From pfbaldi at ics.uci.edu Mon Apr 5 12:32:41 2004 From: pfbaldi at ics.uci.edu (Pierre Baldi) Date: Mon, 5 Apr 2004 09:32:41 -0700 Subject: Postdoctoral Fellowships in Bioinformatics/Computational Biology and Machine Learning at UCI Message-ID: <001a01c41b2b$9ddd3480$cd04c380@ics.uci.edu> Several NIH-supported postdoctoral positions in the areas of Computational Biology/Bioinformatics and Machine Learning are available in the School of Information and Computer Science ( www.ics.uci.edu) and the Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics ( www.igb.uci.edu) at the University of California, Irvine. Areas of particular interest include: protein structure/function prediction, molecular docking and drug design, chemical informatics, comparative genomics, analysis of high-throughput data (e.g. DNA microarray data ), gene regulation, systems biology, medical informatics, and all areas of machine learning and large scale data analysis. Prospective candidates should apply with a cover letter, CV, statement of research interests and accomplishments, and names and email addresses of 3 referees to be sent, preferably by email, to: pfbaldi at ics.uci.edu. The positions are available starting October 1, 2003 and the duration of the appointments are typically 2 years with possibility of renewal. Relevant faculty in the School include: P. Baldi, R. Dechter, D. Kibler, R. Lathrop, E. Mjolsness, M. Pazzani, P. Smyth , H. Stern, and M. Welling.There are many opportunities for collaboration with life scientists located in other units within short walking distance from the School. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to excellence through diversity. ======================================================================== Pierre Baldi School of Information and Computer Science and Department of Biological Chemistry, College of Medicine Director Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA 92697-3425 (949) 824-5809 (949) 824-4056 FAX www.ics.uci.edu/~pfbaldi From alexandra at gatsby.ucl.ac.uk Wed Apr 7 14:42:08 2004 From: alexandra at gatsby.ucl.ac.uk (Alexandra Boss) Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2004 19:42:08 +0100 Subject: Gatsby Unit post-doctoral positions Message-ID: <001b01c41cd0$084bb0d0$2dd5a8c0@gatsby.ucl.ac.uk> Post-doctoral Research Positions Theoretical Neuroscience The Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit invites applications for post-doctoral research positions in theoretical neuroscience and related areas. The Gatsby Unit is a world-class centre for theoretical neuroscience and machine learning, focusing on unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning, interpretation of neural data, population coding, perceptual processing, neural dynamics, and computational motor control. For further details of our research please see: http://www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/research.html The unit provides a unique environment in which a critical mass of theoreticians interact closely with each other and with other world-class research groups in related departments at University College London, including Anatomy, Computer Science, Functional Imaging Laboratory, Physics, Physiology, Psychology, Neurology, Ophthalmology, and Statistics. The unit's visitor and seminar programmes enable staff and students to engage with leading researchers from across the world. Candidates must have a strong analytical background. Salaries are competitive, based on experience and achievement. Applicants should send in pdf, plain text or Word format a CV, a statement of research interests, and the names and full contact details (including e-mail addresses) of three referees to: admin at gatsby.ucl.ac.uk Applicants are directed to further particulars about the positions at: http://www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/postdocs.html These particulars request provision of standardised monitoring information through completion of an Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form. While e-mail is preferred, candidates may also submit applications in hardcopy to the following address: Unit Administrator, Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, University College London, Alexandra House, 17 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AR, UK The closing date for applications is Friday 14 May 2004 From planning at icsc.ab.ca Wed Apr 7 17:13:58 2004 From: planning at icsc.ab.ca (Jeanny S. Ryffel) Date: Wed, 07 Apr 2004 15:13:58 -0600 Subject: invited sessions and workshop: Neural Coding Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.2.20040407151132.00a44ae0@pop.interbaun.com> Brain Inspired Cognitive Systems (BICS2004) co-sponsored by the IEE WORKSHOP: NEURAL CODING Objective: To discuss how information is coded in early sensory stages, emphasizing the differences as well as similarities among the sensory systems: http://www.cs.stir.ac.uk/~lss/BICS2004/cfp_bics2004_workshop_earlycoding.htm and: INVITED SESSIONS The organization of invited sessions for the BICS conference http://www.icsc-naiso.org/conferences/bics2004/bics-cfp.html is encouraged. Prospective organizers are requested to send a session proposal (consisting of 4-5 invited papers, the recommended session-chair and co-chair, as well as a short statement describing the title and the purpose of the session to the Symposium Chairman or the Symposium Organizer. Invited sessions should preferably start with a tutorial paper. CALL FOR BICS'2004 TUTORIAL AND WORKSHOP PROPOSALS organized in Stirling, Scotland, August 31 - September 1, 2004 The science of neural computation focuses on mathematical aspects for solving complex practical problems. It also seeks to help neurology, brain theory and cognitive psychology in the understanding of the functioning of the nervous system by means of computational models of neurons, neural nets and sub-cellular processes. BICS2004 aims to become a major point of contact for research scientists, engineers and practitioners throughout the world in the fields of cognitive and computational systems inspired by the brain and biology. BICS 2004 is made up of three sections: =95Cognitive Neuro Science (CNS 2004), chaired by Professor Igor Aleksander, Imperial College, London =95Biologically Inspired Systems (BIS 2004) chaired by Prof. Leslie Smith, Stirling University =95Neural Computation (NC'2004), chaired by Dr. Amir Hussain, Stirling University The web page for further information, including early registration, is available at: http://www.icsc-naiso.org/conferences/bics2004/bics-cfp.html Note that IEE members can benefit from specially reduced registration fees. Participants will share the latest research, developments and ideas in the wide arena of disciplines encompassed under the heading of BICS2004. The deadline for tutorial and workshop proposals: April 30, 2004 The tutorials will be held on August 29, 2004 immediately prior to the start of the main conference. IMPORTANT DATES April 30, 2004: Deadline for proposals May 10, 2004: Notification of acceptance July 1, 2004: Deadline for tutorial summaries TBA: Publication of tutorial/workshop programme TBA: Camera-ready tutorial notes August 29, 2004: Tutorials and workshop at BICS We invite proposals for 1 to 1.5 hour tutorials on topics relating to theoretical and applied BICS. The aim is to offer conference delegates both tutorials on up-to-date BICS technologies, and case study tutorials on the application of the technologies to real-world problems. A case study of a working Neural Network application in commerce or= industry. A state-of-the art tutorial on some specific recent technique in Neural Networks or Biologically Inspired Systems or Cognitive Neuroscience. Please forward your proposals by the deadline to the BICS Scientific Chair: Prof. Leslie Smith, Stirling (Email: lss at cs.stir.ac.uk) We offer free access to the entire conference for the organizers (minimum 5 fully registered attendees to be generated by proposed and accepted event) Note that authors of selected papers will be invited to submit an extended version of their paper for publication in a special issue of the Neurocomputing Journal, published by Elsevier Science B.V. visit our BICS page for the scientific program, speakers, etc! http://www.icsc-naiso.org/conferences/bics2004/keynotes.html http://www.icsc-naiso.org/conferences/bics2004/tutorials.html BICS'2004 Sponsors: Imperial College, London, UK University of Stirling, UK EPSRC Novel Computation Cluster IEE ICSC Interdisciplinary Research From d.lowe at aston.ac.uk Wed Apr 7 05:51:56 2004 From: d.lowe at aston.ac.uk (D LOWE) Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2004 10:51:56 +0100 Subject: Postdoc position at NCRG Message-ID: Aston University Neural Computing Research Group School of Engineering & Applied Science Research Fellow 18,893 to 28,279 per annum (Fixed Term Appointment) Applications are invited for an experienced postdoctoral research fellow to work as part of a large collaborative activity on exploiting an individuals' `bioprofile' for improved healthcare management. We are particularly interested in the improved inference capabilities for diagnosis, prognosis and clinical decision making of exploiting the fusion of disparate information sources. The research project will also involve looking at developing automated strategies which account for uncertainties in data, models and architectures. This research activity is part of a large collaborative European FP6 consortium (BioPattern) and will require strong interaction and a degree of travel amongst various partners who are involved in the consortium. Applicants should have excellent mathematical and computational skills, and preferably a background in statistical inference, medical bioinformatics, machine learning, or data fusion. This contract is offered as a fixed term contract with an end date of 31 December 2006 in the first instance. Further details on the research project can be found on http://www.ncrg.aston.ac.uk . Application forms and further particulars are available on our personnel web site: http://www.aston.ac.uk/hr/Recruitment, or by telephoning: 0121 359 0870 (24 hour answerphone), or by email: b.a.power at aston.ac.uk, quoting reference number R04/92/152 Closing date for the receipt of applications: 30th April 2004 From mlsp04 at neuro.kuleuven.ac.be Wed Apr 7 06:07:59 2004 From: mlsp04 at neuro.kuleuven.ac.be (Machine Learning for Signal Processing 2004) Date: Wed, 07 Apr 2004 12:07:59 +0200 Subject: Machine Learning for Signal Processing 2004 in Brazil: CFP Message-ID: <4073D2FF.3CA1FFA0@neuro.kuleuven.ac.be> ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2004 IEEE International Workshop on Machine Learning for Signal Processing (Formerly the IEEE Workshop on Neural Networks for Signal Processing) September 29 - October 1st, 2004 Sao Luis, Brazil Paper Submission by April 15 2004 -------------------------------------------http://isp.imm.dtu.dk/mlsp2004/ The fourteenth in a series of IEEE MLSP, sponsored by the IEEE Signal Processing society will be held in Sao Luis, Brazil. (http://www.turismo.ma.gov.br/en/) This is a continuation of a series of workshops named Neural Networks for Signal Processing (NNSP). The technical committee decided to change the name to better reflect the community scope, and the rapid changes in the field. We are proud to inform you that the following speakers have confirmed to give a talk: Erkki Oja: "Beyond independent component analysis" Petar Djuric: "Particle Filtering" SY Kung: "Data Mining for Microarray Bioinformatic Processing" More detailed abstracts of these talks are soon available at http://isp.imm.dtu.dk/mlsp2004/ Papers are solicited for, but not limited to, the following areas: Algorithms and Architectures: Artificial neural networks, kernel methods, committee models, Gaussian processes, independent component analysis, advanced (adaptive, nonlinear) signal processing, (hidden) Markov models, Bayesian modeling, parameter estimation, generalization, optimization, design algorithms. Applications: Speech processing, image processing (computer vision, OCR), multimodal interactions, multi-channel processing, intelligent multimedia and web processing, robotics, sonar and radar, bio-medical engineering, financial analysis, time series prediction, blind source separation, data fusion, datamining, adaptive filtering, communications, sensors, system identification, and other signal processing and pattern recognition applications. Implementations: Parallel and distributed implementation, hardware design, and other general implementation technologies. -------------------------MLSP'2004 webpage: http://isp.imm.dtu.dk/mlsp2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- From Mayank_Mehta at brown.edu Thu Apr 8 18:26:23 2004 From: Mayank_Mehta at brown.edu (Mayank R. Mehta) Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2004 18:26:23 -0400 Subject: Paper available: Cooperative LTP can map memory sequences on dendritic branches Message-ID: The following paper is available at http://neuroscience.brown.edu/mehta/HOME.html Title: Cooperative LTP can map memory sequences on dendritic branches Abstract: Hebbian synaptic learning requires co-activation of presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons. However, under some conditions, information regarding the postsynaptic action potential, carried by backpropagating action potentials, can be strongly degraded before it reaches the distal dendritic synapse. Can these synapses still exhibit Hebbian long-term potentiation (LTP)? Recent results show that LTP can indeed occur at synapses on distal dendrites of hippocampal CA1 neurons, even in the absence of a postsynaptic somatic spike. Instead, local dendritic spikes contribute to the depolarization required to induce LTP. Here, a dendritically constrained synaptic learning rule is proposed, which suggests that nearby synapses can encode temporally contiguous events. -Mayank Mayank R. Mehta Assistant Professor Department of Neuroscience Brown University PO Box 1953 190 Thayer Street Providence, RI 02912-1953 Phone: 401 863 9727 Fax: 401 863 1074 email: Mayank_Mehta at brown.edu URL: http://neuroscience.brown.edu/mehta.html From schunn+ at pitt.edu Fri Apr 9 09:11:47 2004 From: schunn+ at pitt.edu (Christian Schunn) Date: Fri, 09 Apr 2004 09:11:47 -0400 Subject: need reviewers for ICCM2004 Message-ID: Dear cognitive modelers, We are seeking reviewers for ICCM2004. We have a strong set of paper submissions and an excellent set of Program Committee Members to supervise the review process. If you have some expertise in any form of computational cognitive modeling, we hope that you would consider signing up to review some papers for ICCM. (For those of you who are already reviewers and PC members, thank you.) You will have the ability to say how many papers you are willing to do within the system. To sign up to be a reviewer, go to the submission website: https://precisionconference.com/~iccm If you already have an account in the system, either from submitting or reviewing for cogsci or submitting for iccm, you don't need to create and account. Just login. Otherwise, click on the 'create your own account link'. Once you have an account and are logged in, select the volunteer to review link. In the system, one first signs up to review generally within the system. Because we share the system with the cogsci conference (and they paid), it will look a little like you are signing up to review for cogsci. But fear not and more forward. After you have volunteered to review generally, the system will ask you to say which conference you are reviewing for. Here you select ICCM and list how many papers you are willing to review. We are hoping you will volunteer for at least 4, but we will take what we can get. Make sure you also tell the system your areas of expertise, so that PC members can be guided towards giving you the papers closest to your areas of expertise. From that point on, the system and our PC members will assign papers to you and you will receive emails alerting you to that activity. Thanks for your help. The quality of the conference depends upon your contributions. -Chris, Paul, Marsha, & Christian -- ====================================================== Christian Schunn Assistant Professor of Psychology, Intelligent Systems, and Education Research Scientist, Learning Research & Development Center University of Pittsburgh schunn at pitt.edu, http://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/schunn ====================================================== From Alain.Destexhe at iaf.cnrs-gif.fr Sat Apr 10 12:27:00 2004 From: Alain.Destexhe at iaf.cnrs-gif.fr (Alain Destexhe) Date: Sat, 10 Apr 2004 18:27:00 +0200 Subject: Update for The Obidos Course in Computational Neuroscience Message-ID: <40782054.56BF66C6@iaf.cnrs-gif.fr> Dear Colleagues, There seems to have been a confusion regarding the closing date of the applications for the Obidos course. The deadline for applications is April 23rd, but the deadline for receiving recommendation letters is April 30th. The applicants are responsible for making sure that the recommendation letters reach us by that time. Please note that this course is open to anyone regardless of the country of origin. We have special funding (IBRO) to support students from unfavored countries Below is the updated list of faculty Looking forward to see you in Portugal! Best wishes, Alain Destexhe ------------------------------ ADVANCED COURSE IN COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE (AN IBRO NEUROSCIENCE SCHOOL) August 16th - September 10th, 2004 MUNICIPALITY OF OBIDOS, PORTUGAL DIRECTORS: Ad Aertsen (University of Freiburg, Germany) Peter Dayan (University College London, UK) Alain Destexhe (CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France) Eilon Vaadia (Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel) The Advanced Course in Computational Neuroscience introduces students to the panoply of problems and methods of computational neuroscience, addressing issues of neural organization from sub-cellular to network and inter-areal levels. The course has two complementary parts. Mornings are devoted to lectures given by distinguished international faculty on topics across the breadth of experimental and computational neuroscience. During the rest of the day, students are given practical training in the art and practice of neural modeling, largely through the medium of their individual choice of model systems. The first week of the course introduces students to essential neurobiological concepts and to the most important techniques in modelling single cells, networks and neural systems. Students learn how to solve their research problems using software packages such as GENESIS, MATLAB, NEST, NEURON, XPP, etc. During the following three weeks the lectures cover specific brain areas and functions. Topics range from modelling single cells and subcellular processes through the simulation of simple circuits, large neuronal networks and system level models of the brain. The course ends with project presentations by the students. The Advanced Course in Computational Neuroscience is designed for advanced graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in a variety of disciplines, including neuroscience, physics, electrical engineering, computer science, mathematics and psychology. Students are expected to have a keen interest and basic background in neurobiology as well as some computer experience. Students of any nationality can apply. A maximum of 30 students will be accepted. There will be a fee of EUR 800,- per student covering costs for lodging, meals and other course expenses. Depending on funding, there will be a limited limited number of tuition fee waivers and travel stipends available for students who need financial help for attending the course. We have received IBRO funding to provide full travel and fee support for 4-5 students from developing countries. These students will be accepted according to the normal selection procedure. We specifically encourage applications from researchers who work in the developing world. Applications, including a description of