postdoc in computational neuroscience

[B.P. Graham]

Dear all,
The following postdoc position in computational neuroscience is now
available in my laboratory at the University of Stirling, Scotland, U.K.
Regards,
Bruce Graham
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DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTING SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS,

UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING, SCOTLAND, U.K.

A 36-month Research Assistant post to work on a BBSRC funded project
concerning ‘Changes in information transmission at an auditory synapse
in the binaural pathway during short-term synaptic modulation. Salary:

£ 18,265 - £ 20,311 p.a.

The information required for sound source localization is carried in the
firing times of neurones in brain stem auditory nuclei. These neurones
exhibit synaptic and cellular specializations that contribute to
precisely timed electrical signalling. The project will investigate the
information transmission characteristics of the glutamatergic calyx of
Held synapse in the mammalian MNTB using a combination of mathematical
modelling, computer simulation and physiological experiments. This post,
to be held in the laboratory of Dr Bruce Graham at the University of
Stirling, involves carrying out the modelling and computer simulation
work. This will be based on data from physiological experiments to be
carried out by another RA funded by this BBSRC award, in the laboratory
of Prof. Ian Forsythe at the University of Leicester. The overall
objective is to determine whether multiple forms of short term synaptic
modulation interact to alter, and perhaps optimise, information
transmission through this pathway in response to behaviourally-relevant
sound stimuli, tuning it to aid in sound source localization. This
project is an exciting opportunity for a mathematician / computer
scientist to gain experience of neuroscience, and for an
electrophysiologist to gain experience of computational modelling. There
are travel funds for research visits between the two laboratories.

You will have a PhD in Mathematics / Computing Science or be shortly
about to complete such a PhD. You will be familiar with numerical
mathematics, information theory, and dynamic and stochastic systems. You
should also have proven computer programming ability in a high-level
language such as Java or C++. Knowledge of MATLAB and the NEURON
simulation package would be highly beneficial. You should have a
willingness to learn sufficient neuroscience to understand the system
being studied.

Depending on experience, a 36 month appointment will be made on the RA
scale up to point 6: a maximum of £20,311 p.a. The successful candidate

will be expected to take up the position by the beginning of October 2004.

Informal enquiries may be made to Dr Bruce Graham: Tel: 01786 467432,
Fax: 01786 464551 or e-mail b.graham at cs.stir.ac.uk, from whom further
details of the project can be obtained.
The project is conducted jointly with Professor Ian Forsythe at the
University of Leicester. For further information about the
electrophysiological RA contact Prof. Forsythe: Tel: 0116 252 3301,
e-mail idf at le.ac.uk.

Further Particulars are available from the Personnel Office, University
of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA. Tel: (01786) 467028, Fax: (01786)
466155, e-mail personnel at stir.ac.uk
Closing date for applications: Thursday 29th July 2004 Reference No. 
see Personnel website: www.personnel.stir.ac.uk

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

--
Dr Bruce Graham, Lecturer (b.graham at cs.stir.ac.uk)
Dept. of Computing Science and Mathematics, 
University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA                  
phone: +44 1786 467 432   fax: +44 1786 464 551



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