Extended University Alliance Doctoral Training Alliance in Energy, Applied Biosciences for Health and Social Policy DTA3

Project Information

DTA3

Grant agreement ID: 801604

DOI

10.3030/801604

Project closed

EC signature date 22 May 2018

Start date 1 June 2018

End date 30 November 2023

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 13 027 680,00

EU contribution

€ 6 513 840,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITY ALLIANCE
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - DTA3 (Extended University Alliance Doctoral Training Alliance in Energy, Applied Biosciences for Health and Social Policy DTA3)

Reporting period: 2021-12-01 to 2023-11-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The DTA3 is developing ESRs as internationally connected, independent researchers with interdisciplinary and intersectoral skills and experience, within priority challenge areas of healthcare, clean energy and social policy. Building on existing individual doctoral programmes, DTA3 is supporting the full integration of three existing individual programmes of training in applied biosciences for health, energy and social policy. DTA3 is providing access to expertise and research equipment across all Doctoral Training Alliance (DTA) institutions and an additional layer of cross-disciplinary training opportunities.

ESRs will graduate from the programme with a solid grasp of the context of their skills and knowledge in the global labour market, and an international professional community of peers and employer networks. DTA3 is developing a mobile, interdisciplinary and international ESR community able to solve grand challenges by working across healthcare, energy and social policy sectors.

DTA3’s core objectives are:
• Development of a mobile, interdisciplinary & international ESR community able to solve grand challenges
• Focus on communication & translation of applied research
• Involve supervisors as an integral part of the programme

We have 15 university partners across the UK and recruited 71 fellows from 27 different nationalities. The DTA organised 3-day summer schools, 1-2 day Autumn schools, and 1 day spring schools annually to bring our fellows and university partners together to exchange knowledge and experiences, as well as gain valuable learning from workshops and training events. Our fellows have published 40 open-access publications and have collectively attended over 200 conferences where they have given talks, presented posters, or assisted in conference organisation. Although COVID-19 reduced in-person opportunities, many of the DTA3/COFUND fellows took placements, including industrial placements with Genoinseq, Laboratoire EuroMov, and Samad-Power Ltd, and academic collaborations with Karolinska Institute and the University of Oslo. The DTA3/COFUND fellows have also focused on non-academic communication and dissemination routes including involvement in local science festivals (e.g. "Imagine" Festival of Ideas and Politics" and and Art in Science gallery event with research image exhibitions and activities).

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

DTA3 builds upon the success of the UK's largest nationwide doctoral training initiative. the Doctoral Training Alliance (DTA). The programme is coordinated by University Alliance and run across Alliance universities and partner institutions. Building on the research strengths and industry-focus of our universities, the DTA is focused on producing independent, highly-employable researchers with expertise and skills in strategically-important research areas.

During the first 24 months of the programme DTA3 has recruited 71 ESRs through two open calls, the recruited ESRs have joined the training programme or are due to join the programme very soon. The main work body of work completed during this period has focused upon recruitment of the ESRs and project management of the programme, a Consortium of university partners and key working groups have been established to support recruitment and management activities. All recruited ESRs have benefited from attendance at an introductory school, which welcomed them to the programme and prepared them for studying a PhD and participating in a doctoral training programme. Additionally, our first cohort have attended a subject specific summer school and individual elective training sessions. all of which are aligned with the core objectives and as designed to develop skills and qualities.

During the second reporting period, the programme welcomed the remaining ESRs to the DTA3 programme, they have been introduced to the Doctoral Training Alliance and been provided with comprehensive information on how to make the most from studying a PhD in the UK. All DTA3 ESRs have benefited from accessing a suite of online electives, individual virtual Summer Schools in Applied Bioscience for Health, Energy & Social Policy, a whole cohort summer school with interdisciplinarity and networking as its focus and an online Energy conference during the second reporting period. Both the first and second cohorts are are now in their final year of project work, we are proud of the successful progression of our DTA3 researchers, particularly in light of the Covid-19 challenges they have faced and look forward to reporting on their results in due course and prepare them to become DTA Alumni.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The DTA3 is developing ESRs as internationally connected, independent researchers with interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral skills and experience, within priority challenge areas of healthcare, clean energy and social policy. ESRs will graduate from the programme with a solid grasp of the context of their skills and knowledge in the global labour market, and an international professional community of peers and employer networks. DTA3 is developing a mobile, interdisciplinary and international ESR community able to solve grand challenges by working across healthcare, energy and social policy sectors.

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