EPSRC FIBE3 CDT PhD Studentship with M Group: Low Whole Life Carbon Cementitious Repair Materials for Future Infrastructure

Overview

The Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge offers a four-year (1+3 MRes/PhD) studentship through the Cambridge EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Infrastructure and Built Environment: Unlocking Net Zero. The project is funded in collaboration with M Group, an essential infrastructure services provider working in transport, energy, water and telecommunications, whose core business includes transport infrastructure repair and maintenance.

Building new infrastructure produces large carbon emissions, so attention is turning to maintaining and extending the life of existing assets. Around half of all construction spend goes on repair and maintenance, mainly of concrete assets, and most repairs are carbon intensive and inefficient. Poor material performance and durability cause around half of failed cementitious repairs within ten years, and climate change will make this worse.

What you will do

The project will explore advanced low-carbon cementitious repair materials, including grouts, mortars and concrete, together with tailored functional additives and admixtures, to develop sustainable, more resilient and longer-lasting repair solutions. It focuses on practical applications and draws on case studies from M Group projects such as National Highways frameworks, the Lewes derailment repairs, the Redbridge Causeway refurbishment and soil nailing grout used to prevent landslides, where minimising asset closure time is often a key driver. Methods include material characterisation, mix design, coupled thermodynamic and reactive transport modelling, accelerated ageing, mechanical and durability testing and potentially large-scale trials.

Who can apply

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, with a strong interest in cementitious materials and experimental work. Fully funded studentships covering fees and maintenance are available to eligible home students in the first instance, and a limited number of international students can be considered for funding at a later stage of recruitment.

How to apply

Applications are made online through the university's applicant portal, stating the project title and supervisor's name. A 20 GBP application fee applies. Early applications are strongly encouraged because an offer may be made before the deadline.

Key dates

The closing date is 14 April 2027.