- Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

Birmingham-Leiden Summer School in Computational Social Cognition 2025

by Lei Zhang

(sorry for cross-posting) We are delighted to welcome applications for the second edition of the Birmingham-Leiden Summer School in Computational Social Cognition (CSC) <https://www.compsoccog.com/>. The summer school is hosted at the University of Birmingham (UK), in collaboration with Leiden University (NL), and will take place from 2nd-5th September 2025. Apply by 18th April 2025 (see information below)! Attending the Birmingham-Leiden CSC Summer School will equip a diverse cohort of early career researchers (trainees through to junior faculty members) with the ability to understand, program, and interpret the output of a range of computational models of social cognition (e.g., reinforcement learning models, evidence accumulation models, Bayesian inference models) and their potential interaction with other modalities of measurements (e.g., fMRI, EEG, eye-tracking). Attendees will receive various types of training (keynote lectures, workshops, tutorials, etc) and work on a group project, both aimed at understanding modelling as well as the theoretical and practical inferences that can be drawn from computational models under social contexts. Keynote speakers: - Matthew Rushworth, University of Oxford (UK) - Diana Tamir, Princeton University, (USA) - David Amodio, University of Amsterdam, (NL) The full list of instructors is available at https://compsoccog.com/instructors-and-speakers. <https://compsoccog.com/instructors-and-speakers> For this year’s training program and organising committee, see https://www.compsoccog.com/about. To apply, please complete this form covering your motivation and experience <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcAccPZFTKLSfvKhwUwH3UQ-6FrpmiPbP…>, including a short CV. The deadline is 18th April 2025. Outcomes will be communicated in early May, with registration for successful applicants then open until mid-June. This year, the CSC Summer School received financial support from the William K. & Katherine W. Estes Fund in association with the Association of Psychological Science <https://www.psychologicalscience.org/members/awards-and-honors/estes-fund> We hope to see you this summer in Birmingham! Jo (2025 co-lead), Lei (2025 co-lead), & Anna, on behalf of the CSC 2025 organising committee --- *Dr. Lei Zhang (He/Him)* Associate Professor/Principal Investigator, Centre for Human Brain Health (CHBH) & Institute for Mental Health (IMH) Psychology, College of Life & Environmental Sciences University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK *e: l.zhang.13(a)bham.ac.uk <l.zhang.13(a)bham.ac.uk> * *w: lei-zhang.net <https://lei-zhang.net/>* *t: @lei_zhang_lz <https://twitter.com/lei_zhang_lz>*

Feb. 17, 2025

Multiple PhD positions in Cognitive Neuroscience at SISSA - application deadline 20 March 2025

by Eugenio Piasini

Up to 6 PhD positions in Cognitive Neuroscience are available at SISSA, Trieste, starting October 2025. SISSA is an elite postgraduate research institution for Maths, Physics and Neuroscience, located in Trieste, Italy. SISSA operates in English, and its faculty and student community is diverse and strongly international. The Cognitive Neuroscience group (https://phdcns.sissa.it/) hosts 6 research labs that study the neuronal bases of time and magnitude processing, neuronal foundations of perceptual experience and learning in various sensory modalities, motivation and intelligence, language, and neural computation. Our research is highly interdisciplinary; our approaches include behavioral, psychophysics, and neurophysiological experiments with humans and animals, as well as computational, statistical and mathematical models. Students from a broad range of backgrounds (physics, maths, medicine, psychology, biology) are encouraged to apply. The selection procedure is now open. The application deadline for the spring admission round is 20 March 2025 at 1pm CET. Please apply here<https://pica.cineca.it/sissa/phd-cns-01-2025/>, and see the admission procedure page<https://phdcns.sissa.it/admission-procedure> for more information. Please contact the PhD Coordinator Mathew Diamond (diamond(a)sissa.it) and/or your prospective supervisor for more information and informal inquiries.

Feb. 17, 2025

📢 Reminder: FRCCS 2025 – Submit Your Work Before the Deadline!

by Hocine Cherifi

*Dear Colleagues,* 🚨 *Don’t miss your chance to contribute to FRCCS 2025!* We invite you to *submit your research* and join us in *Bordeaux* for an exciting exchange on *complex systems.* 🔥 *Submission Deadlines* ✅ *Main Conference:* *February 21, 2025* ✅ *Workshops:* *March 20, 2025* 🔗 *Submit your work:* CMT Submission Portal <https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/FRCCS2025/> 🌍 *More info:* FRCCS 2025 Website <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/> ------------------------------ 🌟 *Discover FRCCS 2025 Workshops* In addition to the main conference, FRCCS 2025 features *specialized workshops* exploring key challenges in *complexity science.* These workshops provide *a unique platform* to engage with experts, exchange insights, and foster collaborations. 📢 *Workshops at FRCCS 2025:* 🎨 *Beauty in Complexity* – *Benjamin Renoust* 🔗 *Complex Networks and Blockchain for the Future of Trusted Connectivity* – *Annamaria Ficara* 🤝 *Emergence of Cooperation Across Scales* – *Emma Zajdela* 🧬 *Understanding Complex Systems in Biology – Tissue Growth, Morphogenesis, and Signal Dynamics* – *Xinyi Liu* 🧠 *Cognitive Biases in ABMs and Agent-Resolved Data* – *Damien Challet* 📊 *Decoding Success in Business and Economics: A Complexity Science Perspective* – *Fabian Braesemann* 🌐 *2nd Workshop on Complex Network Sparsification & Beyond* – *Hamida Seba* *📢** Ready to Contribute?* Be part of FRCCS 2025 by submitting your work and engaging in our workshops. We look forward to your contributions and to welcoming you to *Bordeaux!* 💡 *Submit Now:* CMT Submission Portal <https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/FRCCS2025/>

Feb. 17, 2025

Fwd: [seminar.wwtns] NEW: More seminars of VVTNS 5th season are now online

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online <https://streaklinks.com/A9c7PbbpKY7PxB6PaAJWGD3-/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide The following seminars are now available on the VVTNS website and YouTube channel ---------------------------------------------------------- Unraveling information processing through functional networks Hannah Choi Georgia Tech talk given on November 6, 2024 https://www.wwtns.online/past-seminars-2024-2025 ------------------------------------ The algebra of cognition Chris Eliasmith University of Waterloo talk given on November 20, 2024 https://www.wwtns.online/past-seminars-2024-2025 --------------------------------------- Back to the Continuous Attractor Memming Park Champalimaud Foundation talk given on November 27, 2024 https://www.wwtns.online/past-seminars-2024-2025 --------------------------------------- Properties of memory networks with excitatory-inhibitory assemblies Claire Meissner-Bernard Friedrich Miescher Institute for biomedical research, Basel talk given on December 18, 2024 https://www.wwtns.online/past-seminars-2024-2025 ---------------------------- Dense Associative Memory and its potential role in brain computation Dmitry Krotov IBM Research, Cambridge, USA talk given on January 8, 2025 https://www.wwtns.online/past-seminars-2024-2025 ----------------------------- New methods for tracking and control of dynamic animal behavior during learning Jonathan Pillow Princeton University talk given on January 15, 2025 https://www.wwtns.online/past-seminars-2024-2025 ----------------------------- *About VVTNS : Launched as the World Wide Theoretical Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), Speakers have the occasion to talk about theoretical aspects of their work which cannot be discussed in a setting where the majority of the audience consists of experimentalists. The seminars, **held on Wednesdays at 11 am ET,** are 45-50 min long followed by a discussion. The talks are recorded with authorization of the speaker and are available to everybody on our YouTube channel.* ᐧ

Feb. 16, 2025

World wide VVTNS series (fifth season): Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 11:00 am EST| Jens-Bastian Eppler , Centre de Recerca Matemàtica Barcelona

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online <https://streaklinks.com/A9c7PbbpKY7PxB6PaAJWGD3-/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the lecture given by Jens-Bastian Eppler Centre de Recerca Matemàtica Barcelona <https://www.researchgate.net/institution/Goethe-Universitaet_Frankfurt_am_M…> on the topic of Representational drift reflects ongoing balancing of stochastic changes by Hebbian learning The lecture will be held on zoom on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at *11:00 am EST * To receive the link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: * Even in stable environments, sensory responses undergo continuous reformatting, a phenomenon known as representational drift. Using chronic calcium imaging in mouse auditory cortex, we show that during this representational drift signal correlations predict future noise correlations, suggesting that stimulus-driven co-activation strengthens effective connectivity via Hebbian-like plasticity. Linear network models reveal that these temporal dependencies between signal and noise correlations emerge only when Hebbian learning balances stochastic synaptic changes, preventing functional degradation. Our findings highlight how ongoing input-driven plasticity stabilizes neural representations amidst inherent synaptic variability. *About VVTNS : Launched as the World Wide Theoretical Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), Speakers have the occasion to talk about theoretical aspects of their work which cannot be discussed in a setting where the majority of the audience consists of experimentalists. The seminars, **held on Wednesdays at 11 am ET,** are 45-50 min long followed by a discussion. The talks are recorded with authorization of the speaker and are available to everybody on our YouTube channel.*

Feb. 16, 2025

[Workshop in Mallorca] Embracing Complexity

by RUBÉN HERZOG

We are pleased to invite you to the Workshop titled "Embracing Complexity: Principled and Practical Approaches to Emergence". The workshop is scheduled for June 23-27 2025 at the Institute for Cross-Disciplinary Physics and Complex Systems (IFISC in Spanish) in Palma de Mallorca, Spain ( https://ifisc.uib-csic.es/en/) ABOUT THE WORKSHOP This workshop will offer a comprehensive and interdisciplinary perspective on the applications of emergence in examining various real-world systems, including its use in understanding high-order interactions and complexity across diverse biological and ecological scales. With an emphasis on the micro-to-macro relations between cells, humans, and ecology, we aim to present emergence both as a practical tool and a principled approach. The mornings will be devoted to theory-driven presentations that draw from recent operational advances in capturing emergent phenomena, while the afternoons will feature hands-on sessions tailored for practical implementation of these topics. Something we are most thrilled about will be a coordinated outdoor excursion during the week to unwind and visit the island. This is not all, we also plan to have an immersive installation centred on exploring a collective experience of emergence with the voluntary participation of all the attendees. We hope you will also be pleased to join! REGISTRATION All applications should submit an abstract, which will be the key element for selection. After selection, participants will be asked to pay a fee of 400€, which will cover 5 nights (from the 22nd to the 26th of June) at the residency of the Universidad de las Islas Baleares, breakfast, lunch, coffee breaks and the excursion. SUBMISSION DEADLINE 14 of March of 2025. Selection will be informed by the end of April of 2025. Abstract submission here <https://forms.gle/eQhWYyC3mjd6EhYC9>. CONFIRMED SPEAKERS Fernando Rosas, University of Sussex, UK Lauren Ross, University of California, Irvine, USA Antonella Tramacere, Università Roma Tre, Italy Ivana Konvalinka, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark Carmen Miguell, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain Leonardo Gollo, IFISC, Spain David Sanchez, IFISC, Spain Lucas Lacassa, IFISC, Spain Borjan Milinkovic, NeuroPSI, France Pedro Mediano, Imperial College London, UK Julia Mindlin, University of Leipzig, Germany More information at https://ifisc.uib-csic.es/en/events/conferences/embracing-complexity-25/ Organizers Mar Estarellas, Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry, McGill University marestarellas(a)gmail.com Ivan Mindlin, Paris Brain Institute, ivan.mindlin(a)icm-institute.org Ruben Herzog, IFISC, rherzoga(a)gmail.com Samy Castro, University of Strasbourg, castro.novoa.samy(a)gmail.com Borjan Milinkovic, NeuroPSI, borjan.milinkovic(a)icm-institute.org Scientific Chairman: Claudio R. Mirasso, IFISC, claudio(a)ifisc.uib-csic.es

Feb. 14, 2025

ICONIP2025 Call for Special Session/Workshop/Tutorial Proposals

by Kenji Doya

ICONIP2025 Call for Special Session/Workshop/Tutorial Proposals We are delighted to hold the 32nd International Conference on Neural Information Processing (ICONIP) 2025 from November 20 to 24 at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST). https://iconip2025.apnns.org/ We are now calling for proposals of special sessions during the single track main conference and parallel workshops and tutorials on the topics including machine intelligence, computational neuroscience, and neural network applications. Please find the details on the web page: https://iconip2025.apnns.org/submission/ We look forward to receiving diverse proposals of wide interest. Important Dates Special session proposal deadline: March 1st Workshop proposal deadline: March 1st Tutorial proposal deadline: May 1st Paper submission deadline: May 15th Notification of acceptance: July 15th Camera ready submission: August 15th Registration deadline: August 15th Conference dates: November 20-24 Inquiry: iconip2025(a)apnns.org ---- Kenji Doya <doya(a)oist.jp> Neural Computation Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan Phone: +81-98-966-8594; Fax: +81-98-966-2891 https://groups.oist.jp/ncu

