Starting date: Second semester of 2023

 

Supervisors: Benoit Cottereau, research director at CNRS (Contact: benoit.cottereau@cnrs.fr), in close collaboration with Robby Tan, associate professor at National University of Singapore (NUS)

 

Keywords: Computational neurosciences, Spatial cognition, Artificial intelligence (AI), Vision, Spiking neural networks, Event-based cameras.

 

Fully funded PhD fellowships are available to work at the CNRS (Cerco laboratory in Toulouse and also IPAL in Singapore) under the supervision of Benoit Cottereau (CNRS research director), in close collaboration with Robby Tan (assistant professor at NUS, Singapore). The aim of the project is to develop computational models of spatial cognition in humans (e.g., for depth/motion perception or navigation). In order to reproduce the very low energy consumption of visual information processing in biological systems, these models will be based on spiking-neural networks (SNNs) and will process data collected from event-based cameras. These models will be evaluated with respect to biological data (their responses will be compared to those observed in neural recordings and/or in behavioural experiments).

 

The candidates should be willing to work in an international environment which involves Singapore and France, have a good level in English, very good programming skills and be interested in neurobiology. Some knowledge in neurosciences/ cognitive sciences would be a plus.

 

The research will mainly take place in Toulouse, a student city (Toulouse is the second university hub in France) with high quality of life located in the south west of France (close to the Pyrenees, the Mediterranean Sea and the Spanish border). Long stays in Singapore (a multicultural and attractive city of south-east Asia) are also planned. Each of the three positions will be fully funded during the three years of the PhD, with standard French salaries.

 

Applications should be sent to benoit.cottereau@cnrs.fr, including a CV and 2 names of references.