Research Fellow in Digital Economy and Blockchain (040117-R-R)

The Centre for Digital Economy at the University of Surrey is looking for a Research Fellow to work with Prof. Alan Brown and Dr David Plans on the research-intensive project“Co-operative Models for Evidence-based Healthcare Redistribution" (CoMEHeRe).  The end date of the contract will be between 31 October 2018 and 31 December 2018, depending on the salary scale the successful candidate is appointed at.

The University of Surrey’s Centre for the Digital Economy (CoDE) investigates the emerging patterns of the Digital Economy through a process of Collaborative Discovery that blends research, education, problem-solving and brokering. We engage in this process with enterprises large & small, researchers and students in our Business Insights Lab. We explore topics such as digital platforms, emerging business models, distributed ledger technologies, and Agile innovation by combining cutting-edge business experimentation with classic methods of research. We believe that Collaborative Discovery will help us navigate – together – a world that is uncertain, unpredictable and unrecognisable to traditional business models.

CoMEHeRe aims to transform personal healthcare through the design, development and evaluation of novel technologies and business models for commodifying and brokering casually captured personal healthcare data (e.g. from wearable biosensors and the IoT) to state and private healthcare providers.  Novel decentralised ledger technology (DLT) solutions will be developed to incentivise collection and enable secure brokering of large volumes of longitudinal biometric healthcare data, optimising preventative healthcare, helping to achieve a more efficient healthcare system, and contributing to a healthier nation. As a result, COMeHeRE will develop novel machine learning algorithms to identify patterns within medical data acquired through wearable biosensors (e.g. FitBit) working alongside an innovative startup and healthcare provider engaged in the machine learning and wellness space.  The aim of the project is investigate, develop and demonstrate new ways to enable users to broker their wearable data to such providers, creating a novel market for wearable biosensor data. The successful candidate will work alongside experts in both Digital Economy and in the University’s Centre for Vision, Speech, and Signal Processing (CVSSP) to produce a prototype distributed system for extracting and brokering healthcare data which will involve implementing blockchain and smart contract systems using distributions such as Guardtime’s via their Java or C# SDK.

Successful applicants will have a digital economy background with particular knowledge of new digital business models, platform ecosystems dynamics, and the disruptive nature of blockchain technologies. We are particularly looking for applicants with hands-on experience that includes core practical skills in data analytics, software development, and blockchain mechanisms. They are expected to hold, or soon to gain, a post-graduate qualification in a Digital Economy field closely linked to Distributed Ledger Technologies, and be able to drive their own research direction within the scope of the project and engage with project partners.

Informal enquires are welcome and should be made to Professor Alan W. Brown, alan.w.brown@surrey.ac.uk. 

Closing Date: 07 Aug 2017
Category: Research & Teaching