The College of Business and Social Sciences (BSS) is a multi-disciplinary research-focused College which brings together researchers in Aston Business School (ABS), Aston Law School (ALS) and the School of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH). We are determined to find ways to further develop our research environment, particularly our postgraduate student provision, and as such we are offering a number of PhD studentship projects.
You can explore the approved projects by clicking the links below.
Studentships are for full time study over three years with a start date of January 2024.
Closing date: the closing date has now passed for these projects.
Aston Business School (ABS) Projects
- PhD Studentship (3 years) Intelligent disaster management in smart cities
Department: College of Business and Social Sciences
Basis: Full Time
Closing Date: 24th October 2023 at 23.59 (UK time)
Supervisor: Dr Oscar Rodriguez Espindola
Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship, supported by the College of Business and Social Sciences to be undertaken within the Aston Crisis Management Research Centre at Aston University.
The position is available to start in January 2024.
Financial Support
This studentship includes a fee bursary to cover the home or overseas fees rate, plus a maintenance allowance of £18,622 in 2023/4.
Background to the Project
Just last year, over 185 million people were affected by disasters caused by natural hazards, with over 30,000 deaths. Disaster management is global challenge and a critical aspect that must be addressed as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Situations caused by disasters are characterised by very high stakes, limited information, and chaotic conditions. The design of smart cities, with enhanced capacities for data gathering and implementation of technology can be a corner stone to advance disaster management globally. Designing new decision-support systems based on emergent technologies leveraging the resources and capabilities of smart cities can be critical to support communities affected by natural hazards. There are still many gaps in knowledge for the design of those new disaster management systems. The literature on emergent technologies is constantly growing but it is at a nascent state in the field of disaster management. The use of resources from smart cities looking at urban systems and urban design has been widely researched, but their capabilities for disaster management are still limited to traditional approaches, without exploring the impact of emergent technologies to re-design decision-making systems. There is little understanding about the level of readiness of smart cities to successfully implement new disaster management systems enabled by emergent technologies. This research is tackling those gaps. It analyses the resources, requirements and capabilities of emergent technologies leveraging smart city infrastructure for disaster management. The purpose is to produce: a) atheoretical framework looking at the implementation of emergent technologies in smart cities for disaster response, b) a self-assessment tool to examine the level of readiness to implement decision-support systems aided by emergent technologies for smart cities, and c) a decision-support system combining Operational Research (OR) and emergent technologies to improve decision-making during disaster response. The study will combine qualitative and quantitative methods. Interviews will be used to understand the current approaches for the implementation of disaster management in smart cities, their capabilities, and the requirements for the use of emergent technologies. The information gathered will be combined with findings from the literature to map out the use of different emergent technologies leveraging the capabilities of smart cities for different stages of disaster management to develop a decision-making framework. The framework will be validated using a Delphi study with disaster management experts. The result will be used for the development of the self-assessment tool and as basis for the design of a decision-support system based in OR and aided by emergent technologies. The tool will be tested using data from a case study to examine its potential and showcase the implementation of the framework. The successful student will have knowledge about Disaster Management, Information Systems and Information Technology. The first year of the project will be focused on literature review and taking the Research Methods Course, with data collection and analysis starting in year 2. The final 4 months of the project will allow the student to write-up the dissertation for submission. The outcomes will provide opportunities for conference presentations and journal publications.
Person Specification
The successful applicant should hold the equivalent of a UK First or Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree from an approved university or higher education institution. They should have been awarded, or expect to achieve, a Masters degree in a relevant subject with an overall degree classification of at least Merit (or an equivalent qualification from an overseas institution).
Contact information
For formal enquiries about this project please contact Dr Oscar Rodriguez Espindola o.rodriguez-espindola@aston.ac.uk
Submitting an application
Details of how to submit your application, and the necessary supporting documents can be found here.
As part of the application, you will need to supply:
A copy of your current CV
Copies of your academic qualifications for your Bachelor degree and Masters degree; this should include both certificates and transcripts, and must be translated in to English.
A research proposal statement*
A personal statement
Two academic references
Proof of your English Language proficiency
*The application must be accompanied by a “research proposal” statement. An original proposal is not required as the initial scope of the project has been defined, candidates should take this opportunity to detail how their knowledge and experience will benefit the project.
Please include the supervisor’s name and project title in your Personal Statement.- PhD Studentship (3 years) Ethical considerations of humanitarian food supply chain management in emergency situations
Department: College of Business and Social Sciences
Basis: Full Time
Closing Date: 24th October 2023 at 23.59 (UK time)
Supervisor: Professor Pavel Albores
Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship, supported by the College of Business and Social Sciences to be undertaken within the Aston Crisis Management Research Centre at Aston University.
The position is available to start in January 2024.
Financial Support
This studentship includes a fee bursary to cover the home or overseas fees rate, plus a maintenance allowance of £18,622 in 2023/4.
Background to the Project
As we have seen during local, national and global responses to emergencies such as Covid-19, the 2023 Turkey Earthquake and many climate related events, access to and equitable distribution of food to those who were cut off from the food supply chain (because of poverty, social inequality, inability of local supply chains to adapt, or simply because of food shortages or logistical barriers) is a serious problem. Ethical distribution was not always possible because of a lack of logistical possibilities; likewise, logistical prowess did not necessarily translate to ethical food distribution. Humanitarian supply chains are defined as “the process of planning, implementing and controlling the efficient, cost-effective flow and storage of goods and materials, as well as related information, from the point of origin to the point of consumption for the purpose of alleviating the suffering of vulnerable people” (Thomas and Kopczak, 2005). This is particularly important and has specific challenges when dealing with food (perishable products, social and cultural differences, criticality to survival).
Whilst the above definition has the key element of vulnerable people, it has been widely recognised that most research has been focused on the mechanics and logistics of relief distribution, neglecting the ethical and humanitarian considerations that the “vulnerable” implies.
