Civil and Environmental Engineering

http://cyberbuild.eng.ed.ac.uk/

My name is Frédéric Bosché. Following a PhD in Civil Engineering at the University of Waterloo (Canada), I worked for 2 years as researcher in the Computer Vision Laboratory at ETH Zurich, before becoming Assistant Professor in Construction Informatics at Heriot-Watt University. In 2019, I joined the University of Edinburgh where I was first Senior Lecturer and now Reader in Construction Informatics. I teach on Engineering Project Management, Digital Construction and some Surveying. I also lead the CyberBuild Lab that delivers research and innovation in related areas.

• PG-Cert. Academic Practice, Heriot-Watt University (UK), 2013.
• Ph.D. Civil Engineering, University of Waterloo (Canada), 2008.
• M.Sc. Construction Engineering and Project Management, Univ. of Texas at Austin (USA), 2003.
• M.Eng. Engineering, Ecole Centrale de Lille (France), 2003.

• Associate Editor fo the Journal of Information Technology in Construction.
• Executive Committee Member and Past President (2019-2022) of the International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction (IAARC).
• Member and Past Chair (2019-2022) of the Modelling and Standards Committee of the European Council on Computing in Construction (EC3).
• Associate Editor of
• Former Associate Editor and now Editorial Board Member of Automation in Construction (Elsevier). Editorial Board Member of Advanced Engineering Informatics (Elsevier).
• Innovation Champion for Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC).
• Member of European Group for Intelligent Computing in Engineering (EG-ICE).

• Engineering Project Management 4
• Digital Construction 4
• Surveying

Beside their academic and industrial impact, these projects have also given my CyberBuild Lab colleagues and I the opportunity and joy to engage in numerous public engagement activities from school career fairs to events at the Glasgow Science Museum and the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

I am an academic and university teacher at the School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh. My expertise lies in structural engineering, sustainability, and advanced technologies with a strong focus on resilience and innovation in civil infrastructure. Throughout my academic career, I have contributed significantly to both teaching and research, leading projects that address contemporary engineering challenges using experimental and computational methodologies. My current research initiatives involve the integration of AI-driven methods for structural health monitoring, sustainable construction materials, and innovative structural solutions aimed at enhancing infrastructure sustainability and resilience.

PgCAP, Academic Practice, University of Edinburgh, UK (2025)

Associate Professorship (Docentlik) by the Interuniversity Council of Turkey (ÜAK) 2013

Associate Professorship by Ministry of Education, Albania (2013)

Ph.D. in Structural Engineering, University Putra Malaysia, Malaysia (2008)

M.Sc. in Structural Engineering, University Putra Malaysia, Malaysia (2002)

B.Sc. in Civil Engineering, University of Gaziantep, Turkey (1998)

Chartered Civil Engineer (CEng), Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)

Member of the Union of Chambers of Engineers and Architects of Turkey, Chamber of Civil Engineers.

Conceptual Design and Sustainability for Civil Engineers (CDSCE3)

Engineering Principles 1

Behaviour and Design of Structures 2

Prior Academic Teaching Roles

Reinforced Concrete Fundamentals (5) Structural Analysis (5) Structural Mechanics (5) Reinforced Concrete Structures (5) Bridge Engineering (3) Structural Design II (3) Solid Mechanics (4)

Graduate Courses:

Behavior of RC Members and Structures (4)Bridge Assessment (3) Advanced Reinforced Concrete Design (4) Advanced Structural Design (4)

_{*Number in brackets indicates the number of times the course has been taught.}

My research involves experimental and numerical investigations of reinforced concrete structures, earthquake-resistant buildings, and historical masonry structures. I have extensive expertise in the performance assessment of composite precast slab structures, unreinforced masonry buildings, and historical structures under static and dynamic loads. Additionally, I focus on developing innovative composite precast lightweight slabs, advanced assessment and repair techniques for reinforced concrete (RC) buildings and bridges, and masonry structures. My current projects include strengthening techniques for unreinforced masonry structures and studying the effects of anchorage on the axial strength of fiber-reinforced polymer confined rectangular columns. Additionally, my recent research involves bridge inspection using Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and knowledge graphs for structural health monitoring, as well as the development of sustainable low-carbon bricks utilizing water-based polymeric binders and recycled aggregates.

• Structural performance assessment and AI-driven structural health monitoring
• Earthquake-resistant design
• Historical masonry structures
• Sustainable and innovative construction materials.

