Esra Kurul

[£20,780 per annum bursary. University fees and bench fees covered up to home level. International students must pay the difference between home and international fees. Visas and associated costs are not covered.] This fully funded 3-year PhD studentship at Oxford Brookes University offers an exciting opportunity to research the optimisation of Off-Site Construction (OSC) for enhancing Resilient Healthcare Infrastructure (RHcI) and improving the agility of Healthcare Supply Chain (HcSC) performance. The project responds to vulnerabilities in healthcare infrastructure and supply chains exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to develop an interdisciplinary, data-driven framework that quantifies and explains how OSC can strengthen healthcare delivery and supply chain agility in the UK and globally. Supervised by Professor Esra Kurul (Director of Studies), Dr Roshani Palliyaguru, and Dr Kalpani Dissanayake (advisory, US-based), the research will use mixed methods to establish empirical links between OSC, RHcI, and HcSC agility. The findings will provide evidence-based guidance for designing and delivering resilient and agile healthcare systems, with the potential to inform policy, support UK manufacturing, and shape global best practices. The project is based in the Faculty of Health, Science and Technology, which maintains strong connections with the NHS, offering opportunities for real-world impact in emergency healthcare response and system resilience. The studentship includes a bursary of £20,780 per annum, covers university and bench fees up to the home student level, and requires up to 6 hours of teaching per week during semester time. International students are welcome but must pay the difference between home and international fees; visa and associated costs are not covered. Applicants should hold a first or upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent) and, if applicable, meet English language requirements (IELTS 6.0 overall, no component below 5.5). The application process requires a cover letter, CV, two referees (one academic), a research proposal, degree certificates and transcripts, a passport scan, and evidence of English proficiency for international/EU candidates. The deadline for applications is 20 February 2026, with the studentship commencing in September 2026. For further information or queries, contact Dr Roshani Palliyaguru at [email protected] or [email protected]. Apply directly via the university portal: Oxford Brookes University Application Portal .