dta student handbook 2015-16 - university alliance · dta student handbook energy 2017/18 october...

DTA Student Handbook Energy

2017/18

October 2017 Information correct at 26 October 2017. Please refer to the DTA webpages for the most up-to-date information: www.unialliance.ac.uk/dta

http://www.unialliance.ac.uk/dta/

http://www.unialliance.ac.uk/dta

Doctoral Training Alliance Student Handbook

2 49 Whitehall London SW1A 2BX / 0207 839 2757 / www.unialliance.ac.uk/dta

Company Registration Number: 8137679

Vat Registration Number: 221 3621 56

Information correct at 26 October 2017. Please refer to website for most recent information







Table of Contents

1. Welcome & Introduction ................................................................. 4

2. The DTA Researcher ....................................................................... 6

3. DTA partner universities ................................................................. 7

4. DTA Autumn School schedule ........................................................... 8

4.1 Day One: Monday 6 November ............................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

4.2 Day Two: Tuesday 7 November .............................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

5. Practical information ................................................................... 10

5.1 Venue information for Autumn School ................................................................ 10

5.2 Special requirements .............................................................................................. 10

5.3 Accessing elective bursaries ................................................................................. 10

6. DTA programme structure and content ............................................. 11

6.1 DTA Elective Programme Overview ..................................................................... 12

7. DTA Electives 2017/18 .................................................................. 15

8. Keeping in touch: website and social media ....................................... 17

9. DTA staff contact details ............................................................... 19

10. DTA Training Group Representative contact details ............................ 20

Should you require this Handbook in an alternative format, please contact University

Alliance at [email protected]


mailto:[email protected]?subject=DTA%20Researcher%20Handbook






1. Welcome & Introduction

Welcome to DTA-Energy

On behalf of all my colleagues, I am pleased to welcome you as our second cohort

of University Alliance DTA research students in the doctoral training programme for

Energy.

The increase in energy demand, combined with the international drive to reduce

carbon emissions and enhance the use of renewable energy, is driving multi-

disciplinary energy research and innovation from all aspects including supply,

transmission, storage and consumption. To excel in energy research, an integrated

approach between institutions, researchers, and disciplines is needed to exchange

knowledge and optimise the use of resources. For this reason, DTA Energy has been

established; which will also provide a sense of community for the students.

This Handbook has been prepared to provide you with an easy reference guide to

finding useful information about the DTA programme and its structure; relevant

contacts on the DTA programme and details about the DTA Autumn School in

November 2017. The Handbook will also provide answers to important questions

about the DTA programme, but the most up-to- date information will always be

available on the DTA website: www.unialliance.ac.uk/dta

I hope you will find your time on the DTA programme enjoyable and rewarding,

wishing you every success with your studies.

I look forward to welcoming you personally to DTA Energy at the DTA Autumn School.

Best wishes

Professor Amin Al-Habaibeh

PGCHE, BSc, MSc, PhD, CEng, MIET, FHEA








Professor Amin Al-Habaibeh

DTA Director, Energy

Professor of Intelligent Engineering Systems

Nottingham Trent University

Dr Vladimir Vukovic

DTA Deputy Director, Energy

Senior Research Lecturer in BIM and

Energy Reduction in Built Environment

Teesside University

Dr Abhishek Asthana

DTA Deputy Director, Energy

Reader in Energy Engineering

Sheffield Hallam University

Professor Gavin Gillmore

DTA Specialist Training Group Lead,

Energy

Head of School and Professor,

Geography, Geology and the

Environment

Kingston University







2. The DTA Researcher

The Doctoral Training Alliance (DTA) is the flagship doctoral programme for

University Alliance institutions and DTA researchers are among the most able, the

most skilful and the most hardworking of all doctoral candidates. The DTA aims to

produce independent, trained, highly employable researchers with knowledge,

expertise and skills in strategically-important research areas. DTA graduates are

expected to go on to become national and international leaders in their chosen

professions, across academia, the private, public and voluntary sectors.

