Optimization and Operational Research PhD

The work in the Operational Research and Optimization research group is in three main areas: the mathematical and computing aspects of optimization, combinatorial optimization, and energy systems. <br/><br/>The core technology in optimization is the solution of large sparse linear and quadratic problems, and we provide world-class expertise in the two main solution methods for these: the simplex method and the interior point method. In combinatorial optimization, we provide expertise for modelling real-world problems using integer linear programming formulations and for deriving efficient exact and heuristic algorithms to solve them. <br/><br/>Specialist expertise in energy includes optimization of system planning and optimization, security of supply risk analysis, and decision support for public policy.<br/>We also have interests in PDE-constrained optimization, global optimization, decomposition methods, parallel computing, industrial applications of optimization and stochastic optimization.<br/><br/>Specific topics which could yield PhD projects include:<br/><br/><br/>* Algorithms for linear and nonlinear nonconvex smooth optimization problems<br/><br/><br/>* Optimization methods for linear, integer linear, quadratic and nonlinear programming<br/><br/><br/>* Decomposition methods for large-scale nonlinear nonconvex constrained optimization<br/><br/><br/>* Bundle methods<br/><br/><br/>* Warm starts for interior point methods<br/><br/><br/>* Pooling problems<br/><br/><br/>* Applications of optimization in logistics<br/><br/><br/>* Parameter uncertainty in queueing theory and revenue management.<br/><br/><br/>* Facility location and vehicle routing<br/>