PhD Scholarship in Applied Informatics/Applied Computer Science: Selection of data from large databases for machine learning algorithms

Dear prospective PhD student. We are looking for a PhD student who wishes to apply for our PhD position in Applied Informatics/Applied Computer Science with the possibility of funding.

PhD Project Title: Selection of data from large databases for machine learning algorithms.

Tutor: Assoc. Prof. doc. Ing. Jan Bohacik, PhD.

Place of Studies: Department of Informatics, Faculty of Management Science and Informatics, University of Zilina, Zilina, Slovakia.

The University of Zilina is a public university in Zilina, Slovakia established in 1953. It has 231 accredited fields of study in all forms and degrees of university studies. In the field of science and research, University of Zilina participates in 200 national and 41 international scientific projects and organizes about 60 scientific and professional events annually. The University has signed bilateral cooperation agreements with more than 150 foreign partners and it belongs to the most successful universities within the Erasmus Programme, both in the number of seconded staff and students. Students study in modern and well-equipped classrooms and laboratories centralized on the complex and modern university campus at Velky Diel, located in quiet surroundings nearby a forest park but at a reasonable walking distance from the accommodation facilities as well as the historical center of Zilina. University of Zilina has a burning ambition to continue in dynamic growth, to provide high quality education, to educate well-prepared and demanded graduates, and to develop international cooperation both in science and education.

Compulsory Study Units:
Mathematical Principles of Applied Informatics
Theory and Methodology of Applied Informatics
Subject of Specialization

Problem Area Description:
The amount of data in the databases of information systems often becomes too large for their trouble-free processing with machine learning algorithms. Because of that, various processing methods such as parallel processing with interconnected computers are being developed. Another way is to select a small subset of large data in the process of knowledge discovery in databases so that the selected data allows the discovery of knowledge corresponding with the knowledge discovered in the whole data. The consideration of representative selection leads to the concept of data selection from large databases.
The goal of the project is to design new or improved methods for a representative selection of data from chosen large databases and to implement a related software tool. During the development of the methods, it will be important to test the accuracy of the knowledge discovered in selected data.
The proposed methods will be validated on available large databases.

Expected Scientific Contributions:
Development of new methods and algorithms for the selection of data from large domain-specific databases. The use of existing machine learning algorithms on big data of some specific domain will also be allowed, which will contribute to decision-making support based on real-world data.

Recommended Methods:
Study of available literature, implementation of known algorithms for the selection of data from large databases, development of new or improved algorithms on chosen databases, testing of knowledge discovered in selected data.

Type of Research: Applied research and experimental development.

Research and development in the area of algorithms for the selection of representative data from large databases has been started within solved tasks [1]. There is a software tool which enables the use of selected data for knowledge discovery in databases [2], [3], [4].
[1] J. Boháčik, A. Fuchs, M. Benedikovič, “Detecting compromised accounts on the Pokec online social network,“ in International Conference on Information and Digital Technologies, IEEE, 2017, Slovakia, pp. 56-60.
[2] J. Boháčik, D. N. Davis, “Fuzzy rule-based system applied to risk estimation of cardiovascular patients,“ Journal of Multiple-Valued Logic and Soft Computing, vol. 20, no. 5-6, 2013, pp. 445-466.
[3] J. Boháčik, “Discovering fuzzy rules in databases with linguistic variable elimination,“ Neural Network World, vol. 20, no. 1, 2010, pp. 45-61.
[4] J. Boháčik, M. Zábovský, Fuzzy Rule Miner: A software library used in project based teaching of topics related to knowledge discovery in databases“, in IEEE 16th International Conference on Emerging eLearning Technologies and Applications, IEEE, Slovakia, 2018, pp. 75-80.

Application Deadline: 31 May 2019.

Application Fee: 20 EUR (both electronic and traditional).

Entrance Exam: 24 June 2019, 25 June 2019.

Beginning of Studies: 01 September 2019.

Standard Duration of Studies: 3 years for full-time students and 4 years for part-time students.

Study Program: Applied Informatics/Applied Computer Science.

Eligible Countries: Citizens of all nationalities are eligible to apply.

Scholarship Award: Full-time students with permanent stay in any European Union country studying in Slovak or English receive a stipend of 8100 EUR per annum before the Draft of PhD thesis is successfully submitted (at about the end of the first year) and 9438 EUR per annum after it until the end of the standard duration. Full-time students without a permanent stay in any European Union country do not have right to get a stipend but the faculty can decide to give it (it can be a different amount to 8100 EUR/9438 EUR). There are no tuition fees for full-time students studying in Slovak. Part-time students studying in Slovak pay a tuition fee of 2000 EUR per annum. A tuition fee of 3500 EUR is paid by both full-time and part-time students studying in English, but a waiver of this tuition fee might be possible for full-time students by the rector of the university if the tutor recommends it. The stipend is not taxed in Slovakia and it is not subject to any other deductions. Please discuss your specific situation with the faculty so that your options are confirmed exactly.

Email Contact:
Jan.Bohacik(at)fri.uniza.sk [change (at) for @].

Phone: +421-41-513 4187.

Electronic Application Form:
https://vzdelavanie.uniza.sk/prijimacky

Terms & Conditions of the Faculty of Management Science and Informatics, University of Zilina:
https://www.fri.uniza.sk/uploads/files/1554384222-TermsAndConditionsPhD-2019.pdf

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE TERMS & CONDITIONS MAY DEPEND ON YOUR LANGUAGE SKILLS, PERMANENT RESIDENCE AND NATIONALITY. THEREFORE, IT IS RECOMMENDED TO CONTACT US SO THAT THE TERMS & CONDITIONS FOR YOUR SPECIFIC SITUATION COULD BE CONFIRMED.