The Sustainable Aviation & Green Energy Scholars (SAGES) Programme is a pioneering initiative under the Innovate for Ireland Programme funded by Avolon and Research Ireland. Innovate for Ireland is a global scholarship programme that unites the world’s smartest minds, bravest companies, and a future-facing nation to tackle the world’s biggest challenges for a better tomorrow.

Unique amongst international scholarship programmes, Innovate for Ireland enables advanced PhD research focused on sustainability and innovation. Led by Dublin City University and Trinity College Dublin, SAGES will advance sustainable aviation research and innovation. The programme brings together expertise in policy, finance, engineering, and entrepreneurship to support PhD scholars to investigate technologies and strategies to reduce aviation’s carbon footprint.

Core research themes include sustainable aviation fuels, sustainable aviation finance, operational efficiencies, carbon capture, market-based measures, and environmental policies. Research will integrate rigorous scientific methodologies with financial modelling, stakeholder engagement, and policy evaluation to ensure viable, high-impact outcomes. The PhD students will engage actively with industry stakeholders, policymakers, and academic peers to develop innovative solutions that address the pressing challenges of aviation decarbonisation.

Find Out More – Guidelines for Applicants

The 2 scholarships are open to applicants registering for Year 1 of the full-time PhD programme in DCU Business School.

The scholars are expected to start before 1st October 2026. Each student will be supervised by a team of academics led by Prof Julie Byrne (julie.byrne@dcu.ie) and Prof Marina Efthymiou (marina.efthymiou@dcu.ie).

Applications are invited from exceptional graduates from Ireland and abroad who demonstrate strong academic, research, leadership, and entrepreneurial potential. Applicants should demonstrate an outstanding academic record in a relevant field (e.g., management, economics, finance, aviation) and have research interests aligned with one or more of the areas outlined below.

The recruitment process will follow a structured and well-documented framework, incorporating:
• Academic merit: Proven research capabilities, aligned with the PhD project themes.
• Entrepreneurial, leadership, and innovation (ELI) capacity: Evaluated using the EntreComp framework, ensuring scholars can contribute to the innovation ecosystem.
• Diversity & Inclusivity: The selection process will be EDI-compliant, encouraging broad representation of historically underserved communities.

Eligibility Criteria
● Applicants must meet the PhD eligibility criteria of DCU: DCU PhD Eligibility Criteria. Typically, applicants should hold an honours master’s degree (taught or by research). Students in the final year of a master’s programme may also apply.
● This scholarship is exclusively for full-time PhD study based at DCU for the duration of the award.
● Successful candidates are expected to start before the 1st of October 2026.
● Applicants must disclose any additional stipend or external sources of funding. DCU Business School scholars receiving the annual stipend of €31,000 are generally not permitted to concurrently hold scholarships or educational grants.
● International applicants intending to travel to Ireland must meet visa requirements prior to the commencement of the scholarship. Payments cannot be processed until the applicant has arrived in Ireland, set up a bank account, and applied for a PPS number.

Find Out More – Guidelines for Applicants 

*Please note students cannot be awarded more than one DCU Business School scholarship at a time.

Scholarship Application Guidelines and Process

Applicants must submit a completed PhD Scholarship (Sustainable Aviation) Application Form, including a research proposal. The application must be typed.

Submit the application as a single PDF file via email to DCU Business School Research Officer, Ruth Finnegan, at dcubsresearch@dcu.ie.

The file should be named in the format: surname_firstname_DCUSUSTAINABLEAVIATION_2026.pdf.

Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Receipt of applications will be acknowledged by email.

Applicants are invited to contact the project supervisors, Prof Julie Byrne – Finance (julie.byrne@dcu.ie) and Prof Marina Efthymiou – Aviation (marina.efthymiou@dcu.ie), in advance regarding potential topics.

If you have queries on the PhD application process, please contact DCU Business School Research Officer, Ruth Finnegan, at dcubsresearch@dcu.ie.

Applicants wishing to withdraw their application after submission should notify the Research Officer at their earliest convenience.

Shortlisted applicants will be required to attend an interview, either in person or via Zoom.

The scholarship award is conditional on acceptance of a place in the PhD programme.

Submission Dates

● Deadline: Applications must be received by 12:00 PM noon GMT, Monday 11th May 2026

● Interviews will be conducted shortly thereafter.

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*Please note students cannot be awarded more than one DCU Business School scholarship at a time.