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Postdoc positions at Harvard in theoretical neuroscience and brain-inspired machine learning
by Cengiz Pehlevan Sept. 12, 2018

Sept. 12, 2018

Postdoctoral positions are available in Cengiz Pehlevan’s theoretical neuroscience group at Harvard University. We are looking for candidates with strong analytical and numerical skills, and backgrounds in (theoretical) neuroscience, applied mathematics, physics, engineering, computer science, or related fields. Our group seeks to understand the algorithms of the brain and their neural implementation. Current interests include, but are not limited to, unsupervised learning of sensory representations, reinforcement learning of motor skills, decision making and brain-inspired machine learning. For recent publications, see pehlevan.seas.harvard.edu <https://pehlevan.seas.harvard.edu/>. Successful candidates will join a vibrant community of researchers at Harvard and take part in collaborations with experimental labs across the campus. The position is funded for multiple years, with an initial one-year appointment and expectation of extension contingent on satisfactory progress. To apply, please email a short statement of research interests, a CV, and the contact information of at least two references to Cengiz Pehlevan (cpehlevan at seas.harvard.edu) with the subject line “Theory Postdoctoral Fellow”. Review of applications will begin immediately. Harvard University is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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PhD positions in Electrophysiology / Brain-machine interface at U. Sherbrooke, Canada (co-supervision with U. of Minnesota, USA)
by Jean Rouat Sept. 11, 2018

Sept. 11, 2018

Auditory implants aim at restoring audition by stimulating a specific structure of the auditory system with an electrode array. The most successful auditory implant, the cochlear implant that stimulates the spiral ganglions in the cochlea, has allowed more than 325 000 people worldwide to regain audition. However, cochlear implants are not appropriate for patients that have a disfunctionnal auditory nerve or for which the cochlea cannot be implanted. Alternative implants have therefore been developed such as the auditory midbrain implant (AMI) that stimulates a structure named the inferior colliculus (IC). One aspect that limits the development of the AMI is the lack of knowledge regarding the optimal approach to stimulate the IC. The proposed project aims at gaining more insight into the optimal design of stimulation patterns for the IC. Objectives: ----------- Design optimal inferior colliculus stimulation patterns using adaptive filters specifically adapted for neural signals: the neural activity will be recorded in the auditory cortex and optimal stimulation in the inferior colliculus will be evaluated using a closed-loop approach. A financial support will be provided. Requirements: —————— - Excellent academic record. - Master’s degree in biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, physics, biophysics or other related field with a strong background in mathematics and signal processing. - Willing to conduct experiments in electrophysiology to record the neural activity of the auditory system. No prior knowledge in electrophysiology is required. - Excellent ability to communicate in English, knowledge of French is considered an advantage. The Université de Sherbrooke is a French-speaking institution located in the province of Quebec, Canada, and the heart of an international research pole. It is the host to more than 40 000 students from over 120 different countries worldwide. (Source: UdeS) Interested candidates should send their CV, academic transcripts as well as the names of 2 references to Prof. Eric Plourde. Contact: Eric Plourde, Eng., Ph.D., Université de Sherbrooke (eric.plourde(a)usherbrooke.ca)

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COSYNE 2019: Call for workshop proposals
by Tomas Hromadka Sept. 10, 2018

