Multi-User X-ray Diffraction (XRD) Core Equipment

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A process for the strategic allocation of the Ulster University EPSRC Capital Award for Core Equipment, led by the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research & Impact, Professor Cathy Gormley-Heenan, has identified the Faculty of Computing, Engineering & the Built Environment as the being the main originators of the historical performance in securing capital funding from EPRSC's World Class Labs budget over the last five years that has then led to the submission of this proposal. As a member of the University Research & Impact Leadership Team, the Associate Dean for Research & Impact, Professor Brian Meenan is the staff member with responsibility for the equipment strategy in the Faculty. He has therefore been tasked with leading the process to identify the equipment purchase that best aligns Ulster's capital infrastructure strategic requirements, within the scope of objectives of the call, and to act as Principle Investigator for the submission. The equipment allocation was considered by the Faculty Leadership Team which is led by the Executive Dean Professor Liam Maguire and comprises heads of the four Schools in the Faculty (Belfast School of Architecture & the Built Environment, School of Computing, School of Computing, Engineering & Intelligent Systems and School of Engineering) and the Head of Faculty Operations. As such, this leadership group has complete oversight of research capital support needs within the Faculty and has direct access to the infrastructure registers held by the respective Schools. Assessment of current needs across all of the relevant criteria by the Faculty Leadership Team has identified the purchase of a core level multi-user X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) instrument, to be based within the School of Engineering, as being the most appropriate fit to this call. It is recognised that the £100k award that is available to Ulster is insufficient to enable this purchase and therefore the additional funds required will be provided by the University from institutional funds to a total value of ca. £216k (inclusive of VAT).The XRD instrument to be purchased here will add significant on-going benefits to academic research at Ulster that directly align with the EPSRC strategic priorities in Healthcare Technologies, Energy, Engineering, Manufacturing the Future and Physical Sciences. It will also greatly benefit our R&D support for indigenous industry and help with attracting foreign direct investment by making available resources that major companies expect to be available in the region. Hence, its availability will make a contribution to the drivers economic growth in NI, as promoted by DfE, Invest NI and The NI MATRIX Panel. In doing so it will increase the international profile of the NI Higher Education sector in NI that is central to the delivery of the Ulster University 5&50 Strategic Plan.