- Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

Final schedule released; fewer than 20 tickets left---Convention on Mathematics of Neuroscience and AI (Rome, May 28-31st 2024)

by Battleday, Ruairidh

Dear All, We have just released the *final schedule* for our *Annual Convention on the Mathematics of Neuroscience and AI*: www.neuromonster.org We are very nearly out of tickets, so if you do want to come and join us, please go ahead and book now! We have a *fantastic line-up of speaker*s, and a *fantastic venue* near the Colosseum. A once-in-a-decade event? *Keynotes* Professor Peter Dayan (Max Planck Institute, Tübingen) Professor Sophie Deneve (ENS, Paris) Professor Wolfgang Maass (TUG) Professor Mackenzie Mathis (EPFL) Professor Anne Collins (UC Berkeley) Professor Kevin Ellis (Cornell) Dr Feryal Behbahani (Google DeepMind) Dr Giovanni Pezzulo (NRC of Italy, Rome) *Speakers* Professor Andrew Adamatzky (UWE) Professor Christine Grienberger (Brandeis) Professor Rafal Bogacz (Oxford) Professor Athena Akrami (UCL) Professor Nicolas Brunel (Duke) Dr Lea Duncker (Stanford) Dr Kris Jensen (UCL) Professor Dagmar Sternad (Northeastern) Professor Bill Thompson (UC Berkeley) Professor Samuel McDougle (Yale) Dr Maria Eckstein (DeepMind) Dr Fred Callaway (NYU / Harvard) Professor Najoung Kim (BU, Google) Dr André Barreto (DeepMind) Dr Sophia Sanborn (USB / UBC) Dr Wilka Carvalho (Harvard) ... and many more spotlight talks! All the best, The Organizing Committee -- Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday BMBCh (Oxon) PhD President Thinking About Thinking <http://www.thinkingaboutthinking.org> Postdoctoral Research Fellow Center for Brain Science, Harvard University Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines, MIT

May 1, 2024

Postdoctoral position in computational neuroscience of reward learning at NIMH

by Langdon, Angela (NIH/NIMH) [E]

The Unit on the Neural Computations in Learning at the National Institute of Mental Health/NIH, led by Dr Angela Langdon, is looking for a creative and enthusiastic postdoctoral fellow to join the lab! Research in the lab is focused on the computational neuroscience of reward prediction and learning. Broadly, we study how timing, inference processes and goal selection modulate learning in reward-guided tasks in animals and humans, and how these processes are instantiated in neural activity across the reward learning circuits of the brain. We have a particular interest in how reward learning is altered in compulsive behaviors and in addiction. We are looking for a postdoc who is interested in developing approaches from reinforcement learning, dynamical systems theory and Bayesian inference to understand the online regulation of reward prediction and learning in neural activity and behavior. We have a broad network of collaborating labs that span rodent, NHP and human studies, and the ideal candidate will be comfortable working in a highly interdisciplinary environment to pursue novel and translational insights into the neural basis of reward learning. This opening is an excellent opportunity for a computational neuroscientist who wishes to apply theoretical ideas to understand empirical data, with the opportunity to collaborate on novel paradigms to test computational models of reward learning in the brain. Interested candidates should have strong quantitative and programming skills, a background in neuroscience, psychology or cognitive science and a record of scientific contributions in an area relevant to research in the lab. Applicants should send a brief research statement, cv and the names of two academic references to Dr Angela Langdon (angela dot langdon at nih dot gov). Informal enquiries are welcome!

April 30, 2024

GRE requirements and grad school applicant numbers

by Brascamp, Jan

Dear collegues at United States graduate programs, To inform our graduate program’s application policy in future years, we are trying to understand the relation between whether a graduate program requires applicants to submit GRE results, and the number of applications received. We put together a short Qualtrics survey to learn what our colleagues’ experience at other graduate programs has been in this context. If you are at a US graduate program and could save a few minutes, we would be grateful if you could fill out the survey. https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7P3H69NQgtoMCXA <https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7P3H69NQgtoMCXA> Thank you, Jan Brascamp

April 29, 2024

World wide VVTNS series: Wednesday, May 1st 2024 at 11am (EDT), Lorenzo Fontolan, Université Aix-Marseille| "Neural mechanisms of memory-guided behaviour"

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the lecture given by Lorenzo Fontolan Université Aix-Marseille on the topic of "Neural mechanisms of memory-guided behaviour*"* The lecture will be held on zoom on *May 1st, 2024*, at *11:00 am EDT * To receive the zoom link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: *Persistent, stimulus-dependent neuronal activity has been observed in numerous brain areas during tasks that require the temporary maintenance of information. Several competing hypotheses for the neuronal mechanisms underlying persistent activity have been proposed. We have employed data-driven models in conjunction with optogenetic disruptions of neural circuits within memory-guided motor tasks. Our findings revealed a mechanism governed by dynamic attractors, pivotal in sustaining neuronal activity. This mechanism, shaped by time-varying inputs reflecting temporal predictions, is instrumental in regulating the impact of sensory information on the premotor cortex, thereby preserving memory traces from distracting stimuli. We then asked how persistent activity driven by attractor dynamics emerges during motor learning. It has been proposed that activity-dependent synaptic plasticity underpins motor learning, as it can reconfigure network architectures to produce the appropriate neural dynamics for specific behaviors. To verify this hypothesis, we investigated how the mouse premotor cortex acquires specific neural dynamics that govern the planning of movement at different stages of motor learning. We developed network models that replicated the effects of acute manipulations of synaptic plasticity. The models, which display attractor dynamics, also explain flexible behavior after learning has ended. By leveraging the model's predictions, we can formulate testable hypotheses regarding the distinct mechanisms governing movement planning at various stages of the learning process. *About VVTNS : Created as the World Wide Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), its aim is to be a platform to exchange ideas among theoreticians. 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 ᐧ ᐧ ᐧ -- "В каждой шутке есть доля шутки" 'Life is good ..' (Carl van Vreeswijk, 1962-2022) --------------------------------------- David Hansel Directeur de Recherche au CNRS Co-Group leader Cerebral Dynamics Plasticity and Learning lab., CNRS 45 rue des Saints Peres 75270 Paris Cedex 06 Tel (Cell): +33 607508403 - Fax (33).1.49.27.90.62 ᐧ

April 28, 2024

[Meetings] [CFP] (3nd Call) Call for Submission: NeuroDesign EXPO in HRI Student Showcase Competition at ICRA 2024 (USD $1800 in cash)

by NeuroDesign in HRI

[Meetings] [CFP] (3nd Call) Call for Submission: NeuroDesign EXPO in HRI Student Showcase Competition at ICRA 2024 (USD $1800 in cash) —------------------------------------------------------------ =============================== Call for Submission =============================== NeuroDesign EXPO in HRI Student Showcase Competition ($1800 USD for your participation) 2nd Workshop on NeuroDesign in Human-Robot Interaction: The making of engaging HRI technology your brain can’t resist IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA 2024) Yokohama, Japan May 17, 2024 https://neurodesign-in-hri.webflow.io/ Dear Colleagues, Are you working on a human-interactive robot project that already has prototypes or some initial research findings? Perhaps you're pondering how to evolve these into more human-centric, real-world applications with a seamless, intuitive "brain"-centered experience, aiming to connect robots more deeply with our bodies, minds, and souls. Worry not! We're excited to announce the NeuroDesign EXPO in HRI Showcase Competition at ICRA 2024, in conjunction with the NeuroDesign in HRI workshop (https://neurodesign-in-hri.webflow.io/) This event will feature a panel of world-renowned experts from diverse fields such as Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cognitive Neuroscience, Social and Behavioral Psychology, Art & Design, RoboEthics, and the Startup community. These professionals will offer live, integrated-perspective feedback and recommendations to help refine your projects into more impactful research and commercial products. We invite students at the BSc, MSc, and PhD levels to submit your projects. Submissions can fall into, but are not limited to, the following categories: - Affective Computing - Social and Service Robot - Industrial Collaborative Robot - Wearable Robot/ Device - Brain-Machine/Computer Interface - Haptics and Tele-operation - Soft Robotics - VR/AR & Metaverse - Cyborg and Bionic System - Healthcare Robotics - Exoskeleton and Rehabilitation Robot - LLM and Foundation Model for Human Robot Interaction - Brain Dynamics and Psychology for Cognitive and Physical HRI (cHRI/pHRI) - Human-Drone/AutoVehicle Interaction - Assistive Technology - Intelligence Augmentation and Human 2.0 Technologies - Supernumerary Limbs - Biometric Information Processing - Pervasive-Ubiquitous/Spatial Computing - Smart Home/Internet of Things (IoTs) - Edge-Fog-Cloud Computing - Speech/Gesture Recognition or Image/Audio Processing - Big Data, AI & Machine Learning for Multimodal Interaction - Smart Tutoring/Chatbot System - RoboEthics - RoboFashion, Clothing and Robot Skin - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) for HRI Technologies Participation Procedure: Our selection process is on a rolling basis, and we aim to choose 10 projects for the final on-stage pitch presentation. We especially encourage those who have already submitted their work as posters or papers to ICRA 2024 or have publications elsewhere to participate in our event. This competition offers a fantastic opportunity to increase the visibility of your research globally. Submission Options: Submissions can be made in one of three formats: 1. A concise 100-word abstract and a 1-2 minute video, offering a brief yet engaging overview. 2. A 100-word abstract accompanied by 5 detailed slides for a short but thorough presentation. 3. A 2-page extended abstract (Please follow IEEE ICRA format: https://ras.papercept.net/conferences/support/word.php) for a more in-depth submission. *4. Participants are also welcome to submit using any combination of the above formats. Final Round and Presentation: The selected 10 projects will each have a 5-minute pitch presentation on stage during the final round. If the final project team is unable to attend in person in Japan, we will provide a Zoom link for virtual presentation. Alternatively, you may submit a polished, pre-recorded 5-minute video presentation, which we will play on stage. Exhibition and Virtual Participation: All submitted projects will receive a dedicated booth for poster and prototype demonstrations. For participants unable to travel to Japan, we will print your posters and display them on the bulletin boards at our venue. The event is designed to be "Hybrid" to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate, regardless of their ability to travel to Japan. A Zoom link will be provided for your virtual participation. Awards: We are thrilled to present two distinguished award categories at the competition. The "Best Innovation in HRI NeuroDesign Award" will be awarded to 3 outstanding projects, as recognized by our panel of speakers and committee members. The *First Prize* will be awarded for USD 1000 USD and the* 2nd Prize* will be awarded 800 hundred for the prototyping. These projects will exemplify groundbreaking innovation within Human-Robot Interaction NeuroDesign. Additionally, the "Most Popular Project in HRI NeuroDesign Award" will be given to 2 projects, for which the First Prize will be awarded for “Full Waiver” for the submission to Journal of Frontiers in Robotics and AI in that capture the hearts of our workshop attendees and audience, determined through a popular vote. Winners in both categories will receive certificates acknowledging their achievements. Timeline: - Submission Deadline: Your entries must be submitted by *May 1, 2024*. Please note that our selection process is rolling, so early submissions are encouraged. - Announcement of Final Project Teams: The teams selected for the final round will be announced on May 3, 2024. - Competition Date: The competition will take place on May 17, 2024, where finalists will present their projects to the panel and attendees. Submission Website: https://forms.gle/fQMxJtkXb8JEU2WR6 If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're looking forward to seeing you at ICRA 2024! Best regards, Organizing Committee 2nd Workshop on NeuroDesign in Human-Robot Interaction: The making of engaging HRI technology your brain can’t resist https://neurodesign-in-hri.webflow.io/

April 28, 2024

Videos posted for AE Spring Summit on Fundamental Challenges for AI (Algorithm Developement)

by Battleday, Ruairidh

------------------------------ Last week we held a Summit on the Fundamental Technical Challenges <http://www.algopreneurship.org/program> for ML/AI Development at the Computer History Museum in Palo Alto (April 15th). The videos are now available free-of-charge at the below link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA59nMLAkDyjuCkh7_6E5QSYv8ZNzXipf&si=mZo… *Keynotes* Professor Jay McClelland (Stanford / DeepMind) Professor Bin Yu (UC Berkeley) Professor Diyi Yang (Stanford) Professor Sergey Levine (UC Berkeley) *Panels* New Landscapes for AI Research New Professional Pathways Challenges for AI in Biomedicine Fundamental Challenges We hope you enjoy! The Thinking About Thinking Team <http://www.thinkingaboutthinking.org> -- Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday BMBCh (Oxon) PhD Postdoctoral Research Fellow Center for Brain Science, Harvard University Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines, MIT

April 28, 2024

Postdoc position available at UChicago

by Jorge Jaramillo

one week left to apply! Dear Comp-Neuro community, https://neuroscience.uchicago.edu/postdoctoral-fellow-computational-neurosc… We are looking for an outstanding applicant to develop large-scale circuit models for decision making within a collaborative consortium that includes the Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics, New York University, and the University of Chicago. This ambitious NIH-funded project requires the creativity and expertise to integrate multimodal data sets (e.g., connectivity, large-scale neural recordings, behavior) into a comprehensive modeling framework. The successful applicant will join Jorge Jaramillo’s Distributed Neural Dynamics and Control Lab at the Grossman Center at the University of Chicago. The Grossman Center Core Faculty | Neuroscience Institute<https://neuroscience.uchicago.edu/grossman-center-core-faculty> Throughout the course of the postdoctoral training, there will be opportunities to visit the other sites in Seattle (Karel Svoboda) and New York (Adam Carter, Xiao-Jing Wang) for additional training and collaboration opportunities. Appointees will join as Grossman Center Postdoctoral Fellows at the University of Chicago and will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and additional opportunities for collaboration with exceptional experimental labs within the Department of Neurobiology, as well as other labs from the departments of Physics, Computer Sciences, and Statistics. The Grossman Center offers competitive postdoctoral salaries in the vibrant and international city of Chicago, and a rich intellectual environment that includes the Argonne National Laboratory and the Data Science Institute. Postdoctoral fellows will also have the possibility to work in additional projects with other Grossman Center faculty members. Application: Please send your application before May 1st 2024 as a single PDF file including: i) a CV with publications highlighted; ii) a motivation letter specifying how you can contribute to large-scale circuit modeling and data analysis based on current and previous work; iii) the contact details of two academic references to jorgejaramillo(a)uchicago.edu<mailto:jorgejaramillo@uchicago.edu>. A doctoral degree and sufficient computational background is required; informal enquiries are welcome. Starting date: The position is available immediately, starting date can be defined via mutual agreement. The University of Chicago is committed to sustaining a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status. Underrepresented minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.