Sept. 10, 2018

================================================= Computational and Systems Neuroscience 2019 (Cosyne) MAIN MEETING 28 February - 03 March 2019 Lisbon, Portugal WORKSHOPS 04 - 05 March 2019 Cascais, Portugal www.cosyne.org ================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- CALL FOR WORKSHOP PROPOSALS ----------------------------------------------------------------------- PRE-PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 30 September 2018 FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 31 October 2018 PRE-PROPOSALS In an effort to coordinate submissions, the organizers are *strongly encouraged* to submit a pre-proposal by *30 September 2018.* Pre-proposals will be shared among submitters. Pre-proposals are not mandatory, but workshops with a pre-proposal will have priority. The organizers may submit the full proposal by its deadline. A series of workshops will be held after the main Cosyne meeting (www.cosyne.org) The goal is to provide an informal forum for the discussion of important research questions and challenges. Controversial issues, open problems, comparisons of competing approaches, and alternative viewpoints are encouraged. The overarching goal of all workshops should be the integration of empirical and theoretical approaches, in an environment that fosters collegial discussion and debate. Preference will be given to proposals that differ substantially in content, scope, and/or approach from workshops of recent years (examples available at Cosyne.org -> Workshops). Relevant topics include, but are not limited to: sensory processing; motor planning and control; functional neural circuits; motivation, reward and decision making; learning and memory; adaptation and plasticity; neural coding; neural circuitry and network models; and methods in computational or systems neuroscience. In order to foster discussion within Workshops and reduce overlap between workshops, organizers should inform invited speakers that a single person should not speak in more than one of the Workshops taking place on the same day. WORKSHOP DETAILS - There will be 4-8 workshops/day, running in parallel. - Each workshop is expected to draw between 15 and 80 people. - The workshops will be split into morning (8.00-11.00 AM) and afternoon (4.30-7.30 PM) sessions. - Workshops will be held at Cascais, a coastal village ~34 km west of Lisbon. Buses from the main conference will be provided. . SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS Submission instructions for workshop (pre)-proposals are available at Cosyne.org -> Workshops. PRE-PROPOSALS should include: - Name(s) and email address(es) of the organizers (no more than 2 organizers per session, please). A primary contact should be designated. - A title. - A brief description of 1) what the workshop will address and accomplish, 2) why the topic is of interest, 3) who is the targeted group of participants. - Names of potential invitees, with indication of confirmed speakers. Preference will be given to workshops with the most confirmed speakers. - Proposed workshop length (1 or 2 days). Most workshops will be limited to a single day. If you think your workshop needs two days, please explain why. - A brief resume of the workshop organizer along with a short list of workshop-relevant publications (about half a page total). FULL PROPOSALS should include the list of confirmed speakers in addition to components required for a pre-proposal. Workshop organizer responsibilities include coordinating workshop participation and content, scheduling all speakers and submitting a final schedule for the workshop program, and moderating the discussion. Organizers can be speakers but need not speak depending on scheduling constraints. SUGGESTIONS Experience has shown that the best discussions during a workshop are those that arise spontaneously. A good way to foster these is to have short talks and long question periods (e.g. 30+15 minutes), and have plenty of breaks. We recommend fewer than 10 talks. When preparing pre-proposals and full proposals, the organizers are encouraged to: - address timeliness of workshop in the proposal: what new insights have been generated (new papers, data, techniques, whatever) over the past few years that make now the right time for discussing them and for presenting them to the wider community? - directly describe how speakers address the central topic, e.g. which are the big question(s), which speakers represent different viewpoints on the same question, which experimentalist addresses the theories addressed by which theoretician (and vice versa); - address controversies and bring together speakers from different “camps” in the same field, or from different fields that you think should talk more to each other for whatever reason; WORKSHOP COSTS Detailed registration costs, etc, will be available at www.cosyne.org. Please note: Cosyne does NOT provide travel funding for workshop speakers. All workshop speakers are expected to pay for workshop registration fees. Participants are encouraged to register early, in order to qualify for discounted registration rates. One complementary (free) organizer registration is provided per workshop. For workshops with 2 organizers, the free registration can be given to one of the organizers or split evenly between them. COSYNE 2019 WORKSHOP CHAIRS Catherine Hartley (NYU) and Ralf Haefner (University of Rochester) QUESTIONS email: workshops [at] cosyne.org COSYNE MAILING LISTS Please consider adding yourself to Cosyne mailing lists (groups) to receive email updates with various Cosyne-related information and join in helpful discussions. See Cosyne.org -> Mailing lists for details.

