10 Postdoctoral Fellowship at Durham University, England

The CSPs are very general combinatorial problems that can be expressed in many different ways: for example, via logic (e.g. logical satisfiability problems), combinatorics (e.g. graph homomorphisms), or algebra (e.g. systems of equations over a field). Such problems can have different computational complexity (e.g. polynomial-time solvable or NP-hard), and the question how exactly the inherent mathematical structure of problems affects the complexity is the essence of the project. There are many mathematical approaches that can be used in this research — recent examples include universal algebra, logic and model theory, combinatorics and graph theory, algebraic topology and topological combinatorics, combinatorial optimisation, category theory, matrix analysis, and Boolean function analysis. The successful applicant will use their own mathematical background, possibly in combination with some of the existing approaches, to assist the project team in developing a new mathematical theory of Promise CSPs, a recently proposed generalisation of the standard CSPs.

Deadline : 01-Apr-2024

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Organisational Behaviour and Leadership to support a research project entitled “Sweating it out for a good purpose: Scaling up mass participation sports events in sustainable ways”. The project aims to examine key antecedents of participation in running events, such as runners’ motivations, differences between younger and older runners, between junior employees and senior leaders as well as between men and women. It also aims to examine the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and career-related effects of physical activity at the workplace and beyond, such as its effects on wellbeing, leaders’ resilience, careers, and social judgements or biased evaluations of others. This project also has a sustainability focus and its findings aim to prompt runners make specific changes in behaviour. You will work alongside a local organisation that organizes mass running events to help answer these research questions and inspire and scale their activities. This will involve bringing your expertise into the role to help shape the underlying research agenda and how it translates into real world impact.  

The Department of Geography at Durham University seeks to appoint a Post-Doctoral Research Associate for a period of 24 months. This post will form part of the research team working on an industry-funded project. In collaboration with the project PI and team, the position holder will use airborne and ground-based remote sensing data and geospatial modelling to assess regional-scale patterns of rock slope evolution. Whilst the project focuses on coastal rock slope sites, the research concerns fundamental processes of mass wasting and erosion applicable to unstable landscapes more generally.

At Durham University we are proud of our people.  A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally.  Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally.  We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be found here

A globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a warm and friendly place to work, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other.

As one of the UK’s leading universities, Durham is an incredible place to define your career.The University is located within a beautiful historic city, home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and surrounded by stunning countryside. Our talented scholars and researchers from around the world are tackling global issues and making a difference to people’s lives.  

We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world. Being a part of Durham is about more than just the success of the University, it’s also about contributing to the success of the city, county and community.

The PDRA should have completed a Ph.D. in Innovation/R&D Management or Entrepreneurship, with a particular emphasis on behavioural aspects of collaborative networks, ecosystems, and/or regional development. The post-holder will be expected to employ mixed methodological skills and analytical techniques to collect, organize, and aggregate network data and formulate insights into enhancing innovation and R&D support provisions. As such, a general familiarity with the North East regional innovation landscape and the Levelling Up Agenda is required. The successful applicant will be expected to contribute to the development of dissemination techniques/reports for non-specialist audiences, as well as subsequent publications, conference presentations, and the identification of longer-term projects.  Experience with social network analysis, participatory action research, and/or structural equation modelling will be an advantage, but training will be available. Previous publication history in ABS3 or higher is desirable but not required.  

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Archaeology with a particular emphasis on archaeological fieldwork and geodatabases. The Leverhulme Trust-funded project ‘Megalithic Origins: the emergence of monumentality in Neolithic Western Europe’, led by Dr Marta Díaz-Guardamino, aims to determine the context in which monumentality first appeared in Europe and whether it arose independently in each region through the application of state-of-the-art dating techniques and contextual analysis.

The successful applicant will be expected to conduct fieldwork, write up fieldwork reports, organize post-excavation analyses, create a geospatial database with OSL and radiocarbon measurements, and liaising with the other PDRA who will be engaged with dating and geomorphological aspects of the project. The applicant will also author and collaborate with the rest of the project team in the production of journal articles, participate in national and international conferences, and create and regularly update the project website and social media accounts.

Dynamic and vibrant, Durham University Business School is one of Durham University’s four Faculties and is comprised of three research-intensive departments: Accounting, Economics and Finance, and Management and Marketing. Known for its global reputation, its impact on policy and practice and its strong focus on ethics, responsibility and sustainability, the school aims to be a leading European business school with a strong global presence by 2027. The school currently has 180 academic and teaching staff, with plans and resource commitments to grow to 230 by 2027. In addition, 11 funded research centres (https://www.dur.ac.uk/business/research/research-centres/) blend leading theoretical perspectives with a strong emphasis on impact and engagement with practice, noted in www.durham.ac.uk/business. The school’s student population is around 4000, across undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes.   

The Department is one of the UK’s leading Computer Science departments, with an outstanding reputation in research, teaching, and student employability. Our internationally recognised research covers Algorithms and Complexity, Artificial Intelligence and Human Systems, Networks, Scientific Computing and Vision, Imaging and Visualisation. There is a lively research culture with many visitors and events, and active and rewarding collaborations with other departments in Durham and with other scientists in the UK and internationally. In the recent assessment exercise REF2021 we improved by six places in the ranking. We aim to provide an encouraging and friendly environment with a strong sense of community. The Department has recently grown rapidly, and now has more than 55 permanent members of academic staff. In 2021, we moved to a newly constructed building, which we share with Mathematics.

The Department has a proud tradition of delivering excellence in its undergraduate programmes through research-led teaching. Attracting some of the best students in the UK, the Department is ranked 4th in the Complete University Guide 2024. As part of the expansion of the Department, new MSc programmes in Business Analytics, Scientific Computing and Data Analysis, and in Data Science launched within the past five years.