This research will focus on discovering the issues and challenges of including explicit ethical frameworks in the planning and execution of emergency food relief operations. It will investigate issues such as: ethical considerations when distributing food in emergencies, effects on the tangible (speed, coverage, routing) and intangible (fairness, equity, cultural norms) aspects of food supply chains. Further, this research will be innovative in its simultaneous consideration of logistical and ethical challenges and the development of a framework which accounts for both sets of issues.
This PhD studentship offers the opportunity to improve the quality and resilience of local and national food distribution methods post-emergency by developing a methodology which evaluates the subsistence needs of an affected community based on the ethical and logistical realities of that community. The chosen student will have experience or interest in the logistical issues/challenges and ethical considerations inherent to food supply chain management during emergencies or crisis. This research will sit at the intersection of theory and practice and will make use of the Aston Crisis Management Centre’s relationships with local and national food-related organisations.
The output of this project will be the creation of a methodology that evaluates the food needs of an affected community based on ethical and logistical realities. This methodology can then be used by communities before/during/after an impact event to guide requests for food from local/national/international sources and further guide effective and ethical distribution (reduce waste, accounts for cultural/individual food requirements which account for varied communities within the UK and when dealing with other countries / cultures etc).
Person Specification
The successful applicant should hold the equivalent of a UK First or Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree from an approved university or higher education institution. They should have been awarded, or expect to achieve, a Masters degree in a relevant subject with an overall degree classification of at least Merit (or an equivalent qualification from an overseas institution).
Contact information
For formal enquiries about this project please contact Professor Pavel Albores p.albores@aston.ac.uk
Submitting an application
Details of how to submit your application, and the necessary supporting documents can be found here.
As part of the application, you will need to supply:
A copy of your current CV
Copies of your academic qualifications for your Bachelor degree and Masters degree; this should include both certificates and transcripts, and must be translated in to English.
A research proposal statement*
A personal statement
Two academic references
Proof of your English Language proficiency
*The application must be accompanied by a “research proposal” statement. An original proposal is not required as the initial scope of the project has been defined, candidates should take this opportunity to detail how their knowledge and experience will benefit the project.
Please include the supervisor’s name and project title in your Personal Statement.- PhD Studentship (3 years) A systems approach for digitalizing supply chains towards circular economy and advanced sustainability principles
Department: College of Business and Social Sciences
Basis: Full Time
Closing Date: 24th October 2023 at 23.59 (UK time)
Supervisor: Professor Ben Clegg
Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship, supported by the College of Business and Social Sciences to be undertaken within the Operations and Information Management department and Centre for Circular Economy and Advanced Sustainability at Aston University.
The position is available to start in January 2024.
Financial Support
This studentship includes a fee bursary to cover the home or overseas fees rate, plus a maintenance allowance of £18,622 in 2023/4.
Background to the Project
The Operations and Information Management Department is part of the triple accredited Aston Business School, it is one of the largest and most impactful departments of its type in the UK, and has international reputation for high quality teaching and impactful research. OIM has many UKRI funded projects worth many millions of pounds, produces REF impact cases, has approximately 70 research students and four research centres (soon to become five). OIM has a supportive and thriving research culture. You will be part of the OIM Department and the Centre for Circular Economy and Advanced Sustainability that bridges across ABS and the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences.
The Operations and Information Management Department and the Centre for Circular Economy and Advanced Sustainability is looking to recruit an aspiring academic to join us and become a world leading expert in digitalizing supply chains to become more sustainable and circular.
You will have a relevant undergraduate degree (with a 1st or 2:1 classification) and preferably a relevant master’s degree. Relevant subjects include but are not limited to business, IT/IS/ICT, supply chain, technology, operations and supply chain management, technology management or industrial engineering. One to two years relevant industrial experience would also be desirable.
You should have strong skills in qualitative analysis, interviewing and working with industry. You will be given full research methods training particularly in specialist systems modelling methodologies. You will have a strong desire to conduct applied research by working with industry while applying rigorous academic methodologies and techniques to produce novel and actionable insights. You must have excellent interpersonal, written, verbal, self-organizing and logical reasoning skills. You must also have a strong interest in the application of digital technologies. We are looking for someone who can be a strong academic researcher and a systems thinker as well as someone who will be a credible operator in industry and commerce.
Full academic support and training will be given. You will be encouraged to attend international conferences (e.g. the European Operations Management Conference), contribute to research outputs (e.g. conference and journal papers) and participate in research events under the guidance of your supervisors who are very active in industry based research projects.
There may be further opportunities to develop teaching skills and achieve teaching qualifications although this is not mandatory. This PhD programme could lead someone into further post-doctoral academic studies by establishing the successful applicant as an expert agent of change specializing in the digitalization of supply chains and use of novel systems thinking methods to achieve improved circularity and advanced sustainability.
Person Specification
The successful applicant should hold the equivalent of a UK First or Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree from an approved university or higher education institution. They should have been awarded, or expect to achieve, a Masters degree in a relevant subject with an overall degree classification of at least Merit (or an equivalent qualification from an overseas institution).
Contact information
For formal enquiries about this project please contact Professor Ben Clegg b.t.clegg@aston.ac.uk
Submitting an application
Details of how to submit your application, and the necessary supporting documents can be found here.
As part of the application, you will need to supply:
A copy of your current CV
Copies of your academic qualifications for your Bachelor degree and Masters degree; this should include both certificates and transcripts, and must be translated in to English.
A research proposal statement*
A personal statement
Two academic references
Proof of your English Language proficiency
*The application must be accompanied by a “research proposal” statement. An original proposal is not required as the initial scope of the project has been defined in further details (below), candidates should take this opportunity to detail how their knowledge and experience will benefit the project.
Please include the supervisor’s name and project title in your Personal Statement.Further Details
Project Title
A systems approach for digitalizing supply chains towards circular economy and advanced sustainability principles
Key Research Questions
The aim of this research is to develop a systems model to show best practice for digitalizing supply chains towards circular economy and advanced sustainability principles.
