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College of Science and Engineering
POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH PROGRAMME PROPOSAL
PhD with Integrated Study in Critical Resource Catalysis
The College Research and Training Committee is asked to approve the new programme of
‘PhD with Integrated Study in Critical Resource Catalysis’.
Rationale
The University recently approved the degree title of “PhD with Integrated Study”, for which
the regulatory framework is given in Appendix 1. This paper contains a proposal for an
award, “PhD with Integrated Study in Critical Resource Catalysis”, together with a Master of
Philosophy as an exit qualification. The degree is taught jointly by the Universities of
Edinburgh, St Andrews, and Heriot-Watt and is awarded by the University at which the PhD
research takes place.
This award is related to the funding of an EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in
Critical Resource Catalysis (CRITICAT), and is a collaboration between the Schools of
Chemistry at Edinburgh and St. Andrews, and the Schools of Chemistry and Engineering at
Heriot-Watt.
Structure of the programme
Admission and matriculation
Students must have either a 1st or 2.1 degree in a relevant area, e.g. chemistry, engineering,
applied chemistry, catalysis. The CDT will operate a selection procedure in which the
students are initially shortlisted by the management group. The shortlisted students will
attend a two day assessment, the first day comprising information about the CDT and
informal discussions with prospective PhD supervisors, and the second comprising two
panel interviews, a technical interview with a student presentation and an overarching
interview to see if the student understands, and buys into, the CDT concept.
The student will decide upon a PhD supervisor and the degree-awarding institution on
acceptance of a CRITICAT CDT PhD position. All fees for the whole 4 year period will be
paid to this institution.
The students who select a University of Edinburgh project will matriculate via the PhD with
integrated study in Critical Resource Catalysis. Students who select projects at either HeriotWatt University or the University of St Andrews will matriculate on programmes at those
institutions.
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Taught elements
The first 6 months of the degree programme is a taught element that occurs solely at St
Andrews University, where the student will be enrolled as a visitor. UoE students will be
required to request a Leave of Absence (via the Graduate School and College).
This taught element comprises:
 Formal lectures and workshops on all aspects of catalysis, including homogeneous,
heterogeneous and biocatalysis, engineering aspects of catalysis.
 Technical training rotations (2 week periods), involving group work
 Skills training, including outreach, presentation, paper writing, proposal writing,
entrepreneurship and business skills
 Mini projects (2 x 4 weeks, Level 11), in which teams will design and carry out
experiments in all aspects of catalysis
Lecture material and other aspects of this taught programme will be available to non-CDT
students at the three institutions.
In the second 6 month period, the students will undertake a Maxi project (6 month, Level 12)
to help them design their subsequent PhD project. This will take place in their lead
supervisor’s laboratory in the PhD-granting institution.
Further 2 day cohort-building activities will take place at quarterly intervals, along with skills
training, and a three month capstone experience (e.g. an industrial or academic placement)
will take place at the end of year 3, start of year 4.
A table of the taught programme is shown below. Note 90 SCQF credits are at Level 11
(Graduate training in catalysis, Year 1, months 1-6) and 90 SCQF credits are at Level 12
(Maxi project, year 1, months 6-12). The remaining 540 SCQF credits are at Level 12 (years
2-4)
1
2
Graduate Training in Catalysis (Level 11)
Lectures
Theory Workshops
9am & 11am
9.00am – 11.00am
Monday – Tuesday - Wednesday
Thursday
Introduction and History (4) and Current Current Challenges in Catalysis
Challenges in Catalysis (4); Application of (x1); Application of Engineering
Engineering Principles (8); Biocatalysis (8) Principles (x1); Biocatalysis (x1)
Homogeneous Catalysis (12);
Homogeneous (x 2)
Heterogeneous Catalysis (12)
Heterogeneous (x 1)
3
Computational Methods in Catalysis (8);
Catalyst Preparation (16)e
Computational (x1); Catalyst
preparation (x2)
4
Catalyst Characterisation (16);
Real world examples of the use of
catalysis (8)
Catalyst Characterisation (x2);
Examples of Catalysis (x1)
