Between 08-09 April 2026, The Henry Royce Institute welcomed early-career researchers from across the UK to the University of Manchester for its National PhD Conference 2026, delivering two days of inspiring science, career insight and connection for the next generation of materials scientists.
Bringing together an audience of first- and second-year PhD students, the conference provided a unique opportunity to explore the breadth of materials science challenges and opportunities, while equipping attendees with the tools, perspectives and networks needed to shape their future careers.
Inspiring perspective on the future of advanced materials
The conference opened with a welcome from Royce Training and Skills Manager Tom Hancocks, followed by a keynote from the Institute’s Chief Technology Officer, Dr Stuart Kitney, who set the tone by highlighting the critical role PhD researchers will play in advancing materials innovation, particularly as the field embraces Materials 4.0, data-driven discovery, and digital transformation.
A series of engaging plenary talks then explored some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities in the field:
- Dr Jessica Wade (Imperial College London) spoke powerfully about representation in science, emphasising how visibility, communication and engagement can drive both cultural change and research impact.
- Dr Andrew Pollard (National Physical Laboratory) highlighted the vital importance of materials metrology, underlining how precision, reproducibility and evolving measurement techniques underpin scientific progress.
- Dr Niamh Fox (University of Manchester) explored the role of polymers in enabling a circular materials economy, demonstrating how advances in mechanochemistry can help tackle the global plastics challenge.
putting PhD research centre stage
The afternoon of Day One shifted focus to the students themselves, with interactive breakout sessions aligned to Royce’s core research themes. These sessions created space for PhD researchers to present their work, exchange ideas and gain feedback from peers working across diverse research themes.
The day concluded with an evening networking reception at Oddfellows Hall, where delegates had the opportunity to build meaningful connections across institutions, disciplines and future career pathways.
Building skills beyond the lab
Day Two broadened the conversation beyond research, beginning with a plenary from Professor Laura Cohen on materials science policy, offering valuable insight into how research translates into national and global decision-making.
A diverse programme of workshops and panels followed, designed to support students in navigating the wider research and innovation landscape. Sessions included:
- Publishing and communicating research effectively with the Institute of Physics
- Materials Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with CEAMS
- Science communication and outreach with Discover Materials and Dr Maddison Coke
- Translating AI and Materials 4.0 into industrial impact with sessions from Polaron and UKAEA
- Commercialising research and taking ideas to market with the University of Manchester Innovation Factory
- Careers panels spanning both industry and technical pathways
Interactive sessions such as the Discover Materials showcase and outreach workshops encouraged students to think about public engagement and their role in inspiring future scientists, while other breakouts gave participants the opportunity to dive deep on the potential career or research pathways they might take at the end of their doctorates.
Building connections for the Next Generation of materials Innovators
By combining research insight with practical skills development and peer-to-peer exchange, the Royce National PhD Conference continues to play a vital role in supporting early-career researchers at a formative stage in their journey.
The conference delivered a truly unique opportunity for researchers to build lasting relationships with peers and senior figures from across the materials innovation value-chain, which will support their growth through the next steps on the professional ladder.
The Henry Royce Institute National PhD Conference 2026 was generously sponsored by Thermo-Calc Software, Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (IOM3), Venner Shipley and National Physical Laboratory (NPL)
