PhD Studentship - Using Exposome, Omics, and AI to Develop a Digital Platform for Tailoring the Care of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Project supervisors: Dr. Sara Morsy, Dr. Mai El-Shehaly, Prof. Colin Wright

Project description:

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by social impairments, repetitive behaviours, and restricted interests [1]. Our PhD project will develop a platform for tailoring the care of children with autism spectrum disorders. The project includes using different data integration methods, longitudinal statistical models and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms including generative AI.

The platform will allow policymakers, carers, and healthcare staff to get tailored psychosocial care plan for individuals with Autism spectrum disorders. By understanding these factors, researchers and clinicians can develop effective interventions to improve quality of life for individuals with autism. The platform development will follow FAIR principles (Findable, accessible, interoperable and Reusable).

This PhD project offers an opportunity to learn the principles of interdisciplinary and translational research. The student will learn and work on computational research (data processing, data integration, data analysis including bioinformatics and AI using high-performance computing facilities), Clinical research (clinical data collection, good clinical practice), and principles of web apps development. The student will join Dr Morsy research team, an interdisciplinary lab that develop decision making tools and risk scores that help tailor diagnostics and therapeutics for different diseases.

Through being a member of Dr Morsy research team at the School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, The student will be a member of two international networks, European life sciences infrastructure (ELIXIR) and The Deep Dementia Phenotyping (DEMON). The student will be working with the Born in Bradford and Connected Bradford teams and local communities.

Essential:

• Bachelor/MSc degree in Mathematics, Biostatistics, health informatics or any computational research degree
• The student should be proficient in one of the programming languages R or Python. Being familiar with languages like Go, Javascript, or Java is a plus, and the student is encouraged to show this during their application.
• The student should show how they developed an active learning approach during their previous study and work.
• During the application, the student will solve one coding exercise to assess their skills and to show how they develop an active learning approach.
• Familiarity with principles of mathematics and biostatistics

The following skills are favourable but not required:

• Web development and database management
• Sequencing data processing and analysis
• Familiarity with concepts of different types of data integration
• Generative AI models
• Model deployment through different cloud services

In your personal statement, it is very important to mention examples of the forementioned skills and how you used these skills in practice

Funding notes:

The project is funded by Bradford Council and managed through BRAD-ATTAIN award that aims to increase diversity and inclusion among our PGR community and in academia.

Funding for:

UK Students who self-identify as being from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic background. International students can apply but they have to find arrangements that cover the difference in tuition fees and the salary.

Enquiries email name and address:  

For informal enquiries, please contact skhalil7@bradford.ac.uk

How to apply:

Potential candidates should apply directly online through the online application portal.

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