Since 2009, research training has been a key component of SICSA activities and all research students at SICSA institutions are supported by the SICSA Graduate Academy (SGA).
About
SGA provides training, resources, conferences and funding to PhD students, enhancing provision of research training and opportunities across Scottish HEIs, strengthening interdisciplinary networks and cultivating a leading talent pipeline across all areas of Informatics and Computing Science. We also support a number of Centres for Doctoral Training and PhD supervisors across Scotland.
If you are considering a PhD, explore opportunities and studentships at our member institutions and CDTs
SICSA can support conference funding for PhD students who are currently studying Informatics and Computing Science within a SICSA institution. Funding of up to £500 is provided to support travel for presenting accepted conference publications.
As part of the SICSA Graduate Academy’s aim to enhance research training and opportunities across Scottish HEIs, we want to encourage interaction between PhD supervisors across the various SICSA institutions.
Peggy Gregory is a Senior Lecturer in Software Engineering at the University of Glasgow. In her research, she investigates software engineering practice with the aim of developing theory and insights that result in improvements to practice, with focus on human and social aspects and use qualitative methods. Dr Gregory started in the role of Co-Director of SGA in September 2026.
Dr Peter Chapman
Co-Director of SGA
Peter Chapman is an Associate Professor and Head of Computer Science, at Edinburgh Napier University’s School of Computing, Engineering & the Built Environment. His research interests are in information visualisation, specifically of set-based data, and formal methods, in addition to the teaching of Computing Science. Dr Chapman started in the role of Co-Director of SGA in September 2026.
2026
SICSA PhD Conference
SICSA represents staff and students at all 14 Scottish Universities with Computing Science departments, including approximately 1000 PhD students. Our annual PhD Conference has been SICSA’s flagship event for over a decade, bringing together Scotland’s PhD community for networking and graduate researcher training.
Join the Committee!
PhD students and ECRs are invited to join our organising committee in 2026. This is a great opportunity to gain experience, meet colleagues across institutions and shape the conference.
Each year, we recognise the outstanding support and expertise offered by PhD supervisors across our institutions. Students are invited to nominate their supervisors for recognition in 2026.
This award invites submissions from our talented student research community and celebrates all the ground-breaking research being carried out across the Scottish institutions.
Sponsorship of the 2026 SICSA PhD Conference will provide you with exposure to 120+ delegates comprising of mainly postgraduate research students and academics from across Scotland.
