UH Biocomputation Group - Open positionhttp://biocomputation.herts.ac.uk/2021-04-09T22:56:49+01:00Reader/Principal Lecturer in Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence)2021-04-09T22:56:49+01:002021-04-09T22:56:49+01:00Volker Steubertag:biocomputation.herts.ac.uk,2021-04-09:/2021/04/09/reader-principal-lecturer-in-computer-science-artificial-intelligence-.html<p class="first last">Applications are invited for an academic position as Reader/Principal Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science, University of Hertfordshire. The Department has an international reputation for teaching and research, with 64 academic staff, 40 adjunct lecturer staff, and 65 research students and postdoctoral research staff. With a history going back to 1958, the Department teaches one of the largest cohorts of undergraduate students in the UK, and also delivers a thriving online computer science degree programme.</p>
<p>School of Physics Engineering and Computer Science/ Department of Computer Science</p>
<p>University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK</p>
<p>FTE: Full time position working 37 hours per week (1.0 FTE)</p>
<p>Duration of Contract: Permanent</p>
<p>Salary: UH9 £51,034 - £60,905 pa dependent on relevant skills and experience</p>
<p><strong>Closing date: 9 May 2021</strong></p>
<hr class="docutils" />
<p>Applications are invited for an academic position as Reader/Principal Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science, University of Hertfordshire. The Department has an international reputation for teaching and research, with 64 academic staff, 40 adjunct lecturer staff, and 65 research students and postdoctoral research staff. With a history going back to 1958, the Department teaches one of the largest cohorts of undergraduate students in the UK, and also delivers a thriving online computer science degree programme.</p>
<hr class="docutils" />
<div class="section" id="main-duties-and-responsibilities">
<h2>Main duties and responsibilities</h2>
<p>The person appointed will be expected to make a significant contribution to the leadership of research in the department, including gaining research awards as Principal Investigator, the development of the research environment in the department and across the University, and publishing in peer reviewed journal articles and other internationally excellent or world-leading publications in education. To contribute to the development of, and supervise and teach on, doctoral programmes in the UK and internationally in relation to a wide spectrum of AI, especially emerging topics in AI. <strong>Possible fields include, but are not limited to:</strong></p>
<ul class="simple">
<li><strong>Machine learning</strong>: reinforcement learning, Deep Methods, statistical methods, large scale data modelling/intelligent processing and high-performance learning algorithms</li>
<li><strong>Robotics</strong>: embodied and/or cognitive robotics, HRI, robot safety, emotional/social robots, smart homes and sensors, sensor fusion, assistive robotics, soft robotics, adaptive or evolutionary robotic design</li>
<li><strong>Biological and biophysical computation paradigms, systems biology, neural computation</strong></li>
<li><strong>Complex Systems</strong>: collective intelligence, adaptive, autonomous and multi-agent/robot systems, collective and swarm intelligence, social and market modelling, adaptive, evolutionary and unconventional computation</li>
<li><strong>Mathematical Modelling</strong>: statistical modelling, information-theoretic methods, compressive sensing, intelligent data visualization, multiscale models, optimization; causality</li>
<li><strong>Emerging Topics in AI</strong>: computer algebra and AI, topological methods (e.g. persistent homology), algebraic and category-theoretical methods in AI; modern topics in games and AI; quantum algorithms for AI</li>
<li><strong>AI and applications</strong>: financial modelling, AI and biology/physics/cognitive sciences</li>
<li><strong>Foundations</strong>: fundamental questions of intelligence and computation, emergence of life/intelligence, Artificial Life</li>
</ul>
<p>Preference will be given to candidates that can deliver teaching to Level 7 in a selection of relevant subjects.</p>
<p>The appointee will also be expected to lead and develop taught modules in a range of computer science areas. For appointees with the appropriate experience, there will be the possibility of taking up the role of Head of Subject Group within the department of Computer Science.</p>
</div>
<div class="section" id="skills-and-experience">
<h2>Skills and experience</h2>
<p>The appointee will strengthen the research culture in the Department by pursuing research as part of a larger research team, seeking external funding, publishing papers, supervising research students, and participating in commercial activity as appropriate. Therefore it is essential that candidates have a track record (e.g. in published, grant-funded research) in Computer Science. Additionally, experience of different types of assessment and higher education quality assurance is an essential requirement of this role.</p>
<p>Prior experience of developing modules and/or programmes of study in Computer Science is essential in addition to significant experience of operating in a UK HE Environment, or equivalent professional experience. Readers/Principal lecturers are expected to take on duties in the capacity of leader, and hence experience of academic leader, programme leadership and line management is desirable. Good interpersonal and presentation skills with proficiency in the English Language are essential along with the ability to manage conflicting demands and work to deadlines.</p>
</div>
<div class="section" id="qualifications-required">
<h2>Qualifications required</h2>
<p>Reader/Principal Lecturer applicants must hold a First Degree and a PhD in an appropriate area of Computer Science or an equivalent, relevant postgraduate professional qualifications.</p>
<p>In addition, the Reader/Principal Lecturer will be expected to contribute to the leadership and management academic programmes, as well as proactive participation in enterprise, knowledge transfer and/or research and scholarship in the School. There are expectations of leadership and potentially supervisory oversight of groups of staff. Readers/Principal lecturers are also expected to contribute to the richness of the academic environment, through scholarly activity, support events, projects and activities, including open days, outreach, extra curricula initiatives, and potentially act as a representative of the School or University at national or international fora.</p>
<p>The School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science is an Athena Swan Bronze award holder, and we are committed to providing a supportive environment and flexible working arrangements. The university also provides an onsite childcare facility and child-centred holiday clubs. Staff work with the university values, which are: Friendly, Ambitious, Collegial, Enterprising, and Student focused.</p>
<p><strong>Contact Details/Informal Enquiries</strong>: Informal enquiries may be addressed to Dr Simon Trainis, Head, Department of Computer Science by email: <code>S.A.Trainis [at] herts.ac.uk</code> Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.</p>
<p><strong>Closing Date</strong>: 9 May 2021</p>
<p>Interview Dates: TBC but candidates are advised to be available on 16 and 17 June 2021</p>
<p><strong>Apply</strong> through <a class="reference external" href="https://www.herts.ac.uk/staff/careers-at-herts">https://www.herts.ac.uk/staff/careers-at-herts</a>, Reference Number: 032595</p>
<p>Date Advert Placed: 8 April 2021</p>
</div>
PhD in Computational & Cognitive Neuroscience2020-08-25T14:11:50+01:002020-08-25T14:11:50+01:00Shabnam Kadirtag:biocomputation.herts.ac.uk,2020-08-25:/2020/08/25/phd-in-computational-cognitive-neuroscience.html<p class="first last">An exciting full-time funded PhD opportunity has arisen at the University of Hertfordshire associated to a collaborative project with King’s College London and Brunel University London funded by the US Air Force.</p>
<p><strong>PhD in Computational & Cognitive Neuroscience</strong></p>
<p>An exciting full-time funded PhD opportunity has arisen at the University of Hertfordshire associated to a collaborative project with King’s College London and Brunel University London funded by the US Air Force.</p>
<p>The project aims to build an explorative and predictive model of the brain that is sensitive to the transitions between sustained attention and mind-wandering states using an already collected simultaneously acquired EEG/fMRI dataset. Towards this goal, novel methods for characterizing, sequencing, and predicting neural dynamics at two complementary spatio-temporal resolution levels will be developed: level 1) electroencephalography (EEG) microstates, which are short quasi-stable topographies of brain electrical activity as measured at the scalp; and level 2) functional connectivity maps derived from the functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) data.</p>
