PhD opportunities at the University of Edinburgh, UK

[Chris Williams]

PhD opportunities at the Institute for Adaptive and Neural Computation,
University of Edinburgh, UK

The Institute for Adaptive and Neural Computation (ANC,
http://anc.ed.ac.uk) is part of the Division of Informatics at the
University of Edinburgh. The Institute fosters the study of adaptive
processes in both artificial and biological systems. It encourages
interdisciplinary and collaborative work involving the traditional
disciplines of neuroscience, cognitive science, computer science,
computational science, mathematics and statistics. Many of the
information-processing tasks under study draw on a common set of
principles and mathematical techniques for their solution. Combined
study of the adaptive nature of artificial and biological systems
facilitates the many benefits accruing from treating essentially the
same problem from different perspectives.

A principal theme is the study of artificial learning systems. This
includes theoretical foundations (e.g. statistical theory, information
theory), the development of new models and algorithms, and
applications. A second principal theme is the analysis and modelling
of brain processes at all levels of organization with a particular
focus on theoretical developments which span levels. Within this
theme, research areas are broadly defined as the study of the neural
foundations of perception, cognition and action and their underlying
developmental processes. A secondary theme is the construction and
study of computational tools and methods which can support studies in
the two principal themes, such as in the analysis of brain data,
simulation of networks and parallel data mining.

Currently we have PhD studentships available as from 1 October
2001. These are supported by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and by
the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
In addition, the Division of Informatics receives a number of EPSRC
studentships for which students wishing to study within the Institute
for Adaptive and Neural Computation will be considered.  

PLEASE NOTE: Full funding under these studentships is only available to
persons who satisfy a UK residence requirement (see
www.epsrc.ac.uk/Documents/Guides/Students/Annex1.htm for more
details).  Under these studentships funding of university fees (but
not maintenance) is available for EU nationals. To qualify for funding
candidates must also have (or expect to receive) a good honours degree
(1st or upper second class) (or equivalent).

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: 
Formal applications should be made using the University of Edinburgh
Postgraduate Application Form available via
http://www.informatics.ed.ac.uk/prospectus/graduate/research.html
and should be sent to the Faculty of Science and Engineering office.
We wish to award these studentships as soon as possible, therefore
applications should be received by June 15.
Informal enquiries should be made to the contacts given below.


* MRC Ph.D. studentship in Neuroinformatics and Functional MRI 
  (see http://www.anc.ed.ac.uk/CFIS/hiring/MRC-PhD2.html
   for more details).

  Includes realtime methods in functional MRI, reproducibility of
  functional MRI brain imaging, and Bayesian Methods for the analysis 
  of fMRI data.

  Contact: Dr. Nigel Goddard, Nigel.Goddard at ed.ac.uk 

* BBSRC studentship in the analysis of DNA microarray data
  (see http://www.bioss.ac.uk/student/newphdcag3.html for more details)

  Issues include: image analysis, to reduce noise and extract spot
  intensities; identification of differential gene expression between
  pairs of samples on a single microarray; exploratory graphical methods
  for analysing sets of arrays; and Bayesian networks to describe gene
  interactions.

  In collaboration with Dr. Chris Glasbey (Biomathematics &
  Statistics Scotland), c.glasbey at bioss.ac.uk.

  Applicants should have, or shortly expect to obtain, a first
  or upper second class degree in mathematics, statistics, physics
  informatics, mathematical biology, or a related subject. 

  Please send a CV and names of three academic referees to:

     Chris Glasbey
     Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland
     JCMB, King's Buildings
     Edinburgh EH9 3JZ, Scotland

     email: c.glasbey at bioss.ac.uk
     Tel: (44) +131 650 4899
     Fax: (44) +131 650 4901


* The EPSRC studentships are not specifically targeted, and 
  can potentially support work in all areas that ANC works in.
  These include: theoretical and practical issues in machine learning
  and probabilistic modelling (including applications areas such as
  astronomical data mining, analysis of proteomics data, condition
  monitoring of premature babies, etc.); developing computational and 
  mathematical models for the analysis of particular neural systems, 
  in particular (i) models for the functioning of the basal ganglia 
  (ii) models for the growth of optic projections in three-dimensional 
  space; study of human cognitive processes, particularly language-related,
  using computational modeling and/or brain imaging approaches; software
  architectures and computational methods for neuroscience and cognitive
  science, including simulation, visualisation, and databases;
  connectionist cognitive modelling and cognitive modelling based on large
  language corpora, applied to modelling normal and impaired visual word
  recognition and spoken language processing.

  Informal enquiries may be made to Fiona Jamieson, fiona at anc.ed.ac.uk