Connectionists: Okinawa Computational Neuroscience Course 2007: Call for Applications

[Kenji Doya]

			Call for Applications
OKINAWA COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE COURSE 2007
			Neurons, Networks and Behaviors
	June 26 - July 13, 2007. Okinawa, Japan.
		http://www.irp.oist.jp/ocnc/2007
	Application Deadline: APRIL 5TH, 2007

The aim of the Okinawa Computational Neuroscience Course is to
provide opportunities for young researchers with theoretical backgrounds
to learn the latest advances in neuroscience, and for those with  
experimental
backgrounds to have hands-on experience in computational modeling.

We invite graduate students and postgraduate researchers to participate
in the course, held from June 26th through July 13th at an oceanfront
seminar house of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology.
Those interested in attending the course should send the materials below
by e-mail or through the course web page by APRIL 5th, 2007.

In the previous three years, OCNC focused on the brain's computation
at different levels: Bayesian computation by neural populations (2004),
learning and prediction for behavior (2005), and single neurons as
computational devices (2006). This year, OCNC will be a comprehensive
three-week course covering single neurons, networks, and behaviors with
more time for student projects. We invite those who are interested in
integrating experimental and computational approaches at each level,
as well as in bridging different levels of complexity.

The sponsor will provide lodging and meals during the course and
support travel for those without funding. We hope that this course will
be a good opportunity for theoretical and experimental neuroscientists
to meet each other and to explore the attractive nature and culture of
Okinawa, the southernmost island prefecture of Japan.

Lectures:

Tutorial 1: math and computing for experimentalists
	Markus Diesmann (RIKEN)
	Kenji Doya (OIST)
Tutorial 2: neurobiology for theoreticians
	Gordon Arbuthnott (OIST)
	Jeff Wickens (OIST)
Single Neuron Computation
	Tom Bartol (Salk Institute)
	Dieter Jaeger (Emory University)
	Klaus Stiefel (OIST)
Network Dynamics and Information Coding
	Eve Marder (Brandeis University)
	Erik De Schutter (U Antwerp & OIST)
	Hagai Bergman (Hebrew University)
Behavior and Cognition
	Mitsuo Kawato (ATR)
	Kenji Doya (OIST)
	Nathaniel Daw (New York University)
	Read Montague (Baylor College of Medicine)
	(more to be announced)

Student Projects:
	a) Single neuron modeling and analysis
	b) Psychophysics experiments and modeling
	c) Behavioral experiments and modeling

Students will present posters on their current works early in the
course and the results of their projects at the end of the course.

Sponsors:
	Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST)
	Nara Institute of Science and Technology
	Japanese Neural Network Society
Co-organizers:
	Erik De Schutter: University of Antwerp & OIST
	Kenji Doya, OIST
	Jeffery Wickens, OIST
	Klaus Stiefel, OIST
Advisors:
	Sydney Brenner, OIST
	Mitsuo Kawato, ATR Computational Neuroscience Laboratories
	Terrence Sejnowski, Salk Institute
	Torsten Wiezel, Rockefeller University

******* Application *******

Please send the following by e-mail (ocnc2007 at oist.jp) or the web
application page by APRIL 5TH, 2007.

1) First name, 2) Middle initial (if any), 3) Family name, 4) Degree,
5) Date of birth, 6) Gender, 7) Nationality, 8) Affiliation, 9)  
Position,
10) Advisor, 11) Postal address, 12) Nearest airpot, 13) Phone,
14) Fax, 15) E-mail, 16) Web page (if any), 17) Educational background,
18) Work experience, 19) List of publications, 20) Research interests
(up to 500 words), 21) Motivations for attending the course (up to  
500 words),
22) Two referees whom we can ask recommendations (names, affiliations,
e-mail addresses), 23) Need for travel support, 24) How you learned  
about the course.

We will accept 30 students based primarily on their research interests
(20) and motivations (21). We will also consider the balance of members'
research disciplines, geographic origins, and genders.

The result of selection will be informed to applicants via e-mail by  
April 20th.

For more information, please visit the web page:
	http://www.irp.oist.jp/ocnc/2007

******* Secretariat *******

Okinawa Computational Neuroscience Course
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology
12-22 Suzaki, Uruma
Okinawa 904-2234, Japan
Phone: +81-98-921-3933
Fax: +81-98-921-3873
Email: ocnc2007 at oist.jp


----
Kenji Doya <doya at oist.jp>
Initial Research Project, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology
12-22 Suzaki, Uruma, Okinawa 904-2234, Japan
Phone:+81-98-921-3843; Fax:+81-98-921-3873
http://www.oist.jp/