Northwestern University Fully Funded PhD in Statistics and Data Science

PhD @Northwestern University posted 3 weeks ago

Job Description

Northwestern University offers a fully funded Ph.D. program in Statistics and Data Science through its Department of Statistics and Data Science. This program provides comprehensive financial support to admitted doctoral students, enabling them to focus on their academic and research pursuits.

Program Overview

Degree: Ph.D. in Statistics and Data Science
Institution: Northwestern University
Department: Department of Statistics and Data Science
Program Structure: Full-time, research-intensive, typically completed in 5 years
Research Areas:
- Statistical Machine Learning
- Bayesian Inference
- Computational Biology
- Experimental Design
- Bioinformatics
- Survey Sampling
- Applications in Biomedical Sciences, Social Sciences, Law, and Public Policy

The program emphasizes interdisciplinary training, offering a comprehensive statistics and data science curriculum and opportunities for students to engage in cutting-edge research under the mentorship of nationally and internationally renowned faculty. Students can tailor the program to meet their academic interests and career goals, with cross-disciplinary work encouraged. The program prepares students for careers as university teachers and researchers, as well as research statisticians in industry, government, and the non-profit sector.

Funding Package

All admitted Ph.D. students receive comprehensive financial support, which includes:

Tuition and Fees: Full coverage.
Stipend: Competitive annual stipend of at least $45,000 for the 2024–25 academic year, provided through University Fellowships, Teaching Assistantships (TA), or Research Assistantships (RA).
Health Insurance: Fully subsidized health insurance coverage.

Students are guaranteed funding for five academic years and five summers, provided they maintain satisfactory academic standing. In the first year, students are typically supported by university fellowships to focus on core coursework. In years two through four, support generally comes from teaching assistantships during the academic year and research fellowships in the summer. During the fifth year, students are typically supported by a combination of teaching assistantships and research fellowships. In some cases, a sixth-year student may obtain financial support through a faculty member’s research fund or from the department if a TA position is available, contingent upon satisfactory academic progress.

Ph.D. students are strongly encouraged to apply for external grants during their doctoral careers. Receipt of external awards is a significant advantage in their career development. In addition, students receiving external funding may receive supplemental pay in addition to their university base salary.

Admission Requirements

Academic Background: A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., mathematics, statistics, computer science) from an accredited institution.
Prerequisites: Courses in linear algebra, advanced calculus, and statistics.
Application Materials:
- Completed online application form through The Graduate School (TGS) of Northwestern University.
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- Statement of purpose detailing research interests and career goals.
- Resume or curriculum vitae (CV).
- GRE scores (required).
- TOEFL scores for non-native English speakers (minimum score of 90).