PhD Study : Saving Earth from Humans: Earth-focussed Sustainable Development

Summary

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) has focused attention on ‘human livelihood’ resilience. The impacts of infrastructure designs exposing the world to or failing to protect the world from future hazards (natural and/ or technological) raises environmental concerns that need to be tackled in life infrastructure designs. Relatedly, in order to avoid dramatic negative changes in the global capability to provide ecosystem services, then of necessity humanitarian infrastructure development must include the restoration of both functional and indigenous levels of biodiversity, in order to assist with the recovery and enhancement of affected habitats.

The global climate emergency is ushering in an era of socially responsible engineering where construction professionals will have to ensure that civic ecology and life infrastructure is central in both design and construction. Taking account of ethically aligned design and striving to meet the societal needs of communities there is a compelling demand for engineers and other built environment professionals to produce and deliver nature-based solutions that sustain ecosystem services. Civic Ecology and Life Infrastructure reflects our humanity; it protects and enhances our ethical and societal needs yet all the while contributing to our vulnerabilities.

Research ideas, under this theme, may come from this non-exhaustive indicative list:

• Defining resource-sensitive means to deliver aspects of the UN SDGs;
• Inclusive design using interactive architecture;
• Life-centred Design thinking; and
• Developing engineering nature-based solutions to sustain ecosystem services.

Research under this theme ordinarily engages you in a balanced mix of desk top study, 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 team have a wide range of industry experiences and maintain a strong link with industry, professional bodies and civic society, which greatly enhances your research environment. You will be afforded opportunities to develop focused research skills to address your project-specific requirements.

The skills you bring will include:

• 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.

Ulster University offers experiences designed to enhance your ability to establish your research credibility in the international research community, which include:

• Gaining access to international experts in your field;
• Working closely with regional experts from industry, professional bodies and civic society;
• Attending and/ or presenting at relevant conferences, seminars and workshops;
• Authoring and/ or co-authoring research papers for consideration by appropriate academic journals; and
• Where appropriate, attending classes given by visiting professors and industry experts.

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

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• Masters at 65%

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