Researchers from Queen Mary University of London will contribute to the training of the next generation of environmental scientists through a new London NERC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP), which involves nine London institutions.
Queen Mary is one of the few organisations to offer additional studentships to help support PhD students through the new training centre.
The London NERC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) brings together over 375 academics working across most of the environmental sciences. It is a unique collaboration led by UCL, and as well as Queen Mary it involves Birkbeck University of London, Brunel University, Institute of Zoology, King’s College London, The Natural History Museum, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Royal Holloway University of London.
Supporting 1,200 PhD students across the fifteen partnerships, this will result in at least 240 new students beginning training every year for five years, with the opportunity for partners to co-fund, boosting the number of studentships available.
The London DTP also includes strong links to businesses, policy-makers, and public and third sector organisations, such as BHP Billiton, Forestry Commission, Lloyds of London, Microsoft International and Ove Arup and Partners Ltd.
Professor Matthew Evans, Head of Queen Mary’s School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, said: “Queen Mary is delighted to be part of this new Doctoral Training Partnership, one of the largest in the country and which will create a lasting legacy of environmental scientists equipped with a range of multidisciplinary skills. This establishes London as one of the key places in the UK for environmental research and training.”
Science and Universities minister David Willetts, said: “This significant investment highlights the Government’s commitment to supporting postgraduate training and research in the environmental sciences. We're dedicated to providing the next generation of environmental researchers with the necessary skills and training to succeed in academia and industry.
"The strong support for this programme from a number of international partners such as BP, Microsoft and Arup is enormously encouraging. Not only will this initiative benefit students, UK research organisations, business, industry and the economy, it will keep us at the forefront of the global science race.”
The DTPs will offer postgraduate studentships and training across the full range of NERC’s disciplines, and in multidisciplinary environments, helping to enrich the student experience. Each DTP will create a strong and active community of students that are able – and encouraged – to integrate, work, and learn together. These students will receive in-depth, advanced research training, as well as training in the professional and transferable skills essential in today’s economy.
The London NERC DTP is one of 15 Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) across the UK funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).
The London NERC DTP is one of 15 new centres and will start recruiting students from September 2014.
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