[Infovis] Job posting - PhD scholarship on Visual Modelling of Complex Engineering Systems - Technical University of Denmark

[Samuel Huron]

*Job posting - PhD scholarship on Visual Modelling of Complex Engineering
Systems - Technical University of Denmark*


DTU Management Engineering offers one 3-year PhD fellowship to conduct
research into Visual Modelling of Complex Engineering Systems Design. The
position will be based in the Engineering Systems Group.


The research project, part of the EuroTech Universities Alliance
Partnership, will be carried out in association with the Institute of
Product Development at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and other
industry partners and public organisations.


*Responsibilities and tasks *


Engineering design deals with complex subject matters. Visualisations are
fundamental to studying and communicating complex subject matters. However,
beyond acknowledging this value, hardly any emphasis has been paid to the
role of visual modelling in engineering systems design. Visualisations
stimulate thought, enable collaboration across technical disciplines,
inform technical as well as business decision making processes, and
increase our ability to spot and avoid mistakes. Awareness and integration
of different views is particularly important against the background of
large-scale engineering projects, with the involvement of a myriad of
technical and non-technical audiences. Moreover, we can observe a trend
towards model-based engineering, enabling significant productivity
improvements in the design process. However, operationalising the
opportunities of model-based engineering is currently limited due to a lack
of intuitive visual notations.


Therefore, the project’s overall objective is to generate and enable the
conscious use of integrated and interactive visualisations in engineering
systems design that support integration of multiple views, uncover trends
in data, and provide engineering intelligence for robust decision-making.
In other words, the successful candidate will be able to model and
communicate complex subject matters in ways that are understandable and
actionable by decision-makers (e.g. in the form of visual representations,
including network graphs, infographics, and dashboards).


Core questions include:

•How best to model and visualise complex systems?

•How to use visual design of information to unearth trends in data, enable
insights and foster robust decision-making?

•What visualisations work best for communication among a variety of
audiences?

•How to balance information content and interaction qualities of
visualisations?This project cherises the fruitful intersection between
network science and design. Depending on the disciplinary background and
expertise of the candidate, there are opportunities to tailor the project
and push the research frontiers accordingly.


We invite talented candidates who are passionate about conducting key
research activities such as a) identifying critical transdisciplinary
communication situations in the development cycle of engineering systems
through literature reviews, field studies, and data-mining, b) analysing
and categorising existing visualisations with respect to their particular
properties, e.g. for supporting transdisciplinary communication situations,
c) developing appropriate information visualisations and visual languages,
d) testing for improved model comprehension by conducting experiments, and
e) guiding visual modelling practices for improved complex engineering
system design research and industry practice.


Qualifications

Candidates should have a master's degree in engineering or a similar degree
with an academic level equivalent to the master's degree in engineering.
The interdisciplinary nature of the project means that applicants from a
broad range of technical backgrounds will be considered. Applicants should
have (or expect to obtain by the start date) a first class degree or
equivalent, preferably in engineering, computer science, information
design, graphic design, psychology, or behavioural economics. Preference
will be given to those candidates with a high level of English who can
demonstrate an aptitude for programming, conceptual and empirical work and
the confidence to network within academic, public, and commercial
organisations.


Approval and Enrolment

The scholarships for the PhD degree are subject to academic approval, and
the candidates will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes of
DTU. For information about the general requirements for enrolment and the
general planning of the scholarship studies, please see the DTU PhD Guide.


Assessment

The assessment of the applicants will be made by an internal committee
headed by Prof. Dr. Anja Maier.


We offer

We offer an interesting and challenging job in an international environment
focusing on education, research, public-sector consultancy and innovation,
which contribute to enhancing the economy and improving social welfare. We
strive for academic excellence, collegial respect and freedom tempered by
responsibility. The Technical University of Denmark (DTU) is a leading
technical university in northern Europe and benchmarks with the best
universities in the world.


Salary and appointment terms

The salary and appointment terms are consistent with the current rules for
PhD degree students. The period of employment is 3 years.


Further information

For informal enquiries, please contact Prof. Dr. Anja Maier at amai at dtu.dk

You can read more about the Engineering Systems Group here.


Application

Please submit your application in one PDF file no later than Friday, July
31, 2015.

The project is envisaged to commence in 2015.

Applications must be submitted as one pdf file containing all materials to
be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply online," fill
in the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in
one pdf file. The file must include:

•A letter motivating the application (cover letter)

•Curriculum vitae

•Two reference contacts

•A brief description of your own research activities and ideas for future
research in the field (1-3 pages)

•An information visualisation / design portfolio (if applicable)

•Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma

•Excel sheet with translation of grades to the Danish grading system (see
guidelines and excel spreadsheet here)

http://www.dtu.dk/english/Education/phd/PhDguide/Admission/Calculation_Grade_average

Candidates may apply prior to obtaining their master's degree, but cannot
begin before having received it.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability,
religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

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