Civil Engineering, Ph.D.

Ph.D. students in civil engineering at Florida Tech conduct research in a collaborative environment where close faculty mentorship and small research groups promote meaningful interaction and discovery.

Working alongside expert faculty, students pursue advanced, industry-relevant projects that deepen their expertise and drive innovation across the field.

The program emphasizes independent, solutions-focused research, preparing graduates to become leaders in academia, industry and government.

Florida Tech’s civil engineering faculty are professional engineers who combine extensive practical experience with active, high-impact research.

Their work spans wind and seismic engineering, risk modeling, hydraulic and environmental systems, transportation and geotechnical engineering, and construction management.

In the lab and in the field, faculty investigate real-world problems using advanced testing, data analytics, software development and modeling. Research topics include nanotechnology-enhanced materials, structural health monitoring, intelligent transportation systems and hydrologic modeling.

With backgrounds in consulting, military service and international projects, faculty bring global insight and practical perspective to doctoral study, mentoring students as they bridge theory, experimentation and application in their own research.

At Florida Tech, Ph.D. students have access to facilities and resources that support cutting-edge civil engineering research.

The materials and structures laboratory features universal testing machines for physical testing, along with instrumentation for experimental stress analysis. The soil mechanics laboratory includes commercial equipment for evaluating soil properties.

These resources give doctoral students the tools to investigate innovative solutions across materials, structures and geotechnical systems, enabling advanced experimentation and data-driven research.

Academic units at Florida Tech may offer graduate student assistantships to full-time, degree-seeking graduate students on a competitive basis.

Teaching Assistants (TAs) support faculty in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, including tasks such as grading, tutoring and conducting office hours. First-time TAs attend a teaching assistant seminar to prepare for their responsibilities.

Research Assistants (RAs) collaborate with faculty on projects funded by government agencies, private sponsors and university research funds.

For current information about assistantships, please contact the Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering.

Florida Tech’s location in a high-tech corridor provides unique advantages for civil engineering Ph.D. students. Our 130-acre campus is in the heart of Florida’s Space Coast, near NASA-Kennedy Space Center and a thriving high-tech workforce that includes leading corporations, government agencies and military organizations.

This proximity creates abundant opportunities for research collaborations, data access and professional engagement, connecting doctoral students to real-world projects and advanced infrastructure challenges.

Florida Tech offers a safe and welcoming campus environment that supports advanced research alongside personal well-being. The campus includes extensive green spaces, such as the Joy and Gordon Patterson Botanical Garden, along with facilities like the Holzer Health Center and Clemente Center for health, fitness and stress management.

Located minutes from the Indian River Lagoon and 72 miles of Atlantic beaches, the university combines access to outdoor recreation with proximity to industry and government organizations that contribute to research collaboration and career development.

Graduate students from around the world come together at Florida Tech in a campus community that fosters international collaboration and innovation. This environment encourages students to work across cultures and perspectives, preparing them for research and professional settings around the globe.

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) supports international students throughout their academic journey, providing guidance on immigration matters, serving as a liaison with sponsoring agencies and foreign governments, and sharing information about campus and community resources.

We invite applicants with a master’s degree from an accredited institution that provides strong preparation for doctoral-level work in civil engineering.

Prospective students are encouraged to explore ongoing civil engineering research and identify faculty whose work aligns with their interests. Reaching out to faculty before arriving is a great way to begin building connections and envision your path as a doctoral researcher at Florida Tech.

Please see our graduate admission requirements for more information about applying and admission.