Pieter Libin
6 months ago
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PhD in Reinforcement Learning for Public Health Decision Support in Emerging Arbovirus Prevention Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Computer Science
Funding
Available
Deadline
Expired
Country
Belgium
University
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
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About this position
The Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences, Department of Computer Science at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), is offering a funded PhD position in the Artificial Intelligence Lab. The research focuses on reinforcement learning for public health decision support, specifically targeting emerging arbovirus prevention in the European Union. The project is led by Prof. Pieter Libin and involves collaboration with Hasselt University and Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma.
Arboviruses such as Zika (ZIKV) and Oropouche (OROV) are expected to pose increasing risks to public health in Europe. This interdisciplinary project aims to develop a novel data-driven framework to assess invasion risk and optimize mitigation and surveillance strategies across the EU. The research combines epidemiological modelling, proxy-data fitting, and reinforcement learning to support public health policy decisions.
As the PhD researcher, you will lead the development of new multi-criteria reinforcement learning algorithms for complex decision problems. Your work will include designing methods that exploit the geographical structure of metapopulation models, investigating uncertainty-aware policy learning, and developing explainable RL methods to communicate learned policies to policymakers. You will also collaborate on the epidemiological model, contribute to the study of mitigation and surveillance strategies (including mosquito control, vaccination policies, and surveillance strategies), and publish your results in leading conferences and journals.
The position is based at the Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) of VUB. The doctoral grant provides financial support for the duration of the PhD.
Applicants should have a strong background in computer science, artificial intelligence, or related fields. Experience with reinforcement learning, epidemiological modelling, or public health applications is highly desirable. Candidates must be motivated, able to work independently and collaboratively, and have excellent communication skills. No specific language test or GPA requirements are mentioned.
To apply, submit your application via the official VUB portal. Prepare your CV and motivation letter, and follow the instructions provided in the application link. For further information, you may contact the Artificial Intelligence Lab at VUB.
Funding details
Available
What's required
Applicants should have a strong background in computer science, artificial intelligence, or related fields. Experience with reinforcement learning, epidemiological modelling, or public health applications is highly desirable. Candidates must be motivated, able to work independently and collaboratively, and have excellent communication skills. No specific language test or GPA requirements are mentioned.
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