI Series. Full papers (minimum 8 and up to 12 pages) are invited from researchers at any stage in their career but should present significant findings and advances in biomimetic or biohybid research; more preliminary work would be better suited to shorter paper submission (minimum 4 pages with a maximum of eight references and no more than two self-citations) Further details of submission formats will be circulated in an updated CfP and will be posted on the conference web-site. http://csnetwork.eu/livingmachines/conf2015/submission Full papers will be accepted for either oral presentation (single track) or poster presentation. Extended abstracts will be accepted for poster presentation only. Authors of the best full papers will be invited to submitted extended versions of their paper for publication in a special issue of Bioinspiration and Biomimetics. Satellite events Active researchers in biomimetic and biohybrid systems are invited to propose topics for 1-day tutorials, symposia or workshops on related themes to be held 27-28th July at Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Attendance at satellite events will attract a small fee intended to cover the costs of the meeting. There is a lot of flexibility about the content, organisation, and budgeting for these events. Please contact us if you are interested in organising a satellite event! EXPECTED DEADLINES March 16th, 2015 Paper submission deadline May 1st, 2015 Notification of acceptance May 22nd, 2015 Camera ready copy July 28th-31st 2015 Conference SPONSORSHIP Living Machines 2015 is sponsored by the Convergent Science Network (CSN) for Biomimetics and Neurotechnology. CSN is an EU FP7 Future Emerging Technologies Co-ordination Activity that also organises two highly successful workshop series: the Barcelona Summer School on Brain, Technology and Cognition (http://bcbt.upf.edu and the Capocaccia Neuromorphic Cognitive Engineering Workshop. The 2015 Living Machines conference will also be hosted and sponsored by the Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Call for Sponsors. Other organisations wishing to sponsor the conference in any way and gain the corresponding benefits by promoting themselves and their products to through conference publications, the conference web-site, and conference publicity are encouraged to contact the conference organisers to discuss the terms of sponsorship and necessary arrangements. We offer a number of attractive and good-value packages to potential sponsors. ABOUT THE VENUE Living Machines 2015 returns to the venue of our first conference at the beautiful biomimetic building La Pedrera (Casa Mila) (https://www.lapedrera.com/en/home) designed by renowned modernist architect Antoni Gaudi. Attendees at the conference will get a free ticket to visit this historic building in the centre the Barcelona. Workshops will be held at the Poblenou Campus of Universitat Pompeu Fabra, close to hotel and restaurant area of the Diagonal and Ramblas de Poblenou and a short walk from Barcelona’s famous beaches. Organising Committee: Paul Verschure, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Co-chair) Tony Prescott, University of Sheffield (Co-chair) Stuart Wilson, University of Sheffield (Program Chair) Anna Mura, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Communications, Local Organiser) Nathan Lepora, University of Bristol (Communications) Living Machines 2015 Program Committee: Andrew Adamatzky, Robert Allen, Joseph Ayers, Yoseph Bar-Cohen, Lucia Beccai, Frédéric Boyer, Federico Carpi, Hillel Chiel, Anders Christensen, Danilo De Rossi, Angel del Pobil, Stéphane Doncieux, Marco Dorigo, Armin Duff, Volker Dürr Wolfgang Eberle, Benoît Girard, Roderich Gross, José Halloy, Koh Hosoda, Ioannis Ieropoulos, Auke Ijspeert, Holger Krapp, Cecilia Laschi, Nathan Lepora, Ben Mitchinson, Keisuke Morishima, Anna Mura, Jiro Okada, Enrico Pagello, Martin Pearson, Andrew Philippides, Tony Pipe, Tony Prescott, Roger Quinn, Sylvain Saighi, Thomas Schmickl, Reiko Tanaka, Eleni Vasilaki, Stefano Vassanelli, Paul Verschure, Stuart Wilson (Chair), Hartmut Witte

March 11, 2015

Postdoctoral Position in Human Intracranial Physiology at the National Institutes of Health

by Zaghloul, Kareem (NIH/NINDS) [E]

