The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) is inviting applications from highly motivated and research-driven students for fully funded PhD positions beginning in Fall 2026 at its University Park campus. These doctoral opportunities will be supervised by Dr. Botong Zheng, who holds appointments in both the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Department of Architectural Engineering.
The positions are expected to be fully funded and will provide competitive graduate assistantship packages for successful candidates.
This opportunity is designed for students who are passionate about conducting cutting-edge research at the intersection of structural engineering, advanced materials, automated construction technologies, computational modeling, large-scale experimental testing, and artificial intelligence-assisted simulation.
About the Research Group
Dr. Botong Zheng’s research group focuses on solving complex engineering challenges by integrating experimental research, computational techniques, advanced materials, and intelligent technologies.
The group aims to pursue pioneering and impactful research rather than incremental studies focused solely on publication output. Students joining the group will have the opportunity to work on innovative projects that advance the future of infrastructure, construction technologies, materials engineering, and structural systems.
Research activities may span multiple disciplines and involve collaborations with researchers, institutions, and federally funded programs across the United States and internationally.
What the Fully Funded PhD Position Offers
Successful applicants can expect access to numerous academic and research benefits, including:
Fully Funded Doctoral Studies
The selected PhD students will receive:
- Full financial support for doctoral studies.
- Competitive graduate assistantship packages.
- Funding support associated with research projects.
- Access to Penn State’s world-class research facilities and laboratories.
- Opportunities to collaborate with leading researchers and industry partners.
High-Impact Research Environment
Students will engage in research that combines:
- Structural engineering.
- Mechanics and material behavior.
- Advanced construction technologies.
- Artificial intelligence applications.
- Computational simulation.
- Infrastructure resilience and performance evaluation.
The research environment is designed to help students build deep technical expertise while addressing real-world engineering challenges.
Multidisciplinary Research Opportunities
Depending on project alignment and funding availability, students may participate in:
- Federally funded research initiatives.
- Multi-institutional collaborations.
- Interdisciplinary engineering projects.
- Large-scale infrastructure testing programs.
- Advanced manufacturing and automated construction studies.
Research Areas and Technical Focus
The research group is particularly interested in students who possess strong preparation in one or both of the following areas.
Experimental, Fabrication, and Hands-On Research
Students interested in experimental research will contribute to projects involving advanced materials, automated construction systems, and infrastructure-scale testing.
Relevant experience may include:
- Structural laboratory testing.
- Experimental design and setup.
- Instrumentation systems.
- Data acquisition systems.
- Automated fabrication technologies.
- Material development and characterization.
- Infrastructure testing and validation.
- Building and bridge engineering experiments.
- Aerospace structural testing.
- Manufacturing process development.
Candidates with practical laboratory experience and strong problem-solving abilities will be particularly competitive.
Computational Modeling, Programming, and AI-Assisted Simulation
Students interested in computational research will work on advanced modeling and simulation techniques related to materials, structures, and construction systems.
Relevant expertise may include:
- Programming and software development.
- Finite element modeling.
- Computational mechanics.
- Numerical simulation.
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning applications.
- Digital twin technologies.
- Infrastructure performance prediction.
- Material behavior simulation.
- Construction process modeling.
- Data-driven engineering methods.
Applicants with strong coding skills and experience using computational tools will be highly valued.
Research Topics Students May Explore
Potential research directions may include:
- Advanced structural materials.
- Automated construction and robotic fabrication.
- Large-scale structural testing.
- Smart infrastructure systems.
- AI-assisted engineering simulations.
- Computational mechanics.
- Infrastructure resilience under extreme environments.
- Material microstructure modeling.
- Long-term infrastructure performance.
- Data-driven structural engineering.
- Sustainable construction technologies.
- Intelligent monitoring systems.
Expectations for PhD Students
The research group seeks students who are committed to developing into independent researchers and future leaders in academia, industry, or government research organizations.
All PhD students are expected to develop strong capabilities in:
Research Analysis
Students should be capable of:
- Designing rigorous research methodologies.
- Analyzing complex datasets.
- Drawing evidence-based conclusions.
- Testing and validating hypotheses.
Technical Communication
Students must develop skills in:
- Scientific writing.
- Journal paper preparation.
- Conference presentations.
- Technical reporting.
- Research dissemination.
Independent Research
Candidates should be prepared to:
- Learn new technical skills quickly.
- Work independently.
- Solve open-ended research problems.
- Persist through uncertainty and technical challenges.
- Contribute original ideas to research projects.
The group emphasizes intellectual curiosity, technical excellence, and long-term impact rather than simply accumulating credentials or publication counts.
Who Should Apply?
This opportunity is ideal for students who:
- Want to pursue a research-intensive PhD.
- Aspire to become experts in structural engineering and advanced technologies.
- Enjoy solving challenging engineering problems.
- Have strong analytical and technical skills.
- Are interested in both theory and practical implementation.
- Seek to contribute to innovations that can transform infrastructure and construction industries.
The position is especially suitable for applicants interested in bridging the gap between experimental engineering, computational science, and artificial intelligence.
Application Process
Because the regular Fall 2026 graduate admission deadline has already passed, interested applicants must first complete the research group screening process.
Candidates should submit materials through the research group screening form before being considered for the next stage.
Required Application Materials
Applicants must provide:
Completed Screening Form
All questions in the group screening form must be completed accurately and thoroughly.
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Submit a PDF-only file named:
LastName_FirstName_CV.pdf
The CV should include:
- Educational background.
- Research experience.
- Technical skills.
- Publications (if applicable).
- Awards and honors.
- Professional achievements.
- Relevant academic activities.
Statement of Research Interests
Submit a PDF-only file named:
LastName_FirstName_SRI.pdf
This document is considered one of the most important parts of the application.
The statement should be no longer than two pages and clearly explain:
- Your research interests.
- Your preferred research direction.
- Relevant technical skills.
- Previous research experiences.
- Academic strengths.
- Career goals.
- Why you are interested in joining Dr. Zheng’s research group.
- How your background aligns with the group’s research focus.
Applicants are encouraged to provide specific examples that demonstrate their readiness for advanced doctoral research.
Why Penn State University Park?
Penn State’s University Park campus is one of the leading research universities in the United States, offering outstanding facilities, interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities, and a vibrant academic environment.
Students joining this research group will gain access to:
- State-of-the-art laboratories.
- Leading faculty mentorship.
- Large-scale research infrastructure.
- National and international collaborations.
- High-impact research opportunities.
- Strong professional development pathways.
For students seeking a challenging and rewarding doctoral experience in structural engineering, advanced materials, automated construction, and AI-assisted simulation, this fully funded PhD opportunity represents an excellent pathway toward a successful research career.
Application Deadline
No specific application deadline has been announced. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible through the group screening process due to the competitive nature of the opportunity.
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