Fully-funded PhD Studentship in Climate Change Human Geography

Reference

SOC555

Closing Date

Friday, 14th October 2022

Department

Geography

‘Low carbon farming in the UK: opportunities and challenges of transition’

The School of Geography at the University of Nottingham invites applications for a University of Nottingham funded 3-year PhD studentship to cover maintenance and tuition fees for full-time study (home student rates). This unique social science PhD studentship is linked to the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Council funded Greenhouse Gas Removal (GGR) programme - Biochar demonstrator project led by the University of Nottingham (https://biochardemonstrator.ac.uk/ ).

The PhD will combine insights from critical social science disciplines (including rural environmental geography, economic geography, science and technology studies) to address the transition to low carbon farming in the UK. Although biochar will provide a particular focus within the research as a potential contribution to low carbon farming there will be scope for the PhD student to frame the research project, both theoretically and methodologically, according to their interests and expertise. Applications are encouraged from those with interest / experience in the making of carbon markets in agriculture, or low carbon farming and multispecies justice.  

The PhD will be supervised by the School of Geography (Dr Carol Morris, Dr John Morris and Dr Catherine Price) and the PhD student will be located on University Park campus (Clive Granger Building). 

The candidate will have achieved a first class or upper second class Bachelor’s degree in geography or cognate social science discipline , and a Master’s degree (merit / distinction) in a relevant social science discipline or a Master’s in Social Research Methods. The candidate will be expected to demonstrate interest and ability in engaging with a range of relevant stakeholders. Prior knowledge of some of the policy issues around climate change, greenhouse gas removal and agriculture, and climate finance would be an advantage but is not essential. The student will have an opportunity to learn about greenhouse gas removal and biochar by being part of a team of engineers, scientists and social scientists working on this high-profile issue. 

Applicants from backgrounds historically under-represented in Geography and those with diverse experiences, including expertise in working with diverse communities and the use of critical epistemologies, are particularly welcomed.

The successful applicant will be entitled to a full-time, yearly tax-free stipend at current RCUK home student rates (£16,062 for 2022/23 and updated yearly), plus tuition fees at home student rates (£4,596 for 2022/23). 

Details of how to apply using the online system for postgraduate study are available at: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/pgstudy/how-to-apply/research.aspx . Please include a CV and one-page research proposal with your application. 

For an informal discussion about the project please contact Dr Carol Morris by email at: [email protected]. 

The closing date for applications is Friday 14 October 2022 . Interviews for the position will be held online in late October / early November 2022 (date to be confirmed). The studentship will start 1st December 2022. A start date of 1st February 2023 is also possible.