Dr Jawad Fayaz

Dr. Fayaz is a Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at the University of Exeter, UK. He completed his PhD at the University of California, Irvine, USA, and then joined University College London (UCL), UK, as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow.

His research lies at the intersection of machine learning, probabilistic modelling, and decision science, with a focus on spatiotemporal representation learning and predictive modelling in complex systems. He particularly develops computational frameworks for risk quantification, early warning, and sequential decision-making for extreme events—high-impact low-probability and high-probability long-horizon risks—in natural hazards, environmental systems, and critical infrastructure. His expertise includes temporal and graph-based deep learning, representation learning, process-informed machine learning, and Bayesian inference, with a focus on designing scalable learning algorithms and interpretable models.

Currently, he is the Associate Director of the Centre for Environmental Intelligence (EI) and Programme Lead of the Google-DeepMind Research Ready Programme at the University of Exeter, UK. He also serves as an Executive Board member of the UK Collaboratorium for Research on Infrastructure and Cities (UKCRIC) and is a Fellow of the Durham Institute of Research, Development, and Invention (DIRDI). In addition, he is a member of the editorial boards of three journals: i) International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction (IJDRR), ii) Frontiers in Earth Science, and iii) Smart and Sustainable Built Environment

He is open to considering applications from strong, self-funded PhD students who have their own source of funding (e.g., from government, industry, or private sponsors). For PhD applicants seeking funding, several competitive scholarship schemes are available. Please note that many of these have specific eligibility criteria based on nationality and country of residence. Some of the key opportunities include:

• CSC Scholarship (for Chinese nationals and residents): https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/pg-research/csc-scholarships/
• Commonwealth Scholarship (for nationals and residents of Commonwealth countries): https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-phd-scholarships-for-least-developed-countries-and-vulnerable-states/
• Chevening Scholarships (for applicants from over 160 countries): https://www.chevening.org/apply/
• Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships (for Indian nationals and residents): https://inlaksfoundation.org/opportunities/scholarship/
• Higher Education Commission (HEC) - Pakistan (for Pakistani nationals and residents): https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/Pages/default.aspx
• UK government website for postgraduate doctoral loans: https://www.gov.uk/doctoral-loan

The above list is not exhaustive. Applicants are recommended to check the University of Exeter's full funding database: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/pg-research/funding/phdfunding/, and their own national government's education ministry or department for overseas scholarship programmes.

For more information, you can visit: https://jfayaz.github.io/ or get in touch at j.fayaz@exeter.ac.uk