Research areas: Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering | Engineering Seismology | Site Response | Near-Surface Geophysics | Data Science & Machine Learning
I am seeking highly motivated prospective PhD candidates interested in applying for a Commonwealth PhD Scholarship 2027 to undertake doctoral research with me at Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
The Commonwealth PhD Scholarships are intended for candidates from eligible least developed countries and vulnerable states in the Commonwealth who would not otherwise be able to afford doctoral study in the UK.
For the 2027 competition, eligible countries include:
Bangladesh, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, and Zambia.
The scholarship provides funding for full-time doctoral study in the UK, including approved tuition fees, a living stipend, return travel to the UK, and other eligible study-related support.
The scholarships support full-time PhD study beginning in September/October 2027. The application deadline is 16:00 BST on 20 October 2026. Candidates must also follow the relevant nomination procedure and any applicable institutional deadlines.
Full eligibility requirements and application details should be checked on the official Commonwealth Scholarship Commission website:
I welcome candidates interested in developing a PhD project broadly aligned with my research at the interface of geotechnical engineering, engineering seismology, near-surface geophysics, and data science.
Potential research themes include, but are not limited to:
earthquake ground-motion observation, understanding and characterisation;
inversion of shallow subsurface structure;
development and analysis of large earthquake and geophysical datasets; and
data-driven methods in earthquake engineering and geophysics.
Candidates are not required to apply with a predetermined project from the above list. I particularly welcome applicants who have their own research ideas that complement these areas. The specific PhD topic can be developed jointly based on the candidate's background, research interests, expertise, and the scientific and societal challenges relevant to their home country.
My current research includes OpenAmp, an initiative developing consistently characterised site-amplification datasets to investigate regional variability in earthquake site response and enable the development of next-generation data-driven and physics-informed models. Opportunities may therefore also exist for candidates interested in contributing to or extending this broader research programme.
I would particularly like to hear from candidates with a strong academic background in one or more of the following areas:
Civil or Geotechnical Engineering
Earthquake Engineering
Engineering Seismology
Geophysics
Engineering Geology
Data Science or a closely related discipline
Experience with Python, MATLAB, scientific programming, signal processing, geospatial analysis, numerical modelling, machine learning, or large datasets would be advantageous, but candidates are not expected to have expertise in all of these areas.
Applicants should have a strong interest in research and demonstrate the potential to undertake independent doctoral-level work. Previous research experience through a Master's thesis, research project, publication, or related activity would be particularly valuable.
Prospective candidates interested in working with me are encouraged to contact me as early as possible and preferably well before the scholarship deadline, as sufficient time will be needed to assess suitability and jointly develop a competitive research proposal.
Please send:
CV, including academic qualifications, research experience and any publications;
academic transcripts for your university degrees;
a brief description (approximately 300–500 words) of your research interests and potential PhD ideas;
a brief explanation of how the proposed area of research could contribute to scientific, engineering, environmental or societal challenges in your home country; and
details of any relevant experience in research, programming, data analysis, laboratory/field work, or numerical modelling.
Please use the email subject:
Commonwealth PhD 2027 – [Your Name] – [Country]
Suitbale candidates will be invited to an informal online discussion to explore potential PhD topics and suitability for the Commonwealth PhD Scholarship application.