Category: Graduate Student Opportunities

Postdoc and graduate students (Master’s and/or Ph.D. levels) positions at intersection of AI and Neuroscience – University of Lethbridge

Posted on | by Julie

Description: We are looking for postdocs and graduate students (Master’s and/or Ph.D. levels) to use inspirations from neuroscience to make better AI and conversely to apply AI to better understand brain function and behaviour. Projects will be related to our recent work:

Neurons learn by predicting future activity. Nature Machine Intelligence 2022 https://www.nature.com/articles/s42256-021-00430-y

Predictive neuronal adaptation as a basis for consciousness. Front in Sys Neurosci 2022 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2021.767461/full

Miniaturized head-mounted microscope for whole-cortex mesoscale imaging in freely behaving mice. Nature Methods 2021 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41592-021-01104-8

A Matlab-based toolbox for characterizing behavior of rodents engaged in string-pulling. Elife 2020 https://elifesciences.org/articles/54540

Challenges of a small world analysis for the continuous monitoring of behavior in mice. Neuroscience and Behavioral Reviews 2022 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763422001105

Data-driven analyses of motor impairments in animal models of neurological disorders. PLoS Biology 2019 https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3000516

The project is a collaborative effort between the research groups of Majid Mohajerani (http://lethbridgebraindynamics.com/majid-mohajerani/) and Artur Luczak (http://lethbridgebraindynamics.com/artur-luczak/). Successful candidates will join the highly collaborative and interdisciplinary Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience and Brain Dynamics group. We are located close to Rocky Mountains, Lethbridge has the largest number of sunny days in Canada, and it is the most affordable city for young people in Canada (https://dailyhive.com/calgary/alberta-city-most-affordable-young-people ).

The applications review will start on Aug 15th till the positions are filled. Interested applicants must send an email to Dr Mohajerani (mohajerani@uleth.ca) and Dr. Luczak (luczak@uleth.ca) and include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a brief statement of research interests, and contact information of three references.

Neurophysiology graduate student position at the University of Victoria, BC

Posted on | by Julie

We are inviting applications for a Master’s or PhD student position to study synaptic neurophysiology at the University of Victoria, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The selected candidate will join the team of Dr. Raad Nashmi’s laboratory.

Our lab is interested in understanding how cholinergic neurons affect the excitability and plasticity of neural circuits in the brain. To achieve this our lab employs a variety of techniques including whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of mouse brain slice tissue, optogenetics, UV uncaging of neurotransmitters and the study of mouse behaviours. Ultimately, we are interested in how specific neural circuit activity in the brain control or modulate specific behaviours. The Master’s or PhD candidate will examine how different neurotransmitter systems, including the cholinergic system, modifies the function of substantia nigral neurons in a spatial and temporal manner.

Applicants should have taken courses at the undergraduate or graduate level in physiology and/or neuroscience. Experience with electrophysiology would be an asset but is not necessary.

The University of Victoria is a research intensive university located on Vancouver Island in the city of Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. Greater Victoria region has a population of 397,000 and has all the amenities common to major Canadian cities. Victoria and its surrounding local areas boast breathtaking natural scenery and a mild climate, making it one of the most desirable destinations in Canada.

Please contact Raad Nashmi, raad@uvic.ca, with a resume or CV, a copy of your university transcripts and a brief explanation of your research interests.

Contact information
Raad Nashmi

raad@uvic.ca