A new £8million national training centre in Aberdeen will create dozens of experts in Geoscience and Environmental Science related to the oil and gas sector over the next six years.

The Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT), led by Heriot-Watt University and funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), is offering 90 students the opportunity to become the next generation of geoscientific and environmental PhD researchers in oil and gas.

The news comes shortly after the oil and gas sector called for new talent to address the country’s skills shortage and take advantage of Aberdeen, which is fast becoming a global centre of excellence in the industry.

John Underhill, Professor of Exploration Geoscience in the Institute of Petroleum of Engineering at Heriot-Watt University said, “The centre provides an important new opportunity for a once in a generation game change in academic training and research in oil and gas. The partnership with NERC ensures that the programme is well regarded and fully supported.”

“We look forward to having fruitful dialogue with industry that places the student experience at the heart and serves best interests of the UK as we face the energy and environmental challenges that are with us now and will grow in the future.”

The PhD and allied Training Academy program is focused on creating a highly skilled workforce with expertise that can be used across the wider energy and environmental sectors in the UK and abroad, as well as equipping the industry with the skills needed to reduce the environmental impact of oil and gas exploration and extraction.

Students will work alongside leading businesses in the oil and gas sector and environmental agencies to improve the skills base and support the growth of the UK’s offshore oil and gas resources in a safe and sustainable way, attracting further overseas investment.

A new website was launched yesterday (Tuesday, 21 January) showcasing the four main themes of the course: environmental impact and regulation,  the effective production of unconventional hydrocarbons, extending the life of mature basins and safe extraction of oil and gas resources in challenging environments.

For students interested in applying for a PhD place on the program, please visit http://www.pet.hw.ac.uk/research/nerc-cdt-oil-gas-academic-partnership.htm (website went live from 4pm, Tuesday, 21 January 2014)

Source : Sachin Murdeshwar