Connectionists: PhD studentship in contextual information processing

[Bruce Graham]

PhD Studentship



Cross-Disciplinary Research Programme: “CONTEXT: Contextual learning and processing in humans and machines”

Faculty of Natural Sciences – Computing Science and Mathematics



Applications are invited for a PhD studentship in an interdisciplinary project on context-based machine learning, concerning the explicit use of contextual information in prediction, classification and decision-making algorithms. The PhD will be undertaken in the University of Stirling’s Computing Science and Mathematics Division but with likely co-supervision from a specific application area.



The PhD studentship is part of a new cross-faculty, interdisciplinary research programme (RP) called “CONTEXT: Contextual learning and processing in humans and machines” which concerns understanding and applying principles of contextual guidance in learning and processing of data. It combines research into the role of context in the human neocortex with computational and machine learning.  This RP studies context-sensitive learning and processing from three perspectives: neuronal architecture and physiology; health and pathology;  and the development of new, robust algorithms for machine learning (ML) for real-world applications. This studentship will investigate the development of such algorithms, with specific application to one or more real-world problems. Potential problem domains include finance, health, social and sports sciences, remote sensing, law and others. Choice of problem may be influenced by the student’s expertise and preference, in consultation with potential co-supervisors. Primary supervision will be in the Data Science research group of the Division of Computing Science and Mathematics, in the Faculty of Natural Sciences. The PhD thus offers a unique opportunity to work with researchers from computing science and mathematics, the cognitive and neurosciences, and application domains, all of whom are committed to the development and deployment of new approaches in machine learning.



Further details can be provided by the CONTEXT research programme leader, Professor Bruce Graham from Computing Science and Mathematics (bruce.graham at stir.ac.uk<mailto:bruce.graham at stir.ac.uk>).



Financial Support:

The studentship is available for three years, and includes a tax­free stipend of approximately £14,777 p.a. Tuition fees will be met by the University at the home/EU rate. Overseas applicants are required to confirm they can meet the difference between home/EU and overseas tuition fees from their own resources, for the duration of study

(Information on tuition fees is available on http://www.stir.ac.uk/postgraduate/financial-information/tuition-fees/.) Subject to a satisfactory progress review at the end of the first year, the studentship will be renewed for a second year and thereafter for a third year.



Application requirements:

Candidates are expected to have at least a good upper second class honours degree or equivalent in a subject relevant to the field of study and/or a distinction or near distinction in a Master’s degree. An MRes or equivalent degree with a high level of research training content would be an advantage. Applicants should have:

  *   A strong background in computing and mathematics (an understanding of machine learning is highly desirable)
  *   An ability to programme in a high-level computing language (such as Python, C or Java) and/or experience with Matlab (or similar)
  *   An interest in real world applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence
  *   Good numerical and verbal communication skills

English language requirements are IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 in each skill), TOEFL 577/233, or equivalent.



Application process:

In the first instance students should make a preliminary application by e-mail to pginfo at cs.stir.ac.uk<mailto:pginfo at cs.stir.ac.uk> with the subject line: "PhD Studentship in Context-based Machine Learning ". The application must include

  *   a full CV, documenting qualifications and any relevant previous experience and existing skill sets as well as containing contact details for two academic referees;
  *   a covering letter of max 500 words referring in detail to the relevant research area and demonstrating a strong interest in the proposed research, as well as the candidate’s aptitude/skills that make her or him particularly suitable for conducting this research;
  *   copies of your academic transcripts.

The CV and covering letter or research proposal will be used to shortlist candidates for interview. The successful candidate must subsequently apply for a place on the university’s PhD programme; the scholarship offer is conditional on the student being accepted for this.



Closing date: 24 August 2018

Proposed start: 1 October 2018


Prof. Bruce Graham, Professor of Computing Science  and Director of Research
Division of Computing Science and Mathematics, Faculty of Natural Sciences
University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA
Phone: +44 1786 467 432   Fax: +44 1786 464 551
Email: bruce.graham at stir.ac.uk<https://mail.cs.stir.ac.uk/src/compose.php?send_to=b.graham%40cs.stir.ac.uk>; Web: https://www.stir.ac.uk/people/11067
Coauthor of "Principles of Computational Modelling in Neuroscience", CUP, 2011.
Editorial Board of Journal of Biological Dynamics.

________________________________
The University achieved an overall 5 stars in the QS World University Rankings 2018
The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159.

-- 
The University achieved an overall 5 stars in the QS World University Rankings 2018
The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, 
 number SC 011159.

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