Connectionists: Two postdoc jobs: neural decoding of language, and similarity-based neural representations

[Rajeev Raizada]

Two postdoctoral positions are available in the Department of Brain &
Cognitive Sciences at the University of Rochester in the lab of Rajeev
Raizada (http://raizadalab.org).

Both positions will involve applying multivoxel pattern-based fMRI
analysis to seeking to understand the structure of neural
representations. One position will concentrate especially on the
neural decoding of language, in particular the semantic representation
of words embedded in sentences. The other position will focus on
exploring similarity-based representations, relating neural similarity
structure to the visual and semantic similarity of objects.

Applicants must have a PhD in neuroscience, psychology, linguistics,
computer science or a related field. Experience in some or all of the
following areas would be ideal: fMRI data analysis, machine learning
(especially kernel-based or Bayesian approaches), computational
linguistics (for the language decoding postdoc), computer vision or
visual psychophysics (for the object-similarity postdoc). Experience
with Matlab or some other scientific programming language (e.g. SciPy,
R) is required.

Salary will be on the standard NIH postdoc payscale. Both positions
are available immediately and have funding for a two year period,
although they could potentially be extended beyond that time if
mutually agreed and if additional funding is obtained.

To apply, please send a description of your research interests, a CV,
the names of three referees, and weblinks to representative
publications to rajeev.raizada at gmail.com , specifying in the
subject-line which of the two positions you are applying to. Large
files such as PDFs of papers should be sent as weblinks (e.g. to your
publications webpage, or using Dropbox) rather than as e.mail
attachments. If you will be attending the upcoming Society for
Neuroscience conference then it might be possible to meet there,
otherwise interviews can be conducted via Skype.

The Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences at the University of
Rochester (http://www.bcs.rochester.edu) has a strong focus on
computational and statistical studies of neural representations, and
has researchers working in language, vision, computation, development
and neuroimaging. The Rochester Center for Brain Imaging
(http://rcbi.rochester.edu) has a research-dedicated 3T Siemens Trio
scanner.