Connectionists: Postdoc in computational neuroscience

[b.graham@cs.stir.ac.uk]

Dear all,

The following postdoc position in computational neuroscience
is now available in my laboratory at the University of Stirling
in Scotland.

Bruce Graham
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SITUATION VACANT

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTING SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS
UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING, SCOTLAND, U.K.

RESEARCH ASSISTANT
(£20,044 - £30,002p.a.)

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’.

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 being carried out by another
RA funded by this BBSRC award, in the laboratory of Prof. Ian Forsythe at
the University of Leicester. There are travel funds for research visits
between the two laboratories. 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.

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, up to a 20 month appointment will be made on the
Research Staff Salary Scale at point 6: a maximum of £22,289 p.a. The
successful candidate will be expected to take up the position by the
beginning of January 2006, or as soon as possible thereafter.

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.

Further Particulars are available from the HR Services Office, University
of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA.  Tel: (01786) 467028, Fax:  (01786)
466155, e-mail  hr-services at stir.ac.uk
Closing date for applications:  Monday 28th November 2005    Reference No.
11643/4134

www.hr-services.stir.ac.uk

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

-- 
Dr Bruce Graham, Reader (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

-- 
The University of Stirling is a university established in Scotland by
charter at Stirling, FK9 4LA.  Privileged/Confidential Information may
be contained in this message.  If you are not the addressee indicated
in this message (or responsible for delivery of the message to such
person), you may not disclose, copy or deliver this message to anyone
and any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it, is
prohibited and may be unlawful.  In such case, you should destroy this
message and kindly notify the sender by reply email.  Please advise
immediately if you or your employer do not consent to Internet email
for messages of this kind.