PhD studentship: Multi-fidelity digital twin of coastal infrastructure for enhanced resilience.

Award Summary

100% fees covered, and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £19,237 (2024/25 UKRI rate). Additional project costs will also be provided.

Overview

Coastal communities are increasingly vulnerable to climate change, facing challenges such as rising sea levels, stronger storms, and coastal erosion. This project focuses on improving the resilience of critical coastal infrastructure by developing a digital twin – a virtual model that combines real-time data and advanced simulations to support better decision-making. At its core are physics-informed neural networks (PINNs), which integrate physical laws with machine learning to provide accurate, real-time predictions of coastal processes. The digital twin will bring together different types of models and observations to guide long-term planning and emergency responses. The North Tyneside Coast will serve as a case study, ensuring the approach is practical, robust, and valuable for managing future coastal risks.

Number Of Awards

One

Start Date

1st October 2025

Award Duration

4 Years

Application Closing Date

7th March 2025

Sponsor

EPSRC

Supervisors

Dr Manuel Herrera, Dr Vassilis Glenis

Eligibility Criteria

A minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed PhD project (such as mathematics or theoretical physics) is our standard entry, however we place value on prior experience, enthusiasm for research, and the ability to think and work independently. Excellent Analytical skills and strong verbal and written communication skills are also essential requirements. A Masters qualification is not required if you have a minimum 2:1 degree or can evidence alternative experience in a work or research-based project. If you have alternative qualifications or experience, please contact us to discuss.

For EPSRC DLA applications we are following the EDEPI competency-based framework. Please read and complete this document EPSRC DLA Competency-based assessment form (3).docx as your Personal statement, and upload this with your application. Applications which do not include this document will not be considered. Further details can be found here.

Home and international applicants (inc. EU) are welcome to apply and if successful will receive a full studentship. Applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills.

International applicants may require an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) clearance certificate prior to obtaining their visa and to study on this programme. 

How To Apply

You must apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal 

Once registered select ‘Create a Postgraduate Application’.  

Use ‘Course Search’ to identify your programme of study:  

·        search for the ‘Course Title’ using the programme code: 8040F

·        select ‘‘PhD Civil Engineering (full time)’ as the programme of study.

You will then need to provide the following information in the ‘Further Details’ section:  

·        a ‘Personal Statement’ (this is a mandatory field) – Use this template.

·        the studentship code DLA2505 in the ‘Studentship/Partnership Reference’ field.  

·        when prompted for how you are providing your research proposal – select ‘Write Proposal’. You should then type in the title of the research project from this advert. You do not need to upload a research proposal.  

You must submit one application per studentship, you cannot apply for multiple studentships on one application.

Contact Details

Dr Manuel Herrera manuel.herrera@ncl.ac.uk

You can also contact: doctoral.awards@ncl.ac.uk for independent advice on your application.