Research Fellow on Imaging Neurodegeneration

SBIC Singapore

Several postdoc positions are available in the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Group, Singapore Bioimaging Consortium (SBIC) in Singapore. The research focus of the group is on the development of MRI methods and imaging biomarkers for detection of neurodegeneration and regeneration in rodent models. One project is to study the structural and functional connectivity in rat/mouse models of axonal degeneration using techniques such as DTI, magnetization transfer, resting-state fMRI, etc. The other project is to develop functional imaging, including BOLD/CBV fMRI, perfusion, manganese enhanced MRI, CEST and PET, to understand how metabolic disorders such as diabetes exacerbate neurodegenerative diseases like dementia. We have very active interdisciplinary research teams consisting of people from engineering, physics, chemistry, biology, and neuroscience backgrounds. We also have extensive collaboration with major pharmaceutical companies to develop new methods for evaluating drug effects in the brain.

The successful candidate will have chance to work at the Clinical Imaging Research Center to translate the methods into clinical applications. The center currently hosts a Siemens 3T TIM Trio system and is expanding to include more imaging modalities and higher field MRI.

Institute and Resources:

SBIC is a national research institute dedicating on advancing pre-clinical imaging and its translation to clinical applications. SBIC is composed of four major labs studying from animal models, imaging probe design, imaging techniques, to data processing. For further information about SBIC, please visit our website: http://www.sbic.a-star.edu.sg/.

The lab currently hosts a Varian 9.4T MRI, a Bruker 7T ClinScan MRI, a Bruker 400MHz NMR, a NanoSPECT/CT, a Siemens microPET/CT, and a hyperpolarizer (Hypersense). Another 9.4T MRI and a 600MHz NMR microimager will be installed in 2012. Other facilities include a chemistry lab for imaging probe development, a molecular biology lab for developing transgenic animal models, and the SBIC-Nikon imaging center, which hosts all the advanced live cell optical imaging systems by Nikon. We also have access to animal behavior and radiochemistry facilities.

Qualifications:

We welcome highly-motivated people who want to explore new ideas and multidisciplinary researches to apply. Preferred background includes, but not limited to, neuroscience, physics, and engineering. Prior experience with in vivo MRI/NMR, programming language (C or Matlab), image processing and rodent imaging is preferred.

Contact Info:

Interested candidates should submit his/her CV to the following address: recruit@sbic.a-star.edu.sg.

Research Fellow on Functional Neuroimaging

Postdoc positions are available in the Clinical Imaging Research Centre (CIRC) in Singapore. CIRC is a national research institute jointly funded by the Biomedical Research Council (BMRC, A*STAR) and the National University of Singapore dedicated on advancing imaging techniques for clinical applications.

The research focus is on the development of quantitative arterial spin labeling perfusion MRI and fMRI methods to evaluate the disease progress and drug effects. One project is to detect functional connectivity and its correlation with structural connectivity and perfusion in brain development, stroke and dementia. Another project is to study the pharmacological activation and modulation of the brain function. The results will be correlated or validated by other imaging modality like PET. We have active collaboration with clinician in the National University Hospital, KK Children and Women Hospital and pharmaceutical companies. The postdoc will also have close interaction with scientists working in pre-clinical imaging at the Singapore Bioimaging Consortium to translate knowledge/methods between bench and bedside.

Facility and Equipment:

The Clinical Imaging Research Centre currently hosts a Siemens 3T TIM Trio system and is expanding to incorporate a cyclotron, radiochemistry, PET/CT, MRI-PET, and another high field MRI in 2011 with the opening of the new CIRC building.

Qualifications:

We welcome highly-motivated people who want to explore new ideas and multidisciplinary researches to apply. Preferred Ph.D. background includes, but not limited to, physics, computer science, neuroscience and engineering. Prior experience with programming language (C or Matlab) and/or MRI are required. Experience with sequence programming (especially IDEA) is preferable.

The position will start with a 3-year contract and can be renewed depending on performance. The salary is competitive based on experience.

Contact Info:

Interested candidates should submit his/her CV to the following address: CIRC-Recruit@bmsi.a-star.edu.sg.

