Centre for Doctoral Training

We offer the chance to study for a PhD in astronomy or particle physics with emphasis on large data, through the Centre for Doctoral Training in Data-Intensive Science. This CDT is jointly funded by STFC and Durham University.

Its mission is:

to promote, enable and realise the transfer of expertise, skills, and ideas between the academic and other sectors;
to train excellent researchers in cutting edge science and techniques who can contribute to and lead Data Intensive Science applications across industrial and academic sectors; and
to create new links between academic and industrial research.

The initial intensive training for our students lasts for about 9 months and includes lectures and tutorials in generic technical skills and methods (statistics, numerical algorithms, high-performance computing, machine learning) and in their chosen subject specialisation (astronomy or particle physics). It also comprises training in transferable skills and a mini-MBA and the students are exposed to a short workshop on communicating science. In addition, they apply their skills in a first 8-weeks team-based project, either in-house in our research groups or with external partners.

After their initial training our students pursue exciting research projects in the main STFC-supported groups at Durham University: