Connectionists: PhD student position in theoretical neurophysics at Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization in Goettingen, Germany

[Tobias Niemann]

The Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (Göttingen, 
Germany) invites applications for a

PhD student position (BATIIa/2) in theoretical neurophysics.

Recent progress in neuroscience enables experimental neuroscientists to 
simultaneously record the activity of up to hundreds of neurons in the 
brains of animals engaged in a cognitive task. The development of 
adequate models and mathematical tools for the analysis of such large 
scale neuronal activity patterns is thus an important challenge in 
theoretical neuroscience. The successful candidate will use approaches 
from statistical physics and dynamical systems theory to develop 
mathematical methods and models for the analysis of the coordinated 
dynamics of large ensembles of neurons and use them to analyse 
recordings from the mammalian visual cortex.

We are looking for applicants with a first degree in physics or applied 
mathematics, preferably with prior experience in statistical physics or 
dynamical systems theory, and interest in interdisciplinary research at 
the border of theoretical physics and neuroscience. Prior biological or 
neuroscience training is welcome but not required.

The candidate's PhD research will be supported the recently established 
Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience (BCCN) in Göttingen. 
Göttingen is a center of neuroscience in Europe hosting numerous 
internationally recognized neuroscience research institutions, including 
three Max Planck Institutes, the European Neuroscience Institute, the 
German Primate Research Center, and Göttingen University's Centers for 
Systems Neuroscience (ZNV) and for the Molecular Physiology of the Brain 
(CMPB). The BCCN integrates theoretical and experimental research groups 
from these institutions to foster interdisciplinary research in 
computational neuroscience specifically supporting close collaboration 
between theorists and experimental researchers.

Please submit your application preferably in one single PDF-document, 
including cover letter, CV, list of publications, names of possible 
referees, relevant certificates until March 15, 2006, to: 
jobs at bccn-goettingen.de (Subject: ThN PhD)

While e-mail is preferred, applications may also be submitted in 
hardcopy to the following address:
Prof. Dr. Theo Geisel
Subject: ThN PhD
Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience (BCCN) Göttingen
Max-Planck-Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization
Bunsenstrasse 10
D - 37073 Göttingen, Germany
http://www.ds.mpg.de

The MPIDS is an equal opportunity employer.