Postdoctoral Researcher in Computational/Theoretical Neuroscience: The Neural Circuits of Social Behavior Lab, under the direction of Prof. Cristina Márquez and in collaboration with Dr. Renato Duarte, is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to engage in cutting-edge research that explores the computational and mechanistic bases of prosocial behavior and decision-making using modeling and simulation techniques.
Designation
Postdoctoral Researcher – Computational/Theoretical Neuroscience
Research Area
Neuroscience, Social Behavior, Computational Modeling, Reinforcement Learning
Location
CNC – Center for Neuroscience and Cellular Biology, UC-Biotech, Cantanhede, Portugal
Eligibility/Qualification
- PhD in Computational/Theoretical Neuroscience, Computer Science, Physics (specializing in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, or Biophysics), or a related analytical field.
- Documented experience with Reinforcement Learning algorithms and Artificial Neural Networks.
- Extensive programming skills and experience in scientific software development.
- Strong written and oral communication skills in English.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Previous experience interfacing deep behavioral phenotyping with neural activity dynamics.
- Academic interest in Social Neuroscience/Systems Neuroscience or related fields.
- Previous professional experience in international laboratories as a researcher.
- Curiosity and creativity in problem-solving within an interdisciplinary team.
Job Description
The successful candidate will be responsible for:
- Developing, testing, and deploying Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning (MARL) models based on TD-Learning and/or Q-Learning, along with the corresponding environments and tasks.
- Exploring MARL models and environments with varying complexities, from discrete time and space to continuous control systems, to model animal behavior in social interaction settings.
- Developing neural population models that incorporate reward-modulation and capture the dynamics of multiple interacting sub-cortical nuclei engaged in social decision-making tasks.
This position promises a collaborative environment where the candidate will contribute to high-level, innovative research while fostering their own academic identity and visibility.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their applications, which include a cover letter, CV, and contact information for at least two references, through the provided application link: [Apply Here].
Last Date for Apply
January 2nd, 2025, 23:59 (WET)
Join us to contribute to the understanding of neural circuits underlying complex social behaviors through innovative research and collaboration. We look forward to your application!
