USA Florida International University PhD Scholarship 2026 in Structural Engineering (Fully Funded)

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at Florida International University (FIU) is inviting applications for two PhD positions in Structural Engineering starting as early as Spring 2026. These opportunities are ideal for motivated and talented students seeking to engage in advanced research in community resilience, natural hazard risk, and digital twin modeling under the supervision of Dr. Omar Nofal.

About FIU and Miami

Florida International University (FIU) is a top 50 public university and classified as an R1: Doctoral University (Very High Research Activity). It is the fifth-largest university in the U.S. by enrollment, with 11 colleges, over 200 programs, and an annual budget exceeding $1.7 billion. FIU’s location in Miami offers unique advantages, including access to over 1000 international companies, exciting internship opportunities, and a supportive multicultural community.

About the PI

Dr. Omar Nofal specializes in:

• Structural engineering
• Multi-hazard risk and mitigation analysis
• Resilience analysis of infrastructure and communities
• Catastrophe modeling and recovery assessment

He has published extensively in leading journals on risk, reliability, and resilience, and his research aims to advance post-disaster functionality and recovery modeling.

Successful applicants will benefit from:

• A fully funded PhD position (stipend, tuition waiver, and research support).
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects in hazard risk, resilience, and structural engineering.
• Access to FIU’s state-of-the-art research labs and facilities.
• Career development support through publications, conferences, and collaborations.
• Internship opportunities in South Florida’s thriving tech and engineering sectors.
• Living in Miami, a vibrant, multicultural city with a year-round subtropical climate.

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Structural Engineering

Applicants may pursue research in the following areas:

• Structural Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Systems Engineering
• Construction Management
• Computer Science (with relevance to modeling and hazard risk)

Focus areas include:

• Community resilience analysis
• Coastal hazards (surge, wave, and wind)
• Risk and vulnerability analysis of buildings and infrastructure
• Damage and loss modeling
• Post-disaster recovery modeling
• Digital twin modeling
• Catastrophe modeling

Open to all nationalities worldwide.

Candidates should meet the following requirements:

• Hold a B.S. and M.S. in Structural Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Systems Engineering, Construction Management, Computer Science, or related fields.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a research team.
• Strong scientific writing and communication skills in English.
• Research interests in community resilience, natural hazards, and risk/vulnerability analysis.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as MATLAB, C/C++, Java, Python, or similar.
• A commitment to conducting high-quality, innovative research.

• Prepare your CV, academic transcripts, and a statement of research interests.
• Contact Dr. Omar Nofal directly at: [email protected] for more details.

Apply through the official FIU Graduate Admissions portal: FIU Graduate Admissions