UK Oil and Gas Collaborative Doctoral Training Centre

This grant funds a doctoral training centre that will produce the next generation of PhD graduates for the UK’s oil and gas sector. The problem is a looming skills gap. As the UK’s energy industry transitions from fossil fuels toward net-zero, it still needs highly trained scientists and engineers to manage existing oil and gas infrastructure, decommission old platforms, and develop carbon capture and storage technologies. Without a steady pipeline of new talent, the sector risks losing the expertise needed to handle these complex technical challenges safely and efficiently. If successful, this centre will train cohorts of PhD students who understand both conventional hydrocarbon systems and emerging low-carbon technologies. These graduates will go into industry, academia, and regulatory bodies, bringing skills that keep the UK’s energy supply secure while supporting the shift to cleaner energy. The impact is not on a single product or device but on the entire workforce pipeline that underpins a critical part of the national economy. This is primarily a skills and training investment rather than a fundamental science project. It does not aim to discover new physical laws or materials. Instead, it ensures the UK retains the human expertise necessary to manage its energy transition responsibly.