The DTA seeks to develop five particular advance qualities in its researchers,

alongside their academic expertise, and DTA researchers must take every

opportunity to grow themselves in these areas:

1. Values - DTA researchers can articulate the essence, privileges and responsibilities

of being a researcher. They possess the values of the academy and they

understand that research excellence can only be achieved through a

combination of intellect, integrity and rigour;

2. Community and Networking - DTA researchers are outward-looking and form part

of a strong national and international research community that will become an

influential and powerful association, bringing benefit to the discipline and the wider

community;

3. Specialist Skills - DTA researchers are highly able research practitioners and

continually seek to expand and sharpen their advanced technical and specialist

skills. They work at the cutting edge of their subject, developing and implementing

new methods and techniques and have appropriately high standards of

attainment;

4. Applied Research and Enterprise - DTA researchers undertake hypothesis-driven

research that seeks to have a positive impact on the economy and society by

tackling real-world challenges. DTA researchers are industry-engaged, aware of

the needs and opportunities of the related sectors, and foster dialogue to

strengthen these connections. They will exploit the outcomes of their research

through commercialisation, spin-out companies, KTPs and consultancy work;

5. Communication and Translation - DTA researchers actively pursue engagement

with all parties who may be interested in their research and translate their work into

formats that can readily be accessed by different audiences: within academia

through conferences and publishable written outputs; with industrial partners and

policy-makers; and with the general public.

By developing these qualities, DTA researchers equip themselves for success in a

wide variety of rich and fulfilling careers beyond the end of the DTA programme.

They also become DTA alumni and are encouraged to maintain and utilise long-term

connections with their cohort, DTA partners, and past and future members of the

larger DTA community.







3. DTA partner universities

The Energy DTA is a multi-university initiative. DTA research students will be based at

one of 13 Alliance universities nationwide:

• Coventry University

• Kingston University

• Manchester Metropolitan University

• Nottingham Trent University

• Sheffield Hallam University

• Teesside University

• The Open University

• University of Brighton

• University of Greenwich

• University of Hertfordshire

• University of Portsmouth

• University of Salford

• University of South Wales


http://www.unialliance.ac.uk/blog/member/coventry-university/

http://www.unialliance.ac.uk/blog/member/kingston-university/

http://www.unialliance.ac.uk/blog/member/manchester-metropolitan/

http://www.unialliance.ac.uk/blog/member/nottingham-trent/

http://www.unialliance.ac.uk/blog/member/sheffield-hallam/

http://www.unialliance.ac.uk/blog/member/teesside/

http://www.unialliance.ac.uk/blog/member/the-open-university/

https://www.unialliance.ac.uk/blog/member/university-of-brighton/

http://www.unialliance.ac.uk/blog/member/university-of-greenwich/

http://www.unialliance.ac.uk/blog/member/hertfordshire/

http://www.unialliance.ac.uk/blog/member/portsmouth/

https://www.unialliance.ac.uk/blog/member/salford/

http://www.unialliance.ac.uk/blog/member/southwales/






4. DTA Autumn School schedule

4.1 Day One: Monday 6 November Room D4.01 / D4.05/06, 4th Floor Executive Suite, Darlington Campus

Time Title Objective Facilitator(s)

10.00 Arrival and Coffee

10.30

Welcomes

Welcome from the DTA Director: introductions,

vision and expectations of the DTA and aims of

Autumn School

Amin Al-

Habaibeh (NTU)

10.45 Welcome to Teesside University from Vladimir

Vukovic (DTA Deputy Director)

Vladimir Vukovic

(TU)

10.50 Welcome from the DTA Team: introduction to the

structure of the DTA, administrative support and

building the DTA community

Jennie Eldridge

(UA)

10.55 Speedy interactions /

Researcher Connections

Begin communicating about your research plans,

understand the breadth of research as part of the

programme and start connecting with others with

similar interests and methods

Elizabeth

Scanlon (SHU) +

12.30 Lunch

13.30 Values Discussion Introduction to the qualities, responsibilities and

ethical concerns of being a researcher

Andrew

Rawnsley

(Teesside)

13.30 DTA Supervisor session

(parallel session)

Welcome

Introduction to the DTA in Energy

Roles and expectations of supervisors

Supervisor connections

Amin Al-

Habaibeh (NTU),

Gavin Gillmore

(Kingston) /

Jennie Eldridge

(UA)

14.40 Keynote ‘The Energy Trilemma ‘ Gavin Gillmore

(Kingston)

15.20 Break

15.30 Thoughts from current

students

Sharing research, experiences and best practices

from current DTA student(s) and an opportunity for

a student Q&A

Sean Williams

(TU)

15.30 DTA Supervisor session

(parallel session)

Supervisor connections cont’d

Developing research themes and

collaborations

Presentation from Carbon2018

Amin Al-

Habaibeh (NTU)

16.30 Close

Free time

19.00 Drinks reception Mercure Darlington Kings Hotel, Pullman Suite

19.45 Dinner







4.2 Day Two: Tuesday 7 November Room D4.01 / D4.05/06, 4th Floor Executive Suite, Darlington Campus

Time Title Objective Facilitator(s)

10.00 Arrival and Coffee

10.15 Introduction to

Student Group project

work & cohort building

workshop

Outline of the purpose of student group project

work, an overview of existing projects and ideas

for new projects.

