Connectionists: Postdoctoral positions in computational systems neuroscience (sensory processing & decision-making)

[Ralf Haefner]

Postdoctoral position in computational systems neuroscience (sensory processing & decision-making)

We are looking for 2 postdoctoral researchers to join the group of Ralf Haefner in the department for Brain & Cognitive Sciences at the University of Rochester (NY). The focus of our group is on understanding the neural basis of perceptual inference. Based on the assumption that the brain performs probabilistic inference using an internal model of the world, we ask questions such as: What is the nature of the internal model? How is it learnt? How are posterior beliefs represented by spiking responses of populations of neurons and what algorithm does the brain use to compute its beliefs?

The position requires strong mathematical and good programming skills. The ideal candidate would also be familiar with machine learning techniques, especially relating to generative models and MCMC-sampling-based probabilistic inference. Possible research projects range from purely theoretical to data-driven. Our collaborations with electrophysiology labs allow for testing of theoretical models using state-of-the-art cortical population recordings in vivo and, if desired, the opportunity to record your own data.

More information about past work is available here: http://tinyurl.com/rmhaefner and a preprint of a manuscript representative of future work here: http://arxiv.org/abs/1409.0257 
For details on current and possible future projects, and general information, please contact us directly. The successful candidate with join a world-class department with a wide range of research interests (https://www.bcs.rochester.edu/research/index.html ) and a strong tradition in probabilistic modeling.

Start date and duration are flexible. Please send applications including a CV and names of 2-3 references by email. Please contact us as soon as possible if you'd like to meet at the upcoming SfN or NIPS conferences.

Ralf Haefner
Assistant Professor
Brain & Cognitive Sciences
University of Rochester (NY)
rhaefner at bcs.rochester.edu