STOR-i Centre for Doctoral Training

Join STOR-i, a fully-funded doctoral training programme in Statistics and Operational Research in partnership with Industry.

Apply to join STOR-i today
Group shot of STOR-i Students
Example of a STOR-i student hosting a seminar

What is STOR-i?

STOR-i is a world-class Centre for Doctoral Training that offers a 4-year, fully-funded PhD programme in Statistics and Operational Research (STOR). Our cohort-based programme develops global research leaders by solving real-world problems to drive methodological advancements.

Funded through awards from EPSRC, Lancaster University, and Industrial Partners, all partners see a national need for the cohort-based approach offered by STOR-i and work together to expand on its existing success.

You don’t need to be an expert in both statistics and operational research to apply - if you have strong quantitative skills and want to make a real difference through research, you'll be welcome at STOR-i.

Discover the STOR-i Programme

The benefits of joining STOR-i

Becoming a STOR-i student offers a unique PhD experience, offering you many benefits beyond those of a standard PhD.

Mixture of STOR-i members at a meeting

Fully-funded studentships

Students who join STOR-i can benefit from a fully-funded studentship, covering the full cost of fees and an annual stipend together with financial support for costs associated with conference attendance and research training.

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Our partnerships

STOR-i collaborates with a diverse range of dedicated industry, international academic, and charity partners across different sectors. These collaborations lead to students conducting leading research that has genuine real-world impact. Partnerships are at the forefront of STOR-i's mission, providing students with essential support for doctoral projects, internships, and training, and driving the innovation that defines our programme.

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Integrated MRes year

STOR-i's programme has an integrated MRes year, meaning programme completion will give you both a Master's and PhD qualification. The MRes will help you build a strong foundation for conducting your own research throughout your PhD, giving you the essential skills and core knowledge you need to succeed going forward, no matter what mathematical discipline you come from.

Photo of smiling STOR-i students in a communal social space, surrounded by art created in the STOR-i support group, and DiverSTOR-i progress pride flag.

STOR-i community

As a STOR-i student, you will be part of a cohort-based programme, which offers benefits such as cohort training, mentoring from students, dedicated student support groups, social groups and activities, and team building activities. You will also have access to our dedicated STOR-i space and technology, including being provided with your own desk, as well as use of our STOR-i social area.

The quality of research and expertise within the CDT, combined with the sense of community and strong industry connections, made STOR-i an ideal research environment for me. It enabled me to develop a wide range of skill sets that have been massively beneficial in my career as a young researcher.

A quote from Callum Murphy-Barltrop STOR-i Alumni

Ways to join STOR-i

  • STOR-i application process

    Learn more about how you can join our next cohort of STOR-i students, including funding details, application dates and requirements, prerequisites, and visitor information.

  • Summer research projects

    Our Summer Research Projects offer undergraduates the opportunity to work alongside current PhD students and academic staff on real and innovative research projects.

  • STOR-i associates scheme

    Current UK-wide Statistics and Operational Research PhD students may be eligible to join our STOR-i Associates Scheme, offering free networking and training opportunities.

Latest news

Photo of STOR-i PhD graduate Lucy Morgan following presentation of the KD Tocher Medal

STOR-i Graduate awarded KD Tocher Medal

STOR-i PhD graduate Lucy Morgan was awarded the KD Tocher Medal
STOR-i MRes and PhD Y1 students, with staff, at the October away day

STOR-i welcomes new MRes Cohort – October 2025

STOR-i welcomed its newest cohort of MRes students to the CDT this October, with twelve new students joining the centre.
EVA 2025 | UNC Chapel Hill logo

STOR-i Student Team in EVA Conference (2025) Data Challenge

In June 2025, a team of STOR-i and School of Mathematical Sciences PhD students achieved second place in the Extreme Value Analysis (EVA) Conference (2025) Data Challenge.

Photo of STOR-i PhD student Owen Li

STOR-i Student selected as ARISE finalist

STOR-i PhD student Owen Li has been selected as a finalist in the ARISE program and chosen for presentation in the upcoming ARISE Webinar Series.
Photo of STOR-i PhD student James Neill

STOR-i Student wins Nick Smith Prize

The Nick Smith Prize is awarded to second year Statistics PhD students on the basis of their excellence in research. This year's winner is James Neill.

More News

Interested in working with STOR-i?

We are always open to new industrial, academic, and charitable partners to add to the rich variety of research collaborations on offer at STOR-i.

Explore the benefits of becoming a STOR-i Partner
Student mentoring another student

Contact us

Email: stor-i@lancaster.ac.uk

If you have any enquiries, you can view our FAQ page or reach out to the STOR-i team via email. We will typically try to respond within 48 working hours, but this can be extended during busy periods.