Programm overview
The DZD Health Data Scientist & AI Certificate Program (DZD HeaDS) is a two-year advanced training initiative designed to attract STEM students and early-career doctoral researchers to data-driven health research. The program is coordinated by the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) and integrates participants into an interdisciplinary network of experts in health research in general as well as diabetes and metabolism research in particular. Participants will gain hands-on experience in health data collection, standardization, analysis, and innovation through a modular curriculum and collaborative projects.
Target Group and Duration
The program is aimed at Master and PhD students in Europe from non-medical STEM disciplines who possess basic knowledge in information technology and programming. The modules run over a time course of 2 years, starting in May 2026.
The program is structured into:
- A Module: 3 introductory modules (Refresher courses can be elected according to one’s own prior knowledge)
- B Module: 5 obligatory modules
- C Module: 2 accompanying optional modules
Each introductory and obligatory module has a duration of approximately 2 full working days. Detailed content can be obtained from the module overview section below.
Applications Now Open!
Application is possible until December 15, 2025 via the Online Application Form
It is possible to save and edit the application after submission until the application deadline at December 15, 2025. For this, you will need a free Microsoft account.
Selection
The program will admit 30 trainees. Participants will be selected by an interdisciplinary selection committee according to their convincing outline what drives them into health data research and how they will benefit from the program. Incomplete applications cannot be considered. We are aiming at a balanced group composition in terms of gender and diverse academic backgrounds.
Admissions will be announced in February 2026.
A-1
Kick off workshop: Get to know peers and research topics
A-1
Kick off workshop: Get to know peers and research topics
A-2
Refresher: Concepts of translational diabetes research
A-2
Refresher: Concepts of translational diabetes research
Date: June 2026 | Location: webinars - optional
Recommended for participants with little or no prior knowledge in health research. Topics will be basic anatomical and physiological principles of human bodies, pathogenesis of selected diseases, concept of precision medicine and basics of clinical study design.
A-3
Refresher: Current IT approaches in data-driven health research
A-3
Refresher: Current IT approaches in data-driven health research
Date: July 2026 | Location: webinars - optional
Essential for participants with little or no prior knowledge in computer science, recommended for all. The course refreshes knowledge in machine learning and deep learning. Introduction to standards of modern programming style (GitHub, version control, open source etc.).
