PhD in Personal Health Informatics
Northeastern University offers the nation’s only PhD in Personal Health Informatics — an interdisciplinary program run jointly with Khoury College and the Bouvé College of Health Sciences that prepares you with the technical expertise you need to be a transformational leader in health. You’ll collaborate with partners throughout Boston’s vibrant health care community as you explore innovations that empower patients to live healthy lives.
Research, funding, and career prospects
Research with world-class faculty
Collaborate with world-class researchers in state-of-the-art facilities as you produce and defend original research in your chosen area.
Internships with industry leaders
You’ll gain industry exposure, build important connections, and form new perspectives on the impact of your work through internship opportunities at forward-thinking companies like:
- Samsung Digital Health
- US Veterans Administration Healthcare
- Philips Healthcare
- Microsoft Research
Graduate assistantships and fellowships
Northeastern University and Khoury College of Computer Sciences offer a number ways to help finance your PhD education, including funding packages and fellowships. Financial support varies based on program and research funding availability.
Career prospects across industry and academia
This program will prepare you for research, academic positions, or a career at the intersection of health, information technology, and data science. Career prospects include:
- Tenure-track faculty
- Postdoctoral research scientist
- Health informatics consultant
- Data scientist
- Public health analyst
Learning outcomes
Students graduating with a PhD in Personal Health Informatics will:
- Apply leading theories of health behavior change and leverage them in the design of automated patient- and consumer-facing health interventions.
- Design PHI interventions for a range of populations using state-of-the-art technologies.
- Create rigorous evaluation studies for PHI interventions that meet medical research standards.
- Produce and defend original PHI research.
- Learn to articulate research results orally and in writing.
Program available at this Northeastern campus
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Boston
Located in the heart of Boston, Northeastern’s oldest campus is home to a vibrant community of students, researchers, and faculty working across disciplines to build a better world through CS.
Application and admissions FAQs
Deadline: December 15 for fall admission
Virtual information sessions
The Khoury PhD Admissions Committee holds virtual information sessions every fall. Six sessions focus on specific research areas, and faculty presenters will discuss specific research opportunities in those areas. One session will focus on Khoury College’s efforts to support applicants from underrepresented groups in computing. These sessions allow applicants to share their concerns about the application process and get connected to resources and support. Attendees will also be provided a special code that will waive the program application fee.
Advance registration is required.
How do I apply to this program?
Our PhD Apply page has everything you need to know about applying to the PhD in Personal Health Informatics program at Khoury College, including:
- Admissions requirements
- Deadlines
- Resources and contact information
Who can I contact with questions?
Get answers to your questions about our PhD programs from the graduate admissions team. We’re here to help!
Faculty spotlight
Get to know the engaged, experienced professors who are here to support you every step of the way.
Stephen Intille
Stephen Intille is a professor at Khoury College, jointly appointed with the Bouvé College of Health Sciences. Using ideas from ubiquitous computing, user-interface design, pattern recognition, behavioral science, and preventative medicine, he develops technologies that measure and motivate health-related behaviors.
Institutes and Centers
Where engaged students, expert faculty, experienced research scientists, and industry and government partners work together to solve big challenges.
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