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Postdoctoral Research Associate

Division - Kent Business School

Location:	Canterbury
Salary:	£36,386 to £40,931
Grade:	Grade 7
Post Type:	Full Time
Contract Type:	Fixed Term - 24 Months
Release Date:	Wednesday 21 September 2022
Closing Date:	23.59 hours BST on Sunday 23 October 2022  (unless otherwise stated)
Reference:	KBS-115-22

Applications are invited for a 2-year Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) position in the area of Operational Research (Optimisation) starting in January 2023 or soon thereafter. The PDRA will join the Department of Analytics, Operations and Systems (DAOS) in Kent Business School. The successful candidate will work closely with Prof Maria Paola Scaparra and other DAOS academics with the primary goals of publishing in top operational research journals and generating impactful research. The PDRA will have wide latitude to help frame and design the specific programme of research. Potential areas of investigation include, but are not limited to, sustainable development, disaster management, healthcare, transportation, and infrastructure planning. The post holder will further assist in the preparation of grant applications and support the research culture of the Business School by attending and contributing to relevant meetings, research seminars, and workshops.

Applicants should hold a PhD in Operational Research, Management Science, Business Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science or a closely related discipline. The ideal candidate will have a firm knowledge of optimisation modelling, for example combinatorial, stochastic and robust optimisation, and exact and meta-heuristic solution approaches. Knowledge of optimisation software, good computer programming experience, as well as excellent written and communication skills are essential. Applications will be assessed based on relevant skills and previous publication record. 

Working as a PDRA at Kent Business School is to be part of the 1% of global business schools to gain ‘Triple Crown’ accreditation from three top business organisations: European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) from the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and The Association of MBAs (AMBA). We also gained the Small Business Charter Award in 2018.

Within the school, colleagues in the Department of Analytics, Operations and Systems pride themselves on research excellence and conduct internationally leading research in operational research, data analytics, operations management, information systems and sustainability.

The successful candidate will be based in the RIBA award-winner Sibson Building on the main Canterbury campus. Canterbury offers excellent places to live, easy links to central London and Europe via high-speed trains and stunning cultural and historical attractions. Kent also offers much in the way of outdoor life as well as an enviable climate. 

Please see the links below to view the full job description and also to apply for this post. The application should include: a detailed CV, a one-page cover letter and a one-page “Research Interests & Plan” statement. If you require further information regarding the application process please contact KBS HR on kbshr@kent.ac.uk quoting ref number:  KBS-115-22.

For an informal discussion, please contact Professor Maria Paola Scaparra, Professor of Management Science (m.p.scaparra@kent.ac.uk). 

We particularly welcome applications from female candidates as they are under-represented at this level in this area

Further details:

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