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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Postdoc/Senior Postdoc in Computational/Mathematical Neuroscience – A biomimetic forebrain for active touch (University of Bristol)</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">*** closing date for applications: 1 February 2018 ***</p>
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The University of Bristol invites applications for an immediate position in Computational/Mathematical Neuroscience.</p>
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The successful candidate will be part of a multi-disciplinary team on the new Leverhulme-funded Leadership Award ‘A biomimetic forebrain for robot touch’, focusing on active touch. We have been awarded funds for four postdocs and a technician
on a 5-year project that will apply leading robotics, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, psychology and philosophy of the brain to develop a biomimetic forebrain embodied on a 3D-printed tactile robot hand to enable human-like manipulation</p>
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This application is for a Postdoctoral/Senior Postdoctoral Research Associate in Computational/Mathematical Neuroscience who will model the mammalian forebrain system for embodiment in the robots. This research position will focus on
systems-level biological modelling of forebrain systems, and will complement three other postdoctoral researchers and a technician on the AI of robot touch and 3D-printed tactile robots, who together will embody the model on the robots.
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">Our lab uses statistical/Bayesian approaches to model perception and action selection, and is interested in taking these approaches in the direction of goal-directed learning and task performance in complex environments.</span></p>
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Although a relatively new group, we have a strong track record in publishing in both the leading Computational Neuroscience and Robotics/AI journals and conferences, including PLOS Computational Biology, Frontiers in Comp Neuro, NIPS, RSS, IEEE Trans Robotics,
Soft Robotics and regularly in ICRA/IROS. Our lab has recently won the international Soft Robotics Challenge and we have a 3D-printed tactile robot hand on display in the Science Museum, London. Our group currently numbers 8 full-time members, and we will
be hiring three postdocs and a technician over the next year.<br>
<br>
The project has funding until April 2022, making this an ideal position to develop a strong base for an academic career in this important research area.<br>
<br>
Applicant qualities:<br>
This application is for a postdoctoral position (Research Associate/Senior Research Associate) in Computational/Mathematical Neuroscience. We are looking for a candidate experienced in some of the following research areas, and an interest in pursuing the others:
<br>
- Computation/mathematics of optimal decision making (e.g. statistical/Bayesian methods)<br>
- Models of reinforcement/goal-directed learning<br>
- Systems-level modelling of the basal ganglia and other forebrain structures<br>
- Interest in embodied computational neuroscience and embodied cognition/active perception.<br>
<br>
You will hold (or will be expected to obtain soon) a strong PhD in a discipline relevant to the project. In addition to a strong research track record you will also have a proven capability to write first author publications accepted in the leading journals
of the research field.<br>
<br>
Institution<br>
The project will be based at both the Computational Neuroscience Unit (www.bristol.ac.uk/engineering/research/computational-neuroscience) at the University of Bristol and Bristol Robotics Laboratory (www.brl.ac.uk) the largest centre for multi-disciplinary
robotics research in the UK. Our group also collaborates with other labs in this research area, principally at the University of Sheffield (Tony Prescott) and ISTC-CNR in Rome (Giovanni Pezzulo).</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The post holder will be employed by the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Bristol, ranked 3rd for general Engineering in the UK (just after Oxford and Cambridge).<br>
The city of Bristol is consistently ranked as the 'best place to live' in the UK, e.g. as reported by the BBC (<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-39320118"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-39320118</span></a>).<br>
<br>
Further details:<br>
It is anticipated that interviews will take place in February 2018, and the anticipated start as soon as possible thereafter. This post is full time for 2 years initially, with funds in place to extend the position until April 2022.<br>
Further information about the Leverhulme Award (<a href="http://www.lepora.com/leverhulme.htm"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">http://www.lepora.com/leverhulme.htm</span></a>) and the activities of the research group (<a href="http://www.lepora.com"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">www.lepora.com</span></a>)
can be found via these links.<br>
Details and procedure to apply can be made through this link <a href="http://www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/">
<span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">http://www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/</span></a> with reference number
<span lang="EN-US">ACAD103059.</span><br>
Informal enquiries can be made to: Dr. Nathan Lepora (N.Lepora@bristol.ac.uk)<br>
Closing date for applications: 1 February 2018<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
--<br>
Dr Nathan Lepora, Reader in Robotics & BRL lead in Tactile Robotics<br>
Dept of Engineering Maths, Merchant Venturers Building, University of Bristol<br>
Office (MVB2.50): 0117 3315169 Lab (BRL bays 2 & 3): 0117 3286171<br>
www.lepora.com @nathanlepora @tactilerobot </p>
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