PhD in Climate Resilience of Infrastructure to Rainfall

PGR-P-1395

Key facts

Type of research degree: PhD
Application deadline: Friday 30 April 2027
Project start date: Friday 1 October 2027
Country eligibility: International (open to all nationalities, including the UK)
Funding: Non-funded
Supervisors: Professor David Connolly
Schools: School of Civil Engineering
Research groups/institutes: Cities and Infrastructure, Materials and Structures

<h2 class="heading hide-accessible">Summary</h2>

Climate change is driving more frequent and intense rainfall events, posing a major threat to global infrastructure systems. This research theme explores engineering solutions to enhance the resilience and adaptation of transport, geotechnical, and structural infrastructure to severe rainfall. The core focus is on understanding and mitigating the risks associated with rainfall induced hazards, including geotechnical instabilities, soil shrink swell cycles, slope collapse, and structural overloading due to water ponding. Research within this theme can be adapted to align with your personal interests and engineering background. By investigating how changing precipitation patterns interact with manmade and natural systems, this theme aims to develop predictive methods and adaptive designs that safeguard vital infrastructure networks

<h2 class="heading hide-accessible">Full description</h2>

<h3 data-path-to-node="4">Detailed Description</h3> The escalation of severe precipitation events requires a fundamental shift in how civil infrastructure is analysed and managed. Traditional design approaches often assume historical rainfall patterns remain constant, an assumption that leaves modern assets highly vulnerable to unexpected failures. This research theme addresses the complex interactions between high intensity or prolonged rainfall and civil engineering systems. In geotechnical engineering, excessive rainfall triggers critical instabilities by increasing pore water pressure, leading to catastrophic slope collapse and earthworks failures. Furthermore, alternating periods of heavy rain and dry spells exacerbate shrink swell behaviour in reactive soils, undermining foundations and pavements. Architecturally and structurally, extreme downpours cause water ponding on large roof spaces and bridge decks, creating immense structural overloading risks. This theme explores advanced modelling and monitoring techniques to capture these multi physical processes, providing a foundation for predictive risk assessment and resilient engineering design. <h3 data-path-to-node="7">Why This Research is Important</h3> Uncontrolled water is one of the most destructive elements affecting civil infrastructure. When slopes collapse onto railway lines or highways, the resulting economic disruption and safety hazards are severe. Soil shrink swell behaviour costs billions globally in structural damage to foundations and linear infrastructure assets every year. Additionally, structural overloading from intense rainfall ponding can cause catastrophic roof failures in commercial and industrial buildings. This research theme is vital because it delivers the technical insights required to predict these failures before they occur. By improving asset resilience to extreme rainfall, this research helps protect public safety, reduces emergency maintenance expenditures, and ensures that vital transport and structural networks remain operational under the climate challenges of the future. <h3 data-path-to-node="10">Example PhD Research Topics</h3> <ul data-path-to-node="11"> <li> Modelling pore water pressure dynamics to predict rainfall induced slope collapse </li> <li> Evaluating the impact of intense rainfall ponding on the structural loading of large spanning roofs </li> <li> Investigating soil shrink swell behaviour and its long term effect on transport infrastructure foundations </li> <li> Developing predictive risk models for asset management during extreme precipitation events </li> <li> Designing nature based solutions and sustainable drainage integration for geotechnical slope stabilisation </li> <li> Assessing the vulnerability of aging earthworks to prolonged and antecedent rainfall patterns </li> </ul> <h3 data-path-to-node="12">Methods and Techniques</h3> <ul data-path-to-node="13"> <li> Finite element and numerical modelling of unsaturated soil mechanics and slope stability </li> <li> Computational fluid dynamics for analysing water ponding and drainage on structural surfaces </li> <li> Laboratory testing of soil hydrological and mechanical properties under simulated intense rainfall </li> <li> Field monitoring and sensor arrays for tracking real time pore water pressure and moisture movement </li> <li> Geographical information systems and spatial data analysis for regional landslide and hazard mapping </li> <li> Statistical analysis and climate projection downscaling for infrastructure risk forecasting </li> </ul> <h3 data-path-to-node="14">Suitable Academic Backgrounds</h3> <ul data-path-to-node="15"> <li> Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering </li> <li> Geotechnical Engineering or Engineering Geology </li> <li> Hydrology or Water Resources Engineering </li> <li> Applied Mathematics or Earth Sciences </li> <li> Environmental Engineering </li> </ul> <h3 data-path-to-node="16">FAQ</h3> <ul data-path-to-node="17"> <li> Can I propose my own PhD topic? Yes, the themes above are a guide only. </li> <li> Can I bring my own funding? Yes, I welcome applicants who are funded through government scholarships, employers or self funding. </li> <li> Do I need funding before contacting you? You should have at least identified your planned funder and commenced your application. </li> <li> Can I study interdisciplinary topics? Yes. Many of my current research interests combine multiple disciplines. </li> <li> When can I start? Start dates are in spring and autumn. Full details dates are available elsewhere on the University website </li> </ul> Useful links <ul> <li data-path-to-node="15,0,0" style="margin-left:8px"><a href="https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/civil-engineering/staff/1204/prof-david-p-connolly" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">University Profile</a> </li> <li data-path-to-node="15,1,0" style="margin-left:8px"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidconnolly/" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">LinkedIn</a></li> <li data-path-to-node="15,2,0" style="margin-left:8px"><a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=jzkpu9IAAAAJ&hl=en" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">Google Scholar</a></li> <li data-path-to-node="15,3,0" style="margin-left:8px"><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/David-Connolly-7" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">ResearchGate</a></li> <li data-path-to-node="15,4,0" style="margin-left:8px"><a href="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3950-8704" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">ORCID</a></li> <li data-path-to-node="15,5,0" style="margin-left:8px"><a href="https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=35098220800" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">Scopus</a></li> </ul>

