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TWIN-SURE: Enabling Resilient Supply Chains through Digital Twins

Doctoral Training Grant Funding Information 

This funding model includes a 36 month fully funded PhD Studentship, set in-line with UK Research & Innovation values. For 2025/6, this will be £20,780 per year. The tax-free stipend will be paid monthly. This PhD Studentship also includes a Full-Time Fee Scholarship for up to 3 years. The funding is subject to your continued registration on the research degree, making satisfactory progression within your PhD, as well as attendance on and successful completion of the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Practice.  

All applicants will receive the same stipend irrespective of fee status. 

Application Closing Date: 
Midday (UK Time) on Wednesday 17th September 2025 for a start date of 2nd February 2026. 

How to Apply 

To apply, please follow the below steps:  

  1. Complete the BCU Online Application Form 
  2. Complete the Doctoral Studentship Proposal Form in full, ensuring that you quote the project ID. You will be required to upload your proposal in place of a personal statement on the BCU online application form.  
  3. Upload two references to your online application form (at least one of which must be an academic reference). 
  4. Upload your qualification(s) for entry onto the research degree programme. This will be Bachelor/Master’s certificate(s) and transcript(s). 
  5. International applicants must also provide a valid English language qualification. Please see the list of English language qualifications accepted here. Please check the individual research degree course page for the required scores. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

To help support you to complete your application, please consult the frequently asked questions below: 

Project title: ​​The Role of Digital Twins in Advancing Sustainable and Resilient Supply Chains in Infrastructure Projects.​ 

Project Lead: ​​Dr. Mohammad Mayouf​

Project ID: ​​31 - 4645646​

Project Description:

​​Infrastructure projects are increasingly recognised as a critical sector for achieving national and global sustainability targets. However, their extensive, multi-tiered supply chains remain vulnerable to disruption and are often characterised by limited transparency and fragmented coordination. In parallel, the sector is undergoing a digital transformation, with Digital Twin (DT) technologies emerging as a key enabler for integrated, data-driven decision-making across the asset lifecycle. Recent research efforts showed that DTs can enhance operational effectiveness and decision-making in the construction supply chain (Oluwagbenga et al., 2025; Bakhshi et al., 2024). However, their application in enhancing supply chain resilience and sustainability within infrastructure projects remains significantly underexplored, particularly from a knowledge representation and multi-stakeholder integration standpoint.

This PhD research aims to critically investigate the role of Digital Twin technologies in advancing sustainable and resilient supply chains in infrastructure projects, with a specific emphasis on developing a structured and evidence-informed ontology. The ontology will formally capture, and structure key concepts, entities, relationships, and data requirements associated with the deployment of DTs in construction supply chain contexts. The research will explore how such an ontology can support semantic interoperability, knowledge integration, and real-time decision support for sustainability and resilience objectives especially in complex, large-scale infrastructure projects. The study will adopt a systems thinking approach to frame the infrastructure supply chain as an interconnected and dynamic ecosystem comprising physical, digital, and organisational subsystems. The research adopts a design science research and follow a multi-phase process.

Phase one will involve a systematic literature review and horizon scanning to map existing taxonomies, digital construction frameworks, and sustainability-related ontologies.

Phase two will adopt the Delphi Technique to extract expert knowledge on the enablers, barriers, and functional requirements for Digital Twin-enabled supply chains. The Delphi method is selected for its structured, iterative nature, which facilitates consensus-building among geographically dispersed experts and ensures the reliability and relevance of collected insights. This approach aligns with the research’s aim to inform ontology development through validated, expert-driven input. This empirical knowledge will inform the iterative ontology engineering process using formal languages such as OWL or RDF.

The final phase will involve ontology validation through selected case studies and expert evaluation, supported by reasoning and competency question testing to ensure completeness, relevance, and usability. The rationale for this research lies in its potential to bridge a significant knowledge and application gap at the intersection of digital innovation, supply chain systems, and achieving sustainability development goals within infrastructure projects.

