Complexity Science
EPSRC Complexity Science Doctoral Training Centre
Stipend £14,000 tax-free per annum
Complexity Science focuses on systems of many interdependent components, showing Emergent behaviour at the system level, Self-organisation and/or Evolution. Our Centre draws on aspects of these in existing fields, including mathematics from dynamical systems and chaos, statistical inference, physics of phase transitions, self-assembly in chemistry, network modelling in biology and neuroscience, interacting agent modelling in economics and computer science. We also look to apply scientific methods in new fields of opportunity, such as transport, health and social science applications where mass quantitative data is newly available in this information age.

As a student in the Complexity Science DTC, you will begin with teaching on a coherent core of complexity science concepts. You then explore application in more depth through two 12 week mini-projects, choosing from selected proposals across the full range of applications at Warwick and our external collaborators. Satisfactory performance qualifies you for an MSc degree in Complexity Science.

PhD topics are chosen towards the end of the first year, again from vetted proposals which should reflect the cross-disciplinary spirit of Complexity Science and will each have two supervisors from different departments. Throughout your three years of PhD research you will be expected to maintain strong contact with the Complexity centre, attending seminars, reporting your own research progress, and joining in our programme of transferable skills.

The Transferable Skills Programme is built on that of our sister MOAC Doctoral Training Centre; the latter considered to be a landmark success in this regard.

We aim to look after our students and to treat them well. We have several EPSRC funded studentships for UK students (premium stipend ~£14,000 in 2007/08), and EU students can apply for a limited number of grants covering tuition fees only. Travel funds are available, and there is additional financial support for some mini-projects hosted away from Warwick.

The Centre is led by a team of experienced Warwick professors, plus EPSRC and RCUK funding have enabled us to appoint six new academic staff directly associated with it. The University is housing the DTC in a new dedicated Centre along with our wider Complexity [research] Complex.

Applicants should hope to obtain a first class degree in a scientific, mathematical or analytical subject, and you need some natural orientation towards modelling problems in quantitative mathematical terms.

For more details, and how to apply:
See http://warwick.ac.uk/go/complexitydtc or email complexity@warwick.ac.uk

Inter-Faculty Research Studentship
The belief in ghosts in post-war England
While it has been a regular topic for pollsters, such simplistic questions as 'Do you believe in ghosts?' tell us little about why belief has apparently increased over the last fifty years. This Studentship will explore this from historical and psychological perspectives, paying particular attention to the secularisation debate that has dominated sociological and historical research on twentieth-century religion. That ghost belief has become more socially acceptable as formal religious participation has declined throws up important questions about the growth of a pluralistic spirituality. The student will devise questionnaires and conduct interviews with a cross-section of Hertfordshire’s multi-ethnic society to explore how individual and generational patterns of belief have changed over time in different religious and ethnic communities.

Applicants should normally hold at least a first or good upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) from a recognised institution, and preferably a Masters degree. Applications are particularly welcome from those with experience in the psychology of belief, modern social or religious history, oral history, or the sociology of religion.

The studentship will pay your fees and provide a stipend of £12,600. Due to funding body restrictions eligibility is limited to UK and EU citizens.

For further information on the project please contact Prof Wiseman (r.wiseman@herts.ac.uk) or Dr Davies (o.davies@herts.ac.uk).

To apply please send the following by email to SSAHRI.res@herts.ac.uk: A CV, which includes the names and addresses of two references, and a personal statement (one side of A4) expressing why you think you are a suitable candidate for the studentship.

Postgraduate Studentship in Metal-Organic Chemistry
Department of Chemistry
Applications are invited for a DTA-funded postgraduate studentship in metal-organic chemistry, in the research groups of Dr T. Albrecht and Prof. N. Long, Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, UK.

The project will focus on the synthesis and characterization of complex multi-centre redox molecules with novel optical, electronic, and magnetic properties.

Due to funding regulations, candidates must be UK citizens or must have completed their undergraduate studies in the UK with a first or upper second class degree (or equivalent) in chemistry, and ideally a strong background in synthetic organic or inorganic chemistry. The position comes with a tax-free stipend of approximately £14,300 per year incl. fees (£3,240) and is available to start as soon as possible.

Applications or requests for further details should be made to Dr T. Albrecht (t.albrecht@imperial.ac.uk). Applications should be accompanied by a CV and the contact details of at least two referees.

General background on the research groups can be found at
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/people/t.albrecht
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/people/n.long

PhD studentship in Electrical Impedance Tomography
An exciting research opportunity is available for a highly qualified graduate in engineering, mathematics or physics for further studies leading to the award of the PhD degree. The successful applicant will undertake work on an EPSRC funded project dealing with the development of a novel Electrical Impedance Tomography bio-imaging system for non-invasive monitoring of neonate lung function in Intensive Care Units. The proposed system will provide a non-invasive measure of lung maturity and development, oxygen requirements and lung function, suitable for use in small, unsedated infants. This tool will be routinely used to define the nature and severity of persisting lung disease, and to identify risk factors for developing chronic lung problems.

