Localização: Champalimaud Centre for The Unknown
Entidade Empregadora: Champalimaud Foundation
Posição: Bolsa de Investigação
Início da Candidatura: 16 Jun. 2026
As part of a Marie-Curie Doctoral Network (ELEVATE), we are offering a PhD student position. The proposed project sits at the interface of computational neuroscience and neuromorphic engineering, and is embedded within a strong network of European academic and industrial partners.
Learned behaviors must ultimately be expressed through the control of complex, high dimensional, continuously time-varying patterns of muscle activity. However, attempts to learn policies for continuous control of behavior in engineering settings, such as robotics, have often leveraged the massive scale of training experience that is possible in the context of parallelized, offline simulation of behavior in simulated physical environments to achieve success. The brain cannot afford to be so sample inefficient, and appears to have greatly simplified the problem of learning effective control policies by embedding sophisticated invariances at lower levels of sensorimotor control circuits in the brainstem and spinal cord, effectively placing knowledge (ie memory) about the relationship between current state of an effector system, outgoing control signals, and the future state of the system
within the circuits that process motor commands themselves.
This project aims to interrogate the functional principles underlying such mechanisms, leveraging a combination of behavioral experiments in head-restrained mice performing forelimb reaches, computational modeling, and neuromorphic implementation. We will instantiate the extracted control policies and their adaptation in neuromorphic algorithms and validate them on a robotic arm.
Tasks:
- Study the relevant background literature from both engineering and neurorobotics fields. Develop low-level, neural network, sensorimotor controllers of musculoskeletal plants. Assess whether such controllers possess known features of spinal circuits, and what advantages are conferred on robotic control by mimicking known functional and anatomical features of spinal systems. Explore neuromorphic implementations of developed controllers together with Prof. Sandamirskaya.
- Publish research articles, regular participation in top international conferences to present your work.
- Complete an internship at ZHAW with Prof. Yulia Sandamirskaya
- Participate in yearly retreats organized by the doctoral network participants
- Support the dissemination of software tools and concepts.
Environment:
The student will be part of the Learning Lab, led by Joe Paton, which is hosted at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown in Lisbon, Portugal. The Champalimaud Foundation is a private, non-profit institute with a vibrant and highly international academic community. Many groups work in the field of systems and computational neuroscience, providing a stimulating and exciting work environment. The student will also interact with the training network ELEVATE and spend several months at Yulia Sandamirskaya‘s lab at ZHAW, Switzerland.
STARTING DATE: Earliest starting date is January 1st, 2026.
Requirements
Research Fields: Neurosciences, Computer Science, Physics, Engineering
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
The candidate needs to have a Masters degree in physics, electrical/electronic engineering, computer science, mathematics, computational neuroscience or a related field.
Specific Requirements
- Strong coding skills for programming neural networks, machine learning and machine learning software frameworks (e.g. PyTorch or Jax) is a
must.
- The ability for creative and analytical thinking across discipline boundaries and abstraction levels is a must.
- Experience with control theory and spiking neural networks are a plus.
- Ability for collaborative work, interdisciplinary and cross-topical thinking.
- Very good communication skills in English, both spoken and written.
Language
English, Excellent
Benefits
The salary and benefits will follow standard EU rules. PhD students will receive their degree from the NOVA University of Lisbon.
Selection process
We are looking for a candidate with a strong relevant background and curiosity about how the brain works. Interested candidates should submit a detailed CV, a cover letter explaining their interest in the position (1 page), a transcript for their BSc and MSc, and the contact information of 2 references.
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.
How to apply
Format: Candidates must complete the standard application form and submit a single annexed .pdf document containing the application materials stated in call. Call Ref. “PhD Student Paton Oct2025”
Applications are also accepted in paper, sent or handed to the HR & Fellows Support Office at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Avenida Brasília, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal.
About Us
Research is at the heart of the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, a modern research and clinical facility situated on the waterfront in Lisbon, Portugal. The goal of Champalimaud Research (CR) is to perform world-leading fundamental and translational research. Current research work is focused on the fields of neuroscience, physiology and cancer. Champalimaud Research comprises a team of over 400 scientists from around the world. English is the official language of the Centre. Lisbon’s sunny Atlantic Mediterranean climate, vibrant culture and high quality of life make this a great place to live and work.
Relevant Institutional Information
In line with our community guidelines and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy and Gender Equality Plan, no candidate may be privileged, favored, prejudiced or deprived of any right or excluded from any duty on the basis of age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, disability, chronic illness, language, nationality, territory of origin, family status (marital, pregnancy and maternity, having or not having dependents), socioeconomic situation, education, religion, political or ideological beliefs, trade union membership, or on any other grounds which are irrelevant to decision-making.
Legal Notices
The present call has the sole purpose of filling the indicated research position. This call may be canceled at any time on or before the jury’s evaluation of all eligible candidates and the recruitment process shall be concluded on the day of the full execution of the contract between the Champalimaud Foundation and the selected candidate.
