Peter Cleall

Cardiff University's Geoenvironmental Research Centre at the School of Engineering is offering two fully funded PhD scholarships supported by EPSRC DLA funding. The first project, 'Transforming Civil Infrastructure through Sustainable Material Reuse,' focuses on developing computational frameworks that integrate multi-scale stochastic finite elements with machine learning. The aim is to assess and optimize the reprocessing and reuse of on-site materials in geotechnical structures, thereby reducing the carbon footprint and advancing the circular economy in civil engineering. This research combines advanced experimental testing with numerical modelling, with a particular emphasis on porous materials commonly found in the built environment. Supervisors for this project include Prof Peter Cleall, Dr Evan John Ricketts, Prof Snehasis Tripathy, and Dr Adam Fisher (John F Hunt Ltd). The second project, 'Environmental Biosensing using Plant-Microbial Fuel Cells,' explores the use of living plants as biosensors by integrating them with simple electric circuits to create plant-microbial fuel cells. This innovative approach leverages machine learning to monitor water quality, groundwater contamination, soil health, and early warning signs of ground movement. The goal is to develop scalable, self-sustaining biosensor platforms with intelligent monitoring capabilities for environmental management. Supervisors for this project are Dr Michael Harbottle, Dr Evan John Ricketts, and Dr Arif Mohammad. Both projects build on Cardiff University's strong track record in sustainable geoenvironmental engineering and the application of numerical methods to heterogeneous materials. The scholarships are fully funded, covering tuition fees and providing a stipend, and are open to candidates with a strong background in civil engineering, environmental engineering, materials science, or related fields. Applicants should have experience or interest in computational modelling, machine learning, or experimental testing, and must meet Cardiff University's English language requirements. For more information and to apply, visit the provided project links or contact the supervisors directly. The application deadline is 9 January 2026.