PhD Scholarship in Data Science Pipeline for Cardiovascular Diseases

DTU Health Tech is looking for a PhD candidate in data science for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The purpose of this project is to research, design, implement, and test a workflow pipeline for training of machine learning prediction algorithms for cardiovascular events.



You will join the Digital Health section of DTU Health Tech. We are a multi-disciplinary team of biomedical engineers, computer scientists, and UX researchers who research digital technologies for health, healthcare, and life science, in order to improve healthcare delivery and make healthcare more personalized and precise. We have an extensive research record within data science in CVD and you will join a team of senior researchers and other PhD students working with us. You will also work closely with cardiologists at the Department of Cardiology at the Copenhagen University Hospital (Danish: Bispebjerg-Frederiksberg Hospital) who will provide clinical supervision.



Responsibilities and qualifications

Your research will focus on establishing an end-to-end pipeline for data science in CVD with a special focus on atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF). This pipeline will consist of three main parts: (i) collection of ECG and contextual data from patients, (ii) ground-truth annotation from clinicians, and (iii) a self-optimizing and extensible data science analysis engine containing model for prediction of cardiac events. Primary focus is on the overall software architecture and distributed system design of the pipeline, secondary on the user experience (UX) design of the data collection sub-systems, and tertiary on the design of data science methods.



This position requires skills in software engineering, mobile sensing, UX design, and health data science, including software development, mobile programming, sensor integration, distributed computing, and data processing using modern AI- and ML-based tools. Furthermore, a structured approach to research and strong communication skills in English in written and oral dissemination is core. Finally, since you will be spending time with a clinical team at the hospital, good collaborative skills and understanding of clinical work is also important.



From an academic point of view, you must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree in addition to a bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS points).



Ideally, your master degree should be in computer science / engineering or biomedical engineering with a focus on software engineering and data science.



More specifically you should have most of the following qualifications:

• Strong theoretical and practical background in software engineering, software architecture, distributed computing, data science, and human-computer interaction.
• Experience in mobile sensing, ubiquitous computing, and wearable devices.
• Experience in data science methods, incl. machine/deep learning algorithms, especially in ECG or other biomedical signal processing applications.
• Strong mastery of a programming languages like Python, Java, Kotlin, Dart, Swift, or similar.
• Strong communication skills in English – both in writing and orally.
• Knowledge on clinical work, e.g., in cardiology

The language of communication at DTU is English.



Approval and Enrolment

The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education.  



We offer

DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.



Salary and appointment terms

The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years. Start date is as soon as possible.



You can read more about career paths at DTU here.



Further information

If you want to know more, please contact the main supervisor directly – Jakob E. Bardram at: jakba [at] dtu.dk.



Read more about:

• DTU Health Tech
• The Digital Health section
• The PhD School at DTU Health Tech
• mCardia – and example of our work in CVD

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark.



Application procedure

Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 31 May 2022 (Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply online", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma including official description of grading scale
• Links to, or copy of any research papers you may have been part of
• Link to a code portfolio stored in an online repositories like GitHub

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it. 



Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.



All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.



DTU Health Tech engages in research, education, and innovation base on technical and natural science for the healthcare sector. The Healthcare sector is a globally expanding market with demands for the most advanced technological solutions. DTU Health Tech creates the foundation for companies to develop new and innovative services and products which benefit people and create value for society. DTU Health Techs expertise spans from imaging and biosensor techniques, across digital health and biological modelling, to biopharma technologies. The department has a scientific staff of about 210 persons, 140 PhD students and a technical/administrative support staff of about 160 persons, of which a large majority contributes to our research infrastructure and related commercial activities.



Technology for people

DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear vision to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That vision lives on today. DTU has 12,900 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

Apply here