PhD fellow in Computer Science
Department of
Computer Science (DIKU), Faculty of Science at University of Copenhagen is
offering a PhD scholarship in statistics and applied stochastic analysis
commencing 01.05.2019 or as soon as
possible thereafter.
Description of the
scientific environment
The IMAGE section at DIKU hosts experts in fields including nonlinear
statistics, applied differential geometry, shape modelling, image analysis
& processing, computer vision, computer simulation, and machine learning.
Their work ranges from theoretical analyses, over algorithm development, to
solving concrete problems for science, industry, and society. Biomedical
imaging is a central application area, including neuroimaging. The section
contributes to the theory of image analysis by studying nonlinear statistics,
variational problems, and geometry on manifolds and metric spaces. The section
conducts core machine learning research, including deep learning, transfer
learning, online learning, kernel methods, stochastic optimization, and
concentration of measure inequalities. For further information, please visit
http://www.diku.dk/english/research/imagesection/
Project description
Human organs change shape when exposed to disease processes. For example,
shape changes in the human brain is linked to the progression of Alzheimer’s
disease due to the degeneration of brain tissue. Organ shape can therefore be
used as a biomarker for understanding disease progression. However, due to the
nonlinearity of shape spaces, classical methods from multivariate and functional
statistics cannot be used for quantifying shape variation. The PhD project aims
at developing methods for performing statistical analysis of shapes as elements
of infinite dimensional nonlinear spaces. Recent probabilistic shape models use
stochastic processes to encode variation of shapes, and likelihoods arise from
the processes conditioned on observed data. The conditioned processes are
examples of stochastic bridges. Particular aims of the project is to develop
and prove validity of methods for sampling stochastic shape bridges, to use
this to analyze shape variation among Alzheimer’s patients, and thereby to
reveal distinct temporal progression patterns within Alzheimer’s disease.
The PhD student will focus on both theoretical aspects of stochasticity in
nonlinear, infinite dimensional spaces, on developing actual statistical tools
to analyze shape variation, and on evaluation the methodology on medical image
data. The project will thus have both theoretical and applied focus. The PhD
student will be part of the Probabilistic Shape Statistics for Disentangling
Subtypes in Alzheimer’s Disease project, funded by a grant from the Novo
Nordisk foundation. The applicant must have documented experience in aspects of
theoretical statistics, stochastic analysis, differential geometry and/or
machine learning. The project will require computer implementation of the
developed numerical algorithms.
Principal supervisor is Associate Professor Stefan
Sommer, Department of Computer Science, sommer@di.ku.dk, Direct Phone: +4521179125.
Job description
The position is available for a 3-year period
and your key tasks as a PhD student at SCIENCE are:
- To manage and carry through your research project
- Attend PhD courses
- Write scientific articles and your PhD thesis
- Teach and disseminate your research
- To stay at an external research institution for a few months, preferably abroad
- Work for the department
Formal
requirements
Applicants should hold an MSc degree
in Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics or equivalent MSc education with
good results and good English skills. As criteria for the assessment of your
qualifications emphasis will also be laid on previous publications (if any) and
relevant work experience.
Terms of employment
The position is covered by the Memorandum on
Job Structure for Academic Staff.
Terms of
appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of
Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics
in the State.
The
starting salary is currently at a minimum DKK 322,642 (approx. €43,015)
including annual supplement (+ pension up to DKK 44,567). Negotiation for
salary supplement is possible.
PhD
grant portions (Ph.D.‐SU klip)
In the period up to the completion of the MSc programme (up to three years), the student is
entitled to so-called PhD grant portions.
The grant portions are financed by the grant donor but not by the Danish State
Educational Grant and Loan Scheme Agency (as is the case for the ordinary study
grant portions on the BSc and MSc programmes). They are called PhD grant portions because this kind of remuneration
is regulated and described in the Executive Order on the State Educational
Grant and Loan Scheme in Denmark (SU‐bekendtgørelsen), and
because the value of a PhD grant portion corresponds to the value of an
ordinary Danish study grant portion. Students are awarded 48 PhD grant portions
during the period of their MSc and PhD studies.
48 PhD grant portions at DKK 6,090 each,
corresponding to DKK 292,320 (approx. €38,975).
'Duty
work'
As a supplement to the PhD grant portions, the
student may, in accordance with the collective agreement of the Danish
Confederation of Professional Associations (AC), be offered 'duty work'. In the
period up to the completion of the MSc programme, students performing 'duty work' are paid by the hour. UCPH has decided
to offer students on integrated MSc and PhD schemes 150 hours of 'duty work'
per year during Part A of the programme (until two years of the combined programme of study remain). 'Duty work' during Part A if it has a duration of
three years: 450 hours at a rate of DKK 214.16 (+ 12.5% holiday pay),
corresponding to DKK 108,418.50 (approx. €14,450)
For further information about Part A please
see: http://www.science.ku.dk/english/research/phd/studystructure/integratedphd/.
Salary
in accordance with the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of
Professional
Associations
(AC)
In the period after the completion of the MSc programme, the student is employed as a PhD
scholar and is remunerated in accordance with the collective agreement with the
Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). The scheme is arranged
in such a way that students graduate from the MSc programme at a time when there are two years
left of the integrated programme. For this reason, the salary must be paid for a period of two years in
accordance with the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of
Professional Associations (AC). The amounts specified include a supplement
locally agreed upon as well as pension contributions: Salary as a PhD scholar:
24 months at a rate of DKK 30,600 (including pension contributions and
supplement), corresponding to DKK 734,420 (approx. €97,900).
Application Procedure
The
application, in English, must be
submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.
Please include
- Cover Letter, detailing your motivation and background for applying for the specific PhD project.
- CV
- Diploma and transcripts of records (BSc and MSc)
- Acceptance Letter for the relevant MSc Programme at SCIENCE, if any
- Other information for consideration, e.g. list of publications (if any),
- Full contact details (Name, address, telephone & email) of 1-3 professional referees
The University wishes our
staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes
applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.
The deadline for applications
is 3 March 2019 , 23:59 GMT +1
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized
recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the
Interview Committee. Afterwards an assessment committee will be appointed to evaluate the selected
applications. The applicants will be notified of the composition of the
committee and the final selection of a successful candidate will be made by the
Head of Department, based on the recommendations of the assessment committee
and the interview committee.
The main
criterion for selection will be the research potential of the applicant and the
above mentioned skills. The successful candidate will then be requested to
formally apply for enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD school of Science. You can read more
about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.
Questions
For specific information about the PhD
scholarship, please contact the principal supervisor Associate Professor Stefan
Sommer, Department of Computer
Science, sommer@di.ku.dk, Direct Phone: +4521179125.
General information about PhD programmes at SCIENCE is available at http://www.science.ku.dk/phd.
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