Webinar (Hybrid Event)
An introduction to the Nature Inspired Acoustics (NIA) Doctoral School and Q&A session with the Directors of the School will be held on Friday Apr 26, 2024 (2:25 pm to 3:45 pm British Summer Time).
Interested applicants should pre-register at: https://strath.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUuceugrT8oGNbTB66TE1MKyeZn1aSQf2FR
This is a hybrid event. Applicants in Glasgow may attend in person at the Technology and Innovation Centre, University of Strathclyde, 99 George Street, Glasgow G1 1RD (Room TC213; sign in at reception).
Targeted Support of Low Income and/or Black Students
Our Nature Inspired Acoustics (NIA) Doctoral School will fund three Master’s Plus PhD scholarships to support progression of UK-based low income and/or Black students to doctoral study.
These scholarships will fully support 5 years of study (1 year of research-based MSc followed by a 4-year PhD). The scholarships will cover student stipends, tuition fees, and research support analogous to PhD-only scholarships.
The eligibility criteria of these Master’s Plus PhD scholarships are described in detail further below and are set by The Leverhulme Trust, the funder of our School.
The applicant’s current discipline of study is less relevant, but the candidate should be able to demonstrate abilities in using the scientific method, experience in project work and/or working towards a long-term goal, and genuine interest in the topics of the research school (i.e., themes relevant to nature inspired acoustics).
Course of Study
Master’s with Research (Year 1)
Successful applicants will first enter a relevant 1-year master’s course at the University of Strathclyde to enhance their academic and research skills. When applying for the programme, applicants should select their main research theme(s) of interest within our NIA School on the cover letter form (see Applications page). Upon selection, a student should discuss with the NIA Director leading the selected research theme and agree on a relevant master’s degree that can link up with a potential PhD project within the School.
A wide range of master’s courses are available (see full list at: https://tinyurl.com/Strathclyde-Masters), and the main factors guiding the selection are: i) student interest; ii) fit with NIA research; and iii) inclusion of a major research component (e.g., master’s graduation thesis project) that can be supervised by an academic member of the NIA School.
Relevant courses are available from the departments of the NIA Directors, i.e., Electronic and Electrical Engineering (EEE), Pure and Applied Chemistry (PAC), Architecture (Archi), and Management Science (MS). These include but are not limited to MPhil Electronic & electrical engineering, MPhil Chemistry, MRes Research Methodology for Business & Management, MRes Architecture, MSc Chemistry with Artificial Intelligence, etc. Other suitable courses such as MSc Sustainability & Environmental Studies, MSc Nanoscience, MSc Advanced Construction Technologies & BIM, etc., are also available from allied departments such as Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE), Physics (Phys), Strathclyde Business School (SBS), etc.
PhD (Years 2-5)
After successful completion of the master’s course, the student will automatically enrol in the NIA School’s regular PhD programme, in which the student will be funded for 4 years to conduct an original, interdisciplinary, and significant body of research under the supervision of at least two members of the NIA academic staff.
An original piece of significant research signifies that i) the student has demonstrated intellectual independence, and ii) the research makes identifiable novel insights or understanding deemed by the scientific community to be worthy of publication. Independence may be gauged by, e.g., the student acquiring by the time of submitting their PhD thesis, an ability to develop their own research ideas and to select appropriate methods for conducting their research, or even to lead others in their research.
The NIA School is an endeavour to draw on the foundations of three disciplines—physical sciences, architecture, and business studies—to develop transformative nature-inspired acoustics-based research. While some projects may focus heavily on a single discipline (e.g., 90% of research time), others may be more broadly interdisciplinary. See the PhD programme page for additional details, including the novel interdisciplinary training of the NIA School.
Eligibility
Academic
All applicants must have obtained or be expected to obtain their bachelor’s degree at a level equivalent to a UK 1st or 2.1 classification by the time of enrolment.
The discipline of the current degree is less relevant but the candidate should be able to demonstrate abilities in using the scientific method, experience in project work and/or working towards a long-term goal, and genuine interest in the topics of the research school (i.e., themes relevant to nature inspired acoustics).
UK Student Fee and Social-Economic Status
Our scholarships will cover all tuition fees but applicants must meet the eligibility criteria for i) UK home fees status set by the Scottish government, and ii) low-income and/or Black student status as defined by The Leverhulme Trust. The full eligibility criteria are:
- Be a UK domiciled student or otherwise satisfy the requirements for UK home fees. This is generally met by applicants who are:
• UK citizens resident in the UK for the past 3 years, or
• EU citizens with ‘settled’ or ‘pre-settled’ status in the UK, or
• Applicants with ‘indefinite leave to remain or enter’ status in the UK;
• See UKCISA for further guidance and exceptions (https://tinyurl.com/UKCISA-fee-status); - Not already be holding a master’s degree from the University of Strathclyde;
- Be from a low-income household background evidenced by, e.g., being in receipt of a full maintenance loan or Special Support loan during their undergraduate studies;
and/or - Be one of the following categories of ethnicity:
o Black African
o Black Caribbean
o Black Other
o Mixed – White and Black Caribbean
o Mixed – White and Black African
o Other mixed background (including Black African, Black Caribbean and Black Other).
Applications
There is a 2-stage application process. In the first stage, applicants should submit their CV together with a cover letter following the instructions given on the Applications page. In the second stage, short-listed candidates will attend an online interview. Outcomes will be communicated by email in the week following the interview. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until positions are filled. Evaluations will start March 28, 2024.
The cover letter should explain the following:
- Experience in using the scientific method, project work and/or working towards a long-term goal;
- Personal interest in a specific research theme or themes of the NIA School; and
- Fit to the NIA School and how their background and interest might fit with the research theme(s) indicated.
Enquiries should be emailed to nia-leverhulme@strath.ac.uk.