April 26, 2024

Abstracts submission by 17th May for the UK Neural Computation meeting July 8-10th, Sheffield

by Mark Humphries

Abstract submission is open for the UK Neural Computation meeting 2024 (Sheffield 8-10th July) https://neuralcomputation.uk/ A national meeting for everyone interested in the computations of the brain, both experimentally and theoretically Abstracts: https://neuralcomputation.uk/submission.html Deadline of 17th May 2024 4 submitted abstracts will be selected for main meeting talks Registration: https://neuralcomputation.uk/registration.html Deadline of 21st June 2024 Discounted accommodation options also available. 8 July: ECR day. ~40 places are available 9-10 July: main meeting Please spread the word! Enquiries: uknc24(a)sheffield.ac.uk<mailto:uknc24@sheffield.ac.uk> Organisers Hannes Saal (Sheffield) Stuart Wilson (Sheffield) 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.

April 26, 2024

SAB 2024 Paper Submission Deadline Extended to May 15th

by Jeffrey L Krichmar

Dear Colleagues, Due to many requests, the submission deadline for SAB 2024 has been extended to May 15th! Because of the tight schedule, THERE WILL BE NO MORE EXTENSIONS. From Animals to Animats: 17th International Conference on the Simulation of Adaptive Behavior (SAB 2024) More information can be found at: https://sites.uci.edu/sab2024/ CALL FOR PAPERS - SAB 2024 ------------------------------------------- The Simulation of Adaptive Behavior (SAB) interdisciplinary conference brings together researchers in artificial intelligence, artificial life, computer science, cybernetics, ethology, evolutionary biology, neuroscience, robotics, and many other fields, to further our understanding of the behaviors and underlying mechanisms that allow natural animals and artificial agents to adapt and survive in complex, dynamic and uncertain environments. Animats denote the connection between animals and synthetic agents. The conference focuses on models and experiments designed to help characterize and compare various organizational principles and architectures underlying adaptive behavior in real animals and in animats. SAB 2024 solicits contributions dealing with any aspect of adaptive behavior. We especially invite submissions from researchers who connect biology and natural behavior to synthetic agents. Conference papers are peer-reviewed and accepted papers will be published in “From Animals to Animats 17. SAB 2024.” Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence, Springer Nature. Venue -------- CalIT2 Auditorium University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA 92697 USA Important Dates ——————————— May 15, 2024: Deadline for paper submission May 15, 2024: Deadline for Workshop and tutorial proposals June30, 2024: Notice of acceptance July 15, 2024: Camera-ready papers September 9-12: Conference dates Jeff Krichmar Department of Cognitive Sciences 2328 Social & Behavioral Sciences Gateway University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA 92697-5100 jkrichma(a)uci.edu http://www.socsci.uci.edu/~jkrichma https://sites.uci.edu/sab2024/

April 26, 2024

[Jobs] Available Ph.D. Position at the intersection of AI / Psychology / Human-Robot Interaction

by Amir Aly

Dear All *Apologies for cross-posting* We are pleased to announce an opportunity for a funded PhD studentship (*Delivering Functional Imagery Training via Generative AI To Improve Access to Effective Psychological Interventions for Health*) at Plymouth University, UK. The closing date for applications is *29**th May 2024 (**midnight, UK time) **(**The difference in tuition fees between national and international students will be waived for excellent international candidates**)*. Join our interdisciplinary team to shape the future of mental health care. *AI models like ChatGPT* fundamentally change the landscape for the automated delivery of psychological interventions. These models will likely make it possible to deliver *psychologically-informed treatment* at scale, meeting a substantial unmet need for these services. This project will develop datasets and software to deliver *Functional Imagery Training (FIT)* via mobile devices and, ultimately, via *embodied agents (robots)*. As a person-centred intervention, FIT presents an interesting challenge: the practitioner or AI must tailor responses to the content of what the 'client' says, and guide mental imagery exercises based on that personal content. By building an interdisciplinary team of psychologists and machine learning experts this project will deliver real-world impact with broad implications for mental healthcare. More details *about the topic *and *how to apply* are available at: https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DHA540/phd-studentship-fit-for-all-delivering-fu… <https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DHA540/phd-studentship-fit-for-all-delivering-fu…> PhD Studentship: FIT for All: Delivering Functional Imagery Training via Generative AI To Improve Access to Effective Psychological Interventions for Health at University of Plymouth <https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DHA540/phd-studentship-fit-for-all-delivering-fu…> jobs.ac.uk are now advertising a PhD Studentship: FIT for All: Delivering Functional Imagery Training via Generative AI To Improve Access to Effective Psychological Interventions for Health. Discover exciting PhD opportunities on jobs.ac.uk. www.jobs.ac.uk If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me, Regards ---------------- *Dr. Amir Aly* Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Programme Manager of Artificial Intelligence Center for Robotics and Neural Systems (CRNS) School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics Room A307 Portland Square, Drake Circus, PL4 8AA University of Plymouth, UK ------------------------------ <http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/worldclass>

April 25, 2024

Postdoc in signal processing and cognitive neuroscience with ECOFEC project

by Elif Köksal

*Context.* Epilepsy is a multi-causal neurological disorder affecting more than 50 million of the population worldwide. Epilepsy is known for its clinical manifestations (seizures) and subclinical manifestations (interictal epileptic discharges - IEDs -). Although subclinical*, **IEDs perturb neuroplasticity processes* by altering the physiological activity of cortical networks. *IEDs have long-term adverse effects on developing brain circuits and can cause long-term cognitive deficits in children* that negatively impact their lives as much as seizures do. Yet, one of the most recurrent questions in epilepsy neuro-pediatric clinics is whether IEDs should be treated or not. While research studies have advanced our understanding of the relation between some cognitive impairments and IEDs, their translation to clinical practice is limited due to a lack of *quantification* of the long-term relationship between interictal EEG abnormalities and cognitive functions and the *accessibility* of this information with available techniques. *Objective*. The ECOFEC (Evolution of COgnitive Functions in Epileptic Children) aims to (i) understand how the relation between the electrophysiology and neuropsychological tests evolved over the years in children with epilepsy and (ii) unveil the electrophysiological biomarkers that may lead to a IEDs and cognitive deficits treatment if there are any. *Mission*. Neuropsychological test scores and EEG recordings collected during four years of the patient’s follow up and MRI will be considered as clinical data. Low-resolution EEG analysis enhanced by machine-learning techniques will be considered to detect the biomarkers that can be related to the cognitive dysfunctions. In the first stage of the project, the post-doctoral researcher will focus on resting-state scalp EEG signals to define the intrinsic networks, detect the IEDs and define their spatiotemporal and connectivity features (e.g. IED morphology, frequency, functional connectivity etc.). All the analyses will be done in the source-space after solving the inverse problem on patient-specific anatomical models. In the second stage of the project, the interactions between the intrinsic connectivity networks and IED networks will be studied to capture network-level variations and to define whether there is a relationship between these variations and neuropsychological assessments. *Profile*. The ECOFEC project is at the interface between signal processing (EEG, independent component analysis, and inverse problem), cognitive neuroscience (neuropsychological) and clinics (epilepsy, neuropediatry). The post-doctoral fellow should have a strong background in electrophysiology, EEG analysis and processing, functional connectivity and statistical analysis. Knowledge on machine learning, cognitive neuroscience, and neuroanatomy would be an asset. The post-doc fellow will join a multidisciplinary team including research scientists in biomedical engineering, neurophysiological modeling, bio-physics, signal processing, electrophysiology, neurology, and interact with clinicians. *Contract*. The 1-year contract is supported by the Institute of Clinical Neuroscience of Rennes (INCR, https://www.incr.fr/) starting as soon as suitable candidates are identified. *Location*. The position is located in Signal and Image Processing Labrotory (LTSI, https://ltsi.univ-rennes.fr/) Rennes, France. LTSI is affiliated to INSERM and University of Rennes. *Contact*. Applicants should send a CV and a list of two reference via e-mail to Elif Köksal-Ersöz (elif.koksal-ersoz(a)inserm.fr) and Isabelle Merlet (isabelle.merlet(a)inserm.fr) Please put [ECOFEC post-doc application] in the subject of the mail.

April 25, 2024

FENS satellite symposium "Convergence, Divergence, and Computational Optimization in Neural Circuit Evolution", 23-24 June 2024, Vienna and online

by von Behren, Christina

Dear all, We would like to draw your attention to the upcoming FENS satellite symposium "Convergence, Divergence, and Computational Optimization in Neural Circuit Evolution<https://www.uni-goettingen.de/de/682787.html>" taking place in Vienna and online on June 23-24, 2024. The event is organized by SPP 2205 "Evolutionary Optimization of Neuronal Processing". You are welcome to submit a poster abstract. If you plan to attend the FENS meeting anyway, you can easily go to Vienna a few days earlier... Please register by May 20, 2024. Feel free to spread the news. Best regards, on behalf of the organizers **************** Dr. Britta Korkowsky Coordinator Goettingen Campus Institute for Dynamics of Biological Networks (CIDBN) Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Graduate Program in Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience SPP 2205 Evolutionary Optimization of Neuronal Processing University of Goettingen Heinrich-Düker-Weg 12 37073 Göttingen Tel.: +49-551-39-26675

April 24, 2024

JOB ALERT - Postdoc and research assistant positions in Cambridge

by Flavia Mancini

Dear all, There are two positions available in my group at the University of Cambridge, in the Computational and Biological Learning research unit. 1 Postdoc • 2 years • Modelling neural dynamics involved in statistical/aversive learning and homeostatic/pain regulation • Scope to develop new projects https://www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/46142/ 1 Research Assistant • 1 year, extendible • Behavioral and neuroimaging experiments • To be advertised end April, start date asap More info: fm456(a)cam.ac.uk Many thanks! Best wishes, Flavia Mancini Assistant Professor & MRC Career Development Fellow Nox Lab / Computational Biological Learning Research Group Department of Engineering / University of Cambridge Fellow, Pembroke College