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POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS, BROWN UNIVERSITY (TRUCCOLO LAB)
by Wilson Truccolo Sept. 10, 2018

Sept. 10, 2018

Applications for post-doctoral positions in Computational Neuroscience are invited for the laboratory of Dr. Wilson Truccolo in the Department of Neuroscience at Brown University, Providence, RI, USA. The positions are for the development of data-driven stochastic models of neuronal network dynamics, including applications to propagation and control of epileptic seizures. Neural data consist of recordings of ensembles of single-neurons and high-density local field potentials obtained via multiple intracortical microelectrode arrays implanted in human and non-human primates. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in computational/theoretical neuroscience and modeling of stochastic neural dynamics. Related publications can be found on the Truccolo lab website ( http://www.truccololab.com/) Inquiries should be addressed to Dr. Truccolo (wilson_truccolo(a)brown.edu) Applications including a CV, statement of research interests, and the names and full contact details of three referees should be sent to wilson_truccolo(a)brown.edu. -- Wilson Truccolo, Ph.D. Pablo J. Salame '88 Goldman Sachs Assistant Professor of Computational Neuroscience Department of Neuroscience & Institute for Brain Science, Brown University Lab website: http://www.truccololab.com/

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Open Ph.D. position on whole-brain calcium imaging at Technical University of Munich
by Gil Westmeyer Sept. 10, 2018

Sept. 10, 2018

We are currently looking for a Ph.D. Student interested in functionally dissecting whole-brain calcium imaging data with cellular resolution obtained from zebrafish larvae undergoing systematic perturbations of neuronal activity. Our laboratory (westmeyerlab.org) at the School of Medicine of Technical University of Munich (https://www.tum.de/nc/en/homepage/) and The Institute for Biological and Medical Imaging (IBMI) http://www.helmholtz-muenchen.de/en/ibmi/ focuses on biological engineering of molecular sensors and actuators for neurobehavioral imaging. We have built a molecular imaging pipeline consisting of state-of-the-art fluorescent imaging techniques including neurobehavioral methods to simultaneously image behavior and brain activity in freely behaving animals (see for example NeuBtracker.org) We complement these dataset with exoeriments conducted by Light Sheet Microscopy and Light Field microscopy to obtain imaging volumes with high temporal sampling and confocal / 2-photon microscopy. We also capture calcium signaling from adult zebrafish and rodent brains using combined acquisitions with optoacoustic tomography or MRI. For our inter-disciplinary work, we are actively collaborating within Europe and in particular also with MIT and Caltech. If you are interested in computational analyses of whole-brain calcium imaging data, please visit westmeyerlab.org and submit a brief statement of your research interests and your CV to Gil Westmeyer.

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postdoc positions in statistical neuroscience
by xaq pitkow Sept. 7, 2018

Sept. 7, 2018

POSITION: We seek several highly motivated postdoctoral research fellows for a collaborative team project building statistical tools for interpreting large scale neural recordings (10^5 neurons per animal). The fellows will develop new methods and applications of probabilistic graphical models to infer statistical interactions amongst neurons and with their environment. The tools will be validated in neural network simulations, tested in physiological recordings, and made widely available to the neuroscience community for understanding data from next-generation experiments. TEAM: Fellows will join principal investigators and theorists Krešimir Josić, Genevera Allen, Xaq Pitkow, Ankit Patel, and Robert Rosenbaum. The team will interact closely with experimentalists including co-Investigator Andreas Tolias and several other labs interested in applying novel methods we develop. Fellows will also be members of the new Center for Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence housed at the Baylor College of Medicine and supported in part by the NSF NeuroNex program. The Center brings together interdisciplinary researchers from across Houston, including members from Baylor College of Medicine, Rice University, University of Houston, and University of Texas Health Sciences. Researchers at the Center contribute diverse expertise in fields including neuroscience, machine learning, statistics, physics, computer science, electrical engineering, and applied mathematics. QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must have outstanding mathematical skills, a PhD in a relevant quantitative discipline, and expertise in probabilistic graphical models or statistical machine learning. APPLYING: Applicants should email a letter of research interests and CV to Camila Lopez (Camila.Lopez at bcm.edu) along with contact information for three references. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Multiple Faculty Positions in Neuroengineering, Rice University
by Caleb Kemere Sept. 7, 2018

