PhD Studentship: Development of a Free-running CFD-based Collision Avoidance Model for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) in Restricted Waters

Supervisory Team: Dr Tahsin Tezdogan and Professor Stephen Turnock

Project description

Are you interested in pursuing a PhD in the exciting field of maritime autonomy? We are currently looking for a motivated and passionate PhD student to join our maritime engineering research team at the University of Southampton in developing a collision avoidance model for autonomous surface ships operating in restricted waters.

The use of automation technologies, decision support, and autonomous navigation systems in shipping is on the rise. In addition to avoiding groundings and enabling stable navigation through severe weather conditions at sea, collision avoidance is the main task for automated or autonomous navigation systems. The project will be focused on developing a free-running Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)-based collision avoidance model, which will enable autonomous surface ships to navigate safely and efficiently in challenging and complex environments. The model will take into account various environmental factors, such as tides, currents, wind and obstacles.

As a PhD candidate in this project, you will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology and collaborate with leading researchers in the field. You will be responsible for developing and testing the collision avoidance model using state-of-the-art CFD simulations and real-world data from actual maritime environments. You will also be involved in designing and implementing algorithms for decision-making and control in autonomous navigation.

In addition to the research work, you will also have opportunities to attend international conferences, workshops, and seminars, and to present your research findings to the academic and industrial community.

You should have a background in ship science, naval architecture or mechanical engineering with a strong interest in computational modelling, autonomous systems, and marine technology. As part of the selection process, the strength of the whole application is taken into account, including academic qualifications, personal statement, CV and references. Ideally the candidate should have some experience in CFD. It is planned to start the project in 2023, preferably no later than October.

You will be working under the supervision of Dr Tahsin Tezdogan and Professor Stephen Turnock.

If you are interested in this exciting project and want to make a significant contribution to the development of autonomous navigation technology with the use of CFD, please get in touch with us. We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic, hard-working, and committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in this field. We look forward to hearing from you!

Entry Requirements

A very good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent).

Closing date: 17 April 2023 for standard admissions, but later applications may be considered depending on the funds remaining in place.

Funding: For UK students, Tuition Fees and a stipend of £17,668 tax-free per annum for up to 3.5 years.

How To Apply

Apply online: Search for a Postgraduate Programme of Study (soton.ac.uk). Select programme type (Research), 2023/24, Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering, next page select “PhD Engineering & Environment (Full time)”. In Section 2 of the application form you should insert the name of the supervisor Tahsin Tezdogan

Applications should include:

Research Proposal
Curriculum Vitae
Two reference letters
Degree Transcripts/Certificates to date

For further information please contact: feps-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk

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