We are looking for highly motivated PhD and MS students to join our Intelligent Data Management Lab. Financial support for deserving PhD students are available. Ideally, we would like potential students to contact us about 8-12 months before the intended program entrance date. Definitely 6-9 months before applying for admission. This is mainly because we prefer to work with the potential student for a while to see if there is a match in interest and research focus. While this page will change from time to time, interested students are encouraged to complete one of the test projects on this page to demonstrate eligibility. Background research on these topics could be found on my DBLP publication list.
We currently have several fully funded PhD positions available in the database research group at the University of Idaho. The positions are as follows:
Learning Technology: We are developing tutoring systems for database classes and a computational thinking classes. We are interested in developing algorithms to generate helpful feedback on SQL/Relational Algebra, and C++/Python/Java assignments and tests to improve learning and enhance engagement. We are also interested in developing and authentic assessment system to evaluate student tests based on their creative thinking and problem solving abilities. An extension to this vision is to design and develop a tutoring and assessment system for Thinking Machines using machine learning.
Machine Learning and AI: We are developing inverse machine learning techniques to design quantum dyes with specific properties, computational protein design to reverse engineer proteins from specifications, predict material properties from 3D structures, and image analysis to classify objects (wind turbines damages to support sustainability, and land covers and crop damages to aid precision agriculture). We have a special ML project to implement a declarative machine learning query language MQL over a database engine. Use of generative AI such as ChatGPT is increasing in our lab. We are developing chatbots to support exploratory and conversational computing for all these applications. Text mining using GenAI of scientific literature is a significant and developing focus.
Scientific Inquiries: Data integration, deep web search and information retrieval techniques are combined GenAI technologies to develop scientific hypotheses testing over linked open data. The goal is to generate computational artifacts for a textual hypothesis using internet resources fully automatically to respond to scientific inquiries.
An ideal candidate for any of these projects will have a master degree in computer science and will have significant experience in databases, machine learning techniques including supervised and unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning preferably in the area of materials science or biology, literature mining, or advanced interface design for machine learning applications.
The positions are available from Fall 2025. Interested students may visit the UI College of Graduate Studies admissions page at https://www.uidaho.edu/admissions/graduate/graduate-programs/computer-science for more information and to submit applications. For more information or to discuss your suitability you may contact Hasan Jamil at jamil@uidaho.edu with copies of your transcripts and resume.