[vslist] 4 phd students & 1 postdoc for project on colour constancy in the Netherlands

[Frans W Cornelissen]

Cognitive and behavioural neuroscientists who want to know why grass 
looks always green

We are looking for 4 PhD students and a postdoc who would like to 
translate their interest in the above into research questions on 
colour vision and brain function.

 From a purely physical viewpoint, grass should not stay green 
throughout the day - the reddish sunlight in the evening causes a 
shift towards a more brownish colour. Apparently, the visual 
information that enters our eyes is processed and analysed in such a 
way that we are able to "discount" colour changes caused by the 
illuminating light and have a "colour constant" percept.
This phenomenon, referred to as "colour constancy", is essential for 
our ability to use colour information for reliable object 
identification. In modern society colour is a very important factor 
in many aspects of our everyday lives such as communication (both in 
print and digital form), architecture and art. Our aim is to 
understand the neural processing that underlies the phenomenon of 
colour constancy all the way from the incidence of the light rays on 
the receptors in our retina to our conscious perception of colours.

Four PhD (AIO) and 1 postdoc project are available as part of this 
NWO-Cognition funded research program:

Postdoc. TNO-Human Factors, Soesterberg & School for Behavioural and 
Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Groningen (place of work).

We are looking for an experienced researcher, interested in using 
modelling, psychophsyical and neuro-imaging techniques (in particular 
fMRI) to understand the phenomenon of colour constancy. The postdoc's 
primary task is to develop a biologically realistic model of the 
retinal and cortical neuronal processing underlying colour vision 
that will serve to predict and understand the results of the four PhD 
projects. In addition, the postdoc has a task in coordinating the 
program, and is therefore expected to pay regular visits to the other 
groups. Excellent contactual and collaborative skills are therefore 
considered a prerequisite for this function.  In-depth knowledge in 
the areas of visual perception, neuroscience, as well as strong 
computer skills (unix, Mac), modelling and programming experience (in 
particular Matlab), experience with visual display programming, 
neuro-imaging techniques and data-analysis techniques are all 
considered important plusses.

For further information, contact: Dr. Marcel Lucassen
email: lucassen@tm.tno.nl Tel: (+31) 346 356469

Or: Dr. Frans W. Cornelissen
Email: f.w.cornelissen@med.rug.nl Tel: (+31) 50 3614173

PhD 1. Department of Neuroscience, Helmholtz Research School, Erasmus 
University Rotterdam

We are looking for a PhD student who is eager to combine new 
psycho-physical techniques with eye movement recordings in order to 
evaluate
the role of various spatial and temporal relationships in achieving 
approximate colour constancy. The idea is to use specially designed 
stimuli to isolate different stages of colour processing and to give 
the subjects complete freedom in how they look at the stimulus, while 
we record their eye movements so that we can reconstruct the 
stimulation of any part of the retina.

For further information, contact: Dr. Eli Brenner
Email: brenner@fys.fgg.eur.nl Tel: (+31) 10 4087569

PhD 2. Department of Functional Neurobiology, Helmholtz Research 
School, Utrecht University

  The PhD project 'Cortical single cell studies of natural colour 
constancy' aims at unraveling cortical mechanisms underlying colour 
constancy. Several cortical areas  are responsible for e.g. long 
range interactions and top-down (cognitive) influences on colour 
perception. By recording responses from single neurones at different 
levels we will elucidate their role in the representation of colour 
in general, and in natural colour constancy.
We are looking for a PhD student interested in the physiological 
basis for visual perception. He or she will be working in a group 
with a strong background in psychophysical, physiological and 
modelling studies in visual perception. Experience in vision 
research, electrophysiology and computer programming (C and Matlab) 
are beneficial for a successful project.

For further information, contact: Dr. Martin Lankheet
Email: M.J.M.Lankheet@bio.uu.nl Tel: (+31) 30 2533294

PhD 3. Laboratory of Experimental Ophthalmology, School for 
Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Groningen

In this project, neuro-imaging techniques, in particular functional 
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, will be used to study colour constancy. 
We are looking for a highly motivated individual interested in basic 
science. Provable possession of one or (ideally) more of the 
following skills is advantageous: good communicative and writing 
skills, computer skills (unix, Mac), visual display programming 
experience (Matlab), experience with neuro-imaging techniques and 
data-analysis techniques, knowledge of visual perception and 
neuroscience.

For further information, contact: Dr. Frans W. Cornelissen
Email: f.w.cornelissen@med.rug.nl Tel: (+31) 50 3614173
  PhD 4. Psychological Laboratory, Helmholtz Research School, Utrecht University

In this project, neuropsychological studies are carried out to chart 
the changes in colour constancy as a result of lesions and virtual 
lesions in humans. We will investigate patients with selective colour 
perception impairments, e.g. central achromatopsia, patients with 
partial visual half-field defects resulting from unilateral posterior 
brain damage, and normal subjects after transcranial magnetic 
stimulation of the posterior brain. We are looking for an 
experimental or neuropsychologist with a proven research background.

For further information, contact: Prof. Dr. Edward de Haan
e-mail: e.dehaan@fss.uu.nl  Telephone: +31 30 2531897


All PhD positions are for four years and offer excellent training for 
students who wish to pursue a career in behavioural and cognitive 
neuroscience, visual perception or neuroimaging. The postdoc position 
is for four years. The positions can begin any time after Januari 
1st, 2003. It is possible to apply for more then one PhD project at 
one time (please indicate the position(s) you're interested in). 
Interviews are planned in Januari 2003.

Interested candidates can send, before the 8th of Januari 2003 and 
preferably by email (a single file in pdf format) a letter of 
application, a curriculum vitae and the names and contact information 
of two academic referees to:

Dr. F.W. Cornelissen
e-mail: f.w.cornelissen@med.rug.nl

Postal address:
Laboratory of  Experimental Ophthalmology
School for Behavioral and Cognitive Neurosciences (BCN)
University of Groningen
P.O. Box 30.001
9700 RB  Groningen, The Netherlands