Fully Funded PhD Opportunities at University of Houston, USA

Applications are now open for multiple fully funded Ph.D. positions in the Behavioral Machine Learning & Systems Lab at the University of Houston. These positions are led by incoming Assistant Professor Ekin Uğurel and focus on developing machine learning methods for complex engineered systems involving human-AI interactions, with strong emphasis on transportation, logistics, urban mobility, energy, and large-scale infrastructure.

The opportunities start in Fall 2026, Spring 2027, or Fall 2027. This is a fully funded program offering competitive stipends, full tuition remission, and comprehensive health insurance to accepted students. Candidates from diverse backgrounds can apply directly via email (informal initial contact) or through the regular graduate application process. There is no application fee mentioned for the initial email inquiry; standard university application fees may apply only if pursuing the formal December cycle for Fall 2027. You can check out BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here.

Key Details:

• Degree Level: Ph.D.
• Host Country: United States
• Host Institution: University of Houston
• Department: Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Funding Type: Fully funded
• Open to All Nationalities
• Priority Deadlines (general dept): March 15 (Fall priority), May 15 (regular Fall), October 15 (Spring)

What This Scholarship Offers:

• Competitive monthly stipend / financial support for living expenses
• Full tuition remission
• Comprehensive health insurance coverage
• Opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research in human-AI interaction, behavioral modeling, and large-scale systems
• Access to strong industry partnerships in Houston (energy, aerospace, logistics, healthcare)
• Mentorship in a new lab with focus on impactful, real-world applications
• Professional growth through publications, collaborations, and career opportunities in academia/industry

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Eligibility Criteria:

Ideal candidates should meet most of these qualifications:

• Hold or be pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant field
• Proficient in object-oriented programming and comfortable with computational tools
• Strong background and genuine interest in at least one core area: operations research (optimization), machine learning (deep or reinforcement learning), statistical learning, travel behavior modeling, or supply chain/logistics

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Eligible Fields / Backgrounds

• Civil Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Applied Mathematics
• Statistics
• Economics
• Geography
• Urban Planning
• Related fields (e.g., Systems Engineering, Computer Science with relevant focus)

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How to Apply:

Two pathways are available:

1. Informal / Early Contact (Recommended for all start terms)

• Email: [email protected]
• Subject line: “Prospective Student – [YOUR FULL NAME]”
• Attach:
  • Updated CV
  • Academic transcript(s)
  • Brief research statement (explaining your interests and fit)

2. Regular Graduate Application (Primarily for Fall 2027 intake)

• Apply through the official University of Houston Graduate School portal during the December application cycle
• Follow department guidelines for Industrial & Systems Engineering Ph.D. program
• Note: Priority funding consideration often requires meeting early deadlines (e.g., Dec 1)

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