Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research & Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)

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Interested in working in the Natural Intelligence Lab? please contact Hansem Sohn, [my first name].[my last name] [at] gmail.com with your CV!

Open positions

Natural Intelligence Laboratory has open positions for postdoctoral researchers and graduate students. Led by Hansem Sohn, the lab investigates how biological neural networks perform computation and generate intelligent behaviors. Specifically, we have two research projects :

1. Neural population dynamics of relational inference

How does the brain make inferences based on relations between objects? To tackle this question, we have collected electrophysiology data from the posterior parietal cortex while animals performed a visual search task based on object relations. The prospective postdoc/student is expected to analyze the data to study how the cortical population dynamics unfold during the relational inference. The data was collected using high-density linear probes (up to two Neuropixels) and will also provide a unique opportunity to study the role of cortical laminar structures. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in analysis of electrophysiology data, advanced statistical methods, and neural network modeling but opportunities to learn these will be provided. This will be a collaboration with Dr. Mehrdad Jazayeri at MIT.

2. Cortical processing of domain-general numerical information

In this project, we will tackle the following questions.

We will use multiple approaches including careful design of behavioral tasks, computational modeling with Bayesian theory and artificial neural networks, large-scale electrophysiology, and state-of-the-art fMRI for both humans and non-human primates. Ideal candidates have extensive experience in more than one of the approaches but the lab will provide opportunities to learn new techniques.

Research topics are not limited to the above-mentioned projects and open to new proposals. Competitive salary or stipend (together with the tuition for graduate students) will be provided.

The lab is supported by Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR), which houses multi-species animal facilities, multiple MRI scanners (3T, 7T), and cutting-edge neurophysiology systems. We offer a highly open, interactive, and collaborative research environment to promote innovative science. Sungkyunkwan university is a top-tier higher education in South Korea, located near its vibrant capital, Seoul (30 minutes drive).

If you are interested in working in the lab, please send a cover letter (stating why you are interested) and your CV/resume to Hansem Sohn, [my first name].[my last name] [at] gmail.com with your CV. The lab is committed to promote diversity and an inclusive environment. We value passion, strong work ethic (get things done!), scientific rigor and integrity, creativity (think outside the box!), and independence.

Location

Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR) at Institute for Basic Science (IBS)

Our lab is a part of the Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR) at Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in South Korea. The CNIR at IBS is established in 2014 and funded by Korean government to pursue a long-term research excellence (“Korean version of Max Plank Institute”). Our lab will have a full access to the CNIR’s brand-new neuroimaging facilities and equipments for conducting cutting-edge research. The facilities include animal and human MRIs (3T and 7T for human, 9.4T and 15.2T for animal), EEG, TMS, psychophysiological measures, two-photon microscope, super high-resolution confocal microscope, high performance computing clusters, electronic and machine shop, histology lab, and rodent and non-human primate animal housing. Our center and the lab have a strong emphasis on promoting an open, synergetic, multi-disciplinary, and creative research environment. Therefore, you will be able to experience active discussions and collaborations with other scientists from different fields of expertise. (modified from cocoan lab)

Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)

Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) Natural Science Campus is located in Suwon, which is a clean, safe, and beautiful city nearby Seoul in South Korea (and home to Samsung Electronics headquarter). SKKU is a top-tier, research-oriented university founded in 1398 (the oldest university in Asia; Check out the impact of SKKU on the history of Korea imprinted on the bills. (modified from NeuRLab)