[Opt-Net] Postdoctoral Research Position: Maintenance Optimization for Rail Infrastructure Systems

[Thomas Kalinowski]

The University of Newcastle, Australia, invites expressions of interest 
for a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in the area of theory and 
algorithms for the optimization of maintenance of rail infrastructure 
systems for coal and iron exports, starting in September 2015, or as 
soon as possible subject to applicant availability.

Fellowships are available for 1 or 2 years, with possible 1-year 
extensions.  The salary will be in the range of AU$79,541-$85,382 per 
annum, depending on the skills and experience of the applicant. There is 
also provision for a relocation allowance, and for additional funds to 
support travel to conferences both overseas and within Australia during 
the period of the fellowship.

The successful applicant will hold a PhD in operations research, 
engineering, mathematics, computer science, or a related discipline.  
Strong optimization and computer programming skills are essential. A 
knowledge of mixed integer programming and/or metaheuristics would be an 
asset. Additionally candidates are encouraged to highlight broad 
experience with modelling or assessment of complex networks, 
infrastructure asset management or resource management .

Expressions of interest are preferred before August 1, 2015, however 
later interest will be considered until the position is filled. To 
express your interest in a fellowship please send your CV, together with 
an academic transcript showing details of all courses you have taken, 
the grades you were awarded, an interpretation of those grades, and the 
names and contact details of at least two people who can
provide confidential references, to the contact person at the address 
shown below. If your transcript is not in English, please provide an 
English translation. Please feel free to include a link to your PhD 
thesis, and/or include other publications in your email. Include details 
of your computer programming skills and experience, your optimization 
training and background, and any experience you have with modelling and 
solving industrial problems. Please also indicate your possible start 
dates.

The project will be funded under an Australia Research Council (ARC) 
Linkage Grant with industry support from Aurizon 
(http://www.aurizon.com.au <http://www.aurizon.com.au/>), Australia’s 
largest rail freight operator.
Coal and iron ore export supply chains critically depend on the 
transport capacity provided by Australia's rail infrastructure. 
Increasingly so, because coal and iron ore export supply chains are 
literally getting longer: mineral bodies closer to ports have been 
exploited first, and as these become exhausted, supply chains are 
stretching further to reach harder-to-get-at resources. Combined with 
increasing export volumes, this makes intelligent, efficient, and 
effective management of this critical piece of infrastructure vitally 
important. Maintenance plays a crucial role in the management of rail 
infrastructure as it ensures that infrastructure components, e.g., 
track, signals, and rail crossings, are in a condition that allows safe, 
reliable, and efficient transport.  This project will investigate the 
key planning activities in preventive maintenance of rail infrastructure 
systems, and seek to develop effective optimization algorithms for their 
solution.

The postdoctoral fellow will join a research team of faculty, research 
fellows and PhD students working on this project. The project also 
involves international research collaborations with Professors Natashia 
Boland and Martin Savelsbergh (Georgia Tech) and Yanfeng Ouyang 
(University of Illinois).

The University of Newcastle is a major research university in Australia, 
increasingly recognized internationally as a rapidly emerging 
educational institution. The main campus is located in the city of 
Newcastle: on the coast about two hours drive north from Sydney. The 
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences provides a stimulating and 
supportive environment for research and teaching, with ample 
opportunities for collaborative research partnerships both within the 
university and with industry. Although well known for its beautiful 
beaches and pleasant climate, Newcastle is home to Australia's (and the 
world's) largest coal exporting port. Newcastle is also at the gateway 
of one of Australia's largest wine-growing regions, the Hunter valley. 
Thus opportunities for research in shipping, transportation, and mineral 
resources abound.

The School includes a strong group in Operations Research, with a number 
of faculty, research fellows, and current PhD students working in areas 
such as mixed integer programming, mixed integer nonlinear programming, 
supply chain logistics, and transportation optimization. The group has 
strong collaborations with colleagues in computer science working with 
evolutionary algorithms. It also has close research links with 
first-class international institutions and excellent support from 
industry and government research funding.

For further information on the School and the University, go to 
http://www.newcastle.edu.au/school/mathematical-physical-sciences/
or http://www.newcastle.edu.au/. For further information about 
Newcastle, Australia, visit http://www.visitnewcastle.com.au 
<http://www.visitnewcastle.com.au/>. Further information can be obtained 
from the contact person below.

Main contact:
Dr Thomas Kalinowski
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
The University of Newcastle
T: +61 2 4921 6558
E: Thomas.Kalinowski at newcastle.edu.au