Scotland:Research Studentships University of Strathclyde Faculty of Education

The following award is offered for uptake in October 2008. The successful candidate will receive a stipend and fee-waiver for the first year of their studies and, subject to successful academic progress reviews and successful interviews with the relevant Heads of Department, will be employed as Graduate Teaching/Research Assistants in their second and third years.

The applicant should hold at least a good Honours degree (2:1 or above) in a relevant discipline and a Masters degree, which included research training.

The award is offered in the following topic:

• Studentship 3: The application of the STI as a clinical research tool.

This studentship is based in the Speech and Language Therapy Division in the Dept. of Educational and Professional Studies. The project will be supervised by experts in the clinical field (Dr. Lowit) as well as in research methods (Dr. Karagiannidou), and will involve some collaboration with other institutions to provide the student with as wide a research experience as possible. The project involves investigations of clinical populations with speech disorders (e.g. Parkinson's Disease, Ataxia, etc.) with regard to performance variability, as measured by the spatio-temporal variability index (STI). The investigation is aimed at providing further information on speech motor planning in disordered speech and at establishing the usefulness of the STI in reflecting clinical issues such as severity, performance change, treatment efficacy or differences in underlying pathology. The studentship is suited to someone with a background in phonetics, speech and language therapy, or psychology and an aptitude in computing (acquisition of specific skills in acoustic analysis and data evaluation will be part of the PhD training).

If this opportunity is of interest to you, please get in touch with Dr Anja Lowit (a.lowit@strath.ac.uk) to discuss the project further.

For application form, please contact the Faculty of Education Research Office, University of Strathclyde, Southbrae Dr, Glasgow G13 1PP: faculty.research@strath.ac.uk by Monday 21st April 2008.

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UK: University of Teesside Research Doctoral Scholarships

Institute for Health Sciences and Social Care

The University of Teesside is offering 12 full-time Research Doctoral Scholarships across a broad range of subject areas including: computing, social science, health sciences, engineering and history. The scholarships are aligned to key areas of research strength within the Institute of Digital Innovation, the Institute for Health Sciences and Social Care, the Social Futures Institute, the Institute for Innovation & Development in Engineering and Applied Science and the Centre for Regional and Local Historical Research. The awards will be for a period of three years and include fees (home/EU or international rate) and an annual stipend of £12,600. Successful applicants should be in a position to take up the scholarships in July 2008 or shortly thereafter.

6. Virtual-reality augmented rehabilitation to improve postural stability in older people with chronic pain.

The risk of falling is a major barrier to normal function for older people. While there is good evidence that stability exercises can decrease the risk of falling, this type of intervention is overlooked in the management of pain for older people. There is a gap in the literature and subsequently an important gap in practice regarding postural stability training in the improvement of function in older people with chronic pain. A major problem with exercise therapy is that many people do not carry out the exercises with the prescribed quality or quantity. A recent innovation in rehabilitation is the use of virtual environments for exercise, which aims, among other things, to enhance feedback and increase motivation to exercise appropriately. The World Health Organisation's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health and the Universal Theory of Technology Acceptance and Use are the theoretical models underpinning this study.

7. Virtual reality augmented rehabilitation to improve exercise quality and frequency for people with low back pain.

The recent guidelines from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (involving Dr Martin) concluded that exercise was one of the most important ways of managing low back pain. While there was no evidence to suggest that any particular exercise was most beneficial a major component in success was the motivation of the person to exercise. A major problem with exercise therapy is that many people do not carry out the exercises with the required quality or quantity. A recent innovation in rehabilitation is the use of virtual environments for exercise, which aims, among other things, to provide feedback and increase motivation to exercise appropriately. There is a gap in the literature and practice regarding the effectiveness of the use of virtual environments in the improvement of function in people with low back pain. The World Health Organisation's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health and the Universal Theory of Technology Acceptance and Use are the theoretical models underpinning this study.

Informal enquiries to Dr Denis Martin, email: d.martin@tees.ac.uk

Research Doctoral Scholarships applicants should have at least an upper second class honours degree or equivalent qualification and ideally a postgraduate qualification. The minimum English language entry level is IELTS 6.5 with no grade below 6.0 or equivalent. To apply for a scholarship you must contact the Graduate Research School for an application form:
University of Teesside Research Doctoral Scholarships
Graduate Research School
University of Teesside
Middlesbrough
Tees Valley
TS1 3BA
UK
E-mail: graduateresearchschool@tees.ac.uk or tel: +44(0)1642 738033

Closing date: 25 April 2008

UK: University of Bath PhD Studentships Computer Science

Department of Computer Science

The Department of Computer Science at the University of Bath is currently recruiting PhD research students. Scholarships are available to cover fees and an annual stipend, subject to eligibility. Candidates should have at least a 2.1 undergraduate degree or an MSc, preferably in a relevant discipline. Further information about the department is available at: www.cs.bath.ac.uk. The Department excels in an exciting range of computer science research. Our research strengths include Human Computer Interaction, Mathematical Foundations & Applications, Graphics & Media Technology, and Intelligent Systems. These interests are pursued in fundamental theoretical development and a range of applications.

Human Computer Interaction We have an extensive programme of world-leading research in HCI, including interaction modelling, theories and methods for user interface evaluation, mobile and pervasive computing, autonomous and safety-critical systems, distributed interaction, participatory design, computer-supported cooperative work, computer-mediated communication, and creativity. Active application areas include ubiquitous computing, aircraft flight deck design and evaluation, healthcare informatics and telemedicine, collaborative virtual environments, e-commerce, groupware, context aware mobile systems, and generation of help and explanation facilities.

Mathematical Foundations and Applications Fundamental research conducted at Bath by internationally outstanding staff and students covers areas such as mathematical and computational logic, semantics and concurrency, computational algebra and geometry, and model theory. Active areas of application include programming language semantics, design and implementation, theorem proving, cryptography and number theory, networks and security, and systems modelling.

Graphics and media technology Our wide range of world leading research includes the convergence of computer vision and computer graphics, animation, visualization, image recognition, photorealistic and non-photorealistic rendering, physical modelling for virtual reality, advanced compositing, the application of computer graphics to film, and computer music. Active application areas include content-based video retrieval, algorithms and tools for large-scale data visualization, processing live action video into cartoons, quasi-3D rendering, a platform for animation and virtual reality, representing movies with vectors, and electronic music synthesis, notation and playing systems, and composers' assistants.