<p>We are seeking to appoint a graduate in Computer Science, Bioengineering, Physics, Mathematics, Neuroscience, or related fields, with an interest in cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging, who has proven programming skills (e.g., Python, Matlab, C++). Knowledge of signal processing, time-series analysis, and machine learning would be an advantage. Previous experience of EEG and/or fMRI data analysis is highly desirable.</p>
<p>The 3-year full-time PhD studentship includes a stipend of £15,285 per annum in addition to covering tuition fees. <strong>Only EU and UK citizens are eligible to apply.</strong>
The start date of the PhD will be January 2021.</p>
<p>The PhD will be supervised by Dr Shabnam Kadir (University of Hertfordshire), Dr Elena Antonova (Brunel University London), Prof Robert Leech (Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London), and Prof Chrystopher Nehaniv (University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, and University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada).</p>
<p>Interested candidates are encouraged to make informal inquiries with Dr Shabnam Kadir (<code>s.kadir2 AT herts.ac.uk</code>) before making a formal application.</p>
<p>To apply, submit <a class="reference external" href="https://www.herts.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/31105/uh-application-form.pdf">an application form</a> (downloadable from <a class="reference external" href="https://www.herts.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/31105/uh-application-form.pdf">https://www.herts.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/31105/uh-application-form.pdf</a>) together with a cover letter, CV, and scanned copies of university transcripts and degree certificates (BSc, and if relevant MSc) via email to <code>doctoralcollegeadmissions AT herts.ac.uk</code>, cc-ing Dr Kadir on <code>s.kadir2 AT herts.ac.uk</code> and Dr Antonova on <code>elena.antonova AT brunel.ac.uk</code></p>
<p><strong>Closing Date for the applications:</strong> 23rd October 2020 (Interviews are expected to be scheduled in the week commencing 16th November 2020).</p>
PhD Studentship in Computational Neuroscience and Rehabilitation Robotics2020-04-30T16:40:02+01:002020-04-30T16:40:02+01:00Volker Steubertag:biocomputation.herts.ac.uk,2020-04-30:/2020/04/30/phd-studentship-in-computational-neuroscience-and-rehabilitation-robotics.html<p class="first last">Applications are invited for PhD positions in the Biocomputation Research Group at the University of Hertfordshire. Details within.</p>
<p>Biocomputation Research Group</p>
<p>Centre for Computer Science and Informatics Research</p>
<p>University of Hertfordshire, UK</p>
<p><strong>Application deadline 1 June 2020</strong></p>
<p><strong>Bursary GBP 15,285 p.a.</strong></p>
<p>Applications are invited for PhD positions in the Biocomputation Research Group at the University of Hertfordshire. (<a class="reference external" href="http://biocomputation.herts.ac.uk/">http://biocomputation.herts.ac.uk/</a>).</p>
<hr class="docutils" />
<p><strong>Project description</strong></p>
<p>Stroke is a major cause of disability in adults. More than 15 million strokes occur every year in the world, and more than 100,000 of these affect patients in the UK. Stroke patients often have an impaired ability to control their upper limbs and need assistance with every-day tasks. Relearning motor skills after stroke is similar to learning new motor skills, for example learning to play tennis, but a problem for stroke survivors is that their impaired movements often restrict the ability to use sensory feedback for re-learning.</p>
<p>Rehabilitation robotics has shown promise to augment the rehabilitation process and to offer feedback on performance. However, the personalisation of the therapy to individual needs remains a major challenge to date.</p>
<p>The proposed project will use a computational model of the cerebellum that is being developed by the Biocomputation Research Group (biocomputation.herts.ac.uk) to optimise robotic rehabilitation for individual subjects. The cerebellum has been optimised throughout vertebrate evolution to become an adaptive controller of biological skeletomuscular structures that is unrivalled by any artificial adaptive motor control algorithm. This has led and is still leading to the development of a rapidly increasing number of computational models of cerebellar learning, and to the successful applications of these cerebellar models to controlling simulated and real robots. The PhD project will involve the development and application of personalised cerebellar models in order to optimise rehabilitation robots for individual subjects.</p>
<p><strong>Applicants</strong> should have excellent computational and numerical skills and a very good first degree in computer science, biology, maths, physics, neuroscience, or a related discipline. Successful candidates are eligible for a research studentship award from the University (GBP 15,285 per annum bursary plus payment of the student fees). Applicants from outside the UK or EU are eligible.</p>
<p><strong>Research in Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire</strong> has been recognised as excellent in the latest Research Excellence Framework Assessment, with 50% of the research submitted rated as internationally excellent or world leading. The Centre for Computer Science and Informatics Research provides a very stimulating environment, offering a large number of specialised and interdisciplinary seminars as well as general training and researcher development opportunities. The University is situated in Hatfield, in the green belt just north of London.</p>
<p><strong>Please contact Dr Volker Steuber or Prof Farshid Amirabdollahian for informal enquiries. Application forms are available under</strong> <a class="reference external" href="https://www.herts.ac.uk/study/schools-of-study/engineering-and-computer-science/research-in-engineering-and-computer-science/the-phd-programme-in-computer-science">https://www.herts.ac.uk/study/schools-of-study/engineering-and-computer-science/research-in-engineering-and-computer-science/the-phd-programme-in-computer-science</a> and should be returned to <code>doctoralcollegeadmissions AT herts DOT ac DOT uk</code>.</p>
<p><strong>The short-listing process will begin on 1 June 2020.</strong></p>
Open Position: PhD studentship in Biocomputation Research Group2018-05-31T12:43:55+01:002018-05-31T12:43:55+01:00Shabnam Kadirtag:biocomputation.herts.ac.uk,2018-05-31:/2018/05/31/open-position-phd-studentship-in-biocomputation-research-group.html<p class="first last">Applications are invited for a PhD studentship on Computational
frameworks for high-dimensional neural data with Dr. Shabnam Kadir in
the Biocomputation Research Group in the Centre for Computer Science
and Informatics Research, University of Hertfordshire, U.K. The
short-listing process will begin on 25th June 2018. Details within.</p>
<p>Applications are invited for a PhD studentship on Computational frameworks for
high-dimensional neural data with Dr. Shabnam Kadir in the Biocomputation
Research Group in the Centre for Computer Science and Informatics Research,
University of Hertfordshire, U.K.</p>
<hr class="docutils" />
<p>New developments in experimental technology have led to petabytes of raw data
being produced by experimental neuroscientists, which are increasingly publicly
available, e.g. Allen Institute data (<a class="reference external" href="http://www.brain-map.org/">http://www.brain-map.org/</a>). In particular,
we are in the realm where population recordings of tens of thousands of neurons
are feasible thanks to, e.g. a new generation of large dense probes for
electrophysiological recordings, imaging using 2-photon microscopy coupled with
calcium fluorescent sensors. Large scale neuronal recordings require novel
approaches for both processing and quantitative analysis.</p>
<p>As well as using techniques from high-dimensional statistics, machine learning,
information theory, we aim to explore new approaches from mathematical fields
outside statistics, such as algebraic topology. The study of networks is a
particularly important topic in neuroscience: neurons communicate with each
other electrically via synapses, forming intricate networks. These networks can
be studied using techniques from computational topology (e.g. persistent
homology, clique topology). These could be used to extract information about
subnetworks and assemblies, both from large scale recordings, and via
connectomics derived from simulations (Blue Brain Project).</p>
<p>We aim in this project to go beyond spike sorting and develop new tools and
computational frameworks which would help interpret high dimensional data and
interrogate how information is being processed by the brain, e.g. How are
sensory stimuli (location in environment, visual and auditory stimuli) encoded?
