PhD Studentship: Governing a just transition to low carbon farming in the UK

Reference

SOC547

Closing Date

Friday, 12th August 2022

Department

Geography

School of Geography University of Nottingham

Fully-funded PhD Studentship in Environmental Social Science

‘Governing a just transition to low carbon farming in the UK’

The School of Geography at the University of Nottingham invites applications from suitably qualified students for the following 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 opportunity arises from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Council funded Greenhouse Gas Removal (GGR) programme - Biochar demonstrator project. The GGR programme has been established to support the large-scale removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and contribute to the UK’s net-zero emission target. Each of the interdisciplinary greenhouse gas removal demonstrator projects is exploring the effectiveness, cost and the limitations of large-scale, land-based methods of greenhouse gas removal. The Biochar demonstrator project (https://biochardemonstrator.ac.uk/ ) is led by the University of Nottingham and the advertised PhD studentship is linked to the project.

The PhD will combine insights from critical social science disciplines (including rural environmental geography, economic geography, sociology and science and technology studies) to address a dimension of the governance of a ‘just transition’ to low carbon farming in the UK. Governance is broadly interpreted to capture a range of institutional mechanisms such as public policy and market-based interventions that organise human activities. 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 project, both theoretically and methodologically, according to their interests and expertise providing the research speaks to the project parameters as outlined. 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). There will be an opportunity to spend some time elsewhere on University Park campus and on the University’s Sutton Bonington campus, where the engineering and soil scientific work on the Biochar demonstrator is being carried out and where other engineering / science PhD students associated with the Biochar demonstrator will be based. PhD students will be expected to attend monthly project management meetings of the Biochar demonstrator and to undertake research training within the School of Geography and Researcher Academy.

The candidate will have achieved a first class or upper second class Bachelor’s degree in geography or cognate social science discipline , such as sociology, anthropology, political science, or environmental studies and a Master’s degree (merit / distinction) in any of the aforementioned disciplines or a Masters in Social Research Methods. The candidate will be expected to demonstrate interest and ability in engaging with a range of relevant stakeholders including farmers, policy makers, civil society organisations and those from the private sector. 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. 

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

The successful applicant will be entitled to a full-time, yearly tax-free stipend at current RCUK home student rates (£4,596 for 2022/23, updated each year), plus tuition fees (£16,062 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 one-page research proposal with your application and note your interest in the BBSRC funded PhD studentship on ‘Governing a just transition to regenerative farming in the UK.’

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

The closing date for applications is Friday 12 August 2022 and the interviews for the position will be held online in late August / early September 2022 (date to be confirmed). The studentship will start in late September 2022 which is the beginning of the academic session 2022-23.