The following specific research questions will drive this research:
What technologies can be used to digitalize supply chains?This studentship will be grounded in theory, practically applied and use a novel methodology (PrOH modelling) developed at Aston Business School. The studentship will link to SMEs and larger organizations, other research projects and KTPs in the OIM Department giving the student a vibrant research culture in which to work giving the successful student a high probability of completing some rigorous high-impact research.
Outputs from this research will contribute to two impact cases studies – one directly for the OIM department and one for CEAS. Academic publications will be targeted at recognised international conferences; high-ranked journals and for content in reports to industry.
Fit with the BSS Research Environment
This studentship aligns directly with OIM and CEAS objectives and hence those of ABS/BSS. CEAS also has strong links to the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS) (e.g. EBRI) to give this research a broader context.
This studentship also links directly to research in systems thinking (PrOH Modelling) and action research that has been the focus of impact case studies led by Professor Clegg in 2014 and 2021 who has another one planned for 2028. It will also contribute to an impact case for CEAS. In addition, this PhD will closely complement the 15 KTPs currently being done in the department in similar topic areas and provide valuable knowledge to support future KTP projects.
Systems models (using the PrOH Modelling Methodology developed at Aston University) will be built of each supply chain. The systematic literature review (from step 1) will be reflected upon to highlight practical improvements that will be presented to industry focus groups.
Abductive rationalization will be used to then further theorize practical insights into holistic generalizable findings as a systemic theoretical framework. An original contribution will be made by the systemic theoretical framework as it will demonstrate state-of–the-art practice for digitalizing supply chains towards circular economy and advanced sustainability principles.
Collected data will be analysed through qualitative methods, supply chain mapping techniques, and systems modelling approaches. The student will received training and mentoring in systems thinking and action research approaches and specific methods.
Detailed questions will be formulated from the literature review to subsequently conduct interview with senior supply chain managers and policy makers in respect to their own organization’s practices. The purpose of these interviews will be to identify catalysts and inhibitors of future changes in respect to digitalization for circularity and sustainability. Six industries with well-established connections will be used: automotive, aerospace, furniture, defence, logistics and tiling. Managers from three companies in each sector who are responsible for supply/customer relationships will be interviewed forming a ‘supplier-producer-customer’ chain.The research will include large companies and SMEs. The supervisors, the Operations and Information Management Department and the Centre for Circular Economy and Advanced Sustainability (CEAS) have strong well-established connections with companies and policy makers, the student will use these to do their empirical research.
Methodology and Theoretical Framework
The following approach will be taken:
A systematic literature review will be conducted on technologies, policies and practices for the digitalization of supply chains towards circular economy and advanced sustainability principles. Literature from leading academic research journals, policy documents and respected industry publications will be targeted placing emphasis on publications from the last 20 years.
How can holistic systems thinking be most effectively used to digitalize supply chains towards circular economy and advanced sustainability principles?
Which circular economy approaches and advanced sustainability principles can be used to support policymaking and make supply chains more circular and sustainable?- PhD Studentship (3 years) Transforming Waste to Health and Wealth through Circular Economy principles towards Combating Climate Change
Department: College of Business and Social Sciences
Basis: Full Time
Closing Date: 24th October 2023 at 23.59 (UK time)
Supervisor: Professor Prasanta Dey
Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship, supported by the College of Business and Social Sciences to be undertaken within the Centre for Circular Economy and Advanced Sustainability at Aston University.
The position is available to start in January 2024.
Financial Support
This studentship includes a fee bursary to cover the home or overseas fees rate, plus a maintenance allowance of £18,622 in 2023/4.
Background to the Project
Climate change is a major challenge plaguing humankind, the root cause of which are burning fossil fuel, dumping food waste in landfill, deforestation and contamination of water sources. Circular economy (CE) has emerged as a philosophy that has been deployed to address climate change challenges. Although CE has been adopted in both industrial and community based supply chains, there is significant room for innovation, and scope for pilot applications along with studying the commercial scale deployment for transforming almost all of our economic activities. Such a design of closed loop supply chains would not only optimise the use of resources but also enable reuse and recycle leading to net zero emissions and waste improving economic, environmental and social performance, in a world increasingly challenged with depletion of natural resources.
Globally 2.7 billion people use onsite sanitation. In Kenya 78% of the population use onsite sanitation. 95% of the waste generated ends back untreated to the environment, leading to a high social cost in health and abject poverty.
The overarching aim of the project is to transform sanitation system in emerging economies through closed loop supply chain design and operations using circular economy principles. The black soldier fly (BSF) seeded container-based sanitation unit could not only potentially resolve the sanitation challenges in rural Kenya but also the harnessing of BSF larvae could contribute to food supply chain of agriculture, poultry, and fishery industries. This research helps build on current pilots by assessing the feasibility for commercial scale deployment of BSF seeded container-based sanitation units and use BSF larvae in industrial supply chain for enriching food supply chain that addresses community-based challenges using CE principles. This directly addresses the issue of climate change through optimum use of resources.
The study explores the current state of sanitation challenges along with socio-economic status of the people in a typical Kenyan village through a survey instrument embedded into an overarching action research methodology. That will enable to derive the causal relations of socio-economic factors with sustainability performance and circularity of the existing system. Additionally, the likely impact of the proposed BSF seeded container-based sanitation units and BSF larvae-based agriculture, fisheries and poultry industrial supply chain will also be studied and mapped. This study will use both organisational change and project management approaches along with innovation management theories to design a state-of-the-art closed loop supply chain for commercial uptake. The feasibility of this new supply chain design will then be analysed through participation of the concerned stakeholders (e.g. local people, researchers, graduates, industry practitioners, prospective investors and entrepreneurs, policy-makers).The deliverables of this research are – a closed loop supply chain design of BSF seeded container-based sanitation system, a comprehensive feasibility report for commercial uptake of this design to transform a village, and a theoretical framework for diffusion of innovation at commercial scale. This research will not only contribute to transform sanitation and food supply chain in one village in Kenya but has the potential to transform every village affected by poor sanitation facilities in emerging economies.
Person Specification
The successful applicant should hold the equivalent of a UK First or Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree from an approved university or higher education institution. They should have been awarded, or expect to achieve, a Masters degree in a relevant subject with an overall degree classification of at least Merit (or an equivalent qualification from an overseas institution).
Contact information
For formal enquiries about this project please contact Dr Krishna Chaitanya Balthu k.balthu1@aston.ac.uk or Professor Prasanta Dey p.k.dey@aston.ac.uk
Submitting an application
Details of how to submit your application, and the necessary supporting documents can be found here.
As part of the application, you will need to supply:
A copy of your current CV
Copies of your academic qualifications for your Bachelor degree and Masters degree; this should include both certificates and transcripts, and must be translated in to English.
A research proposal statement*
A personal statement
Two academic references
Proof of your English Language proficiency
*The application must be accompanied by a “research proposal” statement. An original proposal is not required as the initial scope of the project has been defined, candidates should take this opportunity to detail how their knowledge and experience will benefit the project.
Please include the supervisor’s name and project title in your Personal Statement.- PhD Studentship (3 years) Navigating the Nexus of International Entrepreneurship: Leveraging New Technologies for Sustainable Development Goals
Department: College of Business and Social Sciences
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Basis: Full Time
Closing Date: 24th October 2023 at 23.59 (UK time)
Supervisor: Dr Vahid Jafari-Sadeghi
Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship, supported by the College of Business and Social Sciences to be undertaken within the Economics, Finance and Entrepreneurship department in Aston Business School.
The position is available to start in January 2024.
Financial Support
This studentship includes a fee bursary to cover the home or overseas fees rate, plus a maintenance allowance of £18,622 in 2023/4.
Background to the Project
Are you passionate about driving sustainable change through entrepreneurship and technology? Aston University Business School invites motivated and ambitious individuals to embark on an exciting PhD research journey exploring the nexus of international entrepreneurship, emerging technologies, and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Research Overview:
This ground breaking PhD opportunity delves into the dynamic world of international entrepreneurship, where emerging technologies meet the global pursuit of sustainable development. As part of Aston University's vibrant research community, you'll be at the forefront of addressing critical global challenges while contributing to a sustainable future.
Why this Research Matters:
International entrepreneurship is the engine of global economic growth, and emerging technologies are its fuel. Yet, in an era defined by pressing sustainability concerns, how can international entrepreneurs leverage these technologies to contribute meaningfully to the SDGs? This research seeks to answer this question, offering insights that can transform business practices, shape policy, and drive positive societal impact.
Key Research Areas:
Leveraging Emerging Technologies: Explore how international entrepreneurs strategically adopt and apply emerging technologies to align their ventures with the SDGs.
Sustainable Development Impact: Assess the real-world impact of technology-driven international entrepreneurial ventures on economic, environmental, and social dimensions of sustainability.
Ethical Considerations: Examine the ethical implications of entrepreneurship and technology adoption in the context of sustainable development.
Person Specification
The successful applicant should hold the equivalent of a UK First or Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree from an approved university or higher education institution. They should have been awarded, or expect to achieve, a Masters degree in a relevant subject with an overall degree classification of at least Merit (or an equivalent qualification from an overseas institution).
Contact information
For formal enquiries about this project please contact Dr Vahid Jafari-Sadeghi v.jafari-sadeghi@aston.ac.uk
Submitting an application
Submitting an application
Details of how to submit your application, and the necessary supporting documents can be found here.
As part of the application, you will need to supply:
A copy of your current CV
Copies of your academic qualifications for your Bachelor degree and Masters degree; this should include both certificates and transcripts, and must be translated in to English.
A research proposal statement*
A personal statement
Two academic references
Proof of your English Language proficiency
*The application must be accompanied by a “research proposal” statement. An original proposal is not required as the initial scope of the project has been defined, candidates should take this opportunity to detail how their knowledge and experience will benefit the project.
Please include the supervisor’s name and project title in your Personal Statement.- PhD Studentship (3 years) Human-AI co-creativity: Examining the role of individual differences and interaction characteristics on HAT processes and joint creativity
Department: College of Business and Social Sciences
Basis: Full Time
Closing Date: 24th October 2023 at 23.59 (UK time)
Supervisor: Dr Claudia Sacramento
Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship, supported by the College of Business and Social Sciences to be undertaken within the Work and Organisation department in Aston Business School.
The position is available to start in January 2024.
Financial Support
This studentship includes a fee bursary to cover the home or overseas fees rate, plus a maintenance allowance of £18,622 in 2023/4.
Background to the Project
AI in changing society and the way we work. If nowadays teams are the most common work unit, in the future these teams will integrate both humans and autonomous agents (Human Autonomy Teams, hereon HATs). Such seismic shifts clearly matter for people at work and it is surprising how little is known about people’s role in this partnership. That is, we possess little guidance on how to motivate and develop employees to succeed working in HATs. Part of this issue is that the bulk of the research derives from computer sciences (McNeese et al, 2021) fuelling rapid technological progression but a lesser focus on people. Thus technology is moving fast but our understanding of how to engage people and their experience of work lags behind (cf. Parent-Rocheleau &Parker, 2021).
This doctoral project aims to address this fundamental gap by building on well-established psychology frameworks such as goal orientation theory (Dweck,1999), psychological ownership theory (Pierce, Kostova, & Dirks, 2001) and team processes to develop and test knowledge in the emergent but scarcely researched area Human AI co-creativity.
We propose and test the role of goal orientation in determining how HATs processes and co-creativity, and examine the impact of enhancing individual psychological ownership as a mechanism to prevent the delegation of decision making from humans to bots (‘humans as bots’). The project also considers the transferability and applicability of knowledge to organizational contexts.
The first stage of the methodology will include a series of experimental studies using a testbed already developed and piloted. Participants will be pooled from different sources, including services such as prolific. Participants’ tasks will involve developing ideas for new products, e.g., a product combining virtual reality and fitness, while working collaboratively in HATs.
