EPSRC Ph.D Scholarship at Swansea University, United Kingdom 2022
Swansea University will provide the full cost of UK tuition fees and an annual stipend of £16,062 for three years. The aim of this project is to advance students understanding of fundamental computational problems concerning the long-term behaviour of linear dynamical systems.
Application Deadline: 29 July 2022.
Eligible Countries: International
Type of Scholarship: Ph.D degree
Value of Award: Fully-funded
Number of Awards: Not Mentioned
Eligible Field of Studies: PhD degree in Robust Reachability Problems for Linear Dynamical Systems.
KEY INFORMATION:
- Funding providers: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Swansea University's Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Subject areas: Computer Science
- Project start date: 1 October 2022 (Enrolment open from mid-September)
- Project supervisors: Dr Eike Neumann and Dr Ulrich Berger
- Aligned programme of study: PhD in Computer Science
- Mode of study: Full-time or part-time (at least 0.5 FTE)
Project Description:
The aim of this project is to advance our understanding of fundamental computational problems concerning the long-term behaviour of linear dynamical systems.
Linear dynamical systems constitute natural descriptions of the evolution of a wide range of real-world systems that appear in physics, biology, economics, and other natural sciences. In computer science, they arise in connection with questions such as loop termination, model checking, and probabilistic or quantum computation.
Decision problems for dynamical systems have a long history in theoretical computer science, reaching back at least to the mid-1970s.
The vast majority of the existing computer science literature on reachability problems begins with the assumption that the dynamical systems under consideration are given by exact algebraic or rational data.
In applications in the sciences and engineering, this assumption is frequently violated, since the parameters of the systems under consideration may involve fundamental physical constants, come from measurements, or involve other sources of inexactness or uncertainty. Moreover, reachability problems over rational data become undecidable or provably "hard" already for seemingly very simple systems.
In this project, the focus is shifted to dynamical systems which are defined using arbitrary real numbers. The formal framework for this is the bit-model of real computation, where real numbers are encoded as second-order objects. This approach allows us to incorporate transcendental and inexact data, while at the same time avoiding the aforementioned undecidability and hardness results.
A particular emphasis will be placed on computability and complexity of positivity and inequality problems for univariate holonomic functions or sequences.
The project is suitable for students with a background in (theoretical) computer science or mathematics. The student will employ a synthesis of numerical and symbolic methods, combining tools from computability, computational complexity, analysis (differential equations, analytic number theory), topology, and algebra (real algebraic geometry, quantifier elimination). Prior knowledge or experience in one or more of these areas are desirable, but not strictly necessary.
Scholarship Eligibility Requirements:
- Candidates must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level in Computer Science, Mathematics or a closely related discipline, or an appropriate master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’ (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University). See - Country-specific Information for European Applicants 2019 and Country-specific Information for International Applicants 2019.
- English Language requirements: If applicable – IELTS 6.5 overall (with at least 6.0 in each individual component) or Swansea recognised equivalent. Details on the Swansea University English Language entry policy can be found here.
- This scholarship is open to candidates of any nationality.
NB: If you are holding a non-UK degree, please see Swansea University degree comparisons to find out if you meet the eligibility.
If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in.
Scholarship Funding:
This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend of £16,062.
Additional research expenses will also be available.
How to Process your Application
To apply, please complete your application online with the following information:
- Course choice – please select Computer Science / PhD / Full-time / 3 Year / October
In the event you have already applied for the above programme previously, the application system may issue a warning notice and prevent application, in this event, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk where staff will be happy to assist you in submitting your application.
- Start year – please select 2022
- Funding (page 8) –
- ‘Are you funding your studies yourself?’ – please select No
- ‘Name of Individual or organisation providing funds for study’ – please enter ‘RS122 - PhD Comp Sci'
NOTE: It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.
One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.
As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email):
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form (online form)
- CV
- Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient)
- A cover letter including a ‘Supplementary Personal Statement’ to explain why the position particularly matches your skills and experience and how you choose to develop the project.
- Two references (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference.
- Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable).
- Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)
Informal enquiries are welcome, please contact Dr. Eike Neumann (e.f.neumann@swansea.ac.uk).
External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please not that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.
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