PhD position in Computational Neuroscience: Curiosity [C3] (all genders welcome)

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

PhD position in Computational Neuroscience: Curiosity [C3] (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 - and the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, we advertise here a PhD position for an initial period of three years, with a very strong possibility of extension for a further year (this position is not suitable for part-time employment). The project is expected to commence on August 1st, 2024.

Across thirteen projects, scientists in RTG 2906 will investigate the neuropsychological, biological and computational underpinnings of curiosity. The specific project focusses on the theory and modelling of local learning rules for curiosity in neural networks.The training network comprises a highly interdisciplinary consortium of psychologists and biologists as well as systems neuroscientists and physicists, 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 PhD position advertised here will explore how and under which conditions neural networks should change their learning rules and strategies to optimally implement curious learning. The PhD researcher will work together with the group of Viola Priesemann, the RTG PIs and the interdisciplinary team, and will contribute to shaping studies that (i) optimize the neural implementation of efficient, curious learning based on learning rules derived from information-theoretic principles, (ii) explore how learning rules are adapted, depending on whether an agent is exploring a novel or a known environment, and/or (iii) investigate how this translates into differences in the processing of novel and familiar information.

Your profile:

• M.Sc. degree (or equivalent) in one of the quantitative sciences e.g., Physics, Neuroscience, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Machine Learning
• Programming or analytical skills
• Proficiency in English; German language skills are not required

• A highly interdisciplinary and collaborative, team-oriented research environment at the University of Göttingen and the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization
• Structured supervision by an interdisciplinary Thesis Advisory Committee
• High performance computing infrastructure
• Enrolment in a training programme comprising compulsory and elective courses suited to individual needs and goals, as well as regular retreats and summer schools
• The possibility to participate in teaching if one is interested
• Ample funding for conferences and external laboratory visits

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. The thirteen doctoral projects that all start in August 2024

are spread across these Göttingen Campus institutes. The group of Viola Priesemann is located at

the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization,

with close ties to

the University of Göttingen, and the Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging. 

How to apply:

Detailed information on the application process, the research project and the training programme are available on the RTG webpage (https://www.uni-goettingen.de/rtg2906 ). As part of the online application process, you will be asked to upload a motivation letter and copies of your degree and language certificates. There are thirteen open PhD positions in RTG 2906; in case you are applying for more than one position, please indicate this in your cover letter (note that applying for more than one position is in no way detrimental to your application).

• For questions about the group and the position, please visit our website(www.viola-priesemann.de ), and contact Prof. Viola Priesemann ([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 1/15/2024 on the application portal of the university using this link: http://obp.uni-goettingen.de/de-de/OBF/Index/74260 . 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)