PhD Study : Future climate – Engineering Solutions

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Summary

The built environment is symbiotic with the natural environment and consequently together they are the essence of all life infrastructure. Civic Ecology and Life Infrastructure collectively encompasses the significant global societal challenges of health, demographic change and wellbeing; food security; sustainable agriculture the bio-economy; smart, green and integrated transport; climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials; and inclusive, innovative and reflective societies in a changing world. It reflects who we are in the human ontological project, it protects and enhances our ethical and societal needs yet all the while contributing to our vulnerabilities.

In any post-disaster recovery period civic ecology and life infrastructure tends not to be the priority, however, as the immediate effects of disasters abate and the process of ‘normalisation’ ensues these aspects of humanity require equal standing and consideration. As the focus turns to ‘human livelihood’ recovery, clean-up, and removing/ limiting the impacts of exposure to future hazards environmental concerns need to be firmly identified and integrated into our life infrastructure. Relatedly, it is of necessity that we restore the levels of (functional and indigenous) biodiversity, to restore the ecological status of affected habitats, if we are to avoid dramatic changes in their capacity to provide ecosystem services.

Research projects under this theme will address the societal challenges presented by UN Sustainable Development Goals, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Examples of potential research projects include:

*Mainstreaming Human Centered Design thinking,

*Engineering nature-based solutions to sustain ecosystem services,

*Biodiversity actions on critical ecosystems post-disaster,

*Avoiding eco-gentrification in post-disaster recovery projects,

*Sustaining food security in an evolving built environment.

Research under this theme ordinarily engages you in a balanced mix of desk top studies, laboratory analysis and field work. The campus’s facilities extend across our extensive physical and online library resource, combined with appropriate analytical software. The research supervisory and advisory team have a wide range of industry experience and maintain a strong link with industry, professional bodies and civic society, which greatly enhances your research environment.

Each doctoral candidate has a supervisory team, experienced and actively researching in the topic area. You will be afforded the opportunity to develop focused study and research skills to address your project-specific requirements.

The skills you bring will be…

*A passion for your chosen topic.

*An analytical mind with the capacity to interrogate the breadth and depth of the subject.

*An appreciation of the importance of delivering relevant and impactive research outputs.

*An ability to work independently, with appropriate levels of supervision.

You will…

*Gain access to international experts in your field, through literature, professional networks and webinars;

*Work closely with regional experts from industry, professional bodies and civic society;

*Attend and/ or present at relevant conferences, seminars and workshops;

*Author and/ or co-author research papers for consideration by appropriate academic journals; and

*Attend Master Classes given by Visiting professors and industry experts as appropriate.

These experiences are designed to enhance your ability to establish your research credibility in the international research community.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

  • Clearly defined research proposal detailing background, research questions, aims and methodology

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

  • Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
  • Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
  • Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

  • Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
  • Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
  • Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
  • Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living

The Doctoral College at Ulster University

Key dates

Submission deadline
Monday 18 February 2019
12:00AM

Interview Date
13 March to 21 March 2019

Preferred student start date
September 2019

Applying

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