DREAM CDT - GUIDELINES FOR SUBMITTING PROSPECTIVE PROJECTS
We are delighted to announce the second call for Studentship Proposals to the
NERC Centre for Doctoral Training in Data, Risk and Environmental Analytical
Methods (DREAM). DREAM is a consortium of four universities, led by Cranfield
University, together with Newcastle University, the University of Cambridge and
the University of Birmingham. Each has a Management Board representative.
The Management Board Representatives are:
Cranfield University – Dr Stephen Hallett
Dr Simon Jude
Newcastle University – Dr Stuart Barr
University of Cambridge – Dr Mike Bithell
University of Birmingham – Dr Emmanouil Tranos
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The DREAM Centre Champion is Professor Simon Pollard (Cranfield) web.
The mission for DREAM is to support doctoral research, seizing the
opportunities in ‘big data’ and analytics and, designing and implementing
effective risk mitigation strategies across the environmental sciences for
academe, industry, NGOs and government.
We encourage collaborative and multidisciplinary ‘big data’ and analytics
applications in all areas of data and risk science. We seek to foster and develop
our strategic focus in the following areas: real time geohazards; coupled humanengineered-environmental systemic risk and mitigation (including fast expanding
and ageing populations, and highly interdependent economies); geobiophysical
systems protection; natural hazard events; rapid climate change; and consequent
complexities, risk and mitigation.
The original CDT call from NERC is here, their press release here, and the DREAM
project website is http://www.dream-cdt.ac.uk.
Key NERC priorities for DREAM are listed, ‘a-i’ below:
a. Approaches and tools for the identification of sources of risks, their drivers and
impacts within complex systems;
b. Robust methods to quantify and analyse risks and their drivers including sound
mathematical and statistical approaches;
c. Tools for developing, managing and analysing ‘Big Data’, to understand risk
better, and to apply modern cloud computing approaches;
d. Utilisation of multiple models and integrated modelling (for multi-hazard
modelling and to combine environmental hazard models with information
about vulnerabilities/exposure of a population);
e. New tools and approaches to multi-hazard assessment and interconnected
risks (cascade effects);
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f. Security and legal issues for handling data and information as it relates to risk
management;
g. Measurement, characterisation and handling of uncertainty, including within
model chains;
h. New approaches to visualise and communicate risk, including the public, to
enable decision-making; and
i. Risk perception, communication, decision making and management.
Calls are now invited for proposals to be submitted by Thursday December
31st, 2016 to your Management Board Representative. Each HEI is responsible
for identifying the best proposals that are then submitted for further
consideration by the Management Board. It is envisaged that in the region of 20
proposals will go forward for advertising thereafter for the first DREAM cohort of
PhD students.
Two studentships in the second cohort, commencing in October 2016, will be
interdisciplinary studentships co-funded by ESRC and NERC. These two research
topics will focus on linking the social science research areas with environmental
sciences research areas. When completing an application form, please identify
where your proposed project addresses the remit of ESRC as well as NERC.
Selection criteria and call details
Projects must have a lead supervisor from the submitting university and an
additional second supervisor, ideally from the wider DREAM consortium.
Collaborations across departments within single institutions are also encouraged.
Supervisory panels may also include a non-academic partner acting as an
industrial advisor. Students will be registered full time at one of the 4 DREAM
universities, where the lead supervisor is based. Projects should include no more
than three main supervisors (though the student may work within a broader
research team). As procedures may vary between institutions, student
management, training and assessment procedures will be applied by the
institution where the student is registered.
Projects will be selected on the basis of strategic fit to the DREAM thematic areas,
multi-disciplinarity, and the potential for inspired training for the students. If you
are unsure of whether your project falls within the remit, please discuss with
your Management Board representative.
