After a couple of days of induction, they are into the full swing of lectures and are already setting up and running a programme of symposia, which will include speakers from across the University of Bath, partner organisations and new contacts.
Dorka Fekete, who has joined SAMBa from the University of Szeged in Hungary said, “It’s been a great way to get involved in the department and find out about the amazing research that is all around us. We are all really looking forward to the first Integrative Think Tank in January where we can put everything we are learning into practice.”
Integrative Think Tanks are a chance for students to engage with industry and academic partners, formulating problems that will form the basis of their PhD theses. During their 4 years as part of SAMBa, students will also have the chance to undertake placements in industrial and overseas partners.
Matt Thomas, who is continuing his studies at the University of Bath said: “SAMBa has a fantastic atmosphere that puts us students at the forefront of work in the areas of Mathematics and Statistics and influences the research that we feel most passionate about. This setup made SAMBa different and appealed most to me when choosing to continue my studies at Bath.”
SAMBa is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the University of Bath and forms one of a suite of Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) at the University of Bath. Students in each Centre are trained as a cohort, working together and learning from each other, enabling them to develop skills and knowledge outside of their own areas of research.
Susie Douglas, Centre Manager for SAMBa said, “Getting the students through door has been fantastic, after a lot of hard work from a lot of people over the last two years. There’s so much to look forward to and I’m confident that it’s going to be a rewarding experience for everyone involved.”