Positions

We are recruiting a talented postdoctoral researcher in Computational Neuroscience and/or Machine Learning to study network neural dynamics of brain function and psychedelics to participate in a cutting-edge International Network for Brain-Inspired Computation (AcelNet) that includes nodes in Montreal, Paris, and the Pacific Northwest of the US and Canada (e.g. University of Washington, Allen Brain Institute). The project is at the intersection of mathematics, physics, and neuroscience in the general area of complex network dynamics and representations that drive biological computation. The objective is to understand how the brain develops generative cognitive models to organize perception and behaviour, and the effects of psychedelic drugs. This project involves both analysis of large-scale ensemble neural data collected in our labs, and computational and/or analytical work to develop theories of core function.

The ideal candidate will have a quantitative background (e.g. PhD in mathematics, physics, computer science) along with experience in applying this background to neuroscience. Specifically, we are looking for a postdoctoral candidates interested in what mathematical principles predict (1) how the connectivity structure of neural networks – their connectomes – combine with the dynamics of nodes and edges to control the dynamics and statistics of the network, (2) how the brain learns these connectomes to produce generative models predictive of their environment, and (3) how such models are affected by psychedelic drugs. The overarching aim of the project is to understand how mental models become corrupted in depression/anxiety, and how psychedelics appear to reverse the corruption. A variety of world-class data sets on the structure and function of the brain are available to guide theoretical advances in the understanding of underlying brain computation, particularly in learning, perception, and decision making.

The position is open immediately with a primary location in Calgary. It is partially funded by the Pacific Institute for Mathematical Sciences and is aimed to strengthen the link between the computational neuroscience community at the University of Calgary (Complexity Science Group, Hotchkiss Brain Institute) and the University of Lethbridge (Canadian Center for Behavioural Neuroscience) with the other network members including the Computational Neuroscience Center at the University of Washington, and centers in Montreal and Paris.  The specific start date has to be within five years of being awarded a PhD degree. The position is funded for at least two years and includes an annual stipend in the range of CAD$42,000 – $50,000 plus benefits. Opportunities for brief residences in partner nodes (Montreal, Seattle, or Paris) are also available.

Interested candidates should submit their application package including a cover letter, their CV with a list of publications, brief statement of research interests and their possible start dates in PDF format to Dr. Jörn Davidsen (davidsen@phas.ucalgary.ca) and Dr. Aaron Gruber (aaron.gruber@uleth.ca). Applicants should arrange for at least two letters of reference to be sent as well. Review of applications will begin May 1st, 2022, and continue until the position is filled. For additional information and informal inquiries, please contact Dr. Davidsen or Dr. Gruber. We strive for a diverse and inclusive environment, and encourage applications from members of any identity.

We are recruiting talented postdoctoral researchers to develop functional spiking neural networks and deploy them onto neuromorphic chips/FGPAs. There are several opportunities for developing brain-inspired networks and for commercialization. The ideal candidates will have a quantitative background (e.g. PhD in mathematics, physics, computer science, electrical engineering, computational neuroscience) along with experience in FPGAs or neuromorphic computing.  Prior experience with neuromorphic computing is a strict requirement. These postdoctoral positions will be housed in the lab of Dr. Wilten Nicola at the University of Calgary.   

Interested candidates should submit their application package including a cover letter, their CV with a list of publications, brief statement of research interests and their possible start dates in PDF format to Dr. Wilten Nicola (wilten.nicola@ucalgary.ca) and Dr. Aaron Gruber (aaron.gruber@uleth.ca). Applicants should arrange for at least two letters of reference to be sent as well. Review of applications will begin September 1^st, 2021, and continue until the positions are filled. For additional information and informal inquiries, please contact Dr. Nicola or Dr. Gruber.

Students interested in pursuing both undergraduate and graduate studies in Complexity Science and the Physics of Complex Systems are encouraged to contact Dr. Jörn Davidsen by email. Current specific topics of interest include but are not limited to complex network theory, neuronal avalanches and brain networks, earthquake triggering, network inference and network information as well as rock fracture and hydraulic fracturing. Many of the ongoing theoretical and computational projects are pursued in close collaboration with experimentalists. Some details can be found here. Some current specific project openings can be found below.

All information needed to make an application to the Department of Physics and Astronomy can be found here.

• The Complexity Science Group (Dr. Jörn Davidsen) in the Department of Physics & Astronomy in collaboration with groups in the Department of Biological Sciences (Dr. Sergei Noskov, Dr. Ian Lewis) at the University of Calgary invites applications for a Graduate Students in the field of complex network modeling. The amount of data on gene networks, corresponding protein-protein interaction networks and resulting metabolites in various pathogens (bacteria) has drastically increased in the last decades. The University of Calgary together with Calgary Laboratory Services and Broad Institute of MIT&Harvard launched recently a program in Precision Infection Management with special emphasis on large scale sequencing, proteomics and metabolomics data collection for patient blood sample isolates. We are looking for an enthusiastic physics student to work on the development of a platform for modelling complex biological networks found in pathogens and incorporating data from high-throughput methods such as NMR and Mass-Spec to results of deep-sequencing. The student in the project is expected to be involved into modelling of reaction fluxes, evaluation of rare-events based on “omics” data as well as identification of key changes in the network topologies mapped experimentally due to mutations or action of antibiotics. The project already heavily utilizes capabilities offered by modern HPC and GPU computing relying on the machine learning and deep-learning techniques to extract and organize biological data. The project is highly interdisciplinary and involves close collaboration with experts in clinical biochemistry, bioinformatics, computer sciences, network sciences and infectious diseases. More information about the Complexity Science Group is available at www.ucalgary.ca/complexity.

