Introduction
The VinUni-Illinois Smart Health Center (VISHC) is a collaboration between VinUniversity (VinUni) and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). The center was established in 2021 to conduct high-impact research on biomedical sensing, informatics, and their applications in smart healthcare. We aim at developing state-of-the-art sensing and digital technologies to provide widely accessible health monitoring and improvement for people all over the world. In addition, with a funding of $13.5 million by Vingroup over ten years, we aim to train 50 Ph.D. students (25 with degrees granted by VinUni and 25 with degrees granted by Illinois) from Vietnam to study and conduct research at both VinUni and Illinois. This is a joint PhD training program between VinUni and UIUC, with full scholarships. We are looking for 10 motivated PhDs to work on research projects in Data Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Security, Privacy, Advanced Biotechnological, Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Microbiology & Molecular Biology, Nanomaterials & Biomedical Sensors, Bioinformatics & Modeling, and their applications in Smart Health. PhD students are expected to develop innovative solutions for large-scale, high-impact, real-world problems in modern healthcare.
About UIUC
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is a public research university in Illinois, U.S., that was founded in 1867. With over 35,000 undergraduate and 20,500 graduate students, UIUC is one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the U.S.. The university contains 16 schools and colleges and offers more than 150 undergraduate and over 100 graduate programs of study. The university holds 651 buildings on 2,578ha and its annual operating budget in 2016 was over $2 billion. The alumni, faculty members, or researchers of the university have been awarded 24 Nobel Prizes, 29 Pulitzer Prizes, and the Fields Medal in Mathematics. According to the U.S News & World Report’s Graduate and Undergraduate Rankings, the Grainger College of Engineering at UIUC is ranked 5th in undergraduate engineering and 7th in graduate overall. The graduate programs in Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Materials Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering are all ranked in the top 5.
PhD training program
Selected candidates will work towards their PhD degree granted by either VinUni or UIUC and be co-advised by faculty from both universities. During their PhD studies, VISHC PhD students will spend 2 years studying and conduct research at the other university and can optionally seek a master’s degree from that university. As a Ph.D. student, you will take courses that will lead towards a Ph.D. and allow you to gain various skills and expertise to support your future career, whether in industry or academia. PhD students are expected to publish enough papers at top peer-reviewed journals and conferences according to the standards of world-class universities.
Qualifications
This opportunity is open to Vietnamese students, both within and outside VinUni, who hold at least a Bachelor’s degree in fields such as engineering, computer science, health sciences, or a related area. To be eligible, applicants should exhibit strong academic performance, with a GPA of 3.2 or higher. PhD candidates to UIUC must fulfill all the graduate admission criteria at UIUC, including meeting the specified English proficiency standards. Applicants should have strong interest in advancing innovative biotechnology and digital technologies aimed at enhancing healthcare.
Scholarships and Financial Support
This program will cover all tuition fees, living expenses, health insurance, round-trip airfare, and related expenses for VISHC PhD students. Financial support for VISHC PhD students while they are at UIUC is provided by the Vingroup Scholarship Program for Overseas Study for Master’s and Doctoral Degrees. VISHC PhD students will receive a stipend of 10,000 USD/year when they study at VinUni and 25,000 USD/year when they study at UIUC.
Application Procedure
Applicable PhD Programs at UIUC:
Applicable PhD program at VinUni:
Submit your application
Please complete all the required documents, including your CV, academic transcript and English certificates and submit your application via this application portal by the deadline mentioned above: Global Exchange Application Portal. If you have any questions, please contact the VinUni-Illinois Smart Health Center via shc@vinuni.edu.vn.
