A Hunt

This fully funded PhD project at the University of Greenwich investigates the impact of hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) measures—such as vehicle security barriers—on pedestrian movement, comfort, and safety in public spaces. The research addresses the persistent threat of vehicle-borne terrorist attacks and the need to balance security with the free movement of people, especially in crowded or emergency situations. The project will involve collecting novel data in field or experimental settings, developing conceptual frameworks, and building microsimulation models to understand and predict how different HVM configurations affect pedestrian flow under various scenarios, including routine, crowded, and emergency conditions. Supervised by Professors A Hunt and S Gwynne in the Faculty of Engineering and Science, the successful candidate will advance the state of the art in modelling the localised impacts of security measures, contributing to safer and more efficient public spaces. The research areas include applied mathematics, statistics, computational and engineering mathematics, operational research, and stochastic processes. The project offers opportunities to engage with National Authorities and apply findings to real-world sites. The position is supported by the University of Greenwich Vice Chancellor’s PhD Scholarship, with a generous bursary (starting at £24,780 in Year 1, increasing in line with UKRI rates) and a tuition fee contribution equivalent to the University Home Rate. International applicants are welcome but may need to cover the difference in tuition fees. Applicants should have a strong quantitative background and an interest in mathematical modelling and public safety. The application deadline is 13 April 2026. For more details and to apply, visit the project page.