Through its ambitious new programme, Fusion Futures – specifically the Fusion Opportunities in Skills, Training, Education, and Research (FOSTER) sub-programme – UKAEA reaffirms its commitment to collaborating with universities, businesses, and other partners. This partnership aims to expand educational opportunities across the UK’s fusion skills ecosystem, supporting apprenticeships, graduate and postgraduate studies, doctoral and post-doctoral research positions.
FOSTER is part of Fusion Futures. The programme aims to foster world-leading innovation and stimulate general industry capacity through international collaboration and the development of future fusion power plants.
The Industry Support Scheme Awards are in their second year. They support Fusion Futures by aiming to help increase fusion-related PhD research across the UK fusion sector. The awards will contribute towards the cost of a PhD in fusion research and development that starts by 31 December 2025. UKAEA recommends that companies supporting applications should also be a member of The Fusion Cluster. This is a community powered by knowledge, passion and expertise to accelerate the commercialisation of fusion energy.
The PhD project must be at a UK university. Applications should be within a suitable Centre for Doctoral Training. The university needs to provide a letter of support. This should affirm commitment to the project and attest to the project’s suitability for a PhD candidate.
There will be a panel review of proposals. These are the scoring criteria:
- research quality
- impact
- team
- management
- risks
- equality, diversity and inclusion
The closing date for applications is 1 November, 2024, with the announcement of results in the week of 18 November.
UKAEA is also hosting a PhD open day at Culham Campus, Oxfordshire, on 27 November 2024. Prospective PhD students will attend to learn more about PhD opportunities within fusion. We invite companies and universities to attend this day to engage with prospective candidates.
See the full information about the Industry Support Scheme.