PhD Studentship in Geotechnical Engineering
Overview
The Department of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford offers a 3.5-year D.Phil. studentship in Geotechnical Engineering focusing on nature-based and biomimetic foundation systems. Supervised by Professor Jonathan Knappett and Professor Chris Martin, the project investigates how tree root system architectures behave under various loading conditions to develop new biomimetic foundation concepts. The research begins by exploring root-soil interaction mechanisms using numerical modeling and physical model testing, and subsequently applies these findings to design and evaluate scalable foundation concepts for applications such as railway electrification gantries, transmission towers, floating offshore renewable energy anchorages, and low-rise remote buildings. The studentship is scheduled to begin in October 2027.
Who can apply
This opportunity is funded through the Department of Engineering Science and is open to both home and overseas students. Candidates must meet the graduate admissions criteria and submit a graduate application form. Informal enquiries can be directed to Professor Jonathan Knappett via email.
What you get
The studentship provides a full award that covers course fees at the level set for home or overseas students, along with a tax-free maintenance grant stipend of approximately £21,805 per annum for the first year and at least this amount for the subsequent two and a half years.
Requirements
Applicants must hold a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours, or an equivalent qualification, in Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or Physics. Candidates must also demonstrate previous study in Geotechnical Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a cognate area such as Continuum Mechanics or Mechanical component and materials testing, and meet the University's higher-level entry requirements for English written and spoken communication skills. Desirable skills include the ability to program in Matlab or Python and previous experience in Finite Element Analysis.
How to apply
Candidates must submit a graduate application form through the University website and quote the reference number 27ENGCI_JK in all correspondence and within the application.
Key dates
The application deadline is noon on 2 December 2026. The program starts in October 2027.
About University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England. Teaching there is documented from the late eleventh century, which makes it one of the oldest universities in the world, although its exact founding date is unknown. It has no single central campus, and its buildings are spread throughout the city. Every student belongs to a college, and the colleges operate alongside the university's academic departments, which are grouped into divisions.
Source: Wikipedia