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EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Developing National Capability in Materials 4.0 with the Henry Royce Institute
ROYCE CDT
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.
Recruitment is now underway for Cohort 2 of the Materials 4.0 CDT.
Dr Rob Lindsay
CDT Co-Director
“Through its 5 Missions for a Better Britain the UK government is pursuing polices to make Britain a clean energy superpower, build an NHS fit for the future, and secure the highest sustained growth in the G7. A key component of realising these ambitions is speeding up implementation of new technologies, including materials solutions. Our CDT is making a valuable contribution to this effort through providing a pipeline of highly skilled technical experts, who can harness the power of data, computers, and high throughput methods to accelerate real-world innovation.
I am really excited to be part of the Materials 4.0 CDT, as it is a new area for me. As well as supporting students through their programme, I expect to learn from them, including finding out about their exciting research. So, if you are interested in being part of the next materials revolution, please come and join us. We are looking for students with passion for research in this area, who want to contribute, so do not think feel it is beyond your reach. If you are not sure, feel free to email me, and we can discuss your interests.”
Overview
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 post-graduate modules in key topics across materials science and each provides a range of training in technical and professional skills for PhD students. NPL brings long experience of successfully running a national programme of PGR training through their Postgraduate Institute for Measurement Science.
As a student, you will benefit from an innovative approach to delivery. By becoming a Royce PhD student, 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.
Projects
Recruitment is now underway for Cohort 2 of the Materials 4.0 CDT.
EXPORE ALL MATERIALS 4.0 CDT PROJECTS
The programme provides fully funded 4-year studentships across a network of seven leading research universities, beginning in September 2025.
The first wave of projects for Cohort 2 programme can be viewed on findaphd.com here.
PROJECTS INCLUDE:
- Accelerated electrocatalyst design using artificial intelligence
- Early-stage failure prediction in fusion materials using machine learning
- High-throughput characterisation and inline process monitoring of 2D semiconductor films
- Intelligent Materials Health Monitoring: Utilising Machine Learning to Ensure the Long-term Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells
- Joining the Dots between AI, Machine Learning and Materials Advances in Green Technologies
- Mechanistic modelling of hydrogen-material interactions
- Non-contact measurements of thin catalytic membranes with ultrasonics
- Particle properties by design
- Towards in silico selection of interfacial actives: Discovery of new corrosion inhibitors for high value coating formulations
Further details, including the supervisor’s email address and relevant application links, can be found by clicking on the ‘details’ button beside each project. More projects will be advertised in the coming months and will be available on the same findaphd.com page. To be notified of new projects, you can join our mailing list.
Course Structure
A new generation of researchers will be trained in the digitalisation of materials science, with students going on to work in UK academia and industry, applying knowledge and skills to shorten the time materials take to reach market.
The core principle behind the training programme is to take students ‘from learners to leaders’ over the course of their studies. Bringing together high-throughput experimentation and modelling, big data and ML will transform materials science.
The CDT will provide students with the necessary skills and training to become a new type of scientist working in materials. But the ambition is to build an even broader skills base for UK academia and industry. Students will begin by learning core skills, but as you develop proficiency and confidence you will play a role in training other students, both within and external to the CDT.
Research projects will focus on developing new methods and tools within Materials 4.0, and in the last two years of study you will develop training materials to support your work. This will further develop your abilities as a trainer and help to disseminate your work and methodology. For students from industry or based with industrial projects this will offer a rapid route to impact for the training and new methods.
People
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 Technology Platform 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
Professor Brad Wynne, University of Strathclyde
Head Of Department for Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
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
Students will be based at a Royce Partner University and conduct research in the group of their Academic Supervisor.
Students working on industry projects will have an Industry Supervisor in addition to their Academic Supervisor.
“Our new CDT is a really exciting development for Royce. We are going to build a training centre to address key challenges in materials science and drive the adoption of new ways of doing research. I’m really pleased to be leading the new centre, alongside Manchester’s Rob Lindsay and our great team at Royce and the partner organisations.
“Building a training initiative is a daunting challenge, but I am sure it will be a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to seeing our team and our training programme grow over the coming months. 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.”
Dr Chris Race
CDT Co-Director
Industry Partnerships
The centre already has support from start-ups, SMEs, and international corporations – with pledged contributions exceeding £3m in direct funding for studentships. Industry partners will also provide opportunities for student placements and enable access to facilities and material samples for student research.
Partner domains range from energy production to advanced metallurgy, to semiconductor innovation and beyond. They also include software development companies and data science for materials organisations, as well as instrument manufacturers.
New skills and expertise in Materials 4.0 are needed right now across the UK. Students are being trained as leaders and will be taking the training materials they develop in the CDT out into the wider community.
Get in touch
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