PhD Studentship in Human Geography
Polarising nature-culture: environmental values in Svalbard

Project and aims
This project investigates the generation and circulation of value in the high arctic landscapes of Svalbard through three sites that illustrate complex interrelations between nature, capital, and temporality. Pyramiden is an abandoned Russian mining settlement, Barentsburg, is a working industrial town, and Longyearbyen houses the Global Seed Vault. The project entails field investigation based at the University Centre in Svalbard and falls within the broad field of cultural and historical geography. It seeks to inform policy development and contribute to wider academic debate on the landscapes most closely associated with climate change.

Funding
The Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, supported by the ESRC Doctoral Training Centre for Wales (Wales DTC) invites applications to this fully-funded 3.5 year PhD studentship.
The studentship will commence in September 2012, will cover tuition fees, a maintenance grant of £13,590 per annum for three and a half years, as well as an additional Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of £750 for full-time students.

Supervisors
Dr Gareth Hoskins (Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth)
Professor Michael Woods (Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth)
Dr Pyrs Gruffudd (Department of Geography, Swansea University)
Professor David Clarke (Department of Geography, Swansea University)

Eligibility
Applications are invited from exceptional candidates with a first class, or upper second class, honours degree or appropriate master’s degree.
ESRC studentships are available from the Wales DTC for UK and EU students who meet residency requirements set out by the ESRC. Please consult the  ESRC Funding Guide for full details on residential eligibility requirements.

How to apply
Application closing date: 5pm, Friday 30th March 2012
Applicants must complete and submit the following documentation by the deadline:
A completed application form for admission to a PhD in Geography at Aberystwyth University http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/postgrad/howtoapply/apply-offline/; a two page supporting statement explain why the project appeals to them and how they would choose to develop it, two academic references.

How Applications will be Assessed
Application forms will be assessed by the relevant academic staff in the Department, following which short-listed applicants will be invited to interview. We expect interviews to take place in April 2012. Successful applicants can expect to hear by May.  All decisions will be ratified by the Wales-DTC, and its judgments are final.
Further details about this opportunity are available from Dr Gareth Hoskins (tgh@aber.ac.uk<mailto:tgh@aber.ac.uk>).

Dr Gareth Hoskins
Lecturer in Human Geography
J3 Llandinam Building
Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences
Aberystwyth University
Ceredigion
SY23 3DB

tel: 01970-622630
http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/iges/staff/academic-staff/dr-gareth-hoskins/