Summer 2025

Projects are listed below for study commencing in October 2025. Click on the titles to load a PDF with more details of each project. All of the projects are “CASE” awards, with close collaboration with an industrial partner, providing internship opportunities and enhanced training budgets.

Each project is fully funded for UK applicants, with fees fully paid, a budget for training and research, and stipend to be paid at the UKRI 2025 rate. 

This recruitment round is for Home applicants only (UK national, have settled status, have pre-settled status, or have indefinite leave to remain or enter). The closing date for applications is 13th July 2025. International students should check back in November for projects commencing in October 2026.

Each project will have a primary supervisor to provide guidance and training and at least one other supervisor from a second institution to provide access to a broad range of expertise.

Decorative image shows cartoon of mining lifecycle. TARGET research falls into themes of Discovery of resources, their Recovery, Sustainability of resources, and Strategy around security of supply, approval of production, and geopolitics.
ThemesTitle (click for full project details)Host UniversityLead SupervisorCASE Partners
DiscoveryThe geological controls and mineral parageneses of the Gunheath Lithium Deposit, St Austell, CornwallUniversity of ExeterProf. Robin ShailImerys British Lithium
SustainabilityLife Cycle Assessment of Electronics Supply ChainsUniversity of ExeterProf. Fances WallMinviro
Recovery, Sustainability
The emergence of responsible small-scale mining for critical mineralsUniversity of ExeterDr. Kathryn MoorePACT
Recovery, Sustainability
Selective recovery of green technology metals from acid mine drainageUniversity of ExeterDr. Rich CraneUK Coal Authority and Environment Agency
DiscoveryCharacterisation of antimony-gold mineralisation in Ireland and NewfoundlandUniversity of LeedsDr Taija TorvelaConroy Gold and Natural Resources
DiscoveryUnderstanding the controls on critical metal contents of orogenic gold deposits: a case study in the Filabusi Greenstone Belt, ZimbabweUniversity of LeicesterProf. Gawen JenkinKavango Resources
DiscoveryLithium pegmatites: a mineral chemistry approach to understanding their formationUniversity of LeicesterDr Andrew MilesTanco Mining Corp.
DiscoveryApplication of indicator mineral chemistry to the exploration for IOCG deposits in central ZambiaUniversity of LeicesterProf. David HolwellIvanhoe Mines
Discovery, SustainabilityPowering the Green Transition: Structural Clues to UK and Ireland Molybdenum ResourcesUniversity of LiverpoolDr Elisabetta MarianiSLR Consulting, Tektonic Consulting
SustainabilityMining for Sustainable and Inclusive Development (MISID)UCLDr Teresa Domenech Aparisi