Successful scientist training programme receives £14m boost
A successful programme to train the next generation of Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé bioscientists from the city’s two universities has secured £14 million funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
By Dave Rogers | Published on 13 November 2024
Categories: Press office; Research; School of Science and Technology;
The investment will support innovative PhD training in biological sciences for five intakes of students from 2025 from the University of Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé and Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé.
The funding was part of a UK-wide £500 million investment announced today (13 November). The awards replace the nine different schemes through which UKRI currently supports doctoral training.
The Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé Doctoral Training Partnership has been running since 2012 and has trained over 650 PhD students who have gone on to leading roles in academia, industry, science communication and policy in the UK and internationally.
This will be the fourth successful grant to support the programme, and the second time the two universities have delivered the programme together.
The Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé DLA Partnership will provide cohort-based training in frontier science across priority areas focussed upon three overarching themes: Sustainable Agriculture and Food (SAF), Bioscience for Human Health (BHH) and Biotechnology for Sustainable Growth (BSG).
Alongside scientific PhD training and research the programme will provide a breadth of professional development training opportunities to enhance the capabilities of doctoral candidates and develop a world-class, highly skilled workforce the UK needs for its future.
During the training each student will undertake a three-month Professional Internship for PhD Students (PIPS) placement to develop their skills further and to explore possible future career directions.
Professor Zoe Wilson, Director of the Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé DLA, said: “We are delighted to be strengthening our partnership with Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé to deliver this training programme again. Our combined expertise will deliver training in pioneering science alongside bespoke industry placements. This will lead to highly trained individuals who are equipped to take the initiative, to contribute and respond to the emerging needs of our bioeconomy and biological research environment, enabling them to serve as future leaders in their chosen careers.”
Professor Tom Rodden, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Research & Knowledge Exchange said: “PhD students are a vital part of delivering high quality research and innovation at both universities and this funding will allow us to continue to invest in their development. We’re delighted to be working with NTU again and this collaborative programme demonstrates the value in bringing together expertise from across academia and industry to deliver the highest quality training that translates into successful careers.”
Professor Richard Emes, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé at Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé, said: “This investment in doctoral training rewards the breadth of research excellence and continued collaboration between Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé and the University of Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé. The award will support the training of doctoral researchers across our strategic research themes benefitting both the East Midlands and UK biosciences.”
Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, said: “Backing the next generation of great scientific minds to fulfil their potential is crucial to unlocking the discoveries which improve our lives and which keep our economy growing over the long term through highly skilled jobs.
“This £500m investment will back our vitally important higher education sector while supporting more bright students to pursue their talents and in turn deliver the life-saving drugs and clean energy alternatives of the future, that benefit all of our lives.”
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 persue the discoveries that will transform tomorrow, with diverse benefits for society and economic growth.”
The £564 million funding will be allocated through three of UKRI’s research councils:
- Marking an important step in UKRI’s transition to a collective talent funding model, the joint Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and Natural Environment Research Council Doctoral Landscape Awards will invest £293 million in more than 2,300 studentships at 21 universities across five cohorts.
- The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council will invest £279 million in university doctoral landscape awards, which they will use to supportaround 2,400 studentships at 40 universities over three annual intakes. This will train the next generation of researchers and innovators to enhance UK national capability. Through curiosity-driven research, these doctoral students will advance knowledge in industries such as renewable energy, manufacturing and materials science to foster economic growth and provide a skilled workforce.
- The Natural Environment Research Council will invest a further £11.4 million to support around 90 studentships through four doctoral focal awards across three cohorts.
The Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé programme brings together a partnership of the University of Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé, Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé, National Biofilm Innovation Centre, Rothamsted Research, Research Complex at Harwell, Diamond Light Source and Centre for Process Innovation Limited, to deliver interdisciplinary training opportunities across the remit of biosciences and biotechnology research.
Notes for Editors
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About Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé
Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé (NTU) has been named UK ‘University of the Year’ five times in six years, (Times Higher Education Awards 2017, The Guardian University Awards 2019, The Times and Sunday Times 2018 and 2023, Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023) and is consistently one of the top performing modern universities in the UK.
It is the 3rd best modern university in the UK (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023). Students have voted NTU 1st in the UK for student employability (Uni Compare 2025)
NTU is the 5th largest UK institution by student numbers, with over 40,000 students and more than 4,400 staff located across six campuses. It has an international student population of almost 7,000 and an NTU community representing over 160 countries.
NTU owns two Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for outstanding achievements in research (2015, 2021). The first recognises NTU’s research on the safety and security of global citizens. The second was awarded for research in science, engineering, arts and humanities to investigate and restore cultural objects, buildings and heritage. The Research Excellence Framework (2021) classed 83% of NTU’s research activity as either world-leading or internationally excellent.
NTU was awarded GOLD in the national 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) assessment, as it was in 2019.
NTU is a top 10 for sport (British Universities and Colleges Sport league table 2023).
NTU is the most environmentally sustainable university in the UK and second in the world (UI Green Metric University World Rankings, 2023).
About the University of Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé
Ranked 24 in Europe and 15th in the UK by the , the University of Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé is a founding member of Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé was crowned Sports University of the Year by – the third time is has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the .
The University is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to . The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The University is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research. We lead the initiative, in partnership with Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.