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

PhD position in Psychophysics/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

Cognitive abilities and limits of functional configuration

The goal of this subproject is to understand empirically the fundamental principles of parallel functional configuration in the visual system. In particular, the candidate shall investigate how well and how rapid human observers may switch between usual, and unusual,visual tasks, and which of these tasks require perceptual learning. For this purpose, the PhD student will conduct psychophysical experiments on human observers in collaboration with the group of Prof. Dr. Manfred Fahle (http://www.humanbio.uni-bremen.de), and analyze the collected data. This includes preparation of the experimental setup, programming of different main paradigms and side paradigms for result, and the conduction of the experiment. Data analysis includes standard methods of Statistics (parametrical and non-parametrical tests, ANOVA, probabilistic assessment of individual behaviour). For a more detailed analysis, some of the experiments will be combined with imaging (EEG, fMRT) and analyzed accordingly (EVPs , source analysis, PCA, ICA, stimulus reconstruction).
He or she should have a degree (master/diploma or equivalent) in natural sciences (e.g. Biology, Psychology) with focus on experimental work (preferably Psychophysics, visual system). Basic knowledge in programming and in formal methods/Computational Neuroscience is required, training in fMRI and/or VEP can be provided. 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!