Pilot Project
In 2016, the Research Council started to explore the possibility of starting five new researcher programs at five different universities. The background was the positive results from the researcher program in medicine. UiO selected computer science as its subject area in the new pilot project, to increase the recruitment of informatics students for a research career.
– Our students are really in demand in the labor market, receiving job offerings before they have completed their studies, says Professor Einar Broch Johnsen, who is UiO's representative in the National Panel for Researcher Pilot Programs.
Contribute to new knowledge
One of the objectives of the pilot project is to strengthen the link between research and education.
– We want to attract students with interest and talent for research early in their studies, says Professor Einar Broch Johnsen.
– Students will work with beneficial projects, and make their own discoveries by identifying, solving and testing problems. In this way, they can contribute to new knowledge, Professor Kristin Braa adds.
Talent development
The researcher program of informatics aims to attract students with high grades, enthusiasm, personal motivation and suitability. Personal counselors will be appointed to the pilot students, with close links to research groups at the Department. Students can choose a research project from a variety of subjects related to health information systems (HISP) or Big Data (Sirius).
– HISP is one of Norway's biggest success in the development of health information systems, Kristin Braa insists. We work with open source technology, and combine mobile, web and cloud solutions. This is innovative and sustainable. We go out of the lab and into the world.
– In SIRIUS we conduct research that directly entails innovation in business, Einar Broch Johnsen points ut. Through advanced optimization algorithms, we can solve specific issues. Smart systems and machine learning can lead to more accurate predictions and increased efficiency.
Kickstart
Some extra effort is required to complete the researcher program in addition to a regular bachelor and master's program, but students get a head start and can accelerate a research career.
– Hold on, it will be a blast, eagers Kristin Braa.
The researcher program of informatics will normally be approved as part of a Ph.D.
Scholarship
The Research Council of Norway offers scholarships of NOK 100 000, - per student. This will be implemented as a separate scholarship of NOK 50,000, - for the bachelor module and another NOK 50,000, - for the master's module.
Read more about the Researcher Program of Informatics (only in Norwegian).