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Advancing Soil Investigation and Monitoring Tools for High-Speed Railway Tracks

While the UK currently benefits from established international standards, there is an opportunity to develop a unified national framework for subgrade investigations in high-speed railway construction and maintenance. To address this opportunity, ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ’s Future Infrastructure Team is launching a fully funded PhD project focused on advancing the tools and methods used for soil assessment and long-term monitoring.

This project will critically evaluate global approaches to subgrade investigation and develop improved methods for identifying key soil parameters, monitoring ground conditions, and modelling long-term performance. It will begin with a comprehensive review of UK and international standards, followed by hands-on laboratory and field testing using cutting-edge in-situ geotechnical equipment.

The PhD student will analyse and compare different field-testing techniques, focusing on their ability to measure essential track parameters such as modulus, stiffness, and elasticity. A key task will be to link initial subgrade test results with data collected from real-time monitoring systems, using mathematical correlations to evaluate and improve current investigation tools.

Advanced numerical models—including finite element simulations—will be developed and validated to better understand and predict the behaviour of railway subgrades under various loading conditions. While the integration of findings into a full digital twin framework is envisioned for future research, this PhD will lay the essential groundwork for that long-term goal.

This research is set to transform the way subgrade investigations are conducted, providing a much-needed foundation for more reliable and efficient high-speed railway construction and maintenance in the UK.

Funding

This is a full scholarship which will cover tuition fees (Home and Oversees) and provide an annual stipend (paid in line with UKRI recommended rates, £20,780 in 2025-25) for 42 months. Thereafter, candidates will be expected to pay a continuing affiliation fee (currently £130) whilst they complete writing up their thesis.

Eligibility

This project is available to ALL students, whether home, EU or overseas.

Essential Criteria:

• A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Physics, or a related discipline.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

•Clear motivation to engage in both field-based experimentation and numerical modelling.

Desirable Skills (not essential but beneficial):

• Familiarity with finite element tools (e.g. PLAXIS, ABAQUS, ANSYS).

• Programming experience in Python, MATLAB, or similar.

• Experience with field testing or sensor technologies.

• Interest in data interpretation and digital twin development.

We encourage applications from candidates who may not yet have experience in every area—training and development will be part of the PhD journey.

How to Apply

To apply you must complete our online application form.

Please select PhD Civil Engineering as the programme and include the full project title, reference number (EGIS2025-AE) and supervisor name on your application form. Ensure that all fields marked as ‘required’ are complete.

Once have entered your personal details, click submit. You will be asked to upload your supporting documents. You must complete the section marked project proposal; provide a supporting statement (1-2 A4 pages) documenting your reasons for applying to this particular project, outlining your suitability and how you would approach the project. You must also upload your CV, a copy of your degree certificate and relevant transcripts and an academic reference in the relevant section of the application form.

You must also provide proof of your ability in the English language (if English is not your mother tongue). We require an IELTS certificate showing an overall score of at least 6.5 with no component scoring less than 6.0, or a TOEFL certificate with an overall score of at least 85, including reading 20, listening 19, speaking 20 and writing 21. Alternatively, if you have received an English-taught Bachelors or Masters degree from one of the countries listed on the  under ‘Who does not need to prove their knowledge of English’, and it was obtained less than five years from your intended start date, you should provide evidence of your award that clearly states it was delivered and assessed in English language.

Please contact  Dr Ahmet Esen (A.Esen@hw.ac.uk) for further information or an informal discussion.

Please contact egis-pgr-apps@hw.ac.uk for technical support with your application.

Timeline

The closing date for applications is 13 June 2025. Applicants should ideally be available to start in September 2025 and no later than January 2026.