How can we characterise the neural activity associated with memory, attention,
decision making and motor control?</p>
<p>We shall be collaborating with labs at Imperial, Pennsylvania State University
and UCL.</p>
<p>More information can be found here:
<a class="reference external" href="http://www.herts.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/187455/Dec2017-computational-frameworks-for-high-dimensional-neural-data.pdf">http://www.herts.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/187455/Dec2017-computational-frameworks-for-high-dimensional-neural-data.pdf</a></p>
<p>We are looking for candidates with the following profile:</p>
<ul class="simple">
<li>Strong first degree in a quantitative field such as mathematics, physics,
computer science, engineering, computational neuroscience.</li>
<li>Strong programming skills (e.g. Python, MATLAB, C++).</li>
<li>Interest in neuroscience and biology would be helpful.</li>
</ul>
<p>A studentship from the PhD Programme in Computer Science provides approximately
£14,750 per annum bursary plus the payment of student fees. Applicants from
outside the UK or EU are eligible.</p>
<p>Research in Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire has been
recognised as excellent in the latest Research Excellence Framework Assessment
(2014), with 50% of the research submitted rated as internationally excellent
or world-leading. The Centre for Computer Science and Informatics Research
provides a very stimulating environment, offering a large number of specialised
and interdisciplinary seminars as well as general training and researcher
development opportunities. The University is situated in Hatfield, in the green
belt just north of London.</p>
<hr class="docutils" />
<p>Please contact Dr Shabnam Kadir (<code>s.kadir2 AT herts DOT ac DOT uk</code>) for informal enquiries.
Application forms are available under
<a class="reference external" href="http://www.herts.ac.uk/apply/schools-of-study/computer-science/our-research/the-phd-programme-in-computer-science">http://www.herts.ac.uk/apply/schools-of-study/computer-science/our-research/the-phd-programme-in-computer-science</a>
and should be returned to:</p>
<p>Ms Emma Thorogood, <br />
Research Student Administrator, <br />
University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, <br />
Hatfield, Herts, AL10 9AB, <br />
Tel: 01707 286083 <br />
E-mail: <code>doctoralcollegeadmissions AT herts DOT ac DOT uk</code>.</p>
<p>The short-listing process will begin on 25th June 2018.</p>
Open Position: Professorship in Computational Neuroscience2018-05-31T12:29:30+01:002018-05-31T12:29:30+01:00Volker Steubertag:biocomputation.herts.ac.uk,2018-05-31:/2018/05/31/professorship-in-computational-neuroscience.html<p class="first last">Applications are invited for an exceptionally well qualified
Professor of Computational Neuroscience of international standing,
who shares our commitment to research-informed teaching, embraces the
research impact agenda, and values collegiality. Interviews begin the
week commencing 17 September 2018, and the closing date for
applications is 21 June 2018. More details within.</p>
<p>School of Computer Science, <br />
University of Hertfordshire, <br />
College Lane Campus, Hatfield, UK <br /></p>
<p>Salary: £58,293 to £67,437 p.a. depending on skills and experience. <br />
FTE: Full time position working 37 hours per week (1.0 FTE). <br />
Duration of contract: Permanent.</p>
<p>Closing date: 24 July 2018. <br />
Interview date: Week commencing 17 September 2018.</p>
<hr class="docutils" />
<p>Applications are invited for an exceptionally well qualified Professor of
Computational Neuroscience of international standing, who shares our commitment
to research-informed teaching, embraces the research impact agenda, and values
collegiality. Applicants will strengthen existing activity within the School
and develop it further, enhancing the research strengths and external
reputation of the School of Computer Science and contributing significantly to
its performance in future research assessments and collaborations with
commercial and public partners. The successful applicant will complement the
research conducted by the Biocomputation Research Group within the Centre for
Computer Science and Informatics Research. As well as providing research
supervision at PhD and MSc level, the School of Computer Science offers modules
in neural computing and machine learning on the BSc and MSc programmes.</p>
<p>Applicants must hold a PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant subject, possess
excellent communication skills in English, an internationally excellent
research record and reputation, including publications of the highest quality
suitable for submission to the REF. Applicants must show evidence of experience
and success in research/commercial income generation, engagement with the
research impact agenda, engagement with key stakeholders in the Computational
Neuroscience community, and management and leadership ability.</p>
<p>The university offers a range of benefits including a pension scheme,
professional development, family friendly policies, child care vouchers, a fee
waiver of 50% for all children of staff under the age of 21 at the start of the
course, discounted memberships at the Hertfordshire Sports Village and generous
annual leave. The University is situated in Hatfield, in the green belt just
north of London.</p>
<p>Applications must be made online at:
<a class="reference external" href="https://www.herts.ac.uk/contact-us/jobs-and-vacancies/academic-vacancies">https://www.herts.ac.uk/contact-us/jobs-and-vacancies/academic-vacancies</a>,
reference <code>016195</code>.</p>
<p>For informal enquiries please contact Dr Volker Steuber (<code>v DOT steuber
AT herts DOT ac DOT uk</code>, Head of Biocomputation Research Group, Associate Dean
- Research) or Prof William Clocksin (<code>w DOT clocksin AT herts DOT ac DOT
uk</code>, Dean of School of Computer Science).</p>
Open Position: PhD Studentship in Computational Frameworks for high-dimensional neural data2017-12-20T16:59:17+00:002017-12-20T16:59:17+00:00Volker Steubertag:biocomputation.herts.ac.uk,2017-12-20:/2017/12/20/open-position-phd-studentship-in-biocomputation-research-group-centre-for-computer-science-and-informatics-.html<p class="first last">Applications are invited for a PhD studentship on Computational frameworks for high-dimensional neural data with <a class="reference external" href="https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=NEd35e8AAAAJ&hl=en">Dr. Shabnam Kadir</a> in the Biocomputation Research Group. The shortlisting process will begin on 8 January 2018. More details within.</p>
<p>Applications are invited for a PhD studentship on Computational frameworks for high-dimensional neural data with <a class="reference external" href="https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=NEd35e8AAAAJ&hl=en">Dr. Shabnam Kadir</a> in the Biocomputation Research Group in the Centre for Computer Science and Informatics Research, University of Hertfordshire, U.K.</p>
<p>New developments in experimental technology have led to petabytes of raw data being produced by experimental neuroscientists, which are increasingly publicly available, e.g. <a class="reference external" href="http://www.brain-map.org/">Allen Institute data</a>. In particular, we are in the realm where population recordings of tens of thousands of neurons are feasible thanks to, e.g. a new generation of large dense probes for electrophysiological recordings, imaging using 2-photon microscopy coupled with calcium fluorescent sensors. Large scale neuronal recordings require novel approaches for both processing and quantitative analysis.</p>
<p>As well as using techniques from high-dimensional statistics, machine learning, information theory, we aim to explore new approaches from mathematical fields outside statistics, such as algebraic topology. The study of networks is a particularly important topic in neuroscience: neurons communicate with each other electrically via synapses, forming intricate networks. These networks can be studied using techniques from computational topology (e.g. persistent homology, clique topology). These could be used to extract information about subnetworks and assemblies, both from large scale recordings, and via connectomics derived from simulations (Blue Brain Project).</p>
<p>We aim in this project to go beyond spike sorting and develop new tools and computational frameworks which would help interpret high dimensional data and interrogate how information is being processed by the brain, e.g. How are sensory stimuli (location in environment, visual and auditory stimuli) encoded? How can we characterise the neural activity associated with memory, attention, decision making and motor control?</p>
<p>We shall be collaborating with labs at Imperial College London, Pennsylvania State University, and University College London.</p>
<p>More information can be found here: <a class="reference external" href="http://www.herts.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/187455/Dec2017-computational-frameworks-for-high-dimensional-neural-data.pdf">http://www.herts.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/187455/Dec2017-computational-frameworks-for-high-dimensional-neural-data.pdf</a></p>
<p>We are looking for candidates with the following profile:</p>
<ul class="simple">
