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Expression of Interest for Research Position
Bio-Inspired Electronics and Reconfigurable Computing Research Group
College of Engineering & Informatics, NUI Galway NUI.BIRC
Ref. No: NUIG 127-13
Expressions of interest are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a part-time fixed term
software engineering research position with the Bio-Inspired Electronics and Reconfigurable
Computing Research Group, NUI Galway, one of four collaborating European institutions working on
the project “Emulating the C. elegans nervous system: A blueprint for brain-inspired
computational architectures”. The C. elegans project is funded by the European Commission
Seventh Framework Programme (Grant Agreement: 601215) and is available for one year from
January 2014, with the possibility of extension for a further 15 months.
C. elegans project: Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) features one of the simplest nervous
systems in nature, comprising 302 neurons and approximately 8000 connections. The EU project will
develop a hardware-based computing framework that accurately mimics C. elegans in real time and
enables complex and realistic behaviour to emerge through interaction with a rich, dynamic
simulation of a natural or laboratory environment. Two core aspects govern the project; (a) the
technological design and assembly of the Si elegans hardware architecture, the development of a
virtual arena and neural response model design, FPGA configuration interface, and their integration
into a user-friendly web-accessible platform. (b) its deployment to the scientific community for its
independent peer-validation as a free-access tool and testbed for neurocomputational studies.
Main duties of the advertised position (work package 5): Scoping of WP5, development of a
detailed specification and work plan for WP5 software engineering tasks and interaction with other
WPs, and early prototype development. WP5 software engineering tasks include
 development of a neural model definition GUI prototype to provide an intuitive and user-friendly
neural stimulus-response model description and interconnection configuration facility for defining
and interconnecting individual C. elegans FPGA-based neurons.
 Tool prototype for translation of user high level neuron model descriptions to parameterisable
Hardware Description Language (HDL) format and integration with FPGA EDA tools.
 Specification and implementation of FPGA configuration and data transfer API.
Essential Skills:
 Extensive industry level software engineering design and development: specification, design,
implementation and test
 Software application, GUI and web application development: extensive experience with python,
java EE, C, Unix, network protocols, web-based and distributed systems.
 API development for embedded and FPGA hardware integration
 Experience of HDL-based FPGA development
 Applicants are expected to have completed a primary degree in Electronic & Computer
Engineering or a related field. A relevant Ph.D is highly desirable.
 Project Management: industry level experience of leading multi-developer software projects,
development schedule management, team co-ordination, issue tracking, and revision control.
Desirable Skills
 An interest in neural networks and neuroscience and C. elegans.
We seek highly motivated and creative individuals with a passion for interdisciplinary research
leading to high-impact applications in support of the project objectives. Excellent english writing,
editing and presentation skills are required along with a demonstrated ability to effectively
communicate research in the form of journal papers and oral presentations. The overall project
duration is three years from April 2013.
Salary: €51,716 - €56,442 per annum full-time equivalent. 40-50% part-time Research Fellow (Public
sector pay policy rules pertaining to new entrants will apply)
Start date: January 2014
To Apply: Expressions of interest to include a covering letter, CV, and the contact details of three
referees should be sent, via e-mail (in word or PDF only) to Dr. Fearghal Morgan
([email protected]).
Please include the reference number NUIG 127-13 in the subject line of e-mail applications.
The closing date for receipt of applications is 5:00pm on Friday 3rd January 2014
Interviews will take place the week of the 6th of January 2014
National University of Ireland, Galway is an equal opportunities employer.