Design of experiments: estimation of selected effects in foldover factorial experiments

​​Experiments with factorial treatment structure are used in many sectors including medical research and industry. Their importance lies in their capacity to provide estimates of main effects and interactions with relatively small numbers of runs.  

​This project focuses on the construction of factorial designs comprising sequential sets of runs assembled via “folding” techniques. Much existing work is based on the principle that “for given m, all m-factor interactions are equally important”. Thus, designs are typically constructed using minimum aberration criteria to maximise the number of estimable main effects and two factor interactions. In practice, there is often a subset of terms of particular interest. In this scenario, designs selected according to minimum aberration criteria are not necessarily the most appropriate.   

​The project seeks design construction approaches with focus on the specific configuration of main effects and interactions. For different configurations, the performance of the various de-aliasing “folding” techniques will be evaluated. Tools from graph theory will be used to aid construction of bespoke designs. Methods will be tested with simulated data. 

Open to both UK and international candidates.

Up to 30% of our UKRI-funded studentships can be awarded to candidates paying international rate fees. Find out more about eligibility.

You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements for our Mathematics PhD programme.

​​Applicants should have a minimum of a first class honours degree in Mathematics, the Physical Sciences or Engineering. Preferably applicants will hold a MMath, MPhys or MSc degree, through exceptional BSc students will be considered.​