[Fully-funded studentships (fees and maintenance) available for eligible home students; limited funding for international students may be considered later.] The University of Cambridge is offering a fully-funded PhD studentship through the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Infrastructure and Built Environment (FIBE3 CDT), in collaboration with Tracey Concrete. This four-year (1+3 MRes/PhD) programme focuses on the development and advancement of low-carbon cements for precast concrete used in aggressive ground conditions, addressing the urgent need for sustainable infrastructure solutions. Tracey Concrete, a leader in precast concrete manufacturing, is actively exploring innovative materials and technologies to achieve zero-carbon construction elements. The construction industry faces increasing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint while maintaining long-term infrastructure performance, especially in environments that accelerate material degradation. This project aims to characterise and evaluate the mechanical performance, durability, and sustainability of both commercially available and novel cements in precast concrete, specifically targeting buried structures exposed to aggressive ground. Precast concrete offers a controlled environment for material innovation and quality assurance, making it ideal for deploying alternative binders and next-generation low-carbon cements. The research will generate essential data on durability, microstructural development, and long-term behaviour, providing a foundation for performance-based specifications that enable more sustainable, resource-efficient, and climate-friendly concrete production. A key motivation is to address the limitations of the BRE Special Digest 1 (SD1), the primary reference for concrete in aggressive ground, which has not been updated since 2005. Advances in low-carbon binder technologies are not reflected in current standards, hindering wider adoption. The project will inform updates to design and specification guidance, focusing on re-evaluating cement contents prescribed in BRE SD1 and investigating the potential for reducing cement content while maintaining or enhancing performance. Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, at least a high 2.1 degree, preferably at Masters level, in Civil Engineering, with a strong interest in cementitious materials and experimental work. Fully-funded studentships (covering fees and maintenance) are available for eligible home students, with limited funding for international students considered at a later stage. For project-specific enquiries, contact Prof. Abir Al-Tabbaa at [email protected]. General enquiries can be directed to [email protected]. Applications should be submitted online via the University of Cambridge Applicant Portal, stating course code EGEGR3 and the project title. Early applications are encouraged, as offers may be made before the deadline of 15 April 2026. The University supports equality, diversity, and inclusion, welcoming applicants from all backgrounds. For further details on the programme, funding, and eligibility, visit the provided links. Join a leading research environment and contribute to the future of sustainable infrastructure.

[Fully-funded studentships (fees and maintenance) are available for eligible home students. Limited funding for international students may be available at a later stage.] This four-year (1+3 MRes/PhD) studentship at the University of Cambridge is funded through the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Infrastructure and Built Environment (FIBE3 CDT), in collaboration with Tracey Concrete, a leader in precast concrete manufacturing. The project addresses the urgent need for low-carbon solutions in the construction industry, focusing on the development and application of low-carbon cements for precast concrete used in aggressive ground conditions, such as those found in buried infrastructure. Precast concrete offers a controlled environment for material innovation, making it an ideal platform for deploying alternative binders and next-generation low-carbon cements. The research will systematically characterize and evaluate the mechanical performance, durability, and sustainability of both commercially available and novel cements embedded in aggressive ground. These environments pose significant challenges for material longevity, and current standards, such as the BRE Special Digest 1 (SD1), do not adequately reflect advances in low-carbon binder technologies. The project aims to generate robust scientific evidence to inform updates to design and specification guidance, with a particular focus on re-evaluating cement contents prescribed in BRE SD1. By assessing the relevance of existing requirements to modern low-carbon binders, the research will investigate the potential for reducing cement content, thereby lowering the carbon footprint while maintaining or enhancing mechanical and durability performance. The work will deliver essential data on durability, microstructural development, and long-term behaviour, providing the foundation for performance-based specifications that enable more sustainable, resource-efficient, and climate-friendly concrete production. Applicants should have, or expect to obtain, at least a high 2.1 degree, preferably at Masters level, in Civil Engineering, and demonstrate a strong interest in cementitious materials and experimental research. The studentship is fully funded for eligible UK home students, covering both fees and maintenance, with limited funding available for international students at a later stage. The University of Cambridge actively supports equality, diversity, and inclusion, and encourages applications from all backgrounds. For project-specific enquiries, contact Prof. Abir Al-Tabbaa at [email protected]. For general enquiries, email [email protected]. Further details about eligibility and funding can be found on the UKRI, Cambridge Trust, and University of Cambridge finance pages. Applications should be submitted online via the University of Cambridge Applicant Portal, stating course code EGEGR3 and the project title. Early applications are encouraged as offers may be made before the deadline of 15 April 2025. Please note there is a £20 application fee.

