Development of decision support tools for adaptation of critical coastal industrial infrastructure to rising sea levels at Brunel University London on FindAPhD.com

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Dr Carola Koenig Applications accepted all year round Self-Funded PhD Students Only

London United Kingdom Aerospace Engineering Automotive Engineering Civil Engineering Marine Engineering Mechanical Engineering Structural Engineering

About the Project

This exciting research project is focused on the UK’s many coastal industrial assets which may come under significant threat in the next 50 to 100 years and beyond due to rising sea levels. The aim of this study is to develop tools for use by industrial asset owners, national and local government policy makers, that aid the decision process regarding a. when, and for how long, to defend and/or to adapt an asset to keep it reliably functioning; or b. when to relocate the asset.

Applicants will be required to demonstrate their ability to take initiative in research planning, do independent original research, learn new or develop existing programming skills, present findings in national/international conferences, and draft research papers for publication in peer‐reviewed journals. Applicants will have or be expected to receive a first or upper-second class honours degree in an Engineering, Computer Science, Design, Mathematics, Physics, Geography or a similar discipline.

A Postgraduate Masters degree is not required but may be an advantage. Experience in structural engineering design, coastal processes, climate change adaptation, flood hazard and risk analysis, geospatial data processing, numerical modelling, and/or computer programming is an advantage. You should be highly motivated, able to work independently as well as in a team, collaborate with others and have good communication skills.

Research journey

Doctoral research programmes (PhDs) take a proud place in the world-class research environment and community at Brunel. PhD students are recognised and valued by their supervisors as an essential part of their departments and a key component of the university's overall strategy to develop and deliver world-class research.

A PhD programme is expected to take 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time, with intakes starting in January, April or October.

The general University entrance requirement for registration for a research degree is normally a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree (1st or 2:1) or an international equivalent. A Masters degree is a welcome, but not required, qualification for entry.

Find out how to apply for a PhD at Brunel

Research support

Excellent research support and training

The Graduate School provides a range of personal, professional and career development opportunities. This includes workshops, online training, coaching and events, to enable you to enhance your professional profile, refine your skills, and plan your next career steps as part of the Researcher Development Programme. The researcher development programme (RDP) offers workshops and seminars in a range of areas including progression, research management, research dissemination, and careers and personal development. You will also be offered a number of online, self-study courses on BBL, including Research Integrity, Research Skills Toolkit, Research Methods in Literature Review and Principles of Research Methods.

Library services

Brunel's Library is open 24 hours a day, has 400,000 books and 250,000 ebooks, and an annual budget of almost £2m. Subject information Specialists train students in the latest technology, digital literacy, and digital dissemination of scholarly outputs. As well as the physical resources available in the Library, we also provide access to a wealth of electronic resources. These include databases, journals and e-books. Access to these resources has been bought by the Library through subscription and is limited to current staff and students.

Dedicated research support staff provide guidance and training on open access, research data management, copyright and other research integrity issues.

Find out more: Brunel Library

Careers support

You will receive tailored careers support during your PhD and for up to three years after you complete your research at Brunel. We encourage you to actively engage in career planning and managing your personal development right from the start of your research, even (or perhaps especially) if you don't yet have a career path in mind. Our careers provision includes online information and advice, one-to-one consultations and a range of events and workshops. The Professional Development Centre runs a varied programme of careers events throughout the academic year. These include industry insight sessions, recruitment fairs, employer pop-ups and skills workshops.

Funding Notes

Brunel offers a number of funding options to research students that help cover the cost of their tuition fees, contribute to living expenses or both. See more information here: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/research/Research-degrees/Research-degree-funding. The UK Government is also offering Doctoral Student Loans for eligible students, and there is some funding available through the Research Councils. Many of our international students benefit from funding provided by their governments or employers. Brunel alumni enjoy tuition fee discounts of 15%.

References

IMechE (2019). Rising Seas: The Engineering Challenge. London: Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
Nicholls, R. J., & Kebede, A. S. (2010). R 6.1: The Implications on the UK of the Impacts of Climate Change and Sea-level Rise on Critical Coastal Infrastructure Overseas, 2010 to 2100. PLoS ONE.
Siegert, M., Alley, R. B., Rignot, E., Englander, J., & Corell, R. (2020). Twenty-first century sea-level rise could exceed IPCC projections for strong-warming futures. One Earth, 691-703.