PhD Scholarship in Operations Research

The University of South Australia

PhD Scholarship in Operations Research: Control Theory for Counter Terrorism and Security Systems

UniSA and Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) partnership.

Be part of Australia's first industry engaged doctoral training centre.

$30k per annum for 4 years (tax free) plus paid travel.

The University of South Australia, in conjunction with the DSTO and the Australian Network of Universities (ATN), will provide you with an exciting new paradigm of post-graduate doctoral training in the field of mathematical sciences through its innovative and purpose established doctoral training centre.

Working closely with the DSTO you will undertake your research under both academic and industrial supervision.

In addition, as a student of the centre you will receive:

Technical training - developing the depth of your knowledge relevant to your area of research, and the breadth and of your knowledge for application to other areas of current mathematical and statistical relevance to Australian industry.

Professional training in the communication and business needed for executive career progression.

Bi-annual national opportunities for knowledge sharing and networking.

For more information about the program of study visit the ATN website.

Your research project aims to adapt and apply techniques in quantitative operations research, quantitative sensitivity analysis, and machine learning to inform complex security problems.

Operations research techniques are needed to optimise risk with respect to alternative security implementation options, constrained by hard or soft cost criteria. The optimisation must take account of some novel model features: a statistical determination of risk, adaptive threats and uncertainty in the performance of security controls.

The expected stages of the project include the development of novel techniques that are robust to uncertainties in the problem, and application of those techniques to a real, complex security context.

You will gain skills in control theory and decision-making under uncertainty using quantitative techniques which are widely sought in the public and private sectors.

You will be a citizen of Australia or New Zealand, or an Australian permanent resident and have an appropriate Honours degree in mathematics or a mathematics rich discipline (or equivalent experience).

For further information, visit:
http://www.atn.edu.au/idtc/2012-projects/2012-dsto-unisa.htm

To enquire or apply please contact Dr Amie Albrecht:
Phone (08) 8302 3754
Email amie.albrecht@unisa.edu.au

Closing date for applications: 30 April 2012

The successful applicant will not be an employee of the University of South Australia and will not be covered by the University's industrial instruments.