The 拢9 million awarded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the Ministry of Defence and UK Research and Innovation will be matched by support from major nuclear organisations, including Rolls-Royce Submarines, the UK Atomic Energy Authority and TWI, to deliver a 拢24 million programme training up to 100 PhD students.
PANDA will be delivered by 乐播传媒 in partnership with the United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory and the universities of Bristol, Birmingham, Cambridge, Derby, Imperial College London and Manchester. Together, these partners will support a new generation of researchers equipped to meet the UK鈥檚 future nuclear and clean鈥慹nergy needs, including a specific focus on defence.
This is a significant step for Bangor, North Wales and the UK. Through PANDA, we will shorten the time it takes for a researcher to take a good idea and turn it into something that provides genuine benefit to society. We will train up to 100 PhD graduates in the most modern methods and equip them with the leadership skills to be able to innovate and deliver immediate impact when they enter the UK鈥檚 diverse nuclear programmes in the very near future.
Beyond technical research, PANDA puts an emphasis on preparing PhD graduates for industry. Alongside advanced nuclear science and engineering, PANDA students will receive training in project management, budgeting, regulatory awareness, communication and broader leadership skills. This holistic approach ensures graduates are fully prepared for employment in a rapidly expanding sector that requires both technical excellence and professional capability.
To meet the scale of the UK鈥檚 nuclear requirements, PANDA operates alongside the other nuclear doctoral focal awards announced today. Bangor is proud to be a member of the DRIVERS and SATURN II DFAs (led by Imperial College London and University of Manchester, respectively).
Professor Paul Spencer, Pro Vice Chancellor Research added, 鈥溊植ゴ is playing a leading role in shaping the UK鈥檚 nuclear future through its leadership of this major national programme. The type of skills we will provide are urgently needed to deliver innovative first of a kind technology, such as the Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) at Wylfa. This work places 乐播传媒 at the forefront of UK and global nuclear innovation and underscores the University鈥檚 role in shaping the next generation of clean energy.鈥
鈥淲e will provide world鈥慶lass supervision, facilitate collaboration with leading nuclear organisations and provide effective pathways into high鈥憊alue careers within a sector central to the UK鈥檚 future prosperity鈥.
PANDA is accepting applications for fully funded PhD opportunities, across a broad range of disciplines to start in October 2026.
For more information, visit /panda