Overview of the cohort building workshop due

to take place in Spring 2018

Jennie Eldridge

(UA), Vlad

Vukovic (TU),

Sean Williams

(TU)

10.40 Communicating at a

distance

Tools to help maintain virtual communications

and support group project work at a distance

Llinos Spargo

(USW) / Jennie

Eldridge (UA)

11.15 Break

11.25 Communicating at a

distance cont’d

Tools to help maintain virtual communications

and support group project work at a distance

Llinos Spargo

(USW) / Jennie

Eldridge (UA)

12.05 DTA Elective

Showcase

Brief introductions to electives being offered

throughout the year and overview of training

programme expectations

Jennie Eldridge

(UA) / Elizabeth

Scanlon (SHU)

12.35 Lunch

13.35 The 'Why' Question

Thinking big about the potential impact of your

research

Llinos Spargo

(USW)

14.05 Skills & career

development

‘What do researchers do’: an overview of career

opportunities and progression for doctoral

researchers

Elizabeth

Scanlon (SHU) /

TU Careers

15.00 Global Energy

Research Impacts

A presentation on global energy research

impacts, from Carbon2018, an energy services

consultancy, with examples of projects and

potential internship opportunities

Melanie Kendall

-Reid,

Carbon2018

15.30 Close Amin Al-

Habaibeh (NTU)







5. Practical information

5.1 Venue information for Autumn School

Teesside University Darlington, Vicarage Road, Darlington, DL1 1JW

Teesside University Darlington is 23 minutes’ walk from Darlington Train station or

22 minutes’ walk from Mercure Darlington Kings Hotel. Alternatively, a taxi

journey will typically take around 6 - 8 minutes. There is also limited pay and

display parking available at the Darlington campus.

5.2 Special requirements

If you have any special requirements relating to access or dietary needs, please

contact University Alliance DTA staff prior to the Autumn School to ensure

arrangements can be made in advance of the day.

5.3 Accessing elective bursaries

Each DTA research student will have access to funds from their own university as

part of their DTA studentship to allow them to attend DTA events. Up to a

maximum £1,500 per year will be made available. The bursary supports DTA

research students to attend DTA inductions, annual residential schools and joint

training courses offered through the elective programme, enabling researchers

to interact with colleagues at collaborating institutions.

These funds can be used towards travel, subsistence and accommodation

expenses, as well as other associated costs, such as childcare/carer costs, which

are approved by their own university.

The elective bursaries are administered directly by your university. Contact your

DTA Training Group lead for guidance (see page 20 for contact details).







6. DTA programme structure and content

DTA researchers are required to attend four residential training events during the

course of their programme as follows:

• Year 1: Autumn School (6-7 November 2017) + Summer School (16-18 July

2018)

• Year 2: Summer School (July 2019)

• Year 3: Summer School (July 2020)

There is a programme of elective training opportunities that will be available

throughout the year below.

Attendance at electives is based on individual development needs and the focus of

your individual research project. The DTA Elective Showcase session at the Autumn

School will provide more information on the electives that will be available this year.

Microscopy Nuclear

Power

Generation

Smart Grid

Energy &

Society

Cohort

Building

Workshop

Innovative

Researcher







6.1 DTA Elective Programme Overview

As part of the overall Doctoral Training Programme, a bespoke programme of

elective training opportunities is offered to students throughout the year. This

programme will consist of courses offered by partner universities which might not be

available within a student’s home university and is aimed at providing added-value

for the DTA student.

Attendance is based on individual development needs and the focus of the DTA

researcher's project. However, there is an expectation that DTA students will take full

advantage of the bespoke training programme on offer. DTA students will be

required to attend a minimum of three electives over the course of their PhD

programme. This will include both individual electives as well as electives embedded

within the residential Autumn and Summer School events.

Selecting which electives to attend

❖ Attendance at electives is based on individual development needs and the

focus of a student’s individual research project.

❖ The work undertaken as part of the Development Needs Analysis workshop at

the Autumn School can provide a valuable tool to reflect back on development

needs and help students identify relevant electives. Students should work closely

with their supervisors to identify their skills needs in selecting electives.

