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EPSRC FIBE3 CDT PhD Studentship
MRes/PhD Studentship in Infrastructure System Management and Climate Adaptation for Railways University of Cambridge in United Kingdom
Degree Level
Master's, PhD
Field of study
Environmental Science
Funding
Fully funded studentships covering fees and maintenance are available initially for eligible home students. A limited number of international students may be considered for funding at a later stage in the recruitment process. Applicants should note that a £20 application fee applies.
Deadline
Apr 14, 2027
Country
United Kingdom
University
University of Cambridge
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About this position
The University of Cambridge is offering a four-year 1+3 MRes/PhD studentship through the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Infrastructure and Built Environment: Unlocking Net Zero (FIBE3 CDT), in collaboration with Network Rail.
The project examines how railway infrastructure systems can be managed as climate change and changing patterns of extreme weather alter the risks faced by transport assets. The research will investigate how environmental and operational thresholds for key rail assets can be defined, quantified and incorporated into long-term climate adaptation planning.
The student will develop methods to identify tipping points associated with climatic stressors including extreme heat, high-intensity rainfall, soil-moisture variation and compound weather events. An interdisciplinary systems approach will be used to analyse historical asset and network performance data available through Network Rail, with the resulting insights informing evaluation of future infrastructure performance.
Rather than developing fundamental physics or engineering models for one specific asset type, the project focuses on modelling infrastructure-system data to identify thresholds and tipping points. The work will explore how threshold-based evidence can support the timing, prioritisation and appraisal of adaptation options within decision frameworks used by Network Rail and national transport bodies.
The research environment combines the University of Cambridge's Department of Engineering, the FIBE3 CDT and Network Rail's practical expertise in operating and maintaining Great Britain's railway infrastructure. The project is suited to researchers interested in civil engineering, climate adaptation, transport infrastructure resilience, systems thinking and quantitative data analysis.
Funding details
Fully funded studentships covering fees and maintenance are available initially for eligible home students. A limited number of international students may be considered for funding at a later stage in the recruitment process. Applicants should note that a £20 application fee applies.
What's required
Applicants should have, or expect to obtain by the start date, at least a high 2.1 degree, preferably at Master's level, in a related discipline such as civil engineering, construction management or climate science. An ideal candidate will have quantitative undergraduate training and an inclination to engage with systems thinking and analysis. Funding eligibility initially prioritises home students, while a limited number of international students may be considered later.
How to apply
Apply online through the University of Cambridge Applicant Portal. State the project title and the supervisor's name, Kristen MacAskill. Applicants should consult the FIBE3 CDT admissions and funding information before applying.
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