The Kavli–Newnham Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin Postgraduate Studentship Programme is an ambitious new initiative to attract outstanding, international women in STEM to pursue PhD degrees at the Kavli Institute for Cosmology, Cambridge (KICC) and Newnham College. We expect to recruit one student annually, creating a cohort of four Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin Students at any given time. We provide a unique cross-disciplinary research environment at the nexus of three world-leading departments – the Institute of Astronomy (IoA), Cavendish Laboratory (the Department of Physics), and the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP) – to support, inspire and train the next generation of global scientific leaders.
One of the greatest successes and longest-lasting legacies of KICC and its parent departments is the quality, diversity and international success of the cohort of PhD students and postdoctoral research fellows they have trained. These alumni are now drivers of scientific vision and progress at leading institutions around the world. It is this tradition of excellence and global impact that we aspire to continue through the Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin Students.
Cambridge’s research environment is exceptional in its breadth and integration across theory, observation, instrumentation and computation. KICC defines the cutting-edge interface of these disciplines, and the PhD students supported by the new programme will be integral to advancing this cross-disciplinary and collaborative spirit. Students will benefit from joint supervision and collaborations across departments, with possible involvement of Kavli Institute Fellows, enabling them to design a flexible and forward-looking research profile.
Research topics of Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin Studentships will align with the broad range of KICC’s scientific themes. In addition to scientific training, students will be embedded within highly successful PhD student cohorts across the three departments and benefit from a wide variety of optional courses and training opportunities. Alongside the extensive range of lectures and seminars on offer, student development and transferable skills training (e.g., sessions on communication, organisational and leadership skills, presenting work at seminars or conferences, and applying for postdoctoral positions) will be provided.
Supporting more women to excel in STEM fields is an integral vision and ambition of both KICC and Newnham College, the oldest college run by women, for women, at the University of Cambridge. Newnham is highly regarded for its inspiring and supportive on-campus environment. The Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin Postgraduate Studentship Programme aligns with the University of Cambridge’s commitment to equality of opportunity, an inclusive academic culture and the advancement of gender equality. By supporting women pursuing careers in STEM, the programme seeks to help address persistent barriers to representation and progression in scientific research, particularly at key stages of academic development.