Funding available to train the leading scientists of tomorrow

A multi-million pound bid to fund new postgraduate research vital to the future of our planet has been successful, and applications are now open to PhD students looking to start their training at Essex next October.

The funding will support at least 80 PhD students, across a doctoral training partnership which includes Essex, to carry out vital environmental research in areas such as atmospheric and ocean science, biodiversity and conservation, geosciences and natural hazards, the application of microbiological and genetic science to environmental problems, and sustainability of water, energy and food supplies.

The Advanced Research and Innovation in Environmental Science (ARIES) Doctoral Training Partnership, led by the UEA, also involves, Kent, Plymouth and Royal Holloway University of London, as well as more than 40 other major partners in research, industry and policy.
It was one of 17 successful Doctoral Training Partnership bids and received more than £5 million from the £100 million available through the Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC) fund.

Dr Terry McGenity, who leads on the project for Essex, said: “There has never been a more exciting and important period in the field of environmental science. Thus, ARIES has been established to provide outstanding training and research opportunities, using cutting-edge techniques that range from molecular biology to remote sensing, to address some of the planet’s most complex and urgent challenges, such as global climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, and water/food security.”

The partnership’s aim is to train postgraduate researchers who have excellent potential, equipping them with the necessary skills to become leaders in the science and business of the environment for the 21st century.

ARIES will enable partners to pool experience and resources to create rich training environments for students, to encourage knowledge-sharing to the benefit of all and to give students the opportunity to undertake internships during the course of their PhD.

Partners from industry, policy bodies, research organisations and charities add to the vitality of ARIES. They include Anglian Water, Balfour Beatty, British Antarctic Survey, Cefas, Defra, Environment Agency, John Innes Centre, Natural England, RSPB, UK Met Office, and the World Wildlife Fund.

PhD students can apply to join the ARIES Mission, starting in October 2019. Find out more at www.aries-dtp.ac.uk and on www.findaphd.com.