36 PhD studentships in battery research leverage government funding and grow the pipeline of talent
The Faraday Institution is awarding 36 PhD/EngD studentships in battery research to 19 universities to recruit for the 2026/7 academic year.
The PhD/EngD studentships have been enabled thanks to £3.2 million funding from the Battery Innovation Programme, through the Department for Business and Trade and delivered by Innovate UK, leveraging £1.34 million co-funding pledged from partners across industry, universities and research technology organisations.
The studentships represent a substantial uplift in the number of PhDs in battery research being funded in the UK each year.
Eleven industry organisations are co-funding 14 studentships, representing a total investment of £648,000. These research projects align with the companies’ longer-term R&D objectives while also demonstrating academic excellence. Co-funding and supervision of PhD/EngD researchers represent another means by which the Faraday Institution is strategically strengthening academic-industry collaboration.
Once recruited, the PhD researchers will deliver research that addresses UK battery sector challenges, delivering real-world impact, reinforcing the UK’s position as a global leader in battery science and innovation. These researchers will form Cohort 9 of the Faraday Institution PhD Researcher Training Programme, which is designed to increase their knowledge, skills and aspirations. The programme equips researchers with deep technical understanding and transferable skills, preparing them for leadership positions across academia, industry, and the wider energy research ecosystem.
| By the numbers | |
|---|---|
| £1.34 million | additional investment pledged from 22 co-funders |
| 19 | UK universities to receive studentships |
| 4 | UK universities that are not currently involved with Faraday Institution research to receive a total of 7 studentships: Loughborough University, Queen Mary University of London, University of Manchester and the University of Greenwich. |
| 12 | studentships awarded to academics who are not currently co-investigators on Faraday Institution projects |
| 44 | years’ worth of PhD funding provided by co-funders, enabling an additional 16 studentships |
| 11 | industry organisations co-funding 14 studentships |
| 78% | have internships identified |
| 82 | studentship proposals received in a competitive, open call |
| 115 | existing Faraday Institution PhDs in Cohorts 1-8 |
| 72 | PhDs currently affiliated to Faraday Institution projects |
| 85% | of PhD cohorts 1 to 3 have remained in the battery sector upon graduation |
PhD/EngD Studentships by University
Recruitment
All studentship topics and university/supervisor data are listed here along with details on how to apply.
Recruiting 36 PhD/EngD Studentships in Battery Science/Engineering
The Faraday Institution PhD Training Programme
PhD Researcher Destinations
Published in June 2026.