Florida Atlantic University
NIMH Ph.D. National Training Program in
Complex Systems and Brain Sciences
The National Institutes of Mental Health (Neurosciences Research
Branch) and the Center for Complex Systems at Florida Atlantic
University support a nationwide training program in Complex Systems
and Brain Sciences for predoctoral fellows. The aim of this
research and training program is to blend emerging concepts and models
of complex systems (e.g. in nonlinear dynamics and chaos theory) with
specific experimental model systems in the behavioral and brain
sciences. The program is under the direction of Dr. J.A.S. Kelso.
The Center for Complex Systems
At the Center for Complex Systems, the experimental study of
particular biological systems (at both behavioral and neural levels)
goes hand in hand with the elaboration of physically-founded theories
of pattern formation and self-organization in open, non-equilibrium
systems. The theory-experiment relation is being established in
various experimental systems, at various levels of observation
(e.g. neuronal, electromyographic, kinematic...), and encompasses
various behavioral functions. The physical, mathematical and
computational aspects of the program are aided by a formal linkage
between the Center and the Institute for Theoretical Physics and
Synergetics in Stuttgart directed by Professor Dr. H. Haken, who
co-directs the Center for Complex Systems at FAU.
Graduate Admission and Study
Students interested in the Ph.D. Degree in Complex Systems and the
Brain Sciences should request an application packet by sending a
letter of interest to:
Ms. Rhona Frankel
Program in Complex Systems and Brain Sciences
Florida Atlantic University
777 Glades Road, P.O. Box 3091
Boca Raton, FL 33431
email: frankel@walt.ccs.fau.edu
Information about the program can be found at
http://www.fau.ccs.edu
and additional information can be obtained from
Dr. Larry Liebovitch
Program in Complex Systems and Brain Sciences
Florida Atlantic University
777 Glades Road, P.O. Box 3091
Boca Raton, FL 33431
email: liebovitch@walt.ccs.fau.edu
Graduate training is research oriented and consists of a core
curriculum in neuroscience (including neural networks and cognitive
science), the mathematical concepts and tools of nonlinear dynamical
systems, and computational science. Students will receive the
Ph.D. degree in Complex Systems and Brain Sciences.
Competitive stipends are available through the NIMH training grant,
individual research grants or the University.
Research Laboratories
There are three main research laboratories: The Human Brain and
Behavior Laboratory, the Neurosciences Laboratories and the Laboratory
for Experimental Mathematics. In addition, extensive computational
facilities (including Alpha AXP and Silicon Graphics Workstations) are
available. Students will have full access to these computational
facilities at the Center for Complex Systems. Students will be
acquainted with the research being conducted in the research
laboratories and depending on their interests will be assigned to a
laboratory shortly after arrival. Students are expected to be
actively involved in research during their entire five years in the
program. A central focus of the program is weekly seminars and
informal lunch talks. As the course load lightens time for independent
research will increase. The students' research will be developed
through a close working relationship with their thesis advisor,
dissertation Committee, and regular contact with the Program Director.
Active research areas include:
* sensorimotor control and coordination
* brain stem neurophysiology
* neural growth and development
* biophysics of ion channels
* speech production and perception
* neurolinguistics
* learning and memory
* neuropsychopharmacology
* visual psychophysics
* human brain imaging and event related potentials
* mathematics of complex systems including fractals and chaos
* nonlinear dynamics
* neural networks
* robotics
Faculty
Listed below are the Primary Faculty at Florida Atlantic University
(and their research interests) who contribute to the Program, although
many faculty members from other University Departments also
participate in the Program:
Steven Bressler
Cognitive neuroscience; Investigation of cognitive processing through
analysis of brain electrical signals.
Gonzalo de Guzman
Theoretical and experimental studies of nonlinear dynamical systems.
Mingzhou Ding
Nonlinear dynamics and its application to biological systems.
Armin Fuchs
Application of the concepts of synergetics and the theory of nonlinear
dynamical systems to the behavioral sciences, biology and medicine.
Especially, the macroscopic modeling of the spatiotemporal dynamics of
human EEG and MEG.
Hermann Haken
Synergetic principles in physical, chemical and biological systems.
Howard Hock
Visual psychophysics: Perception of movement, bistable apparent motion;
visual pattern formation.
J. A. Scott Kelso
Self-organization of brain and behavior; perceptual-motor coordination
and learning; dynamic pattern generation.
Larry S. Liebovitch
Biophysics of ion channels, fractal and nonlinear analysis of molecular
and physiological systems.
Allan J. Nash
Electropsychophysiology: attention and event related brain potentials.
Abhijit Pandya
Neural network models of visual processes.
Gary W. Perry
Molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating neural development,
growth, and regeneration.
Heinz-Otto Peitgen
Pattern formation; fractals; cellular automata.
Betty Tuller
Pattern dynamics of speech production and speech perception.
Robert P. Vertes
Functional organization of the brainstem and its control of forebrain
function; neurophysiology of sleep.
Richard Voss
Scientific visualization, fractals and chaos and their applications.
Major research contributions to condensed matter physics and to the
techniques, images and applications of fractal geometry.
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