Dr A Hunter
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
A studentship in UCL Department of Computer Science funded by EPSRC and the Royal Free Charity.
Computational models of argument are an increasingly important area of research in artificial intelligence. The aim is to understand and emulate a key way that humans deal with incomplete and conflicting information. Much of this research is in developing formal models that can be used in tools to support individuals in decision making and sense making.
The aim of this project is to develop a computational model of how patients make decisions concerning options available to them, and, which is the best action to take, after a disease has been diagnosed. For patients, the amount of information about treatment options can be large, and sometimes overwhelming. Moreover, the background, the knowledge and preferences of different patients can be very different.
The project will involve research to understand and deconstruct the decision making processes by oncology patients, and to develop a formalisation of these processes using computational models of argument. Classes of decision will be modelled in terms of arguments and counterarguments. These will be based on the clinical science of the options, the uncertainty surrounding those options, and on non-clinical criteria particular to the patient. Options may then be evaluated in terms of these arguments and counterarguments.
The project will then involve the development of a prototype tool based on the computational model of patient decision making. This prototype tool will dynamically generate and evaluate arguments and counterarguments in an interaction with the patient. The aim of the tool will be to help the patient understand the relevant information, and help them reach a decision that is appropriate for them. The development of this technology, not only could revolutionise the way clinicians interact with patients, but also help them to find the optimum intervention for each specific situation.
This is an exciting project for a student who wants to learn more about computational models of argument, and who has the imagination to develop innovative ways to tackle some of the issues in developing decision support tools for clinicians and patients.
We are keen to recruit a student who is prepared to explore radical ways to support patient decision making. The student should have an undergraduate or masters degree in computer science (or similar), and a keen interest in applications of computing in healthcare.
The student will undertake a three year PhD programme. The student will be based in UCL Department of Computer Science, a leading research centre for artificial intelligence, and the student will have regular contact with clinicians in the Department of Oncology in the Royal Free Hospital, a leading centre for the development and evaluation of healthcare decision support technology.
The supervisors for the project are Anthony Hunter (Professor of Artificial Intelligence in the UCL Dept of Computer Science) and Astrid Mayer (Consultant Oncologist in the Royal Free Hospital and Senior Lecturer at the UCL Cancer Institute).
For general information on the PhD programme in UCL Department of Computer Science, see http://www.cs.ucl.ac.uk/admissions/phd_programme
Duration: 3 years
Closing date for applications: 16th February 2015
Funding Notes
The project is co-funded by Royal Free Charity and EPSRC. This means that the project is open to UK/EU candidates only. Candidates must have been resident in the UK for a continuous three years prior to the project start-date. The successful candidate will receive a tax-free stipend cover living-expenses plus support for travel and research expenses.
Continue with Facebook
