PhD Candidate for Computational Approaches for Studying Animal Behavior, Personality, and Emotions

About our Campus: Rehovot Campus (Rehovot) and Mt. Scopus Campus (Jerusalem). The position will be based across two campuses: 

• The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment on The Hebrew University’s beautiful Rehovot Campus. Rehovot is centrally located, only a 30 minutes’ drive from Tel Aviv and one hour away from Jerusalem with public transportation. 
• Mount Scopus Campus – The University’s first campus. Located in the north-eastern part of Jerusalem, the campus is home to the main campus, which contains the Faculties of Humanities, Social Sciences, Law, Jerusalem School of Business Administration, the Rothberg International School, and more. 

About Our Department: The Department of Cognitive and Brain Sciences at the Hebrew University is a leading institution dedicated to advancing our understanding of cognitive processes and brain function. Combining interdisciplinary approaches that include psychology, neuroscience, computer science, philosophy, and linguistics, the department focuses on research areas such as memory, language, decision-making, and neural computation. Its faculty comprises renowned researchers and educators who are at the forefront of their respective disciplines, contributing to the department's reputation as a hub for innovative research and scholarship in cognition and brain sciences.

About Our Research: Our lab specializes in the intersection of Machine Learning, Neuroscience, and Positive Psychology, with a focus on animals and humans. This innovative lab aims to understand complex aspects such as personality, behavior, affects, social hierarchies, communication, and social learning. The research conducted here is groundbreaking in its aim to make significant contributions to the fields of cognitive and brain sciences, using technology to better understand and improve psychological well-being.

Job Description: We are looking for exceptional PhD and Master students, as well as PostDocs, to join in one of the many studies we currently run. The position can be either focused on theory or running empirical tests.

About the Supervisor: Dr. Oren Forkosh researches physics and mathematics at the Hebrew university, and computer science and neuroscience at the Weizmann institute. He did his Postdoc at the Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry in Munich and the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior in Konstanz. His works combine neuroscience, physics, and machine learning to help model and consequently better understand behavior in people and animals.

Funding: The lab has multiple funded positions

Your Profile: We Are Looking for Individuals Who Possess:

• A solid foundation in computational disciplines such as Computer Science, Physics, or related fields.
• A keen interest in Neuroscience, with a particular focus on understanding the impact of brain function on behavior.
• A proven track record of self-directed learning and skill acquisition.
• A profound passion for animals and behavioral studies.
• Ambition to become a leading figure in scientific research.

Embracing Diversity: At Hebrew University we believe that diversity inspires creativity, fosters curiosity, and enriches our ecosystem through academic collaboration and cultural exchange. We consider every member of our community an integral part, irrespective of their religion, gender, or ethnic origin.

HUJI is home to nearly 25,000 students across our 6 campuses, including ~2,500 per year representing 90+ countries. You’ll enjoy the opportunity to engage with your peers here on equal ground, in an environment that promotes equity and inclusion, and celebrates the contribution of its talented members.

Application: We welcome your application, complete with all required documents compiled into a single PDF: 

• Letter of motivation
• CV (including a list of publications)
• Brief statement of research interests (max. 1500 characters)
• Copy of your original academic degree(s)

About Hebrew University: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI) is one of the world's leading research institutions, consistently ranked as a global top-100 university. Established by luminaries such as Albert Einstein, we’re at the forefront of groundbreaking research, entrepreneurship, and innovation across various domains, including brain sciences, medicine, biomedicine, life sciences, mathematics, agriculture, and more. Our 6 campuses house 100+ research centers, with ~4,000 research projects underway year-round.

About Jerusalem: Hebrew University is an integral part of Jerusalem, Israel’s capital and one of the most fascinating, diverse cities on earth. Thousands of students from across the globe live in Jerusalem, immersing themselves in its vibrant cultural and culinary scenes, while marvelling at the juxtaposition of its 3,000-year-old history and cutting-edge modernity. Students make the most of their spare time by enjoying Jerusalem’s myriad attractions, from restaurants, cafes, and pubs, to dance clubs, museums, theaters, and year-round festivals.