Introduction
Applications are
invited to undertake postgraduate research within the new Ningbo
Nottingham International Academy for the Marine Economy and Technology
(IAMET), a new centre of excellence for marine-related research and
business engagement. The IAMET is collaboration between The University
of Nottingham in the UK and Ningbo, China, Zhejiang Wanli Education
Group and the Ningbo Municipal Government, and will engage with both
local and international companies providing opportunities for
collaboration and commercialisation of joint activities in:
1. Robust Port and Services Optimisation
At
the 2016 National People's Congress Premier Li Keqiang has warned that
China's economy faces a "difficult battle ahead". It was said that key
to achieving future growth will be the need to reform inefficient state
owned enterprises. This research proposal aims to aid the city of Ningbo
in this endeavour by supporting the optimisation of key local
industries and services. It is our view that such optimisation will need
to be combined with big data in a balanced way. ‘Over-optimisation’ is
counterproductive – such solutions ‘break’ too easily when something
changes. What is required are robust but efficient solutions that work
in an ever changing world of uncertainty and noisy data. Finally, such
solutions need to be communicated from computer screens to humans – this
requires skilful translation into actual management practises to
achieve maximum benefit.
2. Marine advanced materials
Exploring
the design and manufacture of marine equipment and materials. Research
will also look at materials and structures for vessels, coastal
infrastructure, off-shore energy systems as well as corrosion resistant
coatings.
3. Marine natural products
Research
and development of natural marine products, including using natural
biological resources for pharmaceuticals, drug discovery, new materials
and sustainable chemicals.
4. Marine environmental management
This
examines areas such as the techniques and processes involved in coastal
engineering and the development of technologies to remediate marine
ecosystems
Scholarships
Applications are invited any of the above areas but with an initial focus on the Polymer Composites group, the Robust Port and Services Optimisation group
and the Power Electronics, Machines and Drives research group, with
many of the scholarships being linked directly with industry.
Polymer Composites
Composites based on strong stiff
fibres are widely used in marine infrastructure due to their potential
for low cost fabrication and useful environmental resistance. The same
fabrication technologies are applicable throughout the transport
industries and this offers exciting opportunities to create strategic
capacity in Ningbo to introduce new materials, processes and products
that span a range of industries.
There are up to eight PhD scholarships to undertake research projects
on the following topics (these are for illustration only and we welcome
fresh proposals that align with our objectives in other ways):
- Extraction and coating of natural fibres from renewable source
-
Surface treatment and in-vitro behavior of novel glass fibres
-
Green resin systems and additives based upon marine natural products
-
Applications of thermoplastic matrix composites in the marine environment
-
Design and innovation capacity in the Chinese composites industry
-
Environment-friendly fabrication of large infrastructures
-
Environmental resistance of marine composites and coatings
Applicants should have a
background in mechanical, materials or chemical engineering, although
Project (5) will be more suitable for a Business or Economics graduate.
Informal inquiries may be addressed to Professor Chris Rudd chris.rudd@nottingham.edu.cn
Robust Port and Services Optimisation
At the 2016 National People's Congress Premier Li Keqiang has warned
that China's economy faces a "difficult battle ahead". It was said that
key to achieving future growth will be the need to reform inefficient
state owned enterprises. This research proposal aims to aid the city of
Ningbo in this endeavour by supporting the optimisation of key local
industries and services. It is our view that such optimisation will need
to be combined with big data in a balanced way. ‘Over-optimisation’ is
counterproductive – such solutions ‘break’ too easily when something
changes. What is required are robust but efficient solutions that work
in an ever changing world of uncertainty and noisy data. Finally, such
solutions need to be communicated from computer screens to humans – this
requires skilful translation into actual management practises to
achieve maximum benefit.
There are PhD scholarships to undertake research projects in the following research areas:
The project will address the following key scientific challenges:
- Data mining/machine learning challenges: large data sets, mixture of
data types (including images), data quality and security issues. Data
mining will provide input patterns and parameters for the optimisation
stage.