<li>Strong first degree in a quantitative field such as mathematics, physics, computer science, engineering, computational neuroscience.</li>
<li>Strong programming skills (e.g. Python, MATLAB, C++).</li>
<li>Interest in neuroscience and biology would be helpful.</li>
</ul>
<p>A studentship from the PhD Programme in Computer Science provides approximately £14,550 per annum bursary plus the payment of student fees. Applicants from outside the UK or EU are eligible.</p>
<p>Research in Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire has been recognised as excellent in the latest Research Excellence Framework Assessment, with 50% of the research submitted rated as internationally excellent or world leading. The Centre for Computer Science and Informatics Research provides a very stimulating environment, offering a large number of specialised and interdisciplinary seminars as well as general training and researcher development opportunities. The University is situated in Hatfield, in the green belt just north of London.</p>
<p>Please contact Dr Shabnam Kadir (<code>shabnam.kadir AT imperial.ac.uk</code>) for informal enquiries. Application forms are available under <a class="reference external" href="http://www.herts.ac.uk/apply/schools-of-study/computer-science/our-research/the-phd-programme-in-computer-science">http://www.herts.ac.uk/apply/schools-of-study/computer-science/our-research/the-phd-programme-in-computer-science</a> and should be returned to Mrs Lorraine Nicholls and Mrs Emma Thorogood, Research Student Administrators, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, Hatfield, Herts, AL10 9AB, Tel: 01707 286083, <a class="reference external" href="mailto:doctoralcollegeadmissions@herts.ac.uk">doctoralcollegeadmissions@herts.ac.uk</a>. The short-listing process will begin on 8 January 2018. The earliest start date will be mid-April 2018.</p>
Open Position: 5-year research fellow position in Neuromorphic Machine Learning2017-08-02T08:12:50+01:002017-08-02T08:12:50+01:00Michael Schmukertag:biocomputation.herts.ac.uk,2017-08-02:/2017/08/02/open-position-5-year-research-fellow-position-in-neuromorphic-machine-learning.html<p class="first last">Applications are invited for a 5-year research position in the Biocomputation group at the University of Hertfordshire, under the supervision of <a class="reference external" href="http://researchprofiles.herts.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/michael-schmuker(fda08dd2-790b-4871-92cb-324b9f1e4267).html">Dr. Michael Schmuker</a>. The closing date for applications is 21st August, 2017. More details within.</p>
<p>Applications are invited for a 5-year research position in the Biocomputation group at the University of Hertfordshire, under the supervision of <a class="reference external" href="http://researchprofiles.herts.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/michael-schmuker(fda08dd2-790b-4871-92cb-324b9f1e4267).html">Dr. Michael Schmuker</a>. This position offers the unique opportunity to explore the interdisciplinary field of neuromorphic machine learning, branching out into artificial intelligence, computational neuroscience, robotics and data science. We are looking for excellent candidates who are keen to explore neuro-inspired machine learning and artificial intelligence using specialised hardware systems such as <a class="reference external" href="http://apt.cs.manchester.ac.uk/projects/SpiNNaker/">SpiNNaker</a> and <a class="reference external" href="http://brainscales.kip.uni-heidelberg.de/public/index.html">BrainScaleS</a>.</p>
<p>For more details and to apply please see the advert at <a class="reference external" href="http://www.jobs.herts.ac.uk">http://www.jobs.herts.ac.uk</a> (reference 014832, deadline: 21st August 2017).</p>
Open Position: PhD studentships in Computational Neuroscience2017-05-31T13:20:03+01:002017-05-31T13:20:03+01:00Volker Steubertag:biocomputation.herts.ac.uk,2017-05-31:/2017/05/31/open-position-phd-studentships-in-computational-neuroscience.html<p class="first last">Applications are invited for PhD studentships at the Biocomputation Research Group. Details within.</p>
<p>Applications are invited for PhD positions in the Biocomputation Research Group at the University of Hertfordshire. Projects involve the development and simulation of models of neurons and neuronal networks to study information processing in the cerebellum or olfactory system and/or the application of machine learning techniques for the analysis of neural data. A description of our research interests and a list of publications can be found on our webpage (<a class="reference external" href="http://biocomputation.herts.ac.uk/">http://biocomputation.herts.ac.uk/</a>).</p>
<p>Applicants should have excellent computational and numerical skills and a very good first degree in computer science, biology, maths, physics, neuroscience, or a related discipline. Successful candidates are eligible for a research studentship award from the University (GBP 14,553 per annum bursary plus payment of the student fees). Applicants from outside the UK or EU are eligible.</p>
<p>Research in Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire has been recognised as excellent in the latest Research Excellence Framework Assessment, with 50% of the research submitted rated as internationally excellent or world leading. The Centre for Computer Science and Informatics Research provides a very stimulating environment, offering a large number of specialised and interdisciplinary seminars as well as general training and researcher development opportunities. The University is situated in Hatfield, in the green belt just north of London.</p>
<p>Please contact Dr Volker Steuber for informal enquiries. Application forms are available under <a class="reference external" href="http://www.herts.ac.uk/apply/schools-of-study/computer-science/our-research/the-phd-programme-in-computer-science">http://www.herts.ac.uk/apply/schools-of-study/computer-science/our-research/the-phd-programme-in-computer-science</a></p>
Open Position: Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Computer Science (Machine Learning/Biocomputation)2017-05-20T14:30:16+01:002017-05-20T14:30:16+01:00Volker Steubertag:biocomputation.herts.ac.uk,2017-05-20:/2017/05/20/open-position-lecturer-senior-lecturer-in-computer-science-machine-learning-biocomputation-1.html<p class="first last">Applications are invited for a Lecturer or Senior Lecturer in the School of Computer Science, University of Hertfordshire. Applications should be made through <a class="reference external" href="http://www.herts.ac.uk/contact-us/jobs-and-vacancies/academic-vacancies">http://www.herts.ac.uk/contact-us/jobs-and-vacancies/academic-vacancies</a> (reference 014050) until the 18th of June 2017. More details within. <em>This position has been filled.</em></p>
<p>This position has been filled.</p>
<hr class="docutils" />
<p>Salary £32,004 to £48,327 per annum depending on qualifications and experience <br />
Full time position working 37 hours per week (1.0 FTE) <br />
Closing date 18 June 2017</p>
<p>Applications are invited for a Lecturer or Senior Lecturer in the School of Computer Science, University of Hertfordshire. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the School's teaching and curriculum development activities, and to strengthen its research activities. We are looking to recruit specifically a computer scientist with background in machine learning or data science related to biocomputation (including computational neuroscience). By Data Science, we broadly mean the extraction of meaning from large quantities of data. The successful candidate will also have the flexibility to teach across mainstream topics in computer science. The School has an international reputation for teaching and research, with 58 academic staff, 20 adjunct lecturer staff, and 65 research students and postdoctoral research staff. With a history going back to 1958, the School teaches one of the largest cohorts of undergraduate students in the UK, and also delivers a thriving online computer science degree programme.</p>
<p>The person appointed will be expected to contribute to learning and teaching relevant to core computer science topics, participate in curriculum review and development, design and develop new modules, and supervise student projects at all levels. The appointee will strengthen the research culture in the School by pursuing research as part of a larger research team, seeking external funding, publishing papers, supervising research students, and participating in commercial activity as appropriate. Preference will be given to candidates who can contribute to teaching and research in databases as outlined above.</p>
<p>Applicants must hold a PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant subject, possess excellent communication skills in English and the ability to teach at undergraduate and postgraduate level. It is desirable that candidates have a track record of publication, external research funding, collaboration across disciplines, experience of different types of assessment and higher education quality assurance. They should also have the ability to play a role in the routine running of the School of Computer Science.</p>