<h2 class="heading">How to apply</h2>

To apply for this project you will need to make a formal application for research degree study through the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees">University website</a>. You will need to create a login ID with a username and PIN. • For Application type please select Research Degrees – Research Postgraduate. • The admission year for this project is 2027/28 Academic Year. • You will need to select your Planned Course of Study from a drop-down menu. For this project, scroll down and select PHP Civil Engineering Full Time. • The project start date for this project is 1 October 2027, please use this as your Proposed Start Date of Research. • Please state clearly in the Research Information Section that the research degree you wish to be considered for is PhD in Climate Resilience of Infrastructure to Rainfall as well as <a href="https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/civil-engineering/staff/1204/prof-david-p-connolly">Professor David Connolly</a> as your proposed supervisor . Please state clearly in the Finance section, the funding that you are applying for, if you are self-funding or externally sponsored. More information on how to apply is available on our website <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees">here</a>. You will be required to provide a personal statement which outlines your interest in the project you are applying for, why you have chosen it and how your skills map onto the requirements of the project. We will assess applications continuously as we receive them. We welcome and strongly encourage any potential applicants to contact the supervisor(s) for an informal discussion, prior to applying, and recommend submitting your application early. If you are applying with external sponsorship or you are funding your own study, please ensure you provide your supporting documents at the point you submit your application: <ul> <li>Full Transcripts of all degree study or if in final year of study, full transcripts to date including the grading scheme</li> <li>Personal Statement outlining your interest in the project</li> <li>CV</li> </ul> If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below). As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.

<h2 class="heading heading--sm">Entry requirements</h2>

Applicants to research degree programmes should normally have at least a first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline. The criteria for entry for some research degrees may be higher, for example, several faculties, also require a Masters degree. Applicants are advised to check with the relevant School prior to making an application. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the School or Graduate School prior to making an application.

<h2 class="heading heading--sm">English language requirements</h2>

The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid. Some schools and faculties have a higher requirement.

<h2 class="heading">Funding on offer</h2>

This is a non funded PhD project. Applicants are expected to be self funded or to secure external funding. You can find out more about our Funding Opportunities on our <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/">Postgraduate Research Opportunities</a> website. Important: Please note that all costs associated with your arrival at Leeds (<a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/international-visas-immigration/doc/applying-student-visa">visa, Immigration Health Surcharge</a>, flights etc) would have to be met by yourself, or you will need to find an alternative funding source.

<h2 class="heading">Contact details</h2>

For further information about your application, please contact Doctoral College Admissions by email to <a href="mailto:phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk">phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk</a> For further information about this project, please contact Professor David Connolly by email to <a href="mailto:D.Connolly@leeds.ac.uk">D.Connolly@leeds.ac.uk</a>