April 24, 2024

[Meetings] [CFP] Call for Submission: NeuroDesign in HRI Student Showcase Competition at ICRA 2024 (USD $1000 in cash)

by NeuroDesign in HRI

[Meetings] [CFP] (2nd Call) Call for Submission: NeuroDesign EXPO in HRI Student Showcase Competition at ICRA 2024 (USD $1000 in cash) —------------------------------------------------------------ =============================== Call for Submission =============================== NeuroDesign EXPO in HRI Student Showcase Competition ($1000 USD for participation) 2nd Workshop on NeuroDesign in Human-Robot Interaction: The making of engaging HRI technology your brain can’t resist IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA 2024) Yokohama, Japan May 17, 2024 https://neurodesign-in-hri.webflow.io/ Dear Colleagues, Are you working on a human-interactive robot project that already has prototypes or some initial research findings? Perhaps you're pondering how to evolve these into more human-centric, real-world applications with a seamless, intuitive "brain"-centered experience, aiming to connect robots more deeply with our bodies, minds, and souls. Worry not! We're excited to announce the NeuroDesign EXPO in HRI Showcase Competition at ICRA 2024, in conjunction with the NeuroDesign in HRI workshop (https://neurodesign-in-hri.webflow.io/) This event will feature a panel of world-renowned experts from diverse fields such as Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cognitive Neuroscience, Social and Behavioral Psychology, Art & Design, RoboEthics, and the Startup community. These professionals will offer live, integrated-perspective feedback and recommendations to help refine your projects into more impactful research and commercial products. We invite students at the BSc, MSc, and PhD levels to submit your projects. Submissions can fall into, but are not limited to, the following categories: - Affective Computing - Social and Service Robot - Industrial Collaborative Robot - Wearable Robot/ Device - Brain-Machine/Computer Interface - Haptics and Tele-operation - Soft Robotics - VR/AR & Metaverse - Cyborg and Bionic System - Healthcare Robotics - Exoskeleton and Rehabilitation Robot - LLM and Foundation Model for Human Robot Interaction - Brain Dynamics and Psychology for Cognitive and Physical HRI (cHRI/pHRI) - Human-Drone/AutoVehicle Interaction - Assistive Technology - Intelligence Augmentation and Human 2.0 Technologies - Supernumerary Limbs - Biometric Information Processing - Pervasive-Ubiquitous/Spatial Computing - Smart Home/Internet of Things (IoTs) - Edge-Fog-Cloud Computing - Speech/Gesture Recognition or Image/Audio Processing - Big Data, AI & Machine Learning for Multimodal Interaction - Smart Tutoring/Chatbot System - RoboEthics - RoboFashion, Clothing and Robot Skin - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) for HRI Technologies Participation Procedure: Our selection process is on a rolling basis, and we aim to choose 10 projects for the final on-stage pitch presentation. We especially encourage those who have already submitted their work as posters or papers to ICRA 2024 or have publications elsewhere to participate in our event. This competition offers a fantastic opportunity to increase the visibility of your research globally. Submission Options: Submissions can be made in one of three formats: 1. A concise 100-word abstract and a 1-2 minute video, offering a brief yet engaging overview. 2. A 100-word abstract accompanied by 5 detailed slides for a short but thorough presentation. 3. A 2-page extended abstract (Please follow IEEE ICRA format: https://ras.papercept.net/conferences/support/word.php) for a more in-depth submission. *4. Participants are also welcome to submit using any combination of the above formats. Final Round and Presentation: The selected 10 projects will each have a 5-minute pitch presentation on stage during the final round. If the final project team is unable to attend in person in Japan, we will provide a Zoom link for virtual presentation. Alternatively, you may submit a polished, pre-recorded 5-minute video presentation, which we will play on stage. Exhibition and Virtual Participation: All submitted projects will receive a dedicated booth for poster and prototype demonstrations. For participants unable to travel to Japan, we will print your posters and display them on the bulletin boards at our venue. The event is designed to be "Hybrid" to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate, regardless of their ability to travel to Japan. A Zoom link will be provided for your virtual participation. Awards: We are thrilled to present two distinguished award categories at the competition. The "Best Innovation in HRI NeuroDesign Award" will be awarded to 3 outstanding projects, as recognized by our panel of speakers and committee members. The *First Prize* will be awarded for USD 1000 USD and the* 2nd Prize* will be awarded 800 hundred for the prototyping. These projects will exemplify groundbreaking innovation within Human-Robot Interaction NeuroDesign. Additionally, the "Most Popular Project in HRI NeuroDesign Award" will be given to 2 projects, for which the First Prize will be awarded for “Full Waiver” for the submission to Journal of Frontiers in Robotics and AI in that capture the hearts of our workshop attendees and audience, determined through a popular vote. Winners in both categories will receive certificates acknowledging their achievements. Timeline: - Submission Deadline: Your entries must be submitted by April 27, 2024. Please note that our selection process is rolling, so early submissions are encouraged. - Announcement of Final Project Teams: The teams selected for the final round will be announced on May 1, 2024. - Competition Date: The competition will take place on May 17, 2024, where finalists will present their projects to the panel and attendees. Submission Website: https://forms.gle/fQMxJtkXb8JEU2WR6 If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're looking forward to seeing you at ICRA 2024! Best regards, Organizing Committee 2nd Workshop on NeuroDesign in Human-Robot Interaction: The making of engaging HRI technology your brain can’t resist https://neurodesign-in-hri.webflow.io/

April 23, 2024

NEXTEN Conference deadline May 1st

by Goodhill, Geoffrey

NEXTEN: Envisaging Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience for the next 10 years May 16-17, 2024, Washington University in St Louis Full program now available: https://nexten.wustl.edu/program Final registration deadline is May 1st (or earlier if capacity is reached). Theoretical/Computational Neuroscience is currently undergoing a phase of unprecedented growth. Dramatic advances in the ease with which large-scale datasets of behavior, neural activity, connectomic and gene expression information can be collected have coincided with a revolution in the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence-based algorithms to interrogate such datasets. Concurrently, these new datasets are inspiring exciting new developments in mathematical tools for extracting their underlying structure and relationships. What is the current state of the art in our theoretical/computational understanding of the brain, and what does the future hold? You are invited to join an exciting line-up of leaders in the field to address these questions. Confirmed speakers include Mackenzie Mathis (EPFL) Terry Sejnowski (Salk Institute) Andreas Tolias (Baylor College of Medicine) Richard Zemel (Columbia University) ShiNung Ching (WashU) Naoki Hiratani (WashU) Adam Kepecs (WashU) Barani Raman (WashU) Gaia Tavoni (WashU) Please direct any questions to ctcn(a)wustl.edu Professor Geoffrey J Goodhill Departments of Developmental Biology and Neuroscience Director, Center for Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience (ctcn.wustl.edu) Washington University School of Medicine 4370 Duncan Ave. St Louis, MO 63110 g.goodhill(a)wustl.edu https://neuroscience.wustl.edu/people/geoffrey-goodhill-phd

April 22, 2024

Fully-funded PhD in machine-learning for analysing subject's decisions - July start (Nottingham, UK)

by Mark Humphries

A fully-funded PhD is immediately available with Dr Silvia Maggi and Professor Mark Humphries (University of Nottingham) and Dr Hazem Toutonji (University of Sheffield). Decision-making happens in dynamic environments. Understanding how subjects respond to such a fast-changing world requires approaches that can track subject's choice strategies at the resolution of single trials. We recently published a Bayesian inference algorithm (Maggi et al., 2024, eLife<https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.86491>) that enables trial-resolution tracking of learning and exploration during decision-making. This project will build on this work to solve crucial problems of determining which of a set of behavioural strategies a subject is using and how to incorporate evidence uncertainty into its detection of the learning of strategies and transitions between them. Using the extended algorithm on datasets of rodents and humans performing decision tasks will let us test a range of hypotheses for how correct decisions are learnt and what innate strategies are used. Studentship is for "Home" students<https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/eligibility-for-home-fee-status-and-st…> only Application deadline: May 30th 2024 PhD start date: July 1st 2024 Please send all queries to Silvia (silvia.maggi(a)nottingham.ac.uk) or Mark (mark.humphries(a)nottingham.ac.uk) Full details and how to apply here: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/psychology/study-with-us/phd-by-research/schoo… Professor Mark Humphries | Professor of Computational Neuroscience Lab: humphries-lab.org<https://www.humphries-lab.org/> Twitter: @markdhumphries Public blog: https://medium.com/the-spike Book: "The Spike: An Epic Journey Through the Brain in 2.1 Seconds" (Princeton UP) out now in paperback: https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691241487/the-spike 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.

April 22, 2024

HNN Virtual Workshop, May 8th – Limited Places Available

by Paolo Lenotti

Hi all, We would like to invite you to a virtual workshop on the Human Neocortical Neurosolver (HNN) <https://cgR8v04.na1.hs-sales-engage.com/Ctc/OM+23284/cgR8v04/JkM4YGXpW6N1X8…>, jointly organized by the Stephanie Jones Lab and MetaCell, scheduled for May 8th. The workshop is aimed at researchers and clinicians with an interest in neuroscience but without formal computational modeling or coding experience. It will offer a detailed exploration of HNN, a tool designed to interpret the neural origins of human MEG/EEG data. *Workshop Highlights:* - Comprehensive Overview: The workshop will begin with a didactic presentation on the background and development of HNN, providing a foundation for its application in neuroscience research. - Practical Application: Participants will learn how to utilize the HNN graphical user interface (GUI) to investigate the circuit origins of commonly measured signals, including event-related potentials (ERPs) and low-frequency brain rhythms. - Advanced Interface Training: Discover how to use the HNN-core Python interface. *Registration Information:* The workshop will take place online on Wednesday, May 8th from 9am to noon ET. The number of participants will be limited to ensure a productive learning environment. Given the specialized nature of this workshop, we anticipate high interest. To secure your participation, we recommend signing up as soon as possible. A registration fee of $25.00 is required to help us cover the costs of organizing the event. Register here >> <https://cgR8v04.na1.hs-sales-engage.com/Ctc/OM+23284/cgR8v04/JkM4YGXpW6N1X8…> *About the Workshop Content:* MEG/EEG signals are critical to our understanding of both healthy and pathological brain functions, but interpreting these signals at the cellular and circuit levels remains challenging. The HNN software was developed to address this challenge, providing both a graphical and a programmable Python interface to an anatomically detailed model of neocortical circuits. The workshop will offer practical tutorials to guide participants through the process of using HNN to explore the origins of sensory ERPs and low-frequency brain rhythms. We look forward to your participation in this workshop, which promises to be an enriching experience for those looking to enhance their skills in computational neuroscience and the interpretation of MEG/EEG data. Click here to find out more and save your place >> <https://cgR8v04.na1.hs-sales-engage.com/Ctc/OM+23284/cgR8v04/JkM4YGXpW6N1X8…> Best regards, Paolo Lenotti on behalf of MetaCell & the Stephanie Jones Lab -- *Paolo Lenotti* www.MetaCell.us <http://www.metacell.us/> +44 (0)7450 948685 Boston, MA | Oxford, UK | Cagliari, ITA

April 19, 2024

[Arabs in Neuroscience] Introduction to Computational Neuroscience online summer school 2024

by Mohamed Abdelhack

Arabs in Neuroscience is pleased to announce the third iteration of the Introduction to computational neuroscience summer school in 2024. The school is dedicated to fill the interdisciplinary gap in many education systems by gathering students from biological and computational backgrounds and introducing topics essential for computational neuroscientists such as python programming, neurobiology, calculus, statistics and linear algebra. The school is also dedicated to cater to non-native English speakers in the Arabic-speaking countries which is why the language of instruction is in Arabic. The school is supported by the generous funding from Simons Foundation. Details: School dates: August 11-30 2024 Application deadline: May 7, 2024 We are currently opening the applications for students and teaching assistants. Please apply and also share it with your network. More information and application here: https://www.arabsinneuro.org/school/ Also, if you support our mission of democratizing science and education, please consider donating to Arabs in Neuroscience: https://www.arabsinneuro.org/donate/ Best regards,Mohamed Abdelhack

April 18, 2024

Call for Abstracts for the Bernstein Conference 2024

by Alexander Lammers

Call for Abstracts for the Bernstein Conference 2024 in Frankfurt am Main +++ The Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience invites proposals for contributed talks and poster presentations of the Bernstein Conference 2024 in Frankfurt am Main. +++ ____ Each year the Bernstein Network invites the international computational neuroscience community to the annual Bernstein Conference for intensive scientific exchange. It has established itself as one of the most renowned conferences worldwide in this field, attracting students, postdocs, and PIs from around the world to meet and discuss new scientific discoveries. www.bernstein-conference.de<http://www.bernstein-conference.de> ____ IMPORTANT DATES * Bernstein Conference: September 29 – October 2, 2024 * Deadline for contributed talk abstract submission: June 5, 2024, 15:00 CEST * Deadline for travel grant applications: June 12, 2024, 15:00 CEST * Deadline for poster abstract submission: July 10, 2024, 15:00 CEST ____ ABSTRACTS We invite the computational neuroscience community to submit their abstracts: Submitted abstracts can either be considered as contributed talks or posters. All accepted abstracts will be published online and will be citable via Digital Object Identifiers (DOI). Further information can be found here: https://bernstein-network.de/bernstein-conference/abstract-submission/ ____ TRAVEL GRANTS To support the participation of young researchers at the Bernstein Conference, the Bernstein Network offers up to 10 Travel Grants, each endowed with 500 €. Further information can be found here: https://bernstein-network.de/bernstein-conference/early-career-scientists/t… ____ INVITED SPEAKERS Dmitriy Aronov (Columbia University, USA) Alison Barker (Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Germany) Helen Barron (University of Oxford, UK) Elizabeth Buffalo (University of Washington, USA) Alex Cayco Gajic (Ecole Normale Supérieure, France) Jan Drugowitsch (Harvard University, USA) Jakob Macke (University of Tübingen, Germany) Tirin Moore (Stanford University, USA) Mala Murthy (Princeton University, USA) Memming Park (Champalimaud Foundation, Portugal) Xiao-Jing Wang (New York University, USA) ____ CONFERENCE COMMITTEE Matthias Kaschube (Conference Chair) Srdjan Ostojic (Program Chair) Tatiana Engel (Program Vice Chair) Maria Eckstein (Workshop Chair) Wiktor Młynarski (Workshop Vice Chair) & Athena Akrami, Mehrdad Jazayeri, Jennifer Li, Scott Linderman, Ashok Litwin-Kumar, Ida Momennejad, Christina Savin, Andrew Saxe, Daniela Vallentin, Friedemann Zenke. ____ For any further questions, please contact: bernstein.conference(a)fz-juelich.de<mailto:bernstein.conference@fz-juelich.de> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52425 Jülich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Jülich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Düren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Stefan Müller Geschäftsführung: Prof. Dr. Astrid Lambrecht (Vorsitzende), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Dr. Ir. Pieter Jansens ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 18, 2024