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Skills Workshop
9.00am – 12.00 noon
Friday
1. Managing your PhD
2. Driving Innovation
3. Ethics in science
1. Planning a project
2. Presentation Skills
3. Interdisciplinary research
1. Reviewing a paper
2. Presenting a poster
3. Managing the literature
1. Writing a grant
2. Writing a paper
3. Who funds science?
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Technical Training Rotations
Reaction
Engineering
Catalyst activation
procedures; Batch
multiphase and
Continuous
multiphase reactor
operation; Kinetic
measurements
Homogeneous Catalysis
Heterogeneous Catalysis
Advanced ligand synthesis
and Schlenk techniques;
High pressure (HP)
reactions and working
with gases; in situ
spectroscopic analysis; HP
NMR and IR methods;
reaction kinetic
techniques.
Catalyst preparation and
characterisation methods
including XPS, XRD,
DRIFTS, temperature
programmed techniques,
surface area
measurements, SEM,
HRTEM, solid-state NMR
Biocatalysis
Genetic Engineering;
protein expression,
purification and
crystallisation; directed
evolution; assay methods
including fluorescence and
luminescence approaches;
fermentation techniques.
Progression and assessment
The students must engage in all aspects of the 6 months taught programme prior to moving
on to the Maxi project. The taught element will be assessed by the lecturers and
management group in several ways, including presentations, writing tests, and oral
examinations.
On completion of the Maxi project, progression to the second year of the PhD will be
dependent on satisfactory engagement with the taught element, assessment of a project
report and performance in an oral examination. The students’ Personal Development Plan
will be evaluated throughout by the management group.
Progression in subsequent years will by institution specific and will follow the School of
Chemistry’s Graduate School guidance. The final award will be based on the assessment of
the submitted thesis by internal and external examiners, followed by an oral examination as
per UoE assessment regulations.
Oversight of this process will be carried out by the CDT Manager, the CDT management
Team, and the International Advisory Board. The student will be supervised throughout the
PhD programme by the Principle Supervisor (PS) and an Assistant Supervisor (AS), with
additional supervision and pastoral care by the UoE CDT Director (Dr Love) and the CDT
Manager (Dr Jones, University of St Andrews).
Academic Regulations
For the students registered on the PhD with Integrated Study in Critical Resource Catalysis,
the UoE regulations will apply (including the Postgraduate Degree Programme Regulations
and the Postgraduate Assessment Regulations for Research Degrees).
Exit awards
There will be no award of an MSc or MRes at the end of Year 1 if progression to the PhD is
not undertaken. Funds will be available to allow students who have sufficient new research
but are not deemed to be at PhD standard to complete a MPhil.
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Appendix 1: Regulatory framework for the PhD with Integrated Study
The degree programme should comprise a total of 720 credits, of which at least 540 should
be at SCQF level 12 (thus equivalent to the PhD) and at least 690 at SCQF level 11 or
above (thus ensuring that taught components are consistent with the requirements for
Masters). The prescribed period should be for four years with a further “writing-up” period of
up to 12 months (pro-rata for part-time study), where permitted by the external sponsor. (For
EPSRC only, the submission due date for student theses is calculated as end date of
funding plus one year.)
The programme PhD with Integrated Study should be available, subject to approval by the
relevant College Committee, to a cohort of students following a programme which requires a
structured programme of study which integrates research with assessed taught postgraduate
training in a range of skills and subject focused modules, up to a maximum of 180 credits.
The outcome of the assessment of the training and skills component may be used in
determining progression on the programme, or eligibility for an exit award at
Masters/Diploma/Certificate level, providing that the student has attained the requirements
for the award as set out in the University regulations. For the award of PhD with Integrated
Study, the research component must meet the assessment criteria for a PhD in the current
University regulations.
Proposer: Dr Jason Love, School of Chemistry
September 2014
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