Multi-Hazard Resilience of Heritage Structures Using Advanced Modelling

About the Project

3.5 Year self funded PhD

Heritage structures, including historic buildings and earth-based constructions, are often highly vulnerable to natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, and climate-driven stresses. Understanding their performance under complex, cascading hazards is essential for safeguarding cultural heritage and supporting resilient communities. However, traditional approaches often consider single hazards in isolation, limiting our ability to plan effective mitigation strategies.

This self-funded PhD position offers the opportunity to work within a NERC-funded research project on multi-hazard infrastructure resilience (NE/Y006356/1), using its datasets, field investigations, and established collaborations with industry and academia. The PhD will focus on heritage and earth-based structures, applying finite element modelling (FEM) and probabilistic methods to simulate structural response to multi-hazard and cascading scenarios. The candidate will assess vulnerabilities, understand failure mechanisms, and develop practical retrofitting strategies to enhance resilience while respecting cultural value.

Research Objectives

1. Characterise heritage and earth-based structures to define representative building types and vulnerabilities.
2. Develop multi-hazard models capturing interactions and cascading effects between events such as earthquakes, landslides, and floods.
3. Apply FEM to simulate structural behaviour under complex hazard scenarios.
4. Design and evaluate retrofitting strategies for resilience and cultural preservation.
5. Develop decision-support tools for stakeholders to prioritise interventions and plan risk-informed heritage protection.

Methodology

The project will combine field and laboratory data, FEM simulations, GIS-based hazard mapping, and ongoing monitoring from the NERC project. Cascading hazards will be explicitly considered, and life-cycle and cost–benefit analyses will guide practical retrofitting strategies.

Impact

This research will provide a transferable framework for assessing heritage vulnerability under multi-hazard conditions, informing mitigation strategies, disaster preparedness, and policy guidance.

Candidate Profile

Applicants should hold, or expect to gain, a first-class or upper second-class degree in civil/structural engineering, earthquake engineering, disaster risk management, or a related field. Experience with FEM, structural modelling, GIS, or fieldwork is desirable.

Research Environment:

The PhD will be embedded in a supportive, interdisciplinary research environment with expertise in structural engineering, disaster risk reduction, sustainability, and infrastructure resilience. The candidate will work closely with experienced academic supervisors and external partners in Africa, Asia and South America, with opportunities for international collaboration such as ARUP and World Bank. The project aligns with my research on multi-hazard risk, climate change adaptation, and the development of integrated DRR frameworks and decision-support tools, with strong stakeholder engagement to ensure practical and impactful outcomes.

Learning and Development Opportunities:

The PhD candidate will benefit from:

• Advanced training in multi-hazard risk assessment and probabilistic analysis
• Skills development in structural and thermal modelling of buildings
• Experience in life-cycle assessment and cost–benefit analysis
• Exposure to interdisciplinary and international research environments
• Opportunities to engage with policymakers, practitioners, and industry stakeholders
• Support for publishing in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at international conferences

Academic Criteria

Candidates should hold or expect to gain a first-class degree or a good 2.1 (or their equivalent) in Engineering or a related subject.

Desirable skills

• Background in Civil, Environmental, or Architectural Engineering
• Experience in structural modelling and analysis
• Knowledge of probabilistic methods for risk assessment
• Programming skills (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or R)
• Familiarity with disaster risk reduction or resilience frameworks
• Ability to work with multi-disciplinary teams and data integration

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language (IELTS 6.5 or equivalent)

Contact for further information

Please contact Dr Viviana Novelli (novelliv@cardiff.ac.uk) and Dr Sarah Esper (EsperS@cardiff.ac.uk) to informally discuss this opportunity

How to apply

Applicants should submit an application for postgraduate study via the Cardiff University webpages (http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research/programmes/programme/engineering) including;

• an upload of your CV
• a personal statement/covering letter
• two references (applicants are recommended to have a third academic referee, if the two academic referees are within the same department/school)
• Current academic transcripts

Applicants should select Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering), with a start date October 2026.

In the research proposal section of your application, please specify the project title and supervisors of this project and copy the project description in the text box provided. In the funding section, please select "I will be applying for a scholarship / grant" and specify that you are applying for advertised funding, reference VN SF2 26

Deadline for applications

31st May 2026. We may however close this opportunity earlier if a suitable candidate is identified.