Postdoc with human EMG experience

by Harel, Noam

We are looking for a new postdoc with some experience with human surface EMG, neuromodulation, and motor function. Our lab in New York City focuses on improving lives for people with spinal cord injury and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Please check our website: https://labs.icahn.mssm.edu/harellab/ Expected starting salary $75-80k. Also, please be on the lookout for potentials when you attend upcoming meetings, and feel free to forward this email to other labs/people. Thanks, Noam Harel Noam Y. Harel, MD, PhD Staff Physician James J. Peters VA Medical Center Associate Professor Departments of Neurology and Rehabilitation & Human Performance Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai 718-584-9000 x1742 718-741-4675 (fax) Pronouns: he, him, his https://labs.icahn.mssm.edu/harellab/

April 17, 2024

FLUX workshop -- deadline extended

by Qiaoyu Chen

Toolkit in Using the FLUX Pipeline for MEG Research Join us for an immersive learning experience using the FLUX pipeline for MEG data analysis Toolkit at the Centre for Human Brain Health at the University of Birmingham from 11th -14th June 2024. The FLUX pipeline<https://www.neuosc.com/single-project>, is an approach for analysing Magnetoencephalography (MEG) data using state-of-of-the art approaches and standards. Whether you are a newcomer to research using MEG or a healthcare professional integrating MEG into clinical practice, this course is designed to elevate your skills and advance your research capabilities. · Gain practical skills: Learn to streamline data preprocessing, event-related field spectral analysis, source modelling, multi-variate pattern analysis and reporting using the FLUX pipeline. This pipeline is based on the widely used MNE-Python toolbox. · Enhance research practices: Learn the embraces practices for data curation (BIDS), reproducible research, open science, and standardized reporting empowering you to publish reliable and transparent findings. · Cognitive Neuroscience and Clinical research: Learn how the FLUX pipeline is used in our MEG research projects. · Engage in interactive learning: Connect with world-leading experts and fellow attendees in discussions, exercises, and networking opportunities, fostering valuable collaborations and knowledge exchange. Application (pre-registration) deadline: 20th April 2024, 11:59 pm (GMT) Join us at the Centre for Human Brain Health for the FLUX toolkit course<https://www.neuosc.com/flux-toolkit>! For pre-registration, please visit https://www.neuosc.com/pre-registration. Contact us at q.chen.5(a)bham.ac.uk<mailto:q.chen.5@bham.ac.uk> for further details. Best regards, the Organizing Committee

April 17, 2024

Postdoctoral and graduate student opportunities - Resilience and diversity of complex biological networks - Lefebvre lab at uOttawa

by J?r?mie Lefebvre

Postdoctoral and graduate student opportunities - Resilience and diversity of complex biological networks - University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada Application Deadline: May 1st 2024 The Lefebvre<https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-science/professors/jeremie-lefebvre> and Kharouba<https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-science/professors/heather-kharouba> labs are seeking candidates to fill ONE Postdoctoral and ONE PhD (Theoretical Biology, Physics) fully funded positions to explore how resilience and heterogeneity influences the dynamics of complex biological networks. These interdisciplinary projects will combine mathematical (e.g., dynamical systems, spectral theory), computational (e.g., data-informed simulations) approaches used in neuroscience and other complex systems fields to study how diversity contributes to the stability and resilience of brain function(s). The overall objective of the projects is to better understand the role played by heterogeneity in the genesis of critical events (e.g., seizures) and identify potential intervention strategies. The successful candidate will join the Lefebvre and Kharouba labs in the Departments of Biology and Physics at the University of Ottawa, as well as an extensive network of existing experimental and clinical collaborations with both internal and external groups. The research will be conducted in the uOttawa Bioscience Complex, a teaching and research hub hosting dozens of state-of-the-art experimental and computational interdisciplinary research facilities in downtown Ottawa, Canada. Successful candidates will be immersed in a highly interdisciplinary environment, with access to many additional training and networking activities, and be associated with Centre for Neural Dynamics, the Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology, the uOttawa Brain and Mind Institute as well as the Krembil Brain Institute. Details Postdoctoral position: as early as July 1st 2024 PhD position: September 1st 2024. Position Description: Trainees will be expected to work in-person for most of the position. Trainees will be expected to participate in the lab's scholarly activities (i.e., workshops, meetings), and to support other lab member's work whenever applicable. We expect from applicants to demonstrate the ability to work respectfully with others in teams to carry out project goals and contribute to an inclusive lab environment. Additional details of the projects will be provided during the interview process. Please don't hesitate to reach out at Jeremie.Lefebvre [at] uottawa.ca for any questions. Requirements The ideal candidates are expected to possess strong mathematical, computing, writing and presentation skills, and express a vivid interest in computational neuroscience, applied mathematics, computational biology and biophysics. Applicants must meet the required qualifications for admission to graduate/postgraduate studies at the University of Ottawa, and comply to international regulations regarding traveling, studying and working in Canada whenever applicable. Successful candidates must be eligible to work in Ontario as of July 1st 2024 (or at a mutually agreed date) Funding Postdoctoral position: This position is fully funded for 2 years (July. 2024 - June. 2026, or mutually agreed date) with a stipend of $48,000 CAD per year plus benefits. PhD position: This position is fully funded for 4 years (Sept. 2024 - Aug. 2028) with a stipend of $30,000 CAD per year, including teaching assistantship duties. The successful candidate will be eligible to apply for Teaching Assistant (TA) positions and/or other scholarships, such as entrance scholarships. Accommodations and Accessibility: Should you require a copy of this posting in an alternate format, please contact us as soon as possible and we would be happy to get one to you in a timely manner. We believe in the importance of supporting on the-job success for the incumbent and are pleased to discuss and/or provide specific tools, resources, or other requirements for day-to-day work requirements, as needed. How to Apply :Interested candidates are invited to submit their application by May 1st 2024 to Jeremie.Lefebvre[at]uottawa.ca, using the subject "Resilience position". In your dossier, please include: 1. A cover letter stating your interest and explaining why you are a good candidate for this position, and specify clearly which position (Postdoc, PhD) you are applying for 2. up to date CV including a list of publication, if applicable 3. Contact information for 2 references Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Jeremie Lefebvre

April 16, 2024

NEST Conference 2024 - Extension of abstract submission deadline

by Hans Ekkehard Plesser

Dear all, The abstract submission deadline for the NEST Conference 2024 has been extended to 30 April. We are looking forward to your contributions! The 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. This year's conference will again take place as a virtual conference on Monday/Tuesday 17/18 June 2024. We are inviting contributions to the conference, including talks, "posters" and workshops on specific topics. For more information on how to submit your contribution, register and participate, please visit the conference website https://nest-simulator.org/conference Important dates 26 April 2024 - Deadline for NEST Initiative membership applications eligible for fee reduction 30 April 2024 - Extended deadline for submission of contributions 08 May 2024 - Notification of acceptance 07 June 2024 - Registration deadline 17 June 2024 - NEST Conference 2024 starts We are looking forward to seeing you all in June! Hans Ekkehard Plesser and the conference organizing committee -- Prof. Dr. Hans Ekkehard Plesser 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

April 16, 2024

Phd and Postdoc positions on computational neuroscience in Peking University

by Guozhang Chen

In school of computer science, Peking University, we are inviting applications for a few PhD and PostDoc positions focusing on the exciting intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence. The selected candidate will collaborate with our team to reverse-engineer the brain (cortical and subcortical structures) in multi-scale, data-based models, exploring its working mechanisms, dynamics, and learning capabilities with respect to generalization. Please refer ifgovh.github.io for more details. This research will build upon foundational work such as: - Chen, Guozhang, Franz Scherr, and Wolfgang Maass. "[Data-based large-scale models provide a window into the organization of cortical computations](https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.04.28.538662v3.a…." bioRxiv (2023): 2023-04. - Chen, Guozhang, Franz Scherr, and Wolfgang Maass. "[A data-based large-scale model for primary visual cortex enables brain-like robust and versatile visual processing](https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/sciadv.abq7592)." Science Advances 8.44 (2022): eabq7592. - Chen, Guozhang, and Pulin Gong. "[A spatiotemporal mechanism of visual attention: Superdiffusive motion and theta oscillations of neural population activity patterns.](https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/sciadv.abl4995)" Science Advances 8.16 (2022): eabl4995. - Chen, Guozhang, and Pulin Gong. "[Computing by modulating spontaneous cortical activity patterns as a mechanism of active visual processing.](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-12918-8)" Nature communications 10.1 (2019): 4915. In addition, depending on the interest, candidates will engage in the development of brain-inspired architectures and algorithms for AI, as well as for highly energy-efficient neuromorphic hardware. ## Qualifications - A strong motivation for understanding "how the brain works". - A strong background in computer science, computational neuroscience, physics, robotics, or related fields. - Proficient skills in mathematics/theory and programming. - An excellent academic record, demonstrated research potential. - Intermediate to advanced English reading, communicating and writing skills. ## How to Apply Interested candidates should submit the following: - A detailed CV. - A brief personal statement (explaining your movtivation and plan). - Academic transcripts. - Names of referees. - Links to thesis, publications, and any other relevant documents. Please send your application with a tile "phd position application" or "postdoc position application" to: guozhang.chen [at] pku.edu.cn -- Regards, Guozhang

April 16, 2024

Postdoc/Junior researcher positions in Computational Neuroscience within the BRADY project

by Jaroslav Hlinka

*Postdoc/Junior researcher positions in Computational Neuroscience within the BRADY project* Several postdoctoral positions are available in the *Complex Networks and Brain Dynamics group (COBRA) at the Institute of Computer Science, Prague (Czech Republic)*. These positions are part of a larger, interdisciplinary consortium that was recently recommended for funding (OPJAK BRADY). The project topics include: *Topic 1*: Detailed biophysical modelling of neurotransmitter action (supervised by Pavel Sanda). *Topic 2*: Computationally efficient mean-field models of cortical microcircuits (supervised by Helmut Schmidt). *Topic 3*: Whole-brain dynamics with applications particularly to schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease (supervised by Gustavo Deco). *Topic 4*: Data-driven model inversion and personalized parameter identification (supervised by Nikola Jajcay). *Topic 5*: Modelling interventions into arousal dynamics (supervised by Jaroslav Hlinka). Other related topics may be considered based on their fit to the overall project. Further information can be found here: https://cobra.cs.cas.cz/brady. 1. Conditions * Positions are available immediately. * Contract is for 12-36 months duration. * Possibility of extension until end of project (30.6.2028), support for transition to tenure-track or external funding applications. * Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, until the positions are filled. * This is a full-time fixed term contract appointment. Part time contract negotiable. * Competitive monthly gross salary: 50 000 - 66 000 CZK based on qualifications and experience (net salary approx. 40 000 - 52 000 CZK). _Cost Of Living Comparison <http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/comparison.jsp>_ * Bonuses and travel funding for conferences and research stays depending on performance. * No teaching duties. * Applicants should: 1. Hold a PhD; up to 7 years from PhD defense at the start of employment. 2. Have a strong background in the fields related to computational neuroscience - mathematical, statistical skills, experience with data analysis, machine learning, computer programming (the exact combination depends on the particular topic, see above). 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. * * The applications are to be sent to bradyadmin(a)cs.cas.cz <mailto:bradyadmin@cs.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. 3. A proof of the obtained degree. 4. Mention the *Ref. No. 2024/4*. *Do not hesitate to contact the project Scientific Coordinator for informal inquiries: Ing. Mgr. Jaroslav Hlinka, Ph.D. hlinka[at]cs.cas.cz, http://www.cs.cas.cz/hlinka/. * -- Jaroslav Hlinka Head of the Department of Complex Systems Institute of Computer Science Czech Academy of Sciences Pod Vodarenskou vezi 2 Prague 8, 182 00, Czech Republic Tel: (+420) 26605 3808 E-mail: hlinka(a)cs.cas.cz Web: http://www.cs.cas.cz/hlinka/ Complex Networks and Brain Dynamics Group (COBRA): http://cobra.cs.cas.cz

April 15, 2024

ERRATUM: EITN Fall School in Computational Neuroscience 2024: Applications are now open!