Intelligent Systems The high quality research activity at Bath includes intelligent agents, modular and distributed intelligence, artificial-life models of natural intelligence, neural networks, logic and semantics, machine learning, evolutionary computing, reactive planning and a variety of formal knowledge representation techniques. Active application areas include e-commerce, modelling non-human task learning, providing mathematical services over the web, and expressing emotions in VR characters.

Applying

Informal enquiries may be made to the Postgraduate Admissions Secretary (pg-phd@cs.bath.ac.uk or 01225 386965) or to any member of staff in the department. An application form and full instructions may be downloaded from www.bath.ac.uk/prospectus/postgrad/apply/. Early applications are encouraged as the number of scholarships for funded places is limited. UK students are eligible for full funding. Non-UK EU students who have been resident in the UK for three years are eligible for full funding. Non-UK EU students who have not been resident in the UK for three years will be eligible for fees only. Non-EU international students are welcome to apply but, as at all UK universities, funding for non-EU students is limited.

Further Details

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UK: University of Bristol Funded PhD Position Studying Animal Camouflage

Department of Experimental Psychology

We have a fully funded, three year PhD studentship to study animal camouflage. This position is funded by QinetiQ, and would be based in the Department of Experimental Psychology in the University of Bristol (UK). Due to funding constraints, this position is only available to UK nationals. There would be four supervisors with different expertise:

Roland Baddeley - computational modelling.
Innes Cuthill- Behavioural ecology of camouflage.
Nick Scott Samuel - Psychophysics .
Adam Shohet (QinetiQ)- Applications of camouflage.

The studentship would be to explore the use of a number of techniques to understand how and why animals camouflage themselves, and you would be joining an expanding group, using a mixture of empirical and theoretical approaches.

Avenues that could be explored include:
1) Psychophysics using human observers: manipulating various characteristics of artificial animal camouflage patterns within natural realistic backgrounds and observing which factors affect their visibility.
2) Natural image statistics and the statistics of animal coloration patterns: viewing both backgrounds and animal coloration patterns as textures, and using machine learning techniques to look at the mapping between environmental niche, and the coloration patterns displayed.
3) Looking at the spatio-temporal statistics of animal environments with a view to seeing which aspects of animal coloration will aid in reducing the visibility of a moving animal; and 4) Constructing and comparing various simple ideal observer models of predator/prey detection, and comparing these with observed behaviour.

This list is not exclusive, but as can be seen, the position would be of potential interest not only to a behavioural ecologist that wants to learn vision, but also a more computational person who would like to apply their skills in a really very interesting and exciting area. The list of supervisors includes people with interests and skills in areas ranging from motion perception, to image modelling, to behavioural ecology, to the application of these ideas to designing man made camouflage. The student will be a member of the Bristol Vision Institute, one of the university's prioritised research themes. Bristol has outstanding strength in this field, spanning four University Faculties (Science, Engineering, Medicine and Art) - including the Departments of Experimental Psychology, Biological Sciences, Computer Science, Engineering Mathematics, Mathematics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Bristol Eye Hospital, Anatomy and History of Art.

To apply, download and fill in the form "Postgraduate research programme - application form" at http://www.bris.ac.uk/prospectus/postgraduate/2008/intro/8. Note that where the form requires you to state the source of funding, put "Already secured - CASE Award funded by QinetiQ" and in the section "Outline of proposed research" put "Not applicable - research proposal written by supervisors". Send the completed application form to the Faculty of Science (NOT the supervisors) at the address given. The web page also has referee forms which you should download, send to your (two) referees, and ask them to send the references directly to the Faculty of Science.

A pdf version of this advert can be found at http://fleeting.psy.bris.ac.uk/Motion%20camouflage.pdf

The last date for applications is April the 25th. The starting date is flexible but has to be BEFORE the end of September (2008). Please, when applying, send a CV and including the names of two referees.

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Scotland:Research Studentships University of Strathclyde

Research Studentships

Faculty of Education

The following award is offered for uptake in October 2008. The successful candidate will receive a stipend and fee-waiver for the first year of their studies and, subject to successful academic progress reviews and successful interviews with the relevant Heads of Department, will be employed as Graduate Teaching/Research Assistants in their second and third years.

The applicant should hold at least a good Honours degree (2:1 or above) in a relevant discipline and a Masters degree, which included research training.

The award is offered in the following topic:

• Studentship 4: Substantiating community education.

In various guises, community education has been active as a practice in Scotland and elsewhere since the Industrial Revolution. However, while its constituent professions (youth work, adult education and community development) have a long history, and anecdotal evidence of their effectiveness abounds, practitioners have often been too busy to take the time to prove that their interventions have been effective.

This project seeks to study the efficacy of community education by talking to participants who have had significant contact with community education at some stage in the past.

The study will also clarify which effects attributed to community education are able to be substantiated and which are not.

The study will make a substantial and independent contribution to the theory of community education and to the development of professional discourses in the field. It is expected to have international application, and create greater possibilities for international conversations on the place of community education and its constituent professions in social planning.

If this opportunity is of interest to you, please get in touch with Prof Howard Sercombe (howard.sercombe@strath.ac.uk) to discuss the project further.

For application form, please contact the Faculty of Education Research Office, University of Strathclyde, Southbrae Dr, Glasgow G13 1PP: faculty.research@strath.ac.uk by Monday 21st April 2008.

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Nertherlands: PhD Student in Nanoscience

Delft University of Technology Applied Sciences

Delft, (Zuid-Holland), 38 hours per week

Job description
This proposed research aims to design and functionalize (arrays of) top-down fabricated silicon nanowires to investigate their electronic and physico-chemical properties. The control over the device geometry and the electrical contacts will be among the challenges faced. Additional challenges include the exploitation of designed, responsive properties (e.g., magnetic, light-induced, switching, conformational changes, specific binding) via the chemical functionalization of the silicon nanowires, and elucidating electronic transport mechanisms in the fabricated nanodevices. This interdepartmental, experimental research involves clean room chemistry at the TU Delft Nanofacility, surface chemistry and electronic investigation.

