PhD Studentship: Off-Site Construction for Resilient Healthcare Infrastructure and Agile Healthcare Supply Chain Performance

Oxford Brookes University - Faculty of Health, Science and Technology - School of the Built Environment

3 Year, full-time PhD studentship

Bursary p.a.: £20,780

University fees and bench fees: This studentship will cover university fees up to home level. International students would be required to meet the difference between home fees and international fees. Visas and associated costs are not covered.

Closing date: 20th February 2026

Interviews: TBC (online)

Start date: September 2026

Project Title: Off-Site Construction for Resilient Healthcare Infrastructure and Agile Healthcare Supply Chain Performance

Director of Studies: Prof Esra Kurul

Supervisors: Dr Roshani Palliyaguru, Dr Kalpani Dissanayake (US-based)

Contact: Dr Roshani Palliyaguru (rpalliyaguru@brookes.ac.uk)

Requirements:

Entry requirements:

Applicants should have a first or upper second-class honours degree from a Higher Education Institution in the UK or acceptable equivalent qualification.

English language requirements:

International/EU applicants must have a valid IELTS Academic test certificate (or equivalent) with an overall minimum score of 6.0 and no score below 5.5 issued in the last 2 years by an approved test centre.

Project Description:

Would you like to investigate the optimisation of Off-Site Construction (OSC) to strengthen the delivery of Resilient Healthcare Infrastructure (RHcI) and improve the agility of the Healthcare Supply Chain (HcSC) performance in the UK and beyond through a PhD? The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the critical vulnerabilities of the Healthcare Infrastructure (HcI) delivery that relies on traditional site-based construction methods and HcSC globally. While OSC has demonstrated clear advantages, significant challenges remain in aligning how physical HcI is delivered using OSC and how healthcare systems manage their supply chains. This project will develop an interdisciplinary, data-driven framework to quantify and explain how OSC enhances RHcI and supports agile HcSCs. Using mixed methods, the project will establish the link between OSC, RHcI, and agility of HcSC. Findings will provide evidence-based guidance for designing and delivering resilient and agile healthcare systems.

You will be supported by a team of experts in Off-Site Construction (OSC), supply-chain management and organisational adaptation at Oxford Brookes and, on an advisory basis, at Pennsylvania State University, USA. You will be a PhD student in the Faculty of Heath, Science and Technology that has close links with the NHS, providing you opportunities to make a real impact by developing capacity to provide emergency healthcare response, increasing the resilience and agility of the NHS and global health systems. Your research will advance theory by establishing an empirical linkage between OSC and Healthcare Supply Chains (HcSCs) and create impact through evidence-based guidance for rapid Resilient Healthcare Infrastructure deployment, improving adaptability, resource efficiency, flexibility, and HcSC outcomes. It will also inform policy, support UK manufacturing capacity, and shape global best practice, driving new prospects for you beyond academia.

The studentship requires you to undertake the equivalent of up to 6 hrs of teaching per week on average, during semester time, and to include preparation and marking (but no more than 20 hrs per week), and to participate in a teaching skills course without further remuneration.

Application process

Apply directly via the university portal (via the above 'Apply' button). Please include the following in your application:

• A cover letter
• A CV
• Details of two referees, at least one from an academic background
• A research proposal
• Copies of your previous degree certificates and transcripts
• A scan of your passport
• Evidence of a valid IELTS or other valid English language qualification, in line with Oxford Brookes’ requirements (international & EU candidates only)

For any queries, please contact tde-tdestudentships@brookes.ac.uk