Industrial Sponsors

cdtmission The world leading Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Infrastructure Systems (CDT-SIS) at the University of Southampton aims to produce the next generation of engineers and scientists with the interdisciplinary skills needed to develop global infrastructure that is essential for economic growth, security, societal wellbeing and environmental sustainability. The CDT-SIS is jointly funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the University of Southampton and industrial partners.

Sustainable Infrastructure Systems challenges conventional thinking that has approached infrastructure as separates sectors and seeks to create interdependent research covering the infrastructure sectors of Water, Transport and Energy. In order to do this CDT-SIS adopts a cohort training approach to deliver talented engineers with the diverse skill-set required to meet present and future global infrastructure challenges. The skills we aim to develop comprise:

  • Technical expertise relevant to specific infrastructure sectors;
  • Wider technical understanding to enable integration and transformative thinking across the sectors;
  • Ability to work at the interdisciplinary interface, with understanding of a range subject areas;
  • Awareness of environmental context and ability to develop sustainable solutions that address the requirements of environmental legislation;
  • Understanding of the societal perspectives and attitudes that frequently result in impediments to progress and sometimes complete impasse;
  • Underpinning generic skills in mathematics, research, leadership and management, and multimedia communication with a variety of audiences ;
  • International perspective, to be able to translate and adapt thinking from one set of societal or environmental conditions to others.

The CDT doctoral programme is four years in length, comprising an initial taught year equivalent to an MSc during which students are trained and their doctoral research project is scoped, defined and specified, followed by a three-year research component pursuing this research project with supervisors and industrial partners.

traininganddevelopmentThe first year of the CDT-SIS doctoral programme comprises two semesters of taught material and cutting-edge transferable and technical skills tailored to the requirements of each student’s research area, followed by an Individual Summer Project. Courses/modules during the first year are selected in consultation with SIS staff, supervisors and industry mentors to best support a student research, career development and personal goals.

In years 2, 3, and 4 students undertake their PhD research project co-created in conjunction with a team of supervising academics and industrial mentors. Industry partners will therefore have ample opportunity to work alongside students and academic staff throughout the life of the project.  Where beneficial and appropriate a significant proportion of a student’s time may be spent in industry – for example, collecting data or working alongside experienced mentors.

The Sustainable Infrastructure Systems Doctoral Training Centre is seeking industrial sponsors to collaborate on four year PhD research projects in technologies and applications for Sustainable Infrastructure. Projects will receive additional funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and sponsors may also be eligible for R and D tax credits.

This is an ideal opportunity for your company to be involved in creating and driving a research project tailored to your own company’s development needs, with access to world class research facilities and experts in Sustainable Infrastructure.

workingwithusIt is a cost effective way for companies to get involved in relevant leading edge research which most companies would not have the funding, expertise or equipment to undertake alone.

  • Research projects are developed between the sponsoring company and the supervisory
  • team, ensuring real relevance of the work to the sponsor.
  • The University of Southampton is investing in a new ÂŁ138m
  • The research project is based on a proposal from the sponsoring company, so the research is of real technical and commercial significance to the sponsor.
  • Our students are graduates who possess excellent academic track records and are highly committed to solving real world research problems, who are given excellent sustainable infrastructure training specific to the research they will be conducting in addition to wide ranging professional skills training – an excellent asset to the sponsor.
  • Through the Centre your organisation will have access to world-leading expertise in sustainable infrastructure and start-of-the-art equipment, and will be part of an extended network of EPSRC sponsored Doctoral Training Centres in the UK.
  • The standard industry sponsor contribution for a studentship is ÂŁ48,000 (ÂŁ12,000 pa), with ESPRC contributing the equivalent of ÂŁ68,000 (see below). Sponsors may also be able to claim Research and Development Tax Credits.

costsIndustrial Sponsor Contribution, £48,000 (£12,000 per annum):

  • ÂŁ30’000 stipend contribution
  • ÂŁ12’000 fees contribution
  • ÂŁ4’000 RTSG contribution

The CDT contribution is equivalent to ÂŁ68k per studentship, comprising contributions to the student stipend and academic fee, RTSG and to general delivery costs.

The starting point is the definition of a research project, and allocation of a suitable team of academics at Southampton. If you already have contacts at Southampton, you could get in touch with them to discuss possible projects to be funded via the SIS CDT route. If you haven’t got these contacts yet, please get in touch with one of the people listed below and we will assist in determining a suitable expert team to plan and deliver the desired project.

Further information

This note can only provide an overview of the CDT in Sustainable Infrastructure Systems and it must be emphasised that each project is different and can, within limits, be tailored to the needs of the student and sponsor. For further information please visit our website at: http://cdt-sis.soton.ac.uk/ or to discuss a particular project please contact: