PhD Degrees

This is a call for applications for a three and a half year, fully funded, ‘CREDS (Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions) Interdisciplinary Energy Demand Studentship’.

Deadline: 5pm Thursday 24^th August

The project investigates the ways in which office technologies and office work are changing, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research investigates emerging complexes of technology (digital and otherwise) as they become embedded in working practices and as they modify the extent and distribution of energy consumption and carbon emissions.

The aim of the project is to identify and describe the processes involved in specific settings so that insights into the details of this sociotechnical transformation can be extended to other organisations seeking to develop and adopt lower carbon ways of working.

Supervisors:

Dr Stanley Blue, Professor Elizabeth Shove (Department of Sociology, Lancaster University)

Project Description:

The research will draw on theoretical resources from social theories of practice and from science and technology studies to bring fresh perspectives to bear on the digital transformation of working practices and their impact on energy demand.

Through a detailed investigation of changing practices related to office work, the project will address the following research questions:

1. How is office work changing and with what consequences for mobility, space, location and energy demand? What trends can be observed in patterns of working, commuting, real estate, and office space?
2. How have organisations adapted working procedures in response to the COVID pandemic and what plans do they have for the future?
3. How are practices of office work changing and how is this experienced by office workers themselves?
4. How does a conceptual focus on ‘office working’ unite otherwise separate debates about sociotechnical transition, practice, organisational culture and sustainability?

This CREDS Interdisciplinary Energy Demand Studentship includes:

• Payment of tuition fees (for the duration of the studentship);
• An annual stipend (£18,622 in 2023/24. The value of the stipend may change in subsequent years: see https://www.ukri.org/what-we-do/developing-people-and-skills/find-studentships-and-doctoral-training/get-a-studentship-to-fund-your-doctorate/);
• Additional resources for reimbursement of research-related expenses including – but not limited to – conference attendance, training courses and UK fieldwork;
• Opportunities to apply for additional funding towards Overseas Institutional Visits and Internships;
• Access to a range of training and development provided by the Sociology Department, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Lancaster University, and the North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership.

Person Specification:

• Candidates must have qualifications of the standard of Bachelor’s degree at first or upper second class level, and must also have a suitable Master’s degree or equivalent (or will have completed a Master’s degree by the starting date October 2023) in social research/social science;
• Candidates will need to demonstrate that they have received rigorous training in the theoretical, philosophical, and methodological aspects of both qualitative and quantitative research;
• Candidates must satisfy the UKRI's ‘home’ academic and residential eligibility requirements;
• Candidates will preferably have a background and academic interest in social theory – including theories of practice and/or science and technology studies and in organisations and energy demand. Knowledge of relevant academic debates will be of significant advantage.

Application Information:

Please send enquiries about the vacancy and applications by email to Stanley Blue (s.blue@lancaster.ac.uk).

Applications should be submitted through the Lancaster Postgraduate Admissions System (apply for “PhD Sociology October 2024 entry”). Email s.blue@lancaster.ac.uk with your application number to confirm you have submitted your application.

Applications should include:

• A full CV, including two named referees (one of whom should be your most recent academic tutor/supervisor);
• A copy of Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree transcript (or copy of equivalent qualifications);
• A letter of application (not exceeding two pages of A4) outlining your suitability and how you would approach the research (see Further details CREDS Studentship 2024). This should be submitted under "research proposal";
• An example of postgraduate level written work (e.g. a research article, chapter, or essay).

Deadline for applications is 5pm Thursday 24^th August 2023.

Interviews will take place online, week commencing 28^th August 2023.

The successful applicant will be required to submit a full application to study for a PhD in the Department of Sociology at Lancaster University and will need to be offered a place on the programme.

The Deadline for ESRC funding for 23/24 has passed and the information below is for reference only. Details of funding opportunities for 2024/25 will be posted here when available.

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Deadline Tuesday 1st February 2023 (5pm GMT)

Lancaster University forms part of the North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) which offers scholarships covering tuition and maintenance for a Master's plus PhD (1+3) or for a PhD alone (+3, +2).

The pathways available within the Sociology Department are:

• Criminology, Social Policy and Social Work (MA Social Research, PhD Criminology)
• Development and Humanitarianism in an Unequal World (PhD Environment and Society)
• Social Anthropology (PhD Sociology)
• Social Studies of Science, Technology and Medicine (MA Social Research, PhD Sociology, PhD Science Studies)
• Socio-legal Studies (MA Social Research, PhD Criminology, PhD Law)
• Sociology (MA Social Research, PhD Sociology)

Please note that Master's programmes can only be funded as part of a 1+3 studentship. The NWSSDTP does not fund standalone Master's programmes.

Due to the competitive nature of this funding, usually only students with a first-class UG degree or a distinction in their MA would be successful.

Full details on eligibility and how to apply can be found on the FASS Funding website and NWSSDTP website

The Deadline for AHRC funding for 23/24 has passed and the information below is for reference only. Details of funding opportunities for 2024/25 will be posted here when available.

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If you are interested in applying for a PhD place at Lancaster in the area of Media & Cultural Studies and you are interested in applying for Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funding, please first look at the information on the NWCDTP website.

The application process is lengthy, so you should contact Debra Ferreday as soon as possible.

Deadlines

Apply online for a PhD place at Lancaster: 13th January 2023 (at the latest, the earlier the better)

Draft AHRC funding application: Monday 16 January

Final funding application: 5pm 3rd February 2023

Securing AHRC (NWCDTP) funding is very competitive, so to stand a chance of success you need to have a 1^st class degree at the undergraduate level and a Distinction at Master's level (or if you are currently doing your MA, grades that look like you will achieve a Distinction by the end of your Master's degree).

The AHRC North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership (NWCDTP) doctoral studentship competition is now open, including ring-fenced studentships for BAME and disabled students. All applicants must have a confirmed offer of a place on a doctoral programme at Lancaster University. International students, as well as UK students, may apply. More information about the NWCDTP application process and what subjects they cover is available on the NWCDTP website.

To apply for an award, candidates must have applied for a PhD place at Lancaster University by Friday 13 January 2023. The PhD in Media & Cultural Studies is run by the Sociology department. (See these web pages for how to apply). But you may also apply for Media & Cultural Studies AHRC pathway funding if you intend to register on another PhD degree (e.g. PhD Gender & Women’s Studies, PhD Sociology) if your PhD project is based on media or culture.

Writing the AHRC PhD application (including the research proposal) is complex and you should work with your proposed PhD supervisors on improving your draft as much as you can. Your draft should also be shown to Debra Ferreday for comments.

All draft applications for the AHRC (NWCDTP) should be sent to Debra Ferreday for comments by Monday 16 January. Candidates must submit a NWCDTP Funding Application by Friday 3 February 2023 (5pm).

Further details including frequenty asked questions can be found on the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences website.

The Deadline for FASS funding for 23/24 has passed and the information below is for reference only. Details of funding opportunities for 2024/25 will be posted here when available.

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Deadline for Scholarship applications: Tuesday 21st March 2023, 17:00 GMT

Eligibility: UK students and international students (including EU and EEA)

Applicants must already hold an offer of a place to study a postgraduate doctoral programme in any department in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences before applying for a scholarship, and be due to commence their studies during the 2023-24 academic year.

We warmly welcome applications from students in all diversity groups. Two of the scholarships are reserved for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) applicants from the UK.

Details of Award: Cost of tuition fee plus a maintenance award equal to the UKRI minimum award, currently £17,688.

For further details, and to download the funding application form please see the Faculty of Arts and Social Science website

Visit the faculty website for details on other funding sources for PhD applicants and registered students.