Job description

NEUROINFORMATICS AND BRAIN ATLASING TOOLS DEVELOPMENT

ONE POSITION in the Human Brain Project team of researchers and developers, Neural Systems laboratory, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, for 1 year with possibility for longer term extension.

The Neural Systems Laboratory has experience with computational methods, neuroimaging, digital brain atlasing, and neuroinformatics to develop and implement new technologies for analysis of brain architecture, connectivity, and gene and molecular distributions at the level of regions and whole brain. The group is comprised of students and scientists with a background in medicine, biology, physics, and software engineering. Interdisciplinary collaboration within the group and with a broad range of users of our tools and data systems is key to our mission.

More about the position

The laboratory is coordinating the EBRAINS Data services, a part of the EBRAINS Research Infrastructure, developed by the H2020 FET Flagship Human Brain Project (HBP), https://ebrains.eu, https://www.humanbrainproject.eu. In this project, the laboratory is 1) developing and making available reference atlases for rodent brain, 2) developing tools and workflows for the use of the atlases for organizing, managing, viewing, and analysing research data, 3) developing tools and providing services for curating research data registered to the atlases. A key goal is to integrate and analyse large amounts of heterogeneous research data in a common spatial brain atlas framework for the purpose of feeding computational brain models developed within the Human Brain Project. For general information about the project and rodent brain atlasing, see

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-FwWfdDR_8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atCdA2H45iU

https://ebrains.eu/service/quint

https://ebrains.eu/service/quicknii-and-visualign

https://www.humanbrainproject.eu/en/about/project-structure/work-packages/work-package-4/

We are looking for a researcher with a special interest and background in software development and the use of machine learning methods. Interest in interdisciplinary communication is key, as well as assisting and interacting with users, providing usable software and workflows, and contributing to academic writing, with the goal of publishing results in a scientific journals. The successful candidate will be working mainly on maintaining and extending the software and workflows for brain atlas developments in the HBP.

Qualification requirements

Required skills and experiences (3 – 4 or more of the below)

• Experience with convolutional neural networks
• Experience deploying deep neural networks to cloud based infrastructure
• Experience with volumetric brain atlasing
• Competency with the Python programming language
• Experience applying computational methods to brain derived datasets
• Knowledge of neuroinformatics, bioinformatics, neuroscience, or similar areas of science

Preferred experience

• Familiarity with basic neuroanatomy
• Experience in building and working with software for neuroscience atlas applications
• Working experience with experimentalists and/or modelers
• Experience in manipulating large image datasets

Required applicant profile

• MSc in a relevant area
• Proven ability to build tools/software in academic or commercial environment
• Good team player and fluent English in speech and writing
• Ability to work both independently and in team-based environment

We offer

• An interesting and challenging assignment in a research group which runs a state-of-the-art infrastructure for high-throughput acquisition of 2-D and 3-D histological images and digital atlasing
• A productive research environment
• Salary level NOK 507 600 – 583 500 depending on qualifications
• Favourable pension arrangements Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Attractive welfare arrangements benefits
• Applications with attachments are to be delivered in our electronic recruiting system

How to apply

The application must include

• cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interest)
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
• copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
• list of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

Formal regulations

According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

Contact information

For further information please contact:

• Professor Jan G. Bjaalie j.g.bjaalie@medisin.uio.nocc: m.e.brigg@medisin.uio.no

Apply for position