The Centre for Sustainable Road Freight has over the last 7 years developed an international reputation for using large scale high fidelity computer models to understand how logistics might be organised differently. The centre has focused on solutions that will deliver net zero carbon emissions and therefore reflect the emerging energy transitions.
Over that period the centre has secured in excess of £3m research funding per year and developed a international network of collaborators including University of Cambridge, University of Westminster, and several internationals partners in India, China, and Africa.
These two Research Associate posts offer the successful candidates an outstanding opportunity to develop their research career, by engaging with a close-knit international community of researchers on a range of well-funded research projects. These are Grade 7 posts.
The successful candidates will report directly to the Principal investigator Prof Phil Greening and be responsible for leading the agent based modelling activity. They will be important members of the logistics modelling team and will be expected to integrate this research into the broader logistics research carried out by the centre. Whilst the initial appointment is for 24 months there are several related (funded) projects scheduled to start at the end of this project which present potential research opportunities out to 2024.
Detailed Description
This programme brings together teams from Herriot Watt University, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Westminster: providing a multidisciplinary focus on the research needed to enable and underpin radical measures to decarbonise the UK’s road freight transport sector.
The researchers are augmented by a consortium of 22 industrial partners, drawn from users, suppliers and participants in the road logistics sector. These industrial members provide advice and guidance as well as a rapid route to prototyping and implementation of solutions.
The first 5-year programme, conducted by the same team, laid the foundations and showed that radical measures are necessary to hit the UK Government’s CO2 reduction targets. It also showed that integration between logistics solutions, vehicle technology, and policy measures is essential. This experience has shaped the design of the proposed programme.
The new research programme will run for 5 years and has three themes: (i) data collection and management, (ii) logistics systems, and (iii) vehicle technology. A portfolio of 23 projects spans the themes.
The agent based modelling of the freight system is the central integrating element of the SRF’s five-year research programme. Almost every project in the Centre will be part of it.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
The post holders are required to:
- Design, build, test and implement a sophisticated agent based model reflecting the specific nature of a sustainable cold chain
- Design and implement a sophisticated design of experiments
- Provide regular updates and progress reports to the project team
- Generate academic output associated with the research activity
- Work closely with other members of the research centre and project partners…
- Analyse the results of the computer experiments
Education, Qualifications and Experience
Essential Criteria
- PhD in a related subject (computer modelling of supply chains/logistics, agent based modelling, sustainable logistics, or energy transitions)
- A good publication track record relevant to the project
- Good data analytical skills/capability
Desirable Criteria
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Familiarity with the challenges of the cold chain
How to apply
There are two positions at grade 7, salary £32,817. Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on 4th July 2021.
At Heriot-Watt University we understand that being diverse makes us better which is why we support a culture of respect and equal opportunity, and value diversity at the heart of what we do. We want to increase the diversity of our workplace to underpin a dynamic and creative environment.
We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options.
Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.comses.net/jobs/519/