the target project must be submitted electronically (see below) and should be accompanied by two letters of recommendation (also sent electronically). Applications will be assessed by a committee, with selection being based on the following criteria: the scientific quality of the candidate (CV) and of the project, the letters, and evidence that the course affords substantial benefit to the candidate's training. More information and application forms can be obtained from: http://www.neuroinf.org/courses/EUCOURSE/EU04 Please apply electronically using a web browser. Contact address: - mail: Camilla Bruns, FR2-1, Fakultaet IV, Technical University of Berlin, Franklinstrasse 28/29, 10587 Berlin, Germany - e-mail: bruns at cs.tu-berlin.de APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 23, 2004 DEADLINE FOR LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: April 30, 2004 Applicants will be notified of the results of the selection procedures by end of May 2004. CONFIRMED FACULTY: Moshe Abeles, Hebrew University, Israel Ad Aertsen, University of Freiburg, Germany Amos Arieli, Weizmann Institute, Israel Nicolas Brunel, CNRS, France Peter Dayan, University College London, UK Erik de Schutter, University of Antwerp, Belgium Alain Destexhe, CNRS, France Marcus Diesmann, University of Freiburg, Germany Wulfram Gerstner, EPFL, Switzerland Mike Hausser, University College London, UK Michael Hines, Yale University, USA Gwendael LeMasson, University of Bordeaux, France Siegried Loewel, Magdeburg University, Germany Israel Nelken, Hebrew University, Israel Miguel Nicolelis, Duke University, USA Hans-Ekkehard Plesser, Agricultural University, Norway John Rinzel, New York University, USA Arnd Roth, Max Planck Inst. Heidelberg, Germany Michael Rudolph, CNRS, France Edward Stern, Harvard University, USA Tali Tishby, Hebrew University, Israel Alex Thomson, University College London, UK Tali Tishby, Hebrew University, Israel Anne-Elise Tobin, Emory University, USA Misha Tsodyks, Weizmann Institute, Israel Eilon Vaadia, Hebrew University, Israel Charlie Wilson, University of Texas San Antonio, USA Matt Wilson, MIT, USA Li Zhaoping, University College London, UK From cindy at bu.edu Fri Apr 9 10:51:55 2004 From: cindy at bu.edu (Cynthia Bradford) Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2004 10:51:55 -0400 Subject: Neural Networks 17(4) Message-ID: <072f01c41e42$34328f20$903dc580@cnspc31> NEURAL NETWORKS 17(4) Contents - Volume 17, Number 4 - 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------ ***** Neuroscience and Neuropsychology ***** How laminar frontal cortex and basal ganglia circuits interact to control planned and reactive saccades Joshua W. Brown, Daniel Bullock, and Stephen Grossberg ARTSTREAM: A neural network model of auditory scene analysis and source segregation Stephen Grossberg, Krishna Govindarajan, Lonce L. Wyse, and Michael A. Cohen ***** Mathematical and Computational Analysis ***** Some sufficient conditions for global exponential stability of delayed Hopfield neural networks Hongtao Lu, Fu-Lai Chung, and Zhenya He Bifurcation analysis on a two-neuron system with distributed delays in the frequency domain Xiaofeng Liao, Shaowen Li, and Guanrong Chen The MDF discrimination measure: Fisher in disguise Marco Loog, Robert P.W. Duin, and Max A. Viergever GenSo-EWS: A novel neural-fuzzy based early warning system for predicting bank failures W.L. Tung, C. Quek, and P. Cheng ***** Engineering and Design ***** New training strategies for constructive neural networks with application to regression problems L. Ma and K. Khorasani CURRENT EVENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------ Electronic access: www.elsevier.com/locate/neunet/. Individuals can look up instructions, aims & scope, see news, tables of contents, etc. Those who are at institutions which subscribe to Neural Networks get access to full article text as part of the institutional subscription. Sample copies can be requested for free and back issues can be ordered through the Elsevier customer support offices: nlinfo-f at elsevier.nl usinfo-f at elsevier.com or info at elsevier.co.jp ------------------------------ INNS/ENNS/JNNS Membership includes a subscription to Neural Networks: The International (INNS), European (ENNS), and Japanese (JNNS) Neural Network Societies are associations of scientists, engineers, students, and others seeking to learn about and advance the understanding of the modeling of behavioral and brain processes, and the application of neural modeling concepts to technological problems. Membership in any of the societies includes a subscription to Neural Networks, the official journal of the societies. Application forms should be sent to all the societies you want to apply to (for example, one as a member with subscription and the other one or two as a member without subscription). The JNNS does not accept credit cards or checks; to apply to the JNNS, send in the application form and wait for instructions about remitting payment. The ENNS accepts bank orders in Swedish Crowns (SEK) or credit cards. The INNS does not invoice for payment. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Membership Type INNS ENNS JNNS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- membership with $80 (regular) SEK 660 Y 13,000 Neural Networks (plus Y 2,000 enrollment fee) $20 (student) SEK 460 Y 11,000 (plus Y 2,000 enrollment fee) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- membership without $30 SEK 200 not available to Neural Networks non-students (subscribe through another society) Y 5,000 student (plus Y 2,000 enrollment fee) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name: _____________________________________ Title: _____________________________________ Address: _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ Phone: _____________________________________ Fax: _____________________________________ Email: _____________________________________ Payment: [ ] Check or money order enclosed, payable to INNS or ENNS OR [ ] Charge my VISA or MasterCard card number ____________________________ expiration date ________________________ INNS Membership 19 Mantua Road Mount Royal NJ 08061 USA 856 423 0162 (phone) 856 423 3420 (fax) innshq at talley.com http://www.inns.org ENNS Membership University of Skovde P.O. Box 408 531 28 Skovde Sweden 46 500 44 83 37 (phone) 46 500 44 83 99 (fax) enns at ida.his.se http://www.his.se/ida/enns JNNS Membership c/o Professor Shozo Yasui Kyushu Institute of Technology Graduate School of Life Science and Engineering 2-4 Hibikino, Wakamatsu-ku Kitakyushu 808-0196 Japan 81 93 695 6108 (phone and fax) jnns at brain.kyutech.ac.jp http://www.jnns.org/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From terry at salk.edu Wed Apr 14 00:47:40 2004 From: terry at salk.edu (Terry Sejnowski) Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2004 21:47:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: NEURAL COMPUTATION 16:5 In-Reply-To: <200403160450.i2G4ofc88310@purkinje.salk.edu> Message-ID: <200404140447.i3E4leM16495@dax.salk.edu> Neural Computation - Contents - Volume 16, Number 5 - May 1, 2004 LETTERS Spike Timing-Dependent Plasticity: The Relationship to Rate-Based Learning for Models with Weight Dynamics Determined a Stable Fixed-Point Anthony N. Burkitt, Hamish Meffin and David B. Grayden Estimating The Temporal Interval Entropy of Neuronal Discharge George N. Reeke and Allan D. Coop Dynamic Analysis of Neural Encoding Point Process Adaptive Filtering Uri T. Eden, Loren M. Frank, Riccardo Barbieri, Victor Solo, and Emery N. Brown Odor-Driven Attractor Dynamics in the Antennal Lobe Allow for Simple and Rapid Olfactory Pattern Classification Roberto Fdez. Galan, Silke Sachse, C. Giovanni Galizia, and Andreas V.M. Herz Neural Mechanisms for the Robust Representation of Junctions Thorsten Hansen and Heiko Neumann Greedy Learning of Multiple Objects in Images Using Robust Statistics and Factorial Learning Christopher K. I. Williams and Michalis K. Titsias Are Loss Functions All the Same? Lorenzo Rosasco, Ernesto De Vito, Andrea Caponnetto, Michele Piana and Alessandro Verri Trading Variance Reduction with Unbiasedness -- The Regularized Subspace Information Criterion for Robust Model Selection in Kernel Regression Masashi Sugiyama, Motoaki Kawanabe and Klaus-Robert Muller ----- ON-LINE - http://neco.mitpress.org/ SUBSCRIPTIONS - 2004 - VOLUME 16 - 12 ISSUES Electronic only USA Canada* Others USA Canada* Student/Retired $60 $64.20 $108 $54 $57.78 Individual $95 $101.65 $143 $85 $90.95 Institution $635 $679.45 $689 $572 $612.04 * includes 7% GST MIT Press Journals, 5 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142-9902. Tel: (617) 253-2889 FAX: (617) 577-1545 journals-orders at mit.edu ----- From nik.kasabov at aut.ac.nz Tue Apr 13 21:47:08 2004 From: nik.kasabov at aut.ac.nz (Nik Kasabov) Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 13:47:08 +1200 Subject: ICONIP 2004 Message-ID: Dear Colleagues, We have received an excellent response from researchers from all over the world for ICONIP 2004, which will be held in November 22 - 25, 2004 in the Science City, Calcutta, India. We have also received many requests to extend the deadline. In order to enable more researchers to take part in ICONIP 2004, we have extended the deadline for paper submission to May 7, 2004. If you and your colleagues have not submitted your contribution, please do so at your earliest convenience. We look forward to welcoming you in November in Calcutta. Here are the key-dates: Papers submission Extended to MAY 7, 2004 Tutorial / Special session proposals June 30, 2004 Acceptance notification July 15, 2004 Camera-ready copy due August 30, 2004 Early Registration September 15, 2004 Further Details : See web : http://www.isical.ac.in/~iconip04 or email at : iconip04 at isical.ac.in or write to : Conference Secretariat, ICONIP 2004 Electronics & Communication Sciences Unit Indian Statistical Institute 203 B. T. Road, Calcutta 700 108, INDIA Best regards Nikhil R. Pal and Nik Kasabov General Chair Program Chair Prof. Nik Kasabov, MSc, PhD FRSNZ, FNZCS, SrMIEEE Founding Director and Chief Scientist - Knowledge Engineering and Discovery Research Institute, KEDRI Chair of Knowledge Engineering, School of Computer and Information Sciences Auckland University of Technology phone: +64 9 917 9506 ; fax: +64 9 917 9501 WWW http://www.kedri.info email: nkasabov at aut.ac.nz (PA Joyce D'Mello: jdmello at aut.ac.nz; +64 9 917 9504) From Manuel.Davy at irccyn.ec-nantes.fr Wed Apr 14 06:28:00 2004 From: Manuel.Davy at irccyn.ec-nantes.fr (Manuel.Davy@irccyn.ec-nantes.fr) Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 11:28:00 +0100 Subject: Machine Learning Summer School - Call for participation Message-ID: <1081938480.407d1230f0170@www.irccyn.ec-nantes.fr> * Apologises if you receive this email several times * CALL FOR PATICIPATION ----------------------------------------------------- MACHINE LEARNING SUMMER SCHOOL 2004 September 12-25, 2004, Berder Island, France http://www.irccyn.ec-nantes.fr/mlschool/ ----------------------------------------------------- Organised by CNRS (France), MPI for Biological Cybernetics, Tuebingen (Germany) and the ANU (Australia) **** Applications are now open **** **** Deadline for application is May 9th 2004 **** **** For application, please visit our web site **** The Summer School is intended for students and researchers alike, who are interested in Machine Learning. Its goal is to present some of the topics which are at the core of modern Learning Theory. The school will be held in Berder Island, France between the 12th and the 25th of September, 2004. During this time, we shall present seven courses of 4 to 8 hours, each one covering one of the topics listed below. In addition, there will be evening talks which will focus on additional topics. Three practical sessions will be organized in small groups. The goal is to provide a 'hands-on' experience of working with machine learning algorithms. Lectures: * Graphical Models and Variational Methods (C. Bishop, Microsoft Research) * Computer Vision (A. Blake, Microsoft Research) * Advanced Statistical Learning Theory (O. Bousquet, MPI Tuebingen) * Regularization (S.Canu, INSA Rouen) * Simulation Methods (M. Davy, IRCCyN Nantes) * Information Retrieval and Text Mining (T. Hofmann, Brown University) * Optimization and Control (J. Moore and K. Hueper, ANU Canberra) * Boosting (G. Raetsch, MPI Tuebingen & Fraunhofer Berlin) * Kernel Methods I (B. Schoelkopf, MPI Tuebingen) * Statistical Learning Theory (J. Shawe-Taylor , Southampton) * Kernel Methods II (A. Smola, ANU Canberra) * Empirical Inference (V. Vapnik, NEC Research) * Signal Processing (R. Williamson, ANU Canberra) * Machine Learning in Bioinformatics (A. Zien, MPI Tuebingen) * Title to come. (D. Achlioptas, Microsoft Research) Practical sessions: * Semi-supervised Learning (O. Chapelle, MPI Tuebingen) * Simulation Methods (Manuel Davy, IRCCyN Nantes) * Independent Component Analysis (A. Gretton, MPI Tuebingen) MLSS organization committee Olivier Bousquet Manuel Davy Frederic Desobry Bernhard Schoelkopf Alex Smola mlss04 at mlss.cc From hochreit at cs.tu-berlin.de Thu Apr 15 11:25:54 2004 From: hochreit at cs.tu-berlin.de (Josef Hochreiter) Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2004 17:25:54 +0200 (MEST) Subject: paper available: Classification / Feature Selection on Matrix Data Message-ID: Apologies for multiple postings. Dear Colleagues, we would like to announce the following technical report: "Classification, Regression, and Feature Selection on Matrix Data" by Sepp Hochreiter and Klaus Obermayer Abstract --------------------------------------------------------------------- We describe a new technique for the analysis of data which is given in matrix form. We consider two sets of objects, the ``row'' and the ``column'' objects, and we represent these objects by a matrix of numerical values which describe their mutual relationships. We then introduce a new technique, the ``Potential Support Vector Machine'' (P-SVM), as a large-margin based method for the construction of classifiers and regression functions for the ``column'' objects. Contrary to standard support vector machine (SVM) approaches, the P-SVM minimizes a scale-invariant capacity measure under a new set of constraints. As a result, the P-SVM can handle data matrices which are neither positive definite nor square, and leads to a usually sparse expansion of the classification boundary or the regression function in terms of the ``row'' rather than the ``column'' objects. We introduce two complementary regularization schemes in order to avoid overfitting for noisy data sets. The first scheme improves generalization performance for classification and regression problems, the second scheme leads to the selection of a small and informative set of ``row'' objects and can be applied to feature selection. A fast optimization algorithm based on the ``Sequential Minimal Optimization'' (SMO) technique is provided. We first apply the new method to so-called pairwise data, i.e. ``row'' and ``column'' objects are from the same set. Pairwise data can be represented in two ways. The first representation uses vectorial data and constructs a Gram matrix from feature vectors using a kernel function. Benchmark results show, that the P-SVM method provides superior classification and regression results and has the additional advantages that kernel functions are no longer restricted to be positive definite. The second representation uses a measured matrix of mutual relations between objects rather than vectorial data. The new classification and regression method performs very well compared to standard techniques on benchmark data sets. More importantly, however, experiments show that the P-SVM can be very effectively used for feature selection. Then we apply the P-SVM to genuine matrix data, where ``row'' and ``column'' objects are from different sets, and, again, the data matrix is either constructed via a kernel function combining ``row'' and ``column'' objects or obtained by measurements. On various benchmark data sets we demonstrate the new method's excellent performance for classification, regression, and feature selection problems. For both pairwise and matrix data benchmarks are performed not only with toy data, but also with several real world data sets including data from the UCI repository, protein classification, web-page classification, and DNA microarray data. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- URL (under ``Theses and Tech. Reports''): http://ni.cs.tu-berlin.de/publications/ni-pubs-mlearn.html FTP: ftp://ftp.cs.tu-berlin.de/pub/local/ni/papers/Hochreiter04techrep.ps.gz Sincerely Yours, Sepp Hochreiter From j.van.pelt at nih.knaw.nl Thu Apr 15 07:45:17 2004 From: j.van.pelt at nih.knaw.nl (Jaap van Pelt) Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2004 13:45:17 +0200 Subject: Postdoctoral Position - Computational Neuroscience - Neuronal Network Modeling Message-ID: <407E75CD.3040200@nih.knaw.nl> POSTDOC M/F (Computational Neuroscience) Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Research in the workgroup Neurons & Networks of the Netherlands Institute for Brain Research (NIBR) is focused on plasticity and information processing in cortical neuronal networks. Experimental and computational approaches are integrated. The workgroup participates in the research project Computational Analysis of Spatiotemporal Patterns of Activity in Neuronal Networks (CASPAN), a project supported by the NWO Program Computational Life Sciences. Within the CASPAN research team there is a vacancy for a 3-year Postdoc position. Project description: The project aims at describing and understanding the patterns of activity of nerve cells synaptically connected in neuronal networks. The project builds on recent developments in experimental techniques within the participating research groups for simultaneously recording neuronal activity from a large number of neurons in the network (e.g. in cortical brain slices and cultured neuronal networks). To be able to analyze and interpret the flood of data these new techniques produce, we intend to develop (i) mathematical and statistical methods for analyzing spatiotemporal patterns of neuronal activity, and (ii) computational models of neuronal networks to simulate these patterns and understand them in relation to structural and functional connectivity within the network. The methods and models will be validated with the extensive data we have on spatiotemporal patterns in cortical brain slices and cultured neuronal networks. The CASPAN project builds on a close collaboration between the Neurons & Networks research group at the NIBR, the Experimental Neurophysiology Research Group at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and the Statistics Research Group of the Institute for Mathematics at the Vrije Universiteit. The three subprojects carried out by these groups concentrate on (a) macroscopic neural network models, (b) detailed cortical microcircuit models, and (c) statistical methods for analyzing spatiotemporal activity patterns, respectively. Postdoc job description for subproject (a): Development of a large scale neuronal network model with realistic functional and structural connectivity to simulate neuronal activity in cortical brain slices and cultured neuronal networks. The research includes (1) the development of a stochastic model for generating network structure, replicating the neuronal composition and connectivity in cortical brain slices and in cultured neuronal networks; (2) modeling studies of the neuronal activity and spatiotemporal patterns of activity within these model networks, and (3) validation and comparison with the experimental data from cortical brain slices and cultured neuronal networks. Requirements: Ideally, the candidate should have a PhD in computational neuroscience. Proven experience in computer programming and in modeling activity in neuronal networks, for example with the computer package NEURON, is required. Job conditions: Full time postdoc position for a period of three years. Place of research: Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Meibergdreef 33, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Inquiries: Additional information can be obtained from the project WEBsite http://www.neurodynamics.nl, or directly from Dr. J. van Pelt, (T) +31-20-5665481; (F) +31-20-6961006; (E) j.van.pelt at nih.knaw.nl , or from Dr. A. van Ooyen, (T) +31-20-5665483; (F) +31-20-6961006; (E) a.van.ooyen at nih.knaw.nl. Written applications, including a curriculum vitae, can be sent to: Dr. J. van Pelt, Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Meibergdreef 33, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. -- Dr. Jaap van Pelt Research Group Neurons & Networks Netherlands Institute for Brain Research Meibergdreef 33, 1105 AZ Amsterdam (Tel) +31 20 5665481; (Fax) +31 20 6961006 (Email) j.van.pelt at nih.knaw.nl (URL) http://www.nih.knaw.nl/~jaapvanpelt/ From bogus@does.not.exist.com Fri Apr 16 04:22:43 2004 From: bogus@does.not.exist.com () Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2004 09:22:43 +0100 Subject: Post-Doctoral RA Positions in Musical Audio Coding / Audio Source Separation Message-ID: <9467D8ACC71D1140B4278C4C529811615BD6F1@elec-mail.vpn.elec.qmul.ac.uk> From vittorio.sanguineti at unige.it Fri Apr 16 05:09:55 2004 From: vittorio.sanguineti at unige.it (Vittorio Sanguineti) Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2004 11:09:55 +0200 Subject: 2nd Announcement and Program: 2nd EUROPEAN SCHOOL OF NEUROENGINEERING "MASSIMO GRATTAROLA" Message-ID: <407FA2E3.2070902@unige.it> Apologies for multiple postings.... Vittorio Sanguineti *********************************************************************** 2nd EUROPEAN SCHOOL OF NEUROENGINEERING "MASSIMO GRATTAROLA" nEUro-IT.net University of Genova Telecom Italia Learning Services GENOVA (ITALY), 9-12 JUNE 2004 *********************************************************************** PROGRAM CHAIRS: V. Sanguineti (I), S. Martinoia (I), A.K. Engel (D) WEBSITES: www.bio.dibe.unige.it/news_and_events/news_and_events_frames.htm www.tils.com/neurobit The school, named after Massimo Grattarola who initiated the series in 2000, will be held from June 9 to June 12, 2004 at Villa Cambiaso in downtown Genova, 2004 European Capital of Culture (www.genova-2004.it) This year, the School will place a special emphasis in exploring the implications of neuroengineering for neurorehabilitation. The School will feature lectures, held by renowned experts of the field (organized into thematic sessions), on both theoretical and technical aspects, and student presentations (one dedicated session per day). PROGRAM Wed June 9: NEURAL PLASTICITY AND NEURAL CODING Keynote speech (M.A. Nicolelis) NEURAL PLASTICITY: NEUROBIOLOGY Insights on neuroplasticity and memory from multisite recordings from monkey cortex (M. Munk) Adaptation and learning in ex-vivo developing networks (S. Marom) NEURAL CODING: MODELLING AND THEORETICAL APPROACHES Modelling learning and memory using goal functions and timing-dependent learning rules (P. K?nig) Cortical Coding of Visual Information (S.P. Sabatini) Thu June 10: NEURAL INTERFACES AND BIO-ARTIFICIAL SYSTEMS IMAGING THE LIVING BRAIN Self-regulation of local brain activity using real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (R. Goebel) Solving The Neuroimaging Puzzle: Multimodal Integration Of Neuroelectromagnetic And Functional Magnetic Resonance Recordings (F. Babiloni) NEURAL INTERFACES Estimation of cortical activity from non invasive EEG recordings for Brain Computer Interface applications (F. Babiloni) Coding and decoding of neural information in bi-directional neural interfaces (S. Martinoia/V. Sanguineti) Towards information processing by natural neural networks (A. Blau) Fri June 11: NEUROPROSTHESES AND NEUROREHABILITATION NEUROPROSTHESES Brain-machine interfaces to restore motor function and probe neural circuits (M.A. Nicolelis) A systems engineering approach to neuroengineering (U. Hofmann) NEUROREHABILITATION TECHNOLOGIES Transcranial magnetic stimulation in neurorehabilitation (G. Abbruzzese) Vibration as a tool to understand sensorimotor integration (M. Bove) Haptic interfaces and rehabilitation (P.G. Morasso) Sat June 12: NEUROENGINEERING OF MIND Neural mechanisms of conscious perceptual selection (A.K. Engel) An engineering control approach to attention and consciousness (J. G. Taylor) Epigenetic robotics (G. Sandini) Models of consciousness (V. Tagliasco) SPEAKERS Giovanni Abbruzzese, University of Genova (ITALY) Fabio Babiloni, University of Rome I (ITALY) Axel Blau, University of Kaiserslautern (GERMANY) Marco Bove, University of Genova (ITALY) Andreas K. Engel, Hamburg University (GERMANY) Rainer Goebel, University of Maastricht (THE NETHERLANDS) Ulrich Hofmann, University of Luebeck (GERMANY) Peter K?nig, University of Osnabrueck (GERMANY) Shimon Marom, Technion, Haifa (ISRAEL) Sergio Martinoia, University of Genova (ITALY) Mattias Munk, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt (GERMANY) Pietro G. Morasso, University of Genova (ITALY) Miguel A. Nicolelis, Duke University, Durham (USA) Giulio Sandini, University of Genova (ITALY) Silvio P. Sabatini, University of Genova (ITALY) Vincenzo Tagliasco, University of Genova (ITALY) John G. Taylor, King's College, London (UK) REGISTRATION FEES (*) PhD students and postdocs: 150 euros (**) Business and medical professionals: 300 euros (*) includes program, reception, two coffee breaks and lunch each day, and lecture notes (**) Early registration. Increase by 20% after May 15th. SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATION: Dr. Vittorio Sanguineti University of Genova Via Opera Pia 13 16145 Genova (ITALY) E-mail: vittorio.sanguineti at unige.it Phone: +39-010-3536487 Fax: +39-010-3532154 ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATIONS: Ms. Jessica Gaggero University of Genova Via Opera Pia 11A 16145 Genova (ITALY) E-mail: jessica at dibe.unige.it Phone: +39-010-3532787 Fax: +39-010-3532251 -- Vittorio Sanguineti E-mail: sangui at dist.unige.it S-mail: Dipartimento di Informatica, Sistemistica e Telematica (DIST) Universit? di Genova Via Opera Pia, 13 I-16145 Genova (ITALY) Phone: +39 010 353 2801/6487 Mobile: +39 329 210 4393 Fax: +39 010 353 2154 URL: www.laboratorium.dist.unige.it/~sangui From dsmith06 at maine.rr.com Fri Apr 16 09:42:17 2004 From: dsmith06 at maine.rr.com (David Smith) Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2004 09:42:17 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Reminder, Calls for Papers Message-ID: <00ec01c423b8$a39a4e90$0200a8c0@dad> CALL FOR PAPERS LANGUAGE, COGNITIVE SCIENCE AND EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY October 22-23, 2004 Portland, Maine The New England Institute for Cognitive Science and Evolutionary Psychology (NEI) invites papers for an historic international conference on Language, Cognitive Science and Evolutionary Psychology, bringing together scholars and researchers from all over the world to share theories and research on the evolution and cognitive dynamics of language. The conference will have a strong interdisciplinary flavor, drawing on work in psychology, evolutionary biology, neuroscience, linguistics, philosophy, anthropology and other disciplines to explore the nature and origins of human language. We plan to publish selected papers, either in book form or in a special issue of a scientific journal. Proposals should be received no later than April 25th 2004. To find out more about the New England Institute visit our web site at www.une.edu/nei Send detailed proposals along with brief biographical information to the conference committee at TheInstitute at une.edu EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY AND THE CENTRAL PROBLEMS OF COGNITIVE SCIENCE This is to announce a call for submissions for a special issue of the journal Theoria et Historia Scientiarum on evolutionary biology and the central problems of cognitive science. I am particularly interested in receiving papers addressing how evolutionary thinking can help cognitive science, broadly construed, to overcome fundamental theoretical problems. Pertinent issues and areas include the nature of consciousness, neurocomputational architectures, innateness, semantics, and social cognition, to name but a few. Theoria et Historia Scientiarum is an international scientific journal for interdisciplinary studies published by Nicolas Copernicus University in Torun, Poland. Topics of recent special issues have included: * Metaphor: A Multidisciplinary Approach * On Knowledge, Representations and Interpretations: From Quanta to Cultures * Analogy * Embodiment and Awareness: Perspectives from Phenomenology and Cognitive Science * Unconscious Perception and Communication: Psychoanalytic, Cognitive and Evolutionary Perspectives. * Conceptualization and Categorization in Language and Thought * Signs, Minds and Cognitions September 1, 2004 is the final deadline for papers to be included in issue on Evolutionary Biology and the Central Problems of Cognitive Science. Please initially send me a brief outline of the projected paper. From joab at dcs.shef.ac.uk Mon Apr 19 03:02:20 2004 From: joab at dcs.shef.ac.uk (Joab Winkler) Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2004 08:02:20 +0100 (BST) Subject: Sheffield Machine Learning Workshop (Sept. 7-10, 2004) Message-ID: <200404190702.i3J72KBb029178@holly.dcs.shef.ac.uk> %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SHEFFIELD MACHINE LEARNING WORKSHOP Sheffield, United Kingdom Septemeber 7-10, 2004 www.dcs.shef.ac.uk/ml/workshop/ The Machine Learning Research Group in The Department of Computer Science at The University of Sheffield is organising a workshop on deterministic and statistical methods in machine learning, with a strong emphasis on mathematical and numerical methods. ** REGISTRATION NOW OPEN ** Confirmed invited speakers: Chris Bishop (Microsoft Research, UK) Andrew Blake (Microsoft Research, UK) Herve Bourlard (IDIAP, Switzerland) Andrzej Cichocki (RIKEN, Japan) Michael Elad (Technion, Israel) Jerry Eriksson (Umea, Sweden) Zoubin Ghahramani (University College London, UK) Gene Golub (Stanford, USA) Josef Kittler (Surrey University, UK) David Lowe (Aston University, UK) David MacKay (Cambridge University, UK) Ian Nabney (Aston University, UK) Manfred Opper (Southhampton University, UK) John Platt (Microsoft Research, USA) Stephen Roberts (Oxford University, UK) Bernard Schoelkopf (Max Planck Institute, Germany) Michael Tipping (Microsoft Research, UK) Chris Williams (Edinburgh University, UK) The refereed proceedings of the conference which will be published by Springer in the series Lecture Notes in Computer Science. The workshop is supported by grants from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the London Mathematical Society, Sheffield University, and the PASCAL European Network of Excellence. Registration is now open and early registration is encouraged because (1) there is a limited number of places, and (b) there is an early bird discount. Registration is available on-line at www.dcs.shef.ac.uk/ml/workshop/. For more details, contact the organisers: Joab Winkler Mahesan Niranjan Neil Lawrence E-mail: mlworkshop at dcs.shef.ac.uk Department of Computer Science The University of Sheffield United Kingdom -------------------------------------------- Dr Joab R Winkler The University of Sheffield Department of Computer Science Regent Court 211 Portobello Street Sheffield S1 4DP United Kingdom Tel : +44 114 222 1834 Fax : +44 114 222 1810 From r.gayler at mbox.com.au Tue Apr 20 07:45:10 2004 From: r.gayler at mbox.com.au (Ross Gayler) Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2004 21:45:10 +1000 Subject: DEADLINE REMINDER: AAAI Fall Symposium - Compositional Connectionism in Cognitive Science Message-ID: <000701c426cc$f00ec460$2802a8c0@Chennai> * DEADLINE REMINDER * AAAI Fall Symposium - Compositional Connectionism in Cognitive Science October 22-24, 2004 Washington, D.C. U.S.A. http://www.cs.wlu.edu/~levy/aaai04/ Invited Speakers: Jeff Elman, University of California at San Diego Mark Steedman, University of Edinburgh Preliminary expressions of interest in this symposium suggest that it will be a very interesting gathering, with speakers from a wide range of disciplines, institutions, and countries. We believe this symposium will achieve its aim of exposing connectionist researchers to the broadest possible range of conceptions of composition (including those conceptions that pose the greatest challenge for connectionism) while simultaneously alerting other AI and cognitive science researchers to the range of possibilities for connectionist implementation of composition. The symposium will be limited to 40-60 participants. Those interested in attending should submit a paper or, if not intending to speak, submit a brief position paper or research abstract by May 3, 2004. The symposium is intended for active participants, however there may be a limited number of places for interested individuals. These will be available on a first-come, first-served basis after the opening of general registration in July 2004. Deadlines: May 3, 2004 - Paper & participation submissions due May 24, 2004 - Notifications of acceptance sent August 31, 2004 - Camera-ready copy due From Alain.Destexhe at iaf.cnrs-gif.fr Tue Apr 20 04:58:56 2004 From: Alain.Destexhe at iaf.cnrs-gif.fr (Alain Destexhe) Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2004 10:58:56 +0200 Subject: Obidos Course in Computational Neuroscience - important update Message-ID: <4084E650.7EA07A80@iaf.cnrs-gif.fr> Dear Colleagues, Due to unforeseen problems in the neuroinf.org website (to be back online soon), we have postponed the deadline for applications to the Obidos summer course to April 30th, 2004. Sorry for the inconvenience this may have caused. Please note that the deadline for recommendation has NOT changed and is also on April 30th, 2004. So for the applicants, please make sure that both the application form and recommendation letters are done by that time. Looking forward to see you in Portugal! Best wishes, Alain Destexhe PS: we remind that this course is open to anyone regardless of the country of origin. We have special funding (IBRO) to support students from unfavored countries. --------------------- ADVANCED COURSE IN COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE (AN IBRO NEUROSCIENCE SCHOOL) August 16th - September 10th, 2004 MUNICIPALITY OF OBIDOS, PORTUGAL DIRECTORS: Ad Aertsen (University of Freiburg, Germany) Peter Dayan (University College London, UK) Alain Destexhe (CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France) Eilon Vaadia (Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel) The Advanced Course in Computational Neuroscience introduces students to the panoply of problems and methods of computational neuroscience, addressing issues of neural organization from sub-cellular to network and inter-areal levels. The course has two complementary parts. Mornings are devoted to lectures given by distinguished international faculty on topics across the breadth of experimental and computational neuroscience. During the rest of the day, students are given practical training in the art and practice of neural modeling, largely through the medium of their individual choice of model systems. The first week of the course introduces students to essential neurobiological concepts and to the most important techniques in modelling single cells, networks and neural systems. Students learn how to solve their research problems using software packages such as GENESIS, MATLAB, NEST, NEURON, XPP, etc. During the following three weeks the lectures cover specific brain areas and functions. Topics range from modelling single cells and subcellular processes through the simulation of simple circuits, large neuronal networks and system level models of the brain. The course ends with project presentations by the students. The Advanced Course in Computational Neuroscience is designed for advanced graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in a variety of disciplines, including neuroscience, physics, electrical engineering, computer science, mathematics and psychology. Students are expected to have a keen interest and basic background in neurobiology as well as some computer experience. Students of any nationality can apply. A maximum of 30 students will be accepted. There will be a fee of EUR 800,- per student covering costs for lodging, meals and other course expenses. Depending on funding, there will be a limited limited number of tuition fee waivers and travel stipends available for students who need financial help for attending the course. We have received IBRO funding to provide full travel and fee support for 4-5 students from developing countries. These students will be accepted according to the normal selection procedure. We specifically encourage applications from researchers who work in the developing world. Applications, including a description of the target project must be submitted electronically (see below) and should be accompanied by two letters of recommendation (also sent electronically). Applications will be assessed by a committee, with selection being based on the following criteria: the scientific quality of the candidate (CV) and of the project, the letters, and evidence that the course affords substantial benefit to the candidate's training. More information and application forms can be obtained from: http://www.neuroinf.org/courses/EUCOURSE/EU04 Please apply electronically using a web browser. Contact address: - mail: Camilla Bruns, FR2-1, Fakultaet IV, Technical University of Berlin, Franklinstrasse 28/29, 10587 Berlin, Germany - e-mail: bruns at cs.tu-berlin.de APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 30, 2004 DEADLINE FOR LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: April 30, 2004 Applicants will be notified of the results of the selection procedures by end of May 2004. CONFIRMED FACULTY: Moshe Abeles, Hebrew University, Israel Ad Aertsen, University of Freiburg, Germany Amos Arieli, Weizmann Institute, Israel Nicolas Brunel, CNRS, France Peter Dayan, University College London, UK Erik de Schutter, University of Antwerp, Belgium Alain Destexhe, CNRS, France Marcus Diesmann, University of Freiburg, Germany Wulfram Gerstner, EPFL, Switzerland Mike Hausser, University College London, UK Michael Hines, Yale University, USA Gwendael LeMasson, University of Bordeaux, France Siegried Loewel, Magdeburg University, Germany Israel Nelken, Hebrew University, Israel Miguel Nicolelis, Duke University, USA Hans-Ekkehard Plesser, Agricultural University, Norway John Rinzel, New York University, USA Arnd Roth, Max Planck Inst. Heidelberg, Germany Michael Rudolph, CNRS, France Edward Stern, Harvard University, USA Tali Tishby, Hebrew University, Israel Alex Thomson, University College London, UK Tali Tishby, Hebrew University, Israel Anne-Elise Tobin, Emory University, USA Misha Tsodyks, Weizmann Institute, Israel Eilon Vaadia, Hebrew University, Israel Charlie Wilson, University of Texas San Antonio, USA Matt Wilson, MIT, USA Li Zhaoping, University College London, UK From robbie at bcs.rochester.edu Wed Apr 21 10:14:45 2004 From: robbie at bcs.rochester.edu (Robert Jacobs) Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 10:14:45 -0400 Subject: postdoc position Message-ID: <5.1.1.6.0.20040421101308.01bc0b80@bcs.rochester.edu> A postdoctoral position is available in the lab of Robert Jacobs, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester. The lab focuses on: (1) the development of new machine learning architectures and algorithms, and (2) computational studies of the cognitive neuroscience of visual perception. The postdoctoral fellow will be part of a larger community dedicated to the study of learning and developmental plasticity. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Applicants should send a vita, research statement, recent publications, and the names of three individuals who can write letters of recommendation to: LDB Postdoctoral Search Committee Brain and Cognitive Sciences University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14627-0268 More information about our lab can be obtained at http://www.bcs.rochester.edu/people/robbie/robbie.html Information about the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences can be obtained at http://www.bcs.rochester.