Feb. 13, 2025

Junior/Postdoc Researchers in Computational Neuroscience (BRADY project) in Prague, Czech Republic

by Magda Pokorna

*Junior Researchers: Postdoctoral Fellow, Graduate student or Research assistant in Computational Neuroscience within the BRADY project - Ref. No. 2025/11*** Junior researcher positions are available in the Complex Networks and Brain Dynamics group (COBRA, https://cobra.cs.cas.cz/) at the Institute of Computer Science, Prague, Czech Republic (https://www.cs.cas.cz/en) These positions are centered in the Research Work Package 1 (RWP1) of a larger, interdisciplinary consortium established for the OPJAK BRADY project. *The relevant RWP1 aims to establish a family of generative models of graded complexity capturing brain dynamics that would:* * Approximate spatial patterns observed in resting state neuroimaging, including topology and topography of functional connectivity. * Approximate temporal brain dynamics, including activity fluctuations, connectivity dynamics, and information flow. * Provide an internally consistent unified account of electrophysiological and fMRI data, linking to biologically interpretable latent variables and structural connectivity. * Allow predicting the effect of external stimulation, such as complex sensory and cognitive tasks, electric of magnetic stimulation, or pharmacological intervention. * Allow capturing the key axes of inter-subject variability, linking it to psychometric data. * Ultimately allow characterizing and predicting the trajectory of deviation from healthy brain dynamics in a range of psychiatric and neurological diseases. Further information can be found here:https://brady.cs.cas.cz/ <https://brady.cs.cas.cz/>. *Conditions:* * Positions are available immediately, i.e. starting from 1. 3. 2025 or later. * Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. * Contract is for 12-36 months duration, with exceptions negotiable. * Possibility of extension until end of project (30. 6. 2028), support for transition to tenure-track or external funding applications. * This is a full-time fixed term contract appointment. Part time contract negotiable. * Competitive salary based on qualifications and experience. * Bonuses and travel funding for conferences and research stays depending on performance. * No teaching duties. *Applicants should:* 1. Hold a PhD with the exception of Research assistant and Graduate student positions. 2. Have a strong background (commensurate to the respective career level) in some of the fields related to computational neuroscience - mathematical, statistical skills, experience with data analysis, machine learning, computer programming. 3. Be fluent in English. We seek curious, self-motivated, hard-working, team-spirited researchers. Prior experience with time series and network analysis is advantageous, but not required. *For informal inquiries* do not hesitate to contact the project Scientific Coordinator: /Ing. Mgr. /Jaroslav Hlinka, /Ph.D./ <https://www.cs.cas.cz/staff/hlinka/cs>, hlinka(a)cs.cas.cz <mailto:hlinka@cs.cas.cz>, http://www.cs.cas.cz/hlinka/ <http://www.cs.cas.cz/hlinka/>. *The applications* are to be sent to bradyadmin(a)cs.cas.cz <mailto:bradyadmincs.cas.cz> and should contain: 1.Curriculum Vitae. 2.Two letters of recommendation. The referees should send their recommendations directly to bradyadmin(a)cs.cas.cz <mailto:bradyadmin@cs.cas.cz>. 3.A proof of the obtained degree. 4.Mention the Ref. No. 2025/11. ___

Feb. 12, 2025

neurocog 2025 conference

by Tom Verguts

Dear all, this is a save-the-date announcement for the Neurocog 2025 conference, which will take place in November of this year. Find all preliminary information at neurocog.be<http://neurocog.be/>, more is soon to follow. Tom

Feb. 12, 2025

Addressing gender-based violence in academia – Online seminar – 10 March 2025, 13h GMT

by Sidarus, Nura

Addressing gender-based violence in academia Monday, 10 March, 13h GMT / 14h CET – online In commemoration of International Women's Month, Women in Cognitive Science-Europe and Royal Holloway University of London are honoured to welcome as our guest speaker Professor Anne Laure Humbert from the University of Gothenburg, expert in gender equality metrics and structural change in academia, who will particularly draw on her work in the uniSAFE and genderSAFE EU-funded projects. We aim to raise awareness and drive action on gender-based violence by exploring its various forms, the obstacles to reporting and addressing it, and effective strategies for prevention. This is a must-attend event for academics worldwide, at all career stages, who are dedicated to fostering safer and more equitable academic environments. Details and registration: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/addressing-gender-based-violence-in-academia… __________________________________________________________ Dr Nura Sidarus (she/her) Lecturer | Chair of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Team Department of Psychology | Office: Wolfson 248 Royal Holloway University of London | Egham | TW20 0EX Affiliate Member | Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, UCL Chair of Women in Cognitive Science - Europe<https://www.womenincogsci.org/wics-europe> Computations in Agency and Metacognition Lab<https://www.compagencymeta.com/> nura.sidarus(a)rhul.ac.uk<mailto:nura.sidarus@rhul.ac.uk> | Personal Website<http://www.nurasidarus.com/> __________________________________________________________ This email, its contents and any attachments are intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. In certain circumstances, it may also be subject to legal privilege. Any unauthorised use, disclosure, or copying is not permitted. If you have received this email in error, please notify us and immediately and permanently delete it. Any views or opinions expressed in personal emails are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Royal Holloway, University of London. It is your responsibility to ensure that this email and any attachments are virus free.

Feb. 11, 2025

NEURON Spring course reminder - a few seats remain

by McDougal, Robert

A few seats remain open for the 2025 NEURON Spring Course, but the registration deadline is Friday, February 28 -- less than three weeks from today -- so act now if you want to join us at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ. This course will provide a thorough introduction to computational modeling of neurons and networks with NEURON and is suitable for individuals at all levels of expertise. It will start at 9 AM Sunday, March 9, and end at 5 PM Friday, March 14, 2025. For more information and the on-line application form, see The 2025 NEURON Spring Course<https://www.neuron.yale.edu/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=20497#p20497>

Feb. 10, 2025

Save the date: EITN EBRAINS Fall School November 19th to 28th, 2025, MARSEILLE, France

by DEPANNEMAECKER Damien

Save the date: November 19th to 28th, 2025, MARSEILLE, France EITN EBRAINS Fall School in Computational Neuroscience The EITN EBRAINS Fall School in Computational Neuroscience is scheduled to be held in Marseille, France, from November 19th to 28th, 2025. This 10-day intensive program offers a comprehensive exploration of theoretical and computational neuroscience methods to build models from single neurons to whole-brain scales. The course covers cellular models, spiking neural networks, mean-field models, and whole-brain models, with corresponding lectures and tutorials provided for each topic, to be applied during project works. Ph.D. students, young postdocs, or master's students interested in learning about computational neuroscience techniques and utilizing various simulation environments for model construction will collaborate in thematic group projects under the mentorship of experienced tutors.

Feb. 10, 2025

Fwd: [seminar.wwtns] World wide VVTNS series (fifth season): Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at 11:00 am EST| Lea Duncker, Standford

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online <https://streaklinks.com/A9c7PbbpKY7PxB6PaAJWGD3-/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the lecture given by Lea Duncker Stanford on the topic of Evaluating dynamical systems hypotheses for pattern generation in motor cortex The lecture will be held on zoom on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at *11:00 am EST * To receive the link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: * The rich repertoire of skilled mammalian behavior is the product of neural circuits that generate robust and flexible patterns of activity distributed across populations of neurons. Decades of associative studies have linked many behaviors to specific patterns of population activity, but association alone cannot reveal the dynamical mechanisms that shape those patterns. Are local neural circuits high-dimensional dynamical reservoirs able to generate arbitrary superpositions of patterns with appropriate excitation? Or might circuit dynamics be shaped in response to behavioral context so as to generate only the low-dimensional patterns needed for the task at hand? Here, we address these questions within the primate motor cortex by delivering optogenetic and electrical microstimulation perturbations during reaching behavior. We develop a novel analytic approach that relates measured activity to theoretically tractable, dynamical models of excitatory and inhibitory neurons. Our computational modeling framework allows us to quantitatively evaluate different hypotheses about the dynamical mechanisms underlying pattern generation against perturbation responses. Our results demonstrate that motor cortical activity during reaching is shaped by a self-contained, low-dimensional dynamical system. The subspace containing task-relevant dynamics proves to be oriented so as to be robust to strong non-normal amplification within cortical circuits. This task dynamics space exhibits a privileged causal relationship with behavior, in that stimulation in motor cortex perturbs reach kinematics only to the extent that it alters neural states within this subspace. Our results resolve long-standing questions about the dynamical structure of cortical activity associated with movement, and illuminate the dynamical perturbation experiments needed to understand how neural circuits throughout the brain generate complex behavior. *About VVTNS : Launched as the World Wide Theoretical Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), Speakers have the occasion to talk about theoretical aspects of their work which cannot be discussed in a setting where the majority of the audience consists of experimentalists. The seminars, **held on Wednesdays at 11 am ET,** are 45-50 min long followed by a discussion. The talks are recorded with authorization of the speaker and are available to everybody on our YouTube channel.*

Feb. 9, 2025

postdoc positions in NeuroAI / sensorimotor control

by Gunnar Blohm

Dear all, I'm looking for postdocs who'd like to apply for the Connected Minds PDFs with me and collaborators to work on the following potential projects: 1. explainable neuroAI for ANN / SNN models of motor control 2. neuromorphic robotic control 3. neurorobotic artistic performance 4. whole brain motor control networks identified through MEG and inverse optimal control If you're interested, please get in touch. You will need a solid quantitative background (coding, ML, signal processing) and neuroscience knowledge. More information about the 2-yr Connected Minds PDF application, including eligibility criteria can be found here: https://www.yorku.ca/research/connected-minds/postdoctoral-fellowships/ I will of course help assembling the advisory team, writing the research project description and provide general guidance for the application. Feel free to check out my lab's website <http://compneurosci.com/> and WIKI <http://compneurosci.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page>to get a better sense of who we are and how we work... Next application deadline is March 21, 2025. Awards are $70k/yr+benefits and $8.5k/yr research allowance for 2 yrs + $10k for travel. Cheers, Gunnar -- Dr. Gunnar BLOHM Vice-Director (Queen's) of Connected Minds Professor in Computational Neuroscience Queen's U, Kingston, ON, 18 Stuart Str, Botterell Hall Rm 229 http://www.compneurosci.com/ - Queen’s University is situated on the territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabek -

Feb. 7, 2025

Summer school for young profs: Aug 23-30, 2025

by Gunnar Blohm

Dear new professors, Konrad Körding and I have a special treat for you: We're hosting a new summer school teaching young prof in comp neuro and beyond how to start a successful career. * Dates: Aug 23-30, 2025 * Location: Kingston, ON, Canada * Details and application: http://compneurosci.com/Neuro4Pros/index.html * Application deadline: Mar 1, 2025 * Cost: free, but you need to cover your own travel to Kingston Sponsored by Community for Rigor <https://c4r.io/> and Connected Minds <https://www.yorku.ca/research/connected-minds/>, we have a terrific lineup of facilitators helping us to boost your career. We will talk about your research, the nature of your lab and what success and fun means to you. We will discuss principles of good science, writing abstracts, papers and grants, how to excel at lab management, acing mentorship, dealing with university administration and making your science accessible to all. But most importantly, we want to create a peer community for networking and mutual support. Cheers, Gunnar -- Dr. Gunnar BLOHM Vice-Director (Queen's) of Connected Minds Professor in Computational Neuroscience Queen's U, Kingston, ON, 18 Stuart Str, Botterell Hall Rm 229 http://www.compneurosci.com/ - Queen’s University is situated on the territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabek -

