Research Assistant / Associate in Operations Research

King's College London; City Of London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

King's College London is advertising a Research Assistant/Associate role within the Department of Engineering to work on large-scale optimization for Demand Responsive Transport. You will develop routing and scheduling methods, implement algorithms, and design experiments while embedding pricing strategies and behavioural insights.

The role involves regular meetings across sites, preparing presentations and writing reports and papers.

Qualifications

• PhD qualified in relevant subject area (or pending results) for grade six, or Masters for grade five.
• Strong foundation in mathematics and deep knowledge of exact optimization techniques, heuristics and matheuristics.
• Experience of using and implementing mathematical programming (including constraint programming).
• Proven track record of high-quality research publications in peer reviewed journals and international conferences.
• Excellent programming skills (including Python and off-the-shelf solvers).
• Experience in using and implementing stochastic optimization and simulation.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work co-operatively within a team striving for collective excellence.

Responsibilities

• Develop routing and scheduling methodologies for large-scale optimization problems.
• Implement algorithms using appropriate solver software and programming languages.
• Design experiments and analyze results; embed pricing methodologies and behavioural insights.
• Engage in regular meetings, develop presentations for academic and practitioner audiences.
• Contribute to reports and journal articles; collaborate with a multi-site research team.

Skills

Mathematics

Optimization techniques

Programming (Python)

Mathematical programming

Stochastic optimization

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Research publications

Education

PhD in Operations Research / Mathematics / Computer Science / Industrial Engineering / Transport Engineering

Masters degree in relevant subject areas

Tools

Python

Off-the-shelf solvers

Constraint programming

Job description

About us

Recently re-founded, the Department of Engineering is rapidly expanding into a world-class research and teaching department.

Research currently focuses on robotics, telecommunications and biomedical engineering, but we are looking to establish new research themes.

We offer both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, with a distinctive approach, combining both traditional teaching methods with modern, project-based learning, catering for the needs of our students and the industries in which they will work.

As a new department we have invested in new laboratories and maker space at the centre of the Strand campus in the heart of central London.

For more information: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/engineering

The position is funded by an EPSRC research grant whose vision is to offer an attractive, flexible, low-carbon, scaled, sustainable Demand Responsive Transport by offering optimised, scaled routing and scheduling and integrating dynamic pricing with behavioural insights.

About the role

We are advertising for a Research Assistant or Research Associate position at King's College London to work with Prof. Rym M'Hallah (King's), Prof. Christine Currie (University of Southampton), Prof. Julia Bennell, and Dr. Chiara Calastri (University of Leeds) on large scale optimization techniques and revenue management with applications to Demand responsive transport systems.

The researcher will undertake research specifically developing routing and scheduling methodologies. Of particular interest is the development and investigation of exact and heuristic optimisation approaches for routing and scheduling using stochastic data.

The researcher will be expected to engage in problem formulation, algorithm implementation (using appropriate solver software and programming languages), experimental design and analysis of results. In addition, the research includes embedding pricing methodologies (already developed) and behavioural insights (provided through another work package).

The successful candidate will be part of a research team with five other members. You will be expected to engage in regular online and in person meetings, develop presentations for academic and practitioner audiences, and write reports and journal articles.

The successful candidate should have a PhD (or have submitted a thesis and awaiting results) in Operations Research, Mathematics, Computer Science, Industrial Engineering, or Transport Engineering and be proficient in a mainstream programming language. Candidates with a Masters degree in relevant subject areas will be considered for a Research Assistant role.

The post will be based within the Department of Engineering, located at the Strand campus of King's, in the centre of London. The post involves routine working on campus at King's and regular in-person meetings at Leeds and Southampton.

This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent. It will be offered on a fixed-term contract until 31st May 2027.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Professor, Rym M'Hallah.

About you

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

• For grade six Research Associate role - PhD qualified in relevant subject area (or pending results): Operations Research, Mathematics, Computer Science, Industrial Engineering, Transport Engineering. For grade five Research Assistant role - Masters degree in relevant subject area
• Strong foundation in mathematics and deep knowledge of exact optimization techniques, heuristics and matheuristics
• Experience of using and implementing mathematical programming (including constraint programming)
• Proven track record of high-quality research publications in peer reviewed journals and international conferences
• Excellent programming skills (including Python and off-the-shelf solvers)
• Experience in using and implementing stochastic optimization and simulation
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work co-operatively within a team striving for collective excellence.

Desirable criteria

• Good understanding of the concepts of revenue management
• Understanding of Behavioural Science
• Knowledge of digital twin systems

* Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs or in their second year of their PhD will be considered if they have competitive CVs. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

Further Information

At King's, we believe that the diversity of our community and a culture that is welcoming, open, inclusive and collaborative, are great strengths of the university.

The Equality Act of 2010 protects the rights of our students and staff and provides a framework to fulfil our duties to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and in addition, to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. At times, this will include balancing rights and beliefs that can feel in tension.

We are committed to free speech and to academic freedom, believing that our foundational purpose as a university, is to create spaces where a wide range of ideas, including ideas that are controversial, can be discussed and debated, and where members of our community can express lawful views without fear of intimidation, harassment or discrimination.

When engaging in the robust exchange of ideas, we ask that our community is mindful of our Dignity at King's guidance.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the job description. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving rapidly, and we recognise its growing role in professional work. Applicants may use AI tools to support preparation of their application, for example to research the role or structure written responses. However, applications must reflect the applicant's own work and experience. AI tools should not be used during interviews or assessment activities unless this has been agreed in advance as a reasonable adjustment. Further guidance on the use of AI in recruitment can be found here.

We reserve the right to close adverts early due to the volume of applications we receive. While the closing date may change, all adverts will close at 23:59 to allow sufficient time for applications to be submitted on that day.