Scholarship details
Big data is transforming the world of epidemiology, offering new insights into the patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in populations. However, big data also poses new challenges, such as how to deal with the complexity, heterogeneity, and uncertainty of the data, and how to extract meaningful and actionable information from it.
The University of Copenhagen (UCPH) is one of the leading institutions in Europe in the field of big data complexity and epidemiology, with a strong interdisciplinary research environment and a close collaboration with the Danish health authorities and other stakeholders. UCPH is offering a doctoral scholarship for a highly motivated and talented student who wishes to pursue a Ph.D. degree in this exciting and emerging field.
Scholarship Provider
The scholarship is funded by the UCPH Excellence Programme for Interdisciplinary Research, which aims to foster and strengthen interdisciplinary research initiatives at UCPH. The scholarship is part of the project “Big Data Complexity and Epidemiology: From Theory to Practice,” which is led by Professor Niels Keiding from the Department of Public Health and involves researchers from the Department of Computer Science, the Department of Mathematical Sciences, and the Department of Biostatistics.
Eligible Applicants
The scholarship is open to applicants with a master’s degree in epidemiology, biostatistics, computer science, mathematics, physics, or a related field with a strong background and interest in extensive data analysis, complexity theory, network science, machine learning, or artificial intelligence. Applicants must also have excellent academic records, good communication skills, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.
Host Country
The scholarship is hosted by the University of Copenhagen, which is the oldest and largest university in Denmark, with a history that dates back to 1479. UCPH is ranked among the top 100 universities in the world by various international rankings, and has a reputation for excellence in research, education, and innovation. UCPH is located in the vibrant and cosmopolitan city of Copenhagen, which is known for its high quality of life, cultural diversity, and sustainability.
Scholarship Worth
The scholarship covers the tuition fees, travel expenses, and living costs for the duration of the PhD program, normally three years. The scholarship also provides access to state-of-the-art facilities, resources, and networks at UCPH and its partner institutions. The scholarship amount is approximately $4,000 per month, depending on the qualifications and experience of the applicant.
Level and Field of Study
The scholarship is for a Ph.D. degree in big data complexity and epidemiology, an interdisciplinary area combining methods and concepts from epidemiology, biostatistics, computer science, mathematics, physics, and other disciplines. The Ph.D. project will focus on developing and applying novel techniques and tools for analyzing and modeling complex and heterogeneous big data sets from epidemiological studies, such as infectious disease outbreaks, chronic diseases, and environmental exposures.
How to Apply
To apply for the scholarship, applicants must submit the following documents:
- A motivation letter that explains the applicant’s research interests, skills, and goals and how they relate to the project.
- A curriculum vitae that includes the applicant’s education, publications, awards, and relevant work experience.
- A copy of the applicant’s master’s degree certificate and transcript, or a provisional certificate if the applicant has not yet completed the master’s degree.
- A short research proposal that outlines the main research questions, methods, and expected outcomes of the PhD project, based on the project description available on the UCPH website.
- Two letters of recommendation from academic supervisors or mentors who can assess the applicant’s potential and suitability for the PhD programme.
The application documents must be submitted online through the UCPH application portal, which can be accessed from the UCPH website. The application deadline is January 15, 2024. The applicants will be notified of the outcome by February 15, 2024.
Countries that can Apply
The scholarship is open to applicants from any country, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria and the admission requirements of the UCPH PhD programme. The scholarship is especially aimed at attracting talented and ambitious students from developing and emerging countries, who can contribute to the global development of big data complexity and epidemiology.
Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for the scholarship are as follows:
- The applicant must have a master’s degree in epidemiology, biostatistics, computer science, mathematics, physics, or a related field, with a minimum grade point average of 8.0 on the Danish 12-point scale, or equivalent.
- The applicant must have a strong background and interest in big data analysis, complexity theory, network science, machine learning, or artificial intelligence, as demonstrated by previous coursework, projects, publications, or other achievements.
- The applicant must have excellent academic records, good communication skills, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.
- The applicant must be proficient in English, both written and spoken, as evidenced by a TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge test score, or equivalent.
Scholarship Deadline
The scholarship deadline is January 15, 2024. The applicants are advised to start preparing their application documents as soon as possible and to submit them well before the deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. The applicants can contact the project leader, Professor Niels Keiding, at [email protected] for any questions or clarifications regarding the scholarship or the project.
