Centre for Doctoral Training
The Data Innovation Research Institute was open between 2015 and 2021. This page shows the Institute’s past work. It is not monitored or updated.
This programme provides training in data intensive methods and how to apply them in particle physics, gravitational physics and astronomy.
It has strong links with local industry and all students will undertake a six-month industrial placement.
The centre is led by Cardiff University jointly with the University of Bristol and Swansea University. It forms part of a national network of centres awarded funding in 2017 by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
PhD course
Students will be enrolled at either Cardiff University, the University of Bristol or Swansea University for the duration of their four-year PhD. Working closely with UK industry, the course offers a unique opportunity to develop advanced knowledge of data intensive methods. You will have the opportunity to apply this knowledge to cutting edge problems in physics and astronomy as well as industry.
Specialist training in data intensive science will allow you to address scientific questions across particle physics, gravitational physics and astronomy. Our aim is to develop a training ground for the next generation of data scientists required by both industry and academia.
Apply
Please visit the Data Intensive CDT website for details.
Course structure
| Year 1 | Induction workshop |
|---|---|
| Academic training in data-intensive science | |
| Residential workshops | |
| First research project | |
| Two-week industry engagement opportunity | |
| Year 2 | Academic research |
| Residential workshops | |
| Project selection and scoping exercise with partner organisation | |
| Year 3 | Academic research |
| Six-month industry placement | |
| Year 4 | Complete research project |
| Write and submit thesis |
Training in data-intensive science
The first year of the PhD will include formal training in data-intensive science, delivered through live-streamed video lectures, residential workshops and locally taught data-intensive science courses.
Live-streamed video lectures
All students will participate in a core taught programme of three courses, one from each university:
- Advanced data analysis techniques delivered by Cardiff University, including Bayesian methods, MCMC routines, bootstrapping and multi-variate analysis.
- Data visualization delivered by Swansea University, reviewing data dimensionality, data types and the visualization pipeline, and covering information, volume and flow visualization techniques.
- Introduction to machine learning delivered by the University of Bristol, introducing different learning algorithms, the use of machine learning algorithms for solving classification problems as well as understanding the theoretical limitations of machine learning.
Residential workshops
Students will receive additional training through dedicated two-day workshops. Each workshop will provide specialist training in a specific area. There will be additional workshops around careers guidance, communications and scientific outreach. The workshops will be delivered by experts from the three partner universities in collaboration with external partners.
Local data-intensive science courses
Students will be expected to take three additional courses at their host university.
Industrial placements
All students enrolled in the programme will undertake a minimum six-month placement during the third year of their PhD. Placements will give students an opportunity to apply their knowledge and broaden their career horizons while making a positive contribution to the work of their host organisation.
The placement will begin in January of the third year of the student's PhD and conclude by September. Students will be encouraged to engage with industrial partners from the first year of their PhD through events at residential workshops. Provision will also be made for short placements with partner organisations during the first and second years of the PhD.
During the placement, the student and supervisor will maintain contact on a monthly basis. In addition, a member of the student's supervisory team will visit the student once during their placement to monitor progress and welfare.
Latest news
- The Data Innovation CDT 2018 induction event with students and industry partners took place in September 2018.
- We ran a software carpentry workshop in collaboration with Cardiff University Research Software Engineer Ian Harvey and SA2C on 8 and 9 November 2018.
- Some of our students are attending the National CDT event in Edinburgh 19-21 November 2018
We are in the top tier of Britain's research universities and a member of the prestigious Russel Group.