PhD in Statistics: Opportunity at University College Dublin
Lead supervisor: Dr Michelle Carey (Statistics UCD)
Co-supervisor: Dr Emer Kennedy, Senior Research Officer (Teagasc)
Applications are invited for a PhD in Statistics studentship in the School of Mathematics and Statistics, University College Dublin, Ireland. The successful applicant will work on a project entitled ‘Data Analytics & Artificial Intelligence for Animal Health’. The project involves collaboration between Dr Emer Kennedy, Senior Research Officer in Teagasc and Dr Michelle Carey, UCD School of Mathematics and Statistics. The position is funded through the VistaMilk SFI Research Centre ((opens in a new window)https://vistamilk.ie/).
This PhD scholarship holder will work at the interface between Data-Analytics/Artificial Intelligence and precision pasture-based dairying/animal health. This project will provide diagnostic options to support sustainable control of priority diseases in dairy herds. In particular, it will develop a suite of data-analytics/artificial Intelligence models for identifying and suppressing diseases in dairy herds, such as mastitis, by utilising the data generated from on-farm sensors.
University College Dublin is Ireland’s premier research university and the research-active Statistics group is the highest-ranked in Ireland. As UCD is a member institution, the successful applicant will be eligible to attend the beneficial APTS ((opens in a new window)www.apts.ac.uk) statistics courses during their first year. University College Dublin is a campus-based university with excellent facilities, only a few kilometres from Dublin city centre.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
A candidate must have reached a minimum of an upper second class degree or equivalent in a relevant honours Bachelor’s degree. In a significant number of cases, a Master’s degree will also be required. All applicants are required to demonstrate a high level of competence in the English language. Applicants who have not undertaken their undergraduate degree / Master’s degree through English must provide evidence of their English proficiency by achieving a minimum standard in a recognised English language test such as IELTS. Applicants should have experience or an interest in functional data analysis, time-series modelling, and multivariate analysis. Interest in computational statistics and statistical programming will also be of benefit. Applicants should have a numerate undergraduate degree, and an MSc in Statistics is highly desirable.
The starting dates are either May 1st, 2020 or 1st September 2020. The fellowship covers PhD fees (fully covered for EU students and partially covered for non-EU students) and attracts a tax-free stipend averaging €18,000 per annum for four years. An application consisting of a cover letter, curriculum vitae (including the names and contact details of three referees) and scanned copies of relevant academic transcripts should be sent to Dr Carey ((opens in a new window)michelle.carey@ucd.ie) by 5 pm March 30th 2020. Late applications will not be considered.