CEGE Structural Engineering PhD Student Achieves Double First Recognition

Matthew Poulton, a PhD student within UCL CEGE’s low-carbon structures research group led by Professor Wendel Sebastian, was awarded the first prize at the 25th Institution of Structural Engineers Young Researchers Conference (IStructE YRC), for his doctoral study - based oral presentation on evaluating the performance of civil infrastructure such as bridges made out of lightweight, corrosion-resistant aerospace materials.

The IStructE YRC was held online, with an assessment panel comprising leading academics and industrialists, and allowing over 100 people from across the world to attend. The event showcased the best research from an international shortlist of ground-breaking projects which also included 3D-printed steel structures, laminated glass and environmental impact evaluation of foundations. The judges lauded both the scientific content of Matthew’s presentation and his awareness of the huge potential for this research to update the European quality standard for design of civil structures using the aerospace fibre polymer composite (FPC) materials.

In addition, after an outstanding performance at his viva, Matthew was recently recommended for the PhD qualification with no corrections to his thesis.  The examiners, Professor Toby Mottram of Warwick University and Dr Luiz Kawashita of Bristol University’s Aerospace Engineering Department, ranked Matthew’s thesis first from among almost eighty theses that they have collectively evaluated. 

This rare accolade of a double first, in two independent environments at PhD level, is testament to Matthew’s outstanding research potential, and also to the CEGE Department’s successful strategy for shaping the future leaders of the Structural Engineering discipline.

Matthew now continues to work at UCL with his supervisor, Professor Wendel Sebastian, on developing the next generation of modular, low-carbon steel-FPC bridges within a project funded by the UK government organization National Highways.