Developing National Capability for Materials 4.0
Lead the digital revolution in materials science!
Right now, society faces huge, urgent challenges. From the imperative to achieve net-zero, to the need to build a resilient, circular economy in an uncertain world, to the drive for increased productivity as fellow nations embrace the digital revolution. To tackle these challenges, we need new materials and new materials systems, and we need them fast. But it can take 20 years to develop a new material with current methods. We need to innovate faster, as the pace of global change accelerates.
We are seeking scientists and engineers keen to acquire new skills and work in new ways, to help us realise the potential of the digital and data revolutions in materials science. This is Materials 4.0.
You will join a cohort of like-minded PhD students as part of a new CDT in Materials 4.0, led by the Henry Royce Institute, the UK’s national institute for advanced materials research. You will have a home in one of seven leading UK research universities and undertake a research project supervised by a leading researcher and sponsored by industry.
You will be trained in all aspects of digital materials science, including robotics, data science, machine learning, and sensing and control. You will become a pioneer and leader in this exciting new way of doing science.
Globally, companies are racing to adopt a materials informatics framework, combining capabilities from risk management, materials modelling, AI/machine learning, manufacturing informatics, and life-cycle simulation.
We are seeking scientists and engineers keen to acquire new skills and work in new ways, to help us realise the potential of the digital and data revolutions in materials science. This is Materials 4.0.
Partners
The CDT brings together the complementary strengths of two national institutes and seven research intensive universities.
A range of Partners means experience in teaching and training is provided in all aspects of Materials 4.0. The academic partners can draw on large numbers of undergraduate and postgraduate modules in key topics across materials science and each provides a range of training in technical and professional skills for Postgraduate Researchers (PGRs). NPL brings long experience of successfully running a national programme of PGR training through their Postgraduate Institute for Measurement Science.
As a PGR, you will benefit from an innovative approach to delivery. By becoming a Royce PhD PGR, you will be part of a broad cultural change in materials science, disseminating your new skills across research and into industry. The CDT will develop new leaders that make Materials 4.0 a ubiquitous approach to conducting materials science. It offers flexible and inclusive pathways for study, including options for part-time study and the opportunity to study whilst working and being sponsored by your employer.
Meet the team
The Royce Materials 4.0 CDT is led by two Co-Directors and the Management Board comprised of Co-Investigators from Royce Partners and NPL.
Directors
Dr Rob Lindsay, University of Manchester
Principal Investigator for the Centre
Reader in Corrosion Science and Engineering
Professor Chris Race, University of Sheffield
Co-Director and Co-Investigator
UKAEA Chair in Fusion Materials
Co-Investigators
Dr Kathy Christofidou, University of Sheffield
Senior Lecturer in Metallurgy & Royce Research Area Lead, Industry Liaison and Impact Lead
Professor Richard Bourne, University of Leeds
Professor of Digital Chemical Manufacturing, Academic Progression Committee Chair
Dr Enzo Liotti, University of Oxford
Departmental Lecturer in Processing of Advanced Materials, Responsible Research and Innovation & Environmental Sustainability Lead
Professor Rachel Oliver, University of Cambridge
Professor of Materials Science,Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead
Prof Salaheddin Rahimi, University of Strathclyde
AFRC Professor Of Practice, Entrepreneurship and Employability Lead.
Professor Aron Walsh, Imperial College London
Chair of Materials Design, Student Liaison and Wellbeing Lead
Dr Andrew Pollard, National Physical Laboratory
Science Area Leader for the Surface Technology Group, Training and CDT Network Liaison Lead
PGRs will be based at a Royce Partner University and conduct research in the group of their Academic Supervisor. Those working on industry projects will additionally have an Industry Supervisor.
Projects
Royce CDT research projects will create new ways of working across all sub-domains of materials science.
Each year, a range of projects covering all aspects of Materials 4.0 and spanning across the Royce Research Areas will be available in advance of each cohort recruitment phase.
Get in touch via doctoral-training@royce.ac.uk to find out more.
"We are building this training centre to address key challenges in materials science and drive the adoption of new ways of doing research. Training a new generation of scientists is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job, and seeing our CDT students go out into the world and apply the skills they learn in our centre will be a fantastic reward.”
Prof Chris Race | Co-Director, Materials 4.0 CDT
