Postdoctoral positions available in JAPAN

[cia@kamo.riken.go.jp]

Postdoctoral  research positions are available to participate in 
Neural Information Processing-  Frontier Research Program RIKEN.

Applications are invited for postdoctoral positions to study the
artificial neural systems in the laboratory for ARTIFICIAL BRAIN SYSTEMS
in the RIKEN (Institute of Physical and Chemical Research -Wako -city, Japan).

We are seeking  a highly-motivated postdoctoral scientist working in the area
of neural networks  with a strong background in nonlinear and adaptive signal 
processing, and/or statistical computation, speech and image processing , 
mathematics and computer science.

Salaries range between 4-6 million Yen (40k - 60k US $) per annum
 depending on experience, achievements and the number of years since 
the PhD was earned.

   The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN) have started
a new eight-years Frontier Research Program on Neural Information 
Processing, beginning in October 1994.  The Program includes three research
laboratories ( Neural Modeling, Neural Information Representations and  
Artificial Brain Systems) , each consisting of one research leader and several 
researchers. 
   We will study fundamental principles underlying the higher order brain
functioning from mathematical, information-theoretic and systems-theoretic
points of view.  The three laboratories cooperate in constructing various
models of the brain, mathematically analyzing information principles in the
brain, and designing artificial neural systems.  We will have close
correspondences with another Frontier Research Program on experimental
Neuroscience. 

   Research positions, available from  November1995- April 1996, or latter are 
opened for one-year contracts to researchers and post-doctoral fellows,  
and are renewable for next years depending on success in the program and 
expected continuation of funding. The search will be continued untill the 
position is filled.

Applicants must submit a letter of application, a current full curriculum vitae/resume including list of publications, the name of three 
referees and a detailed statement of research interests by e-mail to:


Dr. Andrzej Cichocki
Team leader of Laboratory for ARTIFICIAL BRAIN SYSTEMS
Frontier Research Program RIKEN,
Institute of Physical and Chemical Research,
Hirosawa 2-1, Saitama 351-01,
WAKO-Schi,
JAPAN
E-mail: cia at kamo.riken.go.jp,
FAX (+81) 048 462 4633.
URL: http://zoo.riken.go.jp/bip.html


 The Riken (Institute of Physical and Chemical Research) is a research
Institute  supported by the Japanese Government.  The number of
tenured researchers in the Riken is about 350 and more than 1000 are
working altogether.  
   The Riken is located at Wako City, Saitama Prefecture, in the suburb
of Tokyo.  It is very close to central Tokyo.  It takes only 15 minutes by 
train from Ikebukuro Station (one of the famous downtowns in Tokyo).  
 
 The Frontier Research Program is basic-science oriented, and the goal
of the computational Neuroscience group is to elucidate fundamental principles
of information processing in the brain by theoretical approaches.  The
group  consists of three teams.  Each researcher may propose one's
research themes through discussions with a team leader and  he 
should take part in one or two more research projects proposed by a team 
leader.  

 Official language in the research group is English.  There
are more than 100 foreigners working in Riken.  



***************************
Research program of Laboratory for Artificial Brain Systems
   
                   
1. Objectives

The brain realizes intelligent functions over its complex neural network 
systems. In order to understand and physically simulate the mechanisms of such
complex systems, one important method is to synthesize and design artificial
neural systems to see how they work under various environmental conditions.
We hope that such approach not only make possible to better understand the 
principles and mechanisms of the brain but also opens new perspectives to 
develop neurocomputers and their applications.
The main objective is development and investigation of models, architectures 
(structures) and associated learning algorithms of artificial neural systems.
The main emphasis will be given to development of novel learning algorithms 
that are biologically justified and are  computational efficient (e.g., they 
provide numerical stability and high convergence speed).
The second objective is investigation of some potential and perspective 
applications of artificial neural systems in : information and signal 
processing, high speed parallel computing, solving in real time some 
optimization problems, classification and pattern recognition problems
(e.g. face recognition).

2. Main Topics

(1)  Blind deconvolution and separation of sources (Cocktail party problem).

(2)  Development and investigation of on-line adaptive unsupervised learning 
algorithms.

(3) Investigation of recurrent dynamic neural networks with controlling 
     chaos.
 
(4) Investigation of artificial neural systems with variable architectures.
 
(6)  Application of artificial neural systems for high speed parallel computing,
    recognition and optimization problems.

3. Main Features
 
(1) This research is intended to study the system -theoretic  frameworks for 
artificial neural networks based on nonlinear  adaptive signal processing  and 
dynamic systems/control theory.

(2) The techniques and algorithms developed in this team will be available for
collaboration with other teams and individual researchers

(3) High priority will be given to the development of synthetic neural systems
which are biologically plausible but also implementable (realizable) by
electronic and/or optical circuits and systems.

(4) Although we intend to investigate mainly models that have
possibly biological  plausibility (resemblance) and  main inspiration
will be taken from neuroscience, we assume that investigated structures
and algorithms  for specific applications may be  rather loosely 
associated with real biological nervous models or they  will be only
simplified systems of such models.