Join Us

Postdoctoral Researchers

We welcome applications from prospective postdoctoral researchers to join the Digital Civil Engineering (DCE) research community at the University of Cambridge. There are two main pathways to join the group: applying for advertised research positions, or applying for independent postdoctoral fellowships with support from a prospective supervisor.

Advertised Research Positions

When funded research positions become available, they are advertised through the University’s central recruitment portal: https://www.cam.ac.uk/jobs

Appointments are competitive and made based on research background, expertise, and project alignment.

If no roles are currently listed, we recommend checking the portal periodically or signing up for job alerts.

Applying via Postdoctoral Fellowships

Many postdoctoral researchers join Cambridge by securing independent fellowship funding. We are happy to support strong candidates in developing a fellowship application when there is a clear alignment with the group’s research focus.

Examples of relevant postdoctoral fellowship schemes include:

  • Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships
  • EPSRC Postdoctoral Fellowship
  • Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship
  • Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship
  • Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Fellowships

This list is not exhaustive — prospective applicants are encouraged to explore other international, governmental, or institutional fellowship schemes relevant to their research background.

Prospective Students

Our group welcomes applications from talented and motivated students who wish to join the Digital Civil Engineering (DCE) research community at the University of Cambridge. Admission to the University of Cambridge is highly competitive, so please ensure that your academic record and research preparation meet the University’s requirements before applying.

All applications are handled centrally, so you need to apply through the University of Cambridge Postgraduate Admissions Portal:  https://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/

Eligibility

Prospective applicants must satisfy the University of Cambridge minimum entry requirements for postgraduate study. Please check:

Only candidates who meet these minimum standards should apply. For further queries about eligibility, please contact the Department of Engineering Graduate Office.

Programme

There are two main application routes for graduate study within the DCE Group at the University of Cambridge. The first is for our ‘direct entry’ MPhil (1 year) or ‘direct entry’ PhD (3 years) degrees. The second is for students interested in Cambridge’s MRes+PhD (1-year MRes + 3-year PhD) course offered through our EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Infrastructure and Built Environment: Unlocking Net Zero (FIBE3 CDT). We encourage applicants to apply through FIBE3 CDT, which offers funded doctoral positions for both UK and international students.

Research Focus

Before applying, please review our research themes and recent publications to understand the group’s work and identify areas of interest. While a background in computing or information engineering is advantageous, it is not a requirement. What matters most is a clear and genuine interest in the group’s research and the ability to formulate a compelling research proposal.

Funding Opportunities

Funding for research students may be available through:

  • University of Cambridge Scholarships, including Gates Cambridge and other competitive schemes (application deadline: early December each year). These need to be applied for in parallel to and through your application process.
  • FIBE3 CDT Studentships, covering stipend and tuition fees (for both UK and international applicants). Both UK and international students receive a full stipend at EPSRC rate and fees at the UK rate. International students up to 30% of the incoming cohort can receive full international fees.
  • External or National Scholarships, offered by governments, non-profits, or industry sponsors.
  • Project-based funding, evaluated case-by-case when your application reaches the supervisor.

We strongly recommend applying for all eligible funding opportunities.

Research Proposal Guidance

Your research proposal is a crucial part of your application. It should:

  • Demonstrate your understanding of the group’s research areas and your motivation to contribute
  • Include a clear problem statement, significance, objectives, proposed solution, and approximate methodology to evaluate that solution
  • Show strong academic writing, logical flow, and evidence-based arguments

The proposal should be entirely your own work, as it is used to assess your independent thinking and research potential. Its quality and relevance to the group’s research play a key role in the evaluation process.

Next Steps

When submitting your application, please:

  • Indicate your potential supervisor. We would therefore strongly advise you to look carefully at potential supervisors’ webpages and identify a supervisor with research interests that match yours. Please then refer to the individual group pages for guidance on supervisor-specific application procedures (e.g., whether they prefer an initial discussion or not).
  • For direct entry MPhil or PhD applicants, applications are handled centrally, so you need to apply through the University of Cambridge Postgraduate Admissions Portal:  https://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/
  • Apply through the FIBE3 CDT programme where appropriate. Similar to direct entry applications, you will need to apply through the University of Cambridge Postgraduate Admissions Portal:  https://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/ for FIBE3 CDT applications. More information can be found on the FIBE3 CDT - Admissions page.

We look forward to receiving your application and learning more about your ideas.