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Interdependent Infrastructure Networks

Resilient Interdependent Multilayer Critical Infrastructure Networks (2026)

What you get

This self-funded PhD project is available to UK and Overseas applicants who are able to self-fund or identify their own sources of funding. You will be supported when applying to any external sources.

The �������� believes that the diversity of its staff and student community is fundamental to creative thinking, pedagogic innovation, intellectual challenge, and the interdisciplinary approach to research and learning. We celebrate and promote diversity, equality and inclusion amongst our staff and students. As such, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Type of award

PhD

PhD project

How can we prevent cascading failures that leave millions without power, water, or communication?

This PhD explores cutting-edge approaches to understanding and strengthening the resilience of interconnected critical infrastructure systems, at a time when climate change, cyber threats and global disruptions are increasing system vulnerability.

Interdependent critical infrastructure, such as power, gas, telecommunications, water, transport and other networks, can be vulnerable to emerging threats like climate change, pandemics and cyber-terrorism, potentially leaving millions of people without energy, water or communications, risking lives, and costing £ billions. The root cause of the widespread nature of these disruptions can often be traced to the interconnected and interdependent structure of these infrastructure systems, which resembles a “network of networks”, otherwise referred to as multilayer networks.

What you will do

• Develop a prototype toolkit of holistic metrics, which can be used to assess the resilience of interdependent energy and telecommunications networks, simply by considering their fundamental structure, types of interactions and locations of potential interventions.
• You will build upon an existing open-source research platform (Network Theory Resilience Metric [NTRM] - ), offering a strong practical starting point and opportunities to make visible, publishable contributions early in the PhD.
• Work with datasets from energy and telecom networks, wherever possible.
• Build more advanced simulation models for cascading failures.
• Collaborate with researchers and industry stakeholders.
• Publish in high-impact journals and conferences.

Skills you will develop

• Network science and complex systems modelling
• Python / data science applied to infrastructure
• Resilience and risk analysis for critical systems
• Interdisciplinary research (engineering + policy + systems)
• Experience with real-world datasets
• You will benefit from our researcher development training programme, to enable you to develop your skills as a researcher and ensure you have what it takes to be successful in your future career.

Further information on this approach can be found on the website of the Critical Infrastructure Resilience Network (CIReN): /research/centres/critical-infrastructure-resilience-network/publications

Eligibility

Full time or part time, open to UK and international applicants. Ideal candidates will have a background in electrical engineering, physics, mathematics, or data science, as well as interest in complex networks or infrastructure systems. Some programming experience and motivation to work at the interface of engineering, data and resilience are desirable. Eligible candidates will normally have an upper second-class (2:1) undergraduate honours degree (or equivalent qualification) in a related field.

Please ensure you application includes each of the following:

• A research proposal.
• Your CV.
• Degree certificates and transcripts.
• 2 references, including a minimum of 1 from any institution studied at within the last 5 years.
• If your first language is not English you will need to demonstrate that you meet the University’s English language requirements.

Deadline

How to apply

• Apply online for a full time PhD in Engineering using our step-by-step guide
• Please clearly state on your application that you are applying for the “Resilient interdependent multilayer critical infrastructure networks” project under the supervision of Dr Spyros Skarvelis-Kazakos.

Contact us

If you have practical questions about the progress of your on-line application, contact FoSEM-PGR@sussex.ac.uk

For academic questions please contact Dr Spyros Skarvelis-Kazakos (s.skarvelis-kazakos@sussex.ac.uk) 

Timetable

Application Deadline: 01 January 2027

Interview Date: TBC

Entry Date: Academic year 2026/27 (Between September 2026 and April 2027)