Starting Date: June 2018
Prerequisites: Computer Science Undergraduate Student, Enthusiasm and desire to be a problem solver.
Will results be assigned to University:
Project Description
Blockchain platform provides an immutable temporal record which can be utilised to collect transactional data throughout the supply chain. This can potentially offer an immutable provenance of individual goods/products with full traceability from source to store. A transparent supply chain creates an opportunity to optimise supply-and-demand management, build resilience and ultimately enable more sustainable production, logistics and consumption.
In this project, the UROP recipient will design and develop the underlying platform for supply chain using blockchain technologies that are secure, privacy-preserving and transparent. The application of the blockchain to create a transparent supply chain has the potential to have societal and environmental impacts. With an increase in regulatory, reputational, investor and consumer pressure to address supply chain risks like corruption, human rights violations, modern slavery, gender-based violence, water security and environmental degradation. A transparent supply chain can play a pivotal role by giving the provenance of a product to individual consumers – that in the majority of the case are conscientious.
The respective UROP recipient will be pivotal in shaping the scope of this project and lead the research activities in collaboration with the ISG-SCC team.
Required Technical Skills
ISG-SCC value the enthusiasm and commitment significantly and considers technical skills as an acquirable skill during the internship. However, basic understanding and knowledge of blockchain technology, smartphone (Android or IOS) development, and user interfaces will be desirable.
What will you gain during UROP?
During this internship, the objective of the ISG-SCC is to make sure that you develop your independent research and development skills and enhance your skills on a) presenting the project’s progress, b) keeping in line with time management, b) research methods, c) technical writing skills for project outcomes and d) problem identification and solving.
ISG-SCC Track Record
ISG-SCC has successfully run the UROP for the last two years. The success of the previous two years has produced a patent application (under review by patent office) and commercial demo (MVP) under development, and five research papers. Corresponding undergraduate students are named as first authors on the papers and co-inventor on the patent application. Research papers by undergraduate students have won one ‘best student paper award’, featured in a news article on Medium and being pivotal for a World Economic Forum’s project for anti-corruption project. The ethos of ISG-SCC is that undergraduate students have the talent and imagination to sort out unique and innovative solutions. They just need guidance from established researchers, and this is what ISG-SCC will provide during the UROP.