About the Centre for Doctoral Training

The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Aerosol Science (CAS) offers multidisciplinary doctoral training bringing together leading academic teams across a range of schools and faculties at seven UK universities with industrial and public-sector partners in areas of healthcare, material science, energy and transport, environment, consumer products and agrochemicals.

An aerosol consists of solid particles or liquid droplets dispersed in a gas phase, with sizes spanning from clusters of molecules (nanometres) to rain droplets (millimetres). Not only will studying at the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Aerosol Science (CAS) for a PhD give you an opportunity to undertake leading research in aerosols, it will equip you with a unique mix of skills and experiences for your future career, including:

• Comprehensive training in the core physical science of aerosols during the first seven months of your PhD, hosted at the University of Bristol.
• Engagement with a complementary area of aerosol science to your main PhD project during a thematic research broadening sabbatical.
  
• Mentoring from an industrial supervisor with an opportunity to work with the industrial partner during a placement in year two or three.
• Experience of working in multidisciplinary teams, ensuring you have the agility to work at the interfaces of the traditional disciplines.
• Opportunities to build a network for the future with a community across seven universities and 50 industry and public sector partners.

Programme Details

CAS graduates will become agile experts, able to work at the many boundaries between the conventional disciplines where aerosols play a role.

The four year CAS training programme will include a period of intensive training in year one, hosted by the CAS hub at the University of Bristol. You will receive comprehensive training in the core physical science of aerosols, research methods, an in professionalism and translation of research. You will then have the opportunity to build networks across the seven universities, undertaking a short project at either your home institution or another partnering institution. These training elements will equip you for your PhD research in Years 2-4, based at the University of Bath.

Throughout your PhD, you will be supported by a mentoring team of two academic supervisors and an industrial partner, who will host you for a placement in Year 2 or 3. You will benefit from the diverse backgrounds of your peers, with training in Year 1 using team-based learning. Cooperative learning groups in subsequent years will continue to provide opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and support.

You can find out more information from the CAS website.

Studentships

Fully-funded four-year studentships are available for UK and EU applicants who have been ordinarily resident in the UK for three years prior to the start of the course. A limited number of studentships may be available for EU applicants who do not meet the residency requirement. For more information, contact aerosol-science@bristol.ac.uk.

A full studentship covers UK/EU tuition fees, maintenance at the UKRI doctoral stipend rate (£15,009 per annum, 2019/20 rate) and an allowance for research and training costs.

How to Apply

Identify a Project

Projects will be available at all seven partner institutions, the Universities of Bath, Bristol, Cambridge, Hertfordshire, Imperial, Leeds and Manchester.

Projects available at Bath for 2020 entry are as follows:

Aerosol jet printed p- and n-type semiconductor materials: practical routes to printed electronics

Theme: Aerosol technology

This project focuses on the development of new inorganic inks for the aerosol jet printing of p- and n-type semiconductor electronics. The project will involve the synthesis and characterisation of new nanoscale metal-oxide and metal-chalcogenide molecules for the formulation of new composite inorganic inks. The projects sits at the interface between molecular/materials chemistry and aerosol science, and is ideally suited for students with an interest in both inorganic and materials chemistry.

Supervisor: Dr Andrew L Johnson (Department of Chemistry)

Read the full project description on FindAPhD.com.

Modelling aerosols in an acoustic trap

Theme: Basic aerosol processes

Acoustic levitation involves using sound from a speaker (or transducer) to float particles. These particles are suspended mid-air and do not touch the walls, and such levitation could become an essential platform for experimentally observing and analysing aerosols. In this project, you will use a combination of numerical modelling and fundamental theoretical tools to understand the forces on aerosol particles inside an acoustic trap

Supervisor: Dr Anton Souslov (Department of Physics)

Read the full project description on FindAPhD.com.

Crystallisation in nano-droplets

Theme: Basic aerosol processes

In this project you will develop cutting-edge instrumentation to produce and study sub-nanolitre droplets as they evolve in a controlled vapour environment, observing crystallisation and phase changes in real time using imaging and x-ray scattering. With this instrumentation you will study the fundamental science underpinning atmospheric, industrial and pharmaceutical processes.

Supervisor: Dr Adam Squires (Department of Chemistry)

Read the full project description on FindAPhD.com.

Application Guidance and Deadlines

Applications for September 2020 entry are now open.

Depending on the subject area, applicants must hold/achieve a minimum of an upper second class MSci or BSc degree, or equivalent, in an area of physical science, engineering or biological science.

Apply by 3 February 2020 using the CAS online application form. You can indicate up to three project choices, an overall theme or preferred institution, but this information is not essential at this application stage.

The CDT recruitment panel will review all applications. If your academic background is suitable, you will be invited to a recruitment and assessment day in Bristol on 10 February 2020.

Applications received later than 3 February 2020 will be considered subject to the remaining availability of studentships. Contact aerosol-science@bristol.ac.uk for more information.