The UCL Energy Institute invites applications for a fully funded (UK/EU fees plus stipend) 3.5-year PhD studentship funded under the EPSRC’s DTG programme. We are looking to fund thesis topics in the fields of air transport, urban transport, or shipping.

The thesis topics should address one of the following three areas:

• Modelling air transport systems and energy use
• Modelling urban transport and energy use
• Shipping energy demand analysis (quantitative or qualitative)

University College London

University College London (UCL) is one of the UK’s premier universities and is ranked in the world’s top 10. It is a world-class research and teaching institution based in London whose staff and former students have included 20 Nobel Prize winners. Founded in 1826, and now with an annual turnover exceeding £600 million, it is an inspiring university in which to work and study. UCL currently employs approximately 8,000 staff across 54 Academic Departments and Institutes whose activities span the following: arts and humanities, social and historical sciences, law, architecture and the built environment, engineering sciences, mathematical and physical sciences, life and clinical sciences, and medicine. UCL’s academic and research staff is a truly international community with more than a quarter coming from 84 countries outside the UK. The UCL student community comprises 12,600 undergraduates and 8,500 graduate students, of whom over 30% come from 130 countries outside the UK. UCL currently offers 270 undergraduate programmes and more than 210 taught postgraduate programmes as well as the opportunity to carry out postgraduate research in all of its subjects. Approximately 40% of the student community is engaged in graduate studies, with about 37% of these graduate students pursuing research degrees.

UCL Energy Institute

The UCL Energy Institute www.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk/energy is a multidisciplinary school within the Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources, with around 70 faculty and staff. It brings together multidisciplinary teams, providing critical mass and capacity for large projects. In particular, the UCL Energy Institute develops and undertakes research in the areas of energy-demand reduction and energy systems, to improve energy security and facilitate a transition to a low-carbon economy. The UCL Energy Institute has a Doctoral Training Programme of over 70 PhD students to support the complex and multidisciplinary research objectives of the Institute. Examples of the current diverse range of PhD subjects being studied are at:www.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk/energy/people/mphil-phd-students. The Doctoral Training Programme also includes the UK Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) in Energy Demand Reduction and the Built Environment http://www.energy-building-dtc.org.uk/; a collaboration between the UCL Energy Institute and Loughborough University. Additionally, the MSc in Economics and Policy of Energy and the Environment was launched in September 2013, and has quickly developed to be the leading programme for individuals from government, 3rd sector and industry to develop their careers in these vital energy related fields.

Air Transport Research at the UCL Energy Institute

Aviation has experienced rapid expansion as the world economy has grown. However, managing the global air transport system to ensure continued economic and social benefits while mitigating environmental impacts is becoming a major challenge. Sustainable development of the system depends on the delivery to policymakers and stakeholders of robust results incorporating improved understanding of the processes and interactions between the key system elements that determine environmental, societal and economic impacts.

The Aviation Integrated Modelling (AIM) project see www.aimproject.aero for further information) is continuing development of a policy assessment tool that provides such a capability. Different elements of the air transport system are modelled, including aircraft technology & cost, air transport demand, airline & airport activity, air traffic management, global climate response, air quality and noise, and regional economics. The AIM model allows evaluation of candidate policies that manipulate the evolution of the air transport system, assessing their environmental and economic impacts. Key interdependencies are captured, allowing data transfer and feedback within the modelled system. This allows complex trade-offs between competing environmental and economic metrics to be examined.

We are looking for a candidate with a specialism in quantitative modelling (engineering, economics, mathematics, computer sciences, operations research, quantitative social science), applicable to modelling air transport systems and energy use.

Urban Transport Research at the UCL Energy Institute

Urban transportation is the main contributor of local air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, traffic congestion, accidents and other externalities. City planners are looking for ways to improve transport such as providing people with real time information (i.e. via mobile applications and social media) and sustainable options to get from one place to another (i.e. walking, biking, driving, or using public transit). Effective transport planning depends on a detailed understanding of how, when, and why individuals choose to travel and on representing their trips in time and space. Big data allows individuals travel behavior and preferences to be captured and can also help transport operators predict, detect and respond to travel demand. The topics presented below are of particular interest to urban transport planning:

• Big data handling, GIS data,, data visualization, transport models and personalized travel services;
• Mobile applications, social media, social interaction effects and travel behavior;
• Demand for alternative fueled vehicles and vehicle ownership patterns;
• Transport network and energy demand;
• Life-oriented and lifestyle approaches for sustainable transport policies.

