[Comp-neuro] PhD position in Electrophysiology/Computational Neuroscience in Bremen, Germany (salary E13/2)

PhD position in Electrophysiology/Computational Neuroscience in Bremen, Germany (salary E13/2)

The position is part of the newly established research group ‘Rapid Parallel Configuration of Visual Information Processing’. The group is funded by the BMBF via the Bernstein Award for Computational Neurosciences (1.25 Mio. €), granted to the group leader Dr. Udo Ernst. Research is divided into four interdisciplinary subprojects combining theory, simulation, and experimental work. Applications in either English or German language should include a letter of motivation, CV, copies of school and university certificates (master/diploma or equivalent), and should be sent to ajanssen@neuro.uni-bremen.de until May 31st, 2012. For a more detailed description of the research project and other open positions, please visit our web site at http://www.bernstein.uni-bremen.de

Neuronal mechanisms of rapid functional configuration

Goal of this subproject is to investigate neural signatures and mechanisms of parallel functional configuration in multiple visual areas with massively parallel multielectrode recordings. The PhD student will conduct experiments on awake behaving macaque monkeys in collaboration with the group of Prof. Dr. Andreas Kreiter (http://www.brain.uni-bremen.de), and analyze the collected data. This includes familiarization and training of the monkeys, preparation of the experimental setup and recordings, implantation of the electrode arrays, and recording of the data under different visual perception tasks. For analyzing the data, he/she should be familiar with the following methods: filtering, Wavelet-analysis, cross- and autocorrelation, standard techniques of coherence analysis (phase coherency, spectral coherence, etc.), classification with methods from machine learning, and elementary concepts from information theory. Behavioural and electrophysiological data shall be rapidly preprocessed, and made available for the collaborators in other subprojects.
He or she should have a degree (master/diploma or equivalent) in natural sciences (e.g. Biology) with focus on experimental work (preferably Animal Physiology). Basic knowledge in programming and in formal methods/Computational Neuroscience are required. We expect a high motivation for communicating and collaborating with the other subprojects.

General Information

The group is hosted by the Center for Cognitive Sciences (Zentrum für Kognitionswissenschaften, ZKW; http://www.zkw.uni-bremen.de) in the new Cognium building on the campus of the University Bremen. Neuroscience is one of the special research foci at the university, which includes different labs working in Human Psychophysics, Electrophysiology, Neuropharmacology, Psychology, Computer Sciences and other related disciplines. Bremen is a nice little town in northern Germany with a rich maritime history. The city offers a vivid cultural life, with cinemas, performing arts, music events, and street festivals. Enjoy the cafes or bistros in charming old houses, discover the beauties of a landscape between water and sky on your bike, or visit the seashore with dunes and dikes!