Feb. 7, 2025

Call for Participation & Papers - ACAIN 2025 - 5th International Advanced Course & Symposium on Artificial Intelligence & Neuroscience, September 21-24 2025, Riva del Sole Resort & SPA, Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) Tuscany, Italy -> Deadline: March 23

by ICAS Organizing Committee

Call for Participation & Call for Papers (apologies for multiple copies) _______________________________________________________________ The 5th International Advanced *Course* & *Symposium* on Artificial Intelligence & Neuroscience, September 21-24, 2025, Riva del Sole Resort & SPA, Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) Tuscany, Italy W: https://acain2025.icas.events E: acain(a)icas.cc FB: https://www.facebook.com/ACAIN.LakeDistrict/ Symposium Deadlines: Paper Submission (Symposium): by March 23 (AoE) https://acain2025.icas.events/symposium-call-for-papers/ https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=acain2025 Course Deadlines: Regular Registration (Course): by March 23 (AoE) https://acain2025.icas.events/course-description/ https://acain2025.icas.events/registration/ https://2025.iaiss.cc/deadlines/ SCOPE & MOTIVATION: ACAIN: AI meets Computational Neuroscience and Cognitive Science The ACAIN symposium and course is an interdisciplinary event featuring leading scientists from AI and Neuroscience, providing a special opportunity to learn about cutting-edge research in the fields of AI, Neuroscience, Neuroscience-Inspired AI, Human-Level AI, and Cognitive Science. The Advanced Course and Symposium on Artificial Intelligence & Neuroscience (ACAIN) is a full-immersion four-day Course and Symposium in Tuscany on cutting-edge advances in Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience with lectures delivered by world-renowned experts. The Course provides a stimulating environment for academics, early career researchers, Post-Docs, PhD students and industry leaders. Participants will also have the chance to present their results with oral talks or posters, and to interact with their colleagues, in a convivial and productive environment. Two days of keynote talks and oral presentations, the ACAIN Symposium, (September 23-24), will be preceded by lectures of leading scientists, the ACAIN Course, (September 21-22). Bringing together AI and neuroscience promises to yield benefits for both fields. The future impact and progress in both AI and Neuroscience will strongly depend on continuous synergy, exchange, collaboration and efficient cooperation between the two research communities. These are the goals of the International Course and Symposium - ACAIN, which is aimed both at AI experts with interests in Neuroscience and at neuroscientists with an interest in AI. ACAIN accepts rigorous research that promotes and fosters multidisciplinary interactions between artificial intelligence and neuroscience. The Advanced Course is suited for scholars, academics, early career researchers, Post-Docs, PhD students and industry leaders. The Event (Course and Symposium) will involve a total of 36-40 hours of lectures. Academically, this will be equivalent to 8 ECTS points for the PhD Students and the Master Students attending the Event. LECTURERS: György Buzsáki, NYU Neuroscience Institute, New York University, USA Panos Pardalos, University of Florida, USA Maneesh Sahani, University College London, UK Jonathon Shlens, Google DeepMind, USA Dimitra Thomaidou, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Greece Marina Vidaki, University of Crete, Medical School, Crete, Greece More Speakers TBA https://acain2025.icas.events/course-lecturers/ SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM COMMITTEE (partial list, confirmed members): https://acain2025.icas.events/program-committee/ ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: https://acain2025.icas.events/symposium-committee/ VENUE & ACCOMMODATION: https://acain2025.icas.events/venue/ ACAIN is a *Residential Conference*, all participants (invited speakers, authors, organizers, chairs, participants) must book and stay at the Riva del Sole Resort and Spa. No exceptions are allowed. Riva del Sole Resort & SPA a: Località Riva del Sole - Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) CAP 58043, Tuscany - Italy p: +39-0564-928111 f: +39-0564-935607 e: booking.events(a)rivadelsole.it w: www.rivadelsole.it/en ACTIVITIES: https://acain2025.icas.events/activities/ REGISTRATION: https://acain2025.icas.events/registration/ See you in Tuscany in September! ACAIN Organizing Committee. E: acain(a)icas.cc W: https://acain2025.icas.events FB: https://www.facebook.com/ACAIN.LakeDistrict Obviously, this is only a Call for Participation & Call for Papers, to have complete and updated information we recommend you access the relevant website: https://acain2025.icas.events * Apologies for multiple copies. Please forward to anybody who might be interested * -- *8th Advanced Course on Data Science & Machine Learning - ACDL 2025, **9**-13 June*, Riva del Sole Resort & SPA, Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) – Tuscany, Italy *An Interdisciplinary Residential Course: from Deep Learning to Generative Artificial Intelligence* *Early Registration: by February 23, 2025 (AoE)* https://acdl2025.icas.events/registration/ https://acdl2025.icas.events/ acdl(a)icas.cc The Course is equivalent to 8 ECTS points for the PhD Students and the Master Students attending the Course. *11th International Conference on Learning, Optimization and Data – LOD 2025, *21–24 September Riva del Sole Resort & SPA, Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) Tuscany, Italy https://lod2025.icas.events/ lod(a)icas.cc *5th Advanced Course ** and Symposium **on Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience – ACAIN 2025,* 21–24 September Riva del Sole Resort & SPA, Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) Tuscany, Italy https://acain2025.icas.events/ acain(a)icas.cc *Symposium **Author Registration Deadline: March 23 * *Course Early Registration Deadline: March 23* The Course is equivalent to 8 ECTS points for the PhD Students and the Master Students attending the Course. *ICAS - The Interdisciplinary Centre of Advanced Studies* *https://icas.cc/* <https://icas.cc/> Il giorno ven 7 feb 2025 alle ore 10:19 Helena Ledmyr via Comp-neuro < comp-neuro(a)lists.cnsorg.org> ha scritto: > [apologies for cross posting] > > At INCF we strive to serve the neuroscience community as best we can with > resources that facilitate open science, data sharing, and data management. > In order for us to be the most useful we can be, we need your input! > > Next week we're hosting a Town Hall for our community to give us input on > what INCF should focus on in the coming years and we hope you will join us. > > 📅 We're hosting two time slots to accommodate for more time zones: > - Feb 11, 8am CET > - Feb 12, 8pm CET > > Register for the Town Hall here: bit.ly/3Q2UWKx > > If you're unable to join our virtual Town Halls we would very much > appreciate feedback in this survey, which is based on input from an > in-person Town Hall we organized during the INCF Assembly last year: > bit.ly/40BlrvI > > > All the best, > Helena Ledmyr > ----------------------------- > Helena Ledmyr, PhD > > *Director* > *Development and Communications* > > International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility Secretariat > Karolinska Institutet. Nobels väg 15A, SE-171 77 Stockholm. Sweden > Email: helena.ledmyr(a)incf.org > Phone: +46 8 524 870 35 > incf.org > _______________________________________________ > Comp-neuro mailing list -- comp-neuro(a)lists.cnsorg.org > Mailing list webpage (to subscribe or view archives): > https://www.cnsorg.org/comp-neuro-mailing-list > > To contact admin/moderators, send an email to: > comp-neuro-owner(a)lists.cnsorg.org > To unsubscribe, send an email to comp-neuro-leave(a)lists.cnsorg.org

Feb. 7, 2025

INCF Virtual Town Hall Feb 11 & 12

by Helena Ledmyr

[apologies for cross posting] At INCF we strive to serve the neuroscience community as best we can with resources that facilitate open science, data sharing, and data management. In order for us to be the most useful we can be, we need your input! Next week we're hosting a Town Hall for our community to give us input on what INCF should focus on in the coming years and we hope you will join us. 📅 We're hosting two time slots to accommodate for more time zones: - Feb 11, 8am CET - Feb 12, 8pm CET Register for the Town Hall here: bit.ly/3Q2UWKx If you're unable to join our virtual Town Halls we would very much appreciate feedback in this survey, which is based on input from an in-person Town Hall we organized during the INCF Assembly last year: bit.ly/40BlrvI All the best, Helena Ledmyr ----------------------------- Helena Ledmyr, PhD *Director* *Development and Communications* International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility Secretariat Karolinska Institutet. Nobels väg 15A, SE-171 77 Stockholm. Sweden Email: helena.ledmyr(a)incf.org Phone: +46 8 524 870 35 incf.org

Feb. 6, 2025

Postdoctoral position in data-driven cortical microcircuit modeling at Hay lab (CAMH, University of Toronto)

by Etay Hay

Hay lab is looking for applicants for a postdoctoral position in modeling large-scale spiking activity (neuropixels) from prefrontal cortex in rodents in health and chronic stress in collaboration with Weizmann Institute of Science. Applicants should have experience in python, modeling, detailed conductance-based neuron and microcircuit models. The position is anticipated to start in spring-summer 2025, with duration of 2 years. Interested applicants should send their CV to Dr. Etay Hay, at: etay.hay(a)camh.ca<mailto:etay.hay@camh.ca> Hay lab is located at the Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, within Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto and Max Planck Institute in Toronto. The centre is located in downtown Toronto. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. AVIS DE CONFIDENTIALITÉ : Ce message électronique, ainsi que tout fichier qui y est joint, est reserve à l'usage exclusif du destinataire visé et peut contenir des renseignements confidentiels et privilégiés. Toute lecture, utilisation, divulgation ou distribution non autorisée est interdite. Si vous n'êtes pas le destinataire visé, veuillez en aviser l'expéditeur par retour de courriel et détruire toutes les copies du message original.

Feb. 6, 2025

Postdoc in Computational Neuroscience at the University of Essex (UK)

by De Feo, Vito

Dear colleagues, We are looking for a candidate with a quantitative background who has completed (or is about to complete) a PhD in a quantitative field for a post-doctoral position within the RESTED (REbalancing circadian rhythms in Sleep and heart rate To Ease Dissociative symptoms) project in order to model the links between Mental Health and SCRD (sleep and other circadian rhythm disturbances). Underlying the project is evidence that feelings of dissociation are strongly associated with sleep disorders and are a transdiagnostic risk factor for the development of depression, anxiety and psychosis. However, no one has investigated the role of dissociative symptoms in the links between SCRD (sleep and other circadian rhythm disorders) and MH (mental health). We propose to model how fluctuations in sleep and heart rate are related to fluctuations in dissociation, depression, anxiety and psychosis. Based on this understanding, our vision is to prevent the clinical course of these symptoms with low-cost interventions that improve sleep and heart rate. Specifically, in RESTED we want to determine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between sleep, heart rate and symptoms of dissociation, depression, anxiety and psychosis in adolescents and young adults. In addition, we want to develop novel circadian biomarkers, sleep detection technologies and analytical approaches to model bidirectional associations between sleep, autonomic function and daily fluctuations in cognition and emotion. To do this, we will use Mediation Analysis, Granger Causality and Directed Information. Finally, we will use Explainable AI methods, and Machine Learning models to predict mental health variables from circadian variables. The PostDoc will be based at the University of Essex School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (CSEE) although the candidate will join our entire interdisciplinary team working in collaboration with the University of Sussex, Birmingham and the NHS. The University of Essex houses the Centre for Brain Science and various BCI laboratories, with access to state-of-the-art EEG and EMG equipment, computer-controlled electrical and mechanical stimulators and other devices to optimally measure sensory, motor and associated cortical activity. CSEE, ranked 6th in the UK as research power in the last REF, has several laboratories including one of the best BCI laboratories in Europe and a Health AI laboratory, and international collaborations with prestigious foreign research institutes including the Biotech campus of EPFL Geneva and the Institute of Neuroinformatics at ETH Zurich. Duties of the role To analyse data collected in pre-existing databases using statistical analysis techniques such as mediation analysis. To organise the data collected from participants using health bands (actigraphy, ECG, etc.) To use statistical and AI techniques to model causal relationships between the phenomena described in the project description.• To implement a sleep stages classifier using machine learning and deep learning techniques. To summarise the results obtained and participate in the writing of scientific publications. To undertake or manage practical elements of research such as setting up and conducting experiments, developing questionnaires and conducting fieldwork, recording data and identifying trends or patterns. To produce research outputs for publication at acceptable levels of volume and academic excellence and disseminate the result of research and scholarship through appropriate Knowledge Exchange activities (such as at relevant national and international conferences and scholarly publications not intended for the REF). To contribute to the development and maintenance or research resources (examples of which include household surveys, databases, specialist equipment and infrastructure, software packages and computer models) used within the Department or wider user community external to the Department. To, supervise and/or mentor postgraduate research students into relevant communities of research at Essex as appropriate to the departmental context to generate meaningful connections between research and education at Essex. Skills and qualifications required Applicants are expected to hold a PhD in a relevant field (engineering, mathematics, computer science or physics), or be close to completion of PhD. You will have the ability and willingness to complement and enhance the research project/department/school’s education and research strengths and areas of planned development. Strong communication skills, both written and verbal are also essential for the post. Specific knowledge and skills are also required: - Strong mathematical and programming skills. - Wide and documented experience in Signal Processing, Machine Learning, Deep Learning and Data Analysis - Experience with physiological signal analysis or expertise in computational neuroscience. - Proficiency in MATLAB or Python. - Demonstrated ability to work independently and overcome complex technical challenges. For more information about the position please contact Dr Vito De Feo vito.defeo(a)essex.ac.uk To apply: https://vacancies.essex.ac.uk/tlive_webrecruitment/wrd/run/ETREC107GF.open?… Best wishes, Vito Dr. Vito De Feo Lecturer in Health Artificial Intelligence for Brain and Mental Health Artificial Intelligence Team and Consumer Neuroscience Research Cluster Future Health Technology and Brain-Computer Interfaces laboratories, School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK

Feb. 6, 2025

2025 School on Analytical Connectionism: Call for applications

by Lin, I-Chun

Topical focus: Bias in learning 25 August - 5 September 2025, London www.analytical-connectionism.net/school/2025<http://www.analytical-connectionism.net/school/2025> Apply by 18 April 2025 We are delighted to announce the 3rd edition of the School on Analytical Connectionism. This 2-week course will focus on analytical tools, including methods from statistical physics and probability theory, for probing neural networks and higher-level cognition. This course is appropriate for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty in fields from psychology and neuroscience, to physics, computer science, and mathematics. The course will bring together neuroscience, psychology, and machine-learning communities, introducing participants to connectionist theories of higher-level cognition and psychology as well as analytical methods for neural-network analysis. Participants will work in teams, mentored by course lecturers and organisers, to develop novel research projects on topics related to analytical connectionism. Participants will present the research proposals in Week 1 and interim results at the end of the course. Confirmed Faculty: * Rémi Monasson (CNRS/ENS) * Tim Rogers (University of Wisconsin-Madison) * Tali Sharot (UCL/MIT) * Merav Ahissar (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) * Xuechunzi Bai (University of Chicago) * Marco Baity-Jesi (Eawag) * Mathew Diamond (SISSA) * Lasana Harris (UCL) * Tiago Maia (University of Lisbon) * Angela Radulescu (Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai) * Levent Sagun (FAIR) * Fanny Yang (ETHZ)

