Research Fellow in Maritime Transport

at  Liverpool John Moores University

Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) is a distinctive, unique institution, rooted in the Liverpool City Region and with a global presence. Our students and staff, past, present, and future, are the beating heart of our city and can be found in every corner of every industry and community. We couldn’t exist anywhere else and have shaped the city in which we belong. Working with the people of Liverpool to improve lives and support communities is at the heart of why we were founded and why we exist today.
The School of Engineering is seeking to appoint three Postdoctoral Research Fellows (PDRF) to join the research project (https://erc-trust.com/) funded by the European Research Council to develop sustainable, dependable, resilient, and autonomous container supply chains (CSCs). There are three posts under this recruitment, in the following directions: CSC adaptation to climate change, Arctic shipping, maritime situational awareness, and maritime autonomy. The main descriptions are shown below.

PLEASE STATE ON YOUR APPLICATION FORM WHICH POST YOU ARE APPLYING FOR.

One post will investigate the climate resilience of container transportation. The role involves identifying climate threats, assessing the associated risks, and developing cost-effective adaptation strategies for container supply chains (CSCs). It could include work relating to safe and resilient shipping routes (including Arctic areas) under changing climatic conditions, container transportation network optimisation, and risk-based resilience and sustainability studies across various cases. You will be expected to employ decision-making models and network analyses to refine climate risk data mining methods and bolster the CSC adaptation to climate change.
One post will study maritime situational awareness, aiming to develop a holistic data analysis, risk analysis, and risk assessment framework. It shall focus on big data mining and the safety modelling of container transportation, especially for autonomous ships. The task would involve analysing the situational awareness in container transportation according to the multi-resources data, planning the customary and safe routes for autonomous ships, detecting and identifying the potential risks (including Arctic shipping), optimising the shipping network of container transportation, developing new frameworks and models for quantitative risk-based resilience and sustainability studies in CSCs, establishing qualitative and quantitative risk database, and validating the frameworks and models with different cases. You will be expected to use machine learning, deep learning, and anti-collision techniques to improve the safety of autonomous ships under different risk scenarios, which provides useful insights for rational decision-making.
One post will be secured in the field of maritime autonomy, aiming to enhance operational safety, advance automation controls, and improve interactions between humans and autonomous systems within the realm of autonomous ships. Key tasks include developing high-precision Maritime Situational Awareness and autonomous decision-making tools that enable level 3 MASS to effectively execute their missions. This will involve creating sophisticated technologies for intelligent collision risk assessment, route planning, and robust anti-collision strategies. You will be expected to use realistic traffic scenarios to ensure thorough validation of the reliability and trustworthiness of these autonomous tools. Additionally, you will formulate a comprehensive strategy for designing, operating, and maintaining autonomous vessels, focusing on identifying current operational challenges and mitigating potential risks.
You will work closely with the project coordinator and other project team members, integrating results with each other. You will be expected to present your work via peer-reviewed publications, presentations, and conferences.
In return, we offer an excellent benefits package including generous annual leave entitlement, pension scheme, induction and development support as well as family-friendly policies.
This is an exciting time to join the university as we deliver the LJMU Strategy 2030 and its vision of LJMU as an inclusive civic university transforming lives and futures, by placing students at the heart of everything we do.
If you feel that this is the role you have been looking for and your skills and experience can make a real difference at LJMU, we look forward to hearing from you.
Informal enquiries may be made to Professor Zaili Yang at Z.Yang@ljmu.ac.uk, Dr Huanhuan Li at H.Li2@ljmu.ac.uk , and Dr Xuri Xin at X.Xin@ljmu.ac.uk
LJMU values diversity and provides a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone can fulfil their potential.
Please note all of our vacancies will be closed to applications at midnight on the advertised closing date, unless otherwise stated.
LJMU are committed to adhering to the Principles set out in the Researcher Development Concordat; in line with this all fixed-term researchers will be supported to complete 10 days professional development activities per year (pro-rata)

Please refer the Job description for details