The second stage will involve a field survey study (or a quasi-experiment, depending on the organizations’ capacity to accommodate an intervention) in which the constructs previously tested will be measured (or manipulated). The study will involve participants working in organisations engaging with AI. In sum, this project offers knowledge and develops a methodology for helping support and develop people to work in future worlds of work. Work and technology will continue to change. This research establishes the important role of motivation in helping people adapt to this change. This offers practical workplace models to not just facilitate current technology advances by offering a way to support people to succeed and upskill in the context of future work.
Person Specification
The successful applicant should hold the equivalent of a UK First or Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree from an approved university or higher education institution. They should have been awarded, or expect to achieve, a Masters degree in a relevant subject with an overall degree classification of at least Merit (or an equivalent qualification from an overseas institution).
Contact information
For formal enquiries about this project please contact Dr Claudia Sacramento c.a.sacramento@aston.ac.uk
Submitting an application
Details of how to submit your application, and the necessary supporting documents can be found here.
As part of the application, you will need to supply:
A copy of your current CV
Copies of your academic qualifications for your Bachelor degree and Masters degree; this should include both certificates and transcripts, and must be translated in to English.
A research proposal statement*
A personal statement
Two academic references
Proof of your English Language proficiency
*The application must be accompanied by a “research proposal” statement. An original proposal is not required as the initial scope of the project has been defined, candidates should take this opportunity to detail how their knowledge and experience will benefit the project.
Please include the supervisor’s name and project title in your Personal Statement.
School of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) Projects
- PhD Studentship (3 years) Sea, migration, and boat spaces: Materialities and infrastructures of mobility across maritime borders
Department: College of Business and Social Sciences
Basis: Full Time
Closing Date: 24th October 2023 at 23.59 (UK time)
Supervisor: Dr Jelena Obradovic-Wochnik
Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship, supported by the College of Business and Social Sciences to be undertaken within the Centre for Migration and Forced Displacement at Aston University.
The position is available to start in January 2024.
Financial Support
This studentship includes a fee bursary to cover the home or overseas fees rate, plus a maintenance allowance of £18,622 in 2023/4.
Background to the Project
The sea is a conflicting site of migration and border control. Earlier this summer, a boat carrying 700 migrants sank off the coast of Pylos, Greece, resulting in an estimated 600 deaths. Following the tragedy, a Forensic Architecture (2023) investigation used the boat and its trajectory to reconstruct the incident and show how the Greek Coast Guard’s attempts at stopping the migrant boat, led to its sinking. Whilst much of contemporary migration discourse focuses on ‘stopping the boats’ and presenting the ‘boats’ as isolated objects, the Forensic Architecture investigation shows that the sinking of the Pylos boat captures otherwise invisible border management policies of deterrence and pushbacks.
Pylos is just one of many shipwrecks which, together with other objects and materials found at sea - life jackets, rescue ships and dinghies - have become ‘prominent in the representation’ of both migration and state responses (Piche 2015:88), as well as starting points in investigations showing state responsibility in violence and deaths at sea (Forensic Architecture 2023).
Maritime migration and the sea have received significant academic attention: international relations scholars investigate for instance the relationship between sovereignty and maritime borders (see Aalberts and Gammeltoft-Hansen 2014). Within critical geography, the sea (especially the Mediterranean) isinvestigated as a contested space of border violence and state repression (see Garelli and Tazzioli 2018, Mainwaring and DeBono 2021, Stierl 2021) and of solidarity and resistance (see Cuttitta 2018, Stierl 2018). However, there is far less attention on how the maritime borderscape is materially structured.
This PhD project examines which boat spaces emerge within maritime borderscapes, and which infrastructure connects them and enables, or prevents, their movement. It adopts the approach outlined by Piche (2015:88), which considers the ‘significance of boats in discourses, practices and representations in maritime migration and transformations that occur therein’. In so doing it aims to understand how the boat space can serve different actors’ strategies andto answer the following questions:
RQ1. How does migration, solidarity, and border control materialise in the space of the sea?
RQ2: What infrastructures support or curtail migration across maritime borders?
RQ3: What effects do these material spaces have on the lives of migrants?
In a broader European context which sees migrant boats as objects to be stopped, yet one of increasing maritime deaths and shipwrecks, this PhD project places ‘the boat’ into focus. Boats, shipwrecks and other examples of the physical materiality of maritime migration such as fishing boats and dinghies used by migrants, migrant rescue vessels owned by NGOs, shipping containers, ships of international or supranational naval patrolling sea borders, barges used to house asylum seekers, and commercial ferries used as migrant prisons – are not ‘just’ vessels but become international political objects (Piche 2015) which capture acutely the struggles and contestations over maritime borders; between mobility and its curtailment, as well as capturing the ‘fatality of border’ politics (Banerjee et al 2023).
Person Specification
The successful applicant should hold the equivalent of a UK First or Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree from an approved university or higher education institution. They should have been awarded, or expect to achieve, a Masters degree in a relevant subject with an overall degree classification of at least Merit (or an equivalent qualification from an overseas institution).
Contact information
For formal enquiries about this project please contact Dr Jelena Obradovic-Wochnik j.obradovic-wochnik@aston.ac.uk.
Submitting an application
Details of how to submit your application, and the necessary supporting documents can be found here.
As part of the application, you will need to supply:
A copy of your current CV
Copies of your academic qualifications for your Bachelor degree and Masters degree; this should include both certificates and transcripts, and must be translated in to English.
A research proposal statement*
A personal statement
Two academic references
Proof of your English Language proficiency
*The application must be accompanied by a “research proposal” statement. An original proposal is not required as the initial scope of the project has been defined, candidates should take this opportunity to detail how their knowledge and experience will benefit the project.
