Dear Computational Neuroscience colleagues,

A postdoctoral position in Computational Neuroscience is available at the University of Bern, Switzerland, at the Department of Physiology, under the supervision of Walter Senn.

The Project. At the intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence, this position offers the opportunity to generalize our recent cortical model of multi-head self-attention toward in-context learning driven by biologically plausible neuronal error-circuits. Our model provides a mechanistic framework that unifies attention-based learning with gradient-based synaptic plasticity.

You will collaborate directly with the team behind The Virtual Brain, applying these network models to study neurological and psychiatric disorders through the lens of disrupted sensory, motor, and cognitive self-attention. Furthermore, your work will integrate with our ongoing research to extend the Neuronal Least-Action Principle into long-term temporal processing and spike-based learning paradigms. Ultimately, you will be tackling a core challenge in the field: harnessing online learning in neuronal circuits to both decode human brain function and architect novel AI algorithms.

Qualifications. A PhD in computational neuroscience, machine learning, physics, applied mathematics, or a related quantitative field. Strong publication track record and excellent mathematical skills.

What We Offer

- An interdisciplinary and international research environment at the frontier of neuroscience and AI, featuring next-door interactions with the Mihai Petrovici and Jean-Pascal Pfister labs, and genuine project ownership.

- Active collaborations across artificial intelligence, experimental neuroscience, and neuromorphic engineering beyond University of Bern. 

- An internationally competitive Swiss salary, and a beautiful workplace in the UNESCO-listed capital of Switzerland, with nature and mountains within walking distance. 

- The position starts with a 1-year contract (flexible starting date, ideally around October 1), with the possibility of extensions.

How to Apply. Please send a single PDF document containing your CV, a statement of research interests, a publication list, and the contact details of two referees to walter.senn@unibe.ch and federico.benitez@unibe.ch.

Informal inquiries are welcome. Applications will be reviewed upon arrival, latest by September 6, 2026; early applications are highly encouraged.

Best regards,

Walter

Department of Physiology, University of Bern