35th Steenbock Symposium 'Advances in Biomolecular NMR'

June 26-28, 2011
Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
 

Registration and abstract submission for the 35th Steenbock Symposium
'Advances in Biomolecular NMR' are now open!

http://www.biochem.wisc.edu/seminars/steenbock/symposium35/

The 35th Steenbock Symposium 'Advances in Biomolecular NMR' will be
held June 26-28, 2011 at the Wisconsin Institutes of Discovery on the
campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin.
This symposium will honor the career of John L. Markley, Steenbock
Professor of Biomolecular Structure, Department of Biochemistry,
University of Wisconsin-Madison. Through his service to the NMR
community and leadership of the National Magnetic Resonance Facility
at Madison (NMRFAM), the Biological Magnetic Resonance Data Bank
(BMRB) and the Center for Eukaryotic Structural Genomics, Professor
Markley has made enormous contributions to the field of biomolecular
NMR.

The Symposium will have presentations from leaders in the field of
biological NMR spectroscopy and in various fields of biochemistry who
collaborate on protein structure-function studies with Professor
Markley and NMRFAM. Topics will include applications of NMR
spectroscopy to study the dynamics and structure-function
relationships of proteins and nucleic acids, high-throughput structure
determination, metabolomics, and natural products. A poster session
will provide those attending the symposium an opportunity to present
their recent work in biological NMR spectroscopy. A full list of
speakers is included below.

The 35th Steenbock will be held Sunday, June 26 to Tuesday, June 28, 2011.

REGISTRATION IS NOW AVAILABLE. Please visit:
http://www.biochem.wisc.edu/seminars/steenbock/symposium35/register.aspx

Below are some of the details about registration:
The Registration fee includes admission to talks and poster session,
abstract book, scheduled breaks, and the reception on Sunday, June 26,
breaks on Monday, June 27, and Tuesday, June 28.

The banquet will be held on the evening of Monday, June 27. (correction!)

Fees:
Early - Full Registration $200.00 by 05/15/2011
Early - Student Registration $175.00 by 05/15/2011

Banquet $50

Registration Deadlines: Early registration will last until May 15.
After May 15 rates will increase by $50. The late registration
deadline is June 15. After that date, you must register at the door
with payment by check or cash.

Poster Abstract Deadline: April 15, 2011
INFORMATION ABOUT ABSTRACTS FOR THE POSTER SESSIONS IS ALSO NOW
AVAILABLE. Please visit
http://www.biochem.wisc.edu/seminars/steenbock/symposium35/abstract_guidelines.aspx.

Cancellation Policy: If you cancel before June 15, your registration
fee will be refunded, minus a $50 administrative fee. No refunds for
cancellations received on or after June 15.

The symposium will begin with a reception on Sunday, June 26. It is
expected to end in the afternoon of Tuesday June 28.

Sponsors:
Bruker BioSpin
Promega
ISOTEC, Shigemi
Agilent Technologies, Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Scientific
Protein Laboratories, Wilmad-Labglass,
Daedalus Innovations LLC

Thanks and hope to see you in June,
Speakers:

Hashim Al-Hashimi - University of Michigan
Cheryl Arrowsmith - University of Toronto
Ad Bax - The National Institutes of Health
Tim Bugni - University of Wisconsin-Madison
Sam Butcher - University of Wisconsin-Madison
Silvia Cavagnero - University of Wisconsin-Madison
David Cowburn - Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Hector DeLuca - University of Wisconsin-Madison
Art Edison - University of Florida
Juli Feigon - University of California Los Angeles
Kevin Gardner - University of Texas Southwestern
Mark Girvin - Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Angela M. Gronenborn - University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Andrew Hinck - The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Jeffrey C. Hoch - University of Connecticut Health Center
Charles Hoogstraten - Michigan State University
Mitsu Ikura - University of Toronto
Oleg Jardetzky - Stanford University
Masatsune Kainosho - Tokyo Metropolitan University
Robert Kaptein - Utrecht University
Slobodan Macura - Mayo Foundation
Gaetano Montelione - Rutgers University
James Prestegard - University of Georgia
Michael Reily - Bristol-Myers Squibb
Gordon Roberts - University of Leicester
Heinz Ruterjans - University of Frankfurt
Richard Vierstra - University of Wisconsin-Madison
Brian Volkman - Medical College of Wisconsin
Gerhard Wagner - Harvard University

