In September 2010, the 'Bernstein Preis für Computational Neuroscience", funded by the BMBF (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung), was awarded to Udo Ernst. The corresponding research group started in March 2012 and is still hiring PhD students for the different subprojects. If you are interested in joining our group, please find a list of open positions after the following short description of the research agenda. Our group closely collaborates with the lab for Theoretical Neurophysics (Prof. Dr. Klaus Pawelzik), the lab for Theoretical Neurobiology (Prof. Dr. Andreas Kreiter), and the lab for Human Neurobiology (Prof. Dr. Manfred Fahle).
Theoretical investigations (subprojects A1 and A2) will be combined with electrophysiological recordings (subproject B) and psychophysical studies (subproject C) to reveal the fundamental properties of rapid parallel configuration in the visual system of humans and primates. Theoretical work will pursue two different approaches: investigating neural mechanisms of functional configuration from a dynamical system’s perspective in a typical bottom-up approach (A1), and uncovering principles of flexible computation within the framework of generative models in a top-down approach (A2). Models will be constrained by experimental data from the neuronal up to the behavioural level, and predictions from large-scale simulations of cortical networks will be tested in novel experimental paradigms. Ultimately, our investigations will reveal novel computational strategies how complex tasks can be performed with limited, but adaptable resources. Putative applications range from high-performance brain-computer interfaces up to novel rehabilitation strategies for patients with cognitive deficits. These applications will jointly be explored with partner labs in Bremen and Germany.