Position Description

Postdoctoral and graduate research positions are available in the Department of Mathematics at Western University (London, ON) and the Fields Lab for Network Science (Fields Institute, Toronto, ON).


Background:
The Fields Lab for Network Science (FLNS) focuses on connecting applied mathematics with neural networks. From mapping the anatomy of the brain, to understanding how patterns of connections between neurons create computation, networks are a central mathematical tool to understand neural networks, both artificial and biological. A key question in this work is what we can learn from networks of connectivity between these cells: that is, even if we know the complete connectivity diagram for a neural network, what can we say about the resulting dynamics and computation? Relating the fine-scale pattern of connectivity to function is a difficult problem for these networks, requiring fundamentally new tools in applied mathematics.



The FLNS is collaborating with a set of researchers across theoretical neuroscience (Todd Coleman, Stanford University), applied physics (Mark Schnitzer, Stanford University), neuroengineering (Duygu Kuzum, UCSD), and visual neurophysiology (John Reynolds, Salk Institute for Biological Studies) to bring together the latest techniques for neural recordings with new computational and theoretical approaches. We work closely with these experimental labs to develop models of neural systems, and then to test model-driven predictions in new experiments. Recent work from our team has discovered that waves traveling across single regions of cortex modulate neural excitability and the sensitivity of visual perception (ref. 1). This discovery has prompted the development of new theoretical approaches to understand how fine-scale patterns of connections generate traveling waves in networked systems (ref. 2, 3). Most recently, we have worked to understand how these fine-scale patterns of connections can generate dynamics that can be used for computation (ref. 4). The next ten years promise to hold exciting times in neuroscience. Join our team of researchers working to develop a theory-experiment loop in this new and rapidly growing field.


references:
(1) - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2802-y
(2) - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-39076-2

(3) - https://journals.aps.org/prresearch/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.5.013159

(4) - https://www.nature.com/articles/s42005-024-01728-0



Experience:
Researchers will bring together data science, computational science, and applied mathematics to understand spatiotemporal dynamics and computation in the circuits of neocortex. The project may include intermittent travel between labs to present results and facilitate collaborative work.


Prior experience with scientific computing, signal analysis, or applied mathematics is preferred. Western and Fields offer excellent research environments and support. Candidates can write to lmuller2@uwo.ca with a CV and short statement of interest.

Both the Lab and the University are deeply committed to diversity and scientific outreach. Applications from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged, and any interested applicants are welcomed to write Dr. Muller directly with questions about the research environment.