PhD Project: Modelling Resilience of Water Distribution Networks

Overview

This PhD project focuses on modelling the resilience of water distribution networks, which are essential infrastructure systems for society. Water delivery is vulnerable to threats such as component failures accelerated by infrastructure aging, climate change impacts including changing weather conditions and environmental factors, and deliberate acts such as targeted terrorist activities.

The project aims to develop a mathematical model along with supporting research software to predict key performance indicators for a water network when its links experience full or partial failure. It investigates the effects of various threat types, identifies critical links affecting network performance, and proposes a resource allocation method to make water networks robust and resilient. Supervision for the project is provided by Rasa Remenyte-Prescott within the Faculty of Engineering.

Who can apply

This opportunity is open to UK, EU, and overseas students. Applicants must be enthusiastic graduates starting in October 2027 and holding a first-class degree in engineering, mathematics, or a relevant discipline, preferably at the master's level. In exceptional circumstances, a 2:1 degree may be considered.