Fully Funded PhD in Civil & Environmental Engineering, AI/ML, LCA, Digital Twins, and Climate-Resilient Infrastructure at Lamar University Lamar University in United States

Dr. Haoran Li is recruiting a fully funded PhD student to join his research group in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Lamar University, with a start date of Fall 2026 or Spring 2027.

The position sits at the intersection of civil engineering, environmental engineering, artificial intelligence, machine learning, life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle cost analysis (LCCA), digital twins, infrastructure resilience, and climate-resilient infrastructure. The group works with state DOTs, FHWA, and industry partners on large-scale infrastructure problems.

Research topics include AI- and data-driven infrastructure performance prediction, LCA/LCCA of transportation infrastructure, digital twin systems for monitoring and management, climate-resilient design under extreme weather, physics-informed and ML-based surrogate modeling, and sustainable materials/low-carbon construction strategies.

The opening is fully funded and includes a tuition waiver, monthly stipend, and benefits. Applicants should have a strong academic background and research motivation. A B.S. or M.S. in Civil/Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field is preferred.

Preferred skills include Python, MATLAB, or R; experience with PyTorch, TensorFlow, or scikit-learn; familiarity with ABAQUS, ANSYS, or similar finite element tools; and prior experience writing academic papers. Good written and verbal English communication skills are required, and international applicants should include English proficiency test scores.

To apply, email the requested materials directly to Dr. Li. No formal deadline is stated in the post, so interested candidates should apply as soon as possible for consideration for the Fall 2026 or Spring 2027 intake.