We are recruiting for PhD students at Brunel again, and there is an exciting opportunity for research in online experiments on networks with me! Details are below, reproduced from our advert on findaphd.com

 

EPSRC DTP PhD Studentships – College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences

 

Applications are invited for our EPSRC funded Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) PhD studentships that will support six (6) research projects starting 1 October 2022. One of these projects is “Design of Experiments for Learning from Online Networks led by Dr Ben Parker in the Department of Mathematics

Successful applicants will receive an annual stipend of £18,062 including outer London allowance plus payment of their full-time tuition fees for a period of 42 months (3.5 years).

You should be eligible for home (UK) tuition fees but there is a limited number of studentships (no more than two) available to overseas applicants, including EU nationals, who meet the entry criteria.

 

The Project

 

This PhD will develop statistical methods, theory, algorithms and tools to perform experiments on networks, combining the areas of Design of Experiments and Network Science.  Focus will be on online experiments: consider the motivating example of optimally allocating adverts to social media users in real-time to maximise learning about relative advert strengths.   In networked experiments, the relationships between experimental units have a large effect on how we design experiments. We seek to optimise designs here.

Please contact Dr Ben Parker at ben.parker@brunel.ac.uk to find out more.

Entry Criteria

 

You will have or will receive an undergraduate degree classified at 1st class or 2:1 (honours) in mathematics or statistics.  A postgraduate masters degree may be an advantage. Where appropriate, applicants must have English language proficiency to an overall score of IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.

 

Skills and Experience

A good understanding of statistical theory, particularly statistical inference is necessary. It would be advantageous to have experience or interest in one of more of: Network Science, Design of Experiments, Computer Science (Algorithms), or Operational Research. Strong programming skills (or a desire to develop them) will be required, use of R is preferred. Lastly, you should be a highly motivated individual and possess a strong sense of curiosity.  The ability to study independently, think critically and collaborate with others is essential.

 

How to Apply

Email the documents below as a single PDF file to cedps-studentships@brunel.ac.uk by 16:00 on Wednesday 25 May 2022.   Please state the name of the project supervisor in your email.

  • Your up-to-date CV;
  • Your 300-word personal statement setting out why you are suitable for this position;
  • Your Undergraduate/Postgraduate Masters degree certificate(s) and transcript(s);
  • Your English Language qualification of IELTS 6.5 overall or equivalent, if applicable;
  • Two references, one of which can be provided by a member of Brunel University academic staff.

Interviews will take place in June 2022.