<p>Applications should be made through <a class="reference external" href="http://www.herts.ac.uk/contact-us/jobs-and-vacancies/academic-vacancies">http://www.herts.ac.uk/contact-us/jobs-and-vacancies/academic-vacancies</a> (reference 014050). Informal enquiries may be addressed to Dr Volker Steuber (Head of the Biocomputation Research Group, v.steuber AT herts.ac.uk) or Professor William Clocksin (Dean of School, w.clocksin AT herts.ac.uk). Please note that applications sent directly to these email addresses will not be accepted.</p>
<p>We are committed to providing a supportive environment. The University offers a range of benefits including a pension scheme, professional development, family friendly policies, child care vouchers, a fee waiver of 50% for all children of staff under the age of 21 at the start of the course, discounted memberships at the Hertfordshire Sports Village and generous annual leave.</p>
Open Position: Postdoc in neuromorphic pattern recognition2017-04-25T17:08:31+01:002017-04-25T17:08:31+01:00Michael Schmukertag:biocomputation.herts.ac.uk,2017-04-25:/2017/04/25/open-position-postdoc-in-neuromorphic-pattern-recognition.html<p class="first last">Applications are invited for a postdoc position in the Biocomputation group, at the University of Hertfordshire, UK. The appointment is due to start as soon as possible. Please apply online via <a class="reference external" href="http://jobs.herts.ac.uk">http://jobs.herts.ac.uk</a>, vacancy reference 014592, until 22nd May, 2017 at the latest. More details within.</p>
<p>Applications are invited for a postdoc position in the Biocomputation group at the <a class="reference external" href="http://www.herts.ac.uk/">University of Hertfordshire</a>, UK. The appointment is due to start as soon as possible, with an initial fixed duration until 31st March 2018, with a possibility to extend, pending funding decisions.</p>
<p>The successful candidate will join our efforts to advance neuromorphic pattern recognition on the <a class="reference external" href="http://apt.cs.manchester.ac.uk/projects/SpiNNaker/">SpiNNaker</a> and <a class="reference external" href="http://brainscales.kip.uni-heidelberg.de/public/">BrainScaleS</a> hardware systems that are built within the <a class="reference external" href="https://www.humanbrainproject.eu/en/">Human Brain Project (HBP)</a>. We are looking for a candidate with a keen tenacity in pushing forward the boundaries of future computing off the well-trodden path.</p>
<p>The Biocomputation group provides a rich and inspiring interdisciplinary research environment that connects Computer Science with Neuroscience and branches out into Machine Learning and Robotics.</p>
<p>HBP membership provides excellent opportunities to connect to world-leading scientists in all aspects of neuroscience, high-performance computing, neurorobotics and neuromorphic engineering. We enjoy first-class access to the latest neuromorphic technologies developed in HBP, and we work in tight interaction with the groups developing the hardware systems, <a class="reference external" href="http://apt.cs.manchester.ac.uk/projects/SpiNNaker/">SpiNNaker</a> and <a class="reference external" href="http://brainscales.kip.uni-heidelberg.de/public/">BrainScaleS</a>.</p>
<p>Research in Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire has been recognized as excellent in the REF 2014, with 50% of the research submitted rated as internationally excellent or world leading. The University is situated in Hatfield, in the green belt just north of London.</p>
<p>Candidates should have a PhD in neuromorphic computing, machine learning, computational neuroscience, computer science, physics or another relevant subject area. In addition, the successful candidate should have demonstrable experience in either:</p>
<ul class="simple">
<li>Machine learning and pattern recognition, ideally deep and recurrent neural networks, self-organisation, or</li>
<li>Neuromorphic computing, ideally with hands-on experience with <a class="reference external" href="http://apt.cs.manchester.ac.uk/projects/SpiNNaker/">SpiNNaker</a>, <a class="reference external" href="http://brainscales.kip.uni-heidelberg.de/public/">BrainScaleS</a>, or other neuromorphic hardware systems, or GPU-accelerated simulations.</li>
</ul>
<p>Further desired skills:</p>
<ul class="simple">
<li>Ability to conduct original research, as evidenced by high-quality, peer-reviewed papers,</li>
<li>Excellent programming skills, as evidenced e.g. by a link to a github account that shows work on relevant projects,</li>
<li>Ability to work and communicate in a multidisciplinary team.</li>
</ul>
<p>Informal inquiries about this post are warmly welcome and should be directed to Dr Michael Schmuker, <code>m.schmuker AT herts DOT ac DOT uk</code>.</p>
<p>Please apply online via <a class="reference external" href="http://jobs.herts.ac.uk">http://jobs.herts.ac.uk</a>, vacancy reference 014592, until 22nd May, 2017 at the latest.</p>
Open Position: Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Computer Science (Machine learning / Biocomputation)2016-10-08T17:06:47+01:002016-10-08T17:06:47+01:00Volker Steubertag:biocomputation.herts.ac.uk,2016-10-08:/2016/10/08/open-position-lecturer-senior-lecturer-in-computer-science-machine-learning-biocomputation.html<p class="first last">Applications are invited for a post of Lecturer or Senior Lecturer in the School of Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire. Details within. Applications close on October 21 2016.</p>
<p>Salary: £32,004 to £48,327 per annum depending on qualifications and experience <br />
FTE: Full time position working 37 hours per week (1.0 FTE) <br />
Closing date: 21 October 2016</p>
<p>Applications are invited for a Lecturer or Senior Lecturer in the School of Computer Science, University of Hertfordshire. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the School's teaching and curriculum development activities, and to strengthen its research activities. We are looking to recruit specifically a computer scientist with background in machine learning or data science related to biocomputation (including computational neuroscience). By Data Science we broadly mean the extraction of meaning from large quantities of data. The successful candidate will also have the flexibility to teach across mainstream topics in computer science. The School has an international reputation for teaching and research, with 58 academic staff, 20 adjunct lecturer staff, and 65 research students and postdoctoral research staff. With a history going back to 1958, the School teaches one of the largest cohorts of undergraduate students in the UK, and also delivers a thriving online computer science degree programme.</p>
<p>The person appointed will be expected to contribute to learning and teaching relevant to core computer science topics, participate in curriculum review and development, design and develop new modules, and supervise student projects at all levels. The appointee will strengthen the research culture in the School by pursuing research as part of a larger research team, seeking external funding, publishing papers, supervising research students, and participating in commercial activity as appropriate. Preference will be given to candidates who can contribute to teaching and research in databases as outlined above.</p>
<p>Applicants must hold a PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant subject, possess excellent communication skills in English and the ability to teach at undergraduate and postgraduate level. It is desirable that candidates have a track record of publication, external research funding, collaboration across disciplines, experience of different types of assessment and higher education quality assurance. They should also have the ability to play a role in the routine running of the School of Computer Science.</p>
<p>Applications should be made through <a class="reference external" href="http://www.herts.ac.uk/contact-us/jobs-and-vacancies/academic-vacancies">http://www.herts.ac.uk/contact-us/jobs-and-vacancies/academic-vacancies</a> (reference 014050). Informal enquiries may be addressed to Dr Volker Steuber (Head of the Biocomputation Research Group, v.steuber at herts.ac.uk) or Professor William Clocksin (Dean of School, w.clocksin at herts.ac.uk). Please note that applications sent directly to these email addresses will not be accepted.</p>
<p>We are committed to providing a supportive environment. The university also provides an onsite childcare facility and child-centred holiday clubs. The University is required to meet UKVI visa regulations. Applicants who do not currently have the right to work in the UK will have to satisfy UKVI regulations before they can be appointed.</p>
Open Positions: Early Career Research Fellowships in systems biology/machine learning for food and disease2016-09-02T10:58:00+01:002016-09-02T10:58:00+01:00Volker Steubertag:biocomputation.herts.ac.uk,2016-09-02:/2016/09/02/open-positions-early-career-research-fellowships-in-systems-biology-machine-learning-for-food-and-disease.html<p class="first last">Applications are invited for Research Fellow posts at the University of Hertfordshire. The closing date for the application is 27th October 2016. Details within.</p>
<p>Salary: £31,656 - £37,768 per annum depending on skills and experience <br />
Closing Date: 27th Oct 2016 <br />
Full time position working 37 hours per week. <br />
Fixed term contract for a period of five years. <br /></p>
