Connectionists: Ph.D. fellowship in bioinformatics - University of Leuven, Belgium

[Yves Moreau]

Dear Connectionists,

 

We have currently one Ph.D. fellowship available for a candidate with a
strong interest in machine learning (probabilistic graphical models and
kernel methods) and in bioinformatics (genomic data fusion). See full
announcement below.

 

Best regards,

 

Yves Moreau

K.U.Leuven ESAT-SCD

 

DESCRIPTION:

One 3-year Ph.D. fellowship supported by the European Commission is
available starting on November 1st, 2005 with the Bioinformatics team
(http://www.esat.kuleuven.ac.be/~dna/bioi/) at the University of Leuven
under the supervision of Prof. Yves Moreau and Prof. Bart De Moor.

 

The research project, part of the EU funded BIOPTRAIN program, will tackle
the development of new algorithms for genomic data fusion using
probabilistic graphical models and kernel methods. These methods will be
applied to the prioritization of candidate genes from high-throughput
genomic studies using multiple heterogeneous sources of information
(sequence analysis, gene expression data, functional annotation, literature
mining). A functional prototype has already been developed and is available
at http://www.esat.kuleuven.ac.be/endeavour. The goal of the Ph.D. will be
to develop powerful new algorithms on top of the existing software
architecture.

 

Our bioinformatics group (http://www.esat.kuleuven.ac.be/~dna/bioi/) is
highly dynamic (currently about twenty members) and the University of Leuven
is one of Europe's leading universities in the Life Sciences, which offers
many collaboration opportunities. Leuven is a charming Renaissance-style
city next to Brussels, Belgium. It is ideally located in Europe with
excellent flight and train connections to the rest of Europe.

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

The ideal candidate will have a master's degree (or equivalent) in, for
example, statistics, mathematics, engineering, computer science, or physics.
A solid mathematical background is required. Previous knowledge of
artificial intelligence, statistics, or bioinformatics is highly desirable.

 

EMPLOYMENT AND SALARY:

Fellows will be recruited under an employment contract and will benefit from
travel and mobility allowances. The remuneration package is highly
competitive for a position at this level. Additional details about these
positions (in particular, salary and eligibility) can be found in the EST
Handbook
(http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/fp6/mariecurie-actions/pdf/est_hand.pdf;
pp.21-29). Women in particular are invited to apply. If several applicants
have approximately equivalent qualifications, EU rules on equal
opportunities will be applied.

 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

An approximate summary of the complex eligibility criteria is as follows:

* Candidates should NOT have more than 4 years of research or R&D experience
(following the first university degree that allows them to enter a Ph.D.
program) and NOT yet hold a Ph.D.

* Candidates should NOT be Belgian (or, if Belgian, must have resided
outside the EU for four of the last five years).

* Candidates should NOT have resided in Belgium for more than 12 months in
the past 3 years.

* Non-EU candidates can apply (but competition is fierce because only 30% of
all fellowships can be awarded to non-EU citizens).

* Non-EU candidates who have been residing in a European country for 4 of
the last 5 years are assimilated to EU candidates (and thus are not
constrained by the previous 30% rule).

 

HOW TO APPLY:

Applications should include your CV, a one-page statement of your research
interests and motivations for pursuing Ph.D. studies, and contact
information (including email addresses) for at least two references. Please
send your application, preferably by email, to the attention of Prof. Yves
Moreau at Bart.Motmans at esat.kuleuven.ac.be (using PDF or plain text for your
attachments) or by surface mail to

 

Prof. Yves Moreau

 

K.U.Leuven

ESAT-SCD (Bioinformatics)

Kasteelpark Arenberg 10

B-3001 Leuven

Belgium

 

DEADLINE:

The positions will be filled a.s.a.p.

 

10 other EST positions are currently open with the other BIOPTRAIN partners,
see http://www.bioptrain.org/index.php/Applications.