Feb. 6, 2025

New Frontiers in Associative Memories workshop at ICLR 2025

by Dmitry Krotov

Dear Friends and Colleagues, We would like to advertise the call for papers for the New Frontiers in Associative Memories workshop at ICLR 2025. New architectures and algorithms, memory-augmented LLMs, energy-based models, Hopfield networks, associative memory and diffusion, and many other exciting topics. Please consider sharing this information with your students, postdocs, and anyone who might be interested. Website: https://nfam.vizhub.ai Submissions via Open Review: https://openreview.net/group?id=ICLR.cc/2025/Workshop/NFAM Deadline: February 14, 2025 EOD AOE Best wishes, Julia Kempe, Dmitry Krotov, Hilde Kuehne, Dan Lee, Sara Solla

Feb. 5, 2025

Workshop on Themes across Control and Reinforcement Learning (24-25 March, 2025), at CWI, Amsterdam, Netherlands

by Aditya Gilra

Dear all, We invite registrations for a workshop on Themes across Control and Reinforcement Learning: https://www.cwi.nl/en/events/cwi-research-semester-programmes/workshop-them… Control theory and reinforcement learning converge on a shared objective: facilitating autonomous, real-time decision-making to optimize dynamical processes. Historically, these disciplines have diverged in assumptions regarding available prior information and in analytical techniques applied. However, recent advances bridging the two domains are fostering collaborations. As part of a research semester on Control Theory and Reinforcement Learning at CWI, Amsterdam, NL, we have a workshop on broad themes across these topics.Date: 24-25 March 2025Venue: CWI (Research Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science), Amsterdam, Netherlands We have a line-up of renowned speakers:Ann Nowé, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, BelgiumBert Kappen, Radboud Univ, Nijmegen, NetherlandsDavide Grossi, Univ of Amsterdam, University of Groningen, NetherlandsFrans Oliehoek, TU Delft, NetherlandsHarri Lähdesmäki, Aalto University, FinlandJens Kober, TU Delft, NetherlandsSean Meyn, Univ. of Florida, USASofie Haesert, Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands Please register at the earliest!https://www.cwi.nl/en/events/cwi-research-semester-programmes/workshop-themes-across-control-and-reinforcement-learning/ Looking forward to seeing you!Organizers of the research semester programme. Download and advertise the poster.

Feb. 5, 2025

Save the Date! COMPLEX NETWORKS 2025 – December 9-11, Binghamton, New York, USA

by Hocine Cherifi

The *14th International Conference on Complex Networks & Their Applications (COMPLEX NETWORKS 2025)* will take place in *Binghamton, New York, USA, from December 9 to 11, 2025*! This annual event brings together *leading researchers, practitioners, and industry experts* to discuss cutting-edge advances in *network science, graph machine learning, complex systems and computational social science*. *📌** Key Details* 📅 *Conference Dates:* December 9-11, 2025 🎓 *Tutorials:* December 8, 2025 📍 *Location:* Binghamton, New York, USA 📖 *Proceedings Published by Springer* Stay tuned! The *Call for Papers* will be officially launched soon, inviting submissions in *network science, graph learning, social networks, biological systems, smart cities, and more*. Mark your calendar, and don’t miss this exciting opportunity to share your research with the global community! 📩 *Want to stay updated?* visit https://complexnetworks.org/ Best regards, *COMPLEX NETWORKS 2025 Organizing Committee*

Feb. 5, 2025

CAJAL course on Neuroscience and AI, 14 Jul - 1 Aug, 2025, Lisbon

by Sinz, Fabian

Dear colleagues, We are organizing a new CAJAL Course on Neuroscience and AI. The course is an exciting opportunity for early-career researchers interested in NeuroAI. This intensive course will provide participants with hands-on training in deep learning, computational modeling, and AI-driven approaches to neuroscience research. Participants will work with an exciting line-up of world-class faculty to explore how AI can help model and understand brain function and behavior. 📅 Course Dates: 14 July - 1 August 2025 📍 Location: Champalimaud Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal ⏳ Application Deadline: March 7th 2025 💡 Stipends are available 🔗 Apply here: https://form.jotform.com/Cajal_training/neuroai-2025-applications Course Directors: Fabian Sinz - Georg August University Göttingen, Germany Leyla Isik - Johns Hopkins University, USA Mariya Toneva - Max Planck Institute for Software Systems, Germany Srini Turaga - HHMI Janelia Research Campus, USA Faculty Include: Jacob Yates – UC Berkeley, USA Martin Schrimpf – EPFL, Switzerland Maria Eckstein – Google DeepMind, UK Patrick Mineault – Amaranth Foundation, USA Carsen Stringer – HHMI Janelia Research Campus, USA Chris Summerfield – Oxford University, UK John Krakauer – Champalimaud, Portugal Memming Park – Champalimaud, Portugal Andreas Tolias – Stanford, USA Jonathan Pillow – Princeton University, USA Shailee Jain – UC San Francisco, USA Through hands-on tutorials and project work, participants will gain expertise in: Deep learning for vision and language (CNNs, transformers) Reinforcement learning algorithms State space models for neural time series Machine learning for biophysical models of neuronal circuits Please share with anyone who might be interested! Thanks for helping us spread the word! On behalf of the organizers, — Fabian Sinz — Dr. Fabian Sinz Professor for Machine Learning, Göttingen University Adjunct Assistant Professor, Baylor College of Medicine https://sinzlab.org/

Feb. 4, 2025

postdoc in energetics of cognition (U Montréal)

by Becket Ebitz

The Noise lab (PI: Becket Ebitz) at the Université de Montréal is looking for postdoctoral research associates for a project focused on understanding the energetics of exploratory behavior in humans and rhesus macaques. The project is focused on identifying links between statistical measures of the dynamics of cognitive states and the metabolic demands of the brain and body. We know that a diversity of perspectives improves and invigorates our work and we encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and with all identities. *About the environment:* We are a systems/cognitive neuroscience lab working on decision-making and executive function. The lab is highly sociable, values kindness, cooperation, and a good work-life balance, and covers costs related to professional development, conference travel, computers and supplies, and eligible moving expenses. We prize collaboration and most projects in the lab are led by teams of students and postdocs who are excited about sharing their skills and expertise. More information about our research is available on our website (http://ebitzlab.com) and in our recent papers. The lab is located in the Department of Neurosciences at the Université de Montréal (UdeM) and part of a number of research centers, including the Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche sur le Cerveau et l’Apprentissage (CIRCA; Center for interdisciplinary research on the brain and learning) and Unifying Neuroscience-AI Quebec (UNIQUE). UdeM is one of the top research institutions in Canada and is especially well known for its work in data science, machine learning and AI (i.e. the world-renowned Mila Research Institute and IVADO, a $210 million Canada-First Research Excellence Fund program). The ideal candidate will be excited about building connections and collaborations across campus. *Position details:* Research projects in the lab involve behavioral and physiological experiments in humans, large-scale electrophysiology studies in the rhesus macaque, and computational modeling. We are open to candidates who are excited to focus on any and all of these techniques. This specific project is funded by the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research. Its goal is to understand how and why high-stress, energetically-demanding environments compromise cognitive flexibility. The project will build on computational and experimental techniques we developed in the lab to measure the neural computations involved in cognitive flexibility and characterize their energetic costs in the brain and body. The ideal candidate(s) will be excited to take the lead on their project(s), coordinating with technical staff, other students and postdocs, the PI, and other collaborators for support as needed. There are opportunities for international collaboration, including in analyzing human intracranial recording data, patient behavioral and/or imaging data, and rodent fiber photometry data. The postdoctoral researcher will also have opportunities to mentor undergraduate and graduate students and to participate in professional development activities related to their long-term career goals. *Basic Qualifications:* - PhD expected or obtained in Neuroscience, Psychology, or Physiology, or computationally-intensive field (i.e. Math, Physics, or Engineering). - A record of academic productivity including several conference presentations and at least one manuscript in press. *Preferred Qualifications:* - Extensive programming experience (ideally with Matlab and/or Python). - Previous experience in collecting and analyzing neurophysiology data. - If working with NHPs, previous experience with NHPs or other large mammals. - Familiarity with dynamical systems theory, control theory, and/or linear algebra. - Solid written and oral communication skills in English. *How to Apply:* Please send a pdf of your CV to becket(a)ebitzlab.com. In your email, please describe 1) why you are interested in the position, and 2) your previous research. We will begin reviewing applications immediately and continue until the positions are filled. The start date is negotiable.

Feb. 3, 2025

Save the Date: International Artificial Intelligence Summer School – IAISS 2025, Sept 21-25, Riva del Sole Resort & SPA @ Tuscany * Early Registration: by 23 March *

by ICAS Organizing Committee

* Apologies for multiple copies. Please forward to anybody who might be interested, thanks. * SAVE THE DATE: IAISS 2025 Early Registration: by 23 March #IAISS2025, A Residential Summer School in AI & Generative AI for Science and Engineering IAISS 2025 is a full-immersion 5-day Summer School in Tuscany on cutting-edge advances in AI and Generative AI with lectures delivered by world-renowned experts. Riva del Sole Resort & SPA @ Tuscany, Italy, Sept 21-25, 2025 https://2025.iaiss.cc iaiss(a)icas.cc EARLY REGISTRATION: by March 23 (AoE) https://2025.iaiss.cc/registration/ Oral Presentation Submission Deadline: by March 23 (AoE) Applicant *may* submit (during the Registration Process) a research abstract (max 2 pages; any format) for presentation. School directors and the scientific committee will review the abstracts and will recommend for poster and/or short talk. Abstract must be submitted by Sunday March 23, 2025 during the registration process. LECTURERS: Each Lecturer will hold up to four lectures on one or more research topics. Yuki Asano, University of Technology Nuremberg, Germany Pierre Baldi, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA Lucas Beyer, OpenAI, Zürich, Switzerland Wessel Bruinsma, Microsoft Research Amsterdam, The Netherlands Sam Buchanan, Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago, USA Floris Geerts, University of Antwerp, Belgium Sven Giesselbach, Fraunhofer Institute - IAIS, Germany & Telecom Systems Chin-Wei Huang, Microsoft Amsterdam, The Netherlands Vicky Kalogeiton, École Polytechnique Paris, France Thomas Kipf, Google DeepMind, USA Yi Ma, University of California, Berkeley, USA Abigail See, Google DeepMind, London, UK Michal Valko, Meta Paris, France More Speakers TBA TUTORIAL SPEAKERS: Druv Pai, University of California, Berkeley, USA Yaodong Yu, University of California, Berkeley, USA Peng Wang, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA https://2025.iaiss.cc/lecturers/ https://2025.iaiss.cc/lectures/ VENUE: https://2025.iaiss.cc/venue/ Riva del Sole Resort & SPA Località Riva del Sole‚ Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) CAP 58043‚ Tuscany‚ Italy p: +39-0564-928111 e: booking.events(a)rivadelsole.it w: https://www.rivadelsole.it/en/ REGISTRATION: https://2025.iaiss.cc/venue/ CERTIFICATE & 8 ECTS: The International Artificial Intelligence Summer School – IAISS 2025 is a full-immersion five-day Summer School at the Riva del Sole Resort & SPA (Castiglione della Pescaia – Grosseto – Tuscany, Italy) on cutting-edge advances in AI and Generative AI with lectures delivered by world-renowned experts. The Summer School provides a stimulating environment for PhD students, Post-Docs, junior academics (only up to assistant professors), early career researchers, and industry leaders (and highly motivated, promising and brilliant Master students / BSc students). Participants will also have the chance to present their results with talks, and to interact with their colleagues, in a convivial, professional and productive environment. PhD students, PostDocs, Industry Practitioners and Junior Academics (only up to assistant professors) will be typical profiles of the IAISS attendants. The Summer School will involve a total of 36–40 hours of lectures, according to the academic system the final achievement will be equivalent to 8 ECTS points for the PhD Students (and some strongly motivated Master Student – BSc Student) attending the Summer School. Language: English. To participate in the IAISS 2025, all attendants must (1/2) register for the school (by March 23, 2025) and (2/2) book accommodation at the school venue, “Riva del Sole Resort & SPA” (by July 23, 2025); all attendants must stay at the “Riva del Sole Resort & SPA”. Once accommodation has been booked at “Riva del Sole Resort & SPA“, the participant must send this information (including the Booking Number) to the IAISS organizing committee (iaiss(a)icas.cc) IAISS is a residential school, so all lecturers and participants must reside in the same Hotel (Riva del Sole Resort & SPA). No exceptions are made. For privacy reasons, the Hotel cannot match people. If you have someone to share the apartment with, please send to the Hotel ( booking.events(a)rivadelsole.it ) the name, surname and email address. Otherwise the solution is to book an apartment in single use. IAISS is organized as a non-profit scientific event. Please note that only IAISS registered participants can book a room (in hotel or apartment) at the Riva del Sole Resort & SPA with the accommodation form attached in the registration email and with the IAISS Discounted Rates. The Booking Office of the Riva del Sole Resort & SPA will verify the names of the participants and the corresponding registration number to confirm the booking. Anyone interested in participating in IAISS 2025 should register as soon as possible: https://2025.iaiss.cc/registration/ See you in Riva del Sole in September! IAISS 2025 Organizing Committees. https://2025.iaiss.cc iaiss(a)icas.cc Obviously, this is only a Call for Participation, to have complete and updated information we recommend you access the relevant website: https://2025.iaiss.cc the News Section: https://2025.iaiss.cc/category/news/ and the FAQ: https://2025.iaiss.cc/faq/ * Apologies for multiple copies. Please forward to anybody who might be interested, thanks * *8th Advanced Course on Data Science & Machine Learning - ACDL 2025, **9**-13 June*, Riva del Sole Resort & SPA, Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) – Tuscany, Italy *An Interdisciplinary Residential Course: from Deep Learning to Generative Artificial Intelligence* *Early Registration: by February 23, 2025 (AoE)* https://acdl2025.icas.events/registration/ https://acdl2025.icas.events/ acdl(a)icas.cc The Course is equivalent to 8 ECTS points for the PhD Students and the Master Students attending the Course. *11th International Conference on Learning, Optimization and Data – LOD 2025, *21–24 September Riva del Sole Resort & SPA, Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) Tuscany, Italy https://lod2025.icas.events/ lod(a)icas.cc *5th Advanced Course ** and Symposium **on Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience – ACAIN 2025,* 21–24 September Riva del Sole Resort & SPA, Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) Tuscany, Italy https://acain2025.icas.events/ acain(a)icas.cc *Symposium **Author Registration Deadline: March 23 * *Course Early Registration Deadline: March 23* The Course is equivalent to 8 ECTS points for the PhD Students and the Master Students attending the Course. *ICAS - The Interdisciplinary Centre of Advanced Studies* *https://icas.cc/* <https://icas.cc/>

