The research involves the design and analysis of methods for trajectories of objects moving in 2- or 3-dimensional space. A proper definition of a “median trajectory” based on a collection of trajectories is sought, as well as efficient algorithms for computing such a median. The definition and algorithms should be robust when noise or outliers are present. The research continues by investigating how median trajectories can be used in various applications. These include trajectory collection visualization, trajectory clustering, classification, and related problems, for which efficient algorithms and implementations should be developed. This will be done in collaboration with researchers in these application areas, whose data will be used.

The research will lead to scientific papers in the fields of computational geometry and geographic information science, to be published in conference proceedings and journals. The collective research results will lead to a PhD thesis. (more…)

ISPT is looking for a: PhD student with Food Technology or Process engineering background

This project (screening of mild disclosure and fractionation techniques) is a collaboration between several industrial partners like: Unilever, Heineken, Cosun, DSM and contract research institutes, such as TNO. The project is composed of individual PhD projects, each focuses on different types of raw materials. For this specific PhD position, the specific raw materials under consideration barley and malt.

This position will be at Wageningen University, positioned in the department of Food Process Engineering and in close co-operation with the department of Food Chemistry. The project work should start with characterisation of the physico-chemical state, biochemical, physical-mechanical and techno-functional properties of different constituents in the raw materials under consideration, aimed at using the insights for selection of process principles, which will then be developed into the design of promising new, mild routes for processing of these raw materials.

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Wageningen UR (University & Research centre)
A PhD student who will explore the technical and environmental aspects of sustainable cement production. The PhD will work at Environmental technology and Bioprocess engineering of Wageningen University in the STW project “Towards the development of CO2 neutral renewable cement (BioCement)” which is part of the STW Perspective program BioGeoCivil. Also two other PhDs will work in this project at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, at Delft University of Technology and Environmental Sciences of Wageningen University (see attachment). Special emphasis in this PhD study will be on the development and characterization of the simultaneous microalgal production of primary products, like oil, and silica/calcium carbonate as a sustainable process for the production of cement. The tasks include: Characterization and quantification of biomass-derived ashes: Literature and experimental study of silica and calcium carbonate minerals that can be produced by microalgae, including properties of such minerals from geological deposits of algal origin. Bio-based cement production from specifically grown feedstocks: Development of the production of microalgae with high silica/calcium carbonate content for the sustainable production of cement. Continuous lab experiments with photobioreactors to optimize growth conditions for the selected microalgae. The obtained key factors will be used to model the conditions for optimal production of microalgal biomass. The model will be used to develop the design criteria for a process pre-design to evaluate the pro’s and con’s for the development of a pilot-scale production unit of microalgal biomass for production of primary product and biocement resources. Quantification of carbon footprint, environmental properties: Mass and energy balances will be made to evaluate the carbon footprint of the newly developed biobased route. Also the potential environmental benefits to removal and cycling of P, N, and silicates in microalgal cultivation systems will be studied.

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2011-Doctorate positions in Architecture, Building and Planning, Research Institute of Eindhoven University of Technology in Netherlands

This project is part of the large Dutch Research Programme “Climate Proof Cities” in which a large number of universities and research institutes are involved. The aim of this programme is to provide the knowledge that is necessary for adapting the built environment to be able to cope with climate change.The duration of the project is four years. The project is expected to start in May 2011. The gross monthly salary increases from € 2042,- in the first year to € 2612,- in the fourth year.

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