Recipient organisationCardiff UniversitySource-published name: Cardiff University
Funding£4.0M
PeriodSept 2020 — Sept 2025
In plain English
AI plain-English summary
Cardiff University will train over 50 PhD students across 2020-22, with funding from the EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership, to tackle major challenges in materials, artificial intelligence, cyber security, sustainability, and health engineering. This matters because the UK needs a pipeline of researchers who can work across traditional disciplinary boundaries—combining physical sciences with biomedical fields, or data science with creative industries—to solve complex problems that no single field can address alone. The programme establishes 5-6 new interdisciplinary Doctoral Training Hubs, ring-fencing support for key disciplines like mathematical sciences and engineering while also funding novel studentship opportunities. If successful, this training will produce research leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs equipped to work at the intersection of major disciplines. Their work could improve infrastructure, medical diagnostics, energy systems, and manufacturing processes—systems that quietly underpin daily life. The programme also leverages multimillion-pound facilities including a brain imaging centre, a PET imaging centre, a biotech incubator, and a biobank, giving students access to world-class infrastructure. By fostering collaboration with UKRI, regional government, medical charities, and industry, the partnership aims to translate innovative ideas into real-world products and services, particularly in health and care.
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Strategy: The Cardiff University EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership will offer over 50 PhD studentships across 2020-22, including 5 CASE Awards. They will be available across a range of topics, mainly focusing on cross disciplinary research in areas such as: materials; artificial intelligence, data science, cyber security and applications; mobility, sustainability and resources; engineering to improve life quality and environment; health, physical and mathematical sciences, and; interdisciplinary practice and the creative industries. Successful students will benefit from excellent local research environments and a comprehensive programme of research, personal and professional skills development delivered by the University's Doctoral Academy. This DTP award will be used to support delivery of Cardiff University's research strategy that aligns specifically with the recent EPSRC Delivery Plan. Central to the DTP strategic delivery is the establishment of 5-6 new interdisciplinary Doctoral Training Hubs, supporting research aligned to major EPSRC-related grand challenges, including the enabling of greater collaboration across the biomedical and physical sciences and engineering disciplines. Funding will also be ring-fenced to support innovative and novel studentship opportunities, as well as ensuring support for the health of key disciplines: including the mathematical and physical sciences, engineering and ICT. It is our objective to train the next generation of research leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs including those who wish to work at the intersection with other major disciplines areas. We will deliver this by: fostering interdisciplinary research; hosting cohort building activities encouraging student interactions across disciplines; and engendering a commitment to research excellence, integrity and impact; and explorations of new ways of thinking. We will equip students with advanced research skills, supported by expert supervision, a dynamic research culture and well-funded infrastructure. Our multidisciplinary facilities provide an excellent ecosystem for high quality collaborative research in partnership with public and private sector partners such as UKRI, regional government, medical charities and industry. Selected examples of multimillion pound investment in internationally leading infrastructure and facilities at Cardiff University include the Brain Imaging Centre (CUBRIC); the Wales Research and Diagnostic PET Imaging Centre (PETIC); Cardiff Medicentre (biotech/medtech business incubator); the Accelerate project (South Wales collaboration translating innovative ideas into products and services for the health and care sector), and the Cardiff University Biobank. For Prospective Students: PhD projects will be promoted on a dedicated website, where prospective applicants can also sign-up to receive email updates: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/funding/funding-options/research-councils/epsrc-studentships . Information will be available on the recruitment timeline, application process, entry requirements and points of contact. We welcome applicants with a variety experiences and backgrounds, and we are committed to equality, diversity and inclusivity. For general information about undertaking a PhD at Cardiff University, see: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/postgraduate For Academic Staff: Our UKRI intranet pages will provide information on getting involved or academics can contact the Doctoral Academy: Doctoral-Academy@Cardiff.ac.uk . An Expression of Interest call for interdisciplinary DT Hubs will be advertised to university academic staff in Autumn 2019, alongside our proposed series of responsive mode calls for studentships. Both will be open to all academics working in fields aligned to the EPSRC strategy. The Doctoral Academy Head of Development will administer all decision making processes, with PVC Research (with responsibility for PGR) chairing selection panels.
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