EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Resilient Decarbonised Fuel Energy Systems
The strategic vision of the CDT is to develop a world-leading centre focused on delivering research leaders and next-generation innovators with broad economic, societal and contextual awareness, having strong technical and/or professional skills and capable of operating in multi-disciplinary teams covering a range of knowledge transfer, deployment and policy roles.
In response to the new UKRI eligibility criteria, we are pleased to announce that we will be offering International fee discounts for successful UKRI applicants. The fees will be discounted to the home fees level. This approach ensures that students regardless of nationality or financial means will be able to apply for our prestigious UKRI studentships. Successful applicants will receive a fully-funded studentship and will not be charged the international fee difference.
Led by the University of Nottingham in collaboration with Cardiff University and the University of Sheffield, this Centre of Doctoral Training (CDT) will involve over 50 recognised academics with expertise in energy-intensive industries to provide comprehensive supervisory capacity across the theme for around 60 doctoral students. It will provide an innovative training programme co-created with our partners to meet their advanced skills needs.
This will provide the highly trained personnel needed to enable UK-based industry to tackle the challenges in decarbonising major industrial sectors such as power, steel and heating through innovative and inventive uses of existing energy infrastructure, making new products and transmitting energy in new ways or in new forms.
They will be able to analyse the overall economic context of projects and be aware of their social and ethical implications.
These skills will enable them to contribute to stimulating UK-based industry to develop next-generation technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and ultimately improve the UK's position globally through increased jobs and exports.
Themes
Key research themes include:
- Techniques to carbon neutral fuels such as biomass and hydrogen to be used in systems designed for fossil fuels.
- Use of CO2 as a chemical feedstock for industry and manufacture – turning a waste into a product.
- Use of biomass as a feedstock for chemical processes as a replacement for fossil fuels.
- CO2 capture technologies for a range of in industrial sectors, including power, iron, steel, cement and glass-making.
- Automation of large energy-intensive processes to improve their flexibility and emission performance.
- Engineering PhD studentships.
Training
The PhD training will offer:
- An in-depth four year training programme.
- A non-taxed stipend of up to £18,500 per year; much higher than a conventional PhD.
- Up to three years' extensive research time in industry.
- International travel for conferences and industrial/lab visits.
- Attendance at annual Winter Schools to share knowledge with researchers across the Centre and with other groups working in related areas.
- Preparation for high-level careers in the energy sector.
Availability
We have up to 10 funded engineering PhD studentships available. Students should be of high academic calibre and merit.
Entry requirements
Students who satisfy the UK residency requirement will need either a first class or upper second class honours degree in a relevant subject such as:
- Chemical,
- Environmental or Mechanical Engineering,
- Chemistry, Materials Science, Metallurgy,
- Physics, Sociology,
- Psychology or Mathematics,
- Industrial Involvement.
Partners
You will have the opportunity to spend time working closely with one or more of our partners, and most of our students will be able to pursue a research project based at one of our partner organisations. Applications for doctoral research are invited to work with the following partners (amongst others):
- Johnson Matthey
- GE (General Electric Company)
- WSP Group plc
- Cultivate Innovation Ltd
- Biomass Power
- Ashwell Biomass Solutions
- Glosfume Limited
- Mineral and Energy Economy Res
- Thermocore Europe Ltd
- Drax Power Limited
- Freeland Horticulture
- Biomass and Fossil Fuel Res Aliance
- EDF Energy Plc
- Tata Steel Europe
- Carbon Clean Solutions Limited
- Energy Systems Catapult
- Clean Electricity Generation
- International Flame Research Foundation
- RJM International
- Welsh Water (Dwr Cymru)
- HiETA Technologies Ltd
- Wales & West Utilities
- Promethean Particles Ltd
- CPL Industries Group Limited
- Siemens plc
- Electric Power Research Institute
- Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
- Innospec Environmental Ltd
- Doosan Babcock Power Systems
- Tarmac
Projects will match both the interests of the researcher and the partner(s) involved.
More information and how to apply
Please visit our CDT website for more details about the centre and how to apply.
For further information about the CDT studentships at Cardiff University please contact Professor Richard Marsh