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Jacobs Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14627-0268 phone: 585-275-0753 fax: 585-442-9216 email: robbie at bcs.rochester.edu web: http://www.bcs.rochester.edu/people/robbie/robbie.html From M.Meeter at psy.vu.nl Wed Apr 21 08:25:27 2004 From: M.Meeter at psy.vu.nl (Meeter M) Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 14:25:27 +0200 Subject: papers on consolidation of long-term memories Message-ID: Apologies for multiple postings. Dear Colleagues, The readers of this list may be interested in the following four papers on the consolidation of long-term memory. Of all papers a draft is available at www.neuromod.org/publications. * Meeter, M. & Murre, J.M.J. (in press). TraceLink: A model of amnesia and consolidation. Cognitive Neuropsychology. A connectionist model is presented, the TraceLink model, that implements an autonomous 'off-line' consolidation process. The model consists of three subsystems: (1) a trace system (neocortex), (2) a link system (hippocampus and adjacent regions), and (3) a modulatory system (basal forebrain and other areas). The model is able to account for many of the characteristics of anterograde and retrograde amnesia, including Ribot gradients, transient global amnesia, patterns of shrinkage of retrograde amnesia, correlations between anterograde and retrograde amnesia or the absence thereof (e.g., in isolated retrograde amnesia). In addition, it produces normal forgetting curves and can exhibit permastore. It also offers an explanation for the advantages of learning under high arousal for long-term retention. http://www.neuromod.org/publications/papers/TL/TL.pdf * Meeter, M. & Murre, J.M.J. (2004). Simulating episodic memory deficits in semantic dementia with the TraceLink model. Memory, 12, 272 - 287. Although semantic dementia is primarily characterized by deficits in semantic memory, episodic memory is also impaired. Patients show poor recall of old autobiographical and semantic memories, with better retrieval of recent experiences; they can form new memories, and normal performance on pictorial recognition memory has been demonstrated. As these abnormalities in episodic memory are virtually a mirror image of those seen in the amnesic syndromes, semantic dementia poses a challenge to extant models of remote memory and amnesia. Here, we show that one such model, TraceLink, can reproduce some of the principal findings on episodic memory in semantic dementia. A loss of nodes and connections within the trace system, which can be identified with the temporal neocortical memory storage sites implicated in semantic dementia, simulates without further assumptions the findings reported above. http://www.neuromod.org/publications/papers/SEMD/SEMD.pdf * Meeter, M. (2003). Control of consolidation in neural networks: Avoiding runaway effects. Connection Science, 15, 45-61. Consolidation has been implemented in two ways: as straight rehearsal of patterns, or as pseudorehearsal, in which pseudoitems are created by sampling attractors or input-output combinations from the network. Although several authors have investigated both implementations, few have explored how it is decided which pattern or pseudoitem is consolidated. Controlling consolidation is not trivial, as it is susceptible to a corruption. In runaway consolidation, one or two patterns monopolize all consolidation resources and come to dominate the entire network. Runaway consolidation is analysed here, and three solutions are explored. Suppressing transmission in the connections in which consolidation takes place is shown to work best. Placing bounds on connections or unlearning attractors also alleviates runaway consolidation, though less effectively so. http://www.neuromod.org/publications/papers/CCNN/CCNN.pdf * Meeter, M. & Murre, J.M.J. (in press). Consolidation of long-term memory: Evidence and alternatives. Psychological Bulletin. Memory loss in retrograde amnesia has long been held to be larger for recent periods than for remote periods, a pattern usually referred to as the Ribot gradient. One explanation for this gradient is consolidation of long-term memories. Several computational models of such a process have been presented, and have shown how consolidation can explain characteristics of amnesia, effects of arousal on memory, and episodic memory in semantic dementia. These models have not elucidated how consolidation must be envisaged; it remains a largely hypothetical process. Here findings are reviewed that shed light on how consolidation may be implemented in the brain. Moreover, evidence is weighed that supports its existence, or supports one of its competitors as explanations of the Ribot gradient: that it results from only partial damage to the hippocampal memory system (as stated by multiple trace theory), or that it result from a sparing of semanticized memories. Consolidation theory, multiple trace theory and semantization can all handle some findings well, and others not. Conclusive evidence for or against consolidation thus remains to be found. http://www.neuromod.org/publications/papers/CLM/CLM.pdf Sincerely, Martijn Meeter ------------------------------ Dr. M. Meeter Dept. of Cognitive Psychology Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam The Netherlands ------------------------------ From tere-ic0 at wpmail.paisley.ac.uk Wed Apr 21 23:08:53 2004 From: tere-ic0 at wpmail.paisley.ac.uk (Valery Tereshko) Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2004 04:08:53 +0100 Subject: Research Studentship Message-ID: Research (PhD) studentship to work on Emergent Collective Behaviour in Ensembles of Communicating Agents is available in School of Computing of the University of Paisley. The approach is based on consideration of an agent ensemble as dynamical system and studying the latter with the methods of nonlinear dynamics and statistical physics. Knowledge of basic nonlinear dynamics and good computational skill are essential. Experience in and knowledge of statistical physics, chaos theory, neural and biologically-inspired computations, and swarm intelligence are desirable. Studentship is open to UK/EU individuals. Closing date for applications is 3 May 2004. Further particulars are available at http://jobs.ac.uk/jobfiles/LJ169.html. ---------------------------------------------- Valery Tereshko e-mail: valery.tereshko at paisley.ac.uk Legal disclaimer -------------------------- The information transmitted is the property of the University of Paisley and is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Statements and opinions expressed in this e-mail may not represent those of the company. Any review, retransmission, dissemination and other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender immediately and delete the material from any computer. -------------------------- From ddepi001 at umaryland.edu Thu Apr 22 09:28:55 2004 From: ddepi001 at umaryland.edu (Didier Depireux, PhD) Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2004 09:28:55 -0400 Subject: Post-doctoral position in hearing, Baltimore Message-ID: Post-Doctoral Position: Encoding of Dynamic Spectrum in Auditory Cortex One or more post-doctoral positions are available in the Program for Neurosciences of the School of Medicine of the University of Maryland in Baltimore, to work in the laboratory of Dr. Didier Depireux. The overall goal of the research is to determine how the shape of the acoustic spectrum, or spectro-temporal envelope, is represented in the neural responses of the auditory system (cortex and inferior colliculus) using the animal model of an awake and alert ferret. In our laboratory, we use a combination of electrophysiological recordings, psychophysical testing and system models to characterize response and encoding of features. The project involves correlated psychophysical studies in ferrets and human subjects. The successful candidate will have training experience in either psychoacoustics (with significant neuroscience interest or background), electrophysiology in animals, or a strong interest in applying theoretical and quantitative methods to the field of neuroscience. Programming experience, especially using MATLAB, would be extremely helpful. Salary will be according to the NIH pay scale. The position is available immediately, but a later start time may be negotiated. Please contact Didier Depireux at ddepi001 at umaryland.edu if interested. __ Didier A Depireux ddepi001 at umaryland.edu didier at isr.umd.edu 20 Penn Str - S218E http://neurobiology.umaryland.edu/depireux.htm Anatomy and Neurobiology Phone: 410-706-1272 (lab) University of Maryland -1273 (off) Baltimore MD 21201 USA Fax: 1-410-706-2512 From gluck at pavlov.rutgers.edu Thu Apr 22 09:58:55 2004 From: gluck at pavlov.rutgers.edu (Mark A. Gluck) Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2004 06:58:55 -0700 Subject: Seeking neural-net programmer or postdoc for memory models. Message-ID: JOB OPENING FOR PROGRAMMER/RA or POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW Pending final approval of funding, we expect to hire for a position to start in the fall (Sept/October 2004) for a full-time computational modeler to do neural network models of the hippocampus and memory. Note: The applicant must currently reside in the US or Europe. The scope of work would be split evenly between two related projects: (1) working on Artificial Intelligence applications of hippocampal models to various problems in pattern recognition and novelty detection, (2) extending and elaborating our past models of cortico-hippocampal function (Gluck & Myers, 1993, 2001) to include greater physiological detail, temporal sensitivities, and connections with other brain region (that is, basic computational neuroscience research). All this modeling would take place in the context of a broader program of research that is tightly linked to empirical studies of the neural bases of animal learning (through lesion and recording studies), as well as cognitive neuroscience studies of human learning and memory using fMRI and clinical populations. See our web page below for more information on past modeling efforts and empirical research from our lab. This position could either be for a full-time salaried programmer/research assistant (e.g., someone with a BA or MS) or it could be configured as a postdoctoral fellowship for someone who has a PhD. Strong prior neural net modeling and programming experience is a must. Familiarity with memory models and memory research highly preferred. Strong English language writing and communication skills are essential. We are located in Newark, NJ, just outside New York City. If interested, please (1) read through our web page and research overviews and publication summary at http://www.gluck.edu, and then (2) email a raw text (no attachments) message that summarizes your background, relevant experience, future goals, and how and why you think you are a good fit for our lab and this position, especially with regard to the criteria noted above. In addition, please state your current citizenship or residency status and whether or not you have appropriate work permits for the US if you are not a US citizen. - Mark -- ___________________________________________ Dr. Mark A. Gluck, Professor Co-Director, Rutgers Memory Disorders Project Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Rutgers University Phone: (973) 353-1080 x3221 197 University Ave. Fax: (973) 353-1272 Newark, New Jersey 07102 Email: gluck at pavlov.rutgers.edu Lab: http://www.gluck.edu Memory Loss & Brain Newsletter: http://www.memorylossonline.com From alexandra at gatsby.ucl.ac.uk Fri Apr 23 12:32:29 2004 From: alexandra at gatsby.ucl.ac.uk (Alexandra Boss) Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 17:32:29 +0100 Subject: Gatsby Unit post-doctoral positions In-Reply-To: <200404081538.i38Fc1px011584@visionscience.com> Message-ID: <002901c42950$9218ae30$2dd5a8c0@gatsby.ucl.ac.uk> Post-doctoral Research Positions Theoretical Neuroscience The Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit invites applications for post-doctoral research positions in theoretical neuroscience and related areas. The Gatsby Unit is a world-class centre for theoretical neuroscience and machine learning, focusing on unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning, interpretation of neural data, population coding, perceptual processing, neural dynamics, and computational motor control. For further details of our research please see: http://www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/research.html The unit provides a unique environment in which a critical mass of theoreticians interact closely with each other and with other world-class research groups in related departments at University College London, including Anatomy, Computer Science, Functional Imaging Laboratory, Physics, Physiology, Psychology, Neurology, Ophthalmology, and Statistics. The unit's visitor and seminar programmes enable staff and students to engage with leading researchers from across the world. Candidates must have a strong analytical background. Salaries are competitive, based on experience and achievement. Applicants should send in pdf, plain text or Word format a CV, a statement of research interests, and the names and full contact details (including e-mail addresses) of three referees to: admin at gatsby.ucl.ac.uk Applicants are directed to further particulars about the positions at: http://www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/vacancies/postdoc-details.pdf These particulars request provision of standardised monitoring information through completion of an Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form. While e-mail is preferred, candidates may also submit applications in hardcopy to the following address: Unit Administrator, Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, University College London, Alexandra House, 17 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AR, UK ******* The closing date for applications is Friday 14 May 2004 ******* From maass at igi.tugraz.at Sat Apr 24 12:06:42 2004 From: maass at igi.tugraz.at (Wolfgang Maass) Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2004 18:06:42 +0200 Subject: PhD-Position in Neural Computation Message-ID: <408A9092.1010101@igi.tugraz.at> A Phd-Position is available in our Institute for a research project on Computation and Learning in Neural Microcircuit Models (funded by the Austrain Science Foundation). The goal of this project is to develop -- in collaboration with neurophysiologists from various labs -- computer models for cortical columns, and to provide new tools from dynamical systems theory and machine learning for analyzing the function of cortical columns. Needed qualifications are experience in computer-modelling and/or computer science, strong interest in understanding biological neural computation, and excellent grades and/or evidence of very good research potential. Applications (including samples of papers and email addresses of referees) should be sent by May 5 per email to maass at igi.tugraz.at -- Prof. Wolfgang Maass Institut fuer Grundlagen der Informationsverarbeitung Technische Universitaet Graz Inffeldgasse 16b , A-8010 Graz, Austria Tel.: ++43/316/873-5811 Fax ++43/316/873-5805 http://www.igi.tugraz.at/maass/Welcome.html From bassis at dsi.unimi.it Tue Apr 27 10:47:34 2004 From: bassis at dsi.unimi.it (Simone Bassis) Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2004 16:47:34 +0200 Subject: WIRN 2004 Message-ID: WIRN `04 XV ITALIAN WORKSHOP ON NEURAL NETWORK University of Perugia September 15 - 17, 2004 Organizing - Scientific Committee B. Apolloni (Univ. Milano), A. Bertoni (Univ. Milano), N.A. Borghese (Univ. Milano), D.D.Caviglia (Univ. Genova), P. Campadelli (Univ. Milano), A. Chella (Univ. Palermo), A. Colla (ELSAG Genova), A. Esposito (Univ. Napoli II), F. M. Frattale Mascioli (Univ. Roma "La Sapienza"), C. Furlanello (ITC-IRST Trento), S. Giove (Univ. Venezia), M. Gori (Univ. Siena), M. Marinaro (Univ. Salerno), F. Masulli (Univ. Pisa), C. Morabito (Univ. Reggio Calabria), P. Morasso (Univ. Genova), G. Orlandi (Univ. Roma "La Sapienza"), T. Parisini (Univ. Trieste), E. Pasero (Politecnico Torino), A. Petrosino (CNR Napoli), V. Piuri (Politecnico Milano), R. Serra (CRA Montecatini Ravenna), F. Sorbello (Univ. Palermo), A. Sperduti (Univ. Padova), R. Tagliaferri (Univ. Salerno) Sponsors International Institute for Advanced Scientific Studies (IIASS) "E.R. Caianiello" Dip. di Fisica "E.R. Caianiello", University of Salerno Dip. di Matematica ed Informatica, University of Salerno Dip. di Scienze dell'Informazione, University of Milano Societ=C3=A0 Italiana Reti Neuroniche (SIREN) IEEE Neural Network Council INNS/SIG Italy Istituto Italiano per gli Studi Filosofici, Napoli Topics 1 Mathematical Models 2 Architectures and Algorithms 3 Hardware and Software Design 4 Hybrid Systems 5 Pattern Recognition and Signal Processing 6 Industrial and Commercial Applications 7 Fuzzy Tecniques for Neural Networks Important Dates Submission deadline: June 15, 2004 Acceptance/Rejection notification: July 15, 2004 Camera-ready copy papers: September 2, 2004 The three-days Conference concerns both introductive topics and original and refereed papers, that will be published by an International Editor. The official languages are Italian and English, nevertheless the paper must be written in English. This year the Conference constitutes a joint event of the three associations, Associazione Italiana per l'Intelligenza Artificiale (AIIA), Gruppo Italiano di Ricercatori in Pattern Recognition (GIRPR), Societ=C3=A0 Italiana Reti Neuroniche (SIREN). The aim is to examine Intelligent Systems as a joint topic, pointing out synergies and differences between the various approaches. In this sense the Conference combines the three associations' annual meetings, allowing the participants to choose transversal paths, so as to understand the synthesis of the research on specific subjects. Furthermore, a common day will take place on September 16, to discuss about the state of the art of the research on Intelligent Systems and the opportunities of its tecnological transfer to the industry. During the Conference the "Premio E.R. Caianiello" will be assigned to the best PhD Thesis proposed by italian researchers in the Neural Networks fiels or in correlated ones. The prize is of 1,000 Euros. The interested reserachers (who have obtained the PhD after January 1, 2001 and before April 30, 2004) must send 3 copies of c.v. and of their Thesis to "Premio Caianiello" WIRN 2004 c/o IIASS, to the subsequent address, before May 31, 2004. Each candidate can compete for the prize at most two times. Only SIREN members are admitted (the participation forms can be downloaded in the SIREN site). In addition aside workshops will be organized before the Conference (pre-WIRN workshops), lasting half a day. More detailed information and the electronic submission form are available at the WIRN 2004 site http://siren.dsi.unimi.it/conferences/SI/html/index.html For more information, please contact the I.I.A.S.S. secretery: "E.R. Caianiello", Via G. Pellegrino, 19, 84019 Vietri Sul Mare (SA), ITALY. Tel. +39 089 761167, Fax. +39 089 761189, e-mail: robtag at unisa.it. Message-Id: <200404271901.i3RJ1IqD017042 at ursa.services.brown.edu> X-Priority: From jst at ecs.soton.ac.uk Thu Apr 29 17:44:34 2004 From: jst at ecs.soton.ac.uk (John S Shawe-Taylor) Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2004 22:44:34 +0100 (BST) Subject: COLT 2004 program and registration Message-ID: The Conference on Learning Theory (COLT) program for 2004 is now available on the web site: http://www.learningtheory.org/colt2004/ The conference will be held in Banff from July 1st - 4th. Notice that the early registration deadline for COLT 2004 is 1 May, and hotel availability and prices are not guaranteed after 30 April. John Shawe-Taylor and Yoram Singer Program Chairs From pfbaldi at ics.uci.edu Mon Apr 5 12:32:41 2004 From: pfbaldi at ics.uci.edu (Pierre Baldi) Date: Mon, 5 Apr 2004 09:32:41 -0700 Subject: Postdoctoral Fellowships in Bioinformatics/Computational Biology and Machine Learning at UCI Message-ID: <001a01c41b2b$9ddd3480$cd04c380@ics.uci.edu> Several NIH-supported postdoctoral positions in the areas of Computational Biology/Bioinformatics and Machine Learning are available in the School of Information and Computer Science ( www.ics.uci.edu) and the Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics ( www.igb.uci.edu) at the University of California, Irvine. Areas of particular interest include: protein structure/function prediction, molecular docking and drug design, chemical informatics, comparative genomics, analysis of high-throughput data (e.g. DNA microarray data ), gene regulation, systems biology, medical informatics, and all areas of machine learning and large scale data analysis. Prospective candidates should apply with a cover letter, CV, statement of research interests and accomplishments, and names and email addresses of 3 referees to be sent, preferably by email, to: pfbaldi at ics.uci.edu. The positions are available starting October 1, 2003 and the duration of the appointments are typically 2 years with possibility of renewal. Relevant faculty in the School include: P. Baldi, R. Dechter, D. Kibler, R. Lathrop, E. Mjolsness, M. Pazzani, P. Smyth , H. Stern, and M. Welling.There are many opportunities for collaboration with life scientists located in other units within short walking distance from the School. