The University of Miami is offering a fully funded PhD position in Civil Engineering, specifically within Dr. Minghui Cheng’s research group at the Department of Civil & Architectural Engineering. The research focuses on the development of large language models (LLMs) and AI agents for civil structures and infrastructure systems, with applications in structural analysis, finite element analysis, agent-based modeling, uncertainty quantification, surrogate modeling, and digital twin-enabled smart cities. The position is ideal for students interested in the intersection of civil engineering and artificial intelligence, particularly those with a background in machine learning, statistics, and programming (Matlab or Python).

Applicants must have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in civil engineering or a related field. International candidates whose native language is not English are required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. The successful candidate should be eager to learn statistics and machine learning and work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary environment. Preferred qualifications include proficiency in Matlab or Python and prior experience in machine learning and uncertainty quantification.

Dr. Minghui Cheng, the group leader, is an assistant professor with research interests in system digital twins for infrastructure systems, life-cycle management, and large language models for structural analysis. The University of Miami is a prestigious private institution located in Miami, Florida, and is ranked 64th in the United States.

The position offers full financial support, including tuition and stipends, and will commence in Fall 2026. Interested applicants should email their CV and transcript to Dr. Cheng at [email protected], using the subject line 'CAE PhD Application - Your Name'. A short statement describing research interests, relevant coursework, skills, or career goals should also be included.

Key academic keywords for this opportunity include civil engineering, artificial intelligence, large language models, infrastructure systems, structural analysis, machine learning, digital twin, surrogate modeling, and smart cities. The application deadline is December 28, 2025.