❖ There is an expectation that DTA students will take full advantage of this bespoke

training programme offered and attend at least three electives over the course

of the programme.

Event type Attendance

Residential – Autumn

School

Required in first year

Residential – Summer

School

Required annually

Cohort Building Workshop Required in first year

Electives Selection on individual basis, with

minimum attendance at 3 events

over 3 years







How to book onto an elective

Booking queries and other instructions

❖ For reservation and programme queries, please contact the DTA Team,

[email protected] or [email protected]

❖ For specific queries after reservation has been confirmed, please contact the

hosting university (details of which will be provided to you when they confirm

your place).

❖ Note: Reminders and updates will be circulated via email and posted on the DTA

LinkedIn Group webpages and via twitter @UA_DTA

Cancellations

❖ There may be occasions when plans change and/or unforeseen circumstances

arise which means you are no longer able to attend an elective. Where you

know this in advance, please cancel your place via Eventbrite before the

booking deadline OR contact the host university/DTA team as soon as you can

❖ The DTA Team requests that students who are no longer able to attend an

elective inform the host university and DTA Team as early as possible, preferably

at least 48 hours in advance. Where this is not possible we ask that you inform the

host university/DTA team as soon as you know you are unable to attend.

❖ If a host university has specific requirements around cancellation these will be

made available at the point of advertising.

Step 1

• Identify the elective you wish to attend by reviewing the DTA elective programme posted on the DTA website for most up-to-date information.(Use your LinkedIn account details to log onto the DTA website).

Step 2• Book via the Eventbrite link relevant to the elective(s) you are interested in

attending letting us know if you have any special requirements e.g. dietary, access.

Step 3• DTA Team will liaise with the relevant hosting university to book your place.

Step 4• Hosting university will email you joining instructions and any further details as

required.


mailto:[email protected]


https://twitter.com/UA_DTA

http://unialliance.ac.uk/dta/programmes/dta-applied-biosciences-for-health/






❖ Your supervisor will be contacted if you do not attend and do not inform the

either the host university or DTA Team of your non-attendance.

Elective bursaries to attend electives

❖ Each DTA research student will have access to funds from their own university as

part of their DTA studentship to allow them to attend DTA events. These funds

can be used towards travel, subsistence and accommodation expenses, as well

as other associated costs, such as childcare/carer costs, which are approved by

their own university. Up to a maximum £1,500 per year will be made available.

❖ The bursary supports DTA research students to attend DTA inductions, annual

residential schools and joint training courses offered through the elective

programme, enabling researchers to interact with colleagues at collaborating

institutions.

❖ The elective bursaries are administered directly by the individual universities.







7. DTA Electives 2017/18

Information correct as of October 2017. Please visit the DTA website for the most

up-to-date information: www.unialliance.ac.uk/dta

DTA Electives - Confirmed

Title Description Date & Time Venue

Nuclear Power

Generation

This elective gives the physics and the technology

involved in nuclear power generation. Topics

covered include Nuclear Physics, Fuel Cycle and

Reactor Technology.

7 December

13:00 - 16:00

Sheffield

Hallam

University

You are

already an

innovative and

enterprising

researcher

This one-day workshop will be delivered to you by

leading UWE Bristol experts in psychology, enterprise,

as well as featuring case studies of doctoral

graduates who used their enterprising skills in diverse

career directions. You will learn about IP, the process

for commercialisation of new ideas / technologies,

and support that is available to you, as well as what is

happening at UWE Bristol’s new Launch Space and

Health Technology Hub (HTH). Above all, you will

create links and collaborations that could take you

beyond your current expectations.

27 February

2018

9.30- 4.30

UWE Bristol

Nuclear

Energy Policy

Three-day workshop as part of the Imperial-Cambridge-

Open Centre for Doctoral Training in Nuclear Energy

around energy policy (CO2, affordability and energy

security) considered with respect to nuclear power. To

include special topics typically on the fuel cycle, non-

proliferation and security, public acceptance etc.

Date tbc

Three days

The Open

University

(Milton

Keynes)

Energy &

Society

This one day course is designed to appeal across

disciplines to anyone with an interest in

contemporary energy issues. The course is structured

to help students from all disciplinary backgrounds to

think critically about energy policies and policy

making. The module will encourage students to

consider the societal impacts and implications for

fairness, social justice and social inclusion of

contemporary energy policies. There will be sessions

on energy and social justice; fuel poverty and energy

vulnerability and on methods for researching the

societal impacts of energy policy. There will be

interactive sessions and also at least one guest

speaker from practice who will talk about their

experiences of working to mitigate energy related

inequalities.

