Published Date: 26 January, 2022
Job Category: Postdocs
Expiry Date: 01 September, 2022
Neural Data Science Postdoc Position
Location
Neural Systems and Brain Signal Processing Laboratory (NSBSPL)
https://sites.google.com/view/lnsbsp/home
Brain Division, Krembil Research Institute
University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario
Canada
Principal Investigator
Dr. Milad Lankarany
Salary and duration
Salary is negotiable between 50k-60k/year + 16% fringe benefits depending on previous experience. The project duration is two years. The starting contract is for one year to be renewed on yearly basis depending on performance. Starting date: April-Aug 2022 (negotiable).
Deadline
Applications should be received no later than March 15th, 2022.
Project description
Neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders are global public health concerns associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. To help alleviate suffering caused by these disorders, there is an urgent need to better understand their underlying mechanisms, find new biomarkers, diagnostics, and treatments. However, the development of these clinical tools remains slow due to the lack of mechanistic models that allow to link brain states to symptoms and dysfunctions. Recent advances in neuromodulation and computational neuroscience demonstrated that stimulating specific brain regions and observing its effect through simultaneous stimulation-recording provides powerful tools to create models that predict how the brain processes information and leads to behavior. Although these models provide systematic ways to study dynamic responses of brain networks, our understanding of biophysical mechanisms of brain function remains limited, e.g., how stimulation alters synaptic plasticity, modulates brain rhythms (including theta (q, 4-8 Hz), alpha (α, 8-13 Hz), beta (b, 13-30 Hz), and gamma (g, 30-70 Hz)), and impacts behavior and cognition. By combining expertise in Clinical-, Behavioral-, and Computational Neuroscience, we aim to develop a translational computing framework that allows to identify the relationship between stimulation and neuronal responses at the cellular level, decipher their mechanistic pathways at the circuit level, and link neural activities to behavior and cognition. Modern techniques in Computational Neuroscience are needed to identify the relationship between stimulation and neuronal responses at the cellular and network levels. Additionally, advanced methods in Neural Data Science are required to decode neural activities and link them to behavior and cognition.
Hosting group
The NSBSPL at The Krembil Research Institute, UHN develops and uses advanced methods in Computational Neuroscience and Engineering as well as cutting-edge Neuro-technology to uncover information processing mechanisms of neural systems, in order to treat neurological disorders and to advance biologically-inspired computational frameworks. The main objective of our lab is to uncover information processing mechanisms of neural systems. Our goal is to understand how information is represented, propagated and computed. Understanding neural information processing will result in the development of computational algorithms & engineering techniques for optimal controlling the functionality of neural systems. For example, closed loop neuro-stimulators can be used to adaptively intervene with the neural system of patients with neurological disorders in order to restore the normal activity.
The lab currently hosts one Postdoctoral Fellow, two Ph.D. students, one MSc student, and three senior undergraduate researchers under the supervision of Dr. Milad Lankarany (PI).
Requirements
- Ph.D. in Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Computational Neuroscience, with essential knowledge and experience in AI/Machine Learning for Big Data.
- Excellent programming skills in Python and SQL with knowledge of GPU/CUDA programming, Google Cloud Platform, Big Query.
- Excellent oral and scientific writing skills in English.
- Strong motivation to work in a multidisciplinary environment.
- Professional independence and ability to meet deadlines.
How to apply
- Inbox me at milad.lankarany@uhnresearch.ca specifying in the Subject “[Neural Data Science Postdoc] <Name+Last Name>’s Application.” Attach the following material:
- One cover letter explaining the candidate’s motivation to apply and her/his/their fit to the post (max 1 page)
- An updated curriculum vitae including publication record
- Three referee contacts.
Screening of applications will start by February 1, 2021, and go on until March 15th. Potential candidates will be invited for interview. Informal inquiries are welcomed.