PhD Scholarship in Offshore Infrastructure Resilience - DTU Construct

The Structures and Safety Section at DTU Civil and Mechanical Engineering Department is looking for an ambitious, motivated and skilled PhD student eager to dedicate three years emphasizing the resilience of offshore marine infrastructures exposed to harsh and extreme environmental conditions . 

Through this PhD scholarship, you will contribute to the development of a physics-informed and data-driven framework for structural condition assessment to support resilience-oriented decision making in offshore marine infrastructures. An accurate and fast (near real-time) damage detection scheme lies in the core of the PhD project leveraging limited sensing information from key locations on the offshore infrastructure. In this regard, your research will focus on the assessment of the nonlinear structural performance utilizing reliable and computationally efficient numerical structural models. To support the condition (state) assessment, you will also explore the use of advanced estimators (e.g., Kalman Filter) or Machine Learning models. These tools will be integrated with physics-based models of environmental loading (waves and wind) to enhance the accuracy and robustness of the assessment. All components assembled together will finally inform a decision support system that should enable you to assess the resilience of the marine offshore infrastructures under harsh marine conditions.

It is notable that this PhD scholarship is part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network called ‘NATECH Risk management and Resilience of High-TECH industries and Critical infrastructures across EUrope’ (REUNATECH) . A short description of the REUNATECH project and its overall objectives can be found below.

Ageing infrastructures, urbanization, and climate change are intensifying the vulnerability of critical infrastructures (CI), high-tech industries (HTI), and communities to cascade hazards, particularly NaTech (Natural Hazard Triggering Technological) events. REUNATECH is a Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network that aims to educate and train the new generation of Doctoral Candidates (DCs) capable of tackling these challenges through cutting-edge interdisciplinary research and innovation. REUNATECH brings together leading universities, research institutes, and industrial partners across Europe to deliver a world-class doctoral training program in risk assessment, resilience engineering, and smart technologies. Its scientific vision targets: (1) the development of a holistic multi-hazard risk framework capturing cascading effects across systems and scales; (2) the creation of digital environments utilizing real-time data for dynamic risk evaluation; (3) the advancement of risk-to-resilience methodologies; and (4) the establishment of digital twin-based resilience frameworks for CI, HTI, and urban environments. The network emphasizes innovation through the development of a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) for construction safety or disaster response simulation, integration of Information Backbones including Digital Twins and Building Information Modelling (BIM) with Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) applying smart sensor networks, Internet of Things (IoT), and resilience-informed design platforms. Furthermore, REUNATECH promotes transdisciplinary collaboration via multi-stakeholder platforms, bridging academia, industry, and policy. Through its holistic, digital, and resilience-centered approach, REUNATECH supports the European Green Deal, Sendai Framework, and UN Sustainable Development Goals. DCs will benefit from an immersive training structure comprising cross-sectoral secondments, workshops, and summer schools, enhancing their expertise in NaTech risk and resilience and enabling their integration into European and international research and innovation landscapes.

Responsibilities and qualifications

Your primary responsibilities and tasks include (but not limited to):

• Development of full- and reduced-order nonlinear finite element models of offshore structures with emphasis on damage modelling.
• Calculation of linear and nonlinear response of offshore structures exposed to various loading scenarios including operational and extreme environmental conditions
• Development of accurate and fast-performing structural condition assessment method
• Integration of wave-wind loads modelling into the condition assessment method
• Development of resilience-oriented decision support system accounting for uncertainties in the condition assessment
• Preparation of scientific publications and effective presentation of the research findings in international conferences, workshops, and training schools.
• Active participation in REUNATECH training activities and contribution to collaborative work across the network.
• Support of relevant teaching activities of DTU’s Civil and Mechanical Engineering Department
• Co-supervision of BSc and MSc projects that are complementary of this PhD project

Candidate Profile

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree. You should be a motivated candidate with background in Civil or Mechanical Engineering or other related engineering fields. Additionally, you should be equipped with critical qualifications and technical skills that are listed below.

• Solid background in Structural Dynamics, Finite Element Modelling and Nonlinear Structural Analysis.
• Strong analytical and technical problem-solving skills, with a solid foundation in Mathematical, Probabilistic and Engineering principles and methods.
• Familiarity with offshore engineering and wave-wind theories is advantageous.
• Experience in coding (e.g., Python) and in the use of Structural Analysis Software (e.g., OpenSees, Abaqus) is highly desirable.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative in planning and executing computational research.
• Willingness to join multi-national secondments both in academic and industrial environments.
• Creative, innovative and driven by scientific curiosity.
• Effective communication and teamwork abilities, with a commitment to contributing to interdisciplinary research and collaborative projects.
• Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English.

Approval and Enrolment The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education . 

Assessment

The assessment of the applicants will be undertaken by the members of the supervisory team embracing this PhD scholarship.

We offer

DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms

The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. 

The period of employment is 3 years. The expected starting date for the PhD scholarship is 1 April 2026. The position is a full-time position.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths.

Further information

Further information may be obtained from Associate Professor Evangelos Katsanos from DTU -  Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at joannegrahamicamachovakat@dtu.dksnyder.dkshaw.dk . Additionally, general information about the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network REUNATECH can be found by reaching the REUNATECH’s Management Team at mailto:phillip85uwilliamsreunatechcollinsronald@castro.dkhicks-smith.dkortiz.dkrwth-aachen.de .

You can read more about the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at https://construct.dtu.dk/ .

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark . Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar ” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU. 

Application procedure

Your complete online application must be submitted no later than31 October 2025 (23:59 Danish time) . Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file . The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
• List of Publications (if any)
• Evidence of English proficiency.
• Any additional material useful for the assessment of your application (e.g., recommendation letters, research project/statement in agreement with the requirements specified above).

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it. 

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

***DTU Civil and Mechanical Engineering** develops and utilizes science and technical knowledge for the benefit of society and the sustainable development. We undertake research, education, innovation, and scientific advice of the highest quality within building design and processes, building construction and safety, building energy and services, solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, materials technology, manufacturing engineering, engineering design and thermal energy systems.*

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DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.