Postdoc in Cognitive (neuro)science and Machine Learning (all genders welcome)

At the University of Göttingen -Public Law Foundation-, Graduiertenkolleg 2906 Neugier, there is a position as

Postdoc in Cognitive (neuro)science and Machine Learning (all genders welcome)
Entgeltgruppe 13 TV-L/100%

to be filled. Starting date is 8/1/2024. The position is limited to 7/31/2027.

As part of a new research network that has been established at the Georg-August-University of Göttingen - Research Training Group (RTG) 2906 Curiosity - we advertise here a Postdoctoral position for an initial three years, with the possibility of extension for a further two years (extension contingent on a performance evaluation). The project is expected to commence on August 1st, 2024. 

Scientists in RTG 2906 will investigate the neuropsychological, biological and computational underpinnings of curiosity. The network comprises a highly interdisciplinary consortium of psychologists, biologists as well as systems and computational neuroscientists who will work together to answer three broad research questions: (A) When are we curious? (B) Why are we curious? and (C) How are we curious? The postdoctoral researcher will be in charge of applying cutting-edge tools from machine learning to projects with a cognitive neuro(science) focus. Sample projects could include the development of new machine-learning enabled paradigms in cognitive science, e.g., modelling eye-tracking data from freely moving subjects using artificial vision systems, or examining models of curiosity against benchmarks of curiosity-driven behaviour from empirical data. 

Your profile:

• An excellent PhD (or equivalent)
• Background in Machine learning and/or Cognitive Science, with preference for candidates working at the intersection of these fields
• Interest in developing and leading collaborative projects with doctoral researchers and PIs
• Experience teaching and supervising undergraduate students
• Interest and/or experience in acquiring independent funding to promote research program
• An excellent command of the English language
• Excellent critical thinking and communication skills

• A highly interdisciplinary and collaborative, team-oriented research environment at the interface of computer science and neuroscience/cognitive science
• You will be integrated into a thriving scientific environment with several Collaborative Research Centers, the Campus Institute Data Science, collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization and international collaboration with partners at Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, TX, USA)
• Access to laboratory and field infrastructure 
• Independent funding for research (10.000€/year)
• Flexibility to shape your own research program within the confines of the research objectives of the network
• Supervision and mentoring from interdisciplinary PI network on project management, networking and publications; Support in efforts to acquire independent grant funding (e.g., Emmy Noether, ERC Starting Grant)
• Opportunities to gain teaching experience

RTG 2906 is based in Göttingen, a university town with 28,000 students across all disciplines. The Göttingen Campus has its overarching research foci in living networks, sustainability, and dynamics of change, and includes four Max-Planck Institutes, the German Primate Center, the Campus Institute for Data Science, and the Campus Institute for Dynamics of Biological Networks.

How to apply:

Detailed information on the application process and the research project are available at RTG webpage (https://www.uni-goettingen.de/rtg2906 ). As part of the online application process, you will be asked to upload a motivation letter, CV, list of publications and certified copies of your degree and language certificates.

• For questions about the position, please contact Prof. Nivedita Mani ([email protected] ) or Prof. Alexander Ecker ([email protected] )
• If you have any questions about the application process, you can write to [email protected]

The University of Göttingen is an equal opportunities employer and places particular emphasis on fostering career opportunities for women. Qualified women are therefore strongly encouraged to apply in fields in which they are underrepresented. The university has committed itself to being a family-friendly institution and supports their employees in balancing work and family life. The University is particularly committed to the professional participation of severely disabled employees and therefore welcomes applications from severely disabled people. In the case of equal qualifications, applications from people with severe disabilities will be given preference. A disability or equality is to be included in the application in order to protect the interests of the applicant.

Please upload your application in one pdf file including the usual documents until 1/31/2024 on the application portal of the university using this link: http://obp.uni-goettingen.de/de-de/OBF/Index/74264 . For more information get in touch with Nivedita Mani directly via E-Mail: [email protected], Tel. +49-551-39-23617 .

Please note:
With submission of your application, you accept the processing of your applicant data in terms of data-protection law. Further information on the legal basis and data usage is provided in the Information General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)