A new PhD scholarship programme has been launched on the University of Strathclyde to help pioneering analysis in engineering and science, established in reminiscence of Dr George Weir.
Funded by the James Weir Foundation, the programme will help a new PhD studentship at Strathclyde every year. The inaugural Dr George Weir PhD Scholarship will fund analysis inside the University’s Neurotechnology Centre, led by Professor Keith Mathieson.
The Strathclyde Neurotechnology Centre, launched in 2025, brings collectively engineers, physicists, AI specialists and neuroscientists to advance implantable applied sciences aimed toward finding out and treating degenerative neurological circumstances, similar to types of blindness and dementia. The Centre can be dwelling to a state-of-the-art facility for the semiconductor fabrication of ultrathin neural implants, supported by a serious grant from the Wolfson Foundation.
Improve lives
The scholarships commemorate Dr George Weir who studied at Winchester, Cambridge and the Massachusetts institute of Technology earlier than spending most of his profession working within the Weir Group, particularly on Research and Development. He was captivated with science and know-how and specifically how its utility may enhance the lives of others.
The first PhD challenge will give attention to next-generation neural implants growing superior semiconductor interfacing applied sciences. This work builds on Strathclyde’s collaboration main worldwide neurotechnology teams. For instance, the group have been working with Stanford University on retinal implant analysis, which has already achieved restored a visible acuity of 20/400 in sufferers with age-related macular degeneration. The challenge goals to additional improve these outcomes to meet medical thresholds for wider use.
This is the primary PhD analysis challenge in a rolling programme of annual matched-funding scholarships supported by the inspiration. Future initiatives can be chosen for his or her potential to make a big contribution to advancing innovation within the fields of engineering and science.
Valued relationship
Professor Duncan Graham, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Associate Principal on the University of Strathclyde, stated: “The James Weir Foundation has had a longstanding and valued relationship with Strathclyde, and we’re proud to proceed this partnership through the new PhD scholarship programme.
“These will play a vital role in advancing research that tackles real-world engineering and scientific challenges. We are particularly pleased that the inaugural scholarship will support the pioneering work of our Neurotechnology Centre.”
Edward Weir, Chair of the James Weir Foundation and who’s the son of the late Dr George Weir, stated: “The Trustees of the James Weir Foundation are delighted to be supporting the Dr George Weir PhD Scholarships at Strathclyde.
These scholarships mirror the Foundation’s long-term dedication to supporting progressive doctoral analysis that addresses main societal challenges, and we’re very excited to see the end result of the pivotal and groundbreaking analysis.
James Weir was a Scottish industrialist and aviation pioneer, whose profession spanned engineering innovation and public service. He was additionally concerned with the household engineering agency G & J Weir – now generally known as the Weir Group – which produced ground-breaking innovations in pumping tools. Weir, who died in 1973, was additionally dedicated philanthropist who supported a variety of charitable causes, and the Foundation carries on his legacy immediately.