<p>The postdoctoral fellowship will focus on emerging methods in biocomputation to improve food and health or combat plant, animal or human diseases. A first degree in biology, computer science or a relevant subject and a doctoral degree in bioinformatics, machine learning, quantitative biology or related subjects is required. Experience in systems biology, big data science or genomics will be useful. The fellowship is offered for a period of 5 years with the expectation that the fellow will obtain a permanent academic post supported.</p>
<div class="section" id="qualifications-required">
<h2>Qualifications required</h2>
<p>You must have a first degree in a science, such as biology, computer science, mathematics or a relevant subject, and a doctoral degree in areas such as bioinformatics, machine learning, quantitative biology or a related subject area. Experience in systems biology, big data science or genomics will be useful.</p>
</div>
<div class="section" id="research-focus-and-environment">
<h2>Research focus and environment</h2>
<p>The Fellow is expected to develop her/his own line of research. This should include a focus on emerging methods in biocomputation that generate and exploit large data sets of biological information to better understand mechanisms such as those underlying host resistance/immunity and/or resistance breakdown. The Fellow will generate an improved understanding of relevant biological systems to develop specific strategies to improve food and health or combat plant, animal or human diseases. This Fellowship will be supported by existing collaborations between colleagues in Schools of Life & Medical Sciences (Kukol, Stotz, Barling, Fitt) and Computer Science (Steuber). The Fellow is expected to use the University’s high performance computer cluster.</p>
</div>
<div class="section" id="experience-and-skills-required-for-the-post">
<h2>Experience and skills required for the post</h2>
<ul class="simple">
<li>Ability to develop and apply computational methods to biological problems;</li>
<li>Experience with techniques such as machine learning or mathematical modelling of biological datasets, for example in genomics or proteomics;</li>
<li>Evidence of original research and ability to publish in high impact journals.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="section" id="research-expectations">
<h2>Research expectations</h2>
<p>The Fellow is expected to develop a collaborative research program with our academic partners. We envisage that the Research Fellow will become a permanent staff member, supported by funding from successful research grant applications and developing new areas of teaching, especially at the post-graduate level. To ensure this, the two Schools will provide career training for the Fellow. The Fellow will have established collaborations with companies and successfully obtained co-funded industry-government projects. The Fellow will publish high-impact papers and be building a research team.</p>
</div>
<div class="section" id="description-of-the-school-s">
<h2>Description of the School(s)</h2>
<p>This Early Career Research Fellow will work with and receive support from the School of Life and Medical Sciences and the School of Computer Science. The successful candidate can build on the strengths of both Schools and may combine experiment-based empirical research with data-based analysis.</p>
<p>Within the <a class="reference external" href="http://www.herts.ac.uk/apply/schools-of-study/life-and-medical-sciences/research">School of Life and Medical Sciences</a>, the Centre for Agriculture, Food and Environmental Management (CAFEM) is a research and teaching collaboration with the Royal Veterinary College, Rothamsted Research and Oaklands College. The Fellow will work with researchers in CAFEM who have experience with systems biology applicable to crop protection, combining experimental field and lab research with computational modelling. Within the School of Computer Science, research in the <a class="reference external" href="http://biocomputation.herts.ac.uk/">Biocomputation Research Group</a> involves development of computational models to study biological systems and application of biologically-inspired machine learning algorithms for the analysis of "real-world" data. Members of the Biocomputation Group analyse and simulate computational models at different levels of complexity and collaborate closely with leading experimentalists in the UK and abroad.</p>
<hr class="docutils" />
<p>Informal enquiries are encouraged and should be made to: <br />
Professor Bruce Fitt, <br />
Professor of Plant Pathology, <br />
email: <a class="reference external" href="mailto:b.fitt@herts.ac.uk">b.fitt@herts.ac.uk</a> <br />
Tel + 44 (0)1707 284751</p>
<p>or</p>
<p>Dr. Volker Steuber, <br />
Reader in Biocomputation and Head of the Biocomputation Research Group, <br />
email: <a class="reference external" href="mailto:v.steuber@herts.ac.uk">v.steuber@herts.ac.uk</a> <br />
Tel: +44 (0)1707 284350.</p>
<p>Applications should be made through <a class="reference external" href="http://www.herts.ac.uk/contact-us/jobs-and-vacancies/research-vacancies">http://www.herts.ac.uk/contact-us/jobs-and-vacancies/research-vacancies</a></p>
</div>
Open Position: PhD studentship in Computational Neuroscience2016-04-28T23:57:17+01:002016-04-28T23:57:17+01:00Volker Steubertag:biocomputation.herts.ac.uk,2016-04-28:/2016/04/28/open-position-phd-studentship-in-computational-neuroscience.html<p class="first last">A funded PhD position at the Biocomputation group is available. The shortlisting process begins 30 May, 2016. Details within.</p>
<!-- *This position has been filled.* -->
<hr class="docutils" />
<p>We welcome applications for a funded PhD position in the Biocomputation Research Group at the University of Hertfordshire.</p>
<p>The successful applicant will work on a project related to the detailed modelling of neuronal dynamics arising through dendritic processing and/or the analysis of morphological and circuit data. Potential projects in the fields of neuroinformatics and computational neuroscience include (but are not limited to):</p>
<ul class="simple">
<li>Analysis of neuronal morphology and micro-circuitry.</li>
<li>Simulation of development of neuronal morphologies and tissues.</li>
<li>Simulation of dendritic processing on hardware.</li>
<li>Sensory processing and behaviour generation in individual invertebrate neurons.</li>
<li>Development of experimental robot controllers based on dendritic computation.</li>
<li>Structural plasticity at the single neuron and micro-circuitry level.</li>
</ul>
<p>More project ideas can be found here: <a class="reference external" href="http://www.dendrites.club/Positions.html">http://www.dendrites.club/Positions.html</a></p>
<p>The successful candidate will have extensive programming experience, preferably in Python (and/or other programming languages depending on the precise project). Depending on the project, experience with parallel programming (MPI, ZMQ), meshing software (VTK, CGAL, ITK, ...), or statistical analysis in R or Python are an advantage. In addition, we greatly value curiosity and a personal motivation to find out how things work.</p>
<p>We collaborate closely with leading experimentalists and theoreticians all over the world, such as Prof. Adrian Moore (RIKEN, Japan), Prof. Erik De Schutter (OIST, Japan) and Dr. Marylka Uusisaari (Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands).</p>
<p>The student will be based in the <a class="reference external" href="http://biocomputation.herts.ac.uk">Biocomputation Group</a> at the University of Hertfordshire and will be supervised by Drs. Ben Torben-Nielsen (b.torben-nielsen at herts.ac.uk) and Volker Steuber (v.steuber at herts.ac.uk) to whom informal enquiries can be sent.</p>
<p>Successful candidates are eligible for a research studentship award from the University (approximately GBP 14,250 per annum bursary plus the payment of the student fees). Application forms can be obtained from:</p>
<p>Mrs Lorraine Nicholls, <br />
Research Student Administrator, <br />
STRI, <br />
University of Hertfordshire, <br />
College Lane, <br />
Hatfield, Herts, <br />
AL10 9AB, <br />
Tel: +44 01707 286083, <br />
l.nicholls @ herts.ac.uk.</p>
<p>The short-listing process will begin on 30 May, 2016.</p>
Open Position: PhD studentship in Olfactory Biocomputation2016-04-28T17:32:53+01:002016-04-28T17:32:53+01:00Volker Steubertag:biocomputation.herts.ac.uk,2016-04-28:/2016/04/28/open-position-phd-studentship-in-olfactory-biocomputation.html<p class="first last">A funded PhD position at the Biocomputation group is available. The shortlisting process begins 30 May, 2016. Details within.</p>
<!-- *This position has been filled.* -->
<hr class="docutils" />
<p>Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD position in the Biocomputation Research group at the University of Hertfordshire. Our research on Olfactory Biocomputation encompasses the following topics:</p>
<ul class="simple">
<li>Olfactory computing in insects and vertebrates</li>
<li>The role of stimulus dynamics in olfaction</li>
<li>Chemical “receptive fields” of odorant receptors</li>
<li>Neuromorphic computing and bio-inspired signal processing for chemical sensing</li>
</ul>