[Fully-funded studentships (fees and maintenance) available for eligible home students; limited funding for international students may be considered later.] The University of Cambridge is offering a fully-funded PhD studentship through the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Infrastructure and Built Environment (FIBE3 CDT), in collaboration with Tracey Concrete. This four-year (1+3 MRes/PhD) programme focuses on the development and advancement of low-carbon cements for precast concrete used in aggressive ground conditions, addressing the urgent need for sustainable solutions in the construction industry. Tracey Concrete, a leader in precast concrete manufacturing, is partnering on this project to explore innovative materials, technologies, and designs that support zero-carbon construction. The research will investigate both commercially available and novel low-carbon cements, evaluating their mechanical performance, durability, and sustainability when embedded in challenging environments that accelerate material degradation. The project aims to generate robust scientific evidence to inform updates to design and specification guidance, particularly re-evaluating the cement contents prescribed in the BRE Special Digest 1 (SD1), which has not been updated since 2005 despite significant advances in binder technologies. Key research objectives include characterising the durability and microstructural development of low-carbon cements, assessing their long-term behaviour, and providing data to support performance-based specifications for more sustainable and climate-friendly concrete production. The work will contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of infrastructure while maintaining or enhancing mechanical and durability standards. Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, at least a high 2.1 degree, preferably at Masters level, in Civil Engineering, and demonstrate a strong interest in cementitious materials and experimental research. The studentship covers full tuition and maintenance for eligible home students, with limited funding available for international candidates at a later stage. For project-specific enquiries, contact Prof. Abir Al-Tabbaa at [email protected]. General enquiries can be directed to [email protected]. Applications should be submitted online via the University of Cambridge Applicant Portal, using course code EGEGR3 and specifying the project title. Early applications are encouraged, as offers may be made before the deadline of 15 April 2026. The University of Cambridge is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and welcomes applications from all backgrounds. For further details on funding and eligibility, visit the provided links to the EPSRC CDT, UKRI, Cambridge Trust, and university finance pages.

[Fully-funded studentships (fees and maintenance) are available for eligible home students. Limited funding for international students may be available at a later stage.] This four-year (1+3 MRes/PhD) studentship at the University of Cambridge is funded through the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Infrastructure and Built Environment: Unlocking Net Zero (FIBE3 CDT), in collaboration with Tracey Concrete. The project addresses the urgent need for low-carbon solutions in the construction industry, focusing on the development and application of low-carbon cements for precast concrete used in aggressive ground conditions. Precast concrete offers a controlled environment for material innovation, making it ideal for testing alternative binders and next-generation cements. The research will involve characterising and evaluating the mechanical performance, durability, and sustainability of both commercially available and novel cements in a variety of challenging ground conditions where durability standards are critical. A key motivation is to address the limitations of the BRE Special Digest 1, which has not been updated since 2005 and does not reflect advances in low-carbon binder technologies. The project aims to provide robust scientific evidence to inform updates to design and specification guidance, particularly regarding cement content in aggressive ground. By reassessing existing requirements and exploring the potential for reducing cement content, the research seeks to lower the carbon footprint of concrete while maintaining or improving performance. The work will generate essential data on durability, microstructural development, and long-term behaviour, supporting the creation of performance-based specifications for more sustainable and climate-friendly concrete production. Applicants should have at least a high 2.1 degree, preferably at Masters level, in Civil Engineering and a strong interest in cementitious materials and experimental work. Fully-funded studentships covering fees and maintenance are available for eligible home students, with limited funding for international students considered at a later stage. Applications are made online via the University of Cambridge Applicant Portal, and early applications are encouraged as offers may be made before the deadline. The University of Cambridge is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.