UDLA 2527 King's College London

King’s College London will use EPSRC funding to train doctoral students across engineering and physical sciences, with the grant supporting a range of postgraduate research positions. This funding addresses a structural gap in the UK research system: the need for a steady pipeline of skilled researchers who can tackle complex scientific and engineering challenges. Without sustained investment in doctoral training, the country risks losing its capacity to innovate in fields that depend on deep technical expertise—from materials science to quantum technologies. If the training succeeds, it will produce a cohort of researchers equipped to advance both fundamental science and applied engineering. These graduates may go on to work in universities, industry, or public-sector labs, contributing to areas such as energy systems, manufacturing processes, and digital infrastructure. The grant does not specify a single practical application; its impact is indirect but essential. Similar doctoral training programmes have historically supplied the talent behind breakthroughs in semiconductors, medical imaging, and renewable energy—outcomes that began with people, not projects.