Selectors

Head of Informatics Graduate School – Nigel Topham

ANC (Institute for Adaptive and Neural Computation) – Angus Chadwick

AIAI (Artificial Intelligence and its Applications Institute) – Siddharth Narayanaswamy

ICSA (Institute for Computing Systems Architecture) – Amir Shaikhha

ILCC (Institute for Language, Cognition and Computation) – Hao Tang [contact email: ilcc-admissions@inf.ed.ac.uk]

IPAB (Institute of Perception, Action and Behaviour) – Hakan Bilen 

LFCS (Laboratory for Foundations of Computer Science) – Liam O'Connor

PhD Cyber Security, Privacy and Trust – Liam O'Connor

PGR Selectors mailing list: pgr-selectors@inf.ed.ac.uk

The Postgraduate Research (PGR) Academic Selector is the first academic point of contact for all PGR admissions related enquiries relevant to their particular research institute.

Responsibilities include:

1) Gaining and maintaining an expert knowledge of current UoE admissions policies, School selection processes and available PhD scholarships (including T&Cs and eligibility criteria). Thus being able to provide expert advice and guidance to academic supervisors and institute colleagues on PGR recruitment and selection processes.     

2) Ensuring compliance with all UoE, College and School policies and regulations, relating to PGR selection and admission. This includes undertaking all relevant and necessary training (including but not limited to) admissions processes, selection procedures, interviewing techniques and EDI. 

3) Coordinating the process of PGR selection within their Institute, making sure that all their institute PGR (MScR, MPhil and PhD) applications are promptly processed. This includes ensuring that:

• Applicants are appropriately qualified (i.e. they meet and evidence the required programme entry requirements) for the PGR programmes onto which they wish to be admitted; and
• The research proposal is suitable for the student’s abilities and aligns with the research objectives of their institute and proposes supervisor; and
• The necessary facilities (e.g. computing, laboratory, adequate funding for consumables and training) can be provided;
• Suitable supervision teams are appointed to successful applicants for the expected duration of the student’s programme; and
• Assisting supervisors with the applicant interview process; ensuring that the School is compliant with UoE admissions and selection policies.

4) Ensuring that all their Institute PGR applications are promptly processed and that decisions (reject, interview, offer) are provided to IGS within the relevant deadlines. 

• This includes informing the IGS of decisions via submission of the SD webmark forms, ensuring that where an applicant is to be made an offer of admission, all the relevant information relating to the applicant, supervision teams, the conditions of the offer and associated scholarship funding is accurately provided to the IGS. 
• Selectors should be liasing with the Institute’s Portfolio Managers and Business Development Executives (BDE) to confirm the finer details relating to the T&Cs of PhD funding provided by external research grants/industry partners.   
• Providing individual feedback to applicants on their application/research proposal/reason for rejection, when it is requested, and within an appropriate timescale.

5) Engaging with, and participating in, the School’s Selectors Meetings (approx. 3 per year, between Jan and May) with a view of making decisions on who to award IGS managed PhD scholarships to.

6) Assisting the Head of Informatics Graduate School with developing new, or updating existing, School policies related to PGR recruitment, selection and supervision.

7) Helping review the School’s PG prospectus information, making sure published information on institute PGR programmes is factually accurate, and arrange appropriate activities (e.g. host Institute led PGR information sessions) for applicants invited to UoE PG Open Days.

8) Any other appropriate action required by the School, which specifically involves PGR selection, recruitment and PGR student enrolment activities.