Completed Engineering Mathematics & Statistics

DTP 2020-2021 Heriot-Watt University

Funder EPSRC (part of UKRI)
Recipient organisation Heriot-Watt University
Funding £3.0M
Period Sept 2020 — Sept 2025

In plain English

AI plain-English summary

Heriot-Watt University is using EPSRC doctoral training funds to recruit and train the next generation of PhD researchers across engineering, physics, chemistry, computer science, and mathematics. This matters because the UK needs a steady pipeline of highly skilled researchers to keep its technology and manufacturing sectors competitive. The grant does not fund a single experiment or discovery. Instead, it provides the structure—student recruitment, project selection, and skills training—that allows dozens of individual PhD projects to happen. Those projects will span areas such as carbon capture, quantum physics, artificial intelligence, robotics, and catalysis. If the training succeeds, the impact is indirect but real. The PhD graduates will go on to work in industry, academia, or public service, bringing expertise that underpins everything from energy grids and communications networks to medical diagnostics and manufacturing processes. The grant also guarantees at least 80 hours per year of transferable skills training—things like public engagement and career development—so that researchers are not just technically competent but also employable beyond the lab. This is a capacity-building investment, not a discovery project. Its payoff comes years later, in the people it produces.

View original technical description
The EPSRC DTP at Heriot-Watt enhances our delivery of postgraduate research (PGR), using funds to strategically support projects that fit the EPSRC portfolio and Heriot-Watt Strategy such as: Engineering (e.g. Communications, Carbon Capture and Energy Systems, Lasers and Manufatcuring, Civil and Petroleum, Healthcare Technology and Robotics), Physics (including Quantum), Chemistry (including Catalysis), Computer Sciences (including AI and Robotics) and Mathematical Sciences. Our overarching principles include (i) recruiting the highest calibre students; (ii) delivery of high quality projects and support; (iii) providing PhD projects that enhance current areas of research strength, or development of new research areas; and (iv) the potential impact of the research to the wider community (academic, societal and industrial). All PGR students, including those funded via the Heriot Watt DTP, are provided with at least 80 hours of transferrable skills training and development in each of the first 3 years of study that will enhance the individuals employability profile. Whilst this primarily focuses on attending our wide range of PGR training courses (https://www.hw.ac.uk/services/research-futures.htm), there is also an opportunity to implement the outputs of these courses via involvement in our outreach and public engagement activities that are coordinated by the Heriot-Watt Engage team (https://www.hw.ac.uk/research/engage/about-us.htm). Further details on all Heriot-Watt postgraduate research can be found on our website at: http://www.hw.ac.uk/research/phd-opportunities.htm

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Related Research

Grants with similar aims, by meaning.

DTP 2016-2017 Heriot-Watt University
DTP 2018-19 Heriot Watt University
DTP 2020-2021 University of Huddersfield
DTP 2020-2021 University of Southampton
DTP 2020-2021 University of Glasgow

Original classification

Training Grant

Plain English summaries and category classifications on this site are generated by AI and may not perfectly reflect the original research.