University of Luxembourg launches data science training unit

The University of Luxembourg in collaboration with the public research centres LIST and LISER have recently launched the Doctoral Training Unit (DTU) on Data-driven Computational Modelling and Applications (DRIVEN).

With a budget of 3.4 million euros over six years, this pioneering programme will train a new generation of early-stage researchers with the required knowledge and skills to tackle complex data-intensive problems in all sectors of the economy.

Third pillar of scientific investigation

Understanding the world, which grows more complex and generates data at an increasing rate, relies on the ability to construct robust and reliable models. Together with theory and experimentation, Computational and Data Sciences have become the third pillar of scientific investigation. Nowadays, it underpins the majority of technological, economic and societal feats.

“We have entered an era in which soaring amounts of data offer enormous opportunities, but only to those who are able to harness them. We are standing at a turning point where the economic success of a nation is determined by its ability to exploit the vast amounts of information daily generated”, explains Prof. Andreas Zilian, coordinator of the DTU DRIVEN at the University of Luxembourg.

Develop common data-driven approaches

The specificity of the DTU DRIVEN lies in its interdisciplinary as it covers a wide range of fields, from hard sciences to human sciences, including economics, and gathers researchers from 3 doctoral schools (DSSE, DSEF, DSHSS) and 3 institutions (Uni.lu, LIST, LISER). Thus, the main challenge is to develop approaches common to a number of applications in various research areas.

“Within the DTU, PhD students will acquire a solid data science background to use and develop cross-disciplinary data-driven modelling approaches. Based on machine learning algorithms, data-driven modelling enables to identify new relations in data, re-assess, reformulate and enhance previously established understanding”, says Prof. Zilian.

Three research groups

The DTU will be composed of 19 doctoral candidates clustered in three groups, namely “Computational Physics and Engineering Sciences”, “Computational Biology and Life Sciences” and “Computational Behavioural and Social Sciences”. In the first group, they will explore parameter identification of physically based models to better understand, for instance, the relationships between composition, structure and properties of molecular crystals. In the second group, they will investigate the classification of observations to automate tedious and expensive tasks such as classifying pictures of neurodegenerative diseases. In the third group, they will study the connections between the different collected data to better analyse and predict trends, such as online social networks.
 
Funded by the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR), the DTU DRIVEN will enrich Luxembourg’s socio-economic landscape by strengthening the data-driven approach and increasing the impact of scientific areas highly relevant to the country‘s economy and society.

More information: https://driven.uni.lu

This release was first published 4 October 2018 by the University of Luxembourg.