The Centre will train around 55 PhD students over the next eight years. It brings together leading researchers from the Universities of Bath and Bristol, with highly complementary expertise covering most areas of cutting-edge research in Condensed Matter Physics.
The research themes covered address some fundamental questions in science such as the physics of superconductors, novel magnetic materials, single atomic layer crystals, plasmonic structures and metamaterials, as well as more applied topics in power electronics, optoelectronics and instrumentation and sensor development.
The first intake of students will start in October 2014, undertaking a taught MRes course in the first year to be split between both campuses. After this, students will complete their PhD projects in either Bristol or Bath, depending on the project chosen.
Professor Simon Bending, Head of Physics at the University of Bath and Deputy Director of the new Centre, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have secured funding for this Centre which will train the next generation of research leaders in this exciting field.
“Not only will it allow us to perform cutting edge condensed matter physics research, but we will also be able to build much stronger links with the University of Bristol as well as our industrial and large facility partners.”
CDT students are funded for four years and the programme includes technical and transferrable skills training as well as a major research element. The centres bring together diverse areas of expertise to train engineers and scientists with the skills, knowledge and confidence to tackle today’s evolving issues, and future challenges. They also provide a supportive and exciting environment for students, create new working cultures, build relationships between teams in universities and forge lasting links with industry.
The Bristol/Bath centre is one of 22 new Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) across the country announced last week which will provide postgraduate training in a wide range of engineering and scientific fields important to the UK’s economy.
In addition, the University is also benefitting from a new £4 million Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Mathematics. Statistical Applied Mathematics at Bath ‘SAMBa’ will create the next generation of interdisciplinary mathematicians.
The investment complements existing EPSRC CDTs at the University in Sustainable Chemical Technologies, Digital Entertainment, as well as CDTs in Water Informatics, Science & Engineering (WISE), Solar photovoltaic technology and Catalysis and Reaction Engineering in which the University is partnered with other universities.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Professor Jane Millar said: “Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Professor Jane Millar said: “The latest announcement from the Chancellor and the EPSRC provides us with further support to ensure advanced training for the next generation of scientists and engineers.”
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