This 3.5-year D.Phil. studentship at the University of Oxford's Department of Engineering Science offers an exciting opportunity to research nature-based and biomimetic foundation systems in geotechnical engineering. The project, supervised by Professor Jonathan Knappett and Professor Chris Martin, investigates how tree root systems develop as natural 'foundations' in response to environmental loads, such as wind and slope, and how these biological strategies can inspire innovative, efficient engineering solutions. The research will begin by exploring the behaviour of various tree root architectures under vertical, horizontal, and moment loading using advanced numerical modelling and physical model testing. This phase aims to deepen understanding of root-soil interaction, with direct applications to hazard assessment for trees in extreme storms and the use of trees in nature-based solutions, such as tsunami protection by mangroves. Building on these findings, the project will develop and evaluate biomimetic foundation concepts that can be scaled and optimised for diverse engineering applications. Potential uses include railway electrification gantries, transmission tower and solar farm foundations, anchorage systems for floating offshore renewable energy, and low-rise building foundations in remote areas. These systems promise to minimise embodied carbon and installation requirements by leveraging efficient geotechnical performance and modular assembly. The studentship is fully funded through the Department of Engineering Science, covering course fees for home or overseas students and providing a tax-free stipend of approximately £20,780 per year for the first year, with at least this amount for the remaining duration. Applicants should hold a first class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree in Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or Physics, and possess excellent English communication skills. Desirable skills include prior study in geotechnical or structural engineering, programming ability in Matlab or Python, and experience with finite element analysis. Applications are open to both home and overseas students. The deadline for applications is noon on 3 March 2026, with the programme commencing in October 2026. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Professor Jonathan Knappett for informal enquiries and must submit a graduate application form via the University of Oxford website, quoting reference 25ENGCI_JKin. For further details and to apply, visit the project page on FindAPhD.

[Full award: course fees covered for home or overseas students plus tax-free stipend of approximately £20,780 per annum for the first year, and at least this amount for a further two and a half years.] The University of Oxford is offering a fully funded 3.5-year D.Phil. (PhD) studentship in Geotechnical Engineering, focusing on nature-based and biomimetic foundation systems. This research project, supervised by Professor Jonathan Knappett and Professor Chris Martin, investigates how tree root systems provide natural 'foundations' that adapt to environmental loads, such as wind and soil movement. By understanding the architecture and geometry of root systems under various loading conditions, the project aims to develop innovative biomimetic foundation concepts that mimic these natural mechanisms, potentially reducing material usage and embodied carbon compared to conventional engineering solutions. The research will begin with an exploration of different tree root system architectures using advanced numerical modelling and physical model testing to simulate root-soil interactions. The findings will have direct applications in hazard assessment for trees exposed to extreme storms and in designing nature-based solutions for environmental protection, such as tsunami barriers formed by mangroves. The second phase will use these insights to design and evaluate scalable biomimetic foundation systems for diverse engineering applications, including railway electrification gantries, transmission tower and solar farm foundations, anchorage for floating offshore renewable energy systems, and low-rise building foundations in remote areas. This studentship is funded by the Department of Engineering Science and is open to both home and overseas students. The award covers full course fees and provides a tax-free maintenance stipend of approximately £20,780 per year for the first year, with at least this amount for the remaining duration. The project is ideal for candidates with a strong academic background in Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or Physics, and excellent English communication skills. Desirable skills include prior study in Geotechnical or Structural Engineering, programming experience in Matlab or Python, and familiarity with Finite Element Analysis. Applicants should submit a graduate application form via the University of Oxford website, quoting reference 25ENGCI_JK in all correspondence and their application. Informal enquiries are encouraged and can be directed to Professor Jonathan Knappett at [email protected]. The application deadline is noon on 3 March 2026, in line with the University's admissions schedule. The successful candidate will join a world-class research environment and contribute to cutting-edge developments in sustainable geotechnical engineering, with a start date in October 2026.

[Full award: course fees covered for home or overseas students plus tax-free maintenance grant of approximately £20,780 per year for 3.5 years.] This 3.5-year D.Phil. studentship at the University of Oxford offers an exciting opportunity to research nature-based and biomimetic foundation systems within the Department of Engineering Science. Supervised by Professor Jonathan Knappett and Professor Chris Martin, the project investigates how tree root systems develop in response to applied loads, providing insights into innovative foundation concepts that mimic these natural mechanisms. The research will begin by exploring the behavior of different tree root architectures under vertical, horizontal, and moment loading, using advanced numerical modelling and physical model testing to understand root-soil interactions. The outcomes of this work have direct applications in hazard assessment for trees exposed to extreme storms and in the design of nature-based solutions such as tsunami protection by mangroves. Building on these findings, the project will develop and evaluate scalable biomimetic foundation systems optimized for various engineering applications, including railway electrification gantries, transmission tower and solar farm foundations, anchorage for floating offshore renewable energy systems, and low-rise building foundations in remote areas. These systems aim to minimize embodied carbon and installation requirements by utilizing efficient geotechnical performance and modular assembly from smaller, lighter elements. The studentship is fully funded for both home and overseas students, covering course fees and providing a tax-free maintenance grant of approximately £20,780 per year for 3.5 years. Applicants should possess a first class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree in Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or Physics, with excellent English communication skills. Desirable skills include prior study in Geotechnical or Structural Engineering, programming ability in Matlab or Python, and experience with Finite Element Analysis. Interested candidates are encouraged to make informal enquiries to Professor Chris Martin ([email protected]). Formal applications should be submitted via the University of Oxford graduate admissions portal, quoting reference 25ENGCI_JK. The application deadline is noon on 3 March 2026, with the studentship commencing in October 2026. For further details and to apply, visit the project webpage.