Feb. 3, 2025

PhD opportunity in Astrocyte-Neuron computational modelling- Deadline 24th Feb

by Flanagan, Bronac

The Intelligent Systems Research Centre (ISRC) at Ulster University is advertising a funded PhD position for a project titled "Unlocking the Brain's Balance: Understanding Astrocyte Influence on Neural Communication Through Computer Modelling." This cutting-edge research project at Ulster University dives into one of the brain's most fascinating mechanisms: the conversation between brain cells that keeps our minds healthy and functioning. Our brains are incredibly complex networks where different types of cells work together in perfect harmony. At the centre of this research are astrocytes - star-shaped brain cells that act as the brain's supervisors. These cells manage a crucial molecule called GABA through a specialised transporter (GAT-3), which acts like a traffic controller for brain signals. When this system doesn't work properly, it can lead to various conditions that affect millions worldwide, including epilepsy, schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). What We'll Do Using advanced computer modelling, this project will create detailed models of how brain cells interact, study how GABA levels affect brain circuit behaviour and investigate how changes in this system might lead to neurological conditions. Throughout this PhD, you'll gain expertise in: * Computational neuroscience modelling * Biophysical modelling of cellular processes * Scientific programming and version control * Collaboration with experimental neuroscientists More details about this position are available at Unlocking the Brain's Balance: Understanding Astrocyte Influence on Neural Communication Through Computer Modelling<https://www.ulster.ac.uk/doctoralcollege/find-a-phd/11b-intelligent-systems…> For more information about the research environment at ISRC, visit About Intelligent Systems Research Centre<https://www.ulster.ac.uk/research/topic/computer-science/intelligent-system…> The PhD position is at Ulster University's Derry campus, one of the UK's top 10 research institutions. Recently named 'University of the Year 2024' by Times Higher Education, Ulster University is now the highest-ranked higher education institution in the UK and Ireland. The historic city of Derry, situated on the River Foyle in Northwest Northern Ireland, offers an ideal location between the Wild Atlantic Way and Causeway Coast. Its rich cultural heritage, vibrant atmosphere, and numerous family activities make it an excellent place to live. Please contact Bronac (b.flanagan(a)ulster.ac.uk<mailto:b.flanagan@ulster.ac.uk>) if you are interested or have questions. Should you receive this email outside of business hours, no reply is required until the next working day This email and any attachments are confidential and intended solely for the use of the addressee and may contain information which is covered by legal, professional or other privilege. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager at postmaster(a)ulster.ac.uk and delete this email immediately. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ulster University. The University's computer systems may be monitored and communications carried out on them may be recorded to secure the effective operation of the system and for other lawful purposes. Ulster University does not guarantee that this email or any attachments are free from viruses or 100% secure. Unless expressly stated in the body of a separate attachment, the text of email is not intended to form a binding contract. Correspondence to and from the University may be subject to requests for disclosure by 3rd parties under relevant legislation. The Ulster University was founded by Royal Charter in 1984 and is registered with company number RC000726 and VAT registered number GB672390524.The primary contact address for Ulster University in Northern Ireland is Cromore Road, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry BT52 1SA

Feb. 3, 2025

World wide VVTNS series (fifth season): Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at 11:00 am EST| Matthew Golub, University of Washington

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online <https://streaklinks.com/A9c7PbbpKY7PxB6PaAJWGD3-/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the lecture given by Matthew Golub University of Washington on the topic of Active learning of neural population dynamics The lecture will be held on zoom on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at *11:00 am EST * To receive the link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: * Recent advances in techniques for monitoring and perturbing neural populations have greatly enhanced our ability to study circuits in the brain. In particular, two-photon holographic optogenetics now enables precise photostimulation of experimenter-specified groups of individual neurons, while simultaneous two-photon calcium imaging enables the measurement of ongoing and induced activity across the neural population. Despite the enormous space of potential photostimulation patterns and the time-consuming nature of photostimulation experiments, very little algorithmic work has been done to determine the most effective photostimulation patterns for identifying the neural population dynamics. Here, I will discuss ongoing development of active learning techniques to efficiently select which neurons to stimulate such that the resulting neural responses will best inform a dynamical model of the neural population activity. *About VVTNS : Launched as the World Wide Theoretical Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), Speakers have the occasion to talk about theoretical aspects of their work which cannot be discussed in a setting where the majority of the audience consists of experimentalists. The seminars, **held on Wednesdays at 11 am ET,** are 45-50 min long followed by a discussion. The talks are recorded with authorization of the speaker and are available to everybody on our YouTube channel.* ᐧ

Feb. 2, 2025

Faculty positions in Canada

by Luczak, Artur

Here are 2 still open positions: Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence https://uleth.peopleadmin.ca/postings/7749 Neuroscience Assistant Professor - Tenure Track https://uleth.peopleadmin.ca/postings/7731 The search process has already started, however candidates may still be considered if application is sent asap. The Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience offers an excellent work environment and hosts several world-class scientists: https://www.ulethbridge.ca/artsci/neuroscience/our-faculty We are also located near the breathtaking Rocky Mountains, which provide outstanding skiing and other outdoor recreational opportunities. If you are interested, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Best, Artur Luczak Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge https://people.uleth.ca/~luczak/

Jan. 31, 2025

Bio-inspired deep learning workshop

by Maximilian Eggl

Hey everyone, We are pleased to announce a workshop on bio-inspired deep learning led by Dr. Angus Chadwick (link to his website can be seen here <https://homepages.inf.ed.ac.uk/achadwic/>) from the University of Edinburgh and funded by the support of the Joachim Herz Foundation. Accommodation, meals and venue are funded by the foundation and the participants only need to cover their travel cost. The workshop will take place from the 22nd to the 25th of April, 2025, near Mainz. This workshop will provide attendees with a unique opportunity to learn from one of the leading experts in the field and explore the intersection of mathematical modelling, machine learning, and data analysis to understand how the brain works. We believe this workshop will be of great interest to those interested in acquiring dimensionality reduction tools to analyze large-scale, time-varying systems. Biological insights as well as machine learning skills are key and therefore we would encourage applications from doctoral candidates/postdocs from both biological and computational fields. More information on the workshop and a link to the application can be found in the attached flyer (which can also be found here <https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/347ns89xrsrkypb5n6s7q/Workshop_Flyer.pdf?rlk…>). You can also directly access the application <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_BDJdIJd8qLDDBCaCAMIStqit-FEKwE0…>here <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_BDJdIJd8qLDDBCaCAMIStqit-FEKwE0…>. The deadline for the application is the 21st of February at 12:00 (CET). If you have any questions or are interested in attending this workshop, please do not hesitate to contact either Max at maximilianfeggl(a)gmail.com <mailto:maximilianfeggl@gmail.com>, Laura at bernaez.laura(a)gmail.com <mailto:bernaez.laura@gmail.coms> or Janko at petkojan(a)uni-bonn.de <mailto:petkojan@uni-bonn.de> I would also be grateful if you could forward this to anyone you think would be interested and advertise it in your institutions. We look forward to seeing you there! Sincerely, Laura, Max & Janko

Jan. 31, 2025

Konstanz School of Collective Behaviour 2025 ( Application open )

by Ahmed El Hady

*Konstanz School of Collective Behaviour 2025* *Konstanz, Germany * *Deadline to apply: April 15th, 2025* ** The Konstanz School of Collective Behaviour (KSCB) <https://www.exc.uni-konstanz.de/kscb/about/> will take place between /21st July 2025 – 8th August 2025/ at the Cluster of Excellence Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour (CASCB) at the University of Konstanz <https://www.uni-konstanz.de/en/>. Uni Konstanz is a University of Excellence and ranked #1 young university in Germany with “Collective Behaviour" <https://www.exc.uni-konstanz.de/collective-behaviour/> as one of five research foci. Konstanz <https://www.konstanz.de/start> is a vibrant, small city located on the border between Germany and Switzerland, on the shores of the Bodensee (Lake Constance). Over three weeks, students will delve deeply into the topic of collective behaviour with lectures, hands-on tutorials, and projects, making it a unique and unforgettable experience. The school faculty will cover collective behaviours across a variety of species from cells, worms, drosophila, fish to non – human primates and human. A set of tutorials delving into state-of-the-art quantitative methods used to study collective behaviour will complement the lectures. At the end of the school, students will work on independent projects guided by our resident faculty. Accommodation will be provided and paid by the organizers. A limited number of travel grants will be provided and a registration fee will be due (500 Euros) once the student is admitted to the Konstanz School of Collective Behaviour. The registration fee will be waived to those coming from underrepresented minorities and those in need of financial support. The submission of applications for the second Konstanz School of Collective Behaviour was open until April 15, 2025. We will inform you on May 15, 2025 whether your application was successful For further information and application, visit our website: _https://www.exc.uni-konstanz.de/kscb/application-procedure/ <https://www.exc.uni-konstanz.de/kscb/application-procedure/> _ *KSCB 2025 faculty : * ·Iain Couzin ( Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior , Konstanz) ·Peter Dayan ( Max Planck Institute of Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen) ·Ilya Nemenman ( Emory University , USA) ·Yonatan Loewenstein ( Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel) ·Aneta Koseska ( Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology of Behavior, Bonn) ·Francesco Ginelli ( Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Italy) ·Thejasvi Ravindra Beleyur ( Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Konstanz) ·Liang Li ( Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Konstanz) ·Giovanni Reinna ( University of Konstanz, Konstanz) ·Einat Couzin-Fuchs ( University of Konstanz, Konstanz ) ·Ofer Feinermann ( Weizmann Institute of Sciences, Israel) ·Naama Brenner ( Israel Institute of Technology, Israel) ·Ariana Strandburg-Peshkin ( Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior , Konstanz) ·Wataru Toyokawa (Riken Center for Brain Science in Tokyo). ·Raphaela Heesen ( University of Konstanz, Konstanz) ·Caroline Schuppli ( Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior , Konstanz) *Contact: **ahmed.el-hady(a)uni-konstanz.de <mailto:ahmed.el-hady@uni-konstanz.de> * All the best regards, Ahmed El Hady On behalf of the KSCB organizational committee Dr. Ahmed El Hady Principal Investigator Cluster for Advanced Study of Collective Behavior, University of Konstanz Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Universitätsstraße 10, 78464 Konstanz Room ZT 907 Postbox 687 Tel.: +49 7531 88-4742

Jan. 31, 2025

MODVIS 2025 - Call for Papers

by Tim Oleskiw

The 2025 VSS satellite workshop on computational and mathematical models in vision (MODVIS) will be held May 14-15 in St. Pete Beach FL, the two days immediately preceding the main meeting (which now starts Friday morning, instead of the traditional Friday afternoon). The program consists of contributed oral presentations, which are longer and more interactive than a regular VSS talk, and the schedule is designed to provide many opportunities for discussions during coffee breaks and a generous lunch break. The workshop will conclude on Thursday with a keynote lecture given by James Elder (York University). Each presenter may publish a 1-page PDF extended abstract of their presentation, on the Purdue ePubs system. The abstracts from previous workshops can be viewed here <https://www.purdue.edu/conferences/events/modvis/program.php>. The deadline for submissions is March 1st, but authors may revise their abstracts up until publication by Purdue, typically in the week before the workshop. Discounted registration is available until March 31st, with a deeply discounted rate for students and retirees. Registration fees support refreshments and A/V services; it is not necessary to register for VSS or to be a VSS member to attend MODVIS. For complete details, please refer to the the workshop website:https://www.purdue.edu/conferences/events/modvis/ On behalf of the MODVIS organizing committee, Tim Oleskiw Assistant Professor University of Regina -- *Timothy D. Oleskiw, PhD* Assistant Professor, CS *E *oleskiw(a)uregina.ca *P *(306) 337 3109 *A *RIC 320, 3737 Wascana Pkw.

