NeuroGen Computing: Exploring Gender and Neurodiversity in Computer Science
PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE at University of Copenhagen
This is a specialised course where 50% of the seats are reserved for PhD students enrolled at the Faculty of SCIENCE at UCPH and 50% of the seats are reserved for PhD students at other faculties and universities. Seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and according to the applicable rules.
Anyone can apply for the course, but if you are not a PhD student, you will be placed on the waiting list until enrollment deadline. After the enrollment deadline, available seats will be allocated to applicants on the waiting list.
To register, applicants must send a 1-page motivation letter to Jenny-Margrethe Vej, jvej@di.ku.dk, by February 19th, 2026.
Please note that all applicants will be placed on the waiting list upon registration.
Deadline for registrations end March 1st, 2026. Students will be informed about acceptance within 1 week, from the deadline of registration.
Aim and Content
The PhD course will provide insights and inspirations into the contemporary and multidisciplinary research field of computer science educational research within the domain diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) considering intersectional perspectives on gender and neurodiversity.
The purpose of the course is to provide PhD students working within Human Centred Computing insights into key discussions, challenges, and approaches while positioning their own research within the field.
Learning outcomes
Intended learning outcome for the students who complete the course:
Knowledge:
• Knowledge on diverse empirical, methodological, interventionists, and theoretical approaches towards DEIB research considering gender and neurodiversity in computer science research in higher education
• Insights into the scientific basis and embedded challenges within DEIB research in computer science research in higher education
Skills:
• Identify, evaluate, develop research questions and methodological approaches pushing the agenda of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in computer science research
• Discuss and participate in DEIB academic international discussions within the domain of computer science higher education creating novel contributions
Competences:
• Identify and situate research questions within the larger academic discussions on DEIB in higher education within computer science research
• Demonstrate and argue for choices of research methods and theoretical approaches for conducting DEIB research in computer science
• Plan and structure research activities to explore research questions within DEIB in complex computer science contexts
Target Group
The PhD course is relevant for PhD fellows conducting research with Human Centred Computing broadly, with an interest in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging as fundamental aspects of their PhD research.
Recommended Academic Qualifications
Documented interests and connection with Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging as fundamental aspects of their PhD research, within the field of human centred computing.
Research Area
Human Centred Computing; Human computer interaction; Computer supported cooperative work; Computer Science Higher Education
Teaching and Learning Methods
Seminars in the forms of lectures, discussions in the form of theoretical and practical exercises, group work, and individual work. The workload is distributed like this:
Preparation: 31.25 hours
Lectures: 18.75 hours
Practical exercises: 3.75 hours
Theoretical exercises: 15 hours
Type of Assessment
Students must be physically present the whole week, and participate actively in the discussions, group work, and seminars. Two weeks after the course end, students must submit a small assignment (2 pages), with a research proposal connecting all elements of the course, including research question, literature, methodological consideration, theoretical framework etc. In the assignment students must demonstrate the learning objectives of the course, and will be evaluate by the course organizers.
Literature
There is a syllabus, which will be available at neurogencomputing.dk
Course coordinator
Professor Pernille Bjørn, Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen
Guest Lecturers
Professor Margaret Burnett, distinguished Professor of Computer Science, Oregon State University, USA
Associate Professor Andrew Begel, Associate Professor of Computer Science in the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Clinical psychiatrist Casper Buchardt Westergaard, Dr. Med., Psychiatrist, specialized in neurodiversity
Dates
The course is organized as a one-week course and will take place Monday April 27th-Friday May 1st, 2026, and be structured into seminars, groupwork, and supervision.
There will also be pre-readings, as well as an individual assignment which needs to be handled Friday May 15th, 2026.
Expected frequency
One time event
Course location
See information on neurogencomputing.dk
Course fee
• Participant fee: DKK 2.500
• PhD student enrolled at SCIENCE: DKK 0
• PhD student from Danish PhD school Open market: DKK 0
• PhD student from Danish PhD school not Open market: DKK 3.000
• PhD student from foreign university: DKK 3.000
• Master's student from Danish university: DKK 0
• Master's student from foreign university: DKK 3.000
• Non-PhD student employed at a university (e.g., postdocs): DKK 3.000
• Non-PhD student not employed at a university (e.g., from a private company): DKK 8.400
Cancellation policy
• Cancellations made up to two weeks before the course starts are free of charge.
• Cancellations made less than two weeks before the course starts will be charged a fee of DKK 3.000
• Participants with less than 80% attendance cannot pass the course and will be charged a fee of DKK 5.000
• No-show will result in a fee of DKK 5.000
• Participants who fail to hand in any mandatory exams or assignments cannot pass the course and will be charged a fee of DKK 5.000
Course fee and participant fee
PhD courses offered at the Faculty of SCIENCE have course fees corresponding to different participant types.
In addition to the course fee, there might also be a participant fee.
If the course has a participant fee, this will apply to all participants regardless of participant
type - and in addition to the course fee.