Sept. 7, 2018

Multiple Assistant Professor Positions in Neuroengineering Rice University in Houston, Texas Rice University’s School of Engineering invites applicants for multiple open tenure-track faculty positions at the assistant professor level in the emerging and broad area of neuroengineering. Research areas of interest include but are not limited to, development of technologies for interfacing with and manipulating the nervous system, as well as computational, data, and theory-driven approaches to improve our understanding of the function of the brain, neurological disorders, and treatment outcomes. Rice University has recently launched a $50 million initiative in neuroengineering to support growing research and education programs in neuroengineering, signal processing, data science, sensing, and nano-electronics with great national and international visibility. A Ph.D. is required, or the Ph.D. requirements must be fulfilled by July 1 of the year employment commences, and the successful applicants will be required to teach undergraduate and graduate courses and build successful research programs. Applicants should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, statement of research and teaching interests, and at least three references through school’s faculty application website: http://jobs.rice.edu/postings/16626/ Applications for this position will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning December 15, 2018, through January 15, 2019. The positions are expected to be available July 1, 2019, and successful candidates can choose any of the nine departments in the school of engineering as their home department. Additional information can be found on our website: http://neuroengineering.rice.edu/ Caleb Kemere : 713-348-6089 / 832-356-6089 : MS-384 : BRC727 : http://rnel.rice.edu Asst. Prof, Rice University Electrical & Computer Engineering

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Open Faculty Positions in Cognitive and Information Sciences at the University of California, Merced
by David Noelle Sept. 6, 2018

Sept. 6, 2018

Four Open Faculty Positions Assistant Professor of Cognitive and Information Sciences University of California, Merced The Department of Cognitive and Information Sciences (CIS) at the University of California, Merced seeks applicants for four (4) tenure-track faculty positions at the Assistant Professor level. CIS is a highly interdisciplinary group offering bachelor’s degrees in Cognitive Science and Philosophy as well as an intensive research-based PhD in Cognitive and Information Sciences. We seek outstanding scholars who will establish and maintain creative research paradigms, participate actively in the development of interdisciplinary programs, and teach and mentor effectively at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Applicants must have either a strong research record or evidence of the potential to develop an independent and innovative research program. We are especially seeking candidates whose research involves one or more of the following areas: (1) Cognitive and Data Science, (2) Language, Communication, and Culture, and (3) Applied Ethics. Applicants must hold a PhD in a relevant discipline, such as Cognitive Science, Psychology, Philosophy, Neuroscience, Linguistics, Computer Science, or Anthropology, by the position start date, which is anticipated to be July 1, 2019. Applications must be received no later than November 15, 2018 to be considered. For further information, please visit “https://aprecruit.ucmerced.edu/apply/JPF00699”.

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Hearst Postdoc position at Rhodes College in Memphis
by Blustein_Daniel Sept. 5, 2018

Sept. 5, 2018

Dear Colleagues! We are hiring for a unique post-doctoral position in any area of neuroscience for someone from an historically underrepresented minority group. The position has teaching and research responsibilities and can convert to a tenure-track appointment after two years. The ad is below and I'm happy to answer any questions. Sincerely, Dan Blustein Assistant Professor of Psychology Neuroscience Program Rhodes College Phone: 901-843-3963 | Twitter: @bloostein | web: www.danblu.com Neuroscience Hearst Post-Doctoral Fellowship Ad (2018-2019) Rhodes College invites applicants for a two-year William Randolph Hearst Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Neuroscience<http://www.rhodes.edu/neuro> (area of specialization open) for aspiring faculty from historically underrepresented minority groups in higher education. The position will begin in Fall 2019. Candidates completing a successful two-year fellowship will be considered for conversion to a tenure-track appointment. Rhodes College greatly values diversity of faculty, staff, and students. In 1988 Rhodes College received a gift from the William Randolph Hearst Foundations to establish a fellowship for aspiring faculty from underrepresented minority groups. A primary goal of the fellowship is to provide teaching and research experience at a liberal arts college and mentorship toward a successful teacher-scholar career. The successful candidate will contribute to an interdisciplinary Neuroscience major that includes faculty from Biology, Psychology, Chemistry, and Philosophy. Candidates must have earned a Ph.D. in Neuroscience or a related field (e.g., Biology, Psychology, Chemistry) by August 2019. Teaching responsibilities will include 3 lecture or seminar courses per year, including an introductory lecture course in Neuroscience, and a senior seminar course for Neuroscience majors. Research will be supported by start-up funds and lab space. Extensive opportunities for collaborative research are available through our partnerships with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, University of Memphis, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. Founded in 1848, Rhodes College is a highly selective, private, residential, undergraduate college, located in Memphis, Tennessee. We aspire to graduate students with a lifelong passion for learning, a compassion for others, and the ability to translate academic study and personal concern into effective leadership and action in their communities and the world. We encourage applications from candidates interested in helping us achieve this vision<https://www.rhodes.edu/content/rhodes-vision>. Rhodes College values an inclusive and welcoming environment. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity<http://handbook.rhodes.edu/diversity> (http://handbook.rhodes.edu/diversity) in the workforce. Memphis has a metropolitan population of over one million and provides multiple opportunities for research and for cultural and recreational activities<http://www.rhodes.edu/content/our-city> (http://www.rhodes.edu/content/liberal-arts-city) Please apply online at jobs.rhodes.edu<https://jobs.rhodes.edu/>. A complete application includes a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, a statement of teaching philosophy, a research plan, graduate transcripts, up to three representative publications, three letters of recommendation, and a separate statement that addresses how your experiences with teaching, scholarship, and/or service might contribute to a college community that includes a commitment to diversity and inclusion as one of its core values. Please address in your cover letter your interest in a postdoctoral fellowship like the William Randolph Hearst Teaching Fellowship and in teaching at a liberal arts college. Review of completed applications will begin on November 16th and continue until the position is filled. The online application system will solicit letters of recommendation electronically from the candidate's recommenders, once their contact information has been entered and all other required application materials have been submitted. Rhodes College policy requires background checks before candidates can be brought to campus for interviews. For further information, please contact Dr. David Kabelik, kabelikd(a)rhodes.edu<mailto:kabelikd@rhodes.edu>.

