NanoDTC

Centre for Interdisciplinary PhD Training in Nanoscience

About the programme

The Doctoral Training Centre in Nanoscience (NanoDTC) is a world-leading doctoral training programme at the University of Cambridge that aims to develop the next generation of scientific leaders in interdisciplinary research.

Nurturing future leaders in interdisciplinary research & innovation

Since its launch in 2009, the NanoDTC has trained over 150 researchers through its highly interdisciplinary training programme.

200+

Current members in NanoDTC community

Our programme's vibrant academic network spanning over 10 departments includes 80+ current PhD students and over 150 PIs, as well as a 120-strong alumni network.

106

NanoDTC publications h-factor

Our students consistently produce high-quality and highly cited interdisciplinary research across departments including Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, and Materials Science.

£20M

Total programme funding

Over its 16 year lifetime, the NanoDTC has so far been supported by EPSRC CDT funding (£17.3M), leveraged industry funding (£1.9M), and other sources, a total exceeding £20M.

$300M

Cumulative valuation of alumni startups

Our students operate at the leading edge of technical innovation, with over 15 alumni-led startups coming out of our programme in the last 5 years.

Interested in joining?

We welcome engagements from prospective PhD students, academics & researchers, as well as industry partners.
Click below to find out more!

PhD Applicants

Discover what our PhD programme has to offer

Academics

Learn about the programme's research and how to get involved

Industry

Find out how we engage & collaborate with industrial partners.

Why apply to the NanoDTC?

NanoDTC students join a vibrant DTC community, as well as the wider Cambridge academic and innovation ecosystem, an environment that supports interdisciplinary collaboration and wider impact.

Our programme helps students thrive in this setting, enabling them to develop both technical depth and breadth, along with an understanding of the wider commercial, social, and ethical landscape of emerging science and technologies.

Design your
own PhD

Shape your interdisciplinary PhD project with two supervisors from a network of 100+ academics across the University.

Train across disciplines

Learn to think like a systems-level problem solver through hands-on training and interdisciplinary research.

Belong to a community

Work, learn and grow within a tight-knit cohort and a wider network of researchers, mentors, and alumni.

Engage in
innovation

Explore how your research connects with broader landscape of industry, policy, and society

Training Programme

The first six months of the NanoDTC programme provide intensive, hands-on training designed to transform students from capable learners into confident researchers.

Find out about our training modules below.

Student Testimonials

"I started the programme not really knowing what to expect… I had quite a narrow view of science and didn’t realise just how connected everything could be. The NanoDTC completely changed that. The first year especially showed me how chemistry, physics, materials science and more all blur together when you're exploring real research questions. It’s not just one field or another, it’s the magic that happens when they mix. It completely opened my eyes to the creativity and collaboration at the heart of nanoscience."

Tara Murphy, c2022

"Having a cohort of other students to share experiences (both good and bad!) with, has made so much difference to my time as a PhD student. The NanoDTC community has had an enormously positive impact on my outlook, providing me with a broader perspective on academia, and with brilliant opportunities for my own professional growth, including support for conferences and travel to build my own network of colleagues and to share my research with the wider scientific community. The training I received in the first year of the NanoDTC program consistently challenged me in ways I hadn't expected, but my confidence in myself (both personally, and as a researcher) increased drastically as a result, empowering me to communicate my work in front of hundreds of people at conferences. It has always been a great comfort knowing I can rely on my friends and colleagues from this community for support and advice whenever I have needed it."

James Steele, c2021

"What I valued most about NanoDTC is the freedom to shape the direction of my PhD. The program really encourages interdisciplinary work, which gave me the confidence that I could pursue something original and truly innovative. Being able to meet my future supervisor and group in advance also made me feel secure in my choice of project – an invaluable reassurance at the start of a PhD journey. The program itself is very well designed; the courses are engaging, practical, and provide skills I continue to use in my research and that will be valuable in my future career. Beyond the academic side, NanoDTC builds a genuine sense of community. Moving to a new place can be daunting, but being welcomed into a warm and supportive cohort made me feel at home right away. And I have to mention the administration – they are incredibly kind and supportive. Overall, I couldn’t be happier with my decision to join NanoDTC, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it."

Zofia Dziekan c2025

Shape the Future of Interdisciplinary Science

We’re located at the Maxwell Centre on the West Cambridge site, the University's hub for physical sciences. We welcome enquiries from prospective students, Cambridge academics, industry partners, and anyone interested in our research!

Contact us

Research @ Cambridge

Cavendish Laboratory

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