PhD studentship (Ref: MU/EIT): Wearable monitoring devices. This project will involve the development of a wearable monitoring device that allows continuous or intermittent monitoring of physiologic signals which is crucial for the advancement of both the diagnosis as well as treatment of neonate respiratory function. The research will involve the investigation of built in sensors to measure the boundary profile to model the boundary shape as well as novel techniques to ensure electrode contact integrity during routine physiotherapy. This work programme is particularly suited to applicants with a background in Engineering Design or Medical Physics.

The studentships are open to UK, European and overseas applicants.

To apply, please email a covering letter stating reference MU/EIT, your expertise, experience and research interests, a copy of your CV, and the names and contact details of at least two referees to:

Professor Richard Bayford (e-mail: r.bayford@mdx.ac.uk) or Dr Andrew Tizzard (email: a.tizzard@mdx.ac.uk).

4-year PhD Studentships
Complexity Science and Health
EPSRC Complexity Science Doctoral Training Centre
Stipend £14,000 tax-free per annum
Complexity Science focuses on systems of many interdependent components, showing Emergent behaviour at the system level, Self-organisation and/or Evolution. Our Centre draws on aspects of these in existing fields, including mathematics from dynamical systems and chaos, statistical inference, physics of phase transitions, self-assembly in chemistry, network modelling in biology and neuroscience, interacting agent modelling in economics and computer science. We also look to apply scientific methods in new fields of opportunity, such as transport, health and social science applications where mass quantitative data is newly available in this information age.

As a student in the Complexity Science DTC, you will begin with teaching on a coherent core of complexity science concepts. You then explore application in more depth through two 12 week mini-projects, choosing from selected proposals across the full range of applications at Warwick and our external collaborators. Satisfactory performance qualifies you for an MSc degree in Complexity Science.

PhD topics are chosen towards the end of the first year, again from vetted proposals which should reflect the cross-disciplinary spirit of Complexity Science and will each have two supervisors from different departments. Throughout your three years of PhD research you will be expected to maintain strong contact with the Complexity centre, attending seminars, reporting your own research progress, and joining in our programme of transferable skills.

The Transferable Skills Programme is built on that of our sister MOAC Doctoral Training Centre; the latter considered to be a landmark success in this regard.

We aim to look after our students and to treat them well. We have several EPSRC funded studentships for UK students (premium stipend ~£14,000 in 2007/08), and EU students can apply for a limited number of grants covering tuition fees only. Travel funds are available, and there is additional financial support for some mini-projects hosted away from Warwick.

The Centre is led by a team of experienced Warwick professors, plus EPSRC and RCUK funding have enabled us to appoint six new academic staff directly associated with it. The University is housing the DTC in a new dedicated Centre along with our wider Complexity [research] Complex.

Applicants should hope to obtain a first class degree in a scientific, mathematical or analytical subject, and you need some natural orientation towards modelling problems in quantitative mathematical terms.

For more details, and how to apply:
See http://warwick.ac.uk/go/complexitydtc or email complexity@warwick.ac.uk

University College Cork
SFI Research Frontiers
Financial Algebra
School of Mathematical Sciences
A Ph.D. position for carrying out arbitrage analysis of currency exchange rates using max-plus algebra, is currently available in the School of Mathematical Sciences, University College Cork, Ireland under the supervision of Professor Bernard Hanzon. The research in Financial Mathematics carried out in this PhD position will explore new possibilities to analyze arbitrage opportunities, or to prove that no-arbitrage conditions hold, and to construct and apply algorithms for this purpose. This forms part of a larger research project in Financial Algebra.

Student stipend: EUR16,000 per annum plus fees

Further information and informal enquiries may be made to

b.hanzon@ucc.ie



Please note:

Applicants are requested to submit a full curriculum vitae with contact details of two referees to

Professor Bernard Hanzon
School of Mathematical Sciences, College of Science, Engineering and Food Science, University College Cork, College Road, Cork City, Ireland.

PhD Studentship
Geotechnics
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Imperial College London and Geotechnical Consulting Group
EPSRC CASE Studentship

Imperial College is ranked in the top ten universities of the world, according to the 2006 Times Higher Education Supplement league tables.

Applications are invited for a fully funded EPSRC CASE studentship based in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London. The studentship will be undertaken in collaboration with the Geotechnical Consulting Group (http://www.gcg.co.uk/), a company that provides leading edge consulting service in Geotechnics.

The aim of the project is to investigate the use of piles and barrettes to stabilise soil slopes. Numerical analyses will be carried with the in-house finite element package ICFEP which has been specifically developed for the analysis of geotechnical engineering problems. The research will first provide an assessment of existing methodologies based on existing case studies and it will then aim to suggest a new design approach.

It is expected that the successful applicant will come from a civil engineering background and preference will be given to candidates with an MSc in Geotechnics. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will start in January of 2008. The studentship carries a minimum annual EPSRC stipend of £12,600 and fees, plus a significant additional contribution at the discretion of the College. Applicants should note that qualification for this form of EPSRC award is dependent on the candidate being a UK national or a non-UK EU national having been resident in the UK for three or more years prior to appointment.

