[Comp-neuro] PhD-Position (salary E13/2) in Bremen, Germany: Neuronal mechanisms of rapid functional configuration

Rapid Parallel Configuration of Visual Information Processing
(Bernstein Award Udo Ernst)

Information processing in the brain is highly flexible and depends on various factors such as the current behavioural task, contextual information in the subjects’ environment, and internal states of the brain. This flexibility allows our brain to rapidly configure different cognitive functions as required by the actual situation, and to reallocate limited neuronal resources to the most important computational processes. Our project aims at a comprehensive understanding of the neural mechanisms and cognitive strategies supporting functional configuration and task switching. Currently, there is one PhD position available in this project (starting date: October or November, duration 3 years):

PhD-Position (salary E13/2):
Neuronal mechanisms of rapid functional configuration

Goal of this study 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. He/she should be familiar with standard methods of data analysis, as well as with elementary concepts from machine learning and information theory. 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 programming skills and interest in formal methods from Computational Neuroscience are required. We expect a high motivation for communicating and collaborating with the other subprojects in the group.

If you are interested, please send your application in English (or German) language, including your letter of motivation, CV, copies of school and university certificates (master/diploma or equivalent) until 31st of August, 2013 to:

Udo Ernst

Cognium
Hochschulring 18
Universität Bremen
D-28359 Bremen
Germany

E-Mail: udo@neuro.uni-bremen.de