Connectionists: 12 PhD studentships in Neuroinformatics and Computational Neuroscience

[James A. Bednar]

We invite applications for 12 fully-funded PhD studentships for UK
residents at the University of Edinburgh Doctoral Training Centre (DTC)
in Neuroinformatics and Computational Neuroscience, to start in
September 2013.  

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, or
to apply ideas from neuroscience to computational problems. 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.


Current DTC 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. Many projects
  focus on the development and function of sensory and motor systems
  in animals, 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.

* Neuromorphic engineering: 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-world data,
  such as video, audio, or speech.


Other related areas of research are also encouraged. Edinburgh has a
large, world-class research community in these areas and leads the UK
in creating a coherent programme in neuroinformatics and computational
neuroscience.  The University of Edinburgh was ranked 21st worldwide
in the latest QS World University Rankings, and the School of
Informatics is the largest and highest-ranked computing department in
the UK.  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 encouraged to apply. Highly
motivated students with other backgrounds will also be considered.

Up to 12 full studentships (including stipend of 14,385-17,782 UK
pounds/year) are available to UK or other EU citizens who have been
residing in the UK for the past three years (whether for work or for
education); see the web site (below) for full details.  Other
applicants can be accepted if they provide their own funding,
typically via a scholarship from their country of origin.  Prospective
students of any nationality might also consider our sister programme
EuroSPIN (deadline November 30th, 2012).

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

For full consideration for entry in September 2013, the deadline for
complete applications is December 14th, 2012.

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