SMART-H: Enhancing the Resilience, Sustainability, and Continuity of Healthcare Facilities under Multi-Hazard and Health Crisis Conditions

About the Project

3.5 Year self funded PhD

The resilience of healthcare infrastructure is essential to ensure continuity of medical services during disasters and health emergencies. Healthcare facilities are increasingly exposed to climate-related hazards such as floods, extreme heat, and strong winds, often combined with ageing buildings, limited resources, and growing demand for services. When healthcare facilities are disrupted, the impacts on patients, healthcare staff, and local communities can be severe.

Despite their critical role, many healthcare facilities are not designed to cope with multiple and interacting hazards. Current assessment approaches often focus on single hazards or isolated performance indicators, providing limited insight into how facilities perform under complex, multi-hazard and climate-stressed conditions. There is therefore a need for integrated and practical tools to support risk-informed planning and investment.

This SELF-FUNDED PhD project is embedded within a wider EPSRC-funded research programme (EP/Y00177X/1) focused on improving the resilience, sustainability, and continuity of critical infrastructure systems. Building on this foundation, the PhD aims to develop an integrated risk, resilience, and sustainability assessment framework for healthcare facilities, supporting the development of SMART (resilient, sustainable, and green) healthcare facilities.

The project objectives are to:

1. identify key multi-hazard and climate-related scenarios affecting healthcare facilities;
2. assess physical, functional, and operational vulnerabilities using approaches from structural engineering, building performance analysis, and disaster risk management;
3. evaluate mitigation and adaptation strategies that improve resilience, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance energy efficiency; and
4. support risk-informed decision-making through cost–benefit analyses.

The outcomes of this research will provide a practical and transferable framework to support inclusive decision-making at local, regional, and national levels. The project contributes to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 and SDG 11, and includes engagement with stakeholders in Malawi to maximise real-world impact.

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 SF1 26

Deadline for applications

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

Funding Notes

This a self funded PhD project, applicants will need to have their own funding.