Below is a list of research topics that academic staff in Engineering are willing to support for fellowship applications, in no particular order

Please contact each staff member directly

Multiphase Transport in Porous Media for Energy and Environmental Systems: Research focuses on modelling and understanding multiphase flow and transport processes in porous media, with applications in energy and environmental systems, including biomass and waste conversion for sustainable fuels, carbon capture and subsurface storage. The work combines fluid mechanics with heat and mass transfer, including reactive transport. The specific research direction can be co-developed with the applicant depending on their interests and background. Contact Dr Sergii Veremieiev 

Rebuilding soil health: it is the soil microbiome that is responsible for good soil structure. And good soil structure is essential for engineers to address the mandatory requirements of nutrient neutrality and biodiversity net gain. Come and join the transdisciplinary SMART soils research team at Durham to  work with the soil microbiome engineering soils to support carbon, nutrient and water storage.  Contact Professor Karen Johnson 

Digital Twins for Civil Infrastructure: automated reconstruction, execution and update of digital twins for complex systems, combining advanced computational simulations with AI technologies to address resilience challenges in structural and geotechnical engineering: Contact Professor Jelena Ninic or here 

Numerical modelling of large deformation soil-structure interaction problems in offshore geotechnical engineering: such as foundation/mooring installation, anchor penetration and site investigation techniques. Material Point Method for large deformation analysis. Phase field fracture modelling, including conventional engineering materials, geomaterials and glaciers.  Contact Professor Will Coombs  

Large displacement mechanics of plates and shells: buckling/collapse of thin-walled structures (incl. light gauge steel, crumpling of thin sheets, etc), response to extreme loads (blast, impact), and adaptive/deployable structures (eg. Origami, kirigami, multistability, etc). Emphasis on reduced-order analytical modelling supported by experiments and finite element analysis. Research which crosses disciplinary boundaries including structural, mechanical, and aerospace engineering to applied maths and physics is very welcome. Contact Dr Martin Walker 

Computational modelling of multi‑scale and multi‑physics behaviour in advanced composite materials and hybrid laminates: including fracture and damage mechanics, impact and fatigue modelling, and reliability of fibre‑reinforced polymer structures. Development of finite element, meshless and AI‑enhanced numerical methods for failure prediction, topology optimisation, structural design, and multi‑physics simulation of additive manufacturing. Contact Dr Zahur Ullah 

Human-Centric Design of Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure: To design multi-agent systems capable of human-like reasoning and decision-making through the integration of advanced machine learning and granular computing. These frameworks will provide the critical data needed to design built assets that are inherently more sustainable, resilient, and tailored to human needs. Contact Dr Nima Gerami-Seresht 

Nature-Based Design of Sustainable and Resilient Geo-Infrastructure: To develop bio-inspired ground engineering systems using fungi, biopolymers, and natural processes to create low-carbon, adaptive infrastructure. This work advances soil stabilisation beyond cement-based approaches, enabling resilient, resource-efficient solutions that support circularity and respond to changing environmental conditions. Contact Dr Sravan Muguda Viswanath or here. 

AI-Driven Sustainable and Digital Transition in Smart Building and Construction 5.0: To explores how artificial intelligence (AI) can enable the sustainable and digital transformation of smart buildings and construction systems, supporting the transition towards human-centric Construction 5.0. It focuses on developing data-driven and interdisciplinary approaches to enhance productivity, resilience, and sustainability performance across the built environment at different levels (project, organizational such as CSR/ESG, and institutional). Contact Dr Qian Zhang

Fluid mechanics: We have dedicated laboratory including large-scale multi-functional air-based (wind tunnels) and water-based (functional jet generator) facilities, high performance computer clusters, as well as a PhD research team to support hybrid experimental (such as PIV) and/or computational (such as LES) investigations of pulsatile and periodic flow dynamics, stability, scalar mixing in inhomogeneous turbulence, flow-structure interactions (vortex-induced vibration and galloping). Contact Dr Lian Gan. 