by DEPANNEMAECKER Damien

Erratum: Due to technical issue the email address previously announced is not working, please send your application at: eitnfs2024(a)protonmail.ch EITN Fall School in Computational Neuroscience 2024 <https://eitnschool2022.sciencesconf.org/> Marseille, 16-25 October 2024 The EITN Fall School in Computational Neuroscience consists of a 10-day course in theoretical and computational neuroscience, from cellular to whole-brain levels. The course is structured in thematic days with lectures, tutorials, and project work. The course is typically aimed at PhD students, young postdocs, or master students interested to learn more about techniques of computational neuroscience, and the use of various simulation environments for model building. The students will form thematic groups to work on predefined subjects, with the help of tutors. The course will cover cellular models, models of brain signals, circuit models and networks, mean-field models, and whole-brain models. There will be lectures and tutorials associated with these topics. Why join? 10 days of intensive training in computational neuroscience provided by researchers from all over Europe. A complete program: • Cellular models, and models of brain signals • Circuit models and networks • Mean-field models • Whole-brain models Hands-on learning schedule based on: • Morning classes and tutorials • Group projects in the afternoon • Free time in the evenings and on Sunday to visit Marseille How to apply? This training has a limited capacity of 28 students, therefore a selection will be performed by a scientific organizing committee. Applications are open until 09 June 2024. Application: a one-page CV, a motivation letter to explain why you would like to attend this course, and a recommendation letter. The file names must start with your name (e.g., NAME_CV.pdf, etc....). Send your application by email at eitnfs2024(a)protonmail.ch You will receive a confirmation your application has been received within 5 working days (or on the day the application period closes (whichever comes the soonest). If not, please consider a technical issue and submit your application again. Contact <mailto:eitnfs2024@groups.emdesk.com> eitnfs2024(a)protonmail.ch for any questions or assistance. This training is designed to be attended in person in Marseille. It will not be recorded nor accessible remotely. Organizers: Damien Depannemaecker (AMU), Alain Destexhe (CNRS), Viktor Jirsa (AMU) Preliminary list of Speakers: Viktor Jirsa (AMU, Marseille France)` Alain Destexhe (NeuroPSI, Paris, France) Egidio D’Angelo (University of Pavia, Italie) Michele Migliore (National Research Council, Palerme, Italie) Andrea Brovelli (AMU, Marseille France) Matthieu Gilson (AMU, Marseille France) Marja-Leena Linne (Tempere University, Finlande) Spase Petkoski (AMU, Marseille France) Damien Depannemaecker (AMU, Marseille France) Huifang Wang (AMU, Marseille France) .... ________________________________

April 15, 2024

Share Your Expertise: Submit Your Work at COMPLEX NETWORKS 2024 in Istanbul

by Hocine Cherifi

13 *th **International Conference on Complex Networks & Their Applications* Istanbul, Turkey December 10 - 12, 2024 COMPLEX NETWORKS 2024 <https://complexnetworks.org/> You are cordially invited to submit your contribution until *September 03, 2024*. *SPEAKERS* · Federico Battiston <https://people.ceu.edu/federico_battiston> Central European University, Austria · Tina Eliassi-Rad <https://www.khoury.northeastern.edu/people/tina-eliassi-rad/> Northeastern University, USA · Frank Emmert-Streib <https://www.tuni.fi/en/frank-emmert-streib> Tampere University, Finland · Filippo Menczer <https://cnets.indiana.edu/fil/> Indiana University, USA · Luciano Pietronero <http://www.lucianopietronero.it/> University of Rome, Italy *TUTORIALS (December 09, 2024)* · Alessandro Galeazzi <https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=DK0tXAIAAAAJ&hl=en> University of Padova, Italy · Clara Stegehuis <https://www.clarastegehuis.nl/> Twente University, The Netherlands *PUBLICATION* Full papers (not previously published up to 12 pages) and Extended Abstracts (about published or unpublished research up to 4 pages) are welcome. · *Papers *will be included in the conference *proceedings edited by Springer* · *Extended abstracts* will be published in the *Book of Abstracts (with ISBN)* Extended versions will be invited for publication in *special issues of international journals:* o PLOS Complex Systems <https://journals.plos.org/complexsystems/> edited by PLOS <https://plos.org/>. o PLOS <https://journals.plos.org/plosone/> One <https://journals.plos.org/plosone/> edited by PLOS <https://plos.org/> o Applied Network Science <https://appliednetsci.springeropen.com/> edited by Springer Nature <https://www.springernature.com/gp> o Social Network Analysis and Mining <https://link.springer.com/journal/13278> edited by Springer Nature <https://www.springernature.com/gp> o Entropy <https://www.mdpi.com/journal/entropy> edited by MDPI <https://www.mdpi.com/> o Advances in Complex Systems <https://www.worldscientific.com/toc/acs/24/02> edited by World Scientific o Complex Systems Journal <https://www.complex-systems.com/> *SUBMISSION:* *https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/COMPLEXNETWORKS2024/* <https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/COMPLEXNETWORKS2024/> *TOPICS* *Topics include, but are not limited to: * o Models of Complex Networks o Structural Network Properties and Analysis o Complex Networks and Epidemics o Community Structure in Networks o Community Discovery in Complex Networks o Motif Discovery in Complex Networks o Network Mining o Network embedding methods o Machine learning with graphs o Dynamics and Evolution Patterns of Complex Networks o Link Prediction o Multilayer Networks o Network Controllability o Synchronization in Networks o Visual Representation of Complex Networks o Large-scale Graph Analytics o Social Reputation, Influence, and Trust o Information Spreading in Social Media o Rumour and Viral Marketing in Social Networks o Recommendation Systems and Complex Networks o Financial and Economic Networks o Complex Networks and Mobility o Biological and Technological Networks o Mobile call Networks o Bioinformatics and Earth Sciences Applications o Resilience and Robustness of Complex Networks o Complex Networks for Physical Infrastructures o Complex Networks, Smart Cities and Smart Grids o Political networks o Supply chain networks o Complex networks and information systems o Complex networks and CPS/IoT o Graph signal processing o Cognitive Network Science o Network Medicine o Network Neuroscience o Quantifying success through network analysis o Temporal and spatial networks o Historical Networks *GENERAL CHAIRS* Hocine Cherifi (University of Burgundy, France) Murat Donduran (Yildiz Technical University, Turkey) Luis M. Rocha (Binghamton University, USA) *PROGRAM CHAIRS* Chantal Cherifi (University of Lyon, France) Onur Varol (Sabanci University, Turkey) Join us at COMPLEX NETWORKS 2024 <https://www.complexnetworks.org/> *-------------------------* Hocine CHERIFI University of Burgundy Franche-Comté Laboratoire* I*nterdisciplinaire *C*arnot de *B*ourgogne - ICB UMR 6303 CNRS Editor in Chief Plos Complex Systems <https://plos.org/complex-systems-research-journal/#:~:text=PLOS%20Complex%2….> Founding & Adisory Editor Applied Network Science <https://appliednetsci.springeropen.com/> Editorial Board member PLOS One <https://journals.plos.org/plosone/>, IEEE ACCESS <https://ieeeaccess.ieee.org/?http%3A%2F%2Fieeeaccess_ieee_org%2F>, Scientific Reports <https://www.nature.com/srep/>, Journal of Imaging <https://www.mdpi.com/journal/jimaging>, Quality and Quantity <https://www.springer.com/journal/11135/>, Computational Social Networks <https://computationalsocialnetworks.springeropen.com/>, Complex Systems <https://www.complex-systems.com/>

April 15, 2024

LOD 2024 1st Call for papers: 10th International Conference on Learning, Optimization and Data - LOD 2024, 22-25 September, Riva del Sole Resort & SPA, Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) Tuscany, Italy -> Submission Deadline: April 23

by Giuseppe Nicosia

Dear Colleague, Apologies if you receive multiple copies of this announcement. Please kindly help forward it to potentially interested authors/attendees, thanks. -- The 10th International Conference on Learning, Optimization and Data - LOD 2024, 22-25 September, Riva del Sole Resort & SPA, Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) Tuscany, Italy LOD 2024, An Interdisciplinary Conference: Deep Learning, Foundation Models & Artificial Intelligence without Borders https://lod2024.icas.events/ lod(a)icas.cc SATELLITE EVENTS: 2nd International Meeting on Foundation Models - IMFM2024 https://lod2024.icas.events/imfm2024/ 1st Workshop AI in Life Sciences - WAILS2024 https://lod2024.icas.events/wails2024/ 24 TRACKS: https://lod2024.icas.events/tracks/ PAPERS SUBMISSION: All papers must be submitted using EasyChair: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=lod2024 *Paper Submission deadline: April 23 (Anywhere on Earth)* CALL FOR PAPERS: https://lod2024.icas.events/call-for-papers/ Please prepare your paper using the Springer Nature - Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS) template. Papers must be submitted in PDF. TYPES OF SUBMISSIONS: When submitting a paper to LOD 2024, authors are required to select one of the following three types of papers: * long paper / Late breaking paper: original novel and unpublished work (min. 12 pages, max. 15 pages in Springer LNCS format); the long papers and the late breaking papers, if accepted, will be published in the Springer-Nature LNCS conference proceedings; * short paper: an extended abstract of novel work (min. 6 pages, max. 11 pages in Springer LNCS format); the short papers, if accepted, will be published in the Springer-Nature LNCS conference proceedings; * work for oral presentation only (no page restriction; any format). For example, work already published elsewhere, which is relevant, and which may solicit fruitful discussion at the conference; LOD 2024 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: Vivek Natarajan, Google Health AI, San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA "How LLMs might accelerate biomedical discovery and help scale world class healthcare to everyone" Johannes Schmidt-Hieber, University of Twente, The Netherlands "Towards a statistical foundation for machine learning methods" Michal Valko, Google DeepMind Paris, INRIA & École Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay, France "Fine Tuning Large Language Models & Gemini" https://lod2024.icas.events/keynote/ PAST LOD KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: https://lod2023.icas.cc/past-keynote-speakers/ BEST PAPER AWARD: Springer sponsors the LOD 2024 Best Paper Award with a cash prize of 1,000 Euro. https://lod2024.icas.events/best-paper-award/ PROGRAM COMMITTEE: 150+ confirmed PC members! https://lod2024.icas.events/program-committee/ VENUE: https://lod2024.icas.events/venue/ The venue of LOD 2024 will be Riva del Sole Resort & SPA, Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) Tuscany - Italy. LOD 2024 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. https://lod2024.icas.events/lod-2024-a-residential-conference/ 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://lod2024.icas.events/activities/ Submit your research work today! https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=lod2024 See you in the beautiful Tuscany in September! Best regards, LOD 2024 Organizing Committee. Past Editions: https://lod2024.icas.events/past-editions/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/2236577489686309/ https://twitter.com/TaoSciences https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12092025/ https://lod2024.icas.events/ lod(a)icas.cc LOD2024 Poster: https://lod2024.icas.events/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2023/11/LOD-2024-po… * Apologies for multiple copies. Please forward to anybody who might be interested * --

April 15, 2024

World wide VVTNS series: Wednesday, April 17 at 11am (EDT), Tim O'Leary University of Cambridge|Flip flops and toggles for effective decision making in neural circuits

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the lecture given by Tim O'Leary University of Cambridge on the topic of "Flip flops and toggles for effective decision making in neural circuits*"* The lecture will be held on zoom on *April 17, 2024*, at *11:00 am EDT * To receive the zoom link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: *Neural computation is inextricably bound to decisions that must be made under time pressure and uncertainty. At the level of neural circuits, single neurons need to decide whether to spike. On longer timescales, the component circuitry needs to decide whether to reconfigure to store memories and adapt to novel situations. In this talk I will focus on two fun ideas in each of these contexts by showing how nonlinearities in neural components naturally form excitable switches that enable reliable decisions to be made in fluctuating environments. I will also issue propaganda that the kind of high level, cognitive faculties that we normally associate with decision making apply equally well and are understudied at the level of neural and synaptic populations. *About VVTNS : Created as the World Wide Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), its aim is to be a platform to exchange ideas among theoreticians. 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 -- 'Life is good ..' (Carl van Vreeswijk, 1962-2022) --------------------------------------- David Hansel Directeur de Recherche au CNRS Co-Group leader Cerebral Dynamics Plasticity and Learning lab., CNRS 45 rue des Saints Pères 75270 Paris Cedex 06 Tel (Cell): +33 607508403 - ᐧ

April 14, 2024

PhD Opportunity in AI and Neuroscience, Bordeaux, Deadline: April 23rd

by Xavier Hinaut

We are offering a PhD topic that bridges large language models with neuroscience. **Deadline for application: no later than April 23rd** Location: Bordeaux NeuroCampus (France) Laboratories: Inria & Neurological Diseases Insitute This project aims to explore the adaptation of large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, to study their potential in understanding human language and identifying associated pathologies. By focusing on advanced neurocomputational models and the use of functional MRI, this work aims to decipher linguistic representations and their individual variations, particularly in pathological contexts such as dyslexia. We are seeking a candidate with an interdisciplinary research mindset, combining a strong interest in cognitive neuroscience with a solid proficiency in machine learning. The candidate should have a good command of Python scientific libraries (numpy/scipy) and be comfortable with mathematical/statistical concepts, in addition to proficiency in technical English. The project will take place in a dynamic and collaborative research environment linked to the Inria Exploratory Action project "BrainGPT", with access to imaging methods such as MRI and intensive computing clusters. The expected results have the potential to transform our understanding of the neural bases of language and open new avenues for personalized education and language pathology treatment. Applications must be submitted as soon as possible and no later than *April 23rd*, with the thesis expected to begin on October 1st, 2024. To apply, please send your CV, a cover letter, your academic transcripts since high school, and letters of recommendation to these two email addresses: gael.jobard(a)u-bordeaux.fr & xavier.hinaut(a)inria.fr For more information (please disregard the deadline mentioned in the link): https://adum.fr/as/ed/voirproposition.pl?matricule_prop=55386 or informally via email: gael.jobard(a)u-bordeaux.fr & xavier.hinaut(a)inria.fr Best regards, Xavier Hinaut Inria Research Scientist — www.xavierhinaut.com -- +33 5 33 51 48 01 Mnemosyne team, Inria, Bordeaux, France -- https://team.inria.fr/mnemosyne & LaBRI, Bordeaux University -- https://www4.labri.fr/en/formal-methods-and-models & IMN (Neurodegeneratives Diseases Institute) -- http://www.imn-bordeaux.org/en — Our Reservoir Computing library: https://github.com/reservoirpy/reservoirpy