Specific criteria for proposal selection are:
a. Excellent science and fit to DREAM mission and thematic areas.
b. Methodological innovation such as the use of mathematical and
computational approaches and/or novel technologies.
c. The project is feasible, well-planned, appropriately costed and can be
completed within budget and time.
d. The project provides high-quality training and excellent opportunities for
professional development.
e. The project provides strong supervisory arrangements: supervisory teams
should include at least one member with experience of supervising
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Doctorates to completion, although this need not be the lead supervisor.
The balance of experience will be accounted for in assessing applications.
f. Applications from early-stage academics are strongly encouraged.
g. Assessment of proposed projects will take into account if they:
 have secured co-funding from non-academic partners;
 include partnerships with external bodies, or plans for wider
engagement or impact;
 are multi-institutional, where feasible.
Funding
Ten studentships are available commencing October, 2016. These will be
followed by a further cohort commencing in 2017. Studentships are for three
years in duration.
The total funds1 available per studentship from NERC are as follows:
Stipend
£55,452.00
Fees
£15,984.00
Support
£11,000.00
Management
£1,500.00
TOTAL
£83,936.00
However, this funding does not cover full costs (e.g. institutional tuition fees,
specialised project equipment and substantive project-specific travel and
subsistence costs), therefore where possible, we encourage proactive
strengthening of bids with project co-funding and in-kind contributions. A
guideline sum of £12,500/per annum is advised, where possible, to meet the full
range of DREAM activities. Where possible, if proposers do not have such
partners, the CDT will make best efforts to match projects with potential
sponsors. If externally supported, please ensure the application includes an
attached letter outlining support from the partnering institution agreeing to
commit the funding requested.
Advantages
In addition to their research project, each student will attend and benefit from:
 Residential Induction;
 Annual DREAM inter-cohort Challenge Week;
 Annual DREAM inter-cohort Symposium;
 Extensive DREAM training – the programme offered includes Advanced
Technical Skills (ATS) and Transferable Skills and Leadership (TSL);
o The training programme will be drawn up by the supervision team
and local Management Board member, and will comprise four
Advanced Technical Skills modules in Year One, and three in Year
Two
o Training also includes appropriate, locally delivered, Transferable
Skills and Leadership training.
 Opportunities, where possible, to undertake partner internships during
their PhD to experience working in a related area.
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Subject to RCUK-advised increments
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Supervision
The supervision team will:
 Comply with the host university PhD supervision regulations;
 Provide student progress reports after significant milestone supervision
meetings (specific intervals may vary between universities);
 Keep a record of all supervisor/student meetings, recorded for the
student’s file.
 Participate in the DREAM Symposium and the DREAM Challenge week, as
well as the DREAM Induction programme.
Where supervision teams are able to span institutions of the DREAM consortium
(Cranfield, Newcastle, Cambridge and Birmingham), this will help to ensure
consortium cohesion and a breadth of experience for the student. The student
will, however, be registered at the institution of the lead supervisor.
Although we do not use the metrics on ‘early career scientists’ in our selection
criteria, we do wish to gather this information as part of reporting to NERC. Early
career scientist supervisors are defined as < 5 years since 1st academic
appointment or on a fixed-term research contract that outlasts the duration of the
studentship.
Submitting an Application
Please use the DREAM application form to complete your application and email it
electronically to your institutional Management Board representative by the
deadline dates given.
www.dream-cdt.ac.uk
The calendar for the application process is as follows for the 2016 intake:
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Call for proposals released on the DREAM website – Oct 2015
Proposal submission deadline to local representative – 31st Dec, 2016
Announcement of local institute proposal selection – 8th Jan, 2016
Studentships advertised on DREAM website and nationally – 15th Jan, 2016
Studentship applications closing date – 26th Feb, 2016
Notification of applicants selected for interview – 11th Mar, 2016
Interviews held – week commencing – by 24th Mar, 2016
Notification of successful applicants – 6th Apr, 2016
DREAM induction programme – October, 2016
For clarity, please note the interviews will be held by the respective institutions,
following DREAM guidelines to ensure consistency. Successful candidates will then
be invited to register as normal following the respective institutional procedures.
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