PhD position in Microdata Analysis

Are you interested in contributing to future research about Early Detection of Dementia using Gait Analysis and Machine Learning? We now offer a fully funded PhD position in Microdata Analysis.

Subject and research area
Microdata Analysis is a multidisciplinary field involving collection, modelling, compilation, and interpretation of large data sets, together with underlying algorithms, methods, and techniques, as well as its application to decision making. Microdata Analysis at Dalarna University is predominately applied to health, environment, energy, transport, infrastructure and industry.

The PhD program gives broad general knowledge and attractive specialist competence in Business intelligence and Business analytics, opening opportunities for both an academic career and work in e.g. research institutes, management or consulting. The program is suited for applicants with a degree at the second-cycle level in disciplines such as computer science, informatics, engineering, statistics, economics or geography.

Topic of the project
The proposed PhD project is a collaboration between the School of Information and Technique (Microdata Analysis), School of Health and Welfare (Medical Science) and Uppsala University. Data collected by video-recorded tests within the Uppsala Dalarna Dementia and Gait project (UDDGait™) will be utilized. These videos contain dual-task tests i.e. a mobility test combined with a verbal test performed by individuals with different levels of cognitive functioning. Extraction and quantification of gait parameters and verbal outcomes from these videos will be evaluated through image recognition of the recordings.

The overall goal of the project is to determine if and how the mobility-related and verbal outcomes can be used for differentiation of people with different degrees of cognitive functioning and for prediction of dementia development.

The work involves extracting features related to the movement, including gait parameters such as step length, step width, step duration and single and double stance based on the video-recorded tests within the UDDGait™. Extracted features are used as input data to machine learning models in order to classify and to predict future development of different types of dementia.

As a PhD student you will primarily focus on your studies and research. 20% of your time may also be spent on departmental duties, often teaching, at the Faculty of Data and Information Sciences.

Qualifications
To be admitted to doctoral studies in Microdata Analysis, the applicant must meet both the general and specific entry requirements and have the capacity required to benefit from doctoral studies in this field.

General Entry Requirements
The General Entry Requirements for admission to doctoral studies are as follows:
1. A degree at master level
2. Completion of 240 university credits of which 60 are at advanced level or
3. Equivalent skills acquired through other means in either Sweden or another country

Specific Entry Requirements
Specific Entry Requirements require that the applicant has successfully completed at least five courses in the following subjects:

Database Systems – 7.5 credits
Data Analysis and Statistics – 7.5 credits
Artificial Intelligence – 7.5 credits
Programming – 7.5 credits
Mathematics – 7.5 credits
Economics – 7.5 credits
Optimization Techniques or Probability Theory – 7.5 credits
Decision Theory – 7.5 credits

Selection
Selection from among applicants who meet the entry requirements shall be made based on the criteria in the general study plan.

Candidates with background of computer science, including programming, computer vision, motion detection, object tracking and machine learning are prioritized. Working knowledge of Python, matlab and libraries of machine learning as well as OpenCV are required. Knowledge in mathematical modelling, control and signal processing is an advantage.

In order to succeed as a PhD student, you need to be able to collaborate well with others, which includes both sharing your knowledge and to be open to guidance and tutoring by others. You also need to be a motivated self-starter who is able to take initiative and work independently towards a long-term goal.

English language skills, both written and oral is a must. The assessment of candidates is also based on previous study results and independent work at master’s level.

Employment
The PhD position is a full-time employment (fixed term) in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance (chapter 5). Salary stipulated by local collective agreement. Dalarna University is situated in two cities. The successful candidate with be primarily placed in Borlänge.

This studentship is available for European and non-European citizens.

How to apply
Your application should contain:


• Cover letter and CV
• Copies of diploma supplement and grades
• Previous independent writing such as thesis
• Research statement (1-2 pages where you are expected to reflect on the research topic and your knowledge and interest in the area)
• Two academic references

Please submit your application on our website no later than 2022-03-17.

If you have any questions on your application, please contact rekrytering@du.se

If you want to learn more about Dalarna University as an employer, visit https://www.du.se/en/about-du/career-opportunities/why-work-here/

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