Introduction

The Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience(CSN) group is looking for a highly qualified and motivated Postdoctoral researcher to conduct research activities within the context of an adversarial collaboration to test several theories of consciousness. Current research of the group focuses on neural mechanisms of perception, multisensory integration, interactions between sensory and memory systems, and conscious representation. A theory of consciousness that is central to this application and has been developed in the group is Neurorepresentationalism (NREP). CSN research topics are addressed using a variety of methods, such as ensemble recordings in task-performing subjects, optogenetics, advanced analysis of neural data, computational modelling and theoretical analysis.  

What are you going to do

You will join an international consortium led by the CSN group, that aims to test contrasting hypotheses of the Integrated Information Theory of consciousness, Neurorepresentationalism and Active Inference Theory. The consortium includes experts in the three consciousness theories under investigation (Cyriel Pennartz, Karl Friston, Giulio Tononi), as well as experimentalists and clinicians (Umberto Olcese and Rafael Yuste for systems neuroscience and Lars Muckli, Melanie Boly and Jakob Hohwy – amongst others – for human experiments). 

A key component of this large collaboration is to compare the three theories based on the analysis of experimental data, which include data from both primary and data replication labs. A second component is to draw comparisons between the positions on theoretical and computational grounds, and further develop NREP based on computational modelling of complex, higher-order representations arising in the context of predictive coding models, multisensory processing and spatial perception. 

You are expected 

• to embark on the comparisons between the three frameworks, both on experimental and theoretical grounds, and to bring the neurorepresentationalist framework several steps further, with emphasis of computational modelling;
• to engage in acting as an ‘ambassador’, coordinating joint meetings and other project activities such as joint publications, communicating with the various international groups involved and mediating between experimental and theoretical researchers;
• to closely interact with experimental researchers and other computational neuroscientists in the CSN group, and with experimentalists and theoreticians in foreign collaborating groups;
• to analyze data gathered by the various groups, and overseeing processes of data reproducibility and comparability; 
• to take on minor tasks in student supervision and guidance at the Bachelor and/or Master level. 

What do we require

• a PhD degree, preferably in computational or theoretical neuroscience or related fields, such as systems neuroscience, biomathematics or biophysics;
• experience in computer programming, neural data analytics and/or modelling of biologically plausible or artificial neural networks;
• significant affinity with systems neuroscience (e.g. ensemble recordings, 2-photon imaging, optogenetics) and population-level analysis (e.g. decoding algorithms);
• significant affinity with experimental psychology, psychophysics and clinical neuroscience as related to perceptual and cognitive deficits and disorders of consciousness;
• demonstrable affinity with theoretical and experimental consciousness research, including computational, representational and information-theoretical approaches and philosophy;
• excellent communication and planning skills.

Please click here to apply.