[vslist] call for PhD applications to CELEST

[Cynthia Bradford]

Call for PhD applications to the
CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR LEARNING=20
IN EDUCATION, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY (CELEST)=20
http://cns.bu.edu/CELEST=20
Boston University, Brandeis University, MIT, University of Pennsylvania

A new National Science Foundation Center grant, called CELEST, has just =
been
funded. It offers exciting opportunities to earn a PhD for students from =
a
wide range of backgrounds, including psychology, biology, mathematics,
computer science, physics, and engineering. CELEST will solve =
fundamental
problems of learning that involve autonomous real-time learning systems =
by
integrating experimental and computational brain science, biologically
inspired technology, and classroom innovation. The new Center brings
together educators, scientists, and technologists to carry out four =
types of
mutually reinforcing and integrated activities: (1) quantitative =
behavioral
and brain modeling of both normal and abnormal learning processes during
perception, cognition, emotion, and action; (2) interdisciplinary =
cognitive
and neuroscience experiments to probe these processes and to test model
predictions; (3) development of algorithms, based on biological learning
models, for incremental fast learning about complex and rapidly changing
environments in large-scale engineering and technological applications =
that
are important in many areas of society; and (4) integration of research =
and
education through contributions to educational technology, curriculum
development, and early career recruitment of underrepresented =
communities
into scientific practice. CELEST will also include a wide range of
activities, including collaborative research teams, seminars, workshops,
conferences, retreats, and educational outreach activities. A summary of
CELEST goals, activities, and personnel can be found at
http://cns.bu.edu/CELEST.

Students who are interested in the PhD opportunities in CELEST should =
write
directly to the relevant departments listed at http://cns.bu.edu/CELEST.
These departments are the Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems at
Boston University (contact Mr. Robin Amos, amos@cns.bu.edu), the Brain,
Behavior, and Cognition Program in the Department of Psychology at =
Boston
University (contact http://www.bu.edu/psych/), the Volen Center for =
Complex
Systems at Brandeis University (contact vision@brandeis.edu), the =
Department
of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT (contact Professor Earl Miller,
ekmiller@mit.edu), and the Department of Psychology at the University of
Pennsylvania (contact Professor Michael Kahana, kahana@psych.upenn.edu).