Connectionists: Computational neuroscientist positions at Nathan Kline Institute

[Neymotin, Samuel (NKI)]

Several postdoctoral scientist positions are available at the Nathan Kline Institute (NKI) for Psychiatric Research (https://www.nki.rfmh.org<https://www.nki.rfmh.org/>) to work on computational neuroscience research funded by NIH and DoD grants. NKI offers the scientists a highly interdisciplinary environment spanning research at cutting-edge electrophysiology labs, high-performance computing for computational neuroscience, and human fMRI behavioral experiments and data analysis. The funded grants at NKI involve collaborations with leading research institutions including Columbia, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, University of Texas, SUNY Downstate, University of Tennessee, Carnegie Mellon University, Brown, and Stanford.


Our NIH-funded projects rely on recently developed, detailed biophysical circuit models of the auditory system. Postdocs will use the models to investigate the brain's dynamic circuit motifs underlying internal vs. external-oriented processes in the auditory and interconnected brain areas. Postdocs will build upon models constrained by electrophysiology data and use the models to devise neuromodulation strategies for inducing/suppressing circuit dynamics, testable in vivo. NKI also has NIMH funding to investigate the origin of electrophysiological biomarkers observed in the auditory system of animal models of schizophrenia (mismatch negativity, altered oscillatory patterns), and using modeling to predict circuit-level origins and treatments. An additional NIH-funded BRAIN award uses modeling of the auditory system to optimize new DISC electrodes developed by our colleagues at UTexas, which could dramatically improve brain computer interfaces.


Our DoD projects involve developing computational models of the hippocampal and entorhinal cortex circuits used in spatial navigation, higher level decision making circuits including prefrontal cortex, and integrating these circuit models with agents learning to solve spatial navigation tasks using neurobiologically-inspired learning rules. Postdocs will also integrate these models with basal ganglia models that weigh evidence/context for improved decision-making (developed by colleagues at CMU). Postdocs will also work with applied mathematicians and data scientists at University of Tennessee to use topological data analysis to improve understanding the structure and representations of neuronal circuits used in spatial reasoning, facilitated through detailed circuit modeling. Postdocs will also have the opportunity to collaborate with Army Research Lab computational neuroscientists and mathematicians, with the ultimate aim of using the models developed to improve human-agent teaming.


Applicants should have a strong background in: multiscale neural modeling using NEURON/NetPyNE, Python software development, neural/electrophysiology data analysis, machine learning, software development, writing/presenting research, and applying for grants.


To apply for positions, email a CV and cover letter to Sam Neymotin (samuel.neymotin at nki.rfmh.org). The position requires presence at NKI (Orangeburg, New York), with part-time telecommuting allowed.



________________________________

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This e-mail is meant only for the use of the intended recipient. It may contain confidential information which is legally privileged or otherwise protected by law. If you received this e-mail in error or from someone who was not authorized to send it to you, you are strictly prohibited from reviewing, using, disseminating, distributing or copying the e-mail. PLEASE NOTIFY US IMMEDIATELY OF THE ERROR BY RETURN E-MAIL AND DELETE THIS MESSAGE FROM YOUR SYSTEM. Thank you for your cooperation.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/pipermail/connectionists/attachments/20231218/15957be4/attachment.html>