EPSRC FIBE3 CDT PhD studentship with Network Rail: Desiccation related Failure Mechanisms in Railway Embankments

This is a four-year (1+3 MRes/PhD) studentship funded through the Cambridge EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Infrastructure and Built Environment: Unlocking Net Zero (FIBE3 CDT). Further details can be found at https://www.net-zero-fibe-cdt.eng.cam.ac.uk/

The project is funded in collaboration with Network Rail, the entity responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Great Britain's railway infrastructure, with an extensive network spanning thousands of miles and its complex web of tracks, stations, signalling systems and more, and is fully committed to advancing research and innovation in the field of infrastructure and built environment to enhance efficiency, safety and sustainability.

Climate change is posing many challenges to the UK's railway infrastructure due to the increased demands from wetter winters and drier summers. This cycling of climatic conditions leads to cycles of wetting and drying of the soil. These changes of moisture conditions can lead to progressive failure of embankments.

This PhD project will investigate:

1. How the continued desiccation cycles on embankments steepen up the embankment slopes and whether the embankments ultimately fail by rotation, translation, or a combination of both.
2. What is the risk of catastrophic failure?
3. When is the embankment most at risk: immediately after wetting up, or after long saturation periods over winter?
4. How does the drying out of alluvium beneath the embankment cause the deterioration of the track on top of the embankment? What is the failure mechanism through the embankment and is cyclical desiccation a risk to the integrity of the embankment to provide support to the track?

The project will utilise experimental facilities including Beam Centrifuge model testing and numerical analysis together with analysis of field data obtained by Network Rail.

For project-specific enquiries please e-mail Professor Stuart Haigh (skh20@cam.ac.uk). For general enquiries, please email cdtcivil-courseadmin@eng.cam.ac.uk.

Applicants should have (or expect to obtain by the start date) at least a high 2.1 degree preferably at Masters level in Civil Engineering and a strong interest in Geotechnical Engineering and experimental work.

Fully-funded studentships (fees and maintenance) are only available for eligible home students in the first instance. A limited number of international students can be considered for funding at a later stage in the recruitment process.

Further details about eligibility and funding can be found at: https://www.ukri.org/councils/esrc/career-and-skills-development/funding-for-postgraduate-training/eligibility-for-studentship-funding/ https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/finance/fees https://www.cambridgetrust.org/scholarships/

Applications should be made online via the University of Cambridge Applicant Portal: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/egegpdfib stating project title and supervisor's name. Please note there is a £20 application fee. Early applications are strongly encouraged as an offer may be made before the stated deadline.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

Key information

Department/location

Department of Engineering

Salary

Reference

NM48907

Category

Studentships

Date published

20 February 2026

Closing date

15 April 2026