STFC Leicester 2015 DTP

STFC is funding doctoral training partnerships to produce the next generation of scientists and engineers across the UK. This grant does not fund a specific research project. Instead, it supports a structured programme of postgraduate training—PhD studentships—across a range of science and technology fields. The problem it addresses is a skills gap: the UK needs a steady pipeline of highly trained researchers to sustain its research base, particularly in areas supported by the Science and Technology Facilities Council, such as particle physics, astronomy, nuclear physics, and space science. The potential impact is long-term and systemic. By training cohorts of doctoral students, this programme ensures that fundamental science—and the technical expertise it requires—continues to thrive. These students will go on to work in universities, national laboratories, and industries that depend on advanced analytical and engineering skills. The work is primarily about building human capital rather than producing a single discovery. However, the fundamental research these students will undertake has historically led to unexpected breakthroughs—from the World Wide Web emerging out of particle physics to satellite technologies that underpin modern navigation and communications.