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Workshop- Sept 28th, 2018. Latest Advances in Understanding Complex Spatial Navigation
by Fellous, Jean-Marc - (fellous) Sept. 5, 2018

Sept. 5, 2018

WORKSHOP - Friday Sept 28th, 2018 INSERM U1208, Bron/Lyon, France Latest Advances in Understanding Complex Spatial Navigation in Animals, Computational Models and Neuro-inspired Robots The goal of this one-day workshop is to discuss the latest advances in understanding the neural mechanisms of complex spatial navigation using experimental studies in Animals, Computational Neuroscience and Neuro-robotics. The format of the workshop will be 30 minute presentations giving emphasis on studies that relate at least 2 of the 3 techniques (Animals, Computational Neuroscience and Neuro-robotics). The succinct presentation format will allow for ample time for discussion of current and future advances in the area, and collaboration opportunities. Registration is free but required. The workshop will be limited to 30 people. Registration : http://spaq2018.robolat.org/registration Website : http://spaq2018.robolat.org/ Schedule (subject to change, please check the website): 8:45: Peter Dominey: Introduction and Welcome 9:00: Jean-Marc Fellous - Complex Spatial Navigation and the Dorso-Ventral Hippocampal Axis 9:30: Peter Dominey - Cortico-Hippocampal Interaction for Synthesis of Novel Adaptive Experiences 10:00: Alfredo Weitzenfeld - Multi-Scale Spatial Navigation 10:30 - 11:00 Break 11:00: Laurenz Wiskott - Self-Organization of Place Cells in the Hippocampus 11:30: Philippe Gaussier - The Hippocampo-cortical Loop: Spatial and Temporal Dimensions of information Processing 12:15 - 14:00 Lunch 14:00: Sidney Wiener - Navigational Rule and Strategy Related Activity in the Hippocampal-Prefrontal-Striatal System, and Neuromodulator Relations 14:30: Mehdi Khamassi - Hippocampal Replays under the Scrutiny of Reinforcement Learning Models: From Theory to Neurorobotics Experimentation Back to Biology 15:00: Jeff Krichmar - Conjunctive Coding in an Evolved Spiking Model of Retrosplenial Cortex 15:30 - 16:00 Break 16:00: Francesco Battaglia - Chasing Cell Assemblies in Cortico-Hippocampal Neural Ensembles 16:30: Michael Arbib - From Visual Construction and Spatial Navigation to Episodic Memory and Imagination 17:00 - 17:30 Discussion Sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the Agence Nationale pour la Recherche (CRCNS-ANR Collaborative grant) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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