Queen Mary University of London secures major funding to support next generation of researchers

Photo from a LIDo iCASE poster event. iCASE awards facilitate PhD students to generate research impact through collaborative projects with industry partners.

At Queen Mary, the funding will support PhD students across biosciences, environmental sciences, engineering, and physical sciences, via contributions to the London Interdisciplinary Biosciences Consortium (LIDo) and the Training Research and Equity in Environmental Sciences (TREES) programme. 

This new funding will support multiple PhD students at Queen Mary over the next five years, merging biosciences with advanced computational tools, including artificial intelligence and data science. It will support development of postgraduate training capacities in core scientific disciplines such as engineering, computer science, and materials science, enabling the university to advance its strategic vision of impactful, inclusive research and of delivering comprehensive training and development support through its Doctoral College. 

The LIDo programme, funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), is a collaboration between universities and industry, led at Queen Mary by Professor Richard Pickersgill.  

Professor Viji Draviam, Chair of the LIDo Research and Training Committee, commented on the programme’s innovative approach: “LIDo will equip students with an interdisciplinary toolkit, allowing them to address complex bioscience questions with both experimental and computational expertise. We aim to foster a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives can drive groundbreaking research.” 

Queen Mary’s involvement in the TREES programme, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), aligns closely with its focus on sustainability and environmental science. Via this new funding, the TREES programme will train around 12 PhD students at Queen Mary over the next five years, whose research will target critical areas such as ecosystem conservation, genome evolution, and environmental sustainability.  

Professor Mark Trimmer, co-lead for the TREES programme, highlighted Queen Mary’s strategic assets: “With resources like the Dorset River Laboratory and state-of-the-art facilities in London, Queen Mary is uniquely positioned to support pioneering research in environmental science.” 

Through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (ESPRC) Doctoral Landscape Award, Queen Mary will also receive funding to support more than 30 PhD students over the next three years in fields such as electronic engineering, physics, and materials science. This funding will reinforce Queen Mary’s role as a leading institution in physical sciences, with a strong emphasis on research impact and inclusivity.  

Professor Akram Alomainy, Deputy Dean for Postgraduate Research, noted, “This significant EPSRC funding supports our vision to grow our research capacity while fostering an inclusive environment. Our goal is to ensure that scientific breakthroughs are matched by a commitment to diversity and community impact.” 

Queen Mary is also a key partner in three EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training and participates in industry-linked programmes such as the BBSRC Collaborative Training Partnership, further advancing its role in shaping the UK’s future scientific and engineering workforce. 

Applications are currently open for PhD studentships in both the LIDo and TREES programmes, with selected candidates beginning their studies in autumn 2025.