The investment in the programme is part of a £500 million investment package announced by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to support doctoral students to develop their skills and experience across the biological and environmental sciences at their respective institutions.
CENTA provides excellence in doctoral research training in Earth and Environmental Sciences, with a particular focus on climate and environmental sustainability, organisms and ecosystems, and dynamic earth processes. This is the third time the programme has been funded by UKRI.
CENTA aims to develop well-rounded students confident in a wide range of scientific, research, leadership and entrepreneurial skills. Such individuals will go on to become future sector leaders, equipped with not only specialist and technical expertise in their research fields, but also the ability to translate research into impact and to address the complex and shared environmental challenges facing society.
The CENTA3 programme will be led by the University of Birmingham and will be delivered by a consortium of nine partners, including Birmingham and five other universities: Cranfield, Leicester, Loughborough, Open University, Warwick, and three research centres: BGS (British Geological Survey), NCEO (National Centre for Earth Observation), and UKCEH (UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology).
It will offer 130 PhD studentships over five years and work with 17 external partner research organisations spanning industry, government and the charitable sector.
Loughborough are offering 12 funded opportunities across Geography and Environment, Engineering, Chemistry and Computer Science for the first cohort of applicants. Details of the projects available can be found here.
Loughborough works in close partnership with several UK and international businesses and charitable organisations including the National Trust, Natural England, and the Natural History Museum. These partners are actively involved in CENTA management, delivering the training programme, providing placement opportunities and offering CASE partnerships for doctoral researchers.
Dr Jeffrey Evans, who is the CENTA lead at Loughborough, commented: “At Loughborough one of our key responsibilities is developing our students into future research leaders. Through CENTA, we can help them to develop specialist expertise that they need to advance knowledge in their field.”
Head of Geography and Environment, Professor Michael Hoyler, added: “The funding of CENTA3 provides a fantastic resource that enables talented doctoral researchers to join us in Loughborough. I very much look forward to welcoming the next cohort of CENTA researchers, who will embark on path-breaking new work, tackling the significant environmental challenges we currently face.”
The application deadline is 23:59 GMT on Wednesday 8th January 2025.