<p>Our spectrum of methods covers data science and machine learning, simulation of spiking networks, cheminformatics, and brain-like computing on neuromorphic hardware. The successful candidate should ideally have previous experience in one or more of these methods, but a keen interest in our research topics and enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research is considered essential. Excellent programming skills are required and should be documented upon application. Most of our code is written in Python.</p>
<p>Depending on the area of work, the successful candidate will join our collaborative research efforts with excellent experimental research groups, as e.g. led by Prof. Andreas Schaefer (Francis Crick Institute, London), Dr. Markus Knaden and Dr. Silke Sachse (Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany). For a list of recent projects and publications please refer to the web pages of the <a class="reference external" href="http://biomachinelearning.net">BioMachineLearning Project</a> and the <a class="reference external" href="http://biocomputation.herts.ac.uk/">Biocomputation Group</a>.</p>
<p>The student will be supervised by Drs. Michael Schmuker (m.schmuker @ biomachinelearning.net) and Volker Steuber (v.steuber @ herts.ac.uk). Informal enquiries by email prior to application are encouraged and very welcome.</p>
<p>Successful candidates are eligible for a research studentship award from the University (approximately GBP 14,250 per annum bursary plus payment of the student fees).</p>
<p>Research in Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire has been recognized as excellent by the latest Research Excellence Framework Assessment, with 50% of the research submitted being rated as world leading or internationally excellent. The Science and Technology Research Institute provides a very stimulating environment, offering a large number of specialized and interdisciplinary seminars as well as general training and researcher development opportunities. The University of Hertfordshire is situated in Hatfield, in the green belt just north of London.</p>
<p>Application forms can be obtained from:</p>
<p>Mrs Lorraine Nicholls, <br />
Research Student Administrator, <br />
STRI, <br />
University of Hertfordshire, <br />
College Lane, <br />
Hatfield, Herts, <br />
AL10 9AB, <br />
Tel: +44 01707 286083, <br />
l.nicholls @ herts.ac.uk.</p>
<p>The short-listing process will begin on 30 May, 2016.</p>
Open Position: PhD studentship in Data Clustering2016-04-28T04:41:37+01:002016-04-28T04:41:37+01:00Renato Cordeiro de Amorimtag:biocomputation.herts.ac.uk,2016-04-28:/2016/04/28/open-position-phd-studentship-in-data-clustering.html<p class="first last">A funded PhD position at the Biocomputation group is available. The shortlisting process begins 30 May, 2016. Details within.</p>
<!-- *This position has been filled.* -->
<hr class="docutils" />
<p>Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD position in the Machine Learning team, under the Biocomputation Research Group, at the University of Hertfordshire. Our research in data clustering encompasses the following topics:</p>
<ul class="simple">
<li>Unsupervised feature weighting.</li>
<li>Metric learning.</li>
<li>Recovering the number of clusters in data sets.</li>
<li>Applications of the above in security and natural language processing.</li>
</ul>
<p>The successful candidate should ideally have previous experience in at least one of the above topics; those without experience must be able to demonstrate a keen interest in our research. Excellent programming skills are required and should be documented upon application.</p>
<p>The student will be supervised by Dr. Renato Cordeiro de Amorim (r dot amorim at herts dot ac dot uk). Informal enquires by email prior to application are encouraged and very welcome.</p>
<p>We collaborate closely with leading scientists from all over the world, including Prof. Boris Mirkin (National Research University Higher School of Economics and Birkbeck University of London), Prof. Vladimir Makarenkov (University of Quebec at Montreal), Dr. Christian Hennig (University College London), and Dr. Marcos Zampieri (Saarland University). For a list of recent publications please refer to <a class="reference external" href="http://homepages.herts.ac.uk/~comqra">http://homepages.herts.ac.uk/~comqra</a>.</p>
<p>Successful candidates are eligible for a research studentship award from the University (approximately GBP 14,250 per annum bursary plus payment of the student fees).</p>
<p>Research in Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire has been recognized as excellent by the latest Research Excellence Framework Assessment, with 50% of the research submitted being rated as world leading or internationally excellent. The Science and Technology Research Institute provides a very stimulating environment, offering a large number of specialized and interdisciplinary seminars as well as general training and researcher development opportunities. The University of Hertfordshire is situated in Hatfield, in the green belt just north of London.
Application forms can be obtained from:</p>
<p>Mrs Lorraine Nicholls, <br />
Research Student Administrator, <br />
STRI, <br />
University of Hertfordshire, <br />
College Lane, <br />
Hatfield, Herts, <br />
AL10 9AB, <br />
Tel: +44 01707 286083, <br />
l.nicholls @ herts.ac.uk.</p>
<p>The short-listing process will begin on 30 May, 2016.</p>
Open Positions: Early Career Research Fellowships in systems biology/machine learning for food and disease2016-04-13T13:27:22+01:002016-04-13T13:27:22+01:00Volker Steubertag:biocomputation.herts.ac.uk,2016-04-13:/2016/04/13/open-position-early-career-research-fellowships-in-systems-biology-machine-learning-for-food-and-disease.html<p class="first last">Applications are invited for Research Fellow posts at the University of Hertfordshire. Details within.</p>
<!-- *This position has been filled.* -->
<hr class="docutils" />
<p>Salary: £31,656 - £37,768 per annum depending on skills and experience. <br />
Closing date: 17 May 2016 <br /></p>
<p>The University of Hertfordshire is investing in its future research staff and infrastructure, and is in the process of transitioning the delivery of its research under six Themes: Food; Global Economy; Health and Wellbeing; Heritage, Cultures and Communities; Information and Security; Space. These will assist in the further development of research excellence and provide both increased external profile and internal focus for Hertfordshire’s research activities.</p>
<p>Six new Research Fellow posts are each offered for a five year term in the first instance. It is our expectation, however, that successful appointees will grow their research activities to become permanent academic staff members by the end of that period.</p>
<div class="section" id="qualifications-required">
<h2>Qualifications required</h2>
<p>You must have a first degree in a science, such as biology, computer science, mathematics or a relevant subject, and a doctoral degree in bioinformatics, machine learning, quantitative genetics or a related subject area. Experience in systems biology, big data science or genomics will be particularly relevant.</p>
</div>
<div class="section" id="research-focus-and-environment">
<h2>Research focus and environment</h2>
<p>This Fellowship will focus on emerging methods in biocomputation that generate and exploit large data sets of biological information available from genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics to better understand mechanisms of host resistance/immunity and/or resistance breakdown. The Fellow will generate an improved understanding of relevant biological systems to develop specific strategies to combat infectious diseases caused by plant, animal or human pathogens. This Fellowship will be supported by existing collaborations between colleagues in Schools of Life & Medical Sciences (Kukol, Stotz, Barling, Fitt) and Computer Science (Steuber). The Fellow is expected to use the University’s high performance computer cluster.</p>
</div>
<div class="section" id="experience-and-skills-required-for-the-post">
<h2>Experience and skills required for the post</h2>
<ul class="simple">
<li>Considerable experience with big data analysis and machine learning, including working knowledge of scripting languages like Perl, Python and/or R;</li>
<li>Knowledge of genomic research techniques, such as next-generation sequencing, proteomics and/or metabolic profiling;</li>
<li>Practical experience with the application of numerical analysis and/or mathematical models to biological datasets, for example in genomics or quantitative genetics;</li>
<li>Evidence of original research published in high impact journals.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="section" id="research-expectations">
<h2>Research expectations</h2>
<p>The Fellow is expected to develop a collaborative research program with our academic partners. We envisage that the Research Fellow will become a permanent staff member, supported by funding from successful research grant applications and developing new areas of teaching, especially at the post-graduate level. To ensure this, the two Schools will provide career training for the Fellow. The Fellow will have established collaborations with companies and successfully obtained co-funded industry-government projects. The Fellow will continue to publish high-impact papers and be leading an internationally recognised research team.</p>
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<div class="section" id="description-of-schools">
<h2>Description of Schools</h2>
