Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Optimisation for Decision Support in Disaster Response

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have a background in operations research, optimisation, or analytical modelling for decision support? Do you want to further your career in one of the UK’s leading research‑intensive universities?

We are seeking to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to develop and apply advanced decision‑support models for disaster response operations, with specific emphasis on debris operations management and wildfire suppression. The post will be based within Leeds University Business School, in the Analytics, Technology and Operations Department (ATOD), and forms part of the international ITEA4 SIREN project, which focuses on evidence‑based, data‑driven support for disaster management and emergency response decision making.

As a member of ATOD, you will join a growing community of scholars working at the intersection of analytics, optimisation, technology, and operational decision making. You will have opportunities to collaborate with interdisciplinary research centres across the School, engage with partners in the SIREN consortium, and contribute to a vibrant environment that supports innovative, impactful research in operations and analytics.

The post holder will develop new optimisation models and algorithms to support operational and real‑time decision making in disaster response contexts, with the aim of improving resource allocation and system performance under uncertainty. This includes formulating complex decision problems, designing deterministic and real‑time solution methods, and contributing to high‑quality academic publications and project dissemination.

Interview expected to take place 7 May 2026 from 2:30pm onwards

G7 - Please note that this post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information please visit: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

For research and academic posts, we will consider eligibility under the Global Talent visa. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/global-talent

What we offer in return

• 26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – That’s 42 days a year!
• Generous pension scheme plus life assurance– the University contributes 14.5% of salary
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.

And much more!

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Dr Davood Shiri, Associate Professor of Supply Chain Analytics

Email: D.Shiri@leeds.ac.uk

Or

Dr Su Jung Jee, Lecturer in Operations and Technology Management

Email: S.Jee@leeds.ac.uk