Duration: 4 years

Funding: The studentship covers UCL tuition fees and provides a stipend of £15,726 pa (tax-free) plus a top-up amount of £2,500 pa subject to the signing of a contract with the industrial partner.

Funding Body: EPSRC

Vacancy Information: In partnership with CEEQUAL Ltd (see www.ceequal.com), UCL Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering and the Faculty of the Built Environment, the Centre for Urban Sustainability and Resilience invites applications for a four-year studentship to work on an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), UK funded project. The studentship comprises one year studying for a MRes and three years Engineering Doctorate (EngD).

Studentship Description: Originally the Civil Engineering Environmental QUALity Assessment and Awards Scheme, CEEQUAL was launched in 2003 as a world first, and has been developed to become “The world’s foremost sustainability assessment, rating and awards scheme for civil engineering, infrastructure, landscaping and the public realm”.

To remain at the forefront in this area, CEEQUAL has to become a truly holistic and integrated assessment, rating and decision-support methodology, applicable from concept definition through all stages of infrastructure life cycles to new uses.

This study aims to extend the operational range of CEEQUAL by researching, designing and configuring new evidence-based modules that broaden CEEQUAL’s applicability, deepen its metrics, stretch its coverage of the whole life-cycle of infrastructure assets, extend its coverage to additional sectors beyond traditional civil engineering, and improve its cost-effectiveness when applied to modest-scale projects.

The research student will develop research skills concerning the study of infrastructure processes, but also a detailed knowledge of how an assessment system such as CEEQUAL works, how infrastructure schemes are progressed, and how sustainability can be achieved throughout the lifetime of infrastructure and other public realm facilities.

Person Specification: Suitable candidates could have a background in systems thinking, infrastructure, engineering, planning or cognate disciplines. They will possess a good honours degree (1^st Class or 2:1). Experience of infrastructure design, construction, asset management or operations is desirable, as is some background in the literature on sustainability assessment techniques. Excellent organisational, teamworking and communication skills are required. An open attitude to interdisciplinary research is essential.

Eligibility: Applications are invited from residents of the UK and EU member states, currently residing in the UK. Applicants must meet the EPSRC eligibility requirements which can be found at http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/Pages/default.aspx.

Start Date: 23^rd September 2013

Application Procedure:  For more information about the project vacancy and how to apply, please visit http://engd-usar.cege.ucl.ac.uk/vacancies/. To apply, upload a covering letter and CV indicating how you meet the criteria, and demonstrating your passion for the proposed research.

Informal enquiries may be made to Professor Tim Broyd (tim.broyd@ucl.ac.uk).  

Closing Date: 5 pm on 25^th July 2013. 

Please note that shortlisted candidates will be required to complete an online application form soon after the close of applications deadline. Please therefore ensure that you have a copy of any transcripts/proof of qualifications ready to upload week commencing 29^th July. Please also advise your referees that they will be asked to provide references very promptly on request