PhD position in Quantitative Models for Maritime Logistics with emphasis on Offshore Energy Sector

The Department of Technology and Innovation University of Southern Denmark in Odense (SDU), invites for applications for a 3-year PhD position on the topic of sector. The starting time of the position is 1st January 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter, and the location is at SDU’s main campus in Odense.

Job description:
SDU has based on strategic sources and funding from Orients Fund initiated a cross disciplinary research and innovation project called the Maritime Research Platform (MRP) aimed at making the Danish and European maritime industry more sustainable and competitive in the global marketplace for offshore energy (wind, oil, gas, carbon capture, power-to-x) shipping and logistics services. The project consists of six work packages (WP) where WP2 is in scope for this PhD position. WP2 is intended to address business, operations and / or logistics challenges of the offshore energy maritime industry via contributing to development and validation of decision support tools which can guide commercial, operational, or technical business decisions in the short and long term for shipping companies, ports, service businesses, etc. based on a robust data foundation.

A potential project deliverable can include decision support tools and models to forecast long- or short-term demand for specific offshore energy maritime assets (project cargo, multi-purpose, tanker, installation, cable laying, crew vessels, port, bunkering infrastructure etc.) and / or services (offshore wind turbine installation, inspection of offshore constructions, supply of bunkers and spare parts, transportation of crew etc.). Another potential project deliverable can include decision support tools and models for scheduling and execution of voyages, bunkering etc. of offshore installation vessels, supply, crew vessels etc. based on demand and supply, wind, and weather conditions and the like.

To be able to realize decision support tools and models, the PhD should preferably be able to build a set of quantitative models using methods from areas of Operations Research, Statistics, Simulation, and Economics etc. Such models can preferably be built, run, and validated in various software and computing environments such as Anylogic, Python, Julia, using a combination of appropriate methods within scheduling, optimization, heuristics, simulation, and data science.

The PhD candidate will have significant freedom to shape the research and innovation effort in directions of own interest. The candidate is expected to identify relevant industry partners and collaborate and with these as part of the project, for example gathering data from and sharing findings with these, but also has freedom to pursue research and innovation directions of own interest during the project period.

The PhD candidate will...

• ...conduct research and innovation in the corresponding research area, covering the before-mentioned activities.
• ...work closely with key stakeholders in the SDU Maritime Research Platform and the Offshore Energy Maritime Industry.
• ...publish and present academic work both at international conferences and in scientific journals.
• …publish and present industrial innovations at events for industry professionals.
• ...take part in teaching and supervision activities in the field of Operations & Supply Chain Management, Operations Research, Modelling and Simulation, Data Science, Ship Operations and Maritime Logistics.

What we expect:
The successful candidate will conduct application-oriented research with a team of industry partners in the Offshore Energy Maritime Industry. The desired candidate should hold a MSc degree in Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Maritime or Logistics Studies or equivalent (equivalent to a Danish master's degree) and should demonstrate:

• Skilled in data-driven analytics and mathematical modelling/optimization, preferable in Anylogic, Python or R, Julia.
• Be comfortable with various programming languages and willingness to learn new if needed.

• Knowledge about offshore maritime and energy operations is an advantage.
• Willingness to do applied science and support project team, industrial partners, and overall research project progress.
• Interest in longer term commitment to a growing research group.
• Willingness to work with students and to contribute to teaching / supervision of (master) students.
• Comfortability with working both independently and within an international team.
• Fluency in English, both spoken and written.
• Good written and oral communication skills

Familiarity with or dedicated interest in exploring the domain of Offshore Maritime and Renewable Energy Industries as experience with creating qualitative and/or quantitative models in business / industrial settings will be considered as an advantage.

Workplace environment:SDU offers a vigorous international research environment with a balance of male and female researchers, excellent facilities, inclusive the new Robotics and Additive Manufacturing Laboratories at University of Southern Denmark, a long-term strategic initiative created to support research, teaching, and industrial collaboration and experimentation. SDU expect to increase its’ collaboration with industrial companies and associations in the coming years across industrial sectors.

Futher information:
Further information is available from Associate Professor Julia Pahl, phone: +45 93 50 70 81, email: [email protected] or Head of Section Niels Gorm Maly Rytter, phone: +45 29 10 37 29 email: [email protected].

If you experience technical problems, you must contact [email protected].

Important information before applying
Applicants are required to have a master’s degree (equivalent to a Danish master's degree) at the time of enrolment and employment.

Employment as a PhD fellow is a 3-year salaried position. Employment of a PhD fellow can only happen after the PhD School has approved the candidate for admission. Employment and enrolment will cease without further notice at the end of the period.

A PhD fellow is not allowed to have any kind of sideline employment, while enrolled as PhD fellow at the faculty.

Employment is governed by the Protocol on PhD Research Fellows signed by the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information about salary and conditions of employment.

The successful candidate will be enrolled at SDU in accordance with Faculty regulations and the Danish Ministerial Order on the PhD Programme at the Universities (PhD order).

The assessment process
Read about the Assessment and selection process. Shortlisting may be used.

Application procedure

Applications must be uploaded using the link "Apply online". The Faculty expects applicants to read the Faculty information for prospective PhD students and the SDU information on how to apply before applying.

The application must be in English and all non-Danish documents must be translated into English.

The applications must include the following - the required forms must be found at the above mentioned Faculty website:

• Completed TEK PhD application form for 5+3 applicants
• Motivation letter stating your specific interest, motivation and qualifications for the project in question (max. two pages). Upload in the field called “Project description”
• Detailed Curriculum Vitae, describing research, publication and teaching experience, computational skills and including personal contact information
• Verified copies of the official bachelor diploma and master's diploma and transcripts of exams in professional English translation or in Danish
• Completed TEK PhD form for calculation grade point average. Upload in one of the fields called “Publication”
• An official document describing the grading scheme of the awarding universities (if not Danish). Upload in one of the fields called “Publication”
• An official and verified written assessment of the thesis project from the grade giving institution if the thesis/examination project by approved/not approved. The statement must clearly state that the candidate has been among the top 30 pct. in the graduation class for the study programme.
• References, you're welcome to use the form for reference letter at the Faculty website.
• List of publications and maximum 2 examples of relevant publications, in case you have any publications

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

The application deadline is 01.10.2023.

For further info, check: https://www.SDU.dk/en/forskning/SDUmechanicalengineering/researchareas/maritim-teknologi/SDU-maritime-research-platform)