General Information
Acknowledging your funding
Every output, including presentations, posters and papers must include an acknowledgement to your funding. This should be in the following format: “The author wishes to acknowledge the funding received for this research from industry sponsor (add name), The University of (add home institution name) and UK Atomic Energy.”
Approval to publish
All published work must be given prior approval by your academic and industry supervisors. In some cases the terms of the studentship contract allows the industry partner to request information is withheld to protect intellectual property rights, and these must be respected. You must allow adequate time for your industry sponsor to approve all published work (presentations, posters, papers) prior to submission deadlines.
Code of Practice
The PGR Guidance is unique to each university - and provides support for postgraduate research students, supervisors, and Schools on undertaking and managing postgraduate research (PGR) studies.
Cohort Contacts
2025 Cohort
A.J. Wright: alex.wright-3@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk with Dr Matt Roy & UKAEA ‘From Defects to Durability: Scaling Fatigue Predictions for Additive and Welded Structures in Fusion Systems’
Andrew Atkinson: andrew.atkinson-4@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk with Professor Lee Margetts & UKAEA ‘Systems Modelling of the Tritium Fuel Cycle’
Anthony Gregory: anthony.gregory@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk with Professor Lee Margetts & UKAEA ‘Tritium transport and retention in liquid blankets; multiphysics driven impacts and coupling’
Ben Goodliffe: ben.goodliffe@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk with Dr Kathryn George & TBC ’Solvent Extraction for Lithium Isotope Enrichment to Fuel Fusion Power’
Eron Hoti: email TBC with Dr Tessa Davey & TBC ‘Understanding phase decomposition in SMART-W alloys in a fusion power plant environment’
Ethan Cardall: sgecard2@liverpool.ac.uk with Dr Kirsty McKay & Rolls Royce ‘Modifying Surfaces of Non-Metallics to Improve their Longevity or Functionality by Atmospheric Plasma Processing’
Evie Barker: evie.barker@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk with Professor Lee Margets & ntTau Digital.com ‘Computational Fluid Dynamics in the era of artificial general intelligence’
Francisco Perez Smith: email TBC with Professor Arun Bhattacharya & UKAEA ’Environmental Effects on Structural Integrity in Vanadium Alloy Liquid Lithium Breeder Blankets’
Hugo Stevens: hugo.stephens@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk with Dr Peng Gong & Liberty Steel ’Effect of Joining/Welding on Newly Developed Reduced Activation Ferritic-Martensitic (RAFM) Steels Under Irradiation’
Jack Mcevilly: JXM1370@student.bham.ac.uk with Dr Biao Cai & UKAEA ‘Design and Additive Manufacturing of Heat Sinks for Fusion Reactors’
Jivanshh Banga Thakur: jivanshh.thakur@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk with Professor Lee Margetts & UKAEA ‘Tritium transport and retention in solid blankets; multiphysics driven impacts and coupling’
Matthew Davies: MMJDavies1@sheffield.ac.uk with Professor Jon Wilmott & Pyroptik ‘Remote robotic welding guided by reliable, non-contact, emissivity-independent temperature imaging and machine vision’
Michael Crabbe: michael.crabbe@student.manchester.ac.uk with Professor Lee Margetts & Rideo Systems ‘Scaled Experimental Platform for Magnetically Confined Fusion Process Emulation and Digital Twin Integration’
Mohammad Aldahi: K23111996@kcl.ac.uk with Dr Christos Skamniotis & UKAEA ‘Probabilistic lifetime assessment of Breeding Blankets under irradiated conditions’
Nafisa Abdul Anis: syedanafisa.abdulanis@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk with Dr Kathryn George & TBC ‘Lithium isotope separation – a theoretical approach for material design’
Prajwal Bharadwaj: email TBC with Professor Perumal Nithiarasu & UKAEA ‘Multi-Fidelity Simulation Ensembles for Near Real-time Failure Prediction in Digital Twins’
Rahul Banka: rahul.banka@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk with Professor Philip Edmondson & Commonwealth Fusion Systems ‘Permeation Resistant, Novel Ceramic Materials for the Fusion Fuel Cycle’
Samson Shaji Varghese: email TBC with Professor Perumal Nithiarasu & UKAEA ‘A real-time PINN-based computational framework for data integration and digital twinning’.
Samuel Forbes-Fairfax: SEForbes-Fairfax1@sheffield.ac.uk with Dr Emma Heywood& UKAEA ‘Identifying and implementing optimum information methods to promote understanding and engagement amongst populations regarding fusion energy and the engineering activities of a new fusion powerplant’
Shiam Chuttoo: s.chuttoo@lboro.ac.uk with Professor Michael Henshaw & UKAEA ‘An Open Architecture Framework for Fusion’
Shurie McMahon: sem501@student.bham.ac.uk with Dr Leonardo Stella & EPRI ‘Assessing Fusion Performance Limits of Vanadium Alloy E-beam Welds for Breeder Blanket Systems’
Sonya Fonweban: sonya.fonweban@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk with Professor Lee Margetts & UKAEA ‘Enhancing Fusion Engineering with Augmented and Virtual Reality and Digital Twins’
Governance of the CDT
The CDT programme is managed and operated in accordance with the policies, principles, regulations and procedures of the partner Universities.
