Dear Computational Neuroscientist,
A post-doctoral position will soon become available at the Laboratory
of Cognitive Modeling and Computational Cognitive Neuroscience at the
Psychology Department of the Ohio State University. The position is
funded by an NIH grant aimed at developing a Dual-Process Model of
Perceptual Learning (Dimple). The PI on the grant is Dr. Alex Petrov
(OSU) in collaboration with Dr. Todd Maddox (U Texas at Austin). We
seek a post-doctoral researcher with strong computational skills and
interests in neural network modeling of spatial vision, perceptual
learning, categorization, and/or decision making. This training
opportunity involves a variety of methods, close collaboration with
the PI, and is geared toward producing high-impact theoretical
contributions. The initial appointment will be for 12 months,
renewable for another year, and potentially longer depending on
funding. The start date is expected to be in September or October
2012, pending final determination of the availability of funds. Salary
and benefits will conform to NIH postdoctoral rates.
= Summary of Duties =
The position involves working in close collaboration with the PI on
the development and Matlab implementation of the Dimple model. As
this is a neural-network model, expertise in connectionism and/or
computational neuroscience is essential. As the model takes grayscale
images as inputs, expertise in vision science, image processing,
and/or computer vision is desirable. Dimple builds a bridge between
the research literature on perceptual learning (PL) and that on
perceptual categorization (PC) and perceptual decision making. Thus,
familiarity with any of these fields will also be an asset. The
post-doctoral researcher will conduct extensive simulations with
various models using the resources of the Ohio Supercomputer Center.
The researcher will also participate in the design and Matlab
implementation of psychophysical experiments, the statistical analysis
of behavioral data, and the empirical validation and testing of Dimple
and related models. They will also be involved in the supervision of
doctoral students and undergraduate research assistants, as well as in
the preparation of papers for publication and presentation at seminars
and conferences.
= Qualifications =
The applicants must have a PhD or an equivalent degree in computer
science, psychology, cognitive science, theoretical neuroscience, or a
related field, completed by their first day on the job. The applicants
must also have first-hand experience in modeling -- preferably
neural-network modeling of visual cognition, categorization, and/or
decision making, although applicants with solid expertise in other
domains (e.g., attention, memory) and other modeling frameworks (e.g.,
mathematical, Bayesian, production systems) will be considered as
well. Programming skills are also required, preferably in Matlab, R,
or Python. In addition to these strict requirements (PhD + modeling +
programming), any prior experience with any of the following topics
will be to the candidate's advantage: the Leabra architecture and the
Emergent neural network simulator (http://grey.colorado.edu/emergent),
the Neural Engineering Framework and the Nengo simulator
(http://nengo.ca), the ACT-R cognitive architecture
(http://act-r.psy.cmu.edu), OpenBUGS (http://www.openbugs.info),
Psychtoolbox (http://psychtoolbox.org), diffusion model analysis
toolbox (DMAT, http://ppw.kuleuven.be/okp/software/dmat/), machine
learning, image processing, object recognition, statistical data
analysis (e.g., the nlme package in R), visual psychophysics, eye
tracking, experimental design, etc. Successful applicants will have
the opportunity to gain skills in each of these areas. Most
importantly, we seek creative individuals willing to work hard,
explore new approaches, and push cognitive science forward.
= Background =
Detailed information about the lab is available at
http://cogmod.osu.edu and from Dr. Petrov's web page
(http://alexpetrov.com). Information about the Maddox Lab is available
at http://homepage.psy.utexas.edu/homepage/Group/MaddoxLAB/index.htm.
Representative publications related to the project:
* Petrov, A. A., Dosher, B. A., & Lu, Z.-L. (2005). The Dynamics of
Perceptual Learning: An Incremental Reweighting Model. Psychological
Review, 112 (4), 715-743. http://alexpetrov.com/pub/perclearn/
* Ashby, F. G., Paul, E., & Maddox, W. T. (2011). COVIS. In E.M.
Pothos & A.J. Wills (Eds), Formal approaches to categorization (pp.
65-87). New York: Cambridge UP.
http://homepage.psy.utexas.edu/homepage/Group/MaddoxLAB/Publications/2010-2014/COVIS_Preprint.pdf
* Petrov, A. A. (2012, abstract). A dual process model of perceptual
learning. http://www.visionsciences.org/abstract_detail.php?id=1531
= How to Apply =
Please send your application by email to apetrov [at] cogmod [dot] osu
[dot] edu. Please include a brief statement outlining your research
interests and highlighting your modeling experience. Also include a
curriculum vitae and contact details for two or three references (no
actual letters are required at this stage, but will be gladly received
and read if available). Feel free to include (or point to) PDF
reprints of one or two representative publications. The review of
applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is
filled. Appointments are contingent on the availability of funds. OSU
is an equal-opportunity affirmative-action employer. Women and
minorities are encouraged to apply.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Alexander A. Petrov: apetrov@cogmod.osu.edu
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology
Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210
http://alexpetrov.com
It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.
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