Centre for Operational Research, Management Science and Information Systems (CORMSIS)

CORMSIS PhD

Join CORMSIS, a top UK research group, to master optimisation, machine learning, and simulation. Conduct impactful research, collaborate with experts, and access cutting-edge facilities at the University of Southampton. ¸£Àû×ÅÆ¬ your ideal PhD supervisor on our staff pages.

A PhD in OR helps develop proficiency in mathematical modelling, optimisation, machine learning, and simulation, enabling you to analyse and solve complex decision-making problems.

Pursuing a PhD in Operational Research (OR) or a related discipline at the Centre for Operational Research, Management Science, and Information Systems (CORMSIS) offers numerous advantages for individuals aiming to advance their expertise in decision sciences.

As one of the country’s leading research groups in the science of better decision making, CORMSIS provides a platform to conduct impactful research in areas such as optimisation, predictive modelling, machine learning, and simulation. The interdisciplinary nature of OR research at CORMSIS enables students to work on real-world challenges and gain valuable insights that are highly sought after by both academia and industry.

Additionally, CORMSIS is known for its strong connections with leading academic institutions and industry partners. As a PhD student, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with renowned researchers and gain access to industry collaborators, internships, and consultancy projects. The University of Southampton is a founding member of the Russell Group and offers state-of-the-art facilities, including an HPC equipped with the latest H100 and A100 GPUs and high-performance CPUs, ensuring access to cutting-edge resources for rigorous and computationally intensive research in OR.

Browse our staff pages to identify and contact a potential PhD supervisor you would like to work with.

Dr Libo Li

Lecturer in Business Analytics

Research interests

  • Time-to-event analysis
  • Text analytics
  • Network analytics 

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Libo

Dr Mahmudul Hasan BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD, FHEA

Lecturer in Information Systems

Research interests

  • Disaster information management
  • Online/virtual communities
  • Managing falsehoods on social media

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Mahmudul

Ms Marah Thormann

Research interests

  • Difference of Convex Functions Programming
  • Machine Learning
  • Robust Regression
Connect with Marah

Dr Maria Oskarsdottir

Lecturer in Mathematical Modelling

Research interests

  • Network science
  • Machine learning
  • Business analytics

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Maria

Professor Mario Brito

Professor

Research interests

  • Dynamic Probabilistic Risk Assessment of Complex Systems 
  • Impact of Organizational Factors on Socio-technical Systems Risk
  • Root cause analysis and Accident Investigations

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Mario

Professor Martin Kunc

Professor in Business Analytics

Research interests

  • Business Analytics
  • Strategic Modelling
  • Scenario planning
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Dr Mee Chi So

Associate Professor

Research interests

  • Consumer credit risk
  • Public policy on consumer credit
  • Social media analytics

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Mee Chi

Professor Ming-Chien SUNG

Professor of Risk And Decision Sciences

Research interests

  • Financial technology (Fintech) and cryptocurrency analysis
  • Risk analysis using Big Data
  • Artificial intelligence (AI)

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Ming-Chien

Dr Nicholas Dacre PhD (Warwick), MSc, SFHEA, FAPM

Associate Professor Project Management

Research interests

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Project Management: Exploring the transformative role of AI in enhancing decision-making and efficiency within project management.
  • Agile Project Management (APM): Investigating the adaptive strategies of Agile methodologies to enhance project delivery by promoting flexibility, adaptability, and rapid response to change.
  • Innovation, Technology, & Sustainability in Complex Projects (ITS Complex): Delving into the interplay between innovation, technology, and sustainability, and how their convergence advances the management of complex projects.

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Nicholas

Mr Pablo Casas

Research interests

  • Credit Scoring 
  • Fairness in Machine Learning 
  • Streaming data modelling
Connect with Pablo