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EPSRC FIBE3 CDT PhD studentship
MRes/PhD Studentship in Low-Carbon Cements for Low-Risk Rail Infrastructure Applications University of Cambridge in United Kingdom
Degree Level
Master's, PhD
Field of study
Environmental Science
Funding
Fully funded studentships cover fees and maintenance. They are available initially only to eligible home students; a limited number of international students may be considered for funding later in the recruitment process. The studentship is funded through the Cambridge EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Infrastructure and Built Environment: Unlocking Net Zero, in collaboration with Network Rail. 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, in collaboration with Network Rail.
The project investigates low-carbon cements and alternative cementitious binders for lower-strength and lower-risk applications across Great Britain's rail infrastructure. Potential applications include walkways and kerbs, blocks and pavers, drainage channels, cable troughs, signal and fence bases, platform components, concrete fill, and mortars or grouts for stabilisation, erosion control, repairs, and surface treatments.
Research will address barriers to adopting lower-carbon materials, including poor workability, limited durability data, and the absence of clear acceptance routes for some binder compositions. The project will assess tailored binders that may incorporate recycled railway materials and other secondary materials, with applications selected following mapping of binders, infrastructure uses, and performance requirements.
The research combines advanced material characterisation, mix design development, early-age performance studies, modelling, sensor technology, and accelerated and long-term mechanical and durability testing. The overall goal is to generate the performance and whole-life carbon evidence needed to support uptake of lower-carbon materials across the rail network.
The student will work within the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge and engage with the practical infrastructure challenges of Network Rail, whose extensive UK network provides the industrial context for the research.
Funding details
Fully funded studentships cover fees and maintenance. They are available initially only to eligible home students; a limited number of international students may be considered for funding later in the recruitment process. The studentship is funded through the Cambridge EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Infrastructure and Built Environment: Unlocking Net Zero, in collaboration with Network Rail. 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 Civil Engineering or a relevant discipline, together with a strong interest in cementitious materials and experimental work. Funding eligibility requirements apply, with fully funded studentships available initially to eligible home students and a limited number of international students potentially considered later.
How to apply
Apply online through the University of Cambridge Applicant Portal. State the project title and the supervisor's name, Professor Abir Al-Tabbaa. Project-specific enquiries can be sent to [email protected]; general enquiries can be sent to [email protected].
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