PhD student or Postdoctoral Researcher in Information Systems: Data augmentation of health data

We are searching for a PhD student or a Postdoctoral Researcher to research the way data can be augmented from existing data. Data augmentation is the process of artificially generating new data from existing data. The augmented data shares similar trades as ‘real data’, but is indeed not the data itself. Data augmentation is an area of interest when it comes to health data, as health data is often limited in volume, costly to collect, and augmentation can thereby be an area of interest to explore, for exploring the future of training machine learning models.

The position is funded through the LUMI AI Factory (EuroHPC) and focuses on scalable AI-for-science workflows using GPU-accelerated computing, and this particular position focuses on researching data augmentation of health data within the field of information systems.

The candidate will work at the intersection of information systems, machine learning, computer science, and digital health, in close collaboration with a faculty member from the Department of Computer Science, who shares this interest. We are looking for someone with the ambition to grow into a well-rounded information systems researcher, writing papers that will aim high, in collaboration with the supervisor and others. The candidate should ideally have a background and interest in information systems as a field of research, with skills and capabilities in machine learning, and an interest in making an impact on healthcare through data augmentation. The position will be either a PhD position or a Postdoctoral Researcher position, depending on the applications that come in for the position. If it is a PhD position, then it will be for three years. If it is a Postdoctoral Researcher position, then the funding will cover a two-year term.

Research focus
Health data is limited, and collecting it is costly and often invasive. Augmenting the existing data with synthetic data would be a novel approach to addressing the issue of limited data in order to increase the volume of training data, but that is, however, tricky due to ethical, legal, and computational concerns. This position will focus on the investigation of how data augmentation can be designed, evaluated, and applied to health data in order to improve data volume, availability, and ultimately performance of machine learning models.

Data augmentation to artificially increase the dataset by modifying copies of existing data or synthetically generating new copies by using the existing dataset can have its benefits. While training the machine learning model, it acts as regularization and reduces overfitting, and also could potentially allow data to be shared, but data augmentation can, however, also have immense ethical concerns linked to it. This research is focused on those aspects, and titrating approaches towards reaching realistic data while shedding light on the dark and bright aspects of data augmentation, while also developing an understanding of how health data can be augmented in a thoughtful manner.

The exact research direction will be co-designed based on the candidate’s interests and background in cohesion with the project goals.

Required qualifications
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with:

• A Master’s degree (or PhD degree) in Information Systems, Computer Science, Health Informatics, or a related field, with a strong interest in becoming a researcher within the field of Information Systems.
• Strong interest in data augmentation and personal data as a research topic.
• Interest in health data and digital health.
• Solid programming skills (e.g., Python, R, or similar).
• Reflective and thoughtful approach to data, with aspirations to publish in high-impact publication outlets within the field of information systems.
• Very good written and spoken English.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research team.
• Experience of working with health data and machine. learning is an advantage, but not mandatory.

We offer

• A fully funded PhD or postdoctoral position (depending on the applications that come in)
• Access to LUMI-class supercomputing resources
• An interdisciplinary research environment with real-world AI-for-science impact
• Competitive salary according to Reykjavik University scales
• Conducting research in an international work environment

Application
Please submit:

• CV.
• Cover letter.
• Research plan of three pages.
• Most relevant publications demonstrating relevant expertise (only applicable if applying for a Postdoctoral position).
• Contact details for 2–3 references.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Please specify whether you would be seeking a PhD position or a Postdoctoral position clearly (the prerequisite for a Postdoctoral position is a finished PhD).

Contact for Inquiries
Anna Sigríður Islind, professor at the Department of Computer Science, (islind@ru.is) who will be the supervisor for the candidate.

About Reykjavik University (RU)
Reykjavík University has around 3.700 students and 300 faculty and employees in addition to numerous adjunct faculty in two schools: Technology and Social Sciences. We offer a welcoming and stimulating environment in which to work and live. The University is centrally located in Reykjavík, the capital city of Iceland. The role of Reykjavik University is to create and disseminate knowledge to enhance the competitiveness and quality of life for individuals and society, guided by good ethics, sustainability, and responsibility. Education and research at RU are based on strong ties with industry and society. We emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration, international relations, and entrepreneurship.

About Iceland
Iceland is well known for its breathtaking natural beauty, with volcanoes, hot springs, lava fields and glaciers offering a dramatic landscape. It consistently ranks as one of the best places in the world to live. It offers a high quality of life and is one of the safest places in the world, with high gender equality and strong healthcare and social support systems. Reykjavik is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city that provides an ideal environment for combining cultural and family activities with an active lifestyle.