Research Fellow, “Systems approach to Air Pollution in East Africa (ASAP-East Africa)”

iFEEL is an ambitious project to develop innovative techniques to infer gravity gradiometer data in order to assess and evaluate the condition and structural integrity of both underground assets and their supporting ground. The main duty of the post holder is to develop numerical algorithms to infer data extracted from experimental and theoretical QT gravity gradiometer. The numerical modelling involves a hybrid back-calculation algorithm integrating finite element analysis and a novel machine learning based technique. The proposed numerical approach will be able to capture anomalies in the ground and the buried utility and detect damage in infrastructure by characterising reduction in the constitutive properties of the finite element model of the system between two timeseparated inferences. The proposed framework in this project will provide sufficient information on structural integrity of a system and will enable asset managers to make informed decisions with respect to what, where, when and how interventions are required with emphasis on structural stability of the infrastructure.

You will work within a highly motivated multi-disciplinary consisting of leading UK and East African researchers in air pollution, urban planning, economic geography, public health, social sciences, development studies and road investment appraisal to provide a framework for improved air quality management in East African cities. Your major role within this “Systems approach to Air Pollution in East Africa (ASAP-East Africa)” project will be to develop and calibrate air pollution and road vehicle emissions models to three African cities (Addis Ababa, Kampala and Nairobi) and to utilize these to explore how the road infrastructure in the three cities can be modified to reduce vehicle emissions. You will support researchers undertaking parallel activities in the East African cities.

Job Purpose

• Carry out a rapid evidence based assessment to identify a suitable air pollution model. If no such model can be found, develop a bespoke model
• Become familiar with HDM-4 (the World Bank’s road investment appraisal model) and in particular its vehicle emissions model
• Calibrate the pollution and HDM-4 emissions models to reflect the three East African cities
• Assist in the development of scenarios associated with modifying transportation within the three East African
• Model and assess the impacts the scenarios using the air pollution and HDM-4 models.
• Contribute to publicising the work via per reviewed articles
• Assist researchers in the three African cities with similar modelling activities.

Person Specification

• First degree in an engineering, mathematics, or computer science discipline and a higher degree, PhD, relevant to the research area (or close to passing a higher degree) or equivalent qualifications
• Demonstrable air pollution modelling and / or HDM-4 skills
• Computer language programming skills
• High level analytical capability
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research project
• Willingness to travel to East Africa periodically (1-2 times per year)
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to mentor and support the research of African based researchers
• Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
• Good communication and writing skills
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effective