Recruitment of Postdoctoral Fellows
Oizumi Laboratory is currently looking for two or three postdoctoral fellows and research assistants for the following projects.
Both of these projects are still in their infancy, so we welcome active suggestions for research topics that you would like to pursue.
If you are interested in applying, please let us know.
The deadline for applications is July 31, 2021, but we will interview applicants one by one, and if we find a suitable candidate, we can hire him/her without waiting for the deadline.
To apply, please send an email to c-oizumi atmark g.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp.
Outline of the eligible projects
(1) Moonshot Research and Development Project
"Liberation from Physical Constraints by Expanding Physical and Perceptual Capabilities”
Postdoctoral fellow or research assistant: 2 persons in total
For an overview of this entire project, please refer to the website.
Dr. Ryota Kanai of Araya Co., Ltd. will be the project manager, and more than 10 PIs will participate in this large-scale project.
In this project, Oizumi Laboratory belongs to the middleware group, and is involved in
Extraction of sensory and thought information from brain activity
Construction of a mathematical theory for sharing the extracted information
Development of a mathematical theory for sharing the extracted information
In particular, I will be working with group members to achieve the following common goals.
In particular, we will develop mathematical techniques for estimating physical and mental states from brain activity and for realizing direct brain-to-brain communication.
Specifically, we will construct a mathematical framework to quantify the transition cost and efficiency of brain state transitions from the viewpoint of control theory or information thermodynamics, and study the estimation of brain states and efficient signal transmission.
For one of the specific methods, please refer to this paper.
The successful candidate will be required to conduct theoretical research and empirical research using brain activity data related to this project.
As for the analysis of brain activity data, we plan to analyze human ECoG data recorded by Prof. Takushi Yanagisawa (Osaka University), who is also a member of the project.
We will also use data recorded by other researchers in the project, open data, and simulation data in our research.
(2) Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (B) "Understanding the relationship between qualia structure and information structure obtained from brain activity
Postdoctoral fellow or research assistant: 1 person in total
For more details about this area, please refer to the website of this area.
The symposium and other events related to the project on qualia structure are available on youtube.
In this area, the Oizumi Laboratory is developing a mathematical framework for quantifying information structure (causal relationships between brain regions and neurons) from brain activity, and investigating the correspondence with qualia (quality of consciousness) from the analysis of brain activity data.
In addition to the analysis of experimental data, we will also conduct simulations using artificial neural network models to provide theoretical predictions for the experiments.
The successful candidate will work closely with Professor Naotsugu Tsuchiya (Monash University), who is in charge of psychophysical experiments, and Team Leader Makiko Yamada (NIRS), who is in charge of brain activity measurement, to conduct research that links theory and experiment in relation to this project.
Please refer to the application guidelines at the end of this document for details.
The following is an introduction to our laboratory and our policy on joint research with postdoctoral fellows and research assistants for reference when applying.
1. Introduction of our laboratory
Oizumi Laboratory is a new laboratory that was established on April 1, 2019.
We will be working on theoretical research in neuroscience, especially theoretical research on consciousness.
Currently, we have 3 researchers, 5 masters students, and 2 undergraduates.
We do not have any doctoral students enrolled at the moment, but we are planning to have more members in the future, as we are planning to have students currently enrolled in M2 and external students going on to doctoral studies.
I believe that this is a vibrant laboratory with enthusiastic researchers and students.
If you are appointed as a special researcher or research assistant, you may be asked to conduct joint research not only with me but also with other lab members in some cases.
The lab has regular seminars twice a week and individual progress meetings with all members at least once a week.
We emphasize the time for discussion with our lab members, and our style is to advance our research through discussion.
2.Policy on joint research with postdoctoral fellows
Basically, you will collaborate with Oizumi on a research theme related to the project in question.
However, rather than having a fixed research theme, you will create an appropriate one through discussions with the researcher.
Each individual has his or her own research interests, preferences, strengths, and weaknesses, and we will take all of these into consideration before setting a mutually satisfactory research theme.
Proposals from the unique perspective of the researcher, which I am not currently considering, are also welcome.
Although there is a general set of themes, our first priority is to do interesting science, and in this sense, I think we can say that we have a high degree of freedom in our research.
In addition, I have been a postdoctoral researcher for more than 8 years before my current tenure position, so I will consider the career path of postdoctoral researchers.
Specifically, I can provide the following support to help you obtain the following positions
Appropriate theme setting and time management so that you can publish your paper during your tenure
Encouraging students to apply for competitive grants such as Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research and advising them on the preparation of their applications.
Advice on preparation of application documents and handling of interviews, etc.