Requirements
Required education/skills:University Graduate
We are looking for an excellent and motivated experimental researcher with an interest in molecular electronic devices. The candidate should have an MSc degree in chemistry, physics, or materials science and should also have good communication skills in English (both in writing and in speaking).
Job type: Research / Advising
Workfield(s):
- Research trainees, non-tenured lecturers, researchers

Organization
Delft University of Technology
Applied Sciences
Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is a multifaceted institution offering education and carrying out research in the technical sciences at an internationally recognized level. Education, research and design are strongly oriented towards applicability. TU Delft develops technologies for future generations, focusing on sustainability, safety and economic vitality. At TU Delft you will work in an environment where technical sciences and society converge. TU Delft comprises eight faculties, unique laboratories, research institutes and schools. The Faculty of Applied Sciences is the largest faculty of TU Delft, with around 550 scientists, a support staff of 250 and 1,400 students. The faculty conducts fundamental, application-oriented research and offers scientific education at the bachelor, master and doctoral levels. The faculty is active in the fields of Life and Health Science and Technology, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science and Technology, and Applied Physics.
Date of entry: 19/03/2008

Conditions of employment
Estimated maximum salary per month: eur 2500 - 3000

Maximum salary amount in Euro's a month 2558
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: Four years
Maximum hours per week: 38
Additional conditions of employment:
The successful candidate will be employed full-time by the TU Delft for a fixed period of 4 years within which he or she is expected to write a dissertation leading to a doctoral degree (PhD thesis). The monthly salary for a PhD will be to a maximum of € 2558 gross in the fourth year. Benefits and other employment conditions are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. For more information about this position or to apply, please contact Dr. L.C.P.M. de Smet, phone: 31 (0)15-2781035, e-mail: l.c.p.m.desmet@tudelft.nl. To apply, please e-mail a detailed CV along with a letter of application and the contact details of at least two references before April 30, 2008 to Dr. de Smet. When applying for this position, make sure to mention vacancy number TNWDCT08-025.

Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:

L.C.P.M. de Smet, for more information about the position
Telephone number: 31 (0)15-2781035
E-mail address: l.c.p.m.desmet@tudelft.nl

Or additional information can be obtained through one of the following links:

• About the organization (http://www.tudelft.nl)
• Technische Universiteit Delft (http://www.tudelft.nl)

Application
You can apply for this job before 30-04-2008 (dd-mm-yyyy) by sending your application to:

L.C.P.M. de Smet/DCT

E-mail: l.c.p.m.desmet@tudelft.nl

When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber TNWDCT08-025.

Further Details

Nertherlands: PhD Student in Polyelectrolyte Gels

Delft University of Technology Applied Sciences

Delft, (Zuid-Holland), 38 hours per week

Job description
Polyelectrolyte gels are permanently crosslinked polymer networks formed by polymer chains with chemical groups that ionize when in a polar solvent. They can absorb and retain 1.000 times their weight in water. They also exhibit a fascinating reversible volume phase-transition, triggerable by minute variations in temperature, solvent composition, pH, external electric fields or light. Despite the great progress made in the last decade on the response of those systems when stimulated by external fields, the phase transitions in the context of mass and ion transport, mechanical instabilities or under external constraints have yet to be explored. The potential of such soft actuators in Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) is huge since they can provide physical work via an external stimulus, but the powerful thermodynamic "physico-chemical-mechano drive" intrinsic to such systems has not yet been considered. The project aims to examine the physico-chemical bases of the actuation response of polyelectrolyte gels in response to external fields when submitted to confined geometries, focusing on the fundamentals of charge and mass transport triggered by phase transitions in confined geometries. The gels’ potential for MEMS and microfluidics will also be explored. The research will employ experimental techniques such as microfabrication and local probes, e.g., Atomic Force Microscopy.

Requirements
Required education/skills:University Graduate
Candidates should possess a Master's degree in Physics, Physical Chemistry or Chemical Engineering, or the equivalent. The project is basically experimental, and experience with laboratory work is expected from the candidate. An interest in modelling is also desirable.
Job type: Research / Advising
Workfield(s):
- Research trainees, non-tenured lecturers, researchers

Organization
Delft University of Technology
Applied Sciences
Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is a multifaceted institution offering education and carrying out research in the technical sciences at an internationally recognized level. Education, research and design are strongly oriented towards applicability. TU Delft develops technologies for future generations, focusing on sustainability, safety and economic vitality. At TU Delft you will work in an environment where technical sciences and society converge. TU Delft comprises eight faculties, unique laboratories, research institutes and schools. The Faculty of Applied Sciences is the largest faculty of TU Delft, with around 550 scientists, a support staff of 250 and 1,400 students. The faculty conducts fundamental, application-oriented research and offers scientific education at the bachelor, master and doctoral levels. The faculty is active in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science and Technology, and Applied Physics.
Date of entry: 19/03/2008

Conditions of employment
Estimated maximum salary per month: eur 2500 - 3000

Maximum salary amount in Euro's a month 2558
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: Four years
Maximum hours per week: 38
Additional conditions of employment:
The successful candidate will be employed full-time by the TU Delft for a fixed period of 4 years within which he or she is expected to write a dissertation leading to a doctoral degree (PhD thesis). The monthly salary for a PhD will be to a maximum of € 2558 gross in the fourth year. Benefits and other employment conditions are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. For more information about this position or to apply, please contact Dr. Eduardo Mendes, phone: 31 (0)15-2782623, e-mail: e.mendes@tudelft.nl. To apply, please e-mail a detailed CV along with a letter of application before May 31, 2008 to Dr. Mendes. When applying for this position, make sure to mention vacancy number TNWDCT08-024. TU Delft is an equal opportunity employer.

Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:

Dr. Eduardo Mendes, for more information about the position
Telephone number: 31 (0)15-2782623
E-mail address: e.mendes@tudelft.nl

Or additional information can be obtained through one of the following links:

• About the organization (http://www.tudelft.nl)
• Technische Universiteit Delft (http://www.tudelft.nl)

Application
You can apply for this job before 31-05-2008 (dd-mm-yyyy) by sending your application to:

Eduardo Mendes/DCT

E-mail: e.mendes@tudelft.nl

When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber TNWDCT08-024.

Further Details

Nertherlands: PhD position 'The role of permafrost in climate change' f/m

VU University Amsterdam Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences

Amsterdam, 1081 (Noord-Holland), hours per week

Job description
At the department of Paleoclimatology & Geomorphology of the Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, there is a vacancy for a 4-year PhD research candidate. The research project, entitled “Quantifying the role of permafrost in climate change by means of numerical modelling and evaluation using present-day process measurement data and the geological archive” is carried out in collaboration with the department of Hydrology and Geo-environmental Sciences and is subsidized by the Dutch Science Foundation (NWO). The project is part of an international effort with the Universities of Louvain-la-Neuve and Brussels (Belgium) and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (Germany), to develop the LOVECLIM earth system model.

