Laboratory Simulation for a Reduced Carbon Footprint

Laboratory Simulation for a Reduced Carbon Footprint

Supervisors: Dr Ronald Dyer (University of Liverpool Management School)

Dr Phil Goddard (Dendrite Labs)

Reference: UoL-LCEI-137

Application Deadline: 30th August 2016

Introduction:

The University of Liverpool (UoL) and Dendrite Labs are seeking to appoint a suitably experienced and qualified individual to undertake a three year doctoral research programme. The PhD will be focused on developing a universal solution to automatically sense, control and optimise key parameters of laboratories.

Laboratories are a major part of the global economy and infrastructure, producing several ten million tons of CO2 emission every year. Clearly, a reduction of this huge amount of CO2 emission would be a key step to decrease the global carbon footprint. However, lowering the carbon footprint of a laboratory is very challenging as there are ample parameters that need to be considered, starting with consumed electricity and gases, over consumables to employees’ work routines. The complexity of this problem makes it almost impossible for lab employees to understand what actions need to be undertaken. The key to overcome this challenge would be an automated collection of all relevant laboratory parameters, allowing for a calculation and optimization of key metrics like power consumption, costs and carbon usage.

As a high technology software company, Dendrite Labs offers powerful software solutions enabling an automated data extraction and control of laboratory resources. The basic idea of the proposed project is to use this advanced technology to provide an automated mechanism for laboratory control. This mechanism will be embedded in a Sim City – type laboratory simulation, created in collaboration with serious games/gamification expertise of UoL’s Management School. The users will be able to interact with the simulation to optimize laboratory metrics, increase laboratory collaboration through equipment optimization while establishing a clear directions on how to reduce the laboratory’s carbon footprint efficiently. It is further hoped that the initial simulation will provide a scalable model for future data sharing across the industry providing analytics which contribute to complex problems within the relevant industry sectors.

Overall aim:

The overall aim of the proposed project is to considerably reduce the carbon footprint and increase the efficiency of laboratories by developing a universal solution to automatically sense, control and optimize all related key parameters. This, however, would be achieved by several objectives:

In order to collect relevant data from real world laboratories, a mechanism communicating with instruments (defined as intelligent systems), simpler systems like balances, sensors and people needs to be implemented, which will extract data to a centralized database. This database will allow for the calculation of key metrics like speed, costs and carbon usage. Besides the extraction of relevant data, the mechanism should also enable control. As a key part for such an application, Dendrite Labs provides powerful software solutions, so called nDrites. nDrites are game changing software entities that significantly enhance the way that laboratory resources communicate with software applications. Not only can they extract all data from laboratory resources and apply all control functions, they also work across networks. This advanced technology extracts data that has not been accessible so far, and thus offers the first real possibility to perform a substantial estimation of a laboratory’s carbon footprint.

The extracted data from nDrites, sensors and - where additional data is required - from lab employees, need to be displayed in an appropriate software application, that in turn, enables communication with nDrites/sensors and a control of related resources. The core of this application will be a simulation with all related lab resources, including further data for sample results and cash flows. Users will be able to interact with the simulation and change parameters such as the operation time of instruments, the number of samples, amount of consumables until metrics likes costs, speed, carbon usage and the overall performance quality are optimized.

The proposed design of the planned application leverages the concept of gamification to support both motivational aspects towards improved carbon emission standards as well as development of analytic based performance metrics to support carbon reduction impact. The research would be carried out in close collaboration the experts from UoL’s Management School. By adding systemic game and simulation elements to the software application, not only are the benefits of an automated lab resource control for low carbon footprint immediately transparent, but also the activities of lab employees to reduce the carbon footprint are triggered. This game-type lab simulation model for low carbon footprint would be the first of its kind demonstrating a clear linkage between the need for improved tools/techniques to support carbon emission reduction strategies that are rooted in performance improvement at the individual and organization level

Low Carbon Eco-Innovatory

This PhD is one of 20 industry-led collaborative R&D projects from the Low Carbon Eco-Innovatory. The aim of the project is for you to work toward a PhD at the University of Liverpool through delivering ‘real – life’ solutions to industry. The Centre brings together the expertise, resources and global contacts of University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moore’s University and Lancaster University to create innovative low carbon goods, processes and services developed through collaborative R&D partnerships between local companies in the Liverpool City Region and local universities.

All LCEI PhD projects have been developed by SMEs contacting the University for assistance in R&D where the company does not have internal expertise, resource or facilities to carry out the research. This will give you a strong advantage in entering a competitive jobs market in both the academic and commercial sectors.

By joining the centre you will receive a £15,000 tax free stipend per year, with your post-graduate tuition fees paid (at UK/EU rate). The Centre is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund. Please visit www.liverpool.ac.uk/environmental-sciences/working-with-business for more information on the centre.

Application details:

To apply for this opportunity please email quoting UoL-LCEI-137 in the email subject with:

·  2 page CV

·  2 page expression of interest

·  A completed Application Criteria – available from www.liverpool.ac.uk/environmental-sciences/working-with-business/phd-opportunities

Further information:

Dendrite Labs Founded in 2015, Dendrite Labs Limited (DLL) specialises in powerful software solutions for the control of laboratory resources. Dendrite Labs is based at The Heath in Runcorn and is a sister company to CSols Ltd (founded in 1990), a laboratory integration software company.

At present here at Dendrite Labs, we are focusing on the data extraction of automated laboratory instruments through the use of a dashboard web application. This allows the user to monitor and manage data remotely in real time.

The aim of Dendrite Labs is to provide services for laboratories to help improve their laboratory efficiency, resulting in greater quality, time management and providing a low cost solution for the daily tasks within a laboratory.

University of Liverpool Management School’s 150 international experts shape world-class academic thought and make a direct impact on a wide range of organisations and institutions. Our investment in an excellent research environment and a flourishing cohort of PhD researchers coupled with our refreshingly interdisciplinary focus put the Management School at the forefront of academic research, making a difference to our many local, national and international partners. Please visit www.liverpool.ac.uk/management/ for more information.