PhD position in Quantitative Modelling for Just-in-Time Port Call Optimization

The Department of Technology and Innovation University of Southern Denmark in Odense (SDU), invites for applications to a 3-year PhD position with teaching obligations on the topic of 

sector. The starting time of the position is January 1, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter, and the location is at SDU’s main campus in Odense.

The application deadline is October 15, 2024, at 11.59 PM / 23.59 (CET/CEST) 

Job description

The PhD position is allocated to the Horizon 2020 EU-funded project MISSION which stands for MaritIme juSt in time optimiSatION (see also our press release here: https://www.sdu.dk/en/om_sdu/fakulteterne/teknik/nyt_fra_det_tekniske_fakultet/mission) which deals with the following challenge.

Ships hurrying up to get to the next port of arrival and terminal in time to be on top of the queue and ships queuing outside the port area due to delays in berth readiness and/or ship arrival times is a widespread problem that leads to avoidable fuel consumption and related CO2 emissions. According to a report from the International Maritime Organization, ships may spend 5-10% of their time waiting to enter a port. The unnecessary higher speed and subsequent waiting time with auxiliary engines running result in significantly increased fuel consumption causing environmental and economic challenges.

To amend this, a consortium with 30 partners of European universities, ports, shipping companies, and technology firms have joined forced to find a solution. With an EU grant of 7,5 million EUR, the partners aim to develop, over the next 3,5 years, a new communication, and logistics platform for shipping. The platform aims to make maritime traffic more efficient and ensure that ships arrive at their destination port only when port services and a berth is available ­– just in time. 

The essential part of the project is to enhance and assure timely communication and that the right information is provided to the right people to the right time in the right format – which may sound easy in our times of digitization and information sharing on mobile or other devices, but to get this information is tricky as the maritime supply chain is highly complex with many stakeholders involved. The aim of the project is to provide solutions that can be integrated into existing systems and are able to calculate and provide this information based on terminology and calculation methods defined by agreed standards. This involves artificial intelligence and data science solutions, simulation studies, IT-solutions, as well as behavioral, contractual, and organizational change management. With this, we expect a realistic fuel consumption to be reduced by up to 23% on the overall ship voyage and port call including the shore side. 

The solution’s effectiveness will also be demonstrated as part of the project. This applies for container ships, RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) vessels which allow direct cargo rolling, and tramp shipping, mainly consisting of tankers and bulk carriers.

The promising PhD candidate should work within the WP4 which includes the demonstration cases that measure and show how much CO2-emissions can be saved and how operations can run smoother with updated information about operation event times. Tools to be employed and scientific areas to be regarded range from simulation in Anylogic (or similar) to operations research, statistical & machine learning, IT-systems & software engineering, as well as economics including sustainability aspects in maritime operations. 

The PhD candidate will have a certain amount of freedom to pick and shape the research effort in directions of own interest within the scope of MISSION. The candidate is expected to work with relevant consortium partners, e.g., gathering data, align efforts, and sharing findings with these.

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 MISSION project.
• publish and present academic work both at international conferences and in scientific journals.
• take part in teaching and supervision activities in the field of operations and 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 and studies with MISSION consortium partners. The desired candidate should hold a MSc degree in industrial engineering, computer science, software engineering, operations management, 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, R, and/or Julia.
• Be comfortable with various programming languages and willingness to learn new if needed.
• Very good written and oral communication skills
• Knowledge about maritime 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.

Workplace description
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. 

Further information

Further information is available from Associate Professor Julia Pahl, phone: +45 93 50 70 81, email: [email protected].

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

Conditions of employment

Appointment as a PhD fellow is a 3-year salaried position.

The monthly gross salary incl. pension is 35.707DKR. If you have relevant postgraduate experience, you may be placed on a higher salary step. 

Applicants must hold a master’s degree (equivalent to a Danish master's degree) at the time of enrollment and employment. Employment of a PhD fellow can only happen after the PhD School has approved the candidate for admission.

Employment as a PhD fellow 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). 

Assessment and selection process

Read about the Assessment and selection process. 

Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee or an expert. Shortlisting may be applied. Only shortlisted candidates will receive a written assessment. Read about shortlisting at SDU. 

Interviews and tests may be part of the process.

Application procedure

Before applying the candidates are advised to read the Faculty information for prospective PhD students, the SDU information on how to apply and specific faculty information for application at the Faculty of Engineering. 

Assessment of candidates is based on the application material. Please include the following documents in English: 

• Motivation letter stating your specific interest, motivation and qualifications for the project in question (max. two pages). 
• Curriculum Vitae describing research, publication and teaching experience, computational skills and including personal contact information
• Certificates/Diplomas (bachelor’s and master’s degree) – incl. transcripts of grades in Danish and/or English. 
• Completed TEK PhD application form for 5+3 applicants. Find the form at the Faculty website.
• Completed TEK PhD form for calculation grade point average. Find the form at the Faculty website. 
• An official document describing the grading scheme of the awarding universities (if not Danish). 
• Only for applicants from programmes that evaluate thesis/examination project by approved/not approved: Please submit an official and verified written assessment of the thesis or dissertation project from the grade giving institution. The statement must clearly state that the candidate has been among the top 30 pct. in the graduation class for the study programme.

The application may also include:

• 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).

UPLOAD GUIDE: Motivation letter shall be uploaded as ‘Cover letter’, Curriculum Vitae shall be uploaded as ‘Resume’. All other documents shall be uploaded as ‘Miscellaneous documents’. 

The application deadline is October 15, 2024, at 11.59 PM / 23.59 (CET/CEST) 

• Documents must not contain a CPR number (civil registration number) – in this case, the CPR number must be crossed out.
• The application and CV must not exceed 10 MB. 

The University of Southern Denmark wishes to reflect the surrounding community and therefore encourages everyone, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position.

Further information for international applicants about entering and working in Denmark. You may also visit WorkinDenmark for additional information.

Further information about The Faculty of Engineering.