Centres for Doctoral Training
The Research Councils UK Energy Programme provides focused support for postdoctoral training through 12 Centres for Doctoral Training with the goal of securing the future supply of world leading energy researchers. The Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) provide students with a better whole systems understanding and improved learning environment in priority areas for the Energy Programme. Students carry out a PhD-level research project together with taught coursework in a supportive and exciting environment.
Some of the Centres are Industrial doctorate centres which provide an alternative to the traditional PhD for students who want a career in industry. A four-year programme combines PhD-level research projects with taught courses, and students spend about 75% of their time working directly with a company.
UK Wind Energy Systems: University of Strathclyde
The Centre is well placed to meet the needs of the fast growing wind energy industry by providing high calibre PhD graduates with the specialist, generic and leadership skills necessary to lead future developments in wind energy systems. The objectives are to ensure all students from different disciplines gain competencies in core aspects of wind energy systems engineering and understand the socio economic impact of wind energy systems.
The UK Wind Energy Systems CDT is based at the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering’s Institute for Energy and Environment at the University of Strathclyde.
Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and their Applications: University of Birmingham, Loughborough, Nottingham
As the first dedicated training centre in the field of hydrogen and fuel cells, the CDT is addressing the increasing demand for skilled staff. Large hydrogen and fuel cell companies have substantial hydrogen and fuel cell projects; recruitment has been a problem in recent years since only a handful of UK universities carry out research in this area.
The CDT will allow students to gain a systematic knowledge and understanding of hydrogen, fuel cells and their applications, including developments and problems at the forefront of the discipline. They will be able to evaluate current research critically, be original in the application of their knowledge and proposing new hypotheses.
Low Carbon Technologies: University of Leeds
The CDT in Low Carbon Technologies brings together a cohort of postgraduate research students and their supervisors to develop innovative technologies for a low carbon future based around four key interlinking themes; low carbon enabling technologies, transport and energy, carbon storage and climate change and energy systems research.
The students will have the opportunity to develop high-level expertise in a particular topic, but with the excitement of working in a multidisciplinary environment stretching across science, technology, economics, business and policy.
Efficient Power from Fossil Energy and Carbon Capture Technologies: University of Nottingham, Birmingham, Loughborough (Industrial Doctoral Centre)
Over the next fifteen years there will be major national and international challenges concerning the implementing of new power plants that generate electricity more efficiently using fossil energy with near zero emissions. The Doctoral Training Centre will produce the future leaders who will have the ability to tackle these issues.
These leaders will be part of the new breed of engineers who will be thoroughly versed in cutting edge energy research and capable of operating in multidisciplinary teams; covering a range of knowledge transfer, deployment and policy roles; with the skills to analyse the overall economic context of their projects and to be aware of the social and ethical implications.
Nuclear FiRST: University of Manchester and Sheffield
Over many years, research in all aspects of nuclear fission has been neglected in the UK. However, Government policy now requires rejuvenation of this research, to support cleanup of the historical nuclear legacy, geological disposal of radioactive wastes, a new generation of nuclear power stations and military nuclear applications.
Nuclear FiRST, a collaboration between The University of Manchester and The University of Sheffield, aims to underpin UK Energy and Defence strategy by addressing a growing doctoral skills gap in nuclear fission science and engineering.
Nuclear Engineering: University of Manchester and Imperial College, London (Industrial Doctorate Centre)
A consortium of UK universities, led by The University of Manchester in partnership with Imperial College London, University of Bristol, University of Leeds and the University of Strathclyde has established an industrial Doctoral Centre, offering a fully funded EngD in Nuclear Engineering.
The primary objective of the Industrial Doctorate Centre is to provide outstanding young nuclear Research Engineers with intensive, broadly based training in collaboration with industrial companies so that they are equipped to take up senior roles within the nuclear industry. The research themes being offered are reactor technology, waste management, decommissioning, materials, socio-economic aspects and safety aystems.
Energy Futures: Imperial College London
The Energy Futures Doctoral Training Centre provides depth and breadth in PhD training in energy and its role in climate change mitigation. It will focus on future energy generation and distribution, aimed in particular on the role of the energy sector in achieving the UK’s ambitious mitigation goals required to meet the challenge of climate change.
The students will work with existing energy research networks and the research teams behind them, by collectively addressing critical and cross-cutting research questions; such as “how can we improve the energy efficiency of cities of the future”, and “how can we decarbonise energy generation”.
E-Futures: University of Sheffield
E-Futures offers industry-focused training across a broad range of energy-related topics, with the aim of training skilled researchers with a thorough grounding in technical and social issues to help make the transition to a low carbon economy.
Drawing together world-class research within 16 academic departments, across 3 faculties, E-Futures brings together diverse areas of expertise to train engineers and scientists with the skills, knowledge and confidence to tackle today's evolving issues regarding energy generation, management and supply.
E-Futures also represents a new working culture, fostering relationships between teams in universities and forging lasting links with industry and other external organisations.
Energy: Durham University
Energy is fundamental to society and the provision, security of and access to energy supplies is a key challenge in the 21st century. In response to this, Durham University has set up a multidisciplinary CDT in energy in order to equip the next generation of energy professionals to tackle the considerable challenges facing society today and in the future.
The CDT will allow students to gain a broader knowledge of energy issues from pure science to engineering to social aspects.
Energy Demand Reduction and the Built Environment: University College London and Loughborough
The Centre is the UK champion for postgraduate training to reduce CO2 emissions from the built environment, to secure our energy supply and to provide healthier more affordable buildings. The strategic aim of the CTD is to educate the next generation of highly skilled and broadly based energy researchers to lead and support the complex multidisciplinary task of driving down energy demand and C02 emissions from the UK building stock.
The CDT is a collaboration between two of the leading energy research Universities in the UK: University College London and Loughborough University. Both have invested heavily in energy research and lead some of the most important energy demand research initiatives in the UK.
Sustainability for Engineering and Energy Systems: University of Surrey (Industrial Doctorate Centre)
The Centre in Sustainability for Engineering and Energy Systems aims to develop the next generation of professionals to drive progress towards sustainable delivery of goods and services in future, by taking a systems perspective and recognising the need for sustainable energy and low carbon operation and investments across sectors.
The Centre has strong links to outside organisations, requiring the students to obtain a sponsor from the industrial sector, a government organisation or a charity. The research project will then be undertaken with the sponsor at their premises.
Fusion: University of York
The Fusion Doctoral Training Network is a collaboration of universities, including York, Durham, Liverpool and Manchester and government research institutes such as the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy and the Central Laser Facility. Together they provide integrated, coordinated postgraduate training in fusion science and technology at the doctoral level. Fusion energy is likely to become a major contributor to world electricity generation capacity; the extent to which this will occur will become clear over the next 10-15 years. In this timescale, the UK must develop a cadre of trained personnel who have the ability to contribute to the decisions the UK will have to make and, if the decision is to take this route, to train the generation of scientists and engineers who will licence and build the power plants in the UK.
The CDT provides world-leading expertise in a range of fusion-related disciplines, such as materials science, plasma physics, nuclear physics and laser physics. Students involved have access to a range of fusion energy facilities, including the MAST and JET Tokamaks at Culham in Oxfordshire and the Central Laser Facility at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.