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to excellence through diversity. ======================================================================== Pierre Baldi School of Information and Computer Science and Department of Biological Chemistry, College of Medicine Director Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA 92697-3425 (949) 824-5809 (949) 824-4056 FAX www.ics.uci.edu/~pfbaldi From alexandra at gatsby.ucl.ac.uk Wed Apr 7 14:42:08 2004 From: alexandra at gatsby.ucl.ac.uk (Alexandra Boss) Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2004 19:42:08 +0100 Subject: Gatsby Unit post-doctoral positions Message-ID: <001b01c41cd0$084bb0d0$2dd5a8c0@gatsby.ucl.ac.uk> Post-doctoral Research Positions Theoretical Neuroscience The Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit invites applications for post-doctoral research positions in theoretical neuroscience and related areas. The Gatsby Unit is a world-class centre for theoretical neuroscience and machine learning, focusing on unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning, interpretation of neural data, population coding, perceptual processing, neural dynamics, and computational motor control. For further details of our research please see: http://www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/research.html The unit provides a unique environment in which a critical mass of theoreticians interact closely with each other and with other world-class research groups in related departments at University College London, including Anatomy, Computer Science, Functional Imaging Laboratory, Physics, Physiology, Psychology, Neurology, Ophthalmology, and Statistics. The unit's visitor and seminar programmes enable staff and students to engage with leading researchers from across the world. Candidates must have a strong analytical background. Salaries are competitive, based on experience and achievement. Applicants should send in pdf, plain text or Word format a CV, a statement of research interests, and the names and full contact details (including e-mail addresses) of three referees to: admin at gatsby.ucl.ac.uk Applicants are directed to further particulars about the positions at: http://www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/postdocs.html These particulars request provision of standardised monitoring information through completion of an Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form. While e-mail is preferred, candidates may also submit applications in hardcopy to the following address: Unit Administrator, Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, University College London, Alexandra House, 17 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AR, UK The closing date for applications is Friday 14 May 2004 From planning at icsc.ab.ca Wed Apr 7 17:13:58 2004 From: planning at icsc.ab.ca (Jeanny S. Ryffel) Date: Wed, 07 Apr 2004 15:13:58 -0600 Subject: invited sessions and workshop: Neural Coding Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.2.20040407151132.00a44ae0@pop.interbaun.com> Brain Inspired Cognitive Systems (BICS2004) co-sponsored by the IEE WORKSHOP: NEURAL CODING Objective: To discuss how information is coded in early sensory stages, emphasizing the differences as well as similarities among the sensory systems: http://www.cs.stir.ac.uk/~lss/BICS2004/cfp_bics2004_workshop_earlycoding.htm and: INVITED SESSIONS The organization of invited sessions for the BICS conference http://www.icsc-naiso.org/conferences/bics2004/bics-cfp.html is encouraged. Prospective organizers are requested to send a session proposal (consisting of 4-5 invited papers, the recommended session-chair and co-chair, as well as a short statement describing the title and the purpose of the session to the Symposium Chairman or the Symposium Organizer. Invited sessions should preferably start with a tutorial paper. CALL FOR BICS'2004 TUTORIAL AND WORKSHOP PROPOSALS organized in Stirling, Scotland, August 31 - September 1, 2004 The science of neural computation focuses on mathematical aspects for solving complex practical problems. It also seeks to help neurology, brain theory and cognitive psychology in the understanding of the functioning of the nervous system by means of computational models of neurons, neural nets and sub-cellular processes. BICS2004 aims to become a major point of contact for research scientists, engineers and practitioners throughout the world in the fields of cognitive and computational systems inspired by the brain and biology. BICS 2004 is made up of three sections: =95Cognitive Neuro Science (CNS 2004), chaired by Professor Igor Aleksander, Imperial College, London =95Biologically Inspired Systems (BIS 2004) chaired by Prof. Leslie Smith, Stirling University =95Neural Computation (NC'2004), chaired by Dr. Amir Hussain, Stirling University The web page for further information, including early registration, is available at: http://www.icsc-naiso.org/conferences/bics2004/bics-cfp.html Note that IEE members can benefit from specially reduced registration fees. Participants will share the latest research, developments and ideas in the wide arena of disciplines encompassed under the heading of BICS2004. The deadline for tutorial and workshop proposals: April 30, 2004 The tutorials will be held on August 29, 2004 immediately prior to the start of the main conference. IMPORTANT DATES April 30, 2004: Deadline for proposals May 10, 2004: Notification of acceptance July 1, 2004: Deadline for tutorial summaries TBA: Publication of tutorial/workshop programme TBA: Camera-ready tutorial notes August 29, 2004: Tutorials and workshop at BICS We invite proposals for 1 to 1.5 hour tutorials on topics relating to theoretical and applied BICS. The aim is to offer conference delegates both tutorials on up-to-date BICS technologies, and case study tutorials on the application of the technologies to real-world problems. A case study of a working Neural Network application in commerce or= industry. A state-of-the art tutorial on some specific recent technique in Neural Networks or Biologically Inspired Systems or Cognitive Neuroscience. Please forward your proposals by the deadline to the BICS Scientific Chair: Prof. Leslie Smith, Stirling (Email: lss at cs.stir.ac.uk) We offer free access to the entire conference for the organizers (minimum 5 fully registered attendees to be generated by proposed and accepted event) Note that authors of selected papers will be invited to submit an extended version of their paper for publication in a special issue of the Neurocomputing Journal, published by Elsevier Science B.V. visit our BICS page for the scientific program, speakers, etc! http://www.icsc-naiso.org/conferences/bics2004/keynotes.html http://www.icsc-naiso.org/conferences/bics2004/tutorials.html BICS'2004 Sponsors: Imperial College, London, UK University of Stirling, UK EPSRC Novel Computation Cluster IEE ICSC Interdisciplinary Research From d.lowe at aston.ac.uk Wed Apr 7 05:51:56 2004 From: d.lowe at aston.ac.uk (D LOWE) Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2004 10:51:56 +0100 Subject: Postdoc position at NCRG Message-ID: Aston University Neural Computing Research Group School of Engineering & Applied Science Research Fellow 18,893 to 28,279 per annum (Fixed Term Appointment) Applications are invited for an experienced postdoctoral research fellow to work as part of a large collaborative activity on exploiting an individuals' `bioprofile' for improved healthcare management. We are particularly interested in the improved inference capabilities for diagnosis, prognosis and clinical decision making of exploiting the fusion of disparate information sources. The research project will also involve looking at developing automated strategies which account for uncertainties in data, models and architectures. This research activity is part of a large collaborative European FP6 consortium (BioPattern) and will require strong interaction and a degree of travel amongst various partners who are involved in the consortium. Applicants should have excellent mathematical and computational skills, and preferably a background in statistical inference, medical bioinformatics, machine learning, or data fusion. This contract is offered as a fixed term contract with an end date of 31 December 2006 in the first instance. Further details on the research project can be found on http://www.ncrg.aston.ac.uk . Application forms and further particulars are available on our personnel web site: http://www.aston.ac.uk/hr/Recruitment, or by telephoning: 0121 359 0870 (24 hour answerphone), or by email: b.a.power at aston.ac.uk, quoting reference number R04/92/152 Closing date for the receipt of applications: 30th April 2004 From mlsp04 at neuro.kuleuven.ac.be Wed Apr 7 06:07:59 2004 From: mlsp04 at neuro.kuleuven.ac.be (Machine Learning for Signal Processing 2004) Date: Wed, 07 Apr 2004 12:07:59 +0200 Subject: Machine Learning for Signal Processing 2004 in Brazil: CFP Message-ID: <4073D2FF.3CA1FFA0@neuro.kuleuven.ac.be> ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2004 IEEE International Workshop on Machine Learning for Signal Processing (Formerly the IEEE Workshop on Neural Networks for Signal Processing) September 29 - October 1st, 2004 Sao Luis, Brazil Paper Submission by April 15 2004 -------------------------------------------http://isp.imm.dtu.dk/mlsp2004/ The fourteenth in a series of IEEE MLSP, sponsored by the IEEE Signal Processing society will be held in Sao Luis, Brazil. (http://www.turismo.ma.gov.br/en/) This is a continuation of a series of workshops named Neural Networks for Signal Processing (NNSP). The technical committee decided to change the name to better reflect the community scope, and the rapid changes in the field. We are proud to inform you that the following speakers have confirmed to give a talk: Erkki Oja: "Beyond independent component analysis" Petar Djuric: "Particle Filtering" SY Kung: "Data Mining for Microarray Bioinformatic Processing" More detailed abstracts of these talks are soon available at http://isp.imm.dtu.dk/mlsp2004/ Papers are solicited for, but not limited to, the following areas: Algorithms and Architectures: Artificial neural networks, kernel methods, committee models, Gaussian processes, independent component analysis, advanced (adaptive, nonlinear) signal processing, (hidden) Markov models, Bayesian modeling, parameter estimation, generalization, optimization, design algorithms. Applications: Speech processing, image processing (computer vision, OCR), multimodal interactions, multi-channel processing, intelligent multimedia and web processing, robotics, sonar and radar, bio-medical engineering, financial analysis, time series prediction, blind source separation, data fusion, datamining, adaptive filtering, communications, sensors, system identification, and other signal processing and pattern recognition applications. Implementations: Parallel and distributed implementation, hardware design, and other general implementation technologies. -------------------------MLSP'2004 webpage: http://isp.imm.dtu.dk/mlsp2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- From Mayank_Mehta at brown.edu Thu Apr 8 18:26:23 2004 From: Mayank_Mehta at brown.edu (Mayank R. Mehta) Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2004 18:26:23 -0400 Subject: Paper available: Cooperative LTP can map memory sequences on dendritic branches Message-ID: The following paper is available at http://neuroscience.brown.edu/mehta/HOME.html Title: Cooperative LTP can map memory sequences on dendritic branches Abstract: Hebbian synaptic learning requires co-activation of presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons. However, under some conditions, information regarding the postsynaptic action potential, carried by backpropagating action potentials, can be strongly degraded before it reaches the distal dendritic synapse. Can these synapses still exhibit Hebbian long-term potentiation (LTP)? Recent results show that LTP can indeed occur at synapses on distal dendrites of hippocampal CA1 neurons, even in the absence of a postsynaptic somatic spike. Instead, local dendritic spikes contribute to the depolarization required to induce LTP. Here, a dendritically constrained synaptic learning rule is proposed, which suggests that nearby synapses can encode temporally contiguous events. -Mayank Mayank R. Mehta Assistant Professor Department of Neuroscience Brown University PO Box 1953 190 Thayer Street Providence, RI 02912-1953 Phone: 401 863 9727 Fax: 401 863 1074 email: Mayank_Mehta at brown.edu URL: http://neuroscience.brown.edu/mehta.html From schunn+ at pitt.edu Fri Apr 9 09:11:47 2004 From: schunn+ at pitt.edu (Christian Schunn) Date: Fri, 09 Apr 2004 09:11:47 -0400 Subject: need reviewers for ICCM2004 Message-ID: Dear cognitive modelers, We are seeking reviewers for ICCM2004. We have a strong set of paper submissions and an excellent set of Program Committee Members to supervise the review process. If you have some expertise in any form of computational cognitive modeling, we hope that you would consider signing up to review some papers for ICCM. (For those of you who are already reviewers and PC members, thank you.) You will have the ability to say how many papers you are willing to do within the system. To sign up to be a reviewer, go to the submission website: https://precisionconference.com/~iccm If you already have an account in the system, either from submitting or reviewing for cogsci or submitting for iccm, you don't need to create and account. Just login. Otherwise, click on the 'create your own account link'. Once you have an account and are logged in, select the volunteer to review link. In the system, one first signs up to review generally within the system. Because we share the system with the cogsci conference (and they paid), it will look a little like you are signing up to review for cogsci. But fear not and more forward. After you have volunteered to review generally, the system will ask you to say which conference you are reviewing for. Here you select ICCM and list how many papers you are willing to review. We are hoping you will volunteer for at least 4, but we will take what we can get. Make sure you also tell the system your areas of expertise, so that PC members can be guided towards giving you the papers closest to your areas of expertise. From that point on, the system and our PC members will assign papers to you and you will receive emails alerting you to that activity. Thanks for your help. The quality of the conference depends upon your contributions. -Chris, Paul, Marsha, & Christian -- ====================================================== Christian Schunn Assistant Professor of Psychology, Intelligent Systems, and Education Research Scientist, Learning Research & Development Center University of Pittsburgh schunn at pitt.edu, http://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/schunn ====================================================== From Alain.Destexhe at iaf.cnrs-gif.fr Sat Apr 10 12:27:00 2004 From: Alain.Destexhe at iaf.cnrs-gif.fr (Alain Destexhe) Date: Sat, 10 Apr 2004 18:27:00 +0200 Subject: Update for The Obidos Course in Computational Neuroscience Message-ID: <40782054.56BF66C6@iaf.cnrs-gif.fr> Dear Colleagues, There seems to have been a confusion regarding the closing date of the applications for the Obidos course. The deadline for applications is April 23rd, but the deadline for receiving recommendation letters is April 30th. The applicants are responsible for making sure that the recommendation letters reach us by that time. Please note that this course is open to anyone regardless of the country of origin. We have special funding (IBRO) to support students from unfavored countries Below is the updated list of faculty Looking forward to see you in Portugal! Best wishes, Alain Destexhe ------------------------------ ADVANCED COURSE IN COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE (AN IBRO NEUROSCIENCE SCHOOL) August 16th - September 10th, 2004 MUNICIPALITY OF OBIDOS, PORTUGAL DIRECTORS: Ad Aertsen (University of Freiburg, Germany) Peter Dayan (University College London, UK) Alain Destexhe (CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France) Eilon Vaadia (Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel) The Advanced Course in Computational Neuroscience introduces students to the panoply of problems and methods of computational neuroscience, addressing issues of neural organization from sub-cellular to network and inter-areal levels. The course has two complementary parts. Mornings are devoted to lectures given by distinguished international faculty on topics across the breadth of experimental and computational neuroscience. During the rest of the day, students are given practical training in the art and practice of neural modeling, largely through the medium of their individual choice of model systems. The first week of the course introduces students to essential neurobiological concepts and to the most important techniques in modelling single cells, networks and neural systems. Students learn how to solve their research problems using software packages such as GENESIS, MATLAB, NEST, NEURON, XPP, etc. During the following three weeks the lectures cover specific brain areas and functions. Topics range from modelling single cells and subcellular processes through the simulation of simple circuits, large neuronal networks and system level models of the brain. The course ends with project presentations by the students. The Advanced Course in Computational Neuroscience is designed for advanced graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in a variety of disciplines, including neuroscience, physics, electrical engineering, computer science, mathematics and psychology. Students are expected to have a keen interest and basic background in neurobiology as well as some computer experience. Students of any nationality can apply. A maximum of 30 students will be accepted. There will be a fee of EUR 800,- per student covering costs for lodging, meals and other course expenses. Depending on funding, there will be a limited limited number of tuition fee waivers and travel stipends available for students who need financial help for attending the course. We have received IBRO funding to provide full travel and fee support for 4-5 students from developing countries. These students will be accepted according to the normal selection procedure. We specifically encourage applications from researchers who work in the developing world. Applications, including a description of