Organizers:
Sam Butcher
Eldon Ulrich
Milo Westler

-- 
-- Milo
===================================================
National Magnetic Resonance Facility at Madison
      An NIH-Supported Resource Center

W. Milo Westler, Ph.D.

NMRFAM Director
Senior Scientist
       and
Adjunct Professor
433 Babcock Drive
Department of Biochemistry
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI USA 53706-1544
EMAIL: milo@nmrfam.wisc.edu
PHONE: (608)-263-9599
FAX: (608)-263-1722

Brain Connectivity Workshop - Montreal 2011 21 – 23 June 2011 http://bcw2011.org/ The Brain Connectivity Workshop series aims to bring together experts in computational neuroscience, neuroscience methodology and experimental neuroscience with a special interest in understanding the tripartite relationship between anatomical connectivity, brain dynamics and cognitive function. The first BCW was organized by Rolf Kotter and Karl Friston in April 2002 in Düsseldorf, Germany. Since then, the workshop is a yearly recurrent event organized by a different institution around the globe. The 2-day workshop is preceded by a 1-day Brain Connectivity Course, in which brain connectivity experts will introduce the concepts underlying the current state-of-the-art methodologies and experimental designs. This year, the first day course will introduce dynamical systems, graph theory and network analysis, diffusion imaging, genetics and connectivity, cortical oscillations and connectivity of the developing brain. For a detailed program and registration, please see http://bcw2011.org/

EDUCATION SESSION

Viktor Jirsa (dynamical systems) : "Nonlinear Dynamics in Neuroscience"
Ed Bullmore (graph theory and network analysis)
Pierre Bellec (Data driven network organization)
Patrick Haggman (diffusion imaging)
Jacques Michaud (genetics and connectivity)
Petra Ritter (cortical oscillations)
Jay Giedd (connectivity of the developing brain)

PROGRAM

Day 1

Rolf Kotter Lecture: Karl Friston - A Tribute to Rolf Kotter
Allard Roebroeck (analysis of connectivity)
Jin Hyung Lee (imaging animal models & connectivity)
Markus Kaiser (imaging animal models, connectivity and epilepsy)

Di Cristo, Graziella (interneurons and development)
Thomason, M (genetic determine of functional connectivity in development)
Taga, G (NIRS imaging of connectivity in development)
Fair, Damien (graph theory metrics and development)

Day 2

Evans, A (life span changes in structural connectivity/morphology)
Valdez-Sosa, Pedro (connectivity in development)
Tononi, G (principles of information integration and network formation)
Bernard, Christophe (local network dynamics in epilepsy) : "Seizures: is the underlying mechanism as simple as a noise-driven emergent property of immature neuronal networks?"
Carmant, Lionel (connectivity in the infant epileptic brain)
Breakspear, M (dynamical systems approach to understanding epilepsy propagation)

Neuroimaging Data Processing Workshop

23-24 March 2011

Edinburgh, UK

http://nipype.blogspot.com 

Day 1 Nipype (23/03/11) - Neuroimaging

1. 9-9.45: Introduction to nipype (Satra Ghosh)

• Nipype: Opensource platform for unified and replicable interaction with existing neuroimaging tools

2. 10-10.45: fMRI use case (Cyril Pernet)
3. 11-11.45: DTI use case (Mark Bastin and Colin Buchanan)
4. 12-11.45: Extending nipype (Chris Gorgolewski)

Afternoon (2-5pm):

1. Hands on session

Day 2 INCF (24/03/11) - Neuroinformatics

1. 9-9.30: (JB Poline)
2. 9.30-10.15: (Yannick Schwartz) pyxnat: XNAT in Python
3. 10.30-10.50: (Vincent Frouin) Computation of map association scores in imaging genetics with nipype/pyxnat
4. 11.00-11.45: (Stephan Gerhard) Connectome Viewer and the Connectome File Format

Afternoon (1-5pm)

1. 1-2: Connectome viewer demo
2. 2-5: Hands on and Interactive Q&A session

Advanced Scientific Programming in Python

========================================= 
a Summer School by the G-Node and the School of Psychology,
University of St Andrews

Scientists spend more and more time writing, maintaining, and
debugging software. While techniques for doing this efficiently have
evolved, only few scientists actually use them. As a result, instead
of doing their research, they spend far too much time writing
deficient code and reinventing the wheel. In this course we will
present a selection of advanced programming techniques,
incorporating theoretical lectures and practical exercises tailored
to the needs of a programming scientist. New skills will be tested
in a real programming project: we will team up to develop an
entertaining scientific computer game.

