About the Project
This prestigious PhD Studentship, fully funded by the University of Stirling, will consider how to optimise social network connectivity between a diverse range of actors in the Forth Water Basin in Scotland. This connectivity provides a hugely exciting opportunity to make a real difference for the health and wealth of our businesses, communities, and natural ecosystems.
The studentship is linked with a ground-breaking £5m UKRI-funded Local Policy Innovation Partnership project. This major Partnership, called ‘FORTH2O’, involves seven Universities/Institutes, and over eighty stakeholder partners (including Scottish Government, Scottish Water, SEPA, Scottish Canals, Forth Ports, City Region Deals, Local Authorities, Health Boards, FE Colleges, Innovation Centres, and Chambers of Commerce, alongside numerous national agencies and organisations, environmental charities and community organisations).
Water resources provide essential ‘goods’ and ‘services’ and huge opportunities for the economy, society and communities. Harnessing these productively is a key route to optimising growth, value and community outcomes, as well as meeting important environmental goals. Yet a lack of connectedness of actors, policy and resources is widely perceived to be leading to disjointed and sub-optimal outcomes in policy and practice. Do you want to contribute to our high-profile and cutting-edge interdisciplinary research on these issues, applying mixed-methods social network analysis? If so, this studentship opportunity will appeal to you.
In addition to fundamental insights from core social network theory, the successful candidate will also be able to draw on a range of other conceptual resources for understanding and enhancing system connectivity, such as ‘systems leadership’ (Senge, 2014), ‘hydro-social territories’ (Escate et al, 2022), ‘socio-environmental systems’ (Musters et al, 1998), ‘mutuality’/’relationalism’ (Simmons 2020; 2023) and ‘silo-busting’ (de Waal et al, 2019). In particular, the PhD will consider how to overcome our partners’ perceptions of ‘siloed’ thinking and working (leading to disjointed and incoherent action on cross-cutting policy issues). This will help identify where opportunities arise for novel combinations of actors to work together to optimise outcomes in the Forth Water Basin for both humans and the environment.
There is considerable scope for a range of methods in the construction of this research (including social network analysis and semi-structured interviews). The successful candidate will be expected to shape this approach with support from the supervisory team. This PhD project will provide a significant and timely contribution to knowledge – the results have the potential to inform policy and practice on these important topics, not only within the FORTH2O Partnership, but more widely across the UK and internationally.
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Supervisors
Prof. Richard Simmons (Professor of Public and Social Policy, Faculty of Social Sciences and LPIP/FORTH2O project lead) r.a.simmons@stir.ac.uk
Dr. David Griffiths (Faculty of Social Sciences, specialist in Social Network Analysis) david.griffiths@stir.ac.uk
NB. The successful candidate will also benefit from working with other academic colleagues and stakeholder partners across the whole Partnership in developing, enriching and applying their research.
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Essential Attributes:
- Master’s degree (awarded at Merit or above) in a relevant academic discipline, with good fundamental knowledge of social science research methods
- Strong motivation, with evidence of independent research skills relevant to the project
- Competent in discipline-specific conceptual knowledge
- Good written and oral communication skills
- Creativity and versatility
- Good time management
- Willingness and ability to work as part of a team within the wider FORTH2O Project
Desirable Attributes:
- Award of Distinction in Master’s degree
- Knowledge and/or experience of Social Network Analysis
- Competent in quantitative study, including knowledge and/or experience of statistical applications (e.g. SPSS, Stata, R or Python)
- Knowledge and/or experience of qualitative data collection and analysis
Application Procedure:
Please send the following documents with the e-mail title ‘FORTH2O Optimising Social Networks PhD Studentship’ to socscipgr@stir.ac.uk by the closing date 26th August 2024 (NB. Indicative interview date 3rd September 2024);
(1) An up-to-date academic CV, detailing your education and qualifications; employment history; publications; and any other relevant information.
(2) Copies of the academic transcript and certificate from both your Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. If your Master’s degree is pending, please provide an interim transcript.
(3) The names and contact details of two academic referees, one of which should be your Master’s dissertation supervisor. Referees will not be contacted unless you are invited to interview.
(4) A supporting statement of a maximum of 1500 words in two sections:
o Your motivation for applying for this studentship
o How your previous knowledge and experience will support you in developing this PhD project, with regard to the essential/desirable attributes listed above
NB. A full PhD Proposal is NOT required.
The studentship will be based at the University of Stirling. The University is situated on a beautiful 330-acre campus just outside the historic city of Stirling. The campus offers a peaceful yet stimulating environment with everything you need for a good work-life balance. It boasts sports, academic, entertainment and cultural facilities as well as a loch, an Olympic-sized swimming pool and an 18-century castle. In the Faculty of Social Sciences you’ll discover a welcoming and supportive learning environment that will equip you with all you need to make a significant difference in the world.
We are committed to creating a workplace that promotes and values diversity. We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds including gender identity, race, age, class, and ethnicity.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss this studentship further, please contact Professor Richard Simmons (r.a.simmons@stir.ac.uk).
Funding Notes
The studentship is intended to commence by 1st October 2024 for 4 years and is fully funded, covering tuition fees and an annual stipend (£19,237 per annum for 2024/25).
References
de Waal, A., Weaver, M., Day, T. and van der Heijden, B. (2019) ‘Silo-Busting: Overcoming the Greatest Threat to Organizational Performance’, Sustainability, 11, 6860
Escate, L., Hoogesteger, J. & Boelens, R. (2022), ‘Water Assemblages in Hydrosocial territories: Connecting place, space, and time’, Geoforum, 13: 61-70
Musters, C., de Graaf, H. and ter Keurs, W. (1998) ‘Defining socio-environmental systems for sustainable development’, Ecological Economics, 26, 243–258
Senge, P., Hamilton, H., & Kania, J. (2014) ‘The Dawn of System Leadership’, Stanford Social Innovation Review, 13 (1): 27–33.
Simmons, R. (2023) ‘Using Relationalism to Navigate Wicked Issues: Investing for a Relational Dividend’, in Bonner, A. (ed.), Covid-19 and Social Determinants of Health, Bristol: Policy Press
Simmons, R. (2020) ‘Mutuality in the Public, Private and Third Sectors’, in Bonner, A. (ed.), Local Authorities and the Social Determinants of Health, Bristol: Policy Press