Please include the supervisor’s name and project title in your Personal Statement.- PhD Studentship (3 years) How has Digitalization affected Women’s Political Engagement? Intersectional Analysis from Pakistan
Department: College of Business and Social Sciences
Basis: Full Time
Closing Date: 24th October 2023 at 23.59 (UK time)
Supervisor: Dr Parveen Akhtar
Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship, supported by the College of Business and Social Sciences to be undertaken within the Politics, History and International Relations department at Aston University.
The position is available to start in January 2024.
Financial Support
This studentship includes a fee bursary to cover the home or overseas fees rate, plus a maintenance allowance of £18,622 in 2023/4.
Background to the Project
Shape the future of politics.
Digital technology is changing many aspects of our world. This PhD project will examine the relationship between digitalization and women’s political engagement within the context of the Global South. Pakistan is a democratic nation, and one that has had a female head of state. Yet, political participation amongst women remains low, especially in rural areas. Recognizing the nuanced nature of women’s lived experiences, this research adopts an intersectional lens in understanding the impact, if any, of digitalization and digital technologies on women’s political engagement. Identities are never singular and are subject to change, often based on a host of demographic factors including religion, age, social class and caste, sexuality, and disability. This research therefore takes an intersectional approach to understand how different aspects of identity interconnect at different times and in specific contexts and what this means for the digital revolution on women’s political biographies.
A persistent gender gap in political engagement in the Global South is well-established due to several factors ranging from lack of information, awareness, and resources to stereotypical social roles and responsibilities. Men demonstrate a higher level of interest, knowledge, and confidence as far as politics is concerned (Wagner,Gainous, & Abbott, 2021). However, digital tools and technologies have evolved into agents of change with the potential to reshape women’s socio-political engagement as it allows them to dismantle many of the conventional barriers otherwise encountered (Wajcman, Young, & Fitzmaurice, 2020). These include mobility restrictions, limited information, and lack of self-confidence to voice political opinions. This particularly holds true for low and middle-income countries. Digitalization enables women engaged in the political processes at different levels. In a study conducted by Patterson (2016) across 107 countries,85% of female legislators were found to be using some form of social media, particularly during the campaign period (European Committee on Democracy and Governance, 2021). Digital tools, technologies, and platforms offer a variety of opportunities to women with regards to political inclusion, engagement, and participation. It enables them to access a wide range information, engage with various forms of political narratives, express and amplify their voice on a multitude of issues which directly or indirectly influence their well-being (European Committee on Democracy and Governance, 2021). Nevertheless, women’s political online presence is often less visible owing to the digital gender divide and algorithms which may reproduce historical biases against minorities and women. In addition, women who are politically active on digital mediums may face adverse consequences in the form of gender-based disinformation and harassment (Salzinger, Tadesse, & Ronceray, 2022).
Despite the prevailing digital gender gap in Pakistan, women are increasingly using digital tools and technologies. Between 2017 to 2019, gender gap in mobile internet awareness decreased from 16 percent to 11 percent, and women's mobile internet use almost doubled from 10 percent to 19 percent(GSMA Association, 2021). However, there is a relatively sparse literature which explores the gendered aspect of the digital revolution on women’s political activism in the global south and even less from an intersectional perspective.
Person Specification
The successful applicant should hold the equivalent of a UK First or Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree from an approved university or higher education institution. They should have been awarded, or expect to achieve, a Masters degree in a relevant subject with an overall degree classification of at least Merit (or an equivalent qualification from an overseas institution).
Contact information
For formal enquiries about this project please contact Dr Parveen Akhtar p.akhtar2@aston.ac.uk
Submitting an application
Details of how to submit your application, and the necessary supporting documents can be found here.
As part of the application, you will need to supply:
A copy of your current CV
Copies of your academic qualifications for your Bachelor degree and Masters degree; this should include both certificates and transcripts, and must be translated in to English.
A research proposal statement*
A personal statement
Two academic references
Proof of your English Language proficiency
*The application must be accompanied by a “research proposal” statement. An original proposal is not required as the initial scope of the project has been defined, candidates should take this opportunity to detail how their knowledge and experience will benefit the project.
Please include the supervisor’s name and project title in your Personal Statement.- PhD Studentship (3 years) Developing Sustainability in Communities Through Music
Department: College of Business and Social Sciences
Basis: Full Time
Closing Date: 24th October 2023 at 23.59 (UK time)
Supervisor: Dr Patrycja Rozbicka
Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship, supported by the College of Business and Social Sciences to be undertaken within the Politics, History and International Relations department at Aston University.
The position is available to start in January 2024.
Financial Support
This studentship includes a fee bursary to cover the home or overseas fees rate, plus a maintenance allowance of £18,622 in 2023/4.
Background to the Project
In 2021, the UK Music industry contributed £4 billion to the UK economy, creating 145,000 jobs (UK Music, 2021). While music has long been recognised as a powerful tool for fostering social cohesion, cultural identity, and individual well-being, it has only recently been acknowledged as a tool delivery of sustainable community development in the face of social, economic, and urban cultural challenges identified by the UN (UN SDS 2018, Goal 11; Gov UK,2022, 2019). But, the details on how music can be a catalyst for sustainable community development remain largely untapped.
This research delves into the intricate relationship between music and community sustainability and supporting its strategies and policies. Guided by atheoretical framework, the primary objectives are to (1) understand how music contributes to the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of urban communities; (2) the role of the agency in delivering sustainability through music; and, (3) how do various level policies impact the use of music for such activity.
Utilising a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates both qualitative and quantitative methods: in-depth interviews, surveys, and content analysis, as well as, case studies of local communities (Birmingham, UK, and Gothenburg, Sweden). On a macro level, the research will examine national and international strategies, policies, and interventions promoting music as a sustainable community development driver, comparing insights from various documents.
A core component of the research will be the investigation of policies at various levels and the engagement with multiple stakeholders. This will involve collaborations with institutions like the Centre for Music Ecosystems (USA), UK Music, LIVE!, NTIA and projects like BLMP. The research aims to bridge the gap in the literature, addressing pressing real-world issues and offering actionable policy recommendations.