6 March

2018

Time tbc

Sheffield

Hallam

University

DTA Student

Cohort Building

Workshop

This elective has been developed to give you the

opportunity to come together again as a cohort in

advance of the Summer School, reflect on the

student group projects initiated at the Autumn

Feb/March

2018 TBC

10.00 - 4.30

Central

London









School, consider additional support and guidance to

develop the group projects and set objectives in

preparation for feeding back at the Summer School.

The day will include a workshop on the student group

projects and will likely include a talk from industry and

a visit to a power facility.

Smart Grid This is a six-hour workshop for DTA Energy students

and supervisors that serves as an introduction to key

aspects of the Smart Grid. A Smart Grid is an

electricity network that can intelligently integrate the

actions of all users connected to it—generators,

consumers and those that do both—in order to

efficiently deliver sustainable, economic and secure

electricity supplies. In some ways, Smart Grid is a

vision for the future electrical power systems, but

many aspects of it are already been deployed in

different countries.

21 June 2018

09:30 – 17:00

University of

Portsmouth

Microscopy This course will provide practical expertise relevant to

DTA students of a range of microscope imaging

techniques.

1. Scanning Electron microscopy including x-ray

microanalysis.

2. Renishaw Laser Raman spectroscopy.

3. Leica Laser scanning confocal microscopy

fluorescence.

4. Olympus LEXT Laser scanning confocal

microscopy – reflected light 3D imaging

Date tbc

One day

Kingston

University

NB: Further electives will be added to the programme throughout the year.







8. Keeping in touch: website and social media

www.unialliance.ac.uk/dta

DTA students can log-in to the website using their LinkedIn account to access

exclusive member information.

Log in using your LinkedIn account

Once logged into the site, you can access the Programme Member Hub content for

the Energy. Here, you will be able to access information on events as well as

download programme content.

Access the programme content pages







Join a dedicated DTA LinkedIn group to exchange ideas with other students on the

programme. Sign up now!

Join the LinkedIn group for DTA students in

Energy







9. DTA staff contact details

University Alliance staff who co-ordinate DTA activity are:

Jennie Eldridge, DTA Manager

[email protected]

07767 673 982

Ben Diette, DTA Administrator

Key admin contact for DTA Energy students

[email protected]

07432 715 941

Contact Jennie or Ben if you have any questions or queries about the DTA

programme.









10. DTA Training Group Representative contact details

[*Information correct as of October 2017]

Institution Training representative Email

Coventry University Dr Rebekah Smith McGloin, Director,

Doctoral College and Centre for Research

Capability Development

Dr Heather Sears, Programme Manager,

Doctoral Training

[email protected]

[email protected]

Kingston University Professor Gavin Gillmore, Head of School

and Professor, Geography, Geology and

the Environment (for Energy)

Dr Natasha Hill, Associate Professor,

Biomolecular Sciences (for Biosciences)

[email protected]

[email protected]

Manchester

Metropolitan

University

Professor Jamie McPhee, Professor of

Musculoskeletal Physiology and DTA Deputy

Director Applied Biosciences for Health

Graduate School Manager

[email protected]

[email protected]

.uk

Nottingham Trent

University

Fiona McKerlie, Researcher Development

Manager

[email protected]

Sheffield Hallam

University

Dr Elizabeth Scanlon, Researcher

Development Advisor

[email protected]

Teesside University Dr Andrew Rawnsley, Research Governance

and Training Manager, Graduate Research

School

[email protected]

The Open University Professor Bill Nuttall, Professor of Energy [email protected]

University of Brighton Professor Neil Ravenscroft, Director, Brighton

Doctoral College

[email protected]

k

[email protected]

k

University of

Greenwich

Professor Alan R Reed, Director of

Postgraduate Research

[email protected]

University of

Hertfordshire

Dr Chris Keating, Senior Lecturer in

Pharmacology, Research Lead

[email protected]

University of

Portsmouth

Dr Alan Thorne, Associate Dean (Research)

Professor Victor Becerra, Professor of Power

Systems Engineering

[email protected]

[email protected]

University of Salford Dr Davina Whitnall, Research Skills

Coordinator, Academic Development Unit

[email protected]

University of South

Wales

Llinos Spargo, Research Graduate

Administrator

[email protected].

uk













dta student handbook 2015-16 - university alliance · dta student handbook energy 2017/18 october...

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