Connectionists: LAST CALL -- Edinburgh PhD studentships in Neuroinformatics and Computational Neuroscience

[James A. Bednar]

PhD studentships in Neuroinformatics and Computational Neuroscience,
Edinburgh

This is the final call for applications for fully-funded PhD
studentships at the University of Edinburgh Doctoral Training Centre
(DTC) in Neuroinformatics and Computational Neuroscience for
2009-2010.  The DTC is a world-class centre for research at the
interface between neuroscience and the engineering, computational, and
physical sciences.  Several places remain open for exceptional
candidates.

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.

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

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

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

* 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.

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 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 (12,973-14,766 UK pounds/year) are available
to UK students and a small number of EU students.  Non-EU/non-UK
applicants are also encouraged, but will need to provide their own
funding and evidence thereof.

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

For consideration for entry in September 2009, the final deadline for
applications to be completed is 30 June 2009.



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