bristol chemical synthesis centre for doctoral training cdt phds in chemical synthesis: the bristol...
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Bristol Chemical Synthesis
Centre for Doctoral Training
CDT PhDs in Chemical Synthesis: The Bristol Approach
Dr Emma Turner, Bristol Chemical Synthesis CDT Course Manager
Background One of 45 new CDTs funded by EPSRC from
2009-2017 Recently funded for a second term, from
2014-2022 Additional funding from Industry PhDs 4 years in duration with up to 25%
assessed element Development of transferable/life skills eg
team-working, problem solving, public engagement
BCS Aims Produce new generation of world-class synthetic chemists Produce future leaders of academe & industry Enhance student problem solving skills & technique Foster a ‘fearless’ creative attitude towards problem solving through a group ethos Understand problems and issues facing the modern Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Biotech Industries - ‘part of the
solution’
Numbers
PhD of 4 years Training period (PACT) for 7 months before
starting PhD project Up to 14 students per cohort Choice of 30 research proposals each year Total of 53 students currently working as part
of the CDT 13 students graduated from 1st Cohort
First 7-Months
Postgraduate Advanced Chemical Techniques
Broaden and strengthen research technique before start of PhD project Encourage students to move ‘out of comfort zones’ Enable students to select PhD project choices Foster teamwork & build personal confidence Assessment by write-up, course test and progress viva formal progression to PhD project
PACT Structure
• Laboratory Rotations (RBS) – “try before you buy”
• Journal Club• Director’s Cut Problems• Lectures• Brainstorming – “design your PhD project”• pgDLM enabled experiments
Brainstorming
• Opportunity for Cohort to consider all PhD projects on offer
• Cohort work in 3 groups to generate ideas• Outputs captured by photograph• Encourages ownership of project and ideas• Students ready to “hit the ground running”
“Partners not slaves”
pgDLM
CDT Research Hub
Continuing Education
• Students start PhD projects in May• Many transferrable skills already
developed during PACT• Skills training organised for each Cohort• Outreach encouraged; STEM ambassadors• Opportunities to keep Cohorts together• Industrial supervision and placement
Advantages
• Students start research quickly, without lag• Skills acquired from practice• Barriers between research groups lowered• Collaboration increased• Cohort-effect fostered
Challenges
• Students set in their ways• Managing project allocation• “Two-tiered” mentality• Maintaining CDT identity• Engagement in skills training courses
Achievements
• Awards, competitions• Scholarships• Publication record• Grant money
ScienceAngew. Chem. Int. Ed.Nature CommunicationsAdvanced Healthcare MaterialsJ. Am. Chem. Soc.Chemical ScienceChem. Commun.Chemistry: A European JournalOrganic LettersPolymer ChemistryChemCatChemMacromoleculesJ. Org. Chem.OrganometallicsOrg. Biomol. Chem.European Journal of Inorganic ChemistrySynlettMacromolecular Chemistry and PhysicsChemical Education
Acknowledgements
People
Emma TurnerCourse Manager
Kevin Booker-MilburnDirector
Varinder Aggarwal Chair Industry Group