April 11, 2024

Postdoc position available at UChicago

by Jorge Jaramillo

Dear Comp-Neuro community, https://neuroscience.uchicago.edu/postdoctoral-fellow-computational-neurosc… We are looking for an outstanding applicant to develop large-scale circuit models for decision making within a collaborative consortium that includes the Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics, New York University, and the University of Chicago. This ambitious NIH-funded project requires the creativity and expertise to integrate multimodal data sets (e.g., connectivity, large-scale neural recordings, behavior) into a comprehensive modeling framework. The successful applicant will join Jorge Jaramillo’s Distributed Neural Dynamics and Control Lab at the Grossman Center at the University of Chicago. The Grossman Center Core Faculty | Neuroscience Institute<https://neuroscience.uchicago.edu/grossman-center-core-faculty> Throughout the course of the postdoctoral training, there will be opportunities to visit the other sites in Seattle (Karel Svoboda) and New York (Adam Carter, Xiao-Jing Wang) for additional training and collaboration opportunities. Appointees will join as Grossman Center Postdoctoral Fellows at the University of Chicago and will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and additional opportunities for collaboration with exceptional experimental labs within the Department of Neurobiology, as well as other labs from the departments of Physics, Computer Sciences, and Statistics. The Grossman Center offers competitive postdoctoral salaries in the vibrant and international city of Chicago, and a rich intellectual environment that includes the Argonne National Laboratory and the Data Science Institute. Postdoctoral fellows will also have the possibility to work in additional projects with other Grossman Center faculty members. Application: Please send your application before May 1st 2024 as a single PDF file including: i) a CV with publications highlighted; ii) a motivation letter specifying how you can contribute to large-scale circuit modeling and data analysis based on current and previous work; iii) the contact details of two academic references to jorgejaramillo(a)uchicago.edu<mailto:jorgejaramillo@uchicago.edu>. A doctoral degree and sufficient computational background is required; informal enquiries are welcome. Starting date: The position is available immediately, starting date can be defined via mutual agreement. The University of Chicago is committed to sustaining a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status. Underrepresented minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.

April 11, 2024

Sleep spindles in hippocampal axons

by Gregory J Brewer

We are pleased to announce our latest publication out today in Scientific Reports, Spindle oscillations in communicating axons within a reconstituted hippocampal formation are strongest in CA3 without thalamus. (open access) https://link.springer.com/article/10.1038/s41598-024-58002-0?utm_source=rct… Grace to you, Greg Gregory J. Brewer, Ph.D., Professor University of California Irvine, Dept Biomedical Engineering 92697-2715 Institute for Memory Impairment and Neurological Disorders (MIND) Center for Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM) AGE Fellow of the American Aging Association Nat. Sci, 2, Office Rm 3101, Lab 3432 GJBrewer(a)uci.edu<mailto:GJBrewer@uci.edu>, 217-502-4511 http://brewer.eng.uci.edu/

April 10, 2024

New on the van Vreeswijk Theoretical Neuroscience Seminar (VVNTS) website and YouTube channel

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] > > <https://streaklinks.com/B7FpUrTOTmFafqa5pAf069mO/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> > https://www.wwtns.online > <https://streaklinks.com/A9c7PbbpKY7PxB6PaAJWGD3-/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> > - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide > New on the VVTNS website and YouTube channel Biologically motivated learning dynamics: parallel architectures and nonlinear Hebbian plasticity talk given on April 10, 2024 by Michael Buice Allen Institute https://www.wwtns.online/past-seminars-2023-2024 ------------------------------------ *VVTNS: VVTNS is a weekly digital seminar on Zoom targeting the theoretical neuroscience community. Created as the World Wide Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), its aim is to be a platform to exchange ideas among theoreticians. 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

April 10, 2024

New virtual colloquium series: Brains in Space

by Vinita Samarasinghe

On behalf of Sen Cheng, Sandhiya Vijayabaskaran and Laurenz Wiskott from the Institute of Neural Computation, Faculty for Computer Science, Ruhr University Bochum, I invite you to attend a new colloquium series "*Brains in Space: An Interdisciplinary Research Colloquium on Spatial Navigation*". In this colloquium, speakers will present their research in various areas of spatial navigation, including behavioral, neuroscientific, and theoretical approaches. The goal is to foster interdisciplinary discussions along the lines of the review article "A Map of Spatial Navigation for Neuroscience" (Parra-Barrero et al., 2023) that proposes a taxonomy of spatial navigation processes in mammals. The talks will cover a diverse range of topics, from the neural underpinnings of navigation to complex navigation behaviors. Attendees will gain a better understanding of how the mammalian brain represents and navigates through space, as well as learn about several cognitive processes such as learning and memory through the lens of spatial navigation. The colloquium takes place virtually on Tuesday's from 16:00 to 17:30 (CEST) and the complete schedule can be found at https://www.ini.rub.de/teaching/courses/colloquium_brains_in_space_an_inter… . The first talk is on April 16th 2024. *Confirmed speakers:* Elizabeth Chrastil, Marko Nardini, Laure Rondi-Reig, Denis Sheynikhovich, Aaron Wilber, Sandhiya Vijayabaskaran, Francesca Sargolini and Eloy Parra Barrero. This colloquium is open to the public. Please feel free to forward this information to any of your colleagues who may be interested. *Zoom link*: https://ruhr-uni-bochum.zoom.us/j/68766911124?pwd=MFErK284UmN5V25wZzd5L1FCa… We look forward to seeing you. Kind regards, -- Vinita Samarasinghe M.Sc., M.A. Science Manager Arbeitsgruppe Computational Neuroscience Institut für Neuroinformatik Ruhr-Universität Bochum, NB 3/73 Postfachnummer 110 Universitätstr. 150 44801 Bochum Tel: +49 (0) 234 32 27996 Email:samarasinghe@ini.rub.de

April 10, 2024

EITN Fall School in Computational Neuroscience 2024: Applications are now open!

by DEPANNEMAECKER Damien

EITN Fall School in Computational Neuroscience 2024 <https://eitnschool2022.sciencesconf.org/> Marseille, 16-25 October 2024 The EITN Fall School in Computational Neuroscience consists of a 10-day course in theoretical and computational neuroscience, from cellular to whole-brain levels. The course is structured in thematic days with lectures, tutorials, and project work. The course is typically aimed at PhD students, young postdocs, or master students interested to learn more about techniques of computational neuroscience, and the use of various simulation environments for model building. The students will form thematic groups to work on predefined subjects, with the help of tutors. The course will cover cellular models, models of brain signals, circuit models and networks, mean-field models, and whole-brain models. There will be lectures and tutorials associated with these topics. Why join? 10 days of intensive training in computational neuroscience provided by researchers from all over Europe. A complete program: • Cellular models, and models of brain signals • Circuit models and networks • Mean-field models • Whole-brain models Hands-on learning schedule based on: • Morning classes and tutorials • Group projects in the afternoon • Free time in the evenings and on Sunday to visit Marseille How to apply? This training has a limited capacity of 28 students, therefore a selection will be performed by a scientific organizing committee. Applications are open until 09 June 2024. Application: a one-page CV, a motivation letter to explain why you would like to attend this course, and a recommendation letter. The file names must start with your name (e.g., NAME_CV.pdf, etc....). Send your application by email at eitnfs2024(a)groups.emdesk.com<mailto:eitnfs2024@groups.emdesk.com> You will receive a confirmation your application has been received within 5 working days (or on the day the application period closes (whichever comes the soonest). If not, please consider a technical issue and submit your application again. Contact eitnfs2024(a)groups.emdesk.com<mailto:eitnfs2024@groups.emdesk.com> for any questions or assistance. This training is designed to be attended in person in Marseille. It will not be recorded nor accessible remotely. Organizers: Damien Depannemaecker (AMU), Alain Destexhe (CNRS), Viktor Jirsa (AMU) Preliminary list of Faculty and Speakers: Viktor Jirsa (AMU, Marseille France)` Alain Destexhe (NeuroPSI, Paris, France)) Sacha Van Alba (Research Centre Jülich and University of Cologne, Allemagne) Egidio D’Angelo (University of Pavia, Italie) Michaele Migliore (National Research Council, Palerme, Italie) Andrea Brovelli (AMU, Marseille France) Matthieu Gilson(AMU, Marseille France) Marja-Leena Linne (Tempere University, Finlande) Spase Petkoski (AMU, Marseille France) Damien Depannemaecker(AMU, Marseille France) HuifangWang (AMU, Marseille France) ...

April 10, 2024

[CFP] Modern Machine Learning Methods for robust and real-time Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) - ESANN 2024 - Deadline 02 May

by Jaime Andres Riascos Salas

CALL FOR PAPERS CFP – SPECIAL SESSION MODERN MACHINE LEARNING METHODS FOR ROBUST AND REAL-TIME BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACES (BCI) Paper Submission Deadline: 2 MAY 2024 EUROPEAN SYMPOSIUM ON ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS, COMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING (ESANN 2024) OCTOBER 9-11, 2024 Bruges, Belgium. Online and on-site http://www.esann.org [1] Contact Special Session: jariascos(a)correo.iue.edu.co THE EUROPEAN SYMPOSIUM ON ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS, COMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING (ESANN) is a leading annual conference dedicated to cutting-edge research and applications within these fields. Since 1993, ESANN has provided a vital platform for researchers from academia, industry, and government to share their latest findings, foster interdisciplinary collaborations, and network with others in the field. The conference covers core topics like artificial neural networks, computational intelligence, and machine learning, and explores wide-ranging applications in areas such as bioinformatics, engineering, and finance. The 32nd edition of ESANN (ESANN 2024) will take place in Bruges, Belgium in hybrid mode (both in-person and online participation), from Wednesday 9 to Friday 11 October 2024. Bruges (also called the "Venice of the North") is one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Europe. Bruges is situated about 100 km. from Brussels and can very easily be reached by train from Brussels' main stations. Bruges is unique in Europe: a living city of human proportions where you can wander to your heart's content in virtually unspoiled surroundings. Inside ESANN 2024, the special session "MODERN MACHINE LEARNING METHODS FOR ROBUST AND REAL-TIME BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACES (BCI)” aims to spotlight and consolidate the latest advancements, innovations, challenges, and prospects in modern machine learning algorithms for BCI, which are both accurate and fast enough for real-time use, and ideally assessed for real-time use. BCIs are communication and control systems that enable users to interact with computers using brain activity only. They are very promising for various applications, such as assistive technologies, rehabilitation, or mental state monitoring, but suffer from a lack of robustness. Their robustness mostly relies on advances in machine learning and signal processing. Simple models offer a quick response to real-time constraints but often without high accuracies. In contrast, artificial neural networks and more elaborate models compromise speedy responses for reaching sometimes higher accuracies. Thus, ideally, there is a need for a trade-off in complexity in signal processing and machine learning stages to obtain the best combination, i.e., both high accuracy and speed. Therefore, we aim to foster interdisciplinary collaborations and pave the way for future breakthroughs in this field. We invite authors to submit original research articles, reviews, and case studies on the following topics: 1. Signal Processing and Feature Extraction: I. Novel methods for preprocessing EEG signals II. Feature extraction techniques for real-time BCI applications 2. Classification Algorithms: I. Advanced machine learning algorithms for BCI signal classification II. Deep learning approaches in BCI research 3. Real-time BCI Systems: I. Development of real-time BCI systems II. Applications and challenges in deploying BCI systems in real-time. Prospective authors are invited to contribute to the conference by electronically submitting papers through the ESANN portal following the instructions provided at https://www.esann.org/node/6 [2] and choosing our session's title as Target Session on the paper submission form. Papers must not exceed 6 pages, including figures and references. All papers will be submitted to a single-blind peer-review process. LaTeX and Word-style files are available. They must be used for generating the PDF file (see author guidelines at https://www.esann.org/author_guidelines [3]). Accepted papers will be presented as either talks or posters (in-person or online), to favor interaction with the ESANN attendees. There is no difference in quality between talks and posters; all papers will be published in the conference proceedings. At least one author must register for the conference and pay the registration fee. We ask prospective authors to send us an e-mail with the tentative title of their contribution to the special session as soon as possible. IMPORTANT DATES: Paper submission deadline: 2 MAY 2024 Notification of acceptance: 16 JUNE 2024 The ESANN 2023 conference: 9-11 OCTOBER 2024 SPECIAL SESSION ORGANISERS: Fabien Lotte (Inria, France) Marta Molinas (NTNU, Norway) Jaime A Riascos (Potsdam University - Institution University of Envigado, Germany - Colombia) Bests regards! Links: ------ [1] http://www.esann.org/ [2] https://www.esann.org/node/6 [3] https://www.esann.org/author_guidelines