Jan. 29, 2025

WiMR 2025 - deadline approaching

by Vinita Samarasinghe

The deadline for the Women in Memory Research program is approaching. Please pass this information on to anyone whom you think might be interested in pursuing a PhD in the field. The*deadline *is*February 15th 2025. * *Women in Memory Research 2025* The research unit “Constructing scenarios of the past” seeks to promote women in memory research. The program WiMR 2025 is made possible through a grant from the German Research Foundation (DFG) and collaboration with the Ruhr University Bochum. Come and learn what an academic career looks likeand discover its advantages. During your week at the Ruhr University Bochum (RUB)you will participate in GEM 2025 where you will hear about the latest research in generative episodic memory, be given the opportunityto present your research and meet with female scientists from the field. Before and after GEM you'll be introduced to Bochum, the RUB and the FOR 2812 labs <https://for2812.rub.de/projects/>. Our participating senior scientists include: Ali Boyle, London School of Economics; Iris Engelhard, Utrecht University; Xenia Kobeleva, Ruhr U. Bochum; Sabine Seehagen, Ruhr U. Bochum; Kristina Liefke, Ruhr University Bochum. Sounds exciting? *Who can apply:* Womenmasters students in their final year of study and recently graduated masters students who are looking into an academic career in the area of memory research/neuroscience. Applicants must have excellent grades and be able to communicate in English. Selection of participants is competitive. We only have 12 spots! *How to apply:* Send your application including a one page letter of motivation, a current CV, masters transcripts and a letter of recommendation from one of your professors. Your application should be sent, as a single PDF document, to Vinita Samarasinghe @ for2812+gem(a)rub.de <mailto:for2812@rub.de> by February 15, 2025 with the subject line "WiMR - application". If you need child care or any other support please note this in your application. Applications will be evaluated and ranked after the deadline has passed and notifications will be sent out by 28.02.2025. If you accept, you must register for GEM 2025. *What to expect from us:* We will provide bed and breakfast (single occupancy), cover travel costs (restrictions apply) and provide some meals. The program is offered in English. *What we expect from you:* You are present for all of the program and that you present your current research in the form of a poster at GEM 2025. *Tentative program: * 02.06.2025 AM Welcome to Bochum PM GEM 2025 03.06.2025 GEM 2025 04.06.2025 AM GEM 2025 PM Fireside chat with senior memory researchers 05.06.2025 Lab visits 06.06.2025 Workshop *Questions? * Visit our website at https://for2812.rub.de/wimr2025 for more information. Please feel free to get in touch with Vinita Samarasinghe (for2812(a)rub.de <mailto:for2812@rub.de>) if you have any questions. -- Vinita Samarasinghe M.Sc., M.A. Science Manager Arbeitsgruppe Computational Neuroscience Institut für Neuroinformatik Ruhr-Universität Bochum, NB 3/73 Postfachnummer 110 Universitätstr. 150 D-44801 Bochum Tel: +49 (0)234 32 27996 Email:samarasinghe@ini.rub.de

Jan. 29, 2025

6th International Conference on Mathematics of Neuroscience and AI (Split, Croatia, 27-30 May 2025)

by Battleday, Ruairidh

We are delighted to announce the 6th International Conference on the Mathematics of Neuroscience and AI, to be held in the National Theatre, Split, Croatia, 27-30th May 2025: www.neuromonster.org In this high-profile conference we examine computational accounts of the brain and mind. We then take findings and theory back into the creation of robust, generalizable, and scalable AI. We hear from leading researchers over four days, spanning biocomputation, neural theory, cognitive science, and machine learning & artificial intelligence (AI). Each day will have keynotes, invited speakers, a poster session, and 6 spotlight talks invited from abstract submissions. Abstract submissions and early bird registration are open (see below). The first 100 tickets can get an extra 20% off using discount code SUPEREARLYNM25. Keynote Speakers Professor Jay McClelland (Stanford & DeepMind) Professor Wolfgang Maass (Graz) Professor Christine Constantinople (NYU) Professor Jakob Foerster (Oxford & Meta) Dr Ida Momennejad (Microsoft) Session Chairs Dr Valeria Fascianelli (Columbia; Biocomputation) Dr Francesca Mignacco (NYU & Princeton; Biocomputation) Yasmine Ayman (Harvard; Neural theory) Dr James Whittington (Oxford & Stanford; Neural theory) Professor Bill Thompson (UC Berkeley; Cognitive science) Dr Maria Eckstein (DeepMind; Cognitive science) Mikey Lepori (Brown & DeepMind; Machine learning & AI) Professor Ilia Sucholutsky (NYU; Machine learning & AI) Location The conference will be held at Croatia’s National Theatre in Split, 10 minutes walk from the ancient harbour. Split is served by two nearby international airports (Split and Dubrovnik) with low-price carriers as well as several ferry lines from the wider Mediterranean. Submissions The submission format is an abstract of 250 words, and we invite submissions for each session via the following Google form: https://forms.gle/a9JDH5B4Z5otS69Y7 These will be accepted for poster, with the best 6 papers in each session category given an additional spotlight talk. Submission deadline is 2nd March AOE. Super-early bird tickets A limited number of early-bird registrations have been posted on our website! Normal registration will follow after the submission deadline. The first 100 tickets can get an extra 20% off using discount code SUPEREARLYNM25. Come and join the fun! Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday (Harvard & MIT) Dr James Whittington (Oxford & Stanford) Dr Ivana Kajic (DeepMind) Professor Dan V. Nicolau Jr (Kings College London) The Organizing Committee. -- Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday BMBCh (Oxon) PhD President Thinking About Thinking, Inc <https://thinkingaboutthinking.org> Postdoctoral Research Fellow Center for Brain Science, Harvard University Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines, MIT

Jan. 29, 2025

Summer Workshop on the Dynamic Brain -- applications due Feb 1st, 2025

by Eric Shea-Brown

Please apply to come join us at the Summer Workshop on the Dynamic Brain, co-organized by the Allen Institute and the University of Washington’s Computational Neuroscience Center. The course takes place at Friday Harbor Laboratory in the beautiful San Juan Islands. This 2-week residential program is intended for researchers at the PhD student and postdoctoral level with an interest in developing and expressing their computational skillsets. This is done through workshops, lectures, and hands on, mentored projects using exciting and large-scale neurophysiology, population dynamics, behavior, and connectivity datasets. Additional info and application link can be found on the SWDB website. <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://alleninstitute.org/events/summer-worksh…>

Jan. 27, 2025

Calling for Applications: WBAI Incentive Award—Supporting Your Challenge in Brain-Inspired AGI

by 山川宏

Dear all, The Whole Brain Architecture Initiative (WBAI) is delighted to announce that we welcome candidates for our annual WBAI Incentive Award. This award is dedicated to supporting whole brain architecture research. https://wba-initiative.org/en/25135/ ### About the Award The WBAI Incentive Award honors individuals or teams who have contributed outstandingly to developing brain-inspired artificial general intelligence (AGI). Past awardees have pushed the boundaries of AI technology and its applications, leading to significant breakthroughs. Examples of Previous Awardees - David Rawlinson (2024 Award) Explored neural architectures based on biological approaches. - Sun Yuwei (2023 Award) Developed algorithms leveraging global workspace theory. - Matthew Crosby & Benjamin Beyret (2020 Award) Created virtual environments to evaluate animal intelligence, fostering worldwide research collaboration. See more past awardees here ( https://wba-initiative.org/en/wbaiia_awardees/ ). Who knows—you could be the next to shine! ### Application Details - Eligibility Individuals, teams, or organizations (no age or affiliation restrictions) - Basis for Selection Research and development achievements from the past five years (up to the end of 2024), including research papers, datasets, software, etc. - Application Period February 1, 2025 – April 30, 2025 - Prize A certificate and a monetary award of 50,000 JPY ### How to Apply Submit your application via the form below: https://gogl.to/3Kyb Additional materials may be requested if necessary. ### Award Ceremony The award ceremony will be held at the 10th Whole Brain Architecture Symposium, scheduled for summer or fall 2025. ### Be Part of Creating the Future Your research could be the key to advancing brain-inspired AI technology. Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your work and contribute to shaping the future of AI. --- Whole Brain Architecture Initiative (WBAI) Chairperson: Hiroshi Yamakawa

Jan. 27, 2025

[Call for Participation] The 2nd International Whole Brain Architecture Workshop (Feb 24th AM (JST) ) [Hybrid]

by ymkw＠wba-initiative.org

Dear, all, This is Hiroshi Yamakawa from the Whole Brain Architecture Initiative (WBAI), a specified non-profit organization. We are pleased to announce that, as detailed below, we will be holding "The 2nd International Whole Brain Architecture Workshop. " This workshop is a key activity of WBAI to develop human-brain-inspired artificial intelligence. Specifically, we aim to share and utilize Brain Reference Architecture (BRA) data and related data papers, which serve as standardized design specifications for human brain-inspired AI. This workshop will allow researchers and experts from various fields, including neuroscience, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence, who work toward understanding and mimicking brain computational functions to share and utilize such data. This workshop will be held during the first Hackathon of the Transformative Research Area (A), "Biology of Behavior Change." We look forward to your participation. 【Event Details】 Date & Time: Monday, February 24, 2025, 9:00-12:00 (JST) Format: Hybrid (General participants are limited to online participation.) (On-site venue: Tokyo Nihonbashi Life Science Hub 8F LSH-D Meeting Room) Language: English Participation Fee: Free 【How to Register】 For general participation (online), please fill out the registration form via the link below: https://gogl.to/3KLz *Registered participants will receive Zoom meeting registration information (URL) the day before and on the event day. 【Organization】 Organizer: The Whole Brain Architecture Initiative (NPO) Supported by: Transformative Research Areas (A) "Biology of Behavior Change" Executed by: The WBA Event Operations Group Program Chair: Yoshimasa Tawatsuji Executive Chair: Hiroshi Yamakawa 【Detailed Information】 For more information, visit https://wba-initiative.org/24521/ If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at: bra-support(a)wba-initiative.org Best regards, Hiroshi Yamakawa Chairperson The Whole Brain Architecture Initiative

Jan. 27, 2025

Deadline for application for Okinawa/OIST Computational Neuroscience Course 2025 (OCNC 2025) approaching

by Erik De Schutter

The aim of the Okinawa/OIST Computational Neuroscience Course is to provide opportunities for young researchers with theoretical backgrounds to learn the latest advances in neuroscience, and for those with experimental backgrounds to have hands-on experience in computational modeling. We invite graduate students and postgraduate researchers to participate in the course, held from June 23th through July 10th, 2025 at an seafront seminar house of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University. Applications are through the course web page (https://www.oist.jp/conference/ocnc-2025) only; January 1 - January 31, 2025. Applicants will receive confirmation of acceptance end of March. Like in preceding years, the 2025 OCNC will be a comprehensive three-week course covering single neurons, networks, and behaviors with ample time for student projects. The first week will focus exclusively on methods with hands-on tutorials during the afternoons, while the second and third weeks will have lectures by international and local experts. The course has a strong hands-on component based on student proposed modeling or data analysis projects, which are further refined with the help of a dedicated tutor. Applicants are required to propose their project at the time of application. For the first time we charge a modest tuition fee of 60,000JPY. The sponsor will provide lodging and meals during the course. We hope that this course will be a good opportunity for theoretical and experimental neuroscientists to meet each other and to explore the attractive nature and culture of Okinawa, the southernmost island prefecture of Japan. Lecturers: Erik De Schutter (OIST) Kenji Doya (OIST) Tomoki Fukai (OIST) Bernd Kuhn (OIST) Alexander Mathis (EPFL, Switzerland) Mackenzie Mathis (EPFL, Switzerland) Lucy Palmer (University of Melbourne, Australia) Gerald Pao (OIST) Padmini Rangamani (University of California, San Diego, USA) Sam Reiter (OIST) Yu Takagi (National Institute of Informatics) Kazumasa Tanaka (OIST) Tim Vogels (IST Austria) Jeff Wickens (OIST)

