Queen's University Belfast will train 30 PhD researchers across engineering and physical sciences, with a focus on areas such as advanced manufacturing, cyber security, green chemistry, and healthcare technologies. This Doctoral Training Partnership addresses the need for researchers who can work across disciplines and with industry, rather than relying on narrow expertise. The programme responds to the shift from e-commerce toward interconnected networks, data analytics, and digital transformation that will define the fourth industrial revolution. If successful, the programme could strengthen the UK's research base in strategically important fields. It may improve systems that quietly underpin modern life—such as energy grids, digital infrastructure, medical technology, and manufacturing supply chains—by producing graduates equipped to work across sectors. The university also aims to support early-career researchers and build new industrial collaborations. The abstract describes the training environment and strategic priorities, but does not specify the scientific questions or methods the PhD projects will pursue. The impact depends on the quality of the individual research projects, which are not detailed here.
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Queen's University Belfast aims to create a world-class postgraduate research environment to realise the vision of: making Queen's the global choice for postgraduate researchers who are addressing global challenges; creating a postgraduate community built on excellence, intellectual challenge, and inclusiveness that will transform lives and inspire futures, and developing the Queen's postgraduate to be a leader and innovator. Our Graduate School has been ranked 'the best in the world' as it provides an enriched environment of learning, research and innovation for our PGT/R communities. All students engaged in the EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership will be fully integrated into the Graduate School. The Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences acknowledges that the research student population is an important driver for research and for the future of academy in its broadest sense, and is committed to working with the Graduate School to ensure students receive a world-class experience. The last wave of technological innovation was characterised by E-commerce but the fourth industrial revolution will be founded on interconnected networks, data analytics and digital transformation. Researchers that rely on narrow expertise are unlikely to flourish in the economies of the future. Therefore, Queen's offers an innovative model of engineering and scientific development for inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration. The EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership at Queen's will provide support for 15 PhD positions in 2020-21 and 15 places in 2021-22. Queen's recognises the need to provide broad support for research excellence and as such distributes studentships across a number of disciplinary areas. Awards will principally be allocated in the Engineering and Physical Science disciplines in areas of strategic importance for the University such as Advanced Manufacturing, Cyber Security, Green Chemistry, Healthcare Technologies, Analytical Science, Intelligent Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy. The University has also committed to support our Early Career Researchers (ECRs) and, with the support of more experienced PGR supervisors, a number of the DTP studentships have been ring-fenced for our new start ECRs. Details of the DTP doctoral opportunities can be found on the Faculty homepage https://www.qub.ac.uk/about/Leadership-and-structure/Faculties-and-Schools/Engineering-and-Physical-Sciences/, the respective EPS School websites at www.qub.ac.uk/schools and potential supervisors' homepages within the PURE research portal at Queen's https://pure.qub.ac.uk/portal/. Queen's is committed to supporting the strengthening of existing and building of new industrial collaborations. As such, we will offer a number of PhD projects which involve collaboration with industry. These are allocated via a cross-faculty panel and details of these CASE studentships can also be found on the School websites. A small number of international studentships will also be available principally linked to the EPSRC active research groups and aligned to the EPS strategic areas in the £350M Belfast City Deal namely, Advanced Manufacturing, Digital Information Technology and Medical Technology. Queen's is committed to supporting and developing the next generation of researchers and has a strong track record of doctoral training and progression. Queen's has recognition under the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and under the European Commission HR Excellence in Research Award (January 2019). A holistic approach to supporting students (from essential skills training through to pastoral care) is adopted. Over the duration of the PhD programme, all DTP students will have the opportunity to engage in a wide range of different training and development opportunities delivered through a combination of formal training and integrated learning experiences.
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