法国艾克斯-马赛大学博士后职位—视觉计算神经科学

法国艾克斯-马赛大学博士后职位—视觉计算神经科学

Nine-month postdoctoral position in visual computational neuroscience

Employer

Aix-Marseille Université

RESEARCHER PROFILE: Postdoc / R2: PhD holders |

RESEARCH FIELD(S)1: Biology

MAIN SUB RESEARCH FIELD OR DISCIPLINES1: Engineering

JOB /OFFER DESCRIPTION

This position is part of the ECOPOL project funded by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) and the Agence Innovation Défense (AID), involving the Institut des Sciences du Mouvement (ISM UMR7287), the Institut Matériaux Microélectroniques Nanosciences de Provence (IM2NP UMR7334) and the Marseille-based SME SOLNIL. The project leader is Julien Serres, full professor at Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France.

The ECOPOL project aims to develop a bio-inspired optical compass picking information from skylight to guarantee heading detection when navigating autonomous mobile robots in complex environments. ECOPOL introduces a third sensory modality in addition to magnetic fields sensing and GPS, inspired by insect navigators, exploiting polarized ultraviolet light from the sky.

The candidate will have a PhD in computational neuroscience with advanced knowledge of modelling bio-inspired visual systems, insect-inspired neural networks, in silico simulation with MATLAB or Python languages, and will be responsible for defining the size of the photosensor array using the OpenSky simulator (see Moutenet et al. 2024, https://hal.science/hal-04520460/; code: https://github.com/MoutenetA/OpenSky) to reach the required level of accuracy.

Activities within the structure as part of the ECOPOL project

- Simulation of photosensors - polarization pattern developed at ISM to define the size of the photosensor array required to achieve a heading detection accuracy objective (less than 0.5°);

- Simulation of various bio-inspired algorithms to estimate the optical heading. This simulation will also be used to develop an ECOPOL firmware that calculates absolute heading from optical information to reach the required level of accuracy (less than 0.5° in dynamic experiments).

Presentation of the structure

ISM is a Joint Research Unit (UMR 7287), associating Aix-Marseille University and the CNRS. The laboratory employs around 150 people (researchers, teacher-researchers, IT/BIATSS and PhD students). Over the past ten years, ISM has developed recognized expertise in the interdisciplinary study of mechanisms underlying complex motor behavior, cognition, physiology, sociology and biomechanics, mainly in humans, but also in insects, through the work of the SBI team's Biorobotics axis, which develops biomimetic sensors for robots whose morphology is also sometimes inspired by animals.

Partners

SOLNIL aims to industrialize a nano-fabrication process for optical applications (anti-reflection, multispectral sensors, 3D measurement, augmented reality). This process is based on direct nano-imprinting of sol-gel materials (solnil process). The company is housed at the Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanoscience de Marseille (CINaM) on the Luminy campus and finalized an initial fundraising round of €400k in March 2023, followed by a €2.47 million European EIC Accelerator Horizon Europe project (METAPRINT) in January 2025 to strengthen its team and embark on pre-industrialization.

IM2NP UMR7334

IM2NP is a multi-site institute with a regional geographic dimension, as it is located in both Marseille and Toulon. IM2NP is a joint research unit (CNRS/AMU/Toulon University, UMR 7334). IM2NP is structured into 20 teams, with the research activities of the LUMEN-PV (Light Ultimate MatErials Nanodevices and PV) team focusing on coupling between optoelectronic techniques for materials characterization and proprietary software for solar cell and detector optimization.

More info at: Website: https://serres-lab.com/

TYPE OF CONTRACT: TEMPORARY / JOB STATUS: FULL TIME HOURS PER WEEK: 35

APPLICATION DEADLINE:30/09/2025 23:59

ENVISAGED STARTING DATE: 05/01/2026

ENVISAGED DURATION: 9 months

JOB NOT FUNDED THROUGH AN EU RESEARCH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME

WORK LOCATION(S): Institut des Sciences du Mouvement UMR7287, Bâtiment Soufflerie

163 Avenue de Luminy, F-13009 MARSEILLE FRANCE

WHAT WE OFFER: Salary: €2,616.35 gross per month

The employer will reimburse part of the cost of the monthly public transport pass for regular journeys between the local home (in the Aix-Marseille area) and the workplace.

Additional information: The Euraxess Center of Aix-Marseille Université informs foreign visiting professors, researchers, postdoc and PhD candidates about the administrative steps to be undertaken prior to arrival at AMU and the various practical formalities to be completed once in France: visas and entry requirements, insurance, help finding accommodation, support in opening a bank account, etc. More information on AMU EURAXESS Portal

QUALIFICATIONS, REQUIRED RESEARCH FIELDS, REQUIRED EDUCATION LEVEL, PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, OTHER RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS (years of research experience

Required:

Data processing and simulation in Matlab or Python languages;

Multiphysics simulation tool;

Computational and visual neurosciences;

Insects’ visual systems;

Professional English;

Scientific paper writing;

Appreciated:

Optics and metrology;

Proficiency in an office suite (e.g., Microsoft Office) and the LaTeX editor;

Soft skills: Attention to detail; Teamwork; Students’ supervision; Adaptability; Stress management; Organizational skills; Problem-solving skills;

REQUESTED DOCUMENTS OF APPLICATION, ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, SELECTION PROCESS

Research work will be carried out on technology platforms and in clean rooms in restricted zones (ZRR). Aix Marseille Université's Security and Defense Officer (SDF) will authorize the candidate to take up his or her duties two months before the effective start date of the contract.

HOW TO APPLY: julien.serres@univ-amu.fr

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