EPSRC Funded Research Opportunities:

   Novel Meta-heuristic Research Directions in Healthcare Personnel Rostering

          Post-doctoral Research Assistant and PhD Studentship

             School of Computer Science & Information Technology
          Automated Scheduling, Optimisation & Planning (ASAP) group
                         University of Nottingham


The ASAP group
--------------
The main aim of the Automated Scheduling, Optimisation and Planning group
is to conduct research into models, heuristics and algorithms for
automatically producing high quality solutions to a variety of real
world scheduling and optimisation problems, including timetabling,
scheduling, logistics, space allocation and stock cutting. The group
focuses on adventurous basic research across a variety of scheduling
and optimisation domains while ensuring that its work remains
highly relevant to difficult problems occurring in industrial and commercial
environments. Indeed, one of the over-riding aims of the group is that its
research should underpin the development of tomorrow's scheduling and
optimisation systems.  With this goal in mind, the group maintains strong
links with, and attracts funding support from, a range of commercial and
industrial organisations.  Research carried out within the group has provided
the basis for commercially available systems in hospital personnel scheduling
and university examination timetabling. The group comprises five members
of academic staff, two administrators, eight postdoctoral research
assistants and 24 PhD students.

A Brief Description of the project
--------------------------------------
This EPSRC funded project will attempt to exploit recent research advances
in scheduling/timetabling technology which have opened up a range of
exciting and ambitious research directions in the crucially important
area of healthcare personnel scheduling/rostering.  The project will
deal with a wide range of healthcare personnel rostering problems including
nurse scheduling, doctor scheduling and the scheduling of clinics. A position
is open for a post-doctoral research assistant and a PhD studentship.

The Post-doctoral Research Position
-----------------------------------
Candidates should hold a PhD (or be close to completing a PhD) in Computer
Science, Operational Research or a related subject. Experience in
meta-heuristics and optimisation research would be highly desirable.

Salary will be within the range 20,311 pounds - 22,191 pounds per annum,
depending on qualifications and experience.  This EPSRC funded post is
available from 1st July 2003 and will be offered on a fixed-term contract for
a period of 3 years.


The PhD Studentship
-------------------
Candidates are sought for a fully funded EPSRC PhD studentship.  The
studentship will provide an annual stipend of 8000 pounds per annum and
home tuition fees.

Academic Supervisor:   Prof. Edmund Burke, Automated Scheduling, Optimisation
                       and Planning Group, School of Computer Science and
                       Information Technology, University of Nottingham

Collaborating companies: ORTEC Consultants BV & Gower Optimal Algorithms Ltd


Application Process
-------------------
Interested candidates should send a CV which includes the names and addresses
of 3 referees to Alison Payne ([log in to unmask]) at the following
address:

School of Computer Science and IT, University of Nottingham, Jubilee
Campus, Nottingham NG8 1BB, UK.

Closing date: 30th May 2003.