The supervisory team, consisting of Dr. Patrycja Rozbicka and Dr. Anastasios Kitsos, brings a wealth of expertise. Dr. Rozbicka's extensive background in music industry regulation will be invaluable, while Dr. Kitsos, with his expertise in regional economics, will offer a unique perspective, drawing from his involvement in the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre.
Challenges and limitations of the research will be acknowledged, ensuring a holistic understanding of the study's scope and applicability. The research's significance lies in its timeliness, especially given global calls for sustainable community development from institutions like the UN (2018) and the UK Government (2022). It promises not only to contribute to academic discourse but also to have a real-world impact, directly informing policy development in arts, culture, and community sectors. The expected outcomes include a set of policy recommendations and strategies that can be applied in various urban settings, with potential future implications for further studies and projects in the domain of music and community sustainability.
Person Specification
The successful applicant should hold the equivalent of a UK First or Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree from an approved university or higher education institution. They should have been awarded, or expect to achieve, a Masters degree in a relevant subject with an overall degree classification of at least Merit (or an equivalent qualification from an overseas institution). The preferred subject areas are music or creative industries and master dissertation relevant to the topic of the PhD.
Contact information
For formal enquiries about this project please contact Dr Patrycja Rozbicka p.rozbicka@aston.ac.uk
Submitting an application
Details of how to submit your application, and the necessary supporting documents can be found here.
As part of the application, you will need to supply:
A copy of your current CV
Copies of your academic qualifications for your Bachelor degree and Masters degree; this should include both certificates and transcripts, and must be translated in to English.
A research proposal statement*
A personal statement
Two academic references
Proof of your English Language proficiency
*The application must be accompanied by a “research proposal” statement. An original proposal is not required as the initial scope of the project has been defined, candidates should take this opportunity to detail how their knowledge and experience will benefit the project.
Please include the supervisor’s name and project title in your Personal Statement.PhD Studentship (3 years) Cognitive Grammar in the Secondary English Classroom
Department: College of Business and Social Sciences
Basis: Full Time
Closing Date: 24th October 2023 at 23.59 (UK time)
Supervisor: Dr Marcello Giovanelli
Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship, supported by the College of Business and Social Sciences to be undertaken within the English, Languages and Applied Linguistics department at Aston University.
The position is available to start in January 2024.
Financial Support
This studentship includes a fee bursary to cover the home or overseas fees rate, plus a maintenance allowance of £18,622 in 2023/4.
Background to the Project
Project Description:
This full-time funded PhD studentship research project will investigate the potential for developing Ronald Langacker’s theory of Cognitive Grammar into a pedagogical grammar for the secondary English classroom. Working with Dr Marcello Giovanelli and Dr Chloe Harrison, the successful candidate will examine how Cognitive Grammar might best be recontextualised to fit the needs of teachers working in UK schools. They will examine the contexts in which teachers work, the historical and current conceptualisations of secondary English, curricular demands and specific policies which shape ideas about language and literary study. They will conduct documentary analysis, fieldwork within schools, and will take a lead partnership role with teachers to co-construct teaching materials based on Cognitive Grammar.
This is an exciting opportunity to work on a contemporary linguistic theory that offers a concept-driven way of thinking about language work in schools, and to engage in an innovative and impactful piece of applied linguistic research. The successful candidate will join the Aston Stylistics Research Group, a group of internationally-renowned scholars and doctoral researchers undertaking a range of original projects, and be encouraged to take part in all of its activities.
We envisage that the project will include an up to date literature review on Cognitive Grammar, language education, grammar teaching, and teacher knowledge and examine local and national policies on these at macro-, meso- and micro-level. The project will adopt a case study methodology and will involve a variety of data generation methods and analytical approaches, including working with interview or survey data of teachers, co-construction and development of teaching resources, observation of classroom teaching and student work, and interviews with students. As part of the interview process, we will also be interested to learn what ideas the successful candidate might bring to this research.
The ideal candidate for this post will have a background in applied linguistics and/or stylistics, a knowledge of cognitive linguistics, a commitment to the importance of language awareness and an in-depth understanding of secondary English education in England. They will be able to carry out research with teachers and with students. This post is based at Aston University.
Contribution to Knowledge:
This project will make a significant contribution to knowledge in applied cognitive stylistics. We are interested in how Cognitive Grammar might offer a new concept-driven way of thinking about language education, how it might be best developed for the secondary English classroom, and how it might bridge the divide between linguistic and literary study in schools. We would like to know about the kinds of support that teachers might need for their own development and how models of language awareness might best be disseminated across different teachers within schools and MATs. We would like to know what differences this makes to teachers’ conceptualisation of English and to their confidence in teaching language topics to their students.
Person Specification
The successful applicant should hold the equivalent of a UK First or Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree from an approved university or higher education institution. They should have been awarded, or expect to achieve, a Masters degree in a relevant subject with an overall degree classification of at least Merit (or an equivalent qualification from an overseas institution).
Contact information
For informal enquiries about this project please contact Dr Marcello Giovanelli m.giovanelli@aston.ac.uk
Submitting an application
Details of how to submit your application, and the necessary supporting documents can be found here.
As part of the application, you will need to supply:
A copy of your current CV
Copies of your academic qualifications for your Bachelor degree and Masters degree; this should include both certificates and transcripts, and must be translated in to English.
A research proposal statement*
A personal statement
Two academic references
Proof of your English Language proficiency
*The application must be accompanied by a “research proposal” statement. An original proposal is not required as the initial scope of the project has been defined, candidates should take this opportunity to detail how their knowledge and experience will benefit the project.
Please include the supervisor’s name and project title in your Personal Statement.PhD Studentship (3 years) Reproductive Coercion and Abuse: Experiences, disclosing and help-seeking in the UK
Department: College of Business and Social Sciences
Basis: Full Time
Closing Date: 24th October 2023 at 23.59 (UK time)
Supervisor: Dr Pam Lowe
Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship, supported by the College of Business and Social Sciences to be undertaken within the Sociology and Policy department at Aston University.