Project summary
About 24% of the Earth’s current land surface is occupied by permafrost, which is defined as soil that remains below 0°C for two or more years. Model studies indicate that widespread permafrost degradation may occur in the 21st century as a response to anthropogenic climate warming. Especially in areas where the mean temperature is close to the freezing point, the expected changes are large. This permafrost degradation potentially has a large impact on human society in regions with permafrost, for instance leading to damage to infrastructures and buildings. In addition, thawing of permafrost could influence the climate system through several feedbacks. First, the emission of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane) will increase from permafrost regions, resulting in a further enhancement of the greenhouse effect. Second, permafrost thawing has a strong influence on the surface hydrology, with several effects on climate. The precise impact of these two feedbacks is rather uncertain.

Requirements
Required education/skills:University Graduate
An improved quantification of the contribution requires computations with numerical climate models that explicitly include frozen-soil processes. Some of these processes are relatively slow (e.g., the thawing of ice-rich permafrost can take thousands of years), implying that these climate models have to be suitable to perform millennial-scale simulation experiments. This project aims to improve an existing earth system model of intermediate complexity by incorporating the two mentioned effects of permafrost. As a first step, the model is tested and improved using present-day measurements of greenhouse gas emissions, local climate and hydrology from permafrost regions. Subsequently, the model is used to perform transient simulations of past periods with rapid climate change (Dansgaard-Oeschger cycles and last deglaciation). For these periods there exists ample evidence of permafrost degradation/aggradation. The paleoclimate simulations are evaluated using proxy data. This project enables us to quantify the contribution of permafrost to climate change on various time scales.

Tasks of the PhD student
The PhD research candidate will study the role of permafrost in climate change at various time-scales using a numerical climate model and model-data comparisons. She/he will improve the land-surface scheme of an existing climate model by explicitly incorporating permafrost processes. The PhD research candidate will run this model for rapid climate transitions during the last glacial period, the modern climate and future scenarios.

Job requirements
An MSc in Earth Sciences, Physical Geography, Physics or Meteorology (or in a related field). The PhD research candidate is required to have experience in computer programming and an interest in paleoclimatology. The PhD research candidate needs to be proficient in spoken and written English.

Job type: Research / Advising
Workfield(s):
- Post-doctorates(Scientific discipline: Natural Sciences)

Organization
VU University Amsterdam
Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences
Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, has been a renowned cultural, scientific and commercial centre for many centuries. It was here, in 1880, that the VU University Amsterdam first opened its doors to students. VU stands for 'Vrije Universiteit', which means 'Free University'. Here, 'free' refers to freedom of state and church interference. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam was established in 1880 by orthodox protestants. Nowadays it aims to be inspiring, innovative and involved.

Throughout the past century, the university has continued to expand. It now comprises twelve faculties and has teaching facilities for 18,000 students.

Click here for an overview of faculties and institutes: http://www.english.vu.nl/About_the_VU/

The university campus and university hospital are situated in the south-western part of Amsterdam, one of the most dynamic and fast-growing business districts in the Netherlands. The international airport of Schiphol-Amsterdam is 10 kilometres away, just 8 minutes by train. With more than fifty undergraduate (or bachelor’s) programmes and almost a hundred postgraduate (or master’s) programmes, the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers a wide choice of study options. The programmes are of a high quality, the atmosphere is very conducive to study, and the teaching staff is easily accessible.

The Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences is the result of the merger between the former Faculty of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Biology and the Institute of Environmental Studies. The Faculty is offering education and doing research in the fields of:

Earth Sciences (physical geography and geology)
Biology
Biomedical Sciences
Geoarchaeology
Public Health
Environmental Studies

Conditions of employment
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: temporary
Additional conditions of employment:
The appointment will initially be for 12 months starting preferably spring 2008. After a successful evaluation the contract will be prolonged with 36 months. The employment will have to result in a written PhD thesis by the end of this period. Our fringe benefits of employment can be found at www.vu.nl/vacatures.

Salary
The salary is according to the standards for PhD researchers. Gross monthly salary starts at € 2.000,- during the first year and increases to € 2.558,- during the fourth year, based on a full-time employment.

Additional Information
Additional information can be obtained through one of the following links:

• About the organization (http://www.vu.nl)
• About the department (http://www.falw.vu.nl/english/index.cfm)
• About the function (http://www.vu.nl/vacatures)

Application
You can apply for this job before 15-04-2008 (dd-mm-yyyy) by sending your application to:

VU University Amsterdam
Faculty Earth and Life Sciences
Dr.J.M.R.M. Neutelings
De Boelelaan 1085
1081 HV Amsterdam
The Netherlands
E-mail: falw-vacatures@falw.vu.nl

When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber 1.2008.00062.

Further Details

Nertherlands: Phd/Post-doc Modelling Behaviour of Spent Nuclear Fuel in Waste

Delft University of Technology Applied Sciences

Delft, (Zuid-Holland), 38 hours per week

Job description
The global concern about sustainability has put nuclear energy back on the political agenda. However, nuclear energy is acceptable to the public only if a safe and sound solution to the disposal of radioactive waste can be found. Waste packages (WP) proposed for the final storage of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) in underground repositories contain significant void space. It has been proposed to fill the WPs with solid material, which would aid in maintaining the structural integrity of the WP. An innovative concept is to use a fill that would offer the additional advantage of exhibiting a chemical interaction with the intruding groundwater. This could decrease the dissolution rate of the SNF. One possible fill material could be depleted uranium (DU), available as a by-product from enrichment plants. A fill based on DU will dissolve in the leaching groundwater which will slow down the alteration of the SNF uranium matrix due to uranium’s finite solubility.The project’s aim is to investigate via modelling and simulation whether the presence of a particulate fill is a beneficial factor in reducing the release of radionuclides from the SNF. An existing chemistry model for the dissolution of fuel will be implemented. The resulting solvent will be validated against existing experimental data, and the simulation model will be modified to include the presence of the particulate fill.

Requirements
Required education/skills:University Graduate
For this position we are seeking an outstanding individual with a recent Master’s degree in (applied) chemistry or physics. Some experience with modelling and/or simulation is a prerequisite. The successful candidate should be able to communicate easily, both verbally and in writing, and should be a constructive team player.It is also possible to fill this vacancy as a post-doctoral position.
Job type: Research / Advising
Workfield(s):
- Research trainees, non-tenured lecturers, researchers

Organization
Delft University of Technology
Applied Sciences
Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is a multifaceted institution offering education and carrying out research in the technical sciences at an internationally recognized level. Education, research and design are strongly oriented towards applicability. TU Delft develops technologies for future generations, focusing on sustainability, safety and economic vitality. At TU Delft you will work in an environment where technical sciences and society converge. TU Delft comprises eight faculties, unique laboratories, research institutes and schools. The Faculty of Applied Sciences is the largest faculty of TU Delft, with around 550 scientists, a support staff of 250 and 1,400 students. The faculty conducts fundamental, application-oriented research and offers scientific education at the bachelor, master and doctoral levels. The faculty is active in the fields of Life and Health Science and Technology, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science and Technology, and Applied Physics.

