PhD studentships with the new Bryden Centre
Fully funded PhD studentships in renewable energy
Funding for: UK Students, EU Students, International Students
Duration: 39 months, full-time
Start date: 1 September 2017
Closing date: 23 June 2017
Host Institutions: Queen’s University Belfast, University of the Highlands and Islands, Letterkenny Institute of Technology, Ulster University, Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute
Project description: The Bryden Centre PhD studentships have been funded under the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme. The Bryden Centre will create a ‘virtual centre of competence’ that will support industry-led applied/pre-commercial collaborative research on a cross-border, interregional basis that is focused on two specific forms of renewable energy:
- Marine renewable energy; and
- Bio-energy
The programme will offer a range of research opportunities in the key theme areas of Biofouling, Biofuels, Renewables and Environment (Resource, Interactions, Impact), Grid Storage and Techno-Economics.
We are seeking to recruit our first cohort of 20 or more students to commence their studies in September 2017; each of whom will work with industry to produce industrially relevant research with the potential for commercial exploitation and resulting economic growth within the INTERREG VA eligible region of Northern Ireland, Border Region of Ireland, and Western Scotland.
Student Funding: These studentships cover the full university fees at UK/EU level and include a yearly stipend of GBP £14,553 per annum (tax free) for up to 39 months. Substantial scholarships will be available for international students. These fully-funded doctoral studentships also offer a generous study package, e.g. research consumables, equipment, travel budget and training when appropriate.
In addition, this enhanced PhD offering will adopt the principle of cohort training (via summer schools) and provide training in areas of business management, entrepreneurship, personal development and technical skills. Each student will complete a minimum 3 week secondment at an industrial partner organisation and/or a partner organisation to enhance their mobility and provide them with additional training, networking and knowledge exchange opportunities. The programme has a generous training and research budget to cover the project mechanisms as outlined above.
Funding Eligibility: These studentships are open to applicants of all nationalities. Substantial scholarships are available for candidates who do not qualify for Home/EU Fee Status.
Academic Eligibility: Applications are invited from candidates who hold or expect to hold a minimum degree of a 2:1 (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.
Additional Criteria: The main language of the programme is English, hence all applicants are required to be proficient in both spoken and written forms of the English language. If not a native English speaker, evidence must be provided of IELTS English proficiency or equivalent at level 6.5 or above.
PhD Registration & Supervision: Each PhD student will be based at one of the host institution sites, where they will be integrated into a local team of researchers or directly at an industrial partner organisation. Students will be registered at Queen’s University Belfast, University of the Highlands and Islands, or Ulster University. Each PhD student will have at least one primary supervisor from the host site and a secondary supervisor either from another partner organisation or a suitable qualified industrial representative.
For general enquiries, including queries about the application process please contact: Julie McConnell.
This project is supported by the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)