PhD Studentship in Optimisation and River Infrastructure Planning
Kent Business School
University of Kent

Applications are invited for a full-time PhD studentship in the area of Optimisation and River Infrastructure Planning starting (ideally) in January 2011. The studentship, which is supported through an EPSRC Doctoral Training Grant, will involve working on an interdisciplinary research project entitled “Next Generation Decision Planning Methods for River Infrastructure Placement and Mitigation” under the supervision of Dr Jesse O’Hanley. The main objective of the project is to develop novel optimisation models for prioritising river infrastructure removal and other mitigation activities, as well as identifying sites for future river infrastructure expansion, while taking into account a host of key environmental/ecological impacts (e.g. stream flow, sediment transport, water quality, habitat availability and fish dispersal) and socioeconomic impacts (e.g. recreation, fishing, water supply, flood control and hydropower generation). Multi-objective and stochastic integer programming techniques will be investigated together with exact/heuristic solution methods. Further, depending on the student’s interests, application of Bayesian statistical methods may also be explored.

The PhD student will join the Management Science group within the Kent Business School. The Management Science group is one of the largest and top rated research groups in the UK. Further advanced training in operational research and statistics is available through the EPSRC’s NATCOR programme. As part of the project, the PhD will also have the opportunity to reside for up to one academic term in the US in order to work and study under the guidance of a leading academic (Prof Michael Kuby) from the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning at Arizona State University. Prof Kuby specialises in the field of optimisation and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applied to transportation, energy, and environmental planning. Additional short-term visits to Scotland in order to work and liaise with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the main external project partner, may also be required.

The studentship covers Home/EU fees and provides a monthly stipend (approximately £13,500 p.a). Only UK/EU citizens are eligible to apply. The ideal candidate would normally be expected to hold a 2:1 or First class honours degree plus an MSc, or equivalently an upper 5-year undergraduate degree if coming from Europe, with a background in operational research, mathematics, statistics, computer science or some other quantitative discipline relating to the project. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential. Knowledge of or experience in the use of one or more of the following is highly desirable: optimisation modelling, algorithm design, CPLEX (or some other optimisation software package), computer programming (preferably C/C++ or Java), inferential statistics, GIS, environmental economics, ecological/environmental modelling. Applications will be assessed based on previous academic achievements and relevant skills. 

How to Apply

Applications should be sent to Claire Baldock, Research Secretary, Kent Business School, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7PE, telephone 01227 823009, e-mail [log in to unmask] quoting EPSRC DTA PhD Studentship in the e-mail subject. Further details regarding the studentship are available through the web link below:

http://www.kent.ac.uk/kbs/documents/staff/ohanley/studentship.html

Applications should be sent electronically and include all of the following materials:

• A cover letter explaining your specific interest in the research project, relevant training and skills appropriate to working on the project, and long-term career goals 
• A curriculum vitae (CV)
• Official transcript(s) of your undergraduate/postgraduate degrees
• Names and contact information of two references (one of which must be from an academic institution you have studied at) who can supply letters of support if short-listed for the position
• Any English qualifications obtained if English is not your first language

Informal enquiries may be directed by email to: 

Dr Jesse O’Hanley, Kent Business School, e-mail [log in to unmask] 
 
Completed applications should be received no later than:  15 September 2010