Brian Caulfield

Trinity College Dublin, Ireland’s leading university and ranked 75th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026), offers a prestigious PhD studentship as part of the SEAI-funded CIRCUIT project (Causal Inference for Resilient Cities and Urban Integrated Transport). Founded in 1592, Trinity is renowned for its excellence in education, research, and innovation, inspiring generations of thinkers for over 400 years. The CIRCUIT project is a four-year interdisciplinary research programme that aims to develop advanced econometric and machine learning frameworks to analyse the causal relationships between transport behaviour, residential energy consumption, and environmental outcomes in urban systems. The successful candidate will undertake doctoral research focused on activity-based travel behaviour, household energy use, and sustainability policy. This research will contribute to the development of causal inference and agent-based modelling tools, with the goal of informing resilient urban transport and energy systems. The PhD will be supervised within the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, and will involve close collaboration with postdoctoral researchers, project partners, and national stakeholders including SEAI, the Department of Transport, and local authorities. Trinity College Dublin is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, welcoming applications from all individuals, including those with disabilities, non-traditional career paths, or those displaced due to war. The university is an EU Sustainable Gender Equality Champion and holds an Athena Swan Silver award, reflecting its ongoing work to advance gender equality in higher education. Trinity supports work-life balance and offers a family-friendly working environment. Funding: The PhD studentship is fully funded by SEAI, covering tuition and stipend for four years. The CIRCUIT project provides a unique opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary research with real-world impact, collaborating with national stakeholders and contributing to sustainable urban development. Eligibility: Applicants should hold a relevant undergraduate or master's degree in engineering, environmental science, economics, computer science, or a related discipline. Strong quantitative skills and experience with econometric or machine learning methods are desirable. International applicants and those with non-traditional backgrounds are encouraged to apply. No specific language test requirements or minimum GPA are mentioned. Application Window: Applications are open; no specific deadline is provided. Interested candidates should submit a full Curriculum Vitae including the names and contact details of two referees (with email addresses) to Prof Brian Caulfield via the online application link. How to Apply: Prepare your CV, highlighting relevant academic background and quantitative skills. Include contact details for two referees. Apply online using the provided link.

PhD opportunity at Trinity College Dublin in urban nature-based solutions, active travel, and children's health . This fully funded PhD studentship is part of the Trinity Research Doctorate Award 2026–2030 and the wider interdisciplinary project Implementing and Evaluating Nature-Based Solutions for Health in Children and Adolescents . The project focuses on adolescent-led and community-based co-design of nature-based solutions (NBS) in Finglas West, north Dublin, with an emphasis on making walking and cycling safer, greener, and healthier. The PhD student will work with young people and community partners to train child and adolescent co-researchers, map evidence and gaps in NBS interventions related to active travel, identify which NBS to co-develop, and help design and pilot an evaluation of the solution. The work sits across public health , environmental science , urban planning , civil engineering , education , and participatory research. Supervision is by Professor Brian Caulfield (School of Engineering), Dr Alina Cosma (School of Medicine), and Professor Frédérique Vallières (School of Psychology) at Trinity College Dublin. Funding includes full tuition coverage and a €25,000 per year tax-free stipend for 4 years. The successful applicant must be ready to commence in autumn 2026 . Eligibility highlights include a 2.1 or equivalent undergraduate degree in a relevant field, strong communication and collaboration skills, commitment to safeguarding and child protection, fluency in English, and willingness to spend at least 2 days per week on site in Finglas West during term time. A master's degree and prior experience in school/community research, participatory methods, or work with children and young people are desirable. Application deadline: 2026-07-05. Applicants should email a CV, cover letter, and one-page research proposal to Prof Brian Caulfield. The proposal should align with the existing project rather than propose a completely new study design. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed, and the successful applicant will then apply through the Trinity College Dublin PhD process.