The Postgraduate Research Awards 2021

Six PhD students in the School of Civil Engineering have been recognised in the School’s inaugural PGR Awards 2021 during a special online ceremony.

Held for the first time, the awards acknowledge and celebrate our school’s Postgraduate Research (PGR) cohort, who have made outstanding progress in their academic performance, engagement and final thesis.

The awards also recognise the full breadth of computational, experimental, qualitative and theoretical research conducted by PGRs enrolled on the PhD programme in Civil Engineering. 

The awards acknowledge PGRs who have made extraordinary progress in their research and studies through publications and networking, and to PGRs who contributed generously to the school's research and social culture, supporting others and making the most of the opportunity for themselves. And finally, recognizing an outstanding completed thesis during the past year. 

It is through such achievements that we recognize the skills, progression and high expectation and commitment of the staff and our PGR candidates...

Dr Gehan Selim, Director of Postgraduate Research Studies in Civil Engineering, said: “It is through such achievements that we recognize the skills, progression and high expectation and commitment of the staff and our PGR candidates. The nominees and winners are a great example of what our expectations are and what we hope for in the future.”

Nominations were gathered from the PGR cohorts and their supervisors, in addition to nominations from PGR peers and colleagues. At the event, research leaders reflected on the value of a PhD, and gave tips and reflections on how to achieve high academic performance, engagement and impact during the PhD journey.

Winners of the PGR Awards:

The Academic Performance Category

Awarded to PGRs who have made exceptional progress in their research and studies in areas such as external engagement and representing the University at events. In addition, internal contribution to the school, such as organising workshops and seminars and finally, publishing articles, participating in conferences, developing new networks.

1. Josh Turner: Using System Data to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Heat Pumps in Operation
2. Benito Mignacca: Modular circular economy in complex infrastructures
3. Dimitris Dais: Monitoring, quantification and modelling of accumulation of damage on URM structures due to recursive load

Academic Performance category award winner Benito Mignacca said: “It really means a lot to me and it recognizes the hard work of the last four years at the University. I wish to thank all of you for the inclusive and supportive environment since the first day.”

The Engagement category

Awarded to PGRs who have widely contributed to the school's research and social culture, supporting others and making the most of the opportunity for themselves. 

1. Meng Li: Re-discovering Memories through the Idea of Ecomuseum: A Case Study of the Imperial Qing Tombs and the Communities of Tomb Caretakers’ Descendants
2. Amrie Singh: Adapting Cities: Solutions for improved flood resilience

Engagement category award winner Meng Li said: “This award is a kind of recognition but also a kind of encouragement. I’d like to thank my supervisor and our lovely and supportive Architecture and Urbanism research group”.

Outstanding Thesis

Awarded to a PhD thesis that has been successfully completed in 2020 and had been highly commended by the Examiners. 

1.  Andrew Carr: Multi-threaded Congo River channel hydraulics: Field-based characterisation and representation in hydrodynamic models

The Examiners said: “The thesis demonstrates excellent knowledge. There is clear evidence of independent critical ability, in terms of analysis and thinking and novel results. The field work and high-resolution modelling are the first of their kind for the Congo River and will open up avenues of much significant research to come”.

Andrew said: “I’d like to thank my supervision team who have provided great support throughout. I’m very grateful to the School for organising this initiative; it’s been great to bring together PGRs in an event like this.”

Congratulations to all Winners.