Centre of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering – (Ph.D.)

A priority for the UK includes the provision of underpinning skills and expertise that will be used to secure our future ‘low carbon’ energy requirements.
Our commitment to carbon reduction programmes requires the development of large-scale energy generation capacity that is not based on fossil fuels. However, there are issues relating to alternative energy sources such as the lack of certainty of supply and the lack of sufficient energy storage capacity.

This has led to plans of developing a new fleet of nuclear reactors in partnership with the private sector, which has generated significant interest within the UK industry.

Coincident with the proposed new build programme is the nuclear decommissioning programme. This deals with the safe disposal of legacy wastes and the management of redundant nuclear plant. These coincident events have resulted in a need for new science and engineering graduates to work in the multidisciplinary field of nuclear engineering. One estimate suggests over 1000 graduates per year for the next 15 years will be needed as a minimum requirement.

We have responded to the skills gap identified by launching an undergraduate degree in Nuclear Engineering and by establishing a Centre for Excellence in Nuclear Engineering, which is focussed on the key areas providing underpinning expertise to ensure;

* a safe and closed nuclear fuel cycle for any new build projects
* confidence in our ability to efficiently treat and dispose of existing nuclear fuel waste.

There will be a minimum of three funded PhD studentships available per year, commencing September 2012. We envisage that additional studentships will be available depending on the level of industrial support within the programme.