the target project must be submitted electronically (see below) and should be accompanied by two letters of recommendation (also sent electronically). Applications will be assessed by a committee, with selection being based on the following criteria: the scientific quality of the candidate (CV) and of the project, the letters, and evidence that the course affords substantial benefit to the candidate's training. More information and application forms can be obtained from: http://www.neuroinf.org/courses/EUCOURSE/EU04 Please apply electronically using a web browser. Contact address: - mail: Camilla Bruns, FR2-1, Fakultaet IV, Technical University of Berlin, Franklinstrasse 28/29, 10587 Berlin, Germany - e-mail: bruns at cs.tu-berlin.de APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 23, 2004 DEADLINE FOR LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: April 30, 2004 Applicants will be notified of the results of the selection procedures by end of May 2004. CONFIRMED FACULTY: Moshe Abeles, Hebrew University, Israel Ad Aertsen, University of Freiburg, Germany Amos Arieli, Weizmann Institute, Israel Nicolas Brunel, CNRS, France Peter Dayan, University College London, UK Erik de Schutter, University of Antwerp, Belgium Alain Destexhe, CNRS, France Marcus Diesmann, University of Freiburg, Germany Wulfram Gerstner, EPFL, Switzerland Mike Hausser, University College London, UK Michael Hines, Yale University, USA Gwendael LeMasson, University of Bordeaux, France Siegried Loewel, Magdeburg University, Germany Israel Nelken, Hebrew University, Israel Miguel Nicolelis, Duke University, USA Hans-Ekkehard Plesser, Agricultural University, Norway John Rinzel, New York University, USA Arnd Roth, Max Planck Inst. Heidelberg, Germany Michael Rudolph, CNRS, France Edward Stern, Harvard University, USA Tali Tishby, Hebrew University, Israel Alex Thomson, University College London, UK Tali Tishby, Hebrew University, Israel Anne-Elise Tobin, Emory University, USA Misha Tsodyks, Weizmann Institute, Israel Eilon Vaadia, Hebrew University, Israel Charlie Wilson, University of Texas San Antonio, USA Matt Wilson, MIT, USA Li Zhaoping, University College London, UK From cindy at bu.edu Fri Apr 9 10:51:55 2004 From: cindy at bu.edu (Cynthia Bradford) Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2004 10:51:55 -0400 Subject: Neural Networks 17(4) Message-ID: <072f01c41e42$34328f20$903dc580@cnspc31> NEURAL NETWORKS 17(4) Contents - Volume 17, Number 4 - 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------ ***** Neuroscience and Neuropsychology ***** How laminar frontal cortex and basal ganglia circuits interact to control planned and reactive saccades Joshua W. Brown, Daniel Bullock, and Stephen Grossberg ARTSTREAM: A neural network model of auditory scene analysis and source segregation Stephen Grossberg, Krishna Govindarajan, Lonce L. Wyse, and Michael A. Cohen ***** Mathematical and Computational Analysis ***** Some sufficient conditions for global exponential stability of delayed Hopfield neural networks Hongtao Lu, Fu-Lai Chung, and Zhenya He Bifurcation analysis on a two-neuron system with distributed delays in the frequency domain Xiaofeng Liao, Shaowen Li, and Guanrong Chen The MDF discrimination measure: Fisher in disguise Marco Loog, Robert P.W. Duin, and Max A. Viergever GenSo-EWS: A novel neural-fuzzy based early warning system for predicting bank failures W.L. Tung, C. Quek, and P. Cheng ***** Engineering and Design ***** New training strategies for constructive neural networks with application to regression problems L. Ma and K. Khorasani CURRENT EVENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------ Electronic access: www.elsevier.com/locate/neunet/. Individuals can look up instructions, aims & scope, see news, tables of contents, etc. Those who are at institutions which subscribe to Neural Networks get access to full article text as part of the institutional subscription. Sample copies can be requested for free and back issues can be ordered through the Elsevier customer support offices: nlinfo-f at elsevier.nl usinfo-f at elsevier.com or info at elsevier.co.jp ------------------------------ INNS/ENNS/JNNS Membership includes a subscription to Neural Networks: The International (INNS), European (ENNS), and Japanese (JNNS) Neural Network Societies are associations of scientists, engineers, students, and others seeking to learn about and advance the understanding of the modeling of behavioral and brain processes, and the application of neural modeling concepts to technological problems. Membership in any of the societies includes a subscription to Neural Networks, the official journal of the societies. Application forms should be sent to all the societies you want to apply to (for example, one as a member with subscription and the other one or two as a member without subscription). The JNNS does not accept credit cards or checks; to apply to the JNNS, send in the application form and wait for instructions about remitting payment. The ENNS accepts bank orders in Swedish Crowns (SEK) or credit cards. The INNS does not invoice for payment. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Membership Type INNS ENNS JNNS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- membership with $80 (regular) SEK 660 Y 13,000 Neural Networks (plus Y 2,000 enrollment fee) $20 (student) SEK 460 Y 11,000 (plus Y 2,000 enrollment fee) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- membership without $30 SEK 200 not available to Neural Networks non-students (subscribe through another society) Y 5,000 student (plus Y 2,000 enrollment fee) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name: _____________________________________ Title: _____________________________________ Address: _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ Phone: _____________________________________ Fax: _____________________________________ Email: _____________________________________ Payment: [ ] Check or money order enclosed, payable to INNS or ENNS OR [ ] Charge my VISA or MasterCard card number ____________________________ expiration date ________________________ INNS Membership 19 Mantua Road Mount Royal NJ 08061 USA 856 423 0162 (phone) 856 423 3420 (fax) innshq at talley.com http://www.inns.org ENNS Membership University of Skovde P.O. Box 408 531 28 Skovde Sweden 46 500 44 83 37 (phone) 46 500 44 83 99 (fax) enns at ida.his.se http://www.his.se/ida/enns JNNS Membership c/o Professor Shozo Yasui Kyushu Institute of Technology Graduate School of Life Science and Engineering 2-4 Hibikino, Wakamatsu-ku Kitakyushu 808-0196 Japan 81 93 695 6108 (phone and fax) jnns at brain.kyutech.ac.jp http://www.jnns.org/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From terry at salk.edu Wed Apr 14 00:47:40 2004 From: terry at salk.edu (Terry Sejnowski) Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2004 21:47:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: NEURAL COMPUTATION 16:5 In-Reply-To: <200403160450.i2G4ofc88310@purkinje.salk.edu> Message-ID: <200404140447.i3E4leM16495@dax.salk.edu> Neural Computation - Contents - Volume 16, Number 5 - May 1, 2004 LETTERS Spike Timing-Dependent Plasticity: The Relationship to Rate-Based Learning for Models with Weight Dynamics Determined a Stable Fixed-Point Anthony N. Burkitt, Hamish Meffin and David B. Grayden Estimating The Temporal Interval Entropy of Neuronal Discharge George N. Reeke and Allan D. Coop Dynamic Analysis of Neural Encoding Point Process Adaptive Filtering Uri T. Eden, Loren M. Frank, Riccardo Barbieri, Victor Solo, and Emery N. Brown Odor-Driven Attractor Dynamics in the Antennal Lobe Allow for Simple and Rapid Olfactory Pattern Classification Roberto Fdez. Galan, Silke Sachse, C. Giovanni Galizia, and Andreas V.M. Herz Neural Mechanisms for the Robust Representation of Junctions Thorsten Hansen and Heiko Neumann Greedy Learning of Multiple Objects in Images Using Robust Statistics and Factorial Learning Christopher K. I. Williams and Michalis K. Titsias Are Loss Functions All the Same? Lorenzo Rosasco, Ernesto De Vito, Andrea Caponnetto, Michele Piana and Alessandro Verri Trading Variance Reduction with Unbiasedness -- The Regularized Subspace Information Criterion for Robust Model Selection in Kernel Regression Masashi Sugiyama, Motoaki Kawanabe and Klaus-Robert Muller ----- ON-LINE - http://neco.mitpress.org/ SUBSCRIPTIONS - 2004 - VOLUME 16 - 12 ISSUES Electronic only USA Canada* Others USA Canada* Student/Retired $60 $64.20 $108 $54 $57.78 Individual $95 $101.65 $143 $85 $90.95 Institution $635 $679.45 $689 $572 $612.04 * includes 7% GST MIT Press Journals, 5 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142-9902. Tel: (617) 253-2889 FAX: (617) 577-1545 journals-orders at mit.edu ----- From nik.kasabov at aut.ac.nz Tue Apr 13 21:47:08 2004 From: nik.kasabov at aut.ac.nz (Nik Kasabov) Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 13:47:08 +1200 Subject: ICONIP 2004 Message-ID: Dear Colleagues, We have received an excellent response from researchers from all over the world for ICONIP 2004, which will be held in November 22 - 25, 2004 in the Science City, Calcutta, India. We have also received many requests to extend the deadline. In order to enable more researchers to take part in ICONIP 2004, we have extended the deadline for paper submission to May 7, 2004. If you and your colleagues have not submitted your contribution, please do so at your earliest convenience. We look forward to welcoming you in November in Calcutta. Here are the key-dates: Papers submission Extended to MAY 7, 2004 Tutorial / Special session proposals June 30, 2004 Acceptance notification July 15, 2004 Camera-ready copy due August 30, 2004 Early Registration September 15, 2004 Further Details : See web : http://www.isical.ac.in/~iconip04 or email at : iconip04 at isical.ac.in or write to : Conference Secretariat, ICONIP 2004 Electronics & Communication Sciences Unit Indian Statistical Institute 203 B. T. Road, Calcutta 700 108, INDIA Best regards Nikhil R. Pal and Nik Kasabov General Chair Program Chair Prof. Nik Kasabov, MSc, PhD FRSNZ, FNZCS, SrMIEEE Founding Director and Chief Scientist - Knowledge Engineering and Discovery Research Institute, KEDRI Chair of Knowledge Engineering, School of Computer and Information Sciences Auckland University of Technology phone: +64 9 917 9506 ; fax: +64 9 917 9501 WWW http://www.kedri.info email: nkasabov at aut.ac.nz (PA Joyce D'Mello: jdmello at aut.ac.nz; +64 9 917 9504) From Manuel.Davy at irccyn.ec-nantes.fr Wed Apr 14 06:28:00 2004 From: Manuel.Davy at irccyn.ec-nantes.fr (Manuel.Davy@irccyn.ec-nantes.fr) Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 11:28:00 +0100 Subject: Machine Learning Summer School - Call for participation Message-ID: <1081938480.407d1230f0170@www.irccyn.ec-nantes.fr> * Apologises if you receive this email several times * CALL FOR PATICIPATION ----------------------------------------------------- MACHINE LEARNING SUMMER SCHOOL 2004 September 12-25, 2004, Berder Island, France http://www.irccyn.ec-nantes.fr/mlschool/ ----------------------------------------------------- Organised by CNRS (France), MPI for Biological Cybernetics, Tuebingen (Germany) and the ANU (Australia) **** Applications are now open **** **** Deadline for application is May 9th 2004 **** **** For application, please visit our web site **** The Summer School is intended for students and researchers alike, who are interested in Machine Learning. Its goal is to present some of the topics which are at the core of modern Learning Theory. The school will be held in Berder Island, France between the 12th and the 25th of September, 2004. During this time, we shall present seven courses of 4 to 8 hours, each one covering one of the topics listed below. In addition, there will be evening talks which will focus on additional topics. Three practical sessions will be organized in small groups. The goal is to provide a 'hands-on' experience of working with machine learning algorithms. Lectures: * Graphical Models and Variational Methods (C. Bishop, Microsoft Research) * Computer Vision (A. Blake, Microsoft Research) * Advanced Statistical Learning Theory (O. Bousquet, MPI Tuebingen) * Regularization (S.Canu, INSA Rouen) * Simulation Methods (M. Davy, IRCCyN Nantes) * Information Retrieval and Text Mining (T. Hofmann, Brown University) * Optimization and Control (J. Moore and K. Hueper, ANU Canberra) * Boosting (G. Raetsch, MPI Tuebingen & Fraunhofer Berlin) * Kernel Methods I (B. Schoelkopf, MPI Tuebingen) * Statistical Learning Theory (J. Shawe-Taylor , Southampton) * Kernel Methods II (A. Smola, ANU Canberra) * Empirical Inference (V. Vapnik, NEC Research) * Signal Processing (R. Williamson, ANU Canberra) * Machine Learning in Bioinformatics (A. Zien, MPI Tuebingen) * Title to come. (D. Achlioptas, Microsoft Research) Practical sessions: * Semi-supervised Learning (O. Chapelle, MPI Tuebingen) * Simulation Methods (Manuel Davy, IRCCyN Nantes) * Independent Component Analysis (A. Gretton, MPI Tuebingen) MLSS organization committee Olivier Bousquet Manuel Davy Frederic Desobry Bernhard Schoelkopf Alex Smola mlss04 at mlss.cc From hochreit at cs.tu-berlin.de Thu Apr 15 11:25:54 2004 From: hochreit at cs.tu-berlin.de (Josef Hochreiter) Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2004 17:25:54 +0200 (MEST) Subject: paper available: Classification / Feature Selection on Matrix Data Message-ID: Apologies for multiple postings. Dear Colleagues, we would like to announce the following technical report: "Classification, Regression, and Feature Selection on Matrix Data" by Sepp Hochreiter and Klaus Obermayer Abstract --------------------------------------------------------------------- We describe a new technique for the analysis of data which is given in matrix form. We consider two sets of objects, the ``row'' and the ``column'' objects, and we represent these objects by a matrix of numerical values which describe their mutual relationships. We then introduce a new technique, the ``Potential Support Vector Machine'' (P-SVM), as a large-margin based method for the construction of classifiers and regression functions for the ``column'' objects. Contrary to standard support vector machine (SVM) approaches, the P-SVM minimizes a scale-invariant capacity measure under a new set of constraints. As a result, the P-SVM can handle data matrices which are neither positive definite nor square, and leads to a usually sparse expansion of the classification boundary or the regression function in terms of the ``row'' rather than the ``column'' objects. We introduce two complementary regularization schemes in order to avoid overfitting for noisy data sets. The first scheme improves generalization performance for classification and regression problems, the second scheme leads to the selection of a small and informative set of ``row'' objects and can be applied to feature selection. A fast optimization algorithm based on the ``Sequential Minimal Optimization'' (SMO) technique is provided. We first apply the new method to so-called pairwise data, i.e. ``row'' and ``column'' objects are from the same set. Pairwise data can be represented in two ways. The first representation uses vectorial data and constructs a Gram matrix from feature vectors using a kernel function. Benchmark results show, that the P-SVM method provides superior classification and regression results and has the additional advantages that kernel functions are no longer restricted to be positive definite. The second representation uses a measured matrix of mutual relations between objects rather than vectorial data. The new classification and regression method performs very well compared to standard techniques on benchmark data sets. More importantly, however, experiments show that the P-SVM can be very effectively used for feature selection. Then we apply the P-SVM to genuine matrix data, where ``row'' and ``column'' objects are from different sets, and, again, the data matrix is either constructed via a kernel function combining ``row'' and ``column'' objects or obtained by measurements. On various benchmark data sets we demonstrate the new method's excellent performance for classification, regression, and feature selection problems. For both pairwise and matrix data benchmarks are performed not only with toy data, but also with several real world data sets including data from the UCI repository, protein classification, web-page classification, and DNA microarray data. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- URL (under ``Theses and Tech. Reports''): http://ni.cs.tu-berlin.de/publications/ni-pubs-mlearn.html FTP: ftp://ftp.cs.tu-berlin.de/pub/local/ni/papers/Hochreiter04techrep.ps.gz Sincerely Yours, Sepp Hochreiter From j.van.pelt at nih.knaw.nl Thu Apr 15 07:45:17 2004 From: j.van.pelt at nih.knaw.nl (Jaap van Pelt) Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2004 13:45:17 +0200 Subject: Postdoctoral Position - Computational Neuroscience - Neuronal Network Modeling Message-ID: <407E75CD.3040200@nih.knaw.nl> POSTDOC M/F (Computational Neuroscience) Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Research in the workgroup Neurons & Networks of the Netherlands Institute for Brain Research (NIBR) is focused on plasticity and information processing in cortical neuronal networks. Experimental and computational approaches are integrated. The workgroup participates in the research project Computational Analysis of Spatiotemporal Patterns of Activity in Neuronal Networks (CASPAN), a project supported by the NWO Program Computational Life Sciences. Within the CASPAN research team there is a vacancy for a 3-year Postdoc position. Project description: The project aims at describing and understanding the patterns of activity of nerve cells synaptically connected in neuronal networks. The project builds on recent developments in experimental techniques within the participating research groups for simultaneously recording neuronal activity from a large number of neurons in the network (e.g. in cortical brain slices and cultured neuronal networks). To be able to analyze and interpret the flood of data these new techniques produce, we intend to develop (i) mathematical and statistical methods for analyzing spatiotemporal patterns of neuronal activity, and (ii) computational models of neuronal networks to simulate these patterns and understand them in relation to structural and functional connectivity within the network. The methods and models will be validated with the extensive data we have on spatiotemporal patterns in cortical brain slices and cultured neuronal networks. The CASPAN project builds on a close collaboration between the Neurons & Networks research group at the NIBR, the Experimental Neurophysiology Research Group at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and the Statistics Research Group of the Institute for Mathematics at the Vrije Universiteit. The three subprojects carried out by these groups concentrate on (a) macroscopic neural network models, (b) detailed cortical microcircuit models, and (c) statistical methods for analyzing spatiotemporal activity patterns, respectively. Postdoc job description for subproject (a): Development of a large scale neuronal network model with realistic functional and structural connectivity to simulate neuronal activity in cortical brain slices and cultured neuronal networks. The research includes (1) the development of a stochastic model for generating network structure, replicating the neuronal composition and connectivity in cortical brain slices and in cultured neuronal networks; (2) modeling studies of the neuronal activity and spatiotemporal patterns of activity within these model networks, and (3) validation and comparison with the experimental data from cortical brain slices and cultured neuronal networks. Requirements: Ideally, the candidate should have a PhD in computational neuroscience. Proven experience in computer programming and in modeling activity in neuronal networks, for example with the computer package NEURON, is required. Job conditions: Full time postdoc position for a period of three years. Place of