We are looking for a candidate with a specialism in quantitative modelling (engineering, economics, mathematics, computer sciences, operations research, quantitative social science), applicable to modelling urban transport systems and energy use.

Shipping Research at the UCL Energy Institute

The shipping research group at UCL Energy Institute (15 RA’s and PhD students) is involved in a number of on-going projects: RCUK Energy funded Shipping in Changing Climates (£4m), ETI funded Heavy Duty Vehicles programme (£2m), IMO 3rd GHG Study. In addition, we work closely with industry and policy makers through a number of sponsorships and consultancy projects (Including: Shell, INTERTANKO, ISO, Lloyd’s Register, WWF, EBRD, CWR, FFF, IoS, Oceanfoil, BMT and International Paint).

We undertake research both using models of the shipping system (GloTraM), shipping big data (including satellite Automatic Identification System data) and qualitative and social science analysis of the policy and commercial structure of the shipping system. All research activity is centred on understanding patterns of energy demand in shipping and how this knowledge can be applied to help shipping transition to a low carbon future.

We are looking for a candidate with a specialism in quantitative or qualitative analysis (engineering, economics, policy studies, law, computer sciences, operations research, quantitative social science), applicable to shipping energy demand analysis.

PhD Studentship

We seek motivated candidates who are creative, enthusiastic and ready to thrive in a dynamic, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team, with innovative proposals for how their personal research interests could leverage our on-going research activities and develop new knowledge with applications for industry and policy makers. Applicants should have an interest in the possible evolution of the UK and international transport system in ways that reduce environmental impact while continuing to enable economic growth, with particular interest in either air transport, urban transport or shipping. The studentship will be based at UCL where you will be supervised by world-leading academics.

You will have the opportunity to engage closely with partners in industry, policy, NGOs and academia to pursue relevant and timely research, providing multiple routes into future employment in the rapidly expanding transport field. You will gain business and innovation skills; project and programme management skills; teamwork, communication and leadership skills; and the ability to seek solutions to complex, multifaceted problems.

The 3.5-year EPSRC DTG studentship consists of UK/EU fees, a stipend of up to £15,000 per annum, plus an additional £1,000 per annum to spend on research related expenses. The stipend is tax free (conditions apply).

It is desirable that you are a UK or EU national who has been living in the UK for the past 3 years seewww.epsrc.ac.uk/skills/students/help/eligibility/ for full details.

Students should have a UK bachelor's degree in a relevant subject or a closely related discipline, awarded with first-class or upper second-class (2:1) honours, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard from a recognised higher education institute. For those applicants with a first or 2:1, possession of a master's degree in economics, engineering, operations research, science or quantitative social science is highly desirable. Candidates without a master's degree may be admitted in exceptional cases where suitable research experience can be demonstrated.

Application Procedure

Stage 1

In Stage 1, you are required to submit a 2-page CV, and a 1-page personal statement. Your personal statement should indicate your interest in our research areas (below) and the relevance of your own skills and experience.

• Modelling air transport systems and energy use
• Modelling urban transport and energy use
• Shipping energy demand analysis (quantitative or qualitative)

All Stage 1 applications should be emailed to Mae Oroszlany, UCL Energy Institute’s PhD Programme Administrator: email;e.oroszlany@ucl.ac.uk, tel; +44 (0)20 3108 5941

Informal enquiries on the content of the studentship research topic can be made to Dr Antony Evans (air transport)antony.evans@ucl.ac.uk, Dr Maria Kamargianni (urban transport) m.kamargianni@ucl.ac.uk, or Dr Tristan Smith (shipping)tristan.smith@ucl.ac.uk.

The closing date for the receipt of completed Stage 1 applications is 16h00 on Friday 16th January 2015. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview, which will take place on Wednesday 4th February 2015.

Stage 2

Following the interview, the successful candidate will be invited to make a formal application to the UCL PhD programme. This Stage 2 of the application process will consist of a full research proposal, a full UCL application form (noting the source of funding and supervisory arrangement), references, and supporting materials. Full details of the UCL PhD application process is at:www.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk/energy/programmes/mphil_phd/mphilphd-energy, and at: www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/apply/research