The Department of Radiation, Radionuclides and Reactors (www.rrr.tudelft.nl) is located in the Reactor Institute Delft (RID). The department’s common focus is nuclear radiation and reactions. Although its areas of interest are varied, from materials, sensors and instrumentation, to energy, sustainable production and health, all the department’s research is related to radiation in some way. In experimental research, extensive use is made of the research facilities of the Reactor Institute Delft as well as of large, international research facilities.
Date of entry: 11/03/2008

Conditions of employment
Estimated maximum salary per month: eur 2500 - 3000

Maximum salary amount in Euro's a month 2558
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: Four years
Maximum hours per week: 38
Additional conditions of employment:
The successful candidate will be employed full-time by the TU Delft for a fixed period of 4 years within which he or she is expected to write a doctoral dissertation (PhD thesis). The monthly salary for a PhD student will be to a maximum of €2558 gross in the fourth year. Benefits and other employment conditions are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Delft University of Technology strives to increase the number of women in higher academic positions; women are therefore especially encouraged to apply. It is also possible to fill this vacancy as a post-doc position, in which case the monthly salary will be to a maximum of €3678.For more information about this position, please contact Dr. Ir. D. Lathouwers, phone: 31 (0)15-2783148, e-mail: d.lathouwers@tudelft.nl. For information about the application procedure, you are welcome to contact Mw. C.E.M. Olsthoorn, phone: 31 (0)15-2783877, e-mail: c.e.m.olsthoorn@tudelft.nl. To apply, please e-mail a detailed CV along with a letter of application by May 1, 2008 to Mw. Olsthoorn. When applying for this position, make sure to mention vacancy number TNWRRR08-027. TU Delft is an equal opportunity employer.

Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:

Dr. Ir. D. Lathouwers, for more information about the position
Telephone number: 31 (0)15-2783148
E-mail address: d.lathouwers@tudelft.nl

Or additional information can be obtained through one of the following links:

• About the organization (http://www.tudelft.nl)
• Technische Universiteit Delft (http://www.tudelft.nl)

Application
You can apply for this job before 01-05-2008 (dd-mm-yyyy) by sending your application to:

Mw. Olsthoorn/RRR
E-mail: c.e.m.olsthoorn@tudelft.nl

When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber TNWRRR08-027.

Further Details

Nertherlands:PhD Candidate Computational Configuration of Value Networks

VU University Amsterdam Faculty of Sciences

f/m
Amsterdam, 1081 (Noord-Holland), 38 hours per week

Job description
Function title: PhD Candidate Computational Configuration of Value Networks
Research project
This PhD position at the VU/Amsterdam will research how a value model (see www.e3value.com) can be composed based on a stated consumer need, by using problem solving methods. Also, various mechanisms to select a suitable value model from a set of alternatives will be investigated.

The PhD will be a member of the Business, Web, and Media group. Furthermore, the PhD will be working in The Network Institute. This is a multi-disciplinary research institute of the VU University, in which researchers of Exact Sciences, Economics & Business Administration, and Social Sciences participate.

Requirements
Required education/skills:University Graduate
Applicants should have a M.Sc. in Information Science, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence or related discipline. Good communication skills, in writing as well as oral are important. The main task will be to do research, but you will be given the opportunity to acquire some teaching experience.
Job type: Research / Advising
Workfield(s):
- Post-doctorates(Scientific discipline: Engineering)

Organization
VU University Amsterdam
Faculty of Sciences
Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, has been a renowned cultural, scientific and commercial centre for many centuries. It was here, in 1880, that the VU University Amsterdam first opened its doors to students. VU stands for 'Vrije Universiteit', which means 'Free University'. Here, 'free' refers to freedom of state and church interference. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam was established in 1880 by orthodox protestants. Nowadays it aims to be inspiring, innovative and involved.

Throughout the past century, the university has continued to expand. It now comprises twelve faculties and has teaching facilities for 18,000 students.

Click here for an overview of faculties and institutes: http://www.english.vu.nl/About_the_VU/

The university campus and university hospital are situated in the south-western part of Amsterdam, one of the most dynamic and fast-growing business districts in the Netherlands. The international airport of Schiphol-Amsterdam is 10 kilometres away, just 8 minutes by train. With more than fifty undergraduate (or bachelor’s) programmes and almost a hundred postgraduate (or master’s) programmes, the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers a wide choice of study options. The programmes are of a high quality, the atmosphere is very conducive to study, and the teaching staff is easily accessible.

The Faculty of Sciences offers 9 Bachelor’s and 12 Master’s programmes within the disciplines Computer Sciences, Physics & Astronomy, Chemistry & Pharmacochemistry and Mathematics. The education programme is strongly connected to the various research activities. The faculty offers excellent research facilities in highly specialized laboratories as well as unique computing facilities.

Conditions of employment
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: temporary
Maximum hours per week: 38
Additional conditions of employment:
The appointment will be initially for 1 year. If the results are successful the appointed period will be prolonged for in totally 4 years, intended to result in a dissertation. You can visit our website www.vu.nl/vacatures for a review of working conditions at the VU.

Salary
The gross salary is minimum € 2.000,- in the first year and maximum € 2.558,- in the fourth year, based on a full-time employment. The employment will have to result in a written thesis by the end of this period. You can find information about our excellent fringe benefits of employment at www.vu.nl/vacatures.

Additional Information
Additional information can be obtained through one of the following links:

• About the organization (http://www.vu.nl)
• About the department (http://www.few.vu.nl/en/index.php)
• About the function (http://www.vu.nl/vacatures)

Application
You can apply for this job before 14-04-2008 (dd-mm-yyyy) by sending your application to:

VU University Amsterdam
Faculty of Sciences, department PZ

De Boelelaan 1081a
1081 HV Amsterdam
The Netherlands
E-mail: few-vacatures@few.vu.nl

When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber 1.2008.00070.

