EPSRC

The Cleaning with Air hub aimed to address environmental pollution from domestic washing and disinfection by developing methods to generate activated cleaning species directly from a catalyst using air, eliminating the need for traditional toxic chemicals. The hub focused on using reactive oxygen species produced from air or water through heat, electricity, or electromagnetic radiation to drive chemical and biological oxidation. This innovation aimed to help industries create cleaner, greener, and more effective cleaning products with zero chemical discharge.

The hub has successfully provided cohort-based training for postgraduate research students, giving them deep expertise in advanced cleaning research and an understanding of environmental and societal constraints for new consumer products.

The high-impact research has achieved breakthroughs in:

• Water disinfection using Hydrogen Peroxide
• Disinfection using sunlight
• Disinfection using microwave irradiation.

By engaging with industry, end-user communities, and international researchers the hub co-designed cutting-edge PhD projects, enhancing students' experiences and aligning their work with real-world needs. Additionally, the hub established a new interdisciplinary research area focused on catalytically benign cleaning.

Recruitment for the hub has now concluded. As the hub wraps up, we reflect on the collaborative efforts of all team members and the valuable contributions they made to the project's success.

For more information, please contact this hub’s Academic Lead, Dr Jennifer Edwards.

The Cardiff University Hub in Interdisciplinary Precision Oncology (IPOCH) offered post-graduate research students opportunities to join a cancer research community through a joint flagship programme between the Schools of Engineering, Computer Science, and Medicine. IPOCH combined the strengths and resources of these schools, promoting interdisciplinarity and ‘team science’.

IPOCH developed treatments targeting individual tumours, integrating image and genomic data analytics with big data and AI. Students gained expertise in state-of-the-art imaging technology and machine learning for complex tissue characterisation, advancing understanding of patient-specific treatment pathways. They were guided by a network of NHS and industrial partners. They engaged in globally impactful research, facilitated by collaborations and dissemination

through conferences and publications. The establishment of a Patient Public Interaction group ensured community guidance, while adherence to Responsible Research and Innovation principles was supported by resources like ORBIT's self-assessment tools. The Hub promoted open science, making research accessible across science, industry, and society.

Recruitment for the hub has now concluded. As we reflect on the collaborative efforts of all team members we would like to thank them for the valuable contributions they made to the project's success.

For more information, please contact this hub’s Academic Lead, Professor Emiliano Spezi.

Research area and aims

The 20th century was spent understanding the principles of quantum mechanics; the 21st century will be spent deepening this understanding and applying those principles across a range of interdisciplinary subjects from physics, engineering, and healthcare; and delivering applications from imaging to information communication and processing to signal detection of fundamental processes and beyond. To realise the 'quantum advantage' to everyday applications, there is a pressing need for the training of a new generation of quantum technologists to exploit these breakthroughs. QuMaT will connect diverse fields in the physical sciences hitherto considered isolated, playing to Cardiff University’s strengths in materials, quantum science and condensed matter physics.

Cardiff University has world-leading expertise in quantum materials and technologies, including developing that expertise to deliver technological applications. QuMaT will facilitate the unified development of this programme, enabling future success with grants in a combination of the 34 UK priority areas which stretch across the EPSRC remit.

Key research goals

QuMaT will:

1. Develop quantum materials growth, characterisation and simulation techniques to establish Cardiff University at the forefront of UK quantum technology development across disciplines
2. Transform into a unique convergence of quantum technologies EPSRC CDT with strong industrial support from a broad spectrum of quantum technologies and the ability to converge and spin out new quantum technology sectors
3. Initialise a comprehensive advanced training and research environment to cultivate self-sustaining, world leading characterisation, simulation and manipulation of quantum materials for emerging quantum technologies, for which EPSRC predicts an immediate market of over £1 billion.

Research environment and training

QuMaT spans 4 schools, creating an interdisciplinary environment.

In their first year, research students will attend existing postgraduate courses, plus an experimental quantum materials growth techniques course, and a unique programme on advanced measurements in the quantum limit. Students across all years will attend weekly physics seminars, Physics Chat (PhD student bi-weekly presentations) and monthly journal clubs, where they will be able to discuss state of the art results and present their own ideas to their peers.

Students will attend level 7 courses such as 'Quantum Theory of Solids' and 'Gravitational Wave Detection', training them in the theoretical and experimental techniques relevant to establishing a baseline of competence necessary to productive interdisciplinary overlap. First year students will additionally attend a specifically designed course on quantum materials and technology (invited seminars and colloquia), and will make onsite visits to industrial partners. In their second, third and fourth years, students will be supported to attend international conferences and workshops as well as technical summer schools.

To promote collaboration, in addition to the bi-weekly meetings, students will organise an annual one-day Postgraduate Conference. Led by QuMaT students, the conference will include postgraduate research students from across the represented schools, industrial partners, and beyond. Students, supported by QuMaT academics, will be responsible for all aspects of the event, including room booking, catering, inviting speakers, setting session themes, and chairing sessions. A budget will be allocated and approved by the QuMaT management team.

QuMaT students will also serve as a social hub for postgraduate students more widely. They will appoint a social committee to organise a social events. The QuMaT Management Team will agree a budget with the student committee each term based on planned activities, with an emphasis on team-building.

Cohort performance will be monitored through a written personal development plan (PDP) and mentoring scheme in which the student and supervisory team will identify training needs.

QuMaT will include a nominated point of contact to enable a pragmatic procedure for raising points of concern.

Recruitment is currently live. For more information, please contact the hub’s Academic Lead, Professor Sean Giblin.