Despite growing academic interest in Digital Twins, there is a paucity of structured, formalised knowledge models that support their integration into supply chain processes. Moreover, the lack of ontological frameworks limits the scalability, interoperability, and impact of DT-driven supply chain tools across the construction sector.​

Anticipated Findings and Contribution to Knowledge: 

​​This research is expected to generate a formal, evidence-informed ontology that defines and structures key concepts, entities, relationships, and data requirements for deploying Digital Twin (DT) technologies within infrastructure supply chains. Through expert consultation and iterative development, the findings will capture critical insights into the enablers, barriers, and functional requirements that underpin the use of DTs to enhance sustainability and resilience in complex, multi-tiered construction supply chains. The ontology will be implemented using semantic web technologies (e.g., OWL/RDF), enabling machine-readable, interoperable knowledge representation aligned with digital construction standards. Its validation through real-world case studies will demonstrate its potential to support semantic integration, real-time decision-making, and data-driven collaboration across stakeholders.

This research will contribute new knowledge in four main areas:

  • ​A systems-based framework for conceptualising DT-enabled supply chains, providing an engineered ontology to support sustainability and resiliency in infrastructure projects;
  • ​Enhanced understanding of semantic interoperability and fair multi-stakeholder knowledge integration in infrastructure projects;
  • ​A practical and theoretical contribution to the achievement of selected United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
  • ​By bridging knowledge representation, digital innovation, and global sustainability priorities, the project supports the transformation of infrastructure delivery in line with both national policy and international development agendas.​

Person specification:

​​This PhD project seeks an exceptional candidate with a strong academic foundation and a clear motivation to contribute to advancing sustainable and resilient infrastructure through Digital Twin (DT) technologies. The research sits at the intersection of digital construction, systems engineering, and sustainability science, requiring a candidate who demonstrates both technical expertise and critical thinking.

Entry Requirements:

  • ​To apply for our Built Environment PhD Research Degree you should have, or expect to be awarded, a Master’s degree in a relevant subject area from a British or overseas university.
  • ​Exceptional candidates without a Master’s degree, but holding a first class or upper second class Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject area, may be considered.
  • We also welcome enquiries from potential PhD researchers with appropriate levels of professional experience.

Essential Criteria:

  • ​Fundamental understanding of Digital Twin technologies, their architecture, and applications in the built environment.
  • ​Strong grasp of sustainability and resilience principles, particularly within construction supply chains or infrastructure systems.
  • ​Knowledge of ontology engineering concepts, including familiarity with formal representation languages such as OWL (Web Ontology Language), RDF (Resource Description Framework), or similar.
  • ​Demonstrable experience in research methods, particularly systematic literature reviews and qualitative data collection or analysis.
  • ​Ability to critically evaluate academic literature and synthesise knowledge across disciplinary boundaries.
  • ​Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with an ability to manage complex, multi-layered data or conceptual systems.
  • ​Proficiency in relevant tools such as ontology editors (e.g. Protégé), data modelling platforms, or BIM-related software.
  • ​Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to engage with diverse stakeholders across industry and academia.
  • ​Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment.

Desirable Criteria:

  • ​Previous exposure to infrastructure projects, particularly in a research, consultancy, or industry context related to digitalisation, supply chain management, or systems integration. 
  • ​Understanding of ISO 19650 standards, BIM workflows, or digital construction ontologies.
  • ​Experience with the Delphi Method, stakeholder mapping, or participatory research techniques.
  • ​Familiarity with systems thinking approaches or frameworks, such as Soft Systems Methodology, causal loop diagrams, or system dynamics modelling.
  • ​Evidence of working across disciplines (e.g., engineering, computing, and sustainability).
  • ​Sensitivity to social, organisational, and technological interdependencies in large-scale construction or infrastructure contexts.
  • ​An interest in translational research and a willingness to engage with policymakers, practitioners, and technology developers.
  • ​Evidence of academic dissemination (e.g., co-authorship, conference presentations) or industry outreach.

​This PhD opportunity is ideal for candidates who aspire to contribute to digital transformation in construction with real-world impact, combining cutting-edge technology with sustainability imperatives.

Overseas Applicants:

International applicants must also provide a valid English language qualification, such as International English Language Test System (IELTS) or equivalent with an overall score of 6.5 with no band below 6.0. 

Contact:

If you have any questions or need further information, please use the contact details below:

For enquiries about the project content, please contact: Mohammad.Mayouf@bcu.ac.uk​

For enquiries about the application process, please contact: research.admissions@bcu.ac.uk