A three-year post-doctoral position in theoretical neuroscience is open to explore the mechanisms of interaction between interoceptive cardiac and exteroceptive tactile inputs at the cortical level. We aim to develop and validate a computational model of cardiac and of a somatosensory cortical circuit dynamics in order to determine the conditions under which interactions between exteroceptive and interoceptive inputs occur and which underlying mechanism (e.g., phase-resetting, gating, phasic arousal,..) best explain experimental data.

The ideal candidate should have a doctoral degree in quantitative discipline (e.g. applied mathematics, physics, engineering) and previous experience with dynamic system approaches to neural function , modelling cortical neural circuits, excellent programming skills coupled with an interest for, and a willingness to learn about, interoception and its influences on neural dynamics, perception and cognition. The candidate will have a unique opportunity to join the project at its very inception and take a key role in the technical and conceptual development.

The postdoctoral fellow will be based  at the Group for Neural Theory at LNC2 , in Boris Gutkin’s team with strong interactions with Catherine Tallon-Baudry’s team. LNC2 is located in the center of Paris within the Cognitive Science Department at Ecole Normale Supérieure, with numerous opportunities to interact with the Paris scientific community at large, in a stimulating and supportive work environment. Group for Neural Theory provides a rich environment and local community for theoretical neuroscience. Lab life is in English, speaking French is not a requirement. Salary according to experience and French rules. Starting date is first semester 2024.

Informal enquiries and applications (CV, motivation letter and contacts for reference) should be sent to boris.gutkin@ens.psl.eu  and catherine.tallon-baudry@ens.psl.eu.  Applications can be sent immediately but application evaluation will begin on Oct 25^th, 2023. Applications received after Oct 25^th will be evaluated on the fly, the position remaining open until filled.