Project Ref: JWS2023-CK
Historically, earthen construction was the most widely used form of building across the world, including adobe, mudwall, cob and rammed earth. Today around one in four people around the world live in an earth-built dwelling, and many of these are considered historic.
As we move towards low and zero carbon construction techniques and materials, there is renewed interest in earthen architecture as a means to provide affordable, low-carbon buildings for the future. This nature-based form of construction requires little energy relative to other materials such as glass, steel and brick.
In addition, as the climate changes the mechanisms by which existing historic earth dwellings decays and deteriorates may also be changing. This requires new thinking and information to inform appropriate conservation practices, techniques and materials.
To understand better the mechanisms of ageing and deterioration of historic earthen materials - including soil, aggregate and straw – and to determine the appropriate forms of repair material for use in conservation, preservation and restoration of historic earth buildings, this project will utilize state-of-the-art scientific equipment at the newly refurbished Heritage Science Laboratory at Heriot-Watt University.
Mechanical, physical and chemical characteristics of historic and new earthen materials will be undertaken in order to provide understanding of degradation pathways and routes to repair, and guidance related to deterioration mechanisms and appropriate materials for repair. In addition, novel methods for manufacturing modern earth construction will be evaluated to determine their potential for use in the repair and conservation of historic earth buildings.
Eligibility
This scholarship is available to Home and Overseas students. The successful candidate will be based on campus in Edinburgh.
To be eligible, applicants should have a first-class honours degree in a relevant subject or a 2.1 honours degree plus Masters (or equivalent experience. Scholarships will be awarded by competitive merit, taking into account the academic ability of the applicant.
We recognise that not every talented researcher will have had the same opportunities to advance their careers. We therefore will account for any particular circumstances that applicants disclose (e.g. parental leave, caring duties, part-time jobs to support studies, disabilities etc.) to ensure an inclusive and fair recruitment process.
How to apply
To apply you must complete our online application form.
Please select PhD Construction or Civil Engineering as the programme and include the full project title, reference number (JWS2023-CK) and supervisor name on your application form. You will also need to provide a CV, a supporting statement (1-5 A4 pages) outlining your suitability and how you would approach the project, a copy of your degree certificate(s) and relevant transcripts and an academic reference.
You must also provide proof of your ability in the English language (if English is not your mother tongue or if you have not already completed a degree that was taught in English within the last 2 years). We require an IELTS certificate showing an overall score of at least 6.5 with no component scoring less than 6.0 or a TOEFL certificate with a minimum score of 90 points.
Please address informal questions to Dr Craig Kennedy ([Email Address Removed])
If you have any general queries about the applications process, please contact [Email Address Removed]
Timeline
The closing date for applications is 17th April 2023 and applicants must be available to start in September 2023.
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