STFC Imperial Physics 2019 DTP

The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funds doctoral training partnerships that support postgraduate students across a range of scientific disciplines. This grant provides the framework for selecting, training, and supporting PhD students in physics at Imperial College London, funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). The core problem it addresses is the need for a skilled scientific workforce. Without structured funding for doctoral training, the pipeline of researchers who go on to work in academia, industry, and public-sector laboratories would shrink. If successful, this training partnership will produce a cohort of highly trained physicists equipped to tackle complex problems. These individuals may later contribute to areas that quietly underpin modern life—such as improving satellite navigation systems, advancing medical imaging technologies, or developing more efficient energy grids. The research conducted by these students is primarily curiosity-driven fundamental science, exploring the laws of nature without an immediate commercial application. However, past investments in similar physics training have led to unexpected breakthroughs, from the World Wide Web to improved cancer radiotherapy techniques. This grant ensures that the next generation of scientists has the opportunity to make such discoveries.