We are pleased to advertise 2 PhD studentships at Imperial College London. They are both collaborative and consist of a main computational part and a small experimental part. http://www.imperial.ac.uk/neurotechnology/cdt/projects/computation_for_motor... http://www.imperial.ac.uk/neurotechnology/cdt/projects/hear_with_plasticity/ Application deadline: 29th of January Best, Claudia Clopath http://www.bg.ic.ac.uk/research/c.clopath/ ****** Biologically inspired computation for real-time motor learning Supervisors: Paul Chadderton Claudia Clopath An important area of robotics research is focused on developing machines that can learn and adapt to changing environments as efficiently as animals. Biological principles underlying the acquisition of motor skills are likely to inspire these new technologies. The aim of our project is to characterise computational principles of motor learning in real time using novel neurophysiological data from a uniquely tractable and well-controlled system, the whisker circuitry of the cerebellar cortex. Neural recordings will reveal how the brain adapts during learning, and will then be used to develop and apply a biologically constrained computational model in an actively sensing robot. ****** Learning to hear with plasticity across multiple timescales Supervisors: Dan Goodman Claudia Clopath Paul Chadderton Humans have a remarkable ability to understand speech in noisy environments such as a crowded pub. Despite advances in speech recognition, the question of how we do this remains largely unsolved. This project aims at understanding how the brain adapts and learns to cope with these difficult listening situations, with the goal of developing better technology for speech processing. It will involve (1) developing mathematical and computational models of hearing and neural adaptation and plasticity, (2) experimental testing (including training in animal electrophysiology and human psychoacoustics), and (3) technology development for speech recognition, hearing aids and cochlear implants. The candidate should be willing to learn experimental techniques (animal electrophysiology and/or human psychophysics), but is not required to have any previous experience.