PhD position: Modulating bursting activity in silicon neurons to control plasticity and attention

University of Zurich, Switzerland

Updated: 3 months ago
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: 28 Nov 2025

27 Oct 2025
Job Information
Organisation/Company

University of Zurich
Department

Institute of Neuroinformatics
Research Field

Engineering » Electronic engineering
Neurosciences » Neuroinformatics
Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)
Positions

PhD Positions
Country

Switzerland
Application Deadline

28 Nov 2025 - 12:00 (Europe/Zurich)
Type of Contract

Temporary
Job Status

Full-time
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Horizon Europe - MSCA
Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number

101227453
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

As part of a new EU MSCA Doctoral Network ELEVATE (101227453), we are offering a PhD Position on “Modulating bursting activity in silicon neurons to control plasticity and attention”.

 

Location

Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Switzerland.

 

Earliest starting date

January 1st 2026.

The NCS group (https://www.ini.uzh.ch/en/research/groups/ncs.html ) of the Institute of Neuroinformatics (http://www.ini.uzh.ch/ ) invites applications for PhD student position to work at the intersection of Neuroscience and Electrical Engineering to study neural dynamics and plasticity mechanisms that drive learning and attention in biological processing systems.

 

Working environment

the NCS group, it’s working ethics and spirit is fully described in the group’s “lab manual” (https://ncs-group.pages.uzh.ch/lab-manual/ )

 

Project background

Recent neuroscience findings show that neurons can be conditioned to change their firing properties depending on their inputs. We will use this insight to increase robustness and efficiency of adaptation, specifically to (i) implement always-on online plasticity circuits that stop changing the weights when learning is not necessary anymore and (ii) implement selective attention that use bursting to amplify the signals that are relevant for the task at hand. These mechanisms circuits will be mapped to the available neuromorphic chips in our group and implemented by designing to new neuromorphic circuits with enhanced modulation properties, for real-time processing and learning of sensory processing tasks such as biomedical signal processing and adaptive sensorimotor behaviors.

 

Expected Results

The result of the project will be the implementation of selective attention and stop learning on neuromorphic chips in a robustly controlled fashion. The learning and attention mechanisms developed will be validated in signal processing tasks for edge computing. Performance will be assessed in wearable domains and biomedical applications, with quantitative comparisons to conventional state-of-the-art approaches.

 

Eligibility

The project is part of the ELEVATE grant under Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) training network, where PhD students get to work in collaboration between 10 academic and 10 industrial partners:

https://www.elevate-dn.eu/index.php/about/

Applicants must comply with the MSCA mobility rules: they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Switzerland for more than 12 months in the last 36 months.

 

Expected profile

The student is expected to have read the NCS lab-manual and to know its details very well. In addition, the student is therefore expect to have experience in at least one of these interdisciplinary areas:

  • 1. Neuroscience and/or VLSI basic device physics.
  • 2. Spike-based computing paradigms: theory and modeling.
  • 3. Neuromorphic VLSI implementation.
  • 4. Asynchronous multi-chip communication infrastructure.
  • 5. Learning and state-dependent computation in autonomous behaving robotic platforms.

    • Salary and conditions

    The salary and benefits will follow the standards https://www.uzh.ch/dam/jcr:7f653019-f1ab-47ea-bb38-10b159e17564/SNF_salary_scale_doctoral_students_2017_e.pdf  set by the University of Zurich for PhD students. PhD students will receive their degree from both the University of Zurich and the ETH Zurich.

     

    Application process

    Interested candidates should submit a detailed CV, a cover letter explaining their interest in the position (1 or 2 pages long), a transcript for your BSc and MSc degrees, and the contact information of 2 references to giacomo@ini.uzh.ch  with subject line: “ELEVATE PhD Application - <ApplicantName>”.

     

    We strive to build a diverse work environment and encourage applications from all qualified individuals irrespective of their gender, age, cultural background, and disability status. Only candidates shortlisted for this position will be contacted for an interview.

     

    Contact:
    Giacomo Indiveri,
    e-mail: giacomo@ini.uzh.ch


    Where to apply
    E-mail

    giacomo@ini.uzh.ch

    Requirements
    Research Field
    Engineering » Electrical engineering
    Education Level
    Master Degree or equivalent

    Skills/Qualifications

    Good use of Cadence


    Specific Requirements

    Analog circuit design

    Subthreshold analog circuit knowledge


    Languages
    ENGLISH
    Level
    Basic

    Additional Information
    Work Location(s)
    Number of offers available
    1
    Company/Institute
    University of Zurich
    Country
    Switzerland
    State/Province
    ZH
    City
    Zurich
    Postal Code
    8057
    Street
    Winterthurerstrasse 190
    Geofield


    Contact
    State/Province

    ZH
    City

    Zurich
    Website

    http://www.ini.uzh.ch
    Street

    Winterthurerstrasse 190
    Postal Code

    8057
    E-Mail

    giacomo@ini.uzh.ch

    STATUS: EXPIRED

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