[Neuroinfo] IIT-Harvard joint postdoctoral position in computer vision, pattern recognition, and machine learning

[Diego Sona]

IIT-Harvard joint postdoctoral position in computer vision, pattern recognition, and machine learning for the design and development of a virtual foraging system and an automatic behavior analysis system 

The Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT  www.iit.it) is opening a joint postdoctoral position at its Department of Pattern Analysis and Computer Vision (PAVIS; http://www.iit.it/pavis.html) in Genova, Italy, in collaboration with the Department of Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School (HMS; http://neuro.med.harvard.edu) in Boston, USA. 
IIT, which was established in 2003, consists of a major research center in Genoa, Italy, along with a network of 10 state-of-the-art laboratories throughout Italy. IIT recruited an international staff of about 1100 scientists from more than 50 countries. IIT's research focuses on cutting-edge high technology and innovation, with applications including materials science, computer science, robotics, life science and nanobiotechnologies. 

Project Description: 
The project is highly interdisciplinary, including behaviour analysis, engineering, data analysis, machine learning and computer vision. The ideal candidate will design and develop a novel virtual foraging system, which will be used to explore innate behavioural responses and other cues on ethological spatial scales, also looking at the neural correlates. The aim is to develop a framework composed of a virtual reality (VR) system integrated with multiple recording devices (a capacitive trackpad, multiple cameras, and eventually a 3D scanner) and a library of software tools for advanced behavioural data analysis. In this setup, the activity of a mouse is recorded by the trackpad jointly with the cameras, and the information is used to automatically analyse the animal gait, postures and behaviour, using computer vision and pattern recognition technologies. The multi-source information will be integrated to understand and prevent the intention of movement of the animal, which is then fed to the VR system. 

Experience and Qualifications: 
We are seeking a self-motivated individual with the ability to take day-to-day responsibility for the progress of the project. The ideal candidate is a scientist with a Ph.D., a strong engineering background and competences in Computer Vision, Image Analysis, Pattern Recognition, and/or Machine Learning, coupled with a keen interest in neuroscience and biological data processing and analysis. Experience on time series analysis will be appreciated. Strong programming skill is required. 
The ideal candidate is expected to spend his/her time partly in Genoa and partly in Boston. 
The salary will be commensurate to qualification and experience and in line to that of the research institutes in the rest of Europe and US. The initial deadline for applications is November 25, 2013, although the search will continue until appropriate candidates have been identified. 

How to apply: 
Informal enquires can be made by email to pavis at iit.it and srdatta at hms.harvard.edu. 
A curriculum listing all publications, a pdf of most representative publications and a research statement describing previous research experience and outlining its relevance to the project should be sent by email to pavis at iit.it andsrdatta at hms.harvard.edu; indicating the budget code: 68073 . Please, also indicate 2 independent references. 

In order to comply with the Italian law (art. 23 of Privacy Law of the Italian Legislative Decree n. 196/03), we have to kindly ask the candidate to give his/her consent to allow IIT to process his/her personal data. We inform you that the information you provide will be used solely for the purpose of assessing your professional profile to meet the requirements of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia. Your data will be processed by Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, with headquarters in Genoa, Via Morego 30, acting as the Data Holder, using computer and paper based means, observing the rules on protection of personal data, including those relating to the security of data. Please also note that, pursuant to art.7 of Legislative Decree 196/2003, you may exercise your rights at any time as a party concerned by contacting the Data Manager. 

Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia is an Equal Opportunity Employer that actively seeks diversity in the workforce.
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