Applications are invited for the above posts to work with Dr Alessandro Torcini and Dr Thomas Kreuz in the Computational neuroscience group at ISC, Florence. This world leading group combines theoretical investigations (e.g., on nontrivial collective phenomena in neuronal populations) with practical applications (e.g., spike train analysis). The group is one of the main participants in the Center for the Study of Complex Dynamics (CSDC) created with the purpose of coordinating interdisciplinary training and research activities.

CSDC researchers include physicists, control engineers, mathematicians, biologists and psychologists. Both full-time posts are available from 01 January 2013 and will be offered on a fixed-term contract for a period of 36 months.



The two successful candidates will register for a 3 year PhD degree at the University of Florence in Information Technology, Systems and Telecommunication (Course on Nonlinear Dynamics and Complex Systems).

1. Marie Curie Actions Early Stage Researcher (PhD fellowship)
Emergence of collective dynamics in scale-free neuronal networks (ESR14)
The successful candidate will work within the framework of nonlinear dynamics and computational neuroscience. His/her main task will be the study of the macroscopic and microscopic evolution of neural networks with various topologies.


2. Marie Curie Actions Early Stage Researcher (PhD fellowship)
Spike train analysis from neuronal networks (ESR15)
The successful candidate will work within the framework of computational neuroscience and signal processing. His/her main task will be the analysis of electrophysiological data, in particular recordings of single- and multi-unit spike trains as well as local field potentials and EEG all of which will be provided by the international partner institutions. One of the principal objectives will be the improvement of methods to estimate spike train synchrony and in particular the development and extension of a Matlab toolbox for spike train analysis.