Connectionists: UK PhD studentships in Neuroinformatics and Computational Neuroscience, Edinburgh

[James A. Bednar]

PhD studentships in Neuroinformatics and Computational Neuroscience, 
Edinburgh

We invite applications for 12 fully-funded PhD studentships for UK
students at the University of Edinburgh Doctoral Training Centre (DTC)
in Neuroinformatics and Computational Neuroscience.  The DTC is a
world-class centre for research at the interface between neuroscience
and the engineering, computational, and physical sciences.

Our four-year programme is ideal for students with strong
computational and analytical skills who want to employ cutting-edge
methodology to advance research in neuroscience and related fields.
The first year consists of courses in neuroscience and informatics, as
well as lab projects. This is followed by a three-year PhD project
done in collaboration with one of the many departments and institutes
affiliated with the DTC.

The DTC focuses on research into understanding the brain and the
nervous system using computational models and experiments, and also
includes applying findings from neuroscience to build better software
and hardware (robots and microcircuits), and using advanced methods to
improve data handling and analysis, including clinical diagnosis. PhD
topics fall into five main areas:

* Computational neuroscience: Using analytical and computational
  models, potentially supplemented with experiments, to gain
  quantitative understanding of the nervous system.  Current projects
  focus on the development and function of sensory and motor systems,
  including neural coding, learning, and memory.

* Biomedical imaging algorithms and tools: Using advanced data
  analysis techniques, such as machine learning and Bayesian
  approaches, for imaging-based diagnosis and research.

* Cognitive science: Studying human cognitive processes and analysing
  them in computational terms.

* Neurorobotics and VLSI: Using insights from neuroscience to help
  build better hardware, such as neuromorphic VLSI circuits and robots
  that perform robustly under natural conditions.

* Software systems and applications: Using discoveries from
  neuroscience to develop software that can handle real-life data.

Edinburgh has a world-class research community in these areas and
leads the UK in creating a coherent programme in neuroinformatics and
computational neuroscience. Edinburgh has often been voted 'best place
to live in Britain', and has many exciting cultural and student
activities.

Students with a strong background in computer science, mathematics,
physics, or engineering are particularly welcome to apply. Highly
motivated students with other backgrounds will also be considered.

Up to 12 full studentships (including stipend of 13,320-16,400 UK
pounds/year) are available to UK citizens or permanent residents.  EU
students can be funded for tuition and fees, but will need to provide
evidence of external funding for living costs.  Other overseas
students can be accepted only with full external funding.

Further information and application forms can be obtained from:
http://www.anc.ed.ac.uk/dtc

For full consideration for entry in September 2010, please apply by
30 January 2010.

-- 
The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in
Scotland, with registration number SC005336.