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).