We use the Python programming language for the entire course. Python
works as a simple programming language for beginners, but more
importantly, it also works great in scientific simulations and data
analysis. We show how clean language design, ease of extensibility,
and the great wealth of open source libraries for scientific
computing and data visualization are driving Python to become a
standard tool for the programming scientist.

This school is targeted at PhD students and Post-docs from all areas
of science. Competence in Python or in another language such as
Java, C/C++, MATLAB, or Mathematica is absolutely required. Basic
knowledge of Python is assumed. Participants without any prior
experience with Python should work through the proposed introductory
materials before the course.

Date and Location
=================
September 11—16, 2011. St Andrews, UK.

Preliminary Program
===================
Day 0 (Sun Sept 11) — Best Programming Practices
  - Agile development & Extreme Programming 
  - Advanced Python: decorators, generators, context managers
  - Version control with git 
Day 1 (Mon Sept 12) — Software Carpentry
  - Object-oriented programming & design patterns
  - Test-driven development, unit testing & quality assurance
  - Debugging, profiling and benchmarking techniques
  - Programming in teams 
Day 2 (Tue Sept 13) — Scientific Tools for Python
  - Advanced NumPy 
  - The Quest for Speed (intro): Interfacing to C with Cython
  - Best practices in data visualization 
Day 3 (Wed Sept 14) — The Quest for Speed 
  - Writing parallel applications in Python
  - Programming project 
Day 4 (Thu Sept 15) — Efficient Memory Management
  - When parallelization does not help:
    the starving CPUs problem 
  - Data serialization: from pickle to databases
  - Programming project 
Day 5 (Fri Sept 16) — Practical Software Development
  - Programming project
  - The Pac-Man Tournament

Every evening we will have the tutors' consultation hour: Tutors
will answer your questions and give suggestions for your own
projects.

Applications
============
You can apply on-line at http://python.g-node.org

Applications must be submitted before May 29, 2011. Notifications of
acceptance will be sent by June 19, 2011.

No fee is charged but participants should take care of travel,
living, and accommodation expenses. 
Candidates will be selected on the basis of their profile. Places
are limited: acceptance rate in past editions was around 30%.
Prerequisites: You are supposed to know the basics of Python to
participate in the lectures. Please consult the website for a list
of introductory material.

Faculty
======= 
- Francesc Alted, author of PyTables, Castelló de la Plana, Spain 
- Pietro Berkes, Volen Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis
  University, USA 
- Valentin Haenel, Berlin Institute of Technology and Bernstein
  Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Germany 
- Zbigniew Jędrzejewski-Szmek, Faculty of Physics, University of
  Warsaw, Poland 
- Eilif Muller, The Blue Brain Project, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale
  de Lausanne, Switzerland 
- Emanuele Olivetti, NeuroInformatics Laboratory, Fondazione Bruno
  Kessler and University of Trento, Italy 
- Rike-Benjamin Schuppner, Bernstein Center for Computational
  Neuroscience Berlin, Germany 
- Bartosz Teleńczuk, Institute for Theoretical Biology,
  Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany
- Bastian Venthur, Berlin Institute of Technology and Bernstein
  Focus: Neurotechnology, Germany 
- Pauli Virtanen, Institute for Theoretical Physics and
  Astrophysics, University of Würzburg, Germany 
- Tiziano Zito, Berlin Institute of Technology and Bernstein Center
  for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Germany

Organized by Katharina Maria Zeiner and Manuel Spitschan of the
School of Psychology, University of St Andrews, and by Zbigniew
Jędrzejewski-Szmek and Tiziano Zito for the German Neuroinformatics
Node of the INCF.  

Website:  http://python.g-node.org
Contact:  python-info@g-node.org