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Dual Degree PhD Program in Computer Science / Informatics

CMU Portugal

The Dual Degree PhD program in Computer Science / Informatics is driven by the following main objectives:

  • Promote the education of high-quality researchers, instructors, and innovation agents in Computer Science
  • Offer a specialization based on a broad knowledge in Computer Science/Informatics
  • Support collaborative research between CSD/CMU and the Portuguese Institution
  • Enforce rigorous quality control and assessment procedures

Collaborative Framework

The CSD/CMU and the Portuguese Institution shall be equal partners in the education of the doctoral student. All students are held to the highest scientific standards and must satisfy all requirements of both the renowned CSD/CMU PhD in Computer Science and of the DI FCT UNL PhD Program in Computer Science. The expected duration of the program is expected to be around five years of full time work.

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Carnegie Mellon University

Program Structure

The Dual Degree Program is based on a matching of requirements of both the CMU and UNL PhD Programs. Each student will be co-advised by a CSD/CMU faculty member and a faculty member of the Portuguese Institution.

The student is expected to spend a first period of three to four semesters at CSD/CMU. In this period, the student shall take star courses (as specified by CMU/CSD regulations) and start working on research. Arrangements will be made for the Portuguese co-advisor (e.g., from DI FCT UNL) to visit CSD/CMU during the period in which the student is based at CMU.

It is envisioned that the Departamento de Informática FCT UNL will contribute with star courses subject to accreditation by CMU/CSD in the near future.

The second period, whose duration is to be determined by the co-advisors, shall be spent at the Portuguese Institution, where the student is expected to continue with the research work.

At the end of the second year, the student must submit a report that includes a doctoral research plan and a survey or research paper. The nature and structure of this report and its oral presentation, must fulfill the CMU oral and written communication requirements (Qualifying Exam), as well as the requirements of the doctoral research plan as defined by the Portuguese Institution. The oral presentation should be given at the CMU Speakers Club in the early months of the third year. The Portuguese advisor should attend the presentation either in person or via videoconference. The student must also fulfill the CSD/CMU teaching requirement.

The remaining time until completion of the thesis shall be divided between research stays at CSD/CMU and the Portuguese Institution. The schedule should be flexible to fit the needs of the doctoral research project. It is expected that the student shall spend approximately half of the time at CMU and the other half at the Portuguese Institution.

By the end of the third or the fourth year the student must present the thesis proposal formally at CSD/CMU, following the standard CSD/CMU procedures. The Portuguese co-advisor should attend the oral presentation and discussion of the Thesis Proposal at CSD/CMU or via videoconference.

The public oral thesis defense will take place either at CMU or at the Portuguese Institution, according to the rules of the CSD PhD program. The thesis evaluation committee must include both the CMU and the Portuguese co-advisors, members of the advisory committee, and external reviewers.

OPEN Application Procedure at CMU (deadline 15 December 2008)

Interested candidates must submit the application elements directly to the Carnegie-Mellon Department of Computer Science, mentioning "Ph.D. in Computer Science/Dual Degree Portugal". All information about applications, and access to the application site may be found at the URL:

http://www.csd.cs.cmu.edu/education/phd/portugal.html

A call for Scholarships is open (until 31 December 2008), please see the call at FCT MCTES:

CMU Portugal ICTI Call for Applications for Doctoral Program Scholarships 2008

Important Note: Some elements of the application (letters of recommendation, TOEFL and GRE scores) may be sent later on, with decisions pending on conditional submissions of all required materials.

The following items

  • Curriculum Vitae;
  • Transcripts of grades and proofs of the capabilities described in the eligibility conditions, which apply to the candidate; 
  • Three recommendation letters;
  • Letter of intent mentioning reasons and expectations of the application to the program;

should also be sent to:

CMUPORTUGAL/UNL
Departamento de Informática
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia
Universidade Nova de Lisboa
Quinta da Torre, 2829 -516 CAPARICA, PORTUGAL

 

Please contact CMUPORTUGAL@di.fct.unl.pt for further information.