Postdoctoral Research Fellow

The Faculty wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to support the work of Professor Edward Keedwell and Dr David Walker. This Innovate UK funded post is available from 1/9/2025 to 31/3/2025. Port operations are inherently complex with multiple companies working to move goods and provide services within an environment that is subject to tight schedules and significant uncertainty. These complexities are further compounded by the need for decarbonisation of vessels and port operations in the drive towards net zero. The successful applicant will develop simulations of port operational infrastructure and optimisation methods to provide optimised solutions to support decarbonisation planning.

The post will include:

• The development of physical and data-driven simulation models of port operations using real-world data
• The development of optimisation approaches to achieve decarbonisation objectives
• Liaison with the industrial partner to determine model requirements and areas for potential optimisation
• Experimental evaluation of models and testing of hypotheses
• Project outcomes reporting for project monitoring purposes and potential publication in conferences and journal articles

About you

The successful applicant will be able to develop research objectives, projects and proposals; identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds and make presentations at conferences and other events.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD in Computer Science or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study. The successful applicant will be a nationally recognised authority and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies. The successful applicant will also be able to work collaboratively, supervise the work of others and act as team leader as required. Applicants will be able to:

• Write robust, efficient software in a high level language (e.g. Python, C++, Java)
• Develop computational simulation models from physical principles
• Develop data-driven models from data using machine learning
• Develop optimisation methods to optimise model decisions and parameters
• Robustly test models and algorithms
• Communicate the outcomes of research to a lay audience
• Write up the findings of research for publication

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

What we can offer you

• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research;
• Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
• An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development
• Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career

• A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a Fertility Treatment Policy
• A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon

We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from service people.

Further information

For further information please contact Professor Edward Keedwell, e-mail E.C.Keedwell@exeter.ac.uk or Dr David Walker, e-mail D.Walker2@exeter.ac.uk. 

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