Postdoctoral Position - Computational Neuroscience - Neuronal Network Modeling

[Jaap van Pelt]

POSTDOC M/F (Computational Neuroscience)
Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Research in the workgroup Neurons & Networks of the Netherlands 
Institute for Brain Research (NIBR) is focused on plasticity and 
information processing in cortical neuronal networks. Experimental and 
computational approaches are integrated.

The workgroup participates in the research project Computational 
Analysis of Spatiotemporal Patterns of Activity in Neuronal Networks 
(CASPAN), a project supported by the NWO Program Computational Life 
Sciences. Within the CASPAN research team there is a vacancy for a 
3-year Postdoc position. 

Project description:
The project aims at describing and understanding the patterns of 
activity of nerve cells synaptically connected in neuronal networks. The 
project builds on recent developments in experimental techniques within 
the participating research groups for simultaneously recording neuronal 
activity from a large number of neurons in the network (e.g. in cortical 
brain slices and cultured neuronal networks). To be able to analyze and 
interpret the flood of data these new techniques produce, we intend to 
develop (i) mathematical and statistical methods for analyzing 
spatiotemporal patterns of neuronal activity, and (ii) computational 
models of neuronal networks to simulate these patterns and understand 
them in relation to structural and functional connectivity within the 
network. The methods and models will be validated with the extensive 
data we have on spatiotemporal patterns in cortical brain slices and 
cultured neuronal networks.

The CASPAN project builds on a close collaboration between the Neurons & 
Networks research group at the NIBR, the Experimental Neurophysiology 
Research Group at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and the Statistics 
Research Group of the Institute for Mathematics at the Vrije 
Universiteit. The three subprojects carried out by these groups 
concentrate on (a) macroscopic neural network models, (b) detailed 
cortical microcircuit models, and (c) statistical methods for analyzing 
spatiotemporal activity patterns, respectively. 

Postdoc job description for subproject (a):
Development of a large scale neuronal network model with realistic 
functional and structural connectivity to simulate neuronal activity in 
cortical brain slices and cultured neuronal networks. The research 
includes (1) the development of a stochastic model for generating 
network structure, replicating the neuronal composition and connectivity 
in cortical brain slices and in cultured neuronal networks; (2) modeling 
studies of the neuronal activity and spatiotemporal patterns of activity 
within these model networks, and (3) validation and comparison with the 
experimental data from cortical brain slices and cultured neuronal networks.

Requirements:
Ideally, the candidate should have a PhD in computational neuroscience. 
Proven experience in computer programming and in modeling activity in 
neuronal networks, for example with the computer package NEURON, is 
required.

Job conditions:
Full time postdoc position for a period of three years. Place of 
research: Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Meibergdreef 33, 
1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 

Inquiries:
Additional information can be obtained from the project WEBsite 
http://www.neurodynamics.nl, or directly from Dr. J. van Pelt, (T) 
+31-20-5665481; (F) +31-20-6961006; (E) j.van.pelt at nih.knaw.nl 
<mailto:j.van.pelt at nih.knaw.nl>, or from Dr. A. van Ooyen, (T) 
+31-20-5665483; (F) +31-20-6961006; (E) a.van.ooyen at nih.knaw.nl. Written 
applications, including a curriculum vitae, can be sent to: Dr. J. van 
Pelt, Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Meibergdreef 33, 1105 AZ 
Amsterdam, The Netherlands.


-- 
Dr. Jaap van Pelt
Research Group Neurons & Networks
Netherlands Institute for Brain Research
Meibergdreef 33, 1105 AZ Amsterdam
(Tel) +31 20 5665481; (Fax) +31 20 6961006
(Email) j.van.pelt at nih.knaw.nl
(URL) http://www.nih.knaw.nl/~jaapvanpelt/