Connectionists: Research Assistant/ PhD position in Plymouth, UK

[Mike Denham]

Centre for Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience, University of
Plymouth, UK
Research Assistant - Three Year Fixed Term Appointment (salary range
15,194 - 18,129 UK pounds per annum)

Applications are invited for the post of Research Assistant in the
Centre for Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience at the University
of Plymouth, UK. The RA will work as part of a Europe-wide research team
on a new EU-funded Integrated Project entitled "FACETS: Fast Analog
Computing with Transient States in Neural Architectures. This is a
second RA post in Plymouth on the FACETS project and not a
readvertisement.

The FACETS project is a major 11M euros four-year research project
funded by the European Union under the Framework 6 Information Society
Technology (IST) priority as part of the Future and Emerging
Technologies (FET) programme in Bio-Inspired Information Systems. The
stated objective of FACETS is to explore and exploit the yet unknown
computational principles that constitute the basis of information
processing in the brain. The project involves experimental neuroscience,
the construction of models and analytical descriptions for neural cells
and networks and the construction of very large scale neural circuits in
VLSI technology. The FACETS consortium includes fifteen of the major
laboratories in Europe in these areas.

The research assistant in Plymouth will work specifically on the
construction of computational models of neural processing of visual
information in the neocortex, in particular in relation to the
perception of motion. The person appointed will be expected to register
for the MPhil/PhD programme in the Centre. The normal tuition fees for
the PhD programme will be waived for the duration of the three-year
appointment, and the research assistant will receive a salary at a level
commensurate with the normal annual stipend for UK research students.

Applicants for the post must have a sound educational background at
first degree level in a relevant subject area, with a standard of
achievement consistent with entering into a PhD programme, ie at least
equivalent to a UK 2.1 honours degree classification. They should
possess a strong background in mathematics or physics, and an interest
in the field of computational modelling of the brain. Possession of a
Masters degree and/or relevant postgraduate experience would be an
advantage.

The post is expected to be available from 1st September 2006 and an
appointment will be made as soon as possible after this date. The
appointment will be for a fixed term of up to three years, ending 31st
August 2009, and will be subject to a probationary period of six months.

Informal enquiries in the first instance should be made to Professor
Mike Denham, Centre for Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience,
University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK; tel: +44
(0)1752 232547; email: mdenham at plym.ac.uk.

Further details will then be given on how to apply formally for the
post.


Professor Mike Denham
Centre for Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience
Room A223 Portland Square
University of Plymouth
Drake Circus
Plymouth PL4 8AA
UK

tel: +44 (0)1752 232547/233359
fax: +44 (0)1752 233349
email: mdenham at plym.ac.uk

www.plymneuro.org.uk