Connectionists: Advanced Course for Computational Neuroscience 2008 - first announcement

[Florence Dancoisne]

ADVANCED COURSE IN COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE
(A Bernstein/Gatsby Neuroscience School)

First Announcement

August 4th -29th, 2008
Freiburg, Germany

DIRECTORS:

     * Israel Nelken (Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel)
     * Nicolas Brunel (CNRS Paris)
     * John Rinzel (NYU, New York, USA)
     * Peter Latham (University College London, UK)

LOCAL ORGANIZER:

     * Florence Dancoisne (Bernstein Center for Computational
Neuroscience Freiburg)

The Advanced Course in Computational Neuroscience is for advanced
graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who are interested in
learning the essentials of the field.

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 modelling, by pursuing a project of their choosing under the
close supervision of expert tutors.

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 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 course is designed for advanced graduate students and postdoctoral
fellows from 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. The current fee for the
course will be EUR 500; this will cover tuition, lodging, breakfast and
dinner. There will be a limited number of course fee scholarships, and
travel stipends available for students who need financial help for
attending the course. We specifically encourage applications from
researchers who work in the developing world. These students will be
selected according to the normal submission procedure.

Applications, including a description of the target project must be
submitted electronically (see below) and will need to be accompanied by
the names and email details of two referees who have agreed to furnish
references. Applicants will need to ensure that their referees have
submitted their references. 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
recommendation letters, and evidence that the course will afford
substantial benefit to the candidate.

Please apply electronically using a web browser.

More information and access to the application database:
http://www.neuroinf.org/courses/EUCOURSE/F08/index.shtml


Contact address:
     * Fiona Siegfried
       Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Freiburg
       Albert-Ludwigs-Universitat Freiburg
       Hansastrasse 9A
       79104 Freiburg
       Germany
     * mail: siegfried at bccn.uni-freiburg.de

Application process starts: January 14th, 2008
Application deadline: March 28th, 2008
Deadline for letters of recommendation: March 28th, 2008
Notification of results: April 25th, 2008


INVITED FACULTY (* = confirmed)
Larry Abbott, Brandeis, USA				
Ad Aertsen, U. Freiburg, Germany*
Amos Arieli, Weizmann Institute, Israel*		
Jeff Beck, U. of Rochester, USA*
Paul Bressloff, U. of Utah, USA						
Nathaniel Daw, NYU, USA*	
Erik De Schutter, OIST, Japan		
Alain Destexhe, CNRS Gif, France*
Wulfram Gerstner, EFPL, Switzerland	
Marc-Oliver Gewaltig, Honda, Germany*				
Zhaoping Li, UCL, UK*
David Hansel, CNRS Paris, France*			
Sheila Nirenberg, Cornell U. USA
Yael Niv, Princeton, USA*
Stefano Panzeri, U. of Manchester, UK				
Jonathan Pillow, UCL, UK*		
Yifat Prut, Hebrew U. Israel*		
Yasser Roudi, UCL, UK*
Idan Segev, Hebrew U., Israel*			
Haim Sompolinsky, Hebrew U., Israel	
Karl Svoboda, Cold Spring Harbor, USA	
Alex Thomson, UL, UK*				
Mark Van Rossum, U. of Edinburgh, UK*	

TUTORS(all confirmed)
Janet Best, Ohio State, USA
Hermann Cuntz, UCL, UK
Moritz Helias, U. Freiburg, Germany
Alex Lerchner, UCL, UK
Tim Vogels, Columbia, USA
more to be invited

SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR
Bernd Wiebelt, U. Freiburg, Germany








-- 
We are currently inviting applications for several PhD and PostDoc
positions at the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience and in
associated projects.

more information under: www.bccn.uni-freiburg.de/jobs


--
Florence Dancoisne
Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Freiburg
Administrative Coordinator
Hansastr. 9A
D-79104 Freiburg

http://www.bccn.uni-freiburg.de

phone:	+ 49 761 203 9314
fax:	+ 49 761 203 9559