Marie-Curie Actions at the EU

The second-round application poster.

FACETS-ITN Ph.D. positions: From Neuroscience to Neuro-Inspired Computing

22 Ph.D. Positions are funded in the FACETS-ITN project in the following scientific work areas: Neurobiology of Cells and Networks, Modelling of Neural Systems, Neuromorphic Hardware, Neuro-Electronic Interfaces, Computational Principles in Neural Architectures, Mechanisms of Learning and Plasticity.

This 'Marie-Curie Initial Training Network' (funded by the EU) involves 15 groups at European Research Universities, Research Centers and Industrial Partners in 6 countries.

Ph.D. students will participate in an exciting research programme and will receive a strongly interdisciplinary training in all scientific areas involved as well as in additional skills (planned training workshops). The program also includes extended stays in several partner laboratories (about 4 months in 2-3 different locations). Ph.D. degrees will be awarded by the universities of the partner groups. Each position is funded for up to 3 years.

The last application call ended 20 December 2009. If not all of the open positions can be filled there will be another call on this website.


Research Areas

  • Area I: Neurobiology of cells and networks
  • Area II: Modelling of Neural Systems
  • Area III a: Neuromorphic Hardware
  • Area III b: Neuro-Electronic Interfaces
  • Area IV: Computational Principles, Learning and Plasticity

While each thesis has a primary scientific area, it is explicitly envisaged that the thesis projects bridge the gap to at least one of the other work areas.

Examples for thesis topics

France
CNRS-INCM (1)
Marseille
  • Theoretical study of dynamical mechanisms for motion integration and segmentation
  • Large-scale neural networks for optimal image processing: from software to hardware implementation
INRIA (2)
Sophia Antipolis
  • Bifurcations in neural fields models.
  • Mean field techniques in neural field models.
Germany
ALUF (2)
Freiburg
  • Joint theoretical and experimental study of input selectivity in V1
  • Modelling dynamics in multi-layered column: spiking neural networks vs. rate models
  • Modelling computation with synchrony embedded in large cortical network models.
FHG* (1)
Berlin
  • Development of an ultra high-density Wafer Level Metallization for fast analogue computing.

Partner university is UHEI.

HONDA-RI* (1)
Offenbach
  • Learning of hierarchical object representations and top-down processing in thalamo-cortical network models

Partner university is ALUF.

SILICANN* (1)
Rostock
  • Analysis and implementation of real-time serial communication circuits for neuromorphic VLSI and for general high-bandwidth digital designs.

Partner university is TUD.

TUD (1)
Dresden
  • Applying neural simulations and benchmarks to neuromorphic hardware: issues, strategies, comparative analysis of soft- and hardware realizations.
  • Analysis and development of mixed-signal & neuromorphic VLSI with emphasis on communication components for the FACETS waferscale system.
ZMDI* (1)
Dresden
  • Analysis and Compensation of VLSI process variations in mixed signal & neuromorphic circuits to achieve reproducible behaviour with respect to the corresponding behavioural model.

Partner university is TUD.

Hungary
UD (1)
Debrecen
  • Mapping of synaptic input to dendrites in the visual cortex.
  • Model based analysis of horizontal neuron networks underlying image segmentation and contour integration
Switzerland
EPFL-LCN (1)
Lausanne
  • Synergistic effects during consolidation of synapses.
  • Reward-based learning in plausible synapse models.

The table shows the partner groups (with number of available ITN funded Ph.D. positions) and possible Ph.D.-thesis topics. Partners marked with a * are industrial or semi-industrial partners.



 
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13 Jan 2010