research: Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Meibergdreef 33, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Inquiries: Additional information can be obtained from the project WEBsite http://www.neurodynamics.nl, or directly from Dr. J. van Pelt, (T) +31-20-5665481; (F) +31-20-6961006; (E) j.van.pelt at nih.knaw.nl , or from Dr. A. van Ooyen, (T) +31-20-5665483; (F) +31-20-6961006; (E) a.van.ooyen at nih.knaw.nl. Written applications, including a curriculum vitae, can be sent to: Dr. J. van Pelt, Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Meibergdreef 33, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. -- Dr. Jaap van Pelt Research Group Neurons & Networks Netherlands Institute for Brain Research Meibergdreef 33, 1105 AZ Amsterdam (Tel) +31 20 5665481; (Fax) +31 20 6961006 (Email) j.van.pelt at nih.knaw.nl (URL) http://www.nih.knaw.nl/~jaapvanpelt/ From bogus@does.not.exist.com Fri Apr 16 04:22:43 2004 From: bogus@does.not.exist.com () Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2004 09:22:43 +0100 Subject: Post-Doctoral RA Positions in Musical Audio Coding / Audio Source Separation Message-ID: <9467D8ACC71D1140B4278C4C529811615BD6F1@elec-mail.vpn.elec.qmul.ac.uk> From vittorio.sanguineti at unige.it Fri Apr 16 05:09:55 2004 From: vittorio.sanguineti at unige.it (Vittorio Sanguineti) Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2004 11:09:55 +0200 Subject: 2nd Announcement and Program: 2nd EUROPEAN SCHOOL OF NEUROENGINEERING "MASSIMO GRATTAROLA" Message-ID: <407FA2E3.2070902@unige.it> Apologies for multiple postings.... Vittorio Sanguineti *********************************************************************** 2nd EUROPEAN SCHOOL OF NEUROENGINEERING "MASSIMO GRATTAROLA" nEUro-IT.net University of Genova Telecom Italia Learning Services GENOVA (ITALY), 9-12 JUNE 2004 *********************************************************************** PROGRAM CHAIRS: V. Sanguineti (I), S. Martinoia (I), A.K. Engel (D) WEBSITES: www.bio.dibe.unige.it/news_and_events/news_and_events_frames.htm www.tils.com/neurobit The school, named after Massimo Grattarola who initiated the series in 2000, will be held from June 9 to June 12, 2004 at Villa Cambiaso in downtown Genova, 2004 European Capital of Culture (www.genova-2004.it) This year, the School will place a special emphasis in exploring the implications of neuroengineering for neurorehabilitation. The School will feature lectures, held by renowned experts of the field (organized into thematic sessions), on both theoretical and technical aspects, and student presentations (one dedicated session per day). PROGRAM Wed June 9: NEURAL PLASTICITY AND NEURAL CODING Keynote speech (M.A. Nicolelis) NEURAL PLASTICITY: NEUROBIOLOGY Insights on neuroplasticity and memory from multisite recordings from monkey cortex (M. Munk) Adaptation and learning in ex-vivo developing networks (S. Marom) NEURAL CODING: MODELLING AND THEORETICAL APPROACHES Modelling learning and memory using goal functions and timing-dependent learning rules (P. K?nig) Cortical Coding of Visual Information (S.P. Sabatini) Thu June 10: NEURAL INTERFACES AND BIO-ARTIFICIAL SYSTEMS IMAGING THE LIVING BRAIN Self-regulation of local brain activity using real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (R. Goebel) Solving The Neuroimaging Puzzle: Multimodal Integration Of Neuroelectromagnetic And Functional Magnetic Resonance Recordings (F. Babiloni) NEURAL INTERFACES Estimation of cortical activity from non invasive EEG recordings for Brain Computer Interface applications (F. Babiloni) Coding and decoding of neural information in bi-directional neural interfaces (S. Martinoia/V. Sanguineti) Towards information processing by natural neural networks (A. Blau) Fri June 11: NEUROPROSTHESES AND NEUROREHABILITATION NEUROPROSTHESES Brain-machine interfaces to restore motor function and probe neural circuits (M.A. Nicolelis) A systems engineering approach to neuroengineering (U. Hofmann) NEUROREHABILITATION TECHNOLOGIES Transcranial magnetic stimulation in neurorehabilitation (G. Abbruzzese) Vibration as a tool to understand sensorimotor integration (M. Bove) Haptic interfaces and rehabilitation (P.G. Morasso) Sat June 12: NEUROENGINEERING OF MIND Neural mechanisms of conscious perceptual selection (A.K. Engel) An engineering control approach to attention and consciousness (J. G. Taylor) Epigenetic robotics (G. Sandini) Models of consciousness (V. Tagliasco) SPEAKERS Giovanni Abbruzzese, University of Genova (ITALY) Fabio Babiloni, University of Rome I (ITALY) Axel Blau, University of Kaiserslautern (GERMANY) Marco Bove, University of Genova (ITALY) Andreas K. Engel, Hamburg University (GERMANY) Rainer Goebel, University of Maastricht (THE NETHERLANDS) Ulrich Hofmann, University of Luebeck (GERMANY) Peter K?nig, University of Osnabrueck (GERMANY) Shimon Marom, Technion, Haifa (ISRAEL) Sergio Martinoia, University of Genova (ITALY) Mattias Munk, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt (GERMANY) Pietro G. Morasso, University of Genova (ITALY) Miguel A. Nicolelis, Duke University, Durham (USA) Giulio Sandini, University of Genova (ITALY) Silvio P. Sabatini, University of Genova (ITALY) Vincenzo Tagliasco, University of Genova (ITALY) John G. Taylor, King's College, London (UK) REGISTRATION FEES (*) PhD students and postdocs: 150 euros (**) Business and medical professionals: 300 euros (*) includes program, reception, two coffee breaks and lunch each day, and lecture notes (**) Early registration. Increase by 20% after May 15th. SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATION: Dr. Vittorio Sanguineti University of Genova Via Opera Pia 13 16145 Genova (ITALY) E-mail: vittorio.sanguineti at unige.it Phone: +39-010-3536487 Fax: +39-010-3532154 ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATIONS: Ms. Jessica Gaggero University of Genova Via Opera Pia 11A 16145 Genova (ITALY) E-mail: jessica at dibe.unige.it Phone: +39-010-3532787 Fax: +39-010-3532251 -- Vittorio Sanguineti E-mail: sangui at dist.unige.it S-mail: Dipartimento di Informatica, Sistemistica e Telematica (DIST) Universit? di Genova Via Opera Pia, 13 I-16145 Genova (ITALY) Phone: +39 010 353 2801/6487 Mobile: +39 329 210 4393 Fax: +39 010 353 2154 URL: www.laboratorium.dist.unige.it/~sangui From dsmith06 at maine.rr.com Fri Apr 16 09:42:17 2004 From: dsmith06 at maine.rr.com (David Smith) Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2004 09:42:17 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Reminder, Calls for Papers Message-ID: <00ec01c423b8$a39a4e90$0200a8c0@dad> CALL FOR PAPERS LANGUAGE, COGNITIVE SCIENCE AND EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY October 22-23, 2004 Portland, Maine The New England Institute for Cognitive Science and Evolutionary Psychology (NEI) invites papers for an historic international conference on Language, Cognitive Science and Evolutionary Psychology, bringing together scholars and researchers from all over the world to share theories and research on the evolution and cognitive dynamics of language. The conference will have a strong interdisciplinary flavor, drawing on work in psychology, evolutionary biology, neuroscience, linguistics, philosophy, anthropology and other disciplines to explore the nature and origins of human language. We plan to publish selected papers, either in book form or in a special issue of a scientific journal. Proposals should be received no later than April 25th 2004. To find out more about the New England Institute visit our web site at www.une.edu/nei Send detailed proposals along with brief biographical information to the conference committee at TheInstitute at une.edu EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY AND THE CENTRAL PROBLEMS OF COGNITIVE SCIENCE This is to announce a call for submissions for a special issue of the journal Theoria et Historia Scientiarum on evolutionary biology and the central problems of cognitive science. I am particularly interested in receiving papers addressing how evolutionary thinking can help cognitive science, broadly construed, to overcome fundamental theoretical problems. Pertinent issues and areas include the nature of consciousness, neurocomputational architectures, innateness, semantics, and social cognition, to name but a few. Theoria et Historia Scientiarum is an international scientific journal for interdisciplinary studies published by Nicolas Copernicus University in Torun, Poland. Topics of recent special issues have included: * Metaphor: A Multidisciplinary Approach * On Knowledge, Representations and Interpretations: From Quanta to Cultures * Analogy * Embodiment and Awareness: Perspectives from Phenomenology and Cognitive Science * Unconscious Perception and Communication: Psychoanalytic, Cognitive and Evolutionary Perspectives. * Conceptualization and Categorization in Language and Thought * Signs, Minds and Cognitions September 1, 2004 is the final deadline for papers to be included in issue on Evolutionary Biology and the Central Problems of Cognitive Science. Please initially send me a brief outline of the projected paper. From joab at dcs.shef.ac.uk Mon Apr 19 03:02:20 2004 From: joab at dcs.shef.ac.uk (Joab Winkler) Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2004 08:02:20 +0100 (BST) Subject: Sheffield Machine Learning Workshop (Sept. 7-10, 2004) Message-ID: <200404190702.i3J72KBb029178@holly.dcs.shef.ac.uk> %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SHEFFIELD MACHINE LEARNING WORKSHOP Sheffield, United Kingdom Septemeber 7-10, 2004 www.dcs.shef.ac.uk/ml/workshop/ The Machine Learning Research Group in The Department of Computer Science at The University of Sheffield is organising a workshop on deterministic and statistical methods in machine learning, with a strong emphasis on mathematical and numerical methods. ** REGISTRATION NOW OPEN ** Confirmed invited speakers: Chris Bishop (Microsoft Research, UK) Andrew Blake (Microsoft Research, UK) Herve Bourlard (IDIAP, Switzerland) Andrzej Cichocki (RIKEN, Japan) Michael Elad (Technion, Israel) Jerry Eriksson (Umea, Sweden) Zoubin Ghahramani (University College London, UK) Gene Golub (Stanford, USA) Josef Kittler (Surrey University, UK) David Lowe (Aston University, UK) David MacKay (Cambridge University, UK) Ian Nabney (Aston University, UK) Manfred Opper (Southhampton University, UK) John Platt (Microsoft Research, USA) Stephen Roberts (Oxford University, UK) Bernard Schoelkopf (Max Planck Institute, Germany) Michael Tipping (Microsoft Research, UK) Chris Williams (Edinburgh University, UK) The refereed proceedings of the conference which will be published by Springer in the series Lecture Notes in Computer Science. The workshop is supported by grants from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the London Mathematical Society, Sheffield University, and the PASCAL European Network of Excellence. Registration is now open and early registration is encouraged because (1) there is a limited number of places, and (b) there is an early bird discount. Registration is available on-line at www.dcs.shef.ac.uk/ml/workshop/. For more details, contact the organisers: Joab Winkler Mahesan Niranjan Neil Lawrence E-mail: mlworkshop at dcs.shef.ac.uk Department of Computer Science The University of Sheffield United Kingdom -------------------------------------------- Dr Joab R Winkler The University of Sheffield Department of Computer Science Regent Court 211 Portobello Street Sheffield S1 4DP United Kingdom Tel : +44 114 222 1834 Fax : +44 114 222 1810 From r.gayler at mbox.com.au Tue Apr 20 07:45:10 2004 From: r.gayler at mbox.com.au (Ross Gayler) Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2004 21:45:10 +1000 Subject: DEADLINE REMINDER: AAAI Fall Symposium - Compositional Connectionism in Cognitive Science Message-ID: <000701c426cc$f00ec460$2802a8c0@Chennai> * DEADLINE REMINDER * AAAI Fall Symposium - Compositional Connectionism in Cognitive Science October 22-24, 2004 Washington, D.C. U.S.A. http://www.cs.wlu.edu/~levy/aaai04/ Invited Speakers: Jeff Elman, University of California at San Diego Mark Steedman, University of Edinburgh Preliminary expressions of interest in this symposium suggest that it will be a very interesting gathering, with speakers from a wide range of disciplines, institutions, and countries. We believe this symposium will achieve its aim of exposing connectionist researchers to the broadest possible range of conceptions of composition (including those conceptions that pose the greatest challenge for connectionism) while simultaneously alerting other AI and cognitive science researchers to the range of possibilities for connectionist implementation of composition. The symposium will be limited to 40-60 participants. Those interested in attending should submit a paper or, if not intending to speak, submit a brief position paper or research abstract by May 3, 2004. The symposium is intended for active participants, however there may be a limited number of places for interested individuals. These will be available on a first-come, first-served basis after the opening of general registration in July 2004. Deadlines: May 3, 2004 - Paper & participation submissions due May 24, 2004 - Notifications of acceptance sent August 31, 2004 - Camera-ready copy due From Alain.Destexhe at iaf.cnrs-gif.fr Tue Apr 20 04:58:56 2004 From: Alain.Destexhe at iaf.cnrs-gif.fr (Alain Destexhe) Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2004 10:58:56 +0200 Subject: Obidos Course in Computational Neuroscience - important update Message-ID: <4084E650.7EA07A80@iaf.cnrs-gif.fr> Dear Colleagues, Due to unforeseen problems in the neuroinf.org website (to be back online soon), we have postponed the deadline for applications to the Obidos summer course to April 30th, 2004. Sorry for the inconvenience this may have caused. Please note that the deadline for recommendation has NOT changed and is also on April 30th, 2004. So for the applicants, please make sure that both the application form and recommendation letters are done by that time. Looking forward to see you in Portugal! Best wishes, Alain Destexhe PS: we remind that this course is open to anyone regardless of the country of origin. We have special funding (IBRO) to support students from unfavored countries. --------------------- ADVANCED COURSE IN COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE (AN IBRO NEUROSCIENCE SCHOOL) August 16th - September 10th, 2004 MUNICIPALITY OF OBIDOS, PORTUGAL DIRECTORS: Ad Aertsen (University of Freiburg, Germany) Peter Dayan (University College London, UK) Alain Destexhe (CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France) Eilon Vaadia (Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel) The Advanced Course in Computational Neuroscience introduces students to the panoply of problems and methods of computational neuroscience, addressing issues of neural organization from sub-cellular to network and inter-areal levels. The course has two complementary parts. Mornings are devoted to lectures given by distinguished international faculty on topics across the breadth of experimental and computational neuroscience. During the rest of the day, students are given practical training in the art and practice of neural modeling, largely through the medium of their individual choice of model systems. The first week of the course introduces students to essential neurobiological concepts and to the most important techniques in modelling single cells, networks and neural systems. Students learn how to solve their research problems using software packages such as GENESIS, MATLAB, NEST, NEURON, XPP, etc. During the following three weeks the lectures cover specific brain areas and functions. Topics range from modelling single cells and subcellular processes through the simulation of simple circuits, large neuronal networks and system level models of the brain. The course ends with project presentations by the students. The Advanced Course in Computational Neuroscience is designed for advanced graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in a variety of disciplines, including neuroscience, physics, electrical engineering, computer science, mathematics and psychology. Students are expected to have a keen interest and basic background in neurobiology as well as some computer experience. Students of any nationality can apply. A maximum of 30 students will be accepted. There will be a fee of EUR 800,- per student covering costs for lodging, meals and other course expenses. Depending on funding, there will be a limited limited number of tuition fee waivers and travel stipends available for students who need financial help for attending the course. We have received IBRO funding to provide full travel and fee support for 4-5 students from developing countries. These students will be accepted according to the normal selection procedure. We specifically encourage applications from researchers who work in the developing world. Applications, including a description of the target project must be submitted electronically (see below) and should be accompanied by two letters of recommendation (also sent electronically). Applications will be assessed by a committee, with selection being based on the following criteria: the scientific quality of the candidate (CV) and of the project, the letters, and evidence that the course affords substantial benefit to the candidate's training. More information and application forms can be obtained from: http://www.neuroinf.org/courses/EUCOURSE/EU04 Please apply electronically using a web browser. Contact address: - mail: Camilla Bruns, FR2-1, Fakultaet IV, Technical University of Berlin, Franklinstrasse 28/29, 10587 Berlin, Germany - e-mail: bruns at cs.tu-berlin.de APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 30, 2004 DEADLINE FOR LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: April 30, 2004 Applicants will be notified of the results of the selection procedures by end of May 2004. CONFIRMED FACULTY: Moshe Abeles, Hebrew University, Israel Ad Aertsen, University of Freiburg, Germany Amos Arieli, Weizmann Institute, Israel Nicolas Brunel, CNRS, France Peter Dayan, University College London, UK Erik de Schutter, University of Antwerp, Belgium Alain Destexhe, CNRS, France Marcus Diesmann, University of Freiburg, Germany Wulfram Gerstner, EPFL, Switzerland Mike Hausser, University College London, UK Michael Hines, Yale University, USA Gwendael LeMasson, University of Bordeaux, France Siegried Loewel, Magdeburg University, Germany Israel Nelken, Hebrew University, Israel Miguel Nicolelis, Duke University, USA Hans-Ekkehard Plesser, Agricultural University, Norway John Rinzel, New York University, USA Arnd Roth, Max Planck Inst. Heidelberg, Germany Michael Rudolph, CNRS, France Edward Stern, Harvard University, USA Tali Tishby, Hebrew University, Israel Alex Thomson, University College London, UK Tali Tishby, Hebrew University, Israel Anne-Elise Tobin, Emory University, USA Misha Tsodyks, Weizmann Institute, Israel Eilon Vaadia, Hebrew University, Israel Charlie Wilson, University of Texas San Antonio, USA Matt Wilson, MIT, USA Li Zhaoping, University College London, UK From robbie at bcs.rochester.edu Wed Apr 21 10:14:45 2004 From: robbie at bcs.rochester.edu (Robert Jacobs) Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 10:14:45 -0400 Subject: postdoc position Message-ID: <5.1.1.6.0.20040421101308.01bc0b80@bcs.rochester.edu> A postdoctoral position is available in the lab of Robert Jacobs, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester. The lab focuses on: (1) the development of new machine learning architectures and algorithms, and (2) computational studies of the cognitive neuroscience of visual perception. The postdoctoral fellow will be part of a larger community dedicated to the study of learning and developmental plasticity. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Applicants should send a vita, research statement, recent publications, and the names of three individuals who can write letters of recommendation to: LDB Postdoctoral Search Committee Brain and Cognitive Sciences University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14627-0268 More information about our lab can be obtained at http://www.bcs.rochester.edu/people/robbie/robbie.html Information about the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences can be obtained at http://www.bcs.rochester.