PhD Studentship: Expanding the Scope of Risk Assessment in Rail

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Engineering
Location:  UK Other
Closing Date:  Monday 19 February 2024
Reference:  ENG1747

This fully funded 42-month PhD opportunity is based within the Human Factors Research Group (HFRG) at the Faculty of Engineering, which conducts cutting-edge research into human-centred risk management in complex, socio-technical systems.  Due to the nature of this funding, we are only able to fund students who are eligible for Home fee status in the UK.   

Vision

We are seeking a PhD student who is motivated to explore and challenge existing practices and is looking for better ways to identify and respond to risk in systems where there are various sources of uncertainty and change.   

Working in conjunction with Network Rail—owner, operator and infrastructure manager of the GB railway—we will make advances in the understanding of the theory of risk, in the identification and modelling of existing and future risks, and in the development of novel approaches for the proactive management of system risk in the complex railway setting.

Motivation 

Traditional approaches to risk assessment and risk control have been established for some years and are largely based around determining the probability of failure and likely outcomes.  Currently, there are several emerging safety approaches (safety-II, system safety, and resilience engineering) that challenge traditional safety management in uncertain, changing, dynamic contexts, where these methods may not account for the non-linear relationships and other emergent system properties that are evident in complex systems such as railways.  Traditional risk assessments are also commonly carried out from an industry perspective and it can be difficult to take account of the wide-ranging impacts on all stakeholders.  To cover wider factors that could impact the long-term safety and sustainability of the railway system, the work may also incorporate ethical risk assessment techniques.  Clearly, new methods are required and you can help to create the next generation of assessment methods and practices and contribute to the associated technology, training, roles and processes.

Aim

You will have the opportunity to develop expertise through state-of-the-art literature review in risk and in risk management in relation to complex systems. You will have significant opportunities to work with industry specialists, managers and frontline staff in planning and carrying out interviews, surveys and field studies to understand the nature and context of the work and existing and future risks (i.e. track worker safety, extreme weather events, automation, etc.)

You will receive support from experienced academic supervisors and have the opportunity to work with researchers and PhD students in the HFRG, which has a long-established research reputation in the area of Rail Human Factors.    

On completion, the student will have gained substantial experience of applied research in risk assessment in complex systems, developing expertise in the development and application of research methods and acquiring an in-depth appreciation of the industry context as well as insight to the management of risk.  

Who we are looking for:

• An enthusiastic, self-motivated, resourceful and curious applicant with the capability to question why we do things in traditional ways and with a desire to make changes for the good of all people impacted by the work and operation of the railway.  
• Applicants will need to be able to demonstrate an interest in the concept of risk and may have familiarity with human factors and safety science literature, or capability to become proficient in this area.   They should be capable of applying qualitative and / or quantitative methods to further the study of risk in the complex, socio-technical railway system and may have existing experience of system modelling methods.  The applicant should be keen to engage with all stakeholders in field studies (observations, interviews and other forms of consultation). 
• 1st or a 2:1 in a relevant field, or Distinction or Merit in a relevant Master’s level course. This PhD cuts across disciplinary areas and may attract students with backgrounds in risk, safety, human factors, psychology, engineering or other related fields, but with the capability to work across several of these areas.
• We are considering a start date of April 2024 for 42 months, though there may be some flexibility with this start date.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The Faculty of Engineering (FoE) provides a thriving working environment for all Postgraduate Researchers (PGRs) creating a strong sense of community across research disciplines. Community and research culture is important to our PGRs and the FoE support this by working closely with our Postgraduate Research Society and our Postgraduate Research Group Reps to enhance the research environment for PGRs. PGRs benefit from training through the Researcher Academy’s Training Programme, having access to bespoke courses developed for Engineering PGRs, such as sessions on paper writing, networking and career development after the PhD. The FoE has outstanding facilities and works in partnership with leading industrial partners. 

To apply, please provide a CV, cover letter and copies of relevant transcripts showing degree classification.

For further information please contact: Dr Brendan Ryan, Associate Professor, HFRG, University of Nottingham.   [email protected]