Machine Learning volunteer position in a Neuroscience research lab

The Hantman lab studies how the brain produces skilled movement using a variety of techniques including live neuronal imaging and behavioral recordings. The lab generates rich and complex datasets that we analyze using state of the art machine learning & modelling approaches.

Kushal Kolar (https://github.com/kushalkolar), a PhD student, is looking to supervise 1-2 undergraduate volunteers entering their 2nd or 3rd year (current 1st or 2nd years) who would be interested in a long-term opportunity to learn state-of-the-art machine learning tools for image analysis and linear modelling. This is a great opportunity to learn the entire Python data science stack, including numpy, scipy, pandas, sklearn, multiple visualization libraries, jupyter, etc., and become familiar with how machine learning and data science are used to solve real scientific questions in a research lab. In addition, you will also gain experience using git and other development tools for working collaboratively. These skills will be highly valuable if you are interested in a career in machine learning or data science, or graduate school in a variety of fields including neuroscience, physics, and machine learning.

Some of the tools that you will learn:
* https://elifesciences.org/articles/38173
-> Github repo: https://github.com/flatironinstitute/CaImAn
* https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.11.21.469441v2
* https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-018-0209-y
-> Github repo: https://github.com/DeepLabCut/DeepLabCut

Required skills:
– Prior experience (a class is fine) with any programming language is required
– Experience with Python is highly advantageous but not required, training will be provided
– An interest in machine learning or data science, prior experience not required
– Broadly open to students majoring in computer science, physics, math, neuroscience, engineering, etc.

If you are interested, please send the following to kushalk@email.unc.edu by April 30.
1. Brief cover letter describing why you’re interested in this position
2. Link to your profile on GitHub/GitLab/other (if you have one)
3. List of relevant classes you’ve taken
4. CV