Further Details

UK: Imperial College London PhD Studentship

Large-Scale Distributed Systems

Department of Computing

Untaxed bursary of £13,200 per annum plus UK/EU fees
Fixed Term for 3 years, starting in October 2008

Imperial College is ranked the fifth best university in the world (Times Higher QS World University Rankings 2007)

The Department of Computing is a leading department of Computer Science among the UK Universities. It has consistently been awarded the highest research rating (5*) in Research Assessment Exercises and was rated as "Excellent" in the previous national assessment of teaching quality.

We have a PhD studentship starting in October 2008 to work on topics at the intersection of large-scale distributed systems and database research. The position is for three years, and covers fees and a tax-free bursary with London weighting. An ideal candidate will have research interests in the following areas:

• Internet-scale distributed systems
• Overlay networks, peer-to-peer computing and wide-area networking
• Distributed stream processing
• Large-scale data management and distributed databases

The PhD studentship, under the supervision of Dr Peter Pietzuch, will be part of the DISSP project on dependable Internet-scale stream processing. The aim of the project is to investigate new approaches for reliably processing stream data from thousands of sensor networks at a global scale. In addition to the completion of a PhD thesis, you will be expected to produce research publications and design, build, deploy and experiment with large-scale distributed software prototypes. For further information on the DISSP project, see http://www.doc.ic.ac.uk/~prp/research/dissp.

You will be part of the Distributed Software Engineering (DSE) Research Group within the Department and based at the South Kensington campus. For further information on the group and related projects, see http://www-dse.doc.ic.ac.uk. Informal queries can be directed to: Dr Peter Pietzuch (prp@doc.ic.ac.uk).

All applicants should have at least a distinction or first in a Masters level degree (or equivalent) in Computer Science. Previous experience in large-scale distributed systems, peer-to-peer computing or stream processing would be advantageous. Applicants must be fluent in spoken and written English. See http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/computing/research/degrees for further information on the PhD degree.

Applications must include the following:

• A detailed CV that includes names and addresses of three referees.
• A 2-3 page research statement with a compelling description of the research that you would like to do and any relevant experience that you have.
• Transcripts of all degree results.

Applications should be sent to:

Bridget Gundry
Department of Computing
Imperial College London
South Kensington Campus
London, SW7 2AZ
Email: bridget.gundry@imperial.ac.uk Fax: +44 (0) 20 7581 8024

Closing Date: 30th April 2008

Imperial College London values diversity and is committed to equality of opportunity

Wales: Aberystwyth University MSc in Managing the Environment 2008 - 2009

Institute of Biological Sciences

The face of environmental management is changing and we recognise the demands that will be placed on you - tomorrow's environmental manager. To prepare you for these challenges we have designed an MSc programme with a core of key management skills which you then tailor to your own needs and interests by following one of our four specialist pathways:

Environmental Sustainability: Learn to be sustainability practitioner, an energy / waste manager and green guru in partnership with the Centre for Alternative Technology (www.cat.org.uk).

Coastal Estuarine and Wetlands: Experience and learn how to manage the British coastline, estuaries and internationally important marine environments.

Environmental Impact Assessment: Be trained as an environmental impact assessor, learn about environmental law and strategic environmental assessment.

Habitat Restoration: Become skilled in managing and restoring terrestrial habitats both in the UK and abroad. This pathway offers the option of a 9 week placement in Swedish Lapland, in collaboration with Umea University (for location and related research activities see http://www.ans.kiruna.se/ans.htm).

All the above pathways have been developed with practitioners who are also involved the teaching including staff from CCW, CAT, IGER, DEFRA, Marine Conservation Society and the West and South Wales Wildlife Trust. Each pathway provides a custom made vocational package for your desired career.

Course delivery
Our MSc programme combines vocational and professional training in environmental management with state-of-the-art technological advances. It delivers an innovative, fully integrated programme, at the cutting edge of the subject. You will acquire the practical skills, field experience and knowledge necessary for a career in environmental management. This is a skills-based course taught over one calendar year comprising both core and pathway-specific modules. By joining our Masters scheme you will become a member of a dynamic team, working together towards a sustainable future.

Applicants that possess a second class degree or higher in a relevant discipline are encouraged to apply, candidates with equivalent experience are considered on a case-by-case basis. Further information can be obtained from Mrs Michelle Allen (E-mail myd@aber.ac.uk; Tel 1970 622315 Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3DA, UK.

http://www.aber.ac.uk/biology/prospective/manenvi05a.html

Closing date for applications 15th of September 2008.

Further Details

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UK: University of Huddersfield hD Studentships (four posts)

Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences

Applications are invited for four fully funded PhD Studentships in the Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences at the University of Huddersfield in the following areas available from September 2008:

Computer Modelling of the Crystallisation and Growth of Bio-Minerals
Supervisor Dr David J Cooke

Applications are invited for a PhD studentship to investigate how the choice of solvent and ion complexation affects adsorption and desorption at mineral surfaces using computer based modelling techniques. These simulations will then be used to provide an understanding of why minerals grown in the presence of organic and biological molecules often adopt vastly different, elaborate, structures compared with those grown in standard conditions. Ultimately this will lead to the identification of potential routes to new materials.

Further information regarding the project and applications, including a CV, should be addressed to d.j.cooke@hud.ac.uk.

New Approaches to Oligometallic Cluster Formation
Supervisor Dr Paul Elliott

This project will develop new routes to oligonulear complexes through the coupling of preformed complexes with pendent reactive groups. This will involve the use of a range of derivatised ruthenium bipyridyl complexes. These will then be used to investigate reaction conditions necessary for efficient coupling together to form oligometallic complexes. The properties of these complexes will be studied by UVvis and fluorescence spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and Xray crystallography.
For further information regarding this PhD project, contact Dr Paul Elliott (p.i.elliott@hud.ac.uk).

Investigation of allosteric effects in metallosupramolecular assemblies
Supervisor Dr Lindsay Harding

Applications are invited for a PhD studentship in the group of Dr Lindsay Harding synthesising novel ligands for use in metallosupramolecular chemistry, and investigating the allosteric behaviour of their complexes.

The project will involve organic synthesis of ligands and will also require the use of various characterisation techniques such as NMR, mass spectrometry and kinetics measurements.

The successful applicant will be highly motivated and will be able to demonstrate their enthusiasm for supramolecular and physical organic chemistry.

To apply, please send a CV (including contact details of two referees) with a covering letter detailing why you are interested in this project to Dr Lindsay Harding, Dept of Chemical & Biological Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield, West Yorks., HD1 3DH, or email to L.P.Harding@hud.ac.uk.

