The LRN forum holds an annual conference every year to enable researchers to share ideas and research with each other whilst getting practical input from industry on possible application.

Held in September, the conference is held at a different university each year. In addition to the conference, a PhD workshop is put on to offer advice and guidance. 

The 2023 event will be held from 6-8 September 2023 at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.

Please visit the LRN conference page for more information.

CILT sponsors the Logistics Dissertation of the Year Awards which are presented each year at the LRN Conference Dinner. 

The LRN Logistics Dissertation of the Year Awards 2024 are now open. 

The Logistics Dissertation of the Year Awards are split into the following categories:

Undergraduate 

Masters 

The successful students wlll receive a personal cheque, a certificate - presented at the LRN Conference Dinner on Thursday 8 September in Birmingham, as well as a guest invitation to the dinner. 

Awards are open to students based at UK and Ireland universities whose dissertations have been examined and passed during the appropriate calendar year. No more than one nomination per named degree course may be submitted and resubmissions will not be accepted. All submissions must be accompanied by a nomination form.

For the purpose of the Dissertation Awards, logistics is defined as:

The management, planning, implementation and control of the efficient and effective procurement, movement and storage of goods (materials, parts and finished product inventory) and services and the relation information flows between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to achieve cost-effective customer satisfaction.

BSc MSc Dissertation Guidelines 2024

BSc MSc Nomination Form 2024

James Cooper Memorial Cup (PhD)

CILT sponsors the James Cooper Memorial Cup which is presented each year at the LRN Conference Dinner. 

The LRN James Cooper Cup Award 2024 is now open. 

The Award, in memory of Professor James Cooper, was inaugurated in 2000. It is presented annually to students at UK or Ireland universities. The Award is for research that makes an original contribution to the field and is directly relevant to the management of logistics and distribution. Submissions must clearly demonstrate the aforementioned criteria and may be submitted by the individual or their supervisor.

The successful candidate will receive a personal cheque, a certificate and the James Cooper Memorial Cup (for one year, to be returned the following year) – presented at the LRN Conference Dinner on Thursday 7 September at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, as well as a guest invitation to the dinner. 

If required, candidates who reach the short list may be invited to give a short presentation to the Logistics Research Network Committee of CILT(UK).    

PhD Nomination Form 2024

Past Dissertation of the Year Awards

2023 Winners

Undergraduate

Pablo Brereton Rodrigo, University of Warwick – Integrating supply chains in a turbulent complex, uncertain era

Masters

Benjamin Holt, University of Bath – Use of nudges throughout the supply chain lifecycle:  approaches to building supply chain resilience

James Cooper Memorial Cup (PhD)

Dr Sa Thin Wetsandornphong, University Bolton, - An empirical investigation of the relationships between integration, dynamic capabilities and performance in supply chains

2022 Winner

Masters

Akzhunis Arystanbek, University of Warwick – Implementation of Demand Sensing in Supply Chain Management

2021 Winners

Undergraduate

Tianna Sahota, Aston University - The impact of social media on supply chain efficency

Masters

Adrian Byrne, Technology University Dublin - A study of prevailing factors driving gender inequality within supply chain & logistics leadership roles despite projected industry skills shortages

James Cooper Memorial Cup

Dr Evanthia Thanou, Aston University - Supply chain readiness and capability assessment for upscaling

2020 Winners

Undergraduate

Eloise Wright, University of Huddersfield - Investigating social capital within the buyer-supplier relationship and the connection to supply chain operations

Masters

Narendra Utama, Newcastle University - Delivery capacity improvement in road transport operations through routing optimisation and lean concept: A case study of a food redistribution organisation in the UK.

2019 Winners

Undergraduate

Andrew Oakey, University of Southampton - Investigating the potential of portering as a last-mile delivery method to improve the sustainablility of parcel deliveries in London

Masters

Zepeng Wu, Cardiff University - Catering Food Waste Management in the UK: Causes and Effects Diagram Using MCDM

James Cooper Memorial Cup

Stanley Lim, Cambridge University - Examining last-mile supply networks in e-commerce omnichannel retailing: A supply network configuration approach

2018 Winners

Undergraduate

Kirsty Spurrell, Aston University - An investigation into the efficiency of materials flows within a functioning automotive assembly plant

Masters

Janet Kavanagh, Dublin Institute of Technology - Co-opetition with a supply chain lens, can it add a strategic advantage?

Thao Vu Phuong, University of Hull - Logistics Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction in Hai Phong (Vietnam)

James Cooper Memorial Cup

Haiyan Lu, Cardiff University - Investigation of sustainable supply chains implementation: A social network perspective

Investigation of sustainable supply chains implementation: A social network perspective

2017 Winners

Undergraduate

Serena Martin, Aston University - An analysis of local foodbank logistics

Masters

Graham Kirkup, Cranfield University - Simulation modelling of blood product deliveries to hospitals in the UK

James Cooper Memorial Cup

Agustina Calatayud Ph.D, Newcastle University - Understanding connectivity to international markets: a complex network perspective

All full fee paying delegates to LRN 2023, will receive the 2024 volume of IJOL.

International Journal of Logistics: Research & Applications publishes original and challenging work that has a clear applicability to the business world. As a result the journal concentrates on papers of an academic journal standard but aimed at the practitioner as much as the academic. High quality contributions are therefore welcomed from both academics and professionals working in the field of logistics and supply chain management. Papers should further our understanding of logistics and supply chain management and make a significant original contribution to knowledge. In this context the term ’logistics’ is taken in its broadest context as "the management of processes, flow of materials and associated information along the entire supply chain, from raw materials through to the final user of the product". The journal is purchased on a volume basis containing 6 issues a year.

International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications can be viewed here.

To buy a personal subscription, please contact The Knowledge Centre. 

To find out more click here or contact our professional development department.

For a listing of Universities who have been awarded CILT(UK) degree accreditation, please click here.

Adding value to your transport, logistics and supply chain courses

CILT’s Academic Partnership offering allows educational institutions and training suppliers to select from a menu of benefit options from The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport CILT(UK) in order to shape a package which best suits their needs.

Find out more here.

For a listing of current Academic Partners, please click here.

Click here to view LRN Full Papers 2023 >>