Dear all,

A PhD position in computational neuroscience is available at the Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience Group at the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam (the Netherlands).

The main objective of the project is to investigate the neural mechanisms of multisensory perception and sensory predictions, within the context of a novel theoretical framework of perception and consciousness that is being developed in the Group. These neural mechanisms will be investigated using theoretical and computational approaches based on both biophysically detailed models of corticothalamic circuits and neural network models trained with deep learning strategies. The research is partially funded by the Human Brain Project and will benefit from collaborations with local experimental teams and with other European research groups. The project will be supervised by Jorge Mejias (leader of the Computational Neuroscience Team) and Cyriel Pennartz (head of the Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience Group).

We are seeking a highly qualified and motivated candidate with a Master's degree in neuroscience (with strongly developed quantitative skills) or in a related field, including physics, mathematics, computer science, or biomedical engineering. The candidate is expected to have a solid mathematical background (calculus, differential equations, dynamical systems) and strong programming skills (MATLAB, Python). Knowledge in methods of computational neuroscience and deep learning is a plus. English is the official language of the lab, therefore good English communication skills are expected.

We offer a full-time appointment for a maximum period of four years (18 months plus a further 30 months after a positive performance evaluation) and should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). An educational plan will be drafted that includes attendance to courses and (international) meetings. The gross monthly salary will range from €2,325 in the first year to €2,972 in the final year, according to the Dutch salary scale for PhD candidates. Additional benefits include a holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus (8% and 8.3% of the gross annual salary, respectively) and generous vacation, pension and social security conditions in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities. Candidates coming from abroad might also be eligible for highly attractive tax benefits.

The lab is located in the state-of-the art facilities of the Science Park at the University of Amsterdam, with good communications with other academic facilities and research centers in the city. The University of Amsterdam is one of the top research universities in Europe, with a strong focus on the research area of brain and cognition. Amsterdam is one of the most vibrant cities in Europe, with a rich historical and cultural heritage that includes the UNESCO World Heritage city center and canals, dozens of world-class museums and restaurants, and an exciting nightlife. The city promotes a healthy lifestyle with plenty of outdoor life, parks and recreational areas, an excellent bicycle path network, and an expat-friendly environment.

The deadline for applications is June 6th, 2019. Applications may only be submitted online by following the link below (where additional information is also provided):

https://www.uva.nl/en/content/vacancies/2019/05/19-292-phd-candidate-in-computational-neuroscience.html?Z

Your application must include a CV (including contact details of two academic references) and a letter of motivation. Please combine these documents in one single attachment and also mention the months (not just years) in your CV when referring to your education and work experience. To enable us to process your application immediately, please quote vacancy number 19-292 and the position you are applying for.

For informal inquiries, you may contact Dr. Jorge Mejias (j.f.mejias at uva.nl) of Prof. Cyriel Pennartz (C.M.A.Pennartz at uva.nl).


Kind regards,

Jorge F. Mejias, PhD
Assistant Professor of Computational Neuroscience
Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience Group
Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences
Amsterdam, the Netherlands