A full-time post-doctoral position focused on understanding the neural correlates of human cognitive function is available in the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at the NIH. This position involves studies focused on analyzing and manipulating human intracranial electrophysiological signals, including single-unit activity, local field potentials, and electro corticography (ECoG), captured from patients with medically refractory epilepsy and from patients receiving deep brain stimulation surgery. Post-doctoral fellows will join a laboratory aimed at understanding the neural mechanisms that underlie human memory and decision making and at developing novel and innovative techniques to directly communicate with those circuits. We are seeking candidates that are highly creative, motivated, and independent with a Ph.D. in neuroscience, biomedical engineering, or a related field. Candidates must have a strong research background, with a record of relevant publications. Candidates will be encouraged and expected to participate in independent laboratory research, and will be expected to write scholarly manuscripts. Candidates must be able to lead and work well in a team. Candidates should have strong computational, quantitative, and/or engineering skills, with proficiency in developing custom code (Matlab, Python, etc.) for data analysis preferred. Past medical research is not required, but candidates must be willing to perform experiments in a clinical setting. Candidates will interact with clinical staff, graduate students, research fellows, and must have excellent spoken and written English skills. Applicants should submit a brief statement of research activities and interests, a current CV, and names and contact information of at least three references. Salary will be commensurate with experience and accomplishments. To arrange a meeting with the PI and to send materials required for consideration for this appointment please contact Dr. Zaghloul at: zaghloulka(a)mail.nih.gov<mailto:zaghloulka@mail.nih.gov> NIH, an agency of DHHS, is an equal opportunity employer.

March 11, 2015

ECMLPKDD 2015 : Nectar Track

by ECMLPKDD 2015

The European Conference on Machine Learning and Principles and Practice of Knowledge Discovery in Databases (ECMLPKDD 2015) will take place on September 7 of 2015, in Porto Portugal ( <http://www.ecmlpkdd2015.org/> http://www.ecmlpkdd2015.org/) and includes a Nectar Track that offers conference attendees a compact overview of recent scientific advances at the frontier of machine learning and data mining with other disciplines, as published in related conferences and journals. We invite senior and junior researchers to submit summaries of their own work published in neighboring fields, such as (but not limited to) artificial intelligence, data analytics, bioinformatics, games, computational linguistics, computer vision, geoinformatics, health informatics, database theory, human computer interaction, information and knowledge management, robotics, pattern recognition, statistics, social network analysis, theoretical computer science, uncertainty in AI, network science, complex systems science, and computationally oriented sociology, economy, statistics and biology. Particularly welcome is work that illustrates the pervasiveness of data-driven exploration and modelling in science and technology, as well as innovative applications. Accepted NECTAR contributions will be presented as talks or posters and included in the conference proceedings. Important dates Submission deadline: May 4, 2015 Notifications of acceptance: June 1, 2015 Submission of camera ready copies: June 15, 2015 Detailed information about the Nectar Track is available on: http://www.ecmlpkdd2015.org/submission/call-nectar-track-contributions For further information please contact the ECMLPKDD 2015 Nectar Track Chairs: Ricard Gavaldà (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya) Dino Pedreschi (Università di Pisa) Hope to see you all soon in Porto, Portugal!!! The publicity chairs of the ECMLPKDD 2015, Carlos Abreu Ferreira Ricardo Campos --- Este e-mail foi verificado em termos de vírus pelo software antivírus Avast. http://www.avast.com

March 10, 2015

Two postdoctoral positions in Systems/Computational Neuroscience, UPenn

by Nicole Rust

Two postdoctoral positions - one purely computational and another combined experimental and computational - are currently available in the laboratory of Nicole Rust at the University of Pennsylvania. Both positions are focused on understanding object-related processing at higher stages of the primate visual system. Of particular interest are the neural mechanisms responsible for our ability to remember the enormous numbers of objects that we have encountered before, and how the same neural populations can both encode visual memories after a single experience and support perceptually stable object representations. Our research group uses a variety of methods, including awake primate neurophysiology, population decoding, and computational modeling, to arrive at descriptions of the transformations that occur as object-related signals propagate through the brain. More information about the lab can be found here: http://www.sas.upenn.edu/psych/rust-lab. The Rust lab is part of a substantive Systems, Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience community at UPenn and is part of the newly established Penn Computational Neuroscience Initiative: http://cni.upenn.edu/. Candidates should have a Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field prior to starting. Essential qualifications include strong quantitative skills. To inquire about this position, please contact Nicole Rust nrust(a)psych.upenn.edu.

March 10, 2015