The hybridity of polluted freshwaters - PhD

Freshwater pollution is a manufactured water landscape (waterscape), embedding with its flows and cycles technologies, institutions, discourses, and meanings which produce and are produced by power relations.  Yet, existing debates on freshwater pollution ignore the “bio-cultural-political” complexities that result in the decline of freshwater quality and health. Hence, this research will unpack the who, why, what and how freshwater pollution occurs and fosters power and inequalities across scales. 

The political ecology of freshwater pollution will elaborate on how politics, practices, institutions, access, technologies, perceptions and discourses converge in time and space to impact the health and quality of freshwaters. 

In this project, the PhD student will adopt a critical perspective on the cause and effect of polluted freshwaters. Using actor-network theory, you will examine the complex network of actors, networks, and actants in the pollution of freshwater and its consequences on socio-hydrological systems. Assigning anthropogenic activities as a key factor in polluted freshwater ignores pollution as a manifestation of complex socio-hydrological effect. The research will employ ethnographic, historical and hydrographic research tools to explore the co-production of pollution in the dormancy of everyday lives. It will demonstrate the 'interconnectedness' between freshwater, societal values, norms, political economies, cultures and discourses. It will also demonstrate how the co-production process manifests beyond pollution to encompass the reformation of cultures and the creation of environmental identities. Working closely with stakeholders and local communities will help ensure that findings from the project informs communication and engagement activities in the case studies.

You will;
A. Unpack the political economy of freshwater governance and freshwater pollution
B. Establish the relationship between public perception and freshwater governance
C. Identify how freshwater ecologies, physiologies and flow shape the political economy of freshwater governance and vice versa. 

 The successful candidate  will gain the opportunity to richly expand your skills in anthropological research skills and application of political ecology in uncovering wicked problems in water management and governance. You will make a substantial contribution to the debate on freshwater pollution and the booming field of critical water studies.  

An ideal candidate for this position will have a BSc and MSc in Natural Resource Management, Anthropology, environmental management, water development  and management or any relevant social science discipline. Experience in qualitative research will be an advantage.
This funded studentship is part of the Connected Waters Leverhulme Doctoral Programme, which is funding up to 18 PhD studentships to conduct multidisciplinary research on freshwater ecosystems, across two universities, Cranfield and Roehampton. The programme aims to develop a deeper, holistic understanding of the interactions between humans and the environment to support sustainable solutions to the environmental challenges affecting our freshwater, lake, wetland, and groundwater ecosystems. To find more information on the programme and other research topics, please see the official CONNECT website.

• Application deadline01 May 2024
• Award type(s)PhD
• Start date01 Oct 2024
• Duration of award4 years
• EligibilityUK, EU, Rest of world
• Reference numberSWEE0248

An ideal candidate for this position will have a first or second class UK honors and Masters degree in Natural Resource Management, Anthropology, environmental management, water development and management or any relevant social science discipline. Familiarity with the subject of political ecology and ethnographic research methods will be an advantage.  

The candidate should be self-motivated, have excellent oral and written communication and an interest in applied social science research. 

This Leverhulme doctoral programme will recruit scholars in three cohort over three successive years. In total the award will fund up to 18 full time PhD Scholarships, including three scholarships for international applicants, 12 home (UK) PhD scholarships, and three Master's plus PhD scholarships. Of these, 6 home, 2 international and 1 Master's plus PhD scholarship will be based at the Cranfield University.

Each PhD scholarship award will include fees and stipend costs for scholars for up to 4 years paid at UKRI's standard domestic rate, with an additional grant of £10,000 to each student for research expenses.

For Master's plus PhD scholarships there is funding (fees and stipend) for an additional 1 year Master's programme before the PhD programme commences

Eligibility requirements:

For Doctoral Scholarships:
Scholars must be registered as full-time PhD students or provide a minimum time commitment of 50%, if part time students, unless the Trust gives explicit permission for this to be varied. Scholars will be subject to the terms and conditions applying to doctoral students within the host institution where they are registered.

For Master's Plus Scholarships

To be eligible for the Master’s plus PhD Scholarships, candidates must fulfil the following criteria as specified by the Leverhulme Trust:

    Be a UK domiciled student
Not already have a Master’s degree from the host institution
Be from a low-income household background as evidenced by being in receipt of a full maintenance loan or Special Support loan during their undergraduate studies

and/or identify as one of the following categories of ethnicity:

    Black African
Black Caribbean
Black Other
Mixed – White and Black Caribbean
Mixed – White and Black African
Other mixed background (including Black African, Black Caribbean and Black Other)

Research students at Cranfield benefit from being part of a dynamic, focused and professional study environment and all become valued members of the Cranfield Doctoral Network.  This network brings together both research students and staff, providing a platform for our researchers to share ideas and collaborate in a multi-disciplinary environment. It aims to encourage an effective and vibrant research culture, founded upon the diversity of activities and knowledge. A tailored programme of seminars and events, alongside our Doctoral Researchers Core Development programme (transferable skills training), provide those studying a research degree with a wealth of social and networking opportunities.

For further information please contact: Dr Alesia Ofori
Email: [email protected]
T: (0) 1234 758 310