EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Integrated Functional Nano (i4Nano)

中心主题：i4 Nano CDT将加速功能纳米技术和材料的发现周期，有效地从突破性的基础科学过渡到工业设备集成，并通过跨学科方法推动技术创新。一个关键的总体主题是理解和控制连接复杂架构的纳米接口，这对于超越简单的模型系统至关重要，也是能源、健康、制造业（特别是考虑到可持续性）、ICT/物联网和量子等重要领域新兴科学重大挑战取得重大进展的关键。我们专注于跨多个时间尺度和材料系统（有机-无机，生物-非生物界面，气体-液体-固体，晶体-无定形）的纳米界面科学，以可扩展的方式控制纳米界面在不同的尺寸尺度，并将它们集成到功能系统中使用工程方法，结合界面，集成，创新和跨学科（因此“i4 Nano”）。知识，工具和技术的广泛性，这是必要的，支撑了高质量的广泛的博士培训，有效地链接科学深度和应用广度的要求。国家需求：大多数突破性的纳米科学以及成功的翻译创新技术依赖于科学家弥合学科之间的界限，但这是由整个英国本科课程的受约束的主题重点阻碍。我们最近的行业-学术界纳米路线图活动由众多工业合作伙伴参加，强烈强调了对受过广泛培训的跨学科纳米科学助手的需求，他们在其业务中具有很高的价值，作为新知识的转换者和集成商，对英国至关重要。他们一直强调，有一个明确的国家需要产生跨学科的纳米科学家的干部，以保持英国的国际学术领导地位，养活创业活动，并通过推动健康，能源，信息通信技术和量子技术的创新，在英国的工业资本化。培训方式：这个i4 Nano CDT的愿景是在纳米的关键领域提供定制的培训，将探索性的纳米科学转化为有影响力的技术，并刺激支持这一愿景的新的互动。我们已经证明了吸引世界级研究生的能力，并通过我们目前的CDT中独特的博士苗圃建立高素质的独立年轻纳米科学家群体，在通过正式课程，实践和项目工作进行的激烈的跨学科培训的最初一年，这些群体共同居住并共同指导。该计划鼓励年轻的研究人员走出他们的核心学科，并为他们超越碎片化的研究生培训通常经历的至关重要。来自不同年份和不同CDT的队列之间的互动，以及与剑桥其他200多名博士研究人员的互动，拓宽了他们的视野，使他们适合打破学科障碍，建立一个综合的研究方法。该CDT课程的第一年提供高质量的高级培训，然后再最终选择首选的博士研究项目。学生的进步将取决于通过考试和课程作业评估的可考试部分，从而提供正式的MRES资格。第一年培训的组成部分包括关于关键科学主题的讲座和实践，迷你/midi项目，科学传播和创新/扩大培训，以及了解纳米科学的社会和伦理层面的培训。在以后的几年里，活动包括会议，试点项目，进一步创新和扩大培训，领导和团队建设周末，以及艾德&I和负责任的创新研讨会

Topic of Centre: This i4Nano CDT will accelerate the discovery cycle of functional nanotechnologies and materials, effectively bridging from ground-breaking fundamental science toward industrial device integration, and to drive technological innovation via an interdisciplinary approach. A key overarching theme is understanding and control of the nano-interfaces connecting complex architectures, which is essential for going beyond simple model systems and key to major advances in emerging scientific grand challenges across vital areas of Energy, Health, Manufacturing (particularly considering sustainability), ICT/Internet of things, and Quantum. We focus on the science of nano-interfaces across multiple time scales and material systems (organic-inorganic, bio-nonbio interfaces, gas-liquid-solid, crystalline-amorphous), to control nano-interfaces in a scalable manner across different size scales, and to integrate them into functional systems using engineering approaches, combining interfaces, integration, innovation, and interdisciplinarity (hence 'i4Nano'). The vast range of knowledge, tools and techniques necessary for this underpins the requirement for high-quality broad-based PhD training that effectively links scientific depth and application breadth.National Need: Most breakthrough nanoscience as well as successful translation to innovative technology relies on scientists bridging boundaries between disciplines, but this is hindered by the constrained subject focus of undergraduate courses across the UK. Our recent industry-academia nano-roadmapping event attended by numerous industrial partners strongly emphasised the need for broadly-trained interdisciplinary nanoscience acolytes who are highly valuable across their businesses, acting as transformers and integrators of new knowledge, crucial for the UK. They consistently emphasise there is a clear national need to produce this cadre of interdisciplinary nanoscientists to maintain the UK's international academic leadership, to feed entrepreneurial activity, and to capitalise industrially in the UK by driving innovations in health, energy, ICT and Quantum Technologies. Training Approach: The vision of this i4Nano CDT is to deliver bespoke training in key areas of nano to translate exploratory nanoscience into impactful technologies, and stimulate new interactions that support this vision. We have already demonstrated an ability to attract world-class postgraduates and build high-calibre cohorts of independent young Nano scientists through a distinctive PhD nursery in our current CDT, with cohorts co-housed and jointly mentored in the initial year of intense interdisciplinary training through formal courses, practicals and project work. This programme encourages young researchers to move outside their core disciplines, and is crucial for them to go beyond fragmented graduate training normally experienced. Interactions between cohorts from different years and different CDTs, as well as interactions with >200 other PhD researchers across Cambridge, widens their horizons, making them suited to breaking disciplinary barriers and building an integrated approach to research. The 1st year of this CDT course provides high-quality advanced-level training prior to final selection of preferred PhD research projects. Student progression will depend on passing examinable components assessed both by exams and coursework, providing a formal MRes qualification. Components of the first year training include lectures and practicals on key scientific topics, mini/midi projects, science communication and innovation/scale-up training, and also training for understanding societal and ethical dimensions of Nanoscience. Activities in the later years include conferences, pilot projects, further innovation and scale up training, leadership and team-building weekends, and ED&I and Responsible Innovation workshops