The day-to-day management of the programme is handled by the CDT Management Group. The management group takes overall responsibility for all matters related to running the course as well as outreach, recruitment, and finance for the CDT.
The CDT reports to UKAEA and is overseen by several goverance committees;
Industrial Expert & Advisory Board - meets twicea year, and is co-chaired by Dr Emre Yildirim (Tokamak Energy) and Dr Sehila Gonzalez (Clean Air Task Force). It is comprised of every company that has offered in-kind or cash support to the CDT and the CDT management Group.
Operations Committee - meets six times a year, and is chaired by Dr Nick Walkden, Head of FOSTER at UKAEA, and is comprised of the FOSTER Programme Manager Dr Steph Wood and the CDT Management Group.
Student Voice Committee - will meet twice a year, from January 2026, to promotes open discussion between CDT staff and students and a forum to raise issues regarding CDT teaching, student experience, research equipment and facilities.
Interruption of Studies/Leave of Absence
In general, we will follow the Terms and Conditions for training grants awarded by UKRI.
We defer to the interruptions/leave of absence policy of the student’s host institution for postgraduate research students.
Students should discuss any circumstances that may result in them making a request for an interruption with their supervisor and the CDT Manager in the first instance.
Interruptions/leave of absence should not normally exceed 12 months during the full period of the programme.
Students are eligible for maternity, paternity, adoption and sick pay. The policy of the student’s host institution and UKRI will be followed and payments will be made at the discretion of the CDT Directors.
Mental Health Support
If you feel able to do so, any complaints should first be raised with the relevant member of staff – often the supervisor is a good person to provide advice on how to best do this. Students are also welcome to raise any concerns with either or both the CDT Director (Lee Margetts) and the Deputy Director (Russell Goodall) if they prefer. Should you not wish to approach an academic member of staff, Sharon Brown is the designated non-academic contact for any complaints or concerns.
Formal complaints at any University will be handled through the complaints system at the University where the incident occurred, who will then alert the CDT Manager for action by the CDT Director. Each University agrees to co-operate and to take reasonable steps to address any student complaint that is received.
Report + Support – University of Liverpool
Report + Support – University of Manchester
Report + Support – University of Sheffield
Report + Support - University of Birmingham
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the unreferenced use of other authors’ material in your assignments and thesis. If you reference other people’s work it must be acknowledged clearly. The universities’ regulations state very clearly that plagiarism is a serious academic offence and the consequences of committing such an offence are severe. All students should read the guidance notes on plagiarism and academic malpractice for their home institution. If you are in any doubt you must seek guidance from your supervisor.
Stipend Payments
Stipends are paid direct to student bank accounts by the host university from 1st October every year, so please make sure that your bank details are correct in your student record and that you have re-enrolled each year.
Student Voice
As part of the feedback systems for you to have the best student experience in the CDT, we have a Student Voice Committee (SVC).
Student Voice Committee Terms of Reference
The role of the Student Voice Committee (SVC) :
provides a forum for the exchange of opinions and information between Fusion Engineering CDT Directors/Investigators and its PGR students.
considers matters referred to it by any PGR or member of academic staff directly involved in the CDT (a PGR supervisor or member of the Management Group).
will meet three times per year (autumn, winter, spring)
Will have its student representatives self-selected each year.
Administration
Two Student Co-Chairs shall be nominated by its members.
A Committee Secretary role shall be filled by the CDT Administrator, unless there is a PGR volunteer.
Minutes of SVC meetings will be circulated by the Committee Secretary to members and added to the CDT PGR Handbook.
Topics for discussion at meetings should be submitted to the Secretary by email
Individuals raising or forming discussions shall be given anonymity by all members
Matters arising may be escalated when required by the CDT Student Experience Lead (Professor Chris Race, University of Sheffield) to the CDT Director (Professor Lee Margetts, University of Manchester).
Matters arising that are outside the control of the CDT shall be cascaded by the CDT Student Experience Lead to external staff as required.
The *Inagugural SVC meeting each year shall be arranged within the Proteum training programme to facilitate in-person attendance by the full Year 1 cohort.
Membership
Student Co-Chairs - two persons to be elected by PGRs in the 2025 cohort
Academic Co-Chairs - CDT Student Experience Lead and a CDT supervisor or member of the CDT management Group
Cohort Representatives - to be elected from the 2025 cohort (no upper limit to membership)
Committee Secretary - CDT Administrator
Election of Student Representatives
Elections to the Committee take place at the start of the autumn semester and all students may self-nominate. There is no upper limit to membership.
A student representative from each Hub university and an Associate University should be secured.
Roles and responsibilities
Student Representatives and Student Co-Chairs shall attend Committee Meetings online or in person, representing issues which affect student experience.
The Co-Chairs shall be invited to attend the CDTs other governance meetings [CDT Management Group, Strategic Operations Meeting, Industrial Expert & Advisory Board] as required to share student feedback and cascade matters arising.
The Committee Secretary shall advise all students of forthcoming meetings and encourage them to raise matters with their local Representative, or contact them directly with matters for the agenda.
Thesis Submission
Students should be aware that the theses must be submitted within 4 years of initial registration. A doctoral thesis must be presented in accordance with the home institution’s guidelines. It is important that students and their supervisor come to agreement on the style and content of the thesis as soon as possible so that a well-defined work programme can be established with this deadline in mind.