A three-year post-doctoral position in theoretical neuroscience is open to explore the mechanisms of interaction between interoceptive cardiac and exteroceptive tactile inputs at the cortical level. We aim to develop and validate a computational model of cardiac and of a somatosensory cortical circuit dynamics in order to determine the conditions under which interactions between exteroceptive and interoceptive inputs occur and which underlying mechanism (e.g., phase-resetting, gating, phasic arousal,..) best explain experimental data.
The ideal candidate should have a doctoral degree in quantitative discipline (e.g. applied mathematics, physics, engineering) and previous experience with dynamic system approaches to neural function , modelling cortical neural circuits, excellent programming skills coupled with an interest for, and a willingness to learn about, interoception and its influences on neural dynamics, perception and cognition. The candidate will have a unique opportunity to join the project at its very inception and take a key role in the technical and conceptual development. The postdoctoral fellow will be based at the Group for Neural Theory <https://gnt.dec.ens.fr/en> at LNC2 <https://lnc2.dec.ens.fr/en> , in Boris Gutkin’s team <https://lnc2.dec.ens.fr/en/teams/mathematics-neural-circuits> with strong interactions with Catherine Tallon-Baudry’s team <https://lnc2.dec.ens.fr/en/research/teams/subjectivity-brain-and-viscera-4582>. LNC2 is located in the center of Paris within the Cognitive Science Department <https://cognition.ens.fr/en> at Ecole Normale Supérieure <https://www.ens.psl.eu/en>, with numerous opportunities to interact with the Paris scientific community at large, in a stimulating and supportive work environment. Group for Neural Theory provides a rich environment and local community for theoretical neuroscience. Lab life is in English, speaking French is not a requirement. Salary according to experience and French rules. Starting date is first semester 2024. Informal enquiries and applications (CV, motivation letter and contacts for reference) should be sent to boris.gut...@ens.psl.eu <mailto:boris.gut...@ens.psl.eu> and catherine.tallon-bau...@ens.psl.eu <mailto:catherine.tallon-bau...@ens.psl.eu>. Applications can be sent immediately but application evaluation will begin on Oct 25th, 2023. Applications received after Oct 25th will be evaluated on the fly, the position remaining open until filled. Boris Gutkin, PhD Research Director CNRS Group for Neural Theory LNC2, INSERM U 960 Department of Cognitive Studies Ecole Normale Superieure Paris. France boris.gut...@ens.fr