  Candidates should have received or will soon receive a Bachelor and/or Master degree or equivalent in physics, computational, biological or medical physics with particular interest in statistical mechanics of complex networks. Programming skills (Python, R-based packages are common in this project) and some background in using high-performance computing are highly desirable. Interest in interdisciplinary work and flexibility to familiarize with new disciplines as well as willingness for interdisciplinary teamwork with various national and international collaboration partners are expected. Applicants should be highly motivated, independent, flexible with strong social skills and fluent in written and spoken English.

  Applicants should submit their application package including a brief cover letter, CV with a list of publications as well as a list of references, and their transcripts in PDF format to davidsen@phas.ucalgary.ca. Review of applications will begin October 1, 2018, and continue until the position is filled. For additional information and informal inquiries, please contact Dr. Jörn Davidsen at davidsen@phas.ucalgary.ca.

• The Complexity Science Group (Dr. Jörn Davidsen) in the Department of Physics & Astronomy of the Faculty of Science in collaboration with NeuroLab (directed by Dr. Giuseppe Iaria) in the Department of Psychology of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Calgary is looking for a highly motivated graduate student (MSc or PhD level) in the field of brain networks.

  The project will focus on using modern tools from information theory such as mutual information and transfer entropy and their conditional analogs to investigate the functional connectivity (and the underlying causal connectivity) in people affected by Developmental Topographical Disorientation (DTD). Individuals with DTD experience a lifelong inability to orient in very familiar surroundings, despite their otherwise normal general cognitive functioning; to date, the neurological mechanisms underlying such a devastating condition remain unknown. The new graduate student involved in this project will be trained to apply newly developed methods aimed at extracting the causal connectivity from observed neuroimaging data in a group of individuals with DTD and a group of healthy controls. The analysis will initially focus on the communication between different parts of the brain or “sub-networks”. The project is highly interdisciplinary and involves close collaboration with experts in psychology, neuroimaging, and network sciences.

  Candidates should have received or will soon receive a Bachelor and/or Master degree or equivalent in physics, computational, biological or medical physics with particular interest in statistical mechanics of complex networks. Solid programming skills are highly desirable. Interest in interdisciplinary work and flexibility to familiarize with new disciplines as well as willingness for interdisciplinary teamwork with various national and international collaboration partners are expected. Applicants should be highly motivated, independent, flexible with strong social skills and fluent in written and spoken English.

  Applicants should submit their application package including a brief cover letter, CV with a list of publications as well as a list of references, and their transcripts in PDF format to davidsen@phas.ucalgary.ca. Review of applications will begin December 1, 2018, and continue until the position is filled. For additional information and informal inquiries, please contact Dr. Jörn Davidsen at davidsen@phas.ucalgary.ca.

The Complexity Science Group in the Department of Physics & Astronomy in collaboration with groups in the Department of Geosciences (Dr. David Eaton, Dr. Per Pedersen) and in the Department of Civil Engineering (Dr. Jeffrey Priest, Dr. Ron Chik-Kwong Wong) at the University of Calgary invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow in the field of statistical seismology, induced seismicity and statistical physics. The successful applicant is expected to work closely with a multidisciplinary research team led by Dr. Jörn Davidsen on questions related but not limited to earthquake-earthquake triggering in the context of hydraulic fracturing in the field and in the lab. Successful candidates are expected to primarily conduct theoretical and computational research in collaboration with a number of industry partners. More information about the Complexity Science Group is available at www.ucalgary.ca/complexity.

Candidates should have received or will soon receive a PhD in geophysics, theoretical physics or a related discipline. A background in statistical seismology, induced seismicity or statistical physics is required.  Solid data analysis and programming skills are beneficial. The position is open immediately. The specific start date has to be within five years of being awarded a PhD degree. The position is for one year with the option to be renewed for another year and it includes an annual stipend of $48,000 plus benefits.

Applicants should submit their application package including a cover letter, CV with a list of publications, brief statement of research interests and their possible start dates in PDF format to davidsen(AT)phas.ucalgary.ca. Applicants should arrange for at least two letters of reference to be sent as well. Review of applications will begin July 16, 2018 and continue until the position is filled. THIS POSITION HAS NOW BEEN FILLED.

For additional information and informal inquiries, please contact Dr. Jörn Davidsen.