Research School in Information and Communication Technology
The ICT research school facilitates training and support for PhD candidates at The Department of Informatics.
About the research school
We are in a time of extreme transformation of our society due to digitization, and both Norway and the rest of the world need ICT specialists with high-level research competence.
When entering the PhD program at the Department of Informatics, candidates can specialize in one of seven research directions: algorithms, bioinformatics, machine learning, optimization, programming theory, reliable communication and visualization. The PhD candidates will be actively integrated in a research group and will be enrolled in the ICT Research School. The research school is a venue where the PhD candidates can get together, exchange experiences, learn new skills, are exposed to new ideas, and get career advice, regardless of their background and research groups.
Starting out as a traditional research career path, a PhD in informatics is now much more than just an academic degree. PhDs with a background in ICT are to an increasing degree highly sought after by the business sector, especially in the areas of energy and finance. Nowadays, more than 90% of informatics PhDs are getting jobs in the non-academic sector, and that regardless of their previous research specialization. The PhD candidates enrolled in the department’s PhD program are often offered jobs long before they finish their studies, including offers from both national and international academic institutions as well as large companies in Norway.
Our vision
The vision of the ICT Research School is to:
- maintain a stimulating training environment for all PhD students enrolled in the PhD program at the Department of Informatics of UiB
- strengthen the connection between PhD students, faculty members, and the different research groups, facilitating an exchange of ideas and knowledge
- coordinate technical courses, seminars, summer schools, and guest lectures of general interest to all PhD students enrolled in the department's PhD program
- facilitate participation at and collaboration with other national and international research schools in ICT
- offer training in teaching, writing, project management, application crafting, organization of events, refereeing, and other academic activities
- improve national and international recognition of our PhD studies through joint marketing, coordinated project proposals, and common web pages
- offer discussions and guidance in innovation and startups (in collaboration with VIS (external link)), and career development
- provide practical and administrative assistance for all of our PhD students
Regular activities
- Annual getaway
2-3 day getaway for PhD students at the Department of Informatics. The research school covers travel, accommodation and meals for all PhD students enrolled in the department's PhD program.
- Introductory course on how to write competitive research grant applications.
- Course on scientific writing
- Forum meetings (ICT PhD Forum)
In general, the ICT PhD forum has been created as a place where the PhD candidates can get together and learn from one another. The forum meetings are organized by the PhD candidates themselves. A meeting will usually consist of 1-2 short talks/seminars given by invited speakers, followed by an informal networking and discussion session. As from 2022 on, some of the meetings are co-organized with the Department of Informatics' Postdocs.
- The ICT Research School organizes a regular course on scientific writing.
The ICT Research School organizes regular forum meetings (ICT PhD Forum) for all PhD students enrolled in the department's PhD program. In general, the ICT PhD forum has been created as a place where the PhD candidates can get together and learn from one another. The forum meetings are organized by the PhD candidates themselves. A meeting will usually consist of 1-2 short talks/seminars given by invited speakers, followed by an informal networking and discussion session. As from 2022 on, some of the meetings are co-organized with the Department of Informatics' Postdocs.
- Informal coffee breaks every Friday at 10:00.
People
Contact person
Contact
The ICT Research School is hosted by the Department of Informatics. We are located in Høyteknologisenteret (Thormøhlensgate 55) in the Datablokken.