PhD Studentships: Optimising Maritime System Operations through Asset Health Prognostics

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Detail information about job PhD Studentships: Optimising Maritime System Operations through Asset Health Prognostics. Terms and conditions vacancy

The Institute for Energy and Environment (Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering) in collaboration with the Maritime Safety Research Centre (Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering) at the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.), offers a PhD position in the area of prognostics and health management methods for reliability, availability, maintainability, and safety (RAMS) of maritime systems.

PhD Research Description

Safety and reliability are at the heart of sustainable marine operations. Effective risk management and maintenance planning throughout a vessel’s lifecycle is an intricate task due to the complexity and dynamic nature of modern vessels.

Thanks to the modern technologies and increased monitoring systems on-board ships, there is room to optimize system operations and improve risk management and maintenance planning through risk monitoring and prognostics and health management (PHM) applications. Namely, it is possible to link system-level vessel operational parameters with component-level PHM indicators so as to plan an optimized system operation strategy and extend the useful life of the vessel’s components. The main focus of this project will be on the use and development of PHM methods for optimized system operation. This will involve the development and application of data analytics, artificial intelligence, and RAMS methods. Particular cases of interest are predictive monitoring capabilities of electrical components and the power and speed management of vessel’s propulsion machinery assuring the engine’s safe operation.

The Institute for Energy and Environment has an extensive experience of developing and delivering PHM applications for a number of industrial partners and the Maritime Safety Research Centre is engaged in a number of industrial research projects with a focus on on-board risk management. Additionally, so as to maximize the outcomes of the project, the candidate will be closely working with DNV GL and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd so as to develop an industry focused application of the project.

The PhD thesis will be completed in the University of Strathclyde, in a nurturing environment with excellent, well-established prospects for professional career development. We are looking for candidates with Engineering or Management Science background to start as soon as possible. The successful candidate will be highly motivated, independent, and yet an excellent team player, well organised, and result-oriented.

The ideal candidate will have the following:

• A Masters or First Class Honours degree (or equivalent) in Engineering (marine, mechanical, electrical) or a related Management Science area.
• Experience with reliability engineering and system safety and/or prognostics and health management methods.
• Experience with artificial intelligence methods.
• Programming skills: Matlab, R, Python, C++.

Working conditions

Full-time status as a PhD-candidate for a period of 3 years.

Funding for UK/EU Students. Funding amount: the funding covers Home-Scotland/EU student tuition fees and stipend (£14,653 per year) in line with University rates (a student from the rest of the UK may be considered for a partial grant).

Information and applying

In order to apply, please send your detailed CV, a cover letter describing your research interests and relevant studies and/or experience for the post directly to Professor Stephen McArthur ([email protected]).

Deadline

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the closing date of 10/9/2017 at midnight. We expect to hold interviews in the week beginning on the 11th of September.