Human-Centred Computing News

A £3.5 million supercomputing hub is set to power growth and innovation in the Midlands and London by opening up its vast number-crunching power to local firms.

The University of Warwick is leading a group of four top universities to launch MidPlus, a state-of-the–art high-performance computing centre, to help SMEs and larger firms with the modelling, simulation and analysis needed to design world-leading products and services.

MidPlus will provide extra computing capacity to sectors such as aerospace, automotive, biomedical and advanced materials as well as delivering supercomputing skills to the local workforce.

The investment consists of £2 million from the research funding agency EPSRC and £1.5 million from the four partners – University of Warwick, University of Birmingham, University of Nottingham and Queen Mary, University of London.

The move is linked to a Government drive to increase the UK’s capacity to exploit high-performance computing in optimising process design – a key requirement to boost industries such as advanced manufacturing, scientific research and financial services.

You can get more information, inclduing commentary from its director, on the initiative here.

The Department of Computer Science at the University of Warwick invites applications from candidates who are enthusiastic about enhancing the teaching and appreciation of Computer Science in UK schools and colleges, with excellent communication skills and the ability to contribute to teaching activities in the Department of Computer Science.

Candidates must be committed to widening participation in science, and appreciate the changing profile of Computer Science in UK schools and colleges. Candidates must also be comfortable liaising and coordinating with representatives from departments across the Faculty of Science, the University, schools and colleges, employers and the local community.

To apply, please follow the instructions available on the official University web-page.

Please quote job vacancy reference number 71910-052.

The closing date/time for applications is midnight (British time) at the end of Friday 29 June 2012.

Two of the department's First Year students, Tim Hollies and Andrew Sula have been successful in winning highly competitive scholarships from Asidua.

This scholarships will offer support as follows:

£1,000 per year for each of the scheduled academic years of the course; At least eight weeks paid summer work between each academic year; A guaranteed paid industrial placement in year three; After completion of industrial placement, the opportunity for paid part-time work during the academic year; Following an application for a permanent position and subject to success at interview, in accordance with Fair Employment legislation, a permanent position with Asidua after graduation. As a result, each scholarship is worth up to £25,000 to the successful candidates.

Asidua is a software consultancy and services company, headquartered in Belfast with engineering and sales offices in Birmingham and Dublin. It employs over 120 people. Asidua delivers world-class integration, software and consultancy services to government and corporate clients based in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, mainland Europe, USA and the Far East.

Scholars will get to work with very experienced individuals who mentor them in software engineering best practices, and will gain real world experience of working in teams and increase their confidence and communications skills. They will also gain a better understanding of what a career in IT is all about. Such work based learning or placement is invaluable for the student, as they will gain excellent industrial experience during their time with Asidua. Since they will work on real projects within the Company, this will increase their chance of employment following graduation.

More Information:
http://www.asidua.com/portal/careers/our-scholarships/scholarships-at-warwick-university/