Vacancies

We have vacancies for both new PhD and visiting students at Sheffield.

University of Sheffield is ranked as 5th in the UK, 17th in Europe for research in relevant AI/CV/NLP/ML/Complexity areas CSRanking.

Funded project

AI for Multi-modal Healthcare

• Project description: In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, such as foundation models, multi-modal learning algorithms, generative models, and large language models [1], have made seen remarkable advancements in the field of healthcare. It can lead to more accurate diagnosis, personalized treatment planning, and improved patient outcomes. This project will focus on developing multi-modal AI models that can handle the complexities of medical data as well as the domain gap and knowledge gap across different scenarios, and further adapt to individual patient needs. Depending on the profile of the student, a particular focus would be utilizing large language models and explainable AI (XAI) to enhance the reliability and applicability of AI algorithms for healthcare applications [2] and/or identifying pitfalls of current AI models using adversarial machine learning.

• References
  • [1] Moor, M, et al. Foundation models for generalist medical artificial intelligence. Nature, 2023
  • [2] Chen, Chen, et al. “Large Language Model-informed ECG Dual Attention Network for Heart Failure Risk Prediction.” 2024

• Funding notes: The PhD studentship will cover standard UK home tuition fees and provide a tax-free stipend at the standard UK Research Council rate (currently £19,237 for the 2024/25 academic year) for 3.5 years. If you are an overseas student, you are eligible to apply but you must have the means to pay the difference between the UK and overseas tuition fees by securing additional funding or self-funding. Further information on International fees can be found here.

• How to apply:
  • Please send me your CV (grade, ranking, research experience included), transcripts, first-authored papers/thesis (please merge all into one single file) and other supporting materials (such as slides to show your research experience, or github website to show your past projects), to enquiry.ai4health@gmail.com. Please quote “[PHD_AI4Health] - Your Current Programme – Name-You Preferred Starting Date”. E.g, “[PHD_AI4Health] - MSc-University of Sheffield–Chen Chen-2025 Spring” in your email subject.
  • Due to the high volume of emails I receive, emails without strictly having this quote in the subject title may be automatically classified as spam and ignored. So please help me to catch up your email. I am sorry that it is difficult to provide feedback to every applicant. Only shortlisted candidates will be noticed (usually within 1-2 weeks, you will receive my response asking you to fill a Google form for the next step). Please understand that failing to receive my response does not reflect your qualifications or potential for other PhD programs.

Others Scholarships

China Scholarship Council (CSC) Scholarships

• for Chinese applicants details. Please make sure that your have passed the English requirement before the internal selection, usually in Jan 2025. In our School of Computer Science, a minimum of IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in each component or equivalent is required. Alternative language test includes PTE Academic or PTE Academic UKVI, which offers more flexibility in terms of test dates. check here for other acceptable test results.

Commonwealth Phd Scholarship

• for both students from certain low-income countries and certain high-income contries

University Scholarships

• details

External Project Opportunities We are also happy to support strong applicants for their applications via external funding body, with industry partners.

• royalcommission1851.org. Please note that this is very competitive. The applicant must have a good first degree in engineering, science, medicine or design. At the time of applying, you must be (1): currently employed by a UK-based company or (2) 1-year or 2-year CDT/Case PhD students strongly coupled with company in UK; and working on a research and/or development topic potentially leading to a patent, product, process or service in conjunction with a higher academic award.
• EPSRC Landscape Awards. We encourage candidates and companies to contact me directly. Deadline: Oct 15th, 2024.

Visiting opportunities

Visiting students (3 month - 1 year)

• Our sheffield computer vision group has vacancies for visiting students.
• You have to be registered on a PhD at another institution to undertake research as a visiting student.
• You need to meet the university’s English requirements
• Tuition fees: You can register for up to three months without a tuition fee being charged. Subject to departmental and faculty approval, in exceptional circumstances the fee-free registration period may be extended to a maximum of twelve months.
• Funding opportunities
  • Research Mobility Programme. This program provides 2 weeks to 3 months for Staff and PGs to work with hosts in any WUN partner details.
  • China Scholarship Council
  • Commonwealth Split-site PhD Scholarship

About University of Sheffield and Sheffield

University of Sheffield

The University of Sheffield is renowned for its groundbreaking research, with a legacy of producing Nobel Prize winners and global thought leaders. Six members of our staff have been awarded a prestigious Nobel Prize. Notable alumni include Sir Harry Kroto, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of fullerenes, showcasing Sheffield’s role in pioneering research that transforms the scientific world. Sheffield’s research excellence spans across disciplines, including science, engineering, medicine, and social sciences, consistently ranked in the top universities globally for research impact.

The university also provides strong professional development support, with comprehensive training programs, research community and workshops that help students enhance their research skills, gain expertise in cutting-edge methodologies, and prepare for careers in both academia and industry. Sheffield’s vibrant academic community regularly hosts seminars, conferences, and networking events, creating opportunities for you to present your work, receive feedback, and build valuable connections with leading researchers.

Relevant research communities in the University:

1. Workshop on Multimodal AI is held in Sheffield annually.link
2. The Insigneo Institute is driving innovative research at the interface of healthcare, engineering and science to transform the future of healthcare technology.link
3. The EPSRC funded South Yorkshire Digital Health Hub will use cutting-edge research to develop innovative digital technologies for disease diagnosis and treatment by leveraging smartphone, wearable, and sensor data alongside NHS data to create new clinical tools.link
4. The Healthy Lifespan Institute is transforming the experience of ageing. We’re the UK’s first interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to understanding and preventing multimorbidity and frailty - to help everyone live healthier lives for longer. link

Where are we?

Living in the Sheffield

The balance of city life and natural beauty is one of Sheffield’s key attractions. It’s a friendly, safe, and inclusive city that offers something for everyone—whether you’re looking to immerse yourself in academic life or explore new hobbies. The city is culturally rich, with a thriving arts scene, music venues, and a vibrant café culture, providing plenty of ways to unwind and socialize. For nature lovers, Sheffield is known as the “Outdoor City”, with the beautiful Peak District National Park on its doorstep (e.g., 20 minutes by bus/train), offering a perfect escape for hiking, climbing, and cycling.

Sheffield’s public transport is well-developed, making it easy to get around the city and beyond. Plus, with major cities like Manchester and Leeds close by, and London only two hours away by train, Sheffield offers excellent connectivity.

Sheffield is considered to be more affordable than other cities in the UK. Cost of Living Including Rent in Sheffield is 41.6% lower than in London. See details.