"Associate Research Scientist / Research Scientist – Software, CCN"

Associate Research Scientist / Research Scientist - Software, Center for Computational Neuroscience

Flatiron Institute - Simons Foundation

Location

162 Fifth Ave, New York, NY

Open Date

Nov 08, 2023

Description

Understanding the human brain is one of the greatest and most challenging scientific frontiers of our time. Center for Computational Neuroscience’s (CCN’s) mission is to develop models, principles and conceptual frameworks that deepen our knowledge of brain function — both in health and in disease. CCN takes a “systems" neuroscience approach, building models that are motivated by fundamental principles, that are constrained by properties of neural circuits and responses, and that provide insights into perception, cognition and behavior. This cross-disciplinary approach not only leads to the design of new model-driven scientific experiments, but also encapsulates current functional descriptions of the brain that can spur the development of new engineered computational systems, especially in the realm of machine learning.

POSITION SUMMARY

Applications are invited for an Associate Research Scientist or Research Scientist - Software with expertise in developing open-source software in support of statistical and machine learning applications in neuroscience. The level of the position will depend on experience and qualifications. This full-time position offers an exceptional career opportunity at the interface of science and computing, with flexibility to be immersed in frontier scientific research while focusing on the dissemination and support of research advances through computing, algorithms, and technical support. The Associate Research Scientist level is a term-limited position.

The successful candidate will support (with roughly ~50% effort) existing open-source initiatives at CCN, such as initiatives in processing of calcium imaging data, connectomics data, and pipelines for neural data formatting, visualization and analysis. Second, they will establish (again with ~50% effort) new open-source initiatives at CCN in collaboration with the Statistical Analysis of Neural Data group (SAND group, Alex Williams, PI). This will involve maintaining existing code developed in the SAND group, and working with SAND group members to refine and scale their research code.

A major focus of CCN is in building computational models of the brain, and this position will work with researchers across the center to ensure that those models are shared and available to be widely-used, with tests, user interface, documentation, and tutorials explaining and demonstrating their usage and interpretation. They will engage with the broader scientific community by writing tutorials, responding to user questions and bug reports, and traveling to conferences. They will also be involved in CCN-hosted workshops to bring outside researchers to the center, where they will work with these researchers to apply the tools and models developed at CCN to their models or data. This position will also have opportunities to write publications in collaboration with scientists at the Flatiron, as well as chances to work with Flatiron's domain scientists, data scientists, and scientific computing core, providing many opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Ph.D. in neuroscience, data science, computer science, engineering, mathematics or related technical discipline.

EXPERIENCE AND RELATED SKILLS

• Experience with building computational models of brain and/or behavior, including simulation, fitting, and experimental design.
• Experience analyzing neuroscientific experimental data.
• Proficiency in high-quality scientific/mathematical coding in more than one commonly used language, such as Python, C, C , Fortran, julia or MATLAB. Experience with HPC, GPU and/or code profiling and optimization a plus.
• Proficiency with git and GitHub or other version control frameworks.
• Proficiency with modern machine learning frameworks for autodifferentiation and GPU computing, preferably JAX and PyTorch.
• Knowledge of software engineering practices for working in groups, including software development life cycles, coding standards, code review and version control systems (git).
• Appropriate applied mathematical training (linear algebra, differential equations, etc.)
• Technical and scientific curiosity
• Ability to collaborate on multidisciplinary research in a collegial environment
• Effective communication, documentation and user support skills.

OTHER BENEFICIAL EXPERIENCE

• Postdoctoral experience in neuroscience, data science, computer science, engineering, mathematics or related technical discipline.
• Experience with open source communities and tools, especially in a research or educational context.
• Experience with community management and engagement, with a focus on teaching and knowledge sharing.
• Experience writing technical communication and documentation, and creating websites to host them.
• Experience with continuous integration or other software testing frameworks.
• Experience running software-oriented workshops or educational programs.

Application Instructions

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS

• CV, including description of software projects, relevant publications and other forms of dissemination.
• Brief statement (2 pages max) describing past projects and experiences with machine learning, statistical modeling, software development, maintenance, and how the applicant envisions their participation in the CCN scientific research environment.
• Names and contact information for two or more references

Deadline

• Review of applications will begin immediately, and the requisition will be removed when the position is filled.