Jan. 27, 2025

ICANN 2025 - Call for Papers, Special Sessions, Workshops and Tutorials

by Sebastian Otte

=============================================================================== ICANN 2025 - CALL FOR PAPERS, SPECIAL SESSIONS, WORKHOPS AND TUTORIALS =============================================================================== The 34th International Conference on Artificial Neural Networks ICANN 2025 is one of the premier conferences in the field of artificial intelligence, neural networks, neuroscience and brain-inspired computing in Europe, organized in collaboration with the European Neural Network Society ENNS. In 2025, the ICANN will take place in Kaunas, Lithuania. Conference Dates: September 9 to September 12, 2025 Conference Venue: Campus of Vytautas Magnus University and Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania Conference Webpage: https://e-nns.org/icann2025/ General co-Chairs: Yoshua Bengio (Université de Montréal, Canada) Viktor Jirsa (Aix-Marseille Université, France; EBRAINS) Ausra Saudargiene (Lithuanian University of Health Sciences/Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania) Linas Petkevičius (Vilnius University, Artificial intelligence Association of Lithuania, Lithuania) Prof. Yoshua Bengio is a Turing Award laureate and is globally recognized as a pioneer of deep learning and artificial neural networks, driving groundbreaking advancements in artificial intelligence. Prof. Viktor Jirsa is renowned for his work in theoretical neuroscience and Virtual Brain Twins, serving as Chief Science Officer of EBRAINS, Europe’s research infrastructure in digital neuroscience. With the exceptional leadership and expertise of the Chairs, ICANN 2025 promises to be a transformative event with the dual track of Artificial Intelligence & Deep Learning and Neuroscience. The ICANN attracts a global audience of researchers, practitioners & industry experts and provides a forum for the presentation of cutting-edge research papers and invited keynote talks by leading experts. It includes workshops and tutorials, as well as engaging demo sessions. In 2025, ICANN will continue its proud tradition of being a dynamic and interactive conference, fostering collaboration across academia and industry. =============================================================================== We invite prospective authors to submit original and innovative papers in the following areas: AI and Machine Learning: Theory and Foundations of Neural Networks, Novel Neural Network Architectures, Topics in Neural Networks, Large Language Models, Explainable AI, Machine Learning for Graphs, Graph Neural Networks, Clustering, Reinforcement Learning, New Topics in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Neurorobotics Neuroscience: Cognitive and Theoretical/Computational Neuroscience, Brain-Inspired Computing, Neuromorphic Systems, Digital Twins and Virtual Brain models Applications: Human-Computer Interaction, Biosignal Processing, Medicine and Physiology, Speech and Language Processing, Computer Vision, Robotics, Climate and Environment, General Applications of Machine Learning Call for Papers Authors willing to present original contributions in either the oral or poster category are invited to submit: - A full paper of 6-12 pages (including references) to be published in Springer-Verlag Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS) series with individual DOI. - An extended abstract of maximum 2 pages to be published in Springer-Verlag Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS) series, without individual indexing. Papers will undergo rigorous peer review; the Program Committee will make the final decision on which papers will be included in the conference program. Selected papers will be assigned to oral sessions (15 minutes presentation + 5 minutes questions) and poster sessions, depending on the number of submissions; this assignment does in no way incur a judgment on paper quality. Note that presentation rules for workshops and special sessions may differ. All accepted papers will be published in the Springer LNCS series. Papers must be written in English language and must conform to the format defined in the Author’s Kit, available on the conference webpage at: https://e-nns.org/icann2025/submission The ICANN 2025 will be an in-person conference. At least one co-author of each paper must physically attend the conference in Kaunas to present the work. Call for Special Sessions, Workshops and Tutorials We invite prospective organizers to submit Special Sessions, Workshops and Tutorials. For details and updates, as well as for the final list of workshops and special sessions, please check: https://e-nns.org/icann2025/call-for-papers-2/call-for-workshops-and-specia… KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Emmanuel Bengio (Valence Labs/Recursion, Canada) Viktor Jirsa (Aix-Marseille Université, France; EBRAINS) Christiane Woopen (University of Bonn, Germany) Oher keynote speakers to be announced. CONFIRMED TUTORIALS Dr. Emmanuael Bengio will give a Tutorial on GflowNets. Prof. Viktor Jirsa and his team will provide a Tutorial on The Virtual Brain, an open-source neuroscience platform designed to simulate and model personalised human brain models. CONFERENCE COMMITTEE Program Chairs Walter Senn (University of Bern, Switzerland) Ausra Saudargiene (Lithuanian University of Health Sciences/Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania) Alessio Micheli (University of Pisa, Italy) Marcello Sanguineti (University of Genova, Italy) Igor Tetko (Helmholtz Munich, Germany) Alessandro Villa (University of Lausanne, Switzerland) Communication Chairs Sebastian Otte (University of Lübeck, Germany) Jurgita Kapociute-Dzikiene (Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania) Honorary Chairs Vera Kurkova (Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague) Alessandro Villa (University of Lausanne, Switzerland) Stefan Wermter (University of Hamburg, Germany) Local Organizing Committee Ausra Saudargiene (Lithuanian University of Health Sciences/Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania) Linas Petkevičius (Vilnius University, Artificial intelligence Association of Lithuania, Lithuania) Jurgita Kapociute-Dzikiene (Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania) Workshop, Tutorials and Special Session Chairs Povilas Daniusis (Neurotechnology/Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania) Dalius Matuzevičius (VilniusTech) Sponsorship Chair Dalia Breskuvienė (Vilnius University) Diversity & Inclusion Chair Kamilė Dementavičiūtė (Vinted) Steering Committee Stefan Wermter (University of Hamburg, Germany) Angelo Cangelosi (University of Manchester, UK) Igor Farkaš (Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia) Chrisina Jayne (Teesside University, UK) Matthias Kerzel (University of Hamburg, Germany) Alessandra Lintas (University of Lausanne, Switzerland) Kristína Malinovská (Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia) Jaakko Peltonen (Tampere University, Finland) Brigitte Quenet (ESPCI Paris, France) Roseli Wedemann (Rio de Janeiro State University, Brazil) Sebastian Otte (University of Lübeck, Germany) IMPORTANT DATES - Opening of submission portal: 15 February 2025 - Deadline for full paper and abstract submission: 15 March 2025 - Final notification of Acceptance or Rejection: 15 May 2025 - Camera-ready paper upload and author registration: 1 June 2025 For questions, please contact: icann-2025-program-committee(a)googlegroups.com Link to this call: https://e-nns.org/icann2025/call-for-papers

Jan. 26, 2025

World Wide VVTNS series (fifth season): Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at 11:00 am EST| Hadas Benisty, Technion, Haifa

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online <https://streaklinks.com/A9c7PbbpKY7PxB6PaAJWGD3-/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the lecture given by Hadas Benisty Technion, Haifa on the topic of A Geometric Approach for the Study of Functional Connectivity Dynamics The lecture will be held on zoom on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at *11:00 am EST * To receive the link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: * Functional connectivity has been the focus of many research groups aiming to study the interaction between cells and brain regions. A standard method for analyzing connectivity is to statistically compare pairwise interactions between cells or brain regions across behavioral states or conditions. This methodology ignores the intrinsic properties of functional connectivity as a multivariate and dynamic signal, expressing the correlational configuration of the network. In this talk, I will present a geometric approach, combining Graph Theory and Riemannian Geometry to build "a graph of graphs" and extract the latent dynamics of the overall correlational structure. Using this approach, we formulate the statistical relations between network dynamics and spontaneous behavior as a second-order Taylor’s expansion. Our analysis shows that fast fluctuations in functional connectivity of large-scale cortical networks are closely linked to variations in behavioral metrics related to the arousal state. We further expand this methodology to longer time scales to study the effect of dopamine on network dynamics in the primary motor cortex (M1) during learning. We developed a series of analysis methods indicating that as animals learn to perform a motor task, the network of pyramidal neurons in layer 2-3 gradually and monotonically reorganizes toward an "expert" configuration. Our results highlight the critical role of dopamine in driving synaptic plasticity: Blocking dopaminergic neurotransmission locally in M1 prevented motor learning at the behavioral level and concomitantly halted plasticity changes in network activity and in functional connectivity. *About VVTNS : Launched as the World Wide Theoretical Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), Speakers have the occasion to talk about theoretical aspects of their work which cannot be discussed in a setting where the majority of the audience consists of experimentalists. The seminars, **held on Wednesdays at 11 am ET,** are 45-50 min long followed by a discussion. The talks are recorded with authorization of the speaker and are available to everybody on our YouTube channel.* ᐧ ᐧ

Jan. 26, 2025

Save the date: UK Neural Computation meeting July 9-11, Imperial College London

by Mark Humphries

Save the date! The UK Neural Computation meeting 2025 will be at Imperial College London, bringing together the UK’s computational and systems neuroscience community 9 July: ECR day 10-11 July: main meeting 9 invited speakers, 4 talks from abstracts and loads of posters More details: https://neuralcomputation.uk/ Abstract submission and registration opening soon Please spread the word! Organisers Danyal Akarca (Imperial) Dan Goodman (Imperial) Mark Humphries (Nottingham) This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender and delete the email and attachment. Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham. Email communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored where permitted by law.

Jan. 24, 2025

Call for Abstracts: 34th Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting (CNS*2025), Florence, Italy, July 5-9, 2025

by Rubchinsky, Leonid L

Dear Colleagues, We are inviting abstracts for the 34th Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting (CNS*2025), which will be in Florence, Italy, July 5-9, 2025. The main meeting begins in the evening of Saturday, July 5 and runs through Tuesday, July 8. It will be preceded by a day of tutorials (Saturday, July 5) and followed by workshops (Tuesday, July 8 mixed with the main meeting and Wednesday, July 9 workshops only). Registration and abstract submission are open now. Abstract submission deadline: March 11, 2025. Note that one of the authors must register as a sponsoring author for the main meeting before abstract submission. In case the abstract is not accepted for presentation, the registration fee will be refunded. Submitted abstracts are used for creating the program and for publication. Please follow the formatting guidelines on the submission site. Travel awards are available for student and postdoc members of OCNS. Please apply during the abstract submission form and note that an extended abstract is required when applying for a travel award or oral presentation format. Registration: https://ocns.memberclicks.net/cns-2025-registration Abstract submission: https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2025-abstract-submission CNS*2025 meeting information: https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2025 Workshop proposals are being accepted at: https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2025-call-for-workshops Tutorial proposals are being accepted at: https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2025-call-for-tutorials With kind regards, Leonid Rubchinsky OCNS Vice President, on behalf of the OCNS Board of Directors *********************** Leonid Rubchinsky, PhD Professor Department of Mathematical Sciences, Indiana University Indianapolis Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine 402 N. Blackford St Indianapolis, IN 46202-3216 lrubchin(a)iu.edu math.indianapolis.iu.edu/~lrubchin/ ***********************

Jan. 23, 2025

[CFP] ICLR 2025 workshop I Can't Believe It's Not Better: Challenges in Applied Deep Learning

by Jennifer Williams

*ICLR 2025 <https://iclr.cc/> Workshop: I Can’t Believe It’s Not Better: Challenges in Applied Deep Learning* *Call for Papers: *This workshop focuses on negative results, failed experiments, and unexpected challenges encountered when applying deep learning to real-world problems across industry and science. By openly sharing these hurdles, we aim to advance the field through transparency, foster learning, and prevent repeated missteps. *We welcome submissions* that apply deep learning to various domains including, but not limited to, neuroscience, healthcare, psychology and feature: 1. A real-world use case where deep learning was applied. 2. An existing deep learning solution proposed in the literature. 3. An observed negative or unexpected outcome. 4. An analysis of why the approach did not work as anticipated. Possible reasons may include data issues, model assumptions, interpretability gaps, scalability challenges, or deployment constraints. Submissions will be evaluated based on rigor, novelty, clarity, reproducibility, and the depth of their insights. *Key Dates:* • Submission Deadline: February 3, 2025 (11:59 pm AOE) • Acceptance Notification: March 5, 2025 • Workshop: April 27 or 28, 2025 Accepted papers will appear on OpenReview and the workshop website, with the option for inclusion in PMLR proceedings <https://proceedings.mlr.press/>. We will also nominate outstanding submissions for spotlight talks and two awards: the “Entropic Award” for the most surprising negative result and the “Didactic Award” for the most pedagogically valuable paper. For more information on our past workshops, the ICBINB initiative, and submission details, please visit: https://sites.google.com/view/icbinb-2025/call-for-papers We look forward to your contributions! Sincerely, The I Can’t Believe It’s Not Better Organizing Team

Jan. 23, 2025

InterfaceNeuro meeting May 7-8 in Atlanta

by Rozell, Christopher J

I’m writing to invite you to attend a conference hosted May 7-8 at Georgia Tech called InterfaceNeuro (https://interfaceneuro.org) which targets the intersection of neuroscience, neuroengineering, clinical/translational research, neurotech industry, and individuals with lived experiences. While each of these areas obviously has their own meetings, this conference is unique in interfacing these areas all together to find points of collaboration. The theme this year is "Integrating Brain, Body, and Machine for Next-Gen Intelligent Interfaces". The program features curated invited talks, a keynote from Dr. Mike Okun, contributed poster sessions, and a featured event focused on patient's lived experiences with neurotechnology. You can see from the program that the curated talks have been chosen to span disciplines and generate discussion. We've minimized registration fees to try and make the meeting as accessible as possible (note that there is no virtual component). Poster submissions are due by March 14 (as part of registration), and there will be a slate of best poster prizes for trainees. This will be the first meeting hosted by Georgia Tech building off of previous offerings by Rice University’s Neuroengineering Initiative, and we are excited to welcome you all to Atlanta. Please reach out if you have questions. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you in May!

