Who are Centre for Doctorial Training in Sustainable Hydrogen?
The Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Hydrogen (SusHy CDT) is a collaboration between the universities of Nottingham, Loughborough, Birmingham and Ulster. It has joined forces with over 40 companies and organisations to provide a new integrated PhD experience. Our multidisciplinary team of PhD researchers are supervised by world leading experts with access to facilities across our four universities and collaboration partners.
Our research priorities include:
- Low-carbon generation of hydrogen
- The storage and distribution of hydrogen
- Hydrogen safety
- Energy systems
- End use of Hydrogen, including the social, economic and business aspects
At the SusHy CDT we recruit people with high academic ability and aim to create a gender balanced multi-disciplinary team from a broad range of races, cultures and social backgrounds. We believe listening to different perspectives can inform and improve our research. Diversity in all areas of our CDT helps us to challenge theories and improve understanding so that we can design the best hydrogen-based solutions.
The training programme we offer provides the multidisciplinary training you’d expect, but also develops entrepreneurial, managerial and project skills along with the communication tools needed to convey ideas to a wide range of audiences. In addition, we provide opportunities to develop skills through industrial secondments, outreach activities, industry challenge events and writing retreats.
The SusHy CDT aims to train the energy leaders needed to meet the Net-Zero global challenge, which will require leading successful innovation teams informed by diverse perspectives.
What projects / schemes / initiatives to support women’s recruitment, retention and progression in STEM are SusHy CDT involved in?
SusHy has recruited amazing individuals from a diverse talent pool who are contributing to the success of the CDT. Our recruitment is guided by EDI best practice (from the wording of adverts through to anonymised shortlisting) and we have been working with Diversity by Design to actively recruit a diverse cohort.
The CDT has an EDI training framework for everyone—students through to supervisors—and supports students, early career academics and those returning after a career break. Some examples include: providing a space where concerns and issues can be raised; being responsive to care responsibilities outside of work; a Diversity Fund to assist students with mobility issues to participate in CDT activities or events; and supporting student-led STEM outreach work to under-represented groups.
Why did SusHy CDT join WISE?
“At the heart of our operation is the aim to create a diverse gender balanced team because we believe this will nurture a more creative research environment. The SusHy CDT has joined WISE because of the support and networking opportunities WISE offers our students and staff, supporting them as their careers develop.”
– Prof. Gavin Walker, SusHy CDT Director
