David Connolly
Top university
1 month ago
PhD in Satellite Monitoring of Geotechnical Stability University of Leeds in United Kingdom
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Computer Science
Funding
This is a non-funded PhD project. Applicants are expected to be self-funded or secure external funding. The post notes that visa, Immigration Health Surcharge, flights, and other arrival costs must be met by the applicant or another funding source.
Deadline
Apr 30, 2027
Country
United Kingdom
University
University of Leeds

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About this position
PhD opportunity at the University of Leeds in Satellite Monitoring of Geotechnical Stability (PGR-P-1277).
This project sits in Civil Engineering and focuses on using satellite monitoring, Earth Observation, remote sensing, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), InSAR, multispectral imaging, GIS, AI, and data fusion to monitor slopes, earthworks, subsidence, coastal zones, sea defences, and landslide precursors.
The research theme explores how spaceborne data can detect millimetric ground deformation, soil moisture anomalies, vegetation changes, shoreline retreat, and regional subsidence caused by groundwater extraction. It is aimed at predictive asset management and geohazard risk tracking across vulnerable landscapes.
Supervisor: Professor David Connolly, School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds.
Funding: non-funded. Applicants are expected to be self-funded or to secure external funding.
Eligibility: suitable for applicants from Civil/Geotechnical Engineering, Engineering Geology, Earth Sciences, Remote Sensing, Geomatics, GIS, Computer Science/Data Analytics, Environmental Science, or Applied Mathematics. A strong undergraduate degree is normally required; some applicants may also need a Masters. International applicants must meet the University’s English language requirement (IELTS 6.0 overall, minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent).
Deadline: Friday 30 April 2027. Start date: 1 October 2027.
How to apply: submit a formal research degree application through the University of Leeds website, choose Research Degrees – Research Postgraduate, select PHD Civil Engineering FT, and state the project title plus Professor David Connolly as proposed supervisor. The university recommends contacting the supervisor informally before applying.
Funding details
This is a non-funded PhD project. Applicants are expected to be self-funded or secure external funding. The post notes that visa, Immigration Health Surcharge, flights, and other arrival costs must be met by the applicant or another funding source.
What's required
Applicants should normally hold at least a first-class or upper second-class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline; some research degrees may require a Masters degree. Suitable backgrounds include Civil Engineering or Geotechnical Engineering, Engineering Geology or Earth Sciences, Remote Sensing, Geomatics or GIS, Computer Science or Data Analytics, Environmental Science or Applied Mathematics. If English is not the first language, applicants must meet the University of Leeds minimum English language requirement of IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component or equivalent, with the test dated within two years of the start date.
How to apply
Apply through the University of Leeds research degree application portal. Select Research Degrees – Research Postgraduate, admission year 2027/28, and planned course of study PHD Civil Engineering FT. State the project title and Professor David Connolly as proposed supervisor, and submit transcripts, personal statement, and CV. Contact the supervisor for an informal discussion before applying if desired.
More information can be found here
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