Training

It has been recognised that training and general conditions for young researcher vary widely within the EU. The European Union has recommended minimum standards be set for better and more consistent training to be delivered.

NANOCEM partners are well aware of these trends and intend to make our training a best practice model of its kind and an example for other sciences. The training coordinator, (DTU) monitors the quality and homogeneity of the training.

This training program has been elaborated in close cooperation between the universities, institutes and industrial partners to provide a balanced and flexible training and transfer of knowledge programme based on existing modules.

Taking into account the varying background of the ESRs and ERs (collectively termed “fellows”) the training programme delivers:

• A holistic appreciation of cementitious materials from the raw materials, through their use and application, including aesthetic, environmental and durability aspects;
• An interdisciplinary approach to material development based on the scientific disciplines of physics, chemistry, material science, and civil engineering complemented by relevant social, economic and environmental aspects;
• Skills not normally provided in academia but widely used in industry: normalisation/ standardisation (with TC51), project management, IPR, (through experience and formal courses);
• An international network of contacts in industry, research institutes and universities to advise and equip fellows for international careers in either industry of academia, or to move between the two;
• A web platform to : coordinate the research programme, assist the development and provision of e-learning courses, increase the internal communication.

The 15 fellowships are the minimum number necessary to benefit from the training and research synergies within the network of 17 partners. The bulk of the fellowships (9 ESR, 70% of man months) are requested for Early Stage Researchers, who will study for doctoral degrees, the balance of 6 Experienced Researchers (30% of the total man months effort) are requested to bring new skills into the network and transfer knowledge between the academic and industrial partners.

To satisfy institutional autonomy, each student are registered at a single partner institution but will spend around 6-12 months at other partner institutions, including a period of research in a laboratory of one of the industrial partners. The selection partners takes into account need for access to special facilities and for complementary competences.

This, together with the network wide training courses, gives the fellows exposure to a range of research methods and techniques, including contact with different approaches to problem solving