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Jacobs Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14627-0268 phone: 585-275-0753 fax: 585-442-9216 email: robbie at bcs.rochester.edu web: http://www.bcs.rochester.edu/people/robbie/robbie.html From M.Meeter at psy.vu.nl Wed Apr 21 08:25:27 2004 From: M.Meeter at psy.vu.nl (Meeter M) Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 14:25:27 +0200 Subject: papers on consolidation of long-term memories Message-ID: Apologies for multiple postings. Dear Colleagues, The readers of this list may be interested in the following four papers on the consolidation of long-term memory. Of all papers a draft is available at www.neuromod.org/publications. * Meeter, M. & Murre, J.M.J. (in press). TraceLink: A model of amnesia and consolidation. Cognitive Neuropsychology. A connectionist model is presented, the TraceLink model, that implements an autonomous 'off-line' consolidation process. The model consists of three subsystems: (1) a trace system (neocortex), (2) a link system (hippocampus and adjacent regions), and (3) a modulatory system (basal forebrain and other areas). The model is able to account for many of the characteristics of anterograde and retrograde amnesia, including Ribot gradients, transient global amnesia, patterns of shrinkage of retrograde amnesia, correlations between anterograde and retrograde amnesia or the absence thereof (e.g., in isolated retrograde amnesia). In addition, it produces normal forgetting curves and can exhibit permastore. It also offers an explanation for the advantages of learning under high arousal for long-term retention. http://www.neuromod.org/publications/papers/TL/TL.pdf * Meeter, M. & Murre, J.M.J. (2004). Simulating episodic memory deficits in semantic dementia with the TraceLink model. Memory, 12, 272 - 287. Although semantic dementia is primarily characterized by deficits in semantic memory, episodic memory is also impaired. Patients show poor recall of old autobiographical and semantic memories, with better retrieval of recent experiences; they can form new memories, and normal performance on pictorial recognition memory has been demonstrated. As these abnormalities in episodic memory are virtually a mirror image of those seen in the amnesic syndromes, semantic dementia poses a challenge to extant models of remote memory and amnesia. Here, we show that one such model, TraceLink, can reproduce some of the principal findings on episodic memory in semantic dementia. A loss of nodes and connections within the trace system, which can be identified with the temporal neocortical memory storage sites implicated in semantic dementia, simulates without further assumptions the findings reported above. http://www.neuromod.org/publications/papers/SEMD/SEMD.pdf * Meeter, M. (2003). Control of consolidation in neural networks: Avoiding runaway effects. Connection Science, 15, 45-61. Consolidation has been implemented in two ways: as straight rehearsal of patterns, or as pseudorehearsal, in which pseudoitems are created by sampling attractors or input-output combinations from the network. Although several authors have investigated both implementations, few have explored how it is decided which pattern or pseudoitem is consolidated. Controlling consolidation is not trivial, as it is susceptible to a corruption. In runaway consolidation, one or two patterns monopolize all consolidation resources and come to dominate the entire network. Runaway consolidation is analysed here, and three solutions are explored. Suppressing transmission in the connections in which consolidation takes place is shown to work best. Placing bounds on connections or unlearning attractors also alleviates runaway consolidation, though less effectively so. http://www.neuromod.org/publications/papers/CCNN/CCNN.pdf * Meeter, M. & Murre, J.M.J. (in press). Consolidation of long-term memory: Evidence and alternatives. Psychological Bulletin. Memory loss in retrograde amnesia has long been held to be larger for recent periods than for remote periods, a pattern usually referred to as the Ribot gradient. One explanation for this gradient is consolidation of long-term memories. Several computational models of such a process have been presented, and have shown how consolidation can explain characteristics of amnesia, effects of arousal on memory, and episodic memory in semantic dementia. These models have not elucidated how consolidation must be envisaged; it remains a largely hypothetical process. Here findings are reviewed that shed light on how consolidation may be implemented in the brain. Moreover, evidence is weighed that supports its existence, or supports one of its competitors as explanations of the Ribot gradient: that it results from only partial damage to the hippocampal memory system (as stated by multiple trace theory), or that it result from a sparing of semanticized memories. Consolidation theory, multiple trace theory and semantization can all handle some findings well, and others not. Conclusive evidence for or against consolidation thus remains to be found. http://www.neuromod.org/publications/papers/CLM/CLM.pdf Sincerely, Martijn Meeter ------------------------------ Dr. M. Meeter Dept. of Cognitive Psychology Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam The Netherlands ------------------------------ From tere-ic0 at wpmail.paisley.ac.uk Wed Apr 21 23:08:53 2004 From: tere-ic0 at wpmail.paisley.ac.uk (Valery Tereshko) Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2004 04:08:53 +0100 Subject: Research Studentship Message-ID: Research (PhD) studentship to work on Emergent Collective Behaviour in Ensembles of Communicating Agents is available in School of Computing of the University of Paisley. The approach is based on consideration of an agent ensemble as dynamical system and studying the latter with the methods of nonlinear dynamics and statistical physics. Knowledge of basic nonlinear dynamics and good computational skill are essential. Experience in and knowledge of statistical physics, chaos theory, neural and biologically-inspired computations, and swarm intelligence are desirable. Studentship is open to UK/EU individuals. Closing date for applications is 3 May 2004. Further particulars are available at http://jobs.ac.uk/jobfiles/LJ169.html. ---------------------------------------------- Valery Tereshko e-mail: valery.tereshko at paisley.ac.uk Legal disclaimer -------------------------- The information transmitted is the property of the University of Paisley and is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Statements and opinions expressed in this e-mail may not represent those of the company. Any review, retransmission, dissemination and other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender immediately and delete the material from any computer. -------------------------- From ddepi001 at umaryland.edu Thu Apr 22 09:28:55 2004 From: ddepi001 at umaryland.edu (Didier Depireux, PhD) Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2004 09:28:55 -0400 Subject: Post-doctoral position in hearing, Baltimore Message-ID: Post-Doctoral Position: Encoding of Dynamic Spectrum in Auditory Cortex One or more post-doctoral positions are available in the Program for Neurosciences of the School of Medicine of the University of Maryland in Baltimore, to work in the laboratory of Dr. Didier Depireux. The overall goal of the research is to determine how the shape of the acoustic spectrum, or spectro-temporal envelope, is represented in the neural responses of the auditory system (cortex and inferior colliculus) using the animal model of an awake and alert ferret. In our laboratory, we use a combination of electrophysiological recordings, psychophysical testing and system models to characterize response and encoding of features. The project involves correlated psychophysical studies in ferrets and human subjects. The successful candidate will have training experience in either psychoacoustics (with significant neuroscience interest or background), electrophysiology in animals, or a strong interest in applying theoretical and quantitative methods to the field of neuroscience. Programming experience, especially using MATLAB, would be extremely helpful. Salary will be according to the NIH pay scale. The position is available immediately, but a later start time may be negotiated. Please contact Didier Depireux at ddepi001 at umaryland.edu if interested. __ Didier A Depireux ddepi001 at umaryland.edu didier at isr.umd.edu 20 Penn Str - S218E http://neurobiology.umaryland.edu/depireux.htm Anatomy and Neurobiology Phone: 410-706-1272 (lab) University of Maryland -1273 (off) Baltimore MD 21201 USA Fax: 1-410-706-2512 From gluck at pavlov.rutgers.edu Thu Apr 22 09:58:55 2004 From: gluck at pavlov.rutgers.edu (Mark A. Gluck) Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2004 06:58:55 -0700 Subject: Seeking neural-net programmer or postdoc for memory models. Message-ID: JOB OPENING FOR PROGRAMMER/RA or POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW Pending final approval of funding, we expect to hire for a position to start in the fall (Sept/October 2004) for a full-time computational modeler to do neural network models of the hippocampus and memory. Note: The applicant must currently reside in the US or Europe. The scope of work would be split evenly between two related projects: (1) working on Artificial Intelligence applications of hippocampal models to various problems in pattern recognition and novelty detection, (2) extending and elaborating our past models of cortico-hippocampal function (Gluck & Myers, 1993, 2001) to include greater physiological detail, temporal sensitivities, and connections with other brain region (that is, basic computational neuroscience research). All this modeling would take place in the context of a broader program of research that is tightly linked to empirical studies of the neural bases of animal learning (through lesion and recording studies), as well as cognitive neuroscience studies of human learning and memory using fMRI and clinical populations. See our web page below for more information on past modeling efforts and empirical research from our lab. This position could either be for a full-time salaried programmer/research assistant (e.g., someone with a BA or MS) or it could be configured as a postdoctoral fellowship for someone who has a PhD. Strong prior neural net modeling and programming experience is a must. Familiarity with memory models and memory research highly preferred. Strong English language writing and communication skills are essential. We are located in Newark, NJ, just outside New York City. If interested, please (1) read through our web page and research overviews and publication summary at http://www.gluck.edu, and then (2) email a raw text (no attachments) message that summarizes your background, relevant experience, future goals, and how and why you think you are a good fit for our lab and this position, especially with regard to the criteria noted above. In addition, please state your current citizenship or residency status and whether or not you have appropriate work permits for the US if you are not a US citizen. - Mark -- ___________________________________________ Dr. Mark A. Gluck, Professor Co-Director, Rutgers Memory Disorders Project Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Rutgers University Phone: (973) 353-1080 x3221 197 University Ave. Fax: (973) 353-1272 Newark, New Jersey 07102 Email: gluck at pavlov.rutgers.edu Lab: http://www.gluck.edu Memory Loss & Brain Newsletter: http://www.memorylossonline.com From alexandra at gatsby.ucl.ac.uk Fri Apr 23 12:32:29 2004 From: alexandra at gatsby.ucl.ac.uk (Alexandra Boss) Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 17:32:29 +0100 Subject: Gatsby Unit post-doctoral positions In-Reply-To: <200404081538.i38Fc1px011584@visionscience.com> Message-ID: <002901c42950$9218ae30$2dd5a8c0@gatsby.ucl.ac.uk> Post-doctoral Research Positions Theoretical Neuroscience The Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit invites applications for post-doctoral research positions in theoretical neuroscience and related areas. The Gatsby Unit is a world-class centre for theoretical neuroscience and machine learning, focusing on unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning, interpretation of neural data, population coding, perceptual processing, neural dynamics, and computational motor control. For further details of our research please see: http://www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/research.html The unit provides a unique environment in which a critical mass of theoreticians interact closely with each other and with other world-class research groups in related departments at University College London, including Anatomy, Computer Science, Functional Imaging Laboratory, Physics, Physiology, Psychology, Neurology, Ophthalmology, and Statistics. The unit's visitor and seminar programmes enable staff and students to engage with leading researchers from across the world. Candidates must have a strong analytical background. Salaries are competitive, based on experience and achievement. Applicants should send in pdf, plain text or Word format a CV, a statement of research interests, and the names and full contact details (including e-mail addresses) of three referees to: admin at gatsby.ucl.ac.uk Applicants are directed to further particulars about the positions at: http://www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/vacancies/postdoc-details.pdf These particulars request provision of standardised monitoring information through completion of an Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form. While e-mail is preferred, candidates may also submit applications in hardcopy to the following address: Unit Administrator, Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, University College London, Alexandra House, 17 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AR, UK ******* The closing date for applications is Friday 14 May 2004 ******* From maass at igi.tugraz.at Sat Apr 24 12:06:42 2004 From: maass at igi.tugraz.at (Wolfgang Maass) Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2004 18:06:42 +0200 Subject: PhD-Position in Neural Computation Message-ID: <408A9092.1010101@igi.tugraz.at> A Phd-Position is available in our Institute for a research project on Computation and Learning in Neural Microcircuit Models (funded by the Austrain Science Foundation). The goal of this project is to develop -- in collaboration with neurophysiologists from various labs -- computer models for cortical columns, and to provide new tools from dynamical systems theory and machine learning for analyzing the function of cortical columns. Needed qualifications are experience in computer-modelling and/or computer science, strong interest in understanding biological neural computation, and excellent grades and/or evidence of very good research potential. Applications (including samples of papers and email addresses of referees) should be sent by May 5 per email to maass at igi.tugraz.at -- Prof. Wolfgang Maass Institut fuer Grundlagen der Informationsverarbeitung Technische Universitaet Graz Inffeldgasse 16b , A-8010 Graz, Austria Tel.: ++43/316/873-5811 Fax ++43/316/873-5805 http://www.igi.tugraz.at/maass/Welcome.html From bassis at dsi.unimi.it Tue Apr 27 10:47:34 2004 From: bassis at dsi.unimi.it (Simone Bassis) Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2004 16:47:34 +0200 Subject: WIRN 2004 Message-ID: WIRN `04 XV ITALIAN WORKSHOP ON NEURAL NETWORK University of Perugia September 15 - 17, 2004 Organizing - Scientific Committee B. Apolloni (Univ. Milano), A. Bertoni (Univ. Milano), N.A. Borghese (Univ. Milano), D.D.Caviglia (Univ. Genova), P. Campadelli (Univ. Milano), A. Chella (Univ. Palermo), A. Colla (ELSAG Genova), A. Esposito (Univ. Napoli II), F. M. Frattale Mascioli (Univ. Roma "La Sapienza"), C. Furlanello (ITC-IRST Trento), S. Giove (Univ. Venezia), M. Gori (Univ. Siena), M. Marinaro (Univ. Salerno), F. Masulli (Univ. Pisa), C. Morabito (Univ. Reggio Calabria), P. Morasso (Univ. Genova), G. Orlandi (Univ. Roma "La Sapienza"), T. Parisini (Univ. Trieste), E. Pasero (Politecnico Torino), A. Petrosino (CNR Napoli), V. Piuri (Politecnico Milano), R. Serra (CRA Montecatini Ravenna), F. Sorbello (Univ. Palermo), A. Sperduti (Univ. Padova), R. Tagliaferri (Univ. Salerno) Sponsors International Institute for Advanced Scientific Studies (IIASS) "E.R. Caianiello" Dip. di Fisica "E.R. Caianiello", University of Salerno Dip. di Matematica ed Informatica, University of Salerno Dip. di Scienze dell'Informazione, University of Milano Societ=C3=A0 Italiana Reti Neuroniche (SIREN) IEEE Neural Network Council INNS/SIG Italy Istituto Italiano per gli Studi Filosofici, Napoli Topics 1 Mathematical Models 2 Architectures and Algorithms 3 Hardware and Software Design 4 Hybrid Systems 5 Pattern Recognition and Signal Processing 6 Industrial and Commercial Applications 7 Fuzzy Tecniques for Neural Networks Important Dates Submission deadline: June 15, 2004 Acceptance/Rejection notification: July 15, 2004 Camera-ready copy papers: September 2, 2004 The three-days Conference concerns both introductive topics and original and refereed papers, that will be published by an International Editor. The official languages are Italian and English, nevertheless the paper must be written in English. This year the Conference constitutes a joint event of the three associations, Associazione Italiana per l'Intelligenza Artificiale (AIIA), Gruppo Italiano di Ricercatori in Pattern Recognition (GIRPR), Societ=C3=A0 Italiana Reti Neuroniche (SIREN). The aim is to examine Intelligent Systems as a joint topic, pointing out synergies and differences between the various approaches. In this sense the Conference combines the three associations' annual meetings, allowing the participants to choose transversal paths, so as to understand the synthesis of the research on specific subjects. Furthermore, a common day will take place on September 16, to discuss about the state of the art of the research on Intelligent Systems and the opportunities of its tecnological transfer to the industry. During the Conference the "Premio E.R. Caianiello" will be assigned to the best PhD Thesis proposed by italian researchers in the Neural Networks fiels or in correlated ones. The prize is of 1,000 Euros. The interested reserachers (who have obtained the PhD after January 1, 2001 and before April 30, 2004) must send 3 copies of c.v. and of their Thesis to "Premio Caianiello" WIRN 2004 c/o IIASS, to the subsequent address, before May 31, 2004. Each candidate can compete for the prize at most two times. Only SIREN members are admitted (the participation forms can be downloaded in the SIREN site). In addition aside workshops will be organized before the Conference (pre-WIRN workshops), lasting half a day. More detailed information and the electronic submission form are available at the WIRN 2004 site http://siren.dsi.unimi.it/conferences/SI/html/index.html For more information, please contact the I.I.A.S.S. secretery: "E.R. Caianiello", Via G. Pellegrino, 19, 84019 Vietri Sul Mare (SA), ITALY. Tel. +39 089 761167, Fax. +39 089 761189, e-mail: robtag at unisa.it. Message-Id: <200404271901.i3RJ1IqD017042 at ursa.services.brown.edu> X-Priority: From jst at ecs.soton.ac.uk Thu Apr 29 17:44:34 2004 From: jst at ecs.soton.ac.uk (John S Shawe-Taylor) Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2004 22:44:34 +0100 (BST) Subject: COLT 2004 program and registration Message-ID: The Conference on Learning Theory (COLT) program for 2004 is now available on the web site: http://www.learningtheory.org/colt2004/ The conference will be held in Banff from July 1st - 4th. Notice that the early registration deadline for COLT 2004 is 1 May, and hotel availability and prices are not guaranteed after 30 April. John Shawe-Taylor and Yoram Singer Program Chairs