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Nikolas Ringas is a current PhD research student at the School of Engineering, The University of Edinbugh, under the supervision of Dr Yuner Huang and Prof Dilum Fernando. He gained his BSc in Civil Engineering from the University of West Attica in 2016 and his MEng (Hons) in Civil Engineerig from the University of Edinburgh in 2020, with his thesis focusing on the calibration of a continuum damage mechanics model for low-cycle fatigue of metals.

Then, he worked for The University of Edinburgh as a Research Assistant on a research programme funded by Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) through the iCon challenge fund, where he conducted experiments on the fastener behaviour on sheathed light-gauge steel structures. His current research focuses on the experimental investigation of the behaviour observed in sheathed cold-formed steel frames under severe in-plane and out-of-plane loading conditions. This comes in parallel to a numerical investigation with the purpose of quantifying the influence of composite action in sheathed CFS frames lateral behaviour.

• 2020 - MEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering, The University of Edinburgh
• 2016 - BSc in Civil Engineering, University of West Attica

• Member, International Association for Bridge & Structural Engineering (IABSE)
• Graduate Member, Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
• Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA), Advance HE
• Nominee for Student Tutor of the Year - EUSA Teaching Awards (2022), EUSA Teaching Awards 2023

• Tutor, Steel Structures 4
• Tutor, Concrete Structures 4
• Tutor, Structural Engineering Design Project 5
• Tutor, Structural Mechanics 2
• Tutor, Culture and Performance in the History of Construction

https://mazdias.wordpress.com

Dr Dias obtained his bachelor’s in physics at the State University of São Paulo, Brazil. Four years later, he commenced a MSc in theoretical physics from his alma mater. In 2012, he obtained his PhD degree from the University of Massachusetts, USA, where he researched on the mechanics of origami structures and growth mechanisms. Dr Dias has worked as a researcher on a broad range of topics in structural engineering and applied mathematics at Brown University School of Engineering (USA), Aalto University (Finland), and the Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics at KTH (Sweden). Before joining the University of Edinburgh, Dr Dias was an Associate Professor of mechanical engineering at Aarhus University in Denmark, where he lead his research group 'Mechanical Metamaterials and Soft Matter’.

• Ph.D. in Physics (2012), University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
• M.Sc. in Physics (2007), Theoretical Physics Institute – IFT, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
• B.Sc. in Physics (2004), State University of São Paulo – UNESP, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil

• Theoretical mechancis
• Soft condensed matter physics
• Applied mathematics
• Differential geometry
• Dimensionally reduced models and structures (beams, rods, plates, and shells)
• Stability theory
• Mechanical metamaterials (Auxetic structures, origami, kirigami, etc)
• Biomechanics
• Fluid-structure interactions

Mankind cannot survive without potable water. Despite this, our potable water resources are becoming more polluted due to human activity (e.g., mining, industry and agriculture), rendering them unfit for consumption. Additionally, water scarcity is becoming more common with over 1/3 of the world’s population living in water stressed countries. In order to guarantee our survival, processes that allow obtaining clean potable water are crucial.

Nanofiltration (NF) membrane processes are increasingly popular as they supply high quality water, including drinking water, from water resources of varied quality. This process is commonly used in Scotland and Scandinavian countries, treating freshwater from lakes and reservoirs in order to produce drinking water. Membranes are however known to foul due to an accumulation of contaminants on the membrane surface which reduce quality and flow of permeated water, increasing operational and energy costs and reducing membrane life. Current cleaning regimes, which are mostly chemical based, are inefficient and they require process downtime. They can also modify the properties of the membrane, ultimately reducing its life.

This project will build upon our work [1, 2] focused on assessing and identifying which foulants and parameters affected membrane lifetime in water treatment in Scotland. The aim is to further understand fouling formation on the membrane surface, namely looking at the interplay between different relevant foulants like Natural Organic Matter, soluble and particulate Fe and Mn, as well as biofouling, in order to inform the design of more efficient cleaning strategies to prolong membrane life.

1. https://doi.org/10.1039/D3EW00495C
2. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.4c00630

The research is rewarding and challenging, so applicants should have (or be close to obtaining) a 1^st class or 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent) in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Geosciences, Microbiology or a related subject.

Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.

Applications are welcomed from self-funded students, or students who are applying for scholarships from the University of Edinburgh or elsewhere

Competition (EPSRC) funding may be available for an exceptional candidate. Link below for the further details.

