A Research Specialist position is available in Matthew Botvinick's lab
in the Princeton Neuroscience Institute, in collaboration with Francisco
Pereira at Siemens Corporate Technology. This is a position within a
team participating in the IARPA Knowledge Representation in Neural
Systems program. The goal of the program is to develop models of how the
brain represents conceptual knowledge, and how that knowledge is used
when carrying out tasks like reading a sentence. These models will be
tested using brain imaging data.
The main role in this position is as a programmer writing the code
needed to build such models, while also being involved in experiment
design and data analysis. Examples of tasks you might be asked to do:
- prepare text corpora for use in developing models
- implement evaluation tasks that the models developed will be
benchmarked with
- collect material from online resources and behavioral experiments
- prepare stimuli for brain imaging experiments or model building
- help in designing and carrying out brain imaging and behavioral
experiments
- analyze behavioral and brain imaging experimental data
It is an unusual position in that you will be gaining experience in both
machine learning and cognitive neuroscience. In addition to the core
research goals, we will also be delivering a concrete system to the
funding agency, and hence this will be a fast-paced project. You will be
working directly with the PIs and also graduate students and research
scientists in the team.
Essential qualifications are experience developing software in MATLAB or
Python (Perl is also useful), as well as an undergraduate degree in
computer science, biomedical engineering, cognitive neuroscience or a
related field. Preferred qualifications are knowledge in natural
language processing, machine learning, and collection, preprocessing and
analysis of brain imaging data (e.g. SPM, FSL or AFNI). The final
candidate will be required to pass a background check successfully.
This is a 1 year position, starting as soon as possible, with an
additional year possible contingent on funding availability and
performance. To apply, please go to
https://jobs.princeton.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/Welcome_css.jsp
and use “Search Open Positions” with requisition number 1400452.
Please email francisco.pereira(a)gmail.com
<mailto:francisco.pereira@gmail.com> with any pre-application inquiries.