Graduate Teaching Assistant (Digital Twinning Development)

Edinburgh Business School is offering three PhD scholarships as Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) positions for doctoral candidates interested in Digital Twinning Development, 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. We are seeking proposals for three projects contributing to digital twinning development; this work involves programming and data analysis activity. Applicants are encouraged to contact the supervisory team for informal discussions before submitting their proposals.

• TOPIC REFERENCE: 1DTD: Agent-Based Futures: Reimagining Sustainable and Resilient Transport Logistics for Decarbonisation. We invite proposals on how data-driven agent-based modelling (ABM) can tackle critical challenges in the decarbonisation of transport and develop understanding by modelling the complex interactions between logistics systems and energy systems.
• TOPIC REFERENCE: 2DTD: Uncovering self-organisation and emergent behaviours of agents with gamification. We invite proposals on how agent-based digital twinning can work together and collaborate with human users, and how the human users are understood and translated into agent and digital twin models, governance, and job development.
• TOPIC REFERENCE: 3DTD: Data Science and Optimisation for Transport and Logistics Decarbonisation. We invite proposals which apply optimisation techniques to “big data” in order to address sustainability challenges in the transport and the hard-to-decarbonise logistics sectors.

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.

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 (including but not limited to mathematics, computer science, data analytics, statistics, systems analysis, operations management, supply chain management or similar) with a minimum 2:1 classification or equivalent. 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. 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 (including but not limited to mathematics, computer science, data analytics, statistics, systems analysis, operations management, supply chain management or similar). Experience with BIM, CAD, and products such as Bentley Systems. A proven background in one or more of these areas: agent-based modelling, big data, data analytics, coding, cyber-physical infrastructure, AI, and digital twins. 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, June 30th, 2025. Shortlisted candidates will be notified after July 8th. Interviews will take place online between Tuesday, July 15th, and July 23rd. The role will start after references are received, ideally on Monday, September 1st, or a later agreed date if visa or other requirements need to be concluded.

Heriot-Watt University is committed to equality of opportunity, diversity, and inclusion, welcoming applications from all sectors of society, particularly underrepresented groups. Flexible working patterns are considered.