Further information and other funding options.

We are offering a PhD opportunity focused on dynamical downscaling of regional ocean models. This studentship is supported as part of the EU-INTERCHANGE project, which aims to improve the accuracy and spatial resolution of regional ocean model data around Europe, having broad use cases in mind such as offshore energy and aquaculture. As global climate variability intensifies, precise regional modelling becomes crucial for developing effective mitigation and adaptation strategies for marine infrastructure. 

Within the Institute of Infrastructure and Environment, we maintain a track record in the coupling, applications, and development of regional ocean models. Capitalising and contributing to this effort, this project will

• Investigate effective downscaling strategies for different regional ocean processes, exploring wave energy propagation and other marine hydrodynamics towards minimising uncertainty of low resolution datasets
• Participate in research aimed at the dynamical downscaling of ocean models using cutting-edge computational techniques, including machine learning algorithms.
• Work collaboratively with an interdisciplinary and international team to refine and validate regional wave and ocean forecasting models, stemming from use cases and data from a wide range of sites.
• Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present results at both national and international scientific meetings.
• Collaborate with EU-Interchange project collaborators, including researchers from Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) and the Norwegian Meteorological Institute (MET Norway)

The PhD topic will be refined based on the selected candidate’s strengths and research interests, ensuring alignment with the broader objectives of the School of Engineering and the EU-Interchange project.

For further information and queries regarding this opportunities, reach out to Dr Athanasios Angeloudis (a.angeloudis@ed.ac.uk )

Minimum entry qualification - 

• an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in Engineering, Oceanography, Computational Science, or a closely related field.
• Proficiency and interest in programming languages such as Python, MATLAB, or similar, used for large-scale data processing and model development.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse scientific communities.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving and an enthusiasm for collaborative research.

Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.

Tuition fees + stipend are available for applicants who qualify as Home applicants.

Further information and other funding options.

Morphing is a ubiquitous feature in nature: from the growth of plants to embryos evolution to wing adaptation in birds, shape-change is a fundamental aspect of the biological matter itself. What makes this phenomenon compelling is not only its beauty in nature, but its potential to reshape the way we design novel artificial systems, like materials that can adapt to their environment or systems that respond dynamically to external forces. Such possibilities challenge conventional thinking in engineering and design. By studying how stresses, geometry, and material properties interact, we can develop systems that morph with intention rather than by chance. We are inspired by nature, that offers countless inspirations, but the challenge is to translate these elegant mechanisms into technical solutions. 

Of particular interest are slender system where the mechanical response and the emerging shape is especially sensitive to the coupling between the mean of actuation and geometry. 

The aim of the project is to develop new theoretical frameworks to understand the root causes of active morphing in two-dimensional membrane-like structures and to explore strategies for achieving desired shapes. A key aspect of the work is linking microscopic (discrete) mechanics to macroscopic (continuum) models of active slender systems.

The project involves three main components:

1. Theoretical continuum modelling. Extend classical mechanics of two-dimensional bodies by incorporating active effects to study the competition between elasticity and controlled actuation in shaping slender objects.
2. Theoretical discrete modelling. Establish quantitative connections between the continuum parameters and the underlying microscopic mechanics.
3. Numerical study. Implement the models in computational codes to design and optimize morphing strategies.

During this project, you will be part of the Institute for Infrastructure and Environment. You will join a vibrant community of PhD students, postdoctoral research associates and academics. 

Please note that the advert might close sooner, if a suitable candidate is found. Therefore, early applications are advised.

For informal enquiries please contact Dr Matteo Taffetani (matteo.taffetani@ed.ac.uk) and visit https://mtaffetani.github.io/

Minimum entry qualification - an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering discipline, possibly supported by an MSc Degree. Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.

This project would potentially suit candidates from backgrounds in Structural and Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mathematics, Applied Mathematics and Physics.

We are interested to hear from applicants with experience in mathematical modelling and who are keen to develop numerical codes (or improve numerical codes already available) to support the modelling conducted. The applicant should have an interest in applying their studies to experimental evidence gathered from literature or tabletop experiments. Although preferable, knowledge of mechanical concepts (like elasticity or equilibrium equations) is not essential. Familiarity with biological and active systems is not essential.

Tuition fees + stipend are available for Home/EU and International students. 

Further information and other funding options.