Last Date: 10 March 2024.
A position exists, for a Research Assistant/Associate in the Department of Engineering, to work on a collaborative project between the labs of Guillaume Hennequin and Máté Lengyel at the Computational and Biological Learning Lab, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge (https://cbl.eng.cam.ac.uk), and Daniel Wolpert at the Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University (https://wolpertlab.neuroscience.columbia.edu/people/daniel-wolpert).
The post holder will be located in Central Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK, with opportunities to visit Columbia University in New York, USA.
The project studies neural network mechanisms underlying the context-dependent (continual) learning of motor repertoires and ties together several threads of research recently developed in our labs, based on the following key publications (note that several are collaborative between our groups):
- JB Heald, M Lengyel, DM Wolpert (2021) Contextual inference underlies the learning of sensorimotor repertoires. Nature, https://rdcu.be/cBYhM
- TC Kao, MS Sadabadi, G Hennequin (2021). Optimal anticipatory control as a theory of motor preparation: a thalamo-cortical circuit model. Neuron, 109:1567-1581.
- TC Kao, KT Jensen, GM van de Ven, A Bernacchia, G Hennequin (2021) Natural continual learning: success is a journey, not (just) a destination. NeurIPS, https://tinyurl.com/2jfyss8c
- Echeveste R, Aitchison L, Hennequin G, Lengyel M (2020) Cortical-like dynamics in recurrent circuits optimized for sampling-based probabilistic inference. Nature Neuroscience 23: 1138-1149.
The successful candidate(s) will have:
- a strong quantitative background
- demonstrable interest in theoretical neuroscience
- obtained (or be close to the completion of) a PhD or equivalent in computational neuroscience, physics, mathematics, computer science, machine learning or a related field.
Interviews will be done via Zoom.
Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD. Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will be appointed at Research Assistant level, which will be amended to Research Associate once the PhD has been awarded.
Salary Ranges: Research Assistant: £29,605 – £33,966 Research Associate: £36,024 – £44,263
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 12 months in the first instance.
Click the ‘Apply’ button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a covering letter in the Upload section of the online application. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application. Please submit your application by midnight on the closing date.
If you have any questions about this vacancy, Profs Lengyel or Hennequin may be contacted; for queries of a technical nature related to the role or the application process, please contact the CBL group administrator by email [email protected].
Please quote reference NM40145 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
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