Why?

To July 2023, the Faraday Institution doctoral training programme has funded over 70 PhD researcher positions directly over five cohorts as part of the commitment to talent development. This is in response to addressing the ever-growing industry need for PhD level trained researchers who possess battery expertise as they strive to find pioneering solutions to the challenges faced in electrification, reaching Net Zero and creating a sustainable future. Faraday Institution PhD researchers acquire battery technology expertise, an appreciation for industrial requirements and a breadth of transferable skills that will enable flexibility and integration between university and industry efforts.

How?

From 2023 onwards, the Faraday Institution PhD Training Programme will take the form of an enrichment scheme, which is open to applications from any fully funded PhD researcher in the first year of an energy storage related position in the UK. It is designed to increase the knowledge, skills and aspirations of dynamic and diverse cohorts of battery related PhD researchers to set up individuals for career success. The programme includes lectures, workshops, industry tours, cohort building events, networking opportunities, internships and more.

The Faraday Institution doctoral training programme leverages partner universities and develops technical, commercial and transferable skills with the aim of training the next generation of battery experts to become successful leaders in their fields. Networking opportunities and bespoke battery-related courses, delivered by experts, are offered to ensure researchers are equipped to maximise the potential of their research projects. The organisation also brings in expertise from training partners to deliver sessions in e.g., presentation skills, project management, negotiations, and thesis and grant writing.

Impact

The aim is that graduates of the programme become ‘agents of change’ in their careers, and transition into a variety of roles in the UK battery sector. Past graduates have gone on to successfully secure positions as postdoctoral researchers in academia, scientists in the battery industry, analysts in the energy storage sector and even successfully set up their own battery technology companies.

Many members of the first cohort have secured their first positions – all in the UK battery sector.