PhD Studentship - From Stress to Strength: Transforming Construction Worker Well-Being with Combined Cutting-Edge Technologies and AI-Driven Insights

Research theme: "AI and Robotics in engineering", "Digital security and resilience", "Digital security and resilience"

How to apply: uom.link/pgr-apply-2425

Number of projects: 1

This 3.5-year project has EPSRC DLA funding. For UK students only and EU students with settled status. Tuition fees will be covered, and the successful candidate will receive a tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£19,237 for 2024/25).

The proposed project addresses significant health and safety concerns in the UK construction sector, where workers are more prone to suffer with emotional stress, mental tiredness, and physical strain. With a suicide rate 3.7 times higher than the general population, the construction industry has become one of the most stressful and dangerous sectors, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions to improve worker well-being. The project proposes a novel, integrated framework leveraging virtual reality (VR), the internet of things (IoT), and machine learning (ML). Workers will engage in immersive, simulated construction tasks, while wearable sensors monitor their physical effort, emotional states, and cognitive load. Physiological and behavioural data — including eye tracking, stress markers, EEG, and ECG — will be collected by VR headsets and IoT devices. ML algorithms will analyse this data to identify trends, project risk factors, and propose tailored treatments.

By combining advanced analytics with immersive simulations, the results of this project aim to guide evidence-based policies that enhance e occupational health and safety; as such, the findings will enable governments, regulators, and firms to develop sensible policies and innovative well-being initiatives — which will close significant gaps in industry practices and help to create a more resilient workforce.

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.

Essential Criteria:

1. Experience in digital construction technologies, including VR, IoT, machine learning, and physiological and behavioural data analytics.
2. Experience with wearable sensors & physiological data (e.g., EEG, ECG, eye tracking, stress markers).
3. Ability to conduct quantitative and qualitative research, with experience in data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
4. Willingness to work across disciplines, integrating health & safety, digital technologies, and risk management.
5. A track record of academic publications, conference presentations, or industry reports related to digital innovation in construction.

To apply, please contact the main supervisor; Dr Saeedreza Mohandes; saeedreza.mohandes@manchester.ac.uk. Please include details of your current level of study, academic background and any relevant experience and include a paragraph about your motivation to study this PhD project.

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