Connectionists: Reminder: PhD position in visual perceptual learning available at German Primate Center

[Caspar M. Schwiedrzik]

 [Sorry for cross-posting]

The German Primate Center (DPZ) - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research is
one of 96 research and infrastructure establishments of the Leibniz
Association. It conducts basic biological and biomedical research in all
fields in which non-human primates play essential roles: in particular in
infection research, the neurosciences and organismic primate biology.
Besides its research infrastructure in Göttingen the DPZ maintains four
field stations to do research on and with primates (
http://www.dpz.eu/en/about-us/profile/mission.html).

The Perception and Plasticity Group is looking for an excellent

*PhD student (m/f/d)*

The Perception and Plasticity Group of Caspar Schwiedrzik at the DPZ is
looking for an outstanding PhD student interested in studying the neural
basis of perceptual learning in vision. The project investigates neural
mechanisms of learning and perception at the level of circuits and single
cells, utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in
combination with electrophysiology and behavioral testing in humans and
non-human primates. It is funded by an ERC Starting Grant (Acronym VarPL;
“Specificity or generalization? Neural mechanisms for perceptual learning
with variability”). The PhD student’s project will focus on investigating
the neural basis of visual perceptual learning in macaque monkeys combining
fMRI, multi-electrode electrophysiological recordings and electrical
microstimulation. In addition, the PhD students will have the opportunity
to cooperate with other lab members on parallel, comparative research
exploring the same questions in humans.

We seek to understand the cortical basis and computational principles of
perception and experience-dependent plasticity in the macaque and human
brain. To this end, we use a multimodal approach including fMRI-guided
electrophysiological recordings in non-human primates and fMRI and ECoG in
humans. The PhD student will play a key role in our research efforts in
this area. The lab is located at the DPZ (http://www.dpz.eu) and the
European Neuroscience Institute Göttingen (http://www.eni-g.de), which are
interdisciplinary research centers with international faculty and students
pursuing cutting-edge research in neuroscience. Further scientific exchange
within the Leibniz ScienceCampus Primate Cognition (https://www.primate
-cognition.eu) ensures a broad interdisciplinary framework for networking
and cooperation. The PhD student will have access to a new imaging center
with a dedicated 3T research scanner, state-of-the-art electrophysiology,
and behavioral setups. For an overview of our work and representative
publications, please see our website
http://www.eni-g.de/groups/neural-circuits-and-cognition.

For our most recent work, see
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/770982v1

The position is available immediately with an initial appointment for 2
years and a salary according to 65% TV-L E13. Extensions beyond 2 years are
possible. The successful candidate will join one of the many excellent
graduate schools on the Göttingen Campus.

Candidates should have a degree (master, diploma or equivalent) in a
relevant field (e.g., neuroscience, psychology, biology), and ideally prior
experience with non-human primates, strong quantitative, programming, and
experimental skills, and share a passion for understanding the neural basis
of visual perception and its plasticity. A good command of English is a
requirement, but fluency in German is not essential. We especially
encourage women to apply.

Interested candidates should send their curriculum vitae, a description of
their scientific interest and the names and contact information of up to
two references who are able to comment on your academic background and who
agreed to be contacted.

The appointment at the DPZ follows the applied regulations of civil
service. The classification follows the TV-L. Disabled applicants with
equal qualification will be given preferential consideration. We kindly ask
you to indicate in your application if you are disabled.

Please send in your written application including all certificates until
the 14 of February, 2020 under key word “PhD Perception and Plasticity” to
Deutsches Primatenzentrum GmbH – Leibniz Institut für Primatenforschung –
Personnel Office – Kellnerweg 4 – 37077 Göttingen or via mail to
bewerbung at dpz.eu.

For further information please contact Dr. Schwiedrzik, cschwiedrzik at dpz.eu,
phone: +49 (0)551-39-61371 or see http://www.dpz.eu.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/pipermail/connectionists/attachments/20200203/f0afe025/attachment.html>