Trieste Course in Computational Neuroscience

[Erik De Schutter]

             EU ADVANCED COURSE IN COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE
                                 FIRST CALL

                        AUGUST 23 - SEPTEMBER 17, 1999

         INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR THEORETICAL PHYSICS, TRIESTE, ITALY                   

DIRECTORS:    Erik De Schutter (University of Antwerp, Belgium)
              Klaus Obermayer (Technical University Berlin, Germany)
              Idan Segev (Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel)
              Alessandro Treves (SISSA, Trieste, Italy)


The EU Advanced Course in Computational Neuroscience introduces students 
to the panoply of problems and methods of computational neuroscience, 
simultaneously addressing several levels of neural organisation, from 
subcellular processes to operations of the entire brain.

The course consists of two complementary parts.  A distinguished 
international faculty gives morning lectures on topics in experimental 
and computational neuroscience.  The rest of the day is devoted to
practicals, including learning how to use simulation software and 
how to implement a model of the system the student wishes to study on 
individual unix workstations.  

The first week of the course introduces students to essential neuro-
biological concepts and to the most important techniques in modeling 
single cells, networks and neural systems.  Students learn how to apply 
software packages like GENESIS, MATLAB, NEURON, XPP, etc. to the solution 
of their problems.  During the following three weeks the lectures will 
cover specific brain functions.  Each week topics ranging from modeling 
single cells and subcellular processes through the simulation of simple 
circuits, large neuronal networks and system level models of the brain 
will be covered. The course ends with a presentation of the students' 
projects.

The EU Advanced Course in Computational Neuroscience is designed for 
advanced graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in a variety of 
disciplines, including neuroscience, physics, electrical engineering, 
computer science and psychology.  Students are expected to have a basic 
background in neurobiology as well as some computer experience.  

A total of 30 students will be accepted.  Students of any nationality 
can apply.  We specifically encourage applications from researchers who 
work in less-favoured regions of the EU and from women. Travel grants 
and free accomodations are available for students from most countries in 
the world.

More information and application forms can be obtained:
   - http://www.bbf.uia.ac.be/EU_course.shtml
     http://www.ictp.trieste.it/cgi-bin/ICTPsmr/mklinks/mklist?smr1166
     Please apply electronically using a web browser if possible.
   - email: eucourse at bbf.uia.ac.be
   - by mail:  Prof. E. De Schutter
               Born-Bunge Foundation
               University of Antwerp - UIA, 	 
               Universiteitsplein 1
               B2610 Antwerp
               Belgium
               FAX: +32-3-8202669

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  March 31, 1999.  Applicants will be notified of 
                       the results of the selection procedures by May 1.

CONFIRMED FACULTY: M. Abeles (Hebrew University Jerusalem, Israel), S. 
         Amari (RIKEN, Japan), C. Colby (University Pittsburgh, USA), M. 
       	 Corbetta (Washington University St Louis, USA), O. Ekeberg 
       	 (Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden), D. Hansel (Ecole 
       	 Polytechnique Paris, France), D. Heeger (Stanford University, 
       	 USA), J. Jack (Oxford University, UK), R. Kotter (Heinrich 
       	 Heine University Dusseldorf, G. LeMasson (University of 
       	 Bordeaux, France), J. Lund (University College London, UK), 
       	 E. Marder (Brandeis University, USA), H. Markram (Weizmann 
       	 Institute, Israel), B. McNaugthon (University Arizona Tucson, 
       	 USA), J. Rinzel (New York University, USA), M. Stetter 
       	 (Technical University Berlin, Germany), S. Ullman (Weizmann 
       	 Institute, Israel), C. Wilson (University of Tennessee, USA), 
       	 and others to be announced.

The EU Advanced Course in Computational Neuroscience is supported by the 
European Commission (4th Framework Biotechnology program), by the
International Centre for Theoretical Physics (Trieste) and by The Brain 
Science Foundation (Tokyo).