We are in a time of extreme transformation of our society due to digitalization, and both Norway and the rest of the world need ICT specialists with high-level research competence.
When entering the PhD program at the Department of Informatics, candidates can specialize in one of seven research directions: algorithms, bioinformatics, machine learning, optimization, programming theory, reliable communication and visualization. The PhD candidates will be actively integrated in a research group and will be enrolled in the ICT Research School. The research school is a venue where the PhD candidates can get together, exchange experiences, learn new skills, are exposed to new ideas, and get career advice, regardless of their background and research groups.
Starting out as a traditional research career path, a PhD in informatics is now much more than just an academic degree. PhDs with a background in ICT are to an increasing degree highly sought after by the business sector, especially in the areas of energy and finance. Nowadays, more than 90% of informatics PhDs are getting jobs in the non-academic sector, and that regardless of their previous research specialization. The PhD candidates enrolled in the department’s PhD program are often offered jobs long before they finish their studies, including offers from both national and international academic institutions as well as large companies in Norway.
