UK : University of Salford PhD Studentship

Explore game based technology to support construction design and engineering

School of the Built Environment

The Salford Centre for (Construction) Research and Innovation Research (SCRI), which is 6* at the School of the Built Environment at University of Salford and Salford Think Lab are sponsoring a doctoral studentship in order to explore game based technology to support construction design and engineering.

The doctorate will explore game based technologies, such as virtual world, game artificial intelligence, to support construction design and engineering in a collaborative environment.

Research topics include:
• Application of artificial intelligence in construction simulation
• Human behavioural modelling in construction and building design
• Construction design and engineering in virtual world
• Digital prototyping and construction simulation

Project Supervisors:
The successful candidate will be supervised by Dr. Song Wu and Prof. Terrence Fernando. The candidate will work with SCRI team and research team in Think Lab and will be able to use the state of art equipment, such as high end workstation and virtual reality facility Think Lab.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Dr. Song Wu, Email: s.wu@salford.ac.uk

Details of Studentship:
Applications are invited for a fully funded studentship in the area of visualization and simulation in construction. Applicants should have, or expect to obtain, an upper second class or higher degree in computer science, information technology together with a strong interest in 3D modelling and game technology research.

This studentship provides a tax-free full maintenance grant of £12,800 per annum, plus payment of UK home student tuition fees. Overseas student are also welcome to apply, but the international student fee will not be covered in the studentship.

Salford Think Lab
The Salford ‘Think Lab' provides state of the art facilities in a futuristic environment enabling researchers to engage in research that harnesses the leading developments related to Information and Communication Technologies providing new solutions to current and future challenges faced by industry, commerce and the community. It is designed for Interaction and Collaboration equipped with the best virtual environment facilities of any university in Europe.

SCRI
The Salford Centre for Research & Innovation (SCRI) was established in January 2002. SCRI brings together a diverse group of leading international academics from the Schools of the Built Environment, Computing Science & Engineering, and Art & Design. The Centre is funded by the Engineering and Physical Research Council (EPSRC), in recognition of the leading role the University of Salford has played in construction and built and human environment research excellence. SCRI is positioned within the only, and most highly rated 6* Built and Human Environment (BuHu) research institute in Britain.

BuHu
BuHu is an internationally recognised centre for research in the Built and Human Environment. It has been the top rated research institute in the UK since 1992 and focuses its research on three themes; ICT, Management and the Environment. It comprises 90 research active academic staff, of whom 20 are internationally leading Professors, more than 35 research assistants and over 170 research students. BuHu collaborates with over 500 companies and clients around the world and make significant contributions to innovations and improvements in industry and the Environment.

The Institute is very active and in recent times it has attracted research funds and support totalling more than £30M. It has produced more than 300 journal articles, 600 conference papers, 50 major project reports and supported 200 research events, including its annual International Research Week (IRE), which incorporates a two day international conference, an industry day and a two day international postgraduate research conference. BuHu has also initiated 8 EPSRC and EU funded networks

Buhu currently has more than 170 PhD students and all postgraduate research students have access to advanced technical facilities including advanced virtual reality equipment and the new Thinking Laboratory. Research students are encouraged to network with their peers and the international community.

Application Deadline:
Applications, with a detailed CV and the names and addresses of two referees, should be sent to Dr. Song Wu, 424 Maxwell Building, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT.