PhD Studentship: Redefining cardiovascular disease using a multidimensional, big data approach

Applications are invited for a 3-year fully-funded PhD Studentship starting March 2018.

The Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences (ICVS) at the University of Birmingham is a world-leading centre in the field of atrial fibrillation (AF) management. Together with 18 other European partners, the BigData@Heart project will assemble an unparalleled array of data to redefine heart failure, AF and acute coronary syndromes. Genomics, proteomics and metabolomics will be combined with patient data from millions of electronic health records across Europe, leading to new disease and outcome definitions and changing the way clinicians classify these conditions. ICVS is leading on the AF component, and we are looking to fund a higher degree (PhD) to develop data analysis for this project, including machine learning techniques (artificial intelligence programming) with our collaborative partners. The appointee will also develop experience in controlled clinical trials, supported by leading experts in the field. The PhD programme will be supervised by Dr Dipak Kotecha and Prof Paulus Kirchhof at ICVS, with close interaction with our major partners, including the Farr Institute, London and the Utrecht Medical Centre, the Netherlands.

Person Specification

Prerequisites for this position are:

1. Medically qualified (appointee will require registration with the General Medical Council UK and a licence to practise at the time of appointment)
2. Experience and interest in cardiology
3. High-level computing skills, preferably including programming skills
4. Right to work in the UK and EU

How to apply

Informal enquiries should be directed to Winnie Chua (w.chua.1@bham.ac.uk).

Funding Notes

British and EU nationality applicants are eligible for both the cost of tuition fees and a yearly stipend over the course of the PhD programme.

References

ESC Guidelines on AF: https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/37/38/2893/2334964/2016-ESC-Guidelines-for-the-management-of-atrial
ICVS at the University of Birmingham: www.birmingham.ac.uk/cardiovascular
BigData@Heart: https://www.bigdata-heart.eu/