Postdoctoral Researcher and PhD-Student in Theoretical Neuroscience

The Max-Planck-Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization Göttingen, Germany) and Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience (BCCN) Göttingen invites applications for Postdoctoral Researcher and PhD-Student positions in Theoretical Neuroscience.

Recent progress in neuroscience enables experimental neuroscientists to simultaneously record the activity of up to hundreds of neurons in the brains of animals engaged in a cognitive task. The development of adequate models and mathematical tools for the analysis of such large scale neuronal activity patterns is thus an important challenge in theoretical neuroscience. The successful candidate will use approaches from statistical physics and dynamical systems theory to develop mathematical methods and models for the analysis of the coordinated dynamics of large ensembles of neurons and apply these methods to analyse in vivo and in vitro multi neuronal recordings.
We are looking for applicants with a degree in physics or applied mathematics, preferably with prior experience in statistical physics or nonlinear dynamics and probabilistic data analysis, and for interdisciplinary research at the border of theoretical physics and neuroscience. Prior biological or neuroscience training is welcome but not required.
The candidate’s research will be supported by the recently established Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience (BCCN) in Göttingen. Göttingen is a center of neuroscience in Europe hosting numerous internationally recognized neuroscience research institutions, including three Max Planck Institutes, the European Neuroscience Institute, the German Primate Research Center, and Göttingen University’s Centers for Systems Neuroscience (ZNV) and for the Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CMPB). The BCCN integrates theoretical and experimental research groups from these institutions to foster interdisciplinary research in computational neuroscience specifically supporting close collaboration between theorists and experimental researchers.
Please submit your application preferably in one single PDF-document, including cover letter, CV, statement of interests, list of publications, names of possible referees, relevant certificates until September 15, 2007, to: jobs@bccn-goettingen.de (Subject: ThN PostDoc/PhD)
While e-mail is preferred, applications may also be submitted in hardcopy to the following address:
Prof. Dr. Theo Geisel
Subject: ThN PostDoc/PhD
Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience (BCCN) Göttingen
Max-Planck-Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization
Bunsenstrasse 10
D – 37073 Göttingen, Germany
http://www.ds.mpg.de
The MPIDS is an equal opportunity employer.