Fully Funded PhD in Urban Heritage, Climate Change, and Social Justice at Loughborough University Loughborough University in United Kingdom

Loughborough University in the United Kingdom is inviting applications for a fully funded PhD position titled "Resilient Modernities: Twentieth-Century Urban Heritage in the Face of Climate and Social Change." This interdisciplinary project is situated within the School of Architecture, Building & Civil Engineering (Built Environment) and focuses on the challenges of protecting 20th-century urban heritage—including modernist cities and large-scale housing schemes—while addressing the impacts of climate change, social and spatial inequality, and infrastructure decay.

The research aims to develop fair, practical, and sustainable frameworks that integrate urban heritage conservation, climate resilience, and community wellbeing. Key objectives include creating tools to assess the links between heritage value, climate and hazard risks, and social and economic conditions, as well as designing equitable adaptation strategies for vulnerable urban communities. The project supports long-term socio-ecological resilience and aims to ensure that heritage protection fosters inclusive, resilient cities rather than exacerbating inequality or displacement.

Supervision will be provided by Dr Monia Del Pinto (primary) and Prof. Ksenia Chmutina (secondary), both based at Loughborough University. The university is recognized for its world-leading research impact (REF 2021).

Entry requirements: Applicants should hold at least a 2:1 honours degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant field such as Architecture, Urban Planning, Heritage Studies, Geography, Disaster Studies, or Sociology. Ideal candidates will have an interest or experience in 20th-century urban history and architecture, climate change and urban resilience, GIS or spatial analysis, heritage policy and governance, and fieldwork or community-based research. English language requirements apply.

Funding: The position is fully funded for both UK and international students, covering full tuition fees and providing a tax-free stipend of £20,780 per year for three years.

Application process: Applications must be submitted online. Required documents include a completed studentship application form, a 2–3 page research proposal based on the project description, and an updated CV. No personal statement is required. Applicants should use the programme name "Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering (Built Environment)" and project reference ABCE26-MDP. The application deadline is 22 February 2026, with start dates in October 2026 or February 2027.

For further information, contact Dr Monia Del Pinto at [email protected]. Interested candidates passionate about climate justice, urban heritage, and resilient cities are encouraged to apply and help shape the future of modern urban environments.