PhD in Civil and Structural Engineering: San Diego State University, in collaboration with the University of California, San Diego, is offering a Joint Doctoral Program in civil and construction engineering. It is a fully funded PhD position that is perfect for those looking for a research career in civil and construction engineering.
Starting in Fall 2026, the Physics-Informed Resilient Infrastructure and Structural Modeling (PRISM) Lab, under the supervision of Dr Althaf Shajihan, will offer a fully funded PhD position in Civil Engineering & Construction Engineering, with a focus on advancing the resilience of civil infrastructures.
This opportunity is intended for highly motivated PhD students who are keen to conduct multidisciplinary research at the nexus of human aspects, computer science, and engineering.
Why Enroll in UCSD-SDSU Joint Doctoral Program?
Fully Funded Support: The joint doctoral program offers tuition waivers that are competitive and limited. If granted, tuition waivers are issued for one year at a time and are not guaranteed to renew.
Stipend: Apart from a tuition waiver, faculty advisers also strive to provide adequate financial support for the selected students by providing an annual stipend of approximately $28,500.
Research assistantship: The program allows selected candidates to engage in research activities under the supervision of Dr.Althaf Shajihan, providing hands-on experience while offering financial support in the form of stipends or tuition waivers.
Cutting-edge Research Areas: The program gives access to state-of-the-art laboratory facilities at SDSU and UCSD
Opportunities for Global Careers: Cornell PhD graduates are in great demand in academia, government, and top industries across the globe.
Collaboration and Mentoring: Work closely with Dr.Althaf Shajihan, an accomplished researcher with a wealth of knowledge in robotics, artificial intelligence, and agricultural engineering.
Position Description – Joint PhD in Civil and Structural Engineering
The selected students will enroll in the UCSD-SDSU joint doctoral program, pursuing a PhD in Engineering Sciences (Structural Engineering or Computer Engineering, depending on research alignment).
Candidates will engage in cutting-edge research aimed at improving and advancing the resilience of civil infrastructure through:
- Physics-informed machine learning and AI-driven digital twins
- Structural health mentoring and experimental dynamic testing
- Smartsensing with UAVs and wireless sensors
- Multi-modal Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) aided decision-making
Qualifications For SDSU & UCSD Joint PhD in Civil and Structural Engineering
- A BS or MS degree in Civil and Structural Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related fields.
- Strong programming skills (such as Python, MATLAB, C/C++) and enthusiasm for multidisciplinary research
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in diverse, multidisciplinary teams.
- Research experience in areas such as Deep Learning (PINNs), Computer Vision, Generative AI (LLMs/VLms), Structural Dynamics, HPC, and Bayesian Modeling.
Application Process For the UCSD-SDSU Joint PhD in Civil and Structural Engineering
Interested applicants are to email Dr Althaf Shajihan (Director of PRISM Lab) with a brief self-introduction as well as your resume or curriculum vitae (CV).
Note that applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
About Dr Althaf Shajihan
Dr. Althaf Shajihan is an assistant professor at San Diego State University’s Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering. His multidisciplinary work includes vision-based infrastructure inspection for resilient smart cities, machine learning inspired by physics, and structural health monitoring.
He earned his M.S. in computer science and Ph.D. in civil engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). In addition, he has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from NIT Calicut and an M.S. in Structural Engineering from IIT Bombay
Deadline and Contact Information
Application Deadline: Fall application ends December 1st, 2025
For more details and inquiries, visit Engineering Joint Doctoral Program | College of Engineering | SDSU