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 01. 09. 08 UKERC Awards 7 new interdisciplinary studentships

The UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) continues to foster interdisciplinarity by awarding 7 new studentships that focus on understanding the energy system as a whole.

UKERC studentship scheme supports energy research that crosses scientific, engineering and socio-economic boundaries. The studentships are administered through the Natural Environment Research Council, with UKERC running the selection process and engaging the successful candidates fully in its networks.

Studentships have been awarded to individuals who have a solid grounding in more than one discipline. They will have their PhD funded for the next 3 years.

A total of 28 studentships have been awarded since UKERC started the programme in 2005.

Jim Skea, UKERC Research Director said: "This year most applicants tended to focus on engineering linked to either the biological or environmental sciences. Five of the full applications, and three of the successful ones, addressed bio-energy from various sources (microalgae, microbes and grasses). The other successful ones covered electricity networks, decentralised generation, the environmental impacts of marine renewables and urban green spaces".
 

Studentships were awarded to: 

• Nicola Everitt, University of Newcastle, Impact of Offshore Wind Farm Subsea Cable B-Fields on Important Crustacean Species
• Andrew Fielder, Birmingham University, Advanced Computing Techniques for Modelling Electricity Markers
• Gillian Kane, Napier University, A Study of H2 from Solventogenic Fermentation for Use in Hydrogen Fuel Cells
• Elena Kazamia, University of Cambridge, Factors that Influence the Growth of Microalge as a Source of Renewable Fuel
• Cynthia Skelhorn, University of Manchester,  Evaluation of the Role of Urban Greenspace for Climate Adaptation and Mitigation
• Trisha Toop, Aberystwyth University,  Sustainable Grasslands for Biological Energy Production
• Annabel Yadoo, University of Cambridge,  Decentralisation of Electricity Provision for Rural and Isolated Island Communities