The DTC Experience
Given the quality of the staff involved the range and quality of the science to be pursued within NOWNANO is guaranteed. Students register for a four-year PhD programme in either Manchester, with a possibility to transfer registration to Lancaster depending on their specialisation. For the first six months, students will be based in the Photon Science Institute (PSI) in Manchester - a state-of-the-art facility commissioned in 2007. During the first six months there will be a range of lecture material designed to give all students a grounding in the fundamentals of nanoscience and its applications in a range of areas. There will also be three group mini-projects where practical training in use of equipment and techniques will be provided.
All taught courses will be delivered in the PSI, and students will have a common room, with space for hot-desking and informal discussions. The administrative support section for NOWNANO will also be based in the PSI. The group mini-projects will take place in suitable laboratories throughout the University of Manchester. They will also be encouraged to visit the research groups involved in NOWNANO, discussing with potential PhD supervisors research projects and also seeing the facilities that are available in the various institutions and schools.
From month 7 onwards, students will begin their doctoral research projects, and hence develop a closer involvement with individual research groups; however the strong DTC identity will be retained:
- The NOWNANO hub will remain available to all students in the DTC; for those based in Manchester this is a convenient point at the centre of the campus.
- Events such as poster sessions, external speakers, group meetings, will be arranged with something happening at least once a fortnight. These events will span the years of the DTC, i.e. will not be restricted to one intake, but will build a group spirit throughout all students in the training centre. Students will be required to make regular oral presentations to the group meetings - sharing their research results and making sure all students are aware of all activities of the DTC. Students will be encouraged to attend suitable conferences, e.g. Nanoscience Technology, MRS conferences. Students will be expected to offer oral and poster presentations.
- Training in transferable skills will continue to be delivered to the cohort of students involved in NOWNANO ensuring further regular formal meetings of all students from a single intake.
- The students will be required to develop and maintain a NOWNANO webpage, with initial support from a University Web Support Team, which will feature their research work and discussion pages. Again, a communal spirit will be fostered by the need to meet and talk regularly to keep the content up to date. The website will also train the students in effective communication by electronic means and we believe the student-maintained NOWNANO website will be a powerful tool in recruiting further high quality students to join the DTC.
- Students will be required to prepare and man exhibits on nanoscience at the Manchester Science Festival. Again, this team-building exercise will build spirit within the cohort and serve to cement the centre's culture - as well as giving students training in public engagement.
The views of students will be vital as the DTC develops. We will establish a Student Liaison Council, with two representatives from each cohort and staff representation to discuss problems and identify opportunities to improve the functioning of the centre. An elected student representative will sit on the DTC's Management Board.