About the Centre

The CDT in the Advanced Characterisation of Materials (CDT-ACM) offers a four year funded PhD training programme in the application of state-of-the-art characterisation techniques. We will provide you with the skills to understand in detail the structures and chemical properties of materials such as polymers, semi-conductors, ceramics, metals and biological materials. You will also be investigating properties that have not been explored before, and your research will help to design materials with new capabilities and properties. Our research is focused on key thematic areas such as energy, information technology, nanomaterials, healthcare, security, environment and transport.

Research students in the CDT are supervised by experts at Imperial College London and University College London and those based in Ireland are supervised by experts at Trinity College Dublin. London students develop their research at both universities with full access to the facilities available at both campuses whilst Ireland based students have full access to all Trinity College Dublin facilities. Throughout the four years students are actively involved in cohort building exercises across both countries, student led workshops and industrial visits as well as in technical hands-on training in the laboratory.

The programme includes a three-month placement at a leading international university, research institute or industrial partner. Specialized training modules in characterisation will be interwoven with personal PhD research projects, and students receive professional development training delivered by our award-winning Graduate Schools. Professional development and personal research projects are closely linked with real-world applications as the projects are aligned with the priorities of our network of industrial partners.

After graduation students will be ideally qualified to follow a career path either in academia or industry. Our training philosophy is that our graduates will provide the innovation and creativity required to lead the world in the development, characterisation and manufacture of new materials, making a significant contribution to the quality of life of future generations.

Joshua Bailey

Being part of the CDT-ACM was an all-round fantastic experience; I not only received great training in a range of advanced characterisation techniques, but I also made strong links with industry and strong bonds with my cohort which have both led to fruitful collaborations.