University to help train future nuclear workforce

A new research project to support the UK’s nuclear workforce will be delivered by the University of Suffolk, thanks to national funding for PhD students.

As part of the £65.6million investment into nuclear skills, the University of Suffolk is working with three other universities on the Doctoral Focal Award (DFA) in Radiation Protection, Nuclear Safety and Environmental Sustainability (RAPTOR). 

RAPTOR will deliver a new doctoral training programme focused on radiation protection, environmental sustainability and nuclear safety, with the aim of producing 80 highly trained researchers who can deliver practical solutions across the civil and defence nuclear sectors. 

Suffolk’s deep connections to existing and emerging nuclear infrastructure at Sizewell C, alongside its track record in community collaborating and skills development, position the University as the ideal institution to lead on the programme’s research focus of Social Value and Societal Impact.  

Professor Darryl Newport, Director of the Suffolk Sustainability Institute at the University of Suffolk, said: “The RAPTOR consortium brings together a uniquely complementary group of partners whose combined expertise in nuclear innovation, community engagement and regional development creates a powerful platform for delivering meaningful impact from the nuclear sector.   

“We look forward to working with fellow collaborators to realise the RAPTOR vision – demonstrating how nuclear energy can generate lasting social value and deliver positive societal impact for local communities and the wider UK.” 

The DFA is being led by the University of Liverpool in partnership with the University of Manchester’s Dalton Nuclear Institute and the University of Surrey, along with partners from the nuclear energy and security sectors.