Drugs of abuse in local communities – an environmental and forensic perspective
Supervisor Dr Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern

Applications are invited for a PhD studentship under the supervision of Dr Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern to work on a research project involving the analysis of drugs of abuse in environmental samples. This project will initially involve the development of methodology for the analysis of drugs of abuse using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The established methods will be applied to assess the fate and degradation pathways of drugs of abuse in the aqueous environment and during drinking and wastewater treatment.

The successful applicant will be a highly qualified graduate with a background in chemical sciences and interests in analytical and environmental science.

Applications should include a CV with contact details for two referees and a covering letter and should be sent to Dr Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern, Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH (email: b.kasprzyk-hordern@hud.ac.uk).

These PhD Studentships are available from September 2008. They will cover University tuition fees and provide the standard tax free starting bursary of £12,600 per annum.

The closing date for applications: 18th April 2008.

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UK: The University of Sheffield 2 PhD Positions School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Section of Cardiovascular Sciences

Academic Unit of Medical Physics

Summary

The Academic Unit of Medical Physics seeks to recruit two PhD students. A stipend equivalent to that of an EPSRC Engineering Doctorate programme, currently £14,400 per annum, will be paid. Fees will be paid at the home/EU fee rate from University Fee Scholarship. The duration of each appointment will be 42 months, commencing on 1 July 2008. Closing date for applications is 7 April 2008. The PhD students will work in the Unit, located in the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield.

About the project

These PhD studentships will be part of a major new programme of work that will develop new computational tools to address a series of important clinical problems in the cardiovascular sector, including heart failure, cardiac rhythm disorder, coronary artery disease and valvular and aortic disease. Developments in the project will support improved diagnosis and disease characterisation, treatment development and treatment planning. The project consortium consists of a well balanced mix of internationally-leading academic, clinical and industrial partners with primary expertise in biophysical modelling, imaging and clinical application.

About the studentships

One student will work in the development, implementation and testing of algorithms for registration of medical images under mathematical constraints associated with the physical processes. The primary target application is the personalisation of models of the aorta in health and disease. One student will work on the definition, integration and application of models associated with the performance of a left ventricular assist device. Both students will work under the supervision of Dr Rod Hose, Dr Pat Lawford and Professor David Barber, as part of a team that will also include a post-doctoral researcher. There will be significant requirement for travel for liaison with academic and industrial partners in several European countries.

Requirements

Applicants should have, or expect to obtain this summer, a good degree (first or upper second class honours or equivalent) in mathematics, physics or engineering. Especially for the first position, a strong mathematical ability is required. Good programming and problem solving skills will be required for both positions, as will the ability to work effectively in and with a small team of researchers. The appointees will be expected to produce academic papers for publication in the peer-reviewed literature, as well as regular formal reports on project progress. Some exposure to the medical or clinical field, particularly in the context of image processing or of medical devices, would be an advantage.

Further Information

For further information please contact Dr Rod Hose (d.r.hose@sheffield.ac.uk) or Dr Pat Lawford (p.lawford@sheffield.ac.uk ).

How to Apply

Please complete a University Postgraduate Research Application form and provide references. To download the application form please visit: www.shef.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/apply/pgrform.html.

Please clearly state ‘Medicine' and the prospective supervisor in the respective boxes.

Deadline for applications: 7th April 2008

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UK: The University of Manchester Engineering Doctorate (EngD) in Engineering for Manufacture

Do you aspire to be one of the UK's leading research engineers?

Do you want a managerial career in industry?

"The EngD is a radical alternative to the traditional PhD . . . a more vocationally oriented doctorate in engineering." (EPSRC)

The Engineering Doctorate is a four year doctoral level collaborative project led by an academic supervisor and an industrial company. The project is defined by the company and academic together and addresses a key problem/opportunity for the business. Unlike a conventional PhD, the researcher receives integrated training in Management subjects and undertakes a comprehensive professional/personal skills development programme

EngD Studentships for October 2008 or January 2009 start are available with:

Arvia Technology Ltd Bridgnorth Aluminium Ltd

Corus Group plc Croda Chemicals Europe Ltd

CVD Technologies Ltd Easipoint Marketing Ltd

Iggesund Paperboard Ltd Renold plc

Rolls-Royce plc Syngenta Ltd

An EngD studentship offers:

● Tax-free stipend of approx £18K per annum for four years

● Industry-based research project at a leading research university

● Management Diploma

● Comprehensive professional development programme

● IET and IMechE accreditation

For more details about the project available and the application procedure please see the EngD Website: http://www.engd.manchester.ac.uk/

(follow ‘EngD in Engineering for Manufacture' link)

Or contact: Dr David Stanley, Manchester EngD Centre,

Tel 0161 306 4161, E-mail engd.centre@manchester.ac.uk

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UKL: University of Liverpool PhD Studentship

Physics Department, Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology and

Division of Medical Imaging & Radiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine

Investigating the impact of Monte-Carlo based radiotherapy treatment planning on clinical outcome

Stipend: £12,600 pa

Location:
Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology (CCO), Wirral, UK and the University of Liverpool (UoL), UK

A PhD studentship, fully funded for 3 years by the Clatterbridge Cancer Research Trust (CCRT), is available now. Tuition fees (at the EU/UK level) and a tax-free annual bursary of £12,600 will be provided. The project will be carried out primarily in the Physics Department, Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology, Bebington CH63 4JY, UK.

The project will be supervised by Prof. Alan Nahum (CCO) and Dr Colin Baker (UoL).

Project summary:
Monte-Carlo (MC) simulation is poised to replace analytical methods for computing dose distributions in patients undergoing radiotherapy due to its proven superiority in dealing with the effect of heterogeneities. The focus of this project is on estimating the clinical impact of the use of MC. This will involve evaluating differences in absolute 3D radiation dose distributions for target volumes and critical organs for patients undergoing curative radiotherapy for head & neck, lung, prostate and breast cancer. Evaluation in terms of mathematical models of Tumour Control Probability (TCP) and Normal-Tissue Complication Probability (NTCP) will be applied. A further aspect will be the determination of the minimum number of MC histories (and therefore the minimum calculation time) necessary in terms of acceptable uncertainties in TCP and NTCP estimation rather than in the conventional uncertainties in dose determination.

Entry requirements:
The project requires a good understanding of radiation physics, significant computer literacy and keen mathematical skills. Experience in Radiotherapy Physics and/or Monte Carlo techniques would be an advantage.
Applicants should have a background in physical sciences and have gained a minimum of a First Class or Upper Second Class Honours degree (or equivalent from a non-UK university).

