Postgraduate Research Degree (EngD)
Integrating, representing and interacting with large-scale mobile and pervasive data
University of Bath and Sungard Vivista
The University of Bath and Sungard Vivista are recruiting a Research Engineer (RE) via the Engineering Doctorate (EngD) programme to investigate the effective management and use of data by front line public safety operatives such as police, fire and ambulance. The University of Bath is an internationally leading research-driven institution while SunGard Vivista is an internationally leading ICT and business support company providing systems and services to the UK public safety, criminal justice and government sectors. The EngD is an innovative alternative to the traditional PhD, better suited to the needs of industry and providing a more vocationally oriented doctorate. The EngD programme is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), with the aim of developing the UK's best research engineers for future leading roles in industry.

A key issue is the data blizzard faced by Sungard Vivista's customers (police, fire, ambulance etc), requiring innovative solutions. The research programme will focus on 3 areas: (i) How to integrate large volumes of data potentially in real time (e.g. voice, structured data, unstructured data, web, email etc); (ii) How to represent and interact with the data for large-scale event planning such as security at the Olympics (e.g. immersive environments, tangible interfaces, novel mobile and pervasive interaction techniques); (iii) How to mobilize the data, given widespread broadband wireless access (e.g. providing data on demand to personnel in the field, streaming body worn camera video back to control rooms etc). The RE will investigate novel methods, tools and techniques to enable highly usable and effective data management and interaction within these areas.

Research Engineers
The successful candidate will have a very strong background in a relevant discipline together with the ability to apply this strength in a leading industrial research environment. The RE will be registered for the EngD degree at the University of Bath, co-supervised by a member of academic staff and an industrial supervisor at Sungard Vivista. REs work on a project or series of projects that demonstrate innovation and are of direct industrial relevance. Research outcomes are expected to be at least to the same level as a PhD. REs spend three quarters of their time working directly with Sungard Vivista. The fourth quarter is spent undertaking Master's level training in systems engineering skills and specialist technical subjects directly related to their research, as well as developing management capabilities. Details of the EngD programme are available at www.cs.bath.ac.uk/pgr-admissions/engd.

Entry Requirements
The EngD is open to highly motivated candidates who have a minimum of an upper second-class honours degree or equivalent in an appropriate discipline. A lower undergraduate qualification is acceptable if supplemented with an appropriate postgraduate qualification (e.g. MBA/MSc) and/or substantial industrial experience. Applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in English.

Fees and Stipends
Research Engineers are fully funded by the EPSRC for four years and will receive an enhanced tax-free stipend of £17920 (2007/08 rate), plus a training allowance to attend conferences and workshops. UK nationals and EU nationals who have been resident in the UK for three years are eligible for full funding. EU nationals who have not been resident in the UK for three years are eligible for fees only. Non-EU overseas nationals are not eligible for EPSRC funding.

Applying
Informal enquiries may be made to Eamonn O'Neill at the University of Bath (eamonn@cs.bath.ac.uk). Information about studying for a postgraduate degree at Bath is available at www.bath.ac.uk/grad-office. A postgraduate application form may be downloaded from www.bath.ac.uk/grad-office/apply. Early applications are encouraged as the number of funded places is limited.