Job Description

Job Category: Academic
Degree Level: First Degree
:
PhD Scholarships in Digital Twinning Research
Edinburgh Business School is readvertising two PhD scholarships as Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) positions for doctoral candidates interested in Digital Twinning research, as part of the TransiT Research Hub. These positions are for a four-year fixed term, with students undertaking a PhD on a 0.75 FTE basis alongside a 0.25 FTE teaching contract. The remuneration includes a non-taxable PhD stipend of 15,585 per annum (0.75 of the standard UKRI rate) and a taxable salary of 7,701, with PhD tuition fees covered. The GTA roles are based at the Edinburgh campus, and successful applicants are expected to work there.
Heriot-Watt University is recognized for world-class teaching and research, ranking among the top UK universities for innovation, business, and industry. It has five campuses globally, including three in the UK, and is Scotland's most international university. Heriot-Watt's Edinburgh Business School is a global leader in high-quality, accessible, practice-oriented business education and research, partnering with businesses and governments to deliver innovative solutions. EBS values practicality, engagement, connectedness, and inspiration, seeking colleagues who embrace accessible learning, pursue excellence, value collaboration, and are passionate about making a difference.
TransiT is a consortium of eight universities, funded by UKRI and stakeholders, focusing on a 45M, 5-year program of research into digital twinning for transport decarbonization. Digital twinning involves creating virtual replicas of physical transport systems by integrating real-time data to rapidly test and optimize decarbonization scenarios. Applicants are encouraged to contact the supervisory team for informal discussions before submitting their proposals. If you're ready to conduct high-impact research at the cutting edge of digital innovation, we want to hear from you.
Job Reference 4343 Project 2DTD: Research Position: Enhancing Human-Agent Collaboration through Gamified Digital Twins
This project focuses on how intelligent agents can dynamically deploy game-like incentives and feedback loops to guide human choices and foster more effective partnerships with digital counterparts. A core task will be to investigate the self-organisation and emergent behaviours of humans and the wider ecosystem being represented by the digital twin. Proposals are invited that explore how strategic, agent-driven gamification influences these dynamics and ultimately provide insights to future systems. The use of adaptive learning techniques would help predict the effects of interactions within the system. This offers an exciting chance to leverage Belief, Desire, Intention (BDI) agents from a Human Factors perspective to model real-world human dynamics. We're seeking a highly motivated and creative candidate with a strong background in Computer Science, AI, Human-Computer Interaction, or related disciplines. The supervisory team are Dr Adam Gripton and Dr Theo Lim. For further information please contact Dr Adam Gripton A.Gripton@hw.ac.uk.
Role Requirements and Responsibilities:
The GTA post-holder will undertake a PhD on one of the specified topics within four years, maintaining appropriate progress and engaging in relevant training. They will also deliver teaching in Business Analytics, Operations Management, Supply Chain, or Business Management, both in-person and online, to various group sizes. Responsibilities include providing flexible student support , delivering tutorials, marking assessments, and providing feedback , contributing to departmental administrative work , and undertaking other training and school activities. GTAs are also expected to proactively engage in academic publishing. Relevant training will be provided, including potential training in teaching and learning during the first two years of the contract. GTAs receive support for academic career development through annual reviews and access to training offered by the HWU Learning and Teaching Academy and the Research Engagement Directorate. Leadership is also provided by the Department Head of Learning and Teaching and Department Head of Research.
Application Instructions:
Applications should be a single PDF including a cover letter highlighting relevant skills and experience, a copy of the PhD research proposal (clearly stating the topic reference), a CV, and contact details for two referees. A separate application is required for each project if applying for more than one. The application should detail how previous experience and education meet the essential and desirable criteria.
Essential Skills and Experience:

• An undergraduate degree in a relevant field with a minimum 2:1 classification or equivalent. For project 2DTAA the field is social sciences, sociology, human geography, psychology, computer science. For project 2DTD the field is mathematics, computer science, data analytics, statistics, systems analysis, operations management, supply chain management or similar
• Experience in primary data collection or secondary data-set compilation and appropriate analysis.
• A viable research proposal for PhD study on one of the stated topics.
• A commitment to training in research methods, systems thinking, and the TransiT approach to digital twinning.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• For non-native English speakers, an overall IELTS score of 6.5 with no score lower than 6.0 in Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening, unless a degree taught and examined in English has been completed.
• Good general IT skills.
• Individual time management skills to balance teaching and PhD study.
• Team working skills for high-quality teaching and positive student experience.

Desirable Skills and Experience:

• A postgraduate Master's degree in a relevant field or equivalent research experience (e.g., social sciences disciplines like disability studies, sociology, human geography, psychology, computer science).
• For project 2DTAA evidence of interdisciplinary work and some technical knowledge of computer-based simulations.
• For project 2DTD experience with BIM, CAD, and products such as Bentley Systems
• A strong commitment to industrial and community engagement, and systems thinking.
• A strong commitment to inter-disciplinary working, applying theoretical knowledge to practical problems, and a commitment to UK transport.
• Relevant teaching and/or professional experience.

Applications must be submitted by midnight UK time on Monday 25th August. Shortlisted candidates will be notified after September 8th. Interviews will take place online between September 15th and 26th.
The role will start after references are received, ideally on Monday, October 20th, or a later agreed date if visa or other requirements need to be concluded.
We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g., part-time working and job share options.
Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.
Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers .
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About Heriot-Watt University
At Heriot-Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.
Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot-Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.