Jan. 22, 2025

EPSRC PhD scholarships at the University of Sussex

by James Bennett

The University of Sussex invites applications for 10 PhD scholarships funded by the EPSRC for an autumn 2025 start. We are offering a wide range of cross-disciplinary research projects and research themes, many of which have a computational neuroscience and/or neuroAI focus, and are led by faculty across the university, including members of Sussex AI <https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/centres/ai-research-group/>, the Sussex Centre for Consciousness Science <https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/centres/sussex-centre-for-consciousness-s…>, and Sussex Neuroscience <https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/centres/sussex-neuroscience/>. Studentships include: - 3.5 years of funding with a tax free living allowance at the standard Research Council rate – currently £19,237 in 2024-5 – and international or UK PhD fees. - An option of 3 months of additional funding to cover a placement outside academia. - Funding for training and research expenses, such as conference trips and experimental costs. - Supervision by world-leading researchers. - Our Entrepreneurship Summer School and Responsible Research and Innovation workshops, tailored to the needs of engineering and physical sciences researchers. - Our Researcher Development workshops and access to taught modules relevant to your project. A brochure of research projects/themes offered by our faculty is available here: Sussex EPSRC Brochure 2025-26 <https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/downloads/funding/awards/1818/Sussex%20EPSRC…> For more information on how to apply, follow this link: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/phd-funding/view/1818-EPSRC-Sci… Dr. James Bennett Assistant Professor in Computer Science and AI Dept. Informatics University of Sussex Sussex AI <https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/centres/ai-research-group/>, Sussex Neuroscience <https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/centres/sussex-neuroscience/>

Jan. 21, 2025

World wide VVTNS series (fifth season): Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at 11:00 am EST| Srdjan Ostojic, Ecole normale supérieure, Paris

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online <https://streaklinks.com/A9c7PbbpKY7PxB6PaAJWGD3-/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the lecture given by Srdjan Ostojic Ecole normale supérieure, Paris on the topic of Structured Excitatory-Inhibitory Networks: a low-rank approach The lecture will be held on zoom on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at *11:00 am EST * To receive the zoom link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: * Networks of excitatory and inhibitory (EI) neurons form a canonical circuit in the brain. Classical theoretical analyses of dynamics in EI networks have revealed key principles such as EI balance or paradoxical responses to external inputs. These seminal results assume that synaptic strengths depend on the type of neurons they connect but are otherwise statistically independent. However, recent synaptic physiology datasets have uncovered connectivity patterns that deviate significantly from independent connection models. Simultaneously, studies of task-trained recurrent networks have emphasized the role of connectivity structure in implementing neural computations. Despite these findings, integrating detailed connectivity structures into mean-field theories of EI networks remains a substantial challenge. In this talk, I will outline a theoretical approach to understanding dynamics in structured EI networks by employing a low-rank approximation based on an analytical computation of the dominant eigenvalues of the full connectivity matrix. I will illustrate this approach by investigating the effects of pair-wise connectivity motifs on linear dynamics in EI networks. Specifically, I will present recent results demonstrating that an over-representation of chain motifs induces a strong positive eigenvalue in inhibition-dominated networks, generating a potential instability that challenges classical EI balance criteria. Furthermore, by examining the effects of external input, we found that chain motifs can, on their own, induce paradoxical responses, wherein an increased input to inhibitory neurons leads to a counterintuitive decrease in their activity through recurrent feedback mechanisms. Altogether, our theoretical approach opens new avenues for relating recorded connectivity structures with dynamics and computations in biological networks. *About VVTNS : Launched as the World Wide Theoretical Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), Speakers have the occasion to talk about theoretical aspects of their work which cannot be discussed in a setting where the majority of the audience consists of experimentalists. The seminars, **held on Wednesdays at 11 am ET,** are 45-50 min long followed by a discussion. The talks are recorded with authorization of the speaker and are available to everybody on our YouTube channel.* ᐧ ᐧ

Jan. 19, 2025

Save the date: NEST Conference 2025 will take place 17–18 June (online)

by Hans Ekkehard Plesser

Dear Colleagues, The NEST Initiative is excited to invite everyone interested in neural simulation technology, simulation-based neuroscience and NEST Software to the NEST Conference 2025. Save the date for the virtual conference, taking place online on 17–18 June 2025! The annual NEST Conference provides an opportunity for the NEST Community to meet, exchange success stories, swap advice, learn about current developments in and around NEST spiking network simulation and its application. We particularly encourage young scientists to participate in the conference! Registration and abstract submission will open soon. For more information on the event please visit the conference website https://nest-simulator.org/conference We are looking forward to seeing you in June! Hans Ekkehard Plesser on behalf of the conference organizing committee -- Prof. Dr. Hans Ekkehard Plesser Research Committee Chair, Faculty of Science and Technology Head, Department of Data Science Department of Data Science Faculty of Science and Technology Norwegian University of Life Sciences PO Box 5003, 1432 Aas, Norway Phone +47 6723 1560 Email hans.ekkehard.plesser(a)nmbu.no<mailto:hans.ekkehard.plesser@nmbu.no> Home http://arken.nmbu.no/~plesser

Jan. 16, 2025

[Call for Abstract]: Workshop AI and Ethics of Care (5 February 2025, University of Porto)

by steven gouveia

Workshop AI and Ethics of Care 5 February 2025 | Sala de Reuniões 1 Keynote Speakers [Picture] Silvia Dadà is a post-doctoral researcher in Moral Philosophy and Bioethics at the University of Pisa. She is a research member in the PNRR project FAIR (Future Artificial Intelligence Research). Her current areas of interest include ethics of care, bioethics, and ethics of AI. Her most recent book is Etica della vulnerabilità (2022: Morcelliana). [Picture] Ângelo Milhano holds a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Évora, where he is now a Visiting Professor. He is a researcher in Philosophy of Technology at Praxis: Centre for Philosophy, Politics and Culture. Ângelo has focused his research on digital technologies, focusing on how their various materializations are able to influence human beings and their way of thinking about the world. ________________________________ [Call for Abstracts] The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies raises urgent ethical questions about their development, deployment, and societal impact. While traditional AI ethics often emphasizes fairness, transparency, and accountability, the Ethics of Care introduces a relational perspective, focusing on empathy, compassion, and the interdependence of individuals and communities. This workshop aims to explore how the Ethics of Care can reshape the trajectory of AI development, fostering technologies that prioritize human well-being and relational responsibility. We invite researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and activists to submit abstracts addressing the intersection of AI and the Ethics of Care. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: * Philosophical Foundations: Theoretical explorations of the Ethics of Care as a framework for AI ethics. * Relational AI Design: Designing AI systems that prioritize relationships, empathy, and contextual understanding. * AI in Care Contexts: The role of AI in healthcare, eldercare, and caregiving, with a focus on enhancing rather than replacing human care. * Algorithmic Responsibility: Ensuring AI systems recognize and adapt to the interdependence of social and cultural contexts. * Bias and Marginalization: How the Ethics of Care can address systemic inequities and biases in AI systems. * Governance and Policy: Frameworks for implementing care-centered principles in AI policy and regulation. * Critiques and Challenges: Potential limitations of applying the Ethics of Care to AI and strategies for overcoming them. Submission Guidelines: * Submit a title, an abstract of 300 words (with up to 5 relevant references) and a short bio (50 words) to stevensequeira92(a)hotmail.com<https://ifilosofia.up.pt/activities/stevensequeira92@hotmail.com> * Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and authors will be notified of acceptance or rejection shortly after submission. We encourage early submissions to secure a spot in the workshop program. * There is no registration fee for the workshop. However, accepted authors are responsible for covering their own travel and accommodation expenses. * Deadline: 26 January 2025 * For inquiries, please contact: stevensequeira92(a)hotmail.com<mailto:stevensequeira92@hotmail.com> Organizing Committee Steven S. Gouveia (MLAG/IF/Uni. Porto) CEEC Project by FCT 2022.02527.CEECIND, University of Porto Organization RG Mind, Language and Action Group (MLAG) Instituto de Filosofia da Universidade do Porto - UID/00502 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)

Jan. 16, 2025

[Meetings] Deadline reminder: 2025 Nengo Summer School Call For Applications

by Michael Furlong

Dear colleagues, Please note that the deadline for application submission to the Nengo Summer School, February 1st, 2025, is approaching. [All details about this school can be found online at https://www.nengo.ai/summer-school] The Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience at the University of Waterloo is excited to announce our 10th annual Nengo summer school on large-scale brain modelling and neuromorphic computing. This two-week school will teach participants to use the Nengo simulation package to build state-of-the-art cognitive and neural models to run both in simulation and on neuromorphic hardware. Summer school participants will be given on-site access to neuromorphic hardware and will learn to run high-level applications using Nengo! More generally, Nengo provides users with a versatile and powerful environment for designing cognitive and neural systems and has been used to build what is currently the world's largest functional brain model, Spaun, which includes spiking deep learning, reinforcement learning, adaptive motor control, and cognitive control networks. For a look at the last in-person summer school, check out this short video: https://youtu.be/nFYTqieEnSY We welcome applications from all interested graduate students, postdocs, professors, and industry professionals with a relevant background. ***Application Deadline: February 1, 2025*** Format: A combination of tutorials and project-based work. Participants are encouraged to bring their own ideas for projects, which may focus on testing hypotheses, modelling neural or cognitive data, implementing specific behavioural functions with neurons, expanding past models, or providing a proof-of-concept of various neural mechanisms. Hands-on tutorials, work on individual or group projects, and talks from invited faculty members will make up the bulk of day-to-day activities. A project demonstration event will be held on the last day of the school, with prizes for strong projects! Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to: * interface Nengo with various kinds of neuromorphic hardware (e.g. BrainDrop, SpiNNaker) * build perceptual, motor, and sophisticated cognitive models using spiking neurons * model anatomical, electrophysiological, cognitive, and behavioural data * use a variety of single cell models within a large-scale model  * integrate machine learning methods into biologically oriented models * interface Nengo with cameras and robotic systems * implement modern nonlinear control methods in neural models * and much more… Date and Location: June 1st to June 13th, 2025 at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Applications: Please visit http://www.nengo.ai/summer-school, where you can find more information regarding costs, travel, lodging, along with an application form listing required materials. If you have any questions about the school or the application process, please contact Michael Furlong (michael.furlong(a)uwaterloo.ca) The school is partly supported by ABR, Inc. We look forward to hearing from you!

Jan. 15, 2025

Registration Open: Advanced Course on “Computational Approaches to Neuronal and Behavioral Data Analysis

by Leandro Aguiar

Dear colleagues, Please share and disseminate through your network. On behalf of all the organizers, I am pleased to announce that registration is open for the Advanced Course on “Computational Approaches to Neuronal and Behavioral Data Analysis,” which will be held in a hybrid format: in-person at Braga, Portugal, and online via Zoom, from *April 22 to May 9, 2025*. Please refer to the course website for more information: https://meetings.embo.org/event/25-data-analysis The course will provide in-depth training across five specialized modules: 1. *Fundamentals of Programming and Python* – Covering Python basics, packages like NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib, and advanced exercises such as raster plot mapping. 2. *Behavioral Data Analysis* – Using tools like DeepLabCut for pose estimation and structuring datasets for behavioral insights. 3. *Calcium and Neurotransmitter Signal Analysis* – Focusing on fiber photometry, calcium imaging, and integrating behavioral data. 4. *Electrophysiological Data Analysis* – Exploring spike sorting, neuron clustering, and synchronizing electrophysiological data with behavioral events. 5. *fMRI Data Analysis* – Examining dynamic functional connectivity and group-level comparisons. This hybrid format allows participants worldwide to join either in person or online, making it accessible and flexible. We encourage researchers from Academia and Industry, at all career stages, to register and participate. Early registration is highly recommended due to limited in-person capacity and the hybrid nature of the event. For program details and registration, please visit: https://meetings.embo.org/event/25-data-analysis Thank you for sharing this exciting opportunity with your network. Best regards, Leandro Aguiar Postdoctoral Researcher Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) School of Medicine, University of Minho

Jan. 15, 2025