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at the cutting edge
of Engineering Research
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version]
At the Cutting Edge of
Engineering Research …
Many exciting new research opportunities are now available in the
Institute for Infrastructure and Environment, School of Engineering
and Electronics at the University of Edinburgh. Most of these
studentships are in new and leading-edge areas of engineering
research in which Institute staff are world leaders. Our
PhD graduates are in very high demand internationally and often have
multiple employment offers even before graduating.
Secure an exciting future by joining our team of PhD students who are
passionate about making a significant contribution to world-leading
engineering.
Dispelling the Myths …
Isn’t it more student life – and
more financial struggle?
No. PhD students are now paid very competitively. EPSRC minimum
studentship rates are £12,300 per annum tax free for
2006-07. Many of our studentships are Industrial CASE awards
with additional payments of at least £3500 per annum.
Further income of approximately £1000 per annum comes from many
demonstrating opportunities which are becoming more common as our UG
student numbers have increased enormously in the past few years. You
can also earn significant incomes working on short term consultancy
contracts with your supervisor and other staff. The life of a modern
PhD student especially one who is part of a large research group is
not dissimilar from a job in business, interacting with many colleagues
within and outside the University. The best part of this is that the
flexibility and independence of academia and the most fun parts of
student life are still there to be enjoyed for another 3 years!
But isn’t it an open-ended
commitment?
Not any more. Recent changes ensure that most
PhDs are now completed in 3 years.
How about job opportunities and
career progression? They’re probably no different from that after
a first degre?
Excellent opportunities are available to PhD graduates. It can be true
that PhD graduates don’t get offered significantly higher pay for a
first job. However, statistics show they do progress much faster and
get to much higher positions than colleagues without a PhD. They also
have a greater choice of jobs (depending upon the topic of their
research) to choose from. Most of our PhD graduates are in very high
demand as they specialise in areas where there is high demand and
skills shortage.
But isn’t the work too
theoretical, with little practical value?
No. Nearly all of our research is sponsored or supported by
industry. The research is always based on real-life problems,
eg:
* why did the WTC towers collapse?
* how can we make our road and rail network safer and more efficient?
* how can bulk material (coal, grain) be made to flow better?
* how can contaminated land in brown field sites be cleaned?
* are old bridges safe for new loads?
* how do we make construction projects safer & more efficient?
Fundamental theory is of course used and developed to find better
solutions to these problems.
Isn’t it too specialist a
qualification?
Well, the work does lead to a specialism, but going through the
process of a PhD develops a broad range of transferable skills, both
technical and practical which are of great value to today’s
employers. For many technology-led industries at the forefront of the
economy an undergraduate qualification often does not provide a broad
and deep enough knowledge base, and they are now routinely looking to
hire specialists for many jobs.
So how can I find out more?
We are currently recruiting highly-motivated students, who
either have, or expect a 1st or II.1 degree in Civil, Mechanical or
Chemical Engineering
Current Opportunities
If you would like to discuss the exciting opportunities now
available, you should contact Margaret Taylor of the Institute for
Infrastructure and Environment, School of Engineering and Electronics
Tel: 0131 6505719
Email: Margaret.Taylor@ed.ac.uk
An academic staff member will then contact you to give
details of available opportunities and answer any questions you may
have.
So get set, for the career of a lifetime!
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