Applications are invited for one full-time PhD studentship for a period of 3 years, at the Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and System Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genoa, Italy. The position will start on Nov 1st, 2023 on the following research project: **Early vision function in silico networks of LIF neurons** One approach to understanding implications of the initial stages of visual processing is ideal observer analysis, which evaluates the information available to support psychophysical discriminations at various stages of the early visual representation. Computational approaches primarily rely on simple generative models, which do not take into account the distinctive properties of individual elementary channels, as well as the active nature of the input sensory pattern. Accordingly, many details remain underrated, as well as their implications on functional vision not fully understood. The project's goal is to develop an “artificial observer” composed of an active event-based camera feeding a neuromorphic multi-layer network of leaky integrate and fire (LIF) neurons. The system should provide the inference engines for relating visual representations to performance on perceptual judgement tasks. Multiple and varying parameters captured under complex, real-life conditions should be comparatively assessed in silicon and human observers. The research will be conducted at the Bioengineering/PSPC labs of DIBRIS. Applicants are expected to: (1) have a Master’s degree in Bioengineering, Computer Science, Physics or related disciplines, (2) have a keen interest in Vision Science and in Artificial Intelligence, (3) have good programming skills in at least one language (MATLAB, C/C++, Python, C#), (4) work well in group problem solving situations, (5) have intermediate communication skills (oral and written in English). Experience in neural modeling is a plus. Prospective students, please contact Silvio P. Sabatini ( silvio.sabatini@unige.it) providing your CV and qualifications, the name and contact details of two references, and a description of your research interests. *Online application is possible till *July 10th , 2023 (12:00 a.m. CET)** Full details on the call and the application procedure are available at: https://unige.it/en/students/phd-programmes https://biorob.phd.unige.it/how-to-apply Regards, -- -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Silvio P. SABATINI, PhD [PSPC Research Group] DIBRIS - University of Genova | e_mail: silvio.sabatini@unige.it Via Opera Pia, 13 | phone: +39 010 33 52092 I-16145 Genova (ITALY) | fax: +39 010 33 56533 URL: http://pspc.unige.it --------------------------------------------------------------------- "Imagination is more important than knowledge..." [Albert Einstein]