<p>The Early Career Research Fellow will work with and receive support from the School of Life and Medical Sciences and the School of Computer Science. The successful candidate can build on the strengths of both Schools and may combine experiment-based empirical research with data-based analysis.</p>
<p>Within the <a class="reference external" href="http://www.herts.ac.uk/apply/schools-of-study/life-and-medical-sciences/research">School of Life and Medical Sciences</a>, the Centre for Agriculture, Food and Environmental Management (CAFEM) is a research and teaching collaboration with the Royal Veterinary College, Rothamsted Research and Oaklands College. The Fellow will work with researchers in CAFEM who have experience with systems biology applicable to crop protection, combining experimental field and lab research with computational modelling. Within the School of Computer Science, research in the <a class="reference external" href="http://biocomputation.herts.ac.uk/">Biocomputation Research Group</a> involves development of computational models to study biological systems and application of biologically-inspired machine learning algorithms for the analysis of "real-world" data. Members of the Biocomputation Group analyse and simulate computational models at different levels of complexity and collaborate closely with leading experimentalists in the UK and abroad.</p>
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<p>Informal enquiries are encouraged and should be made to: <br />
Professor Bruce Fitt, <br />
Professor of Plant Pathology, <br />
email: <a class="reference external" href="mailto:b.fitt@herts.ac.uk">b.fitt@herts.ac.uk</a> <br />
Tel + 44 (0)1707 284751</p>
<p>or</p>
<p>Dr. Volker Steuber, <br />
Reader in Biocomputation and Head of the Biocomputation Research Group, <br />
email: <a class="reference external" href="mailto:v.steuber@herts.ac.uk">v.steuber@herts.ac.uk</a> <br />
Tel: +44 (0)1707 284350.</p>
<p>Applications should be made through <a class="reference external" href="http://www.herts.ac.uk/contact-us/jobs-and-vacancies/research-vacancies">http://www.herts.ac.uk/contact-us/jobs-and-vacancies/research-vacancies</a>, job reference 013457.</p>
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PhD studentship in Computational Neuroscience2015-12-21T16:45:55+00:002015-12-21T16:45:55+00:00Benjamin Torben-Nielsentag:biocomputation.herts.ac.uk,2015-12-21:/2015/12/21/phd-studentship-in-computational-neuroscience.html<p class="first last">A funded PhD position at the Biocomputation group is available. The shortlisting process begins on December 28, 2015. Details within. <br /> <em>This position has been filled.</em></p>
<p><em>This position has been filled.</em></p>
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<p>We welcome applications for a funded PhD position in the Biocomputation Group at the University of Hertfordshire. The successful applicant will work on a project related to modeling the structure and physiological function of the inferior olive. The inferior olive is an important part of the olivo-cerebellar circuitry as its axons, the climbing fibers, play a central role in all theories of cerebellar learning. Further, the inferior olive has been postulated to act as a clock for the brain. In this project, we aim to use an accurate structural model of the inferior olive to investigate, in silico, recent hypotheses related to the generation and maintenance of timing signals. An integral part of this project involves the further development of the NeuroMac software to generate structural models of the inferior olive. Please refer to <a class="reference external" href="http://biocomputation.herts.ac.uk/pages/04-publications-current.html">the publication list on the website</a> for recent publications.</p>
<div class="section" id="who-are-we-looking-for">
<h2>Who are we looking for?</h2>
<ul class="simple">
<li>Candidates should have excellent programming skills (preferably also in Python) and familiarity with parallel and high-performance computing and visualization toolkits (such as VTK) is appreciated.</li>
<li>Candidates should possess great curiosity.</li>
<li>Candidates should be able to formulate their own questions about the circuitry and dynamics in the olivo-cerebellar system to direct their research efforts.</li>
</ul>
<p>Knowledge of neuroscience is a plus but the eagerness to learn about the brain and how to use scientific approaches (such as computational neuroscience and neuroinformatics) is considered pivotal.</p>
<p>Successful candidates are eligible for a research studentship award from the University (approximately GBP 13,800 per annum bursary plus the payment of the standard UK student fees). Applicants from outside the UK or EU are eligible, but will have to pay half of the overseas fees out of their bursary.</p>
<p>Research in Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire has been recognized as excellent by the latest Research Excellent Framework Assessment, with 50% of the research submitted being rated as world leading or internationally excellent. The Science and Technology Research Institute provides a very stimulating environment, offering a large number of specialized and interdisciplinary seminars as well as general training and researcher development opportunities. The University of Hertfordshire is situated in Hatfield, in the green belt just north of London.</p>
<p>The student will be supervised by Dr. Ben Torben-Nielsen (b.torben-nielsen at herts.ac.uk) and Dr. Volker Steuber (v.steuber at herts.ac.uk) to whom informal enquiries can be sent. Application forms can be obtained from:</p>
<p>Mrs Lorraine Nicholls, <br />
Research Student Administrator, <br />
STRI, <br />
University of Hertfordshire, <br />
College Lane, <br />
Hatfield, Herts, <br />
AL10 9AB, <br />
Tel: +44 01707 286083, <br />
l.nicholls @ herts.ac.uk.</p>
<p>The short-listing process will begin on 28 December 2015.</p>
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Open Position: Senior Lecturer in Computer Science2015-09-10T10:00:00+01:002015-09-10T10:00:00+01:00Volker Steubertag:biocomputation.herts.ac.uk,2015-09-10:/2015/09/10/20150910-senior-lectureship.html<p class="first last">Applications are invited for a post of Senior Lecturer in the School of Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire. Details within. Applications close on September 10, 2015. <br /> <em>This position has been filled.</em></p>
<p><em>This position has been filled.</em></p>
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<p>Salary: £37,394 to £47,328 per annum depending on skills and experience <br />
FTE: Full time position <br />
Duration of contract: Permanent <br />
Closing date: 10 September 2015 <br /></p>
<p>Applications are invited for a post of Senior Lecturer in the School of Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the School's teaching and curriculum development activities, and to strengthen its research activities. We are looking to recruit specifically computer scientists with specialist interests in data science or machine learning related to biocomputation (including computational neuroscience), with the flexibility to teach across mainstream topics in computer science. The School has an international reputation for teaching and research, with 58 academic staff, 20 adjunct lecturer staff, and 65 research students and postdoctoral research staff. With a history going back to 1958, the School teaches one of the largest cohorts of undergraduate students in the UK, and also delivers a thriving online computer science degree programme. The University of Hertfordshire is situated in Hatfield, in the green belt just north of London.</p>
<p>The person appointed will be expected to contribute to learning and teaching relevant to core computer science topics, participate in curriculum review and development, design and develop new modules, and supervise student projects at all levels. The appointee will strengthen the research culture in the School by pursuing research as part of a larger research team, seeking external funding, publishing papers, supervising research students, and participating in commercial activity as appropriate. Preference will be given to candidates who can contribute to teaching and research in databases or machine learning.</p>
<p>You must hold a PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant subject, possess excellent communication skills in English and the ability to teach at undergraduate and postgraduate level. It is desirable that candidates have a track record of publication, external research funding, collaboration across disciplines, experience of different types of assessment and higher education quality assurance. They should also have the ability to play a role in the routine running of the School of Computer Science.</p>
<p>The University is required to meet UKVI visa regulations. Applicants who do not currently have the right to work in the UK will have to satisfy UKVI regulations before they can be appointed.</p>
<p>Application should be made through <a class="reference external" href="http://www.herts.ac.uk/contact-us/jobs-and-vacancies/academic-vacancies">http://www.herts.ac.uk/contact-us/jobs-and-vacancies/academic-vacancies</a> (reference 012476). For informal enquiries contact Prof William Clocksin (Dean of School, w.clocksin @ herts.ac.uk) or Dr. Volker Steuber (Head of the Biocomputation Research Group, v.steuber @ herts.ac.uk).</p>