Overview
The NanoFutures Scholars Undergraduate Research Programme provides research experience in nanoscience and nanotechnology to undergraduate students who have previously only had limited exposure to research. Applicants will be selected based on their academic achievement and potential in the context of their education to date and on the benefit which the programme might provide.
The residential programme will run over 8 weeks at the University of Cambridge. NanoFutures Scholars will be paid at the Cambridge Living Wage, will be reimbursed travel (via public transport) to and from Cambridge, and will be provided, free of charge, with single accommodation at Selwyn College, Cambridge for the duration of the programme including weekends.
The NanoDTC is hugely grateful to Selwyn and its donors for its generous and ongoing support for the NanoFutures Scholars programme.
Aim
The aim of the NanoDTC’s NanoFutures Scholars programme, which ran first in summer 2022, is to find and support those undergraduate students who have the potential to become the future of nanoscience and nanotechnology research—a future which we are striving to make more diverse and inclusive. The NanoFutures Scholars programme is competitive, with both academic achievement and potential considered during selection. We particularly welcome applicants who have not yet had the opportunity to demonstrate their full potential, because of particular social or personal circumstances.
Click on the images below to explore some of the research currently being undertaken by NanoDTC PhD students:
Miniaturisation of barcoding
Miniaturisation of barcoding technology brings us one step closer to home diagnostics Rising rates of later age illness including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and
Using Electronic Noise to Speed Up Machine Learning
All computers contain millions of electronic switches known as transistors. Traditionally these transistors switch on and off to perform the operations required to run a
Watching molecules grow helps find origin of Alzheimer’s
One in three people in the UK know a family member or friend with dementia and the number of people suffering from this life shattering
Safety alert – beware of battery explosions
We all want batteries that allow us to listen to music for hours on our phone or an electric car that will drive miles after
Lighting up a greener future
The world spends 20% of the electricity produced today on lighting. If we all lit up our homes and offices using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) instead
Wasted Energy into Electricity
Self-sustaining power – smart materials convert wasted energy into electricity New materials allow electricity to be generated from wasted energy in the environment. Electronics are
Programme Details
The NanoFutures Scholars programme includes three main elements:
- An internship within a research group in one of the departments related to nanoscience and nanotechnology at the University of Cambridge. Scholars will be supported within the research group through a daily supervisor (e.g. a PhD student or postdoc) and a faculty member (e.g. a professor). Where possible, NanoFutures Scholars will work on pairs of related projects, in the same department, so that they can also discuss their work with a peer;
- Information and training on how to apply for postgraduate study, including interview skills, writing personal statements, preparing strong applications, and securing effective references;
- Participation in a network of peers—other NanoFutures Scholars as well as current NanoDTC students and associates. The peer network will provide a weekly programme of shared experiences, including social and extracurricular activities.
All NanoFutures Scholars will additionally be supported by a nominated mentor as well as an overall programme tutor.
Eligibility
The programme is open to students currently studying for an undergraduate physical sciences or engineering degree, interpreted broadly, with at least one year left on their degree. At present, only permanent residents of the UK who are studying for an undergraduate degree at a UK higher education institution are eligible to apply. Further details of the eligibility criteria are outlined in detail in the applicant guidelines (here), which we strongly recommend you read fully before applying.
In addition, in order to widen participation and to tackle the underrepresentation of—and overcome the disadvantage experienced by—certain groups in the physical sciences and engineering at Cambridge, priority will be given to those applicants who have not already studied at either Oxford or Cambridge and who satisfy one or more of the following criteria:
- have received free school meals;
- entered university at undergraduate level from a Care background or a Foyer resident;
- are estranged from their family;
- have been a single parent, or lone guardian of a young person who is aged under 18 and/or still in full-time education during their undergraduate degree course;
- have caring responsibilities for an ill or disabled family member who could not manage without this help;
- were the first generation of their family to go to university.
We also particularly encourage applications from those who:
- at the time of applying for their undergraduate course, were living in one of the most deprived areas of the country;
- at the time of applying for their undergraduate course, were living in an area where it is unusual for young people to go to university;
- identify as belonging to an underrepresented ethnic group and/or gender in the physical sciences and engineering at Cambridge;
- are a mature student;
- have received full state support for maintenance for their course of undergraduate study;
- have refugee status.
Further information on the above criteria, and whether or not you may satisfy them, can be found in the applicant guidelines (here).
Contact
The NanoFutures Scholars programme is not currently running, however, should you have any questions please email: nanodtc.admissions@nanodtc.cam.ac.uk with “NanoFutures Scholars” in the subject line.