- Optimisation challenges: dealing with uncertainty, dynamic problems,
large scale optimisation problem. Heuristics and exact methodologies
will be tested, new combinations such as simulation and machine learning
will pose technical challenges
- Social challenges – users needs to understand and trust the solution
methods or they will not use them optimally. We need to find ways how
to translate solutions into good management practises
These scholarships are suited to anyone with an interest in computer
science, data mining, logistics, supply chains, operational research and
optimisation within the context of port, marine, logistics or related
city services and sectors. The research projects are multidisciplinary
in nature making extensive use of sophisticated methods of solving
business problems related to designing, planning, controlling and
improving operations and supply chain management processes. The
scholarships will be attractive to researchers from a range of
industrial, engineering, computer science or management backgrounds.
Students will need either a first class or upper second class honours
degree in a relevant subject such as engineering, computer science,
logistics, supply chain or operations management or related subjects.
Informal inquiries may be addressed to Professor Uwe Aickelin
uwe.aickelin@nottingham.edu.cn
Power Electronics, Machines and Drives
High performance electrical machines and drive systems are essential
to all future sustainable energy scenarios since they can deliver
efficient and flexible conversion and conditioning of electrical energy.
They find application in many low-carbon applications including
renewable energy generation, smart grids, electric transport (EV, HEVs,
rail), aerospace, marine and energy saving motor drives.
There are PhD scholarships to undertake research projects in the following research areas:
1. Novel electrical machine topologies for high performance propulsion application.
2. Power electronics converters including high power density
converters, modular concepts and health management of electrical drive
systems.
3. Electrical machine drives including high power density drives and
the integration of electrical machines and power electronics.
4. Design tools and modelling for power electronics, machines and drives.
5. Electrochemical engineering for materials and energy, focusing
on the chemistry of electron-driven processes and energy storage.
5a. Electrochemical engineering for marine energy, focusing on the chemistry of electron-driven processes and energy storage.
5b. Liquid salts (e.g. molten salts, ionic liquids and deep eutectic
solvents) from marine resources to support chemical and electrochemical
processes for materials, energy and environmental benefits.
5c. Electrochemical technologies for marine applications, particularly in the off-shore environment.
These scholarships are suited to anyone with an interest in the
technologies underpinning our future energy and transport systems, and
who is keen to tackle key research challenges facing the sector. The
projects are multidisciplinary in nature and will be attractive to
researchers from a range of science or engineering backgrounds.
Students will need either a first class or upper second class honours
degree in a relevant subject such as mechanical or materials
engineering, electrical or electronic engineering, physics or a related
subject. Prior knowledge of power electronics is not essential and
training will be provided as required.
Informal inquiries may be addressed to
Professor Chris Gerada chris.gerada@nottingham.ac.uk
Salary/ Package
The scholarships are based at The University of Nottingham’s campus
in Ningbo, China. They are available from May 2016 for a period of three
years, with a stipend of up RMB 3,000 per month (c. GBP 300 per month)
and an accommodation allowance of RMB 4,800 per year (c. GBP 480 per
year) for local students and RMB 12,000 per year (c. GBP 1,200 per year)
for international students. Tuition fees are fully funded and medical
insurance is provided.
Applications will be considered until the eight scholarships have
been awarded, but potential applicants are urged to apply as soon as
possible to maximise their chances of success.
- Teaching assistantships with extra payment may be available for talented PhD students.
- Applications will be considered until all scholarships have been
awarded, but potential applicants are urged to apply as soon as possible
to maximise their chances of success.
- To apply please send the following by email to PHDAdmissions@nottingham.edu.cn :
Application Form (please download here:
http://www.nottingham.edu.cn/en/admissions/domestic-students/phdprogramme/how-to-apply/application--assessment-procedure.aspx
- A brief research proposal
- Copies of degree certificate for both undergraduate and postgraduate
study (Xueli certificates required for applicants from Chinese
universities)
- Official transcripts showing marks for both undergraduate and
postgraduate study (in English only, with university’s official stamp
on)
- Two references which can be emailed by the referees directly to PHDAdmissions@nottingham.edu.cn
- English proficiency test report (not required for native English speakers)
- A copy of passport-sized colour photograph
- A copy of your passport. For Chinese applicants a copy of ID card is accepted
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