The position is available to start in January 2024.
Financial Support
This studentship includes a fee bursary to cover the home or overseas fees rate, plus a maintenance allowance of £18,622 in 2023/4.
Background to the Project
This studentship is to undertake a qualitative research project which will investigate experiences of interpersonal reproductive coercion and abuse (RCA). RCA involves a collection of behaviours where a perpetrator seeks to reduce or prevent the autonomous decision-making of another using coercive control, threats and/or violence around reproductive decision-making. Examples include sabotaging or denying access to birth control, pressure or coercion to become or continue a pregnancy, or pressure or coercion to have a termination. The project also aims to gain an understanding of the decision-making process relating to disclosing the abuse to personal associates, health, welfare or specialist services. It is envisaged that having a better understanding about the facilitators and barriers to help-seeking will help improve support and services for those at risk.
The successful candidate will have a strong theoretical understanding of gender-based violence and reproductive justice. Experience of undertaking research in qualitative methods is essential, with previous use of participatory methods desirable. Knowledge or experience of working/volunteering in organisations that support victims of abuse would be advantageous. They will need to demonstrate awareness of intersecting vulnerabilities that can shape the lives of those at risk of violence and abuse. A thorough understanding and commitment to safeguarding research participants and any children in their care is also important.
As the PhD student will be required to have private meetings with potentially vulnerable individuals, it will be necessary for the successful applicant to undergo an Enhanced level Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) application. The outcome will be assessed in line with University policy.
Person Specification
The successful applicant should hold the equivalent of a UK First or Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree from an approved university or higher education institution. They should have been awarded, or expect to achieve, a Masters degree in a relevant subject with an overall degree classification of at least Merit (or an equivalent qualification from an overseas institution).
Contact information
For formal enquiries about this project please contact Dr Pam Lowe p.k.lowe@aston.ac.uk
Submitting an application
Details of how to submit your application, and the necessary supporting documents can be found here.
As part of the application, you will need to supply:
A copy of your current CV
Copies of your academic qualifications for your Bachelor degree and Masters degree; this should include both certificates and transcripts, and must be translated in to English.
A research proposal statement*
A personal statement
Two academic references
Proof of your English Language proficiency
*The application must be accompanied by a “research proposal” statement. An original proposal is not required as the initial scope of the project has been defined, candidates should take this opportunity to detail how their knowledge and experience will benefit the project.
Please include the supervisor’s name and project title in your Personal Statement.- PhD Studentship (3 years) Reality Television, Intimacy and Informed Consent
Department: College of Business and Social Sciences
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Basis: Full Time
Closing Date: 24th October 2023 at 23.59 (UK time)
Supervisor: Professor Helen Wood
Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship, supported by the College of Business and Social Sciences to be undertaken within the Sociology and Policy department at Aston University.
The position is available to start in January 2024.
Financial Support
This studentship includes a fee bursary to cover the home or overseas fees rate, plus a maintenance allowance of £18,622 in 2023/4.
Background to the Project
What do ‘duty of care’ and ‘informed consent’ mean in the context of reality television which assumes relational and sexual intimacy? Can new guidelines take into account the gendered politics of consent and to what extent would ‘intimacy co-ordination’ be appropriate for unscripted television? This PhD project covers an aspect of research that is closely aligned to the externally-funded Re CARETV which investigates working practices and duties of care in reality television with Professor Helen Wood, and involves working closely with an expert on sexualised labour, Dr Katy Pilcher. The wider project considers the enhanced requirements around duty of care to reality TV participants in the UK, and the impact of new duties of care guidelines for broadcasters. Whilst protocols are continually being developed to support the mental health of participants, and ‘informed consent’ means that broadcasters must ensure that participants should understand the risks of their participation, there has been very little attention paid to the forms of sexual and relational intimacy that are often encouraged in, and even central to, many reality formats. This lack of scholarly and policy discussion exists despite the proliferation of dating and romance reality formats which frequently entail intense forms of intimacy. Whilst scripted film and TV production now recognise the need for the new production role of the ‘intimacy coordinator’ to ensure the wellbeing of actors who perform sex scenes or other intimate scenes, they are rarely used in unscripted production. There are further ethical dilemmas facing participants and producers when images are repurposed for other types of digital content. How can consent be managed in such a dynamic context? Whilst some reality participants use their visibility on such shows to develop careers as social media ‘influencers’, a precarious form of work which frequently involves highly gendered forms of intimacy, including performances of sexualised intimacy and sex work on platforms such as Only Fans. The changing ecology of work, and the blurring of boundaries between the cultural work of reality TV performance and sexualised labour, suggest scope for a research project focussed on the interrelationships between reality production and duties of care; intimacy and informed consent; and sexualised labour and cultural work, which will have impactful applications associated and supported by the wider research project Re CARETV. This PhD project therefore offers a unique opportunity to get research training as part of a wider project team and to have an impact working with external partners in order to have a transformative effect upon the television industry.
Person Specification
The successful applicant should hold the equivalent of a UK First or Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree from an approved university or higher education institution. They should have been awarded, or expect to achieve, a Masters degree in a relevant subject with an overall degree classification of at least Merit (or an equivalent qualification from an overseas institution).
Contact information
For formal enquiries about this project please contact Professor Helen Wood h.wood3@aston.ac.uk
Submitting an application
Details of how to submit your application, and the necessary supporting documents can be found here.
As part of the application, you will need to supply:
A copy of your current CV
Copies of your academic qualifications for your Bachelor degree and Masters degree; this should include both certificates and transcripts, and must be translated in to English.
A research proposal statement*
A personal statement
Two academic references
Proof of your English Language proficiency
*The application must be accompanied by a “research proposal” statement. An original proposal is not required as the initial scope of the project has been defined, candidates should take this opportunity to detail how their knowledge and experience will benefit the project.
Please include the supervisor’s name and project title in your Personal Statement.
For further information about applying for these studentships please contact the PGR Admissions Team pgr_admissions@aston.ac.uk