Next-Generation Wireless Communications: to design and develop key technologies for the next-generation wireless networks, including integrated sensing and communications, non-terrestrial networks, massive multi-input multi-output systems, near field communications, THz communications, AI for wireless and wireless for AI. Contact Prof Yunfei Chen 

Nanotechnology: Our research integrates nanostructured materials, including semiconductors and carbon nanomaterials, to develop and fabricate novel, multifunctional devices. Applications span micro‑ and nanofabrication, sensors, and energy technologies. We welcome outstanding fellowship candidates aiming to translate fundamental nanoscience into impactful, practical solutions. Contact Professor Dagou Zeze 

Smart Grid and Sustainable Connectivity: Demand response, peer to peer energy trading, and virtual power plant design and optimisation to achieve Net Zero in integrated power, transport and heating sectors. National Future Communication Research Hub - Cheddar Hub, working on Digital twins, Green AI, Integrated Sensing and Communications for achieving sustainable connectivity in Healthcare, Manufacturing and Transport. Contact Professor Hongjian Sun 

AI datacentres and the future power grid: AI-driven datacentre demand is emerging as a new class of electricity load, with fast, high-intensity and highly variable characteristics that challenge conventional grid design and operation. This research area focuses on understanding and managing the interaction between large-scale digital infrastructure and power systems, using advanced modelling, optimisation, and AI techniques to support resilient, efficient, and low-carbon grid operation. Contact Dr Mahmoud Shahbazi 

Structural Analysis of Heritage Monumental Buildings: The historical identity of several local communities worldwide is indissolubly linked to their monumental cultural heritage, as these buildings stand as witnesses to exceptional natural and human-related events. Today, the effects of climate change on these structures have become more evident and more worrying, triggering or accelerating material degradation and reducing structural safety. This research, conducted in collaboration with UNESCO World Heritage Sites1, aims to develop a holistic methodology for assessing and valorising historic monumental buildings, accounting for their tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Advanced numerical models will be developed and calibrated using non-destructive and laboratory tests and structural monitoring systems to develop realistic long-term structural assessments, considering ever-changing environmental conditions over time.  Contact Dr Bartolomeo Panto 

Decarbonisation of heating and cooling: To design and develop key technologies for decarbonising heating and cooling, including thermal energy storage, sorption technologies for seasonal heat storage, data centre cooling, industrial waste heat recovery and reuse, battery passive cooling, high temperature heat pump, solar heating, liquid/solid desiccant dehumidification. Contact Dr Zhiwei Ma 

Ecological theory‑informed engineering of living soil systems: I am interested in understanding and engineering soil systems as living, interacting assemblies of fungi, bacteria, plants, mesofauna, and their physical environment, with particular emphasis on processes that remain robust outside controlled laboratory conditions. My work combines experimental approaches with modelling and tool development to study how biological interactions shape structure, resource dynamics, and function in real soils. A developing focus is on closing lab-field gaps, using ecological theory to inform the design and evaluation of participant‑led research (e.g. participatory and practice‑embedded approaches) that translates into engineering interventions operating reliably across scales and contexts. I would welcome Marie Skłodowska‑Curie projects that explore these questions through co‑designed experimental-computational programmes, closely linked to Durham’s transdisciplinary SMART Soils research environment. Contact Dr Joseph Weaver 

Advanced computational modelling of complex physical systems: combining high-fidelity simulations with reduced-order techniques for efficient and accurate prediction. Topics include seismic wave propagation and probabilistic ground-motion assessment, as well as nonlinear, multi-scale behaviour and failure of composite structures (e.g. wind turbine blades) under realistic loading conditions. Emphasis on methods enabling fast, reliable analysis for engineering applications. Contact Dr Stefano Giani 

Smart Thermal Mapping for Reliable High-Speed EV Motors: To improve the understanding of heat behaviour in high-speed electric motors used in electric vehicles, this research focuses on motors operating under demanding conditions, where high speeds and power densities lead to uneven and unpredictable temperature distributions. The aim is to develop more accurate thermal mapping by combining traditional physics-based models with data-driven methods, thereby identifying critical hotspots that cause material degradation and failure. Overall, the goal is to enhance reliability, extend motor lifespan, and improve the efficiency and sustainability of EV systems. Contact Dr Nur Sarma