Please accept my apologies if you think this is unsuitable traffic for
this group.

I'm looking for someone who wants a UK Master's degree to
take part in an unusual research project- full details below. The
candidate will have to be an EU national unless you can pay your own
tuition fees (sorry!).

It'll be at Cranfield University which is 1 hour north of London. The
topic is 'how well can a train/car driver see signs and signals in bad
weather or bad light', or 'how well can someone in a burning building
see the signs that point their escape route'. We'd like to make our
roads and buildings safer.

This is a fully funded MSc by Research supervised jointly by the
Optical Diagnostics Group and the Human Factors Group within the
School of Engineering of Cranfield University. A bursary of £8,000
plus full tuition fees will be paid.

The project will involve adapting an existing software tool to
simulate the propagation of light in visually sub-optimal conditions.
For example, these include conditions of fog and rain, smoke from
fire, poor artificial lighting, or when the sun is low on the horizon.
Once the code has been modified, additional work will be required to
simulate and model human perception in such conditions, considering
the responses and limitations of the visual system. The tool will then
need to be validated in a range of scenarios, such as the design of
fire escape signage and routes, and the placement of road and railway
signals for optimal visibility.

To apply, you should have experience of programming (in any language),
and an interest in applying basic physics to real-world human factors
problems. Experience in human factors is desirable but not necessary,
as the successful candidate will be given the opportunity to attend
postgraduate human factors modules relevant to the research project.

On successful completion of the degree, there may be the possibility
of further study or employment at Cranfield University. For further
information, please contact Dr Mark Jermy on +44 (0)1234 754680 or
m.jermy@cranfield.ac.uk