IBRO-SIMONS COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE IMBIZO
#isiCNI2017
Imbizo is a Xhosa word meaning "a gathering to share knowledge". The IBRO-SIMONS Computational Neuroscience Imbizo, orISi-CNI is exactly that: an opportunity for African and international students to learn about cutting edge research techniques in computational neuroscience.
Computational neuroscience is a rapidly expanding subject whose methods are essential for understanding and modeling the brain, as well as for designing and interpreting experiments. This school aims to promote computational neuroscience in Africa by bringing together international and local students under the tutelage of world-leading experts in the field.
The format of the school will entail intensive lecturing on advanced topics in computational and theoretical neuroscience as well as practical exercises in simulation and data analysis. In addition, students will perform a mini-research project under the supervision of one of the school tutors to be presented at the end of the school.
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When?
January 9th - 28th 2017
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Where?
Muizenberg, Cape Town, South Africa
THE SCHOOL
The school will consist of 6 working days a week. Each week will be focused around one of the themes appearing below.
Days off will be spent exploring some of the beautiful wonders around Cape Town.
Each work day will consist of lectures in the morning, followed by either further lectures/practical tutorials in the afternoons.
Watch this page for future information!
Week 1:
neural anatomy and higher order brain function
What do brains do? Neural function can be categorised into various tasks: sensory processing, action selection, motor control etc. In week one we will consider the problems posed by understanding each of these. Students will also be taught introductory anatomical and computational concepts as necessary.
Week 2:
biophysics, plasticity and machine learning
How do neurons work? How can we model them mathematically? How do they encode information and communicate that information to one another? Week two will address some of these questions, focusing on cellular biophysics, synaptic plasticity and how techniques from machine learning can help us understand information processing in brains.
Week 3:
computations in spiking networks
Real networks of neurons display some interesting characteristics, like the balance of excitation and inhibition and highly variable firing statistics. In week three students will consider how computations can be performed subject to some of these constraints.
Organising Committee
Alex Antrobus (UCL/UCT) | Peter Latham (UCL) | Joseph Raimondo (UCT) | Tim Vogels (Oxford)
FACULTY
Students will be lectured by some of the top researchers in each field.
The following Faculty are confirmed for the school.
Larry Abbott
Columbia University
Emery Brown
Harvard University / MIT
Nando de Freitas
Google DeepMind
Adrienne Fairhall
University of Washington
Surya Ganguli
Stanford University
Wulfram Gerstner
EPFL
Peter Latham
University College London
Mate Lengyel
Cambridge University
Timothy Lillicrap
Google DeepMind
Eve Marder
Brandeis Univiversity
Yiota Poirazi
FORTH
Joseph Raimondo
University of Cape Town
Srikanth Ramaswamy
EPFL
Rajnish Ranjan
EPFL
Tim Vogels
Oxford University
Daniel Wolpert
Cambridge University
APPLICATIONS
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
The school is aimed at Masters and early PhD level students though Honours students and Postdoctoral researchers may also apply. Students should have strong quantitative skills, (e.g. a background in mathematics, physics, computer science, statistics, engineering or related field). Some knowledge of neural biology will be useful but not essential. Experimental neuroscience students are encouraged to apply, but should ensure that they have a reasonable level of quantitative proficiency (ie mathematics and computer programming skills).
Course Fee
The course fee is €1,000 and includes accommodation, meals, transport to and from the airport and group excursions on non-academic days.
Partial and full scholarships are available and will be distributed on the basis of merit and need. Additional travel bursaries are also available. If you would require either of these forms of financial assistance, please be sure to specify as such in the applicable section of the application form.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
http://isicni.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/