Connectionists: Two fully funded PhD fellowships (Early Stage Researcher) in Computational Neuroscience

[Thomas Kreuz]

Two fully funded PhD fellowships (Early Stage
Researcher) in Computational Neuroscience
 
1. Emergence of
collective dynamics in scale-free neuronal networks    (ESR14)
 
2.Measures of spike train synchrony    (ESR15)
 
within the Marie
Curie Initial Training Network - ‘Neural
Engineering Transformative Technologies’ (NETT) at the Institute of Complex
Systems (ISC), CNR, Florence, Italy.
 
Gross Salary per annum:  42,028 € (Living Allowance) plus 9,290 -
13,272 € (Mobility Allowance) depending on circumstances
 
Required titles:  MSc in Physics, Mathematics or Engineering
 
Applications: The applications should be prepared and
send as detailed on this webpage.
 
Closing date for both positions: 1 September 2012
 
 
Applications are invited for the above posts to work with Dr.
Alessandro Torcini and Dr. Thomas Kreuz in the Computational neuroscience group at ISC,
Florence. This world
leading group combines theoretical investigations (e.g., on nontrivial
collective phenomena in neuronal populations) with practical applications
(e.g., spike train analysis). The group is one of the main participants in the
Center for the Study of Complex Dynamics (CSDC) created with the purpose of
coordinating interdisciplinary training and research activities. CSDC
researchers include physicists, control engineers, mathematicians, biologists
and psychologists. Both full-time posts are available from 1st of
January 2013 and will be offered on a fixed-term contract for a period of 36
months.
 
The two successful candidates will register for a 3 year PhD
degree at the University of Florence in
Information Technology, Systems and Telecommunication (Course on Nonlinear
Dynamics and Complex Systems). Candidates must be in the first 4 years of their
research careers and not been awarded a doctorate degree. Preference will be
given to candidates with experience in mathematical and computational
neuroscience. As part of our commitment to promoting diversity we encourage
applications from women. To comply with the Marie Curie Actions rule for
mobility applicants must not have resided, worked or studied in Italy for more
than 12 months in the 3 years prior to Sept 2012. The fellowships will include
international internships so the candidates must be able to move between
countries as necessary.

 
1. Marie Curie
Actions Early Stage Researcher (PhD fellowship)
 
Emergence of
collective dynamics in scale-free neuronal networks   (ESR14)
 
The successful candidate will work within the framework of
nonlinear dynamics and computational neuroscience. His/her main task will be
the study of the macroscopic and microscopic evolution of neural networks with
various topologies. In particular, he/she should analyze the robustness of
collective solutions in presence of an external feedback. One of the main tasks
will be the development of efficient numerical codes to simulate the networks'
dynamics and to develop tools to analyze their macroscopic properties. This
fellowship includes a three-month secondment working with either Prof. Stephen Coombes at the
School of Mathematical Sciences in Nottingham, UK, or Prof. Jordi Garcia-Ojalvo in the
Department of Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Universitat Politecnica de
Catalunya, Spain.
It also includes a three-month internship with the project industrial partner,
bioPmed in Piemonte near Turin, Italy.
 
The candidates should have a strong background in at least
one of the following fields: nonlinear dynamics, statistical physics or
computational neuroscience as well as solid experience in scientific
programming (with languages Fortran and/or C).
 
Informal enquiries should be addressed to Dr. Alessandro Torcini (alessandro.torcini at cnr.it).

 
2. Marie Curie
Actions Early Stage Researcher (PhD fellowship)
 
Spike train analysis from
neuronal networks   (ESR15)
 
The successful candidate will work within the framework of
computational neuroscience and signal processing. His/her main task will be the
analysis of electrophysiological data, in particular recordings of single- and
multi-unit spike trains as well as local field potentials and EEG all of which
will be provided by the international partner institutions. One of the
principal objectives will be the improvement of methods to estimate spike train
synchrony and in particular the development and extension of a Matlab toolbox
for spike train analysis. Furthermore, the candidate will help to adapt other
nonlinear time series analysis tools to the specific needs of the collaborating
nodes in the Netherlands, France, Portugal,
Spain, and the UK. This
fellowship includes a three-month secondment to either Dr. Simon Schultz in the
Department of Bioengineering at Imperial College London, UK or Prof. Bert Kappen at the Radboud
University Nijmegen, Netherlands. It also includes a three-month internship in
the third year with the project industrial partner, bioPmed in Piemonte near Turin, Italy.
 
The candidate should have a strong background in
computational neuroscience and  data
analysis as well as solid experience in programming (Matlab).
 
Informal enquiries should be addressed to Dr. Thomas Kreuz (thomas.kreuz at cnr.it).



Dr. Thomas Kreuz

Istituto dei Sistemi Complessi, CNR
Via Madonna del Piano 10
50119 Sesto Fiorentino (Italy)
Tel: +39-055-522-6630
Cell: +39-349-0748506
Fax: +39-055-522-6683
Email:    thomas.kreuz at cnr.it
Webpage: http://www.fi.isc.cnr.it/users/thomas.kreuz/
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