Funding

Self-funded

Project code

CCTS4600219

Department

School of Computing

Start dates

February and October

Application deadline

Applications accepted all year round

Applications are invited for a self-funded, 3-year full-time or 6-year part-time PhD project, to commence in October 2020 or February 2021. The PhD will be based in the School of Computing and will be supervised by Dr Mohamed Bader.

Overview

This project will focus on the development of novel machine learning methods for outcome prediction in real-world complex application. The data-sets required in our target areas are very large, and we are investigating the application of techniques from High Performance Computing as enablers in applying machine learning techniques to them. The project will be based on recent work will focus on one more of the following predefined applications:

1. Early outcome prediction in healthcare

In this application the focus will be on MIMIC and eICU database which contains more than 3 million ICU stays and billions of medical measurements that is collected from more than 400 hospitals. Over the past few decades, several severity scoring systems and machine learning mortality prediction models have been developed. However, most of the these methods are static not are not capable  of dealing  with size and speed of the current available data, therefore there is huge need for new and novel Big Data in ICU. The student will  join an existing team working on risk and mortality prediction in ICU. The team has access to an existing preprocessed ICU database that is compatible with several data mining and data analytics tools.

2. Consumer behaviour prediction for digital marketing

This part will take place in collaboration with a leading digital marketing which offers a real-time personalisation and automation across email and web that optimises revenue for e-commerce companies. Its Personalisation Platform enables digital marketers to engage shoppers in contextual interactions to improve the shopping experience and, ultimately, close more sales. However, there is still a need for developing machine learning methods capable of predicting consumer behaviour and predicting the best marketing strategies for different consumer behaviour and groups.

Fees and funding

Visit the research subject area page for fees and funding information for this project.

Funding availability: Self-funded PhD students only. 

PhD full-time and part-time courses are eligible for the UK Government Doctoral Loan (UK and EU students only).

Entry requirements

You'll need a good first degree from an internationally recognised university (minimum upper second class or equivalent, depending on your chosen course) or a Master’s degree in an Civil Engineering or related area. In exceptional cases, we may consider equivalent professional experience and/or Qualifications. English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.

The successful candidate will have:

  • A minimum of an upper second-class classification (or equivalent) in Computer Science, Mathematics or Health Informatics

  • Strong programming skills, Python and R are preferred

  • Solid machine learning and data mining skills

  • Excellent problem solving

  • Experience in one or more of the following areas is highly desired: Deep learning, Computational Intelligence, Data Mining, Machine learning, Health Informatics and/or Data Analytics

How to apply

We’d encourage you to contact Dr Mohamed Bader (Mohamed.Bader@port.ac.uk) to discuss your interest before you apply, quoting the project code CCTS4600219.

How to apply

When you are ready to apply, please follow the 'Apply now' link on the Computing PhD subject area page and select the link for the relevant intake. Make sure you submit a personal statement, proof of your degrees and grades, details of two referees, proof of your English language proficiency and an up-to-date CV. Our ‘How to Apply’ page offers further guidance on the PhD application process. 

October start

Apply now

February start

Apply now