April 10, 2024

Survey regarding large-scale neuroimaging datasets

by Eline Kupers

Dear all, In recent years, we have seen an increase in the usage, acquisition, and open sharing of rich, large-scale neuroimaging datasets. This is an exciting development in human neuroscience and suggests that we are entering a new era of big open data. To understand users' experiences with current large-scale datasets as well as needs for future datasets, we invite you to this anonymous survey. The survey is anonymous to ensure that we get honest opinions. We welcome participation from all researchers regardless of their experience and/or background. You can find the survey here: https://umn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6fAxIDk3pYdwC6W This survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete and closes on *May 15, 2024*. Eline Kupers & Kendrick Kay

April 9, 2024

Ph.D. Positions in Computational Neuroscience in Padova

by Samir Suweis

Dear colleagues, I would like to share with you the opening of the official call for the PhD program in Neuroscience hosted at the "Padova Neuroscience Center". This is a unique opportunity for young researchers to join a vibrant, active and interdisciplinary community of international faculty and to perform cutting-edge research in Neuroscience. The call offers 10 fully funded PhD positions with more than 45 research lines in diverse neuroscience fields, like Circuits & Systems, Cognitive, Affective, Behavioral, Computational Neuroscience, Neuroimaging, Translational and Clinical Neuroscience. This is is an incredible opportunity for aspiring neuroscientists to dive into a dynamic and multidisciplinary field, collaborating with more than 35 distinguished faculty members from 7 academic departments. Program Highlights: Deadline for Applications: 13th May 2024, 1 pm CET Interviews Scheduled: 28th May - 20th June 2024 Research Areas: The program covers five main lines: Multimodal Neuroimaging Methods Circuit and Systemic Neuroscience Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Neuroscience Translational and Clinical Neuroscience Computational Neuroscience Facilities and Support: Gain access to our in-house preclinical, PET, MRI, and EEG facilities. Benefit from superb computing, administrative, and technical supports. Duration: A comprehensive 3-year program. The University of Padova is not just a hub of academic excellence but also lies in the heart of a vibrant city known for its history, culture, and lively university atmosphere. Padova offers a unique blend of ancient heritage and modern innovation, making it an ideal place for both study and exploration. Don't miss this chance to step into the world of neuroscience research in one of Italy's most historic and dynamic university cities. We encourage all interested candidates to apply before the deadline and join us in this exciting journey of discovery and learning. For more details and application procedures, please visit our website https://pnc.unipd.it/admission <https://pnc.unipd.it/admission>. Best regards, Samir Suweis ***************** Samir Suweis www.liphlab.com Tel: +39 049 827 71 74

April 9, 2024

Postdoc vacancy DBS modelling

by Bernadette van Wijk

Dear (future) post-docs, Our vacancy for a post-doc position in Amsterdam on the biophysical modelling and optimisation of deep brain stimulation treatment for Parkinson’s disease is still open until April 15: https://workingat.vu.nl/vacancies/post-doc-position-amsterdam-1065164?utm_c… Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an undeniable clinical success in the treatment of movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. Yet, DBS exhibits a large outcome variability in individual patients and patients might suffer from stimulation-induced side effects. The sophistication of DBS systems is far ahead of the present understanding and clinical exploitation of the available stimulation features offered by the technology. Finding the right frequency, amplitude, and pulse width settings for an individual patient can be a cumbersome process. Within our European research consortium (Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Uppsala, Berlin), we aim to optimize DBS treatment through biophysical and statistical modelling, with a strong focus on electrophysiology (local field potential recordings) in Amsterdam. We are looking for a postdoc who could contribute to one or more of the following research aims: 1) localizing spatial origins of LFP oscillations through inverse source modelling; 2) biophysical modelling of the effect of stimulation on electrophysiological activity; 3) applying optimization algorithms for optimal navigation through the stimulation parameter landscape. You are expected to take initiative in conducting the work and to present the project’s outcomes in scientific papers and at international conferences. There is an opportunity to supervise student projects, participate in data collection, and to take part in working visits to partners in the consortium. The work in this project will be conducted in close collaboration with the DBS Neurology group at the Amsterdam University Medical Centers location AMC. You are expected to regularly visit the AMC hospital for attending research meetings and to conduct parts of your work, as appropriate. The project will be supervised by Dr. Bernadette van Wijk (VU University Amsterdam) and Dr. Martijn Beudel (Amsterdam University Medical Centers). Please consider applying if you’re interested. Kind regards, Dr. Bernadette van Wijk Department of Human Movement Sciences Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam The Netherlands

April 9, 2024

NEST Conference 2024 - reminder for abstract submission deadline on 15 April 2024

by Hans Ekkehard Plesser

Dear all, The abstract submission deadline for the virtual NEST Conference 2024 is approaching (15 April 2024). We are looking forward to your contributions! The 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. This year's conference will again take place as a virtual conference on Monday/Tuesday 17/18 June 2024. We are inviting contributions to the conference, including talks, "posters" and workshops on specific topics. Important dates 15 April 2024 - Deadline for submission of contributions 26 April 2024 - Deadline for NEST Initiative membership applications eligible for fee reduction 08 May 2024 - Notification of acceptance 07 June 2024 - Registration deadline 17 June 2024 - NEST Conference 2024 starts For more information on how to submit your contribution, register and participate, please visit the conference website https://nest-simulator.org/conference We are looking forward to seeing you all in June! Hans Ekkehard Plesser and the conference organizing committee -- Prof. Dr. Hans Ekkehard Plesser 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

April 9, 2024

Postdoc positions in Cognitive Neuroscience, Computational Psychiatry and Developmental Psychology, University of Tuebingen, Germany

by Susan Fischer

**Apologies for cross-posting** Dear colleagues, The "Developmental Computational Psychiatry" lab and the W3 professorship "Computational Psychiatry" led by Tobias Hauser at the University of Tübingen (Germany) is currently hiring new postdocs. The focus of the lab is to better understand the computational and neural mechanisms underlying decision making and learning, and how these processes go awry in patients with mental illnesses. The successful candidates will have the chance to work in a highly dynamic and inspiring environment and to collaborate closely with Prof Peter Dayan and the Max-Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics. Concretely, we are looking for the following candidates: * Postdoc with developmental psychology background * Postdoc with experimental & neuroimaging (MEG / MRI) background More information about the positions can be found here: https://devcompsy.org/join-the-lab/ Interested candidates are encouraged to reach out to Tobias Hauser directly to informally discuss the positions. Best regards, Susan. ************************************************ Susan Fischer Coordinator Alexander von Humboldt Professorship Prof Peter Dayan & W3-Professorship ‘Computational Psychiatry’, Prof Tobias Hauser Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics & Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen & Universitätsklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie AI Research Building R 20-7/A21 Maria-von-Linden-Str. 6 72076 Tübingen Germany ************************************************

April 9, 2024

Online workshop: Dendritic computation, synaptic plasticity & molecular mechanisms

by O'Donnell, Cian

Please join us for our free, online and global workshop on 22/23/25 April 2024 on: Dendritic computation, synaptic plasticity & molecular mechanisms One of the workshop goals is to try to bring together computational and experimental researchers working on molecular mechanisms of neurons. Each session is in a different time window to help reach people in different parts of planet earth: 9-13h CET Monday 22nd April 15-19h CET Tuesday 23rd April 17-21h CET Thursday 25th April Schedule, speaker list, and registration link at: http://tchumatchenko.de/Workshop/workshop_homePage.html Current speakers * Haruhiko Bito, University of Tokyo, Japan * Brenda Bloodgood, University of California San Diego, USA * Spiros Chavlis, IMBB-FORTH, Greece * Julijana Gjorgjieva, Technical University of Munich, Germany * Seth Grant, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom * Anne-Sophie Hafner, Donders Centre for Neuroscience, Netherlands * Sybille Krauss, Naturwissenschaftlich-Technische Fakultät Universität Siegen, Germany * Boaz Mohar, HHMI's Janelia Research Campus, USA * Cian O'Donnell, Ulster University, United Kingdom * Thomas Oertner, Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg Germany * Silvio Rizzoli, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Germany * Erin M. Schumann, MPI for Brain Research Frankfurt, Germany * Walter Senn, University of Bern, Switzerland * Jason Shepherd, University of Utah, USA * Tatjana Tchumatchenko, University Clinic Bonn, Germany * Noam Ziv, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Israel Short talks by * Cornelius Bergmann, University Clinic Bonn, Germany * Edita Bulovaite, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom * Arno Granier, University of Bern, Switzerland * Sofia Raak, University of Bristol, United Kingdom * Annika Reisbitzer, Naturwissenschaftlich-Technische Fakultät Universität Siegen, Germany Best, Tatjana Tchumatchenko & Cian O’Donnell 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

April 8, 2024

CFP: Workshops in conjunction with FRCCS 2024, Montpellier, France May 28, 2024

by Hocine Cherifi

We encourage researchers to participate in the FRCCS 2024 <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/> workshops to share their insights and foster interdisciplinary collaborations in the study of complex systems. *Workshops* · Modeling Cities and Regions as Complex and Evolving Systems · Beauty in Complexity · Network Sparsification & beyond *Important dates* Submission Deadline: *April 14, 2024* Final Decisions Released:* April 17, 2024* Camera-Ready Deadline: *April 30, 2024* *1) **Modeling Cities and Regions as Complex and Evolving Systems* <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/workshop-on-modeling-cities-and-…> Cities consist of interacting entities, such as people and infrastructure, and exhibit emergent properties, which appear additionally to the sum of the isolated properties. This makes cities a prime example of complex systems. Accordingly, complexity theories and methods are particularly relevant to their study. By focusing on the commonalities that underpin urban systems, the workshop seeks to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and explore novel approaches to studying cities as complex entities. *More info at: * *https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/workshop-on-modeling-cities-and-regions-as-complex-and-evolving-systems/* <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/workshop-on-modeling-cities-and-…> *Workshop chair* *Daniela Cialfi - NRCouncil of Italy - **danielacialfi(a)gmail.com* <danielacialfi(a)gmail.com> *2) **Beauty in Complexity* <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/beauty-in-complexity/> The Beauty in Complexity exhibition invites researchers to share the visual wonders of their work with a wide and diverse audience. Whether it's a photograph, diagram, visualization, or montage, we encourage submissions that evoke curiosity and wonder. We seek captivating visuals showcasing the beauty found within complex systems research. More info at: https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/beauty-in-complexity/ *Workshop chairs* Benjamin Renoust - *Median Technologies,- **renoust@gmail* <benjamin.renoust(a)mediantechnologies.com> *.com *Arnaud Sallaberry - *LIRMM *- *arnaud.sallaberry(a)lirmm.fr* <arnaud.sallaberry(a)lirmm.fr> *3) **Network Sparsification & beyond* <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/complex-network-sparsification/> Numerous algorithms are designed to construct simpler or smaller network representations to address scalability and performance issues. This workshop aims to bring together researchers working on the broad theme of network simplification and discuss graph reduction methods and their applications. More info at: https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/complex-network-sparsification/ *Workshop chairs* Hamida Seba -* University Lyon 1- **Hamida.seba(a)univ-lyon1.fr* <Hamida.seba(a)univ-lyon1.fr> Hocine Cherifi* - University of Burgundy - **hocine.cherifi(a)u-bourgogne.fr* <hocine.cherifi(a)u-bourgogne.fr> Join us at COMPLEX NETWORKS 2024 <https://www.complexnetworks.org/> *-------------------------* Hocine CHERIFI University of Burgundy Franche-Comté Laboratoire* I*nterdisciplinaire *C*arnot de *B*ourgogne - ICB UMR 6303 CNRS Editor in Chief Plos Complex Systems <https://plos.org/complex-systems-research-journal/#:~:text=PLOS%20Complex%2….> Founding & Adisory Editor Applied Network Science <https://appliednetsci.springeropen.com/> Editorial Board member PLOS One <https://journals.plos.org/plosone/>, IEEE ACCESS <https://ieeeaccess.ieee.org/?http%3A%2F%2Fieeeaccess_ieee_org%2F>, Scientific Reports <https://www.nature.com/srep/>, Journal of Imaging <https://www.mdpi.com/journal/jimaging>, Quality and Quantity <https://www.springer.com/journal/11135/>, Computational Social Networks <https://computationalsocialnetworks.springeropen.com/>, Complex Systems <https://www.complex-systems.com/>

