EPSRC logo

Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/L016648/1
Title: EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Functional Materials: The BCFN
Principal Investigator: Lindsay, Dr ID
Other Investigators:
Hall, Professor SR Miles, Professor MJ Vasiljevic, Dr N
Faul, Professor CFJ Whitney, Dr HM Mann, Professor S
Fermin, Professor DJ gersen, Dr h
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
AKZO Nobel BASF Begbrokenano
California Nanosystems Institute Colston's School H J Heinz Co Ltd.
Hewlett Packard Inc Linnaeus Centre Organizing Mol. Matter LMAT Ltd
Merck Ltd NanoSight Limited National Centre for Nanoscience & Techno
Syngenta Tsinghua University Tyndall National Institute
We The Curious Limited
Department: Physics
Organisation: University of Bristol
Scheme: Centre for Doctoral Training
Starts: 01 April 2014 Ends: 31 January 2024 Value (£): 4,659,281
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Materials Synthesis & Growth
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Manufacturing Chemicals
Electronics Energy
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
23 Oct 2013 EPSRC CDT 2013 Interviews Panel O Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
The Bristol Centre for Functional Nanomaterials (BCFN) is an EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training at the forefront of

creative graduate training, equipping students to meet global grand challenges. The BCFN focus is to produce the highest

quality students capable of designing, measuring and understanding advanced functional materials from their fundamental

components, to their real-world applications. This is achieved by breaking down the traditional boundaries of chemistry,

physics, biology and engineering, and providing training in a highly creative, adaptive and flexible way.

Functional materials, and their characterisation, are vital to the UK economy, and are found in a very diverse range of

application sectors including medicine, energy, food and coatings, in a wide range of high value products and are key to

fundamental aspects of science. Understanding materials across all length scales and application areas is pivotal to our

success - there is therefore a clear need for highly-skilled graduates, and an understanding of materials across all length

scales is pivotal to our success. The global market for advanced materials is predicted to be $957bn by 2015, and we are

committed to providing cohorts of skilled scientists who can lead innovation in both academia and industry.

Our approach is to embed the training program into every aspect of the student experience. This means that the students

receive the strongest possible scientific foundations through taught courses and research projects but also develop a fully rounded set of skills, including communication, team working, entrepreneurship and creativity. We have a proven track

record of excellence in graduate training and have pioneered innovative tools where the needs of the student are at the

core. These have included new online learning tools, a mixture of short- and long-term research projects to promote choice

and a wider research experience, and intense involvement with industry which allows students to be exposed to "realworld"

problems, ensuring that their creativity is always directed towards finding solutions.

We have an extensive expert network of supervisors who deliver the training, whilst collaborating to create new research

areas. Our network has more than 100 academics from 15 departments across four faculties at the University of Bristol, aswell as industrial partners. This ensures that the BCFN research and training can adapt to the changing needs of both the

UK and global demands for materials. Our centre is located at the nexus of funding council priority areas, and has

studentship support (3 p.a.), staff funding, and dedicated space support from the University.

From 2014, we will build on our strong foundations and evolve our training. Our links with industry will be strengthened

further and via our Bristol-Industry Graduate Engagement (BRIDGE) program we will build sustainable, long-term research

platforms to ensure a true benefit to the economy. We will take our successful training model and create a distance learning

platform which can be used by partners overseas and in industry through innovative e-learning. We will run

summer schools with these partners to expand the training experience for both BCFN students and partners alike. We will

continue our extensive public engagement with schools, the general public and policy makers, ensuring that at all stages

we communicate with our stakeholders and receive feedback.

We have a strong student-focussed management team to ensure quality and delivery. This team, composed of a Director,

Principal, co-Principal, Teaching Fellow, Industrial Research Fellow and Manager, and a wider Operational Team drawn

from our core departments of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, represent a wide range of research experience from Fellows

of the Royal Society to early career fellows, covering a range of strengths in functional materials with proven leadership

and research track records.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Summary
Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.bris.ac.uk