Computer Science: Fully Funded Siemens Mobility and UKRI PhD Scholarship: Geographic Test Data Generation in the Railway Domain (RS624)

Funding providers: Siemens Mobility and UKRI

Subject areas: Computer Science

Project start date: 

• 1 July 2024 (Enrolment open from mid-June)

Supervisors:

• Dr Monika Seisenberger (m.seisenberger@swansea.ac.uk)
• Professor Markus Roggenbach

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Computer Science

Mode of study: Full-time

Project description: 

This will be a PhD project done in Collaboration with our Industrial Partner, Siemens Mobility.

Modern Railway Systems operate from accurate geographical maps called scheme plans. They contain the topology of the tracks, positions of signalling equipment, and conceptual constructs such as train routes, and may have thousands of elements. Due to the large quantity of possible data permutations, manual testing of the scheme plan data preparation system is a laborious process. To avoid that we aim at an alternative approach, via the automated generation of test data. These will be constructed following the European Train Control System(ETCS) standards involving significant domain knowledge to interpret the requirements. Coverage metrics will be added to understand how well a set of test data exercises the requirements.

There are various approaches to solve this problem: 1) Via SMT solving or Constraint Solving, or 2) via AI/Optimization. [SMT solvers/constraint solvers are state-of-the-art Symbolic AI tools for verifying computer programs and are applied in Industry as part of quality assurance processes. The use of optimization techniques is an alternative and also quite promising in this context.]

Interested candidates should have a strong interest/background in either Formal Methods/Mathematically derived techniques, or in Software Engineering/Testing, or in Artificial Intelligence.

Candidates must hold a UK bachelor’s degree with a minimum of Upper Second Class honours or overseas bachelor’s degree deemed equivalent to UK honours (by UK ECCTIS) and achieved a grade equivalent to UK Upper Second Class honours in Computer Science, Mathematics or a closely related discipline, or an appropriate master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’ (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University). If you are eligible to apply for the scholarship but do not hold a UK degree, you can check our comparison entry requirements (see country specific qualifications). Please note that you may need to provide evidence of your English Language proficiency. 

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA regulations. 

If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in. 

This scholarship covers the full cost of UK tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £18,622 for 2023/24).

Additional research expenses will also be available.

To apply, please complete your application online with the following information:

1. Course choice – please select Computer Science / PhD / Full-time / 3 Years / July

   In the event you have already applied for the above programme previously, the application system may issue a warning notice and prevent application, in this event, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk where staff will be happy to assist you in submitting your application.

2. Start year – please select 2024
3. Funding (page 8) –

• ‘Are you funding your studies yourself?’ – please select No
• ‘Name of Individual or organisation providing funds for study’ – please enter ‘RS624 - Geographic Test Data’

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.

We encourage you to complete the following to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University: 

• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form (online form) 

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via e-mail). We strongly advise you to provide the listed supporting documents by the advertised application closing date. Please note that your application may not be considered without the documents listed:

• CV
• Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient)
• A cover letter including a ‘Supplementary Personal Statement’ to explain why the position particularly matches your skills and experience and how you choose to develop the project.
• Two references (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference.
• Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable).
• Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)
• Confirmation of EDI form submission (optional) 

Informal enquiries are welcome, please contact Dr Monika Seisenberger (m.seisenberger@swansea.ac.uk).

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.