| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/L016648/1 |
| Title: |
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Functional Materials: The BCFN |
| Principal Investigator: |
Seddon, Dr AM |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Physics |
| Organisation: |
University of Bristol |
| Scheme: |
Centre for Doctoral Training |
| Starts: |
01 April 2014 |
Ends: |
30 September 2023 |
Value (£): |
4,647,092
|
| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Materials Synthesis & Growth |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Manufacturing |
Chemicals |
| Electronics |
Energy |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
| Panel Date | Panel Name | Outcome |
|
23 Oct 2013
|
EPSRC CDT 2013 Interviews Panel O
|
Announced
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|
Summary on Grant Application Form |
The Bristol Centre for Functional Nanomaterials (BCFN) is an EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training at the forefront of
creative graduate training, equipping students to meet global grand challenges. The BCFN focus is to produce the highest
quality students capable of designing, measuring and understanding advanced functional materials from their fundamental
components, to their real-world applications. This is achieved by breaking down the traditional boundaries of chemistry,
physics, biology and engineering, and providing training in a highly creative, adaptive and flexible way.
Functional materials, and their characterisation, are vital to the UK economy, and are found in a very diverse range of
application sectors including medicine, energy, food and coatings, in a wide range of high value products and are key to
fundamental aspects of science. Understanding materials across all length scales and application areas is pivotal to our
success - there is therefore a clear need for highly-skilled graduates, and an understanding of materials across all length
scales is pivotal to our success. The global market for advanced materials is predicted to be $957bn by 2015, and we are
committed to providing cohorts of skilled scientists who can lead innovation in both academia and industry.
Our approach is to embed the training program into every aspect of the student experience. This means that the students
receive the strongest possible scientific foundations through taught courses and research projects but also develop a fully rounded set of skills, including communication, team working, entrepreneurship and creativity. We have a proven track
record of excellence in graduate training and have pioneered innovative tools where the needs of the student are at the
core. These have included new online learning tools, a mixture of short- and long-term research projects to promote choice
and a wider research experience, and intense involvement with industry which allows students to be exposed to "realworld"
problems, ensuring that their creativity is always directed towards finding solutions.
We have an extensive expert network of supervisors who deliver the training, whilst collaborating to create new research
areas. Our network has more than 100 academics from 15 departments across four faculties at the University of Bristol, aswell as industrial partners. This ensures that the BCFN research and training can adapt to the changing needs of both the
UK and global demands for materials. Our centre is located at the nexus of funding council priority areas, and has
studentship support (3 p.a.), staff funding, and dedicated space support from the University.
From 2014, we will build on our strong foundations and evolve our training. Our links with industry will be strengthened
further and via our Bristol-Industry Graduate Engagement (BRIDGE) program we will build sustainable, long-term research
platforms to ensure a true benefit to the economy. We will take our successful training model and create a distance learning
platform which can be used by partners overseas and in industry through innovative e-learning. We will run
summer schools with these partners to expand the training experience for both BCFN students and partners alike. We will
continue our extensive public engagement with schools, the general public and policy makers, ensuring that at all stages
we communicate with our stakeholders and receive feedback.
We have a strong student-focussed management team to ensure quality and delivery. This team, composed of a Director,
Principal, co-Principal, Teaching Fellow, Industrial Research Fellow and Manager, and a wider Operational Team drawn
from our core departments of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, represent a wide range of research experience from Fellows
of the Royal Society to early career fellows, covering a range of strengths in functional materials with proven leadership
and research track records.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.bris.ac.uk |