EPSRC FIBE3 CDT PhD Studentship: AI Tools for Meta-analysis of Hydraulic Models to Prevent Combined Storm Overflows University of Cambridge in United Kingdom

[Fully-funded studentship covering fees and maintenance for eligible home students; limited funding for international students may be available.]

This EPSRC FIBE3 CDT PhD studentship at the University of Cambridge offers a unique opportunity to develop advanced AI tools for meta-analysis of hydraulic models, with the aim of preventing combined storm overflows in sewage networks. The project is funded in collaboration with Ward & Burke, a leading engineering firm specialising in water and wastewater infrastructure across Ireland and the UK. The studentship is part of the Cambridge EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Infrastructure and Built Environment: Unlocking Net Zero (FIBE3 CDT), providing a four-year (1+3 MRes/PhD) research pathway.

Current hydraulic modelling practices lack global quantitative performance metrics, making it difficult to optimise interventions and compare different sites and models. The project seeks to address these challenges by developing computationally efficient meta-analysis techniques that rank models, guide interventions, and assess the quality and sensitivity of model outputs. The research will leverage AI and big data approaches to create a new framework for evaluating catchment hydraulic models and sewage network models, providing guidance on which sites and models would benefit most from further optimisation.

Key objectives include developing a detailed understanding of hydraulic modelling practices, quantitatively assessing and ranking models, evaluating cost, complexity, and embodied carbon of interventions, and exploring blue/green and sustainable solutions for network performance improvement. The project is designed to have real-world impact, supporting informed decision-making for infrastructure upgrades and sustainable water management.

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, at least a high 2.1 degree, preferably at Masters level, in any STEM subject. Fully-funded studentships covering fees and maintenance are available for eligible home students, with limited funding for international students considered at a later stage. The University of Cambridge actively supports equality, diversity, and inclusion, encouraging applications from all backgrounds.

For project-specific enquiries, contact Professor Dongfang Liang at [email protected]. For general enquiries, email [email protected]. Applications should be submitted online via the University of Cambridge Applicant Portal, stating the project title and supervisor. Early applications are encouraged, as offers may be made before the deadline of 15 April 2026. Please note there is a £20 application fee. Further details about eligibility and funding can be found at the provided links.