April 8, 2024

PhD funded application

by Eirini Mavritsaki

Dear all, I would like to advertise the below PhD funded application. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions. Thank you in advance for any help. Best wishes, Eirini Project 1: Using machine learning, AI and computational modelling to predict recovery from stroke from brain-scans across a range of language and cognitive deficits. This funding model includes a 36 month fully funded PhD Studentship, in-line with the Research Council values, which comprises a tax-free stipend paid monthly (2024/5 - £19,237) per year and a Full Time Fee Scholarship for up to 3 years, subject to you making satisfactory progression within your PhD. All applicants will receive the same stipend irrespective of fee status. Application Closing Date: 23:59 on Tuesday 30th April 2024 for a start date of the 2nd September 2024. How to Apply To apply, please complete the project proposal form,<https://www.bcu.ac.uk/Download/Asset/d3f86737-6b53-ec11-981f-501ac52d968f> <https://www.bcu.ac.uk/Download/Asset/d3f86737-6b53-ec11-981f-501ac52d968f>ensuring that you quote the project reference, and then complete the online application<https://www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/social-sciences-research-degrees-2024-25> where you will be required to upload your proposal in place of a personal statement as a pdf document. You will also be required to upload two references, at least one being an academic reference, and your qualification/s of entry (Bachelor/Masters certificate/s and transcript/s). Project Title: Using machine learning, AI and computational modelling to predict recovery from stroke from brain-scans across a range of language and cognitive deficits. Project Lead: Professor Eirini Mavritsaki Eirini.Mavritsaki(a)bcu.ac.uk<mailto:Eirini.Mavritsaki@bcu.ac.uk> Reference: PreSReB Project Description Stroke can be caused when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, this can take place either by blockage or through a traumatic event. Several cognitive deficits can be caused by stroke ranging from paralysis or weakness on one side of the body to problems with memory, attention, vision, thinking, emotional changes and language problems. For the best possible recovery from stroke, the correct rehabilitation is vital. However, predicting the best treatment and outcomes is challenging since every patient is different, and each case of stroke is unique. Machine learning has been previously used, but it is difficult to interpret the outcomes due to complex interactions of the large data used. To overcome these challenges, we are planning to combine machine learning with AI and computational modelling. To achieve the best outcomes, we are collaborating with University of Birmingham and UCL and we have access to the Predicting Language Outcome and Recovery After Stroke (PLORAS) database with over 2000 stroke patients. Anticipated Findings and Contribution to Knowledge This research work aims to contribute towards the development of new approaches for predicting stroke recovery. This will not only advance research in this area, but it will also lead to development of new tools that clinicians can use to predict outcomes for rehabilitation approaches. In addition, this work will make significant contributions towards the advancement of research in computational neuroscience. By combining machine learning, AI and computational modelling, it will help improve our understanding of this complex field. More information on the project can be found using the link below https://www.bcu.ac.uk/research/our-phds/phd-opportunities/using-machine-lea… and the application and process https://www.bcu.ac.uk/research/our-phds/phd-opportunities Please note that I think your work-life balance and your right to disconnect from your work or studies is very important. Therefore, if this message arrives in an evening or on a weekend, I really would not expect you to attend to it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Prof. Eirini Mavritsaki, Ph.D., CPsychol Professor in Cognitive Psychology Faculty Research Strategy Deputy and Research Development Framework Lead eirini.mavritsaki(a)bcu.ac.uk<mailto:eirini.mavritsaki@bcu.ac.uk> 0121 331 6361 Faculty of Business Law and Social Sciences Birmingham City University ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Disclaimer This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender immediately, delete this email from your system and do not use, copy, or disclose the information contained in this message or in any attachment. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Birmingham City University. Birmingham City University accepts no liability for any loss or damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email and the recipient must ensure that the email (and attachments) is virus free.

April 8, 2024

Abstracts & registration for UK Neural Computation meeting July 8-10th, Sheffield

by Mark Humphries

Abstract submission and registration are now open for the UK Neural Computation meeting 2024 (Sheffield 8-10th July). Abstracts: https://neuralcomputation.uk/submission.html Deadline of 17th May 2024 4 submitted abstracts will be selected for main meeting talks Registration: https://neuralcomputation.uk/registration.html Deadline of 21st June 2024 Discounted accommodation options also available. 8 July: ECR day. ~40 places are available 9-10 July: main meeting Please spread the word! All info: https://neuralcomputation.uk/ Enquiries: uknc24(a)sheffield.ac.uk<mailto:uknc24@sheffield.ac.uk> Organisers Hannes Saal (Sheffield) Stuart Wilson (Sheffield) 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.

April 8, 2024

Deadline approaching - Brains for Brains Young Researcher Award

by Alexander Lammers

International early career scientists who have shown their outstanding potential at a very early career stage are invited to apply for the Brains for Brains Award. You can win a 2000 € travel grant to join the Bernstein Conference 2024 and visit labs of Bernstein members. ____ Who can apply? International students of all nationalities from relevant disciplines (biology, medicine, physics, mathematics, computer science, engineering, psychology, etc.) who plan to pursue a research career in computational neuroscience and who have at least one peer reviewed publication (as co-author) or peer reviewed conference abstract (as first author). ____ The award is endowed with: * a travel grant of 2.000 € for a one-week trip to Germany, including free participation at the Bernstein Conference 2024 in Frankfurt * the chance to present your research as a talk and as a poster at the Bernstein Conference 2024 * individually planned visits to labs of the Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience ____ Application deadline: April 21, 2024, 23:59 CEST ____ Details & application https://bernstein-network.de/en/network/awards-and-initiatives/brains-for-b… ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52425 Jülich Sitz der Gesellschaft: Jülich Eingetragen im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Düren Nr. HR B 3498 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: MinDir Stefan Müller Geschäftsführung: Prof. Dr. Astrid Lambrecht (Vorsitzende), Karsten Beneke (stellv. Vorsitzender), Dr. Ir. Pieter Jansens ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 8, 2024

TA applications now open for Simons Computational Neuroscience Imbizo, 12 January to 2 February 2025

by Spyridon Chavlis

Dear Colleagues, We are looking for teaching assistants for the Simons Computational Neuroscience Imbizo, a computational neuroscience summer school held in Cape Town, South Africa (https://imbizo.africa/) We are looking for post-doctoral or advanced PhD researchers to join our team as Teaching Assistants (TAs) for the Imbizo in January 2025. Please apply via the link: https://imbizo.africa/ta-application/. Before you apply, you should have the following documents/information ready: 1) A brief CV (2-4 pages is fine) 2) A short motivational statement about your scientific interests and background, why you would be a good fit, and your favourite topics for teaching tutorials and supervising student projects. 3) Contact details of one referee. *The application deadline is April 25, 2024 (20:00 UTC), and the reference letter submission deadline is April 29, 2024 (20:00 UTC).* Please notify your referee beforehand to meet the deadline. *About the Imbizo:* The school hosts 28-30 students for an amazing 22 days of lectures, tutorials, projects and forging new friendships. All this takes place on Noordhoek beach, between the mountain and the ocean. It's a spectacular location. * / Arrival day: Sunday 12 January 2025/ * / Imbizo dates: Monday 13 January to Saturday 1 February 2025/ * / Departure day: Sunday 2 February 2025/ The Imbizo is a special experience, with students being totally immersed in academic, social, touristic and cultural activities, and has resulted in student and TA groups from previous schools becoming very close, personally and scientifically. This is fantastic, as a major goal of the Imbizo project is to help young African researchers grow their academic peer and friend group. About being a TA: * Each TA runs one afternoon tutorial in the first week of the school, which they design themselves. * Each TA will teach a different topic, which the TA's choose among themselves, to provide students with a broad exposure to problems and methods in computational neuroscience. * Each TA is also assigned 5 students to supervise for project work during the last 2 weeks of the school. * TAs will be asked to help process student applications. TAs are integral in helping run the school. In addition to academic support, they foster good social interactions and academic discussions among students, and they help 'shy' students meet faculty. They also act as 'social glue’, helping to notice and support students who may be feeling ill, not fitting in socially, or generally having difficulties. To fulfill these roles, TAs need to be at all school meals and activities. We will also need a little help processing student applications. *What we provide:* We cover as direct as possible, economy class tickets to Cape Town, as well as all board and lodging during the school. *We will start assessing applications on May 1, 2024.* A call for student applications will follow soon. We hope to hear from you soon! Let us know if you have any questions. Thanks and regards Demba Ba, Arif Hamid, Peter E Latham, Spiros Chavlis, and Emma Vaughan Simons Computational Neuroscience Imbizo Committee 2025 Twitter: @CompNeuroImbizo email: isicn.imbizo[AT]gmail.com -- *Spyridon Chavlis, PhD* Postdoctoral Researcher and Systems Administrator Poirazi Lab Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB) Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH) Nikolaou Plastira, 100 GR 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece Tel: (+30) 2810 39 1264 Εmail: schavlis(a)imbb.forth.gr Webpage: dendrites.gr <https://www.dendrites.gr>

April 8, 2024

Research Summit on Fundamental Challenges for AI. Mountain View, April 15th.

by Battleday, Ruairidh

We are most excited to announce the final line-up and substantially reduced ticket prices for the AE Spring Summit on Fundamental Challenges for AI <http://bit.ly/springsummitaievent>. Computer History Museum, Mountain View; April 15th. This is a day of keynote talks and panels by leading AI researchers on what the open problems for ML/AI development are, and promising scientific and engineering strategies for solving them. Keynotes Professor Jay McClelland (Stanford / DeepMind) Professor Bin Yu (UC Berkeley) Professor Diyi Yang (Stanford) Professor Sergey Levine (UC Berkeley) Panels New Landscapes for AI Research New Professional Pathways Challenges for AI in Biomedicine Fundamental Challenges We have invited speakers and representatives from the following five technical stakeholder groups to this Summit: Academia Tech FROs / nonprofits Start-up VCs / Funders By soliciting answers and discussions from scientists and leaders at these different groups we hope to also examine what their different roles will be in the next period of AI research, and to foster the sharing of research. Full details can be found at www.algopreneurship.org. This should be an exciting and productive day, and we have made lower-priced tickets available for students and early-stage researchers. Lunch and a reception will be provided. We look forward to seeing some of you there, and please feel free to share news about the event on social media. The Thinking About Thinking Team Twitter / X: https://bit.ly/springsummitaix LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/springsummitaiLI -- Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday BMBCh (Oxon) PhD President Thinking About Thinking <http://www.thinkingaboutthinking.org> Postdoctoral Research Fellow Center for Brain Science, Harvard University Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines, MIT

April 8, 2024

Fwd: Available Positions in Computer Science at the University of Plymouth

by Amir Aly

Dear All The University of Plymouth has several available positions in Computer Science. More details are available in this advertisement (deadline is 27th May 2024): https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DGN533/lecturer-associate-professor-in-computer-… If you have any remarks, pls don't hesitate to contact me, Regards ---------------- *Dr. Amir Aly* Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Programme Manager of Artificial Intelligence Center for Robotics and Neural Systems (CRNS) School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics Room A307 Portland Square, Drake Circus, PL4 8AA University of Plymouth, UK

April 7, 2024

Fwd: [seminar.wwtns] World wide VVTNS series: Wednesday, April 10 at 11am (EDT), Michael Buice, Allen Institute |Biologically motivated learning dynamics: parallel architectures and nonlinear Hebbian plasticity

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the lecture given by Michael Buice Allen Institute on the topic of "Biologically motivated learning dynamics: parallel architectures and nonlinear Hebbian plasticity*"* The lecture will be held on zoom on *April 10, 2024*, at *11:00 am EDT * To receive the zoom link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: *Learning in biological systems takes place in contexts and with dynamics not often accounted for by simple models. I will describe the learning dynamics of two model systems that incorporate either architectural or dynamic constraints from biological observations. In the first case, inspired by the observed mesoscopic structure of the mouse brain as revealed by the Allen Mouse Brain Connectivity Atlas, as well as multiple examples of parallel pathways in mammalian brains, I present a mathematical analysis of learning dynamics in networks that have parallel computational pathways driven by the same cost function. We use the approximation of deep linear networks with large hidden layer sizes to show that, as the depth of the parallel pathways increases, different features of the training set (defined by the singular values of the input-output correlation) will typically concentrate in one of the pathways. This result is derived analytically and demonstrated with numerical simulation with both linear and non-linear networks. Thus, rather than sharing stimulus and task features across multiple pathways, parallel network architectures learn to produce sharply diversified representations with specialized and specific pathways, a mechanism which may hold important consequences for codes in both biological and artificial systems. In the second case, I discuss learning dynamics in a generalization of Hebbian rules and show that these rules allow a neuron to learn tensor decompositions of higher-order input correlations. Unlike the case of the Oja rule and PCA, the resulting learned representation is not unique but selects amongst the tensor eigenvectors according to initial conditions. *About VVTNS : Created as the World Wide Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), its aim is to be a platform to exchange ideas among theoreticians. 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 ᐧ ᐧ ᐧ -- 'Life is good ..' (Carl van Vreeswijk, 1962-2022) --------------------------------------- David Hansel Directeur de Recherche au CNRS Co-Group leader Cerebral Dynamics Plasticity and Learning lab., CNRS 45 rue des Saints Peres 75270 Paris Cedex 06 Tel (Cell): +33 607508403 - Fax (33).1.49.27.90.62 ᐧ

April 7, 2024