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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; page-break-before:
always">
Prof. Sen Cheng, Faculty of Computer Science, Ruhr University
Bochum,
invites applications for two full-time positions (39.83
hours/week)
of </p>
<blockquote>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><b>Postdoctoral
Scholar (TV-L E13) in Computational Neuroscience. </b>
</p>
</blockquote>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><span
style="font-weight: normal">The
position</span><span style="font-weight: normal">s</span><span
style="font-weight: normal">
start on 1st July 20</span><span style="font-weight: normal">22</span><span
style="font-weight: normal">
and </span><span style="font-weight: normal">are</span><span
style="font-weight: normal">
funded for 3 years.</span><b> </b>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><u><b>Positions</b></u></p>
1. The successful
applicant will work on a collaborative project (within the
Collaborative Research Center “Extinction Learning” <a
class="western" href="https://sfb1280.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/en/home/">SFB
1280</a>), together with experimentalists to:
<ul>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><span
lang="en-US">a</span><span lang="en-US">nalyze learning
dynamics in behavioral, neural, and psychophysiological
data, </span><span lang="en-US">which </span><span
lang="en-US">will be collected by other projects within the
</span><span lang="en-US">SFB 1280.</span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">compare the
learning dynamics between individuals, species, learning
phases and learning paradigms. </p>
</li>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">develop
algorithms to analyze the learning dynamics. </p>
</li>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">develop and
study computational models of learning dynamics. </p>
</li>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">coordinate
research with other participating projects. </p>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><span lang="en-US">The
research c</span><span lang="en-US">enter</span><span
lang="en-US">
is </span><span lang="en-US">highly dynamic </span><span
lang="en-US">and
uses </span><span lang="en-US">diverse </span><span
lang="en-US">computational</span><span lang="en-US">
</span><span lang="en-US">modeling </span><span lang="en-US">approaches</span><span
lang="en-US">
</span><span lang="en-US">including</span><span lang="en-US">
biological </span><span lang="en-US">neural networks, </span><span
lang="en-US">cognitive
modeling, and </span><span lang="en-US">machine learning to
</span><span lang="en-US">investigate</span><span lang="en-US">
learning and memory </span><span lang="en-US">in </span><span
lang="en-US">humans
and </span><span lang="en-US">animals</span><span lang="en-US">.
</span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">2. The successful
candidate will model the function of episodic memory in spatial
learning and other tasks using reinforcement learning within the
Research Unit “Constructing Scenarios of the Past: A New Framework
in Episodic Memory” <a class="western"
href="https://for2812.rub.de/">FOR
2812</a>. This project strives to find answers to the questions:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">Why and how can
specific experiences stored in episodic memory be helpful for
learning?</p>
</li>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">How is behavior
driven by episodic memory different from that driven by
general knowledge, or semantic information?</p>
</li>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">How do
different learning systems interact with one another?</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-top: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">The
research unit studies the cognitive and neuronal mechanisms
underlying scenario construction, which is believed to lie at the
heart of episodic memory retrieval. It employs and combines
approaches from Philosophy, Psychology as well as Experimental and
Computational Neuroscience.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><u><b>Qualifications</b></u></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><span
lang="en-US">A</span><span lang="en-US"> </span><span
lang="en-US">doctorate </span><span lang="en-US">degree</span><span
lang="en-US"> in neuroscience, physics, </span><span
lang="en-US">mathematics, </span><span lang="en-US">electrical/biomedical
engineering </span><span lang="en-US">or a </span><span
lang="en-US">closely </span><span lang="en-US">related
field. </span><span lang="en-US">In exceptional cases, </span><span
lang="en-US">graduate students with a Masters degree in
these fields, but no</span><span lang="en-US"> doctorate
degree, may be considered.</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><span
lang="en-US">R</span><span lang="en-US">elevant </span><span
lang="en-US">e</span><span lang="en-US">xperience </span><span
lang="en-US">in mathematical modeling</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">Relevant
research experience in neuroscience or a related field (only
position 1)</p>
</li>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">Excellent
programming skills (e.g., Python, C/C++, Matlab),</p>
</li>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">Excellent
communication skills in English</p>
</li>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">The ability to
work well in a team.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><span lang="en-US">The
Ruhr University Bochum is home to a vibrant research community
in
neuro</span><span lang="en-US">science</span><span lang="en-US">
</span><span lang="en-US">and
cognitive </span><span lang="en-US">science. </span><span
lang="en-US">The
Institute for Neural Computation </span><span lang="en-US">in
the
Faculty of Computer Science </span><span lang="en-US">combines
different areas of expertise ranging from </span><span
lang="en-US">experimental
</span><span lang="en-US">and </span><span lang="en-US">theoretical
neuroscien</span><span lang="en-US">ce</span><span lang="en-US">
</span><span lang="en-US">to
machine learning and</span><span lang="en-US"> </span><span
lang="en-US">robotics</span><span lang="en-US">.
</span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><span lang="en-US">Please
send your application, including CV, transcripts </span><span
lang="en-US">(bachelor
& master) </span><span lang="en-US">and research statement
electronically, as a single PDF file, to </span><a
class="western moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="mailto:samarasinghe@ini.rub.de">samarasinghe@ini.rub.de</a><span
lang="en-US">.
In addition, at least two academic references </span><span
lang="en-US">must</span><span lang="en-US">
be sent independently to the above email address. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">The Ruhr University
Bochum is committed to equal opportunity. We strongly encourage
applications from qualified women and persons with disabilities. </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><span lang="en-US">We
are committed to providing a supportive work environment for
female
researchers, in particular those with young children. Our
university
provides mentoring and coaching opportunities specifically aimed
at
women in research. We have a strong research network with female
role
models and will provide opportunities to </span><span
lang="en-US">network</span><span lang="en-US">
with them. Wherever possible, events will be scheduled during
regular
childcare hours. Special childcare will be arranged if events
have to
be scheduled outside of regular hours, in case of sickness and
during
school or daycare closures. Where childcare is not an option
parents
will be offered a home office solution.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><span lang="en-US">Contact
person: Vinita Samarasinghe, </span><a class="western
moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:samarasinghe@ini.rub.de">samarasinghe@ini.rub.de</a><span
lang="en-US">
</span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
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<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Vinita Samarasinghe M.Sc., M.A.
Science Manager
Arbeitsgruppe Computational Neuroscience
Institut für Neuroinformatik
Ruhr-Universität Bochum, NB 3/73
Postfachnummer 110
Universitätstr. 150
44801 Bochum
Tel: +49 (0) 234 32 27996
Email: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:samarasinghe@ini.rub.de">samarasinghe@ini.rub.de</a></pre>
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