The School of Public Health at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) is inviting applications for multiple fully funded Ph.D. positions starting in Spring and Fall 2025. These positions provide a competitive stipend along with full coverage of tuition, fees, health insurance benefits, and travel support for conferences.
Ph.D. students will work under the mentorship of Dr. Kaiming Bi, applying advanced modeling and data analytic methods to address pressing public health challenges. Students will also have opportunities to collaborate closely with the Center for Health Care Data (CHCD), Center for Spatial Temporal Modeling for Applications in Population Sciences (CSMAPS), and the Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI). Upon joining, students will work with Dr. Bi to co-develop a research agenda, focusing on one or more of the following areas:
(1), Modeling Infectious Disease Dynamics: Developing models to study population-level disease transmission and forecasting the prevalence of infectious diseases.
(2), Spatial and Patient-Level Data Integration: Using granular data to explore spatial heterogeneity across various public health topics, including infectious diseases, chronic diseases, and opioid overdoses.
(3), Machine Learning and Statistical Modeling: Designing models to uncover correlations in public health data and generate predictive insights.
(4), Public Health Policy Evaluation: Employing mathematical models and machine learning approaches to evaluate the impact of public health policies.

Eligibility Requirements:
(1), A B.S. or M.S. degree in Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science, Computer Science, or a closely related field (M.S. preferred).
(2), Strong quantitative skills in modeling, statistics, and data analytics (experience in digital twins and deep learning is a plus).
(3), Interest in solving public health challenges, particularly in infectious diseases (prior experience recommended but not required).
(4), Self-motivation and a strong passion for research (a demonstrated track record of publications will be prioritized).

How to apply:
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. Interested candidates should send their CV to Dr. Kaiming Bi at Kaiming.Bi@uth.tmc.edu. Before submitting a formal application, Dr. Bi will work with candidates to identify the most suitable program within the School of Public Health. More information about the Ph.D. programs can be found here: SPH Ph.D. Programs.

About UT Health Houston:
Founded in 1972, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) is a premier academic health center and a key institution within the Texas Medical Center (TMC)—the largest medical complex in the world. Located in Houston, UTHealth provides unparalleled opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and professional growth. TMC employs over 106,000 people, facilitates 10 million patient encounters annually, and is home to world-renowned institutions like Texas Children’s Hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center. For motivated students passionate about advancing public health through cutting-edge research, UTHealth Houston offers a supportive and vibrant environment to launch your academic and professional career.