Fully Funded PhD in Statistics, Causal Inference and Machine Learning at University of Limerick University of Limerick in Ireland

Fully Funded PhD Opportunity in Statistics, Causal Inference and Machine Learning at the University of Limerick, Ireland.

This PhD is based in the School of Medicine and focuses on developing novel statistical methods for causal inference using healthcare data. The project sits at the interface of statistics, biostatistics, machine learning, health data science, and medical research, with applications to longitudinal electronic health records, observational healthcare datasets, and large-scale routine health data.

Research themes include causal inference from observational healthcare data, target trial emulation, dynamic treatment regimes, semiparametric and nonparametric estimation, doubly robust and efficient estimation, debiased/double machine learning, heterogeneous treatment effects, longitudinal data analysis, survival analysis, competing risks, propensity score methods, overlap weighting, transportability, generalisability, sensitivity analysis, and reproducible statistical computing.

The project is especially suitable for applicants interested in statistical methodology, causal inference, semiparametric statistics, machine learning for causal inference, and health data science. The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary environment and may work with datasets such as UK Biobank, linked routine healthcare datasets, population-based cohort studies, and simulated data.

Funding: fully funded 4-year structured PhD, €25,000 annual tax-free stipend, EU tuition fees covered, plus conference/training/workshop support and a laptop.

Eligibility: applicants should have, or expect to obtain before September 2026, at least a First Class or Upper Second Class Honours degree (or equivalent) in a quantitative discipline such as statistics, biostatistics, mathematics, applied mathematics, data science, computer science, econometrics, or epidemiology. Strong quantitative skills, statistical programming experience (preferably R), and a strong interest in causal inference are required.

How to apply: submit a single PDF with a cover letter, CV, academic transcripts, and contact details for at least two academic referees. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Supervisor: Dr Maurice O’Connell, Associate Professor in Medical Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of Limerick. Informal enquiries are welcome by email at [email protected].