[ACT-R-users] PhD position on relating ACT-R to patterns of neural synchronisation

[Marieke van Vugt RUG]

Niels Taatgen, Jelmer Borst and I are looking for a PhD student to work on a project looking at how ACT-R can help to interpret the functional significance of interactions between brain areas. The project is together with colleagues from Software Engineering and Control Systems.

application portal: http://www.rug.nl/about-us/work-with-us/job-opportunities/overview?details=00347-02S0004TJP <http://www.rug.nl/about-us/work-with-us/job-opportunities/overview?details=00347-02S0004TJP>

PhD position Model-based neuroscience & dynamical systems  (1.0 fte)

Organisation

Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has enjoyed an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative center of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Balanced study and career paths in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the 30,000 students and researchers to develop their own individual talents. Belonging to the best research universities in Europe and joining forces with prestigious partner universities and networks, the University of Groningen is truly an international place of knowledge.

 

Job Description 

We invite applications for a fully-funded four-year PhD student position in the Data Science and Systems Complexity research theme of the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. This PhD position is a collaboration between the Cognitive Modeling group (Marieke van Vugt, http://www.ai.rug.nl/~mkvanvugt <http://www.ai.rug.nl/~mkvanvugt>, Jelmer Borst, http://www.jelmerborst.nl <http://www.jelmerborst.nl/> , and Niels Taatgen (http://www.ai.rug.nl/~niels/ <http://www.ai.rug.nl/~niels/>)), the Discrete Technology & Production Automation group (Ming Cao, http://www.rug.nl/staff/m.cao <http://www.rug.nl/staff/m.cao>) and the Software Engineering group (Mircea Lungu, http://www.rug.nl/staff/m.f.lungu/ <http://www.rug.nl/staff/m.f.lungu/> ). 

The main aim of the project is to understand how brain areas communicate in the service of information processing. To answer this question, we will combine cognitive models of cognition with a dynamical systems analysis of EEG. We have previously shown that cognitive models can be used to help interpret patterns of interaction between brain oscillations in a specific attention task. This project seeks to extend this approach to other tasks, and to link more generally the stable states and state transitions manifesting in EEG to information processing steps predicted by the model. Eventually we hope to develop a general-purpose “brain-activity parser” that can interpret what the interactions between different brain areas may mean. The position is one of the four new PhD positions embedded in the Data Science and System Complexity initiative and thus the student will have ample opportunity to interact with other PhD students and staff who are interested in pursuing interdisciplinary research on large data and complex systems.

 
Qualifications 

A successful candidate has a Master's degree in Applied Mathematics, Control Engineering, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence or a related field, and solid programming skills. Experience in cognitive neuroscience or EEG analysis is a plus. Good communication skills (both verbal and written) in English are a prerequisite. The candidate should be enthusiastic about research, capable of learning new skills, and happy working both independently and in collaboration with other scientists.

 
Conditions of employment

The University of Groningen offers a salary of €2.174 gross per month in the first year up to a maximum of € 2.779 gross per month year (salary scale PhD students Dutch Universities) in the final based on a fulltime position (1.0 fte). The appointment is limited to a period of 4 years, which should be finished with a PhD examination. The first year constitutes a probationary period, with an evaluation of the candidate’s performance after nine months. The objective of this evaluation is to establish whether the candidate will be able to finish a PhD thesis in the remaining 3 years. If the performance evaluation is positive, the candidate’s contract will be extended for a total of 4 years. A training program within the Graduate School of Science is part of the agreement. You and your supervisor will make up a plan for additional education and supervising that is specific to your needs. The conditions of employment are available at the University of Groningen website under Human Resources:http://www.rug.nl/about-us/work-with-us/ <http://www.rug.nl/about-us/work-with-us/>
 
Starting date

 The candidate starts as soon as possible, preferably March 1st. 
 
Application


You may apply for this position before February 16th Dutch local time by means of the application form (see  http://www.rug.nl/about-us/work-with-us/job-opportunities/overview?details=00347-02S0004TJP <http://www.rug.nl/about-us/work-with-us/job-opportunities/overview?details=00347-02S0004TJP>)

Apply with a cover letter (with professional goals and a statement of interest), a curriculum vitae and two letters of recommendation (all PDF format). 

 
Information

Dr. Marieke van Vugt, m.k.van.vugt at rug.nl <mailto:m.k.van.vugt at rug.nl>
 
 
Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.

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Marieke van Vugt, PhD
Assistant Professor, Cognitive Modelling Group
University of Groningen
Bernoulliborg, room 326
Nijenborgh 9
9747 AG Groningen
The Netherlands
phone: +31-6-5195-4984 (cell)
            +31-50-363-9487 (office)
http://www.ai.rug.nl/~mkvanvugt <http://www.ai.rug.nl/~mkvanvugt>
twitter: @mvugt
m.k.van.vugt at rug.nl <mailto:m.k.van.vugt at rug.nl> / mkvanvugt at gmail.com



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