Informal enquiries are encouraged and can be made by phone or email to Prof. Nahum or Dr Baker:

alan.nahum@ccotrust.nhs.uk
+44 (0)151 334 1155 ext. 4169
Secretary Sue Nixon: +44 (0) 151 482 7860

colin.baker@liverpool.ac.uk
+44 (0)151 794 5754

Applications should be made online at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/applying/

Closing Date: 18 April 2008

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UK: PhD Studentship in the Business School Oxford Brookes University

Evaluation of leadership development programmes

Business School

Governments, employing organisations and individuals themselves invest in programmes aimed at developing leadership capacity that incorporate concepts such as ‘emotional intelligence’ or ‘transpersonal dimension’ of leadership. The effectiveness of the resulting development programmes, however, remains under-explored. PhD proposals are consequently invited which focus attention on the development of criteria for the evaluation of such programmes. Proposals which encompass a comparative methodology involving the evaluation of different types of programmes would be particularly welcomed.

Contact for informal inquiries and further information about the project:

Dr. Tatiana Bachkirova – tbachkirova@brookes.ac.uk, or Dr. Elaine Cox – ecox@brookes.ac.uk

Applicants should have a good Honours degree with 2:1 and normally a masters degree within a relevant discipline.
The full-time studentship, which includes an element for teaching will be for 3 years, subject to satisfactory progress.

Starting bursary will be £20,000 pa plus student fees.

For details regarding how to apply please download the application form and additional information.

Completed applications forms should be sent directly to: Business School HR Team, Oxford Brookes University, Business School, Wheatley Campus, Wheatley, OX33 1HX or email hr-bs@brookes.ac.uk

Closing date: 30th April 2008

Further Details

UK: PhD in Quantitative Social Science, University of Manchester

PhD in Quantitative Social Science
Graduate Programme in Social Research Methods and Statistics
Centre for Census and Survey Research (CCSR)

SEVEN fully funded PhD studentships commencing September 2008

CCSR is a multi-disciplinary research centre in the School of Social Sciences, specialising in the development and application of quantitative research methods.

The prestigious Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) awards are available to UK and EU citizens and pay for fees, a £750 annual research training support grant and (for UK residents) an annual stipend of up to £15,300. Applicants can apply for either a 1+3 award (four years covering linked Masters and PhDs) or a + 3 award (three years with direct entry to PhD research). Two university-funded studentships are also open to overseas students.

What topic?
We welcome applications in a wide range of topic areas relating to our research themes which include:

• Pure and applied social statistics and research methods
• Social networks
• Demographic and social change
• Elections, political parties and political behaviour
• Relationships and relationship structures
• Work and employment
• Confidentiality, privacy and disclosure

How to Apply
For full details on the studentships and information on how to apply visit our website: http://www.ccsr.ac.uk/

or contact the School Postgraduate Administrator:

Victoria Barnes
Email: vicky.barnes[ at ]manchester.ac.uk, Tel: 0161-275 4743

The deadline for receiving applications is 1st April 2008.

The Netherlands: PhD Student Position in Computer Science, University of Groningen

PhD student position in Computer Science - Intelligent Systems - Biologically motivated object recognition

Institute of Mathematics and Computing Science, University of Groningen

Topic of research
The objective of the project is to develop an object recognition technique that is motivated by the function of the visual cortex. Major aspects are representation and learning.

Type and level of the position
This is a temporary research position at the level of a PhD student for a period of maximum four years. The tuition fees will be waived and the student will receive a full scholarship. In this period the student will follow relevant courses and prepare and defend a PhD thesis. The position is embedded in the research group Intelligent Systems. The tradition of the group is that PhD theses are based on excellent papers in high imact journals so that our PhD graduates have a very strong competative position on the academic market. Thesis director and supervisor will be professor N. Petkov. The University of Groningen is a leading European research university.

Our requirements on your qualifications
You are a university graduate (at the level of diploma or master of science level) in one of the following disciplines: computer science, artificial intelligence, computational neuroscience, electrical engineering, biophysics, physics. You have a demonstrated interest in the neurosciences. You have an excellent academic record (GPA) and belong to the top 5% of the graduates of your year and preferrably have a graduation with a distinction such as honors or cum laude. You are fluent in English language and able to write scientific articles and reports (to be proven by your graduation thesis or another comparable report or co-authorship of published scientific articles).

How to apply
Send the following information:

1. an application letter with a CV,
2. a specification of GPA and transcript of records,
3. an indication of your position in the class and year (e.g. 1st in a class of 20),
4. evidence of excellence (e.g. graduation with honors) and a list of relevant awards,
5. proofs of involvement in research (e.g. co-authorship of scientific articles),
6. a description of your ideas for research in the specified area,
7. names and email addresses of three scientists (typically your former professors) who can give a reference for you.

to prof.dr. Nicolai Petkov (petkov[ at ]cs.rug.nl). Applicants will be asked to do a short assignment in order to demonstrate their research abilities. The position will be open until a suitable candidate is found.

Via: official announcement

Hong Kong: PhD Studentship in Computational Chemistry, Molecular Clusters and Climate, the University of Hong Kong

A fully funded PhD position is available immediately in the field of computational chemistry, more specifically in the field of atmospheric water clusters, here in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Hong Kong.

The work is in the field of computational chemistry and deals with cluster structure and stability as well as coupling between atmospheric cluster distribution and climatic impact. The project will involve modeling energetic and spectroscopic properties of molecular clusters such as, for instance, neutral and ionic water clusters, as well as select metal/water clusters, at ambient and extreme conditions. Several different methodologies will be applied including 1) density functional theory, 2) ab initio methods and 3) time dependent density functional type calculations. All computations will be performed on HPC clusters at the University of Hong Kong.

Successful applicants will join a dynamic, research-oriented department with strong collaborative links to the Physics, Chemistry and other natural science departments as well as to high-performance supercomputing facilities on campus. Applicants should hold a B.Sc. degree (or equivalent) in Geochemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline and should be highly motivated to perform fundamental simulation and modeling studies.

Further details may be obtained from Dr. Kono Lemke, Department of Earth Sciences, Pokfulam Road, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, (Tel +852 2241 5474, Fax +852 2517 6912), email: kono[ at ]hku.hk or kono[ at ]hkucc.hku.hk to whom a letter of application, a cv and details of three referees should be sent.