Postdoc in digital accelerator design for computational neuroscience
100%

University of Bern, Department of Physiology 01.06.2025 or by agreement Two-year contract Extended visits to Yale University are envisioned

We are seeking a highly motivated, experienced, and proactive postdoctoral researcher in asynchronous digital hardware as part of a joint project between the Neuro-inspired Theory, Modeling and Applications (NeuroTMA) Lab led by Mihai A. Petrovici at the University of Bern and the Asynchronous VLSI and Architecture (AVLSI) Lab led by Rajit Manohar at Yale University.
The NeuroTMA Lab focuses on biologically inspired models of spatio-temporal processing in recurrent cortical networks and their relation to reinforcement learning, Bayesian computing, and neuromorphic implementations. The AVLSI Lab conducts research on semantics, design methodologies, and architectures for asynchronous systems with the goal of designing and implementing efficient and programmable computation structures.

Tasks
The NeuroTMA Lab has recently developed a novel model of cortical processing and learning that describes the relevant biophysical processes evolving in continuous time through systems of differential equations. This model lends itself to a highly efficient hardware implementation capable of real-time on-line learning from various kinds of input data streams. Our project seeks to carry out such an implementation by building on a novel neuromorphic architecture co-developed by the AVLSI Lab.

You will contribute to the design, implementation, tape-out, and verification of a custom digital chip implementing a massively parallel, asynchronous differential equation solver. To this end, you will collaborate with experienced researchers and faculty in an interdisciplinary setting and be involved in supervision and mentoring of PhD candidates.
Requirements
A PhD in electrical engineering, computer science, physics or a closely related field is required. You are expected to have demonstrated experience in digital hardware development, from design to tape-out and proficiency with associated EDA and simulation tools. You will need to be able to communicate and collaborate effectively across discipline boundaries and have a well-developed attention to detail.
Ideal candidates have a strong enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research. Experience with asynchronous digital logic, for example the Asynchronous Circuit Toolkit (ACT) and strong mathematical foundations (in particular dynamical systems theory) are advantageous.
We offer
You will be paired with experienced mentors and actively participate in weekly lab meetings to share your progress and learn from other members of the respective labs. Our collaborative atmosphere provides ample opportunities to connect with other researchers, to learn about novel developments from neuroscience to asynchronous circuit design, and to contribute your own creative ideas.
Contact
If you are interested, please send one .pdf document including your CV (max two pages), a statement of research interests (max one page), at least one single-author work (e.g., bachelor’s/master’s thesis), and the name and contact details of two references to
mihai.petrovici@ unibe.ch
,
jakob.jordan@ unibe.ch
and
virginie.sabado@ unibe.ch
.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Informal inquiries are welcome.