Candidates wishing to discuss the post are invited to contact Dr Stavroula Kontoe at Imperial College London using the details given below.

Supervisors:
Dr Stavroula Kontoe, Lecturer, Imperial College London
Dr David Potts, GCG Professor of Geotechnical Engineering, Imperial College London.

Contact details:
Dr Stavroula Kontoe, Imperial College London, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Skempton Building, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ
Email:stavroula.kontoe@imperial.ac.uk

PhD Studentship
Corrosion of Crucibles Used for Copper Melting Applications
Morganite Crucible Ltd.
Co-Sponsored EPSRC DTA PhD Studentship

An EPSRC DTA PhD studentship, co-sponsored by Morganite Crucible Limited is available at the University of Birmingham, based jointly in the Department of Metallurgy and Materials (School of Engineering) and the School of Chemistry. The project aims to develop a quantitative understanding of the chemistry and mechanisms of flux attack as a component of the overall corrosion and erosion of crucibles used for the melting of copper and its alloys. The project will employ electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and other techniques, if and when appropriate; e.g. thermal analysis, materials modelling etc. Thus, the student will be able to further develop their skills and knowledge in materials chemistry / science / characterisation. The successful applicant should ideally hold a 1st class or 2.1 Hons. (or non-UK equivalent) degree having a strong emphasis on the chemistry and characterisation of materials, e.g. Materials Chemistry, Materials Science, or Chemical Metallurgy.

The 3-year studentship covers tuition fees and maintenance at the standard EPSRC PhD studentship rate, plus a Morganite bursary of £5,000 p.a. However, only UK or EU citizens are eligible for this EPSRC DTA PhD studentship funding and the Morganite bursary.

The successful candidate must preferably be able to start the PhD on the 7th January 2008.

Contact Dr. Clive Ponton (c.b.ponton@bham.ac.uk), or Dr. Paul Anderson (p.a.anderson@bham.ac.uk) informally for further information. Applications should comprise a covering letter, detailed CV, and contact details for two referees (at least one academic referee). Post applications to Dr. C. B. Ponton, Department of Metallurgy and Materials, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT.

Scholarship Funded PhD Research Studentship
Finite element modelling of the effects of laser eye surgery
Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Applications are invited for a 3-year PhD studentship aimed at developing methods of modelling the effects of corrective laser surgery on the structural integrity of the eye. Factors to be taken into account in such models include the complex material behaviour and geometries associated with biological structures and sensitivity to the environment. The studentship is part of a larger project including novel laser measurement of surface strain of the cornea and the successful student will also be expected to participate in certain elements of the experimental programme.

Applicants should have a good first degree in Engineering, Physics or a similar area. They should be familiar with stress analysis and ideally should have experience of using finite element analysis.
The studentship is open to all UK, EU and overseas applicants. Studentship will cover fees plus a maintenance grant of at least £11k/year for UK/EU applicants and £8k/year or other overseas applicants.



Informal enquiries can be made to Dr I.A. Ashcroft (e-mail I.A.Ashcroft@lboro.ac.uk). To apply for the studentship please submit a CV and application form to Dr. I.A. Ashcroft, Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, LE11 3TU. Application forms can be downloaded from the University web site at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/personnel/appform.html.

PhD Studentship
New Molecular Tools of the 21st Century: Molecular Design of New DNA Devices
Chemistry Laboratories


A PhD studentship is available within the group of Dr Glenn A. Burley in the area of nucleic acid nanotechnology. The group is located in the newly refurbished Chemistry laboratories and in the £20M Henry Wellcome Building.

The project involves the development of synthetic organic and biochemical techniques that will enable us to build molecular devices based on DNA architectures. You will be joining a multi-disciplinary group of researchers working on various aspects of nucleic acid research and will be exposed to a range of techniques such as small molecule synthesis, solid phase synthesis (nucleic acids and peptides), biochemistry (PCR), nanoparticle conjugation and eventually DNA-programmed device fabrication. The project will involve collaborations within Leicester and at leading European (Walter Schottky Institute, Munich, Germany; Centre for Nanoscience, Modena, Italy) institutions.

The Burley group offers state-of-the-art infrastructure to support your work which is underpinned by the award of an EPSRC Advanced Research Fellowhip (£922 K) and laboratories that are equipped to the highest standard. For further information on the range of activities on-going in both laboratories, please visit the Burley group webpages at www.burleylabs.co.uk and our latest Press Release.

The project would suit a talented and ambitious individual who is team-oriented and looking to expand their synthetic expertise on the chemistry/biology interface.

Applicants must be UK citizens (due to funding restrictions) and should have (or be about to receive) an honours degree (I or II.1) in chemistry or a related subject. The studentship includes a stipend and tuition fees.

Applications should include a CV and contact details for two referees, and should be sent to:

Dr Glenn A. Burley
Department of Chemistry
University of Leicester
Leicester LE1 7RH
E-mail: gab13@le.ac.uk
Website: www.burleylabs.co.uk