Research opportunities at iLab for students and postdocs

We are always interested in talented individuals who share our passion for basic research in computational neuroscience and neuromorphic engineering.

Successful applicants are typically expected to have a strong C++/Linux programming background, some computational neuroscience or neural engineering experience, some independent research leadership and publications, and some knowledge of the types of models which we have developed and distributed in the past. Some iLab members have joined the lab with a neuroscience/biology background, while others have joined the lab with a computer science/engineering background. All have become interdisciplinary experts in visual processing, attention, and other aspects of vision. All iLab members are expected to conduct research programs which include both an experimental component (e.g., psychophysics, eye-tracking, fMRI, single-unit electrophysiology, etc) and a computational component (e.g., data modeling, neural networks, neurally-inspired artificial intelligence, neuro-robotics, etc). All iLab members will develop an intimate knowledge of the basic neuroscience literature as well as of additional mathematical, computer science, and/or robotics techniques. In the end the common trait is an intense passion for computational neuroscience, an exceptional agility with all sorts of programming, modeling, and data analysis, and an itching need to understand how the brain works.

We welcome new members at the high-school, undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral level. In most cases, short commitments (less than one year) will not be possible because of the complex nature of our projects.

Before you contact us, we would like to encourage you to go over the research and publications areas of this site, to familiarize yourself with our research focus.

Application procedure

Update December 2011: Because our lab is currently already quite full, we can currently only consider applicants who have a proven C++11 programming background under Linux (note that C or C++03 are not sufficient). Please do not apply unless you can show us example C++11 code and projects which you have already completed.

• High School and Earlier: You may want to consider joining the USC robotics society and go from there. This student organization is hosted in our lab. Please see uscrs.org. Please apply online at the address below. You will need:
  • Required: your up-to-date CV (resume),
  • Required: a statement of purpose (description of what you want to do in iLab),
  • Required: a weekly schedule of when you will be working in the lab,
  • If you have: possible publications which you have authored or co-authored,
  • If you have: possible sample C++ source code which you have written for previous projects.

• Undergraduate: You may want to consider joining the USC robotics society and go from there. This student organization is hosted in our lab. Please see uscrs.org. Please apply online at the address below. You will need:
  • Required: your up-to-date CV (resume),
  • Required: a statement of purpose (description of what you want to do in iLab),
  • Required: a weekly schedule of when you will be working in the lab,
  • If you have: possible publications which you have authored or co-authored,
  • If you have: possible sample C++ source code which you have written for previous projects.

• Master's / Directed Research: If you are not yet a current M.S. student at USC, you should first apply to one of the USC Master's programs. Please note that it is the current policy of the School of Engineering at USC to not allow faculty to financially support M.S. students as Research Assistant (RA). Hence, typically M.S. students who join the lab pursue Directed Research, except for a few rare exceptional cases. Once you are admitted and a current student, please apply online at the address below. You will need:
  • Required: your up-to-date CV (resume),
  • Required: a statement of purpose (description of what you want to do in iLab),
  • Required: a weekly schedule of when you will be working in the lab,
  • If you have: possible publications which you have authored or co-authored,
  • Required: sample C++ source code which you have written for previous projects.

• PhD: First, you should officially apply to one of the USC PhD programs (for example, computer science, neuroscience, etc). You should complete an application package available on the USC web site. Usually, the deadline for application is in December or January for admissions in the following fall semester (August). After a few months you will hear back from USC admissions. If you are officially admitted, then it will be the right time to contact Prof. Itti to discuss possible projects, funding, etc. Until we know that you are officially admitted, however, it is useless to contact us as we cannot do anything for you. After you know that you have been admitted, please apply online at the address below. You will need:
  • Required: your up-to-date CV (resume),
  • Required: a statement of purpose (description of what you want to do in iLab),
  • Required: publications which you have authored or co-authored,
  • Required: sample C++ source code which you have written for previous projects.

• Postdoc: Please apply online at the address below. You will need:
  • Required: your up-to-date CV (resume),
  • Required: intended dates of stay at iLab,
  • Required: a statement of research purpose (description of what you want to do in iLab),
  • Required: a statement of purpose regarding supervision of PhD students,
  • Required: publications which you have authored or co-authored,
  • Required: sample C++ source code which you have written for previous projects.

Follow this link to Apply Now! Remember that a minimum 1-year commitment is expected.