*Call for Applications for PhD Student Positions*

Centre for Software Engineering

School of Computing, Telecommunication and Network

Faculty of Technology, Engineering and Networks

Birmingham City University



The Centre for Software Engineering t Birmingham City University calls for
applications to PhD student positions in its focus research areas. The
Centre is a new research centre formed in late 2013 with the appointments
of Professor Jonathan Bowen to the Chair of Computer Science and Professor
Zhiming Liu to the Chair for Software Engineering. The Centre works in the
area of both empirical and formal software engineering, encouraging
interdisciplinary research. The Centre undertakes research to make strong
connections between theories of software and engineering practice.  The
focus research is in the areas of



·         *Theory and Methods of Modelling and Programming: *Model-driven
software development - rich Architectural Modelling, verification, testing
and validation, refinement; transformational approach to real-time
scheduling, control synthesis, and fault-tolerance; rapid prototyping;
unifying theories of modelling & programming; modular and distributed
Ontologies.

·         *Systems Wide*: Hybrid systems, cyber-physical systems (CPS),
web-services & cloud computing, and industrial control systems (i.e.
networks of smart sensors, meters and control systems).

·         *Technology and Tools: *UML-based Eclipse Plug-ins, Theorem
Proving & Model Checking, Semantic Preserving Model Transformations, Rapid
Prototyping, Tool Integration (supported by unified semantics), Simulation,
(Business Workflow Analysis & Simulation).

·         *Applications: *Healthcare, Environment Health/Care*, *Enterprise
Systems, Transportation, Business Modelling, Medical Devices; Green
Technology and economy, and smart cities.

·         *Challenging Issues* Integrating heterogeneous and distributed
components and their platforms, digital components with big data and their
interaction protocols; interfaces between digital and physical components;
dependability (availability, reliability, safety, integrity,
maintainability); security (privacy/confidentiality); integrating new
components into legacy systems and reuse legacy components in new systems.



*Scholarships*



Applicants compete for a range of financial support through scholarships,
from full bursaries that cover fees and a tax-free stipend to support
living costs, through bursaries that cover fees a stipend to support
partial living costs, to fee waivers. The Centre also provides positions to
self-funded students. The fees are currently £3,900 for Home/EU students
(£1,950 for part-time) and  £10,500 for non-EU students (£5,250 for
part-time). A full studentship covers the cost of tuition fees, and a
stipend. In the 2014/2015 academic year, the stipend is £13,863 per annum.



*Research Environment*



Computing is an area that the Vice Chancellor has decided to support in
developing research. Three research oriented professors and a reader have
been appointed recently, and a number of further appointments including two
in the Centre for Software Engineering are to be made. The Centre works in
close collaboration with the Centres/labs for Cyber Security, Digital Media
Technology, Low Carbon Research, Environment and Society Research, and
Knowledge Based Engineering, and with the SISCO Academy. The Faculty has a
strong link to car industry, enterprise companies and close collaboration
with the health sector. The Centre enjoys wide contacts and collaborations
in developing countries, as well as in  industrial countries, Europe and
North America in particular.



*How to Apply*



Applications should be submitted through the Faculty of Technology,
Engineering and Environment (TEE) by email to Sue Witton through email by
the address [log in to unmask] following the procedure given at
http://www.bcu.ac.uk/tee/research/phd-mphil.





If you have queries about PhD positions in the Centre, please email
Professor Zhiming Liu ([log in to unmask]) and/or Professor Jonathan
Bowen ([log in to unmask]).  Also, you are suggested that having
applied through the TEE faculty system, please also notify Professor Liu
and Professor Bowen via email, so that they can follow up your applications.


--
Prof. Jonathan Bowen
Professor of Computer Science, Birmingham City University
Emeritus Professor, London South Bank University
Chairman, Museophile Limited
http://www.jpbowen.com