Program Overview

Overview

This project is funded by the Net Zero Maritime Energy Solutions Centre for Doctoral Training (N0MES CDT) in the University of Liverpool. N0MES offers 4-year PhD studentships for exceptional researchers, creating the specialist future workforce needed to support maritime and Freeports – including energy assets and AI-enabled planning. These PhD projects, in collaboration with industrial partners, are finding solutions to urgent industrial needs.

About this Opportunity

This PhD project focuses on maritime and Freeport hinterland logistics activities, assets, and energy sources. The project will deliver on a digital platform as a secure, centralized, and AI-enabled databank to support the systematic transition of maritime and freeport hinterland logistics toward net zero under different energy transition scenarios. The platform will store, optimize, and integrate data on city-region and freeport hinterland logistics activities and infrastructure, including freight flows, intermodal connections, terminal operations, customs processes, energy use, and asset performance. By consolidating fragmented datasets into a unified data hub, the project will create a foundational strategic infrastructure directly contributing to regional and national economic, transport, and decarbonization objectives.

The platform will offer advanced tools to optimize logistics decision-making, including infrastructure investment planning, freight transport timetabling, capacity allocation, and customs site operations across modes of transport such as maritime, rail, and road. Through AI-enabled modeling and scenario analysis, it will evaluate system performance under alternative policy, technology, and fuel transition pathways. In addition, the platform will provide emissions analytics under different operational and energy scenarios, enabling stakeholders to quantify carbon footprints, assess trade-offs, and identify cost-effective decarbonization strategies.

By delivering a robust, evidence-based environment for data analysis, the project will inform, direct, and improve how the sector views and manages fossil fuel dependency and other climate-harming emissions. It will support more transparent risk assessment and governance of decarbonization pathways.

The research and development component will expand the use of logistics and emissions data, interpret its systemic impacts, and develop innovative analytical methods to optimize performance, manage uncertainty, and identify operational and investment risks associated with the decarbonization of maritime and freeport hinterland logistics systems.

Eligibility

• Candidates will have, or be due to obtain, a Master's Degree or equivalent in a relevant subject.
• Exceptional candidates with a First Class Bachelor's Degree in an appropriate field or significant relevant experience will also be considered.

Funding

This UKRI-funded (via the EPSRC-funded N0MES CDT) Studentship will cover full tuition fees and pay a maintenance grant for 4 years, at the UKRI standard rates. The Studentship also comes with access to additional funding in the form of a Research Training Support Grant to fund consumables, conference attendance, etc.

UKRI Studentships are available to any prospective student wishing to apply, including both home and international students. While UKRI funding will not cover international fees, a limited number of scholarships to meet the fee difference will be available to support outstanding international students.

Support and Inclusion

The University is committed to working with students to make all reasonable project adaptations, including supporting those with caring responsibilities, disabilities, or other personal circumstances. For example, if you have a disability, you may be entitled to a Disabled Students Allowance on top of your studentship to help cover the costs of any additional support that a person studying for a doctorate might need as a result. The University believes everyone deserves an excellent education and encourages students from all backgrounds and personal circumstances to apply.