Computational Science (Twente Graduate School)

During the past decades Computational Science has become an increasingly important component in understanding and controlling the key mechanisms in the natural-, biological- and technical sciences. This field of research consists of the combination of mathematical and physical modelling and analysis, large-scale simulation and the development and application of accurate high-performance computational algorithms. Future challenges in Computational Science concern the development and analysis of methods in which physical, chemical and biological processes at a wide range of length- and time-scales are simultaneously and consistently integrated.

The Computational Science programme will provide the academic context for successful researchers in its multi-disciplinary field, combining aspects of mathematics, physics, chemistry, mechanics and computer science. Many of the applications require a deep understanding of nonlinear phenomena, their interactions at various scales and sensitivity of model predictions. That line of issues will also be reflected in the design of the program, with full embedding in the MSc courses of Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics, Chemical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.

The main challenges to teaching and research in the Computational Science program are:

-	to arrive at a systematic ‘first principles’ approach to modelling, simulation, analysis and control of complex nonlinear dynamic behaviour, with particular attention to problems evolving on many length- and time-scales simultaneously;

-	to include and interpret the full variety of interacting physical mechanisms that govern the multiple physical processes that take place, as well as their coarsened approximations in heterogeneous multiscale formulations;

-	to achieve leading capability in high-performance computing and highly accurate numerical methods;

-	to apply computational modelling methods to multi-disciplinary problems of factual practical relevance, linked to a variety of problems and applications in the natural-, biological- and technical sciences and in engineering.

Teaching and training of the students will integrate key courses from the contributing MSc tracks to provide a solid basis for a successful research attitude.

Programme mentor

Prof. dr. S.A. van Gils

Programme overview

First year

Advanced Programming in Engineering and Science 5 EC

191551150 Numerical Techniques for Partial Differential Equations 5 EC

193570010 Advanced Fluid Mechanics 5 EC

191560430 Nonlinear Dynamics 5 EC

Second year

International Orientation

The students will spend a period of 3 months at a laboratory for high-performance computational modeling and analysis, outside the Netherlands. The subject of the internship will be coordinated with the supervisor in such a way that it is in line with the character of the selected theme for the MSc thesis work of the particular student. This adherence to an underlying theme for each student will provide the necessary level of expertise and specialization in an otherwise multi-disciplinary programme.

MSc Thesis (Research proposal)

The partner groups have ample experience in developing interesting topics for research that train the students at advanced levels, including regular presentations at international venues and publication in scientific journals. In the course of the second year ample attention will be given to train students in literature search and evaluation, and, in deepening the central research questions that are at the basis of the PhD proposal. This proposal will be delivered as part of the Master’s thesis phase.