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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
PhD Project Template
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Use one form per project
Please complete & submit to international@nuigalway.ie as soon as possible, and by 27/11/2012
In your email, begin the subject line with [SWB] (be sure to use square brackets) to ensure that
your email is filed correctly. Emails will be automatically filed
PI name & contact details:
School:
Dr Michael Madden:
michael.madden@nuigwalway.ie +353 91 493797
Information Technology,
College of Engineering & Informatics
Has project been agreed with head (or
nominee) of proposed registration school?
Yes
Research Centre / group affiliation:
Machine Learning & Data Mining Research Group
Research group / centre website:
http://datamining.it.nuigalway.ie/
PI website / link to CV:
http://datamining.it.nuigalway.ie/
Brief summary of PI research / research group / centre activity (2 or 3 lines max):
We focus on advances in techniques for machine learning and data mining, motivated by solving
important practical applications. We work on classification algorithms, kernel methods,
reinforcement learning, probabilistic inference, and data stream mining.
Title & brief description of PhD project (suitable for publication on web):
Probabilistic Model-Based Data Stream Analytics
There is an increasing need to analyse multiple streams of data in real time. The goal of this work is
to develop new techniques and tools to respond to this need. Such problems typically share the
following characteristics:
• Multiple heterogeneous data streams may be available and must be analysed concurrently
• Streaming devices may be noisy or faulty, and data streams may occasionally be missing
• Not all relevant quantities may be measurable continuously or at all, so must be inferred
• Different sensor devices may stream data at different timescales
• Background knowledge is often available; this knowledge may be formally stated as
mathematical models or textual descriptions, or is held by experts and must be elicited
Current techniques for data stream mining are purely data-driven, and do not include background
knowledge. Accordingly, the goal of this project is to devise, research, and implement a new
approach for data stream analytics: this will be based on probabilistic methods and designed to
exploit any available background knowledge.
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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
This work will build on our recent research, such as described in Enright, Madden & Madden:
“Bayesian networks for mathematical models: Techniques for automatic construction and efficient
inference”, International Journal of Approximate Reasoning, 2012.
Unique selling points of PhD project in NUI Galway:
The National University of Ireland Galway, founded in 1845, has a distinguished record in scholarship and
research. The University enjoys a close relationship with Galway city, which is shaped by artistic communities,
active student life, innovative industry and leading edge research.
The University’s Structured PhD programme enables researchers to take advanced technical courses as well as
to develop their research skills in the early stages of their PhD work.
In the Machine Learning & Data Mining Group, we have long-standing interdisciplinary collaborations with
colleagues in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, and Intensive Care Medicine. Our group also has strong
links with research groups in other universities internationally, such as the University of California Berkeley
(including Stuart Russell, who has co-authored with us on our earlier work on this topic), the University of
California Irvine and the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Name & contact details for project queries, if different from PI named above:
As above.
Please indicate the graduates of which disciplines that should apply:
Computer Science, Software Engineering, Mathematics, or similar disciplines.
Ciência sem Fronteiras / Science Without Borders Priority Area:
Please indicate the specific programme priority area under which the proposed PhD project fits- choose only
one (tick box):
Engineering and other technological areas
Pure and Natural Sciences (e.g. mathematics, physics, chemistry)/Physical Sciences (Mathematics,
Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Geosciences)
Health and Biomedical Sciences / Clinical, Pré-clinical and Health Sciences
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Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), Computing
Aerospace
Pharmaceuticals
Sustainable Agricultural Production
Oil, Gas and Coal
Renewable Energy
Minerals, Minerals Technology
Biotechnology
Nanotechnology and New Materials
Technologies for Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Disasters
Bioprospecting and Biodiversity
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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
Marine Sciences
Creative Industry
New technologies in constructive engineering
Please indicate which of the following applies to this project (referring to Science Without Borders
arrangements):
Suitable only as a Full PhD (Y/N): _ ____
Available to candidates seeking a Sandwich PhD arrangement (Y/N): _____
Suitable for either/Don’t know: 