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Doctoral funding awarded to the next generation of curiosity-driven researchers

Doctoral funding awarded to the next generation of curiosity-driven researchers at York

Posted on 21 November 2024

The University of York is collaborating with institutions across the UK to help train and support the next generation of doctoral researchers.

The investment by UKRI will support doctoral students to develop their skills and experience across the biological sciences, engineering and physical sciences, and natural and environmental sciences.

York is part of strong regional partnerships and joins the universities of Leeds, Liverpool and Sheffield in supporting the next generation of researchers, which aims to widen participation, improve lives and drive societal change and economic growth.

Matthias Ruth, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research said: “We welcome this investment for York and look forward to working with our close partners across the North of England. By investing in the next generation of researchers we are creating the best possible future for all involved, and bringing lasting benefits for the region and beyond.”

The researchers are among thousands of doctoral students across the UK supported by Research and Innovation (UKRI) via two new schemes, the doctoral landscape awards and doctoral focal awards.

The funding covers:

A Doctoral Landscape Award to York funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Doctoral Landscape Award. The award is granted to the University to fund PhD studentships, summer research internships, and research-centred activities across six departments within the Faculty of Sciences, over three annual intakes and with a strong emphasis on collaborative projects with industry partners. Through curiosity-driven research, these doctoral students will advance knowledge in areas such as renewable energy, manufacturing and materials science to foster economic growth and provide a skilled workforce.
The Yorkshire Environmental Sciences - Doctoral Training Network (YES●DTN) is a collaboration between internationally leading centres of research and training excellence at the universities of York and Leeds, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). Its research spans the breadth of NERC's science remit, with a comprehensive and flexible training offering, supported by over 50 non-academic partners to provide an exceptional interdisciplinary and vibrant training environment for Postgraduate Researchers (PGRs). YES●DTN will empower postgraduate researchers to become future leaders and innovators capable of tackling major environmental challenges and opportunities that are faced by businesses, local/national government agencies, and other organisations across the UK and beyond.
NERC ECOSOLUTIONS (Transforming chemical management for a non-toxic future doctoral focal award) is a DFA partnership between the Universities of Sheffield and York and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology that will train transdisciplinary, solution-focused PhD students who can apply systems-thinking to facilitate the delivery of a non-toxic UK environment and sustainable chemicals products sector. ECOSOLUTIONS is an exciting, ambitious and innovative training programme that has been co-designed with our project partners in business, government, public sector, third sector. It will produce graduates that have the knowledge, skills and networks required to transform future chemicals management.
The NERC ACCE+ (Adapting to the Challenges of a Changing Environment) DLA is a partnership between the Universities of York, Sheffield, and Liverpool, the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and the Natural History Museum (NHM), providing doctoral training in the biological components of the natural environment, their response to climate change, and related disciplines. This partnership is enhanced by a strategic end-user focus, through close links with a broad set of partners from industry, business and NGOs. Our partners are embedded in the co-development of research projects and training delivery, ensuring ACCE+ students are fully equipped for careers in science-based industry, academia and beyond.
A newly created Yorkshire Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership (YBDTP), launching in 2025, led by the University of Leeds, funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The partnership will train bioscientists to understand how living systems work and address global challenges including climate change, old age, sustainable food production, land use and energy production - supporting the bioeconomy. It will expand the work of the existing White Rose BBSRC DTP (Leeds, Sheffield York), supporting postgraduates at the universities of Bradford, Hull, Leeds Beckett, Sheffield Hallam and Teesside and fostering research linkages across the region.

This investment of more than £500 million announced by UKRI will support doctoral students to develop their skills and experience in their respective universities’ areas of strength.

Skills the students will develop will prepare them for a diverse range of careers, both in research and innovation and across the public and private sectors. At least 25% of studentships will be delivered in collaboration with non-academic partners.

UKRI Chief Executive, Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, said: “UKRI’s investments in Doctoral Training are pivotal for the UK’s research and innovation endeavour.

“The awards provide funding for Universities across the UK to nurture a cadre of creative, talented people to develop their skills and knowledge, to build partnerships and networks, and to pursue the discoveries that will transform tomorrow, with diverse benefits for society and economic growth.”