This 11-month MPhil in Advanced Materials for the Energy Transition is to take students with undergraduate degrees in a scientific or engineering discipline (Physics, Chemistry, Material Sciences, Engineering, Chemical Engineering) and train them in materials growth, characterisation, device design, and related techniques and toolsets to understand, develop, and deploy the next generation of energy-efficient materials-based technologies to replace fossil fuels. This will help to meet the UK’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The diverse topics addressed in the course will prepare students for long-term careers in a rapidly growing zero-carbon energy sector where broad knowledge of flexible and agile energy materials and systems is required to deliver a secure and sustainable global energy landscape.

The course mission is “to train students to become leaders in academia and industry to address grand challenges in the science and application of energy materials to decarbonise society”.

The course offers a multidisciplinary approach to energy materials, such that graduates are well placed to work in a diverse range of energy-related areas that are in high demand from employers.

Throughout the year the students will have lectures, practicals, and research projects delivered under the guidance of experts across all relevant research areas at the University of Cambridge, as well as leaders from the energy industry.

The course encompasses different educational and societal objectives, and responds to the growing:

• demand for highly trained scientists to design and develop the new generation of energy-efficient technologies,
• societal demand to replace fuel-based technologies by zero-carbon technologies, and
• importance of interdisciplinary expertise to better respond to the complexity of challenges faced by modern societies.

The objectives of the course are to provide students with:

• deep knowledge in all scientific areas for the growth and characterization of new materials,
• knowledge and practical experience in device design to develop new technologies, and
• awareness of the wide range of industrial applications of these new technologies.

The aim of the course is to provide preparation appropriate for undertaking a PhD programme in computer science. Students select five taught modules from a wide range of advanced topics in computer science from networking and systems measurements to category theory, and topics in natural language processing. Additionally, students take a mandatory, ungraded course in research skills which includes core and optional topics.

Students also undertake a research project over two terms and submit a project report in early June. Research topic selection and planning occurs in the first term and the work is undertaken in subsequent terms. The taught modules are delivered in a range of styles. For example, there are traditional lecture courses, lecture courses with associated practical classes, reading clubs, and seminar style modules.

The course aims to:

• give students, with relevant experience at a first-degree level, the opportunity to carry out directed research in the discipline;

• give students the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests;

• provide preparation appropriate for undertaking a PhD programme in computer science;

• provide the Faculty with an extended period in which to train students and then to judge the suitability of students for PhD study; and

• offer a qualification that is valuable and highly marketable in its own right that equips its graduates with the computer science related research skills and expertise to play leading roles in industrial and public-sector research.

The programme is a full-time course occupying 11 months and is structured as follows:

Students come into College residence in late September/early October. During the first two terms, students take a total of ten taught modules, the choice of which includes a combination of core chemical engineering modules and elective modules based on engineering and business/management-related subjects. From March to August, students undertake a full-time research project, the results of which are submitted as a dissertation.

The objectives of the programme are to:

• provide students with advanced technical skills in chemical engineering

• enable students to solve problems within an engineering type of environment

• provide students with business and management skills

• provide training in research

This four-year doctoral training programme in 2D Materials of Tomorrow is part of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in 2D Materials of Tomorrow (CDT), and aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills for cutting edge, cross-disciplinary research in the science and applications of two-dimensional materials – a new class of advanced materials with potential to transform modern technologies, from clean energy to quantum engineering.

The first six months of the programme are based at the University of Manchester, during which time students will engage in a rigorous training programme combining teaching on the underlying scientific principles with a strong emphasis on experimental skills and techniques underpinning the development of 2D Materials applications. In the fourth month of the programme, students will be allocated their PhD project. For home students, the project selection will determine whether the student transfers to Cambridge or stays in Manchester. For international students, the destination institution is determined during the pre-application process, but they will still have a choice of projects within their destination institution.

Potential applicants should contact the CDT directly and receive instructions before accessing this application portal. Home students will be registered at Manchester in the first instance and will use this portal to transfer their registration if allocated a PhD project in Cambridge. International students will be registered at Cambridge from the beginning of the degree (but will still live and undertake the training in Manchester with the rest of the cohort).

Training within the initial phase aims to equip the student with the practical skills, theoretical knowledge and research skills necessary to engage fully with the research programme. More information about this is given below.

By the end of the PhD, students are expected to have produced original work making a significant contribution to knowledge in the field of 2D materials. At the same time, the Department expects that students will leave with the wider skills necessary to be successful in either an academic or a non-academic career.