Postdoctoral Scholar in the Neuromorphic Opportunities, Ventures, & Acceleration (NOVA) program

University of Calgary; Calgary; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Job summary

The Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary invites applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar in the NOVA program, a joint effort at the interface of neuroscience, AI and hardware engineering to translate neural computation into new computing architectures.

Two-year initial term with possible extension to five years, starting January 1, 2027. Salary is 100,000 CAD plus a 25,000 CAD research allowance, with primary mentorship and a mentoring committee to support the project.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in a relevant domain; some post-doctoral experience is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Develop an independent research program in neuromorphic hardware, algorithms and software.
• Contribute to energy-efficient analog/mixed-signal neuromorphic computing and on-chip learning.
• Collaborate with mentors and the NOVA team to advance neuromorphic computing platforms.

Education

PhD or equivalent in Electrical/Biomedical Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics or relevant adjacent fields

Job description

Description

The Hotchkiss Brain Institute in the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary is accepting applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Neuromorphic Opportunities, Ventures, & Acceleration (NOVA) program.

Area: Cell Biology & Anatomy

Duration: Two years with possibility for extension

Start Date: January 1, 2027

Salary: 100k$CAD per annum, plus University of Calgary Plan C health benefits

Job Description

The Hotchkiss Brain Institute invites applications for the HBI Neuromorphic Opportunities, Ventures, & Acceleration (NOVA) program. NOVA sits at the interface of neuroscience, AI, and hardware engineering and supports fellows in translating principles of neural computation into new computing architectures. NOVA aims to attract ambitious early career researchers interested in advancing neuromorphic hardware, algorithms, and software development, through novel developments in brain-inspired technologies to create the next‑generation of AI accelerators.

The ideal candidates will develop an independent research program in one of the following areas:

• Energy-efficient analog and mixed-signal neuromorphic computing
• Learning algorithms for neuromorphic systems, including on-chip and biologically inspired learning
• Large-scale neural-system emulation using FPGAs and existing neuromorphic platforms such as Intel Loihi and SpiNNaker
• Next-generation neuromorphic hardware, including emerging approaches such as neurophotonics

Scholars are appointed for an initial term of 2 years, with potential to renew up to a total of 5 years contingent on successful annual review. This award pays an annual stipend of $100,000 CAD and a separate research allowance of $25,000 CAD per year. Successful candidates will be supported by a primary mentor as well as a mentoring committee with diverse experience relevant to the project.

Qualifications

Applicants must have a PhD or equivalent in a relevant domain (Electrical/Biomedical Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics or relevant adjacent fields) and experience relevant to one of the topic areas above. Some prior post-doctoral research is an asset but not required.

About The University Of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands‑on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

About Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is one of the world's cleanest cities and has been named one of the world's most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders' in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from the strongest economy in the nation and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour's drive from the Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.

With a growing urban Indigenous population of approximately 50,000 people, there are several Indigenous organizations and many events and ceremonies taking place in the city throughout the year.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture ([email protected]).